U.S.A.'s interesting news

Μάρ 12 τις 4:50 μ.μ.

How to secure our schools  After the horrific shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school last month, President Donald J. Trump met with students, teachers, lawmakers, and local officials to hear every idea they had about how to keep violence out of America’s schools. Every child in our Nation has a right to feel safe. To achieve that goal, the President will announce a series of actions to protect our children and their communities: Hardening our schools: The Administration will make sure our schools are safe and secure—just like our airports, stadiums, and government buildings—with better training and preparedness. Strengthening background checks and prevention: President Trump is supporting legislation and reforms to strengthen the background checks system and law enforcement operations. Reforming mental health programs: The President is proposing an expansion and reform of mental health programs, including those that help identify and treat individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others. Keeping the conversation going: In addition to these immediate actions, President Trump is establishing a Federal Commission on School Safety, chaired by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to recommend policy and funding proposals for school violence prevention. Watch First Lady Melania Trump meeting with Parkland student Kyle Kashuv. California’s resistance  This week, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of California to save lives and keep dangerous criminals off our streets. For far too long, California has obstructed Federal law and put the interests of criminals who are in United States illegally ahead of the well-being of American citizens. Below is just one example of a dangerous criminal that California set free—despite the lawful request of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold him until Federal authorities could arrive: On Aug. 2, 2017, the Santa Rosa Police Department arrested a citizen of Guatemala on charges of inflicting corporal injury to a spouse/cohabitant. That same day, ICE lodged a “detainer,” which includes a request to the local jail to notify ICE before the inmate is released. The next day, the Sonoma County Jail provided ICE with only 24 minutes notice before it released the suspect—despite the fact that the jail is about 65 miles from the nearest ICE field office. On Aug. 18, 2017, the Santa Rosa Police Department arrested the same individual as a suspect in the murder of his alleged girlfriend. See more stories of the life-and-death consequences of California’s resistance to Federal law. The best jobs news in 2 decades  The opening months of 2018 has marked the strongest average monthly job growth in more than two decades, the Council of Economic Advisers wrote last week following the release of February employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 313,000 last month, and average hourly earnings increased 2.6 percent since the same period last year. Since January 2017, 2.5 million jobs have been added to the economy. “I mean, the only sector of the economy that got smaller in February was the Federal government,” Vice President Mike Pence joked in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday. Learn more about the best news on jobs in more than 2 decades. PHOTO OF THE DAY First Lady Melania Trump and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Kyle Kashuv | March 8, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) POTUS TODAY Today, President Trump will host the 2017 World Series Champion Houston Astros. The President will then have lunch with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. ---------------------------------- Thank you for your patience while we work toward the development of new Job Alerts. We have developed a temporary solution that will allow you to pull up current job opportunities for the area(s) that you have subscribed. Clicking on the link below will take you to the current postings for GSA that are Open to the Public (All U.S. Citizens). GSA All Public Vacancies Thank you for your patience while we work toward the development of new Job Alerts. We have developed a temporary solution that will allow you to pull up current job opportunities for the area(s) that you have subscribed. Clicking on the link below will take you to the current postings for GSA open to Federal Employees and Special Appointment Eligibles. Defendants Settle FTC Charges in ‘Money Now Funding’ Credit Card Laundering Scheme Michael Abdelmesseh and KMA Merchant Services LLC have agreed to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit for laundering credit card charges for Money Now Funding (MNF), a business opportunity scheme that falsely promised consumers they would make thousands of dollars helping small businesses get loans. In 2015, the MNF defendants were banned from selling business or work-at-home opportunities under court orders obtained by the FTC. In 2017, the FTC charged Abdelmesseh and KMA with helping MNF access credit card networks via fraudulent applications in the names of more than 40 fictitious MNF companies, in violation of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). Under the settlement order, Abdelmesseh and KMA are banned from payment processing or acting as an Independent Sales Organization or sales agent, and they are prohibited from engaging in credit card laundering. The order imposes a judgment of more than $1.3 million that will be suspended due to the settling defendants’ inability to pay. The full judgment will become due immediately if they are found to have misrepresented their financial condition. In addition to the settlement order announced today, the FTC also announces that it is seeking to amend its 2017 complaint to add one count of assisting and facilitating violations of the TSR. Litigation continues against the remaining defendants. The Commission vote approving the proposed amended complaint and stipulated final order against Abdelmesseh and KMA Merchant Services LLC was 2-0. The FTC filed the proposed amended complaint and order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. NOTE: Stipulated final orders or injunctions have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.FTC Sending Refund Checks Totaling More Than $7.2 Million to Consumers Who Bought Deceptively Marketed “Buy-One-Get-One-Free” Products Company often billed consumers without their consent The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 218,254 refund checks totaling more than $7.2 million to people who bought products deceptively marketed as “buy-one-get-one-free,” including Snuggies, the Magic Mesh Door, and other “as-seen-on-TV” type products. Consumers who bought products marketed by Allstar Marketing Group, LLC will receive checks averaging $33.14. In March 2015, the FTC alleged that since at least 1999, Allstar used direct marketing TV commercials to sell its products, many of which are familiar to consumers. While the products varied, Allstar’s pitch often was the same—a “buy-one-get-one-free” offer that did not disclose all the costs. Because the ordering process was confusing, some customers also were charged for more products than they wanted. The court order settling the FTC’s charges barred Allstar from engaging in the allegedly illegal conduct and imposed a monetary judgment of $7.5 million to provide refunds to injured consumers. The New York Office of Attorney General, which filed a parallel action against Allstar, has assisted with the refund planning process. Analytics, the refund administrator for this matter, will begin mailing refund checks today. Consumers should receive their refund checks this month, and they must be cashed within 60 days or they will become void. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information to cash refund checks. Consumers who have questions should call 1-877-982-1294. FTC law enforcement actions led to more than $6.4 billion in refunds for consumers in a one-year period between July 2016 and June 2017. To learn more about the FTC’s refund program, including its Annual Report, visit www.ftc.gov/refunds   MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program Kratom-containing Powder Products by PDX Aromatics: Recall - Potential for Contamination with Salmonella AUDIENCE: Consumer ISSUE: PDX Aromatics of Portland, Oregon DBA Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa, has initiated a recall of certain kratom-containing powder products because it has 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. See the press release for affected products, lot codes, and photos. BACKGROUND: PDX Aromatics identified a supplier in their supply chain as the source of Salmonella. The company has removed that supplier and all associated products from its facility. RECOMMENDATION: Consumers who may be in possession of potentially contaminated products are advised not to consume products labeled with the affected product descriptions and lot codes. All products associated with this recall should be returned to PDX Aromatics. Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program: Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178 Read the MedWatch Safety Alert, including a link to the press release, at: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm600613.htm PDX Aromatics Recalls Kratom Powder Because Of Possible Health Ri PDX Aromatics of Portland, Oregon DBA Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa, has initiated a recall of certain kratom-containing powder products because it has 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 affected powder products are packaged in plastic heat sealed pouches and sold in 28 grams, 56 grams, and 112 grams. The products total an estimated 10,000 units and were sold directly to consumers via company websites between January 18, 2018 and February 18, 2018.