b

Chinese National Sentenced for Stealing Trade Secrets Worth $1 Billion

TULSA, Okla. –A former associate scientist was sentenced Thursday in federal court for stealing proprietary information worth more than $1 billion from his employer, a U.S. petroleum company.




b

Former Uber Self-Driving Car Executive Signs Agreement To Plead Guilty To Theft Of Trade Secrets From Google

SAN JOSE - Anthony Scott Levandowski submitted documents today requesting that the court accept his plea of guilty to theft of trade secrets charges, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The documents include a request to William H. Alsup, United States District Judge, to accept a proposed plea agreement and a request to schedule a date for a sentencing hearing.




b

Finance of America Reverse Agrees to Pay $2.47 Million to Resolve Alleged Liability for FHA-Insured Reverse Mortgage Lending Violations




b

New Jersey Chiropractor Agrees to Pay $2 Million to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Knee Injections and Knee Braces and Related Kickbacks




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Pentax Medical Company Agrees to Pay $43 Million to Resolve Criminal Investigation Concerning Misbranded Endoscopes




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Contract Rehab Provider to Pay $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to the Provision of Medically Unnecessary Rehabilitation Therapy Services




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Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Agrees to Pay Over $3.9 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability in Connection with SNAP Quality Control




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Nursing Home Chain Saber Healthcare Agrees to Pay $10 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations




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Reference Laboratory, Pain Clinic, and Two Individuals Agree to Pay $41 Million to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Urine Drug Testing




b

Maryland Cardiologist and Related Practices to Pay the United States $750,000 for Alleged Kickbacks




b

Justice Department Seeks to End Illegal Online Sale of Industrial Bleach Marketed as “Miracle” Treatment for COVID-19




b

Chipotle Mexican Grill Agrees to Pay $25 Million Fine and Enter a Deferred Prosecution Agreement to Resolve Charges Related to Foodborne Illness Outbreaks




b

Court Prohibits Dallas Health Center from Touting “Ozone Therapy” as a COVID-19 Treatment




b

Testing Laboratory Agrees to Pay Up to $43 Million to Resolve Allegations of Medically Unnecessary Tests




b

Blue Bell Creameries Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $19.35 Million for Ice Cream Listeria Contamination – Former Company President Charged




b

Belize: ICITAP Completes Investigations Training with National Police

On February 21, ICITAP completed the Basic Criminal Investigation Training Course for 29 members of the Belize Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Branch.




b

National African American History Month: Remembering Rosa Parks’ Work to Address Sexual Assault




b

The Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary: Furthering the Promise

2020 marks the 30th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. Throughout this 30th anniversary year, the Division is publishing a monthly series of blog posts highlighting the impact that our recent ADA enforcement efforts have made in people’s everyday lives. We celebrate the many ways in which the ADA has transformed American society and enabled a generation of Americans with disabilities to thrive. At the same time, we recognize that too many barriers to equal opportunity remain. We recommit to our work of making the promise of the ADA a reality, enabling all Americans with disabilities to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.




b

Rescheduled Best Practices Workshop on Technology in FOIA

**NEW DATE: April 20**  Agency FOIA professionals are invited to join OIP and OGIS for a joint Best Practices Workshop on FOIA and technology featuring the Chief FOIA Officer Council Technology Subcommittee.




b

Fiscal Year 2019 FOIA Data Available

OIP is pleased to announce that it has uploaded the Fiscal Year 2019 Annual FOIA Report data for all 118 agencies subject to the FOIA onto FOIA.gov.




b

2019 FOIA Litigation and Compliance Report Now Available

Newly published FOIA Litigation and Compliance Report details a range of efforts by OIP to encourage government-wide compliance with the FOIA, including new policy guidance, robust government-wide training, and other open government initiatives.




b

Best Practices Workshop on Technology in FOIA to Be Held Virtually

**Now Virtual at New Time** The previously scheduled Best Practices Workshop on FOIA and technology featuring the Chief FOIA Officer Council Technology Committee will now be held online.




b

Western Hemisphere: ICITAP Webinar Supports Pathology and Crime Scene Investigation During COVID-19 Pandemic

On April 27, ICITAP’s Central America mission conducted a webinar titled “Pathology and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) During the COVID-19 Pandemic” for hundreds of subject matter experts from throughout the Western Hemisphere. Chaired by ICITAP-Central America’s Attaché, the 80-minute webinar began with a pre-recorded media interview from the Dominican Republic, which highlighted the critical work currently carried out by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Washington, DC.




b

Justice Department Concludes Historic Arbitration of a Merger Dispute

The Department of Justice this week concluded an arbitration that will resolve a civil antitrust lawsuit challenging Novelis Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Aleris Corporation. The lawsuit seeks to preserve competition in the North American market for rolled aluminum sheet for automotive applications, commonly referred to as aluminum auto body sheet. This marks the first time the Antitrust Division has used its authority under the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. § 571 et seq.) to resolve a matter.




b

Justice Department Wins Historic Arbitration of a Merger Dispute

The Department of Justice prevailed in a first-of-a-kind arbitration, which will resolve a civil antitrust lawsuit challenging Novelis’s proposed merger with Aleris Corporation.  As a result, Novelis must divest Aleris’s entire aluminum auto body sheet operations in North America, which will fully preserve competition in this important industry.  In addition, under the terms of the arbitration agreement between defendants and the Department, Novelis must reimburse the Department for its fees and costs incurred in connection with the arbitration.




b

Two Commercial Flooring Executives Plead Guilty to Rigging Bids in Violation of Federal Antitrust Laws

Two commercial flooring executives, Robert A. Patrey Jr. and Kenneth R. Smith, pleaded guilty for their role in an antitrust conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices for commercial flooring services and products sold in the United States, the Department of Justice announced. The defendants are cooperating with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation.




b

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission Announce Expedited Antitrust Procedure and Guidance for Coronavirus Public Health Efforts

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and The Federal Trade Commission today issued a joint statement detailing an expedited antitrust procedure and providing guidance for collaborations of businesses working to protect the health and safety of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.




b

Justice Department Requires Divestitures in Merger Between UTC and Raytheon to Address Vertical and Horizontal Antitrust Concerns

The Department of Justice announced today that it is requiring United Technologies Corporation (UTC) and Raytheon Company (Raytheon) to divest Raytheon’s military airborne radios business and UTC’s military global positioning systems (“GPS”) and large space-based optical systems businesses in order to proceed with their proposed merger.  Without these divestitures, the merger would eliminate competition between two of the primary suppliers of military airborne radios and military GPS systems to the Department of Defense (DoD), and enable the merged firm to lessen competition for multiple components used in reconnaissance satellites sold to DoD and the wider U.S. intelligence community.  




b

Court Enters Final Judgment in T-Mobile/Sprint Transaction

Today, a federal district court in Washington, D.C., concluded that the Antitrust Division’s resolution of its challenge to the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint was in the public interest and entered the proposed final judgment following an extensive Tunney Act process. This order gives effect to the settlement that the Department of Justice and numerous states reached with the merging parties and Dish Network Corp. to allow the T-Mobile/Sprint transaction to proceed, subject to substantial divestitures and other remedies.




b

Department of Justice Issues Business Review Letter to Medical Supplies Distributors Supporting Project Airbridge Under Expedited Procedure for COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge collaborative efforts of McKesson Corporation, Owens & Minor, Inc., Cardinal Health, Inc., Medline Industries, Inc., and Henry Schein, Inc. (together “Medical Supplies Distributors”) to expedite and increase manufacturing, sourcing, and distribution of personal-protective equipment (“PPE”) and coronavirus-treatment-related medication. These collaborative efforts are part of an emergency response developed and led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address supply needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.




b

Statement from Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim on District Court Decision in U.S. v. Sabre Corp. and Farelogix Inc.

"At trial, the Antitrust Division argued that Sabre’s acquisition of Farelogix would extinguish a crucial constraint on Sabre’s market power and would result in higher prices and less innovation. While we are disappointed with the court’s decision, we appreciate the court’s thoughtful consideration of this important case. We will closely review the court’s opinion and consider next steps in light of our commitment to preserving competition for the benefit of the American consumer."




b

DOJ Agrees to Civil Settlement with Additional Firm Involved in Bid Rigging and Fraud Targeting Defense Department Fuel Supply Contracts for U.S. Military Bases in South Korea

South Korea-based company Jier Shin Korea Co. Ltd., and its president, Sang Joo Lee, have agreed to pay $2 million to the United States for civil antitrust and False Claims Act violations for their involvement in a bid-rigging conspiracy that targeted contracts to supply fuel to U.S. military bases in South Korea, the Department of Justice announced today.




b

Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Jointly Issue Statement on COVID-19 and Competition in U.S. Labor Markets

The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Bureau of Competition jointly released a statement today affirming the importance of competition for American workers.  The agencies also announced that they will protect competition for workers on the frontlines of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response in the United States by enforcing the antitrust laws against those who seek to exploit the pandemic to engage in anticompetitive conduct in labor markets.




b

Justice Department Issues Business Review Letter to the Association of Independent Commercial Producers

The Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge a proposal by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) to operate an online platform for advertisers to solicit bids from companies that provide production services for commercial advertisements. The Department’s position was stated in a business review letter from Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim for the Antitrust Division to counsel for the AICP.




b

Justice Department Issues Business Review Letter to AmerisourceBergen Supporting Distribution of Critical Medicines Under Expedited Procedure for COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge collaborative efforts of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (AmerisourceBergen) to identify global supply opportunities, ensure product quality, and facilitate product distribution of medications and other healthcare supplies to treat COVID-19 patients.




b

Statement from Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim on Sabre and Farelogix Decision to Abandon Merger

Sabre Corporation and Farelogix, Inc. announced today the termination of their merger agreement.




b

Justice Department Requires Divestitures as Dean Foods Sells Fluid Milk Processing Plants to DFA out of Bankruptcy

The Department of Justice announced today the conclusion of its investigation into proposed acquisitions by Dairy Farmers of America Inc. (DFA) and Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. (Prairie Farms) of fluid milk processing plants from Dean Foods Company (Dean) out of bankruptcy.  The department’s investigation was conducted against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges in the dairy industry, with the two largest fluid milk processors in the U.S., Dean and Borden Dairy Company, in bankruptcy, and Dean faced with imminent liquidation.




b

Breathless - 26 Apr 2020 - Flickr


Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter It literally took my breath away when I stepped on the ledge and saw this mind blowing landscape expand in front of me. I felt like I was on a different planet, something you only see in your dreams. The magnificent mountain ranges of Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies cradle three turquoise blue lakes illuminated in intensely colorful light as the setting sun colors low lying clouds. Upcoming Photography Workshops and Adventures!: 1) Best of the Canadian Rockies September 14- 18, 2020 September 20-24, 2020 - 2 Spots remaining 2) Algonquin Autumn Splendour September 29 - October 2, 2020 - 2 Spots remaining 3) Patagonia - Wilderness Untamed! Early Bird Specials Until July 1, 2020! March 31 - April 10, 2021 April 19-30, 2021 - Patagonia on a Budget: One of the most affordable workshops in Patagonia! 4) Surreal Namibia May 24 - June 8, 2021 - 3 Spots remaining June 22 - July 7, 2021 - 2 Spots remaining




b

" N° 1 sur Explore " Mésange charbonnière ( Parus major - Great Tit ) - 2 May 2020 - Flickr


** Photo d'archives ( 2017 ) ** Presque aussi grande qu'un moineau domestique, c'est la plus grande des mésanges d'Europe. On la reconnaît essentiellement à sa tête noire contrastant avec des joues blanches et à son ventre jaune orné d'une raie médiane noire. Chez les mâles, cette raie se prolonge jusqu'à la queue. Chez la femelle, cette raie est plus terne et plus fine et s'arrête sur l'abdomen. Sachant cela, vous constaterez qu'il y a plus de mâles sur les mangeoires. Le dessus est vert olive, tirant vers le bleu sur les ailes et la queue et une petite barre blanche sur les ailes. Les petits donnent l'impression d'être plus ramassés, avec des joues jaunes. Image prise depuis la tente affût et dans un milieu naturel . ******************************************************************* ** Archive photo (2017) ** Almost as big as a house sparrow, it is the largest of the chickadees in Europe. It is mainly recognized by its black head contrasting with white cheeks and its yellow belly decorated with a black median stripe. In males, this line extends to the tail. In the female, this line is duller and finer and stops on the abdomen. Knowing this, you will find that there are more males on the feeders. The upper side is olive green, turning blue on the wings and tail and a small white bar on the wings. The little ones give the impression of being more collected, with yellow cheeks. Image taken from the lookout tent and in a natural environment.




b

Battleship - 7 May 2020 - Flickr


Shek Kip Mei, Hong Kong, 2019 A new addition to the "Stacked: Hong Kong" urban architecture series ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay up-to date by following me on: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter www.peterstewartphotography.com For image licensing or print enquiries, please contact me at: info@peterstewartphotography.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




b

Liberals Attack SEAL’s Widow, President Trump Over Tribute

Nearly the whole country was moved by the presence of Carryn Owens, widow of slain Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens, during President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress. Nearly, but not all. Some liberals used the emotional moment to attack both the president and the grieving widow.




b

GOP Health Bill Short Of Support In Do-Or-Die Vote

Rep. Andy Harris is now leaning yes, but told Derek Hunter the bill won't get a vote Friday.




b

Join WBAL's Town Hall: President Donald Trump's First 100 Days

WBAL is hosting a town hall meeting on Thursday, May 4th from 8pm to 10pm that will be broadcast live on 1090 AM and streaming on wbal.com!. Sign up to participate here.




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WBAL NewsRadio 1090's Town Hall: President Trump's First 100 Days

WBAL NewsRadio 1090 hosted a town hall with a number of WBAL listeners to discuss President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office.




b

Ben Carson's Visit To Baltimore Met With Protesters

The retired Hopkins neurosurgeon, now the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is in the city to talk about lead poisoning and ways to combat blight.




b

Friends, Colleagues, Leaders Remember Suiter As Dedicated Public Servant

Family, friends and elected leaders were joined by police officers from as far away as Chicago.




b

Are you concerned about investing at all-time highs? Don't be...

Are you concerned about investing at all-time highs? Don't be..




b

Jonathan Murray Closing Bell Report: February 6th

Financial Analyst Jonathan Murray describes what happened on what was a roller coaster of a day on the stock market.




b

No Special Session On Medical Cannabis This Summer

House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller say they are waiting for the results of a disparity study of the state's medical cannabis program, and will consider emergency legislation when lawmakers return to Annapolis in January.




b

Athletes Serving Athletes Share Bond At Running Festival

The program partners wheelchair bound athletes with able bodied athletes who train and compete in various races, from 5Ks to marathons.