January’s National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Monthly Economic Review noted the economic effects of the COVID-19 omicron variant. The variant will bring uncertainty to the economy in 2022 and could contribute to inflation, but is unlikely to cause widespread shutdowns or slowdowns, NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Even with the experience of the past two…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is committed to promoting equity and inclusion through its federal nutrition assistance programs, the organization said, and this week is celebrating advancements made over the past year while acknowledging the long journey ahead. Throughout the past year, the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA have worked…

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13 issued a pair of rulings that affect employer vaccine and mask mandates handed down by the Biden administration. One ruling put a temporary halt to the administration’s COVID-19 vaccine, testing and mask mandate for large employers. The high court, though, let stay a separate rule that applies only…

National biofuel producers association Growth Energy applauded a proposal to expand access to lower-cost, lower-emissions biofuel blends at the pump in Michigan. Legislation offered this week by Michigan State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Kevin Daley, R-Lum, would establish a retailer tax incentive for higher ethanol blends, specifically a tax credit of $0.05 per gallon on…

The marketing of 22nd Century Group’s VLN King and VLN Menthol King combusted, filtered cigarettes as modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs) was recently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). MRTPs help reduce exposure to, and consumption of, nicotine for smokers who use them. These are the first combusted cigarettes to be authorized…

In July, President Joseph Biden signed an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to create a fairer, more resilient and more dynamic economy. The meat and poultry processing sector is a textbook example, the White House said in a new statement, with lack of competition hurting consumers, producers and our economy. Four…

A bipartisan trio of U.S. House members introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used to purchase hot foods and certain prepared foods, which are currently not covered by SNAP. U.S. Reps. Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill.; Grace Meng, D-N.Y.; and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; announced the introduction of the…

Ethanol industry advocate Growth Energy praised the introduction of the Defend the Blend Act in the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan group of legislators this week. The bill seeks to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from retroactively reducing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs), which the agency issues to establish the amount of renewable energy…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that, for passenger cars and light trucks, it finalized the most ambitious federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards ever. The final standards, for model years (MY) 2023 through 2026, leverage advances in clean car technology to unlock $190 billion in net benefits to Americans, including reducing climate pollution, improving…

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) applauded the introduction last week of the Defend the Blend Act. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced the legislation, which would prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from retroactively reducing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) levels once they are finalized, including the 2020 RVOs. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.,…