WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recognized outstanding employee performance April 22 in the first in-person Commissioner's Annual Award Ceremony since 2019, in D.C. "The people and accomplishments we are recognizing are representative of the amazing things CBP does every single day, across the country, and around the world," said Troy A. Miller, Senior Offici  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Democrats issued the following news release on April 30, 2024: Last week, the board of the School City of Hammond approved plans to consolidate the district by closing three of the elementary schools. The consolidation is said to save the district $5.6 million and will involve redistricting that will impact over 1,100 students, and 173 educators will be laid off. The day following the decision, the district closed down as many teachers called of  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Democrats issued the following news release on April 30, 2024: Today (April 30), State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) attended the grand opening of the StoryScape early literacy center housed inside the Pontiac Branch of the Allen County Public Library (ACPL). The space is tailored to children seven and under and offers hands-on learning resources and activities that encourage creativity, imagination and curiosity. The new literacy center is a  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Republicans issued the following news release: A new public notification similar to Indiana's Amber Alert will soon help first responders locate missing and at-risk veterans thanks to efforts supported by State Reps. David Abbott (R-Rome City) and Craig Snow (R-Warsaw). A new law, which passed during the 2024 legislative session, will create a Green Alert to notify the public that a veteran or military service member is reported missing and bel  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Republicans issued the following news release: A new public notification similar to Indiana's Amber Alert will soon help first responders locate missing and at-risk veterans thanks to efforts supported by Hancock County lawmakers. A new law, which State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Fishers) co-authored, passed during the 2024 legislative session and will create a Green Alert to notify the public that a veteran or military service member is reported miss  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Republicans issued the following news release: A new public notification similar to Indiana's Amber Alert will soon help first responders locate missing and at-risk veterans thanks to efforts supported by local legislators. A new law, co-authored by State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Fishers), passed during the 2024 legislative session and will create a Green Alert to notify the public that a veteran or military service member is reported missing and be  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana Senate Republicans issued the following news release on April 30, 2024: State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) is highlighting the importance of a new law passed this year to push back against illegal immigration in Indiana. "When the federal government refuses to enforce immigration law, communities all across the U.S. are impacted, which is why I support Indiana's recent decision to deploy 50 Indiana National Guard soldiers to the Texas border," said R  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Republicans issued the following statement on April 29, 2024, by State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer: * * * Food security is national security. That's why I join many Hoosiers and Americans in raising concerns about foreign adversaries like China and Russia ramping up their efforts to buy farmland. Our federal government reports that foreign ownership of U.S. land is up by a staggering 40% since 2016 and we know some of those acres are in the  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 30 -- Indiana State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, issued the following statement on April 29, 2024: * * * House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement celebrating the official start date of Fort Wayne's Downtown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) this upcoming Sunday, May 5: "I am thrilled that the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) provisions of SEA 20 (2023), which I co-sponsored, will finally be able   more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana House Republicans issued the following statement on April 30, 2024, by State Rep. Tim O'Brien, R-Evansville: * * * It is no secret that the Hoosier businesses and workforce that make our state so great are what fuel Indiana's economic engine - and right now it's supercharged. From the small businesses on Main Street to the powerhouse Toyota plant, our area is burgeoning with opportunity. To make sure our region is well-positioned for continued growth  more

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana Senate Democrats issued the following statement on April 30, 2024, by State Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend: * * * REAL Services, a FSSA-funded social services program, plans to lay off 65 employees due to transition to PathWays to Aging. State Senator David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) released the following response: "I am concerned and disappointed in the decision to layoff employees. The local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) play an important part   more

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana, May 1 -- The Indiana Senate Democrats issued the following statement on April 29, 2024, by State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton: * * * The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Legacy Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Surface Impoundment Rule. This will extend federal monitoring and clean-up requirements to hundreds of previously excluded older coal ask landfills. State Senator Rodney Pol Jr. (D-Chesterton), a staunch proponent of coal ash clean up, released   more

PIERRE, South Dakota, May 1 -- Gov. Kristi Noem, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on April 30, 2024: Today, Governor Kristi Noem and 52 of her fellow governors oppose legislation that disregards gubernatorial authority over the National Guard, Legislative Proposal 480. The bipartisan group of governors sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The full letter can be found here. Governor Noem understands the importance of her role as Commander in Chief of the Sou  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 1 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news on April 30, 2024: On Tuesday, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led six states in suing the federal Department of Education (DOE) to challenge its dangerous overhaul of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act, which would harm Tennessee students, families, and schools. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and is being co-led by Ke  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release: We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are seeking public comment on a draft habitat conservation plan and environmental assessment for the Prosperity Wind Project in Piatt County, Illinois. The draft plan accompanies an Endangered Species Act permit application by Prosperity Wind, LLC for limited, unintentional take of two endangered species, the Indiana bat and northe  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 1 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over "concerning comments [he] made regarding our country's elections and election security laws passed by the states." The letter was led by the States of Indiana and West Virginia and warns the DOJ against its "intimidation and fearmongering." The letter highlights Garland's claim that democracy is under attack b  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, May 1 -- Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares issued the following news release on April 30, 2024: On Tuesday, Attorney General Jason Miyares joined a six-state coalition in suing the federal Department of Education (DOE) to challenge its dangerous overhaul of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act, which would harm Virginia students, families, and schools. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. "The Biden Administra  more