A former Army soldier, who was most recently stationed in Texas, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to hack into telecommunications companies’ databases, access sensitive records, and extort the telecommunications companies by threatening to release the stolen data unless ransoms were paid.
According to court documents, between April 2023 and Dec. 18, 2024, Cameron John Wagenius, 21, used online accounts associated with the nickname “kiberphant0m” and conspired with others to defraud at least 10 victim organizations by obtaining login credentials for the organizations’ protected computer networks. The conspirators obtained these credentials using a hacking tool that they called SSH Brute, among other means. They used Telegram group chats to transfer stolen credentials and discuss gaining unauthorized access to victim companies’ networks. This activity happened while Wagenius was on active duty with the U.S. Army.
After data was stolen, the conspirators extorted the victim organizations both privately and in public forums. The extortion attempts included threats to post the stolen data on cybercrime forums such as BreachForums and XSS.is. The conspirators offered to sell stolen data for thousands of dollars via posts on these forums. They successfully sold at least some of this stolen data and also used stolen data to perpetuate other frauds, including SIM-swapping. In total, Wagenius and his co-conspirators attempted to extort at least $1 million from victim data owners.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington, Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the FBI Seattle Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office made the announcement.
Wagenius pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion in relation to computer fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for extortion in relation to computer fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other prison time for aggravated identity theft. Wagenius previously pleaded guilty in a separate case to two counts of unlawful transfer of confidential phone records information in connection with this conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and DCIS are investigating the case. The U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, and the National Security Cyber Section provided valuable assistance. Flashpoint and Unit 221B also provided assistance.
Senior Counsel Louisa Becker and Trial Attorney George Brown of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Tea Jiang for the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mark Schlakman, Senior Program Director, The Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, Florida State University
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leads a tour of the new Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility for President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.Andrew Cabellero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
While touring Alligator Alcatraz on July 1, 2025, President Donald Trump said, “This facility will house some of the menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet.” But new reporting from the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times reveals that of more than 700 detainees, only a third have criminal convictions.
To find out more about the state of Florida’s involvement in immigration enforcement and who can be detained at Alligator Alcatraz, The Conversation spoke with Mark Schlakman. Schlakman is a lawyer and senior program director for The Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. He also served as special counsel to Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, working as a liaison of sorts with the federal government during the mid-1990s when tens of thousands of Haitians and Cubans fled their island nations on makeshift boats, hoping to reach safe haven in Florida.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has characterized the migrants being detained in facilities like Alligator Alcatraz as “murderers and rapists and traffickers and drug dealers.” Do we know if the detainees at Alligator Alcatraz have been convicted of these sorts of crimes?
The Times/Herald published a list of 747 current detainees as of Sunday, July 13, 2025. Their reporters found that about a third of the detainees have criminal convictions, including attempted murder, illegal reentry to the U.S., which is a federal crime, and traffic violations. Apparently hundreds more have charges pending, though neither the federal nor state government have made public what those charges are.
There are also more than 250 detainees with no criminal history, just immigration violations.
Is it a crime for someone to be in the U.S. without legal status? In other words, is an immigration violation a crime?
No, not necessarily. It’s well established as a matter of law that physical presence in the U.S. without proper authorization is a civil violation, not a criminal offense.
However, if the federal government previously deported someone, they can be subject to federal criminal prosecution if they attempt to return without permission. That appears to be the case with some of the detainees at Alligator Alcatraz.
What usually happens if a noncitizen commits a crime in the U.S.?
Normally, if a foreign national is accused of committing a crime, they are prosecuted in a state court just like anyone else. If found guilty and sentenced to incarceration, they complete their sentence in a state prison. Once they’ve served their time, state officials can hand them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. They are subject to deportation, but a federal immigration judge can hear any grounds for relief.
DHS has clarified that it “has not implemented, authorized, directed or funded” Alligator Alcatraz, but rather the state of Florida is providing startup funds and running this facility. What is Florida’s interest in this? Are these mostly migrants who have been scooped up by ICE in Florida?
It’s still unclear where most of these detainees were apprehended. But based on a list of six detainees released by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office, it is clear that at least some were apprehended outside of Florida, and others simply may have been transferred to Alligator Alcatraz from federal custody elsewhere.
To establish Alligator Alcatraz, DeSantis leveraged an immigration emergency declaration, which has been ongoing since Jan. 6, 2023. A state of emergency allows a governor to exercise extraordinary executive authority. This is how he avoided requirements such as environmental impact analysis in the Everglades and concerns expressed by tribal governance surrounding that area.
This presents a stark contrast to Gov. Lawton Chiles’declaration of an immigration emergency during the mid-1990s. At that time, tens of thousands of Cubans and Haitians attempted to reach Florida shores in virtually anything that would float. Chiles’ actions as governor were informed by his experience as a U.S. senator during the Mariel boatlift in 1980, when 125,000 Cubans made landfall in Florida over the course of just six months.
During my tenure on Chiles’ staff, the governor generally opposed state legislation involving immigration. In the U.S.’s federalist system of government, immigration falls under the purview of the federal government, not the states. Chiles’ primary concern was that Floridians wouldn’t be saddled with what ought to be federal costs and responsibilities.
Chiles was open to state and local officials supporting federal immigration enforcement. But he was mindful this required finesse to avoid undermining community policing, public health priorities and the economic health of key Florida businesses and industries. To this day, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s position reflects Chiles’ concerns about such cooperation with the federal government.
Now, in 2025, DeSantis has taken a decidedly different tack by using Florida taxpayer dollars to establish Alligator Alcatraz. The state of Florida has fronted the US$450 million to pay for this facility. DeSantis reportedly intends to seek reimbursement from FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program. Ultimately, congressional action may be necessary to obtain reimbursement. Florida is essentially lending the federal government half a billion dollars and providing other assistance to help support the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
You advised Florida Division of Emergency Management leadership directly for several years during the administrations of Gov. Charlie Crist and Gov. Rick Scott. Does running a detention facility like Alligator Alcatraz fall within its typical mission?
The division is tasked with preparing for and responding to both natural and human-caused disasters. In Florida, that generally means hurricanes. While the division may engage to facilitate shelter, I don’t recall any policies or procedures contemplating anything even remotely similar to Alligator Alcatraz.
DeSantis could conceivably argue that this is consistent with a 287(g) agreement authorizing state and local support for federal immigration enforcement. But such agreements typically require federal supervision of state and local activities, not the other way around.
Mark Schlakman served as special counsel to Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles and as a consultant to Emilio Gonzalez at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during his tenure as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director during the George W. Bush administration.
The evidence gathered during ASIRT’s investigation provided reasonable grounds to believe that offences had been committed. As is required by the Police Act, the investigation was forwarded to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) to determine whether the evidence met the standard for prosecution.
Following a review of the investigation and having been advised that the ACPS was of the opinion that the evidence met their standard for prosecution, ASIRT Assistant Executive Director Matthew Block determined that the involved officer should be charged. On July 14, 2025, Cst. Craig Stothard was charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The next day, he appeared in the Calgary Court of King’s Bench and was released on conditions.
As this matter is now before the courts, ASIRT will not provide any further information in relation to this matter.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.
This release is distributed by the Government of Alberta on behalf of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)
WASHINGTON—After filing the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act, DOGE Caucus founder and chair U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) urged bipartisan support for the bill and highlighted the immediate need to rein in wasteful federal spending.
Below are Congressman Bean’s remarks as delivered:
168 billion dollars. That was the amount the federal government improperly paid last year. We paid some bills two or three times. We paid the wrong invoices altogether. We paid invoices we didn’t know we paid because there was no tracking mechanism.
If only there were a bill to require the Department of the Treasury to ensure accuracy and eligibility in federal spending.
Wait there is! I just filed it Mr. Speaker, and it’s the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act.
The war on waste, fraud, and abuse begins today by requiring the Treasury Department to simply track, verify, and cross-check payments, and that’s what the DOGE in Spending Act will do.
Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve accountability and transparency. I urge all my colleagues to join me, and I’m saving a co-sponsorship for each of you.
Let’s deliver results and let’s go get’em!
BACKGROUND
Congressman Bean is building momentum not only among his colleagues in the House, but also from outside organizations and industry stakeholders who recognize the importance of fiscal accountability and the need for commonsense reforms. By engaging think tanks, taxpayer advocacy groups, and public-sector watchdogs, he is rallying a broad coalition committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending.
A comprehensive list of stakeholders supporting H.R. 4311 includes: America First Policy Institute, Americans for Prosperity, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Foundations for Government Accountability, Heritage Action, Open the Books, and The LIBRE Initiative.
On July 15, commencing at 2:00 p.m. for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with Hon. Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Republic of Mauritius.
At the outset, Minister Iwaya stated that Mauritius, located at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean connecting Asia and Africa, is an important partner in promoting a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” based on the rule of law and that he would like to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, taking advantage of the upcoming TICAD9 next month.
In response, Minister Ramful expressed his gratitude for Japan’s cooperation in various fields. He also referred to the good relations between the two countries and expressed his hope for further strengthening of the bilateral relations, particularly in the economic field.
The two ministers concurred to advance initiatives such as maritime security with a view to achieving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, also in view of the promotion of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP). They also reaffirmed that they will work together in order to increase investment from Japanese companies to Mauritius, which serves as a gateway for investment in Africa.
The two ministers also exchanged views on issues, including regional situation in East Asia such as their policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, United Nations Security Council reform, and other issues and concurred to further strengthening cooperation in regional and international arena. Minister Ramful expressed his support for Japan’s efforts toward immediate resolution of the abduction issue.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alyson Stobo-Wilson, Research Adjunct in Conservation Ecology, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Alyson Stobo-Wilson
In remote central Arnhem Land, finding a northern brushtail possum is encouraging for the local Indigenous rangers. Though once common, such small native mammals are now rare. Many are threatened with extinction.
Over the past 30 years, small mammals have been disappearing from Australia’s tropical savannas. This landscape is among the nation’s most remote and seemingly untouched. But it is no longer safe from feral animals, overgrazing livestock, poor fire management and other threats.
Despite growing awareness of the problem, a lack of consensus on the most effective management actions has hindered efforts to reverse these losses. Our new research sought to overcome this hurdle and finally reach consensus on the best way forward.
We achieved this by working with experts from various land management groups and research institutes, including Traditional Owners and Indigenous rangers within the region.
This prompted a major review of the causes, and more research.
Advances in technology played a crucial role in efforts to gather further evidence. Motion-activated cameras known as camera traps enabled monitoring over vast areas.
Extensive surveys using camera traps provided data on the distribution and abundance of small mammals and feral cats. Meanwhile, collar-mounted GPS units and video cameras provided new information about feral cat behaviour.
Feral cat caught on a camera-trap in Arnhem Land. Alyson Stobo-Wilson
What we did and what we found
Our new research concerns the higher-rainfall tropical savannas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This area covers 950,000 square kilometres from the Kimberley in the west to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the east.
First we reviewed the literature on the topic of small mammal declines in the region. We found more than 100 relevant studies had been published since 2010.
From these research papers, we identified 11 plausible threats to small mammals. Then we asked 19 experts to score and rank each threat according to severity and scale, and whether the threat could be effectively mitigated.
We found the most severe and widespread threat to small mammals was feral cats. But broad-scale cat control is not very effective.
Ranked second was the habitat destruction caused by livestock (buffalo, horses, donkeys and cattle) and by inappropriate patterns of fire.
Actions aimed at reducing feral livestock numbers and improving fire regimes would increase vital resources such as food and shelter. Such actions can also make it harder for cats to prey on small mammals.
Feral cattle graze in the savanna woodland of the northern Kimberley. Ian Radford
Future threats and research priorities
Habitat loss from land clearing for urban, agricultural or industrial development currently affects only a small proportion of northwestern Australia. But proposed expansions — particularly for cotton and other intensive agriculture — are concerning. These developments overlap with high-rainfall areas in the Top End, where small mammal communities are still relatively intact.
Our expert group also expressed deep concern and uncertainty about the future as the climate changes. Rising temperatures and more intense rainfall events are expected to increase the frequency, extent and severity of fires. However, managing feral livestock and improving fire regimes can make the ecosystem more resilient to change.
Developing more effective tools to directly control feral cats remains a top research priority. It’s estimated cats kill around 452 million native mammals a year in Australia. About a third of these deaths occur in the tropical savannas. So while improved land management will alleviate some pressure, certain species will remain highly vulnerable unless cats can be better managed.
Water buffalo were introduced to northern Australia in the early-1800s, becoming widespread by the mid-1800s. Alyson Stobo-Wilson
In Australia, the historic disruption of Indigenous customary responsibilities — especially fire management — has contributed to the loss of small mammals.
Fortunately, Indigenous ranger programs and Indigenous Protected Areas have expanded in recent years. Increasingly widespread recognition and application of Indigenous knowledge has deepened and broadened our understanding of mammal declines.
In northern Australia, Indigenous ranger groups are global leaders in fire management. They monitor and manage some of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the continent. The land management actions needed to conserve our small mammals rely in large part on the continued support and funding of these groups.
While the federal government has committed funding to expand ranger programs nationally, ranger groups say the investment falls short of what’s needed. Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation chief executive officer Dominic Nicholls told us:
Given the scale at which Indigenous ranger groups operate – and the critical role they play in protecting Australia’s biodiversity and leading innovation in the carbon industry – the level of allocated funding is insufficient to meet the basic delivery costs of these programs.
A clear path forward
Our research shows reducing feral livestock numbers and improving fire regimes in northern Australia currently offers the greatest benefit to small mammal populations — especially in the absence of effective cat controls.
But success will depend on sustained, long-term support for Indigenous rangers, who carry out much of this work. Investing in these programs is not just essential for conserving biodiversity — it also supports cultural connection, community wellbeing and climate resilience.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Traditional Knowledge offered by participants from Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation and Warddeken Land Management Limited as part of this research.
This research was funded by CSIRO. The research benefited from the involvement of researchers and land managers from CSIRO, Charles Darwin University, Warddeken Land Management Limited, Australian National University, Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the WA and NT governments, Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, Ground Up: Planning and Ecology Support, Dunkeld Pastoral Co Pty Ltd and Desert Support Services.
John Woinarski has previously received funding from the Australian government’s National Environment Science Program. He is affiliated with Charles Darwin University, a member of the Biodiversity Council and a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that several of her provisions were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.
“I’m proud to see that this year’s NDAA includes provisions that will expand protections for service members and make our country more secure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill prioritizes the service members who put their lives on the line for our country, and it includes provisions that will expand health care for service members, help victims of sexual assault, and address brain-related health incidents. I’m also pleased to see that this bill expands my Cyber Service Academy scholarship program—which provides students with full scholarships in exchange for public service after school—and includes millions in funding for Fort Drum, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, and other New York military installations.”
A list of Senator Gillibrand’s priorities included in the FY2026 NDAA is below:
Personnel:
Expanding access to sexual assault medical forensic examinations by requiring the Secretary of Defense to authorize military medical treatment facilities to provide sexual assault medical forensic examinations to all victims, not just victims who are eligible for military health care.
Bolstering OBGYN care at Fort Drum by directing a briefing on the adequacy and sufficiency of OBGYN care for TRICARE beneficiaries in the installation’s vicinity.
Protecting service members’ brain health by conducting blast exposure monitoring within Special Operations Command.
Helping victims of anomalous health incidents by encouraging the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide the cross-functional team addressing anomalous health incidents (AHIs) with adequate resources to continue its efforts, particularly treatment of those affected by AHIs, and by ensuring timely compensation under the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021.
Cyber:
In the FY2023 NDAA, Gillibrand created the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program to address the widespread shortage in government cyber personnel. The program grants students a full scholarship in return for public service in a cyber-related discipline in DoD or the Intelligence Community. Successful applicants are provided a scholarship covering the full cost of tuition, select books and fees, a stipend, purchase of a laptop, and more. The following Cyber Service Academy provisions were included in this year’s NDAA:
Funding to roughly double the number of scholarships available through the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program.
Encouraging DoD to expand eligibility for the scholarship to freshmen and sophomores.
Other cyber provisions:
$10 million in additional funding for the Critical Infrastructure Defense Analysis Center (CIDAC), which works to identify DoD’s reliance on critical infrastructure such as power grids, water treatment, and telecommunications infrastructure and improve DoD’s resiliency against potential cyber and kinetic attacks by adversaries.
Requires the development of implementation plans for the creation of Joint Task Force-Cyber elements across the geographic combatant commands, starting with United States Indo-Pacific Command, that would have operational control over cyber forces in their areas of operations. This will better align operational control of cyber forces worldwide to better support combatant commanders.
New York Priorities:
Senator Gillibrand secured millions in funding for New York institutions in the NDAA, including:
$90 million for the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters Readiness Center, which will also clear the way for separate investments and construction at Watervliet Arsenal.
$300 million for LC-130J aircraft, and an additional $70 million for LC-130J non-recurring engineering, which enables the NY Air National Guard to prepare the aircraft for Arctic conditions
$54 million for the Combined Operations Facility at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
$31 million for the Fort Hamilton Child Development Center
$21 million for the planning and design of future construction projects at Fort Drum:
$9.8 for Fort Drum aircraft maintenance hangar addition design
$8.7 million for Fort Drum Operational Readiness Training Center barracks design.
$2.5 million for Fort Drum Range 41c, Automated Record Fire Plus range design
Strategic Forces:
$500 million for Israeli Missile Defense Cooperative Programs such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow.
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs):
Secured language to update congressional briefing requirements for UAP.
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Proposed Loosened Requirements Could Increase Risk Of Derailments, Spillage Of Dangerous Materials Like Crude Oil
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, is expressing concern about an attempt to reduce track inspections and otherwise loosen rail safety requirements. She is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to maintain its commitment to strong safety standards.
If approved, the waiver would reduce the frequency of visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct from twice a week to twice a month. They would also extend the time allowed to address identified track defects from immediately to a delay of up to three days. This means that passenger trains and trains carrying hazardous materials could be permitted to travel over tracks with known safety issues for as long as three days before repairs are made.
“Throughout New York and across the country, frequent inspections are vital to rail safety and efficiency. Although new safety technologies should be utilized whenever possible, we must ensure that we do not become overly reliant on new technologies and compromise existing, necessary safety practices,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am very concerned that this proposal would reduce the quality of track inspections and slow the repair of track defects. I urge the administration to deny this request, and I will continue to fight to increase the safety, efficiency, and reliability of rail systems across the country.”
A full copy of the letter can be found here or below.
Dear Mr. Feeley:
We write to express our concerns with a proposal from the Association of American Railroads to reduce track inspections and lessen requirements to repair track safety defects. The Biden Administration made rail safety a priority, and last year the freight railroad derailment rate decreased by 18 percent, the greatest reduction in the derailment rate in 40 years. We look forward to working with you to continue this downward trend.
We are supportive of the deployment of advanced safety technologies; but the Federal Railroad Administration should take care not to allow railroads to become overly reliant on technology. AAR on behalf of the Class I railroads, is seeking a waiver to loosen track safety inspection and repair requirements in exchange for deploying automated track inspection (ATI) technology. We know automated track inspection technology works; it has been around since the 1970s. Last year, the Biden Administration proposed requiring railroads to use this important safety technology. However, we are concerned that the exemptions from safety requirements the railroads are seeking could increase risks.
The waiver requests a decrease in the visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct, from twice a week to twice a month. While automated track inspection technology is more effective at identifying track geometry defects, there are other safety issues that visual inspections may identify that automated track inspections may not. In fact, track inspectors are trained to look for 17 other kinds of track safety issues, other than track geometry issues, that could cause derailments, including broken rail ties, missing track spikes, and obstructions in the right of way that a train could hit. The waiver does not explain how reducing railroads’ obligation to check for the track issues that ATI technology cannot detect by up to 75 percent will reduce derailments.
Additionally, the waiver requests railroads that use ATI machines be allowed to take up to 72 hours to address a track safety defect once it is identified. Currently, if a human inspector finds a track defect, the track must be fixed immediately, or other remedial action must be taken, such as slowing the speed of trains on the track. If approved, this waiver would allow passenger trains and trains carrying crude oil, vinyl chloride, benzene, and other hazardous materials to travel over track with a known safety issue for up to three days. The waiver does not explain how slowing remediation response times for track safety defects will improve safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board has also expressed concerns with over relying on this technology. In its investigation of a September 2021 Amtrak Empire Train derailment on BNSF track in Joplin, Montana, the independent investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board stated that automated track inspections “do not capture the diverse array of unique track hazards detectable to human inspectors.” The report went further and said they “should not be used to supplant an inspector physically examining a track.[2]” We are concerned that the AAR’s proposal would do just that, reducing the inspections for all track safety issues that are currently inspected by humans in exchange for potentially improving the inspection of track geometry issues.
For these reasons, we request that you deny the Association of American Railroads’ request to waive track safety requirements and rather finalize the Biden Administration’s proposal to require railroads to use automated track inspection technology.
Sincerely,
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Proposed Loosened Requirements Could Increase Risk Of Derailments, Spillage Of Dangerous Materials Like Crude Oil
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, is expressing concern about an attempt to reduce track inspections and otherwise loosen rail safety requirements. She is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to maintain its commitment to strong safety standards.
If approved, the waiver would reduce the frequency of visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct from twice a week to twice a month. They would also extend the time allowed to address identified track defects from immediately to a delay of up to three days. This means that passenger trains and trains carrying hazardous materials could be permitted to travel over tracks with known safety issues for as long as three days before repairs are made.
“Throughout New York and across the country, frequent inspections are vital to rail safety and efficiency. Although new safety technologies should be utilized whenever possible, we must ensure that we do not become overly reliant on new technologies and compromise existing, necessary safety practices,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am very concerned that this proposal would reduce the quality of track inspections and slow the repair of track defects. I urge the administration to deny this request, and I will continue to fight to increase the safety, efficiency, and reliability of rail systems across the country.”
A full copy of the letter can be found here or below.
Dear Mr. Feeley:
We write to express our concerns with a proposal from the Association of American Railroads to reduce track inspections and lessen requirements to repair track safety defects. The Biden Administration made rail safety a priority, and last year the freight railroad derailment rate decreased by 18 percent, the greatest reduction in the derailment rate in 40 years. We look forward to working with you to continue this downward trend.
We are supportive of the deployment of advanced safety technologies; but the Federal Railroad Administration should take care not to allow railroads to become overly reliant on technology. AAR on behalf of the Class I railroads, is seeking a waiver to loosen track safety inspection and repair requirements in exchange for deploying automated track inspection (ATI) technology. We know automated track inspection technology works; it has been around since the 1970s. Last year, the Biden Administration proposed requiring railroads to use this important safety technology. However, we are concerned that the exemptions from safety requirements the railroads are seeking could increase risks.
The waiver requests a decrease in the visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct, from twice a week to twice a month. While automated track inspection technology is more effective at identifying track geometry defects, there are other safety issues that visual inspections may identify that automated track inspections may not. In fact, track inspectors are trained to look for 17 other kinds of track safety issues, other than track geometry issues, that could cause derailments, including broken rail ties, missing track spikes, and obstructions in the right of way that a train could hit. The waiver does not explain how reducing railroads’ obligation to check for the track issues that ATI technology cannot detect by up to 75 percent will reduce derailments.
Additionally, the waiver requests railroads that use ATI machines be allowed to take up to 72 hours to address a track safety defect once it is identified. Currently, if a human inspector finds a track defect, the track must be fixed immediately, or other remedial action must be taken, such as slowing the speed of trains on the track. If approved, this waiver would allow passenger trains and trains carrying crude oil, vinyl chloride, benzene, and other hazardous materials to travel over track with a known safety issue for up to three days. The waiver does not explain how slowing remediation response times for track safety defects will improve safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board has also expressed concerns with over relying on this technology. In its investigation of a September 2021 Amtrak Empire Train derailment on BNSF track in Joplin, Montana, the independent investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board stated that automated track inspections “do not capture the diverse array of unique track hazards detectable to human inspectors.” The report went further and said they “should not be used to supplant an inspector physically examining a track.[2]” We are concerned that the AAR’s proposal would do just that, reducing the inspections for all track safety issues that are currently inspected by humans in exchange for potentially improving the inspection of track geometry issues.
For these reasons, we request that you deny the Association of American Railroads’ request to waive track safety requirements and rather finalize the Biden Administration’s proposal to require railroads to use automated track inspection technology.
Sincerely,
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Proposed Loosened Requirements Could Increase Risk Of Derailments, Spillage Of Dangerous Materials Like Crude Oil
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, is expressing concern about an attempt to reduce track inspections and otherwise loosen rail safety requirements. She is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to maintain its commitment to strong safety standards.
If approved, the waiver would reduce the frequency of visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct from twice a week to twice a month. They would also extend the time allowed to address identified track defects from immediately to a delay of up to three days. This means that passenger trains and trains carrying hazardous materials could be permitted to travel over tracks with known safety issues for as long as three days before repairs are made.
“Throughout New York and across the country, frequent inspections are vital to rail safety and efficiency. Although new safety technologies should be utilized whenever possible, we must ensure that we do not become overly reliant on new technologies and compromise existing, necessary safety practices,”said Senator Gillibrand.“I am very concerned that this proposal would reduce the quality of track inspections and slow the repair of track defects. I urge the administration to deny this request, and I will continue to fight to increase the safety, efficiency, and reliability of rail systems across the country.”
A full copy of the letter can be foundhere or below.
Dear Mr. Feeley:
We write to express our concerns with a proposal from the Association of American Railroads to reduce track inspections and lessen requirements to repair track safety defects. The Biden Administration made rail safety a priority, and last year the freight railroad derailment rate decreased by 18 percent, the greatest reduction in the derailment rate in 40 years. We look forward to working with you to continue this downward trend.
We are supportive of the deployment of advanced safety technologies; but the Federal Railroad Administration should take care not to allow railroads to become overly reliant on technology. AAR on behalf of the Class I railroads, is seeking a waiver to loosen track safety inspection and repair requirements in exchange for deploying automated track inspection (ATI) technology. We know automated track inspection technology works; it has been around since the 1970s. Last year, the Biden Administration proposed requiring railroads to use this important safety technology. However, we are concerned that the exemptions from safety requirements the railroads are seeking could increase risks.
The waiver requests a decrease in the visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct, from twice a week to twice a month. While automated track inspection technology is more effective at identifying track geometry defects, there are other safety issues that visual inspections may identify that automated track inspections may not. In fact, track inspectors are trained to look for 17 other kinds of track safety issues, other than track geometry issues, that could cause derailments, including broken rail ties, missing track spikes, and obstructions in the right of way that a train could hit. The waiver does not explain how reducing railroads’ obligation to check for the track issues that ATI technology cannot detect by up to 75 percent will reduce derailments.
Additionally, the waiver requests railroads that use ATI machines be allowed to take up to 72 hours to address a track safety defect once it is identified. Currently, if a human inspector finds a track defect, the track must be fixed immediately, or other remedial action must be taken, such as slowing the speed of trains on the track. If approved, this waiver would allow passenger trains and trains carrying crude oil, vinyl chloride, benzene, and other hazardous materials to travel over track with a known safety issue for up to three days. The waiver does not explain how slowing remediation response times for track safety defects will improve safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board has also expressed concerns with over relying on this technology. In its investigation of a September 2021 Amtrak Empire Train derailment on BNSF track in Joplin, Montana, the independent investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board stated that automated track inspections “do not capture the diverse array of unique track hazards detectable to human inspectors.” The report went further and said they “should not be used to supplant an inspector physically examining a track.[2]” We are concerned that the AAR’s proposal would do just that, reducing the inspections for all track safety issues that are currently inspected by humans in exchange for potentially improving the inspection of track geometry issues.
For these reasons, we request that you deny the Association of American Railroads’ request to waive track safety requirements and rather finalize the Biden Administration’s proposal to require railroads to use automated track inspection technology.
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
Proposed Loosened Requirements Could Increase Risk Of Derailments, Spillage Of Dangerous Materials Like Crude Oil
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee, is expressing concern about an attempt to reduce track inspections and otherwise loosen rail safety requirements. She is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to maintain its commitment to strong safety standards.
If approved, the waiver would reduce the frequency of visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct from twice a week to twice a month. They would also extend the time allowed to address identified track defects from immediately to a delay of up to three days. This means that passenger trains and trains carrying hazardous materials could be permitted to travel over tracks with known safety issues for as long as three days before repairs are made.
“Throughout New York and across the country, frequent inspections are vital to rail safety and efficiency. Although new safety technologies should be utilized whenever possible, we must ensure that we do not become overly reliant on new technologies and compromise existing, necessary safety practices,”said Senator Gillibrand.“I am very concerned that this proposal would reduce the quality of track inspections and slow the repair of track defects. I urge the administration to deny this request, and I will continue to fight to increase the safety, efficiency, and reliability of rail systems across the country.”
A full copy of the letter can be foundhere or below.
Dear Mr. Feeley:
We write to express our concerns with a proposal from the Association of American Railroads to reduce track inspections and lessen requirements to repair track safety defects. The Biden Administration made rail safety a priority, and last year the freight railroad derailment rate decreased by 18 percent, the greatest reduction in the derailment rate in 40 years. We look forward to working with you to continue this downward trend.
We are supportive of the deployment of advanced safety technologies; but the Federal Railroad Administration should take care not to allow railroads to become overly reliant on technology. AAR on behalf of the Class I railroads, is seeking a waiver to loosen track safety inspection and repair requirements in exchange for deploying automated track inspection (ATI) technology. We know automated track inspection technology works; it has been around since the 1970s. Last year, the Biden Administration proposed requiring railroads to use this important safety technology. However, we are concerned that the exemptions from safety requirements the railroads are seeking could increase risks.
The waiver requests a decrease in the visual track inspections that railroads are required to conduct, from twice a week to twice a month. While automated track inspection technology is more effective at identifying track geometry defects, there are other safety issues that visual inspections may identify that automated track inspections may not. In fact, track inspectors are trained to look for 17 other kinds of track safety issues, other than track geometry issues, that could cause derailments, including broken rail ties, missing track spikes, and obstructions in the right of way that a train could hit. The waiver does not explain how reducing railroads’ obligation to check for the track issues that ATI technology cannot detect by up to 75 percent will reduce derailments.
Additionally, the waiver requests railroads that use ATI machines be allowed to take up to 72 hours to address a track safety defect once it is identified. Currently, if a human inspector finds a track defect, the track must be fixed immediately, or other remedial action must be taken, such as slowing the speed of trains on the track. If approved, this waiver would allow passenger trains and trains carrying crude oil, vinyl chloride, benzene, and other hazardous materials to travel over track with a known safety issue for up to three days. The waiver does not explain how slowing remediation response times for track safety defects will improve safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board has also expressed concerns with over relying on this technology. In its investigation of a September 2021 Amtrak Empire Train derailment on BNSF track in Joplin, Montana, the independent investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board stated that automated track inspections “do not capture the diverse array of unique track hazards detectable to human inspectors.” The report went further and said they “should not be used to supplant an inspector physically examining a track.[2]” We are concerned that the AAR’s proposal would do just that, reducing the inspections for all track safety issues that are currently inspected by humans in exchange for potentially improving the inspection of track geometry issues.
For these reasons, we request that you deny the Association of American Railroads’ request to waive track safety requirements and rather finalize the Biden Administration’s proposal to require railroads to use automated track inspection technology.
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced to 65 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting three young children.
According to court documents, Charles Alexander Lopez, 30, stated in a group chat on the instant messaging app Wickr that he was engaged in the sexual abuse and exploitation of minor children in October 2023. He posted two images and a video to the group on Oct. 24, 2023, along with a message stating, “My conquest for the day.” The two images depicted a male toddler whom Lopez had just sexually assaulted, while the video depicted a portion of the sexual assault itself.
An FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) interacted with Lopez through a private chat, through which Lopez disclosed details of another sexual assault victimizing a female toddler a few days prior and that he has sexually exploited a non-verbal autistic male child as well. On Oct. 26, 2023, FBI San Antonio executed a federal search warrant for the home and person of Lopez, seizing electronic devices used to produce, distribute and possess child pornography.
Lopez admitted to sexually exploiting a male toddler, using his smartphone to produce and share Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). He also provided the names of other children he sexually assaulted and exploited, stating that he had sexually assaulted 15 minors since he was 10 years old and produced CSAM of approximately five different children.
Lopez was arrested on Oct. 27, 2023, and on Nov. 15, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted him for three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2025, to the three sexual exploitation charges. On July 14, Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra sentenced Lopez to 65 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release. Ezra also ordered Lopez to pay $150,000 in restitution to three minor victims.
“Individuals like this, who take every opportunity to prey on helpless children simply cannot remain free in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This defendant has spent two-thirds of his life as a child predator, sexually assaulting, exploiting and forever altering the lives of vulnerable and defenseless children to fulfill his selfish and vile choices.”
“There is no place in our society for those who prey on the most vulnerable among us,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for FBI San Antonio.” The FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, together with the United States Attorney’s Office, will relentlessly pursue every lead to investigate violent crimes against children and bring their perpetrators to justice.”
FBI San Antonio investigated the case, assisted by a referral from FBI Albany.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Last week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released its safety review of seven active ingredients commonly used in sunscreens.
It found five were low-risk and appropriate for use in sunscreens at their current concentrations.
However, the TGA recommended tighter restrictions on two ingredients – homosalate and oxybenzone – to reduce how much can be used in a product. This is based on uncertainty about their potential effects on the endocrine system, which creates and releases hormones.
This news, together with recent reports some products may have inflated their claims of SPF coverage, might make Australians worried about whether their sunscreen products are working – and safe.
But it’s not time to abandon sunscreens. In Australia, all sunscreens must pass a strict approval process before going on the market. The TGA tests the safety and efficacy of all ingredients, and this recent review is part of the TGA’s continuing commitment to safety.
The greatest threat sunscreen poses to Australians’ health is not using it.
Still, it’s understandable people want to know what’s in their products, and any changes that might affect them. So let’s take a closer look at the safety review and what it found.
What are the active ingredients in sunscreen?
There are two main types of sunscreen: physical and chemical. This is based on the different active ingredients they use.
An active ingredient is a chemical component in a product that has an effect on the body – basically, what makes the product “work”.
In sunscreens, this is the compound that absorbs UV rays from the Sun. The other ingredients – for example, those that give the sunscreen its smell or help the skin absorb it – are “inactive”.
Physical sunscreens typically use minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, that can absorb the Sun’s rays but also reflect some of them.
Chemical sunscreens use a variety of chemical ingredients to absorb or scatter UV light, both long wave (UVA) or short wave (UVB).
The seven active ingredients in this review are in chemical sunscreens.
Why did the TGA do the review?
Our current limits for the concentrations of these chemicals in sunscreen are generally consistent with other regulatory agencies, such as the European Union and the US Food and Drug Administration.
However, safety is an evolving subject. The TGA periodically reexamines the safety of all therapeutic goods.
This model considers how much sunscreen someone typically applies, how much skin they cover (whole body versus face and hands, or just face) and how it’s absorbed through the skin.
Given this new model – along with changes in the EU and US approaches to sunscreen regulation – the TGA selected seven common sunscreen ingredients to investigate in depth.
Determining what’s safe
When evaluating whether chemicals are safe for human use, testing will often consider studies in animals – especially when there is no or limited data on humans. These animal tests are done by the manufacturers, not the TGA.
To take into account any unforeseen sensitivity humans may have to these chemicals, a “margin of safety” is built in. This is typically a concentration 50–100 times lower than the dose at which no negative effect was seen in animals.
The sunscreen review used a margin of safety 100 times lower than this dose as the safety threshold.
For most of the seven investigated sunscreen chemicals, the TGA found the margin of safety was above 100.
This means they’re considered safe and low-risk for long-term use.
However, two ingredients, homosalate and oxybenzone, were found to be below 100. This was based on the highest estimated sunscreen exposure, applied to the body at the maximum permitted concentration: 15% for homosalate, 10% for oxybenzone.
At lower concentrations, other uses – such as just the hands and face – could be considered low-risk for both ingredients.
What are the health concerns?
Homosalate and oxybenzone have low acute oral toxicity – meaning you would need to swallow a lot of it to experience toxic effects, nearly half a kilogram of these chemicals – and don’t cause irritation to eyes or skin.
The TGA is being very cautious here, using a very wide margin of safety under worst-case scenarios.
What are the recommendations?
The TGA recommends the allowed concentration of homosalate and oxybenzone be reduced.
But exactly how much it will be lowered is complicated, depending on whether the product is intended for adults or children, specifically for face, or the whole body, and so on.
However, some sunscreens would need to be reformulated or warning labels placed on particular formulations. The exact changes will be decided after public consultation. Submissions close on August 12.
What about benzophenone?
There is also some evidence benzophenone – a chemical produced when sunscreen that contains octocrylene degrades – may cause cancer at high concentrations.
This is based on studies in which mice and rats were fed benzophenone well above the concentration in sunscreens.
Octocrylene degrades slowly over time to benzophenone. Heat makes it degrade faster, especially at temperatures above 40°C.
The TGA has recommended restricting benzophenone to 0.0383% in sunscreens to ensure it remains safe during the product’s shelf life.
The Cancer Council advises storing sunscreens below 30°C.
The bottom line
The proposed restrictions are very conservative, based on worst-case scenarios.
But even in worst-case scenarios, the margin of safety for these ingredients is still below the level at which any negative effect was seen in animals.
The threat of cancer from sun exposure is far more serious than any potential negative effect from sunscreens.
If you do wish to avoid these chemicals before new limits are imposed, several sunscreens are available that provide high levels of protection with little or no homosalate and oxybenzone. For more information, consult product labels.
Ian Musgrave has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council to study adverse reactions to herbal medicines and has previously been funded by the Australian Research Council to study potential natural product treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. He is currently a member of one of the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s statutory councils.
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging fourteen Polk County residents with narcotics trafficking and firearms-related charges. If convicted, Curtis Charles Tinsley (47, Lakeland), Tyler Anthony Devaney (32, Winter Haven), Alvin Antonio Barnes III (47, Lakeland), Tonyo Cortez Evans (39, Lakeland), Lamar Anthony Hamilton (43, Lakeland), Albert Lewis III (48, Lakeland), Tyrese Leon Pratt (39, Lakeland), Antonio Groover (32, Dundee), Kenji Antwana Miller (38, Lakeland), Melvin Sharon Murray (48, Lakeland), Robert James Johnson IV (32, Lakeland), Steven Wayne Gay (55, Lakeland), Tiffany Elaine Creach (43, Lakeland), and Sabrina Marie Taylor (40, Dover) each face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
According to the indictment, the charged individuals conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy. Devaney, Barnes, Hamilton, Pratt, and Groover are also charged for possessing firearms or ammunition as convicted felons. Devaney, Pratt, and Hamilton are each charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense. The indictment also alleges that Tinsley, Devaney, Barnes, Evans, Hamilton, Groover, Miller, Murray, and Gay committed the alleged offenses after convictions for either serious drug or violent felonies.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lakeland Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 248 months of imprisonment, to be followed by six months of supervised release, on his conviction of federal drug trafficking and firearm offenses, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Courtney Washington Jr., 31, who a federal jury in September 2024 found guilty of two counts of violating federal firearms laws. Prior to that trial, Washington pleaded guilty to related charges of distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to information presented to the Court, Washington was a large-scale fentanyl trafficker on whose residence law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on April 17, 2023. As officers called for Washington to exit the home, Washington unsuccessfully attempted to destroy drugs by placing them in a washing machine, with officers later finding approximately $45,000 worth of fentanyl in the machine. Law enforcement also recovered, approximately six feet from the fentanyl, a loaded and stolen .45 Glock handgun that Washington attempted to conceal in the rafters above the washing machine. Having previously been convicted of a federal drug trafficking felony, Washington is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Police Department, and Duquesne Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Washington.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will roll out a large-scale census test next month.
About 60,000 households will take part across the country to stress test the bureau’s collection processes and IT systems, ahead of next year’s full scale census. The survey questions change little, if at all, between the dry run and the census proper.
The population count will offer Australians an opportunity to reflect on who we are and the stories we share.
It comes at a time when traditional censuses are coming under threat worldwide.
Dying days of census
Census plays a significant part of the story of humanity. Jesus was born in a stable because a census ordered by Caesar Augusta had brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.
They have changed down the centuries. But some things remain the same: the data collected is crucial for taxation, political representation and socio-economic indicators.
But national head counts are costly and cause enormous headaches for governments.
Vintage census television ad.
In other countries, censuses are being killed off, replaced with information compiled by other means, such as administrative government data and population surveys. Think of the overseas versions of Medicare, Centrelink and the Tax Office.
National statistical offices in the United Kingdom and New Zealand have both flagged the end of traditional censuses
The UK Office of National Statistics had been preparing for census replacement since 2011, only backtracking after a public backlash.
Funding cuts in Canada saw dual short- and long-form questionnaires which resulted in the partial collection of crucial socio-economic data akin to a sample survey. Statistics Canada now uses administrative and survey data to help meet its official statistics program.
Do we still need the census?
Replacing the census was floated a decade ago when dwindling government funding saw the Australian Bureau of Statistics struggling to “keep the lights on”.
Worried after 2016’s “censusfail”, the agency sought to ensure legislatively required data could be achieved even in the absence of a census. The bureau collected population and housing data using experimental administrative data, proving a national census isn’t necessarily needed for population estimates.
Costs associated with running a five-yearly head count and the decline in the social licence to collect such data are routinely used as justifications for replacing the census. Why conduct a wartime-like undertaking when you don’t have to?
The threat to the traditional census comes as no surprise to data scientists. Data is now ubiquitous, covering nearly every aspect of our lives – loyalty rewards, public transport cards and even frequent flyer points.
But there’s so much heavy lifting only a census can do and it’s crucial to helping Australia understand its diverse population.
More than just numbers
Data helps contextualise our lives.
Data made me feel less alone as a young person. I could see I wasn’t the only person doing it tough. Poverty wasn’t my fault, rather a wider structural problem politicians and policymakers failed to understand.
Being missed by the 1996 census as a homeless teen drives me to ensure Australia’s national census snapshot reflects the needs of the country.
Data holds powerful truths and has the capability to heal through information. Who we are, how and where we live, our commonalities and differences, and what might come next.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is finding increasingly creative ways to communicate and bring Australians along for the ride.
Its outreach through social media makes data more accessible and fun.
The paraphernalia promoting previous censuses make it clear how much the agency is invested in ensuring complete coverage of all people. A significant departure from the stuffy practices of national statistical offices overseas.
Small solar powered census-at-school calculators have been given to pupils to help increase awareness among linguistically diverse communities. This is recognition children complete the census questionnaire in some families.
Desks of cards gifted to homeless people sleeping rough attests to the bureau’s dedication to ensuring all people are counted, no matter where or how they live
Behind The News’s take on the census.
More inclusive family photograph
But it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Last year’s unprecedented government interference in the independent conduct of the bureau resulted in proposed questions on sexuality and gender diversity being dumped from the 2026 census.
A public outcry forced a government back down with the sorry saga clearly demonstrating a myriad of critical data cannot be collected by other means.
The upcoming census family photograph will be more inclusive – Australians will have the opportunity to have their gender identity and sexual orientation reflected in the tally.
Family ancestry information will be broadened, and the questionnaire itself will better reflect Australian households overall.
The alternative to a census is a private, behind-closed-doors collation of personal information by government.
The good news is Australia’s census is alive and well and keeping up with the times.
Liz Allen worked as a graduate at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2006. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council for work examining grandparenting in Australia. Liz is a member of the National Foundation of Australian Women Social Policy Committee.
Seattle –A former Army soldier, who was most recently stationed in Texas, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to hack into telecommunications companies’ databases, access sensitive records, and extort the telecommunications companies by threatening to release the stolen data unless ransoms were paid.
According to court documents, between April 2023 and Dec. 18, 2024, Cameron John Wagenius, 19, used online accounts associated with the nickname “kiberphant0m” and conspired with others to defraud at least ten victim organizations by obtaining login credentials for the organizations’ protected computer networks. The conspirators obtained these credentials using a hacking tool that they called SSH Brute, among other means. They used Telegram group chats to transfer stolen credentials and discuss gaining unauthorized access to victim companies’ networks. This activity happened while Wagenius was on active duty with the U.S. Army.
After data was stolen, the conspirators extorted the victim organizations both privately and in public forums. The extortion attempts included threats to post the stolen data on cybercrime forums such as BreachForums and XSS.is. The conspirators offered to sell stolen data for thousands of dollars via posts on these forums. They successfully sold at least some of this stolen data and also used stolen data to perpetuate other frauds, including SIM-swapping. In total, Wagenius and his co-conspirators attempted to extort at least $1 million from victim data owners.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington, Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the FBI Seattle Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office made the announcement.
Wagenius pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion in relation to computer fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a maximum of five years in prison for extortion in relation to computer fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other prison time for aggravated identity theft. Wagenius previously pleaded guilty in a separate case to two counts of unlawful transfer of confidential phone records information in connection with this conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case. The U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, and the National Security Cyber Section provided valuable assistance. Flashpoint and Unit 221B also provided assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Tea Jiang of the Western District of Washington and Senior Counsel Louisa Becker and Trial Attorney George Brown of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.
CLEVELAND – James P. Jackson, age 39, of Niles, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to using his role as an employee at a state prison to smuggle illicit substances and other prohibited items to an inmate at the facility.
According to court documents, Jackson was employed by the Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) in Leavittsburg, from 2022 through 2024. He served as a corrections officer and later, as a general maintenance worker, where he regularly came into contact with inmates. His work duties and responsibilities allowed him full access to non-public areas including prison cells.
Allegations in court documents show that Jackson was in communication with the wife of a TCI inmate. After some time spent exchanging text messages and keeping in touch by phone, the two agreed to meet. On Feb. 1, 2024, they met and she handed him two large, wrapped packages for him to deliver to her husband who was serving a sentence inside the facility. In return, Jackson accepted an initial bribe of $1,000 from her and was promised an additional $1,000 after the contraband was successfully delivered to the intended recipient. The next day, Jackson attempted to take the packages into TCI but was intercepted by law enforcement before entering.
The investigation revealed that the packages Jackson received−and attempted to smuggle into the prison−contained 97.67 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, 207.63 grams of synthetic cannabinoid, 32.85 grams of phencyclidine (aka PCP or angel dust), various other drugs, a cellphone, and SIM cards.
On July 15, 2025, Jackson pleaded guilty after being charged by information for Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right for accepting money to smuggle two packages into TCI using his capacity as an employee of the facility. He faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Trumbull Correctional Institutions-Office of Investigations, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol-Office of Criminal Investigations Prison Drug Unit and Investigative Services for the Warren District.
Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea S. Rice and Rebecca C. Lutzko prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
Spokane, Washington – Nine defendants are scheduled to make their first appearances in federal court at 3 P.M. today after the return of an indictment alleging several charges – including assaulting a federal officer – during a protest gathering at the Homeland Security office in Spokane.
Benjamin Theodore Stuckart, age 53, has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
Justice Forral, age 33, has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
Mikki Pike Hatfield, age 34,has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers and Assault on a Federal Officer, Employee, or Person Assisting a Federal Officer (intent to cause another felony/use of a dangerous weapon)
Erin Nicole Lang, age 31 has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
Collin James Muncey, age 34 has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
Thalia Marie Ramirez, age 20, has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
Bobbi Lee Silva, age 38, has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers and Assault on a Federal Officer, Employee, or Person Assisting a Federal Officer (physical contact / intent to cause another felony)
Bajun Dhunjisha Mavalwalla II, age 35 has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
Jac Dalitso Archer, age 33, has been charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure Officers
“We respect and honor everyone’s right to peacefully protest. However, the few who choose to cross the line from protest to violence and destruction will be held accountable,” stated Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.
According to court documents and information shared in court, on June 11, 2025, at approximately 12:52 pm, Stuckart posted on social media a call for others to come and join him as he blocked a bus that was going to be used to transport the federal detainees held at the federal facility in Spokane to Tacoma for their immigration hearings. Archer and other co-conspirators arrived in response to the post, and along with Stuckart, blocked the pathway and door to the transport bus, despite orders to disperse.
As alleged in the indictment, a short time later, Forral parked his vehicle to block the exit path of the bus. Forral and Lang then released air from the tires of the bus, and other co-conspirators painted the windshield of the bus rendering it unsafe to drive.
Archer reposted Stuckart’s call and posted additional calls urging others to come and join noting the intent was to “risk arrest to block the exits to ICE”.
When federal officers attempted to leave the building through a secure parking lot on the south end of property, Forral, Hatfield, Muncey, Silva, Mavalwalla II, Archer, and other co-conspirators blocked the driveway and/or pushed against officers, despite orders to disperse and attempts to remove the defendants from the property. Silva struck a federal officer from behind as the officer was attempting to clear a path for transport vehicles to leave the building.
Forral, Muncey, Hatfield, and other co-conspirators then placed trash cans, sand/cement bags, benches, signs, and other objects in front of doors and exits to block the exit of federal officers and detainees from the federal facility.
After Spokane Police arrived, officers placed marked patrol vehicles in front of and behind a red transport van that was then designated to transport the detainees to Tacoma for their immigration hearings. The red van was quickly surrounded by Stuckart, Hatfield, Lang, Silva, and other co-conspirators. Ramirez, armed with a boxcutter, slashed the tires of the van, making it unsafe to drive.
After dispersal orders issued by Spokane Police Department were ignored, the Spokane Police Department deployed crowd control measures to include inert smoke and pepper balls at the feet of those resistant to leave. According to the indictment, Hatfield picked one up one of those deployed incendiary devices and threw it in the direction of Spokane Police and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Multiple calls for assistance were made to local law enforcement agencies. Because of the defendants’ actions, federal agents and the detainees, as well as civilian employees were unable to leave the facility, until approximately 9:00 PM, and only with the assistance of the Spokane Police Department S.W.A.T team.
This case was investigated by the FBI and other federal agencies, including the USMS.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
66% of Londoners believe London Assembly powers should be strengthened or maintained if the office of the Mayor were given more devolved powers.
In a YouGov survey commissioned by the GLA Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into London’s place in the Government’s proposed devolution reforms, Londoners answered questions about the powers of the Mayor of London and the cross-party London Assembly.
When asked whether the London Assembly should get more or fewer powers if the office of the Mayor were to be given more devolved powers, a total of 66% of Londoners considered the Assembly’s position should be either maintained or increased – with 36% believing the London Assembly should get more powers and 30% thinking the role should stay the same. Only 5% think that the Assembly should have fewer powers.
If the office of the Mayor of London were given more control over taxes raised in London, 41% of Londoners expressed support for the office of the Mayor of London to have control over a tourism levy (a potential tax on overnight stays or a surcharge on visitor attractions for overseas visitors).
In terms of potential future devolved powers, regulating private rented accommodation (26%), NHS services (25%), and the criminal justice system and policing (25%) were three of the areas in which Londoners expressed strongest support for the office of the Mayor of London receiving more devolved powers, if they had to choose.
“As a world-leading global city, we’re looking at the question of devolution for London through the binoculars of how it compares to cities across the globe and how they exercise their powers.
“This survey was our chance to hear directly from Londoners—and the message was clear. There’s considerable support for stronger powers, not just for the Office of Mayor, but also for the Assembly to hold them to account.
“In addition to that, there was strong backing for some sort of tourism levy, just like other top destinations.
“But most importantly, Londoners want to see the Office of the Mayor empowered to deliver on the issues that clearly matter to them, including regulation of the private rented sector and over the criminal justice system and policing.
“All of this will feed into our report into how London’s powers could shape up over the next 25 years, which will be published once the investigation has been completed.”
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE ANTONIO MOLINA-MONTALVO, 36, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 58 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 15, 2024, Molina-Montalvo sold a Harrington & Richardson 1871 INC. Handi Rifle, and 39 rounds of ammunition, to an individual for $300.
Molina-Montalvo’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for assault, possession with intent to sell narcotics, strangulation, harassment, burglary, and larceny. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Molina-Montalvo has been detained since his arrest on unrelated state charges on October 21, 2024. On March 28, 2025, he pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont through Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
TYLER, Texas –A Rusk man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Justin Jones, 37, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 15, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on December 4, 2023, was seen driving on County Road 2120 in Cherokee County. The Sheriff recognized Jones and attempted to stop him for an outstanding arrest warrant. Jones abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. A search of the abandoned vehicle revealed Jones’ cell phone, two rifles, and a pistol. The phone also contained a photo of Jones holding one of the rifles. Jones has several prior felony convictions, including four prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Jones is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Tyler Field Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury in Miami has found Keenan Johnson (36, Tamarac) guilty of three counts of perjury for false testimony he gave under oath during an evidentiary hearing in a criminal case before Chief Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the United States District Court in Miami on April 4, 2022. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on each count. His sentencing hearing is set for October 3, 2025, in Miami. Johnson was indicted on July 31, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the five-day trial, Johnson, who was a homicide detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department, lied under oath on several occasions during a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence. When confronted by a witness regarding a telephone number he had given to the witness, Johnson denied the number was his, denied that he had spoken to the witness over the telephone, denied he had received text messages from the witness, and denied he had used the number on police flyers.
At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the judge asked the prosecutor to get to the bottom of the discrepancies regarding the use of the telephone number. Records obtained by investigators after the hearing ultimately showed that Johnson had the phone number for more than four years, had contact with the suppression hearing witness, had used the phone number the night before the suppression hearing for a more than 10-minute call, and had deleted the number after the suppression hearing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Miami and the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs Jr. of the Middle District of Florida. Boggs was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida for this case.
In response to the recent UK Supreme Court ruling, I want to express my unequivocal support and solidarity with the trans community in London.
Prior to this ruling, trans people already faced stark inequality. 57 per cent of trans people avoid going to the doctor when unwell, many have reported being denied same-gender officers during police searches, which can be invasive and distressing, and trans people often face discrimination when seeking housing and employment.
This shameful ruling works to further marginalise and exclude trans people, using the Supreme Court judgment as a tool to deny people access to basic facilities and vital services.
The fact that no trans organisations were represented at the Supreme Court ruling is extremely concerning. Many trans organisations and individuals have reported that the hearing was set up in a hostile way that discouraged their participation. How can we listen to a ruling that purposefully excluded the most marginalised group in our society in a decision that directly affects them?
Regardless of the various interpretations of the ruling, the message is clear – trans people are under attack.
Since the ruling, I, along with many fellow London Assembly Members, have received numerous emails from concerned constituents, anxious about the growing normalisation of transphobia and how this new judgment will impact their daily lives.
Disappointingly, the Mayor has remained silent, but now more than ever, in the face of vicious attacks and growing hostility, the Mayor must make a clear and public commitment to protect the rights and safety of all trans people.
As the Prime Minister publicly denies trans identities as he refutes his earlier statement from 2022 that “trans women are women”, and confidence in public bodies is justifiably shaken, London’s trans community deserves a Mayor actively advocating for their dignity, including the public bodies overseen by the Mayor. He has the power to ensure they do not implement harmful policies in light of this ruling; any decent Mayor would use this power to defend marginalised people under assault.
London is a city that attracts millions around the world, and it should be a welcoming and safe place for both trans visitors and trans Londoners alike.
I believe this ruling is discriminatory and could give people the license to push their bigotry and hate, but that doesn’t mean we have to go along with it. We don’t have to accept this interpretation of what gender is or isn’t, and we absolutely can and should resist it.
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. departments of Labor and Education announced the implementation of a workforce development partnership to create an integrated federal education and workforce system. The Labor Department will take on a greater role in administering the adult education and family literacy programs funded under Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and career and technical education programs funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The programs will be managed alongside Department of Education staff, with continued leadership and oversight by Education.
The workforce development partnership marks a major step in shifting management of select Education Department programs to partner agencies.
“Our bloated federal bureaucracy has made it increasingly difficult to administer workforce development programs effectively, and our students and workers have been left behind as a result. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restructuring to meet the needs of our workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “I’m excited to team up with Secretary McMahon as we work together to provide states with clearer guidance, reduced regulatory burdens, and more resources that are directly invested in opportunities for American workers.”
“The current structure with various federal agencies each managing pieces of the federal workforce portfolio is inefficient and duplicative. Support from the Department of Labor in administering the Department of Education’s workforce programs is a commonsense step in streamlining these programs to better serve students, families, and educators,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.“I look forward to collaborating with Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to create a stronger talent pipeline for our nation’s workforce.”
Background
The Department of Education signed an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Labor on May 21. One day later, a Massachusetts District Judge granted a preliminary injunction to plaintiffs inMcMahon v. New York, forcing the Department of Education to pause implementation of the IAA. Yesterday, the Supreme Court granted an emergency request to stay the injunction, allowing the Education Department to implement this IAA and proceed with the reduction in force to administer its programs more efficiently.
The workforce development partnership was created under an IAA, a tool routinely utilized by government agencies to share resources, collaborate, and ensure efficient service delivery. Under the partnership, the Labor Department will provide day-to-day administration of Education’s Perkins and WIOA Title II programs alongside the larger suite of workforce programs the Labor Department already administers. Administering Perkins V and WIOA Title I, II, and III through the Labor Department will facilitate streamlined services for states and grantees, such as allowing for a unified state plan portal and consistent timelines for submitting the required state plans for WIOA and Perkins. The Department of Education will maintain all statutory responsibilities and positions, policy authority, and oversight of these programs.
This shared effort will provide a coordinated federal education and workforce system, consistent with Executive Order No. 14278signed on April 23, 2025.
The Department of Labor presently administers the majority of federally funded workforce programs. Greater involvement by the Labor Department in administration of these programs will give states central points of contact in the federal government, reducing duplication of effort and conflicting directives from different agencies. It will ensure more funds can be spent on workforce training and less on state and federal bureaucracy and compliance costs.
Education and Labor will provide states with additional guidance in the coming weeks as these changes are implemented. For any immediate program questions, state partners and grantees should reach out to their respective Employee and Training Administration or Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education points of contact.
The former senior Costa Rican official has been charged, arrested, and is pending extradition to the United States on international drug trafficking charges
A former Costa Rican government official and judge has been charged with federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Celso Manuel Gamboa Sanchez, 49, was named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with manufacturing and distributing cocaine knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States and conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that Gamboa Sanchez conspired with and assisted other international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine, much of which was trafficked through Costa Rica and ultimately into the United States for further distribution. Gamboa Sanchez has held several governmental positions in Costa Rica, including Minister of Public Security in 2014, a position charged with overseeing crime prevention in the country, and judge from 2016 to 2018.
On June 23, 2025, Gamboa Sanchez was arrested in Costa Rica, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued because of similar international drug trafficking charges alleged against Gamboa Sanchez in 2024 in the Eastern District of Texas. Also on June 23, 2025, Costa Rican officials arrested another alleged Costa Rican international narcotics trafficker, Edwin Danny Lopez Vega, who was an associate of Gamboa Sanchez, and indicted in the Eastern District of Texas.
Both remain jailed in Costa Rica and are awaiting extradition to the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
If convicted, Gamboa Sanchez and Lopez Vega face a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the North Texas Strike Force. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wes Wynne and Christopher Eason.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Conservative Group at City Hall has today announced that Susan Hall AM has been appointed as their new leader.
In her new role, Hall will lead the Conservative opposition at City Hall, holding the Mayor’s administration to account whilst championing Conservative policies for the capital.
Susan Hall AM said:
“I am deeply honoured to lead City Hall’s Conservatives Group. London faces significant challenges, from tackling crime to delivering affordable housing, and Londoners deserve strong opposition that offers genuine alternatives.
“My priority will be ensuring that City Hall focuses on the issues that matter most to ordinary Londoners – safer streets, value for taxpayers’ money, and practical solutions rather than ideological pursuits. We will be constructive where appropriate but firm in our scrutiny of the Mayor’s decisions.”
The new Conservative leader will formally take up her position with immediate effect.
TYLER, Texas –A Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally smuggling aliens through the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Octavio Hernandez-Hernandez, 50, a Mexican national illegally living in Austin, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on July 10, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in 2022 and 2023, Hernandez-Hernandez conspired with others to transport illegal aliens from the Texas border to other locations throughout the United States. Hernandez-Hernandez provided instructions and directions to those who were transporting the illegal aliens, including some from Smith County. Hernandez-Hernandez admitted to conspiring to smuggle at least 100 illegal aliens, including unaccompanied minors.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the FBI; Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigation Division. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
ROANOKE, Va. – A local man, who robbed multiple Truist Banks in October 2022, pled guilty today to a pair of federal charges.
Michael Anthony McCoy, 67, of Roanoke, pled guilty today to one count of bank robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon and one count of bank robbery.
A second defendant, Dawn Davis, has previously pled guilty and will be sentenced later this year.
According to court documents, McCoy directed Davis to write a threatening note to use in a bank robbery. After Davis wrote the note as directed, on October 26, 2022, McCoy entered the Truist Bank location on Melrose Avenue NW in the City of Roanoke and handed the note to a bank teller. After McCoy handed the note to the teller, he approached a second teller and brandished a firearm.
McCoy stole approximately $6,485 from the Truist Bank location.
Two days later, McCoy then robbed another Truist Bank on McClanahan Street SW, stealing nearly $6,000 from that bank as well.
Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.
The FBI and the City of Roanoke Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Beamer, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Trump’s Dismantling Of Department Of Education Puts In Jeopardy Critical Funding For Schools, Will Lead To Worse Outcomes For Students
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) has joined her colleagues in Congress in filing an amicus brief in a lawsuit urging a federal court to stop Donald Trump from shutting down the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit argues that the President does not have the power to eliminate a government agency that Congress created, and that only Congress can make such a decision. The effort comes in response to actions by the Trump Administration to fire staff, cancel programs, and move key education functions to other parts of the government.
“Donald Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education is not only unconstitutional—it’s a direct attack on students and teachers in Nevada who depend on its programs and funding to support our schools,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to join this legal effort to fight back against Trump’s actions and ensure the federal government fulfills its responsibility to support public education, teachers, and students.”
Senator Rosen has consistently fought to protect and strengthen public education. In March, she spoke out forcefully against President Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education, calling it “an illegal, irresponsible attack on students and families” and warning of its harmful impact on Nevada schools. In April, she also condemned the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate Head Start funding, calling the cuts “outrageous and cruel” and pledging to defend early childhood education programs that help Nevada families thrive. In addition, Senator Rosen helped introduce legislation to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensuring students with disabilities receive the support and resources they are legally entitled to in the classroom.
