My team’s recent paper investigated the effect of evaluating a parent on the basis of their emotions and memories of those emotions in childhood. Our findings, which show these kinds of reappraisals can distort memories, may have implications for talking therapies that explore clients’ childhoods.
Previous research has shown that as people’s thoughts change, their memory of emotions seems to do so too. In 1997 psychology professor Linda Levine found that people misremembered how they had felt when Ross Perot withdrew from the 1992 US presidential race, when they were asked to recall their emotions after the election. Psychologist Martin Safer found in his 2010 study that some people misremembered how much grief they felt when their spouse died, and this bias was related to their current evaluation of the death.
In my team’s study, published in Psychological Reports, we found that writing out recent examples of participants’ mothers’ behaviour could lead them to reappraise their mother. It also seemed to change the participants’ current emotions towards their mother. And most surprisingly, it seemed to subtly affect the participants’ memories of emotions from childhood.
Our participants were split into four groups and given different writing prompts. The first group were asked to give recent examples of their mother showing a positive attribute. For example: “Please write three to four sentences giving the most recent examples of when your mother showed competence (effectiveness) in her life.”
The second group were asked to give examples of their mother showing a lack of those same attributes. A third group were asked to give examples of a former teacher showing a lack of positive attributes and the last group were given no writing tasks.
The participants were then given questionnaires asking them to evaluate their mothers and about their memories of their emotions toward their mothers.
We found that these reappraisals affected participants’ current happiness and interest towards their mother. Reappraisal also affected their memories of happiness from childhood.
In these experiments, we slightly nudged people’s appraisals of their mothers. But this may happen in a bigger way in the real world. Talking to a therapist for years in a way that reconstructs a client’s childhood, and then linking this to their problems, could cause more significant reappraisals of their parents. What therapy clients may not realise, nor perhaps even their therapist, is that these reevaluations could be changing their memories of childhood.
Warning signs
I believe that clients should be aware of the side effects of therapy, and there should be a line or two on the malleability of memory on the forms people sign before therapy begins.
It would also help if all therapists were taught in their training about the ways memory can be distorted. Indeed, research on infantile and childhood amnesia suggests that humans seem to remember little of early childhood, leaving us all vulnerable to reappraising that period.
We might debate whether therapists should be making negative comments about parents. Perhaps in cases of abuse, some might argue it could help. But in many other types of clients, therapists making negative comments could have a powerful effect that far exceeds our experimental nudges. For example: “Wow, your mother sounds like a controlling type,” if repeated enough by therapists, might cause reappraisals and family rifts over time.
In some cases, reevaluating your parents in a positive direction can lead to better relationships over time. This may result in the real joy of childhood being better remembered and appreciated. Positive reevaluations may actually be fair and moving towards accuracy. For example in cases where previous negative reappraisals in adolescence and early adulthood were unfair and forgetful of the sacrifice and love the parents had given in early childhood.
Nevertheless, there is a potential negative side effect if parents are positively reappraised too much. If your parents had set up conditions to illicit a lot of negative emotions in childhood, glossing over that might increase the risk of repeating the same mistakes as you raise your own children.
I am a strong believer in living an examined life. People should be free to practice psychotherapy, and clients should be welcome to seek out therapies that dig deep into parental and childhood themes. In the same way that people who need X-rays should get them despite the small risks, people who need therapy should take it.
Better to be as accurate as you can be, as we live fully examined and rich lives.
Lawrence Patihis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Limerence is a term you may not be familiar with. It describes an involuntary, uncontrollable and obsessive desire for another person. This fixation can lead to significant distress, disrupting daily life, and may have negative impacts on other people too.
Limerence can affect anyone, but is more likely to occur in people with anxiety or depression. It is thought to affect 4%-5% of the general population, although this is very hard to measure.
The term was coined by behavioural psychologist Dorothy Tennov in her 1979 book, Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love. She described it as a unique psychological phenomenon, different from falling in love, which is driven by an uncontrollable desire for another person – the “limerent object”.
Anyone can become a limerent object to someone with the condition – whether they are a friend, colleague or total stranger. These feelings are almost always unrequited because a core feature of limerence is the uncertainty of another’s feelings.
The time in which a person is experiencing these feelings is referred to as a “limerent episode”. The length of a limerent episode differs from person to person.
For some people, such as those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it can be particularly intense as infatuation combines with traits such as hyperfocus – an intense fixation on an interest or activity for an extended period of time, which will be familiar to many neurodiverse people.
There is still some academic discussion as to whether limerence is “natural”, as originally suggested by Tennov in her book. Others scholars point to its negative impact on daily life, including a person’s mental health, and potentially to the other person. It’s also important to note that limerence is not a formal diagnosis.
How is limerence characterised?
A person in a state of limerence idolises their limerent object, fixating on their positive traits while denying any flaws. Their emotions become dependent on perceived signs of interest or rejection, leading to extreme highs and lows.
They will think about their limerent object continually – which can feel exciting and fun, especially if their feelings are reciprocated. In such cases, it may be difficult to recognise the limerent attachment type in a relationship, mistaking these feelings for the early stages of romantic love.
However, the intensity of limerence has negative consequences. A person in a state of limerence can experience intrusive thoughts, physical discomfort, intense and one-sided feelings, as well as obsessive-compulsive thoughts in relation to their limerent object. These characteristics distinguish limerence from crushes and similar conventional romantic feelings.
There are typically three stages of limerence. First, infatuation involving the initial attraction in which the person starts idealising someone.
Second, crystallisation, which is the fully limerent phase, where obsessive thoughts, emotional dependency and euphoria, or despair, dominate. And third, deterioration, when the attachment eventually fades.
Though limerence remains an under-researched topic, some studies suggest links with anxious attachment styles, when a person fears rejection and craves constant reassurance.
People with this attachment style often experience heightened emotional sensitivity and intense preoccupation with their partner’s responses. These traits can make them more vulnerable to experiencing limerence, as they struggle to regulate emotions and detach from the object of their infatuation.
It may also affect a person’s ability to develop and maintain healthy relationships, whether these are loving or platonic.
ACT works by changing a person’s relationship with their thoughts and feelings. Using a process known as “cognitive diffusion”, a person learns to notice their intrusive thoughts and detach from them. For those who experience limerence, this can make it easier for them to develop and maintain healthy relationships.
But while limerence can be overwhelming, recognising it for what it is, and not judging oneself for feeling this way, can be an important first step.
Second, practicing self-awareness is vital: understanding the triggers and patterns of limerent behaviour, and using this knowledge to build healthier foundations for future relationships.
Third, setting boundaries such as limiting exposure to the limerent object can help break the cycle of reinforcement. And fourth, practising self-compassion and patience, accepting these emotions without judgment while focusing on personal growth, may help to ease distress.
The internet has allowed more people to share their experiences of limerence, find community support and better understand themselves. But greater awareness and more research are needed to support people struggling with its effects – and to offer healthier ways of navigating attraction and attachment.
Rebecca Ellis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
You probably aren’t responsible for the investment decisions of an energy company, nor do you have a hand in government policy. But still, you are reading about climate change – a problem that can easily seem intractable to most people.
The Veganuary campaign reported record participation this year: 25.8 million people worldwide tried a lighter lifestyle without meat and dairy in January, knowing that enormous emission sources sit beyond their immediate control. If such resolve to fix our planet exists, how can people exercise it?
You might be used to thinking of climate change in terms of your carbon footprint. That’s no accident, says science communicator Sam Illingworth (Edinburgh Napier). A public relations firm, hired by oil giant BP, invented the concept in 2004 as part of a deliberate effort to shift attention from corporate culpability, he says.
“In my research into climate communication, I see how stories of guilt resonate with communities already facing misplaced blame,” Illingworth adds.
You’re not alone
“Net zero heroes” are set up to fail, Illingworth says. But realising this only makes collective action more important, and shows the futility of trying to bear the weight of the problem on your own.
Your choices do not exist in a vacuum. Earth is an interconnected community of living and non-living things says ethicist Patrick Effiong Ben of the University of Manchester. African philosophers like Jonathan Chimakonam and Aïda Terblanché-Greeff have a helpful concept for thinking through the weightiness of your decisions: complementarity.
Life on Earth is connected in often subtle and unpredictable ways. Lois GoBe/Shutterstock
“Complementarity holds that the relationships that unite individual things can extend to prove the value of every contribution, no matter its size,” Ben says.
You can test this notion by choosing to eat a plant-based diet or forgo flying and observing your influence on others. If you’re sceptical, just think how many of your habits or turns of phrase are borrowed from loved ones. Steve Westlake, a behavioural psychologist at Cardiff University, says that your pro-environment choices can ultimately alter what other people consider “normal”.
“In a survey I conducted, half of the respondents who knew someone who has given up flying because of climate change said they fly less because of this example. That alone seemed pretty impressive to me,” he says.
“They explained that the bold and unusual position to give up flying had: conveyed the seriousness of climate change and flying’s contribution to it; crystallised the link between values and actions; and even reduced feelings of isolation that flying less was a valid and sensible response to climate change.”
What’s stopping us?
Often, is is not apathy that holds us back, but a seeming lack of options. In the UK, where I live, a train is by far the better travel choice emissions-wise but it is usually much more expensive than a flight that covers the same distance.
Environmental psychologists Christina Demski (University of Bath) and Stuart Capstick (Cardiff University) criticise the laissez-faire approach of successive governments that have “[gone] with the grain of consumer choice” while failing to recognise that many people would gladly choose the green option if they could afford or access it.
This desire to do something meaningful is continually frustrated, they say, but it will not vanish as the crisis worsens. Everyone alive and yet to live needs a liveable climate. Securing it is within our technical and material means.
Just listen to this from sustainability researcher Joel Millward-Hopkins (Université de Lausanne, previously University of Leeds):
“Fortunately, in new research we found that using 60% less energy than today, decent living standards could be provided to a global population of 10 billion by 2050. That’s 75% less energy than the world is currently forecast to consume by 2050 on our present trajectory – or as much energy as the world used in the 1960s.”
Instead of seeing your new vegan diet as a personal choice, think of it as a political act taken in solidarity with people and other species bearing the brunt of climate change say political philosophers Alasdair Cochrane (University of Sheffield) and Mara-Daria Cojocaru (Munich School of Philosophy).
And remember that it isn’t all sacrifice. The joy that is possible with more expensive and more energy-hungry lifestyles is fleeting says Capstick, but contentment, he argues, is low-carbon.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Keith Self (TX-03) today introduced the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, which would help ensure life insurance packages for service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living and inflation:
“While we can never fully repay the debt that we owe to those who serve our country, we should work each and every day to get them the benefits that they deserve,” said Sen. Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the life insurance offered for our veterans and servicemembers is keeping pace with real-world costs to help protect the financial security of the families of those who serve.”
“As the nation continues to feel the effects of inflation, we need to make sure service members, veterans, and their families have the financial support they need and deserve,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our bill would help ensure the Veterans Affairs Department can offer competitive life insurance packages that keep pace with the current cost of living.”
“Our nation’s service members and veterans put their lives on the line to protect America and defend our freedom,” said Sen. Cruz. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues to honor and provide for those who bravely sacrificed to serve the United States of America. Adjusting the value of the life insurance policies of servicemembers and veterans in line with inflation will ensure that America rightly honors their memory and cares for their loved ones after they are gone.”
“Our servicemembers, veterans and their families make countless sacrifices every day to protect our nation, and we are indebted to their selfless service,” said Sen. King. “With the bipartisan Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, we can ensure life insurance packages for military members adjust with the rising cost of living — giving more peace of mind to military families when they face difficult times. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to honor our commitment to the brave men and women who have given so much to our country.”
“When we ask servicemembers to put their lives on the line for our country, we promise to have their backs. We must take care of their families and loved ones in the event of tragedy,” said Rep. Strickland. “This bill makes it clear that Congress stands by our military families.”
“We must ensure our veterans receive the benefits they’ve rightfully earned,” said Rep. Self. “This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to review and adjust the maximum coverage for servicemembers’ and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance programs to keep pace with inflation, ensuring these benefits keep pace with rising costs.”
Background:
The Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act would help ensure the maximum group insurance available to service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living. From 2006 to 2023, the maximum insurance value available for service members and veterans remained static, lagging far behind inflation rates. This bill would strengthen the financial safety net for veterans, service members, and their families by requiring a report to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding cost of living increases and inflation rates every five years to ensure they don’t go years without assessing inflation rates.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers.
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, reintroduced his Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.
“When progressives failed at banning these entire industries, what they did instead is they turned to weaponizing banks as sort of a backdoor to carry out their activist goals,”said Cramer. “Financial institutions are backed by taxpayers, for crying out loud! They should be obligated to provide services in an unbiased, risk-based manner. The Fair Access to Banking Act ensures that banks provide fair access to services and enacts strict penalties for categorically discriminating against legal industries and individuals.”
Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.
The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. Cramer helped craft the rule, and his legislation codifies these protections. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.
Cramer’s legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.
In the years since Cramer first introduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, support has grown every Congress. At the state level, Florida and Tennessee passed Fair Access laws and similar legislation was introduced in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. Banks have dropped membership in discriminatory groups which were aimed at starving specific industries.
The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, Lignite Energy Council, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, and National Mining Association.
The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
02.05.25
Cantwell Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Trump’s Trade Philosophy: No to Tariffs, Yes to Innovation, Collaboration & Growth
In speech on Senate floor, Cantwell advocates for new U.S. trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, & the Americas to strengthen ties with allies & grow the economy at home; Cantwell slams proposed Trump tariffs: “The payers in this dispute are never the government leaders … it’s the workers who lose their job.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for the United States to establish new trade agreements with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America – and to repudiate the trade philosophy of President Donald Trump, whose proposed tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China would spark a trade war, drive up costs for American consumers, harm domestic businesses across hundreds of industries, and compromise the United States’ global leadership in the free trade ecosystem.
“It’s better to have a job than be attracted to join a terrorist organization. It’s better to create economic stability than fueling poverty and migration […] Last week, I spoke about additional investments the United States needs to make in Panama, Latin America, and others, to link and modernize bilateral agreements that help us counter China,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Free trade agreements are a way for us — not tariffs — to gain the leverage we want. South Asia could play an important role in this coalition building, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. But I want us to go further. I want us to understand that U.S.-led negotiations in a Middle East free trade agreement to build on the momentum of a ceasefire in Gaza could further stabilize that region.”
In her speech, Sen. Cantwell railed against President Donald Trump’s tariff’s proposal, likening his isolationist trade policies to an attempt to make time stand still – a futile goal at any point, but especially during the modern information age, when countries are more interconnected than ever and the United States is locked in an innovation race in artificial intelligence and quantum technology. She also called on the United States to invest in its workforce, research & development, science, and capital investment to modernize its manufacturing and stay competitive.
“To outcompete our adversaries, we need coalitions, not go-it-alone strategies. Why do we fear this if we think our principles are correct? But somehow the current administration thinks that we’ve been hurt more than we’ve been helped in this global equation, and they want us to believe that somehow there is a win-win situation on tariffs that they can deliver on,” Sen. Cantwell said.
“Tariffs are a distortion of markets. Tariffs mean we disagree. It very rarely means the disagreement will be resolved quickly. It usually means people will retaliate, and the escalation of that retaliation will hurt consumers so much so that eventually someone will blink,” she continued. “The payers in this dispute, though, are never the government leaders. No, it’s the workers who lose their job. It’s the family that pays higher cost. It’s the community that loses their economic activity and tax revenue.”
In Washington state: Two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and related industries. In 2023, the state imported $19.9 billion of goods from Canada – primarily oil, gas, lumber, and electrical power — making our northern neighbors Washington state’s largest trade partner. Also in 2023, the state imported $1.7 billion in goods from Mexico, including motor vehicles, vehicle parts, and household appliances. More information about how President Trump’s proposed tariffs will impact businesses and consumers in the State of Washington is HERE.
Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of free trade to grow the economy in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after then-President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted. The impact on Washington apple growers was severe: apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023. In September 2023, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.
In May 2023, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to help U.S. potato growers finally get approval to sell fresh potatoes in Japan. In June 2023, Sen. Cantwell hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), then-chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, in Washington state for a forum with 30 local agricultural leaders in Wenatchee to discuss the Farm Bill.
In 2022, Sen. Cantwell spearheaded passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a law to crack down on skyrocketing international ocean shipping costs and ease supply chain backlogs that raise prices for consumers and make it harder for U.S. farmers and exporters to get their goods to the global market.
In August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter to then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting aid funds be distributed to wheat growers. In December 2018, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the passage of the Farm Bill, which included $500 million of assistance for farmers, including those who grow wheat.
In 2019, Sen. Cantwell helped secure a provision in the $16 billion USDA relief package, ensuring sweet cherry growers could access emergency funding to offset the impacts of tariffs and other market disruptions.
Video of today’s speech is available HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is available HERE.
Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
RELEASE: Mullin, Cramer, Colleagues Reintroduce Fair Access to Banking Act to Protect Legal Industries from Debanking
Washington, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers.
U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and 39 of their Senate GOP colleagues reintroduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-6) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.
Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.
The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.
The senators’ legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.
In the years since the first introduction of the Fair Access to Banking Act, support has grown every Congress. At the state level, Florida and Tennessee passed Fair Access laws and similar legislation was introduced in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. Banks have dropped membership in discriminatory groups which were aimed at starving specific industries.
The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, the Lignite Energy Council, and National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
Joining Sens. Mullin and Cramer on this legislation are Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Read exclusively about the Fair Access to Banking Act in the Daily Wire.
Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) reintroduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will make the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Employer Tax Credit permanent, helping companies of all sizes offer PFML plans to their employees.
Senators Fischer and King established the country’s first-ever nationwide PFML policy, which wasincluded in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and implemented in 2018. The Senators’ legislationbuilds on the 2017 law to better serve working families and hourly workers. It also provides additional ways for businesses to qualify for the paid leave tax credit, such as paying for PFML insurance products, and requires greater outreach efforts to raise awareness about the credit.
U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) will introduce identical companion legislation in the House.
“America’s working families drive our economy forward and strengthen our communities. They shouldn’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their loved ones. That’s why Senator King and I passed the first-ever nationwide paid family leave law. Now, we need to make our legislation permanent and expand access to ensure that even more businesses can provide paid family leave to the workers who keep them running. I’m determined to get this key legislation included in whatever tax package Congress considers this year,” said Senator Fischer.
“I have often said that Maine is one big town with long roads and when a member of our community is hurting, we drop everything to take care of our own. However, no one should have to choose between caring for our families or receiving the next paycheck to put food on the table,” said Senator King. “That’s why I’ve been working with my Republican colleague, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, to introduce the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act which makes the PFML tax credit permanent. When families have access to care, they are able to succeed both at home and in their professional careers. Child care is more than a household priority; child care means business!”
“Paid family and medical leave (PFML) is a lifeline for workers when facing a medical condition or welcoming a newborn into the world. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act recognized the importance of PFML by helping American small businesses offer these benefits to their employees through the creation of a targeted tax credit specifically for small businesses. However, along with many other policies, this provision expires at the end of the year without action from Congress,” said Congressman Feenstra. “That’s why I introduced legislation to extend and improve this tax credit for our small businesses so that they can provide their workers with up to 12 weeks of PFML without missing a paycheck. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I believe that, by making this policy permanent, we can deliver certainty for our small businesses, keep our workers healthy and employed, and grow our economy and rural communities.”
“The 45S tax credit, first implemented under the Trump administration, has been instrumental in helping many employers expand paid family leave benefits for their workers. However, awareness and uptake of this credit have been lower than we’d like. This legislation, which I’m pleased to introduce alongside my colleagues, will improve the credit, make it more flexible, increase employer awareness, and make the tax credit permanent,” said Congresswoman Bice.
“Taking care of your health, newborn, or family when they’re most in need shouldn’t come at the cost of paying the bills. Strong families mean strong communities and local economies,” said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. “With the paid family and medical leave tax credit due to expire, our bipartisan legislation will make this successful credit permanent and expand access for Washington-based businesses and newer employees, so more families can feel the benefits.”
Nebraska Stakeholder Support:
“The Nebraska Chamber is committed to making Nebraska the best place to own, operate and grow a business, and this bill brings us one step closer to achieving that. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit represents Nebraska business owners’ desire to strengthen the state’s overall workforce. The NE Chamber and businesses across the state appreciate Senator Fischer’s continued leadership on this issue,” said President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Bryan Sloane.
“The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce appreciates Senator Fischer’s leadership in her efforts to empower small businesses to provide paid family and medical leave. Senator Fischer’s continued efforts by way of introducing her Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is a continuation of her commitment to employers, employees, families, and communities. We view this crucial policy initiative as something that should be included in any larger pro-growth tax policy package that might be considered,” said Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Jason Ball.
“The Greater Omaha Chamber is grateful to Senators Fischer and King for introducing this important legislation. While a broad representation of our membership offers various types of paid leave, incentives will matter to companies and businesses who have greater barriers to offering paid leave, especially our smallest members. This proposed legislation allows us greater opportunities to care holistically for employees the way we strive to, and aligns with the Chamber’s mission,” said Greater Omaha Chamber President and CEO Heath Mello.
“The Nebraska Grocers and all our affiliates thank Senator Fischer for her commitment to businesses, families, and communities. By embracing incentives, rather than imposing burdensome and impractical mandates, this Act recognizes that business owners want to provide flexibility to their most valuable resource – their dedicated employees. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is genuinely helpful, responsible policymaking which empowers both employers and employees,” said Nebraska Grocery Industry Association Executive Director Ansley Fellers.
Full List of Nebraska Endorsements:
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Mutual of Omaha, Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, Nebraska Hospitality Association, and Nebraska Retail Federation.
National Stakeholder Support:
“AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the bipartisan Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This legislation will provide consistency and certainty to businesses by making tax credit 45S permanent. In addition, the proposed enhancements to the credit will encourage more employers to provide this important benefit to support working family caregivers with low to moderate incomes,” said AARP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Sweeney.
“Too many people today face the difficult choice between earning a paycheck and caring for themselves or family member. Senators Fischer and King are offering a bipartisan solution that will go a long way toward helping working families facing this dilemma. The enhanced tax credit will enable more employers—especially small employers— to offer their workers a paid family and medical leave benefit. It also will help more people access this benefit by making it easier for employers to qualify for the credit. Most important, the legislation gives people peace of mind knowing they’ll be protected from economic loss when taking time off from work to care for themselves or a loved one. We applaud Senators Fischer and King for advancing this legislation that offers working Americans the help they want and need,” said American Council of Life Insurers President & CEO David Chavern.
“Over the last year, the AICPA has worked closely with staff from both Senator Fischer and Senator King‘s offices on important legislation that would help families and middle income households by allowing more employers to offer the benefit of paid family and medical leave to their employees by making the tax credit permanent. We applaud Senators Fischer and King for their thoughtful and consistent leadership on this bill and offer our strong support,” said American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Vice President of Tax Policy & Advocacy Melanie Lauridsen.
“Benefits like paid family leave help restaurant operators recruit skilled hospitality professionals. Making the Paid Family, Medical Leave tax credit program pilot permanent would support the growth of the small business operators who are considering or offering PFML. In the current economy, we appreciate Sens. Fisher and King’s efforts to support small business restaurant owners and their employees by continuing this program,” said National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Sean Kennedy.
“NFIB thanks Senator Fischer and Senator King for introducing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Incentivizing small business owners to offer paid family and medical leave rather than penalizing them for failing to provide a benefit that they cannot afford is a wise policy for the small business owners,” said National Federation of Independent Businesses Vice President Federal Government Relations Jeff Brabant.
“BPC Action is proud to endorse the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act to make permanent and expand the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave, known as 45S, and applauds Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Angus King (I-ME) for their bipartisan leadership on this bill. As BPC has found, ‘In an ever-changing economy and tight labor market, paid family and medical leave can importantly encourage workers to stay in the labor force, support household finances, and help businesses compete for workers.’ This bill is critical to helping businesses provide paid leave benefits to more hardworking American families. We urge Congress to take up this proposal, originally enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Bipartisan Policy Center President Michele Stockwell.
“We the People send Americans into the halls of government with the opportunity to do the Will of the People, to do good. As such, it is perpetually our hope that our elected officials will execute such Will and enact laws that will serve the People, especially in cases where it is feasible in order to ease the burdens that life sometimes thrusts upon us where loved ones, families and businesses are most affected. The PFML Tax Credit Bill provides a judicious antidote for a malaise that has existed for far too long for so many Americans and businesses. More specifically, the PFML Bill effectively eliminates the decision of having to choose between family and a paycheck. In short, it gives individuals, families and employers the relief and peace of mind that they desperately need. On behalf of the American Caregiver Association, I encourage all those who are willing, to support U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Senator Angus King and their continuing efforts to make the PFML Tax Credit Bill permanent,” said American Caregiver Association President Vincent S. Pettis.
“At SHRM, we are committed to advancing smart, practical policies that strengthen workplaces, empower HR professionals, and maximize human potential. As employers innovate to provide leave options that support well-being and family care, public policy must keep pace—offering incentives that encourage organizations to expand access to leave while maintaining the flexibility needed to design and sustain these programs. A balanced approach ensures that more workers can benefit from this critical support. At SHRM, we prioritize policy over politics and view this effort as a strong example of bipartisan collaboration and constructive policymaking in Congress,” said Society for Human Resource Management Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs Emily M. Dickens, J.D.
“On behalf of our nation’s 2.95 million Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) business owners and entrepreneurs, National ACE applauds Senators Fischer and King for their leadership in reintroducing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. Access to paid family and medical leave is vital for small business owners and their employees, particularly within the AAPI community, where caregiving responsibilities often extend across generations. This bipartisan effort provides much-needed support for entrepreneurs striving to balance business success with the well-being of their workforce. We are proud to support this legislation and look forward to working together to ensure small businesses have the resources they need to thrive,” said National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship President and CEO Chiling Tong.
“The Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act is essential to help ensure that more small business owners can offer paid family medical leave to their employees. Policies that include support for business owners and working families through programs like paid family leave help address the economic needs of our small businesses and workforce while at the same time making sure small business owners can compete against their larger counterparts. We thank Senators Fischer and King for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation and applaud the efforts to both expand access to this credit and ensure that the tax credit is permanent,” said National Association of Women Business Owners Board Chair Dr. Janis Shinkawa.
“We are pleased to see the reintroduction of this legislation by Senators Fischer and King and thank them for their leadership on this critical issue. This legislation will encourage employers around the country to offer paid leave to their employees, increasing the number of Americans with paid leave coverage. Paid leave strengthens families and the economy by enabling workers to keep their jobs when they need to care for themselves or a loved one, while helping businesses retain valued employees,” said Sun Life U.S. President Dan Fishbein, M.D.
Full List of National Endorsements:
AARP, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), American Council of Life Insurers, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), National Restaurant Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), American Caregiver Association, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, National Association of Women Business Owners, and Sun Life U.S.
Background:
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created a two-year general business tax credit for employers that voluntarily offer up to 12 weeks of PFML to employees. Congress has extended the credit through 2025. The credit also includes an income cap for eligible employees to ensure that it remains targeted to those who need it the most.
Under current law, an employer must meet the following criteria to claim the credit: offer all qualifying employees at least two weeks of PFML, have a written PFML policy in effect, and pay at least 50 percent of an employee’s normal wages while the employee is on PFML. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), only 19 percent of those working for employers with less than 50 employees have access to PFML.
Senators Fischer and King’s legislation builds on the existing credit by making the following changes:
Making the Credit Permanent:
Provides certainty to businesses taking the leap to offer paid family and medical leave.
Updating the Treatment of Paid Leave Required by State or Local Mandates:
Allows eligible employers to receive the credit for leave provided in states without PFML mandates or for leave offered in excess of any state or local mandate.
Currently, employers providing PFML under state or local government mandates are ineligible for the credit, meaning that some employers with operations in both non-mandate and mandate states are ineligible for the credit.
Supporting Coverage of PFL Insurance Premiums:
Allows employers to claim the credit for premiums paid for PFML insurance products that cover qualifying employees. The structure mirrors the current credit, enabling employers to receive up to a 25 percent credit towards yearly premiums, depending on the percentage of wages the insurance plan replaces.
Reducing the Minimum Employment Period Requirement:
Provides employers the option to offer PFML to employees at six months and better target the credit towards younger workers.
Requiring Greater Outreach and Awareness:
Requires the Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service to conduct targeted outreach, education, and technical assistance to assist in increasing awareness of the credit.
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
February 5, 2025
February 5, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement after voting to confirm Scott Turner as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“Scott Turner led the White House initiative on Opportunity Zones which expanded economic opportunity for people across the country. He understands how targeted reforms can make housing more affordable and available for Americans. He’s committed to cutting red tape and delivering the solutions we need to address homelessness and restore the American dream.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Case study
Innovating to detect deepfakes and protect the public
Collaborating to find ways to mitigate the growing threat from AI-generated deepfakes is an urgent national priority.
The rise in deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has been scarily rapid – a projected eight million will be shared in 2025, up from 500,000 in 2023. This sheer scale combined with greater sophistication and convincingness means finding ways to quickly detect and mitigate this ever-growing threat is an increasingly urgent priority.
Concerns over criminal manipulation of digital text, images and video are not new, but the proliferation in recent months of generative AI tools that enable anyone, anywhere to quickly, easily and cheaply create deepfake images has significantly changed the game.
As deepfakes threaten to hit the mainstream across a range of harmful activity, from online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) to fraud and election interference, there is a corresponding drive to develop the tools and methods needed to tackle them at the required scale and pace.
In its role as an innovative enabler connecting frontline government and law enforcement with cutting-edge technology from industry, the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) is at the heart of this ramp-up in activity designed to find practical solutions to arguably the greatest challenge of the online age. And 2024 was a year where the marriage of cutting-edge technology, collaboration and fresh thinking enabled significant strides forward.
Circular collaboration
Clear results that accelerate crucial deepfake detection in a range of domains have been made across a series of focused commissions carried out by ACE. And just as importantly, learnings and practical experiences developed in one commission have been shared with others to pass on deeper knowledge and skills.
The biggest event in this space was the Deepfake Detection Challenge. Initiated by the Home Office, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, ACE and the renowned Alan Turing Institute, this visionary idea brought together academic, industry and government experts to develop innovative and practical solutions focused on detecting fake media.
More than 150 people attended the initial briefing where five challenge statements pushing the boundaries of current capabilities were launched. The critical importance of collaboration and sharing of skills and knowledge was a recurring theme, and major tech companies including Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) provided practical support.
Eight weeks were spent developing innovative ideas and solutions on a specially created platform, which hosted approximately two million assets made up of both real and synthetic data for training and testing. Following this, 17 submissions were received, and six teams from our community – Frazer-Nash Consulting, IBM, Oxford Wave Research, Open Origins, Safe and Sound from the University of Southampton, and Naimuri – were selected to demonstrate their ideas in front of more than 200 stakeholders.
Solutions from Frazer-Nash, Oxford Wave, the University of Southampton and Naimuri, a combination of existing products that have been identified as potentially showing operational value as well as early-stage proof of concepts being developed against specific use cases including CSEA, disinformation and audio, are now going through benchmark testing and user trials.
Key insights from the initial challenge work, alongside the clear success in accelerating the state-of-the art in deepfake detection possibilities, included that curated data was critical to be able to make as much progress as possible in the time and conditions available, and that creating a dataset that was more representative of real-world operational scenarios would have been helpful.
Using better data to detect child abuse deepfakes
When another significant commission to further deepfake detection was brought to ACE by the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (OCSA), data development was a top priority.
To mature the EVITA (Evaluating video, text and audio) AI content detection tool the focus shifted away from volume.
As part of developing next-step recommendations, ACE leveraged its expertise from the Deepfake Detection Challenge to create a reusable ‘gold standard’ dataset. This dataset was designed to effectively test detection models, including those targeting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
By combining this ‘gold standard’ dataset with ACE’s extensive domain and community expertise – drawing on insights from Naimuri and Bays Consulting – ACE delivered rapid insights into the maturation of EVITA through comprehensive and diverse testing.
This work not only enabled ACE to deliver the requested next-step recommendations for the EVITA programme but also led to the development of a repeatable testing and evaluation approach for deepfake detection. This approach enhances the ability to interpret and understand the results generated by detection tools.
Alongside this, another piece of work was taking place exploring how AI can be used to detect deepfakes in policing. The biggest challenge is in digital forensics where, the ACE team heard, officers can be faced with up to a million child abuse images on a single seized phone.
This commission, working with community members Blueprint, Camera Forensics and TRMG, seeks to understand where deepfake detection tooling fits into the investigation stage to add most value. Next steps in this particular project are ‘making this real’ – working towards commissioning a proof of concept or trial of an existing capability.
And so the learning is becoming circular once more as the next stage of the Deepfake Detection Challenge progresses. This will push further than any work in this field so far, focusing on making the initial solutions presented more user-centric and deeply relevant to practitioners in the field.
Deepfakes are both a growing menace and an evolving threat, but bridging the gap between models and reality will be critical to tackling them at scale and at pace. ACE, its customers and suppliers remain laser focused on this evolution from the theoretical to the practical. The potential of innovation combined with collaboration has already proved to be a potent force in this area, the challenge – in all ways – is maximising the potential of what comes next.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.
The leaders began by reflecting on the close and historic relationship between the UK and Canada. From global security to clean energy and growth, they agreed on the importance of shared values between the two nations.
Discussing recent global events, the Prime Minister said he welcomed an international conversation on the importance of trade and collaboration between allies and partners. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, including his focus on stemming the deadly drug trade across Canada’s borders.
The leaders also discussed the strong trading relationship between the UK and Canada, worth £26 billion, and how together both countries could go further to support growth and deliver for the hardworking Canadian and British people.
As the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, both leaders underlined their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.
On Syria, they agreed on the necessity of a political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.
From left, Premier Tim Houston; 2024 Medal of Bravery recipients Carl Comeau of Church Point, Carl Deveau of Saulnierville and Terrence Leblanc of Saulnierville; and Tom Steele, Chair, Medal of Bravery Advisory Committee, in the Red Chamber at Province House in Halifax, today, October 22. (Communications Nova Scotia)
IAM Rail Division representatives joined members of Congress and leaders from fellow U.S. rail unions in calling on Congress to act on rail safety two years after the toxic East Palestine train derailment.
“On behalf of all our members, our hearts still go out to the people of East Palestine. They want answers, they want results and so do we,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) National Legislative Director David Arouca. “The so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) era has been nothing short of just cutting head counts to the bone and then harassing those who remain to pick up the slack.”
TCU/IAM represents various crafts, one of the largest being carmen, who maintain, repair and critically inspect rail cars all across the country.
“Whether it’s our carmen being harassed to perform safety inspections on insane timelines or signalmen maintaining our national network of safety detectors, we’ve all been saying the same thing: PSR is going to kill people,” said Arouca. “We need legislation passed now to reduce the risk of another East Palestine. The time to act was yesterday. Rail safety is not, nor should it ever, be a partisan issue.”
IAM District 19 President and Directing General Chair Reece Murtagh was also present to answer questions for the press. Members of Congress joining rail included House Transportation Committee Vice Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), House Rail Subcommittee Ranking Member Dina Titus (D-Nev.), House Transportation Committee Member Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and House Transportation Committee Member Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.).
The rail leaders demanded that Class I railroad companies adopt the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), which allows rail workers to report safety concerns without retaliation from employers.
While addressing the public with his own press conference in East Palestine, Ohio on the disaster’s anniversary, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who co-sponsored the bipartisan Railway Safety Act as Senator, said that passing legislation “is a very viable and a very reasonable goal.”
Senator Maria Cantwellsent a letterto U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Ted Cruz urging him to “advance the re-introduced Railway Safety Act to ensure President Trump and Vice President Vance have the tools they need to hold the railroads accountable for improving safety. “
“Rail safety is not a partisan issue or a regional issue, it is a human issue,” said Congresswoman Sykes. “I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on and off the Transportation Committee to put forth a piece of legislation we can be proud of, but we can only truly make it right for the people of East Palestine if we actually pass meaningful rail safety legislation.”
“I think we have a real opportunity here,” said Congresswoman Titus. “I think we can get it done, just reintroduce those bills, bring it together in a package, and move it forward. I’m committed to it, other members of Congress and the great representatives from unions are, so I’m leading this with optimism.”
Appointments of Mohamed Kallala and Philippe Setbon to the Executive Management Committee of BPCE
Paris, February 5, 2025
Mohamed Kallala, Chief Executive Officer of Natixis, in charge of Corporate & Investment Banking, and Philippe Setbon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Natixis, in charge of Asset & Wealth Management, are joining the Executive Management Committee of BPCE, following their direct reporting to Nicolas Namias, CEO of BPCE, since January 1, 2025. The Executive Management Committee of BPCE now has a total of twelve members.
Biography of Mohamed Kallala
Mohamed Kallala started his career in 1993 as an ALM trader for BNP Paribas before being appointed Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Crédit Agricole Indosuez in 1995. In 2000, he founded Global Equities Corporate Finance. In 2005, he joined Natixis and became Head of Real Estate Specialist Advisory. In 2010, Mohamed was appointed Head of Real Estate Finance before becoming Global Head of Investment Banking in 2016. In early 2020, Mohamed Kallala became Global Head of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking’s Global Markets activity, before becoming its Global Co-Head later the same year. In 2023, he was appointed Global Head of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking businesses. In January 2025, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Natixis, in charge of Corporate & Investment Banking.
Biography of Philippe Setbon
Philippe Setbon began his career in 1990 as a financial analyst with Barclays Bank in Paris, before working for Groupe Azur-GMF for 10 years as Head of Asset Management. He then joined Generali Group in 2004 where he held a succession of senior roles including CEO of Generali Investments France, CEO of Generali Investments Europe Sgr and Chief Investment Officer for the whole Generali Group. He joined Groupama in 2013 as CEO of Groupama Asset Management. In 2019, he became CEO of Ostrum Asset Management, then CEO of Natixis Investment Managers in 2023. Philippe Setbon has been President of the French Asset Management Association (AFG) since June 2022. In January 2025, Philippe Setbon was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Natixis, in charge of Asset & Wealth Management.
For Nicolas Namias, CEO of BPCE: “I would like to welcome Mohamed Kallala and Philippe Setbon to the Executive Management Committee, recognizing their professionalism and the excellent results they have achieved for the two global businesses of Groupe BPCE. This also demonstrates our commitment to the continued development of Natixis CIB and Natixis IM in service of their direct clients, as well as those of the Banques Populaires and Caisses d’Epargne. This move further enriches our Executive Management Committee by providing a balanced representation of each of the Group’s businesses, including retail banking and insurance as well as those with a global dimension, and our major functions. Now comprising 12 members, the Executive Management Committee illustrates the richness of career paths within the group, blending expertise and experience, and our ability to attract and nurture talent.”
Groupe BPCE is the second-largest banking group in France and the fourth in Europe. Through its 100,000 staff, the group serves 35 million customers – individuals, professionals, companies, investors and local government bodies – around the world. It operates in the retail banking and insurance fields in France via its two major networks, Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne, along with Banque Palatine and Oney. It also pursues its activities worldwide with the asset & wealth management services provided by Natixis Investment Managers and the wholesale banking expertise of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking. The Group’s financial strength is recognized by four credit rating agencies with the following senior preferred LT ratings: Moody’s (A1, stable outlook), Standard & Poor’s (A+, stable outlook), Fitch (A+, stable outlook) and R&I (A+, stable outlook).
HOUSTON, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radix, a global technology solutions company at the forefront of industrial digital transformation is proud to showcase a groundbreaking AI-powered solution designed to revolutionize operations in asset-intensive industries.
As a Gold Sponsor at the ARC Leadership Forum 2025, taking place in Orlando, Florida, from February 10-13, 2025, Radix takes center stage for adding tangible, adoptable and scalable AI capabilities that deliver best-in-class asset performance and sustainability.
What makes Radix AI solutions unique is the tailored effectiveness of their custom-built applications paired with the in-house, industry expertise and personalized customer focus and attention, resulting in immediate, beneficial impacts to both production and profits for any industrial company. At ARC, these capabilities will reflect the Radix theme of “On the Ground: Accelerate. Optimize. Scale.”
Alex Clausbruch, CEO of North America at Radix, expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s continued participation with a large executive team attending alongside partners, such as Cognite and clients, like Devon Energy. “We pride ourselves on being “on the ground,” working side by side with our customers and partners. We are happy to share the innovative approaches to Asset performance management, energy transition, digitalization and sustainability to empower our customers to achieve transformational business performance and excellence,” Clausbruch commented
Heavy hitters from Radix’s executive team and industry experts, along with its long-standing partners and customers, will be showcasing solutions during the ARC event and plan to focus on industries like Oil and Gas, Chemical, Manufacturing, and Power in both workshops and in scheduled sessions.
“We are quickly growing and expanding our footprint in North America, and ARC is a fantastic platform to showcase what are doing to create a sustainable impact with our clients,” said, Natalia Klafke, Executive Vice President of Energy and Sustainability at Radix. “From energy management to more ways on how digital next-gen solutions are empowering customers to reach decarbonization targets, Radix is proud to showcase these and other capabilities at ARC 2025.”
Radix’s delegation will participate in various sessions, including an interactive lunch workshop on asset-intensive solutions, a risk-reduction via smart infrastructure sustainability session, and an AI Industrial Co-pilot session focusing on cutting edge technology and successful transformation initiatives.
Founded in 2010, Radix is a privately held global technology solutions company providing consulting, engineering, operations technology, and data and software technology solutions.
Radix combines key capabilities and practices to empower customers to thrive along their digital transformation journey. Radix provides technology-based, data-driven solutions to industrial and non-industrial companies worldwide. Radix has experience leading projects in more than 30 countries and has more than 1,700+ employees around the globe, with North American headquarters in Houston, Texas, main headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, additional offices in Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, and a presence in Singapore and Amsterdam. To learn more, visit www.radixeng.com.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Companies like Aeroman are key to preventing migration and building a middle class. Security and stability make this possible, and bravo to President Bukele and his leadership for providing that. An impressive place to visit! — Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) to help more American dairy farmers and processors add value to their businesses, including creating new products, expanding their markets, and modernizing their production facilities. To date, the Baldwin-backed program has supported over 250 dairy farmers and processors in the Midwest, including 109 in Wisconsin.
“My Dairy Business Innovation Initiative has helped Wisconsin dairy farmers, producers, and cheesemakers grow their operations, tap into new markets, and innovate new products,” said Senator Baldwin. “From expanding facilities and growing their operations to improving packaging and lowering their shipping costs, this program has helped Wisconsin businesses grow their bottom lines and create jobs in our rural communities. I’m fighting to expand this vital program so more farmers, cheesemakers, and dairy processors have the tools to innovate and drive our rural economy forward.”
“The dairy industry is an essential part of the American economy. It is crucial that we provide the resources that dairies in Tennessee need to expand and create new products,” said Senator Blackburn. “With many small Tennessee dairies struggling to remain open, this bill will allow these businesses to diversify and expand their market competitiveness.”
After Senator Baldwin successfully created the DBII program in the 2018 Farm Bill, multiple dairy business and innovation centers were established to serve producers across the country. These centers, in partnership with dairy farmers and processors, are spurring innovation in dairy businesses, fostering the development of new dairy products and modernizing existing dairy plants. As a result, the program has gone on to add value to the milk produced by American farmers and expand their market access.
Each regional initiative is tasked with providing technical assistance and grants to farmers and processors, including:
Supporting new and expanding dairy businesses—Centers provide assistance with business plan development, accounting, market evaluation, and strategic planning.
Promoting innovation in dairy products—Dairy businesses receive assistance with product innovation, marketing and branding, packaging, distribution, supply chain innovation, food safety training and consultation, and dairy product production training.
Assisting with dairy plant modernization and process improvement—Dairy businesses receive assistance with processing facility improvement, including assistance with plant upgrades, food safety modernization, energy and water efficiency, byproduct reprocessing and use maximization, and waste treatment.
The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 builds on the support for regional dairy research and innovation centers across the country by raising the program’s annual authorization from $20 million to $36 million.
The legislation is endorsed by the International Dairy Foods Association, Midwest Dairy Coalition, National Milk Producers Federation, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
“Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives have spurred both farm and processor business growth over the past five years, strengthening rural economies and creating career opportunities, but our work is far from done. Increased program funding is critical now as the dairy industry faces new market volatility, labor challenges, and inflation,” said Rebekah Sweeney, senior director of programs and policy for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, serving nearly 900 dairy industry companies and cooperatives nationwide. “We’re deeply grateful for Sen. Baldwin’s championship of Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and for the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers working hard to see this program continue.”
“We thank Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their continued bipartisan leadership in strengthening the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program. Dairy has a storied history of pioneering effective new products and practices as dairy farmers and their cooperatives work to supply the U.S. and the world with nutritious, sustainably produced food. This program helps support researchers and their industry partners working to drive this innovation forward,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation.
“Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Marsha Blackburn should be commended for a bill that enhances the assets and investments in the U.S. the dairy industry,” said Adam Warthesen, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs at Organic Valley. “Dairy is an economic engine in rural communities – we at Organic Valley know dairy processors who are doing more with support from this initiative and American farmers who are better positioned to bring milk to market because of it.”
“Wisconsin dairy farmers are a mainstay of our state’s rural economy and its essential we continue to support innovation in an effort to keep it relevant,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson. “The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 will increase the funding available to dairy farmers and processors to maintain Wisconsin’s place as a national and global leader. Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciate Sen. Baldwin’s commitment to providing the necessary funding needed to help Wisconsin’s dairy industry develop new products and access emerging markets with the introduction of the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025.”
“The Midwest Dairy Coalition applauds Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their continued leadership in providing dairy farmers and dairy businesses with the resources to innovate and diversify their operations for a more economically sustainable future,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition.
“IDFA applauds Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for introducing the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025. The bill promotes innovation in the dairy processing sector and will help industry members work together to address common challenges and create new market opportunities for healthy and nutritious dairy products,” saidInternational Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M.
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
Last Week Amid Trump’s Illegal Funding Freeze The Head Start Online Payment System Shut Down Across The Country, Despite The Admin Saying It Was Exempt From The Freeze And Has Provided No Explanation Why This Occurred
Now A Week Later, Head Start Providers In NY And Across America Have Been Missing Payments They Rely On From Feds, Forcing Some Upstate Childcare Providers To Even Layoff Staff And Temporarily Shut Down Services Impacting Hundreds Of Families; Schumer Says This Cannot Continue And Is Demanding Immediate Action And Oversight
Schumer: We Can’t Let NY’s Head Start Providers Be Left In Limbo, We Need This System Fixed & Answers NOW
After Head Start providers in New York and across America were locked out of federal funding amid Trump’s federal funding freeze, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today revealed that a week later Head Start providers are now missing payments, facing delays and enduring severe technical issues with no end or clarity in sight. Schumer said after the payment management shutdown, despite the White House saying Head Start programs should be exempt, there have been continued reports of childcare programs in NY and across the country missing payments from the feds creating a growing problem, and even leading to some Head Start programs in NY temporarily closing or laying off staff, impacting hundreds of families in need of childcare.
Schumer is now demanding HHS immediately address this problem, fix the payment system, and provide answers to give Head Start programs the assurances and funding they need to continue their essential childcare in rural and underserved communities.
“Trump’s illegal funding freeze created chaos for childcare programs across the country, and we still have no answer on why the payment system shut down. Now a week later Head Start programs still are missing federal payments, forcing some to shutter or even lay off staff, impacting hundreds of families here in Upstate NY. Enough is enough. Head Start providers cannot pay their teachers, staff or provide childcare without the assurances of payment,” said Senator Schumer. “I’m calling on HHS to take immediate action to ensure Head Start providers receive the funds and clarity they deserve. Right now Head Start providers and parents are worried sick this funding will continue to be delayed and they can be left high and dry when it comes to childcare. We can’t leave our children and families in limbo due to a chaotic and incompetent policy decision by this new administration. We need answers and this problem fixed now. Our parents, teachers, and children who rely on Head Start deserve nothing less.”
Schumer explained after the Head Start programs across the country – including in Michigan, Connecticut, and Wisconsin – are still unable to access funding leading to major issues, and New York is now seeing these impacts as well. Head Start programs across Upstate NY and NYC have reported trouble getting paid, putting their cash flow at further risk and jeopardizing their ability to make payroll consistently for staff. For example, the Cattaraugus & Wyoming Counties Project Head Start, which serves 200+ children and employs 80+ staff across both counties, has said they are still unable to access funds. Without federal funding, the program has been unable to reopen and was forced to temporarily lay off all staff until this problem can be addressed.
“As of Tuesday, January 28, 2025, all Head Start employees were sent home and program was closed due to the Executive Order to pause all federal grants and loans. Though this EO was rescinded, the pause has caused a back log of draw downs through the federal payment system. As of Tuesday, February 4, 2025, we still do not have answers. It seems the Department of HHS and the federal payment system are unable to agree where the problem is originating. We have almost 200 families without services and 84 employees without a job. To say it’s frustrating is an understatement,” saidCattaraugus & Wyoming Counties Project Head Start Board of Directors Chairperson, Andrea Aldinger. “I thank Senator Schumer for recognizing the importance of Head Start programs in local communities and for taking action to support affected families, children, and employees.”
“The New York State Head Start Association (NYSHSA) Board of Directors is concerned that the recent pause in funding had significant consequences for the thousands of children and families attending Head Start preschools and Early Head Start in NY,” said NYSHSA President Carolyn Wiggins. “We have heard from Head Start programs from across the state, from Western New York, to the Southern Tier and New York City, have experienced funding delays that rendered them unable to make payroll and, in some cases, temporarily close. We thank Senator Schumer for fighting to get answers and address this problem so we can continue our essential work to help children and families across NY.”
Schumer is now leading Senate Democrats in demanding immediate action from the Trump administration and said HHS must fix this problem now and promptly disburse delayed funds to Head Start programs. The senators said programs and families deserve an explanation for why the funding freeze has continued and what the feds plan to do to ensure it never happens again. The lawmakers said families across America depend on this federal funding for childcare and their peace of mind.
Schumer said Head Start programs cannot afford to continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and that the feds must deliver the funding needed to resume operations and Head Start programs in New York and across the country need immediate answers about why this happening.
“Despite reports of an end to a federal funding freeze, settlement house Head Start providers have still reported challenges and delays with payment since last week. Disrupting payments on contracted programs is devastating for child care providers who want to carry out their mission of caring for children and helping working parents get through their day to day. An interruption in cash flow, even for a few weeks, can have devastating consequences and puts providers in serious financial jeopardy to continue their operations. The Office of Head Start and the Department of Health and Human Services must prioritize the immediate payment of these vital child care services. Jeopardizing child care is no way to help working families,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses.
A copy of Schumer’s letter he is leading with Senator Kaine and 27 of their colleagues in the Senate to Acting U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dorothy Fink and Acting Director of the Office of Head Start Captain Tala Hooban can be found below:
Dear Acting Secretary Dr. Fink and Acting Director Captain Hooban:
We are writing today to raise ongoing, urgent concerns experienced by Head Start programs in our states and across the country. These concerns include (1) a lack of clarity on the status of renewals and notice of awards in the February 1st grant cycle, (2) delays in processing reimbursements through the Payment Management System (PMS), and (3) a lack of clear communication with grantees throughout this confusing time.
We request your immediate action and assurance on the following:
All requests for disbursements of funds submitted through PMS to be promptly processed to allow all Head Start programs to draw down federal funds;
Programs on the February 1st grant cycle will be notified of their renewal or notice of award before the deadline to ensure no lapse in funding or program operations; and
Transparent and consistent communication with Head Start programs to address the ongoing challenges.
Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has provided critical early childhood education and comprehensive services to nearly 40 million low-income young children and their families in communities across the nation. Today, Head Start programs are supported by 250,000 staff to serve nearly 800,000 children across the nation. Head Start’s comprehensive services ensure children receive age-appropriate health care, dental care, immunizations, and health insurance, and they provide referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support. For the last several years, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to recognize this longstanding federal program’s important work by providing increased appropriations.
Since the morning of Tuesday, January 28th, the Head Start community has faced immense uncertainty and disruptions by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo (M-2513), directing federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” While the Trump Administration later clarified that Head Start would not be the target of the funding freeze, many Head Start programs across the country were unable to access the PMS to draw down federal funds. PMS was reinstated, but programs across the country have not had funding disbursed in a timely manner.
Head Start programs cannot pay their teachers and staff and continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and awards. This will impact children, families, and communities across the country, particularly the rural communities where these programs represent a large share of the childcare options.
Even if this issue extends beyond the Office of Head Start, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure these programs receive transparent and frequent communication on the progress of their funds being released. Head Start programs operate on razor-thin margins and cannot survive without timely intervention. Children, families, employees, and educators all depend on these critical federal funds.
Once these issues are resolved, we request you provide responses to the following questions:
What factors contributed to delayed disbursements to Head Start programs through the Payment Management System? What steps will be taken to ensure such delays will not occur in the future?
How many Head Start programs were impacted by this delay and what were the immediate consequences on operations and services for children and families?
What factors led to the lack of communication about grant renewals and awards for the February 1st cycle? What steps will be taken to ensure timely notices in the future?
We thank you for your quick attention to this matter.
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, spoke at the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) 2025 Winter Conference/AGM in London.
Thank you, it is a great honour to be here. I was actually a head of sixth form for quite a few years in my career. It is one of the best things I ever did.
So, thank you so much for the invitation to speak to you today and my real sincere thanks to Bill for the very many numerous meetings that we’ve had over the past year – it really helped me significantly Bill.
As you may know, on Monday we launched a consultation on our renewed education inspection framework. This is what we’ll use to inspect schools, early years providers, initial teacher education, and of course further education and skills providers including colleges like all of you.
Now, hopefully some of you, all of you I hope, have already had a look at the proposals, or seen them reported in the media. Some of you may even have already taken part in the consultation. If so, thank you! But if you haven’t yet, please please do.
We have designed what we believe will be a really strong new framework that will better inform parents and families, drive higher standards for children and learners, and reduce pressure on leaders and professionals like you.
But we are sure there are things we can do to improve. So, take a look, take part, and let us know what you think. Maybe there’s a way we can better tailor things for you? Maybe there’s some language that could be clearer? Maybe there’s a way we can do more to highlight your strengths and help you improve?
Whatever it is, please don’t miss the chance to make a real difference.
Aims of the new framework
If you haven’t had a chance to look yet, let me tell you a little bit about what we are proposing.
We have designed our new approach very carefully. We have built on everything we heard in the Big Listen. We have worked closely with experts, parent groups, unions, professionals, and sector representatives. We have done all that with several aims in mind.
First of all, we want to give parents and families better, more nuanced, and more helpful information about the places educating their children. We want reports that make sense to them, that give them the information they want and need, and that fairly represent what it is or would be like for their children at a provider.
Secondly, we want to put a strong focus on inclusion. On the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. We are proposing a specific evaluation area for inclusion. But it will also be a thread running through everything else we look at. Because I believe that if you get it right for the most disadvantaged, you get it right for everyone. I don’t think there’s a provider out there getting it right for them, and wrong for everyone else.
And thirdly, we want to make a better system for all of you. The people making a difference through educating young people. We will of course rightly continue to expect high standards for all, but we know we can do that in a better way for those being inspected.
Improved reporting
But let me start with our new report cards. As I said, we know from the Big Listen that parents wanted a more nuanced picture. They want to know what a provider is doing well, and what it could improve upon. They want an honest and fair appraisal of what it’s like for children at the provider.
I think it’s fair to say, our old approach wasn’t doing that. Overall effectiveness judgements were too broad brush. They weren’t helpful. They weren’t doing you justice.
So here’s what we’re proposing:
We’ll be grading providers against a range of evaluation areas. Here you can see the areas for a 6th form college. We expect most providers to look something like this one – with most areas in the ‘secure’ column and perhaps a few in the ‘strong’ column. If we have any concerns, they would appear under ‘attention needed.’
Then we have two grades at either end. We have ‘causing concern’ when serious improvement, and possibly intervention, is required. And we have ‘exemplary’ for the truly remarkable, sector-leading practice. The sort of things that we think others could learn from and want to highlight.
We know that not everyone will be happy with idea of grades and this approach. But our top priority always has to be children and learners, and their families. Clarity and accountability for providers is not a nice to have for them, it’s a must have. Parents told us that’s what they wanted, and that’s what we’re delivering.
But through grading specific areas, not providers as a whole, our reports, we hope, will be fairer.
Through the secure grade, a high standard on its own, and then through the strong grade, our reports will really show off what providers do best.
Through the attention needed grade we hope that will help guide leaders as to what you need to work on. And we will return sooner to check on progress.
Through the causing concern grade, we will continue to call out unacceptably low standards.
And through the exemplary grade, we will share the very best work in the sector, and drive standards ever higher.
So, anyone reading the report will be able to get this sort of instant snapshot of a provider. What they’re doing well, and where they can do better. But they will also be able to click on to any of the areas and if they want to know more they can see the detail of what we found when we inspected.
Now, congratulations because 6th form colleges have always been one of the strongest types of further education, with high grades and real added value for the young people that you educate. I’m sure that may well continue, but this way it will be possible to see in more detail what it is that you are doing well. A richer, a fuller, and a more representative picture.
Inclusion
As you will undoubtedly have heard, we now have inclusion as one of the evaluation areas. But if, after this, you take a look at the detail of what we’re proposing, you’ll also see that it is a theme throughout the other evaluation areas too.
I make no apologies for that. Inclusion is important to me, but we know through the Big Listen, it’s important to children too. So we want to make sure providers are considerate of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in everything that they do.
I’m really interested in your views on what we’re proposing here. Many of you are already doing a great deal to help disadvantaged and young people. I know many 6th form colleges often do more than their neighbours to educate children with SEND, children from poorer backgrounds, children with lower grades, and children with other disadvantages.
But of course, this is incredibly complicated, and only gets more so when trying to define what it is to be disadvantaged or vulnerable for young people once they turn 16. So, once again, your input will be really valuable to Lee and I.
And of course, we need to be really clear on what we mean by inclusion. We have a working definition in the consultation as well, but we want to consider all views so it can be improved.
So please do take part in this section of the consultation if you can. It’s something we absolutely have to get right, and with your help we will.
Improved system for you
But as well as improving the way that we report, and making sure we never lose sight of the most vulnerable, we also want to make sure we reduce the pressure on you. We want to let you focus on doing what’s best for the young people you educate.
So, we will use new toolkits that are bespoke for the different types of provision. There will be a toolkit for further education and skills providers like you. And then different ones for schools, independent schools, early years, and initial teacher education.
Obviously, there will be some overlap. Some of what you do is pretty similar to what schools with 6th forms do. And where appropriate we will use the same standards to inspect you both. But there are also differences, which we want to make sure we recognise and account for. Leadership of a school educating children from 11 to 18 is obviously different to a college. So, we want to be fair and balanced, while recognising the real differences that do exist.
But no matter whether you’re a 6th form college or a nursery, or anything in between, we will still do what we can to reduce pressure and complexity for you.
Here’s an example of one of the proposed toolkits that we’ll be using to inspect you.
There’s a table like this for each of the evaluation areas that you saw on the previous slide. Within each area there are themes that say 6th form evaluation area curriculum and then you can see the theme is possibly attention needed, secure and strong. There is a description of what provision would look like at each of the grade levels too. You can see those as the standards on this slide.
These will be published in full. We want to be fully transparent, and will be publishing our inspector training materials too. But we also want you to be able to use the toolkit when we inspect, and also in between inspections.
And we have based these toolkits on the legal requirements and professional standards that you are already working to. We don’t want you doing anything different just ‘for Ofsted’.
We’ll also be taking more account of your context, the circumstances in which you’re working. We of course can’t excuse unacceptably low standards, but we do want to do more to recognise the value you’re adding, the difference that you’re making.
So our inspections will be different, but we also want them to feel different. We want to be more collaborative. We want to be more supportive. We want inspection based around professional dialogue. We’ll have a discussion, starting with the secure grade. We’ll ask you things like, “where do you think you are?”, and, “what evidence can you show us?”, “what are you really proud of”, and “what are you currently working on?”
Every provider will also be able to select a nominee. A senior staff member who will work with us closely throughout the process and be fully involved and informed.
And we’re taking other steps like dropping deep dives as the only main method for gathering evidence, only having a single type of inspection so you know exactly what inspection to expect, developing inspection teams with experience of working in each remit, and introducing more iterative monitoring visits to support rapid improvement.
We hope these will combine with steps that we’ve already taken to make life a little easier for you during inspections, and when you’re expecting one.
Please take part
So that’s a whirlwind tour of what we’re proposing. But please please do take part in the consultation and take a look at all of it in more detail. You can get straight to the consultation through the QR code on the slide there.
As I said, we have developed it really carefully and deliberately over many months, and with lots of external input. But it is also not set in stone. I didn’t come here today just to tell you ‘this is what is happening’. I came to ask for your help.
I want your scrutiny, your expertise, your consideration. So please let us know if you think something could be better, or clearer, or fairer. And if you think something’s great, definitely tell us that too! I’d be delighted, Bill, to receive a response from the Sixth Form Colleges Association too.
We’re consulting until 28 April and we’ll be testing our approach during that time too. Our inspectors will complete full training on the new finalised approach before they start inspecting colleges like yours in November. That gives us the whole of the period from the consultation closing and all of September and all of October to train you and to train our staff. This will be an unprecedented amount of training that takes place if this consultation stands.
With your help and input, we can build the best system for parents and families, for you, and most importantly for children, young people, and all learners.
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.
The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau this afternoon.
The leaders began by reflecting on the close and historic relationship between the UK and Canada. From global security to clean energy and growth, they agreed on the importance of shared values between the two nations.
Discussing recent global events, the Prime Minister said he welcomed an international conversation on the importance of trade and collaboration between allies and partners. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership, including his focus on stemming the deadly drug trade across Canada’s borders.
The leaders also discussed the strong trading relationship between the UK and Canada, worth £26 billion, and how together both countries could go further to support growth and deliver for the hardworking Canadian and British people.
As the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, both leaders underlined their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.
On Syria, they agreed on the necessity of a political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.
[BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in defending a religious organization’s broad authority to make employment decisions based on religious beliefs to accomplish the organization’s mission and goals. The coalition filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday. In the case of Union Gospel Mission of Yakima Washington v. Ferguson, the coalition of attorneys general argues that Union Gospel Mission, a nonprofit religious organization, should be allowed broad decision-making authority over who they employ to ensure all employees share their religious beliefs and will not undermine the organization’s religious mission. However, the Washington Supreme Court and former State of Washington Attorney General Robert Ferguson wrongly interpreted that the Washington Law Against Discrimination’s (WLAD) religious exemption should only give the Mission authority to hire and fire employees with a direct role in sharing or teaching the organization’s religious beliefs. “The government should have no role in dictating the affairs, management, or mission of any religious organization,” said Attorney General Labrador. “The Union Gospel Mission should be free to hire who they believe best represents their values, from the CEO to the janitor, without government demanding otherwise and saying that one classification of employee does not sufficiently embody the spirit of the organization.” The church autonomy doctrine, which enables religious organizations to govern themselves and make employment decisions without interference from the state, protects the Mission’s hiring decisions. Courts have decided that not only does the church autonomy doctrine apply to churches and religious schools, but also organizations whose “purpose and character are primarily religious,” which includes organizations like the Mission. “The Mission’s hiring policy is a quintessential matter of church government. Allowing Washington’s antidiscrimination law to regulate those decisions ‘would impermissibly inject … [the] government into [decisions on] religious doctrine and governance,’” the attorneys general wrote. Attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia also joined the brief led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
SANTA CRUZ – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the arrest and charges against the owner of Rose Garden Residential Care Home and her employee for felony elder abuse that caused the death of a dependent adult in their care. Both defendants have been taken into custody and will face prosecution by the California Department of Justice Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, for a single count of felony elder abuse each.
“Elders deserve care, respect, and protection,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Those who are responsible for the care of elderly and dependent adults carry a profound duty to ensure their safety and well-being. At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to standing against any form of elder abuse or neglect, and we will take immediate action to hold accountable those who exploit or harm these vulnerable individuals.”
The victim, an 88-year-old dementia patient, was discovered deceased after departing from Rose Garden. The investigation revealed that the staff member responsible for his care fell asleep and was unaware of his absence. Dressed only in a t-shirt and diaper, the victim wandered .4 miles away from Rose Garden and died due to cold exposure.
It is important to note that criminal charges must be proven in a court of law. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
DMFEA works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in the state, and those who perpetrate fraud on the Medi-Cal program.
The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25 percent is funded by the State of California. FY 2025 is from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Defendant previously investigated in the Army and prosecuted in State Court for sexual assault crimes
Tacoma – A former U.S. Army soldier was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 87 months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Cameron James Taylor, 49, of Seattle, pleaded guilty in May 2024 and has been in custody since his guilty plea. At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo noted the conduct in this case may cause the victim lifetime torment. The victim “is a strong individual” and “shows courage to move on” Chief Judge Estudillo said.
“This horrific conduct cannot go unpunished. Our work to protect children on our military bases is a priority in the Western District of Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Mr. Taylor sexually assaulted a child who was just 5 years old. He then pressured the child to hide the conduct when questioned by other adults. I commend the strength of the victim in this case.”
According to records filed in the case, Taylor left the Army in 2016 with an “Other than Honorable” discharge after he was investigated for sexual assault of an unconscious female in Germany, and for assaulting soldiers who went to arrest him. Taylor resigned in lieu of Court Martial.
Once back in the U.S., Taylor was convicted of the 2019 sexual assault of a 5-year-old neighbor child. Taylor forced the child to massage him and reach into his pants. In 2022, Taylor was sentenced in King County Superior Court to 18 months in prison.
During the investigation related to the neighbor child, other children who had been in Taylor’s care were interviewed. Taylor had coached a child, who was now a teen about hiding his sexual assaults. Ultimately, the child disclosed to a relative that in 2012, while stationed on JBLM, Taylor locked the then 5- or 6-year-old in a closet and sexually assaulted the child.
On the eve of trial, Taylor pleaded guilty.
In asking for the 8-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Taylor’s crimes reveal a man who lacks empathy and who prioritized his own pleasure over others’ pain. Taylor is also no stranger to the justice system; this is his third criminal sex offense. The government hopes that a 96-month sentence, coupled with lifetime supervised release, will prevent Taylor from reoffending again.”
Taylor is required to register as a sex offender following his prison term. Chief Judge Estudillo ordered that he be on supervised release for ten years following prison.
The case was investigated by U.S. Army Criminal Investigations (CID), the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hillary K. Stuart and Erika J. Evans.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JAZZ GILDS (“GILDS”), age 39, a resident of Jefferson Parish, was sentenced on January 30, 2025, by United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter, after previously pleading guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of a 3-count indictment. Count 1 charged him with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count 3 charged him with being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
GILDS was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment as to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment, to run concurrently. Judge Vitter also ordered GILDS be placed on supervised release for 3 years and pay a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, GILDS became involved in a physical altercation with two individuals at a Jefferson Parish hotel before fleeing in a stolen vehicle. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies later apprehended GILDS, who had attempted to flee on foot. A search of the vehicle uncovered a Ruger Model P942 .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a stolen Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15, 5.56×45 millimeter caliber semi-automatic rifle. Additionally, during a search of GILDS’s hotel room, deputies seized illegal narcotics and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.
INDIANAPOLIS— James Watt, 26, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 3 years of probation after pleading guilty to unlawful production of document or authentication feature and money laundering.
According to court documents, between March 13, 2019, and February 16, 2023, James Watt worked for a public website that allowed customers to purchase fake driver’s licenses, paid for mostly by Bitcoin. The website’s tag line boasted “Your #1 Trusted Source for Fake IDs.”
Over the course of four years, Watt manufactured more than 30,000 fraudulent driver’s licenses and other forms of false identification. Customers would upload photos of themselves and an address to which to send the new I.D. Watt then mailed the false identifications via U.S. Postal Service collection boxes throughout Indianapolis, usually late at night to avoid detection.
In exchange for this work, Watt was paid more than 14 Bitcoin. As of January 16, 2025, 14 bitcoin was worth more than $1.3 million.
Although many of the fake IDs were purchased by underage college students, many IDs were purchased by adults far older than 21, implying their use for another nefarious purpose. Identification is needed to board a plane, buy cough medicine, rent a car, open a bank account, apply for government assistance, pick-up a prescription, visit a casino, and purchase a firearm. Through Watt’s help, his customers were able to get fake identifications for all these purposes.
“Watt nearly became a millionaire simply through the manufacturing and mailing of thousands of fake IDs, essentially running a one-man BMV,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “While Watt was not the operator of the website, he had a far more critical role, utilizing equipment and skill to manufacture quality fake identifications and brazenly violate the law thousands of times over. I commend the IRS-CI and USPIS for their thorough investigative work leading to today’s outcome.”
“I am proud of our inspectors who work so diligently to protect the mail from being utilized to further illicit activities,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Felicia George. “Thanks to our collaborative investigative efforts with IRS-CI, we were able to identify and take down part of a large-scale operation, while also seizing the proceeds of it from our area of responsibility. I would like to thank the inspectors, agents, and AUSA Eakman for their hard work on this case.”
The U.S. Postal Investigation Service and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott David Bixler, 43, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months imprisonment for failing to update his sex offender registration. Bixler will serve a lifetime of supervision following his prison sentence.
Bixler is a convicted sex offender and is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORNA) for life. As part of his registration obligations, he is required to report any international travel. In July of 2023, Bixler fled to Mexico shortly before he was scheduled to appear in state court for sentencing related to criminal convictions for failure to register as a sex offender under West Virginia law.
When Bixler and his spouse were arrested in Mexico, they possessed two pellet guns, methamphetamine, a cell phone jammer, and a large amount of cash. The investigation also revealed that the Bixlers were attempting to purchase a young girl while in Mexico. Fortunately, Mexican authorities thwarted the plan and arrested the couple.
“The sentence handed down by the Court ensures that the Defendant will be confined in prison for the maximum time allowed by law,” said Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard. “I shudder to think what might have happened but for the dedication of AUSA Perri, the federal and state law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mexican authorities. Our community and children are safer because of their efforts and the sentence imposed.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI, the U.S. Marshals Services, and the West Virginia State Police investigated this 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
New Haven – Acting U.S. Attorney Marc H. Silverman today announced that the District of Connecticut collected $26,212,307 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of this amount, approximately $14,110,085 was collected in criminal actions and approximately $12,102,222 was collected in civil actions.
The Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $20,069 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.
“In the last fiscal year, our dedicated attorneys and staff have helped to recover more than $26 million,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman. “These funds are returned directly to crime victims, used to support victim services, and bolster federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts. Through our criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions, we remain steadfast in our commitment to seeking justice, removing illicit profits from wrongdoers, and safeguarding the integrity of crucial government programs.”
Significant criminal recoveries included more than a $1 million in restitution from multiple defendants involved in a bid rigging scheme related to insulation contracts, and the satisfaction of a restitution obligation from a Connecticut business owner who was required to pay more than $2 million in back taxes, interest, and penalties to the IRS. Large civil recoveries included approximately $4.5 million from a network of healthcare companies who are alleged to have submitted false claims to Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid for telehealth psychological care services, and more than $1 million from the operators of Connecticut dental practices who are alleged to have paid patient recruiters to steer Connecticut Medicaid patients to their practice, in violation of federal and state laws.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected$5,525,420 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.
CINCINNATI – Two local men pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to stealing USPS arrow keys during armed robberies of postal carriers.
Antonio Toombs, 21, and Lorenzo Brandon, 22, participated in two separate armed robberies on the same day.
Toombs and Brandon each pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing mail or property of the United States Postal Service, a crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
According to their plea agreements, on Oct. 21, 2023, Toombs, Brandon and a juvenile participated in the assaults and armed robberies of two postal carriers. At approximately 12:40pm, they assaulted the first victim near Hanna Avenue in Cincinnati and stole the postal carrier’s arrow key. Later that day, around 3:40pm, they did the same against a second victim near Harry Lee Lane in Cincinnati.
Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendants is determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors and will be imposed at future hearings.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the guilty pleas entered before U.S. District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, through United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, issues the following statement to underscore support for the January 20, 2025, Executive Order, entitled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”
Department of Justice agencies in Puerto Rico, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Bureau of Prisons, underscore their support and partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and all its components in Puerto Rico to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.
The Justice Department and DHS will also continue to collaborate and work closely with our counterparts within the Government of Puerto Rico, to include the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and other governmental agencies, as well as municipal police departments to protect our communities from harm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s implementation of the Executive Order will focus on the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens, as well as supporting the prosecution and/or expedited removal from the United States of aliens without legal status. The apprehension and prosecution or removal of aliens includes special interest aliens deemed by the DHS to be from a country that poses a national security or counterintelligence threat.
“Those aliens who are involved in criminal activity, who are fugitives from justice, who have prior criminal convictions and/or come from nations that pose a threat to our national security, remain a priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We are also fully committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, and all its components, to make Puerto Rico and the United States safer.”
“The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Through this initiative, continued collaboration and intelligence-driven operations, we are supporting efforts to protect our communities, while adhering to our mission of upholding the Constitution.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals who are illegally present in the United States, ensuring they are swiftly removed to their home countries,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Juan. “The executive order aims to protect the United States from individuals who pose a threat to public safety by committing crimes.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration remains resolute in its mission to protect the communities of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. These criminal networks not only threaten public safety through the distribution of dangerous narcotics but also exploit immigration vulnerabilities to further their illicit enterprises. Through intelligence-driven investigations, collaborative enforcement operations, and strategic partnerships with our federal, state, and local counterparts, the DEA will aggressively target those who pose a threat to our national security and the well-being of our citizens. Our enforcement efforts will focus on identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting individuals and organizations engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime. Additionally, we remain committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens involved in drug-related offenses. The DEA Caribbean Division will continue to conduct high-impact operations aimed at preventing narcotics and criminal elements from infiltrating our shores. These enforcement efforts are crucial in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Puerto Rico and the continental United States. The message is clear: those who attempt to use our territory as a gateway for illicit activities will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement,” stated Michael A. Miranda, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Caribbean Division.
“We stand in unison with our Federal and Puerto Rico partners in this all-hands-on deck to stem the tide of illegal immigration,” said Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Division.
The United States Marshals Service, whose mission includes apprehending federal and state fugitives, will lead an initiative – Operation Homeland – to focus resources and coordinate enforcement operations with DOJ and DHS components on the apprehension of alien fugitives charged with federal and local crimes.
“Historically, the United States Marshals have played a crucial role in serving our nation by apprehending and removing dangerous fugitives from our communities. In this instance, we have teamed up with our federal law enforcement partners to focus on apprehending non-U.S. citizens who have active criminal warrants. We are confident that these collaborative efforts will lead to safer communities. We encourage all citizens to continue cooperating with our investigations to help locate these fugitives and bring them to justice,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal District of Puerto Rico.
As recently announced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on January 30, 2025, the below-listed individuals entered into Puerto Rican waters without inspection and were detained by the CBP. Earlier that day, Coast Guard had previously boarded the sailing vessel Mistress, but the vessel was allowed to continue its voyage to St. Martin. Instead of going to St. Martin, the S/V Mistress entered U.S. waters without inspection and anchored off La Parguera, where they were arrested and processed for expedited removal by DHS officials, including the United States Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Specifically, the following eight individuals were encountered on a private boat off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico:
Name Country of Citizenship
Erlanbek Narkoziev Kyrgyzstan
Jafar Valamatov Russia
Kanal Assylbekov Kazakhstan
Nikita Torshin Kazakhstan
Sanjarjon Sidikov Uzbekistan
Shackhat Uurustamov Kyrgyzstan
Odiljon Azimov Kyrgyzstan
Shukrat Akhemodov Russia
“Every day CBP Officers are responsible with determining the admissibility of aliens arriving at our ports of entry. Foreign travelers requesting entry undergo an inspection and determination of admissibility to the United States, and if they are not admissible, they are returned to their point of embarkation,” indicated Roberto Vaquero, Director of the San Juan Office of Field Operations. “Our officers will be vigilant in determining admissibility and will also inspect authorized presence from passengers in domestic flights as they try to reach the Continental US.”
“The Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol remains steadfast in protecting our Caribbean borders and deter irregular migration attempts. U.S. immigration law makes it a crime to enter or attempt to enter without requesting admission at a port of entry designated for that purpose by immigration officials,” stated Reggie Johnson, Acting Chief Patrol Agent. “Migrants should know that they will face full legal consequences of unlawful entry.”
“Air and Marine Operations agents and assets will support the whole of government effort to enforce immigration laws and protect our borders from emerging threats,” said Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. “AMO safeguards our Nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Stafford, Mo., man who purchased more than 50 firearms has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally trafficking firearms and methamphetamine.
David Allen Gaunt, 57, was charged in a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Gaunt on Jan. 16, 2025.
The federal indictment alleges that Gaunt participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 21, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2025. Those firearms, according to the indictment, included a Kalashnikov pistol, a Century Arms pistol, a Tokarev shotgun, a Canik pistol and an HS Produkt pistol. In addition to the conspiracy, Gaunt is charged with one count of trafficking those firearms to a recipient who was legally prohibited from possessing them.
The federal indictment also charges Gaunt with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of 15 different firearms. Gaunt is charged with four counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in order to purchase firearms, four counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, four counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of distributing methamphetamine.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gaunt has personally purchased more than 50 firearms. On every purchase, the affidavit says, Gaunt marked “No” on the federal form that asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Eighteen of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, from Gaunt and others. Additionally, 11 of the firearms Gaunt purchased have been either sold to or pawned at pawn shops.
Springfield police officers seized three of those firearms during the execution of two search warrants in separate drug-trafficking investigations in June 2023, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department seized one of those firearms during enforcement activities in July 2023. All of the firearms were seized from individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the affidavit says, and were traced to Gaunt as the original purchaser.
On Aug. 16, 2023, Springfield police officers stopped Gaunt near S. Glenstone Avenue and E. St. Louis Street. When officers searched his vehicle, they found six firearms. On Nov. 6, 2024, Springfield officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Gaunt. Officers seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Gaunt’s waistband. A clear plastic bag of methamphetamine was found in the center console of the vehicle.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.