National News

Keep warm, keep working: Cold weather safety tips

Winter is quickly approaching, so it is time to think about your safety when preparing for the winter months. When working outside in the cold, wear layers of clothing to stay warm, i.e., thermal undergarments, insulated pants, coats and overalls.  Frostbite can occur in the cold temperatures especially when bare skin is exposed. Symptoms include […]

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Illinois farmer, Kenneth Hartman Jr., becomes president of the National Corn Growers Association

WASHINGTON – Kenneth R. Hartman Jr., a corn farmer from Waterloo, Ill., began his term this week as president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). During meetings with the media, Hartman discussed the current economic challenges corn growers face and said he wanted to push for passage of a robust farm bill, expand markets and

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Helpful SSI changes reducing customer burden take effect

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Security Administration policy updates that expand access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in line with the law go into effect today.  The agency no longer includes food in In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) calculations, has expanded its rental subsidy policy exception, and has expanded the definition of a public assistance household.

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EPA releases new tools to help small, rural, and tribal communities with lagoons manage wastewater and protect water bodies

LENEXA, KAN. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released resource tools to help protect public health and local water bodies in communities that rely on lagoons for wastewater management.   Lagoon wastewater treatment systems are typically used in communities that are smaller than 3,000 people and can lack the necessary financial and technical resources to

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EPA makes $965M available to fund clean school buses that reduce pollution, save money, and protect children’s health

LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT 27, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the latest round of funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program with up to $965 million available to school districts. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda continues to accelerate the transition of the nearly 500,000 school buses in America to cleaner technologies, helping

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Biden-Harris Administration announces new resources to retrofit and weatherize affordable homes in America

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of new guidance and resources to support the rapid retrofitting and weatherization of America’s affordable housing stock. HUD launched a new technical assistance guide to leveraging federal funds to retrofit affordable homes and updated its funding navigator tool to improve the user experience by showcasing how

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EPA launches nationwide Environmental Justice Climate Corps

LENEXA, KAN. – Yesterday, September 25, in commemoration of Climate Week NYC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and AmeriCorps announced the Environmental Justice Climate Corps, a new partnership launched as part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps to open doors for people to serve in careers that benefit disadvantaged and other low-income communities. This partnership will

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Biden-Harris Administration announces funding availability for Delta Workforce Program

CLARKSDALE, MISS. – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has announced funding availability for the Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP), an initiative supporting workforce training and education programs throughout the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. Funding for this program is made available, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden — a

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Hispanic entrepreneurship at the forefront of the American business boom

By Mindy Brissey, U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each year from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month as a time to recognize the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the Hispanic communities in the United States. The American dream of small business ownership is

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EPA’s 12th Annual SepticSmart Week: Do Your Part, Be SepticSmart!

LENEXA, KAN. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is joining states, Tribes and local partners in celebrating SepticSmart Week from Sept. 16-20 and to provide homeowners and renters with information about protecting public health and properly maintaining septic systems. This weeklong, nationwide public education campaign is helpful for the one-fifth of U.S. households that use

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