U.S. Government News

FTC Consumer Alert: Television is Going Digital: Get the Picture:

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:13:39 PST

Big changes are coming to your television. But they have nothing to do with summer re-runs or the new fall season. These changes involve the transition to digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009.

Disaster Officials Urge Applicants to Save Receipts

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:09:59 PST

If you received rental funds or other disaster aid as a result of the June storms, save your receipts, disaster-management officials said.

Drug Testing: New DOT Rule Makes Cheating on Drug Testing Harder

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:20:25 PST

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today a new rule that will make it more difficult for transportation workers to cheat on their required drug tests by requiring drug testing labs to analyze every test for tampering

84,000 Fireworks recalled by Fireworks Over America

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:05:24 PST

84,000 Fireworks recalled by Fireworks Over America

What You Need to Know About Cholesterol

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:06:01 PST

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the U.S. Each year more than a million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million people die from heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries.

Working at home in 2007

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:58:46 PST

Multiple jobholders were much more likely to work at home than were single jobholders—31 versus 18 percent.

Opening of Military Airspace for July Fourth Weekend

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:41:43 PST

The U.S. military will again make airspace available for commercial airline flights off the East Coast during the July Fourth weekend to help reduce delays for air travelers, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today. The airspace released by the military over the upcoming weekend will allow airlines to plan alternate routes in one of the country’s most heavily flown aviation corridors.

What Makes the Colors in Fireworks?

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:41:34 PST

Every Independence Day, Americans all around the country are drawn to spectacular fireworks displays. But what makes the colors so vivid?

Travel Tips for Busy Summer Season

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:34:48 PST

In anticipation of the busy summer travel season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides a few travel tips, if you are traveling abroad, returning home or visiting the United States or its Territories:

Brown Sues Countrywide For Mortgage Deception

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:13:36 PST

California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued Countrywide Financial, its chief executive Angelo Mozilo, and president David Sambol, for engaging in deceptive advertising and unfair competition by pushing homeowners into mass-produced, risky loans for the sole purpose of reselling the mortgages on the secondary market.

Hand Hygiene Saves Lives: Patient Admission Video

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:06:24 PST

This video, available in English and Spanish, teaches two key points to hospital patients and visitors to help prevent infections: the importance of practicing hand hygiene while in the hospital, and that it is appropriate to ask or remind their healthcare providers to practice hand hygiene as well.

Labor Day 2008: Sept. 1, Facts, Features & Statistics

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:02:27 PST

The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing a “Labor Day” on one day or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.

Cal/OSHA issues workplace advisory for Northern California workers

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:54:37 PST

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH or Cal/OSHA) is advising employers and workers in Northern California to protect themselves from the smoke created by the many wildfires burning around the state if they are required to work outdoors.

Don’t Let Sparks Fly This 4th of July

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:11:26 PST

With the July 4 holiday approaching, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reminding the traveling public that they are not permitted to carry fireworks, including the smallest sparklers, aboard aircraft. This includes both carry-on and checked bags because of the tremendous fire risk they pose to aircraft in the air and on the ground. Fines for passengers who break the rules are stiff.

Man guilty of cheating casinos out of millions of dollars in racketeering case

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:05:50 PST

The San Diego indictment also charged five separate individuals each with one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the U.S., including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

United States Mint Unveils Design for First U.S. Coin with Readable Braille

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:41:33 PST

The United States Mint is proud to present the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coin design. It will be the first coin ever minted in the history of our country to contain readable Braille characters," said Director Moy. "I am looking forward to presenting the design for this unprecedented coin, and I am pleased that the United States Mint is playing a role in the cause of bringing literacy to all blind and visually impaired Americans."

Pyramid Scheme Operator Settles FTC Charges

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:03:33 PST

An operator who used deceptive earnings promises to recruit consumers for a multi-level marketing operation that was a pyramid scheme has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the operation was illegal and violated federal law. The settlement bars the defendant from participating in any pyramid scheme or other prohibited marketing scheme, bars false earning claims, and requires him to give up $20,000 in ill-gotten gains.

USGS Accelerates Access to Satellite Data

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:59:01 PST

Federal and state agencies that need satellite imagery from commercial sources will find it much easier to acquire the data through a streamlined process managed by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Renting a Car for the July 4th Weekend?

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:53:19 PST

I.I.I. Warns Consumers to Double-Check Coverage; Hidden Administrative Fees and Other Charges Could Add Up If Not Properly Insured

$30 Million Reduction for Fireman's Fund Homeowners Policyholders

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:17:16 PST

Bay Area Policyholders to Enjoy $1.7 Million in Savings