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  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur Announces Over $3 Million in New Federal Funding for NW Ohio Fire Departments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Toledo, Ohio – Today, during National Fire Prevention Week, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee and of the House Fire Caucus announced $3,052,523 in critical federal funding she helped to secure. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs will award 9 Fire Departments across Northwest Ohio new funding to ensure that first responders have the resources and manpower they need to protect local communities. These awards will provide essential funding for equipment, protective gear, vehicle acquisition, hiring, and training, enabling fire department to respond more effectively to emergencies and keep both the public and our emergency personnel safe.

    The 9 Fire Departments in Northwest receiving AFG and SAFER funding are:

    • Village of Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department – $75,428
      • The AFG funds will help the Village of Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department in Defiance County to afford operations and safety improvements, including the purchase of 8 new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s) and replace outdated ones.
    • City of Wauseon Fire Department – $53,522
      • The AFG funds will allow the City of Wauseon in Fulton County to purchase a Three Drop Source Capture Exhaust System that will help ensure all Fire Apparatus can utilize the system when parked in the bay. This will minimize their staff’s exposure to cancer causing exhaust contaminants. The City of Wauseon share of the cost is $2,676.14.
    • Village of Whitehouse Fire Department – $294,214
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Whitehouse in Lucas County to upgrade operations and safety with new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s).
    • City of Vermilion Volunteer Fire Department – $302,182
      • The AFG funds will be used by the City of Vermillion in Erie County to upgrade operations and safety by replacing outdated air packs for firefighters to better and more safely protect residents
    • Village of Kelleys Island Volunteer Fire Department – $75,361
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Kelleys Island in Erie County for operations and equipment, and will replace aged firehose, handline nozzles, and an additional ground monitor. This equipment will not only be an upgrade, but it will be major upgrades that meet current standards replacing outdated hoses that are 20-30 years old, many of which were donated by other fire departments.
    • City of Huron Fire Department – $135,523
      • The AFG funds will be used by the City of Huron in Erie County to replace bunker gear for the entire department. This will ensure the department is compliant with safety and equipment upgrades.
    • Monclova Township Fire Department – $1,013,046
      • The SAFER funds will be used by Monclova Township in Lucas County for the hiring of additional full-time firefighters for their department, including wages and benefits.
    • Village of Oak Harbor, Portage Fire District – $163,428
      • The AFG funds will be used by the Village of Oak Harbor in Ottawa County for operations and safety improvements and upgrades, including the replacement of soon to be outdated Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA’s).
    • City of Northwood Fire Department – $939,819
      • The SAFER funds will be used by the City of Northwood in Wood County for the hiring of 3 additional full-time firefighters for their department, including wages and benefits.

    “Our firefighters and first responders are the ones on the frontlines, running toward danger when others are running in the other direction. They deserve nothing less than the best tools and training to stay safe while protecting our communities,” said Congresswoman Kaptur (OH-09). “This funding will give them exactly that — critical gear, better pay, new vehicles, and equipment upgrades to better protect them as they respond to emergencies and safeguard lives across Northwest Ohio.”

    “With the purchase of the SCBA’s this promotes safety for the public and especially for our firefighters by getting equipment we could not afford to replace. SCBA’s are one of the most essential tools of personal protection for the fire rescue personnel, and will allow them to operate more efficiently,” said Village of Sherwood Fire Chief Darrel Rock.

    “This additional Three Drop Source Capture System ensures that all Wauseon Fire Apparatus can utilize the system when parked in the apparatus bay, therefore, minimizing the exposure our staff have to cancer causing exhaust contaminants. It is important that when our staff come to work, they are provided with a work environment that minimizes any negative exposure that could harm them or be taken home to their families,” said Wauseon Fire Chief Phil Kessler.  “The Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program is extremely important to fire departments across the nation. These funds allow us to invest in our staff, the infrastructure and most importantly the community. Most departments would not be able to procure many of these much-needed items.”

    “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant significantly benefits The Village of Whitehouse by providing funds to upgrade Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses. This upgrade will impact Whitehouse and surrounding areas by improving Firefighter Safety, embracing new technology, and ensuring operational readiness including mutual aid responses,” said Whitehouse Fire Chief Jason Francis. “As funding is challenging for some communities, this award allows us to replace our outdated equipment that would have been challenging based on our current financial situation.”

    “Congresswoman Kaptur’s FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $302,182  for the City of  Vermilion Volunteer Fire Department was a true game changer for our community,” said Vermillion Mayor Jim Forthofer. “It allows us to replace the outdated air packs to protect our firefighters as they protect our residents. It also releases funds back to the general community for other worthy purposes. Congresswoman Kaptur is a real friend of Vermilion, especially its first responders”

    “Absolutely, we were very fortunate to receive the funding and it is a financial game-changer for the City,” said Vermillion Fire Chief William H. Brown.

    “First of all, I must express our appreciation of this award from not only from our fire department but also our community as a whole. Our community presents itself with unique fire suppression challenges,” said Kelleys Island Assistant Fire Chief Charles Ehrbar. “We are on Kelleys Island on Lake Erie with a little over 120 year-round residences but our summertime population can near 5,000. We have a roster of only 17 volunteer firefighters. The area of the island is approximately 2 miles by 4 miles. We are now experiencing an influx of new builds of larger and taller residential and commercial structures. Being on an island that is accessed only by ferry and aircraft, in the event of a fire incident, our mutual aid is at best one and a half hours for response, if they can respond at all. That being said, we are on our own and must make the best of any situation. This new and updated equipment gives us an advantage of technology and dependability that we certainly did not have prior to this award.”

    “This grant has allowed us to continue serving the citizens and businesses of our service area along with assisting other surrounding fire departments,” said Portage Fire Chief Antonio Hand.

    These new funding announcements follow a $671,428 award for Ney-Washington Township in August 2024, a $952,380 award to the City of Defiance in July 2023, and a $110,014.28 award to the City of Wauseon in June 2023 all secured through FEMA’s AFG program.

    The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, established in 2001, provides funding to meet the needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. AFG awards are designed to help these agencies obtain the necessary resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire-related hazards. In fiscal year 2023 alone, FEMA distributed 1,616 AFG awards, totaling $289.2 Million.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon está listo y ofrece consejos a medida que el huracán Milton se acerca a Florida

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon está listo y ofrece consejos a medida que el huracán Milton se acerca a Florida

    Alpharetta, GA – A medida que el huracán Milton se acerca a la costa de Florida, Verizon sigue comprometido a mantener conectados a la comunidad y al personal de primeros auxilios. Además de una red reforzada diseñada para soportar las condiciones más extremas, los ingenieros de Verizon tomaron firmes medidas de preparación para garantizar que haya recursos disponibles para una respuesta rápida.

    “En Verizon, nuestra principal prioridad es apoyar a las comunidades a las que servimos. Nuestra capacidad de respuesta y apoyoen tiempos de crisis realmente importan”, dijo la presidenta de Atlantic South Market de Verizon, Leigh Anne Lanier. “Desde familias hasta empresas y socorristas, estamos aquí para brindarles unservicio confiable en el que pueden contar. Nuestro equipo está trabajando incansablemente para mantener a nuestros clientes conectados ahora y en los próximos días.”

    Después del huracán Helene, las comunicaciones por satélite han demostrado ser una importante herramienta de comunicación cuando los servicios terrestres se han visto afectados. Asegúrese de que su teléfono esté listo con anticipación. Los clientes con un iPhone 14 o posterior deben actualizar a iOS 18 para asegurarse de poder enviar mensajes de texto o conectarse con servicios de emergencia vía satélite. Y para aquellos con dispositivos Google Pixel 9, la mensajería de emergencia también está disponible vía satélite. Ambos sistemas operativos cuentan con demos disponibles que permiten a los clientes practicar con antelación la mensajería vía satélite. Obtenga más información aquí.

    Las redes de Verizon están preparadas

    Las redes de Verizon están preparadas para mantener la conectividad incluso ante condiciones climáticas extremas. Con redundancia integrada en rutas y componentes críticos, la red de Verizon está diseñada con el objetivo de resistir condiciones climáticas adversas. Los ingenieros de Verizon se han preparado realizando controles exhaustivos, además de garantizar que los sistemas de respaldo, como baterías y generadores, estén operandoy cargados. Verizon también ha instalado enlaces en los Centros de Operaciones de Emergencia del área para permitir una comunicación perfecta con agencias locales, estatales y gubernamentales para garantizar una restauración rápida.

    En preparación para posibles operaciones de recuperación de la red, Verizon ha puesto en marcha una flota de soluciones de redes portátiles, incluidos activos de redes portátiles satelitales, que proporcionan conectividad crucial en escenarios donde las conexiones de fibra se ven comprometidas, así como generadores móviles para ayudar a las comunidade con una pérdida de energía comercial.

    Verizon Frontline está listo y preparado para ayudar a los socorristas en cualquier capacidad

    El equipo de respuesta a crisis de primera línea de Verizon está listo para ayudar a garantizar que las agencias de seguridad pública en la primera línea de cualquier desastre tengan las capacidades de comunicaciones críticas necesarias para lograr sus misiones. Este equipo, compuesto principalmente por ex socorristas y personal militar, se dedica exclusivamente a apoyar a los clientes de seguridad pública durante emergencias sin costo para las agencias que reciben la ayuda.

    En los primeros nueve meses de 2024, el equipo de respuesta a crisis de primera línea de Verizon respondió a más de 1000 solicitudes de soporte de comunicaciones de misión crítica de más de 500 agencias diferentes en 46 estados.

    Estar preparado es esencial para apoyar a las empresas y comunidades locales

    Al reconocer el papel fundamental de la conectividad en la continuidad del negocio, Verizon Business ofrece un conjunto de soluciones adaptadas para operaciones fluidas durante emergencias. Las empresas y las organizaciones gubernamentales necesitan tener un plan de acción adecuado. Las acciones sugeridas incluyen:

    • Mitigar las interrupciones para los clientes: Es importante pensar en lo que se necesita para garantizar un servicio continuo a sus clientes y qué software y equipo necesita su empresa para continuar con sus operaciones. Haga una lista detallada, que incluya contratos de servicio e información de garantía, y todos los números de teléfono pertinentes de las autoridades locales, empresas de servicios públicos, proveedores y vendedores.
    • La tecnología adecuada tiene un impacto: asegúrese de tener la tecnología adecuada para satisfacer las necesidades de conectividad de su empresa, suponiendo que necesite mudarse de su ubicación principal.
    • Los contactos y los documentos son clave: asegúrese de tener la información de contacto actualizada y disponible para todos los empleados, incluida la información del hogar para los trabajadores remotos y la información de las sucursales para las oficinas satélite.
    • Pruebe, pruebe y vuelva a probar: pruebe las redes primarias y de respaldo y refuerce las áreas débiles.
    • Mantenga un registro del equipo: asegúrese de que los empleados que trabajan desde casa hayan documentado todo el equipo corporativo que se utiliza para trabajar desde casa en caso de daño o pérdida.
    • Tenga un plan de respaldo: asegúrese de que existan planes de respaldo para cambiar el trabajo en caso de que los empleados que trabajan desde casa en un área afectada por la tormenta tengan que evacuar sus hogares o su hogar se quede sin energía comercial.

    ¿Estás listo para el huracán?

    El equipo de Verizon trabaja todo el año para garantizar que los clientes permanezcan conectados con sus seres queridos y las actividades que les brindan comodidad durante un desastre. Mientras los residentes se preparan para mantenerse conectados y entretenidos, considere estos consejos:

    • Abastecerse de fuentes de carga como baterías para linternas y radios o cargadores de dispositivos. Vaya un paso más allá y cargue sus dispositivos que pueden actuar como cargadores para otros dispositivos, como computadoras portátiles y centrales eléctricas. ¡No olvide tener los cables!
    • Descargue películas, libros, aplicaciones y juegos en caso de un corte de energía. O reúna juegos de mesa, juegos de cartas y rompecabezas para prescindir de dispositivos.
    • Localice documentos importantes que pueda necesitar más adelante, así como fotografías y artículos sentimentales.
    • Planificar comidas no perecederas. Tenga a mano algunos ingredientes no perecederos, como un abrelatas manual y otros utensilios de cocina.
    • Tome algunas velas, mantas, almohadas o cualquier cosa que haga que su espacio seguro contra huracanes sea cómodo.
    • Lea los consejos de preparación para huracanes de la Cruz Roja Americana
    • Agregar nuestra página verificar estado de la red o va a la aplicación My Verizon y haga clic en Temas de soporte (Support Topics) para notificarnos si experimenta algún problema con la red o para verificar si hay algún problema conocido en s u área. Ingrese su ubicación, seleccione el tipo de problema de servicio y le proporcionaremos una actualización del estado en tiempo real.

    Más información

    Visite el Centro de recursos de emergencia en línea de Verizon, verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center, para obtener más detalles sobre las capacidades de respuesta de emergencia de Verizon.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: CBORD Achieves StateRAMP Authorization for Online Transaction Processing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ITHACA, N.Y., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CBORD, a leading provider of integrated technology solutions powering access, foodservice, nutrition, commerce, and card systems for higher education, acute healthcare, senior living, and business campuses, is thrilled to announce its CBORD Online Transaction Processing solution has achieved StateRAMP Authorization, reaffirming its commitment to data security and compliance.

    StateRAMP, a nationally recognized risk authorization management program, provides a standardized approach to assessing cloud products. Achieving StateRAMP Authorization demonstrates CBORD’s dedication to meeting the highest security and compliance standards, ensuring the trust and confidence of government agencies and organizations.

    CBORD’s Online Transaction Processing, a cutting-edge solution designed to securely process and manage financial transactions across various platforms, has undergone a rigorous third-party assessment and review by the StateRAMP Program Management Office. This achievement reflects CBORD’s unwavering commitment to delivering a secure and reliable solution government agencies can rely on to safeguard their data and operations.

    Josh Elder, CBORD’s information security officer, expressed his excitement about achieving StateRAMP Authorization, saying, “At CBORD, we are committed to ensuring our solutions are secure, reliable, and compliant. Achieving StateRAMP Authorization enables us to demonstrate our commitment to meeting the rigorous cybersecurity requirements needed to serve state and local governments.”

    Government agencies and organizations can now confidently rely on CBORD’s StateRAMP Authorized CBORD Online Transaction Processing to streamline their operations, reduce risk, and enhance data security.

    For more information about CBORD Online Transaction Processing and CBORD’s StateRAMP Authorization, please visit https://stateramp.org/product-list/. You can also contact CBORD at marketing@cbord.com.

    About CBORD
    CBORD, a Roper Technologies company (Nasdaq: ROP), is a leading provider of food and nutrition management software, integrated security solutions, campus card and cashless systems, and commerce platforms for healthcare, senior living, higher education, and business campuses. With over 10,000 organizations using CBORD solutions globally, CBORD is committed to delivering innovative and comprehensive technology solutions that enhance the daily lives of patients, residents, students, staff and administrators.

    Contact:
    CBORD
    marketing@cbord.com
    http://www.cbord.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5aa2cf77-87a1-40af-a062-227480eea855

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. Reports September 2024 Assets Under Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MILWAUKEE, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) today reported that its preliminary assets under management (“AUM”) as of September 30, 2024 totaled $167.8 billion. Artisan Funds and Artisan Global Funds accounted for $81.0 billion of total firm AUM, while separate accounts and other AUM1 accounted for $86.8 billion.

    PRELIMINARY ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT BY STRATEGY2    
         
    As of September 30, 2024 – ($ Millions)    
    Growth Team    
    Global Opportunities $         22,005          
    Global Discovery           1,688          
    U.S. Mid-Cap Growth           12,792          
    U.S. Small-Cap Growth           3,177          
    Global Equity Team    
    Global Equity           360          
    Non-U.S. Growth           13,217          
    China Post-Venture           188          
    U.S. Value Team    
    Value Equity           4,931          
    U.S. Mid-Cap Value           2,863          
    Value Income           17          
    International Value Team    
    International Value           46,605          
    International Explorer           343          
    Global Value Team    
    Global Value           29,390          
    Select Equity           338          
    Sustainable Emerging Markets Team    
    Sustainable Emerging Markets           2,006          
    Credit Team    
    High Income           11,295          
    Credit Opportunities           254          
    Floating Rate           73          
    Developing World Team    
    Developing World           4,225          
    Antero Peak Group    
    Antero Peak           2,175          
    Antero Peak Hedge           228          
    International Small-Mid Team    
    Non-U.S. Small-Mid Growth           7,311          
    EMsights Capital Group    
    Global Unconstrained           655          
    Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities           1,024          
    Emerging Markets Local Opportunities           680          
         
    Total Firm Assets Under Management (“AUM”) $         167,840          

    1 Separate account and other AUM consists of the assets we manage in or through vehicles other than Artisan Funds or Artisan Global Funds. Separate account and other AUM includes assets we manage in traditional separate accounts, as well as assets we manage in Artisan-branded collective investment trusts, and in our own private funds.
    2 AUM for Artisan Sustainable Emerging Markets and U.S. Mid-Cap Growth Strategies includes $97.7 million in aggregate for which Artisan Partners provides investment models to managed account sponsors (reported on a lag not exceeding one quarter).


    ABOUT ARTISAN PARTNERS
    Artisan Partners is a global investment management firm that provides a broad range of high value-added investment strategies to sophisticated clients around the world. Since 1994, the firm has been committed to attracting experienced, disciplined investment professionals to manage client assets. Artisan Partners’ autonomous investment teams oversee a diverse range of investment strategies across multiple asset classes. Strategies are offered through various investment vehicles to accommodate a broad range of client mandates.

    Investor Relations Inquiries: 866.632.1770 or ir@artisanpartners.com
    Source: Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IADC Nigeria Chapter Hosts HSE Awards & Technical Session

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: IADC Nigeria Chapter Hosts HSE Awards & Technical Session

    The 2024 IADC Nigeria Chapter HSE Awards and Technical Session was held on 13 September. Chapter Chairman Mr. Chuks Enwereji discussed workplace stress during the event’s safety moment. He then delivered an update on the state of the Nigeria Oil & Gas industry, providing valuable insights into the current landscape. 

    A special mention was given to the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) IADC Student Chapter, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The chairman celebrated the presence of students from the PTI Student Chapter, recognizing the importance of nurturing future talent. Since its inception, the PTI IADC Student Chapter has organized several initiatives, including technical sessions and inter-level drilling quiz competitions, demonstrating their passion for industry excellence. The PTI Student Chapter extended its deepest gratitude to both IADC Headquarters and the IADC Nigeria Chapter for their continuous support.

    Guest speakers delivered thought-provoking presentations. Mrs. Ihuoma Okorie, CEO of Clintas Energy Resources Limited, addressed the critical topic “Competency Training in the Oil & Gas Industry.” Engr. Mercy Ntuk, HSSE Lead at Unitech Drilling Company Limited, followed with an engaging session on the topic “Developing and Sustain Competency in Critical Roles.” 

    The Chapter honored Member companies that actively participated in the 2023 Incident Statistics Program (ISP), with their reports meticulously analyzed by the HSE Committee. A total of ten companies submitted their 2023 reports, and after careful review, Shelf Drilling Offshore Services Limited emerged as the top performer for their exemplary safety practices. The following companies were recognized:

    • Aviam Offshore Engineering Company Limited
    • Charlvon Limited
    • Depthwize Nigeria Limited
    • Geoplex Drillteq Limited
    • Ocean Deep Drilling ESV Nigeria Limited
    • Pacific International Drilling West Africa Limited
    • Selective Marine Oil and Gas Limited
    • OES Energy Services
    • Unitech Drilling Company Limited
    • Shelf Drilling Nigeria Limited

    The 2024 HSE Awards & Technical Session was a resounding success, bringing together key industry stakeholders, government and regulatory agencies, and directors of  Member companies. It was a vibrant and interactive event filled with enriching presentations, valuable insights, and a strong sense of collaboration within the industry.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: RCP Advisors Secondary and Co-investment Programs Ranked Among Top by PitchBook

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX), a leading private markets solutions provider, today announced that its subsidiary, RCP Advisors (RCP), has been recognized by PitchBook in its 2023 Global Manager Performance Score League Tables, an annual ranking of asset manager funds to inform LP decision-making. RCP’s secondary family of funds (RCP SOF I-IV) ranked among the top ten secondary programs, while its co-investment program (RCPDirect I-IV) achieved the highest performance score in the co-investment category.

    “This recognition is a testament to the deep expertise and dedication of the RCP team,” said Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “RCP has a focused approach in the small buyout market that is well positioned to deliver continued exceptional results.”

    RCP Advisors specializes in private equity primary fund, secondary fund, and co-investment fund strategies, focusing on North American small buyout fund managers. The strong ranking by PitchBook underscores the firm’s consistent approach in providing investors access to the attractive small buyout space.

    “Our top-performing strategy is a result of our firm-wide commitment to the North American small buyout market,” said Jon Madorsky, Managing Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of Secondary Funds at RCP. “Our laser focus gives us unique deal flow and diligence opportunities. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together at RCP.”

    Dave McCoy, Managing Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of Co-investments at RCP added, “We are honored that our RCPDirect co-investment program has been recognized by PitchBook with a top performance score. Our team works hard to achieve these results, and I want to further thank our GPs and their portfolio management teams, without which our high-quality deal flow and operating performance would not be possible.”

    For more information about RCP, please visit https://www.rcpadvisors.com/.

    About P10
    P10 is a leading multi-asset class private markets solutions provider in the alternative asset management industry. P10’s mission is to provide its investors differentiated access to a broad set of investment solutions that address their diverse investment needs within private markets. As of June 30, 2024, P10 has a global investor base of more than 3,700 investors across 50 states, 60 countries, and six continents, which includes some of the world’s largest pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporate pensions, and financial institutions. Visit http://www.p10alts.com.

    About RCP
    Founded in 2001, RCP Advisors, a subsidiary of P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX), is a private equity investment firm that provides access to North American small buyout fund managers through primary funds, secondary funds, and co-investment funds, as well as customized solutions and research services. RCP believes it is one of the largest fund sponsors focused on this niche, with over $14.7 billion in committed capital* and 56 full-time professionals as of September 30, 2024.

    Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There can be no assurance that a fund will achieve comparable results as any prior investments or prior investment funds of RCP. Source: PitchBook. The PitchBook Manager Performance Scores (the “Performance Scores”) are a third-party rating published by PitchBook, an independent third-party, on 9/20/24 (data as of most current date). The PitchBook Global Manager Performance Score League Tables (the “League Tables”) are a third-party rating published by PitchBook on 7/30/24 (data as of 12/31/23). The Performance Scores are a quantitative framework designed to assess the performance track record of a fund manager’s closed-end private market strategies, also known as fund families. The Performance Scores aggregate historical performance of each manager’s family of funds across vintage years and reflect the extent to which certain fund families outperformed or underperformed a benchmark, which is based on IRR across all fund vintages within the same fund strategy peer group (e.g., fund-of-funds, secondaries, co-investment, etc.). For the “co-investment – general” fund strategy, a total of 768 fund families across 1,479 funds were included in their evaluation. For the “Secondaries funds” fund strategy, a total of 60 fund families across 209 funds were included in their evaluation. To be included in the ranking, PitchBook required fund families to have at least two funds that are at least five years in age with a Z-score to qualify. Comparisons made by PitchBook are to fund sponsors with investment strategies, structures and investment terms and conditions that are different (in some cases, materially) than those of RCP. Additional information regarding the criteria and methodology underlying the Performance Scores are available here.

    Neither P10 nor RCP have not made any payment to PitchBook or any of its affiliates to be considered for this ranking or in connection with any other services. The Performance Scores should not be considered an endorsement of RCP or its funds by the authors or distributors of such rankings. The Performance Scores are developed on a proprietary basis exclusively by PitchBook. Neither P10 nor RCP have not independently verified the data used in PitchBook’s Performance Scores and makes no representations about the accuracy or completeness of such information or Performance Scores. This ranking is not to be construed as indicative of RCP’s future performance or the future performance of any investment vehicle managed by RCP. The Performance Scores should not be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund. *“Committed capital” primarily reflects the capital commitments associated with RCP’s SMAs, focused commingled funds, and advisory accounts advised by RCP since the firm’s inception in 2001 (including funds that have since been sold, dissolved, or wound down and certain historical advisory accounts for which RCP’s advisory contracts have expired). We include capital commitments in our calculation of committed capital if (a) we have full discretion over the investment decisions in an account or have responsibility or custody of assets or (b) we do not have full discretion to make investment decisions but play a role in advising the client on asset allocation, performing investment manager due diligence and recommending investments for the client’s portfolio and/or monitoring and reporting on their investments. For our discretionary SMAs and commingled funds, as well as for our non-discretionary advisory accounts for which RCP is responsible for advising on all investments within the client’s portfolio, committed capital is calculated based on aggregate capital commitments to such accounts. For non-discretionary accounts where RCP is responsible for advising only a portion of the client portfolio investments, committed capital is calculated as capital commitments by the client to those underlying investments which were made based on RCP’s recommendation or with respect to which RCP advises the client. Committed capital does not include (i) certain historical non-discretionary advisory accounts no longer under advisement by RCP, (ii) assets managed or advised by the Private Capital Unit or HB Units of RCP 2, (iii) capital commitments to funds managed or sponsored by RCP’s affiliated (but independently operated) management companies, and (iv) RCP’s ancillary products or services.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Some of the statements in this release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss management’s current expectations and projections relating to our financial position, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. The inclusion of any forward-looking information in this release should not be regarded as a representation that the future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated will be achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different; global and domestic market and business conditions; successful execution of business and growth strategies and regulatory factors relevant to our business; changes in our tax status; our ability to maintain our fee structure; our ability to attract and retain key employees; our ability to manage our obligations under our debt agreements; our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate the businesses we acquire; assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects and growth strategy; and our ability to manage the effects of events outside of our control. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as additional risks that we face, you should refer to the “Risk Factors” included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2024, and in our subsequent reports filed from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law.

    Ownership Limitations
    P10’s Certificate of Incorporation contains certain provisions for the protection of tax benefits relating to P10’s net operating losses. Such provisions generally void transfers of shares that would result in the creation of a new 4.99% shareholder or result in an existing 4.99% shareholder acquiring additional shares of P10, and it expires at the third anniversary of the IPO, October 2024.

    P10 Investor Contact:
    info@p10alts.com

    P10 Media Contact:
    Taylor Donahue
    pro-p10@prosek.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bel Fuse Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST ORANGE, N.J., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bel Fuse Inc. (Nasdaq: BELFA and BELFB), a designer, manufacturer, and provider of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits, today announced plans to release preliminary financial results for the third quarter after market close on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. An earnings conference call has been scheduled as follows:

    When: Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET
    Dial in: 877.407.0784, or international: 201.689.8560
    Online: https://ir.belfuse.com/events-and-presentations
    How: Live over the internet – Simply log on to the web at the address above
    Replay: 844.512.2921, or international: 412.317.6671
    Conference ID:   13749258

    A replay will be available after 12:30 p.m. ET for 30 days following the call.

    About Bel
    Bel (http://www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, military, aerospace, medical, transportation and broadcasting industries. Bel’s product groups include Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies), and Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components). The Company operates facilities around the world.

    Contacts:

    Bel Fuse Inc.

    Lynn Hutkin, VP Financial Reporting & Investor Relations
    ir@belf.com

    Three Part Advisors
    Jean Marie Young, Managing Director
    Steven Hooser, Partner
    jyoung@threepa.com
    shooser@threepa.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IADC South Central Asia Chapter & ONGC Organize 8th Drilling Operations Incident Review Committee Meeting

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: IADC South Central Asia Chapter & ONGC Organize 8th Drilling Operations Incident Review Committee Meeting

    The IADC South Central Asia (SCA) Chapter and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) hosted the 8th Drilling Operations Incident Review Committee (DOIRC) meeting on 24 August. This was the second event with an integrated Onshore and Offshore focus, and it was held at NBP Green Heights in Mumbai. 

    The event witnessed active participation from over 280 attendees of different companies, including 130 online participants from offshore and onshore E&P installations in the Indian subcontinent. Attendees included leaders and key executives from ONGC, drilling companies, and other organizations, demonstrating a shared commitment to safety in drilling operations across the region.

    The safety moment by the HSE Manager of Greatship emphasized the role of human factors in incidents and highlighted the importance of compliance with safety management systems and procedures in the workplace.

    DOIRC Chairman Shri VV Prasad expressed his gratitude to IADC SCAC Chairman & Director (T&FS) ONGC Shri OP Singh for his continuous guidance and support in establishing DOIRC as a structured platform for engagement and collaboration on safety issues in the Indian Drilling Industry. He emphasized that the goal of zero incidents is achievable when safety becomes a shared responsibility.

    In his inaugural address, Sh. O.P. Singh appreciated the continuous efforts made by IADC in collaboration with ONGC to create a safe culture and a safe work environment. A more efficient work environment can be achieved by integrating the guiding principles of the Five M’s – Men, Machine, Material, Method, and Management. He emphasized that digitalization plays a pivotal role in the transformation to latest technologies. The industry needs to support a digital safety culture, enhancing its safety protocols and being prepared for future challenges.    

    The Head of HSE ONGC Mumbai presented an action taken report on previous DOIRC recommendations, their compliance status along with initiatives taken, milestones achieved, and HSE statistics for Quarter-1 of FY 2024-25. Eight incidents from the last quarter were presented by respective rig managers, sharing their root cause analysis learnings from these incidents and corrective actions implemented.

    In his concluding address, Chief of HSE at ONGC advised that the learnings from the incidents discussed at DOIRC should be effectively communicated and implemented across all ONGC installations.

    Mr. Narendra Jindal, Vice chairman of IADC SCA Chapter & Country – Head of Operations at Shelf Drilling, offered the closing remarks and vote of thanks.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Employers Holdings, Inc. Appoints Michael Pedraja as its Next CFO

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EIG), a leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, is pleased to announce that Michael Pedraja will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Designate), effective February 3, 2025. He will assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective on or about March 31, 2025.

    Mr. Pedraja succeeds outgoing Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Michael Paquette, who will retire in March 2025.

    Mr. Pedraja has more than 30-years of experience as a corporate financial services leader in various insurance-related roles.

    “With a proven track record in financial leadership and a deep understanding of the insurance industry, Michael will be instrumental in driving our strategic goals, optimizing our financial operations, and helping to shape the next phase of the Company’s transformation,” said Katherine Antonello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Employers Holdings, Inc.

    As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Pedraja will serve as a member of Employers Holdings’ executive leadership team and will be charged with leading the financial and investor relations functions of the business.

    Most recently, he served as Group Chief Financial Officer for Ariel Re Services, a leading reinsurance underwriter. His professional career spans roles from Senior Vice President and Treasurer of The Allstate Corporation to insurance-focused Investment Banker at Aon Securities, Barclays and Credit Suisse. Mr. Pedraja received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DePaul University.

    “The team has a done a wonderful job in solidifying EMPLOYERS as America’s small business insurance specialist,” said Mr. Pedraja. “It is an honor to partner with Kathy and the leadership team to further that position while profitably growing the business and driving shareholder value.”

    About EMPLOYERS

    Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EIG), is a holding company with subsidiaries that are specialty providers of workers’ compensation insurance and services (collectively “EMPLOYERS®”) focused on small and mid-sized businesses engaged in low-to-medium hazard industries. EMPLOYERS leverages over a century of experience to deliver comprehensive coverage solutions that meet the unique needs of its customers. Drawing from its long history and extensive knowledge, EMPLOYERS empowers businesses by protecting their most valuable asset – their employees – through exceptional claims management, loss control, and risk management services, creating safer work environments.

    EMPLOYERS is also proud to offer Cerity®, which is focused on providing digital-first, direct-to-consumer workers’ compensation insurance solutions with fast, and affordable coverage options through a user-friendly online platform.

    EMPLOYERS operates throughout the United States, apart from four states that are served exclusively by their state funds. Insurance is offered through Employers Insurance Company of Nevada, Employers Compensation Insurance Company, Employers Preferred Insurance Company, Employers Assurance Company, and Cerity Insurance Company, all rated A – (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Not all companies do business in all jurisdictions. EIG Services, Inc., and Cerity Services, Inc., are subsidiaries of Employers Holdings, Inc. EMPLOYERS® is a registered trademark of EIG Services, Inc., and Cerity® is a registered trademark of Cerity Services, Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.employers.com and http://www.cerity.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    In this press release, the Company and its management discuss and make statements based on currently available information regarding their intentions, beliefs, current expectations, and projections of, among other things, the Company’s future performance, economic or market conditions, including current levels of inflation, changes in interest rates, labor market expectations, catastrophic events or geo-political conditions, legislative or regulatory actions or court decisions, business growth, retention rates, loss costs, claim trends and the impact of key business initiatives, future technologies and planned investments. Certain of these statements may constitute “forward-looking” statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and are often identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “target,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pro forma,” “seek,” “likely,” or “continue,” or other comparable terminology and their negatives. The Company and its management caution investors that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Risks and uncertainties are inherent in the Company’s future performance. Factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, among other things, those discussed or identified from time to time in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risks detailed in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Media Contact:

    Kimberly Eye
    Vice President, Marketing & Communications
    keye@employers.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Michael Paquette
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
    mpaquette@employers.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: South Plains Financial, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUBBOCK, Texas, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Plains Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPFI) (“South Plains” or the “Company”), the parent company of City Bank, today announced that its third quarter 2024 financial results will be released after market close on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET on the same day to discuss the financial results.

    Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-407-9716 (international callers please dial 1-201-493-6779) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website at https://www.spfi.bank/news-events/events.     

    A replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed through the News & Events tab of the Company’s website as well as by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (international callers please dial 1-412-317-6671). The pin to access the telephone replay is 13749147. The replay will be available until November 6, 2024.  

    About South Plains Financial, Inc.

    South Plains is the bank holding company for City Bank, a Texas state-chartered bank headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. City Bank is one of the largest independent banks in West Texas and has additional banking operations in the Dallas, El Paso, Greater Houston, the Permian Basin, and College Station, Texas markets, and the Ruidoso, New Mexico market. South Plains provides a wide range of commercial and consumer financial services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in its market areas. Its principal business activities include commercial and retail banking, along with investment, trust, and mortgage services. Please visit https://www.spfi.bank for more information.

    Contact: Mikella Newsom, Chief Risk Officer and Secretary
      investors@city.bank
      (866) 771-3347
       

        Source: South Plains Financial, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: APA Corporation Provides Third-Quarter 2024 Supplemental Information and Schedules Results Conference Call for November 7 at 10 a.m. Central Time

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today provided supplemental information regarding certain third-quarter 2024 financial and operational results. This information is intended only to provide additional information regarding current estimates management believes will affect results for the third-quarter 2024. It is provided to assist investors, analysts and others in formulating their own estimates, and is not intended to be a comprehensive presentation of all factors that will affect third-quarter 2024 results. Actual results and the impact of factors identified here may vary depending on the impact of other factors not identified here and are subject to finalization of the financial reporting process for third-quarter 2024.

    Estimated Average Realized Prices – 3Q24
      Oil (bbl) NGL (bbl) Natural Gas (Mcf)
    United States $76.25 $20.75 $0.15
    International $80.00 $45.75 $3.30
    Egypt tax barrels: 35 MBoe/d
    Realized gain on commodity derivatives (before tax): $3 million
    Dry hole costs (before tax): $10-$15 million
    Net gain on oil and gas purchases and sales (before tax):
    Includes gain on natural gas purchased and sold to Cheniere.    		 $178 million
    General and Administrative Expense: $100 million

    Production update

    APA curtailed approximately 103 MMcf/d of U.S. natural gas production in the third quarter in response to weak or negative Waha hub prices. APA also curtailed an estimated 10,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids during the quarter, which were mostly associated with the voluntary gas curtailments. Previous third quarter guidance issued in July contemplated curtailments of ~90 MMcf/d of natural gas and ~7,500 barrels per day of NGLs.

    Asset sales update

    In September, APA announced an agreement to divest non-core assets in the Permian Basin for $950 million, prior to customary closing adjustments. At the time of the announcement, these properties had an estimated net production of ~21 MBOE/D (57% oil). Fourth-quarter guidance issued with the divestiture announcement removed production from the pending divestiture for the entirety of the fourth quarter, though the transaction is not expected to close until later in the fourth quarter.

    Weighted-average shares outstanding

    The estimated weighted-average basic common shares for the third quarter is 370 million, compared with a weighted average of 371 million shares in the second-quarter 2024. APA repurchased 0.1 million shares at an average price of $29.32 per share during the third quarter.

    Third-quarter 2024 earnings call

    APA will host a conference call to discuss its third-quarter 2024 results at 10 a.m. Central time, Thursday, November 7. The conference call will be webcast from APA’s website at http://www.apacorp.com and investor.apacorp.com. Following the conference call, a replay will be available for one year on the “Investors” page of the company’s website.

    About APA

    APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, http://www.apacorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “continues,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goals,” “guidance,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “possibly,” “potential,” “projects,” “prospects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar references to future periods, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, expectations, and objectives for operations, including statements about our capital plans, drilling plans, production expectations, asset sales, and monetizations. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See “Risk Factors” in APA’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. APA and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Contacts

    Investor: (281) 302-2286 Gary Clark
    Media: (713) 296-7276 Alexandra Franceschi
    Website: http://www.apacorp.com  

    APA-F

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States to Provide Php28M in Humanitarian Aid, Logistics Support for Super Typhoon Julian Response

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    MANILA, Philippines  –  

    In response to a request from the Philippine government, the United States government intends to provide Php28 million ($500,000) in humanitarian supplies and logistical support to communities affected by Super Typhoon Julian in Northern Luzon.

    Through this funding, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide emergency shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene support for more than 4,000 households, or 16,000 people, in typhoon-affected areas.

    Since October 7, the U.S. Department of Defense has mobilized multiple military assets to provide logistics support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Office of Civil Defense in transporting humanitarian supplies from Manila to Batanes.

    “My heart goes out to everyone affected by Super Typhoon Julian, especially those living in the most devastated areas, including hard-to-reach Batanes,” U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said.  “The United States is working closely with our Filipino friends, partners, and allies to provide life-saving assistance to enable those in disaster areas to recover as quickly as possible.” 

    This assistance builds on the U.S. government’s previous support to Philippine government’s disaster response efforts, such as during the massive flooding in Mindanao in February and Super Typhoon Carina in July. 

     Since 2010, the U.S. government has invested Php21.8 billion ($388 million) for disaster response, preparedness, and early recovery in the Philippines.  USAID works year-round to help communities build resilience in preparing for, and responding to, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard prepares personnel, resources for Hurricane Milton response

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    News Release  

    U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
    Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
    Office: 904-714-7606/7607
    After Hours: 786-393-4138
    PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

     

    10/09/2024 03:48 PM EDT

    MIAMI — The Coast Guard District Seven Area Command pre-staged and prepositioned personnel, aircraft, and boats in advance of Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall late Wednesday evening.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard rescues four people near Oregon Inlet

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    10/09/2024 03:53 PM EDT

    OREGON INLET, N.C. – The Coast Guard rescued four people Monday, near Oregon Inlet. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a report of four people aboard a disabled 27-foot vessel at anchor and taking on water due to the rough sea state.

    For more information follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Hosts Final Roundtable on Litigation Reform

    Source: US State of Georgia

    Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp hosted leaders from Georgia businesses and policymakers today for a roundtable discussion on civil litigation and its impact on the state’s economic wellbeing. This was the final of three roundtable events announced by Governor Kemp for this Fall. Today’s session at the headquarters of the iconic Georgia brand Waffle House provided further insight from major employers on how best to approach this topic in the upcoming legislative session. Participants on the panel included representatives from 12 Georgia businesses across various industries.

    “As the No. 1 state for business for 11 consecutive years, we have always made it a priority to foster a pro-business environment that empowers job creators to create opportunity for the hardworking people of Georgia,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “The unfortunate reality is our current litigation climate has led to increased costs for consumers and a higher barrier to entry for those who want to create jobs in our state. As we prepare to address this issue, these listening sessions have allowed us to hear from a diverse group of stakeholders who have shared thoughtful input that will inform our next steps.”

    Governor Kemp hosted the first roundtable on the state’s civil litigation climate in August, hearing from small business leaders on the direct impacts of ballooning civil lawsuits on their operations. This was followed by a roundtable on healthcare civil litigation issues in September, during which healthcare leaders shared the challenges they face in providing care for patients in the current legal climate. The first step in a multi-phase effort to address the issue of litigation reform was taken in the 2024 legislative session with the passage of the Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act, sponsored by the governor’s Floor Leader Rep. Will Wade, which created a mechanism to gather needed information that will guide next steps. Both chambers of the General Assembly also worked on legislation during the 2024 session specific to the issue of civil litigation, including SB 426 and SB 83. Both the Senate and House of Representatives will remain valued partners in the broader effort to address soaring costs due to civil litigation.

    “My priority continues to be removing barriers and unnecessary burdens for businesses across Georgia,” said Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. “We need to focus on sensible legislation addressing lawsuit reform that will grow Georgia’s workforce and encourage businesses to hire hardworking citizens. I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp for holding these listening sessions so we can hear input from all stakeholders leading up to the 2025 session, when we will address this issue.”

    “I want to thank Governor Kemp for hosting this series of policy roundtable discussions with stakeholders across the state,” said Speaker of the House Jon Burns. “As we continue to gather facts and consider sensible measures to keep Georgia the number one place for business, we recognize there is still more work to be done in order to balance the scales in our courtrooms and level the playing field for every Georgian and our thriving business community.”

    “When I think about lawsuit abuse reform, I think about the thousands of Georgia families who will be stuck in food deserts and struggle to meet their basic needs when these stores are forced to close,” said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. “I think about the small business owners, who cannot afford their insurance because they must pay for the criminal actions of people who may come to their business. As we continue to discuss the impacts that lawsuit abuse reform will have on our state, and the necessity for its passage this upcoming session, I want us to remember who and what is really at stake.”

    In his remarks opening the roundtable discussion, Governor Kemp discussed the challenges the current climate has placed on Georgia’s economic wellbeing while reiterating his commitment to hearing from all sides on this issue.

    “On behalf of Waffle House, I’d like to thank Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Jones, Speaker Burns, Commissioner King and the members of the General Assembly for their commitment to addressing the current civil litigation crisis in Georgia,” said Joe Rogers III, CEO of Waffle House. “We look forward to working together on common sense reforms that will restore balance and level the playing field for all Georgians.“

    Participants discussed the impacts of Georgia’s civil litigation climate and its effect on insurance rates and availability and their impact on rising costs for businesses and consumers across the state. Easing the economic burden on Georgians is a top priority of both Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, and that includes taking action to stabilize costs as families continue dealing with the effects of record inflation.

    Hosted by Waffle House, Governor Kemp is grateful to all who participated in today’s roundtable as well as the entire listening session tour. The governor looks forward to continued engagement on this issue as the legislative session approaches.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene Continues as State, Local and Federal Resources Work to Help those Impacted in Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene Continues as State, Local and Federal Resources Work to Help those Impacted in Western North Carolina

    Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene Continues as State, Local and Federal Resources Work to Help those Impacted in Western North Carolina
    mseets

    Today, Governor Roy Cooper held a briefing with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to provide updates on North Carolina’s unprecedented response to Hurricane Helene. They were joined by Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard Major General Todd Hunt, North Carolina Director of Emergency Management Will Ray, NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley and NCDEQ Secretary Mary Penny Kelley to share an update as response and recovery operations continue in Western North Carolina. 

    “Hurricane Helene was a powerful reminder of nature’s might, but it also revealed the unbreakable spirit of our people,” said Governor Cooper. “In the face of adversity, we have seen neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers stepping up, and first responders risking their lives to ensure our safety. This has been a massive, unprecedented state, local and federal response and I am grateful to all of those working tirelessly. Your bravery and selflessness embody the very essence of our community.”

    Goods and services continue to flow into impacted communities through state, federal and local partners.  The North Carolina National Guard and the Joint Task Force- North Carolina have assisted thousands of people who needed rescue, evacuation and other assistance.

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    More than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen are now working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to the citizens in western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating more than 40 helicopters and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through a website launched on Saturday.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $60 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western NC disaster survivors and more than 134,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 2,600 people are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance. Federal partners have delivered approximately 9.78 million liters of water and approximately 7.7 million meals in North Carolina to support both responders and people living in the affected communities.

    More than 900 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,300 responders from 35 state and local agencies have performed 118 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. More than 20,000 hot meals a day are being prepared and served by mobile kitchens. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Missing Persons

    To report a missing person or request non-emergency support, please call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. NC 211 also has a registry page for missing persons and welfare check requests.

    Shelters

    A total of 17 shelters are open in Western North Carolina serving 715 people and 102 pets.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, more than 86,000 customers remain without power as of Tuesday, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region. As connectivity and reporting measures improve, these number may increase.

    NCDOT is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel to or in Western North Carolina. NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for travelers to avoid western N.C. NCDOT currently has more than 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 4,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Eighty-nine storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911. To report that you have been unable to reach a person in Western North Carolina, please call 211.

    Volunteers and Donations

    Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is strongly discouraged. Instead, consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    • If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
    • For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 9, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NFIB Honors Sen. John Albers with Guardian of Small Business Award

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 9, 2024) — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has presented its prestigious Guardian of Small Business Award to state Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) this week in Roswell. Sen. Albers, representing parts of Cobb, Cherokee, and Fulton counties, was honored at The Fickle Pickle, a local NFIB member business in Roswell. Business owner Andy Badgett presented the award.

    The Guardian of Small Business Award is NFIB’s highest honor, given in recognition of a legislator’s leadership and support for small businesses. The NFIB Georgia Leadership Council, comprised of NFIB members from across the state, voted to honor Sen. Albers for his outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.

    “John Albers has been an unwavering supporter of small businesses since entering the Georgia Senate over 10 years ago,” said NFIB State Director Hunter Loggins. “In 2023-24, Sen. Albers achieved a 100 percent NFIB Voting Record and led the charge to place Referendum Question A on the November ballot, which will ease financial burdens on small businesses by raising the threshold for the state tax on tangible personal property.”

    In accepting the award, Sen. Albers expressed his gratitude for the recognition and reinforced his commitment to helping Georgia’s small businesses thrive.

    “It is an incredible honor to receive the Guardian of Small Business Award from the NFIB,” said Sen. Albers. “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and economy, and I remain deeply committed to championing policies that foster their success. I will continue working to ensure that entrepreneurs across Georgia have the support they need to grow, create jobs, and drive our state’s prosperity.”

    Referendum Question A, which Albers helped spearhead, is set to appear on the November ballot. If passed, the measure will raise the tax threshold on tangible personal property, offering much-needed financial relief to small businesses.

    **See attached photo for your use.

    # # # #

    Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    Donating, Volunteering amid the New Mexico Fires and Floods

    After every major disaster — no less after the South Fork and Salt Fires and flooding — people come together to help. A couple of popular ways to do this is to make a donation and to volunteer your time. To make the most of your contributions and your valuable time, it’s important for New Mexicans to follow guidelines for donating and volunteering responsibly,  

    Cash is Best 

    Financial contributions to recognized disaster relief organizations are the fastest, most flexible and most effective method of donating. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts and, if possible, purchase through businesses local to the disaster, which supports economic recovery. 

    Cash, check or online donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources. Many charities specialize in providing relief in disaster areas, yet they face significant financial barriers to getting their staff, equipment, and supplies into impacted areas. 

    Your donation helps put experienced disaster responders on the ground and gives them the tools they need to help New Mexico residents recover. 

    More than $2 million has been donated to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County that’s being used to assist residents impacted by the fires and floods with immediate needs. In addition, the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has raised more than $1 million and has already distributed more than $350,000 to non-governmental organizations and communities in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties including the Mescalero Apache Reservation. These funds will provide financial resources to support immediate and long-term recovery needs. 

    Monetary donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico by visiting their website  Greatest Needs Impact Fund for Lincoln & Otero (fcsuite.com). In addition, donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County by visiting their website, The Shelter Fund | Community Foundation Of Lincoln County | Ruidoso (cfolc.org). 

    Beware of Bogus Solicitations  

    Unscrupulous solicitors for phony scam charities may play on your sympathy for your New Mexico neighbors whose homes and property have been damaged in the fires and floods. Be wary of any solicitation that may come to you by phone, letter, email or a face-to-face visit.

    Under New Mexico law, charitable organizations existing, operating, or soliciting in the state must register with the New Mexico Department of Justice and file annual reports with the Attorney General’s office. You can check to see if a charity is registered with the state by visiting https://secure.nmag.gov/CharitySearch/.

    In-Kind Donations 

    Yes, many kinds of donated items are needed. However, without thoughtful planning, donated goods can further burden a community that is already in crisis. Knowing what is needed, where it is needed and getting it there at the right time are the keys to successful donating. Critical needs change rapidly. Before collecting, confirm the need:

    • Not everything is needed. Used clothing is never needed.  
    • Bulk donations are best. Pallet loads of a single item, sorted, and boxed. 
    • Timing is important. Too soon or too late and no one wins. 
    • Transportation needs to be worked-out. How will it get to where it is needed? 

    If you have questions about in-kind donations or to make an in-kind donation, email fema-ruidoso-wildfires-val@fema.dhs.gov and nmvoad@nvoad.org. 

    Voluntary Agencies Active in New Mexico

    FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs) in New Mexico serve as an important link between FEMA programs and community partners. They have engaged with nearly 200 affiliates of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs), non-profits, government, faith-and community-based organizations to identify survivor resources, unmet needs, and provide critical information on FEMA and it’s programs. The VALs have also identified more than 170 survivor resources being provided from local, state, national VOADs as well as faith- and community-based organizations and government entities. 

    The VALs have also been working with State Disaster Case Management (DCM) to assist with identifying survivor resources in Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan counties and the Mescalero Apache Reservation, as well as connections to other agencies to assist with unmet needs. Lastly, the FEMA VALs have been coordinating with the Village of Ruidoso and local stakeholders in Lincoln County to develop a Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD) and Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) that will help assist with long-term recovery efforts for individuals and households with disaster-related, unmet needs. 

    The numerous operations VALs have coordinated in this disaster include:

    • The American Red Cross sheltered nearly 800 New Mexicans and distributed 17,331 meals and 18,846 snacks to people. They also distributed 7,983 clean-up kits and other emergency supply items to 588 households.
    • Twenty-six donation centers and points of distribution (PODs) in Lincoln County, Mescalero, and surrounding counties were identified. The Salvation Army assisted with more than 11 donation centers and PODs in areas affected by the fires and floods. It also managed donation warehouses in Roswell and Ruidoso Downs and distributed more than 130,000 relief items and supplies to impacted families. 
    • More than 5,100 individual volunteers affiliated with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) such as the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon, and Southern Baptists Disaster Relief have contributed more than 110,000 hours to the response and recovery. Nearly 30 local, regional, state, and national organizations have reported volunteers and volunteer hours to FEMA and the Village of Ruidoso. 
    • Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon, Southern Baptists Disaster Relief, and other local faith-based groups assisted nearly 400 households with flood and fire cleanup, content recovery, debris removal, etc. 

    How to Volunteer 

    Volunteers can expect to be called on to work in a variety of disaster relief situations. Nonprofits and volunteers often distribute bottled water and nonperishable food; help demolish homes and businesses damaged in the disaster, and clear out fallen trees and other debris. 

    Rule Number One: Do Not Self-Deploy 

    Do not just “show up” to volunteer. Trusted organizations operating in New Mexico’s affected areas know where volunteers are needed. Depending on the current phase of the fires and flooding, volunteers can be extremely helpful to ensure citizens can return to their new normal. By working with an established nonprofit organization, the appropriate safety, training and skills are considered. 

    And remember, recovery lasts a lot longer than media attention. There will be volunteers needed in parts of New Mexico for many months — perhaps many years. 

    Here’s How You Can Help 

    If you have items to donate, time to volunteer in support of a nonprofit, or cash to give and have questions, email fema-ruidoso-wildfires-val@fema.dhs.gov and nmvoad@nvoad.org. 

    FEMA wants to help you help others. 

    To find a list of trusted organizations, additional information on donations, volunteering and other resources, visit National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. 

    angela.ambroise

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF congratulates laureates of the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Researchers have enabled the design and prediction of proteins, the building blocks of life

    The U.S. National Science Foundation congratulates David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Baker and his colleagues revolutionized protein design enabling the creation of protein structures never seen in nature, many of which have potential as therapeutics or treatments, new materials or in other applications. Hassabis and Jumper similarly revolutionized protein prediction with the creation of AlphaFold software, enabling the determination of a protein’s structure from its amino acid sequence alone. NSF is immensely proud of the decades of fundamental research support and infrastructure investments that led to these advances.

    NSF has supported the Protein Data Bank (PDB), the critical repository for structure data for large biological molecules that enabled the work of all the awardees, for nearly five decades. PDB now contains over 200,000 structures from proteins to DNA and RNA. Baker used this library as a knowledge base for his first protein structure design algorithms which became part of the Rosetta family of tools — and later his protein design tools — for which his portion of the Nobel Prize is being awarded. The PDB also provided the training library for AlphaFold, a deep learning, artificial intelligence-powered software designed by Hassabis, Jumper and the DeepMind team for which they earned half of the prize.

    In addition to its support of PDB, NSF has continuously supported Baker’s career since his Young Investigator award in 1994. The interdisciplinary nature of the work and the potential impact of protein design is exemplified by the broad nature of NSF support received by Baker that has come from NSF Directorates for Biological Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Computer and Information Science and Engineering.

    In 2003, Baker and colleagues were able to design the first completely novel globular protein with atomic level accuracy. In 2008, Baker and colleagues reported the first design of an enzyme — a protein that initiates a reaction in a cell. Several of the proteins designed by Baker and his team are already moving toward being used to treat Celiac disease and cancers.

    “Protein design holds transformative potential to address societal challenges by enabling the discovery of once unimaginable structures,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “Decades of federal investments in fundamental research and infrastructure, combined with industry innovation, have yielded tools that significantly impact everyday life. Baker’s work continues to break new ground — as he recently received 5,000 hours of computing time on NSF’s Frontera supercomputer through the NSF-led National AI Research Resource pilot — to create even more advanced biological models.”

    NSF’s support of Baker also has helped enable a wide range of broader societal impacts, including the training of a legion of students and fellows that are now contributing to the field of biotechnology and synthetic biomaterials in academia and industry around the world. In addition to those he trained directly, Baker’s early and long-standing commitment to open access and sharing policies fostered development of a broad community of developers and users that have accelerated the pace of discovery and innovation in the field.

    Select NSF awards

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Three So-Called Market Makers and Nine Individuals in Crackdown on Manipulation of Crypto Assets Offered and Sold as Securities

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against three companies purporting to be market makers and nine individuals for engaging in schemes to manipulate the markets for various crypto assets being offered and sold as securities to retail investors. As alleged, the schemes were intended to induce investor victims to purchase the crypto assets by creating the false appearance of an active trading market for them.

    According to the SEC’s complaints, crypto asset promoters Russell Armand, Maxwell Hernandez, Manpreet Singh Kohli, Nam Tran, and Vy Pham (Promoters) hired so-called market makers ZM Quant and Gotbit to provide market-manipulation-as-a-service, which included generating artificial trading volume or manipulating the price of crypto assets that the Promoters offered and sold as securities to retail investors in unregistered transactions. The SEC also alleged that ZM Quant and a third so-called market maker, CLS Global, undertook similar schemes to manipulate the market of a crypto asset offered and sold as a security that was created at the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of its parallel investigation into potential market manipulation in the crypto asset industry.

    “Today’s enforcement actions demonstrate, once more, that retail investors are being victimized by fraudulent activity by institutional actors in the markets for crypto assets,” said Sanjay Wadhwa, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “With purported promoters and self-anointed market makers teaming up to target the investing public with false promises of profits in the crypto markets, investors should be mindful that the deck may be stacked against them.”

    The SEC alleged that ZM Quant and its employees Baijun Ou and Ruiqi Lau, Gotbit and its employee Fedor Kedrov, and CLS Global and its employee Andrey Zhorzhes manipulated markets on behalf of the Promoters by self-trading (commonly referred to as “wash trading”) on popular crypto asset trading platforms or by engaging in other trading practices that likewise served no economic purpose, and that they used algorithms (or bots) that, at times, generated quadrillions of transactions and billions of dollars of artificial trading volume each day.

    “We remain concerned about the ease with which the market for a crypto asset can be manipulated and are committed to rooting out instances of such misconduct when it involves securities,” said Jorge G. Tenreiro, Acting Chief of the Division of Enforcement’s Crypto Asset and Cyber Unit (CACU). “The wrongdoers behind these schemes are profiting handsomely at the expense of investors that have been deceptively lured into these markets and lost their hard-earned savings.”

    The SEC’s five complaints, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, allege that all defendants violated the antifraud and market manipulation provisions of the securities laws and that certain defendants violated registration provisions. The complaints seek permanent injunctions, conduct-based injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains plus interest, and civil penalties against all the defendants, as well as officer and director bars against certain defendants. Armand, Hernandez, and Pham consented to bifurcated settlements, subject to court approval, permanently enjoining them from further violations of the federal securities laws, subjecting them to conduct-based injunctions, and barring them from acting as officers or directors. The court will determine the amount of disgorgement and prejudgment interest, and any civil penalties.

    The SEC appreciates the assistance of the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, which today announced parallel criminal actions.

    The SEC’s investigations were conducted by David D’Addio, Amy Harman Burkart, Ivan Panchenko, Jeffrey Cook, and John McCann in the SEC’s Boston Regional Office, as well as Colin Missett and Joy Guo of the CACU. They were supervised by Amy Gwiazda, Michael Brennan, Donald Battle, and Mr. Tenreiro of CACU and by Celia Moore and John T. Dugan of the Boston Regional Office. The team also thanks the staff of the SEC’s Office of Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology for their assistance. The litigations will be led by Mr. D’Addio and Ms. Burkart.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on World Post Day [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+WORLD+POST+DAY+25+JUL+24/MSG+SG+WORLD+POST+DAY+25+JUL+24+clean.mp4

    On this World Post Day, we mark a historic milestone – the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union.

    In times of war and peace, crises and upheaval, the international postal network has delivered — connecting communities and upholding the fundamental right to communicate.

    The UPU is also one of the earliest examples of multilateralism in action.

    Global cooperation helped guarantee a single postal territory worldwide – one that leaves no one behind by delivering messages, goods, and financial services to some of the most remote places on earth.

    Looking ahead, the UPU continues to leverage new technologies to provide essential services to humanity.  

    On this important day, let’s honour and celebrate the work of the Universal Postal Union to bridge distances and unite the world.  

    *****
    En cette Journée mondiale de la poste, nous célébrons une date historique : le 150e anniversaire de l’Union postale universelle (UPU).

    En temps de paix comme en temps de guerre, de crises et de troubles, le réseau postal international remplit invariablement sa mission : il rapproche les gens à travers le monde et défend le droit fondamental de communiquer.

    L’UPU est l’une des premières illustrations du multilatéralisme en action.

    En travaillant main dans la main, les pays sont parvenus à faire du monde un territoire postal unique, concrétisant ainsi la promesse de ne laisser personne de côté en rendant possible la livraison de courriers et de colis, de même que la prestation de services financiers, jusque dans les lieux les plus reculés de la planète.

    Organisation tournée vers l’avenir, l’UPU continue de tirer parti des nouvelles technologies pour fournir des services essentiels à l’humanité.

    En ce jour important, rendons hommage au travail mené par l’UPU pour réduire les distances et unir les personnes à travers le monde.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Weber, Roy Demand Action from Biden-Harris Admin to Prevent Non-Citizens on Voter Rolls

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Weber (TX-14) and Chip Roy (TX-21) led a group of Texas Republican lawmakers in calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to immediately provide the necessary data to protect the integrity of Texas elections and ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote in the State of Texas. The letter to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) follows Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s request for citizenship verification data and the federal government’s failure to meet the deadline for providing this crucial information.

    In recent weeks, Governor Greg Abbott announced the removal of 6,500 potential noncitizens from Texas voter rolls, highlighting the critical need for further verification before the upcoming election. The federal government has thus far failed to comply with an urgent request made by the State of Texas for access to USCIS data, which is crucial in verifying voter eligibility.

    Other Texas Republicans who signed the letter include Reps. Lance Gooden (TX-5), August Pfluger (TX-11), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Troy Nehls (TX-22), John Carter (TX-31), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Pete Sessions (TX-17),  Brian Babin (TX-36),  Keith Self (TX-3), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Pat Fallon (TX-4), Morgan Luttrell (TX-8).

    “The Harris-Biden administration’s refusal to provide Texas with crucial information is a clear dereliction of duty,” said Rep. Weber. “They’re turning a blind eye to noncitizens influencing our elections, and they even killed the SAVE Act, which would have barred noncitizens from voting. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting, so why won’t they hand over the voter rolls Texas needs to keep our elections clean? My Texas Republican colleagues and I demand they release the information without delay.”

    “Texas has a duty to prevent noncitizens from voting. The Biden-Harris administration is trying to prevent that for the same reason they fought the SAVE Act (H.R. 8281): they want noncitizens — especially illegal aliens — to vote,” said Rep. Roy. “Public confidence in elections is a necessary cornerstone of any representative government. That confidence must be earned through diligence and transparency.”

    “This election is the most important election of my lifetime,” said Rep. Nehls. “The federal government must provide Texas’s Secretary of State, Secretary Nelson, with USCIS citizenship data to ensure non-citizens are not registered to vote in the Lone Star State. I’m proud to join my Texas colleagues in urging the Director of USCIS to expeditiously provide Secretary Nelson with this critical information to ensure the integrity of our elections.”

    “Regrettably, we live in a time where Democrats, in order to cling to power, will break any law, violate any precedent, and utterly disregard the safety and well-being of the American people,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “Democrats have openly stated they want more mass illegal immigration because they need the populations in failing blue states.  While Biden and Harris have inflicted open border policies on our nation, Texas is, once again, working to do what is right by trying to make sure non-citizens are not allowed to vote and our states’ election integrity is preserved.”

    “Ensuring American elections are decided by Americans is of the utmost importance,” said Rep. Sessions. “It is pressing that the federal government fulfill their role and provide information for Texas to verify their voter rolls. I am proud to stand alongside my Texas colleagues.”

    “It’s outrageous that the Biden-Harris administration has refused Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s request for citizenship data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency,” said Rep. Self.  “It is their duty.  It is what they were created for—it’s in the agency’s name. Texans are tired of this lawless administration. USCIS must hand over the data immediately—no delays, no excuses.”

    “Democrats have consistently put illegal immigrants over American citizens, this includes allowing and encouraging them to cross our border and vote in our elections,” said Rep. Jackson. “There are far too many vulnerabilities in our election system, so I am proud to sign this letter and remain dedicated to doing everything I can to ensure we have safe and secure elections in Texas and beyond.” 

    “The Biden administration doesn’t seem to have a desire to ensure the very basic level of election security is met by verifying that only Americans vote in America’s elections,” Rep. Carter. “The Biden’s administration’s failure to provide the requested information to Texas is unacceptable. The American people deserve a free, fair and secure election and I hope the Biden administration will work with the state to ensure that’s the case.”

    Read the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Garamendi Introduces Bill to Expand Eligibility for Early Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

    WASHINGTON, DC—In recognition of Head Start Awareness Month, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) recently introduced legislation to expand eligibility for Head Start, the country’s largest federal early education program. Head Start’s current eligibility is primarily tied to the federal poverty line, with limited categorical exceptions. This has left behind many families in California who do not fall below the federal poverty line, but experience poverty due to the disproportionately high cost of living.

    The “Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024” (H.R.9825) would address this gap by amending the Head Start Act to include families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and federal housing assistance as eligible. Specifically, this legislation would expand categorical eligibility to WIC and federal housing assistance. It would also codify existing categorical eligibility to Head Start for TANF, SSI, and, most recently, SNAP, to prevent a future administration from revoking this inclusion.

    “While the right-wing extremists behind Project 2025 threaten to eliminate Head Start entirely, I am working alongside Head Start administrators to expand access to this critical early education program,” said Garamendi. “By expanding eligibility for Head Start, this legislation ensures that our most vulnerable children and families are no longer left behind in early education. Every child living in poverty should have the opportunity learn and thrive, and this legislation brings us closer to realizing that goal.”

    “Head Start California is proud to support the Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024,” said Melanee Cottrill, Executive Director of Head Start California. “Many families are eligible for a myriad of other Federal assistance programs but are left out of Head Start. This bill would level the playing field by allowing more of our most vulnerable children and families to apply for Head Start services. It would also stabilize enrollment in parts of California that are experiencing under-enrollment due to demographic shifts and the State’s implementation of universal pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds. We appreciate that this bill would maintain local control of enrollment, allowing individual programs to continue determining which eligible children and families the program is most suited to serve.”

    “E Center is proud to support the Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024.  E Center firmly believes that families that qualify for and rely on supplemental food and housing programs should qualify for Head Start Services.  This bill recognizes that families in need of these basic necessities are also in need of quality childcare services providing support to families as they strive towards self-sufficiency.  Childcare is an essential need for low income families as they work towards stability,” said E Center.

    Since its inception in 1965, the federally funded Head Start program has provided over 39 million children from low-income families with high-quality early education and the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Additionally, these locally-run programs partner with families and communities to provide children and their families with health and nutrition services. Nationwide, Head Start serves over 800,000 children annually, including nearly 95,000 in California.

    Endorsed by:  Head Start California, NEA, AFT, AASA, California County Superintendents, National Center on Housing and Child Welfare, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, Oregon Head Start Association

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Courtney, Himes, Hayes Announce Over $16 Million For Lead-Free Homes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 09, 2024

    HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) on Wednesday announced over $16 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to protect children under the age of six years old from lead poisoning. The funds are awarded through HUD’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program.

    “Investing in lead paint removal will protect our communities from the lifelong, devastating effects of lead poisoning. This $16 million in funding will help mitigate lead-based paint hazards in older homes, maintain affordable housing, and provide resources to ensure families in Bridgeport, Norwich, and Waterbury can address other health and safety concerns. There is no safe level of lead exposure, and I will keep fighting to ensure everyone in our state has a safe and healthy place to call home,” said Murphy. 

    “Over $16 million will protect families across Connecticut from exposure to the pernicious poison that is lead in their homes. Lead poisoning causes detrimental and irreversible damage, especially to children. Currently, more than 1,000 Connecticut children are affected by lead each year and I am proud that federal funding will work to address this dire crisis,” said Blumenthal.

    “My office and I were pleased to lead the federal effort to advocate on the City of Norwich’s behalf and bring the federal funding home to ensure less children are exposed to the serious dangers of lead paint. The federal funding award is a clear testament to the outstanding work executed by the City, Wayne Sharkey, and his team, and the hours and hours they spent on this application to continue their live-saving work,” said Courtney. 

    “Many New England homes and apartments were constructed well before we knew how dangerous lead paint exposure can be, especially for young children. The over $6 million in federal funding Bridgeport will receive will allow the city to expand its remediation efforts and help ensure children are no longer exposed to lead paint’s harmful effects. When coupled with the Governor’s Lead Free CT Campaign, this investment brings us closer to eliminating lead contaminants in Connecticut once and for all,” said Himes.

    The federal funding announced today will address lead-based paint hazards in the following municipalities:

    1. The City of Waterbury will receive $7,000,000.
    2. The City of Bridgeport will receive $6,006,105.
    3. The City of Norwich will receive $3,157,991.

    The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program helps transform communities by fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing, and improving communities and the health of children and families in these communities. In addition to addressing lead-based paint hazards, HUD also offers healthy homes supplemental funding to address other housing related health and safety issues while addressing the lead-based paint. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Seeks DOT Guidance To Improve Roadway Safety And Address Traffic Fatalities In Letter To Secretary Buttigieg

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 09, 2024

    HARTFORD—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking for details on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) efforts to improve roadway safety. Murphy referenced the recent tragic deaths of Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier and ConnDOT worker Andrew DiDomenico, as well as his own Walk Across Connecticut, where he saw dangerous driving conditions firsthand. Expressing concern over rising traffic fatalities in Connecticut, Murphy requested additional information on specific measures being implemented, strategies to address dangerous driving behaviors, and how federal and state governments can collaborate to enhance roadway safety.

    “There were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024,” Murphy wrote. “This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.”

    Murphy continued: “My office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted.  During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous. While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department’s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities.”

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

    I am writing to inquire about the Department of Transportation’s work on highway safety. Unfortunately, as you are aware, there were 169 traffic fatalities in Connecticut during the first half of 2024. This year, Connecticut has also been devastated by several high-profile roadway fatalities. In May, Connecticut Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier was struck and killed in the line of duty while working at a traffic stop on Interstate 84. In July, a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker, Andrew DiDomenico, died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 91. While these two accidents garnered significant attention across the state, there are many more families dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in a traffic accident.

    My office and I regularly hear from constituents about roadway safety. The primary issues identified are drivers traveling at high speed, ignoring traffic signs, and driving while distracted.  During my annual walk across Connecticut, I spoke with a group of road construction workers who told me that they are noticing an uptick in dangerous driving behavior. I also regularly meet with a group of middle school children who advise me on a range of policy issues, and in our conversations these students regularly who tell me how reckless driving can make their walk to school scary and more dangerous.

    While I understand there is no perfect policy solution or initiative that will eliminate traffic accidents completely, I am writing to inquire what more can be done to protect people on our roadways and seek your Department’s expert opinion on best practices to decrease roadway fatalities. To that end, I am requesting your answers and input on the following questions:

    1. What specific measures is the Department of Transportation implementing under the National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities, particularly in Northeast states like Connecticut?
    2. What strategies are being developed to combat issues such as high-speed driving, ignoring traffic signs, and distracted driving? Are there any new initiatives on these issues forthcoming?
    3. Has there been an increase in accidents involving young or less experienced drivers? What targeted programs or campaigns does the Department plan to introduce to improve their safety on the roads?
    4. How is the Department of Transportation engaging with local communities, such as schools and construction sites, to gather insights on roadway safety concerns and to promote safer driving practices?
    5. How can state governments like Connecticut better collaborate with the federal government to enhance roadway safety and address specific local concerns?
    6. What additional actions can Congress take to better enable your agency to address this issue?

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to continuing to work with you to build safer roadways that improve safety and the travel experience for the American people.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Celebrates National 4-H Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and 4-H alumna, co-led a resolution with 39 of her colleagues to designate this week as National 4-H Week and recognize the important role the program plays in youth development and education.
             
    “My time as a 4-Her equipped me with the skills to lead and taught me from a young age what it means to serve my community and my country,” said Senator Ernst. “4-H has given generations of Iowans the chance to participate in meaningful hands-on learning while striving to make the best better. I’m proud to support an organization that fosters a lifetime of connection to agriculture and civic engagement in our next generation of leaders.”
    Click here to view the resolution.
    Background:
    As a former 4-H member who grew up walking beans and feeding hogs on her family farm in southwest Iowa, Ernst experienced firsthand the valuable educational experiences and leadership opportunities the program offers. She has proudly supported 4-H during her time in the Senate and often meets with 4-H members in Washington, D.C. and Iowa.
    4-H is the largest youth development organization in the country, impacting nearly six million young people with over 27,000 members in Iowa alone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the ‘social cost of carbon’ measurement can hide economic inequalities and mask climate suffering

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Majid Hashemi, Adjunct assistant professor, Economics Department, Queen’s University, Ontario

    The social cost of carbon (SCC) is an essential tool for climate decision-making around the world. SCC is essentially a large cost-benefit calculation that helps policymakers compare the benefits of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the society-wide costs of continued use.

    The “right” SCC has long been an open debate, with several studies attempting to estimate it using a range of methods. In fact, there are more than 323 studies that provide varying SCC estimates in one form or another.

    Most studies focus on the global level working with aggregate SCC values from countries around the world. This global value, however, hides an important nuance. When one looks at individual SCC values at the country level a clear picture emerges. Poorer countries have proportionally lower SCCs than richer ones.



    Read more:
    Don’t applaud the COP28 climate summit’s loss and damage fund deal just yet – here’s what’s missing

    To put this in context, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a global social cost of carbon at US$208 per ton of CO2 for 2024 (average of recent studies).

    The Government of Canada uses the same EPA value after exchange rate. When this global estimate (i.e., the aggregate damages to the entire planet) is broken down to country-specific estimates (i.e., the damages to a particular country), it reveals SCCs of less than US$1 for poor countries.

    Does this imply that poorer countries bear lower costs due to climate change impacts? Not at all, in fact the reality is quite the opposite. Studies reveal that the damages associated with climate change are proportionally higher for lower-income countries. These damages are often hidden in SCC values in ways that reveal much about the inequalities of our modern world.

    Why is the social cost of carbon lower?

    The answer is the modelling approach.

    To estimate the social cost of carbon, a complicated model integrates multidisciplinary scientific evidence into a single framework to analyze climate change damages. These models incorporate “damage functions” that account for various pathways through which climate change impacts societies.

    Pathways include some of the things that we can measure, such as reduced agricultural productivity, increased energy expenditures for space heating and cooling, flood-related property damages and premature death due to extreme temperatures and weather events.

    Despite the comprehensive nature of these climate damage models, a critical disparity remains. The monetary value of damages is significantly smaller in poorer countries than in richer ones. Again, this does not mean the impacts are less severe; instead, it reflects the lower overall economic value of losses in these regions because of their lower overall income levels.

    One of the three studies referenced by the U.S. EPA’s guidance on SCC finds climate-change-related agriculture damages and premature deaths account for 45 per cent and 49 per cent of the total global damages, respectively. In poorer countries these percentages are likely much lower given both a comparatively undervalued agricultural sector and lower ability to pay for life saving equipment.

    Simply put, extreme global economic inequality hides the very real losses and damages experienced by many in poorer countries. This is because the comparative wealth gap between them and richer countries results in a lower relative SCC value.

    What does this mean?

    To a national policymaker, an almost zero SCC means that climate change-related projects will likely compete neck-and-neck with basic-needs projects (e.g., addressing malnutrition). From the global perspective, this leaves poorer countries with little incentive to allocate resources to the fight against climate change. Poor countries may even see their investments in such efforts as nothing more than donations to richer countries.

    Indeed, from such a simple SCC-based perspective any CO2 emissions reduction step a poorer country takes could result in a higher SCC value in richer countries — a value which they are likely to receive very little of. What can be done to address this imbalance?



    Read more:
    How COP28 failed the world’s small islands

    One proposed solution has been to use the differences in SCC values between poorer and richer countries to inform international climate negotiations on the implied historical responsibility and liability, commonly known as the loss and damage funds.

    Additionally, international development assistance to climate adaptation funds should be more equitably aligned with SCC imbalances to ensure that richer countries — which will benefit more from emission reduction efforts — help bear the burden in supporting poorer countries’ adaptation and mitigation efforts.

    While methods for estimating SCC values have become more sophisticated in recent years, addressing the global-versus-country-specific imbalance requires a combination of financial transfers and practical co-operation between richer and poorer nations. This will help ensure that the costs and benefits of global CO2 emissions reductions are shared more equally, accounting for both ethical and economic considerations.

    Majid Hashemi 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.

    – ref. How the ‘social cost of carbon’ measurement can hide economic inequalities and mask climate suffering – https://theconversation.com/how-the-social-cost-of-carbon-measurement-can-hide-economic-inequalities-and-mask-climate-suffering-233041

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hurricane Milton: Flooded industrial sites and toxic chemical releases are a silent, growing threat

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James R. Elliott, Professor of Sociology, Rice University

    An industrial storage tank overturned by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., shows the power of fast-moving floodwater. Sean Rayford/Getty Images

    Hundreds of industrial facilities with toxic pollutants are in Hurricane Milton’s path as it heads toward Florida, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded communities across the Southeast.

    Milton, expected to make landfall as a major hurricane late on Oct. 9, is bearing down on boat and spa factories along Florida’s west-central coast, along with the rubber, plastics and fiberglass manufacturers that supply them. Many of these facilities use tens of thousands of registered contaminants each year, including toluene, styrene and other chemicals known to have adverse effects on the central nervous system with prolonged exposure.

    Farther inland, hundreds more manufacturers that use and house hazardous chemicals onsite lie along the Interstate 4 and Interstate 75 corridors and their feeder roads. And many are in the path of the storm’s intense winds and heavy rainfall.

    Black dots indicate facilities in EPA’s 2022 Toxic Release Inventory within Hurricane Milton’s projected impact zone.
    Rice University Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience, CC BY-ND

    Helene’s heavy rainfall in late September 2024 flooded industrial sites across the Southeast. A retired nuclear power plant just south of Cedar Key, Florida, was flooded by Helene’s storm surge.

    In disasters like these, the industrial damage can unfold over days, and residents may not hear about releases of toxic chemicals into water or the air until days or weeks later, if they find out at all.

    Yet pollution releases are common.

    After Hurricane Ian broadsided Florida’s western coast in 2022, runoff that included hazardous materials from damaged storage tanks and local fertilizer mining facilities, in addition to millions of gallons of wastewater, was visible from space, spilling across the coastal wetlands into the Gulf of Mexico. A year earlier, Hurricane Ida triggered more than 2,000 reported chemical spills.

    During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, floodwater surrounded chemical facilities near Houston. Some caught fire as cooling systems failed, releasing huge volumes or pollutants into the air. Emergency responders and residents, who didn’t know what risks they might face, blamed the chemicals for causing respiratory illnesses.

    Many types of toxic material can spread, settle and change the long-term health and environmental safety of surrounding communities – often with little notice to residents. Our team of environmental sociologists and anthropologists has mapped hazardous industrial sites across the country and paired them with hurricanes’ projected impact maps to help communities hold nearby facilities accountable.

    Major polluters on Gulf Coast at high risk”

    The risks from industrial facilities are most obvious along the U.S. Gulf Coast, where many major petrochemical complexes are clustered in harm’s way. These refineries, factories and storage facilities are often built along rivers or bays for easy shipping access.

    But those rivers can also bring storm surge flooding that can raise the ocean by several feet during hurricanes. The storm surge from Helene was over 10 feet above ground level in Florida’s Big Bend and over 6 feet in Tampa Bay. With Milton, forecasters warning of a 10- to 15-foot storm surge at Tampa Bay.

    A boom surrounds flooded railcars to try to contain leaks at a chemical plant in Braithwaite, La., after Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
    AP Photo/David J. Phillip

    A recent study found evidence of two to three times more pollution releases during hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico than during normal weather from 2005 to 2020.

    The effects of these pollution releases fall disproportionately on low-income communities and people of color, further exacerbating environmental health risks.

    Why residents may not hear about toxic releases

    The statistics are disconcerting, yet they get little attention. That is because hazardous releases remain largely invisible due to limited disclosure requirements and scant public information. Even emergency responders often don’t know exactly which hazardous chemicals they are facing in emergency situations.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires major polluters to file only very general information about chemicals and on-site risks in their risk management plans. Some large-scale fuel storage facilities, such as those holding liquefied natural gas, are not even required to do that.

    These risk management plans outline “worst-case” scenarios and are supposed to be publicly accessible. But, in reality, we and others have found them difficult to access, heavily redacted and housed in federal reading rooms with limited access. The reason local officials and national scientific review panels often give for the secrecy is to protect the facilities from terrorist attack.

    Oil storage tanks and industrial facilities line the Houston Ship Channel, which is vulnerable to storm surge from Gulf of Mexico hurricanes.
    AP Photo/David J. Phillip

    Adding to this opacity is the fact that many states – including those along the Gulf – suspend restrictions on pollution releases during emergency declarations. Meanwhile, real-time incident notifications from the National Response Center – the federal government’s repository for all chemical discharges into the environment – typically lag by a week or more,

    We believe this limited public information on rising chemical threats from our changing climate should be front-page news every hurricane season. Communities should be aware of the risks of hosting vulnerable industrial infrastructure, particularly as rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours and powerful hurricanes.

    Mapping the risks nationwide to raise awareness

    To help communities understand their risks, our team at Rice University’s new Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience investigates how industrial communities in flood-prone areas nationwide can better adapt to such threats, socially as well as technologically.

    Our interactive map shows where elevated future flood risks threaten to inundate major polluters that we identify using the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory.

    The U.S. has several hot spots with clusters of flood-prone polluters. Houston’s Ship Channel, Chicago’s waterfront steel industries and the harbors at Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey are among the biggest.

    Three of the biggest hot spots, where large numbers of industrial facilities with toxic materials face elevated future flood risks, are in the Northeast, the northwestern Gulf Coast and the southern end of the Great Lakes.
    Rice University Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience, CC BY-ND

    But, as Helene revealed, there can also be great concern in less obvious spots. Inland, particularly in the mountains, runoff can quickly turn normally tame rivers into fast-rising torrents. The French Broad River at Asheville, North Carolina, rose about 12 feet in 12 hours during Helene and set a new flood stage record.

    When hurricanes and tropical storms are headed for the U.S., our interactive maps show where major polluters are located in the storm’s projected cone of impact. The maps identify hazardous flood-prone facilities down to the address, anywhere in the country.

    Knowledge is the first step

    Knowing where these sites are located is only the first step. Often, it’s up to communities themselves, many of them already overexposed and historically underserved, to raise concerns and demand strategies for mitigating the health, economic and environmental risks that industrial sites at risk of flooding and other damage can pose.

    These discussions can’t wait until a disaster is on the way. By knowing where these risks may be, communities can take steps now to build a safer future.

    This article, originally published Sept. 30, has been updated with Hurricane Milton.

    James R. Elliott receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Lab.

    Dominic Boyer receives funding from the National Science Foundation, NOAA and Texas Sea Grant.

    Phylicia Lee Brown has nothing to disclose.

    – ref. Hurricane Milton: Flooded industrial sites and toxic chemical releases are a silent, growing threat – https://theconversation.com/hurricane-milton-flooded-industrial-sites-and-toxic-chemical-releases-are-a-silent-growing-threat-239977

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Verizon está listo y ofrece consejos a medida que el huracán Milton se acerca a Florida

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon está listo y ofrece consejos a medida que el huracán Milton se acerca a Florida

    Alpharetta, GA – A medida que el huracán Milton se acerca a la costa de Florida, Verizon sigue comprometido a mantener conectados a la comunidad y al personal de primeros auxilios. Además de una red reforzada diseñada para soportar las condiciones más extremas, los ingenieros de Verizon tomaron firmes medidas de preparación para garantizar que haya recursos disponibles para una respuesta rápida.

    “En Verizon, nuestra principal prioridad es apoyar a las comunidades a las que servimos. Nuestra capacidad de respuesta y apoyoen tiempos de crisis realmente importan”, dijo la presidenta de Atlantic South Market de Verizon, Leigh Anne Lanier. “Desde familias hasta empresas y socorristas, estamos aquí para brindarles unservicio confiable en el que pueden contar. Nuestro equipo está trabajando incansablemente para mantener a nuestros clientes conectados ahora y en los próximos días.”

    Después del huracán Helene, las comunicaciones por satélite han demostrado ser una importante herramienta de comunicación cuando los servicios terrestres se han visto afectados. Asegúrese de que su teléfono esté listo con anticipación. Los clientes con un iPhone 14 o posterior deben actualizar a iOS 18 para asegurarse de poder enviar mensajes de texto o conectarse con servicios de emergencia vía satélite. Y para aquellos con dispositivos Google Pixel 9, la mensajería de emergencia también está disponible vía satélite. Ambos sistemas operativos cuentan con demos disponibles que permiten a los clientes practicar con antelación la mensajería vía satélite. Obtenga más información aquí.

    Las redes de Verizon están preparadas

    Las redes de Verizon están preparadas para mantener la conectividad incluso ante condiciones climáticas extremas. Con redundancia integrada en rutas y componentes críticos, la red de Verizon está diseñada con el objetivo de resistir condiciones climáticas adversas. Los ingenieros de Verizon se han preparado realizando controles exhaustivos, además de garantizar que los sistemas de respaldo, como baterías y generadores, estén operandoy cargados. Verizon también ha instalado enlaces en los Centros de Operaciones de Emergencia del área para permitir una comunicación perfecta con agencias locales, estatales y gubernamentales para garantizar una restauración rápida.

    En preparación para posibles operaciones de recuperación de la red, Verizon ha puesto en marcha una flota de soluciones de redes portátiles, incluidos activos de redes portátiles satelitales, que proporcionan conectividad crucial en escenarios donde las conexiones de fibra se ven comprometidas, así como generadores móviles para ayudar a las comunidade con una pérdida de energía comercial.

    Verizon Frontline está listo y preparado para ayudar a los socorristas en cualquier capacidad

    El equipo de respuesta a crisis de primera línea de Verizon está listo para ayudar a garantizar que las agencias de seguridad pública en la primera línea de cualquier desastre tengan las capacidades de comunicaciones críticas necesarias para lograr sus misiones. Este equipo, compuesto principalmente por ex socorristas y personal militar, se dedica exclusivamente a apoyar a los clientes de seguridad pública durante emergencias sin costo para las agencias que reciben la ayuda.

    En los primeros nueve meses de 2024, el equipo de respuesta a crisis de primera línea de Verizon respondió a más de 1000 solicitudes de soporte de comunicaciones de misión crítica de más de 500 agencias diferentes en 46 estados.

    Estar preparado es esencial para apoyar a las empresas y comunidades locales

    Al reconocer el papel fundamental de la conectividad en la continuidad del negocio, Verizon Business ofrece un conjunto de soluciones adaptadas para operaciones fluidas durante emergencias. Las empresas y las organizaciones gubernamentales necesitan tener un plan de acción adecuado. Las acciones sugeridas incluyen:

    • Mitigar las interrupciones para los clientes: Es importante pensar en lo que se necesita para garantizar un servicio continuo a sus clientes y qué software y equipo necesita su empresa para continuar con sus operaciones. Haga una lista detallada, que incluya contratos de servicio e información de garantía, y todos los números de teléfono pertinentes de las autoridades locales, empresas de servicios públicos, proveedores y vendedores.
    • La tecnología adecuada tiene un impacto: asegúrese de tener la tecnología adecuada para satisfacer las necesidades de conectividad de su empresa, suponiendo que necesite mudarse de su ubicación principal.
    • Los contactos y los documentos son clave: asegúrese de tener la información de contacto actualizada y disponible para todos los empleados, incluida la información del hogar para los trabajadores remotos y la información de las sucursales para las oficinas satélite.
    • Pruebe, pruebe y vuelva a probar: pruebe las redes primarias y de respaldo y refuerce las áreas débiles.
    • Mantenga un registro del equipo: asegúrese de que los empleados que trabajan desde casa hayan documentado todo el equipo corporativo que se utiliza para trabajar desde casa en caso de daño o pérdida.
    • Tenga un plan de respaldo: asegúrese de que existan planes de respaldo para cambiar el trabajo en caso de que los empleados que trabajan desde casa en un área afectada por la tormenta tengan que evacuar sus hogares o su hogar se quede sin energía comercial.

    ¿Estás listo para el huracán?

    El equipo de Verizon trabaja todo el año para garantizar que los clientes permanezcan conectados con sus seres queridos y las actividades que les brindan comodidad durante un desastre. Mientras los residentes se preparan para mantenerse conectados y entretenidos, considere estos consejos:

    • Abastecerse de fuentes de carga como baterías para linternas y radios o cargadores de dispositivos. Vaya un paso más allá y cargue sus dispositivos que pueden actuar como cargadores para otros dispositivos, como computadoras portátiles y centrales eléctricas. ¡No olvide tener los cables!
    • Descargue películas, libros, aplicaciones y juegos en caso de un corte de energía. O reúna juegos de mesa, juegos de cartas y rompecabezas para prescindir de dispositivos.
    • Localice documentos importantes que pueda necesitar más adelante, así como fotografías y artículos sentimentales.
    • Planificar comidas no perecederas. Tenga a mano algunos ingredientes no perecederos, como un abrelatas manual y otros utensilios de cocina.
    • Tome algunas velas, mantas, almohadas o cualquier cosa que haga que su espacio seguro contra huracanes sea cómodo.
    • Lea los consejos de preparación para huracanes de la Cruz Roja Americana
    • Agregar nuestra página verificar estado de la red o va a la aplicación My Verizon y haga clic en Temas de soporte (Support Topics) para notificarnos si experimenta algún problema con la red o para verificar si hay algún problema conocido en s u área. Ingrese su ubicación, seleccione el tipo de problema de servicio y le proporcionaremos una actualización del estado en tiempo real.

    Más información

    Visite el Centro de recursos de emergencia en línea de Verizon, verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center, para obtener más detalles sobre las capacidades de respuesta de emergencia de Verizon.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis & John Jumper awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry

    Source: Google

    This post originally appeared on the Google DeepMind Blog.

    This morning, Co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs Sir Demis Hassabis, and Google DeepMind Director Dr. John Jumper were co-awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work developing AlphaFold, a groundbreaking AI system that predicts the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences. David Baker was also co-awarded for his work on computational protein design.

    Before AlphaFold, predicting the structure of a protein was a complex and time-consuming process.

    AlphaFold’s predictions, made freely available through the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database, have given more than 2 million scientists and researchers from 190 countries a powerful tool for making new discoveries. The AlphaFold 2 paper, published in 2021, remains one of the most-cited publications of all time.

    AlphaFold’s contributions to science have been widely praised, and among its recognitions are the 2023 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the 2023 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2023 Canada Gairdner International Award, the 2024 Clarivate Citation Laureate award, and the 2024 Keio Medical Science Prize Award.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long shown incredible potential for use in scientific research, and AlphaFold was proof-of-concept. As more scientists adopt AI for use in everything from building data, to simulating experiments, drug design, modelling complexity, discovering novel solutions for extant problems, and building upon existing knowledge, we will continue to see foundational scientific breakthroughs in the years ahead.

    In a statement released after informed of the news, Demis Hassabis said:

    “Receiving the Nobel Prize is the honour of a lifetime. Thank you to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, to John Jumper and the AlphaFold team, the wider DeepMind and Google teams, and to all my colleagues past and present that made this moment possible. I’ve dedicated my career to advancing AI because of its unparalleled potential to improve the lives of billions of people. AlphaFold has already been used by more than two million researchers to advance critical work, from enzyme design to drug discovery. I hope we’ll look back on AlphaFold as the first proof point of AI’s incredible potential to accelerate scientific discovery.”

    After receiving the news that he won the Nobel Prize, John Jumper released the following statement:

    “Thank you to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for this extraordinary honor. We are so honored to be recognized for delivering on the long promise of computational biology to help us understand the protein world and to inform the incredible work of experimental biologists. It is a key demonstration that AI will make science faster and ultimately help to understand disease and develop therapeutics. This is the work of an exceptional team at Google DeepMind and this award recognizes their amazing work.

    Computational biology has long held tremendous promise for creating practical insights that could be put to use in real-world experiments. AlphaFold delivered on this promise. Ahead of us are a universe of new insights and scientific discoveries made possible by the use of AI as a scientific tool. Thank you to my colleagues over the years, for making possible this moment of recognition, as well as the many moments of discovery that lie ahead.”

    MIL OSI Economics –