The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) recommend lifting the advisory for recreational activities at Warwick Pond in Warwick. The advisory was related to high levels of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria.
Recent consecutive surveys and sample analysis confirmed that blue-green algae has been present but at acceptably low levels and that cyanotoxin is not present in detectable concentrations. These findings meet the advisory guidelines and support lifting the advisory.
Blue-green algae conditions can change quickly, and it is possible that blooms may affect Warwick Pond again, or other waterbodies in Rhode Island. The public should avoid contact with any body of water that is bright green or has a dense, floating algal mat on the water’s surface. Blue-green algae blooms may look like green paint or thick pea soup. Toxins may persist in the water after a blue-green algae bloom is no longer visible.
For more information and current advisories, consult RIDEM’s website www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen. To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact RIDEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov
The long-planned deployment is slated to kick-off with the U.S. Air Force bombers flying on a pre-filed flight plan through international airspace and with the appropriate diplomatic clearances in place for times when aircraft are transiting through a sovereign nation’s airspace.
During the deployment, U.S. bomber aircrews will train and operate alongside NATO Allies and partners for several weeks demonstrating the U.S. commitment to global security and stability.
Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Walter Holt III, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about March 12 and May 27, 2021, Holt prepared and submitted falsified Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) COVID-19 relief loan applications for Charleroi, Pennsylvania, borrowers, for which he took a fee.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for January 31, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Holt.
Orlando, Fla., Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CNL Strategic Capital, a public, non-traded company that seeks to provide current income and long-term appreciation to its investors, has launched its second follow-on offering for up to $1.1 billion of shares.
CNL Strategic Capital’s second follow-on offering will maintain its investment strategy that seeks to acquire and grow durable, middle-market businesses for its portfolio. The second follow-on offering was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 1, 2024, and includes up to $100 million in shares to be issued pursuant to the company’s distribution reinvestment plan.
The initial public offering closed to investors on Nov. 1, 2021, after raising aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $264.7 million from the sale of common shares. The follow-on public offering that ran from Nov. 1, 2021, through Nov. 1, 2024, raised aggregate gross offering proceeds of approximately $704.8 million from the sale of common shares. A combined total of $969.5 million was raised through the initial and follow-on public offerings.
About CNL Strategic Capital CNL Strategic Capital is a publicly registered, non-traded limited liability Company that seeks to provide current income and long-term appreciation to individuals by acquiring controlling equity stakes in combination with loan positions in durable and growing middle-market businesses. The Company is externally managed by CNL Strategic Capital Management, LLC and Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital, LLC (LLSC). For additional information, please visit cnlstrategiccapital.com.
About CNL Financial Group CNL Financial Group (CNL) is a leading private investment management firm providing alternative investment opportunities. Since inception in 1973, CNL and/or its affiliates have formed or acquired companies with more than $36 billion in assets. CNL is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit cnl.com.
About Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital LLSC is an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC (LLCP), a middle-market private equity firm with a 40-year track record of investing across various targeted sectors, including Franchising & Multi-unit, Business Services, Education & Training and Engineered Products & Manufacturing. LLCP utilizes a differentiated Structured Private Equity investment strategy, combining debt and equity capital investments in portfolio companies. LLCP believes that by investing in a combination of debt and equity securities, it offers management teams growth capital in a highly tailored, flexible investment structure that can be a more attractive alternative than traditional private equity.
LLCP’s global team of dedicated investment professionals is led by 10 partners who have worked at LLCP for an average of 20 years. Since inception, LLCP has managed approximately $14.8 billion of institutional capital across 15 investment funds and has invested in over 100 portfolio companies. LLCP currently manages $10.2 billion of assets and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. For additional information, please visit llcp.com.
The information in this press release may include “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of CNL Strategic Capital’s management and on the information currently available to management at the time of such statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” or similar expressions that indicate future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond CNL Strategic Capital’s control. Important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the risks associated with the Company’s ability to pay distributions and the sources of such distribution payments, the Company’s ability to locate and make suitable investments and other risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.
Headline: Members spotlight development issues in trade and environmental sustainability discussions
“Here we are at the end of 2024 and MC14 isn’t that far away. We’re committed to having concrete outcomes and so as part of achieving that, this session will be important,” said Richard Tarasofsky of Canada, which co-convenes TESSD together with Costa Rica, in opening the meeting. He added that a high-level TESSD plenary stocktaking session will be held on 4 December to seek members’ support for the proposed way forward towards achieving concrete outcomes at MC14 that reflect both the technical discussions in working groups as well as the written outcomes of those groups.
“We are really making an effort to dig deeper into the development dimension, including in how we select topics such as climate adaptation,” said Mr. Tarasofsky.
The four TESSD working groups advanced substantive work in their respective discussions at the meeting.
In the Working Group on Trade-related Climate Measures (TrCMs), members deliberated on the use of TrCMs for achieving climate change adaptation and focused on developing country perspectives. They heard presentations from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the WTO Secretariat, the World Bank, Barbados and Samoa.
In the Working Group on Environmental Goods and Services, members exchanged views on trade-related aspects of water management and climate change adaptation, considering presentations on water management technologies and developing country experiences from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Copenhagen Climate Centre and the UN Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN). Members also considered presentations on identification and trade promotion of environmental goods and services from Australia, Finland and the WTO Secretariat.
In the Working Group on Subsidies, members considered presentations on critical minerals, including how international cooperation can support developing countries in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities in the sector. The International Energy Agency, the African Development Bank, Australia and the Philippines provided presentations.
In the Working Group on Circular Economy-Circularity, members heard from the Global Batteries Alliance on batteries passports and on circularity of batteries. They also heard from Rwanda on implementing circular economy principles in the transport sector. Members also were briefed on new analytical work from the International Chamber of Commerce, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Forum on Trade, Environment and SDGs (TESS).
Across the four working groups, members also discussed possible ways forward for outcomes at MC14, including a compilation and mapping of policy measures shared by members, practical ways to enhance cooperation, and expanding and refining the TESSD indicative list of environmental goods and services. They also considered developing guidelines for subsidy design and recommendations to enhance transparency, trade-related guidelines for a circular economy and trade‑related good practices for circularity in priority sectors.
Presentations and documents related to the working group meetings are available here.
At the close of the two-day meeting, Ana Lizano of Costa Rica, TESSD co-convenor, said: “We have heard support as well as constructive feedback from the participants to the suggestions on the way forward presented by the facilitators of the four groups. So the co-conveners, together with the facilitators, will put together the most balanced outlook possible for 2025 and towards the next Ministerial Conference.”
“We will continue working on bringing to the table more voices from the developing and least-developed members to consolidate an agenda that is not only balanced but also representative of the needs, opportunities, and interests of all TESSD participants,” she said.
Guided by their 2021 Ministerial Statement, TESSD seeks to complement the work of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment and advance discussions at the intersection of trade and environmental sustainability towards identifying concrete actions that members could take individually or collectively. The initiative, which is open to all WTO members, is currently co-sponsored by 77 members representing all regions and all levels of development.
WTO ambassadors, Swiss authorities, heads of intergovernmental organizations, representatives of non-governmental organizations, business and academia participated in the event, which was opened by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In his introduction, Mr Michel told a large audience that today the world “is on a knife edge”, with war and conflict piercing the heart of the multilateral system and global confidence. Current conflicts are creating a devastating cocktail of humanitarian catastrophes, destabilisation and insecurity, driving the world away from the rule of law toward the law of force, he noted.
Every week, the world sees the devastating effects of climate change across regions, he said. It also has to live through the “mind-blowing revolution” of artificial intelligence (AI), with its vast potential but also with its risks for human rights, democracy and the global trading system. Against this backdrop, he stressed that “no country alone can face all these challenges,” making cooperation and multilateralism more necessary than ever.
Mr Michel said that the success of the European Union is an example of how cooperation and integration help to build bridges, allowing member states to cooperate and reach compromise on difficult issues. That translates into reducing overdependence and building mutually beneficial partnerships. “We want to build bridges, not barriers. And that requires more trust. More dialogue between nations. And less polarisation that drives nations apart,” he said.
Highlighting the need to build mutually beneficial partnerships, the President of the European Council called for a multipolar world where each country, or group of countries, can set its own path, with respect for the common rules. “It shouldn’t be about choosing one side over another. We need to listen, cooperate, and forge common decisions based on smart compromise. And we have to develop our collective intelligence for solving collective problems,” he noted.
In order to make multilateralism work, he said: “We need to build more trust. People must believe in each other when they make agreements and work together. And building trust requires respect for international law, crucial when nations cooperate together. We also need trade because it generates prosperity and helps us achieve our common goals. And we must transform global multilateral institutions, so they are strong and fit for the 21st century.”
Mr Michel commended the “tireless efforts and relentless determination” of DG Okonjo-Iweala to bring trust back to the heart of the WTO. He underlined that for the European Union, strengthening the WTO is a strategic priority. “A strong, well-functioning WTO is essential to fair and predictable global trade, based on common rules. We must pursue the necessary reforms to make the WTO a powerful force,” he said.
This includes overhauling the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism to include a reliable appeal process, he said, as agreed by members at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, while preserving the core principles established in 1995. Looking forward, he also cited the need to address issues such as subsidies and state support and stated that WTO reform must ensure inclusivity, enabling both developed and developing nations to participate equitably.
DG Okonjo-Iweala expressed her appreciation for the very timely insights of President Michel in the current challenging context. “He understands, as we do, that trade is not a means in itself, or even solely an engine of greater productivity and growth, but that trade is a force for social inclusion, economic development, environmental sustainability – and yes – peace.”
DG Okonjo-Iweala said that President Michel is not just a committed multilateralist but someone who is committed to ensuring that multilateralism delivers results for people by using trade as a tool to integrate people and places left out of the gains of recent decades. “Our collective efforts to reform and update the WTO are part of making trade work for everyone,” she added.
Following the lecture, Mr Michel took part in a conversation with DG Okonjo-Iweala on the future of international trade at a time of economic, political and environmental uncertainty, moderated by Professor Muhammadou Kah, Ambassador of the Gambia to the WTO.
The WTO’s Presidential Lecture Series provides a platform for distinguished speakers from around the world to deliver lectures on various aspects of multilateral cooperation and global governance. Several events are held each year.
More information on the lecture series is available here.
Headline: Transparency and subsidy notification compliance spotlighted at committee meeting
The Chair noted that despite calls for members to notify their subsidies, compliance with the subsidy notification obligation under the WTO’s SCM Agreement remains concerningly low, affecting the Agreement’s proper functioning.
He highlighted that 84 members have not made their 2023 notifications, which were due by 30 June 2023, while 82 members have yet to make their 2021 notifications, which were due more than three years ago. He also noted that 71 members still have not submitted their 2019 notifications, now overdue by more than five years. Many of these members have either never notified or have done so only in the distant past, he said.
The Chair emphasized that all members benefit from the collective effort of timely and complete notifications. “Ultimately, all members, in addition to being required to notify, have an interest in the notified information of other members,” he stated. He called on non-compliant members to fulfil their obligations, noting that transparency is fundamental to the SCM Agreement’s proper functioning.
Highlighting efforts to improve compliance, the Chair drew attention to the WTO Secretariat’s technical assistance project on subsidy notifications. The first round of the project, completed in 2023, invited 43 members to take part, with 23 agreeing to participate. Of these, 11 members subsequently submitted their 2023 subsidy notifications in a timely fashion, accounting for 13% of all notifications received for that cycle. The Chair praised these tangible outcomes as evidence of the effectiveness of well-structured, customized assistance projects. He also informed members that a 2024-2025 round of the same technical assistance project will be launched towards the end of this year. He encouraged active engagement of the participating members.
Several delegations took the floor to echo the Chair’s concerns, stressing the importance of timely and complete subsidy notifications for the SCM Agreement’s effective functioning. They also expressed appreciation for the Secretariat’s ongoing support and technical assistance efforts.
Training session on subsidy notifications
In response to a suggestion to organize a training session on the obligation to make subsidy notifications, the Chair acknowledged the potential benefits of such an initiative. He noted that holding a training session would be particularly useful given that a new notification cycle will begin in 2025. Recognizing the timeliness of such a session, he proposed that the Secretariat arrange this training early next year. The Secretariat will communicate the exact date and venue of the session in due course.
Review of members’ subsidy notifications
The Committee reviewed the 2023 new and full subsidy notifications submitted by Australia, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, the European Union (pertaining to Croatia, Luxembourg, and Slovenia), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Iceland, Nepal, and Uruguay.
The Committee also continued its review of 2023 subsidy notifications from Brazil, Canada, China, Eswatini, the European Union, Japan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montenegro, Norway, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vanuatu. It also continued its review of a 2019 notification from the Russian Federation.
National legislation
The Committee reviewed new notifications of countervailing duty legislation submitted by Brazil, Cabo Verde, Solomon Islands, and the United States. It also continued its review of the legislative notifications of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the European Union, and Ghana.
Semi-annual reports of members on countervailing duty actions
The Committee considered the semi-annual reports of countervailing duty actions submitted by Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In addition to the semi-annual reports, the SCM Agreement requires members to submit without delay notifications of all preliminary and final countervailing duty actions taken. Reports received from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, India, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, the United Kingdom, and the United States were reviewed by the Committee.
Other matters
The Chair recalled the 31 December 2015 deadline for the elimination of export subsidies by members that received “fast track” extensions under Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement. He noted that only 15 of the 19 members that had received extensions have provided the final required notifications. He called on the remaining members to comply without delay.
The Committee discussed a separate item China placed on the agenda regarding discriminatory subsidies policies and measures of the United States.
The Committee discussed a separate item the Republic of Korea placed on the agenda regarding France’s electric vehicle subsidies programme.
The Committee also discussed a separate item Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States placed on the agenda regarding subsidies and capacity.
In addition, the Committee discussed a separate item the United States placed on the agenda regarding Kazakhstan’s proposed preferences for domestically produced agricultural machinery.
The Committee discussed a separate item the United States placed on the agenda regarding the WTO Secretariat’s activities on subsidies. The United States highlighted certain Secretariat-initiated activities relating to subsidies, calling for greater transparency and consultation between the Secretariat and the membership. Australia, the European Union, India, and the United Kingdom commented on the issues raised by the US, including by expressing support for the call for greater transparency.
The Secretariat informed the Committee that it has been working on a transparency portal that will allow members to access information about Secretariat-initiated activities and explained that it expected this portal would be rolled-out towards the end of November.
Under other business, the United States provided an update on proposed guidelines for submission of questions and answers under Articles 25.8 and 25.9 of the SCM Agreement, previously submitted by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and discussed at the Committee’s regular meeting in April 2024.
The Committee also adopted its 2024 annual report to the CTG.
Next meeting
The spring and autumn 2025 meetings of the SCM Committee are scheduled to take place in the weeks of 28 April and 27 October 2025, respectively.
More information about the SCM Agreement and the WTO’s work on subsidies and countervailing measures can be found here.
Uncertainty about the election getting to you? Is anxiety the dominant feature of your emotional landscape, maybe with a small sprinkling of impending doom?
It’s difficult not to be worked up about politics in today’s polarized climate. Regardless of which side of the political aisle you sit on, you may find yourself glued to your browser or TV, gobbling up every tiny tidbit of news and feeling your stress levels skyrocket.
I’m a psychologist who develops and tests strategies for combating anxiety. As I constantly tell my stressed-out clients, when it comes to election news, there’s a fine line between being well informed and being oversaturated with information.
If you’re ready to short-circuit your stress spiral, here are three science-backed strategies for coping with anxiety in times of uncertainty.
Approach your emotions with mindfulness
Being mindful refers to the quality of awareness you bring to your experiences – specifically, nonjudgmental attention focused on what’s happening right now.
Mindfulness practices originated in Eastern spiritual traditions, including Buddhism. Over the past several decades, mindfulness has gained popularity as a powerful tool for managing anxiety. For instance, meditation apps such as Headspace and Calm incorporate it. Even if meditation isn’t your thing, though, you can still apply nonjudgmental awareness, focused on the present, to election-related anxiety.
Be present. Anxiety can draw you into an uncomfortable spiral of “what-ifs” about the future. When you make a point to be present, you remind yourself what is actually happening right now, rather than letting hypothetical fears take over.
Although you may have serious concerns about the fate of the nation, those outcomes have not yet come to bear. As I tell my patients, “We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it. For now, focus on the step right in front of you.”
If you notice yourself getting carried away by thoughts of the future, you can pull yourself back to the present by bringing awareness to simple sensations – the feel of your feet on the floor, the rhythm of your breath, or the sounds around you – and remind yourself that you are safe in the current moment.
Pay nonjudgmental attention. Many people are hard on themselves for feeling strong emotions. This critical mindset might look like telling yourself that you’re overreacting, or that it’s weak to let others see that you’re upset. You might even view that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach as evidence that negative outcomes are right around the corner.
Making judgments about your emotions only serves to make you feel worse. In fact, researchers find that pushing away emotions or beating yourself up for having them leads to more frequent and stronger anxiety.
Instead, try giving yourself a break. Tell yourself, “This election is high stakes, so it makes sense I’m anxious.” Then, notice if your anxiety is driven by a fear about the future, and bring yourself back to the present.
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to shift away from rigid, all-or-nothing thinking about the future.
When people are anxious, they tend to focus on the worst-case scenario. For example, you might be telling yourself, “With this candidate in office, things will be terrible and I won’t be able to cope.”
In this scenario, I encourage my patients to move past that initial thought of how awful it will be and instead consider exactly how they will respond to the inauguration, the next day, week, month and so on.
Cognitive flexibility allows you to explore how you will cope, even in the face of a negative outcome, helping you feel a bit less out of control. If you’re experiencing a lot of anxiety about the election, try thinking through what you’d do if the undesirable candidate takes office – thoughts like “I’ll donate to causes that are important to me” and “I’ll attend protests.”
Choose your actions with intention
Another tool for managing your anxiety is to consider whether your behaviors are affecting how you feel.
Remember, for instance, the goal of 24-hour news networks is to increase ratings. It’s in their interest to keep you riveted to your screens by making it seem like important announcements are imminent. As a result, it may feel difficult to disconnect and take part in your usual self-care behavior.
Try telling yourself, “If something happens, someone will text me,” and go for a walk or, better yet, to bed. Keeping up with healthy habits can help reduce your vulnerability to uncontrolled anxiety.
It’s not on your shoulders to solve every single problem in the world. AP Photo/John Hanna
Post-Election Day, you may continue to feel drawn to the news and motivated to show up – whether that means donating, volunteering or protesting – for a variety of causes you think will be affected by the election results. Many people describe feeling guilty if they say no or disengage, leading them to overcommit and wind up overwhelmed.
If this sounds like you, try reminding yourself that taking a break from politics to cook, engage with your family or friends, get some work done or go to the gym does not mean you don’t care. In fact, keeping up with the activities that fuel you will give you the energy to contribute to important causes more meaningfully.
Shannon Sauer-Zavala receives funding from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Minister for Hunting and Fishing Todd McClay has today launched an Access Charter (the Charter) to ensure better access for recreational hunting and fishing on public conservation land (PCL) across New Zealand.
“This Charter establishes guiding principles for the Department of Conservation (DOC) to provide clear and transparent decisions on PCL access that makes it easier for kiwis to go hunting and fishing.
“As Minister for Hunting and Fishing, I want to make sure every New Zealander who wants to get out and enjoy themselves, feed their families or help manage game animal populations can do so easily.
Every year 1.2m people hunt and fish recreationally. The Charter guarantees a common and consistent approach to access across all regions and ensures that PCL will always be open for recreational use and that DOC will only limit this use rarely.
“This Charter will help DOC to provide uniform rules and guidance across the country, making it clear and consistent for all.
“The Charter is the first of its kind and a significant step towards preserving New Zealand’s hunting and fishing heritage while safeguarding the experience for generations of Kiwi’s to come.”
For further information, permits, responsibilities and maps, please visit:
Police investigating traffic crash, Cambridge Road and South Arm Highway
Saturday, 2 November 2024 – 8:38 am.
Police are investigating a hit and run crash on the Mornington roundabout (Cambridge Road and South Arm Highway) that reportedly occurred about 2.50pm on Friday 1 November. A Silver Mitsubishi Lancer sedan was struck from behind by a white utility, similar to a Ford Ranger, as they travelled through the roundabout on Cambridge Road towards Rosny. The utility had large white lettering across the top of the front windshield and was seen travelling up the South Arm Highway after the crash. Anyone with information or dash camera footage is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously. Please quote crash report 24006769.
DENVER – Today, Governor Polis released the administration’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget proposal. This strategic budget proposal makes prudent investments that protect Colorado’s funding for education, continue investing in public safety, and prioritize fiscal responsibility to maintain financial reserves and ensure the state is prepared for future rainy days.
“We’ve made real progress on what matters most to Coloradans over the last five years, and this budget is about protecting those investments while ensuring that we are putting fiscal responsibility front and center, driving greater government efficiency, and continuing delivering for Coloradans. This budget reflects tighter budget conditions due to rapidly declining inflation, and I’m proud of the values and priorities represented here,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Since taking office in 2019, the Polis-Primavera administration has delivered on the priorities most important to Coloradans. This includes everything from delivering free, full-day kindergarten and universal preschool; cutting health care costs through Reinsurance, the Colorado Option, Prescription Drug Affordability Board, capping the cost of insulin and more; saving Coloradans money by cutting income, and property taxes; moving closer to the goal of 100% renewable energy while saving Coloradans money on their energy bills, and more. This work all continues.
This budget builds on those investments with continued support to help make Colorado one of the ten safest states. This includes:
$15.0 million to support and sustain Colorado’s emergency and operational communications dispatching system, which is used by 90 percent of the state’s first responders. This will help first responders do their jobs effectively.
$3.4 million to the Crime Prevention Through Safer Streets program. This grant program supports local governments and law enforcement entities in making physical infrastructure and security improvements like improved lighting, which can reduce crime and make neighborhoods safer.
$1.7 million to increase the bed cap for youth detention to reflect increasing demands across the state and provide more services for at-risk youth.
$1.8 million in repurposed funding for Colorado Youth Detention Continuum (CYDC) programs to provide community-based placements for at-risk youth.
$2.0 million to the Youth Delinquency Prevention and Intervention program, which supports the collaborative work of community-based organizations and local governments to reduce crime among youth.
$0.9 million for legislation to address the penalty for firearm theft, the connection between motor vehicle theft and firearm possession, and establish an entity to research and make recommendations on criminal justice policy.
$7.6 million to expand capacity at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan for competency restoration, which will accommodate more individuals in the criminal justice system to gain competency and proceed to trial more quickly.
$6.1 million for Community Corrections to expand the capacity at facilities often called “halfway houses,” which are an effective and less expensive alternative to traditional incarceration facilities.
$0.6 million to support crime victims by investing in the Address Confidentiality Program resources. This increase in state investment will backfill declining federal funds so that DPA can continue this program to protect survivors of stalking, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
This budget also prioritizes education funding to ensure the success of students and educators, including:
$115 million from the General Fund to bolster Total Program funding for education in an effort to preserve a significant balance in the State Education Fund to ensure the state never has to go back to a Budget Stabilization Factor.
Proposed changes that move Colorado to the best-practice of a current-year enrollment funding method. Adopting a method based on current-year enrollment more accurately represents the current population of students to better target resources to where kids are. Only nine other states employ a method that averages enrollment over multiple years.
$13.5 million in categorical funding to specific groups of students and student needs, including special education, transportation, English language proficiency, and career and technical education.
$3.4 million in repurposed funding to provide greater support to young students with reading deficiencies (K-3) using evidence-based interventions.
$2.0 million to provide support and new learning opportunities to students attending turnaround and priority improvement schools.
$7.8 million placeholder for Universal Preschool reflecting anticipated Proposition EE and General Fund revenue.
$3.6 million funding increase to support Early Intervention, which provides developmental supports such as speech therapy to children from birth through age two with developmental delays.
Fiscal responsibility is also front and center in this budget with a proposal to maintain a 15 percent reserve level in FY 2025-26. This was made possible by difficult decisions and balancing actions made to balance the budget and protect funding for critical investments in education, public safety and health care.
This budget also requests a number of transfers, efficiencies, and other policy changes to slow the growth in spending and limit spending to create space for critical budget needs.
In addition to these priorities, the budget also makes critical investments in economic growth, housing, child care, higher education, health care and Medicaid funding, support for counties and benefits administration to help connect Coloradans to services faster, support for homelessness, expanding behavioral health care, in Colorado’s state employees, and investments to help Colorado celebrate its 150th birthday and America’s 250th birthday.
In total, this budget requests total expenditures of $46.1 billion, including $17.8 billion General Fund. Read the full budget letter here and view the slide deck here.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 14 New York State landmarks will be lit teal on Friday, Nov. 1 to mark the beginning of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.
“Alzheimer’s is a debilitating and brutal disease, and, like many of you, it is one that I have a personal connection with,” Governor Hochul said. “I take Alzheimer’s Awareness Month as the time to reflect on the struggles my fellow New Yorkers have faced when it comes to watching a family member or a loved one battle an incredibly heartbreaking diagnosis. I am remembering my grandfather this month as well as all of the New Yorkers and their families who are currently battling an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.”
The landmarks that will be lit include:
Albany International Airport Gateway
Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
Empire State Plaza
Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Kosciuszko Bridge
Moynihan Train Hall
MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
Niagara Falls
One World Trade Center
State Education Building
State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
The Office of the Aging reported — according to New York State data shared by the Coalition of New York State Alzheimer’s Association Chapters — that more than 426,000 New Yorkers aged 65 or older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The 2024 New York Alzheimer’s statistics, which includes caregiving, workforce and healthcare data, can be found here.
New York State is proud to have a network of resources for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and their families. The New York State Department of Health outlines a map of counties across New York State which includes a list of Caregiver Support Programs and Centers for Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease in each respective county. This list can be found here.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to redesignate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). As the Houthis, backed by Iran’s regime, continue to escalate their attacks in the Middle East, this designation would impose meaningful costs on the Houthis and help limit their ability to commit acts of terrorism. Both senators have been outspoken in their strong support for this redesignation. They were joined by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
“Since the misguided revocation of the Houthis’ FTO designation in 2021, the Houthis, backed by the Iranian regime, have only escalated their efforts to destabilize the Middle East,” wrote the Senators. “These actions include firing drones and missiles against Israel that have killed civilians, disrupting international shipping by targeting commercial vessels, directly attacking U.S. forces, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Yemen.”
“Relisting the Houthis as an FTO would make individuals or entities providing material support to the group liable for criminal prosecution and considered Tier III terrorists subject to sanctions and a travel ban, open up economic tools to target the Houthis’ weapons procurement networks and manufacturing capabilities, provide a legal right of action to U.S. victims of Houthi terrorism, and ban Houthi members from obtaining a visa or entering the United States,” they continued. “We therefore urge you to immediately restore the designation of the Houthis as an FTO, which would enable the United States to better target the group’s assets and financial support and hold the group accountable for committing terrorism against the United States, Israel, and our partners and allies throughout the region.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight to counter Iran’s destabilizing actions in the Middle East and protect U.S. national security. Last month, she joined a bipartisan letter calling on the administration to ensure Iran’s regime cannot benefit from the petroleum trade. Senator Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation to counter space threats posed by Iran and called on the Biden Administration to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets held in Qatar following Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. She also helped introduce the bipartisan Solidify Iran Sanctions Act to make the Iran Sanctions of 1996 permanent, allowing the President to impose sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.
Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging continued advocacy on behalf of American families navigating the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) recent decision to discontinue intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. U.S. Representatives Erin Houchin (IN-09) and Val Hoyle (OR-04) co-led this bipartisan letter, which secured 103 bicameral signatories.
On August 28th, 2024, the PRC ended its foreign adoption program, four years after the country suspended the program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers expressed concern for the adoptive children that remain in the PRC, many with health conditions, who were already paired with families in the United States, as well as for the American families who have been devasted by the announcement.
“We express our concern for the vulnerable children in the PRC who have been matched with a permanent and loving home but remain separated from their prospective adoptive families,” wrote the lawmakers. “We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made.”
“The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” continued the lawmakers. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.”
Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below.
Dear President Biden,
We write to you on behalf of hundreds of American families who have been left in a state of uncertainty about the completion of their adoption from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) following its announcement that as of August 28, 2024, foreign adoptions from the country will no longer proceed. Likewise, we express our concern for the vulnerable children in the PRC who have been matched with a permanent and loving home but remain separated from their prospective adoptive families. We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made.
The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) concluded in 1993, with several objects to ensure that the best interests and rights of the child are recognized and safeguarded in international law. 1 The United States and the PRC are parties to the Convention and up until the COVID-19 pandemic, have collaborated successfully to work towards permanency for over 82,000 children in the PRC.2 Roughly three-hundred children in the PRC, many of whom have medical and emotional needs, have been matched with an adoptive family in the U.S. in accordance with the Convention. Yet, the PRC appears to be going back on its commitment to these families.
The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need. While these families have waited for years for their adoptions to be completed, they have become deeply bonded with their adoptive children. Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.
We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of State to seek written clarity on the PRC’s end to international adoptions and unite these families. That said, our understanding is that the policy decision was made at top levels within the PRC, necessitating your direct intervention. We believe that the adoptions of children who have already been matched with an adoptive family in accordance with the convention should be allowed to be completed. According to a notice sent on October 25, 2024, by the Department of State to adoption service providers, we understand that the PRC may be continuing to process intercountry adoptions for families from other countries. Our hope is that American families will be provided the same opportunity and that the PRC’s participation in the Convention is not going to end with heartbreak for families who won’t ever be united with their adoptive child, and with vulnerable children left without the loving home that they knew they had. Your leadership could be life altering for these families.
Thank you for your attention to our correspondence. We hope that our plea for the families and children that have been matched is well received and that you will act to ensure the United States is dedicated to seeing that the commitment made to these families is fulfilled.
More than 1,100 UN peacekeepers are currently deployed in the Golan, a demilitarised zone along the Israel-Syria border at what is a tense and dangerous time in the history of the region. But, why are the Blue Helmets there?
One of the UN’s longest-standing peacekeeping missions – the UN Disengagement Observer Force, known by its acronym UNDOF – began more than a half century ago when the 1973 Middle East crisis erupted.
The Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces was concluded which provided for an area of separation and for two equal zones of limited forces and armaments on both sides of the area. UNDOF was established to supervise its implementation.
Here’s what you need to know:
Forging peace to end a crisis
On the heels of the Israeli-Egyptian war in 1973, the situation in the Israel-Syria sector became increasingly unstable in March 1974 as clashes intensified.
UNDOF was established in late May 1974 and by 3 June, the Secretary-General had appointed an interim commander of UNDOF who arrived in Damascus, Syria’s capital, that very day.
The mission operates with the same mandate today.
UNDOF
A peacekeeper greets the students of the Faouar School in Syria. (file)
What does UNDOF do?
UNDOF’s mandate remains largely unchanged since 1974:
Maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria
Supervising the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces
Supervising the areas of separation and limitation, as provided in the May 1974 Agreement on Disengagement.
Every six months, the Security Council reviews and has extended the force’s mandate, which is due to expire on 30 June 2025.
UNDOF has two base camps. Its headquarters at Camp Faouar handles logistics and the force operates patrols by day and night, intervening whenever any military personnel enters or try to operate in the area of separation.
The force also addresses mine and explosive remnant of war clearance and has instituted a security and maintenance programme in the area of separation to identify and mark all minefields.
UNDOF is one of three UN peacekeeping missions in the region, charged with monitoring ceasefires and peace agreements. The other two are the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), established in 1948, and the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has been operational since 1978.
UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata
Members of the UNDOF Austrian Battalion Ski Patrol on Mount Hermon in 1975. (file)
What’s the area of separation?
The area of separation is a demilitarised zone and measures approximately 80 km long, varying in width from 10 km in the centre to less than one km in the extreme south, with hilly terrain dominated in the north by Mount Hermon.
The highest permanently staffed UN position, it sits at an altitude of 2,814 metres, where it often snows and peacekeepers conduct patrols thanks to specialised winter season equipment.
The area is inhabited and has historically been policed by the Syrian authorities. No military forces other than UNDOF are permitted to operate inside of this area.
There is also an area of limitation on both sides, where limits are placed on the number and types of military forces and equipment allowed by the parties.
UNDOF monitors these restrictions through fortnightly inspections of the military positions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Syrian security forces carried out by the Observer Group Golan, comprised of military observers from UNTSO.
UNDOF officers patrol the Golan Heights in 1974. (file)
Main challenges in the current Middle East crisis
Over the years, UNDOF has recorded ceasefire violations and worked with Israeli and Syrian authorities to resolve them.
As tensions rose last year during the war in Gaza, a missile killed 12 people in the Golan and recent heightened tensions in the area of separation emerged with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) moving into the area as Syria’s new de facto authorities seized power in early December.
UNDOF peacekeepers, supported by UNTSO observers, remain at their pre-December 2024 positions and continue key tasks such as monitoring and patrolling the ceasefire line, according to UNDOF interim head Major General Patrick Gauchat, who briefed the Security Council in mid-January.
Residents of the Golan have also expressed concerns to UNDOF, calling for the IDF to leave their villages amid reports of searches and arrests of their relatives. The IDF’s presence and roadblocks have also severely impacted UNDOF’s operational capacity, reducing its daily vehicle convoys and compromising its freedom of movement.
UN Photo/Gernot Maier
An UNDOF observation post in the Golan Heights, Syria. (file)
Adapting to new realities
In the face of these current operational challenges, the mission has adapted its approach.
Right now, it has increased weekly patrols from 10 to 40 and addressed such urgent safety concerns as the neutralisation of unexploded ordnance in public areas.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to establish stable communication channels with the de facto authorities, acting mission chief Mr. Gauchat explained.
But, concerns remain.
“It is imperative that the UN peacekeepers are allowed to carry out their mandated tasks without obstruction,” Mr. Gauchat told the 15-member Security Council on 17 January, urging all parties to maintain the ceasefire and respect the terms of the 1974 agreement. “We count on the continued support of Member States to return to full mandate implementation.”
Can UNDOF use force?
Yes. UNDOF peacekeepers are authorised to use force in self-defence or to defend UN personnel, facilities and equipment.
UNDOF operates under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, which emphasises monitoring, observation and facilitating the implementation of peace agreements.
Six highly regarded CFA members have been named as this year’s Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) recipients, in recognition of their outstanding service to CFA and their communities.
The AFSM is the highest award for a member of an Australian fire service and as part of the Australia Day honours list, is awarded yearly to a select group of dedicated fire service members.
The six members have been recognised for their exceptional bravery, expertise, and leadership, leading their regions through major fire and flood emergencies such as Black Saturday, the 2019/20 bushfire season, and more recently the 2024 Grampians bushfire, all while imparting modern and innovative knowledge towards CFA’s fleet, training and equipment to enhance capabilities.
The 2025 CFA Australian Fire Service Medal recipients are:
Known for her proactive, solutions-focused approach, Diana Billingsley is willing to roll her sleeves up to help drive positive change and support volunteer training and development. Over her 20 years as a firefighter with Boolarra Fire Brigade, Diana has attended more than 200 incidents and was a crew leader during the 2009 Black Saturday and 2019/20 bushfires. She is now the Deputy Group Officer and Group Training Officer for the Merton Group.
Fiona Burns has served CFA for more than 21 years at Launching Place and Hillcrest brigades and is currently the Group Officer of Yarra Valley Group. Fiona has distinguished herself as an extremely capable and highly sought after member of incident management teams as a planning officer during large and prolonged, multi-agency campaign fires in 2013, 2019-20 and again in 2024 in Gippsland and the Grampians.
For more than 30 years, Mark King has exemplified the spirit of CFA with Yallourn North Fire Brigade. Mark currently serves as the brigade’s secretary, a role he took on after stepping down as Captain in June 2023 following nearly 17 years in leadership. Mark has held several additional critical leadership roles, including strike team leader, sector commander, divisional commander and health team leader.
As a valued member of the firefighting community, Tim Smith has dedicated more than 42 years of volunteer service to Hurstbridge Fire Brigade, holding various leadership positions including Lieutenant and Captain during his tenure. As CFA’s Manager Fleet Operations, Tim has been instrumental in modernising and maintaining the CFA fleet, with his innovative approach and expertise significantly enhancing operational capability, safety and performance.
Lisa Hicks has been a highly respected, dedicated member of CFA for more than 49 years, with 30 of those supporting incident control centres as a crew leader and public information officer. Lisa has served in a range of brigade roles for Narre Warren North, Pakenham Upper and the Cardinia group. From operational firefighter, to secretary, community safety coordinator, general firefighter assessor and full time Brigade Administrative Support Officer at District 8.
Mark Gunning’s more than four decades of remarkable service to CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria and the broader fire and emergency services spans frontline response, incident management, fire operations, flood response and crisis leadership – all of which have had a lasting impact on the safety, wellbeing and recovery of communities across the state. His guidance has been pivotal during Black Saturday, the Black Summer bushfires, 2011 and 2022 Victorian Floods, the Victorian COVID-19 Response and most recently the 2024 Grampians bushfires.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan congratulated the six highly respected CFA AFSM recipients for their invaluable service during their many decades of service.
“CFA is incredibly proud of its volunteers and staff, and it is great to see our members recognised with the highest fire service medal in the country,” Jason said.
“We are fortunate as an organisation to have so many incredible people who devote a large part of their life to the protection of lives and property in their communities, and I thank them for their dedication.”
CFA would also like to recognise AFSM recipient and Fire Rescue Victoria Senior Station Officer Benjamin Schmidt, who has also contributed significantly to CFA and Victoria’s fire services.
Another three former and current CFA members were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), Gwendoline Blandthorn, Neville Seymour and John Wheal.
First Minister thanks people for patience as recovery operation continues.
A further meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) has been chaired by First Minister John Swinney to coordinate the recovery response to Storm Éowyn.
Due to the severity and impact of the storm, there is significant disruption to parts of the country. This includes around 35,000 properties without power and continued transport disruption with road closures and rail, bus, flight and ferry cancellations. It is expected to take some time to get all services fully restored.
Utility companies, national agencies and local authorities are working at pace to restore power and assess the impact, including responding to significant damage, removing fallen trees and debris, to ensure services can fully resume in the coming days.
The First Minister joined a Ministerial COBR meeting chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden earlier this evening. The First Minister also spoke with the Prime Minister today to discuss the ongoing response to Storm Éowyn and the impact on Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney said:
“I want to thank everyone who followed Police Scotland advice not to travel and express my sincere gratitude to the emergency services and to those working in the public, private and third sector who are continuing to support people and communities across the country.
“With yellow warnings in place for wind, snow and ice over the weekend, it is clear the severity of Storm Éowyn will continue into next week and this will have an impact on the speed at which utilities and local services can fully resume.
“Given the damage and disruption facing the network across the United Kingdom, utility companies are under significant pressure and are working in challenging conditions. I have stressed the importance of getting power restored as quickly as is practically possible and have been assured that assessments are being made at pace to ensure power is restored to affected properties in Scotland as soon as possible. Alongside our partners, Ministers are being updated regularly and ensuring all steps are being taken.
“I am pleased at the progress made to restore power to many communities over the course of today however a significant number of properties remain without power. Utility companies are continuing to provide support to customers, including ensuring provisions are in place for the most vulnerable.
“I want to thank people for their continued patience and encourage them to take extra care and look out for each other, particularly those who are supporting vulnerable neighbours and family members.
“As we look ahead to Monday, partners are working at pace to ensure services can resume next week. Local authorities – who are responsible for school closures – will be working to ensure all buildings meet the required safety standards to reopen safely to pupils. We would expect decisions on schools to be clearly communicated by local authorities to parents, pupils and staff, with as much advance warning as possible, and would encourage all parents to follow that advice.
“People should prepare for continued disruption, especially in areas that have been impacted by a loss of power, and I encourage everyone to follow advice being issued by local authorities, as well as continuing to follow updates from national agencies.”
Background
SGoRR was attended by the Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Contance, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon, Acting Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin and Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson. They were joined by representatives from the Met Office, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, SEPA, transport and utilities companies and resilience partners.
The latest Met Office weather warnings are available on the Met Office website.
Flood alerts are issued by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and can be viewed on their website.
Follow Traffic Scotland for the most up-to-date information on the trunk roads throughout the warning periods, via their website, social media channels and radio broadcasts. Updates on ScotRail services and road conditions are available online.
To report a power cut or damage to electricity power lines or substations call the SP Networks national Freephone number 105. More information on what to do during a storm can also be found on SP Energy Website.
During a power cut firefighters can be called to fires started by candles or portable heaters. For advice on how to stay safe during a power cut visit Scottish Fire and Rescue Website.
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed, by a vote of 59-34, Kristi Noem to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
“The previous Administration’s open-border policies exacerbated the crisis at our southern border, bringing in record numbers of illegal crossings in the last four-year span. Blocking the flow of illegal immigration was one of the top voting priorities for millions of Americans, including Idahoans. Kristi Noem has demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing resources to stop the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. She will streamline functions at DHS to bring public security back to the forefront of the Department’s activities, secure our nation from hostile threats and expeditiously provide appropriate disaster assistance where needed.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) voted against confirming South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Senator Rosen met with Governor Noem earlier this month and strongly opposed the Trump Administration’s plans to carry out mass deportations. She also emphasized the importance of protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients.
“Nevada is the proud home of countless law-abiding immigrants looking for a better future and making contributions to our state and our economy. We also have thousands of DACA and TPS recipients who deserve a permanent solution that provides them peace of mind and a pathway to citizenship,” said Senator Rosen. “The Trump Administration has already taken shameful actions to try to eliminate automatic citizenship of children born here to immigrant parents, target sensitive locations like schools and churches, and start to carry out mass deportations. I voted against Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security because I believe she will take actions that will hurt families in my state. I’ll keep fighting back against the Trump Administration’s actions that negatively impact Nevadans.”
Senator Rosen has been outspoken in her opposition to mass deportation, and her strong support for DACA and TPS recipients and their families. Earlier this year, she applauded the extension of TPS status for immigrants from El Salvador and Venezuela, after calling on the Biden Administration to continue to protect displaced Salvadorans. She has also raised concerns over the significant application delays impacting DACA recipients, and gave a floor speech urging her Senate colleagues to take immediate action to permanently protect Dreamers, while simultaneously continuing to work to pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship.
Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued a statement following her vote to confirm Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security.
“Our nation is currently facing serious threats on multiple fronts, including at our northern and southern borders. Mexican drug cartels, especially, are using the chaos at the southern border to facilitate their drug and human trafficking operations and to flood our nation with fentanyl and other illegal drugs. As Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem understands that what happens at the southern border has repercussions for communities all over the United States, including here in Maine. I support her nomination because we need to secure our borders and stem the flow of fentanyl that is destroying lives across our country.”
Mark Gunning’s more than four decades of service to CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria and the broader fire and emergency services is testament to his commitment to the protection and wellbeing of all Victorians.
Mark has been recognised for his dedication and contribution with an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in today’s Australia Day Honours.
With more than 44 years of firefighting and emergency management service under his belt, Mark Gunning AFSM has been a driving force in the protection of communities throughout Victoria and beyond.His remarkable contributions span frontline response, incident management, fire operations, flood response and crisis leadership – all of which have had a lasting impact on the safety, wellbeing and recovery of communities across Victoria.
Although he stems from a family of CFA volunteers, Mark said he was inspired to join Mortlake Fire Brigade in 1980 as a teenager after working on different farms in the area and getting a taste for firefighting.
“Back in those days you would work on people’s farms during the day and proactively burn with local landowners to reduce fire risk during the evening,” Mark said. “That experience, together with that family connection, very much shaped me and encouraged my long-term involvement in CFA and broader emergency services.”
Mark attended when the largest Victorian Ash Wednesday fires erupted at Ballangeich-Cudgee on 16 February 1983 and a move to North Geelong Brigade (now Corio) in 1985 saw him on the frontline during the Little River fire. He credits this experience for further teaching him important skills and knowledge about firefighting and fire behaviour.
“Ash Wednesday had a huge impact on me as a volunteer, especially being local to the area and knowing so many of the people who had been affected,” Mark said.
In 1988, Mark joined CFA as a career firefighter, working in various locations across the state including Hamilton, Dandenong, Bairnsdale, Casterton and Horsham as well as CFA’s Fiskville training ground and CFA headquarters. During this time, he has contributed significantly as an operational leader, working his way through the ranks to his current role as Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Regional Commander based in West Region, seconded to CFA from Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
A respected figure in the emergency management community, Mark’s innovative and inspirational leadership has been pivotal during major emergencies such as the 2009 bushfires, St Patrick’s Day peat fires, Black Summer bushfires 2019-20, the 2011 and 2022 Victorian Floods, and the Victorian COVID-19 response.
Mark is well known for his commitment to ensuring communities are not only protected during emergencies and supported in their recovery but are better prepared for future fires and other emergencies. Most recently he was an Incident Controller at Horsham Incident Control Centre, managing response to the Grampians complex fires which started in December 2024 and burned for three weeks. Mark’s leadership has also extended beyond Victoria’s borders, and he has provided invaluable support during operations in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.
“Out of all the fires and events I’ve experienced, the Linton fire, Black Saturday and the St Patrick’s Day peat fires of 2018 have all stayed with me for different reasons,” he said.
“The fire at Linton on 2 December 1998 was my worst day at CFA. You never want to be in the position where you have to look someone in the eye and tell them their child is not coming home.
“Black Saturday and the peat fires, in particular, highlighted how important those connections with our communities are in times of emergency.
“You spend weeks building relationships with members of communities; you get to know them and their lives, and they start to see you as one of their own. I took what I learned at those fires about working with communities into the approach to the recent Grampians fires.”
In addition to the Australian Fire Service Medal announced today, Mark has received the National Medal (two clasps) and a National Emergency Medal and clasps for his roles on Black Saturday and for the 2019-20 Bushfires. He is also a Life Member of CFA.
“I am humbled to receive an AFSM in today’s honours,” Mark said. “It’s just nice to know that someone thought that much of me to nominate me.
“Working in the emergency services is a privilege in many ways. We are there helping people on their worst day. But the challenges you face, you can’t do on your own, and that’s when fellow agencies whether local, interstate or international are there to support you. The value of teamwork in our sector is the best thing you can take away.”
CFA firefighter Lisa Hicks was recognised in today’s Australia Day Honours, receiving an Australian Fire Service Medal for her 49 years of dedicated service to CFA and her community.
CFA firefighter Lisa Hicks was recognised in today’s Australia Day Honours, receiving an Australian Fire Service Medal for her 49 years of dedicated service to CFA and her community.
Lisa Hicks has been a dedicated member of CFA for almost 50 years. During this time, she has served in a range of roles in Narre Warren North and Pakenham Upper brigades and supporting roles in Cardinia Group.
She is currently the secretary and community safety coordinator of Pakenham Upper brigade and group community safety coordinator and is employed full-time as a brigade administrative support officer (BASO). She has supported incident control centres (ICC) and incident management teams for 30 years as a public information officer and is an endorsed crew leader and is still operational.
“When I’m in an ICC, I know what the firefighters are facing and that helps me to understand what they need to make informed decisions. And as a crew leader, I see it through the eyes of a firefighter on the ground and know what I need from an ICC,” Lisa said.
Lisa also delivered the Fire Safe Kids Program to local schools and kindergartens for the past 20 years and is involved in a working group to update the program.
“Fire Safe Kids has been an amazing journey,” Lisa said. “Although each class is different, the children are like sponges absorbing the information. When you deliver the information in a fun way, they learn better. I recently worked with all the schools in Cardinia and asked the kids to do a home fire safety plan and make sure they have working smoke detectors.”
She was instrumental in establishing and maintaining the Cardinia Group compressed air breathing apparatus refilling station. She supervised the build and testing of the facility, development of documentation and the training of all refilling operators.
In her role as a BASO she has supported brigades across the Cardinia Group to recruit new members over many years. She has a strong understanding of the operational and non-operational requirements of brigades.
As a dedicated firefighter for almost 50 years, Lisa has made a significant contribution on the frontline of many major fires, including the 1983 Ash Wednesday fire at Upper Beaconsfield. When the fire started in Belgrave South, she responded on Narre Warren North brigade’s tanker and was on one of the first trucks on scene. Despite having only just married Steve Hicks, captain of Narre Warren North, she spent the next fortnight working long hours on opposite shifts to her husband. She fought through all stages of this major fire, including the response, containment, blacking out, patrolling, and supporting the local community, brigade, family, and friends.
“As we headed to Belgrave South, the column of smoke just kept growing – it looked bad. None of us had experienced anything like it before. It seemed to change direction at will,” Lisa said.
“It was a hot, windy day and nothing was going to stop the fire. We couldn’t hold it, so we were sent further along to try to get ahead of it. Unfortunately, that was impossible so we just did what we could, wherever we could. We never stopped fighting until late that night when we changed crews.
“Through the heartache of the loss of fellow firefighters, we took comfort that this was a turning point for CFA to make sure it was never repeated. We now have crew protection, diesel pumps, better radio communication, strike teams and incident control centres.”
Another catastrophic fire, the Bunyip Ridge fire, ripped through the Cardinia Group area in February 2009 following a lightning strike three days earlier. In the lead-up to the fire, Lisa supported key district pre-planning meetings and activities to prepare for the extreme weather. She ensured the Pakenham ICC was fully operational and Cardinia Group brigades were fully stocked and prepared. Over the next few weeks, Lisa worked continuously, undertaking fire brigade activities wearing her two hats – that of a CFA employee and CFA volunteer. Perhaps the most important support she gave was offering a friendly face and focusing on the wellbeing of our brigade leaders and volunteers.
On 1 March 2019, multiple lightning strikes started fires across the Bunyip State Park and Gembrook areas. Over the next five days, four fires combined to form one large blaze with the Bunyip fires burning until the end of the month. Through March, Lisa was in high demand by her brigades and the Cardinia Group. She was constantly picking up and dropping off replacement turnout gear, maps, incident action plans, water, foam, and countless other items to brigades and the divisional command point.
Lisa’s husband Steve received an AFSM last year.
“It’s amazing that both Steve and I have now received this award. To be nominated for an AFSM was an honour, and I’m even more honoured to receive one,” Lisa said.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353January 25, 2025
Chairman Cotton Statement on CIA Findings on Covid Origins
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement about the CIA’s findings on the origins of the Coronavirus:
“I’ve said from the beginning that Covid likely originated in the Wuhan labs. Communist China covered it up and the liberal media covered for them. I’m pleased the CIA concluded in the final days of the Biden administration that the lab-leak theory is the most plausible explanation of Covid’s origins and I commend Director Ratcliffe for fulfilling his promise to release this conclusion. Now, the most important thing is to make China pay for unleashing a plague on the world.”
CFA volunteer Fiona Burns was recognised in today’s Australia Day Honours, receiving an Australian Fire Service Medal for her more than 21 years of dedicated service to CFA and her community.
Fiona Burns has been an inspirational member of CFA for more than 21 years, serving as a member of two brigades (Launching Place and Hillcrest) and is the current group officer of Yarra Valley Group.
She has served with distinction as an officer of her brigade and group for 19 of her 21 years of CFA service.
Fiona has distinguished herself through her outstanding ability and reputation as an extremely capable member of incident management teams. As a result, she was chosen to take on Level 3 planning officer role in incident control centres (ICC) at large and prolonged, multi-agency campaign fires in 2013, 2019-20 and again in 2024 in Gippsland and the Grampians.
In addition, she has represented CFA internationally as a planning officer undertaking two five-week stints to support fire suppression in Canada in 2014 and 2015. She has been a Level 3 accredited planning officer for 10 years.
“I love the planning officer role because I can take my fireground skills and use them in ICCs to support our firefighters on the front line,” Fiona said. “It’s a demanding role but I really enjoy the challenges.”
Fiona is also an experienced fireground commander where she identifies emerging operational leaders with whom she willingly shares her significant experience.
Her extensive fire management experience and analytical ability were influential during the successful transition of the former Launching Place and Woori Yallock brigades into one new brigade – Hillcrest Fire Brigade – in 2007.
As brigade captain, Fiona was responsible for driving the creation of an emergency services hub with Ambulance Victoria, co-locating an ambulance at Hillcrest Fire Station to allow better medical response for the Yarra Valley and surrounds.
Fiona was a foundation mentor in CFA’s statewide Women In Leadership mentoring program, and she is still involved in this important initiative. She is also part of the District 13 Captains’ Leadership Mentoring Program, providing guidance to new captains about leadership and administration. These programs align with Fiona’s leadership philosophy.
“Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors and supporters who share their knowledge and experiences with me, and I believe that it’s my responsibility to do the same for emerging leaders.
”By sharing my experiences and insights, I hope to inspire others to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to CFA and beyond.
“I gain as much from the people I mentor as they get from me. It’s not a one-way street.
As a mentor, Fiona encourages diversity and opportunity to the women of CFA and is helping to future-proof CFA by developing a pool of future leaders to replace those currently holding leadership roles.
She has been a CFA trainer and assessor since 2013 and continues to combine her practical skills and knowledge to deliver training in District 13 on General Firefighter, Low Structure and Introduction to AIIMS courses, as well as leading skills maintenance and specialised bushfire training for brigades in the group and other local brigades.
Fiona has made significant contributions to community safety and education. She is a founding committee member of the Teenage Road Information Program (TRIP) and has been the chair of TRIP for the past six years. TRIP is presented by people who have lived the experience of a road crash. It includes all the emergency services agencies who attend a crash and have to deal with the resulting devastation. It’s a hard-hitting program that’s delivered in a funeral home.
“TRIP is my passion. It is primarily aimed at 16 to 25-year-olds because statistics show they have more crashes,” Fiona said.
“The program is designed to be thought-provoking and initiate conversations between mates and families about making good decisions while driving. There are consequences to decisions that drivers make. For every road fatality about 800 people are impacted.”
Along with TRIP, Fiona is an ongoing advocate of creating links to local Yarra Valley community groups that has ensured the development of more integrated emergency preparedness and response planning processes between Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Victoria State Emergency Service, local government, community groups and the local schools.
Post Black Saturday, Fiona recognised that some lives were lost by people who tried to stay to rescue their pets. The Grab and Go Pet Bag concept was developed as a result of a local school art competition. The bags, which are made from reusable calico, include a checklist for pet owners who need to evacuate.
“It was an absolute delight for me to present a framed Grab and Go Pet Bag to the winning student at their school assembly.
“I want to take moment to acknowledge those who have played a significant role in shaping my CFA journey. Brian Willians, my first captain, set a strong foundation for me. Graeme Bourne offered unwavering support during my early captaincy days. Lex de Man for his support to establish and develop Hillcrest brigade, whilst Geoff Conway and Graeme Armstrong provided me exceptional leadership and guidance. Locally, Don Bigham and Roly Rak challenged and supported me, pushing me to grow in ways I hadn’t imagined and seek opportunity to enhance our local brigades’ capacity and capability.
“Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank my mum. None of us can volunteer without the unwavering support of our loved ones, and her encouragement and support has been a cornerstone of my journey.”
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statement today after voting to confirm Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security:
“In our conversations throughout the confirmation process, Governor Noem has demonstrated to me that she’s willing to work together to tackle the important challenges facing our country, including strengthening border security and protecting our communities from the spread of illicit fentanyl. Of course, there are policy areas where we disagree, but we do agree that there is no more important task of government than keeping people safe. I believe that she has the qualifications necessary to be our next Secretary of Homeland Security, and I look forward to partnering with her in the future.”
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
January 25, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense:
“Today, I voted against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense. We must have military leaders who have proven good judgement for when they are sitting in the Situation Room. From the outset, Pete Hegseth has failed to position himself as someone who can be trusted to develop a strategic plan to address the threats to our nation.
“Between his unacceptable views on women in the military, his stunning lack of basic knowledge on the rules of engagement, and serious allegations of personal misconduct, it’s crystal clear that Pete Hegseth should not be leading the Department of Defense.”
Hegseth was confirmed with a vote of 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote.
Earlier this week, Durbin delivered a speech on the Senate floor explaining his objections to Hegseth’s nomination, including his inability to articulate a defense strategy in addressing threats to the U.S., his disparaging comments about women serving in the military, and troubling reports of financial mismanagement, alcohol abuse, and personal misconduct.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
January 25, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump unlawfully fired at least 12 independent inspectors general across multiple federal agencies:
“President Trump’s firing of at least 12 independent inspectors general at important federal agencies is a continuation of his efforts to reshape the federal government without oversight or accountability—and with loyalty to Donald Trump and Donald Trump alone. It is a brazen attempt to rig these offices to look the other way when violations of law take place. These dismissals clearly violate federal law, which requires the President to provide Congress with 30-day notice of intent and detailed reasons to fire inspectors general.
“Inspectors general are vital for keeping the government honest and revealing waste, fraud, and abuse. Less than one week in office and President Trump is dismantling the checks and balances on the Executive Branch at an astounding rate.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning delivered a keynote speech at the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations with the theme “Bridging and Bonding by Connectivity,” aligning with Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme of “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,” and in support of 2024 as the ASEAN-China Year of People-People Exchanges.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
10.31.24
Cantwell Statement on Fentanyl Trafficking Bust
EDMONDS, WA – U.S Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement on today’s fentanyl trafficking bust.
“Tonight’s announcement of the indictments against a violent criminal ring peddling fentanyl is welcome news. Tracking fentanyl in every mode of transportation like in our airports is critical to stopping the movement of this deadly drug because it helps expose local distribution rings. All of the Pacific Northwest should applaud the massive amount of federal, state, and local law enforcement work and coordination that led to these indictments and arrests,” said Sen. Cantwell.
A full timeline of Sen. Cantwell’s actions to combat the fentanyl crisis is available HERE.
