WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration has announced it was considering considering a request from Amtrak for an exception to passenger equipment safety regulations. Amtrak petitioned the agency for relief from rules concerning exterior side doors on passenger cars, specifically related to the safety system for manual and powered doors. Amtrak is developing its Airo intercity trainsets with Siemens. The petition requests a waiver fro more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of War (formerly the U.S. Department of Defense) published the unclassified text of an arms sales notification for a proposed foreign military sale valued at an estimated total of $52.8 million to India. The principal contractors will be Sparton Corp., De Leon Springs, Florida, or Undersea Sensor Systems Inc., Columbia City, Indiana, or a combination of both. This notification relates to the proposed issuance of a Letter of Offer for AN/SSQ-53 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Education has issued the mandatory deadline dates for students and schools participating in key Federal student aid programs for the 2025-2026 award year. These programs, which include the Pell Grant, Direct Loan, TEACH Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Work-Study (FWS), provide financial assistance to help students cover educational costs at eligible institutions. The Federal Register notice outli more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration has issued a notice informing the public that the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has submitted a petition to amend an existing waiver. This proposed amendment relates to regulations governing the hours of service for railroad employees. The ASLRRA specifically seeks to add six railroads to the list of participants already covered by the original waiver. This waive more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration proposed modifications to several jet routes and very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) federal airways near Pullman, Michigan. This initiative is a result of the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Pullman VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) navigation aid (NAVAID) as part of the agency's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program. The proposed rulemaking seeks to  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has announced that the minimum random drug and alcohol testing percentage rates for the period Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026, will stay at their current levels. Safety-sensitive employees in the aviation industry will continue to be subject to a minimum random drug testing rate of 25 percent and a minimum random alcohol testing rate of 10 percent for calendar year 2026. This determination  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a final rule to refine the Alaska high-cost mobile-support programs, ensuring the efficient use of universal service funds. This action is intended to accelerate the deployment of 5G-New Radio (5G-NR) service for Americans living, working and traveling throughout Alaska. The rule grants in part a Petition for Reconsideration and Clarification filed by GCI Communications Corp. (GCI) concerning the Alaska Connect Fun more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSinfo) -- The Federal Communications Commission is asking the general public and government agencies to comment on its ongoing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, specifically concerning the information collections required by its Cable Attribution Rules. The solicitation is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 and focuses on the requirements set forth in Sections 76.501, 76.503, and 76.504 of the commission's rules. This effort aims to extend a currently  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSinfo) -- The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comments on its information collection process, specifically focusing on the "Cores Update/Change Form (FCC Form 161)." FCC is undertaking this review as part of its ongoing efforts to minimize administrative burdens, a requirement mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Comments are invited on several aspects of the collection, including its practical usefulness, the precision of the agency's estim more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Communications Commission has adopted implementation parameters to enhance wireless emergency alerts (WEA) by requiring support for multilingual templates. This measure is intended to ensure WEA remains an essential public safety tool, allowing alert originators to better warn communities of danger and advise them to take protective action. Commercial mobile service providers who participate in WEA must now support multilingual templates for 18 of the more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has finalized its determination of the regulatory review period for the human drug product Filsuvez, also known as birch triterpenes. This determination is a required step following the submission of applications to the director of the Patent and Trademark Office for the extension of patents claiming the drug. Filsuvez is indicated for the treatment of wounds associated with dystrophic  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has announced the availability of a final guidance document to address questions about promotional labeling and advertising for prescription biological products. This guidance entitled "Promotional Labeling and Advertising Considerations for Prescription Biological Reference Products, Biosimilar Products, and Interchangeable Biosimilar Products: Questions and Answers" applies to manufact more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has published a final guidance to help companies incorporate information about heart-related risks into the labeling of prescription drugs and biological products. The guidance entitled "QTc Information in Human Prescription Drug and Biological Product Labeling" focuses on how to include heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation data for non-antiarrhythmic products. QTc interva more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has announced the availability of additional draft and revised draft product-specific guidances for the industry. These documents offer recommendations on the design of bioequivalence (BE) studies, which are crucial components for supporting abbreviated drug applications (ANDAs) seeking approval for generic drug products. This action follows the process outlined in a June 11, 2010, Federa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration has announced the availability of a draft guidance that offers recommendations for streamlined nonclinical safety studies for certain drug development products. The guidance entitled "Monoclonal Antibodies: Streamlined Nonclinical Safety Studies" focuses on monospecific antibodies, which are products that recognize a single molecular target. The document provides approaches intended to a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- Cool Living LLC, Barcelona, Spain, has filed a complaint with the Federal Maritime Commission against ALPI USA Inc., Valley Stream, New York, and ALPI Air and Sea A/S, Herning, Denmark. The complainant alleges that the carriers engaged in practices that violate several sections of the Shipping Act of 1984. The core of the complaint centers on the carriers' alleged "opaque rate and invoicing practices." Cool Living claims that the respondents refused to engage in d more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration has extended the submission deadline for its funding opportunity under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. This program provides funding for eligible rail projects outside of the Northeast Corridor. The original deadline for applications was 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Jan. 7, 2026. The agency, which is part of the Department of Transportation, is now moving t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration received a petition from Canadian National Railway Co., Montreal, to change a safety regulation regarding train brake systems. The railway company is asking for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions within the Federal railroad safety regulations, specifically related to multiple air-source braking technology on freight trains. The company's petition focuses on the rule in 49 CFR part 23 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Reserve System has evaluated strategies for the future of the banks' check services, facing declining usage and aging infrastructure. This came as checks, historically a core element of the U.S. payments system, had steadily been replaced by electronic alternatives. While checks once dominated, making up the vast majority of noncash payments, only about 11 billion were written in 2021. This number represents roughly 5 percent of all noncash payments, th more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Reserve System has approved the 2026 fee schedules for its priced services, including payment systems like Fedwire Funds Service and FedACH Services, along with an increase in the private-sector adjustment factor (PSAF). This move, required by the Monetary Control Act of 1980 (MCA), ensures that service fees cover all direct and imputed costs, including the PSAF, which represents the profit a private business would earn. The PSAF for 2026 is set at $34 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- A collective of trusts and individuals, known as the James W. Langley Family Control Group, has filed a notice with the Federal Reserve System to retain voting shares in Citizens Investment Co., a move that would keep indirect control of North Valley Bank, both of Thornton, Colorado. The filing was made pursuant to the Change in Bank Control Act, which requires notification for the acquisition or retention of control over a bank or bank holding company. The follo more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority, the grantee for Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 40, has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Commerce FTZ Board requesting subzone designation for facilities in Creston and Sterling, Ohio, operated by Atlantic Veal & Lamb LLC, Brooklyn, New York. The request proposes to integrate the meat processing company's operations into the U.S. FTZ program. The application seeks to establish the subzone across two separat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has utilized authority under federal law to waive numerous statutes and legal requirements to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads along the U.S. international land border in Texas. The agency is tasked by Congress with achieving and maintaining operational control of the land border, a goal defined as preventing all unlawful entries by terrorists, illegal aliens, narcotics and other contraband. A curren more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has authorized the waiver of several environmental and other statutes to accelerate the construction of barriers and roads along a portion of the U.S. international land border in Arizona and California. Citing the critical importance of border security to national security, the agency is mandated by Congress to achieve and maintain operational control of the international land border, preventing all unlawful entries. This a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has re-opened the comment period for its request for information (RFI) concerning the future of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and HECM mortgage-backed securities (HMBS) programs. HUD originally published the RFI, titled "Future of the HECM and HMBS Programs and Opportunities for Innovation in Accessing Home Equity," in the Federal Register on Oct. 2, 2025. It sought input from the public regarding  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has published its annual adjustment factors (AAFs) for 2026. These AAFs are used to adjust monthly rentals for certain assistance contracts under the Section 8 housing payment programs, as required by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. For owners with contracts that include a Reserve for Replacement deposit requirement, the AAFs also determine the annual adjustment to that required deposit amount. These factors are ap more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The International Trade Commission has given notice of proceedings to comply with a court-ordered remand of its final determinations in the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of certain freight rail couplers from China. The action follows a July 2023 determination by the ITC that a domestic industry was materially injured by imports of the rail couplers and components sold in the U.S. at less than fair value and subsidized by Chi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The International Trade Commission has terminated its investigation into video game consoles, gateways and their components and routers, following a settlement agreement. The investigation was based on a complaint filed by AX Wireless LLC, Austin, Texas, alleging violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The complaint claimed that the importation into the U.S., sale for importation, or sale within the U.S. after importation of the products infringed up more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has issued a final rule amending its regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The revisions eliminate provisions that prohibit conduct having an unintentional disparate impact based on race, color, or national origin. The department's amended regulations now focus solely on prohibiting intentional discrimination by recipients of Federal financial assistance, aligning with the original p more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Justice is redistributing the duties of its Tax Division, transferring its responsibilities to the Civil Division and the Criminal Division. This organizational shift follows President Trump's executive order 14210, which initiated a "Department of Government Efficiency" Workforce Optimization Initiative. The president's order called on Federal agencies to "restore accountability to the American public" by "eliminating waste, bloat, and ins more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division has filed a proposed final judgment, stipulation, and competitive impact statement in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleging that RealPage Inc., Richardson, Texas, and six major landlords unlawfully aligned rental prices nationwide. The complaint alleges that RealPage and the landlords agreed to share competitively sensitive information and use RealPage's software to align pricin more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Washington Department of Transportation to allow the unintentional taking of marine mammals during the Mukilteo Wingwalls Repair Project in Puget Sound, Washington. The authorization is valid for one year from the date of notification by WSDOT, and it was issued on Nov. 21, 2025. This authorization is required under the Marine Mammal Pro more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities has announced the continuation of its Humanities Panel Advisory Committee. The committee's charter was renewed for an additional two-year period on November 17, 2025. This renewal aligns with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and its regulations. The agency's Acting Chairman concluded that the panel's extension is necessary and serves the public interest. This determinat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has received a request from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) for a modification to its existing Federal permit to escalate efforts to preserve and grow the threatened pillar coral population. The DNER is seeking to increase the permitted annual take numbers for the species, allowing for greater collection of biological material used in research an more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced it has granted three exemptions to two power companies during the period spanning July 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2025. This action responds to requests submitted by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Oakland, California, and Northern States Power Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota. The exemptions relate to specific requirements in the NRC's regulations, as outlined in publicly available documents. Pacific Gas and Electric received two e more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Trade Representative has initiated its third biennial review of trade in automotive goods under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This assessment, mandated by the USMCA Implementation Act, will evaluate the operation of the agreement's automotive provisions and must be reported to the U.S. Congress by July 1, 2026. The review focuses on the implementation and enforcement of the USMCA's rules of origin for automotive goods. These rules est more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (TNSFR) -- Zipline International Inc., South San Francisco, California, a company that operates autonomous drone delivery services, has submitted a petition to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration requesting exemption from several federal aviation regulations. The company is seeking relief from requirements including submitting service difficulty reports and mechanical interruption summary reports, conducting pre-employment and random drug te more PR