Tuesday - April 7, 2026

News Tipoffs - California Editors

34 items
← 2024-09-18
2022-12-19 →
Army Volleyball Teams Sweep Armed Forces Titles
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Army News Service issued the following news: By Joe Lacdan COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The All-Army men's volleyball players slapped high fives and jumped in celebration on the court Sept. 12 after winning the Armed Force Volleyball tournament title. One day later, the All-Army women's team clinched its first Armed Force's Volleyball tournament title in nine years at Fort Carson. The Army last swept both the men's and women's divisions in 2014 at the USA Nation  more
Audit Firm Prager Metis Settles SEC Charges for Negligence in FTX Audits and for Violating Auditor Independence Requirements
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Prager Metis CPAs, LLC (Prager) and its California professional services firm, Prager Metis CPAs LLP, (collectively, the Prager Entities) agreed to pay $1.95 million to resolve two actions alleging misconduct in its audits of the now-defunct crypto asset trading platform, FTX, and auditor independence violations. In one   more
Calif. Gov. Newsom's Housing, Homeless Accountability Unit Unlocks 7,500+ New Housing Units
SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 19 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: * * * Announces first action under unit's new oversight of homelessness efforts * * * Governor Gavin Newsom's Housing Accountability Unit has taken strong action against cities and counties that fail to build more housing, unlocking more than 7,500 housing units for California. Earlier this year, Governor Newsom expanded the responsibility of the unit to hold cities and c  more
Calif. Gov. Newsom: CHP Retail Crime Task Force Makes 1,000+ Arrests, Recovers $7.8 Million in Stolen Goods This Year
SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 19 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California's Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF), led by the California Highway Patrol, maintained high levels of enforcement in August and is well on its way to surpassing enforcement totals from 2023. Last month, the ORCTF facilitated 171 arrests and recovered 26,415 items of stolen property worth about $547,000. In August,   more
Calif. PUC Issues Decision Denying Petition for Modification of Decision Involving Ivy Energy
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 19 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following decision denying petition for modification of decision (Case No. 24-09-004) on Sept. 18, 2024: * * * BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Order Instituting Rulemaking to Revisit Net Energy Metering Tariffs Pursuant to Decision 16-01-044, and to Address Other Issues Related to Net Energy Metering. DECISION DENYING IVY ENERGY PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF DECISION  more
Calif. PUC Issues Decision Granting Compensation Involving Utility Reform Network
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 19 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following decision granting compensation (No. 24-09-019) on Sept. 18, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Order Instituting Rulemaking to Consider Regulating Telecommunications Services Used by Incarcerated People. DECISION GRANTING COMPENSATION TO THE UTILITY REFORM NETWORK FOR SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO DECISION (D.) 21-08-037 AND D.22-  more
Calif. PUC Issues Final Resolution for Lake Alpine Water
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 19 -- The California Public Utilities Commission issued the following final resolution (No. RES. W-5281) on Sept. 18, 2024: * * * Resolution Granting Lake Alpine Water Company Authorization To Enter Into A Loan Of $130,000 With Its Shareholders To Finance Capital Improvement Projects. SUMMARY By Advice Letter (AL) 140-W, filed on December 21, 2023, Lake Alpine Water Company (LAWC) requests Commission authority, pursuant to Sections 816 through 851 of the Publ  more
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Georgia Man Charged With Defrauding His Former Employer Williams Sonoma Out Of More Than $10 Million
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Ben Thomas III today with eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering for defrauding his former employer, San Francisco-based Williams Sonoma, Inc. (WSI), announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Acting Special Agent in   more
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Honduran Man Charged With Kidnapping and Holding for Ransom Guatemalan National Who Entered the U.S. Illegally
RIVERSIDE, California, Sept. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Sept. 16, 2024: A Honduran national illegally living in New Mexico has been indicted for allegedly conspiring to kidnap a Guatemalan man who had illegally entered the United States and then demanded ransom from the victim's family living in Southern California, the Justice Department announced today. Darwin Jeovany Palma Pastrana, 30, of Albuquerque, New Me  more
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Irvine Man Pleads Guilty to Scheming to Steal and Resell High-End Violins and to Robbing Irvine Bank Branch Earlier This Year
SANTA ANA, California, Sept. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Sept. 16, 2024: An Orange County man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for orchestrating a scheme to steal high-value violins and robbing a bank in Irvine. Mark Meng, 58, of Irvine, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank robbery. According to his plea agreement, from August 2020 to April 2023, Meng schemed to steal v  more
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Justice Department Secures Agreement To Resolve Allegations That Former Burlingame Landlord Discriminated Against Family With Two Young Children
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California posted the following news release: The Justice Department announced that it reached a settlement with a former Bay Area landlord to resolve allegations that she discriminated against a couple and their two minor children based on their familial status, in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Under a consent order that was approved today by the Honorable Maxine M. Chesney, U.S. Dist  more
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges
SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California issued the following news release: Anthony Coates, 28, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Coates distributed 1 pound of methamphetamine in March 2024 and 3 pounds of methamphetamine in April 2024. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforceme  more
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Tracy Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Fraudulent Scheme to Steal California Unemployment Insurance Benefits
SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California issued the following news release: Kaymeisha Keyes, 33, of Tracy, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to nine years in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to defraud the unemployment insurance benefit program during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Keyes was also ordered to pay $1,116,683 in restitution.   more
Department of Labor Recovers $227K in Wages, Tips From Grand Prairie Happy Lamb Hot Pot Franchisee Who Denied 47 Workers Full Wages
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued the following news release: * * * Xfy Time Square LLC denied workers overtime, minimum wage, tips * * * DALLAS - The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $227,834 in back wages from the owner and operator of a Happy Lamb Hot Pot franchise in Grand Prairie that denied 47 restaurant workers required minimum and overtime wages and illegally allowed a manager to keep a portion of servers' tips. The recovery fol  more
Department of Labor Recovers $31K in Wages for 23 Farmworkers After Sonoma County Grower Violated H-2A Program Requirements
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division issued the following news brief on Sept. 18, 2024: * * * Humberto Castaneda Produce assessed $18K in civil money penalties for violations * * * Employer: Humberto Castaneda Produce, 2859 Fulton Road, Fulton, CA 95439 Investigation findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found grower Humberto Castaneda Produce violated numerous requirements under the H-2A temporary agricultural work  more
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan Announces Members of Inaugural HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the members of the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions (HBCU-MSI) Federal Advisory Council. This council marks a significant milestone in EPA's commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within environmental policymaking and workforce development. The HBCU-MSI  more
EPA Announces Winners of 11th Campus RainWorks Challenge
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the winners of its 11th annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a national competition that engages college students in the design of green infrastructure solutions that address stormwater pollution at their schools and in their communities. This year's winning projects showcase the benefits of green infrastructure for environmenta  more
FBI Director Wray Issues Remarks at 2024 Aspen Cyber Summit
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation issued the following remarks on Sept. 18, 2024, by Director Christopher A. Wray at the 2024 Aspen Cyber Summit: * * * Good morning. It's great to be here with you today. I realize we're at the Aspen Cyber Summit this morning, and I promise I have some very important cyber-related issues I want to discuss with all of you. But, before I get to those, I want to just take a moment to talk about what happened   more
FTC Statement Regarding WillScot's Decision to Abandon Proposed $3.8 Billion Acquisition of Competitor McGrath RentCorp
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release: Phoenix, Arizona-based WillScot Holdings Corporation (WillScot) today announced that it is abandoning its proposed acquisition of McGrath RentCorp (McGrath). Under the merger agreement, which the companies publicly disclosed on January 29, 2024, WillScot agreed to acquire McGrath, a leading business-to-business rental company based in Livermore, California, for $3.8 billion. WillScot and McGrath are two of t  more
Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Nearly $38 Million Federal Award to Spur Microelectronics Development
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 19 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: * * * Biden-Harris Administration Announces Awards; Massachusetts-Led NEMC Hub Receives Most Funding through Microelectronics Commons Project Awards from CHIPS-Funded Program * * * Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration celebrated a $37,782,565 federal award for the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub to advance the development of microelectronics technol  more
IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee Selects 10 New Members
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service issued the following news release: The Internal Revenue Service has appointed 10 new members to the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee or ETAAC. Founded by statute in 1998, the ETAAC serves as a public forum for discussing electronic tax administration issues. Initially, the committee's main objective was to encourage paperless filing of tax and information returns. However, its focus has broad  more
La. U.S. Attorney: Westwego Woman Indicted for Unemployment Insurance Fraud and COVID Fraud
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Sept. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that REHA JANEE ARVIE, ("ARVIE"), age 33, of Westwego, LA, was indicted on September 6, 2024 for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud (Count1), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; Mail Fraud (Counts 2 and 3), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341  more
Md. U.S. Attorney: Nigerian National Extradited From France to Face Charges for His Alleged Role in a Scheme to Steal Government Benefits, Including More Than $8 Million in Federal Emergency Assistance
GREENBELT, Maryland, Sept. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland issued the following news release: Newton Ofioritse Jemide, a Nigerian national, was extradited from France to the United States on September 13, 2024 to face federal charges for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. Jemide had his initial appearance on September 16, 2024, and is currently detained pending trial. The extradition was announce  more
NASA Selects Lockheed Martin to Develop Lightning Mapper for NOAA
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- NASA issued the following news release: NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected Lockheed Martin Corp. of Littleton, Colorado, to develop a lightning mapping instrument as part of NOAA's Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite program. This cost-plus-award-fee contract is valued at approximately $297.1 million. It includes the development of two flight instruments as well as options for two additional unit  more
Office of Science & Technology Policy: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Progress and New Commitments to Improve Patient and Health Care Workforce Safety
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued the following news release: In recognition of World Patient Safety Day, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing actions to address patient and workforce safety in our health care system. Last year, President Biden tasked his Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to identify a path forward to tackle these systemic and pervasive challenges. In response, PCAST made actionable recommendatio  more
President Biden Issues Remarks Ahead of Briefing on Ongoing Wildfire Season Response, Federal Efforts to Reduce Wildfire Risk
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- President Biden issued the following remarks on Sept. 17, 2024, ahead of a briefing regarding the ongoing wildfire season response and federal efforts to reduce wildfire risk: * * * THE PRESIDENT: Okay? I'm about to receive a briefing on everything we're doing to support the people and communities threatened by these horrific wildfires. And they're -- and they're devastating. I -- as I was saying to my staff before you came in, since I've been president, I've flown   more
S.C. A.G. Alan Wilson Joins Comment Letter to Stop California's Electric-Truck Mandate
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Sept. 18 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a comment letter that asks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain a federal legal block on California's Advanced Clean Fleets regulation. The regulation attempts to impose an electric-truck mandate on fleet owners, operators, and manufacturers--including trucking companies that drive one truck for as little as one day per   more
SEC Charges Multiple Individuals and Entities in Relationship Investment Scams
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release on Sept. 17, 2024: * * * Schemers allegedly used WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Instagram to lure investors to fake crypto asset trading platforms before stealing their money * * * The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged five entities and three individuals in connection with two relationship investment scams involving fake crypto asset trading platforms NanoBit and CoinW6, respectively. The  more
Smugglers fall flat: CBP seizes more than one million dollar's worth of cocaine concealed within flatbed truck
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: OTAY MESA, Calif. CBP officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility seized over a million dollars' worth of cocaine in a single enforcement action this past week. The seizure occurred on Tuesday, September 10, at approximately 12:40 p.m., when CBP officers encountered a 34-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer and empty flatbed applying for entry from   more
Sunshine Salute Series: Fla. A.G. Moody Recognizes California Deputy Who Answered the Call to Be A Florida Hero
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Sept. 19 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release: Attorney General Ashley Moody is recognizing a Clay County Sheriff's deputy who moved from California to answer the call to Be A Florida Hero. Deputy Colton Harris tells his story in the seventh installment of Attorney General Moody's Thin Line Tribute: Sunshine Salute Series. Deputy Harris, originally from Oakland, California, highlighted the stark difference in serving in Florida versus   more
U.S. Attorney for D.C.: Trafficker Who Smuggled Mass Quantities of Fentanyl From Southern California to DC Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release: Raymond Nava Jr., 20, of Bell Gardens, California., was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that spanned the country and that was responsible for the distribution of kilograms of fentanyl from Southern California to the DMV. Nava - who sold 12,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills and one dozen firearms, including   more
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken Announce Inaugural Convening of International Network of AI Safety Institutes in San Francisco
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce issued the following news release: Commerce and State to co-host convening to advance global cooperation toward the safe, secure, and trustworthy development of artificial intelligence Following Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's announcement of the launch of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes during the AI Seoul Summit in May, the U.S. Commerce Department and U.S. State Department shared today that they will co-host th  more
VP Harris Issues Remarks in Conversation With National Association of Black Journalists at WHYY Studios, Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Sept. 18 -- Vice President Kamala Harris issued the following remarks in a conversation with the National Association of Black Journalists at the WHYY Studios: * * * Q: Let's meet our three moderators for today's discussion. Gerren Keith Gaynor is the White House correspondent and managing editor of politics for TheGrio. Eugene Daniels is co-author of the Politico Playbook and is Politico's White House correspondent. Tonya Mosley is the co-host of NPR and WHYY's "Fr  more
White House Issues Transcript of News Briefing by Press Secretary Jean-Pierre on Sept. 17, 2024
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The White House issued the following transcript of a news briefing on Sept. 17, 2024, by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: * * * MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey. Good afternoon, everyone. Q: Good afternoon. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, thank you. All right. Happy Tuesday. Okay. I have a -- I do have a couple things at the top. So, bear with me here. So, on September 23rd to the 25th, the president will travel to New York City to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations   more