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The Commercial Appeal

Students in limbo after University of Memphis, Ghana end partnership

Students in limbo after University of Memphis, Ghana end partnership

The country owes the university nearly $4 million, according to news outlets in Ghana.

DHS Prioritizes Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Enhance Mission Fulfillment

DHS Prioritizes Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Enhance Mission Fulfillment

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is actively focusing on improving customer experience (CX) and service delivery (SD) across its operations. This initiative aims to place individuals at the center of all DHS activities to better fulfill its mission of safeguarding the American people. By enhancing CX and SD, DHS intends to reduce administrative burdens, simplify both public-facing and internal processes, and improve efficiency across various service delivery channels. The department also seeks to empower its workforce to effectively solve problems that contribute to achieving its mission outcomes. DHS interacts with millions of people daily, and this strategic shift is designed to deliver the value, service, and efficiency that the public expects and deserves from a government agency.

OMB Mandates Login.gov for Federal Citizen-Facing Websites, Phasing Out Other Solutions

OMB Mandates Login.gov for Federal Citizen-Facing Websites, Phasing Out Other Solutions

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a new memo mandating the use of Login.gov as the primary authentication and verification platform for most citizen-facing federal websites. This initiative aims to standardize access to public services online, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance the government's security posture. The mandate outlines a two-year transition period for agencies to adopt Login.gov, with specific deadlines for inventory submission, risk management reviews, and deployment. While the mandate applies broadly, it includes exemptions for certain systems, such as those run by the Defense Department, national security systems, and specific organizational or individual-acting-on-behalf-of-another scenarios. However, agencies are encouraged to expand Login.gov's use where appropriate and are required to phase out identity solutions that do not meet the new standards. The goal is to eliminate the burden on citizens who currently need to manage multiple usernames and passwords for variou...

Detroit Free Press

Border Patrol K-9 finds invasive moth at Detroit airport. What happened

Border Patrol K-9 finds invasive moth at Detroit airport. What happened

A straw crest moth was intercepted at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in luggage arriving from Ghana. The insect could have damaged agriculture.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Intercepts First-in-Nation Non-Native Straw Crest Moth at Detroit Metropolitan Airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Intercepts First-in-Nation Non-Native Straw Crest Moth at Detroit Metropolitan Airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Detroit Metropolitan Airport made a significant discovery earlier this year: the first-ever interception of a non-native straw crest moth (Mesophleps silacella) at a U.S. port of entry. The initial detection occurred in January when an agriculture detector canine alerted CBP staff to luggage belonging to a traveler from Ghana during a routine inspection. Upon closer examination, corn and seeds within the luggage were found to contain a small, winged insect. Specialists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) later identified this insect as the straw crest moth. Local CBP officials confirmed the identification with USDA on August 12, marking a historic first for the agency. The straw crest moth is native to Europe and parts of Africa and is known to feed on plants in the rockrose family. The traveler was informed of agriculture import requirements and released without further incident.

Congress Extends Federal Funding, Agricultural Groups Urge Long-Term Farm Bill

Congress Extends Federal Funding, Agricultural Groups Urge Long-Term Farm Bill

The U.S. Congress has approved a temporary funding measure to keep the federal government operational through December 11, thereby averting an immediate government shutdown. This continuing resolution garnered significant bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. While this extension provides short-term stability for government services, agricultural organizations are emphasizing that critical issues facing farmers remain unaddressed. Groups like the National Wheat Growers Association (NAWG) highlight ongoing economic challenges for producers, including unpredictable commodity prices, rising production costs, and intense global competition, which are impacting farm profitability and financial stability in rural areas.

Former Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Removed from County Meeting Over Israel Investment Protest

Former Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Removed from County Meeting Over Israel Investment Protest

James Fischback, a former Florida gubernatorial candidate, was forcibly removed from a Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners meeting after protesting the county's increased investment in Israel-backed bonds. Fischback argued that public funds should be invested locally within Miami-Dade County rather than in foreign entities. This incident occurred following the county's decision to raise its investment cap with Israel from 3% to 5% of its portfolio, potentially allocating an additional $400 million to $450 million. The move has sparked opposition from individuals like Fischback, who are critical of using public funds for investments in Israel amidst ongoing political divisions concerning the war in Gaza. Fischback, a Republican, has previously gained national attention for his controversial views and confrontational public appearances, including calling Rep. Byron Donalds a 'slave' during his gubernatorial campaign.

US-Sanctioned Zimbabwean Billionaire Kudakwashe Tagwirei Sworn In as Senator Amidst Controversy

US-Sanctioned Zimbabwean Billionaire Kudakwashe Tagwirei Sworn In as Senator Amidst Controversy

Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a Zimbabwean billionaire currently under U.S. sanctions, has been sworn in as a senator in Zimbabwe. His appointment was made by President Emmerson Mnangagwa under Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3, which expanded the Senate to include ten members chosen for their professional skills and expertise. Both Tagwirei and President Mnangagwa are designated under the same American sanctions program, specifically Executive Order 13818, which implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The U.S. Treasury designated Tagwirei for allegedly materially assisting corruption and facilitating the transfer of its proceeds. In March of this year, he was also added to the American System for Award Management exclusions list, barring him from U.S. federal procurement. Tagwirei, who also serves as President Mnangagwa's advisor and is a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee, has denied any wrongdoing.

House Committee Subpoenas Oracle Executives Over Escalating Veterans' Health Records Project Costs

House Committee Subpoenas Oracle Executives Over Escalating Veterans' Health Records Project Costs

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has issued subpoenas to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia. This action follows a contentious hearing regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic health records overhaul, which has seen its estimated cost nearly triple and its timeline extended. Originally projected to cost around $10 billion and be completed by 2028, the project is now expected to cost $27 billion and take an additional three years. Committee Chair Mike Bost (R-Ill.) stated that efforts to secure voluntary testimony from Oracle officials were unsuccessful, leading to the bipartisan vote for subpoenas. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed significant frustration over the project's ballooning expenses and delays, with Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.) calling it the "biggest boondoggle" in government. Oracle's software is central to this modernization effort, which began during President Trump's first term. Despite the VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence's assurance tha...

King Charles III Faces Scrutiny Over Sister-in-Law's Employment with Royal Foundation

King Charles III Faces Scrutiny Over Sister-in-Law's Employment with Royal Foundation

King Charles III is facing questions regarding the employment of his sister-in-law, Annabel Elliot, by the King's Foundation. Elliot, the younger sister of Queen Camilla, previously advised Charles on design matters for the Duchy of Cornwall for two decades, receiving substantial payments. Her services were discontinued when Prince William took over the management of the Duchy. However, Elliot has since found new employment with the King's Foundation, established by Charles III in 1990. The foundation confirmed that Elliot provides design expertise to its retail and brand teams for commercial and product partnerships. This arrangement has drawn scrutiny due to its discreet nature, with critics suggesting a lack of transparency. The foundation maintains that the agreement is not secret and that information about it was previously announced, though the specific announcement could not be located by the Sunday Times. The foundation's revenues, primarily from donors, also include occasional public funds, such a...

European Union Expands Archival Access to Enhance Transparency and Historical Understanding

European Union Expands Archival Access to Enhance Transparency and Historical Understanding

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), one of the European Union's first decentralized agencies, has transferred additional historical archives to the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU). This transfer, which includes 68 archival boxes in both paper and digitized formats covering the period from 1988-1990, is part of a broader effort to enhance public information on the EU's history and improve transparency regarding the functioning of its institutions. The documents cover Eurofound's operations since its establishment in 1975 and include a 1987 review of its remit and functioning by the European Parliament and the European Commission. This initiative aligns with Council Regulation No. 2015/496 (EU), which mandates EU institutions to deposit their historical archives at the HAEU under the '30-year rule.' Eurofound's Executive Director, Ivailo Kalfin, emphasized that these archives demonstrate the progress made and the determination to improve ...

Maryland Hosts Akwasidae Festival at Bowie State University, Celebrating Asante Culture in the U.S.

Maryland Hosts Akwasidae Festival at Bowie State University, Celebrating Asante Culture in the U.S.

Maryland Hosts Akwasidae Festival at Bowie State University, Celebrating Asante Culture in the U.S.