U.S.A.'s interesting latest news

What’s troubling New Hampshire  New Hampshire has had the second highest rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths in the Nation since 2014. A poll conducted last year found that drugs were the biggest problem facing the Granite State—the first time in the poll’s history that a majority named any single issue as the most important. Today, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump travel to Manchester, New Hampshire. The President will address America’s opioid epidemic at Manchester Community College and discuss his Administration’s initiative to stop opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand, which has four components: 1. Address the driving forces of the opioid crisis, including over-prescription, illicit drug supplies, and insufficient access to evidence-based treatment. 2. Reduce demand and over-prescription in part by educating Americans about the dangers of opioid and other drug use. 3. Cut off the supply of illicit drugs by cracking down on international and domestic supply chains that devastate American communities. 4. Help those struggling with addiction through evidence-based treatment and recovery support services. Watch live as the President addresses the opioid crisis at 2:40 p.m. ET today. Learn more: How America will win the war on opioid addiction New frontiers  Last week, President Trump took time during a cross-country trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to address military service members at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The President touched on many themes, including thanking our hardworking military men and women for their service and dedication to the cause. He also charted a path forward, echoing themes from his National Space Council—a group chaired by Vice President Mike Pence that the President resurrected after a 24-year hiatus. “From the very beginning, many of our astronauts have been soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines,” the President said. “We're going to lead the way in space.” Watch President Trump’s speech to service members at Miramar. Infrastructure: The Federal role  The Federal Government provides important infrastructure funding, but it often does so inefficiently and with numerous restrictions. Washington depends on taxpayers at the state and local level, yet Federal funding is too often directed by priorities of those inside the Beltway. President Trump proposes to fix this problem by maintaining the traditional balance of Federal and non-Federal funding, while investing in a way that stretches every dollar and delivers on local needs. His proposal will keep existing Federal funding in place, including for the Highway Trust Fund. The President’s plan would improve on existing policy by directing half of Federal funds to an Incentives Program for State and local applicants. This system keeps infrastructure decisions out of the D.C. bureaucracy and in State and local hands. Learn more: What you need to know about infrastructure funding PHOTO OF THE DAY President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland | March 15, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) POTUS TODAY This morning, after receiving his daily intelligence briefing, President Trump will travel to Manchester Community College to deliver remarks on combatting the opioid crisis. River Valley Sprouts Recalls Alfalfa Sprouts and Garlic Alfalfa Sprouts Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination River Valley Sprouts is voluntarily recalling its 5 ounce Alfalfa Sprouts, 4 ounce Alfalfa Sprouts, 5 ounce Garlic/Alfalfa and 5 ounce Variety sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illness such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis. The recalled sprouts were packed and shipped from March 6-March 15. The sprouts were distributed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and were sold through various grocery stores. Some packages have sell by dates on the label. March 15-March 25. The product is packaged in a plastic cup or clam container. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. PDX Aromatics Expands Recall of Kratom Products Because of Possible Health Risk PDX Aromatics, DBA Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa, is expanding the scope of their 3/9/2018 voluntary recall of certain kratom white vein powder and capsule products and red vein powder products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The expanded recall is being initiated in response to additional positive findings of Salmonella associated with Aromatics’ products following the FDA initial investigation. Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Natural Grocers Issues Recall on Coconut Smiles Organic Due to Salmonella Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., a Lakewood, Colorado-based natural grocery chain, is recalling Natural Grocers brand 10-ounce Coconut Smiles Organic due to the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. The recalled product is packaged in clear plastic bags weighing 10 ounces and bears the “Natural Grocers” label. All packages with packed-on dates prior to 18-075 are subject to recall. The packed-on date can be found in the bottom left-hand corner of the label. Oregon Food Bank Voluntarily Recalls Pumpkin Seeds Because Of Possible Contamination By Listeria Species As a result of the ongoing recall of donated chia seeds that began on March 12, 2018, Oregon Food Bank has initiated a voluntary recall of 63,825 pounds of pumpkin seeds received on the same donation. These donated pumpkin seeds have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria  species. While no illnesses have been reported we are recalling this product out of an abundance of caution. The pumpkin seeds were distributed in Oregon and Clark County, Washington through the Oregon Food Bank Network of regional food banks and participating food pantries. The product was distributed in one pound plastic poly film bags with a twist-type closure or a re-sealable pouch or a KALE JOY plastic bag. All pumpkin seeds were distributed between November 1, 2017 and March 16, 2018. See attached images for ease of identification. Listeria species can include Listeria monocytogenes an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Oregon Food Bank Voluntarily Recalls Nutritional Yeast Oregon Food Bank is voluntarily recalling 1,219 pounds of nutritional yeast, which was donated to the food bank. No illness has been reported but it was donated at the same time as two other recalled products -- chia and pumpkin seeds. The nutritional yeast was distributed in Oregon and Clark County, Washington through the Oregon Food Bank Network of regional food banks and participating food pantries. The product was distributed in one pound plastic poly film bags with a twist-type closure or a re-sealable pouch. All nutritional yeast was distributed between November 1, 2017 and March 16, 2018. See attached product label for ease of identification. Individuals should dispose of the product immediately. Any questions should be directed to Oregon Food Bank's Facilities and Regulatory Compliance Manager Ryan Wist at 503-419-4160. Chris’s Cookies Recalls Chocolate Chip Cookies Due to Undeclared Peanuts Chris’s Cookies has recalled one lot of its Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Cookie 12 Oz (340g) Bags (Barcode#: 0068 0752) after a report that Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies were discovered in a Chocolate Chip Cookie Bag, and therefore the product may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have an allergy to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat this product. The recalled product was distributed to Trader Joe’s stores in ONLY the following states: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, Northern Virginia, PA, RI, VT and Washington D.C. The affected products are stickered on the side of the bag with Lot CODE: 2060 and date codes SELL BY 031218 through 031818 The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a bag labeled as Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Cookies instead contained Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies. While there is a warning statement on the label that the product may contain traces of peanuts, “peanuts” is not listed as an ingredient. Operators of DOTAuthority.com Motor Carrier Registration Service Settle FTC Charges That They Misled Small Businesses Using Fake Government Affiliation The operators of a registration service for motor carriers have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they impersonated, or falsely claimed affiliation with, the U.S. Department of Transportation and other government agencies to get small trucking businesses to pay them for federal and state motor carrier registrations. Consumers who own and operate certain types of commercial vehicles must register annually with the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system or their state government and pay a fee based on their fleet size. These trucking businesses can typically register through the official UCR website or the official website of their state. Some of them also must file a Motor Carrier Identification Report every two years, which can be done at no charge on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. In September 2016, the FTC charged that James P. Lamb, Uliana Bogash, DOTAuthority.com Inc., DOTFilings.com Inc., Excelsior Enterprises International Inc. and JPL Enterprises International Inc. tricked small businesses into purchasing their registration services by falsely claiming to be affiliated with government agencies in violation of the FTC Act. They also allegedly failed to disclose the service fee associated with their services or to adequately distinguish it from the actual government registration fee. In addition, the FTC alleged that the defendants failed to disclose adequately that they were enrolling consumers in an automatic billing service for future payments in violation of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act. Under the settlement order, the defendants are banned from misrepresenting affiliation with any government entity and from using consumers’ billing information to obtain payments without consumers’ express consent. They must also adequately disclose that they are a private third-party service provider and any fees associated with their services. The order imposes a $900,000 judgment that must be paid within one day. The Commission vote approving the stipulated final order was 2-0. The FTC filed the proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. NOTE: Stipulated final ord Agenda Announced for the March 23, 2018 FTC-FCC Joint Policy Forum on Fighting the Scourge of Illegal Robocalls The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will co-host a Joint Policy Forum to discuss the regulatory challenges posed by illegal robocalls and what the agencies are doing to both protect consumers and encourage the development of private-sector solutions. This event will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC. The tentative agenda for the Joint Policy Forum is outlined below: 9:30 am Welcome Remarks by Patrick Webre, Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Opening Remarks by Ajit Pai, Chairman, FCC Video Remarks by Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Acting Chairman, FTC Remarks by Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, FCC   9:45 am    Panel 1: Challenges Facing Consumers and Industry Today Moderator: Micah Caldwell, Special Counsel, Office of the Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Panelists: Eduard Bartholme, Executive Director, Call for Action, and Chair, FCC Consumer Advisory Committee Kevin Rupy, Vice President of Law and Policy, USTelecom Michele Shuster, General Counsel, Professional Association for Customer Engagement Discussion topics will include the factors driving the volume of illegal robocalls; new threats to consumers, such as Caller ID spoofing; and protections for legitimate callers.   10:15 am Remarks by Brendan Carr, Commissioner, FCC   10:25 am  Panel 2: Recent Regulatory and Enforcement Efforts Moderator: Thomas B. Pahl, Acting Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC Panelists: Denise Beamer, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, Florida Office of the Attorney General Lois Greisman, Associate Director, Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC Sherwin Siy, Special Counsel, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC Mark Stone, Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC Kristi Thompson, Chief, Telecommunications Consumer Division, Enforcement Bureau, FCC Discussion topics will include an overview of the relevant law; recent FCC, FTC, and state actions to protect consumers; and enforcement challenges.   11:25 am Remarks by Terrell McSweeny, Commissioner, FTC   11:30 am Panel 3: Solutions and Tools for Consumers Moderator: Julius Knapp, Chief Engineer, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC Panelists: Alex Algard, Founder & CEO, Hiya Jim McEachern, Senior Technology Consultant, Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions Alex Quilici, Chief Executive Officer, YouMail Margot Saunders, Senior Counsel, National Consumer Law Center Krista Witanowski, Assistant Vice President, CTIA Nat Wood, Associate Director, Division of Consumer & Business Education, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC Discussion topics will include third-party solutions and other resources available to empower consumers; and industry efforts to develop Caller ID authentication.   12:30 pm Closing Remarks by Svetlana Gans, Chief of Staff to Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen, FTC The Policy Forum is open to the public and registration is not required, but seating is limited. Attendees are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the event to allow time to go through security. The Policy Forum will be webcast on the FCC webpage at fcc.gov/live and information about the event is available at: fcc.gov/news-events/events/2018/03/fighting-scourge-illegal-robocalls. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). For questions or additional information about the Policy Forum, contact Keyla Hernandez-Ulloa of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0965 or Keyla.Hernandez-Ulloa@fcc.gov; or Janice Kopec of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at (202) 326-2550. FTC Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen to Participate in International Competition Network Conference in New Delhi, India The Acting Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Maureen K. Ohlhausen will participate in the 17th annual International Competition Network (ICN) conference in New Delhi, India, March 21-23, 2018, along with Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. At the conference, antitrust officials and private sector antitrust experts from around the world and representatives of intergovernmental organizations will discuss key competition issues and recent ICN work. The ICN includes 138 competition agencies from 125 jurisdictions. It provides a forum for antitrust agencies to address enforcement and policy issues of common interest and to propose ways that member agencies could more closely align their policies and procedures. New Passport Prices Effective in April! Passport fees are going up to from $25 to $35 on April 2, 2018. Individuals applying for a passport renewal by mail will not see an increase. Make sure yours is up-to-date, especially if you're planning to travel this summer. Follow our step-by-step guide to help make the passport application process smooth and easy!