GRAND RAPIDS, MIMark Richard Hamlin, 28, of Williamston, Michigan, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Hamlin faces up to 20 years imprisonment as a result of the conviction. Under his plea agreement, he must pay restitution to his victims in an…

WASHINGTON Verizon Wireless has agreed to pay a $468,600 civil penalty to settle self-disclosed violations of federal environmental regulations discovered at 655 facilities in 42 states. Verizon voluntarily entered into a corporate audit agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency…

Ocala, Florida - A Florida grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael E. Rudkin (age 40, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida) with attempting to kill a Special Agent with the United States Department of…

National pesticide distributor and applicator fined nearly $100,000 following pesticide violations SAN FRANCISCO The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined a California-based national distributor of agricultural products, the Wilbur-Ellis Company, $99,600 for 21 alleged violations of federal pesticide law. The…

WASHINGTON The Federal Highway Administration crossed the $20 billion mark in approved obligations for highway, road and bridge projects this week. Of the $26.6 billion available for federal highway and bridge projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more…

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BOSTICK, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Being the only Airman assigned to an Army Combat Outpost on the outskirts of Afghanistan-Pakistan border can be a little intimidating and scary. Being assigned to COP Keating while under attack by hundreds…

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) -- Military Health System experts will host a Web-based town hall-style meeting Nov. 10 from 3 to 4 p.m. EST to respond to questions about H1N1 influenza. Military members, their families, health-care providers and Defense Department…

NEW ORLEANS The Coast Guard and O'Brien's Response Management are responding to oil which is leaking from the motor vessel Pac Alkaid, which is anchored 10 miles southeast of Southwest Pass near Venice, La. The Pac Alkaid reported the discharge…

Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo, Texas port of entry yesterday seized several weapons and marijuana valued at $321,000 in three separate interceptions at the International Bridges. The weapons seizure occurred on Oct. 28…

Exotic Nutrition Pet Company pays $3,500 fine SAN FRANCISCO The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined Exotic Nutrition Pet Company, a distributor of pet products, to resolve the alleged sale and distribution of the unregistered pesticide Exotic Nutrition Kage-Care. Virginia-based…

Five giant non-native snake species would pose high risks to the health of ecosystems in the United States should they become established here, according to a report recently released by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS report details the risks…

Funds Will Be Used to Improve Hazardous Materials Planning and Training Washington, D.C. The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding $20.9 million to states, territories and Native American tribes to improve the nations response to transportation incidents involving hazardous materials.…