WASHINGTON – Secretary Sally Jewell announced today that the Interior Department will launch a comprehensive review to identify and evaluate potential reforms to the federal coal program in order to ensure that it is properly structured to provide a fair return to taxpayers and reflect its impacts on the environment, while continuing to help meet […]readmore
Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), have welcomed seven new members to the Caucus, bringing the group’s membership to 30. The new members include Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Rob […]readmore
PAWTUCKET, RI – The National Park Service (NPS) is commemorating its 100th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, entrance fees will be waived at all national parks on 16 special days in 2016. The first fee-free day is this coming Monday, January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The other entrance fee-free […]readmore
Nelson Zaragoza came to the United States 36 years ago, when Democrat Jimmy Carter was president. He arrived illegally from El Salvador and years later earned his U.S. citizenship. But now, standing across the street from the White House in a bright yellow shirt, sunglasses and a brown hat, he is in his first day […]readmore
STATE DEPARTMENT – Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Europe, the Middle East and Asia next week, where he is expected to hold talks on issues including the upcoming U.N.-led political talks on Syria and tensions with North Korea. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Friday that Kerry will travel to Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, […]readmore
Associated Press HONOLULU-The U.S. Coast Guard says two Marine helicopters have collided off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers tells The Associated Press that each aircraft had six people aboard. She says a debris field has been spotted off the coast. Marine Capt. Timothy Irish confirmed to the AP […]readmore
U.S retail sales fell 0.1 percent in December, ending a very disappointing year for holiday sales and raising new concerns about consumer spending in 2016. All told, retail sales rose 2.1 percent for all of of 2015, a far cry from the 3.9 percent gain the year before. Much of the downward pressure has been […]readmore
VOA News U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has announced that Army General Joseph Votel will be nominated as commander of U.S. Central Command, which overseas operations in Iraq and Syria. Carter said Thursday Votel was his «only recommendation to the president.» Votel, who heads special operations forces, would take over leadership of U.S. Central Command, […]readmore
WASHINGTON – In just over a month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $8.5 million in low-interest disaster loans for 242 businesses and residents in the areas affected by Superstorm Sandy. The SBA on Dec. 2 reopened the disaster loan filing period for businesses and residents recovering from Superstorm Sandy. “The […]readmore
Reuters MIAMI —A judge in Miami on Thursday ordered the transfer to Texas of a Venezuelan businessman accused by U.S. prosecutors of taking part in a $1 billionconspiracy to pay bribes to obtain contracts from Venezuela’s state oil company. U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea Simonton deferred to a federal judge in Houston on whether Abraham Jose […]readmore