A nocturnal thief has lost his crust after Police busted his alleged nighttime crime spree.
Beginning in early April the alleged offender has targeted a range of different South Auckland locations in the early hours of the morning.
“Police will allege the man carried out a spree of opportunistic thefts,” Counties Manukau West Area Prevention Manager Inspector Mohammed Atiq says.
“Some of this offending including taking items left outside or allegedly breaking in.
“He has acquired a large haul including multiple 20 litre cans of soyabean oils, dozens of water slabs, 150 loaves of bread, and even a wallet and phone from a car parked at a residential property.”
After piecing together reports and identifying a vehicle of interest in all the thefts, Ōtāhuhu Tactical Crime Unit set about identifying the offender.
Soon after enquiries began, the vehicle was seen travelling on Roscommon Road, Manurewa and was signalled to stop.
Inspector Atiq says the vehicle tried to evade Police before returning to an address of interest nearby.
Ōtāhuhu TCU arrived at the address and could clearly see loaves of bread, and the crate they were delivered on, in the back of the vehicle.
The alleged offender was taken into custody.
“We are always pleased to apprehend those who think this kind of brazen offending is acceptable,” Inspector Atiq says.
A 53-year-old male appeared in the Manukau District Court charged with burglary. He was remanded in custody to reappear on 25 June.
Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.
On June 12, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:
S.12,An act relating to sealing criminal history records
S.45,An act relating to protection from nuisance suits for agricultural activities
S.63,An act relating to modifying the regulatory duties of the Green Mountain Care Board
S.69,An act relating to an age-appropriate design code
S.109,An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures
S.122,An act relating to economic and workforce development
S.123,An act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicles
S.124,An act relating to miscellaneous agricultural subjects
S.126,An act relating to health care payment and delivery system reform
S.127,An act relating to housing and housing development
When signingS.69,An act relating to an age-appropriate design code,Governor Scott issued the following statement:
“As we see more and more kids using technology, I believe most would agree we need to take steps to protect them in a reasonable and responsible way when they’re online. With ongoing lawsuits in other states, I recognize this new law will likely face a legal challenge. But I’m hopeful with the enactment of this law delayed until January 1, 2027, it will allow enough time to provide clarity and change the law if necessary.”
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2025 legislative session,click here.
A wood heater fire that tore through the home of a Tatura family has Victoria’s fire services calling for vigilance when warming homes this winter.
With the cooler weather arriving with force in recent weeks, one Tatura household had a lucky escape when bedlinen drying in front of a wood heater quickly became engulfed in flames.
The fire burned through blankets before hitting the floor and spreading into the living room.
Thankfully, the family was alerted to a fire in their home thanks to their newly installed smoke alarms.
Tatura Fire Brigade Captain and Incident Controller Peter Bevan hoped this common incident reminds residents to keep items drying at least one metre away from all heating sources.
“The family had only headed outside to the back shed for an hour before they heard the smoke alarms going off,” Peter said.
“They couldn’t see any smoke or flames until it started coming through the air conditioning swamp cooler on the roof, which is initially what they had thought caught fire.
“Once the clothes horse had fallen on the floor, the flames travelled right across the room into a cupboard where the switchboard was and then made its way up into the ceiling.
“There is extensive damage to the living area, and the curtains and carpets are all destroyed. The smoke managed to affect 80 per cent of the house.
“To set the scene more clearly for people, the radiant heat alone was so strong, it blew out a couple of the glass windows in the kitchen.”
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and CFA responded to more than 150 heater fires through May 2024 to March 2025, with sleeping and living areas the most common room of fire ignition for incidents that result in serious injuries or death.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said this is just one example of how leaving portable heaters and fireplaces unattended can have distressing impacts in a matter of moments.
“We are so pleased the family had just installed working smoke alarms to alert them to safety. It is really important all households have them in every bedroom, hallway and living area to ensure you have enough time to safely evacuate,” Jason said.
“It goes without saying, but please reconsider where you place your washing to dry. It’s a popular set up to place them near our heaters and wood fires, but a mistake that can be easily avoided.”
FRV Deputy Commissioner, Community Safety, Joshua Fischer said now that we are spending more time indoors, heaters should be turned off before you leave the house.
“Taking a few moments to check your heaters and fireplace before you head out the door could make all the difference to the safety of your family,” Joshua said.
“We really encourage residents to have their gas heaters inspected and serviced every two years to make sure they are free of faults before they get a good run over winter.”
When it comes to home heating, CFA and FRV recommend:
Drying clothes and other items that can burn must be kept at least one metre away from all heat sources.
Always use a fire screen in front of an open fire.
Children must be supervised near all types of heating. Maintain a safe distance between children and heating.
Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heaters and make sure fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Residents should have their gas heaters inspected and serviced every two years to ensure the safety of loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.
If you suspect a fault in a heater, have it serviced or replaced immediately. Replace old portable heaters with models that incorporate automatic cut-out, thermostat control and anti-roll features.
Ensure home heating, including flues and chimneys, are regularly cleaned and serviced by a certified technician.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Julia Letlow released the following statement on her vote in favor of cutting $9.4 billion in federal spending, implementing certain cuts identified by President Trump.
“Americans are rightly concerned with how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. Just like every Louisiana family has to do, Congress must confront rising debt by cutting back on spending we can’t afford. As an appropriator, I will always fight for Louisiana’s priorities and for a more efficient federal government. Tightening our belt will save taxpayer money and better serve the people I represent.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) led a group of 19 Senate colleagues in condemning U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s decision to gut the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and appoint several members to the committee with a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. In the letter, the lawmakers raise the alarm on the dangers of gutting the ACIP and urge Secretary Kennedy to immediately reappoint the members of the committee he fired.
“We are deeply concerned by your decision to fire every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This unprecedented action will strip Americans of the ability to make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of vaccinations — the complete opposite of ‘radical transparency’ and ‘good science,’” wrote the senators.
The senators raised the alarm on the recent appointment of several members to the committee, “We are troubled by your recent announcement to appoint several members to the committee who have a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. We urge you to restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee and immediately reinstate the members of ACIP you have baselessly fired.”
“ACIP is a longstanding, trusted national source of science- and data-backed advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease. Members that serve on this committee must undergo extensive vetting and disclose any conflicts of interest. Firing every member of the committee just before their next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 eliminates the advisory board’s ability to debate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk,” continued the senators.
“We urge you to immediately reappoint the members of the committee that you fired and remove those that you have recently appointed that have a documented history of peddling misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence,” the senators concluded.
In addition to Senators Luján, Warnock, and Blunt Rochester, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
We are deeply concerned by your decision to fire every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This unprecedented action will strip Americans of the ability to make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of vaccinations — the complete opposite of “radical transparency” and “good science”. We are troubled by your recent announcement to appoint several members to the committeewho have a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. We urge you to restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee and immediately reinstate the members of ACIP you have baselessly fired.
ACIP is a longstanding, trusted national source of science- and data-backed advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease. Members that serve on this committee must undergo extensive vetting and disclose any conflicts of interest. Firing every member of the committee just before their next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 eliminates the advisory board’s ability to debate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk. This reckless move is also happening as our nation faces the largest measles outbreak in over 30 years.
This decision appears to be a deliberate effort to repopulate the committee with anti-vaccine demagogues and continue pushing vaccine misinformation to the American people. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 80 percent of parents with children under age 18 report that their children receive routine immunizations; however, a divide based on political ideology is growing. The reality is that most Americans trust the science behind vaccines — but through inaccurate information and politicization, you are eroding the trust in vaccines.
This is just one action of many that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently taken to undermine vaccine confidence in the United States. Just over two weeks ago, HHS reversed the CDC recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination. This decision was made without the consultation of ACIP or CDC, narrowing recommendations to exclude healthy pregnant people despite pregnancy increasing the risk for severe infection. Just a day later, HHS announced the termination of a contract with Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine despite warnings of a future pandemic from infectious disease doctors and public health professionals. These deliberate efforts to sow doubt in the safety and efficacy of vaccines have real consequences — people will die.
In addition to advising everyday Americans on their health decisions, ACIP recommendations also influence whether insurance will cover certain vaccines, making them accessible to insured Americans. Furthermore, ACIP determines the vaccine recommendations for the Vaccines for
Children program, which ensures underinsured and uninsured children across the nation can access vaccines at no cost. Without these recommendations, vaccines will become out of reach for far too many Americans. These actions contradict your written responses to questions for the record from the Senate Finance Committee, in which you said “yes” in response to a question about your commitment to ensure there are no financial barriers to accessing safe and effective vaccines.
Vaccines are safe and effective and have significantly reduced, and in some cases entirely eliminated, disease. With recent scientific advances in mRNA technology, vaccines are becoming easier and faster to produce in addressing today’s public health crises. It is critical that ACIP maintains its ability to develop science- and data-driven recommendations on vaccination without interference from anti-vaccine ideology.
Patient safety and transparency is at the heart of ACIP — Americans deserve the ability to make informed decisions about their health. You are stripping Americans of the freedom to choose by your recent appointments to the committee by centering anti-vaccine ideology. Therefore, we demand that you recuse your personal views on vaccines and restore the ACIP. We urge you to immediately reappoint the members of the committee that you fired and remove those that you have recently appointed that have a documented history of peddling misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence.
The UK voted in favour in line with our unwavering determination to end the suffering in Gaza, bring the hostages home and move towards lasting peace: UK Statement at the UN General Assembly
Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, after the adoption of UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/ES-10/27 on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The UK voted in favour of this resolution in line with our unwavering determination to end the suffering in Gaza, bring the hostages home and move towards lasting peace in the region.
Let me start by repeating our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and their despicable actions on and since 7 October. They must be held accountable and can play no role in the future governance of Gaza. The UK’s commitment to Israel’s security is resolute.
President, the text of the resolution is clear that both Israel and Hamas need to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; that Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release the hostages; and that Israel, as the occupying power, must end its blocks on aid and ensure unhindered humanitarian access.
And crucially, there must be an end to any actions that stand in the way of a two-state solution and the best chance for peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people.
That is why this week, the UK, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, sanctioned Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. These two men are responsible for inciting settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank with their extremist rhetoric. Attacks by violent settlers have led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole communities.
We will not stand by while Israeli actions attempt to entrench a one-state reality.
The UK is deeply concerned by ongoing Israeli operations in the West Bank, including incidents where children have been killed. This is appalling and unacceptable.
President, there can be no military solution to this conflict.
Over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed and the IPC have been clear that half a million people are facing starvation.
Israeli Government policies which have completely blocked or severely restricted humanitarian aid are unacceptable. That civilians have been killed whilst desperately trying to feed their families is inhumane. And the UK rejects any attempts at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza strip.
While the UK voted in favour of this resolution, we wish to clarify that our long-standing position remains that Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions does not impose a legal obligation on states to ensure respect for international law by third parties.
President, a two-state solution remains the only viable framework for a just and lasting peace. This is the fundamental principle that we must continue to strive for, to end the cycle of violence and give Palestinians and Israelis alike a better future.
We welcome the leadership of France and Saudi Arabia in convening next week’s Conference in pursuit of this.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)
Washington D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02), and Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA-03) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help vulnerable students pay for college campus housing.
Congresswoman Beatty, Congressman Landsman, Congressman Lawler, Congressman Bacon, and Congressman Nunn have reintroduced the Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act– bipartisan legislation that would allow eligible students in, or formerly in, foster care as well as emancipated youth, to use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Housing Choice Voice Program – known as Section 8 vouchers – to pay for college campus housing.
Currently, the HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program cannot be used by college students, whether they live on or off campus. The Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Actwould allow the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to waive requirements and provisions in the program, allowing foster care and emancipated youth to use Section 8 vouchers for college housing on college campuses.
The Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Acthas been endorsed by the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, National Foster Youth Institute, and the Foster Care Alumni of America.
Congresswoman Beatty:
“Every student deserves a safe place to call home and a fair shot at pursuing higher education. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Reps. Greg Landsman, Don Bacon, Mike Lawler, and Zach Nunn to ensure that students who are emancipated or in foster care have access to stable campus housing,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “Young Americans must overcome significant barriers to achieve the dream of higher education and economic success, and this bill helps address one of those major hurdles, giving low-income students the boost they need to thrive academically and propel their lives forward.”
Congressman Landsman:
“We have a real opportunity to change lives with this bipartisan bill. By covering housing, it removes so many barriers for these vulnerable students. They can live in a dorm, with their peers instead of feeling isolated off-campus, which can lead to better academic performance and greater success.”
Congressman Lawler:
“In New York, where the cost of housing is some of the highest in the country, too many students, especially those coming out of foster care and emancipated youth, are being forced to reconsider pursuing a college degree due to financial burden. This bipartisan bill helps students stay housed and in school by expanding access to HUD support. It’s a practical step that opens doors for young people who deserve a real opportunity to succeed.”
Congressman Don Bacon:
“As a foster care parent, I understand it can be challenging for foster youth students to attend college,” said Bacon. “This legislation removes restraints on college students from receiving housing assistance. With a high rate of homelessness prevalent amongst foster youth amongst youth transitioning out of foster care, this bill will help remove a barrier and ensure more foster youth can complete college. I am happy to join Rep. Landsman again on this bipartisan legislation to help foster youth.”
Congressman Zach Nunn:
“As a father and former foster parent to two wonderful girls my wife Kelly and I adopted, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges kids face aging out of the system. This bipartisan bill ensures foster youth aren’t forced to choose between safe housing and getting an education. It’s a commonsense, compassionate solution that puts our most vulnerable students on a path to success.”
Rebecca Louve Yao – CEO, National Foster Youth Institute:
“Young people with lived experience in foster care have been calling for housing solutions that reflect the realities of their lives and Representative Landsman listened. This bill is a direct response to what National Foster Youth Institute program participants and other youth across the country have shared: that the lack of safe, stable housing can derail their entire educational journey. We’re proud to see their voices reflected in this legislation and grateful for leaders in Congress who are turning those voices into action.”
April M. Curtis – Board Chair, Foster Care Alumni of America:
“At Foster Care Alumni of America, we know first-hand how unstable housing can derail college dreams. I was homeless in college in between semesters. TheCampus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Actwill finally give students who’ve experienced foster care the year-round, affordable on-campus housing they need to stay enrolled, graduate, and build thriving futures.”
The full text of the Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Actcan be found here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)
Tonko Condemns Trump Recissions Package Gutting Funding for NPR, PBS, and USAID
Calls out President’s cruel, petty attempts to eliminate public broadcasting & life-saving international aid
Washington, June 12, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Paul D. Tonko released a statement following the House vote on President Trump’s recissions package, which seeks to claw back $9.4 billion in funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid, including AIDS prevention efforts such as PEPFAR.
Instead of addressing the rising cost of living or making life better for working Americans, Trump is using his power to go after Elmo and Big Bird.
Public, independent broadcasting is essential to any democracy, providing educational programming as well as news updates and emergency alerts. International aid has saved tens of millions of lives by driving AIDS prevention efforts and addressing global health crises. Yet, the President wants to claw back billions in funding for NPR, PBS, and USAID.
I’ve heard from thousands of constituents — hardworking American taxpayers — calling to demand these essential programs keep their funding.
While House Republicans once again kowtowed to the President’s demands, I won’t stop working to defend and uphold these programs that serve my constituents, our nation, and our planet.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)
House Passes the HALT Fentanyl Act
Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Authored by Reps. Latta and Griffith
Washington, June 12, 2025
Today, the House of Representatives passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would make the temporary class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances (FRS) permanent. Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-9) led the House version of this bill.
“The HALT Fentanyl Act helps protect American communities by tackling deadly fentanyl-related substances and saving lives. We are grateful to our Republican colleagues, led by Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer and Chairwoman McClain, for their critical support of our bill and its Senate companion. House Republicans will continue to advance policies that fight the opioid epidemic and make American communities safer,”said Congressmen Latta and Griffith.
Congressman Latta spoke on the House floor in support of the HALT Fentanyl Act, watch here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of a recissions package to codify $9.4 billion in wasteful spending identified by President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency.
This includes a rescission of $8.3 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending and a $1.1 billion recission of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
“House Republicans are committed to right-sizing government, and it starts with commonsense reforms like these,” said Rep. Kelly. “The American people have made it clear: they want Congress to get federal spending back on track. This just the first step toward getting Washington’s fiscal house in order.”
Examples of waste, fraud, and abuse that will be cut through this recissions package:
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
NPR’s CEO, Katherine Maher, called President Trump a “fascist” and “deranged racist”
PBS programming includes “Real Boy,” a program about a trans teen, and “Our League” about a trans woman returning to her hometown
NPR requested and received a $1.9 million grant commitment from CPB to hire more “moderate” editors and journalists, as they recognized their complete leftist bias
Woke & Weaponized Foreign Aid
$167,000 for free education and healthcare to Ecuadorian and Venezuelan migrants
$889,000 for electoral reforms and voter education in Kenya
$1 million for voter ID in Haiti
$33,000 for “Being LGBTI in the Caribbean”
$643,000 for LGBTQI+ programs in the Western Balkans
$567,000 for LBGTQI+ programs in Uganda
$8,000 for promoting vegan food in Zambia
$500,000 for electric busses in Rwanda
$4 million for legume systems research
$67,000 for feeding insect powder to children in Madagascar
$6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico
$3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street
$4 million for “sedentary migrants” in Colombia
$1 million for programs to strengthen the resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements
$6 million for supporting media organizations and civic life of Palestinians
$2.5 million for teaching young children how to make environmentally friendly “reproductive health” decisions
$3 million for sexual reproductive health in Venezuela
$2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa
Programs that prop up woke climate change programs for U.S. universities
$614,700 for climate adaptation, including to grow coral reefs in the Caribbean
$135 million in contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO)
$8 million for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
$158 million from the Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission (UNIFIL), which has been fraught with waste and abuse, as evidenced by its abject failure to contain Hezbollah
$142 million from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
$83 million from the UN Development Program (UNDP)
$33 million from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
$130 million from other IOP programs, which includes programs like UN Women, UN Panel on Climate Change, Int’l Conservation Programs, etc.
PEPFAR Recissions:
$3 million for circumcision, vasectomies, and condoms in Zambia
$5.1 million to strengthen the “resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movements”
$833,000 for services for “transgender people, sex workers and their clients and sexual networks” in Nepal
The United States Institute of Peace
The President’s Executive Order (14217) eliminated the USIP.
$1.2 million for the “Afrobarometer public opinion survey.”
$100,000 for Harvard to conduct research models for peace
$77,000 for University of Denver for “Escaping the Ethnic Trap in Deeply Divided Societies.”
United States African Development Foundation
The President’s Executive Order (14217) eliminated the USADF
Programs such as graphic design training in Nigeria
“African Hive Camping and Tours” to create adventure trips for backpackers
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined colleagues on the House Steps and delivered the following remarks:
LEADER JEFFRIES: The Trump administration is a disgrace. Secretary Noem is a disgrace. The manhandling of Senator Alex Padilla was a complete and total disgrace. Senator Padilla is a good man, a decent man, a patriotic man and a hardworking man. He’s the very embodiment of what a United States Senator should represent in this great country of ours, anchored in the principle of self-government.
He was at that press conference doing his job, asking questions about what is taking place in California, the state that he represents, and on behalf of the American people. And he was recklessly and aggressively manhandled.
That was unacceptable. It was unconscionable. It was unpatriotic. It’s un-American. And every single person who was involved in manhandling Senator Padilla should be held accountable to the full extent of the law. So this is not going to end until there is accountability and until the Trump administration changes its behavior.
This administration is not about law and order. It’s about lawlessness and disorder. And that’s what we’ve seen from day one of the Trump administration when Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of violent felons who brutally assaulted the Capitol right behind us. Day one, this administration has been about lawlessness and disorder, and we see a continuing escalation of it.
And we’re going to make sure that we push back aggressively in every way possible to hold those individuals accountable who, without justification, manhandled Senator Alex Padilla.
I’m here today as House Democratic Leader to make it clear we stand with Senator Padilla. We stand with the California delegation. We stand with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. And we stand with the American people.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Amodei issued the following statement after voting against the $9.4 billion rescissions request sent to Congress by the Trump Administration:
“If we do not have time to think about it, we sure as hell have time to talk about it before October 1st when the impacts of these rescinded funds would start to be felt,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “This is forward funding. So, before we trigger major consequences for our local public broadcasting stations throughout the West and other rural areas, we need more discussion—rather than railroading folks over the East Coast’s editorials and indiscretions.
“I agree we must make meaningful cuts to shrink our federal deficit; however, I would be doing a disservice to the thousands of rural constituents in my district if I did not fight to keep their access to the rest of the world and news on the air.
“Having the ability to discuss real impacts, beyond just the global perspective, is a healthy and necessary step. I’m sure we will be voting on this again before the cake is fully baked, so I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve and protect this infrastructure our rural communities rely on.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)
Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, the House of Representatives passed H. 4 – the Rescissions Act of 2025. This legislation eliminates $9.4 billion in wasteful spending on partisan media organizations and U.S. foreign aid.
Congressman Riley M. Moore proudly voted in favor of the legislation, having recently been selected to lead the Republican Study Committee’s new Rescissions Task Force. The Congressman also spoke in favor of the legislation on the House floor shortly before the vote. Watch those remarks below:
Congressman Moore issued the following statement:
“I’m proud to have supported this bill to codify President Trump’s DOGE cuts, which finally ensures tax dollars aren’t used to weaponize media against the American people and puts a stop to the Democrats radical lgbtq agenda in foreign aid.
“The American people know waste, fraud, and abuse when they see it – and as the leader of the Republican Study Committee’s Task Force on Rescissions, I’ll continue to work to expose it. This is only the first step – more cuts are coming.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
The U.S. House voted and passed S. 331, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act today. The bill is the companion bill to Rep. Griffith’s and Rep. Latta’s HALT Fentanyl bill, H.R. 27, which passed the House earlier this year. The bill now heads to President Trump for his executive approval.
On passage, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:
“American communities continue to feel the impact of the fentanyl crisis, fueled in part by lethal fentanyl-related substances. Congressional action passing the HALT Fentanyl Act is a great step to help combat the crisis and save lives. We now deliver this critical bill to President Trump to aid the Administration in their push to fight the fentanyl crisis.”
BACKGROUND
The U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Griffith’s and Rep. Latta’s H.R. 27on February 6, 2025. Their statement is available here.
In February, the Trump Administrationissueda statement of Administration policy signaling their support of theHALT Fentanyl Act.
The Senate version, S. 331, passed the Senate on March 14, 2025.
This week, Congressman Griffith managed floor debate on theHALT Fentanyl Act. His remarks can be seenhere.
The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify lethal fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I substances, closing a dangerous loophole traffickers are exploiting. The new temporary Schedule I designation is set to expire in September 2025.
The bill also enables a streamlined registration process for medical research into fentanyl-related substances.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)
Washington, D.C. (June 12, 2025) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after of H.R. 4: Recissions Act of 2025:
“This week, my colleagues and I passed the first of possibly several rescission bills, which eliminate wasteful government spending. This level of reckless and wasteful spending has been going on for years behind the backs of the American people and Congress. Fortunately, the Trump administration is shining light on the waste of taxpayer dollars, and Congress is now acting to make these cuts permanent.
“President Trump and congressional Republicans are clear that we are committed to putting America first and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in our federal government. This vote marks a critical step toward restoring fiscal responsibility and refocusing our government on policies that serve the American people, not political agendas. I will continue working alongside my colleagues and President Trump to ensure that every dollar spent reflects the values and priorities of the voters who demanded a change.”
Funds to be rescinded include:
– $833K for trans sex workers in Nepal – $1.2 million for LGBTQI+ programs in Uganda and the Western Balkans
-$3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street – $500 million for Left-wing news agencies – $2.5 million to teach kids eco-friendly reproductive health – $500K for electric buses in Rwanda – $6 million for “net zero cities” in Mexico – $1 million to promote voter ID in Haiti – $5.1 million to strengthen the global queer movement – $3 million for condoms and productive procedures in Zambia
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter Applauds Passage of Rescissions out of House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today released the following statement after House Republicans passed the rescissions package sent over by President Trump, codifying $9.4 billion worth of savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE):
“House Republicans were sent to Washington, D.C. with a trifecta and a mandate to restore sanity to the federal government and stand by President Trump, which is exactly what we did today by passing this rescissions package. The Senate must act quickly to save valuable taxpayer dollars so we can begin putting these funds towards America First policies and deficit reduction, not woke, fiscally irresponsible nonsense.”
Headline: USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving Over $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities Fraud
Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Home Newsroom AG Labrador Backs Federal Response to the Violence in California
BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador and 24 other Republican Attorneys General issued a joint statement supporting President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard in response to violent rioting in California. “We will always defend the right to peacefully protest, but there’s nothing peaceful about arson, assault, and anarchy. If you set police cars on fire, throw Molotov cocktails at law enforcement, and loo businesses, you must be held accountable. “In California, we’re seeing the results of leadership that excuses lawlessness and undermines law enforcement. When local and state officials won’t act, the federal government must. “We stand with law enforcement, we support President Trump’s action, and we will not let chaos take hold in our states.” Republican Attorneys General across the country stand united in condemning:
Violent attacks on law enforcement The normalization of mob violence as ‘activism’ Any attempt to delegitimize efforts to restore order Leaders who put politics above public safety
Attorney General Labrador joined the coalition which includes the Attorneys General of Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. Read the letter here.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced on June 10, 2025, for his role in distributing cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and possessing three firearms, including two assault rifles with high-capacity magazines, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Azmar Carter, a/k/a “Bizzy,” 32, of East Orange, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to a superseding information charging him with two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2021, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization that operates primarily in and around Orange, New Jersey and distributes narcotics throughout Essex County. During the investigation, Carter distributed cocaine to law enforcement in May 2021 and in July 2021. Subsequently, on August 18, 2021, law enforcement searched Carter’s residence and car in East Orange, New Jersey and recovered the following items: one Draco AK 47 rifle; one Smith and Wesson AR rifle; one .40 caliber pistol; ninety-four rounds of associated ammunition; a distribution quantity of heroin and cocaine; and approximately $7,177.00.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Carter to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; members of the Orange Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Todd Warren, Chief Vincent Vitiello and Captain Brian Mooney; members of the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Giacomo Sacca and Police Director Earl J. Graves; members of the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis Bindi; member of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda and Chief of Police Sharonda Morris; and the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrests.
This case is part of Operation Orange, which is a part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, the Orange Police Department and the Irvington Police Department.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
MIAMI – Carlos Abreu, 36, has been sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by three years supervised release, after pleading guilty in two consolidated federal cases (24cr60155 and 25cr60015) to the following charges: (1) falsely claiming United States citizenship to register to vote; (2) using a United States citizen’s name to vote; (3) possessing firearms as an alien without lawful status; (4) making false statements in support of a passport application; and (5) aggravated identity theft. As a condition of his supervised release, he was also ordered to turn himself into immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
According to the two factual proffers, Abreu entered the United States without inspection and, in 2007, assumed the identity of the victim, “C.R.V.” Between 2007 and his August 2024 arrest, Abreu held himself out as “C.R.V.” to Federal, state, and local government agencies. The victim, “C.R.V.,” is a United States citizen living in Puerto Rico who did not know Abreu.
Abreu obtained a Florida driver’s license in 2007. He registered to vote under the name “C.R.V.” in 2016, and renewed his registration in 2020. He admitted to voting in federal elections in 2016 and 2022. Abreu also admitted to obtaining a Florida concealed carry permit in “C.R.V.’s” name and purchasing four firearms. Abreu also conceded that, in 2021, he had attempted to obtain U.S. passports for his two minor daughters as well as himself, using “C.R.V.’s” name and personal identifying information, all without lawful authorization.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Conklin of the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office made the announcement.
DSS’ Miami Field Office investigated the case. The DSS San Juan Resident Office in Puerto Rico and ATF Miami provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brianna Coakley and Daniel Rosenfeld are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadya Z. Cheatham is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 24-cr-60155 and 25-cr-60015.
A recruit participates in the Army’s future soldier prep course at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., on Sept. 25, 2024. AP Photo/Chris Carlson
The U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14, 2025, with a parade in Washington, D.C., in which about 6,600 soldiers and heavy pieces of military equipment will roll through the streets. The parade aims to display the Army’s history and power.
In 2024, the U.S. military met its recruitment target, which supports the argument that the bump is not due to Trump, as recruitment levels began to rise again before his reelection. But in some cases, the U.S. military has met its recruitment goals by lowering target numbers.
And as a scholar of terrorism and targeted violence, I believe a close reading of available data on military recruitment suggests U.S. gun violence may be largely to blame for the lack of interest in joining the military.
Gun violence data
Regardless of one’s personal politics, the data on U.S. gun violence makes for painful reading.
Moreover, these perceptions have considerable impacts on youth mental health and their sense of safety. Studies have linked concern over school shootings among adolescents with higher rates of anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
As Arne Duncan, who served as President Barack Obama’s secretary of education during the Sandy Hook tragedy, said in 2023: “Unfortunately, what’s now binding young people across the country together is not joy of music, or sports, or whatever, it’s really the shared pain of gun violence – and it cuts through race and class and geography and economics.”
National security threat
In the past couple of years, pollstaken of Generation Z youth, born between 1997 and 2012, suggest mental health and mass shootings are among the most important political issues motivating this band of voters.
Gun violence, in other words, is a national security emergency, undermining the U.S. government’s ability to protect its citizens in their schools, places of worship and communities.
As former Marine Gen. John Allen wrote in 2019: “Americans today are more likely to experience gun violence at home than they might in many of the places to which I deployed in the name of defending our nation.”
U.S. Army National Guard members stand outside the Army National Guard office during training on April 21, 2022, in Washington. AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File
Rewriting American culture
Accordingly, gun violence has undercut American patriotism, corroding the U.S. government’s soft power within its own borders. Generation Z, termed by some as the “lockdown generation,” is often derided as less patriotic than its predecessors.
Surprising Gen Z Research.
Also, the belief in American exceptionalism is dropping among millennials, born between 1981 and 1996. That perception is combined with less confidence in U.S. global engagement and the efficacy of military solutions.
American culture has long inspired military service, with recruits seduced by action movies and promises of heroic returns to the U.S. But American culture today is being rewired into one of suffering, pain and victimhood.
Internal U.S. military surveys of young Americans show that “the top three reasons young people cite for rejecting military enlistment are the same across all the services: fear of death, worries about post-traumatic stress disorder and leaving friends and family — in that order.”
Generations already suffering a shattered sense of safety and place do not see the military as a viable option.
The explanations the U.S. Defense Department gives for dismal recruitment levels focus on the younger generation’s supposed lack of backbone or hatred of America.
D’elbrah Assamoi, from Cote d’Ivoire, signs her U.S. certificate of citizenship after a military training ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2023. Vanessa R. Adame/U.S. Air Force via AP
Republicans, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have blamed alleged “wokeness” for low recruitment levels.
And the Trump administration’s statements about improving recruitment numbers over the past several months overlook both a late Biden-era surge after a pandemic slump as well as the reality that numbers remain depressed due to military services repeatedly lowering their recruitment goals.
Very rarely are introspective questions publicly debated today about the objective attractiveness of military service or the appetite for violence among young people. The problem, I believe, is not that young people are insufficiently patriotic – it’s that they have already been fighting a war, daily, for their entire lives.
In reversing the slide in recruitment, then, the military could improve its sensitivity to these important concerns.
Highlighting the range of careers within the services that do not involve front-line combat and physical danger could encourage more reluctant would-be recruits to volunteer.
Mental health support also could be made an essential element of military training and lifestyle − not a resource only for those bearing the hidden side-effects of life in the ranks. Encouraging those suffering from treatable mental health issues to seek meaning in service could also boost recruitment numbers.
Jacob Ware is a gun violence survivor and serves as a Survivor Fellow at Everytown for Gun Safety.
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 12, 2025
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today joined a new effort to push back against the Trump Administration’s assault on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide.
The No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act would ensure that President Trump’s hateful executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ Americans have no force or effect and would ensure that no federal funds are used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out those executive orders. With anti-LGBTQ+ hate on the rise across the United States, this bill fights back against these harmful federal policies, expands freedom, and opens the doors of opportunity for all Americans.
“Trump repeatedly bullies gay and transgender people in schools, sports, and the military just because of who they are. That’s wrong, and this legislation makes it clear that everyone deserves safety and equality under the law,” said Murphy.
“Trump’s executive orders cruelly attack the LGBTQ+ community – denying them anti-discrimination protections and health care access,” said Blumenthal. “This legislation shields the community from the dangerous impact of these new federal policies. I’m proud to join the fight against Trump’s spiteful assault on LGBTQ+ Americans.”
The No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act takes aim at the Trump Administration’s anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders, including:
The Day One executive order to mandate discrimination against transgender, non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals.
An executive order to reinstate and expand the transgender military ban.
An executive order to prevent medically necessary health care from being provided to transgender youth.
An executive order to prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports.
An executive order requiring schools to deny the existence of transgender people.
U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the bill.
U.S. Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT.-AL), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Jasmine Crockett (D-Tex.-30), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Sarah McBride (D-Del.-AL), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), and Nikema Williams (D-Ga.-05) cosponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.
The bicameral bill is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, Advocates for Trans Equality, ACLU, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Planned Parenthood.
Full text of the legislation is available HERE.
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 12, 2025
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) on Wednesday reintroduced the Workforce Mobility Act, bipartisan legislation to limit the use of non-compete clauses that negatively impact American workers. U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) co-sponsored the legislation.
About one in five American workers – 30 million people – are constrained by a non-compete clause, which blocks workers from working for a competing employer or starting a competing business. Research indicates that workers trapped by non-competes have lower wages, and their restricted mobility makes it more difficult for businesses to recruit talent. In states where non-competes are enforced, young firms are more likely to die in their first three years compared to states where they are not enforced.
“Millions of fast-food workers, security guards, janitors, and health care workers can’t leave their current job for a better one because they’re locked in non-competes. That crushes worker power, reduces wages, and stifles new businesses. The FTC should continue defending its rule to ban non-competes, but Congress should make the policy permanent and pass our legislation to protect workers and support entrepreneurs,” said Murphy.
“Non-compete agreements stifle growth, career advancement, innovation, and human freedom. Our bill aims to remove these barriers and create opportunities that help, not hinder, Hoosier workers,” said Young. “The reforms in our legislation will assist workers and entrepreneurs so they can freely apply their talents where their skills are in greatest demand.”
“Non-compete agreements make it harder for businesses to recruit and hire talent and stifle wage growth for workers,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to promote innovation and support American workers.”
“Non-compete agreements stifle innovation and job mobility,” said Cramer. “I am glad North Dakota is a national leader in blocking these inhibitive practices. Our bipartisan bill makes non-competes virtually illegal and puts more power back into the hands of the American worker.”
The Workforce Mobility Act would:
Narrow the use of non-compete agreements to include only necessary instances of a dissolution of a partnership or the sale of a business;
Charge the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Labor with enforcement, as well as making explicit a private right of action in federal court;
Require employers to make their employees aware of the limitation on non-competes, as studies have found that non-competes are often used even when they are illegal or unenforceable. The Department of Labor would also be given the authority to make the public aware of the limitation; and
Require the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Labor to submit a report to Congress on any enforcement actions taken.
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 12, 2025
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Thursday released a statement on the targeting of non-profit organizations by House Republicans. Earlier this week, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.-07), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.-02), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability, sent letters to more than 200 non-governmental organizations baselessly accusing them of “incentivizing and facilitating illegal immigration” and “encouraging unprecedented levels of human trafficking and smuggling.”
“It is outrageous, but completely predictable, that House Republicans are targeting non-profit and faith-based organizations Congress contracted to support communities in border states and across our country. Instead of using their authority to bully small non-profits, these members should have read the bills they voted on, which included the authorizing and appropriating language for the very contracts and programs they are targeting in this letter. Talk to any federal law enforcement officer or local leader in a border town, and they’ll tell you these services help make our immigration and asylum system safer and more orderly, while also reducing the burden on local communities. These intimidation tactics will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on NGOs’ willingness to do business with the federal government, and I urge my colleagues to abandon this baseless attack on these organizations and work with Democrats to solve the real challenges we face,” Murphy said.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)
June 12, 2025
BOLTON, MS – Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that Jackson State University has been awarded a $199,755 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support cutting-edge research in traffic signal control systems. The project, entitled“ERI: Advancement of Max Pressure Traffic Signal Control in Partially Connected and Automated Transportation Systems,”is under the direction of Dr. Hao Liu and will begin on August 1, 2025.
This award, made through NSF’s Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) program, supports research that aims to enhance traffic network efficiency during the transition from human-driven vehicles (HDVs) to connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). Research will focus on redefining Max Pressure (MP)-based traffic control systems to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this evolving transportation environment.
The project will support the formation of a sustainable research group at JSU and provide valuable training for students pursuing careers in transportation engineering. Findings from this study are expected to contribute to national progress in transportation science and operational efficiency.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to China and Europe next week. He will be joined in Shanghai and Beijing with a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders.
“China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner and a vital part of our economic story,” Mr Luxon says.
The visit will focus on growing trade, which was worth over $38 billion last year, as well as also look to strengthen education and tourism links and to maximise opportunities for New Zealand businesses.
“New Zealand is a trusted supplier of safe, high-quality food and beverage products to Chinese consumers. It is an important market, and I look forward to doing what I can to support Kiwi businesses to thrive,” Mr Luxon says.
China is New Zealand’s largest source of international students and is our third-largest tourism market.
“This visit is about backing the recovery of international education and tourism and putting New Zealand front and centre as a world-class destination for travel, study, and long-term connection,” Mr Luxon says.
The Prime Minister will meet China’s top leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, to discuss the comprehensive bilateral relationship and key regional and global issues.
“The challenging global outlook makes it vital that we are sharing perspectives and engaging China on issues that matter to New Zealand.”
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by the 2025 Te Matatini champions, Te Kapa Haka o Ngatī Whakaue.
The Prime Minister and his delegation will be in China from 17 to 20 June.
Europe
Mr Luxon will then travel on to Europe to undertake bilateral visits in Brussels and the Hague. He will meet with leaders, including from the European Union, to discuss trade, security, and the shifting geopolitical landscape.
“We have a high-quality trade relationship with the European Union, and the Netherlands and Belgium are gateways for New Zealand’s growing exports to Europe,” Mr Luxon says.
“Since the early entry into force of the New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement, Kiwi goods exports have grown by over 25 per cent, which is a more than NZ$1 billion increase.”
In the Netherlands, the Prime Minister will participate in the NATO Summit and hold one-on-one talks with a number of NATO leaders.
“Prosperity is only possible with security, and our discussions will focus on connections between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security environments,” Mr Luxon says.
New Zealand has been invited to the NATO Summit alongside other members of the Indo-Pacific Four – Australia, Japan and Korea.
“I look forward to building our positive relationship with our European friends, and to forging stronger links with businesses and investors as part of our wider plan to rebuild New Zealand’s economy.”
The Prime Minister is in Europe from 21 to 25 June
DOC, working alongside Te Whānau o Rangiwhakaahu, the University of Auckland, and Northland Regional Council, undertook the trial over 2 weeks in May 2025. Dive teams spent nearly 290 hours underwater during 440 dives, covering five sites across six hectares, to halt the spread of urchin barrens – barren reefs stripped of life by increasing populations of the native long-spined sea urchin.
Despite being native, the long-spined sea urchin has seen a dramatic population boom – increasing more than elevenfold in the past 25 years. Warmer waters and fewer predators are thought to be key factors, and even in the fully protected marine reserve, where their numbers are now estimated to exceed 1.5 million.
Unlike kina, which have shown signs of natural decline under marine protection, long-spined sea urchins have continued to expand. They graze not just on kelp but on a wide range of marine life, threatening the rich biodiversity and the colourful communities of fixed marine animals – like sponges, corals, and anemones – that cover the vertical reef walls and make the Poor Knights internationally renowned.
“This is the first coordinated removal effort specifically targeting long-spined sea urchins in a New Zealand marine reserve,” says DOC Marine Technical Advisor Dr Monique Ladds.
“The goal is to slow the spread of urchin barrens in the Poor Knights while we continue to investigate long-term solutions. Follow-up surveys in July will help assess the effectiveness of the removal and guide future management decisions.”
The removal work follows successful but smaller trials in 2023 which showed rapid recovery of the kelp and wall communities.
“This is not a long-term fix,” says Monique. “Although removals may help buy time in some areas, we know they are not a sustainable strategy for managing the scale of the problem. We’re continuing to work with iwi, scientists, and partners to explore future options for protecting these ecosystems at the Poor Knights and elsewhere. This trial is one way we’re testing what’s possible. When we take action, nature can bounce back.”
Marine reserves managed by DOC are protected areas, and removing or harming marine life without a permit is illegal.
WASHINGTON— Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted in favor of S. 331 – the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. This legislation permanently extends President Trump’s 2018 Schedule I classification of fentanyl-related substances and gives law enforcement the tools they need to keep Americans safe from dangerous illicit drugs. “We cannot afford to waste any time in the fight against the fentanyl crisis, which is devastating families and communities across the country,” said Rep. Simpson. “As President Trump takes decisive action to halt the flood of this deadly drug pouring across our southern border, Congress is also working to combat this epidemic, remove fentanyl from our streets, and give our brave law enforcement officers the tools they need to save American lives. This is an important step in combatting this crisis, and I am pleased to see this bill head to President Trump’s desk.” The HALT Fentanyl Act passed with a vote of 321-104. Earlier this year, the House passed similar legislation by a 312-108 vote. The Senate passed S. 331 by an 84-16 vote. This legislation will now head to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
ADVISORY – ARMSTRONG COUNTY – Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Second Lady Blayre Holmes Davis to Highlight 2025-26 Proposed Budget Investments in Child Care Workforce
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Second Lady Blayre Holmes Davis will host a roundtable conversation to discuss the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed 2025-26 budget and its plan to invest in and expand Pennsylvania’s child care workforce Friday, June 13, at 10 a.m. at Grandma’s House, 616 First St. Ext., Apollo.
The 2025-26 proposal builds on the Administration’s first two budgets with a $55 million investment in retention and recruitment bonuses to increase child care availability, ensuring parents are able to work and children have quality care. These grants to licensed child care centers in Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works (CCW) Program would provide up to $1,000 per employee.
During their first two years in office, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Davis have expanded the state’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit and created a new tax credit for businesses that want to contribute to their employees’ child care costs.
WHO: Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Second Lady Blayre Holmes Davis, Alle Kiski Strong Chamber Executive Director Lynda Pozzuto, Trying Together Director of Public Policy Emily Neff, representatives from the Early Learning Investment Commission, Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs and Advisory Commission on Women, child care providers, teachers and parents
WHAT: Roundtable conversation about child care in Pennsylvania and investments in the Shapiro-Davis 2025-26 proposed budget
WHEN: Friday, June 13, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Grandma’s House 616 First St. Ext., Apollo
RSVP: Members of the news media who are interested in attending must RSVP to Kirstin Alvanitakis at kirstinalv@pa.gov.
Vasquez Exposes Secretary Hegseth’s Shocking Ignorance on Border Issues in House Armed Services Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.– During a House Armed Services Committee hearing today,U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) confronted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for his blatant lack of knowledge about the U.S.-Mexico border, despite the Department of Defense’s growing involvement and massive spending in the region.
WATCH: VASQUEZ PRESSES SECRETARY HEGSETH IN HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
Vasquez’s district includes 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, a fact that Hegseth was unaware of. It also includes some of the country’s most remote, rugged borderlands, and Vasquez pressed Hegseth on basic geography, local conditions, and defense department spending. The result was clear: the Secretary of Defense is dangerously unprepared for the role he’s been entrusted with.
“Pete Hegseth couldn’t name how many miles of border exist in New Mexico. He couldn’t point to where the wall starts or ends. He couldn’t say whether there are roads in critical terrain. And he had no meaningful answer when I asked about surveillance technologies despite their clear value as modern, cost-effective alternatives to a border wall,” said Vasquez. “This is not just concerning—it’s disqualifying. The military doesn’t belong on our border.”
Vasquez repeatedly highlighted the disconnect between the Department of Defense’s policies and the realities of life on the border, challenging Hegseth’s cookie-cutter rhetoric and false claims about the effectiveness of the administration’s strategy.
“I have serious concerns with your fundamental lack of knowledge about the U.S.-Mexico border, considering the billions of dollars that DOD is slated to spend on this mission,” said Vasquez. “I would encourage you to do some homework on my region and learn what will actually make our border more secure and safer.”
Hegseth had no response when asked about the Bootheel, a highly remote and strategically significant stretch of southern New Mexico. When pressed on terrain features like the Animas Mountains or local infrastructure, he dodged. When confronted with data showing the DOD diverted over $1 billion from troop housing and modernization to border deployments, he deflected.
Hegseth notably admitted that a border wall is not always the most effective border security tool despite the administration’s stance on the issue, “I’m aware that there are places where walls are not as much as effective as other places, and I get that.”
Vasquez continues to advocate for modern surveillance infrastructure, expanded port-of-entry capacity, and smarter, humane approaches to immigration. He has introduced bipartisan legislation to realign border security investments with what works on the ground, not what plays best on cable news.
