Washington, DC - At the request of the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida, a federal court has temporarily shut down two massive telemarketing operations that conned tens of thousands of consumers out of more than $120 million by deceptively marketing computer software and tech support services. The orders also temporarily freeze the defendants’ assets and place the businesses under the control of a court-appointed receiver.

West Lafayette, Indiana - Livestock producers can look forward to an economic “mini-boom” that may last for the next several years, providing opportunities for expansion of herds and flocks, Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says.

Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission has stopped an online scheme that allegedly lured consumers with “free” access to their credit scores and then billed them a recurring fee of $29.95 per month for a credit monitoring program they never ordered. The three companies have agreed to pay $22 million for consumer refunds under a settlement with the FTC and the state attorneys general in Illinois and Ohio.

Washington, DC - Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of its official Flickr account. On Flickr, DHS will share images from the Office of the Secretary and across the Department’s components to showcase the important work carried out every day by the Department’s 240,000 employees.

Miami, Florida - The former chief operating officer of a Miami-area hospital pleaded guilty today for his role in a mental health care fraud scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $67 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare by a state-licensed psychiatric hospital located in Hollywood, Florida, that purported to offer both inpatient and outpatient mental health services.

Washington, DC - More than 100 school superintendents have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in “ConnectED to the Future,” hosted by President Obama on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the White House. The event will bring together superintendents and other educators from across the country who are leading their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning.