Timothy Farr, 43, allegedly brandished a firearm at local gas stations and drive thru stores, demanding cash and cigarettes.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, from Dec. 3 through Dec. 15, Farr committed multiple armed robberies at area businesses.
Specifically, it is alleged that on Dec. 3, Farr, wearing a dark jacket, pants and shoes, as well as gray two-tone style gloves and a black balaclava mask covering part of his face, entered a Sunoco gas station on Wayne Avenue in Dayton at around 10pm. Farr allegedly brandished a black firearm and demanded cash from both registers. It is alleged Far also demanded several packs of cigarettes and a box of Black and Mild Filter Tips. Farr allegedly brought a green plastic bag with him for the cash and items.
The next day around 11:30pm, Farr allegedly committed an armed robbery at a Marathon gas station on Linden Avenue in Riverside. Farr allegedly wore the same clothing as the first robbery with the addition of an N-95 style mask.
Farr is also accused of committing armed robberies on these dates and locations:
Dec. 6 at Ray’s Xenia Avenue Market on Xenia Avenue in Dayton
Dec. 7 at Free Pike Drive-Thru on Free Pike in Dayton
Dec. 8 at Sunoco gas station on Selma Road in Springfield
Dec. 10 at Mini Mart on N. Main Street in Dayton
Dec. 11 at Marathon gas station on E. Fifth Street in Dayton
Dec. 15 at Sammy’s Drive-thru store on Woodman Drive in Riverside
During the investigation, law enforcement was able to identify a vehicle of interest using the Flock Safety Camera System and identified a 2011 red Ford Taurus linked to armed robbery locations.
When Dayton police officers initiated a traffic stop of the red Taurus on Dec. 16, Farr was allegedly in the front passenger seat wearing the outfit described in the armed robberies, had an N-95 style mask on the floorboard and gray two-tone gloves in his pocket. Farr also allegedly had a 9mm pistol in his waistband.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott, Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal, and Riverside Police Chief Frank Robinson announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477). Individuals may also email ATFTips@atf.gov, or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt® app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Arnes Krajinic, 33, of Roseville, was sentenced Thursday by United States District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 5 years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement began investigating Krajinic in January 2023 because he was advertising fentanyl and firearms for sale via Instagram. On January 17, 2023, law enforcement arrested Krajinic and found him in possession of approximately 95 grams of fentanyl powder, miscellaneous prescription pills, over $7,000 in cash, a digital scale, and a privately manufactured 9mm firearm that did not have a serial number and was loaded with ammunition. Krajinic was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including for robbery, possession of controlled substances while armed, possession of a concealed weapon in a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of controlled substances for sale.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, the ATF, and the Placer County Special Investigations Unit, with assistance from the Roseville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man pleaded guilty to federal charges of production of child sexual abuse materials, admitting to creating illicit content and using social media to lure minors for sexual exploitation.
According to court documents, Kevin Vallo, 40, used the social media messaging app Telegram to communicate with a 13-year-old victim. Vallo created multiple profiles on Telegram under different names and personas, misrepresenting his age as 16 when he was actually 39 years old.
Vallo admitted to engaging in sexually explicit chats with the victim and repeatedly inviting her to his residence. On or about February 19, 2024, Vallo persuaded the victim and two other minors to come to his home in Albuquerque for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Vallo further admitted to recording four separate videos of himself engaging in sexual activity with the victim using his cellular phone, which he then sent to the victim. These videos constitute child pornography under federal law.
Vallo will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Vallo faces 15 to 25 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Vallo will be subject to a minimum of 5 years and up to life of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
If you have reason to believe you or your child may be a victim of Vallo, or if you have information about this ongoing investigation, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or submit their tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
MIAMI – On Dec. 18, Vernell Syrethia Lawson, 33, a former Miami-Dade Correctional Officer, and Gabrielle Nicole Bess-Mills, 35, made their initial appearance in court on a previously sealed indictment containing charges related to a continuing criminal enterprise led by co-defendant Terrance Carter, 31.
According to the indictment, Carter led a drug trafficking organization which relied on the corruption of Lawson and other Miami-Dade Correctional Officers, along with drug trafficking associates, to introduce narcotics and other contraband for sale into Miami-Dade County jail facilities.
Lawson and Bess-Mills are charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, participating in a conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, and racketeering promotion through bribery and drug trafficking. Lawson is also charged with Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right conspiracy. The indictment also charges Carter with operating the continuing criminal enterprise and use of interstate facilities to commit violence in furtherance of racketeering.
The defendants are residents of Miami-Dade County.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Stephanie Daniels, Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), Sherea Green, Director of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, Special Agent in Charge Jefferey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Division, Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Dr. Judith Bernier, Chair of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust made the announcement.
This case was investigated by a Task Force formed by the Miami-Dade Police and Corrections Departments, with the support of federal, state, and local partners, to combat drug trafficking organizations operating in the Miami-Dade correctional facilities with the assistance of corrupt public officials. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections provided significant assistance.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ignacio J. Vázquez, Jr. and Trial Attorney Melanie G. Wegner are prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.
This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Individuals with information about corruption should contact the FBI Miami Area’s Task Force at https://tips.fbi.gov/. Anyone with information related to possible ethics violations is asked to contact the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust at 786-314-9560 or ethics@miamidade.gov.
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 number 24-cr-20543.
DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Lovell Cassius Benallie, age 27, of Kirtland, New Mexico, was sentenced to a total of 166 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence on the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation. The prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and information presented at sentencing, on August 24, 2023, Benallie and an associate traveled from New Mexico to the Ute Mountain Ute Casino. After gambling, Benallie went to the nearby Ute Mountain Ute Travel Center and approached an elderly Navajo man preparing to use the laundry facility. In an interaction that lasted about eighteen seconds, Benallie said, “give me all your money” and pointed a 9mm gun at the man. When the man replied, “what money” Benallie aimed and fired the gun at the man’s leg. Benallie fled the scene. The victim was airlifted to Grand Junction for medical treatment and suffered serious and enduring injuries.
Benallie had several prior felony convictions, including a conviction for aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon in Farmington, New Mexico.
“The defendant acted callously and purposelessly,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “Gun violence will not be tolerated on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and our office reaffirms our intention to vigorously violent crimes on our reservations.”
“This defendant coldly and callously shot a total stranger during an attempted robbery. Any such act of violence on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation gets the full attention of FBI Denver,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “In this case we were assisted by the Farmington, New Mexico, Police Department. We will continue to support the Bureau of Indian Affairs and those who live on the reservation by investigating criminal acts and removing the perpetrators from the community.”
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher sentenced the defendant on December 16, 2024.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Durango conducted the investigation in conjunction with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Philip Murphy, Director of History & Policy at the Institute of Historical Research and Professor of British and Commonwealth History, School of Advanced Study, University of London
A ruling by the UK’s Special Immigration Appeals Commission has revealed that a Chinese businessman with links to King Charles’ younger brother, Prince Andrew, has been banned from Britain. The commission was upholding a decision originally taken in 2023 by the then home secretary, Suella Braverman, to exclude a man subsequently named as Yang Tengbo.
Britain’s Security Service, MI5, had advised the commission that Yang posed “a risk to UK national security”. Reports have noted Yang’s visits to royal events at the request of the prince and his communications with one of Andrew’s senior advisers, Dominic Hampshire.
That Andrew might have been cultivated by an agent of the Chinese government will come as no surprise to anyone who has studied the work of intelligence agencies. Their ideal target will not necessarily be someone who sympathises with the regime they serve. Indeed with the collapse of the ideological certainties of the cold war, this has become increasingly unlikely.
Rather, a target will probably be someone who has particular weaknesses that can be exploited, often revolving around money or sex. They are seldom at the very pinnacle of power. But that, in itself, can leave them resentful and hungry for affirmation.
An exaggerated sense of self-importance can render them even more pliable. This can make for a complex relationship between intelligence predator and their prey.
In Andrew’s case, there are indications that members of his circle actually talked up the prince’s importance as a political contact. The commission’s ruling quoted a message from Hampshire to Yang in March 2020 after the latter had been invited to attend the Prince’s 60th birthday party.
Hampshire told Yang: “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family. You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship. …outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”
Those more familiar with the workings of the British government might be sceptical about the height of the branches Yang had reached. King Charles is, after all, a constitutional monarch with few formal powers. And Andrew has become an increasingly marginalised figure within the royal family.
A steady stream of revelations about his relationship with sex-trafficker and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has left him increasingly out in the cold. He was stripped of his role as UK trade envoy in 2011 and was then forced to step down from public duties in 2019. So why bother trying to court him?
Clues are provided in an important survey of the links between the royal family and the intelligence community published by international history specialists Richard Aldrich and Rory Cormac in 2021. As they note, before 2011, Andrew had enjoyed a long career in the royal navy and then as a British trade envoy, becoming closely involved in the sensitive and secretive world of UK arms sales.
In 2010, the Wikileaks revelations suggested Andrew had been fiercely critical of the Serious Fraud Office for almost derailing a deal with Saudi Arabia and that his inside knowledge might have extended to some dark corners of the arms trade and its methods. There were also reports that the UK’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, was concerned that a former US deputy police chief close to the investigation into the Epstein affair might have leaked details to Russia, leaving Andrew open to blackmail.
So Andrew probably was a tempting target, combining personal vulnerability with knowledge that could, at the very least, be embarrassing to the UK. But then, to borrow former US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s vivid phrase about Iraq, the British establishment has long provided foreign intelligence agencies with “a target-rich environment”. And the waters tend to be muddied by the ease with which legitimate contacts based on cultural and trade diplomacy can morph into something more sinister.
Broader concerns
The ruling of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission quoted from a statement by the director-general of MI5 from July 2022 which distinguished between legitimate diplomacy and “what we call interference activity – influencing that is clandestine, coercive or corruptive”. Yet, in practice, the distinction is often opaque.
When darker forces are at work, it often only becomes apparent as a result of prolonged surveillance of those involved. And that, in turn, assumes Britain’s spies are actually doing their job. Various bodies have questioned whether they are.
In a July 2020 report, the parliamentary intelligence and security committee criticised the intelligence community for not being more curious about certain aspects of Russian activity. The possibility of Kremlin interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum was a significant concern.
The implication – that intelligence officials had been nervous about getting involved in such a sensitive political issue – was rather borne out by the fate of the committee’s report itself. It was delivered to then prime minister Boris Johnson in October 2019 but was not released to the public until well after his pro-Brexit government had won the general election of December that year.
Nor is the Labour party without questions to answer. At the same time as the Prince Andrew scandal was unfolding, Christine Lee, who donated £584,177 to the office of the Labour MP Barry Gardiner, lost a claim against MI5 which had accused her of engaging in political interference on behalf of China. Gardiner has said in response that none of the donations “according to MI5, came from an illegal source” and that he has “ceased all contact” with Lee following the MI5 warning.
Prince Andrew’s behaviour is part of a wider picture and speaks to the general need for higher standards in British public life. Stricter rules on political donations to prevent foreign interference in British politics are long overdue. And people of political influence, including members of both houses of parliament, should be far more closely scrutinised over their relationships with foreign officials and business people. National security, as the term implies, very much begins at home.
Philip Murphy has received funding from the AHRC. He is a member of the European Movement UK.
Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)
The mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights; in 2024, the Department released nearly 1,600 press releases with this mission in mind.
• Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Meets with Law Enforcement Components to Address Violent Crime – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VQ7-Pl3X4I
• DOJ Releases Report on Critical Incident Review of Response to the Mass Shooting at Robb Elementary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iep7DhNHZPM
• U.S. and U.K. Disrupt LockBit Ransomware Variant – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jKykhKKMZw
• DAG Lisa Monaco Delivers Keynote Address at the ABA’s 39th Annual White Collar Institute – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjyIcmqbXRE
• DOJ Officials Deliver Remarks at Second Annual Community Violence Prevention and Intervention Grantee Conference – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfziUdERcH8
• Justice Department Sues Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYUHvtwI2f0
• Justice Department Hosts Program Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACPvoAXnq9Y
• DOJ Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American Renters – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z4ToglRsIU
• USAO-Eastern District of Arkansas Announces Investigation Into Largest Pharmacy Ring in DEA History – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWAmzZNDluQ
• Justice Department Hosts Election Threats Task Force Meeting – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEzCpoKFmAM
• DOJ Secures Agreement to Reform Louisville Metro’s & LMPD’s Unconstitutional & Unlawful Practices – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMNsbEFhCdQ
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel.
First, the United Kingdom congratulates Senegal, Ghana, and Mauritania on their successful recent elections.
But, elsewhere, democracy and civic space remain under pressure, with civil society organisations, human rights defenders, journalists and media institutions facing severe challenges.
Timelines for the return to constitutional governments in Mali and Burkina Faso have either been delayed or remain unclear, and Niger is also yet to establish a transition timeline.
Guinea’s transition timeline has also slipped again. We urge that the return to constitutional order is completed swiftly. Inclusive and transparent democratic processes are crucial for stability and peace.
Second, the security situation across the Sahel is worsening, with terrorist and insurgent activities, serious and organised crime, and external actors and proxies exacerbating instability.
Private military security companies, like Russia’s Wagner Group and Africa Corps, are not the answer. They have a track record of worsening existing conflicts and undermining long-term development and stability.
We are concerned about the economic impact of deteriorating security in already fragile states.
Many countries in the Sahel now face difficulties accessing the financing they need to maintain macroeconomic stability and sustain growth.
The United Kingdom also notes the outcome of the recent ECOWAS summit held on 15 December, including the announcement of the six-month grace period for the Alliance of Sahelian States.
We urge all states in the region to cooperate to tackle the growing security, development, governance challenges and transnational threats. Maintaining strong links between states is critical.
Third, we are extremely concerned by the deteriorating regional humanitarian situation.
Extreme flooding has affected over 3.7 million people in West Africa this year and has contributed to worsening food insecurity, further fuelled by conflict, displacement and climate change.
Since 2019, UK aid has supported over 16 million people in the Sahel with life-saving assistance.
But access is increasingly restricted.
We call on all actors to ensure safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.
Armed escorts must remain a last resort.
In closing, the UK looks forward to deepening bilateral partnerships, and continuing to work closely with UNOWAS and regional organisations to help build peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel.
Del Rio, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service, in coordination with other law enforcement partners, today arrested a murder suspect who had evaded authorities for nearly 30 years.
The fugitive, Jose Rafael Marceleno, 53, was initially indicted for murder in Ector County on April 23, 1996, following an Odessa Police Department investigation into the murder of his wife, Guadalupe “Petey” Paredes, 32. Marceleno allegedly stabbed his wife multiple times with a lock blade knife and fled the scene.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Ector District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement officials to prepare a request for Marceleno’s extradition, which was presented to Mexico on May 13, 2022. Thanks to information developed by foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies, Marceleno was arrested in July 2023 in Juarez, Mexico.
After Marceleno was extradited from Mexico on December 16, 2024, he was taken into custody in Del Rio. The U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, in coordination with the Odessa Police Department, Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Ector County District Attorney’s Office, and Odessa Crime Stoppers, worked closely to bring the fugitive to justice.
Participating officers worked vigorously and diligently to locate and apprehend Marceleno. The Ector County District Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
“The Marshals and our law enforcement partners are committed to locating and apprehending the most dangerous individuals, even in other countries,” said U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau. “Through coordinated efforts, we will continue to make our communities a little safer, one fugitive at a time.”
Agencies involved in the extradition included:
USMS Western District of Texas – Lone Star Fugitive Task Force
Would you like to have a say on policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador? Here’s your opportunity! RCMP NL encourages residents to complete the Policing Services Survey, issued by the Policing Transformation Working Group (PTWG). The survey, which is open until January 17, 2025, is availablehere.
In late 2023, the Minister of Justice and Public Safety announced the establishment of the Policing Transformation Working Group (PTWG). The role of the PTWG is to provide ongoing advice to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians receive the most effective and efficient policing services possible. As part of public engagement efforts, the PTWG has created this survey which will help shape the future of policing services in our province.
Further information on the Policing Transformation Working Group can be found here:
Source: Council of the European Union (video statements)
Ever wondered what an EU Summit is and why it matters? These high-stakes meetings bring together 27 EU leaders, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission in Brussels to reach agreements on key issues.
These gatherings aren’t just formal meetings—they’re dynamic events often marked by intense negotiations, global media coverage, and decisions that resonate worldwide. Whether it’s agreeing on policies or resolving differences, these summits define the future of Europe.
📺 Tune in now to discover how EU summits work, what they achieve and why they’re essential.
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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On December 6, 2024, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for the first Evangelization and New Particular Churches), appointed, Father Peter Piyachart Makornkhanp, of the Archdiocese of Bangkok, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Thailand for five years.The new director of the Thai PMS is 63 years old and was ordained a priest in 1990. He attended the St. Joseph Seminary in Sempran (1979-1982) and subsequently that of the Holy Family. He obtained a degree in philosophy and religious studies at the Saengtham Institute at the Sampran Campus and a master’s degree from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. From 1990 to date he has carried out various ministries, covering the role of parish priest and pastoral assistant in various communities of his Archdiocese, of which he was Vicar General from 2020 to April 2024. Since April 2024 he has worked in the office for the missionary pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Bangkok and is parish priest of the Holy Rosary Church. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 20/12/2024)
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Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Following Georgia’s elections, ODIHR reiterates concerns over pressure on voters and independence of state institutions and calls for concrete action
Following Georgia’s elections, ODIHR reiterates concerns over pressure on voters and independence of state institutions and calls for concrete action | OSCE
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H.R. 8235 would update the requirements rural hospitals must meet to receive specific Medicare funding for graduate medical education. The bill would affect which hospitals are eligible to receive such funding but would not change the total amount of funding available. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8235 would not affect direct spending or revenues. CBO has not estimated the bill’s effects on spending subject to appropriation. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
H.R. 8244 would increase the limit on the amount of civil monetary penalties a skilled nursing facility may have assessed against it while maintaining approval to operate a nursing aides’ training program. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8244 would not affect direct spending or revenues. CBO has not estimated the bill’s effects on spending subject to appropriation. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
H.R. 8245 would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to certain rural hospitals to promote the availability of services. Hospitals could use those grants to recruit new staff or acquire equipment, for example. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. The bill would authorize $20 million annually over the 2026‑2029 period for the new program. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would increase spending subject to appropriation by $80 million over the 2025-2034 period; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
H.R. 8246, the Second Chances for Rural Hospitals Act, would allow critical access hospitals and certain small rural hospitals that closed between January 1, 2014, and December 26, 2020, to reopen as rural emergency hospitals. Those facilities would qualify for additional Medicare payments, including higher reimbursement rates and annual facility payments, depending on their distance from other hospitals. Based on an assessment of the number of additional locations that would become eligible for monthly payments, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would result in about 6,000 additional monthly payments to rural emergency hospitals, increasing Medicare fee-for-service spending by $2 billion. That change also would increase payments to Medicare Advantage plans. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8246 would increase total direct spending by $3.4 billion over the 2025‑2034 period and that enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
H.R. 8816, the American Medical Innovation and Investment Act of 2024, would modify rules for determining national and local coverage in Medicare’s programs and revise certain Medicare payments and benefits. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would decrease net direct spending by $129 million over the 2025-2034 period. The bill would provide $5 million to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which CBO estimates would increase direct spending by the same amount over the 2025-2034 period to implement changes to the national and local coverage process. The bill also would expand Medicare coverage for the home infusion of drugs. CBO estimates that enacting that provision would reduce direct spending by $134 million over the 2025-2034 period. The bill also would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a four-year demonstration project offering medically tailored, home-delivered meals to beneficiaries with heart disease, diabetes, or other conditions. CBO estimates that enacting the medically tailored meals demonstration would not significantly affect direct spending over the 2025‑2034 period. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
Tyler Coleman holds two harvested ducks that have been banded. Coleman wears a necklace of bands he’s collected over the years.
Each Band is a Memory and a Story
For lifelong waterfowl hunter Tyler Coleman, bird bands hold a special fascination. “Bands can be a prize, but equally divisive,” said Coleman. “Bands have a purpose, and when you try to understand the science of waterfowl, you can better understand that banding plays an important role in their conservation.”
Tyler grew up in Lebanon, PA, and graduated from Penn State with an Agricultural Science degree. After college, he worked in a local taxidermy studio before starting his own business that specializes in waterfowl taxidermy with a small retail front geared toward duck and goose hunters.
Tyler describes the raw emotion of flipping over a bird, or watching his dog return with a banded bird, as being hard to beat. He knows that many hunters look at bands as prizes or tokens from a hunt. But for Tyler, each band tells a story. “I can look at my lanyard, point to any duck band, and recall the amazing details of that particular hunt,” said Coleman. “It could have been a ‘dogs retrieve on a bird that was a goner,’ a memorable destination hunt, or just a fun hunt with friends and family. I love to look at a band as a memory and story that will outlive me in many regards.”
As a hunter, Tyler genuinely appreciates the banding data certificate he receives from a harvested banded bird. He views it as unique way of bringing the bird’s story full circle: from where it was first banded to where it traveled either locally or far and wide. “I don’t quite understand why hunters do not want to report bands; maybe there is a disconnect to the importance of reporting? Or no real incentive in reporting, unless you fully understand the importance and overall goal,” said Coleman. He believes there is an opportunity to teach more waterfowl hunters about the value and science behind bands so that reporting becomes almost second nature.
Over the years, Tyler has witnessed bird bands go from being a pleasant surprise on a hunt, to becoming the main purpose with hunters trying to target a band. He wonders if this shift takes away some authenticity from the purpose of the bands, or at the very foundation, somehow negatively affects the data being collected. “I have been blessed to have harvested many bands in my life. I love flipping a bird over, or snagging it from my Spaniels grin, and seeing their leg sporting something extra,” said Coleman. “Bands are a bonus and shouldn’t be the only purpose to hunt and by no means should be treated as a ‘status symbol’ in the waterfowl community.”
Preacher, Tyler Coleman’s Boykin spaniel, holds a harvested and banded bird in his mouth.
Every Report Matters
Reporting waterfowl bird bands in North America is crucial for tracking populations, understanding movements, and supporting conservation and management efforts by state, federal, private, and tribal entities. The data collected from these reports plays a vital role in monitoring habitat use, population dynamics, and disease trends—all factors that biologists use to make decisions on wildlife management issues. Additionally, encouraging band reporting fosters public involvement in conservation and informs policies that protect waterfowl and their habitats for future generations.
Even a single report can provide valuable insights. When waterfowl bands are reported to the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory, researchers can link the banding data—including the bird’s age, sex, and the location where it was banded—to subsequent reports of that bird at different times and potentially different locations. These paired data points, accumulated across thousands of reports, enable researchers to uncover crucial information that supports wildlife conservation, scientific research and the effective management of bird populations.
For example, if a bird travels long distances during migration, reporting the band provides researchers with the opportunity to track its movement patterns, migratory routes, and seasonal behavior. This helps scientists understand how waterfowl use different habitats throughout their lifecycle, including their migration strategies and stopover locations.
Additionally, reporting where and when banded waterfowl are spotted or harvested allows researchers to estimate key population parameters, such as survival rates, and monitor changes in population numbers over time. This helps determine whether certain species are thriving or declining and provides insight into how environmental factors like habitat loss or climate change are affecting waterfowl populations.
A Rich History in Banding Ducks
For decades, banding waterfowl has been one of three core monitoring programs that underpin modern, scientific approaches to waterfowl management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Division of Migratory Bird Management is involved in both the collection and analysis of banding data. USFWS staff coordinates with banders from various state, federal, private, and tribal agencies in ongoing, annual banding efforts. For example, banding data play a critical role in developing harvest management plans for many goose populations, such as snow geese, and Canada geese across North America. Another example is the Western Canada Cooperative Waterfowl Banding Program which focuses on banding waterfowl throughout the Canadian prairies and Canadian boreal forest. During banding operations, crews capture waterfowl where they congregate to molt or stage prior to fall migration and apply uniquely numbered metal leg bands.
The banding efforts that take place in August are considered “preseason” banding in that they precede the hunting season. In estimating harvest rates, its advantageous that banding occurs just prior to migration and the hunting season so that little natural mortality occurs between the time birds are banded and hunting seasons begin. Not only does this information provide critical scientific data about the percentage of birds that are harvested, where those birds came from originally, and survival rates, but over the years, tens of thousands of birds have been banded, an incredibly impressive number of birds providing a robust data set for biologists. Find out more about the program and read the stories of banding crews in the field.
Some of Tyler Coleman’s banded, harvested birds.
Banded ducks may be recaptured in the future by biologists or get harvested by hunters, who then report these bands to the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory (or Canada’s Bird Banding Office), which provides information about where the bird was banded, where it was recovered, and how long it lived.
This information helped biologists learn what migratory pathways ducks were taking and what habitats they use, which helped them ultimately create the administrative Flyway system. That same system is now what we use to manage those birds, prioritize conservation projects, and set regulations based on those migratory flyways. The Flyway system, established in the 1950s, has been instrumental in developing a strong working relationship between the Service and states. Originally focused solely on waterfowl habitat conservation, the Joint Ventures now provide the science and coordination to protect and restore habitat for all bird species in the United States. The effectiveness of these partnerships, and particularly the Flyway system, is best demonstrated by the fact that waterfowl are one of only two groups of birds (raptors being the other) that have increased in abundance since the 1970s.
Role of Banding Data in Harvest Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program biologists and their counterparts in the U.S. Geological Survey have led the way in developing models that utilize banding and recovery data to predict the impacts of harvest and other take, as well as develop an understanding of environmental factors that drive migratory bird populations.
When hunters harvest the banded birds and report the band number, waterfowl managers can use that information to estimate important population parameters such as survival rates and harvest rates. Banding recovery data are also important for assessing the if there are differences in the ages or between sexes of ducks of being hunted. This information is instrumental in the development of Adaptive Harvest Management and are used by biologists to set annual waterfowl hunting regulations.
The Federal Framework Regulations are the main foundation of annual regulations and consist of the boundary dates for opening and closing seasons, season length, daily bag and possession limits, and shooting hours. To ensure that hunting regulations are based on the best available and mostly timely scientific information, USFWS use data from annual monitoring programs to determine the birds’ status, and ultimately if hunting can be sustained. Specifically, the results of annual survey and monitoring programs including bird banding, waterfowl breeding population and habitat surveys, and harvest surveys, as the basis for establishing the annual federal frameworks.
Tyler Coleman holds two banded ducks.
Impact on Conservation and Management
The data collected through reported bands is essential for adjusting conservation and management strategies. For instance, it can guide decisions about habitat restoration, the establishment of protected areas, and wildlife protection programs. Reporting banded birds also helps researchers assess population health, survival rates, and reproductive success, which are essential for maintaining stable and sustainable waterfowl populations.
Importantly, reporting banded birds is crucial for ensuring sustainable hunting practices. For hunters, submitting band reports is a way to contribute to the conservation of waterfowl species. By tracking banded birds through harvest reports, wildlife agencies can better understand hunting’s impact on populations and adjust regulations—such as hunting seasons and bag limits—to prevent overharvesting and protect vulnerable species.
Overall, reporting banded waterfowl through the federal bird banding report website is a critical tool for informing conservation and management decisions. By knowing where and when banded birds are observed, wildlife agencies can prioritize conservation efforts and make informed decisions about habitat protection and species management, helping to safeguard waterfowl populations for future generations.
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts was packed with family, friends, and supporters of this year’s largest BS/Certificate of Entry into Nursing (CEIN) graduating class on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
CEIN students go from having a bachelor’s degree in another field to becoming a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) in Connecticut in just one year. It is a rigorous accelerated program, (the longest-running one of its kind in the state), that provides a pathway for students of all ages and backgrounds to join the nursing profession.
Achieving this feat in such a compact time frame requires an enormous level of dedication, especially for students who are returning to higher education after a gap period, caretaking, or working – sometimes all three.
The program is offered in Storrs as well as at three of UConn’s regional campuses – Stamford, Waterbury, and Avery Point – and runs from January to December.
Class of 2024 BS/CEIN graduates enjoying some sun before heading onto stage
This cohort was the 22ndaccelerated nursing class to graduate from the School of Nursing. In keeping with tradition, the ceremony began with a greeting from Del Siegle, Ph.D., MS, BS, University Marshal who serves as the Lynn and Ray Neag Endowed Chair for Talent Development.
The School of Nursing’s Dean Victoria Vaughan Dickson, Ph.D., RN, FAHA, FAAN led the processional welcome and introduced this year’s commencement speaker Lucinda Canty, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, FAAN, FADLN, recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award.
We chose to be nurses. We chose to be the ones in scrubs, the ones at the bedside, the ones who care deeply and serve selflessly. – David Broughton, ’24 (NUR), CEIN Class President
This year’s Pellegrina (Peggy) Lacovella Stolfi Clinical Teaching Awards went to Melissa Rembish, MSN, RN-BC, (Health Assessment Instructor); Sherene Fagon, RN, MSN, C-EFM, (Population-based Course Instructor); and Lori-Anne Lowry, MSN, RN-CVBC, CNL, (Adult Care/Community Health Instructor).
CEIN’s class president, David Broughton, delivered a speech of encouragement and hope to his fellow graduates. “We’re ready not only because we’ve gained the knowledge and skills, but because we have the resilience, the heart, and the support of each other,” Broughton said. “Yet, in a world filled with choices, we all found our way to the same path.We chose to be nurses. We chose to be the ones in scrubs, the ones at the bedside, the ones who care deeply and serve selflessly.”
Students from all four campuses lined up to enter the stage and receive their pins – some from family members, friends, and spouses. Elizabeth Mayerson, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE, president of the Sigma Theta Tau Mu Chapter, presented the candidates; over 80 CEIN students (more than half) were inducted into this international honor society in November, which has more than 10,000 active members worldwide.
Nine students received acknowledgement for their veteran or active-duty service, and students with a 4.0 GPA, (who are automatic members of the American Holistic Nurses Association), were recognized for their excellence in academic achievement. The Sigma student award was received by Stamford student Morgan Moltzau.
As you transition from nursing student to professional nurse, always remember that you are UConn nurses, our best and our brightest, and that we will always be proud of you. – Dean Victoria Vaughan Dickson
After each student crossed the stage, the UConn Nursing PRAXIS pledge was led by president of the School of Nursing alumni board, Diana Filipek-Oberg, BSN.Vice provost for health sciences, Amy Gorin, Ph.D., followed with the time-honored Conferral of Degrees before closing remarks by Dean Dickson.
Dean Dickson imparted a message of pride and inspiration as these students enter the next chapter in their nursing journey. “As UConn nurses, you are essential to the future of nursing and of health care,” she said. “You are well-prepared to care for individuals, families, and communities from diverse backgrounds to optimize well-being.As you transition from nursing student to professional nurse, always remember that you are UConn nurses, our best and our brightest, and that we will always be proud of you.”
She went on to say, “Graduates – I charge you now to fully assume the responsibilities of your new status … to build upon the foundation of knowledge through a commitment to lifelong learning and to seek out opportunities through practice and service to exemplify the vision of UConn Nursing: innovative, evidence-based, and caring nurses transforming health care and promoting health equity for all.”
In response, the words of class president David Broughton ring true. “We are the UConn Husky Nurses, today, tomorrow, and forever, and we carry that pride with us as we step forward into our futures.”
To learn more about UConn’s second bachelor’s degree in nursing program, visitHome | Certificate Entry into Nursing (CEIN) Program.
Junior Chapal Bhavsar is interested in big, sustainable-technology projects, including the creation of climate-friendly power plants, and is eager to use his finance knowledge to find ways to fund their construction.
As one of 14 UConn students, and five faculty and staff, to attend the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan last month, Bhavsar met many people—including some international power figures—who share his ideology.
“At COP, I wanted to connect with people in the business space. I went in with an open mind and was happy to talk to anyone. I was in the room with the Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan and with a Saudi delegation working on a clean-energy pipeline. It was fascinating to talk about how financing is changing in the sector, with private industry replacing government entities to advance these projects.’’
“Perhaps the highlight was being able to connect with the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mark Libby,’’ Bhavsar said. “He’s from Southbury and I grew up in Danbury, so we had that in common. I was excited to connect with someone who is so key in the climate-protection movement, a top guy who is very successful. He invited us to a roundtable where he answered all kinds of questions.’’
Bhavsar was joined by two other UConn business students, senior Jackie Flaherty, who is majoring in marketing and urban and community studies and minoring in geographic information science; and senior Naiiya Patel, who is studying accounting, with minors in philosophy, and social responsibility and impact in business. All three are members of the UConn Honors program.
‘Committed to Purposeful Change’
Arminda Kamphausen, director for Global & Sustainability Initiatives at the School of Business, said the COP 29 conference offered students an extraordinary experience. UConn business students have been participating since 2021.
“This once-in-a-lifetime experience ticks all the boxes: international travel, cultural awareness, and growth through exposure to and interaction with critical real-world issues,’’ she said. “The conversations I have had with these students since their return underscores the importance of experiential learning to a complete education. I am so glad we prioritize that here at the UConn School of Business.’’
“The conversations also reinforce my hope in this generation of young people who are committed to purposeful change and positive impact. Experiences like this give them the tools they need to do just that,’’ she said.
Kamphausen said the UConn Office of Sustainability deserves credit for its work to make this adventure happen, and particularly for its ability to arrange for our students to enter the exclusive arena where the most meaningful negotiations occur.
Sustainable Initiatives That Could Apply to Gampel
Patel enjoyed the conference and said one of the highlights for her was having the opportunity to meet the former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen. She told Halonen how much she enjoyed her presentation on the importance of a greener future and need to act decisively.
“It was very cool; I never expected to meet someone so important,’’ Patel said.
Patel said she arrived at COP 29 thinking that she would focus on youth impact and teaching, but found many other interests there as well.
“The themes covered so many fascinating topics from water security to biodiversity to transportation and tourism. It felt so cool because so much of it could be applied right here at UConn,’’ she said.
Patel was intrigued by a presentation from an executive with the Liverpool soccer team, who talked about initiatives to keep the facility and the patron experience more sustainable and climate friendly.
“I thought it would be a great match at UConn and perhaps we could adopt some of those ideas at Gampel,’’ she said. “It was an interesting conference and I didn’t expect that much access to information nor to be around so many important people. Every day there were new panels and an amazing schedule of events. I loved the freedom to seek the information that was of most interest to me.’’
Patel’s professional interests include business, sustainability and education. She hopes to work for one of the Big 4 accounting firms, and said having knowledge about climate-change initiatives will be an advantage in securing her first job and advancing in the industry.
Flaherty Built New Network of Friends, Colleagues
Flaherty has worked in the Office of Sustainability in various capacities since she came to UConn.
“My interest began senior year in high school when I took environmental science and human geography courses,’’ she said. “I really enjoy both communicating information and working with people.’’
The trip to COP 29 was particularly enjoyable for Flaherty, who hasn’t traveled extensively. She loved both the food and the people. “I also enjoyed meeting representatives from around the world and hearing their perspectives,’’ she said.
She hopes to work in sustainable urban planning or communications following graduation.
“This will be such a nice experience to talk about in my future career. I’m so grateful to UConn to have offered this opportunity. It is so important going forward in my career to have had this experience,’’ she said. “I also found a great new network of UConn friends to build both professional relationships and friendships.’’
One of the things that surprised her was seeing oil companies and other lobbyists at the event.
Flaherty and her peers both wished that the conference had generated more substantial change, as the 2015 COP agreement did, resulting in the Paris Agreement. But only about 20 percent of the original finance goals were adopted at the conference.
“At first, I was very disappointed in the outcome. But now I think it is important to focus on what we can do in our communities and to push local leaders to advocate and pressure for national initiatives and investments,’’ Flaherty said.
“Regardless of some frustrations, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to interact with people from around the world and it was tremendously eye-opening,’’ she added.
Bhavsar, a Fulbright scholar with a particular interest in banking and analyst roles, said he still felt optimistic after the event. “Its important that we make progress. It can always be better but it is a big step to make and build connections,’’ he said. “I think these nations are on the right track and moving in the right direction.’’
Bhavsar said he will long remember the people he met at the conference and in the country, visiting a palace, a fire temple, a mosque and exploring Baku.
“UConn support helped us attend COP but also have a tremendous cultural experience as well,’’ he said. “I met one guy who went home and got his brother, who spoke English and could translate for us. We all went out for tea! The Azerbaijani people are very, very nice.’’
On December 14, 2024, at approximately 1:15 am, Powerview RCMP received a weapons complaint in the community of Manigotagan.
While patrolling the area, officers conducted a traffic stop and recognized the male driver of the vehicle as a person with an outstanding warrant.
As the officer was placing the driver under arrest, another traffic stop was being conducted nearby with assistance from Hollow Water First Nation Safety Officers.
Two males from the second vehicle were arrested and when searching the vehicle, officers located a loaded firearm.
RCMP arrested Cole Arthurson, 28, from Selkirk, Kyle Clarke, 34, from Winnipeg, and Keanu Simard, 28 from Hollow Water. All three were charged with a number of firearm-related offences.
On December 16, 2024, at approximately 12:00 am, Powerview RCMP conducted a traffic stop while on patrol in the community, stopping a vehicle with three occupants on Cedar Street.
As the officer approached the vehicle, the male driver informed police he did not have a valid license. After speaking with the other male occupants in the vehicle – officers noticed what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun in plain view in the back.
All three occupants were arrested without incident at the scene.
Clements Swampy, 29, Matthew Boyd, 32, both of Fort Alexander, and Brennon Beaulieu (22) from Winnipeg were all charged with numerous firearm-related offences.
With the assistance of the public, the second individual responsible for the break, enter and theft from NF Power communications site in Old Perlican, 42-year-old David Joseph Traverse of Heart’s Delight, was arrested by Harbour Grace RCMP.
On December 16, 2024, two suspects were caught on surveillance stealing copper wire from the NF Power communications site in Old Perlican. One suspect, 40-year-old Hope Cox, was arrested departing the scene in a vehicle. The other suspect, later identified as Traverse, fled the scene on foot.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Traverse was arrested without incident on December 18, 2024. He is charged with the following criminal offences:
Break and enter
Theft over $5000.00
Michief over $5000.00, damage to property
Possession of break in instruments/tools
Wearing a disguise
Failure to comply with a condition of a release order
Traverse appeared in court in Harbour Grace yesterday and was held in custody overnight. He will appear in court today.
RCMP NL thanks the public for assistance provided during this investigation.
Ten councils in Hertfordshire have released a joint statement on local government reform:
“Following the publication of the Devolution White Paper, and subsequent statements by the leader of Hertfordshire County Council, we would like to make it clear that we do not support the creation of one unitary council for Hertfordshire.
“Our county is diverse and made up of over 1.2 million residents across urban, suburban, and rural areas. Any reform of local government in Hertfordshire should follow a period of proper consultation with residents, businesses, elected representatives and stakeholders. Looking at the evidence, we should decide collectively what is best for our area. A single unitary council for the county risks diminishing local representation, with decision-making that is remote from the communities we serve.
“We do not support postponing the county council elections scheduled for May 2025. The government has indicated that this will only happen in priority areas who have clear and agreed plans. This is not the case in Hertfordshire, so we cannot be in the first phase of these reforms.
“We recognise that the government’s white paper sets a clear direction of travel. As Hertfordshire’s district and borough council leaders, we want to work collaboratively with others to agree how we respond to this. Any changes must be carefully considered, transparent, and inclusive, ensuring that residents and businesses are fully engaged in shaping the future governance of Hertfordshire.
“Our objective must be to get this right for our residents and businesses. That cannot be achieved if we make rushed decisions that have not been given the serious consideration that they deserve.”
Statement agreed by the following leaders:
Peter Taylor, Elected Mayor of Watford (Watford Borough Council) Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council Councillor Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of Three Rivers District Council Councillor Paul de Kort, Leader of St Albans City and District Council Councillor Max Holloway, Leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of North Hertfordshire Council Councillor Adrian England, Leader of Dacorum Borough Council Councillor Mark Mills-Bishop, Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council Councillor Ben Crystal, Leader of East Herts District Council
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced a final rule to implement requirements for futures commission merchants related to margin adequacy and the treatment of separate accounts of a customer. The rule finalizes the Commission’s proposal, published in the Federal Register in March, to codify the no-action position in CFTC staff letter 19-17 regarding separate account treatment. That staff letter, which was supplemented and extended by CFTC Staff Letters 20-28, 21-29, 22-11, 23-13, and 24-07, was jointly issued by the Division of Clearing and Risk and the Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (now Market Participants Division) on July 10, 2019. Letter 19-17 included a DCR staff no-action position stating DCR would not recommend an enforcement action if a derivatives clearing organization permits an FCM clearing member to treat the separate accounts of a customer as accounts of separate entities for purposes of CFTC Regulation 39.13(g)(8)(iii), so long as the clearing member’s internal controls and procedures require it to, and it in fact does comply with certain conditions. In April 2023, the Commission published in the Federal Register its first proposal to codify the no-action position of Letter 19-17. In this first proposal, the Commission proposed to codify the no-action position of Letter 19-17 under its Part 39 DCO regulations, applicable to DCOs, and to their clearing FCMs through the operation of DCO rules. In light of comments received, the Commission withdrew the first proposal, and instead proposed requirements for separate account treatment in Part 1, directly applicable to FCMs. The final rule adopted Regulation 1.44, which will apply to all FCMs, with respect to their customers, a margin adequacy requirement like the one applicable to DCOs in Regulation 39.13(g)(8)(iii). Regulation 1.44 will also permit FCMs, whether clearing or non-clearing, to treat the separate accounts of a single customer as accounts of separate entities for purposes of the new margin adequacy requirement, and will set forth risk-mitigating requirements, based on the no-action conditions in Letter 19-17 and similar proposed requirements in the Commission’s proposals, with which such FCMs must comply in applying separate account treatment. The final rule also amends Regulations 1.3, 1.17, 1.20, 1.32, 1.58, 1.73, 22.2, 30.2, 30.7, and 39.13 to facilitate implementation of Regulation 1.44 and to correct certain inconsistencies identified in the Commission’s existing regulations. The final rule makes modifications in light of comments received, including with respect to:
Proposed requirements related to the treatment of separate accounts of an FCM customer for purposes of certain capital treatment requirements under Regulation 1.17. Proposed definitions of certain terms in Regulation 1.44. Proposed requirements related to a separate account meeting the “one business day margin call” standard, concerning meeting margin calls during foreign banking holidays and untimely payment of margin due to certain administrative errors or operational constraints. A proposed requirement related to the consistent application of separate account treatment.
The compliance date for FCMs that are members of a DCO as of the date of publication of the final rule in the Federal Register is 180 days after such date of publication, while the compliance date for all other FCMs is 365 days after such date of publication.