Member of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Terrorism Charges

New York - Minh Quang Pham, aka Amin, 33, was sentenced to 40 years in prison yesterday in the Southern District of New York for terrorism charges based on Pham’s efforts in support of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a designated foreign terrorist organization.  On Jan. 8, 2016, Pham pleaded guilty to one count of providing material support to AQAP, one count of conspiring to receive military training from AQAP and one count of possessing and using a machine gun in furtherance of crimes of violence.

New Mexico woman sentenced to 10 years for methamphetamine trafficking

Las Cruces, New Mexico - A New Mexico woman was sentenced Thursday to 120 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking.

NASA Telescopes Find Clues For How Giant Black Holes Formed So Quickly

Washington, DC - Using data from NASA’s Great Observatories, astronomers have found the best evidence yet for cosmic seeds in the early universe that should grow into supermassive black holes.

USDA Extends Deadline for Recording Farm Structure

Washington, DC - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a one-time, 30-day extension to the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. This date is used to determine the level of interest an individual holds in a legal entity for the applicable program year. Farming operations will now have until July 1 to complete their restructuring or finalize any operational change.

Proposed ESSA Regulation Supports Well-Rounded Education, Protects All Students

Washington, DC - In a major step toward implementing the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and providing important clarity for parents, students, and educators about the new law, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. Thursday announced proposed regulations to implement the law’s accountability, data reporting, and state plan provisions. The regulations would replace the narrow, one-size-fits-all approach that defined ESSA’s predecessor, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), with new flexibility for states and districts; a more holistic approach to measuring a quality education that will help prepare all students for success; and strong protections to ensure the progress of all students.