New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court order in the form of a default judgment appointing Jacqueline M. Carmichael as the independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Bonnie Optical Inc. of Rochester, New York.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today released Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2009-02 that provides guidance to field investigators regarding certain Form 5500 requirements dealing with tax-sheltered annuity programs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,442,099 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts following a 2009 ice storm in Arkansas.

"Northern Arkansas is still working to clean up and recover from the destruction caused by a large ice storm in the winter of 2009," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will provide more funding to support continuing recovery efforts."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $57,049,761 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oregon. Oregon qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by enacting certain UI provisions.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 522,000, a decrease of 47,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 569,000. The 4-week moving average was 584,500, a decrease of 22,500 from the previous week's revised average of 607,000.

Millions of workers across 30 states will see more money in their paychecks

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers and employees that the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on Friday, July 24. With this change, employees who are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be entitled to pay no less than $7.25 per hour.

Herndon, Virginia – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia removing Answers Inc. and 401(k) trustee Cynthia Chambliss as fiduciaries of the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan and appointing JM Pension Advisory Inc. as the independent plan fiduciary. Answers Inc. is a defunct company formerly located in Herndon, Va., that operated under the names Transit Services LLC and Answer Transit Services Corp.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $141,808,031 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Tennessee. Tennessee qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of family friendly provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part-time work and workers with children.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $59,969,332 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Arkansas. Arkansas qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for family reasons to be eligible for benefits.

Cookeville, Tennessee – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and settlement agreement appointing an independent fiduciary to manage and distribute the retirement assets of defunct Renewable Resources Inc. of Cookeville.

The order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, appoints Larry Lefoldt as the independent fiduciary for the purpose of terminating the plan and distributing its assets in accordance with plan provisions.

Denver — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado appointing an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of the defunct Denver Window Corp., formerly of Commerce City, Colorado.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking in today's Federal Register to approve a new Illinois state public employee protection plan.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Westinghouse Atomic Power Development Plant workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Tyson Valley Powder Farm workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Hood Building workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 565,000, a decrease of 52,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 617,000. The 4-week moving average was 606,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised average of 616,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $275,161,405 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New York. New York qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time employment and those unemployed for family-related reasons to be eligible for benefits.

Pella, Iowa - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of Van Elsen Consulting Inc. in Pella, Iowa, for allegedly retaining employee contributions owed to the company’s SIMPLE IRA Retirement Plan to pay the operating expenses of the company. Van Elsen Consulting Inc. was an actuarial consulting firm that ceased operations on December 31, 2006.

Washington – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (also known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will meet July 21-23, 2009 in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, Room N-3437A-B.

Cincinnati – A free health law compliance assistance seminar for employers, plan fiduciaries and plan services providers, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Ohio Department of Insurance, will take place July 15 and 16 at the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Hotel at the University of Cincinnati, 151 Goodman Drive.