National News

LENEXA, Kan. – On March 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced final national greenhouse gas pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles, such as freight trucks and buses, for model years 2027 through 2032. The standards will avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and provide $13 billion in annualized net benefits to society related to public health, the climate, and savings for truck owners […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Social Security Administration has published a final rule, “Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) Calculations.” The final rule announces the first of several updates to the agency’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. “A vital part of our mission is helping

LENEXA, Kan. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is honoring three ENERGY STAR® partners for their outstanding leadership in support of the clean energy transition. ENERGY STAR award winners represent the program’s top partners and will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25.   Copeland and Emerson

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley has announced he is taking four vital steps to immediately address overpayment issues customers and the agency have experienced. Commissioner O’Malley testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance (excerpt):   “For 88 years, the hard-working employees of the

LENEXA, Kan. – Yesterday, in celebration of National Agriculture Day, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan issued the following statement:  “Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commemorates National Agriculture Day, recognizing the invaluable contributions of America’s farmers and ranchers to our nation and the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to our agricultural producers,

LENEXA, Kan. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of nearly $24 million in grants to support states, U.S. territories, and Tribes in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention practices. The funding is available through two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for EPA’s Pollution Prevention program, with approximately

CPSC warns that narcotics and water beads are growing risks facing young children WASHINGTON, D.C. – During National Poison Prevention Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is highlighting serious, growing hazards facing young children, including a surge in unintentional poisoning from narcotics, and additional hazards identified with water bead products.    CPSC’s Annual Report

ATANTA, Georgia – Last month CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on

LENEXA, KAN. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized 103 U.S. manufacturing plants, including four in Region 7 states, that earned the Agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2023, a designation reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25% of energy efficiency in their sector.   Together, these plants prevented more than 8 million