The United States continues to be in a heightened threat environment, and the FBI is fully engaged to detect and stop any potential threats to the American people. As we mark one year since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East calls for vigilance by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and members of the public.
Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers; Intentional Damage to a Protected Computer; Transmitting a Demand in Relation to Damaging a Protected Computer; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals involved in the violent activities that occurred at the U.S. Capitol and surrounding areas on January 6, 2021. View photos and related information here. If you have any information to provide, visit tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced $8.9 million in federal funding to hire 23 additional firefighters in the Lakeville and South Metro Fire Departments.
The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Association’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.
“Ensuring Minnesota’s first responders have everything they need to keep our communities safe and healthy is my top priority,” said Rep. Craig. “These federal dollars will ensure our local fire departments have the necessary staff to build and grow and safely respond to emergency situations. I’ll keep working across the aisle in Congress to help provide our local emergency response agencies with the resources and support they need.”
The Lakeville Fire Department will receive $5,561,853 to help hire 15 full-time firefighters.
The South Metro Fire Department, which serves South St. Paul, West St. Paul and the surrounding area, will receive $3,361,761 to hire eight additional firefighters.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments.
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
Seema Malhotra MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Dame Nia Griffith DBE MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office.
Lord Cryer as a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
In addition, the Prime Minister has appointed the following as Government spokespersons in the House of Lords:
The Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Malvern as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to her current role as a Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education.
Lord Collins of Highbury as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to his current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments.
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
Seema Malhotra MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Dame Nia Griffith DBE MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education, in addition to her current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office.
Lord Cryer as a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
In addition, the Prime Minister has appointed the following as Government spokespersons in the House of Lords:
The Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Malvern as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to her current role as a Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education.
Lord Collins of Highbury as a Government spokesperson for Equalities, in addition to his current role as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
Bob Dean Jr. and several companies that he owned and operated have agreed to an $8.2 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they violated the National Housing Act of 1934 (NHA), by misappropriating and misusing the assets and income of four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in August 2021. The four nursing homes, all of which were owned and operated by Dean and his companies, and had loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), are Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Houma; Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Harvey; Maison Orleans Healthcare in New Orleans; and West Jefferson Health Care Center in Harvey.
The FHA, part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides mortgage insurance on loans that cover residential care facilities, such as nursing homes, pursuant to the NHA. To encourage lenders to make loans to such facilities, FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses that result from borrowers defaulting on their mortgage loans. To obtain such FHA-insured loans, loan recipients must enter into regulatory agreements with the FHA that provide, among other requirements, that the assets and income of an FHA-insured nursing home may only be spent on goods and services that are reasonable and necessary to the operation of the nursing home. The NHA permits the United States to recover twice the amount of any assets and income of FHA-insured nursing homes that were improperly distributed or misspent.
In 2023, the government filed a complaint against Dean and his corporate entities alleging that they misspent the nursing homes’ assets and income. The United States alleged that in the five years leading up to Hurricane Ida, Dean funneled money that should have been used to prepare an evacuation site for nursing home residents to his personal bank accounts, leaving his nursing homes — and, more importantly, the nursing homes’ residents — unprepared for a hurricane. As a result, when Hurricane Ida made landfall in August 2021, the residents of Dean’s nursing homes had to ride out the storm in an overcrowded and ill-prepared industrial warehouse Dean owned through a corporate entity. The United States alleged that at Dean’s evacuation center, his nursing homes’ residents languished in squalor and did not receive adequate care, leading to the Louisiana Department of Health evacuating the nursing home residents from Dean’s warehouse and revoking Dean’s nursing homes’ licenses. The United States further alleged that, following the hurricane, Dean did not use the homes’ income and assets solely to operate or maintain the nursing homes, but instead to purchase personal goods and services, including antiques, firearms and cars.
“This settlement demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to holding accountable those who put their own financial gain over the needs of our nation’s seniors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take action to protect the integrity of federal programs designed to ensure that nursing home residents, who are among our most vulnerable citizens, receive appropriate care.”
“As the residents of Louisiana well know, hurricanes and natural disasters can devastate people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr for the Middle District of Louisiana. “Nursing home operators like Mr. Dean have an obligation to protect their residents during such events, particularly if they are going to rely on federal programs to support or sustain their businesses. This settlement will ensure that those individuals charged with caring for our community’s most vulnerable residents take seriously their duty to have proper safeguards and plans in place to avoid tragedies like the one we saw in Independence, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida.”
“Nursing home providers have obligations to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents entrusted to their care,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “Owners of FHA-insured nursing homes should be on notice that we will hold them accountable when we learn of allegations that they have failed to meet those obligations.”
“By the time Hurricane Ida bore down on the vulnerable nursing home residents at properties operated by Mr. Dean, he illegally skimmed funding from those facilities and failed to maintain sanitation and adequately equip the warehouse he designated as the evacuation site,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “He unfairly enriched himself while residents under his charge endured horrid conditions including insufficient food and medical care. HUD OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold accountable those who misappropriate funds at the expense of vulnerable populations.”
The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the case, with substantial assistance from HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer and Samuel Robins of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davis Rhorer Jr. and Chase Zachary for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the matter.
The United States’ complaint stemmed from an investigation that the Justice Department initiated as part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
10.08.24
Senator Worked to Advance New Capability Supporting North Dakota as Most Advanced UAS Ecosystem in The Nation, Strengthens NAS Integration & Counter-UAS Development
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – At the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit today, Senator John Hoeven announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Northern Plains UAS Test Site have reached agreement to share the FAA’s unfiltered radar data feed to support UAS integration efforts. North Dakota’s test site will be the first in the nation to receive this capability, which will:
Maintain the state’s position as the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the nation.
Strengthen the test site’s detect-and-avoid capabilities, which allows unmanned aircraft operating under the test site to safely fly where other state’s test sites could not.
Empower the test site to detect malicious or unlawful UAS traffic, helping make North Dakota the premiere location for counter-UAS technology development.
Countering threats from the misuse of unmanned aircraft is a critical Department of Defense (DoD) priority.
This issue was at the heart of Hoeven’s recent discussions with Air Combat Command (ACC) Commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown.
Accordingly, Hoeven is advancing Project ULTRA as the funding vehicle to support counter-UAS development. Hoeven worked to establish the initial contract valued at up to $18.25 million for efforts like this, and the project is eligible for additional funding in subsequent years.
Hoeven is working with additional federal agencies, including the DoD and the Department of Justice (DOJ), to secure their approval of the agreement as soon as possible.
Currently, FAA radars collect more data than can be shared outside of federal government agencies, due to technical challenges and security concerns. By working to unlock this capability for North Dakota, the state will be positioned to continue leading the future of unmanned aviation research, development and operations. Hoeven’s two guests at the UAS Summit are leading these important priorities:
FAA Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson, a key figure in FAA’s efforts to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace (NAS).
Gen. David Stewart, Director of the Joint Counter-Small UAS Office (JCO), who is leading the DoD’s efforts to protect against the misuse of drone technology.
“This agreement between the FAA and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site to share unfiltered radar data adds a new tool to our vast toolkit in North Dakota, ensuring we remain the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the country,” said Hoeven. “We’ve worked for nearly two decades to build up our state’s talent, infrastructure and legal authorizations to make North Dakota the premiere location for all aspects of the UAS industry. As a result, our test site has more firsts and more partnerships than any other test site. Between this new capability and Project ULTRA, which will help fund many of the upcoming efforts, including counter-UAS development, we are positioned to continue leading the pack.”
Advancing Project ULTRA
Hoeven worked to establish and fund Project ULTRA to advance the development of practical UAS applications like supply delivery, base inspections and installation security, benefitting Grand Forks Air Force Base and military installations across the country. The senator recently announced that the DoD has tasked Project ULTRA with conducting demonstration flights using unmanned aircraft to move cargo between Grand Forks Air Force Base and Cavalier Space Force Station.
Enhancing Counter-UAS Capabilities
Hoeven stressed how initiatives like Project ULTRA can be utilized to strengthen the nation’s counter-UAS capabilities. Currently, threats such as drone swarm attacks against Israel and Ukraine, as well as UAS incursions into airspace near U.S. military bases, require significantly more expensive counter measures from the U.S. and its allies. This comes in addition to legislation Hoeven helped introduce and pass to support the development of counter-UAS technology and protect important facilities from potential misuse of unmanned aircraft. Hoeven is now sponsoring a bill to renew and expand upon the authorities created under this law.
Strengthening ND’s Missions
Following the fireside chat, Hoeven introduced a video from Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who the senator has invited to the state to see its UAS ecosystem firsthand. Hoeven, who serves as a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, has been working with LaPlante to advance the range of missions in North Dakota, from nuclear missions in Minot to the unmanned missions in the Red River Valley. LaPlante’s remarks reinforced the discussion between Hoeven, Thomson and Stewart, further driving home the importance of UAS and counter-UAS to future DoD operations.
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
With critical subsidies that help over 20 million Americans afford health insurance set to expire, U.S. Senator Gillibrand held a press conference in NYC to announce the Health Care Affordability Act, legislation to extend these subsidies and ensure New Yorkers don’t lose access to affordable health care. Without an extension, these 20 million Americans will see a sudden increase in their health insurance costs and an estimated 3 million Americans could lose their insurance. Gillibrand’s legislation would permanently extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credits offered in individual marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act and keep health care costs lowered for all Americans.
“Access to affordable, high-quality health care should be a basic human right,” said Senator Gillibrand. “No one should have to forgo treatment because they can’t afford the cost of health insurance. Allowing these tax credits to expire would needlessly jeopardize our public health and shoulder hard-working New York families with a financial burden many can’t afford. I am determined to get this bill passed and keep health care costs lowered for all Americans.”
Premium tax credits (PTC) were established as part of the Affordable Care Act, which became law in 2010. PCTs are refundable credits that help eligible individuals and families – those with incomes between 100 percent and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Line – cover the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) temporarily expanded eligibility for the PTC to additional individuals and households. It also lowered premiums for those who were already eligible. This enhanced PTC reduced net premium costs by an average of 44%.
In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act extended these enhanced Premium Tax Credits for three years. In that time, ACA enrollment has nearly doubled, helping more low-income households receive coverage and care.
If Congress does not act to again extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credit, they will expire at the end of 2025 and millions of Americans in New York and across the country are in danger of no longer being able to afford their premiums.
Gillibrand was joined by Sonia Sekhar, Deputy Director at New York State of Health; Mark Hannay, Executive Director of Metro New York Health Care for All; Veronica Smith, Senior Director of Health Policy and Government Affairs at Public Health Solutions; and Elisabeth Benjamin, Vice President of Health Initiative at Community Service Society.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Prudence Flowers, Senior Lecturer in US History, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Flinders University
It might seem surprising today in the era of Donald Trump, but Republicans in the United States once championed immigration and supported pathways to citizenship for undocumented Americans.
Contrast this with Trump, who has normalised dehumanising rhetoric and policies against immigrants. In this year’s presidential campaign, for instance, he has referred to undocumented immigrants as “animals” who are “poisoning the blood of our country”.
Both Trump and his vice presidential running mate, JD Vance, also repeated a false story about Haitian “illegal aliens” eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Perhaps most troubling, Trump has pledged to launch “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country”, if he’s elected.
Immigration policies throughout history
Nativism, or anti-immigrant sentiment, has a long history in American politics.
In 1924, a highly restrictive immigration quota system based on racial and national origins was introduced. This law envisaged America as a white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant nation.
However, there was no restriction on immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. The agricultural and railroad sectors relied heavily on workers from Mexico.
In 1965, the quota system was replaced by visa preference categories for family and employment-based migrants, along with refugee and asylum slots.
Then, as violence and economic instability spread across Central America in the 1970s, there was a surge in undocumented immigration to the US.
Scholar Leo Chavez argues that in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an alarmist “Latino threat narrative” became the dominant motif in media discussions of immigration.
This narrative was frequently driven by Republicanpoliticians in states on the US-Mexico border, who derived electoral advantage from amplifying voter anxieties.
The growing popularity of this negative discourse coincided with a significant increase in income inequality – a byproduct of neo-liberal policies championed by Reagan and other Republicans.
In the early-to-mid 20th century, Democrats were often the party that supported restrictive immigration and border policies.
However, most Republicans at the national level – strongly supported by business – tended to endorse policies that encouraged the easy flow of workers across the border and increased levels of legal immigration.
Prominent conservative Republicans also rejected vilifying rhetoric towards undocumented Americans. They presented all immigrants as pursuing opportunities for their families, a framing that emphasised a shared vision of the American dream. In this telling, their labour contributed to the economy and America’s growth and prosperity.
George H. W. Bush And Ronald Reagan debate immigration in a Republican primary debate in 1980.
Reagan also strongly supported bipartisan immigration reform. In 1986, Congress passed an immigration act that increased border security funding, but also ensured 2.7 million undocumented immigrants, primarily of Latino background, were able to gain legal status.
Twenty years later, President George W. Bush and Republican Senator John McCain lobbied for a bipartisan bill that would have tightened border enforcement while simultaneously “legalising” an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants. It was narrowly defeated.
This vocal support for immigrants by leading Republicans was striking because for much of the period between the late 1980s and the early 2000s, a majority of Americans actually wanted immigration levels reduced.
Then, around 2009, a dramatic shift in political rhetoric took place. The Tea Party movement brought border security and “racial resentment” towards immigrants centre stage, challenging conservative Republicans from the populist right.
As a result, more and more Republicans began to voice restrictionist and xenophobic rhetoric and support legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
What’s surprising, though, is the number of undocumented immigrants in the US was actually declining at this time, from 12.2 million in 2007 to 10.7 million in 2016.
Donald Trump and the new nativism
In this worsening anti-immigrant climate, Trump descended a golden escalator in mid-2015 to launch his presidential campaign.
In his speech that day, immigration was front and centre. Trump vowed to “build a great wall” and accused Mexico of sending “rapists” and “criminals” to America.
His speeches during the presidential campaign were marked by frequent anti-Mexican assertions and calls for Islamophobic visa policies. This hostile stance on immigration was central to his victory in both the Republican primaries and the general election against Hillary Clinton.
Once in office, Trump then adopted a “zero tolerance” stance towards undocumented immigration. His administration pursued a heartrending family separation policy that split children and their undocumented parents at the border. This approach was celebrated on conservative media outlets such as Fox News.
During his presidency, he also reduced legal immigration by almost half, drastically cut America’s refugee intake, and introduced bans on people from Muslim-majority countries.
Policy expert David Bier concluded the goal of Republican lawmakers had shifted:
It really looks like the entire debate about illegality is not the main issue anymore for Republicans in both chambers of Congress. The main goal seems to be to reduce the number of foreigners in the United States to the greatest extent possible.
Indeed, Trump’s vision of the nation had overtly racial overtones.
In one 2018 meeting, he asked why America should accept immigrants from “shithole countries” like Haiti, El Salvador or the African continent. His preference was for Norwegian migrants.
Immigration as a major election theme
From 2021–2023, undocumented US-Mexico border crossings surged due to natural disasters, economic downturns and violence in many Latin American and Caribbean nations. Many of the recent arrivals are asylum seekers.
Though the numbers have fallen sharply in 2024, immigration and the border are still one of the top issues for voters across the political spectrum. The issue is particularly important in the key swing state of Arizona.
In 2024, Trump’s central immigration promise was encapsulated by the beaming delegates waving signs calling for “Mass Deportations Now” at the Republican National Convention.
The Trump-Vance ticket has blamed undocumented immigrants for almost everyeconomic and socialproblem imaginable. The two candidates present them as a dangerous and subversive “other” that cannot be assimilated into mainstream American culture.
Yet Trump, as both president and candidate, has worked to prevent the passage of border security legislation. Turmoil on the border benefits him.
And his nativism now encompasses all forms of immigration – he has pledged to curb legal channels for people to enter the country, as well.
All of this rhetoric has had a dramatic impact on public opinion. Between 2016 and 2024, the number of people supporting the deportation of undocumented immigrants jumped from 32% to 47%.
In July 2024, 55% of Americans also said they wanted to see immigration levels decrease, a 14-point increase in one year.
Many Americans do not perceive immigration as a source of vitality and renewal as they had in the past. Instead, reflecting Trump’s language, they are viewing immigrants as an existential threat to the country’s future.
Prudence Flowers 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.
21Shares AG, the issuer of ETPs listed on various trading venues, has published its interim financial statements for the six months ending 30 June 2024. The financial statements are available at: https://21shares.com/ir/financials
21Shares AG, Pelikanstrasse 37, 8001 Zurich, is a Swiss corporation registered in the commercial register of Zurich under the number CHE-347.562.100. It was incorporated on 27 July 2018 and its purpose is the issuance of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) in Switzerland and worldwide.
New York, NY, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is pleased to announce the release of its Q3 2024 Performance Overview and Technical Outlook. Prepared by market strategist Gianpaolo Raffo, this comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, sector performances, and projections for the next quarter.
Published on October 2nd, 2024, the review explores the behavior of major indices and market sectors, incorporating key statistics and visualizations to encapsulate the third quarter’s activities. Through this report, Spartan Capital aims to provide valuable insights into market dynamics and sentiment, assisting clients in navigating the complexities of the investment landscape.
During Q3, Spartan Capital reported growth across multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and significant market movements. “Our Q3 analysis provides essential context for understanding the current market environment and making future investment decisions,” remarked Gianpaolo Raffo. “We remain committed to delivering precise and actionable insights to our clients.”
Spartan Capital’s dedication to excellence in financial analysis and client service is evident in the careful preparation of this report. As markets evolve, Spartan Capital continues to lead with guidance grounded in rigorous research and market expertise.
Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is a premier full-service financial firm, offering expert investment advice to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. Known for its extensive market knowledge, strategic risk management, and personalized service, Spartan Capital and CEO John Lowry exemplify integrity and professionalism in the financial services industry.
Bob Dean Jr. and several companies that he owned and operated have agreed to an $8.2 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they violated the National Housing Act of 1934 (NHA), by misappropriating and misusing the assets and income of four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in August 2021. The four nursing homes, all of which were owned and operated by Dean and his companies, and had loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), are Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Houma; Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Harvey; Maison Orleans Healthcare in New Orleans; and West Jefferson Health Care Center in Harvey.
The FHA, part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides mortgage insurance on loans that cover residential care facilities, such as nursing homes, pursuant to the NHA. To encourage lenders to make loans to such facilities, FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses that result from borrowers defaulting on their mortgage loans. To obtain such FHA-insured loans, loan recipients must enter into regulatory agreements with the FHA that provide, among other requirements, that the assets and income of an FHA-insured nursing home may only be spent on goods and services that are reasonable and necessary to the operation of the nursing home. The NHA permits the United States to recover twice the amount of any assets and income of FHA-insured nursing homes that were improperly distributed or misspent.
In 2023, the government filed a complaint against Dean and his corporate entities alleging that they misspent the nursing homes’ assets and income. The United States alleged that in the five years leading up to Hurricane Ida, Dean funneled money that should have been used to prepare an evacuation site for nursing home residents to his personal bank accounts, leaving his nursing homes — and, more importantly, the nursing homes’ residents — unprepared for a hurricane. As a result, when Hurricane Ida made landfall in August 2021, the residents of Dean’s nursing homes had to ride out the storm in an overcrowded and ill-prepared industrial warehouse Dean owned through a corporate entity. The United States alleged that at Dean’s evacuation center, his nursing homes’ residents languished in squalor and did not receive adequate care, leading to the Louisiana Department of Health evacuating the nursing home residents from Dean’s warehouse and revoking Dean’s nursing homes’ licenses. The United States further alleged that, following the hurricane, Dean did not use the homes’ income and assets solely to operate or maintain the nursing homes, but instead to purchase personal goods and services, including antiques, firearms and cars.
“This settlement demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to holding accountable those who put their own financial gain over the needs of our nation’s seniors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take action to protect the integrity of federal programs designed to ensure that nursing home residents, who are among our most vulnerable citizens, receive appropriate care.”
“As the residents of Louisiana well know, hurricanes and natural disasters can devastate people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr for the Middle District of Louisiana. “Nursing home operators like Mr. Dean have an obligation to protect their residents during such events, particularly if they are going to rely on federal programs to support or sustain their businesses. This settlement will ensure that those individuals charged with caring for our community’s most vulnerable residents take seriously their duty to have proper safeguards and plans in place to avoid tragedies like the one we saw in Independence, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida.”
“Nursing home providers have obligations to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents entrusted to their care,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “Owners of FHA-insured nursing homes should be on notice that we will hold them accountable when we learn of allegations that they have failed to meet those obligations.”
“By the time Hurricane Ida bore down on the vulnerable nursing home residents at properties operated by Mr. Dean, he illegally skimmed funding from those facilities and failed to maintain sanitation and adequately equip the warehouse he designated as the evacuation site,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “He unfairly enriched himself while residents under his charge endured horrid conditions including insufficient food and medical care. HUD OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold accountable those who misappropriate funds at the expense of vulnerable populations.”
The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the case, with substantial assistance from HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer and Samuel Robins of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davis Rhorer Jr. and Chase Zachary for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the matter.
The United States’ complaint stemmed from an investigation that the Justice Department initiated as part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim Justice has activated approximately 40 members of the West Virginia National Guard to support response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Milton, which is projected to make landfall in Florida on October 9, 2024.
Approximately 10-12 Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, will deploy to assist the State of Florida with potential search and recovery operations.
Additionally, approximately 30 engineers from the 821st Engineer Construction Company headquartered in Summersville, along with support equipment such as skid steers and front loaders from the 601st Engineer Support Company headquartered in Buckhannon, will also deploy to assist with debris removal and management Operations.
Both groups will initially stage in northern Florida under the command of the Florida National Guard and will deploy to impacted communities as determined by state and local officials. They are expected to spend approximately 12 days on the ground in a State Active Duty status.
“When our neighbors put out the call for help, time and time again, we answer,” Gov. Justice said. “We supported our friends in Kentucky last year, and now we’re running to the fire in Florida. That’s what we do in West Virginia–we pull the rope together and help our neighbors. So, I’m proud we can join forces with the Florida National Guard in their response efforts. My thoughts and prayers are with our amazing men and women traveling south, all the first responders in the area, and everyone dealing with this challenging hurricane season. Let’s continue to take care of each other.”
“With the devastation of Hurricane Helene still present, Florida is now under threat of a storm with even deadlier potential,” Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, said. “Our Soldiers and Airmen will be there to help support response and relief efforts as needed, support first responders and officials, help citizens survive, and help stabilize communities in the aftermath of Milton. One of the most important missions of our National Guard is neighbors helping neighbors. With the strong support of Gov. Jim Justice, we are ready to provide any and all assistance we can render.”
West Virginia National Guard assistance was formally requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC process. EMAC is a mutual aid agreement among states and territories of the United States that enables states to request resources during naturaland man-made disasters, complementing the national disaster response system. The requesting state is responsible for covering the costs of the provided aid.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay region of Florida late Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm. Milton is forecast to bring potentially catastrophic storm surges along the western coast of Florida, torrential rains and flash flooding, damaging hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, and massive power outages as it makes its way across the state before reemerging as a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Currently wavering between a Category 4 and Category 5 storm as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico, Milton is forecast to bring ashore rainfall in excess of 15 inches and coastal surges of more than 10-15 feet.
Milton will impact Florida communities still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, killing at least 225 people. Fifty-one of 67 counties in Florida are now under emergency warnings as Milton approaches, and massive mandatory evacuations are underway.
Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
October 8, 2024
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board fact-checked Democrats, including Jones, calling their abortion ads “fiction.”
“This is embarrassing for Mondaire Jones and his D.C. Democrat friends. The only thing they can do is lie, but their lies aren’t sticking because New Yorkers know Congressman Lawler is a commonsense advocate for NY-17.”— NRCC Spokeswoman Savannah Viar
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California
October 08, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) along with co-chairs of the U.S. House Get the Lead Out Caucus Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), and Co-founders of the U.S. Senate Lead Task Force Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, the EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.
“Today, EPA estimates that nearly 9 million homes are served through lead pipes across the country – and disproportionally, many of these homes are located in low-income communities and communities of color,” said Rep. Barbara Lee. “Clean and safe drinking water is a human right, and we must treat it that way. I am proud of the work of my colleagues and I in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in the United States over the next ten years and thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their work in fighting to ensure that communities across our country have access to lead-free water.”
“Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration is a win-win for our communities because it delivers on our shared commitment to replace all lead pipes across the country within 10 years and protect public health,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, co-lead of the congressional Get the Lead Out Caucus. “I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements with my colleagues in Congress. Thanks to our advocacy, and with the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future.”
“As the founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I know that clean drinking water is a human right,” said Rep. Tlaib. “We must move urgently to replace all lead pipes in our country within the next 10 years, and I’m glad to see the EPA announce the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to continue the critical work toward this objective. Congress must continue to work to appropriate the funding necessary to help all of our communities identify, remove, and replace every lead pipe over this next decade.”
“Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead is safe. There are millions of people across the country who don’t even know if they are drinking lead, and I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of lead in the water at school,” Rep. Dingell said. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families.”
” Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth, “We’ve been working hard in Congressto achieve our goal of removing every elad pip in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and billions in new funding will help us make it a reality whilve preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect, This is a win-win for all Americans.”
“The EPA’s bold leadership in finalizing this critical rule will help us eliminate lead pipes within a decade and put a stop to lead exposure that continues to threaten the health of far too many families and children in our nation today,” said Senator Booker. “Every American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water, and by modernizing our aging water infrastructure we are investing in a future where every family can turn on the tap and know their water is clean. I am proud to have helped lead the call in Congress for a strong final rule, and I thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to environmental justice and public health.”
The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California
October 07, 2024
“One year ago today, Israel suffered a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas. We continue to mourn the lives lost on that tragic day. I was devastated by the immense suffering then, and remain devasted by the suffering across the region that has happened since. As we remember the lives lost on October 7 and in the past year, we must continue to push for diplomatic solutions to achieve peace and security in the region.
As I have maintained from the very beginning of this war, a ceasefire and hostage deal is the key to resolving this conflict.
Today, I am thinking of all the hostages that have not returned home. I am thinking of all the innocent lives that have been lost in this horrific humanitarian crisis. I am thinking of the millions of civilians – in Israel, in Gaza, in Lebanon, and across the region – that remain at risk of hunger, death, and displacement. We must continue to do everything we can to prevent any further escalation of violence.
It is the obligation of the United States and our international allies to use all available leverage and tools of diplomacy to help prevent the outbreak of a regional war, to help end this conflict, and to help achieve peace and security in the region.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)
October 08, 2024
PHOENIX – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to take immediate action to address a growing IV and dialysis solutions shortage. IV solutions – critical for providing care at health facilities – are in short supply after Hurricane Helene forced one of the country’s largest manufacturing facilities to close. The shortage could grow worse as another major facility is in the potential path of Hurricane Milton.
“IV and dialysis solutions are critical to providing care at health facilities across the country, including hospitals and health systems,” Rep. Gallego wrote. “Unfortunately, due to the damage at the Baxter facility, I am hearing from hospitals in my state that they are being informed of supply issues and have been put on strict ordering restrictions. A prolonged shortage of IV solutions would be disastrous for the health and safety of Arizonans and would make it more difficult for medical professionals to provide care.”
In the letter, Rep. Gallego urges the President to consider the following actions to help Arizona’s hospitals and health care providers keep Arizonans safe:
Appoint a member of his Administration to address IV and dialysis solutions supply issues and serve as a point of contact for hospitals and health systems.
Declare a national emergency and public health emergency.
Declare an official shortage of IV solutions.
Provide additional flexibility to hospitals and health systems to allow them to prepare IV solutions internally.
Consider extending the expiration dates of IV solutions wherever possible.
“In addition to the above actions to aid providers, additional actions will likely be needed to alleviate the supply issues moving forward,” he concludes. “This may include invoking the Defense Production Act to improve domestic supply chains, as well as connecting international suppliers with health systems across the country.”
Today, the Bankers’ Acceptance Transition Virtual Network (BATVN), established by the Canadian Fixed-Income Forum (CFIF) to support the transition away from BAs, published an overview of the Canadian repo market. This informational paper provides background information on the Canadian repo market and highlights that repos could be a viable BA replacement for some investors and that the disappearance of BAs could potentially be an important catalyst to help develop a tri-party repo market in Canada.
This paper does not, and is not intended to, constitute investment or legal advice. It is provided for general information purposes only.
The Canadian Fixed-Income Forum (Forum) is a senior level industry-wide committee established by the Bank of Canada to discuss developments in fixed-income market structure and functioning, market practices, and related policy issues. The goals of the Forum are to:
enhance the efficiency and resilience of the Canadian fixed-income market;
improve the quality, clarity and market-wide understanding of Canadian fixed-income trading practices;
evaluate and propose changes to market infrastructure;
communicate any recommendations and analysis to oversight authorities, regulators, industry groups and other market participants as needed.
The Forum will not discuss monetary policy or policy issues directly relating to the size and distribution of the federal government’s debt programme which are covered through other fora.
About the BATVN
The BA Transition Virtual Network consists of members from close to 30 institutions, primarily representing the major buy-side investors active in BAs. Members include insurance companies, pension funds, money market funds, the major BA issuing banks and their dealers, as well as other relevant stakeholders. Member institutions account for approximately 60% of end-investor BA purchases.
About CIMPA
The Collateral Infrastructure and Market Practices Advisory Group (CIMPA) is an industry-wide working group created under CFIF to promote the well-functioning of the Canadian securities and financing markets through improved operational efficiency, reduced market segmentation and industry coordination on related issues and initiatives. The goals of the working group are to:
improve interconnectedness, standardization, and automation of securities flows;
support market functioning through promotion of best practices for clearing, settlement, margining and risk management;
facilitate broad adoption of the recently introduced Canadian Collateral Management Service (CCMS), Canada’s first tri-party service launched by TMX and Clearstream;
provide an information hub on Canadian collateral developments;
build consensus on relevant issues.
Market inquiries:
CFIF Secretariat Financial Markets Department Bank of Canada 613‑782‑7913
A new mud (Kelly, Rotary) hose assembly was installed in the derrick during Special Periodic Survey (SPS). During the yard stay multiple Dropped Object Prevention Scheme (DROPS) inspections were performed in the derrick by rig crew & a 3rd Party rope access team. The rig sailed to location and completed three off 17-1/2” top hole sections. During drilling of the top hole sections, multiple DROPS inspections were performed by the rig crew. On commencement of casing running in the first hole, one half of the hose lifting collar insert (ref Fig 2) detached from the hose assembly end connected to the top drive and fell to drill floor landing within the red zone….
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: Alert 24-7 – Lifting Incident on Pipe Deck
Whilst the deck crew were engaged in heli-deck operations, a 3rd Party Inspector disembarked from the chopper and received an onboarding induction. The 3rd Party Inspector was shown to the pipe deck where completion tools were located awaiting function testing and thread inspection. Several minutes later the deck crew returned to the pipe deck to continue transferring 7” joints of casing from the pipe deck to the catwalk machine using the knuckle boom crane and gripper yoke….
Chief of Naval Operations Spokesperson Cmdr. Desiree Frame provided the following readout:
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met Chief of Naval Staff of Nigeria Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla for a formal bilateral engagement during the 14th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice, Italy, today.
The two leaders discussed their enduring partnership, how U.S Navy ship visits and collaboration demonstrate their shared commitment to security and stability in the region, and opportunities to increase maritime cooperation and counter piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea.
Franchetti thanked Ogalla for Nigeria’s leadership in promoting maritime cooperation during exercises such as Obangame Express.
The CNO also discussed her recently-released strategic guidance: the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, and ways to advance their shared interests, specifically with an increased focus on Maritime Operations Centers and the use of Robotic and Autonomous Systems to enhance maritime domain awareness.
The United States and Nigeria are strong partners committed to fostering regional stability and enhancing collective security efforts.
Chief of Naval Operations Spokesperson Cmdr. Desiree Frame provided the following readout:
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with Chief of the Italian Navy Adm. Enrico Credendino for a formal bilateral engagement during the 14th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium (TRSS) in Venice, Italy, today.
The two leaders discussed strengthening their naval partnership through increased interoperability, ongoing security cooperation in the Middle East, European and Pacific theaters, and the importance of the NATO alliance.
Franchetti thanked Credendino for hosting TRSS, for their robust participation in the latest BALTOPS exercise, and their steadfast commitment to many U.S. Navy and Marina Militare operations around the globe, most recently during the USS Abrahm Lincoln Carrier and the ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Groups’ first-ever bilateral Multi-Large Deck Event.
Italy is a key NATO ally, leader for global security and shares a long-standing and vital partnership with the United States. Franchetti last met Credendino in January 2024 during the Paris Naval Conference.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, both D-VA, announced $2,225,710 in federal funding for education programs based in Alexandria, Richmond, and Harrisonburg to train behavioral health professionals to address substance use disorders, students’ mental health, and racial disparities in access to mental health treatment. The funding is being allocated by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for which the senators have consistently supported robust and continued funding.
“Helping those who struggle with behavioral health needs starts with adequately funding programs to recruit, educate, and train the first responders and behavioral health professionals who will be on the front lines,” said the senators. “This over-$2.2 million in grant funding will help us do that, and we will continue to do all that we can to bring resources to Virginia to support the mental health of our communities.”
The funding will be allocated as follows:
$1,924,595 to the Alexandria-based Foundation for The Advancement of Human Systems via the Minority Fellowship Program to recruit, train and support master’s- and doctoral-level students in behavioral health care professions to address services disparities for racial and ethnic minority populations.
$199,939 to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to recruit and train first responders in rural areas on how to provide trauma-informed, recovery-based care for people with substance use disorders (SUD), and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD), in emergency situations.
$101,716 to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg to strengthen mental health services for college students, including increasing protective factors that promote mental health, as well as reducing risk factors for suicide.
Sens. Warner and Kaine have long advocated for federally-funded resources for Virginians who struggle with mental and behavioral health issues. In September 2024, Warner and Kaine announced $3.5 million in federal funding to expand mental health and substance abuse disorder services at community health centers. In August 2023, Warner and Kaine announced $1.4 million in federal funding for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to expand access to mental health care in Virginia. In December 2022, Warner and Kaine announced $1 million in federal funding from SAMHSA to expand the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline in Virginia.
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), has written a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro urging the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to begin work on a report that reviews suicide prevention matters of the reserve component of the Department of Defense (DOD). The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires the GAO to conduct a review of suicide prevention and response policies for reserve personnel, and the extent to which the DOD and military services have coordinated these policies at the federal, state and local levels. Senator King’s letter comes just weeks ahead of the first anniversary of the Lewiston shooting that was carried out by an Army reservist, who failed to receive adequate mental health care.
Over one-third of U.S. military service members serve in the reserve component, which provides trained units and qualified personnel in times of war or national emergency, or to fill the needs of the Armed Forces whenever more units and personnel are needed. In 2023, the DOD reported that the suicide rate among reserve component personnel was generally similar to that of the U.S. population. However, reserve component personnel offices often have limited access to military suicide prevention resources.
“It has been nearly a year since Sergeant First Class (SFC) Robert Card II committed the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history, killing 18 and wounding 13 on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. Since the tragedy, multiple press reports, investigations by the Army, and the Governor of Maine’s special commission have revealed troubling matters. I urge you to consider these investigations and to meet with all stakeholders as you conduct your review,” wrote Senator King.
“Service members in reserve status are critical to our Armed Forces and represent nearly one-third of the total force. I am concerned that they experience limited access to military-supported suicide prevention resources. Authorities can be confusing and blurred for service members including commanders at all echelons. Effective coordination between unit commanders and local authorities is misunderstood, yet it is critical to ensuring public safety and that service members receive the care that is needed,” continued Senator King.
Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. He has been among the Senate’s most prominent voices on the need to address veterans suicide, and has repeatedly pressed for action from top Department of Defense officials on this issue. Most recently, at the request of Senator King, the Department of Defense (DoD) released a new report breaking down suicide rates in the Armed Service by job function. Additionally, he recently wrote a letter urging further investments in traumatic brain injury research, the signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that has unfortunately led to a high number of veteran suicides. This past August, he introduced legislation to provide safe firearm storage for veterans in an effort to reduce suicides.
The full text of the letter can be found here or below.
+++
Dear Mr. Dodaro:
I am writing to bring to your attention my interest regarding a requirement for you to conduct a review of suicide prevention matters for the Department of Defense. Senate Report 118-188 accompanying the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 4368) requires you to review suicide prevention and response for the reserve component of the United States military. I worked closely with Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Wicker to include this requirement. I request to be updated regarding your work and appreciate you treating it with the utmost urgency.
It has been nearly a year since Sergeant First Class (SFC) Robert Card II committed the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history, killing 18 and wounding 13 on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. Since the tragedy, multiple press reports, investigations by the Army, and the Governor of Maine’s special commission have revealed troubling matters. I urge you to consider these investigations and to meet with all stakeholders as you conduct your review. I applaud Governor Mills’ leadership in establishing the “Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston”. I request you review the findings from the Commission and Army investigations as you formulate recommendations. I further request that, if there are additional authorities or resources needed, you identify those in your report and consider including legislative proposals to address those gaps.
Service members in reserve status are critical to our Armed Forces and represent nearly one-third of the total force. I am concerned that they experience limited access to military-supported suicide prevention resources. Authorities can be confusing and blurred for service members including commanders at all echelons. Effective coordination between unit commanders and local authorities is misunderstood, yet it is critical to ensuring public safety and that service members receive the care that is needed.
Thank you for the significant work you and your team conduct, and for your continued efforts to inform Congress and assist me in oversight and legislative changes. Please let me know how my staff and I may be of assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
For Years, Defendant Directed Projects, Contracts to Shell Company Set Up With His Paramour
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Ahmed Hassan, 70, of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, was convicted today by a federal jury on 22 counts of wire fraud arising from Hassan’s misuse of his position as a federal employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (“the VA”) to defraud the agency of nearly $1 million over a seven-year period.
As proven at trial, Hassan was a trusted supervisory engineer at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (“VAMC”) in Philadelphia. In that position, Hassan was responsible for all mechanical and large HVAC systems at VAMC and was further charged with overseeing and implementing contracts in his area of responsibility.
From approximately 2013 through October 2017, Hassan schemed to defraud the VA by drafting and submitting for payment, false invoices of a company called HT Mechanical. Unbeknownst to VAMC management, and in violation of Hassan’s duties to the VA, HT Mechanical was nothing but a shell that Hassan had secretly set up with his paramour, Lynn Hanrahan[1] — a social worker with no knowledge of, or expertise in, HVAC or mechanical systems — in order to carry out the scheme.
For years, the defendant made up fake work, drafted false invoices on HT Mechanical letterhead, submitted them for payment to the VA under the VA purchase card program and lied to the VA, claiming that the work had been done, when the so-called jobs did not exist. and no work was done. After the VA made payment to HT Mechanical on the defendant’s say so, Hanrahan returned money to the defendant, either by check or by giving the defendant envelopes of cash.
Hassan is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2025. He faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each count on which he was convicted.
“For the better part of a decade, for his own benefit, Ahmed Hassan siphoned almost a million dollars from Philadelphia’s VA Medical Center,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “In misusing his position to do so, he betrayed his colleagues, U.S. taxpayers, and, most egregiously, the veterans the VA serves. My office and our partners will bring to justice anyone padding their pockets like this at the federal government’s expense.”
The case was investigated by Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran and Assistant United States Attorney Mary Crawley.
[1] Hanrahan was charged in a related scheme, pleaded guilty, and is awaiting sentencing.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 200 months in prison for a violent crime spree that included a series of armed robberies and assaults across New Mexico, culminating in the carjacking and shooting of a 62-year-old veteran.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on November 12, 2021, Procopio Montoya Atkinson, 26, robbed a Dollar General store in Northwest Albuquerque. Atkinson feigned a cash purchase of flavored water, and when the female cashier opened the register to give him change, he reached over the counter to take the money. When she shut the drawer, Atkinson escalated his actions by walking behind the counter and demanding money while pointing a firearm at her. Atkinson discharged the firearm toward the ceiling, causing panic. The manager complied with Atkinson’s demands as he began a verbal countdown. Ultimately, Atkinson took $192 from the register and fled.
The crime spree continued on December 6, 2021, when Atkinson shoplifted clothing and an entire display case full of pocketknives from a Love’s Travel Stop in Belen. Atkinson was confronted by two female employees outside and physically assaulted them while attempting to hit them with his vehicle. Just three days later, on December 9, Atkinson assaulted another female employee at a Walmart in Belen after loading a cart with clothing and tools.
Atkinson approaching the display case full of pocketknives.
Atkinson picking up the display case full of pocketknives.
The discarded display case.
On December 13, law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Atkinson related to the armed robbery from November 12. On December 17, members of the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force established surveillance on his home for his arrest. As they moved in to apprehend him at a gas station, Atkinson displayed awareness of their presence by retrieving binoculars to monitor law enforcement movements. Atkinson drove toward one task force officer while pointing a pistol at him before abandoning his pursuit when backup arrived.
The crime spree culminated on December 20 when John Doe 3 was driving alone in his vintage Chevrolet truck with his wife and daughter following behind in another vehicle. They were stopped at a traffic light when Atkinson approached John Doe 3’s wife and daughter with a pistol and demanded they exit their vehicle. After they refused to open their doors, Atkinson turned his attention to John Doe 3’s truck, a beautifully restored ’62 Chevrolet. He opened the passenger door and, after a brief struggle, shot John Doe 3 in the back.
A photo of the scene.
Responding officers successfully blocked the truck in following an unsuccessful escape attempt by Atkinson and John Doe 3 was airlifted to the hospital.
John Doe 3 survived his injuries, but the emotional toll of that day has left lasting scars; he experiences ongoing pain and anxiety whenever near that intersection or driving through similar situations, and his beloved truck now sits dormant.
Upon his release from prison, Atkinson will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshal Service, Belen Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.
ADVISORY – Governor Shapiro to Encourage Travelers to Experience Pennsylvania’s Peak Foliage, Unveil New Color-Correcting Viewfinders at State Parks
Governor Josh Shapiro will visit Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County to encourage travelers to visit Pennsylvania State Parks this fall as the leaves reach peak color, and unveil new color-correcting viewfinders installed at state parks throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds that help colorblind visitors see the vibrant colors of the season.
The Commonwealth has some of the world’s most beautiful and diverse fall foliage. People with colorblindness only see a fraction of the millions of hues and shades of colors seen by those with normal color vision. In Pennsylvania, an estimated one million residents are colorblind.
The viewfinders are one way the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is working to make its 124 state parks and 2.2-million acres of state forests safe and welcoming to all.
This visit continues to build momentum behind Pennsylvania’s new state tourism brand, The Great American Getaway, which Governor Shapiro launched this summer to showcase all the Commonwealth has to offer as a premier weekend getaway destination.
WHO: Governor Josh Shapiro DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Mathias Weinzen, Black Moshannon State Park Manager Scott Kolesar, park visitor living with colorblindness Ta Enos, President and CEO PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Representative Paul Takac
WHEN: Wednesday, October 9, 10:30 AM
WHERE: Black Moshannon State Park Fishing Pier, (Google Maps Location) Philipsburg, PA 16866
LIVE STREAM: pacast.com/live/gov governor.pa.gov/live/
RSVP: Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.
Headline: FEMA, Federal Response Positioned to Fully Support Florida Ahead of Milton Landfall
FEMA, Federal Response Positioned to Fully Support Florida Ahead of Milton Landfall
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued and others are underway. If local authorities issue evacuations, please listen and evacuate immediately. Your life could be at risk.
WASHINGTON — FEMA and its federal partners are leaning forward and have pre-positioned resources to support local and state response efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall. President Joseph R. Biden approved an Emergency Declaration for Florida on Monday, authorizing FEMA to coordinate Federal disaster relief efforts to save lives and protect the health and safety of those in the storm’s path. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground, meeting with officials across the impacted states to marshal the full capabilities of the federal government.
This includes pre-staging a full slate of response capabilities in Florida and the region, including: seven FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, eight FEMA Urban Search & Rescue and swift water rescue teams, three U.S. Coast Guard Swift Water Rescue teams, four Health Care System Assessment Teams, five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and an Incident Management Team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) temporary power teams, debris experts and a roofing team, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) debris removal and wastewater experts, 300 ambulances and 30 High Water Vehicles with ladders from the U.S. Department of Defense. Additionally, FEMA has five incident staging bases with commodities including food and water. Right now, FEMA currently has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in the pipeline to deploy as needed to address ongoing Helene and Milton response efforts and can expand as needed.
The National Hurricane Center forecasts Hurricane Milton will be a large and extremely dangerous hurricane when it approaches the west coast of Florida tomorrow, bringing devastating hurricane-force winds and life-threatening life surge. In addition to storm surge and extreme winds, Milton will bring heavy rain and the risk of life-threatening flooding, especially in areas with coastal and inland flooding.
Hurricane Milton is an extremely dangerous, potentially deadly storm. Those in its path are urged to rush to complete preparations today, know how they are going to get information and listen to local officials.
FEMA senior leaders across different regions are on the ground in Florida supporting response efforts. FEMA Region 10 Regional Administrator Willie Nunn will remain in Florida throughout the duration of Hurricane Milton. John Brogan, the Federal Coordinating Officer for Milton and Helene, will also remain in Florida. Nearly 900 staff are already supporting recovery efforts at the Joint Field Office in Tallahassee and operating across the designated counties for hurricanes Helene, Debby and Idalia. This includes more than 460 supporting Hurricane Helene recovery, more than 300 supporting Hurricane Debby recovery and more than 100 supporting Hurricane Idalia recovery.
FEMA officials are still actively supporting North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia as they respond to and recover from Hurricane Helene including more than 7,400 federal workers of which 1,500 are FEMA staff. FEMA will not divert personnel or resources from these ongoing responses.
FEMA understands that people in the path of this storm may still be recovering from hurricanes Helene, Debby and Idalia and urges everyone to protect themselves and take care of others because time is running out to prepare for the hurricane’s potentially deadly impacts.
Counties in Hurricane Milton’s path have issued evacuation orders. If you need to evacuate, please “evacuate out, not up.” People should visit FloridaDisaster.org/Know to determine if they live in an evacuation zone.
If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.
Your gas tank and electric vehicle only need to be halfway full or halfway charged to ensure you can evacuate further inland to a safe location and away from storm surge. You may only need to travel tens of miles, not hundreds.
If you live in a county with an evacuation order in place and need evacuation assistance, please call 1-800-729-3413 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the hurricane evacuation charter bus schedule. Again, this is for residents that are in areas with evacuation orders. Florida also partnered with Uber to provide free rides to a shelter using the code MILTONRELIEF.
The state of Florida has activated the State Assistance Information Line. Residents needing information and resources can call 1-800-342-3557. There are English, Spanish & Creole speakers available to answer questions.
A list of emergency shelters, including those that can accommodate people who need assistance and those who have pets can be found at Shelter Status | Florida Disaster.
Additional resources and state updates on Hurricane Milton can be found by visiting FloridaDisaster.org/Updates.
For live updates, follow FLSERT on X and Instagram and FDEM on Facebook.
Download the free FEMA App available in English and Spanish to receive real-time weather alerts and find local emergency shelters in your area.
Canterbury Police have arrested a man after a series of residential burglaries over the past few months, predominantly in Christchurch’s hill suburbs.
Between July and October, Police received several reports of burglary that Police believed to be linked to the same offender.
In each case, the burglaries took place in homes that were temporarily unoccupied, often while the occupants were on holiday.
The 39-year-old man currently faces five charges of burglary and enquiries are ongoing to establish his links to additional offences.
This serves as a timely reminder to anyone leaving their property unattended for a period of time to take steps to make sure it’s secure.
Burglars are largely opportunistic.
Alarms will help discourage any burglar looking for easy entry. Locks on windows and doors can be effective, as well as security signage, CCTV, alarms and sensor lights.
Be wary of posting too much information on social media about holiday or travel plans, or photos of inside your home, as this can make your property a vulnerable target while you’re away.
Keep in contact with your neighbours, and let each other know if you notice anything unusual.
Call Police straight away on 111 if you see or suspect anything suspicious at your home or a neighbour’s.
When reporting activity it’s helpful to take note of the number of people, clothing they wear, and any vehicles present.
You can make a report after the fact using our 105 service, either by phone or online.
Manitoba Government Apologizes to Children in Care Denied Children’s Special Allowance
On behalf of the Manitoba government and the people of Manitoba, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine made a formal statement of apology today in the Manitoba Legislature to children in care who were denied Children’s Special Allowance (CSA) payments over a period beginning in 2005 and continuing through early 2019.
“Our government wishes to offer an apology, along with our deepest sorrow and regret, to the children who were denied their opportunity to grow to their full potential as a result of not receiving the support of the Children’s Special Allowance,” said Fontaine “These funds should have nourished your dreams and helped you learn, grow and flourish – instead, you were robbed of your chance to explore your full potential. Today, we acknowledge this profound injustice and take responsibility for the Manitoba government interfering with children’s right to benefit from these funds.”
Over the course of 14 years from 2005 to early 2019, the Manitoba government required Child and Family Services (CFS) agencies to remit more than $335 million in federal CSA payments back to Manitoba’s general revenue. Federal legislation outlines that CSA payments are intended to be made to CFS agencies as an equivalent to the Canada Child Benefit received by parents in Manitoba and are to be used exclusively for care, education, training and advancement of children in care. The practice ceased in early 2019, with CFS agencies now able to use the CSA as they deem appropriate for the benefit of children in care.
Three certified class action lawsuits sought damages for Manitoba’s breach of the rights of vulnerable children. The minister noted the previous government attempted to legislate away the right for children in care to pursue compensation for the denial of these funds. A 2022 decision by the Court of King’s Bench found Manitoba’s CSA policy and related legislation exacerbated the already-significant disadvantages experienced by children in care and was a breach of their Charter rights to be free from discrimination. The government has taken a long overdue step in correcting this wrong and has agreed to pay $530 million to compensate the affected children, cover legal fees and administer funds to class members, noted Fontaine.
The Manitoba government’s apology also recognized those who advocated for children in care in response to systemic prejudice.
“I want to honour the determination, resiliency and courage of those who stood up for Manitoba children,” said Fontaine. “Former children and youth in care, their families and communities and advocacy groups demanded fairness for children in care in our province, with access to the same benefits as other children. You have been at the forefront of showing us that every child matters and for that, we are grateful. Miigwech.”
To receive updates about the claims process, contact the claims administrators.
For individuals who received services from First Nation CFS agencies or non-Indigenous CFS agencies (Flette/Lavalee actions), contact the information line at 1-844-947-7101 or email info@csasettlement.com. Information is also available at http://www.csasettlement.com/.
For individuals who received services from Métis CFS agencies (Lafontaine action), contact the information line at 1-877-835-4546 or email info@metiscsaclassaction.ca. Information is also available at http://metiscsaclassaction.ca.
Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs
October 8, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with the United Kingdom’s Chief of the Defence Staff Adm. Sir Tony Radakin today by phone.
The military leaders discussed current security assistance efforts for Ukraine and the need to deescalate tensions in the Middle East.
The U.S. and United Kingdom are strong military partners and share a special relationship rooted in longstanding mutual support and cooperation.
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