WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 113 environmental organizations submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service opposing proposed changes to the project-level predecisional administrative review process and calling for the rule to be withdrawn. In their letter, the Conservation Commenters emphasize the vital role that public engagement plays in forest management, noting that many participants possess essential local knowledge and expertise. These sm more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 114 civil right organization has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Census Bureau expressing concerns regarding the 2026 Operational Test in support of the 2030 Census. The coalition, which includes diverse civil rights organizations, has articulated fears that the proposed testing methodology will undermine the accuracy and reliability of the census, primarily affecting underreported communities. The letter underscores the importance of conducting more ST

NORFOLK, Virginia, March 21 (TNSrpt) -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release: * * * 2026 Iditarod Round-Up: A Trail of Death, Disease, and Dogs Pushed Past Their Breaking Point As another Iditarod has come to an end, PETA is breaking down this year's deadly race--and what comes next for the dogs who survived. PETA's new white paper also offers peer-reviewed studies and damning evidence of long-distance endurance racing's harmful impact on dogs' health. more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 23 state attorneys general have submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in response to the agency's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on nondiscrimination regarding individuals with disabilities. The letter emphasizes their support for the proposed changes that seek to clarify the definition of disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The proposed revisions aim to exclude "gender identity disorders n more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 3 state attorneys general submitted a public comment letter to the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging repeal of a disability nondiscrimination rule, arguing it exceeds statutory authority and disrupts state Medicaid programs. The attorneys general assert that the NPRM, while a step forward in repealing the previous "2024 Final Rule," still does not go far enough. They argue that fully repealing the 2024 Final more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- A coalition of 42 health organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concerns regarding proposed changes to regulations affecting access to medically necessary formulas and foods for individuals with gastrointestinal (GI) and inherited metabolic disorders. The letter highlights the essential role that specialized nutrition plays in the health management of patients suffering from these conditions. The p more ST

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 20 [Category: Libraries] -- The American Library Association posted the following news release: * * * ALA releases free library programming toolkit for library workers to support online health literacy and selects twelve libraries for pilot program * The American Library Association (ALA) announces 12 libraries selected for the Digital Pathways: Online Health Literacy Programming for Adults initiative, a pilot program that supports libraries' online health literacy p more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Alaska Clean Cities and Communities Coalition (AK4C) submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Highway Administration addressing the agency's Notice of Proposed Modification of the Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers. AK4C expressed support for reinforcing domestic manufacturing through the Build America, Buy America Act but cautioned against imposing a 100 percent domestic content requirement on EV chargers without a transition pha more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Alaska Division of Insurance (DOI) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expressing opposition to regulatory changes proposed in the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027. The DOI's letter, dated March 13, highlights concerns over the financial implications these changes may have on state mandates and essential health benefits. In its letter, the DOI argues that the proposed requirement for states to defray  more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The nonprofit human rights law firm focuses on issues faced by rural Alaska Native Tribal communities confronting severe environmental challenges that threaten their subsistence lifestyles. AIJ highlighted that the ongoing erosion, thawing permafrost,  more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. In their letter, AIJ emphasizes the urgent need to safeguard subsistence practices critical to the culture and food security of rural Alaska Native Tribal communities, which are increasingly threatened by climate change. AIJ, a non-profit human rights law firm based in Anchorage, highlights th more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding proposed changes under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The letter outlines concerns and recommendations about how the proposed rule will impact the enrollment, affordability, and sustainability of the Indian Health Service and Tribal Health program resources. In their letter, ANTHC emphasized the importance o more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The American Network of Oral Health Coalitions (ANOHC) has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing opposition to a proposed exclusion of adult dental services from the Essential Health Benefit (EHB) framework under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This proposal has raised alarms among health advocates and organizations which argue that excluding adult dental services undermines the integration of oral a more ST

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska posted the following news release: * * * Anchorage Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud and Tax Evasion An Anchorage doctor was sentenced yesterday to six and a half years in prison and three years of supervised release for executing a $12.5 million health care fraud scheme and evading over $4 million in taxes on the profits of that 15-year scheme. Her husband and co-defe more PR

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: * * * BLM announces May 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in New Mexico and Texas * SANTA FE, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management today announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for May 20, 2026, to offer 74 oil and gas parcels totaling 33,530 acres in New Mexico and Texas. The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in December 2025 and held a public comment period th more PR

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: * * * BLM issues decision for fuels treatment around Gold Springs Historic Cabin Site * CEDAR CITY, UT - The Bureau of Land Management today issued a final decision for the Gold Springs Historic Property Protection Environmental Assessment. The project will stabilize and restore the Gold Springs historic mining townsite as well as conduct hazardous fuels treatments through more PR

DALLAS, Texas, March 21 (TNSLrpt) -- Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for the Regions December 2025 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - March 20, 2026 * * * Private industry employer costs for employee compensation among the four regions of the country ranged from $41.21 per hour in the South to $53.99 in the Northeast in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In the other two regions, hourly employer costs  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service expressing concerns regarding proposed amendments to 36 CFR Part 218. These changes involve the project-level predecisional administrative review process for Forest Service projects and activities. Representing over 38,000 tribal citizens in Southeast Alaska, the Council underscores that the Tlingit and Haida peo more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service opposing proposed revisions to its project-level predecisional administrative review process, citing concerns over tribal participation and treaty obligations. In the correspondence, which was sent electronically, the Tribe outlined concerns that the proposed changes would shorten timelines for public comment and objections, thereby undermining the more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Chilkoot Indian Association has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service expressing concerns about proposed amendments to the project-level predecisional administrative review process. The proposed changes are said to undermine the Tribes' ability to engage in meaningful decision-making regarding projects that affect their lands and resources. In its letter, the CIA emphasizes the Tribe's historical and ongoing stewardshi more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC), an inter-Tribal natural resource organization representing seven Tribes in Alaska, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the review of the Subsistence Management Program for Public Lands in Alaska. The letter outlines critical concerns about potential changes that could adversely impact subsistence practices essential to the cultural and physical survival of these communitie more ST

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * Committee Cliff Notes: Week of March 16, 2026 Here's a recap of key moments from House Republican committees during the week: Appropriations On Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a hearing over four sessions called "American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness." These sessions allowed represen more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The U.S. Department of Defense, through the Fort Worth District, has unveiled a grant opportunity aimed at enhancing marine and mammal habitat monitoring, specifically targeting the prey populations of the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). This initiative invites applicants to conduct comprehensive salmon monitoring to support the dwindling CIBW population, which is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The grant more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior, through the Fish and Wildlife Service, has announced funding opportunities under the Yukon River Salmon Research and Management (R&M) Assistance program. With an estimated total funding pool of $260,000, the initiative aims to support innovative research and management projects focused on the Chinook and Chum salmon stocks in the Alaska portion of the Yukon River. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with an award ceiling o more ST

DENVER, Colorado, March 20 -- Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera Celebrate Annual Ute Day at the Capitol * DENVER - Today, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, Chair of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, hosted the annual Ute Day at the Capitol, a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating the two Tribes with jurisdiction in Colorado, the Southern  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Lujan Pens Op-Ed on Fighting Back Against Trump's Push to Rig the Election * Washington, D.C. - In Case You Missed It : U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) published an opinion piece in the Santa Fe New Mexican highlighting how he is fighting back against President Trump and Republicans' anti-voter SAVE Act which will have harmful impact on New Mexicans and Americans across the country,  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, a federally recognized regional Tribe in Alaska, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior urging the preservation of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The letter addresses concerns that potential changes could undermine the federal subsistence rural priority and affect the livelihoods of rural and Alaska Native communities. ICAS, which serves over 14,000 Tribal members across a servi more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies released the following testimony by Doreen Leavitt, secretary and director of natural resources of the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, from a March 18, 2026, public witness day hearing on fiscal 2027 appropriations: * * * Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Pingree, and distinguished members of this Subcommittee: On behalf of the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS), I want t more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Island Pharmacy Inc., an independent pharmacy based in Ketchikan, Alaska, issued a public comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission highlighting concerns regarding practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Founded over five decades ago, Island Pharmacy is the sole provider of specialized pharmacy services in its remote community, including compliance packaging and durable medical equipment billing. In its letter, the pharmacy expresses support for the FTC's eff more ST

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan Fights for Voting Rights Amid Trump's Push to Suppress Millions of American Voters * Watch Senator Lujan's Remarks Here Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined Senate colleagues, leading voting rights advocates, and impacted voters from across the country at the U.S. Capitol to reject President Trump and Republicans' anti-voter SAVE Act. Senator Lujan highli more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury expressing reservations about a proposed new system of records impacting American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments. NCAI urges the department to suspend its implementation until adequate government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations has been conducted. NCAI, founded in 1944 and based in D.C., represents the interests of more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation, Shelton, Connecticut, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior voicing strong support for a proposed rule to restore state-aligned hunting and trapping regulations on Alaska's national preserves. The proposed rule aims to re-establish the historical framework for wildlife management in Alaska, which relies on collaboration between federal and state regulations. NSSF represents over 10,000 member more ST

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The Boston University School of Public Health issued the following news: * * * New Estimates of Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths Reveal Critical Gaps in US Death Investigation System *. health inequities A new study utilized a novel machine learning method to identify unrecognized COVID-19 deaths during the first two years of the pandemic and found that 19 percent more COVID-19 deaths occurred than official records indicate. These deaths disproportionately affe more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Nulato Tribal Council has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior addressing its ongoing concerns regarding the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The council emphasizes the significance of preserving subsistence rights for rural Alaskan communities as the agency conducts its review of the program. The Nulato Tribal Council, which governs the Nulato Village and represents over 1,004 enrolled tribal members, has expressed its comm more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Organized Village of Kasaan has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service opposing proposed amendments to the project-level predecisional administrative review process, citing impacts on Tribal participation and environmental review. In their letter, the OVK emphasizes their historical connection to the lands and waters of Southeast Alaska, particularly within the Tongass National Forest, stating that decisions made about  more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Resident Hunters of Alaska (RHAK) submitted a public comment letter addressing issues within the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) subsistence management program for public lands in Alaska. RHAK, a non-profit conservation organization representing thousands of members across the state, emphasized the need for sustainable wildlife management policies that respect both rural and urban Alaskan hunting traditions. In their letter, the organization acknowledged the  more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * SENATE PASSES MURKOWSKI, SCHATZ RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY OF NATIVE WOMEN U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Vice Chairman, released the following statements after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution r more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release on March 20, 2026: * * * Senators Coons, Murkowski introduce legislation to protect Americans from credit repair scams WILMINGTON, Del. - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (ESCRA) yesterday to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations that exploit consumers with high fees, false promises, and deceptive practices.  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies released the following written testimony by Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Chairman Quintin Swanson from a March 18, 2026, public witness day hearing on fiscal 2027 funding requests: * * * Recommendations: 1. Pass the TERRA Act (H.R.3654) to eliminate bureaucratic waste and streamline Tribes' ability to address natural disasters. 2. Fortify Tribal disaster resilience and related programs, more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Sitka Fish and Game Advisory Committee has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior highlighting changes needed to support Alaska's federal subsistence management program. The committee emphasized the importance of maintaining local representation and protecting subsistence practices that are vital to rural communities in Alaska. The committee, which comprises 17 publicly elected members dedicated to representing subsistence, sport, and c more ST

WASHINGTON, March 19 -- Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Tillis Statement on the SAVE America Act * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), issued the following statement on the SAVE America Act: "I am one of the few members of Congress who has actually passed a voter ID law (on a bipartisan basis), which I did as Speaker of the House in North Carolina, and that's why I proudly co-sponsored the SAVE Act. While I support strengthenin more PR

PLANO, Texas, March 20 [Category: BizTransportation] -- Toyota Motor Sales USA posted the following news: * * * Toyota Celebrates Team Toyota Athletes, including Andrew Kurka and Oksana Masters for Their Recent Achievements at the Highest Levels of Global Competition * PLANO, Texas (March 20, 2026) -Toyota celebrates Team Toyota athletes Andrew Kurka and Okana Masters for their recent success on the global sports stage, alongside the continued achievements of its full roster of Team Toyota w more PR

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The Tsimshian Tribal Association has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior urging federal decision-makers to enhance protections for subsistence users as part of the review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The association emphasizes that subsistence is vital not just for resource access, but also for the cultural preservation and well-being of the Tsimshian people. The comment letter highlights that practices related to su more ST

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies released the following written testimony by Yakutat Tlingit Tribe President Cynthia Petersen, Alaska, from a March 18, 2026, public witness day hearing on fiscal 2027 budget: * * * Recommendations: 1. Protect the BIA and IHS from cuts, rescissions, sequestrations, and freezes. 2. Continue advance appropriations for the IHS. 3. Ensure mandatory funding for contract support costs and se more PR