WASHINGTON, June 25 [Category: Sociological] -- The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws posted the following news release: * * * Alaska: Bill Becomes Law Providing Record Sealing Relief for Those With Past Marijuana Convictions * Juneau, AK: Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has allowed legislation ( HB 239 ) to become law that includes provisions providing a pathway for those with low-level marijuana possession offenses to have their criminal records sealed from public view. The measure became law absent the Governor's signa more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on June 25, 2026: * * * ALSOBROOKS, MURKOWSKI INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CHILDREN AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE As reported in NBC News, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Preventing Risk and Exploitation through Validated Education and Network based Training (PREVENT) Act. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the CDC to maintain and expand a national child sexual abuse prevention  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: * * * BLM Authorizes Pearl Geothermal Energy Project in Southwestern Nevada * BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. -Using an accelerated 14-day environmental review process, the Bureau of Land Management has authorized the Pearl Geothermal Development Project on BLM-managed public lands in Esmerelda County. The project will generate approximately 60 megawatts of geothermal electricity which, according to the U.S. Energy Information Admin more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: * * * BLM Oil and Gas Lease Sale in Utah Generates Nearly $14.8 Million in Revenue * SALT LAKE CITY - The Bureau of Land Management leased 39 parcels totaling 54,114 acres in Utah for $14,757,534 in total receipts during a quarterly oil and gas lease sale. Combined lease bonus bids and rentals are distributed between the federal government and state where parcels are located. This lease sale was conducted under the One B more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Census Bureau issued the following news release: * * * Populations in All Age Groups Growing in the South, Driven by Outlying Counties in Metro Areas All age groups in the South grew faster than in any other region from 2020 to 2025, primarily fueled by outlying metro counties, according to new Vintage 2025 estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Many counties across the country saw slower growth in the past year, but those in the South were less affected. In fact, the region has had most more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on June 25, 2026: * * * Trump's Conservation Disaster: Removing Protections From More Than 86 Million Acres of Public Lands President Donald Trump has moved to lift protections from more than 86 million acres of public lands in his second term, according to a new analysis from the Center for American Progress that shows how Trump's actions are threatening beloved landscapes and wildlife across the country. The land losing these safeguards is equivalent more PR

NEW YORK, June 25 -- Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory issued its June research roundup: * * * June Research Roundup: Select Papers In this month's edition of our research roundup, we highlight a new study on African air pollution; deep Earth carbon recycling; and a Pacific cooling mystery. - Each month, researchers from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and across the Columbia Climate School publish work that sharpens our understanding of the planet. This month we wrote about new evidence from Antarctic ice cores su more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release: * * * Endangered Species Protection Sought for Imperiled Gray-Headed Chickadee * ANCHORAGE, Alaska -The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect the distinct North American subspecies of the gray-headed chickadee under the Endangered Species Act. The gray-headed chickadee may be the continent's rarest and most imperiled resident bird, with the last confirmed sighting in 2017  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation released the following written testimony by Derrick Collins, director of physical infrastructure, United States Government Accountability Office, from a June 4, 2026, hearing entitled "Connecting Rural America to the National Airspace System": * * * Chairman Nehls, Ranking Member Carson, and Members of the Subcommittee: I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on the issues affecting air service to small communities in the United State more PR

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 26 -- GCI, a telecommunications company, issued the following news release: * * * GCI supports Haines ball field upgrades, benefiting local youth and families Upgrades will improve safety and accessibility for Haines Little League and the broader community - GCI has contributed $33,900 to the Haines Borough in Southeast Alaska to support much-needed improvements to two local ball fields, helping ensure safe, accessible recreational spaces for the community and local youth athletics. The contribution will fund repai more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis issued the following news release: * * * GDP (Third Estimate), Industries, Corporate Profits, State GDP, and State Personal Income, 1st Quarter 2026 * Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the first quarter of 2026 (January, February, and March), according to the third estimate released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2025, real GDP increased 0.5 percent. Real GDP was revised  more PR

OLYMPIA, Washington, June 25 -- Gov. Bob Ferguson, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Ferguson creates Economic Development Council * Council will guide economic policy to ensure Washington remains a great place to do business SEATTLE - Today Governor Bob Ferguson established a new Governor's Economic Development Council, a partnership of small businesses, labor, Tribes, educators and large employers in tech and aerospace to guide Washington's economic strategy. Washington state's economy is the 9 th largest more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Fischer Prescribes U.S. Strategic Deterrence Strategy for Indo-Pacific * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) delivered the keynote address at the Washington Times' Threat Status 2026 INDOPAC event. In her speech, she outlined her policy agenda on how to deter China by investing in our nuclear triad, revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base, and supporting Golden Dome for America. Watch Fischer's speech here or by clicking the more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * In Support of the Native American Entrepreneurial Act * Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, and co-sponsored by me. The Small Business Administration's Office of Native American Affairs works with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations to provide entrepreneurial development, contracting and capital access and to support more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * The James T. Woods Act Fights Online Child Exploitation That's Sweeping the Nation * BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - Online child exploitation, sextortion and violent online criminal networks like '764,' which coerce children into violent or suicidal acts, are sweeping the nation, impacting children across all 50 states. Each of the 56 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field offices are involved in tracking and investigating cases of online child e more PR

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, June 24 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release: * * * Missouri Attorney General Hanaway Leads Multi-State Effort to Protect Election Integrity Laws * Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway led a coalition of 23 states in filing an amicus brief in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to protect the integrity of our nation's elections. This action, filed in support of Indiana's voter ID law, seeks to preserve the constitutional rights of states to enact election integrit more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on June 25, 2026: * * * MURKOWSKI VOICES SUPPORT FOR INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES NOMINEE MARK CRUZ DURING NOMINATION HEARING U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a nomination hearing to consider Mr. Mark Cruz, of Oregon, to be Director of the Indian Health Service within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and expressed her intent to suppo more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Murkowski, Hickenlooper Move to Reauthorize Cost-Effective Geological Mapping * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) program that improves understanding of geologic hazards, critical mineral, geothermal, and other subsurface resources across the country. Since its launch in 2019, E more PR

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: * * * Humpback Whale Successfully Freed from Entanglement in Endicott Arm A response team successfully removed crab pot lines entangling a humpback whale 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska. - The Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness, located 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska, features a pair of steep glacial fjords: Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. While remote, the waters in this area see steady vessel traffic, ranging fr more PR

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 25 -- Brown University posted the following news: * * * Shifting tectonic plates gave Alaska's Aleutian Islands a later-life lift * PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -New research by Brown University geologists confirms that the Aleutian Islands, the archipelago stretching from Alaska to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, experienced a massive geological uplift between 5 million and 7 million years ago. The researchers conclude that the uplift -a rising of the Earth's crust that pushed the islands upwards and t more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Sullivan Introduces Bycatch Reduction Act U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, this week introduced the Bycatch Reduction Act, an updated version of bycatch legislation Sen. Sullivan introduced last year that incorporates extensive input from Alaska stakeholders. The legislation is an outgrowth of Sen. Sullivan's Alaska Salmon Task Force Act, which was signed into law in Decembe more PR

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued the following news release: * * * VA Community Care contributed more than $36B to local economies in FY 2025 * The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today announced it made more than $36 billion in payments to local healthcare providers across the country in fiscal year 2025 as part of the bipartisan VA MISSION Act. President Trump signed the MISSION Act in 2018 after it passed Congress with widespread bipartisan support. The law created a benefit that lets eligible V more PR