Yearly Archives: 2017

The office Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released Norton’s statement on her meeting with U.S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean to discuss last week’s handcuffing by Park Police of three juveniles for selling water on the National Mall.

David H. Stevens, CMB, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at a hearing entitled, "Principles of Housing Finance Reform." His full written testimony is available here. Below is Stevens' oral testimony, as prepared for delivery

The Public Utility Commission of Oregon (PUC) adopted community solar rules that will bring the state one step closer to enabling all Oregonians to directly participate in, and benefit from, local solar projects without having to place solar panels on one’s roof.

The following is a statement from Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) on President Trump’s Energy Week remarks: "We support President Trump’s strategic vision to seek American energy dominance. The wind industry -- America’s largest source of renewable energy capacity -- stands ready to do our part implementing the President’s vision to deliver American jobs, investment and prosperity

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on the status of onshore oil and gas leasing and drill permitting processes on federal lands. Members and witnesses discussed improvements to the duplicative and costly bureaucratic policies discouraging operators from leasing federal minerals.

Each year, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), issues a Water Quality Report Card on water quality in the Mystic River watershed. Since 2015, EPA has utilized an enhanced, locally-specific analysis of water quality in the watershed that gives grades for 14 river segments or tributaries.

Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) released the following statement after yesterday’s major ransomware attack in at least 65 countries.

The office Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said Norton succeeded in securing $30 million for her top priority the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG), in the House’s fiscal year 2017 District of Columbia Appropriations bill, released today, a $10 million increase from the House’s fiscal year 2016 D.C. Appropriations bill. She also succeeded in preventing any new anti-home-rule riders from being included in the bill, despite public threats to repeal D.C.’s new medical aid-in-dying law, the Death with Dignity Act (DWDA), and its new law regulating the labeling of personal hygiene products, particularly wet wipes, as safe to flush.

Mortgage applications decreased 6.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 23, 2017.

Eight bankruptcy judges and more than 300 attendees will gather to discuss the latest bankruptcy topics at ABI’s 22nd Annual Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop on July 27-30 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa at Hilton Head Island, S.C. The workshop brings together the region’s top insolvency professionals for four days of intense learning and networking. A faculty of outstanding judges, academics and practitioners will present workshops on the hottest topics of the day, including separate tracks for business, consumer and new practitioners.

SG Property Services (SGPS) today announced the purchase of the 12-acre MacArthur Medical Plaza for $9.2 million via an affiliated entity. The 41,588-square-foot property is situated at 3501 N. MacArthur Blvd. Irving, Texas, a fast-growing area just northwest of Dallas. SGPS, a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Atlanta, creates value through acquisitions, development, leasing and property management.

As retailers quickly evolve to stay competitive with ecommerce, appraisers should understand how these changes can affect the valuation of retail properties, according to an article published in Valuation magazines second quarter 2017 issue

The Boulder Group, a net leased investment brokerage firm, has completed the sale of a single tenant new construction Dollar General located at 1382 Pitkin Road in Leesville, Louisiana for $1,084,873. The 9,014 square foot Dollar General building is strategically located along Highway 10 (Pitkin Road) which is the primary north-south thoroughfare in the trade area.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that James M. Owendoff, who has served as a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary in the Office of Environmental Management (EM) since January 2010, has been named Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Environmental Management.

The ongoing supply shortages that are propping up home prices in many metro areas caused pending home sales in May to slump for the third consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors®. None of the major regions saw an increase in contract activity last month

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), together with state, local, and national partners, is leading a national week of action called Our Homes, Our Voices across the country calling for increased federal investments in affordable housing and community development. The coordinated series of events and activities, from July 22 to July 29, will take place in more than 20 cities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule today that would rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule in its entirety and roll back the framework used to protect wetlands, rivers and streams under the Clean Water Act to the 1986 regulations.

More than 250 mayors from across the United States have adopted a bipartisan resolution to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. The commitment to shift completely away from fossil fuels was approved unanimously at the 85th annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami Beach, Fla.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $91,000 environmental education grant to Groundwork San Diego - Chollas Creek to develop and implement a water use and conservation curriculum. The project will improve environmental literacy and stewardship in the Encanto community in southeastern San Diego, and is expected to reach at least 560 students, 24 educators and 50 community members.

Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) called on Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to fire William Bradford, who was recently appointed to lead the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy. After his appointment, the Washington Post exposed his record of making bigoted and misogynistic statements, including calling the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II “necessary.”