NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Labor cites Kumho Tire Georgia $271K in penalties, finds 15 safety violations in wake of 57-year-old worker’s fatal injury

    Source: US Department of Labor

    MACON, GA – Federal safety inspectors found a Macon tire manufacturing facility with a history of safety and health violations could have prevented the fatal injuries sustained by a 57-year-old maintenance worker in April 2024. 

    The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the fatal incident at Kumho Tire Georgia Inc., which occurred on April 10, 2024, when a worker was fatally injured after the machine they were working on unexpectedly started. 

    OSHA cited Kumho Tire Georgia after an investigation found the company bypassed safety procedures meant to prevent machinery from accidentally starting during maintenance. The company relied on basic on/off controls and sensors instead of following proper safety measures. As a result, the company was cited for one repeat, 12 serious, and two other-than-serious violations. The company was also cited for repeatedly failing to train authorized employees to safely perform servicing and maintenance activities.

    “Kumho Tire Georgia has repeatedly failed to protect its employees, and this time that negligence resulted in a preventable tragedy,” said OSHA Area Director Joshua Turner in Atlanta. “Every year, thousands of these incidents occur, causing serious and sometimes fatal injuries. There is no excuse for endangering the lives of the employees who keep their operations running.”

    The agency found the employer’s facility lacked sufficient machine guarding, designed to protect workers from caught-in hazards. Investigators also found missing guardrails and uncovered holes, leaving workers exposed to fall hazards. Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. faces a total of $271,930 in penalties.

    Kumho Tire Georgia has a substantial history of non-compliance with safety and health requirements. Since 2015, the facility has been inspected nine times, resulting in 52 violations. 

    Located in Macon, Kumho Tire Georgia is a Chinese and Korean-owned tire manufacturer that employs approximately 560 workers from both Korea and the U.S. The facility has been in operation in the U.S. since 2016. 

    The employer has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

    Learn more about OSHA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Approves More Than $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Approves More Than $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts

    Biden-Harris Administration Approves More Than $1.8 Billion for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts

    WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $1.8 billion in federal assistance for individuals and communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell continues to lead the federal response, working in coordination with state and local partners to ensure that survivors receive the resources they need to jumpstart their recovery. 

    Currently, FEMA has deployed more than 4,400 personnel to the affected areas, working side by side with over 8,000 federal responders to support state and local governments in their recovery efforts. FEMA personnel on the ground are actively coordinating with local officials, conducting damage assessments and helping individuals apply for disaster assistance programs.

    Federal assistance for those affected by the hurricanes includes $597 million to support survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $934 million has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property.

    Applying for assistance is a critical first step towards recovery. Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida (Helene), Florida (Milton), North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. Individuals affected by the hurricanes are encouraged to apply as soon as they are able to by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, which is the fastest way to get an application started. Individuals can also apply using the FEMA App, calling 1-800-621-3362 or in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center. Disaster Recovery Centers in the affected communities can provide survivors with in-person help on their applications and answer questions. Center locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC. FEMA also has Disaster Survivor Assistance team members in the field supporting survivors and helping them with the application process.

    Federal assistance for individuals may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for other federally declared disasters.   

    FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program is ready to respond to insured flood losses. Those with an NFIP-backed flood insurance policy that suffered flood damage should begin filing their claim by contacting their flood insurance agent or company. 

    Recovery Update

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911.1 million in assistance. This includes $581.1 million in assistance for individuals and families, along with more than $330 million for debris removal and efforts to protect public health and safety. In response to Hurricane Milton, FEMA has approved more than $620.2 million in assistance, with $16.2 million allocated for individuals and families and over $604 million for debris removal and safety measures.

    To support response and recovery efforts, FEMA delivered over 12.6 million meals and 12.9 million liters of water to states impacted by Helene. For Milton, FEMA delivered more than 2.2 million meals and 780,000 liters to Florida.

    FEMA continues to open Disaster Recovery Centers in affected communities, offering in-person assistance, information on available resources and help with FEMA assistance applications. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are also on the ground in all affected states, helping survivors apply for aid and connect with additional resources from state, local, federal and voluntary agencies.

    Support for North Carolina

    As ongoing response efforts continue in western North Carolina, FEMA has approved over $100 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 77,000 households.

    More than 3,000 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Shelter numbers remain steady, with 13 shelters housing just over 560 occupants. 

    Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. 

    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/Helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    There are over 370 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also six Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Support for Florida 

    In response to Helene, FEMA has approved over $213 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 71,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $330 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work. In response to Milton, FEMA has approved over $16 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 19,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $604 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work. 

    There are 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities to provide support. There are also 12 Disaster Recovery Centers now open supporting survivors from Debby, Helene and Milton where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina 

    FEMA has approved over $132 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 146,000 households. 

    There are 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also five Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Anderson, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, Greenville and North Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia 

    FEMA has approved over $119 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 118,000 households. 

    There are 139 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also four Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $4.7 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 1,500 households. 

    There are about 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also four Disaster Recovery Centers open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence and Tazewell where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov).

    Support for Tennessee 

    FEMA has approved more than $11.8 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 2,400 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are more than 42 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There is now one Disaster Recovery Center open in Erwin where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website. 

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Labor releases AI Best Practices roadmap for developers, employers, building on AI principles for worker well-being

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Best Practices designed to ensure that emerging technologies such as AI enhance job quality and benefit workers when they are used in the workplace.

    The department’s AI Best Practices provide developers and employers with a detailed roadmap to implement the department’s AI and Worker Well-being: Principles for Developers and Employers, which were released under President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. These guidelines further the department’s commitment to centering worker empowerment and well-being, particularly workers in underserved communities, as AI systems are increasingly used in the workplace.

    “We have a shared responsibility to ensure that AI is used to expand equality, advance equity, develop opportunity and improve job quality,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “These Best Practices provide a roadmap for responsible AI in the workplace, helping businesses harness these technologies while proactively supporting and valuing their workers. As we embrace the opportunities that AI can offer, we must ensure workers are lifted up, not left behind.”

    The Best Practices provide strategies for how AI can benefit workers and businesses, while maintaining a focus on workers’ rights, job quality, well-being, privacy and economic security. These approaches include: 

    • Ethically developing AI standards, review processes and establishing governance structures. 
    • Ensuring meaningful human oversight for significant employment decisions.
    • Being transparent with workers about the use of AI and identifying how AI can assist workers.
    • Centering workers and their input on the use of AI in the workplace.
    • Protecting workers’ labor and employment rights.
    • Providing AI training for workers. 
    • Securing and protecting worker data.

    As part of its commitment to responsible AI, the Department of Labor is aligning its own operations with these AI Principles and Best Practices. The department will continue to engage with companies, unions, workers, and other stakeholders to protect and empower workers when AI is used in the workplace. 

    Editor’s Note: Register to join the live virtual event on Oct. 16 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

    Learn more about the department’s AI Principles and Best Practices.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: NFB and Telefilm Canada to share office space in Halifax, promoting synergy and benefiting the industry

    Source: Government of Canada News

    As of November 4, the National Film Board of Canada and Telefilm Canada will be sharing the office space currently occupied by the NFB production team at 5475 Spring Garden Road in downtown Halifax.

    October 10, 2024

    As of November 4, the National Film Board of Canada and Telefilm Canada will be sharing the office space currently occupied by the NFB production team at 5475 Spring Garden Road in downtown Halifax. Sharing space will promote synergy between the two organizations and benefit Atlantic Canadian filmmakers, partners and producers, who will be able to meet with Canada’s two main federal film agencies under one roof.

    Quotes

    “The NFB has been a presence in Atlantic Canada and Acadia for more than 50 years, and we are loudly and clearly re-affirming our commitment to the region. From the idea to the screen, our teams are here to identify projects and receive proposals for animation and documentary films, supporting directors and co-producers, and developing marketing and distribution strategies. Our goal is to ensure that stories from this wonderful region are told and shared with Canadians across the country,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB.

    “Stimulating and supporting the region’s film industry is a priority for Telefilm Canada,” said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO, Telefilm Canada. “This objective guided the development of our Atlantic Strategy, which we recently unveiled. Our goal is to create and provide opportunities that strengthen expertise and stimulate creative and financial competitiveness across the sector’s entire value chain. So this announcement is very much in line with our desire to strengthen our commitment, reflecting Telefilm’s spirit of collaboration with key players in the ecosystem.”

    The NFB and Telefilm in Atlantic Canada

    The NFB has been a presence in Atlantic Canada for more than 50 years and remains rooted in the region as a producer and co-producer.

    Telefilm is proud to unveil its 2024-2027 Atlantic Strategy, developed for and with Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island industry professionals. Learn more here:

    Telefilm Canada unveils its 2024-2027 Atlantic Strategy for the region’s cinema industry  | Telefilm Canada

    About the NFB

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.

    About Telefilm Canada

    As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center in Marion, Va. Will Open Oct. 17

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center in Marion, Va. Will Open Oct. 17

    Disaster Recovery Center in Marion, Va. Will Open Oct. 17

    BRISTOL, Va.– A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be opening in Smyth County at the Public Safety Administration Building, located at 230 S. Park Street in Marion on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at 8 a.m. Disaster survivors can visit any DRC to receive assistance. Additional centers will be opening in the coming weeks throughout southwest Virginia.

    The center is located at: 

    Smyth County  

    Public Safety Administration Building 

    230 S. Park St

    Marion, Virginia 24354

    Hours of operation:

    Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Closed Sundays

    “Smyth County is very proud to work with FEMA and the Commonwealth to provide a Disaster Recovery Center. We have worked through Helene to provide avenues for citizens to get help. We encourage everyone who has needs, please seek help. The County’s partnership with FEMA will allow citizens get additional help that is available,” said Chief C.W. Crawford, Smyth County Emergency Services Coordinator.

    “FEMA is grateful for the partnership with Smyth County and the Commonwealth for coming together to open this Disaster Recovery Center,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy Pheil. “Survivors can visit any open Disaster Recovery Center and no appointment is needed. FEMA is eager to provide residents of southwest Virginia with resources, help survivors apply for assistance, and answer questions about their recovery.” 

    Survivors do not have to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. You can call 800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free telephone line operates seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. You can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA App on your phone.

    The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is Dec. 2, 2024.

    If you have received a letter from FEMA about your application status, visit a DRC to learn more about next steps. DRC staff can help you submit additional information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue to process your application and answer any questions you may have.

    FEMA has set up a rumor response webpage to clarify our role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response.

    For more information on Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit vaemergency.gov, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Facebook page , fema.gov/disaster/4831 and facebook.com/FEMA.  

    ###

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3.

    To apply for FEMA assistance, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, or download and apply on the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages). Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.

    erika.osullivan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The new Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative provides supplemental support to organizations helping workers and local communities affected by an unforeseen economic event, including mass layoffs of an exceptional nature.

    A mass layoff is defined by:

    • 50 or more employees permanently laid off in one establishment in one community during a four-week period;
    • significant job loss impact (as a proportion of the community’ s labour force); and
    • challenging local labour market conditions, making it difficult for affected workers to transition to new jobs.

    Objectives
    The objectives of this initiative are to:   

    • bring together community-based organizations, employers, training providers and others to develop a community workforce plan that identifies impacted workers, local employers looking to hire, and the skills required to meet demand. 
    • help workers develop the skills needed to transition to new jobs through training and work experiences; and 
    • support employers to fill jobs in demand. 


    Application Process
    Eligible organizations can apply through a two-phased process.

    An expression of interest phase:  Only organizations that meet the criteria in this  phase will be invited to submit an application.

    An application phase:  The Department will assess other criteria at the application phase. An invitation to apply does not guarantee success.

    Applications will be accepted between October 16, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The call may close earlier if funding has been fully committed.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tribunal Continues Finding—Carbon steel welded pipe from Pakistan, Philippines, Türkiye and Vietnam

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today continued its finding made on February 15, 2019, in inquiry NQ-2018-003, concerning the dumping of carbon steel welded pipe from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Türkiye (excluding those goods exported by Erbosan Erciyas Boru Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S.) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

    Ottawa, Ontario, October 16, 2024—The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today continued its finding made on February 15, 2019, in inquiry NQ-2018-003, concerning the dumping of carbon steel welded pipe from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Türkiye (excluding those goods exported by Erbosan Erciyas Boru Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S.) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

    The Tribunal found that the expiry of the finding was likely to result in injury. As such, the Tribunal continued its finding. The Canada Border Services Agency will therefore continue to impose anti-dumping duties on this product.

    The Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Finance. It hears cases on dumped and subsidized imports, safeguard complaints, complaints about federal government procurement and appeals of customs and excise tax rulings. When requested by the federal government, the Tribunal also provides advice on other economic, trade and tariff matters.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixteen Hells Angels & Red Devils Motorcycle Gang Members Face Charges Related to Violent Racketeering Enterprise

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    An indictment was unsealed in the Eastern District of North Carolina charging 16 members of two outlaw motorcycle gangs — the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club (RDMC) — for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaging in violent criminal activity in and around Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina. The RDMC is the main support club nationwide for the HAMC.

    Five of the defendants are charged with murder in aid of racketeering for allegedly killing a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (PMC), a rival gang, on Jan. 1, 2023, in Raleigh. Two additional defendants are charged with accessory after the fact for their alleged actions following that murder.

    Eight defendants are charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering for their alleged roles in a July 22, 2023, violent assault of PMC members in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade, North Carolina.

    And one defendant is charged with obstruction for allegedly attempting to dissuade a witness from assisting the criminal investigation of this case.

    “According to the indictment, these defendants were leaders, organizers, and members of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club and committed multiple crimes to advance their positions in this violent gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The gang’s alleged violent acts included the murder of a rival gang member on a public street, and the assault and attempted murder of other rival gang members in a restaurant parking lot. This indictment demonstrates that, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, the Criminal Division is committed to holding accountable those response for acts of violence that terrorize local communities.”

    “Two years ago we launched a Violent Crime Action Plan to partner with local law enforcement to identify the individuals and groups driving violence in North Carolina, especially criminal enterprises that support and encourage violence by their members,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “We’ll keep pursuing cases like this one, charging violent crimes in aid of racketeering, to expose patterns of violence and hold gang members and those who enable them accountable.”

    “Outlaw motorcycle gangs are notorious for lawless and violent behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Charlotte Field Division. “These criminal organizations are allegedly responsible for a long list of illegal activities, including firearms trafficking, assault, and homicide, and operate with absolutely no regard for the safety of law enforcement or the community. ATF is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners and be part of an effort to disrupt and disband such a violent and dangerous network.”

    “I am proud to stand with my federal, state, and local partners in investigating and disrupting violent organizations which demonstrate a blatant disregard for life and will pursue any method to advance their criminal enterprise in our great city,” said Chief Estella Patterson of the Raleigh Police Department. “The Raleigh Police Department and our community will not tolerate destructive behavior and will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to identify those responsible to ensure they are held accountable. I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Michael Easley and his team for their continued dedication and steadfast commitment to public safety. I also thank the ATF, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for their strong partnership in these cases.”

    “Operation Broken Halo has been an ongoing investigation with the Fayetteville Police Department and the ATF into an alleged criminal enterprise connected to an outlaw motorcycle gang,” said Chief Kemberle Braden of the Fayetteville Police Department. “Through collaboration and partnership with the ATF and other supporting agencies, we were able to successfully bring charges against numerous members of this outlaw motorcycle gang and their supporting clubs. The Fayetteville Police Department remains committed to our partnership with federal, state, and local agencies to remove violent criminals from our community.”

    “I want to make it clear: violent activity is not tolerated in Cumberland County,” said Sheriff Ennis W. Wright of the Cumberland County Sherriff’s Office. “The Sheriff’s Office is 100% committed to maintaining a safe and peaceful community. We thoroughly investigate all tips, and it’s vital for the community to continue to report what they see because we cannot do it alone. We are grateful for our partnerships with the community, the Justice Department, and federal and local law enforcement agencies. Together, we do and will continue to make a difference.”

    Most of the charges are being brought under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR) statute, which makes it illegal to commit certain violent crimes for the purpose of joining, maintaining one’s position with, or moving up in rank within the enterprise. The violent crimes included in this statute include murder, kidnapping, maiming, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and threatening to commit a crime of violence.

    The indictment alleges that all 16 defendants are members or associates of the HAMC, a violent outlaw motorcycle group that allegedly uses violence, threats, and intimidation to carry out its perceived mission and enforce its rules. According to the indictment, RDMC members are subservient to the HAMC and provide support by acting as a source of recruitment for the HAMC and carrying out violent acts to further the HAMC’s interests.

    The indictment alleges that HAMC members are under a standing order to attack, injure, and kill members of the PMC. The indictment also alleges that HAMC members commonly commit physical assaults, including murder, threats to injure, and intimidation to keep witnesses to their criminal conduct silent.

    The indictment charges the following offenses:

    Vidaul Rashaad Reed, 31, also known as Hootie, of Columbus, Mississippi; Anthony Edward Cheever, 34, also known as Rowdy, of Garner, North Carolina; David William Stephens, 26, also known as 007, of Spring Lake, North Carolina; Martinus Jermaine Starks, 43, also known as Tee, of Fayetteville; and Tyler Scott Grissom, 31, also known as Snow, of Warrenton, North Carolina, are all allegedly members of the RDMC and are each charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharge of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and, in doing so, causing death related to the alleged murder of a member of the PMC on Jan. 1, 2023. Murder in aid of racketeering carries a mandatory life sentence, if convicted.

    Christopher Dylan Manor, 28, of Fayetteville; and Robert Scott Brown, 62, of Cumberland County, North Carolina; are both charged with accessory after the fact to the Jan. 1, 2023, murder. As alleged, Manor was a member of the RDMC at the time of the alleged offense and Brown is a member of the HAMC. Each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if convicted.

    Jason Lee Hathaway, 47, of Michigan City, Indiana; Fred Joseph Prosperi, 42, also known as Freddy and Snow Boy, of Wheeling, West Virginia; William Scott Gardner, 33, also known as Big Will, of Garner, North Carolina; Terry Lewis Akins Jr., 51, of Palatka, Florida; J.R. Nevarez Darr, 31, of Raleigh; Darrell Dewayne Strickland Jr., 26, of Fayetteville; William Franklin Beasley, 64, of Nashville; and David Lee Woodall, 45, of Fayetteville are charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering related to the alleged attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon of members of the PMC on July 22, 2023, in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade, North Carolina. They were all allegedly members of the HAMC at the time of the offense. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty 30 years in prison.

    Jonathan Michael Robarge, 40, of Orlando, is charged with tampering with a witness, victim or informant by harassment. Robarge allegedly has ties to both the HAMC and the RDMC. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty three years in prison.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The ATF, Raleigh and Fayetteville Police Departments, and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein and Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Sandling and Robert Dodson for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

    This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada invests in retraining opportunities for workers

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, while hosting Workforce Summit 2024 in Montreal, announced the launch of the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative call for proposals. This $30 million fund will be provided to projects that bring together community-based organizations, that provide new skills training opportunities for workers.

    October 16, 2024              (Gatineau, Quebec)              Employment and Social Development Canada

    When communities are hit with mass layoffs, the long-term impacts of unemployment affect everyone. As economies grow and change, there needs to be supports in place to help workers transition into new opportunities.

    That is why today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, while hosting Workforce Summit 2024 in Montreal, announced the launch of the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative call for proposals. This $30 million fund will be provided to projects that bring together community-based organizations, that provide new skills training opportunities for workers.

    The Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative is part of the Government’s response to significant job losses impacting a community and provides funding to address exceptional situations. This initiative will help bolster community resilience by complementing existing programs and services to help displaced workers transition into new jobs.

    Interested organizations can apply by first submitting an expression of interest. Organizations that meet the criteria in the expression of interest will be invited to submit a full application. Applications will be accepted between October 16, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The call may close earlier if funding has been fully committed. For more information, please consult the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative webpage.

     “Local leaders know their communities best. That’s why we created the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative; to give local leaders what they need to support workforce planning and help displaced workers find work. That’s how we’re empowering communities to address labour challenges, drive innovation and create good paying jobs across the country.”

    – Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault 

    Alice Hansen
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
    alice.hansen@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Jury Returns Indictments

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Beloit Man Charged With Possessing Child Pornography

    Jody Behlke, 49, Beloit, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on May 24, 2023, Behlke possessed a Samsung Galaxy 8 Tab tablet containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment further alleges that at least one of the depictions Behlke possessed involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

    The penalties for possessing child pornography vary depending upon an individual’s prior criminal history. If convicted, Behlke faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

    The charge against Behlke is the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the case.

    This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.

    La Crosse Man and Woman Charged with Possessing Methamphetamine and Fentanyl for Distribution

    Stephan J. Johnston, 27 and Ashley L. Russell, 31, both of La Crosse, Wisconsin, are charged with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, both drugs intended for distribution. The two are also charged with maintaining a drug involved premises. The indictment alleges that Johnston and Russell possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl on February 14, 2024. The indictment further alleges that from January 28, 2024 to February 14, 2024, they maintained a drug involved premises for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    If convicted of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution, Johnston and Russell each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted of possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution, they each face a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. The charge of maintaining a drug involved premises carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

    The charges against Johnston and Russell are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, La Crosse Police Department, Crawford County Sherriff’s Office, and the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katheryn Ginsberg is handling the case.

    Eau Claire Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Xa Xiong, 31, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and attempting to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that Xiong distributed methamphetamine on July 26, 2024, and attempted to distribute methamphetamine on August 1, 2024.

    If convicted of distributing 50 grams or more, Xiong faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of attempting to distribute 500 grams or more, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.   

    The charges against Xiong were the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. The case was also investigated by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consisting of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Levins is handling the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Verdict Against Albuquerque Felon for Illegal Firearm Possession

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury has convicted an Albuquerque man of being a felon in possession of a firearm, following a two-day trial that concluded after just over two hours of deliberation.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 26, 2021, Albuquerque Police Department officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert and a 911 call reporting a man waving a firearm near an apartment complex. Upon arrival, officers located Anthony A. Hernandez, 31, who matched the description provided by the witness.

    Screengrab of body worn video footage showing Hernandez
    Screengrab of body worn video footage showing Hernandez

    During the investigation, officers discovered a purple and black 9mm pistol hidden where Hernandez was seen, along with a spent shell casing in the area. Witness testimony further identified Hernandez as the man with the firearm, and it was confirmed that the recovered firearm had been reported stolen.

    Photo of the gun from the crime scene

    As a previously convicted felon, including a prior conviction for armed robbery, Hernandez was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

    Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Hernandez remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Hernandez is also under indictment for assault on a federal officer, inflicting bodily injury, in November 2022, while being held at the Cibola County Correctional Center on the firearms case. The trial for this charge is scheduled for later this year.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Kimberly Bell are prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 16 Hells Angels & Red Devils Members Face Charges Related to Violent Racketeering Enterprise

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    RALEIGH, N.C. – A single federal indictment in the Eastern District of North Carolina charges 16 members of two outlaw motorcycle gangs – the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club (RDMC) – for their alleged roles as part of an enterprise engaging in violent criminal activity in and around Raleigh and Fayetteville. The RDMC is the main support club nationwide for the HAMC.

    Five of the defendants are charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the killing of a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (PMC), a rival gang, on January 1, 2023, in Raleigh.  Two additional defendants are charged with accessory after the fact for their actions following that murder.

    Eight defendants are charged with Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering for their alleged role in a July 22, 2023 violent assault of a PMC member in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade, North Carolina.

    One defendant is charged with obstruction for attempting to dissuade a witness from assisting the criminal investigation of this case.

    “Two years ago we launched a Violent Crime Action Plan to partner with local law enforcement to identify the individuals and groups driving violence in North Carolina, especially criminal enterprises that support and encourage violence by their members,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr.  “We’ll keep pursuing cases like this one, charging violent crimes in aid of racketeering, to expose patterns of violence and hold gang members and those who enable them accountable.”

    “According to the indictment, these defendants were leaders, organizers, and members of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club and committed multiple crimes to advance their positions in this violent gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “The gang’s alleged violent acts included the murder of a rival gang member on a public street, and the assault and attempted murder of other rival gang members in a restaurant parking lot.  This indictment demonstrates that, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, the Criminal Division is committed to holding accountable those response for acts of violence that terrorize local communities.”

    “Outlaw motorcycle gangs are notorious for lawless and violent behavior,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “These criminal organizations are responsible for a long list of illegal activities, such as assault and homicide and operate with absolutely no regard for the safety of law enforcement or the community. ATF is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners and be part of an effort to disrupt and disband violent and dangerous networks.” 

    “I am proud to stand with my federal, state, and local partners in investigating and disrupting violent organizations,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. “The Raleigh Police Department and our community will not tolerate destructive behavior and will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to identify those responsible to ensure they are held accountable. I am grateful to United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., and his team for their continued dedication and steadfast commitment to public safety. I also thank the ATF, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for their strong partnership in these cases.”

    “Operation Broken Halo has been an ongoing investigation with the Fayetteville Police Department and the ATF into an alleged criminal enterprise connected to an outlaw motorcycle gang,” said Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden. “Through collaboration and partnership with the ATF and other supporting agencies, we were able to successfully bring charges against numerous members of this outlaw motorcycle gang and their supporting clubs. The Fayetteville Police Department remains committed to our partnership with federal, state, and local agencies to remove violent criminals from our community.”

    “I want to make it clear: violent activity is not tolerated in Cumberland County,” said Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis W. Wright.  “The Sheriff’s Office is 100% committed to maintaining a safe and peaceful community. We thoroughly investigate all tips, and it’s vital for the community to continue to report what they see because we cannot do it alone. We are grateful for our partnerships with the community, the Department of Justice, and federal and local law enforcement agencies. Together, we do and will continue to make a difference.”

    Most of the charges are being brought under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR) statute, which makes it illegal to commit violent crimes, including murder, kidnapping, maiming, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, or threatening to commit a crime of violence for the purpose of joining, remaining with, or moving up in rank within an enterprise.

    The indictment alleges that all 16 defendants are members or associates of the HAMC, a violent outlaw motorcycle group alleged to use violence, threats, and intimidation to carry out its perceived mission and enforce its rules.

    The indictment alleges that HAMC members are under a standing order to attack, injure, and potentially kill members of the PMC. The indictment also alleges that HAMC members commonly commit physical assaults, including murder, threats to injure, and intimidation to keep witnesses to their criminal conduct silent.

    The indictment charges the following offenses:

    Vidaul Rashaad Reed, aka “Hootie,” Anthony Edward Cheever, aka “Rowdy,” David William Stephens, aka “007,” Martinus Jermaine Starks, aka “Tee,” and Tyler Scott Grissom, aka “Snow,” are all members of the RDMC and are each charged with one count of Murder in Aid of Racketeering and one count of discharge of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and, in doing so, causing death; all for allegedly murdering a member of the PMC on January 1, 2023.  Murder in Aid of Racketeering carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction and the other charged offenses carry a sentence of up to life in prison.

    Christopher Dylan Manor and Robert Scott Brown are both charged with accessory after the fact to the January 1, 2023 murder.  Manor was a member of RDMC at the time of the alleged offense and Brown is a member of the HAMC. Each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

    Jason Lee Hathaway, Fred Joseph Prosperi, aka “Freddy” and “Snow Boy,” William Scott Gardner, aka “Big Will,” Terry Lewis Akins, Jr., J.R. Nevarez Darr, Darrell Dewayne Strickland, Jr., William Franklin Beasley and David Lee Woodall are charged with Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering related to the attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon of members of the PMC on July 22, 2023 in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade, North Carolina. They are all were members of the HAMC at the time of the offense and each face up to thirty years in prison if convicted.

    Jonathan Michael Robarge is charged with tampering with a witness, victim or informant by harassment, Robarge has ties to both HAMC and RDMC, and faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

    The ATF, the Raleigh and Fayetteville Police Departments, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein and Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Sandling and Robert Dodson of the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

    This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Alonzo Dewayne Harden, 30, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 17, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Huntington in which Harden was a passenger. Harden exited the vehicle and fled on foot before he was apprehended by officers. While fleeing, Harden tossed a loaded Glock Model 22 .40-caliber pistol with an extended magazine to the ground. Officers recovered the firearm.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Harden knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for malicious assault and use or presentment of a firearm during the commission of a felony in Cabell County Circuit Court on August 26, 2021.

    Harden is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting 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.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-116.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Clean Energy Industries Rally Behind Illinois Bills to Save Ratepayers $3 Billion Through Grid Modernization

    Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

    Headline: Clean Energy Industries Rally Behind Illinois Bills to Save Ratepayers $3 Billion Through Grid Modernization

    HB5856 and SB3959 will increase the reliability of the Illinois energy grid, protect ratepayers from rising costs, future-proof the economy, and help the state achieve climate goals
    ILLINOIS, October 15, 2024 – Illinois clean energy industries are unified in supporting HB5856 and SB3959, new legislation that will future-proof Illinois’ energy grid and economy, lower consumer costs, meet climate goals, create family-sustaining careers, and mitigate increasing risks of blackouts.
    “Clean energy is the future, and it’s my duty to work toward that future for the benefit of all Illinois residents,” said State Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), lead House sponsor of HB5856. “HB5856 and SB3959 will provide many benefits to Illinois for decades to come, from lowering consumer costs to ushering in thousands of jobs to preventing dangerous blackouts to bolstering our power grid to make Illinois an attractive investment for energy-intensive tech companies.”
    These bills establish the first clean energy storage procurement mandate for the state to ensure a more reliable grid and address challenges that are slowing down renewable energy resource development. HB5856 and SB3959 would save Illinois consumers $30 per month on their energy bills, prevent more than $7 billion in blackout-related expenses, and create as much as $16 billion in economic benefits.
    “Illinois has an ambitious plan to be a national leader in the climate change fight while supercharging the state’s clean energy economy,” said State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago). “While Illinois is on the right path to meet its goals, it is at risk of not meeting its more immediate deadlines, which will arrive as early as 2030. HB5856 and SB3959 are thoughtful, strategic bills that will help unleash the clean energy economy’s full potential while strengthening our electric grid to make it more reliable, encouraging development and job growth, and creating additional protections for consumers and all ratepayers.”
    The clean energy industries collectively agree that HB5856 and SB3959 are necessary to address the urgent need for more clean energy storage in Illinois. Federal, regional, and state regulators identify Illinois as at risk for falling short of energy needs. This means the state will face challenges in maintaining a reliable grid and that consumers may experience increased and unpredictable energy rates. Legislative action is needed now because deploying large-scale energy storage resources takes time. Illinois residents are already feeling the impact of regulators’ projections, as the July 2024 PJM Interconnection energy capacity auction saw an 833% increase in energy prices, due to an anticipated energy capacity shortfall that will increase power bills by as much as $30 per month for millions of Illinois residents within the PJM Interconnection territory. HB5856 and SB3959 will directly address this risk by providing incentives to supercharge more solar and wind energy and storage developments for a more diverse, reliable power grid.
    “HB5856 and SB3959 are critical to building on the success of the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in Illinois,” said Andrew Linhares, Senior Manager, Central Region at Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “The Illinois clean energy economy has flourished in recent years but there’s more work to be done to secure the state’s clean energy future. This thoughtfully crafted legislation will help unleash the full potential of solar and storage and help Illinois achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.”
    A recent study by Mark Pruitt, former director of the Illinois Power Agency, founder of The Power Bureau, and a professor at Northwestern University, found that HB5856’s and SB3959’s target to create at least 8,500 MW of clean energy storage would provide up to $3 billion in consumer cost savings, save up to $7.3 billion in blackout-related costs through increased grid reliability, and generate up to $16.3 billion in economic activity in Illinois by 2050. The study also found that energy storage is the most cost-effective, immediate, and attainable long-term solution. Not only would HB5856 and SB3959 create those benefits, but they would also ensure Illinois meets the clean energy mandates established by CEJA.
    “American Clean Power (ACP) was proud to help lead this collaborative effort to ramp up the procurement and deployment of storage and solar technologies in a way that delivers for the people of Illinois,” said Erika Kowall, Director of Midwestern State Affairs for ACP. “HB5856 and SB3959 will meet the state’s clean energy goals, unleashing the full potential of clean energy’s cost efficiency and economic benefits. We appreciate the leadership of Sen. Cunningham and Rep. Hernandez for swiftly taking up this legislation and hope it can be implemented quickly.”
    “Energy storage will improve the reliability of the Illinois electric grid, and this legislation can’t come at a more important moment,” said Trish Demeter, Managing Director of Advanced Energy United. “The sooner we can begin adding more energy storage, the sooner we can address energy capacity shortfalls due to the ever-growing energy demand from residents and businesses, retiring power stations, and continued investments from energy-intensive industries, while providing savings to consumers and supercharging the Illinois economy.”
    “All of these pieces work together – storage, grid reliability, ratepayer savings, climate goals, and equity,” said Lesley McCain, Executive Director of Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association. “HB5856 and SB3959 tie together each of these pieces to move Illinois closer toward achieving its climate goals. Energy storage is essential to creating a more reliable grid. A more reliable grid is critical to protecting residents from rising prices and attracting investments from new businesses. Incentivizing growth in these areas will accelerate progress toward our climate goals, which will remove high-polluting energy generators from low-income areas. More growth will stimulate the creation of more high-quality job and career opportunities for all Illinois residents. We’ve made great progress toward the aggressive climate goals established by CEJA, but we must keep learning, adapting, and growing if we want to achieve those goals.”
    Interconnection is another important topic addressed by HB5856 and SB3959. Interconnection is the process of connecting an energy generating system, such as a new residential solar panel installation or a community solar array, to the existing power grid. Currently, the process varies significantly from project to project, which can result in large, unanticipated costs to connect a system to the energy grid. Oftentimes, the large, unanticipated cost arises after the development is completed, which can terminate a project even if the system is built and ready to be energized. HB5856 and SB3959 aim to increase transparency and predictability on the interconnection process to reduce surprise changes and costs and maintain the integrity and safety of the power grid.
    “There are many critical stages to solar energy project development, and interconnection is one of the most critical,” said Carlo Cavallaro, Midwest Regional Director of Coalition for Community Solar Access. “When the system has been built and all that is left is to connect it to the grid, this is not when a project should be stalled or failed. Unfortunately, it happens more than one might think, so HB5856 and SB3959 address this in a way that makes the process more transparent and collaborative. If we can make this process more efficient, then it’ll benefit all ratepayers because the process will be cheaper and faster; and it will help us add new clean energy resources to the grid and reach our clean energy goals faster.”
    “Building on CEJA’s landmark goals, HB5856 and SB3959 are a progressive, evidence-based approach that will establish Illinois’ energy grid as the nation’s leader in clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. It will positively benefit electricity customers, improve grid reliability, and send a bold message far and wide that Illinois is open for clean energy business,” said Jeff Danielson, Vice President of Advocacy at Clean Grid Association. “We’re proud to stand with Illinois’ new generation of energy leaders in the Senate and House, who are focused on building the grid of tomorrow right here in the heartland of America. They are standing up for the clean energy opportunities Illinois’ citizens deserve and showing that a reliable grid and business investments of the future go hand-in-hand. The rest of the Midwest, indeed the USA, will take notice.”
    HB5856 and SB3959 address the following:
    Grid Resilience and Reliability
    Establishes an 8.5 GW utility-scale cumulative storage procurement target for the Illinois Power Agency. Storage is a critical component of a stable and resilient grid, as it provides on-time support for grid infrastructure during high-usage Peak Load periods.
    Creates a storage + solar/wind ecosystem that empowers increased storage development at all scales and multi-tech, from behind-the-meter to utility-scale.
    Creates incentive programs for customers to adopt technology that reduces peak loads, behind-meter storage that reduces peak loads or exports, and combined community solar + storage developments.
    Establishes a robust storage and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) ecosystem that makes it less likely a grid will need to tap non-renewable and high-pollutant fuels during periods of high usage, and ensures the grid uses clean, renewable sources that work together regardless of whether or not the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, increasing the overall reliability of the grid in a sustainable way.
    Economic Benefits, Consumer Protections, and Agency Modernization
    Creates a VPP program to provide cost-savings by tapping devices such as rooftop solar and storage to inject power to the grid during peak times, rather than burning extra non-renewable fuel to meet periods of peak demand.
    Implements a more efficient interconnection process to encourage more clean energy development.
    Fosters utility-scale solar development through new IPA storage procurement targets.
    Creates new incentives that eliminate barriers for ratepayers to adopt solar and storage.
    Creates guaranteed savings for consumers by requiring utilities to pass clean energy savings through to consumers.
    Uncaps the residential Illinois Shines Block to eliminate waiting lists and enable more households to install solar, which will create more demand and jobs for clean energy developers and contribute to a more stable grid.
    Stimulates new storage, solar, and wind development, which will lead to the creation of new high-quality clean energy jobs in every corner of Illinois.
    Modernizes IPA procurement processes to ensure efficient procurement of clean energy and keeps Illinois on track to achieve CEJA goals.
    HB5856 and SB3959 can be read in its entirety HERE. To learn more about the legislation, visit http://www.solarpowersillinois.com/legislation-hb-5856.
    ###
    About Solar Powers Illinois Solar Powers Illinois is a collaborative partnership between the Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association, Coalition for Community Solar Access, and Solar Energy Industries Association that works to promote the adoption of solar power in Illinois for consumers, businesses, and communities through education, advocacy, and action.
    About Advanced Energy United
    Advanced Energy United educates, engages, and advocates for policies that allow our member companies to compete to repower our economy with 100% clean energy. We work with decision makers at every level of government as well as regulators of energy markets to achieve this goal. The businesses we represent are lowering consumer costs, creating millions of new jobs, and providing the full range of clean, efficient, and reliable energy and transportation solutions. Together, we are united in our mission to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy in the United States. Advanced Energy United is online at AdvancedEnergyUnited.org and @AdvEnergyUnited.
    About Clean Grid Association (CGA)
    Clean Grid Association (CGA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minn., whose mission is to advance renewable energy in the Midwest. CGA has been an active stakeholder in the MISO process at the state and regional levels and a leading organization working on transforming state energy policy. CGA’s membership includes businesses investing in wind, solar, storage, hydrogen and transmission projects, as well as environmental nonprofit organizations, public advocacy groups & clean energy advocates who come together to build the clean energy grid of the future. Learn more at cleangridalliance.org.
    About Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA)
    CCSA is a national trade association representing over 130 community solar developers, businesses, and nonprofits. Together, we are building the electric grid of the future where every customer has the freedom to support the generation of clean, local solar energy to power their lives. Through legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the support of a diverse coalition — including advocates for competition, clean energy, ratepayers, landowners, farmers, and environmental justice — we enable policies that unlock the potential of distributed energy resources, starting with community solar. For more information, visit https://www.communitysolaraccess.org and follow the group on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Youtube.
    About Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association (ISEA)
    The Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association (ISEA) is a non-profit organization that promotes the widespread application of solar and other forms of renewable energy through our mission of education and advocacy. Representing over 150 solar businesses, ISEA is the state resource for renewable energy related policy developments, educational classes, events and access to local renewable energy businesses. http://www.illinoissolar.org.
    About Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
    The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nashville Woman Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    MOBILE, AL – A Nashville woman was sentenced to 63 months in prison for possessing two firearms as a previously convicted felon.  

    According to court documents, Ashley Allen, 35, was arrested by Thomasville police on March 29, 2023, following a traffic stop where she was found to be in possession of two firearms. Allen has multiple prior felony convictions, including a conviction for aggravated assault. As a convicted felon, Allen is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

    Allen was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge.  United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Allen to 63 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearms.

    U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Thomasville Police Department investigated 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.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – New factsheet a reminder that healthier environments reduce cancer

    Source: Alcohol Healthwatch

    Newly released factsheet titled Ka Hua Mai Te Mate Pukupuku I Te Inu Waipiro – Alcohol Causes Cancer by the Royal Society Te Apārangi is a reminder that, like tobacco and asbestos, alcohol causes cancer.
    Although the link between alcohol and cancer has been known for over 100 years and 4 in 5 New Zealanders drink alcohol, only 1 in 5 of us are aware that alcohol can cause cancer.
    The factsheet also talks about how our environment can be improved to reduce alcohol-related cancers. This includes increasing the price of alcohol, reducing the availability of alcohol, and restricting its marketing.
    “Drinking patterns are highly influenced by our environment,” says Alcohol Healthwatch Health Promotion Advisor Sarah Sneyd. “Alcohol is freely available on street corners and through a click of a button on your phone, it’s cheaper today than it ever has been before, and there is so much advertising that we even see alcohol billboards outside primary schools. There is enormous pressure to drink, and unfortunately every drink increases the risk of seven different types of cancer.”
    Sneyd welcomes the report with hopes that it helps raise awareness of the links between alcohol and cancer, and how we can reduce the cancer burden.
    “With increased environmental protections in our communities, not only will alcohol-related cancers decrease, we will also see fewer drink-driving accidents, less family violence, fewer children maltreated, and less violent crime. Everything we care about will start to improve.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arts – NEW ZEALAND-CANADIAN JAZZ TRUMPETER LEX FRENCH UNVEILS HIS NEW ALBUM

    Source: Eric Alper

    NEW ZEALAND-CANADIAN JAZZ TRUMPETER LEX FRENCH UNVEILS HIS NEW ALBUM: IN THE WORLD’S FIRST SUMMER. OUT NOW VIA JUSTIN TIME/NETTWERK

    LISTEN HERE: https://lexfrench.ffm.to/intheworldsfirstsummer 

    October 4, 2024 – Today, New Zealand-Canadian jazz trumpeter Lex French is proud to release his debut album, In the World’s First Summer, out now via Justin Time/Nettwerk. Traces of Miles Davis can be heard throughout the eight-song release, as French cites the seminal jazz trumpeter among his many inspirations. He also takes cues from poetry and paintings that add to the album’s artful nature. Listen to In the World’s First Summer on all digital retailers (here https://lexfrench.ffm.to/intheworldsfirstsummer )

    Lex explains in his own words: “In the World’s First Summer is a setting of James K. Baxter’s poem On the Death of Her Body, while Colour Grid is inspired by Paul Klee’s painting New Harmony. Falling Up was a tune that floated around in my head for about 5 years before I figured out how to write it down and keep the spirit of the song intact.  A number of the other pieces–Nana, Going Home, V’la L’bon Vent–are arrangements of folk songs from different traditions, while Huancavelica is a new composition inspired by such a tune. My arrangements of these songs are attempts to make sense of this music that reaches through time, and still manages to tell our stories. Bye Bye Blackbird brings us back to Miles and the end of his first quintet with John Coltrane… check out the version on Live from the Olympia and you’ll see the first glimmerings of his second quintet off in the distance, the same glimmering light that reached through time from 1967 to 1999, grabbed hold of me and never let go.”

    LISTEN & SHARE LEX FRENCH’S ‘IN THE WORLD’S FIRST SUMMER’ HERE:

    https://lexfrench.ffm.to/intheworldsfirstsummer

    ‘In the World’s First Summer’ marks the debut recording of New Zealand-Canadian jazz trumpet player Lex French on the Justin Time label.  Hailed by Radio Canada jazz critic Stanley Pean as “an extraordinary trumpeter”, he is fast becoming a bright star on the Canadian jazz scene, and is a highly in-demand composer and arranger.

    This project takes inspiration from Miles Davis’s seminal second quintet in its approach, a group that has influenced so many musicians over the last 50 years. “When I was about 16 years old, in 1998 or ’99, I bought a copy of Miles Davis’1967 album, Miles Smiles,” says French, “and was immediately captivated. Ever since that first listen, I’ve wanted to lead a group that followed in the footsteps of Miles’s seminal second quintet. His quintet was a band that prioritised communication and improvisation, embraced lush and open harmonic soundscapes, and above all, placed the spirit of spontaneity at the center of everything. In order to play with such spontaneity and open lines of communication, it is important that each musician in the group is an exceptional musician in their own right. François Bourassa (piano), Morgan Moore (bass), and Jim Doxas (drums) are all improvising musicians of the highest order who can bring their individual and personal approaches to the music but also function as members of the group in order to create a whole that is great than the sum of its parts.”

    Track List:

    1. Colour Grid

    2. Bye Bye Blackbird

    3. Falling Up

    4. Lullaby (Nana)

    5. Huancavelica

    6. In the World’s First Summer

    7. Going Home

    8. V’la l’bon Vent.

    CONNECT WITH LEX FRENCH:  https://lexfrenchmusic.com/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pest plant species the focus for new phase of Mautohe Cathedral Cove work

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  17 October 2024

     “We want this special place to be in great shape for visitors when it reopens,” says DOC’s Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki Regional Director Tinaka Mearns.

    “Alongside cyclone damage, the area is also under threat from introduced pest plants That stand to undermine the area’s unique beauty and native biodiversity.”

    Globally recognised for its idyllic small beach and famous rock arch, Mautohe Cathedral Cove has been a marine-only experience since February 2023, when extreme weather events triggered landslides which significantly damaged the track and resulted in its closure.

    The involvement of the Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust (PFHCCT) in the Mautohe Cathedral Cove work programme is a great boost for the project, says Ms Mearns.

    “They’ve done some excellent work removing pest plant and tidying up vegetation across the reserve during the last few weeks,” she says. “It’s been hard physical work and we’ve been impressed by the results.

    “Involving an organisation like this trust to contribute to walking access reinstatement supports the local community and helps us build a partnership with a recognised conservation contributor in the area.”

    Jude Hooson, CEO of PFHCCT says the Trust’s members recognise the importance of Mautohe Cathedral Cove – and the significance of opening it up to the public – and are thrilled to be working alongside DOC and Ngāti Hei.

    “We’re really delighted to be part of the collaborative effort. In many ways this is an extension of the recovery support our Field Support Team has already provided to groups across the peninsula,” she says.

    “In addition to helping to open up the main walkway, this is also an opportunity to remove problematic pest plants as a first step towards enhancing the native biodiversity of this very special place.”

    Meanwhile, visitors to the site continue to be an issue for staff and contractors working to reinstate the track.

    Members of the public accessing the track while it is closed are compromising the delivery of the work required to fully reopen it and are entering an active and hazardous worksite.

    DOC staff and contractors turn away dozens of visitors every day.

    Background information

    The walking track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove was closed in February 2023 after it sustained significant damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. In July, funding of a work programme to reinstate walking access to the cove’s famous beach was announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ACT urges a response to Tikanga Māori in legal education

    Source: ACT Party

    As the Council of Legal Education seeks to implement compulsory Tikanga Māori courses for all law students, ACT Tertiary Education spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar is calling for a response.

    “This week Gary Judd KC appeared before Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee to share concerns on the planned tikanga courses. He warned MPs that if Parliament does not act against the proposals, we will essentially be giving the green light to political activism from the unelected judiciary.

    “While ACT does not have an MP on the Committee, we agree with the concerns raised by Gary Judd KC and I am writing to the Committee urging that it takes the steps available to it to see that the planned regulation disallowed.

    “Attempts to make tikanga courses compulsory for all law students, along with a wider push to infuse every part of our legal system with tikanga, enables judicial activism. It is not the role of the judiciary to make law. That is the role of Parliament.

    “Lawyers ought to understand the law and its principles. Instead, they are now being asked to understand the principles of a culture, and to incorporate them into law. Such cultural principles are inherently contested and subject to evolution and mixing. We do not ask that law students study the culture held by any other particular ethnic group in New Zealand, and rightly so.

    “ACT is also concerned at these regulations’ implications for the rights and academic freedoms of law students seeking to forge their own understanding of the law and to test ideas at law school, which should be an environment of open debate.

    “Ultimately, elevating the importance of customary beliefs relative to laws passed by our elected Parliament erodes our democracy.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Inflation milestone marks the beginning of real hope

    Source: ACT Party

    Responding to today’s confirmation that inflation has reduced to 2.2%, well within the official target range, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

    “Annual inflation at last year’s election was 5.6% – and now it’s cut in half, and then some.

    “This news is the beginning of real hope for Kiwis who’ve persevered through a cost-of-living crisis. We’ve turned the corner on interest rates, and now we’re returning to normalcy on inflation.

    “While today’s inflation milestone is tremendous, price growth is still near the top of the target range and New Zealanders are still holding out for real relief. To turn hope into real prosperity the Government must keep saving, creating room for further interest rate cuts.

    “We need to be ever vigilant of the inflation monster that Labour so recklessly let off the leash, so ACT will continue to push for the cancellation of spending programmes that do not generate real value for New Zealand.

    “Of course, in the long run, reining in wasteful government spending means we do right by the Kiwis who pay the bills, letting them keep more of what they earn while paying down debt for future generations.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public health service’s food truck tantrum is ridiculous

    Source: ACT Party

    The following is a statement from Southland-based MP and ACT Health spokesperson Todd Stephenson:

    I love food trucks. They bring life, commerce, and tasty treats to our towns.

    But in Invercargill, joyless food fascists are trying to crack down.

    The city council asked for feedback from locals on food truck locations. Instead, they got a scolding from the National Public Health Service.

    These taxpayer-funded busybodies complained that Invercargill’s food trucks serve meals that ‘tend to be processed, high in fat, and in some cases sugar’.

    Heaven forbid someone burning calories on a worksite might want to buy a bacon buttie or a donut.

    The bureaucrats told the council it should use licencing fees to push food trucks into offering healthy food options. That’s just ridiculous. The council needs to maintain pipes and roads, not hire compliance officers sticking their beaks into food truck menus.

    The health service goes on to whinge that food trucks ‘operate in locations where there are few or no other food options’.

    In other words, if it weren’t for food trucks, some parts of town would have no food options at all. So why would we impose new rules that make it harder to open a food truck?

    The NPHS needs to butt out. No-one is forced to buy nachos or a curry.

    The good news is Invercargill City Council told the NPHS where to stick it, saying that so long as the food is safe, health concerns won’t be considered.

    Meanwhile, with the Government looking to find savings, a new target may have presented itself.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Announces Walk and Talk Town Hall at EBMUD’s Lafayette Reservoir

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

    Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced he will host a Walk and Talk Town Hall at the Lafayette Reservoir on Saturday, October 19th at 10:00 a.m. The Congressman will provide a legislative update and answer questions from constituents. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. and attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs. 

    Walk and Talk Town Hall at the Lafayette Reservoir
    Saturday, October 19th
    10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT
    Lafayette Reservoir
    3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA

    This event is open to the public and press. To reserve your spot or request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660.

    This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 217th town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tax Relief for the Heartland: Wagner Joins Ways & Means Tax Team Event in St. Louis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO) joined Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Ways and Means Representative Darin LaHood (IL-16) in hosting a roundtable discussion at Centene in St. Louis, Missouri, to hear from local business leaders and workers urging Congress to take action to prevent the looming $7 trillion tax hike proposed by the Biden-Harris Administration.

    “I joined my Missouri colleague Congressman Jason Smith, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, for a roundtable in St. Louis with local business leaders. We had an extremely productive conversation about the upcoming expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how much our local businesses, employees, and economy here in St. Louis will be harmed if taxes are hiked,” said Rep. Wagner. “If the Trump tax cuts expire, the average taxpayer in Missouri’s 2nd District would have their taxes raised by 20%, a nearly unmanageable cost, especially in the wake of Joe Biden and Kamala’s Harris’ rampant inflation.”

    “It is abundantly clear that the tax hikes proposed by the Biden-Harris Administration would be devastating for the workers and job creators of the heartland and communities across this country,” said Chairman Smith. “The Ways and Means Committee has held 120 Tax Team events in 20 states across the country, and the message is clear. Workers’ wages are still lagging behind inflation and small businesses are struggling to grow. If we want to repair the economic damage of the last four years, Congress must build on the success of the Trump Tax Cuts and deliver pro-growth policies that allow families to thrive, businesses to expand, and workers to earn a living.”

    “It was a pleasure to join Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith in St. Louis to hear from Midwest businesses about the success of the Trump Tax Cuts, bringing business back to United States, incentivizing growth, and strengthening our workforce. The Trump Tax Cuts created the best economy of my lifetime for small businesses and workers of all backgrounds, and we can’t allow that progress to be undone,” said Rep. LaHood. “Under Chairman Smith’s leadership, Ways and Means Republicans have hit the ground running through our Tax Teams to ensure that we strengthen the Trump Tax Cuts, and that House Republicans are prepared for the ‘Super Bowl of Tax’ on day one of 119th Congress. As the Chair of the American Workforce Tax Team, I’ll continue to work with Chairman Smith and our Ways and Means colleagues to advance pro-growth tax policies that allow our communities in Illinois and across the country to thrive.”

    Over the past several months, Ways and Means Committee Republicans have been traveling to communities throughout the country to listen to workers and small business owners on how best to extend key provisions of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts before their expiration next year. The St. Louis roundtable marks the second tax team event Chairman Smith has personally hosted in Missouri to bring attention to the economic challenges facing the Show Me State.

    During the event, attendees stressed the need for Congress to extend the Section 199A small business deduction, a provision in the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts that allows small businesses to compete fairly with larger corporations and helps them expand, hire new employees, grow wages, and reinvest in their communities. Participants noted that the Biden-Harris plan to see this provision expire would increase the tax rate paid by small businesses to over 43 percent – nearly 20 percentage points higher than what businesses pay in Communist China.

    Roundtable attendees included:

    • Centene
    • Evernorth Health Services
    • Wideman Pools
    • Speed Fabrication LLC
    • Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)
    • Ameren
    • Hunter Engineering
    • Bunge
    • Sitelines
    • Emerson

    To learn more about the work of the Ways and Means Committee Tax Teams, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Katie Hobbs Announces Jerry McPherson as New Executive Director of the Commission of African American Affairs

    Source: US State of Arizona

    Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced that Jerry McPherson, longtime Phoenix community leader, will serve as the new Executive Director of the Commission of African American Affairs. The Commission plays an important role in serving the vibrant African American community in Arizona, including supporting economic advancement, promoting equality and justice, and providing educational tools and resources needed to thrive.

    “I am thrilled to have Jerry McPherson as The Commission’s new Executive Director,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “He has a strong track record of leadership in both the public and private sectors and has spent his career finding new and innovative ways to empower his community. I know Jerry’s breadth of experience and determination will unlock a bright future for The Commission and I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish together.”

    “I am deeply honored and grateful to Governor Hobbs and our Commissioners for entrusting me with this critical responsibility,” said Jerry McPherson. “Our mission—to unite African American leaders and communities in the pursuit of opportunity and equity—has never been more urgent. I look forward to collaborating with our elected and appointed officials to transform our aspirations into lasting change. Through our pillars of Economic Development, Justice, Health, and Education, we can ensure that African-Americans throughout the state can embrace a future filled with promise and opportunity.”

    Jerry McPherson is a U.S. Army Veteran and graduate of the Flinn-Brown Fellowship. He has served in advisory roles for the cities of Phoenix and Tempe, and has experience leading some of Arizona’s most pivotal economic and community organizations including the Greater Phoenix Urban League and Valley of the Sun United Way. Jerry most recently served as a Commissioner on the Commission of African American Affairs and was Managing Director at Per Scholas Phoenix.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor’s Office Opens Arizona Game And Fish Commission Application

    Source: US State of Arizona

    Mesa, AZ – The Governor’s Office is now accepting applications to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Residents knowledgeable and passionate about Arizona wildlife and conservation in eligible counties are welcome to apply.

    The five-member Game and Fish Commission establishes policy, rules, and regulations for the management, preservation and harvest of wildlife and fishery resources, as well as watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations. The commission also serves in an advisory role to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and its mission visit the Arizona Game and Fish Commission website.

    The commission is structured to ensure geographical and political representation from across Arizona. The current opening must be filled by a resident of Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yuma, or Yavapai counties. Applicants must disclose their party affiliation on their application and must not have changed party registration within the past two years in order to be eligible.

    Applicants must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 7th.

    Individuals interested in applying must do so through the Boards and Commissions website. Applicants are required to include their current residential address, political party, and a resume with their application. Any additional materials or letters of recommendation that applicants wish to be included in their application packet should be emailed to [email protected].

    The Game and Fish Appointment Recommendation Commission will be meeting in October to review applications and conduct interviews in-person. Questions regarding the review process should be directed to Cindy Freehauf ([email protected]) with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

    Individuals also may contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions by emailing [email protected].

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Preliminary Injunction Entered in Justice Department Suit to Stop Alabama’s Systematic Removal of Voters from Registration Rolls

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Preliminary Injunction Entered in Justice Department Suit to Stop Alabama’s Systematic Removal of Voters from Registration Rolls

    A federal court in the Northern District of Alabama has entered an order requiring the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State to cease a recently-implemented program to remove voters from Alabama’s voting rolls between now and the Nov. 5 general election. The court further ordered the State to issue guidance to all counties in Alabama to immediately restore deactivated voters unless those voters requested removal or are subject to removal for other reasons.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shapiro Administration Awards $3.4 Million for Stream and Watershed Restoration Projects

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    October 16, 2024 – Harrisburg, PA

    Shapiro Administration Awards $3.4 Million for Stream and Watershed Restoration Projects

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $3.4 million in grants to projects to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat throughout Pennsylvania’s part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and other watersheds.

    “Ensuring clean water and healthy watersheds is a fundamental right for all Pennsylvanians. With these grant awards we will continue our work to reduce pollution and improve water quality in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These projects are creating healthier streams and wetlands across Pennsylvania, reducing flood risk and improving fish and wildlife habitat. We are building on the success we are seeing in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by restoring streambanks, removing legacy sediment, and treating mine water discharge, among other improvements.”

    The 12 awards are funded by the Section 319 Grant program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and selected by DEP. The purpose of the grants is to support projects that carry out best management practices (BMPs) specified in Watershed Implementation Plans for 43 watersheds around the state. The program also supports development of new Watershed Implementation Plans for impaired watersheds in Environmental Justice (EJ) areas. Ten of the 12 grants are for projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

    List of Speakers:
    Adam Ortiz, EPA Region 3 Regional Administrator
    Jill Whitcomb, Acting Deputy Secretary for Water Programs, DEP
    Chris Thompson, Lancaster County Conservation District Manager
    Amanda Goldsmith, Watershed Specialist with Lancaster County Conservation District
    Matt Kofroth, Asst. District Mgr. with the Lancaster County Conservation District

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leaders of Dangerous Mexican Drug Cartel Responsible for Extreme Violence Charged with International Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Leaders of Dangerous Mexican Drug Cartel Responsible for Extreme Violence Charged with International Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    An indictment was unsealed in the District of Columbia charging leaders of the violent drug trafficking organization known as Los Zetas, and its successor organization, Cartel del Noreste (CDN), with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; drug trafficking conspiracy; firearms offenses; and international money laundering conspiracy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers LeBlanc and Virani to co-host the FPT Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety Meeting

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, will co-host the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety meeting, alongside R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories.

    Media will have an opportunity to capture b-roll footage (cameras only, no audio).

    Date:
    Thursday, October 17, 2024

    Time:
    8:45 a.m. (MDT)

    Location:
    Katimavik Meeting Room
    The Explorer Hotel
    4825 49 Avenue
    Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

    Note for media:

    • Media representatives must arrive 30 minutes in advance of the event to sign-in and present photo ID and credentials. Photo ID must be visible at all times.

    Contacts

    Gabriel Brunet
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Chantalle Aubertin
    Deputy Director, Communications
    Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
    613-992-6568
    Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Public Safety Canada
    613-991-0657
    media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    Media Relations Office
    Department of Justice Canada
    613-957-4207
    media@justice.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sacrifice and Success: NASA Engineer Honors Family Roots

    Source: NASA

    Lee esta historia en Español aquí.
    Born and raised in Peru, Daniel Velasquez moved to the United States when he was 10 years old. While that decision was a big transition for his family, it also created many opportunities for him. Now Velasquez is an operations engineer for NASA’s Air Mobility Pathfinders project at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
    Velasquez develops flight test plans for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, specifically testing how they perform during various phases of flight, such as taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach, and landing. He was drawn to NASA Armstrong because of the legacy in advancing flight research and the connection to the Space Shuttle program.
    “Being part of a center with such a rich history in supporting space missions and cutting-edge aeronautics was a major motivation for me,” Velasquez said. “One of the biggest highlights of my career has been the opportunity to meet (virtually) and collaborate with an astronaut on a possible future NASA project.”

    Velasquez is incredibly proud of his Latino background because of its rich culture, strong sense of community and connection to his parents. “My parents are my biggest inspiration. They sacrificed so much to ensure my siblings and I could succeed, leaving behind the comfort of their home and family in Peru to give us better opportunities,” Velasquez said. “Their hard work and dedication motivate me every day. Everything I do is to honor their sacrifices and show them that their efforts weren’t wasted. I owe all my success to them.”
    Velasquez began his career at NASA in 2021 as an intern through the Pathways Internship Program while he was studying aerospace engineering at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Through that program, he learned about eVTOL modeling software called NASA Design and Analysis of Rotorcraft to create a help guide for other NASA engineers to reference when they worked with the software.
    At the same time, he is also a staff sergeant in the U.S Army Reserves and responsible for overseeing the training and development of junior soldiers during monthly assemblies. He plans, creates, and presents classes for soldiers to stay up-to-date and refine their skills while supervising practical exercises, after action reviews, and gathering lessons learned during trainings.

    “This job is different than what I do day-to-day at NASA, but it has helped me become a more outspoken individual,” he said. “Being able to converse with a variety of people and be able to do it well is a skill that I acquired and refined while serving my country.”
    Velasquez said he never imagined working for NASA as it was something he had only seen in movies and on television, but he is so proud to be working for the agency after all the hard work and sacrifices he made that lead him to this point. “I am incredibly proud to work every day with some of the most motivated and dedicated individuals in the industry.”

    MIL OSI USA News –