WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (TNSrep) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: Here are excerpts: * * * Fast Facts Most electoral campaigns are privately financed. But some states and localities offer programs through which candidates running for state or local offices can use public funds for their campaigns. We reviewed 5 public financing programs. They all required candidates to collect a specific number of contributions to qualify and then adhere to spending limits.   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Department of Education (DOE) is seeking applications from parent organizations for its Special Education Parent Information Centers (PTIs) program. This initiative aims to empower parents of children with disabilities by providing them with essential training and resources. Funding Available for Parent-Led Organizations The program prioritizes applications from parent organizations with diverse leadership encompassing parents of children with disabilities, special e  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has announced an extension for the use of a key assessment tool within the National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS). This decision provides a grace period for states and local adult education providers as they transition to updated testing measures. The test in question, previously slated to expire on February 5, 2025, will now remain valid for use until June 30, 2025. This extension aims to ensure a seamless transition an  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his nominees to the United States Service Academies. A nomination is required to attend the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. Being nominated is a significant honor. The application process is rigor  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued a request for comments in the Federal Register on Dec. 16, 2024, entitled "Endangered Species; Recovery Permit Applications". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct scientific research to promote conservation or other activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered species under the Endangere  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), alongside Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ben Cardin (D-Md), announced the unanimous passage of the Chesapeake National Recreation Act by the United States Senate. The bipartisan, bicameral bill would unite a series of voluntarily contributed sites and iconic Bay properties under the National Park Service (NPS) to create a Chesapeake National R  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) announced $7,393,350 in federal funding to strengthen security at 50 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious community centers across Maryl  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland issued the following news release: * * * Used fraudulently obtained loan proceeds to engage in high frequency trading and to purchase Lincoln Navigator * * * Today, Melvin Thompson Jr., 34, of Chestertown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return in connection with submitting fraudulent loan applications. Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the Di  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: Where did you grow up? I grew up in a small town in Vermont. I spent most of my childhood outside in nature, driving my interest in environmental science. Being from a landlocked state, I was always eager to visit and explore the ocean. This ultimately motivated me to study both marine and environmental sciences in college. Kelsi conducting a creel intercept survey with a shore fisherman in   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release: Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"); and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), announ  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following news release: NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD The U.S. Navy announced today that it has awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a $3,459,276,000 contract to conduct the mission-systems integration for the E-130J, which will be the successor to the E-6B Mercury for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of Melbourne, Florida, will serve as the prime contractor to   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. John P. Sarbanes, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT), a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee, introduced new legislation to institute major reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In 2007, Congressman Sarbanes au  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release: Christopher Green, 38, of Washington D.C., was found guilty today of racketeering and other counts in connection with a 2017 shooting in Southwest that led to the death of a swim coach. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Chief Marc Yamada of the Montgom  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. John P. Sarbanes, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman John Sarbanes (both D-Md.) announced the unanimous passage of the Chesapeake National Recreation Act by the United States Senate. The bipartisan, bicameral bill, introduced in July 2023 by Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes, would unite a series of voluntarily contributed sites and iconic Bay properties under the National Park Service (NPS) to cre  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded congressional passage of the S.4367, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which will help maintain clean drinking water across the country and includes key provisions to support the local oyster industry, strengthen Virginia's coastal resiliency, improve recreational access to Virginia's waterways, and encourage the dred  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded congressional passage of the S.4367, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which will help maintain clean drinking water across the country and includes key provisions to support the local oyster industry, strengthen Virginia's coastal resiliency, improve recreational access to Virginia's waterways, and encourage the dredg  more