U.S. SENATE â U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced in a press release Friday his introduction of an amendment to the COVID-19 relief bill the Senate is considering this week that would allow construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline to move forward without a presidential permit. President Biden canceled the presidential permit for the pipeline on his first day in office.
Sen. Tester, a supporter of the Keystone Pipeline and its job and tax benefits to Eastern Montana for more than a decade, has pushed the Biden Administration to reverse their decision to cancel the permit and come back to the table to sit down with stakeholdersâincluding TC Energy and Montana s Tribesâto chart a path forward on the job-creating project together.
Illegal wildlife trade tackled in new federal government trial of world-first X-ray technology
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A three-dimensional X-ray scan detects an Australian lace monitor.
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In a bid to combat the illegal wildlife trade in and out of Australia, the federal government has invested in further developing its world-first 3D X-ray technology to stop criminals profiting at the expense of animals.
Key points:
The illegal wildlife trade in and out of Australia is in the hundreds of millions of dollars every year
The federal government says new X-ray technology to combat the criminal industry is a world first
House passes bill to update 529 College Savings Plan
OKLAHOMA CITY â A bill that updates allowable uses for qualified higher education expenses under the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan passed the House on Tuesday with a vote of 95-0.
House Bill 1962, authored by Jadine Nollan, R-Sand Springs, aligns the stateâs language with the federal governmentâs definition.
Nollan said the bill was a request bill by State Treasurer Randy McDaniel, a former House member.
She said the federal government expanded the definition of allowable uses under Section 529 of the Federal Tax Code over the past few years.
With the passage of this bill, Oklahomaâs definition of qualified higher education expenses will align with the federal definition. Funds currently can be used for tuition, supplies, and room and board at accredited colleges, universities, career technology centers and business schools.
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The Arizona Department of Education distributed more than $1 billion in a second round of pandemic relief funds, but local school districts noticed big differences in the allotment amounts that they hope can be addressed before additional funding opportunities.Â
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II Funds were distributed in February, and while local schools have expressed their concerns over the formula, the ADE said they do not have the authority to change it.Â