Tuesday, January 19States Top Leading News (STL.News)

Tag: Trump administration

US Government to revoke the license to sell product to Huawei
18Jan By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

US Government to revoke the license to sell product to Huawei

(STL.News) The Trump administration is revoking certain licenses to sell the semiconductor products from Chinese firm Huawei and intends to reject dozens of other applications to supply the telecommunications firm. Wikipedia page - China-US relations ? YouTube video provided courtesy of WION News
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US approves sale of 4 “Weapons Ready” MQ-9 to Taiwan
7Nov By STLNEWSNo Comments
General

US approves sale of 4 “Weapons Ready” MQ-9 to Taiwan

(STL.News) The Trump administration has notified Congress that it approved the sale of $600 million in armed MQ-9B drones and related equipment to Taiwan.  The deal will enable Taiwan’s to acquire four “weapons ready” remotely piloted aircraft and related equipment. This is the latest in a series of arms transfers for the island. Viewers may note that the US Department of State before this has approved the sale of 11 truck-based rocket launchers made by Lockheed Martin Corp called HIMARS ( High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), 135 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) Missiles, and 6 MS-110 Recce external sensor pods made by Collins Aerospace for jets in a deal worth $1.8 billion. The administration has also approved plans for a $2.37 billion sale of Harpoon...
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Iowa Governor Reynolds applauds Trump Administration’s High-Speed Broadband Investment
22Oct By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Iowa Governor Reynolds applauds Trump Administration’s High-Speed Broadband Investment

Des Moines, IA (STL.News) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it is investing $24 million to provide broadband internet in rural communities across the state of Iowa.  The investment is part of the ReConnect Program. “Improving broadband internet access will help Iowa communities thrive, and this federal investment builds on efforts we have underway through my empower rural Iowa initiative,” said Gov. Reynolds.  “By leveraging state, federal, and private resources, we can open the door for greater innovation and breakthroughs, setting the stage for future economic growth in all corners of Iowa.  I appreciate President Trump and his Administration for being a partner in our efforts to invest in rural Iowa.” In December of 2018, USDA announced the “ReCon...
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Trump Administration Invests $268 Million in Rural Water in 28 States
22Sep By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Trump Administration Invests $268 Million in Rural Water in 28 States

Trump Administration Invests $268 Million in Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in 28 States Projects Will Improve Rural Water Infrastructure for 267,000 Rural Residents and Businesses WASHINGTON, DC (STL.News) The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $268 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across 28 states (PDF, 222 KB). “Upgrading the infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water and modern wastewater management facilities will improve public health and drive economic development in our small towns and cities,” Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said.  “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is a st...
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Trump Administration Combating Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use with Plan to Clear Market of Unauthorized, Non-Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarette Products
12Sep By STLNEWSNo Comments
General

Trump Administration Combating Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use with Plan to Clear Market of Unauthorized, Non-Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarette Products

FDA compliance policy would prioritize enforcement of premarket authorization requirements for non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes SILVER SPRING, MD (STL.News) - Today, the Trump Administration announced that as part of its ongoing work to tackle the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, the FDA intends to finalize a compliance policy in the coming weeks that would prioritize the agency's enforcement of the premarket authorization requirements for non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol, clearing the market of unauthorized, non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products.  The FDA plans to share more on the specific details of the plan and its implementation soon. "The Trump Administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse...
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Attorney General Becerra: Final Judgment Filed Permanently Blocking Citizenship Question on 2020 Census
4Aug By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Attorney General Becerra: Final Judgment Filed Permanently Blocking Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

SACRAMENTO, CA (STL.News) – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued the following statement after a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a judgment in accordance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June permanently barring the Trump Administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census: “This judgement closes the door on any further attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census – once and for all,” said Attorney General Becerra.  “Now it’s time to get to work to ensure a thorough and accurate count takes place next year.  We strongly encourage everyone to participate in the 2020 census.”
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New York Attorney General James Joins Coalition To Challenge Trump’s Attack On Asylum Seekers
4Aug By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

New York Attorney General James Joins Coalition To Challenge Trump’s Attack On Asylum Seekers

21 Attorneys General Argue Changes to Asylum Standards Violate Federal Law and Judicial Precedent NEW YORK (STL.News) - New York Attorney General Letitia James Friday joined a group of 21 State Attorneys General to challenge the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to asylum standards.  If implemented, these changes would allow the President to arbitrarily deny asylum claims to immigrants seeking haven from domestic or gang violence.  In an amicus brief filed in Grace v. Barr before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Attorneys General argue that these stringent revisions — which would effectively bar asylum claims based on domestic or gang-related violence — go against longstanding federal law and judicial precedent, undermining the rule of law ...
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Nevada Attorney General Ford Joins 15 State Coalition Protecting Long-Term Liberian Residents of the US
4Aug By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Nevada Attorney General Ford Joins 15 State Coalition Protecting Long-Term Liberian Residents of the US

Brief Defends Deferred Enforced Departure for Families Carson City, NV (STL.News) - Friday, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford joined a coalition of 15 states in filing an amicus brief in support of legal action to halt the Trump Administration’s termination of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for thousands of Liberians who have been living, working and raising their families in the U.S. for decades. In the brief, the attorneys general argue to preserve DED, an immigration program authorized by the president to protect foreign nationals whose countries have experienced armed conflict, civil unrest, natural disasters or public health crises.  The states believe that the Trump Administration’s attempt to terminate DED will inflict widespread harm on Liberian families and their communiti...
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Virginia AG Herring challenges Trump’s move to gut protections for asylum seekers fleeing persecution
4Aug By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Virginia AG Herring challenges Trump’s move to gut protections for asylum seekers fleeing persecution

21 attorneys general argue changes to asylum standards violate federal law and judicial precedent RICHMOND, VA (STL.News) - Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring Friday joined a group of 21 state attorneys general to challenge the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to asylum standards. If implemented, these changes would allow the executive branch to arbitrarily deny asylum claims to immigrants seeking haven from domestic or gang violence. In an amicus brief filed in Grace v. Barr before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Attorney General Herring and his colleagues argue that these stringent revisions—which would effectively bar asylum claims based on domestic or gang-related violence—go against longstanding federal law and judicial precedent,...
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California Governor Gavin Newsom Condemns Trump Administration Plan to Resume Federal Death Penalty Executions
25Jul By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

California Governor Gavin Newsom Condemns Trump Administration Plan to Resume Federal Death Penalty Executions

SACRAMENTO, CA (STL.News) - California Governor Gavin Newsom today condemned news that the Trump administration plans to resume executions in federal prisons: “The Trump administration has chosen to join North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Russia’s Putin in executing their citizens,” said Governor Newsom.  “The intentional killing of another person is wrong, and our death penalty system has been, by all measures, a failure.  It has discriminated against defendants who are mentally ill, black and brown, or can’t afford expensive legal representation.  It has provided no public safety benefit or value as a deterrent.  It has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars.  Most of all, the death penalty is absolute.  It’s irreversible and irreparable in the event of human error.”...
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NAACP responds to Trump Administration’s decision to abandon attempt to add citizenship question to census
4Jul By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

NAACP responds to Trump Administration’s decision to abandon attempt to add citizenship question to census

(STL.News) - The NAACP released the following statement yesterday: The following statement is from Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of NAACP on the Trump Administration’s decision not to include the controversial citizenship question to the 2020 Census: “The Trump administration’s decision today to abandon its attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census is a victory for democracy.  It is the outcome we have been fighting for all along.  The administration deliberately sought to increase the political power of whites at the expense of already underrepresented communities.  When the Supreme Court rejected its pretextual justification for the question last week, the writing was on the wall.” “The Census is too important to be tainted or compromised. It determines our politica...
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Washington State: Attorney General Ferguson Statement on Latest Suit Against the Trump Administration’s EPA
2Jul By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Washington State: Attorney General Ferguson Statement on Latest Suit Against the Trump Administration’s EPA

Lawsuit seeks to force the EPA to ensure adequate data is collected on asbestos SEATTLE, WA (STL.News) - State of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson offered the following statement yesterday after Ferguson filed his 40th lawsuit against the Trump Administration.  The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, seeks to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect adequate data on the importation and use of asbestos in the United States: “The EPA can’t adequately assess the human health risks posed by asbestos if it doesn’t even know how much of this highly toxic substance is coming into the country,” Ferguson said.  “Asbestos is a dangerous pollutant, posing significant and life-threatening risks to people who are exposed to it.  The Trump Administration should...
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Colorado News: Trump Administration proposes drill everywhere plan for Western Colorado
29Jun By STLNEWSNo Comments
Conservation - DNR

Colorado News: Trump Administration proposes drill everywhere plan for Western Colorado

DENVER, CO (STL.News) - Friday the Bureau of Land Management announced a plan allowing the gas drilling industry to dominate Colorado’s idyllic North Fork Valley with new oil and gas leasing.  The plan failed to adopt a community-supported proposal that was under consideration by the agency to protect the water supply, wildlife and scenery of the North Fork Valley. Previously, the North Fork Valley community has fought back three previous attempts to lease public lands for drilling close to the towns of Crawford, Hotchkiss and Paonia while the agency worked to complete its land use plan.  The final resource management plan for the area will guide management of public lands for decades to come. The Western Slope Conservation Center issued the following statement from Patrick Dooling, Exec...
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California Attorney General Becerra Joins Multistate Coalition Criticizing Harmful Changes to Joint Employment Standards
26Jun By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

California Attorney General Becerra Joins Multistate Coalition Criticizing Harmful Changes to Joint Employment Standards

SACRAMENTO, CA (STL.News) - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra yesterday joined a multi state coalition opposing the Trump Administration’s proposed rule that would severely narrow joint employer liability under the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  In a comment letter, the Attorneys General argue that the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed rule would make labor law enforcement more difficult and could result in less accountability for indirect employers who nevertheless control working conditions affecting millions of vulnerable workers across the country. “Our labor laws should enforce protections, not create loopholes for bad actors who disregard them,” said Attorney General Becerra.  “Under this proposed rule, those who set the conditions of employment for workers wo...
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Washington Attorney General Ferguson Sues Trump Administration Over Reversal of Water Quality Protections
7Jun By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Washington Attorney General Ferguson Sues Trump Administration Over Reversal of Water Quality Protections

EPA’s revision violates Clean Water Act, lawsuit argues OLYMPIA, WA (STL.News) - Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to revise Washington’s water quality standards.  These standards, which apply specifically to Washington, are used to determine how clean the state’s waters must be in order to protect human health. Revising the standards now, the lawsuit argues, would create confusion and disrupt the work Washington has already completed to meet the standards.  The revision is a violation of the Clean Water Act, which only allows the EPA to revise an existing standard if the standard is not stringent enough — which is not the case with Washingt...
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President Trump Administration Announces Strategy to Strengthen America’s Economy, Defense
5Jun By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

President Trump Administration Announces Strategy to Strengthen America’s Economy, Defense

Interior to Support Critical Minerals Strategy through Faster Permitting, Better Information, Nationwide Examination of Minerals Potential WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) - Yesterday, the Trump Administration released, “A Federal Strategy to Ensure a Reliable Supply of Critical Minerals,” to make America’s economy and defense more secure.  The strategy directs the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to locate domestic supplies of those minerals, ensure access to information necessary for the study and production of minerals, and expedite permitting for minerals projects. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, today’s federal strategy lays out a blueprint for America to once again be a leader in the critical minerals sector,” said Secretary David Bernhardt.  “As with our energy security, the ...
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Washington State Attorney General’s 22nd Legal Victory Against the Trump Administration
11May By STLNEWSNo Comments
Politics

Washington State Attorney General’s 22nd Legal Victory Against the Trump Administration

EPA will pay $6,000 for Ferguson’s attorney fees in lawsuit over FOIA request OLYMPIA, WA (STL.News) — As a result of Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s lawsuit, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided more than 1,700 pages of communications previously not made public between the EPA and advisory committee members in the wake of its 2017 policy barring scientists who receive grants from the agency from serving on the committees. In addition to providing the documents, the EPA must pay $6,000 in attorney costs and fees to the Washington Attorney General’s Office to resolve the case. In May of 2018, Ferguson filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington after the EPA failed to respond to his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.  The F...
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