WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46997) on Dec. 22, 2021, entitled "Alaska Native Lands and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA): Overview and Selected Issues for Congress" by natural resources policy specialist Tana Fitzpatrick: * * * SUMMARY At the time of its passage in 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA; P.L. 92203) was the largest land claims settlement in U.S. history. ANCSA extinguished claims by Al  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) on Dec. 22, 2021, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function" by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn: * * * SUMMARY This report describes the structure, activities, legislative history, and funding history of the seven federal regional commissions and authorities: * the Appalachian Regional Commission; * the Delta Regional Authorit  more

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey, Dec. 24 -- IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, a journal that says it features theory, design and application of fuzzy systems from the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2021 edition: * Accelerator for Rule Induction in Fuzzy Rough Theory * Critical Thinking About Explainable AI (XAI) for Rule-Based Fuzzy Systems * Development of Hierarchically Structured Granular Models Realized Throug  more

SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 24 -- Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan issued the following news release on Dec. 23, 2021: KKR, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board ("Ontario Teachers'") and Public Sector Pension Investment Board ("PSP Investments" and together, "the Consortium") today announced the completion of the acquisition of all issued securities of Spark Infrastructure (ASX: SKI) in an all-cash transaction for approximately A$5.2 billion. All regulatory approvals have been obtained. Spark Infras  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Dec. 24 (TNSRep) -- The National Association of State Energy Officials issued the following news: In December 2021, the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) released their final Reenergize Southwest report. The report was developed as a result of legislation signed by the Governor that tasked Virginia Energy with forming a workgroup to look at diversifying the economy in Southwest Virginia, particularly as the region transitions away from coal production. The six  more

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec. 24 -- The European Investment Bank issued the following news release: The European Investment Bank (EIB) is continuing to invest in the energy security of the Western Balkans by providing a Euros28.9 million investment loan for the construction of the North Macedonia section of the gas interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece. This investment will help to diversify energy sources and the security of energy supply, ensuring socioeconomic development and integrati  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: With home heating costs set to rise by 30 percent this winter, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.) are pressing top federal officials to ensure that hard-hit families in Minnesota and across the country continue to have access to adequate home heating assistance. On Wednesday, the lawmakers joined a bicameral letter urging U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Bec  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) in a bicameral letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on families served by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The letter is co-led by Congresswomen Gwen S. Moore (D-WI-4) and Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29). The cost of home heatin  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -- The Washington Office on Latin America issued the following news release: The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) is deeply concerned about the persecution faced by organizations in Colombia who document police violence and represent the victims of the abuses that took place during April's national strike and its subsequent social protests. We strongly encourage that U.S. policymakers make recommendations to the Colombian government to implement every possible actio  more