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WASHINGTON — The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, is set to face questions from House lawmakers on Tuesday about the federal government's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton that caused catastrophic damage in the Southeast. “And FEMA leadership didn’t take action against this supervisor until the press exposed this discrimination," his remarks say. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a lawsuit against Criswell and Washington last week over the incident. More than 220 people died from Hurricane Helene in late September, which hit Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. At least 17 people died during Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida hard in early October.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Deanne, Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Criswell, James Comer, Comer, Ashley Moody, Donald Trump's, Trump, Biden, Hurricane Helene Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricanes, Transportation, House Republicans, FEMA, Trump, Fox News, House Homeland Security Committee, Criswell, Hurricane Milton Locations: Florida, Marn’i Washington, United States, Ky, Highlands County , Florida, Washington, Hurricane, Georgia , Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina

☆ Ramaswamy's 'jackhammer and chain saw' plan to force federal workers back into the office.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Reporter For Nbc News. She Is Based In Washington. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Vacant federal office space in downtown Washington is costly to maintain and a deep source of frustration to Mayor Muriel Bowser. She told reporters last week that she had requested a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and that top on her agenda is pushing federal workers to return to downtown Washington. All told, the U.S. has roughly 2.2 million federal workers. With fewer people in the office, the cost of excess federal office space has become a concern. In 2004, a little over 750,000 federal workers were eligible to work from home.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk's, Muriel Bowser, Donald Trump, ” Bowser, “, Ramaswamy, Tucker Carlson, ”, ” Ramaswamy, ” Jacqueline Simon, Musk’s, Kamil Krzaczynski, Simon, Joe Biden, George W, Bush Organizations: Management, American Federation of Government Employees, Bureau of Prisons, NBC, Patrol, Office, Republican, Republican National Convention, Getty, Education Department, OMB, Personnel Management Locations: Washington, ”, U.S, Milwaukee, AFP

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Trump, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. "I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," he wrote. "For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health." Donald Trump Jr. also shared the news on X. Azar replaced the first Trump-appointed health secretary, Tom Price, who resigned over his use of private jets for government business, costing U.S. taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Persons: Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Kennedy, Trump “, ”, —, Ben Carson, Trump's, Bobby Jindal, Sen, Bill Cassidy, “, Richard Besser, “ I’m, ” Besser, Alex Azar, Azar, Tom Price Organizations: Department of Health, Human Services, United, Health, Public Health, Trump, HHS, for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Centers, Medicare, Services, Children’s Health Defense, Louisiana Gov, state's Department of Health, Hospitals, Education, Labor, Pensions, “ RFK, FDA, NBC News, U.S, CNBC Locations: U.S

The exact number of people who could face deportation after arriving in the U.S. legally is not known, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Trump’s plan to end the two Biden programs comes as the president-elect’s promised plan to carry out mass deportations is taking clearer shape. The sources cautioned, though, that they may not be considered top priorities for deportation after Trump takes office, but could still be deported eventually. Since the migrants entered the U.S. legally, any attempt by Trump to deport them will likely be challenged in court by various groups. Trump used a similar policy at the end of his first term when the U.S. deported migrants from third countries to Guatemala.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Biden, elect’s, Trump, Trump’s Organizations: U.S, NBC News, Biden, NBC, Migrants, Trump, CBP, Enforcement Locations: U.S, United States, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Guatemala

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire stand to reap massive rewards if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. Elon Musk joins former US President Donald Trump during a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Oct. 5, 2024. “I love Elon Musk,” Trump said at a rally in July. It’s not clear how Musk and Trump would navigate the ethical questions around a possible government role for the tech billionaire. “He would be in much less trouble in a Trump administration because Trump shares his hostility to regulation and regulators,” Richard Pierce, a law professor at George Washington University specializing in government regulation, told NBC News in an interview earlier this year.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Musk, Trump, Vladimir Putin, SpaceX, ” Musk, Brian Hughes, ”, ” Hughes, Justin Merriman, ” Trump, “, walling, Kamala Harris, Harris, Biden, Larry Krasner, ” Richard Pierce, John Raoux, Angela Aneiros, ” Aneiros, Tesla, There’s, SpaceX countersued, • Tesla, ” SpaceX, Starlink, Justice Department —, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, he’s, SpaceX’s, Kamala Organizations: Tech, Trump, Musk’s, SpaceX, China —, U.S, Wall Street, NBC News, Boeing, Fox News, Bloomberg, Getty Images Trump, D.C, Trump Organization, Budget, America PAC, Philadelphia, George Washington University, Tesla, Co, Kennedy Space Center, Gonzaga University, university’s Center of Law, & Commerce, Justice Department, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Street, Justice, Employment, Commission, National Labor Relations Board, SEC, Twitter, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Safety, Health Administration, NLRB, Reuters, Defense Department, NASA, International, White, National Space Council Locations: China, United States, Taiwan, Ukraine, Washington, Trump’s, Pennsylvania, Butler, Pa, Palm Beach , Florida, Texas, California, Cape Canaveral, Fla, Los Angeles, Austin, Mars

The move could prompt legal challenges, as a similar policy did in the first Trump administration. To pressure local law enforcement agencies to cooperate, the Trump team would cut off their access to Justice Department grants, the three sources said. After an appeals court sided with the Trump administration, the Democratic-controlled states appealed to the Supreme Court. And that legal maneuver, in essence, ran out the clock on the first Trump administration. Vitiello said a second Trump administration would also offer additional funding to state and local police departments that participate in the mass deportations.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Ron Vitiello, ” Vitiello, Ronald Vitiello, Tom Williams, Harris, Byrne, Joe Biden, Vitiello Organizations: NBC News, Trump, Democratic, Justice, Getty, ICE, Biden, American Immigration Council, Justice Department, The Justice Department, Byrne JAG, Supreme Locations: Washington, Chicago, California, U.S, New York

☆ A federal disaster fund has drawn 50,000 applications after twin hurricanes. One problem: It’s out of money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Laura Strickler | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Frank-Thorp-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

About 54,000 have applied for low-interest loans from a disaster fund operated by the Small Business Administration, but the money has all dried up. The SBA disaster loan fund remains a major source of money for businesses obliterated by natural disasters, according to the Congressional Research Service. “While we await Congress to provide much-needed funding, we strongly encourage eligible businesses and households to apply for SBA disaster loans. " Before the funding ran out, about 750 had been approved to receive loan money totaling $48 million, according to the SBA. He's reluctant to apply for an SBA loan because of his precarious financial situation.

Persons: Lucious Wilson, Hurricane Helene, “, ”, reconvenes, Isabel Casillas Guzman, Kristen Welker, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Wilson, he's, He's Organizations: NBC News, Wedge Brewery, Small Business Administration, Biden, NBC, SBA, Congressional Research Service, Press Locations: Asheville , North Carolina, Asheville, N.C

An armed North Carolina man was arrested after it was reported that he had made comments about “possibly harming FEMA employees” involved in hurricane relief efforts in the state, authorities said. William Jacob Parsons, 44, was arrested Saturday after the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office received a call saying the caller witnessed Parsons making threatening comments about Federal Emergency Management Agency responders in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. He was charged with “Going Armed to the Terror of the Public,” the sheriff’s office said. In Ashe County, FEMA operations were briefly put on pause in response to the threats and resumed today, the county sheriff’s office said on Facebook. “FEMA continues to support communities impacted by Helene and help survivors apply for assistance,” a FEMA spokesperson said.

Persons: William Jacob Parsons, Parsons, “, ‘, ’ ”, Shayne Martin, Hurricane Helene, Donald Trump, Helene, ”, ” Parson, Alejandro Mayorkas, Trump Organizations: FEMA, Sheriff’s, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington Post, U.S . Forest Service, National Guard, ’, NBC News, Forest Service, North Carolina National Guard, Facebook, . Homeland, Institute for Strategic, North Carolina Department of Public Locations: North Carolina, Rutherford, Lake Lure, Rutherford County, U.S, N.C, Lure, Ashe County, Madison County, Asheville, London

“Yes, we have the resources that we need, both for the Helene response and for Hurricane Milton,” Keith Turi, FEMA’s acting associate administrator, said this week. Staffing at the federal disaster response agency has drawn criticism in recent years from the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog. In that same report, the GAO found that as of July 2022, FEMA was involved in responding to 500 open disasters. NBC News reported last week that FEMA put out a call for volunteers for a “surge force” in mid-September, citing a “severe shortfall” in some of its disaster response teams. In an interview, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the numbers cited fail to take into account other full-time staff members who are deployed as needed.

Persons: —, Milton’s, Helene, Hurricane Milton, ” Keith Turi, FEMA’s, “, Milton, Craig Fugate, ” Christopher P, Currie, ”, ” Currie, Deanne Criswell Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricane, White, FEMA, NBC, Office, Homeland Security, Justice, GAO, NBC News Locations: Florida, ”

☆ House GOP chairman demands FEMA accountability for Hurricane Helene after flooding claims more than 200 lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Reporter For Nbc News. She Is Based In Washington. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The chairman of a House Homeland Security subcommittee is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to detail what it did to prepare for Hurricane Helene after it became clear there would be catastrophic flooding. Helene made landfall in Big Bend, Florida, on Sept. 26, causing flooding that devastated North Carolina, Tennessee and other Southern states and claimed more than 200 lives. D’Esposito, R-N.Y., cited a local official from Buncombe County, North Carolina, who claimed that water was requested before the storm started but was delayed, further exacerbating the water shortage in Asheville. Post-landfall, it “surged capacity to where it was needed the most.” She noted that western North Carolina has now been identified as the area that was hardest hit. More than 6,400 federal personnel, including FEMA staff, are deployed in the affected areas.

Persons: Helene, Anthony D’Esposito, Deanne Criswell, ”, Hurricane Helene, Liz Sherwood, Randall, “, Donald Trump, Sen, Thom Tillis, Chuck Edwards, ” Edwards Organizations: House Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Management, Technology, FEMA, NBC News, North Carolina Republicans, Republican, Management Locations: Big Bend , Florida, North Carolina , Tennessee, Hurricane, Buncombe County , North Carolina, Asheville, Bend , Florida, North Carolina, Buncombe

FEMA has dedicated disaster relief money that cannot be used for other purposes. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts,” FEMA said in its post. “Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”FEMA added: “FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. However, that program called the Shelter and Services Program, or SSP, is separate from FEMA’s disaster relief fund which is more than $20 billion. A spokesperson for Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said any claims of disaster funds going to illegal immigrants are false.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, ” Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, Helene, ”, Mayorkas, Hurricane Helene, Jim Jordan, Elon Musk, ” Mayorkas, Karine Jean, Pierre, Joe Biden Organizations: FEMA, Customs, Protection, Trump, Homeland, Disaster Relief Fund, Services, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, Congress, Homeland Security, Air Force Locations: U.S, Saginaw , Michigan, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, Ohio, Hurricane

In Detroit as in the rest of the U.S., the violent crime rate has dropped and is near historic lows. Last month, new FBI numbers showed that murder declined 11.6% in 2023, the largest single year drop on record. But Trump and his allies have also cherrypicked statistics and falsely told supporters that FBI crime data can’t be believed. Crime data skeptics also have attributed declining crime numbers to “woke prosecutors” who are failing to file charges. But Trump uses these low 2020 and 2021 victim survey numbers, despite the doubts cast on them, to argue that violent crime has spiked significantly during the Biden-Harris administration.

Persons: Donald Trump, “ That’s, James White, “, there’s, ” White, carjackings, Trump, ” Trump, ”, Doubters, —, Harris, ” Kevin Scott, ” Jeff Asher, Jordan Thornhill, Criminologist Alex Piquero, Venecca Thornhill, Andre Thornhill, “ Jordan, ” Andre Thornhill, Jordan Thornhill’s, we’re, We’ve, we’ve Organizations: NBC News, Detroit police, Detroit Police, NBC News Detroit, New York Police Department, Detroit, FBI, Department, Trump, Biden, of Justice Statistics, CIA, University of Miami, University of, Cities, Police, Chiefs Association, Michigan State, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, ATF, Michigan State University Locations: America, Detroit, United States, U.S, New York City, Thornhill, ”

A severely damaged water system that could take weeks to repair. Hundreds of miles from where it made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend, Hurricane Helene caused unprecedented damage in western North Carolina, where at least 49 people have died and dozens of others are missing. “The devastation was beyond belief,” North Carolina Gov. “Were they stationing water off the mountain ready to be trucked up here, knowing how fragile our water system is? Anyone acting like this is a surprise has not been here long enough and is not from the mountains and does not understand how water works.”

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Roy Cooper, that’s, Deanne Criswell, Cooper, Devonna Brown, ”, “, ” Sara Legatski Organizations: North Carolina Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Locations: Florida’s Big Bend, Hurricane, North Carolina, Asheville, “

☆ Both Trump and Harris say they'll build more border wall. In this county, the parts have been waiting, and rusting, since 2021.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Laura Strickler | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

When President Joe Biden took office, he immediately halted border wall construction. “Vice President Harris believes in tough, smart solutions to secure the border, keep communities safe, and reform our broken immigration system,” Ehrenberg said. The border bill would have provided 1,500 more border personnel, upgraded technology and kicked off the “immediate resumption” of the border wall construction that was underway in 2021, according to its text. Del Cueto’s union supported the bipartisan border bill that is the basis for Harris’ border plan. “What I would say to Vice President Harris is she’s been there for 3 1/2 years.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump’s, Harris, Joe Biden, Mark Dannels, it’s, ”, Dannels, Biden deputized, Mia Ehrenberg, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Ehrenberg, Consuelo Hernandez, Hernandez, ” Trump, Biden, Del Cueto, Del Cueto’s, she’s Organizations: NBC News, NBC, Border Patrol, National Border Patrol Council, Trump Locations: Cochise County , Arizona, Mexico, Cochise County, Coronado, Hereford, Ariz, U.S, Tucson, California, ”, Arizona, Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Rio Grande, Harris ’

And we will stop the fentanyl,” Trump said during a recent campaign appearance in Michigan. But fentanyl activists say Trump is at least drawing attention to the issue, whereas the Biden administration, they say, is not. By 2017, the year Trump took office, there were 28,000 deaths from fentanyl. In 2021, during Biden’s first year of office — when many Americans were still stuck at home amid the pandemic — fentanyl deaths rose by 23% to more than 70,000. Trump repeatedly blames the increase in fentanyl deaths on the influx of 10 million migrants who crossed the border during the Biden.

Persons: Dawn Allen wasn’t, —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, “ I’m, ” Allen, Dawn Allen's, Benjamin, ”, Andrea Thomas, Trump, Harris, ” Trump, United States – it’s, Vanda Felbab, Brown, Biden, Allen, hasn’t, Biden’s, Rahul Gupta, Jim Rauh, Thomas, poisonings, “, Obama, Kamala Harris ’, Karoline Leavitt, Kamala Harris, Babcock, “ We’re, it’s Trump Organizations: Democrat, NBC, Our U.S, Democratic National Convention, Brookings Institution, “, Biden, . Customs, Department of Homeland Security, NBC News, DHS, Facebook, Trump Homeland Security, D.C Locations: Chicago, “, Our, Michigan, Mexico, United States, China, Felbab, U.S

Aiming to unseat three-term Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, Sheehy is founder of Montana-based Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting company. On July 1, Sheehy resigned as chief executive of Bridger to focus on his Senate campaign; the company is seeking a replacement. In mid-June, an editorial in The Wall Street Journal echoed Griffin’s view, branding Sheehy’s company Bridger a success. The PAC spent $5.3 million for Sheehy and $5.7 million against his opponent, Tester, records show. In 2022, Sheehy’s cash and stock compensation neared $5 million, and last year, he received $2.5 million, Bridger’s proxy says.

Persons: Donald Trump, Tim Sheehy, Jon Tester, Sheehy, “, Bridger, Tim, ” Katie Martin, Louise Johns, Ken Griffin, Griffin, Stephen Schwarzman, “ Tim Sheehy, ” Griffin, Marc Cohodes, Cohodes, Sheehy’s, ”, Scott Olson, Blackstone, Matthew Sheehy, Bridger’s, Blackstone Tim Sheehy, Blackstone’s, ” Jon Tester, Andrew Harnik, Schwarzman, haven’t, Farrah Saint, Surin, Matthew, Martin, Bridger ”, Montana . Don, Melinda Crawford, Todd Hirsch, Thomas A, Waldman, Yocca Carlson, I’ve Organizations: Navy, Republican, Montana, Bridger Aerospace, International, Interior Department, U.S . Forest Service, Agriculture Department, Bloomberg, Getty, Wall, Citadel LLC, PAC, Commission, The Blackstone, “ Bridger Aerospace, Blackstone, Small Business Administration, Republican National Convention, Trump, ”, Cattle Company, Tallgrass Energy, Blackstone Group, Bridger, Forest Service, Bridger Air Tanker LLC, Bridger Air Tanker, SBA, ” Companies, Federal, NBC News, Mountain Air LLC, Mountain Air, Air, Service, U.S ., “, Montana ., Rauth Locations: Bozeman , Montana, Bozeman, Mont, New York City, Bridger, America, Montana, Gallatin County, Milwaukee, Riding, disbursements, Surin, ” Saint, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ L.A. poultry firm hired kids as young as 14 to work with sharp knives, Labor Dept. says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Laura Strickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The Exclusive Poultry and owner Tony Bran willfully withheld workers' hard-earned wages, endangered young workers and retaliated against employees to conceal their wrongdoing," said Jessica Looman, administrator of the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division. Labor investigators repeatedly went to the company's poultry processing locations and said in affidavits they saw young workers they estimated were 14 to 17 years of age, but the workers refused to talk and would run from them. The Labor Department told NBC News it subsequently confirmed that some of the workers were as young as 14. Workers allegedly told investigators that minors who worked at the company were hidden in closets and bathrooms when the investigators arrived so they would not be found. In fall 2022, the department found more than 100 children, some as young as 13, cleaning slaughterhouses for a Midwestern firm.

Persons: Tony Bran, Jessica Looman, Anthony McClaren, McClaren, Bran, Biden Organizations: Labor Department, Aldi, Ralphs, Kroger, Labor, NBC, NBC News, Department of Labor, Workers Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Is China really buying up U.S. farmland? Here’s what we found
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Laura Strickler | Nicole Moeder | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In fact, the total amount of U.S. agricultural land owned by Chinese interests is less than three-hundredths of 1%. NBC News was able to review filings on foreign purchases and leases of agricultural land, meaning both farm and forestry land, from 35 states since Jan. 1, 2022. The vast majority of the transactions were European wind power companies leasing land from U.S. farmers to build wind turbines. One Italian wind company disclosed 40 new leases of farmland in just one rural Illinois county. "Ownership of U.S. agricultural land is not one of them."

Persons: Jim Monroe, Syngenta, Saswato Das Organizations: NBC, U.S . Department of Agriculture, NBC News, Smithfield Foods, U.S, Syngenta Locations: U.S, Italian, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, China, Iowa, Florida, California, Swiss

☆ Senators ask 27 CEOs to make sure their companies comply with child labor laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Laura Strickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The company entered into an agreement with the agency pledging compliance with child labor laws and consented to third-party oversight. This is the second Senate inquiry citing NBC News reporting on child labor. JBS has zero tolerance for child labor, discrimination or unsafe working conditions for anyone working in our facilities. In a local newspaper editorial, Hearthside CEO Darlene Nicosia wrote the revelation of child labor was "a shock and major disappointment to us." Hearthside is in the midst of a 60-day independent review of child labor practices by an outside law firm, according to a spokesperson.

☆ Biden administration to crack down on child labor
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Laura Strickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

More than 3,800 children were found to be working at U.S. companies last year in violation of federal law, the Labor Department said Monday in announcing a crackdown on child labor. Some 835 companies were founded to be illegally employing minors last year, the Labor Department said, and more than 600 child labor investigations remain ongoing. In stepping up its efforts to target companies that use child labor, the Labor Department will use new strategies to launch investigations where child labor violations are most likely to occur. The agency called on Congress to increase the maximum penalty for child labor violations, which is currently $15,000. "That's not high enough to be a deterrent for major profitable companies," the Labor Department said in a press release.

☆ Federal officials find more than 100 children working in dangerous jobs for slaughterhouse cleaning firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Laura Strickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Packers Sanitation Services has paid a $1.5 million fine for the violations. The Labor Department says the children who were working overnight shifts used "caustic chemicals to clean razor-sharp saws." "Our investigation found Packers Sanitation Services' systems flagged some young workers as minors, but the company ignored the flags. The company signed a consent decree in December with the Labor Department and agreed to abide by child labor laws after federal investigators documented 50 children working at slaughterhouses for it. The compliance specialist will conduct child labor audits, which will be shared with the Labor Department for three years.

☆ After baby formula problems, Abbott Laboratories under DOJ investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Reporter For Nbc News. She Is Based In Washington. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Abbott Laboratories is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, the company confirmed Friday, almost a year after it shut down a Michigan baby-formula plant after illnesses were reported. Abbott did not specify what aspect of the company is under Justice Department scrutiny. “DOJ has informed us of its investigation and we’re cooperating fully,” an Abbott spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News. The Abbott manufacturing facility in Sturgis, Mich., on May 13, 2022. Abbott voluntarily shut down production at its Sturgis infant formula manufacturing plant on Feb. 17, 2022, after infants who consumed formula made at the plant became sick.

☆ Federal government investigating possible human trafficking of children who cleaned slaughterhouses
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Laura Strickler | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julia-Ainsley-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

There is no indication DHS is investigating the company that hired the children, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, for human trafficking. The Labor Department’s Child Labor Regulations designate many roles in slaughterhouse and meatpacking facilities as hazardous for minors. The Labor Department says its investigation, which began in August, is ongoing as it scours company records from 50 locations. I don’t anticipate unless there are severe ramifications for this that it will actually change policies.”The Labor Department has issued no penalties or fines to date. Labor DepartmentQuestions about child labor at PSSI in Grand Island and Worthington are not new.

The House Ways and Means Committee plans to release Donald Trump’s tax returns on Friday, a spokesperson for the Committee said Tuesday. The assortment of six years of the former president's personal returns and some of his business returns are expected to be placed into the Congressional record on Friday as part of the House’s pro-forma session. The clock is ticking for the committee, which will turn over control to Republicans when the new Congress is sworn in next week. The committee obtained the returns in November, following a years-long court fight for the closely-held documents that other presidents have routinely made public for the last four decades. A 39-page report from the Joint Committee on Taxation released last week showed Trump had been paying relatively little in taxes, including paying only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and none in 2020.

“It’s an utter betrayal,” his son, Kevin Gnida, said in an interview from his home in Edmonton, Canada. “I know with 100 percent confidence that my dad would have never participated in this,” Kevin Gnida added. “I’m glad they got caught.”Evan, 64, and Josh Edwards, 30, were arrested at their home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on Dec. 14. Josh Edwards is taken into custody outside the Edwards family’s New Smyrna Beach home on Dec. 14, 2022. “They came to my dad because they had no money.”Joy Edwards, Evan and Mary Jane Edwards, and Josh Edwards.

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