Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that ready to eat chicken strips products produced by House of Raeford, a Mocksville, N.C. establishment, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products have now been consumed.

Washington, DC - In this week’s address, President Obama discussed his upcoming farewell address to the nation. In 1796, as George Washington set the precedent for a peaceful, democratic transfer of power, he also set a precedent by penning a farewell address to the American people. And over the 220 years since, many American presidents have followed his lead. Next week, the President will return to his hometown of Chicago to say a grateful farewell to the nation. This will mark the first time that a President has returned to his hometown to deliver such a speech.

Washington, DC - Friday, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted 50 school counselors at the White House for the 2017 Counselor of the Year Ceremony.  Recognizing the efforts of school counselors is one of many ways in which the First Lady has worked to change the national conversation and make sure students have the guidance they deserve.  Through her Reach Higher initiative and Better Make Room campaign, Mrs. Obama has teamed up with actors, singers, and sports icons to celebrate students and share tools and resources, such as the FAFSA, College Scorecard, and Up Next, with students. 

West Lafayette, Indiana - Researchers have discovered a metabolic signature critical for the functioning of “cancer stem cells” that initiate tumor formation. The team also showed how to interfere with this metabolic mechanism in ovarian cancer, inhibiting tumor growth.

Sacramento, California - Following the resignation of California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. officially submitted U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra’s (D-CA) nomination for California Attorney General to the State Legislature today. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the California State Assembly and Senate, which each have 90 days to act.

Washington, DC - We condemn in the strongest possible terms terrorist attacks this weekend in Baghdad and Najaf. On Saturday, Dae’sh claimed dual attacks in the commercial area of the Al-Sinek neighborhood in Baghdad which killed at least 28 people. Today, multiple attacks, also claimed by Da’esh, have killed at least 35 more innocent civilians and injured scores of others. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hope for a speedy recovery of all those wounded.