NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Security: Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Smash-and-Grab Robbery at Beverly Hills Jeweler That Caused $2.6 Million in Losses

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for participating in the daylight smash-and-grab robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in 2022 in which more than $2.6 million in merchandise was stolen – and which he later displayed on Instagram.

    Ladell Tharpe, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). 

    According to his plea agreement, on March 23, 2022, Tharpe, Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, and Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, also of Long Beach, and other co-conspirators robbed a luxury jewelry store in Beverly Hills. Before, during, and after the robbery, Tharpe led the cars used to transport the robbers and the getaway vehicle to the location. Bell was one of the getaway drivers. Tharpe conducted surveillance and acted as the lookout for the co-conspirators. 

    Once they had arrived outside the jewelry store, some of the robbers – including Vernon – got out of one of the cars, entered the store and used heavy tools to smash the store’s display cases while employees and customers were present. 

    The thieves removed from the store’s display cases at least 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches, all of which was valued at approximately $2,674,600. The robbers then returned to the car in which Bell was waiting and then fled the scene.

    Tharpe posted images of large amounts of cash on Instagram after the robbery with the text “Robbery Gang.”

    United States District Judge George H. Wu scheduled a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing for Tharpe, who will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Tharpe has been in federal custody since March 2023. 

    Bell and Vernon each have pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Judge Wu on February 26 sentenced Bell to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered him to pay $2,674,600 in restitution. The sentencing hearing for Vernon, who has been in federal custody since September 2022, is scheduled for December 5.

    The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Executive at Irvine-Based Company That Marketed Faulty Stem Cell Products Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    LOS ANGELES – The imprisoned founder and CEO of an Orange County-based company that marketed stem cell-based products linked to multiple hospitalizations was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison – consecutive to his current prison sentence.

    John Warrington Kosolcharoen, 53, most recently of Rancho Santa Margarita, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also scheduled a December 3 restitution hearing in this case.

    Kosolcharoen pleaded guilty on August 26 to one count of introducing an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead. Kosolcharoen is currently in custody serving a sentence for a separate, unconnected conviction.

    “Exploiting the hopes of patients suffering from serious illnesses is not merely greedy, it’s cruel,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who take advantage of victims’ fears and anxieties to line their pockets.” 

    “Misleading the public about the safety and effectiveness of purported cures and treatments is illegal,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will work with its law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who market potentially dangerous products for personal gain.” 

    Beginning in 2016, Kosolcharoen created two companies, the Irvine-based Liveyon LLC and the San Diego-based Genetech Inc., to manufacture and distribute injectable stem cell products made from human umbilical cord blood. Liveyon marketed the products under different brand names, including “ReGen.”

    Kosolcharoen and others misrepresented ReGen as suitable for the treatment of a variety of conditions, such as lung and heart diseases, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and others. Liveyon marketed the products throughout the United States until about April 2019 using advertising materials that contained multiple false and misleading statements about their purported safety and effectiveness.

    In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers that patients seeking cures and remedies for serious diseases and conditions may be misled about unapproved stem cell products that are illegally marketed, have not been shown to be safe or effective, and, in some cases, may have significant safety issues that put patients at risk. Stem cell products are regulated by FDA, and generally they must have FDA approval before being introduced into interstate commerce.

    Kosolcharoen misled the FDA about Liveyon’s activities by directing Liveyon’s purchase orders to falsely state that the stem cell products were being sold “for research purposes only.” In 2018, FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received reports of patients in multiple states requiring hospitalization for bacterial infections after receiving Liveyon products. Kosolcharoen admitted that he and others fraudulently induced customers into purchasing stem cell-derived Liveyon products by, among other things, misleading the public about the cause and severity of adverse events suffered by Liveyon patients, and falsely reporting and concealing material facts regarding the outcome of an FDA inspection of Genetech. According to FDA records, that inspection documented evidence of significant deviations from good manufacturing and tissue practices.

    FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations; the FBI; Amtrak Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Labor Employment Benefits Security Administration; and the California Department of Health Care Services investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Aveis of the Major Frauds Section and David H. Chao of the General Crimes Section, Assistant Director Ross S. Goldstein and Trial Attorneys Meredith B. Healy, Kathryn A. Schmidt and Peter J. Leininger of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Inmate Guilty of Assaulting Two Correctional Officers

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old felon from Donna has been convicted of assaulting two correctional officers while housed at Coastal Bend Detention Center in Robstown, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has found Aaron Gutierrez guilty of two counts of assaulting or impeding a federal officer following a one-day bench trial that occurred Sept. 16. 

    On Aug. 25, 2023, Gutierrez and six other inmates escaped from a recreation area through an unlocked gate. They ran down a walkway to intercept another inmate belonging to a rival gang. Two correctional officers were escorting that inmate – who was in full restraints.

    The seven escaped inmates attacked the defenseless other inmate as well as the correctional officers who were attempting to protect him. As a result, both officers suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital for treatment. One required surgery. Authorities also transported the victim inmate to the hospital for treatment.

    Within a minute of the attack, multiple correctional officers converged on the attackers and restrained them.

    Gutierrez attempted to convince the court that while he intended to join the fight, he never got the chance because he was the last one to leave the recreation yard. However, testimony revealed that every inmate participated in the attack. Judge Morales did not believe defense claims and found him guilty as charged.

    Correctional officers at Coastal Bend Detention Center work on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and are protected as federal officers when in the performance of their official duties. 

    Judge Morales will impose sentencing in January 2025. At that time, Gutierrez faces up to eight years in federal prison. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

    The other six inmates involved in the attack had previously pleaded guilty. Raul Valdez, 49, San Antonio, received 24 months, while Corpus Christi residents Benito Aguirre, 43, John Steve Espinoza, 31, Joe Isaac Espinoza, 27, and Adalberto Pena, 32, each received 18 months. Emilio Salinas, 34, Edinburg, is set for sentencing Oct. 17.

    They all also remain in custody.

    The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the USMS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals and Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies Capture New Jersey Fugitive Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Memphis, TN – Yesterday, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team captured Siamel Alberto Perez, 34, of New Jersey, who was wanted for an Aggravated Sexual Assault of a child in New Jersey.

    On September 23rd, 2024, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Perez out of Linden City Municipal Court in Union County, New Jersey. Perez has charges ranging from Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The USMS New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF) adopted the case days later.

    NY/NJ RFTF Investigators developed information that Perez was traveling south and could be hiding in the Memphis area. The USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis was requested to help locate and apprehend Perez.

    On October 1, Deputy Marshals and sheriff’s deputies located a vehicle with a New Jersey license plate at the Sleep Inn Suites off American Way and Perkins Road. While investigators were watching the car, Perez was spotted walking out the hotel toward the parking lot. He was arrested without incident and transported to the Shelby County Jail to await extradition.

    The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, the Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 2,600 violent offenders and sexual predators.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals New Orleans Task Force Concludes Fiscal Year 2024 Operations With Over 500 Arrests, 24 Missing Endangered Children Recovered Across Eastern District Of Louisiana

    Source: US Marshals Service

    New Orleans, LA – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans Task Force conducted multiple violent fugitive and sex offender fugitive operations during fiscal year (FY) 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023—Sept. 30, 2024) along with several USMS Missing Endangered Children operations. The task force also participated in the FBI New Orleans Field Office’s Operation Clean House. The USMS New Orleans Task Force fugitive operations included Boo Dat, New Orleans Saints and Sinners, and Baseline. The fugitives arrested by the task force included 107 persons arrested on murder related offenses, 41 suspects arrested on rape/sex assault related cases, nine individuals for kidnapping, 41 persons for robbery, 100 individuals for assault/battery, 32 for sex offender registration violations, and 20 suspects on felony narcotics offenses. In total 531 fugitives were arrested and over 150 firearms were recovered during FY 2024 as a direct result of USMS New Orleans Task Force investigations across E/LA. The USMS New Orleans Task Force also worked 95 collateral lead requests from USMS offices outside of the Eastern District of Louisiana (E/LA).  

    Missing Child Unit (MCU) operations Fresh Start, Crawfish Boil, and other MCU work done during FY 2024 resulted in the recovery of 24 missing/endangered children, with five persons arrested related to recoveries.

    Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans (GNO) provided support for several of the arrests made during the year and helped to sponsor Operation Boo Dat with a fugitive photo spread sent out to New Orleans metro area media outlets.

    Highlights of FY 2024 cases worked across E/LA include: 

    • In Tangipahoa Parish two children, 3 and 6, were abducted allegedly abducted by Daniel Callihan. Callihan is believed to have murdered the children’s mother and kidnapped the children from her residence before fleeing the state. USMS along with FBI, state police, and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office started a manhunt in attempts to locate/apprehend Callihan. USMS E/LA was able to identify Callihan’s whereabouts in Jackson, Mississippi, and a collateral lead request was sent by the USMS New Orleans Task Force to the USMS Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and USMS S/MS Jackson Office. Members of the GCRFTF observed Callihan near an abandoned house on Boozier Drive in Jackson. As members of the GCRFTF approached the house, Callihan ran from the house and was taken into custody. Members of the GCRFTF located a hole on the back side of the house where both missing girls were located, one of whom was deceased.
    • A teen girl was one of several runaway juveniles associating in a suspected human trafficking ring orchestrated by local gangs in the greater New Orleans metro. During the investigation, another teen girl was also identified as a missing/endangered runaway. USMS, along with Homeland Security Investigations, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Kenner Police Department and the NOPD Special Victims Division – Child Abuse Unit began working these cases together and identified two additional missing juveniles.   All four girls were believed to be involved in a sex trafficking and prostitution ring. During the course of the investigation, the four girls were recovered, one arrest was made on scene and two men were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending deportation. By the end of the investigation another arrest was made of a man charged with raping one of the juveniles and the individual responsible for setting up the juveniles’ appointments for sex was deported.
    • A teen girl was recovered after running away from her foster parent in Ouachita Parish.  She was alleged to have been a previous victim of sex trafficking and sexual assault/rape. USMS, along with HIS, located her in New Orleans and recovered her. During an interview with the teen, she disclosed that a high school teacher in New Orleans picked her up from Vicksburg, Mississippi, and transported her to New Orleans approximately one week prior to her recovery. HSI after a several months investigation obtained an E/LA federal arrest warrant for Aaron Johnson for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution and coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. The USMS New Orleans Task Force with HSI located Johnson at a New Orleans East apartment complex and arrested him on the warrant Aug. 15.  At the time of his arrest, Johnson was working as a teacher at a local New Orleans high school.
    • Ernest Cortney Dixon III was arrested May 22 for an alleged rape that occurred in May 2024 in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Dixon is alleged to have gone into a French Quarter business with a firearm and raped an adult female employee of that business.  At the time of the alleged rape, he was already wanted on an April 2024 NOPD warrant for domestic violence assault with a firearm stemming from an incident where he was alleged to have fired a handgun at an ex-girlfriend.  During Dixon’s arrest at a French Quarter business, the USMS New Orleans Task Force recovered a loaded stolen firearm alleged to have belonged to Dixon.
    • Wayne D. Bennett was arrested Sept. 23 by USMS Northern District of Florida and USMS Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force in Altha, Florida.  Investigators with the USMS New Orleans Task Force and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office tracked Bennett to the Altha area before sending a request to the USMS FCRFTF, who were able to locate and arrest him.  Bennett was wanted by the TPSO for first-degree rape, third-degree rape, five counts of trafficking of children for sexual purposes and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
    • Marrio Haynes was arrested Feb. 28 on a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for second-degree murder.  On Dec. 26, 2023, Haynes allegedly murdered a Lacombe man at a gas station using an AR-15 style rifle.  Later that night officers located his vehicle and arrested his girlfriend in connection with the murder, but Haynes was able to flee on foot avoiding arrest. He went on the run and was featured in multiple Crimestoppers GNO news reports. After a two-month investigation he was arrested by the USMS New Orleans Task Force at a home in Kentwood.  His girlfriend, who was present at the residence, was rearrested for harboring a fugitive during his arrest.
    • Fugitives Davonn Davis and Carlos Taylor were arrested Sept. 26 in Baton Rouge by the USMS Middle District of Louisiana Fugitive Task Force.   Davis was wanted on a NOPD charge of second-degree murder in connection with a shooting outside of The Shamrock Bar in New Orleans.  Taylor escaped from the Orleans Juvenile Justice Center, and then is alleged to have carjacked a woman, almost running her over.  He was featured across the state of Louisiana in news outlets as a dangerous fugitive with a previous violent history.   He and Davis were located together in Baton Rouge where Taylor initially attempted to flee on foot.
    • Leon Ruffin was arrested Feb. 27 on a JPSO warrant for escape. During the escape Ruffin assaulted a JPSO deputy during a medical transport and stole her police vehicle. Ruffin was awaiting trial on a murder related charge.  He was tracked by the USMS New Orleans Task Force to a motel in New Orleans East and arrested. 

    “The U.S. Marshals Service New Orleans Task Force successfully apprehended over 500 fugitives and recovered 24 missing and endangered children in 2024,” said Enix Smith III, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “These significant accomplishments underscore the critical importance of vigilance and collaboration between law enforcement and the community.  Together, we can create a safer environment where justice is upheld, and our neighborhoods can thrive.”      

    The USMS New Orleans Task Force is sponsored by USMS E/LA and includes the following law enforcement agencies: Homeland Security Investigations, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Kenner Police Department, LA Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, LA Probation and Parole, LA State Police, New Orleans Police Department, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The task force also frequently works with the local ATF, DEA, and FBI field offices.   

    Any information about wanted felony fugitives can be provided to the U.S. Marshals Service at (504) 589-6872 or via email at usms.wanted@usdoj.gov.  Crimestoppers GNO may also be contacted with tips at (504) 822-1111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Canonsburg Resident Indicted on 11 Counts Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    The 11-count Indictment named Justin A. Darby, 36, as the sole defendant.

    According to the Indictment, Darby received and attempted to receive material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor on five separate occasions during September and October of 2021, as well as on one occasion in February 2024. Darby is also alleged to have distributed such material on one occasion in September 2021. The Indictment further alleges that, from September 20, 2021, through October 29, 2021, Darby accessed with intent to view material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, and that, on February 6, 2024, Darby induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Additionally, Darby is charged with altering, destroying, concealing, or covering up records and documents associated with a messaging application on his cellular telephone on two separate dates.

    The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Darby was ordered to be detained.

    Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

    An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: EECBG Program Local Government Application Assistance Webinar

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    In the final webinar before the EECBG Program local government application deadline, DOE covered:

    – Streamlined project examples (e.g., eligible activities with fewer reporting requirements and administrative labor)
    – The differences between the grant and voucher application options
    – A technical overview of the application process
    – Commonly asked questions about the application process and program overall
    – Key reporting requirements
    – Technical assistance available to complete the application (and for further support later on!)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVBQth_4_lA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Stephen Roe Lewis Pictures a Brighter Future | The Future Thanks You | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Join Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, as he shares his vision for 2045.

    What does a thriving indigenous future look like? Visit https://thefuturethanksyou.com to share your own vision and see how our choices today can make it a reality.

    The Future Thanks You – a campaign from the Verified initiative by the United Nations and Purpose – aims to build support for a future powered by renewable energy.

    #TheFutureThanksYou #ClimateAction

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpJBsaoq3Oo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Buttigieg on road impacts in North Carolina.

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    At the President’s direction, the entire federal government is doing all it can to get support to residents in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.

    For more information on road closures and driving conditions in North Carolina visit: http://ncdot.gov/helene-detours

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKsw50yhmyM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Keynotes California Natural Resources Agency 30×30 Partnership Summit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla Keynotes California Natural Resources Agency 30×30 Partnership Summit

    WATCH: Padilla highlights work to conserve California public lands in conversation with Secretary Wade CrowfootSACRAMENTO, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered a keynote address at the California Natural Resources Agency’s (CNRA) 30×30 Partnership 2024 Summit. The summit brought together conservation leaders, policymakers, and advocates at CNRA’s Sacramento headquarters to highlight California’s progress conserving 30 percent of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 as part of the global 30×30 initiative.
    Padilla highlighted several efforts to create new, and expand existing, national monuments to protect California’s public lands, advance tribally-led conservation efforts, and meet California’s conservation goals, including successfully securing the expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments.
    The summit built on the momentum outlined in California’s recently released Pathways to 30×30 Annual Report, which highlights the state’s progress toward its conservation goals and outlines key steps for the coming years. California is only six million acres of land and half a million acres of coastal waters away reaching its 30×30 goals.
    Video of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.
    Key Excerpts:
    It was not that long ago when Governor Newsom signed the executive order in the fall of 2020, calling for 30×30, preserving our lands and waters for not just the next generation, but for future generations. And we did it because we knew of the importance and the urgency of tackling climate and its impacts. We knew it was important because we believe in science.
    It wasn’t just bold and audacious but so well thought out that it inspired the Biden-Harris Administration soon thereafter, in January 2021, to call on the nation to achieve a 30×30 objective as well. So as the adage goes, so goes California, so goes the nation.
    When you grow up in a community like Pacoima, a proud working-class community, you had these visions of the mountains, and if you’re really, really lucky as a kid, you get taken on a field trip, maybe to go camping, maybe on a hike. And when you’re able to experience that, in the mountains that you see each and every day, and yet you feel like it’s a whole world away, we know what the impact means of these designations, these protections, improving access to the outdoors for the millions of people who didn’t have it before.
    Chuckwalla… and Sáttítla in northern California. Together, they represent another 800,000 acres of public lands that we can and will protect in the state of California. And we know that it’s not just because of the quantity, again, the metrics, but the quality, the thoughtful biodiversity assessments that have been done.
    All the projects that we take on, we’re going to continue to need to work together, and judging by the energy and the spirit in this room, I know we will continue to work together because every proposal that has come my way has begun with a local vision and a local effort of organizing, mobilizing, educating, building that coalition that creates the momentum for us to be able to do our part.
    Senator Padilla has consistently advocated for protecting California’s public lands and coastal waters. Most recently, Padilla, Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), and Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.-30) called on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate the Sáttítla National Monument in northern California. Additionally, Padilla, Butler, and Representative Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25) introduced bicameral legislation earlier this year to create the Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park while urging President Biden to designate the monument. Padilla’s Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, legislation that would restore and expand protections for over one million acres of California’s public lands, advanced out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
    Last month, Senator Padilla and Representative Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), along with Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19) and Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), welcomed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement of their final environmental impact statement for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, marking an important step toward the designation of the Sanctuary. Previously, Padilla and Carbajal wrote to NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce to express their strong support for swiftly designating the Sanctuary while facilitating the development of offshore wind energy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Britt Announce NCAA Championship Events Return to Birmingham in March 2028

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Katie Britt (R-AL) announced that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) first and second rounds of March Madness men’s and women’s basketball games will return to Birmingham on March 17-19, 2028.
    This announcement follows the letter Senators Tuberville and Britt sent to NCAA President Charlie Baker advocating for future events to be held in Alabama.
    “The State of Alabama has a long legacy of supporting intercollegiate athletics. Birmingham has the facilities, businesses, and infrastructure to make this a successful tournament. Our state is no stranger to the spotlight of big games and I’m confident fans from across the country will enjoy their time in Birmingham,” said Senator Tuberville.
    “This is a slam dunk for Birmingham. I am thrilled the first two rounds of March Madness in 2028 will be held in our great state,” said Senator Britt. “I was proud to join Senator Tuberville and local officials in advocating for the NCAA to pick the Magic City. I look forward to the tournament, and wouldn’t be surprised if more than one of Alabama’s incredible teams end up kicking off their road to the Final Four in our home state.”
    BACKGROUND:
    From 1982 through 2008, Birmingham was a stop on the road to the Final Four 11 times, 10 for men’s basketball and once for women’s basketball. 
    After a nearly 15-year hiatus, Birmingham hosted the first and second-round games of March Madness in 2023. It was a huge success with every game being sold out and both Auburn and Alabama playing in the tournament. The city also hosted the 2022 World Games. The City of Birmingham recently completed a $125 million renovation of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
    Senator Katie Britt represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Rules and Administration Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Web Portal from Senator Reverend Warnock Provides One-Stop Shop Resources to Help Georgians Recover from Hurricane Helene

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    New Web Portal from Senator Reverend Warnock Provides One-Stop Shop Resources to Help Georgians Recover from Hurricane Helene

    Senator Reverend Warnock debuted a new web resource page to with clearinghouse of Federal and state programs providing hurricane recovery assistance throughout Georgia, from food to health care to relief for farmers
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Georgians need urgent help, and I’m thankful my staff was able to put together this important list of resources to get Georgians the assistance needed to recover from Hurricane Helene”

    Click HERE for Senator Reverend Warnock’s Hurricane Helene Resource Page
    Washington, D.C. – As Georgians across the state continue working to recover from Hurricane Helene’s devastating landfall, today U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced a new comprehensive web resource to help Georgians navigate federal and state programs that are providing assistance to people and communities impacted by the storm. The Senator’s new Hurricane Helene Resource Page, located on the Senator’s official website, is updated regularly with new information and designed to help Georgians get the help they need—from securing immediate necessities like food, water, health care, and shelter, to the latest guidance on how to report damages to their homes, businesses, or farms, and spotting frauds and scams.
    “My office and I have been on the ground and in frequent contact with communities in every corner of the state as recovery efforts continue, and this new web resource is one more step in our unending work to deliver all of the federal assistance needed to help Georgians come out stronger on the other side of this crisis,” said Senator Warnock. “Our work is just beginning to help families and communities rebuild, and while I’m pushing to make sure Washington is doing everything it can for our state, we’ll keep updating this web resource with the latest information to help connect Georgians with the assistance and support they need following Hurricane Helene’s devastation.” 
    Senator Warnock has been active in Georgia’s Hurricane Helene response efforts. Earlier this week, Senator Warnock traveled to Augusta to deliver needed supplies and survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, participating in a roundtable with community leaders and members at Golden Harvest Food Bank, touring storm damage around Augusta, and handing off cases of bottled water to local volunteers and residents at Tabernacle Baptist Church. 
    Additionally, ahead of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Georgia, Senator Warnock and his office had been in touch with state and local leaders to offer support, and in the storm’s devastating aftermath have stayed in frequent contact with elected officials, hospital leaders, and other community leaders across the state to address the needs and provide support, including delivering water, power, and other necessary supplies. Since the storm’s landfall, the Senator has worked urgently to use the tools of the federal government to provide swift and robust support to impacted Georgia families and communities, including successfully pushing President Biden to approve an emergency disaster declaration and most recently joining his Georgia congressional delegation colleagues to urge the President to “promptly” make a major disaster declaration that will unlock additional aid and support for Georgians in need; at their request the Administration has approved several Georgia counties for individual and public disaster assistance, and are actively working to approve assistance for all of Georgia’s counties impacted by the storm. Additionally, as a member of the Senate Agriculture committee, Senator Warnock has been a vocal advocate for additional disaster aid to support Georgia’s farmers, and has called for the Senate to take up and pass legislation to provide additional relief as soon as possible.
    Access Senator Warnock’s Hurricane Helene Resource Page HERE, which will be updated accordingly as new information is made available. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Nye County F500 Training

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    EM Nevada enhances emergency responses with grant funding. Read the full story here: https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/em-nevada-enhances-emergency-responses-grant-funding

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuSHfexAaWU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Welch Unveil Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Big Businesses’ Corporate Misbehavior

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Thursday, October 03, 2024

    U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act, to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to crack down on corporate wrongdoing by America’s biggest businesses.  
    “More and more big businesses are receiving a slap on the wrist by the DOJ for corporate misbehavior, allowing corporations to skirt litigation fees while incentivizing repeated offenses. This bipartisan legislation has the teeth to hold Corporate America accountable and would crack down on DOJ’s sweetheart deals,” said Senator Hawley. 
    “All wrongdoers should be held accountable for their actions—plain and simple. Yet federal prosecution of white-collar crimes has fallen to record lows in recent years, making it easier for ultra-wealthy executives to game the system and avoid responsibility when they hurt hardworking people. It’s also making it harder for the victims of corporate crimes to get justice, and that’s unacceptable,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will ensure a level playing field and provide needed accountability.”
    Senator Hawley’s bill introduction comes in response to one of the most egregious and highest-profile examples of corporate misbehavior: The DOJ in 2021 had arranged a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) for Boeing after the company exhibited safety lapses contributing to two airplane crashes. Boeing then took advantage of the DOJ’s deal by committing a follow-up felony—conspiring to deceive the Federal Aviation Administration about the safety of the 737 MAX aircraft.
    Boeing will consequently pay approximately $250 million in corporate penalties.
    Senator Hawley’s new bipartisan legislation would raise the standards required to offer DPAs in the first place.
    Specifically, the Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act would: 
    Require corporations entered into a DPA or on probation to use effective compliance monitoring rather than skirting oversight, as in the case of Boeing’s recent agreement.
    Require federal agencies to keep a list of the deferred and non-prosecution agreements they enter, so they can be accessible to the public.
    Extend all statutes of limitations related to corporate criminal offenses by five years to provide prosecutors more time to bring complex cases.
    Redefine substantial assistance for a sentencing reduction for corporate offenders to ensure actual assistance in identifying and prosecuting individual bad actors within a corporation.
    Read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden Co-Sponsor Legislation to Revitalize Congressional Check on Rogue Supreme Court Decisions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    October 03, 2024
    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have joined legislation that would revitalize Congress’s ability to check the Supreme Court’s inaccurate interpretation of federal law and restore rights by statute that the Court has taken away.
    “The Supreme Court is making life-altering decisions threatening Americans’ reproductive freedom, workers’ bargaining power, voting rights, clean air, and so much more—Congress needs a process to quickly and effectively respond to Supreme Court decisions from these rogue MAGA justices,” said Senator Merkley. “The Supreme Court Review Act is a great step to ensure that the highest court in our land serves ‘We the People’ not just the powerful.”
    “With the help of Senate Republicans, Donald Trump spent his time in office packing our nation’s highest courts with right-wing extremists willing to do the bidding of special interests and legislate from the bench,” said Senator Wyden, who recently introduced sweeping reforms to restore public trust in the Supreme Court. “America was founded on checks and balances, and it’s time to restore that balance by putting a much-needed check on a power-hungry Supreme Court.”
    The Supreme Court Review Act would help ensure that the constitutionally-delegated power to make policy remains with Congress, not the Court, by creating streamlined procedures through which Congress can exercise its existing power to amend statutes or create federal statutory rights.? Congress has already created a process for expeditiously responding to agency rules under the Congressional Review Act, and the Supreme Court Review Act would do the same for Supreme Court decisions. The legislation would:
    Codify a process for passing new laws in response to Supreme Court decisions that interpret federal statutes or roll back constitutional rights;
    Expedite procedures for the Senate to pass these laws by a simple majority;
    Limit this process to recent Court rulings and exclude non-germane changes to federal law to prevent abuse; and
    Ensure that members of the minority party in the Senate have an opportunity to propose alternative updates to the law.
    This legislation was led by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Alongside Merkley and Wyden, the bill was cosponsored by Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
    Full text of the bill is available here.
    ?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: E10 on the Middle East- Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, on behalf of the Security Council’s ten elected members (E10), read a statement expressing concern about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, condemning the current cycle of violence and calling for an immediate end to all hostilities.

    —————————-

    Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, on behalf of the Security Council’s ten elected members (E10), today (3 Oct) read a statement expressing concern about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, condemning the current cycle of violence and calling for an immediate end to all hostilities.

    Speaking at the stakeout podium outside the Council, Rodrigues-Birkett said, “we also call on all parties to respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. We further emphasise that a diplomatic solution is the only appropriate way forward and urge all parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy and ensure the protection of civilians.”

    The statement also underscoreed their “full support to the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN system.”

    On Wednesday, the Israeli Government declared the Secretary-General persona non grata, barring him from entering Israeli territory.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g676BS2fEA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security – Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations (AU) by members of the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security (France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTVqUIBf8G8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Training: Best Practices for IGA, Contract, and ESPC Project Execution

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    This ESPC Campaign training discussed the critical steps of an ESPC project’s development and implementation phases, including how to navigate measurement and verification, commissioning, and other considerations to ensure the execution of high-quality ESPC projects.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMPZfcSQ88

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Support to UN Chief by Security Council – Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Media stakeout by Pascale Baeriswyl, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of October 2024, on the Security Council support for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEF-V2gehGE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canada, Manitoba and Giganawenimaanaanig take step forward on red dress alert

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Please be advised that the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Honourable Nahanni Fontaine, Manitoba Minister of Families, will make an announcement about the Red Dress Alert pilot project during the Giganawenimaanaanig Education and Awareness Day.

    Winnipeg, Manitoba — Please be advised that the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Honourable Nahanni Fontaine, Manitoba Minister of Families, will make an announcement about the Red Dress Alert pilot project during the Giganawenimaanaanig Education and Awareness Day.

    There will be a press briefing following this announcement.

    Media Participation:

    Media representatives are requested to confirm their participation at the following address: RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@sac-isc.gc.ca.

    Virtual participation will be possible and instructions for connecting remotely will be provided upon registration.

    Media are first invited to observe, at 11:30 a.m., the Ministers’ remarks and commitment to families, survivors, FFADA rights advocates and frontline workers. The press briefing will follow in an adjacent room.

    Date: Friday, October 4, 2024

    Time: The announcement will begin at 11:30 a.m. Central Time, followed by the press briefing.

    Media representatives are requested to prepare 30 minutes prior to the event start time.

    Location:Canad Inns Destination Center Club Regent Casino Hotel1415 Regent Ave WWinnipeg, Manitoba

    The announcement will take place in the ballroom, and the press briefing will take place in Ambassador Room E.

    Gregory FramePress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Gary AnandasangareeMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relationsgregory.frame@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

    Ryan StelterPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Nahanni FontaineMinister of Families of Manitobaryan.stelter@manitoba.ca204-590-8582

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Carbon contracts for difference’ are not a silver bullet for climate action

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daniel Rosenbloom, Assistant Professor and Rosamond Ivey Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions, Carleton University

    Canadian federal climate policies and investments look increasingly fragile. Could ‘carbon contracts for difference’ help ensure the survival of long-term climate action in Canada? (Shutterstock)

    With the end of the supply-and-confidence agreement and plummeting support for the Liberals, Canada’s climate policy mix is becoming increasingly unstable with the future of everything from investment tax credits to carbon pricing seemingly in flux.

    Given this uncertainty, some industrial emitters have stated they will refrain from making final investment decisions for major emission reducing projects until they receive certain guarantees. Their rationale is that the potential reversal of any climate policy risks the return on investment for their proposed projects.

    Experts have pointed to an obscure mechanism known as a carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) as an opportunity to allay such concerns.



    Read more:
    Emotions may matter more than facts in shaping individual support for renewable energy, new study shows

    Carbon contracts for difference

    CCfDs are contractual agreements designed to provide price stability for projects that reduce emissions. Under CCfDs, a government entity guarantees a fixed price for the emissions reductions achieved by an industrial project based on established climate policy (for example, the existing or future carbon price).

    If the market price for those reductions falls below this fixed price, the government pays the difference to the project proponents. If the market price exceeds the fixed price, the excess is paid back to the government.

    This type of mechanism is used by a number of governments around the world, including the United Kingdom, and some experts have suggested that a “broad-based contracts for difference program is the key to unlocking billions of dollars of investment in industrial decarbonization.”

    The elegance and deceptive simplicity of this instrument has made it a policy winner in the eyes of many.

    The Canada Growth Fund has allocated up to $7 billion for the issuance of CCfDs to unlock decarbonization projects. In theory, using a CCfD agreement gives an industry partner price stability on investment while the government gets to advance its goals of large emissions reducing projects. Seemingly, a win-win.

    However, growing interdisciplinary research suggests that CCfDs may not always be the obvious win many assume they are.

    Feedback

    There is a long-held understanding in political science that policies produce important feedback patterns that can either reinforce or erode their durability. For example, the social security program in the United States has created a significant voting bloc of beneficiaries that makes it difficult for policymakers to propose cuts to the program.

    Bridging these insights with transition perspectives, my research indicates that harnessing these positive feedbacks can play an important role in building durable climate action.



    Read more:
    What does the end of the Liberal-NDP agreement mean for Canadians?

    In Germany, scholars have found that incentives for new renewable energy (such as in the form of tariffs) helped build coalitions around alternative energy innovations. These coalitions in turn placed pressure upon leaders to ensure continued policy support. Similarly, scholars have shown that industrial policies that support alternative energy innovations and their networks can create positive feedbacks for the climate policy mix.

    Translating these insights to the broad-based use of CCfDs reveals that this instrument risks undermining positive feedbacks or encouraging industrial decarbonization projects with limited ability to contribute to a long-term transition to net-zero.

    Not a perfect solution

    There are three main issues with a CCfD-based approach.

    First, as CCfDs protect the recipient’s bottom line, they are not necessarily incentivized to support existing climate policy. Some experts suggest that a way around this issue is to set the guaranteed price for carbon below the genuine carbon pricing policy. However, it is unclear how low such a discounted price would need to be to maintain positive feedbacks, or if the proposed difference would be sufficient to motivate final investment decisions.

    Second, providing CCfDs for certain emissions reduction projects (such as carbon capture and storage) may inadvertently support industries that have an interest in reversing the direction of climate policy. This focus on opportunities that extend current systems or deliver least-cost emissions reductions reflects a common tendency in policymaking to misunderstand the climate crisis as simply a market failure, and not an issue requiring whole systems change.



    Read more:
    Why do we need a Net Zero Economy Authority? And how can it fulfil its promise?

    Third, the time required to issue CCfDs on a case-by-case basis may actually encourage industrial actors to hold off on making final investment decisions until they receive a guarantee, delaying action further.

    What this shows is that while CCfDs may have a targeted role to play in advancing critical emission reduction projects (such as those that unlock systems change in key sectors), policymakers should be wary of relying too heavily on this instrument.

    A more strategic approach is needed that involves charting pathways between where sectors are now and long-term desirable net-zero outcomes — an approach that is being actively advanced by Canada’s Transition Accelerator. A strategic approach would focus support on industries willing to hitch their carts to the future of the climate policy mix and defend climate action no matter who is in office.

    As the Ivey Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions, Daniel Rosenbloom would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Ivey Foundation. Rosenbloom is also a Steering Group member of the Sustainability Transitions Research Network, which is a scholarly network working toward the advancement of transition scholarship.

    – ref. ‘Carbon contracts for difference’ are not a silver bullet for climate action – https://theconversation.com/carbon-contracts-for-difference-are-not-a-silver-bullet-for-climate-action-237437

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California set to provide financial aid to community college students who don’t have a high school diploma

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 3, 2024

    What you need to know: Four million Californians without a high school diploma will be able to access federal financial aid to attend college classes thanks to the Ability to Benefit program – increasing opportunity and access to higher education, training, and jobs.

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Newsom announced today that California Community Colleges were successfully approved by the U.S. Department of Education to enable students without a high school diploma – or the equivalent – to access Title IV financial aid. California Community College’s successful application to participate in the Ability to Benefit (ATB) program means that the four million Californians without a high school diploma will now qualify to access federal financial aid to attend college classes – increasing opportunity and access to higher education, training, and jobs across the state.

    Students participating in the ATB process will also have support for their education goals, and access to counseling and academic support, including math and writing workshops, tutoring services, accessibility services, and more.

    It’s a duty and a privilege for our state to help students and workers access higher education and pursue fulfilling careers — even without a highschool diploma. In California, we’re working to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Why this matters

    In California, 19 percent of adults over 25 do not have a high school degree, as compared to 14 percent for the rest of the country. Education is statistically tied to earning potential, and today’s announcement will help ensure that more Californians are able to access higher-paying jobs by taking community college classes without massive debt. Previously, students without a high school diploma seeking to qualify for an ATB exception had to complete six credits of college classes or pass a qualifying exam to access federal financial aid. The new state process allows these students to meet a streamlined set of criteria instead, simplifying the process to get more aid to more students. 

    California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian: “Our thanks go to Gov. Newsom for partnering on this effort, which represents a significant step toward ensuring equitable access to higher education for all Californians. Our collective efforts aim to create a streamlined and inclusive pathway for individuals seeking to pursue their academic aspirations, regardless of their background or circumstances.”

    Bigger picture

     In August 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Freedom to Succeed executive order to improve access to high-paying and fulfilling careers for students and workers. The Governor’s executive order launched the development of a new Master Plan for Career Education that will help prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow, including high-paying and fulfilling career paths that don’t require college degrees. Additionally, the executive order directed the state to take further steps to reduce barriers to state employment — including eliminating requirements for college degrees unnecessary to job duties.

    Leaders from California’s education and workforce systems and the California Department of Rehabilitation met last week to discuss the Master Plan framework and are on track to deliver the Master Plan by the end of the year.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom today announced a new project in San Francisco that will transform a dated Department of Motor Vehicles building into a mixed use building with a modern DMV office paired with 372 new homes, including homes dedicated to…

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know:  The state is decertifying the City of Norwalk’s housing element following the city’s action breaking state housing law and implementing an illegal shelter ban. The state’s action makes the city ineligible for significant housing and…

    Oct 2, 2024

    News What you need to know: The Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project breaking ground today will provide 100-year flood risk reduction in the area – up from the existing eight-year level of protection. The Governor has advanced funding and key legislation to move…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Partner Siebel Newsom, Latino Community Foundation, and Prospera highlight growth of Latina entrepreneurship on Latina Equal Pay Day

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 3, 2024

    OAKLAND – Today, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, in partnership with the Latino Community Foundation and Prospera recognized Latina Equal Pay Day – underscoring the persistent wage gap faced by Latina workers across the United States. On average, Latinas in the United States are paid about 51 cents for every dollar paid to a non-Hispanic white man, contributing to significant financial disparities over a lifetime. During today’s event, the First Partner spoke with local Latina entrepreneurs about the wage gap as well as their work to build wealth and opportunity for their families and communities.

    “Latinas are so much of what makes California and this nation thrive, despite continuing to face significant barriers to wealth and opportunity because of the wage and wealth gaps and systemic inequities.

    Latina entrepreneurs, in particular, are a powerful counterforce and pathway for economic growth and community uplift. By supporting Latina entrepreneurs and advocating for equal pay, we can work together to close the Latina wealth gap and create opportunities that enable them to thrive.”

    First Partner Siebel Newsom

    “The Latino Community Foundation is proud to invest in organizations like Prospera, which are empowering Latina entrepreneurs to shape their own futures and California’s economy,” said Sylvia Pérez Cash, Chief Innovation Officer, Latino Community Foundation. “Across our country, Latinas are key drivers of innovation and growth.  It’s imperative that we eliminate the wage gap by valuing all people equally, as Latinas’ contributions are vital to ensuring our communities and economy can thrive.”

    The wage gap affects not only income but also long-term wealth accumulation. Nearly half of Latina mothers are the primary breadwinner in their households, yet nearly 30% of Latina-led households live below the poverty line. Additionally, if the wage and wealth gaps are not closed, Latina’s entering the workforce today could lose up to $1.3 million over the course of a 40-year career.

    “Together, we are building a California where Latina women not only survive, but thrive as entrepreneurs and leaders,” said Claudia Arroyo, Executive Director at Prospera. “Through Prospera’s programs, we break the isolation they face as immigrants and provide them with access to the tools, networks and capital needed to close the wage and invisibility gap, allowing them to generate real economic impact in their communities.”

    Contributors to the gender wage gap include: women’s overrepresentation in lower-paying industries, workplace discrimination, women shouldering the majority of unpaid care responsibilities, a lack of pay transparency, and bias in promotion and leadership opportunities.

    In spite of these challenges, Latinas are a growing force in entrepreneurship, which is key to building wealth. Latina entrepreneurs currently comprise nearly half of all Latino businesses, and Latina-owned businesses have grown by 87% since 2007.

    “As a Latina Entrepreneur, Latina Equal Pay Day reminds me of the importance to create businesses that reflect our values of justice and equity,” said Ingrid Sanchez, Founder of Niños Sanos, Seguros y Felices. “For me, it is not just about numbers but an issue of dignity and respect for the work that we do both in our businesses and our community.”

    First Partner Siebel Newsom has made closing the wage and wealth gaps a top priority through her California for ALL Women initiative. The First Partner launched the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2019, in partnership with the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and the California Partners Project. This year, First Partner Siebel Newsom released the Equal Pay Playbook through her non-profit the California Partners Project. The Playbook aims to address the wage gap by giving California employers a step-by-step guide for developing a strategic approach to equitable pay that is good for Californians and will help companies attract and retain top talent, boost innovation and productivity, and enhance brand reputation.

    Recent news

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know: Four million Californians without a high school diploma will be able to access federal financial aid to attend college classes thanks to the Ability to Benefit program – increasing opportunity and access to higher education, training, and…

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom today announced a new project in San Francisco that will transform a dated Department of Motor Vehicles building into a mixed use building with a modern DMV office paired with 372 new homes, including homes dedicated to…

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know:  The state is decertifying the City of Norwalk’s housing element following the city’s action breaking state housing law and implementing an illegal shelter ban. The state’s action makes the city ineligible for significant housing and…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “California’s $20 Fast-Food Minimum Wage Is a Win-Win-Win, Research Says”

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 3, 2024

    What you need to know: UC Berkeley economists’ study shows that raising the minimum wage increased incomes for workers, with no job cuts and food prices remaining largely stable.

    SACRAMENTO – A new study published by UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research and Labor Employment confirmed that California’s $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers has led to significant benefits for workers, without the devastating consequences that critics predicted. The study found that while wages have risen substantially, there has been no reduction in employment in the fast-food sector. Below are some key takeaways from the research:

    • Wages increased by 18% – For 90 percent of non-managerial workers, wages increased by 18 percent, representing a meaningful bump for workers who have historically been underpaid despite many being the primary breadwinners in their families.
    • No job cuts – The wage increase did not lead to job cuts, despite what critics had said would be a doomsday for the industry.
    • Profit margins were already high – The industry had been benefiting from “​​monopsonistic (higher than competitive) profit margins” which have “absorbed a substantial share of the cost increase.”
    • 15 cents – The cost of menu options rose by only 3.7 percent, which is roughly just 15 cents for a typical $4 hamburger.

    “This study reaffirms that our commitment to fair wages for fast-food workers is not only lifting up working families but also strengthening our economy. The data shows that investing in workers benefits everyone — workers, businesses, and our state as a whole.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Here are some of the news stories that covered this study: 

    In July, California set a record for the most fast food jobs in state history. Since the law went into effect in April, the state has gained 7,400 fast food jobs.

    This study comes after corporate restaurant industry groups pushed out “fake” numbers to make it seem like thousands had been fired because of the wage increase.

    IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 

    New Study Analyzes Impact of California’s $20 Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers

    Sectoral Wage-Setting Policy Yields Higher Pay, No Changes in Job Numbers and Modest Price Increases

    Berkeley, CA –  A new study from the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at UC Berkeley offers a careful analysis of the effects of California’s recent minimum wage increase for fast food workers. The policy, which took effect in April 2024 and raised the minimum wage to $20 per hour, marks a significant shift in wage regulation. The study, released as California’s Fast Food Council considers further wage increases in 2025, presents compelling evidence that the $20 hourly wage has significantly raised worker earnings without job losses or concerning price hikes.

    Sectoral Wage-Setting in California leverages novel data on wages and prices at individual restaurants, including over 11,000 reported salaries on Glassdoor. The menu price data come from over 1,500 California restaurants and a similar number in states without recent wage increases. This approach enables the authors to isolate the causal effects of the wage policy from broader market trends.

    Key Findings:

    • 18% Pay Increase: The new wage policy raised average hourly pay by 18 percent, lifting the earnings of workers in large fast food chains, 90 percent of whom previously earned below $20 per hour.
    • Stable Employment: Contrary to fears expressed by restaurant groups, the wage increase did not lead to job cuts. Employment levels remained steady across the fast food industry.
    • Modest Price Increases: Prices of popular menu items rose by 3.7 percent, translating to an increase of just 15 cents for a typical $4 hamburger.

    Consistent with recent minimum wage research, the findings challenge the outdated assumption that significant wage increases lead to job loss. “We find that a carefully implemented sectoral wage floor can raise worker pay without reducing the number of jobs or substantial consumer cost burdens,” says report co-author and Berkeley economics professor Michael Reich. 

    California’s sectoral wage policy experiment is both large-scale and groundbreaking. If deemed successful, it could pave the way for similar policies in other states and industries. Indeed, California is already preparing to roll out a second sectoral wage policy for health care workers. This study, the first to marshal systematic data and rigorous analysis, provides policymakers with a timely, evidence-based assessment of the policy’s effects on wages, employment, and prices.

    To discuss the report findings in greater detail and answer questions about the research methodology, findings, and policy implications, the authors will host a virtual press briefing  tomorrow, October 1. Details below. Read the full report.

    Recent news

    Oct 3, 2024

    News OAKLAND – Today, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, in partnership with the Latino Community Foundation and Prospera recognized Latina Equal Pay Day – underscoring the persistent wage gap faced by Latina workers across the United States. On average,…

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know: Four million Californians without a high school diploma will be able to access federal financial aid to attend college classes thanks to the Ability to Benefit program – increasing opportunity and access to higher education, training, and…

    Oct 3, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom today announced a new project in San Francisco that will transform a dated Department of Motor Vehicles building into a mixed use building with a modern DMV office paired with 372 new homes, including homes dedicated to…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Upcoming temporary link road closures needed for essential infrastructure work

    Source: Porirua City Council 

    Work to improve electricity network resilience and increase drinking water services is to be carried out for the fast-growing eastern suburbs.
    Porirua City Council, Wellington Electricity, Wellington Water and Kāinga Ora are teaming up to carry out critical infrastructure service upgrades along link roads, at the same time. These upgrades will increase resilience and supply for local residents and will benefit Porirua as a whole, but will cause traffic disruption during the work.
    The Waitangirua and Te Ara Kāpehu (Whitby) Link Roads Project breaks ground in early November, and will take about seven months to complete.
    Stage 1 – full closure
    Porirua City Council General Manager Infrastructure Mike Mendonça said the first stage of the construction work is due to start in early November and requires the full closure of Waitangirua Link Road (from Warspite Avenue to the T-junction with Te Ara Kāpehu/the Whitby Link Road). This stage is expected to take up to five months to complete.
    “During the closure, drinking water pipes will be laid, along with cabling for electricity network upgrades. Teaming up to do this infrastructure work means we only need to close the road once, rather than twice, which would have been more inconvenient to road users,” he said.
    “For the work to be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible, the decision has been made to fully close the road, so work crews have unimpeded access to the site.
    “If we were to keep the road partially open the work would take considerably longer and cost considerably more. Once the cabling and pipework is completed, the road will be fully resurfaced.”
    Stage 2 – partial lane closure
    The second stage of work will take place along Te Ara Kāpehu Link Road (between Silverbrooke and the roundabout before the Transmission Gully on-ramp) also to lay water pipes and power cabling.
    This work is scheduled to happen once the first stage is complete, and the Waitangirua Link Road is back open. The intention is that one lane will remain open with traffic management measures expected to be in place for about two months.
    Porirua Mayor Anita Baker acknowledges the work will be disruptive for regular users of the link roads, and individuals and businesses living and operating in the area.
    “We know eastern Porirua is growing quickly, so this work is important to increase resilience and future capacity of the electricity network for this part of the city and to enable improved drinking water supply for eastern Porirua and Whitby,” Mayor Baker said.
    “To keep disruption to a minimum, we are working together using a ‘dig once’ approach to get water and electricity upgrades done at the same time. Although this may seem like basic commonsense it’s not always achievable with different entities having competing priorities and timeframes,” she said.
    While the road is closed, Council will also take the opportunity to remove wilding pine trees, clear vegetation and install signage for the increased speed limit on the Waitangirua Link Road, which is being raised to 60km/h as part of the Speed Management Plan for Porirua City.
    “We encourage motorists to plan their journeys using alternative routes and allow extra time, and we’re grateful for everyone’s patience while this important work is done,” Mayor Baker said.
    What the work involves
    Improved electricity network resilience and future capacity
    Council will work with Wellington Electricity to lay new power cables. This work will increase the resilience of eastern Porirua’s electricity network, helping to ensure safe and reliable power for decades to come.
    New cables will also allow future capacity increases, anticipating housing growth as this area continues to expand.
    Improved water supply
    An additional 2.4 km of drinking water pipes will connect to the new, larger reservoir to be built at the end of Stemhead Lane.
    This will cater for future demand on Porirua’s drinking water network and improve network resilience by adding a second connection to upper Whitby and providing capacity in case of an emergency. These upgrades also reduce and ultimately remove current reliance on pump stations.
    The new reservoir is planned for construction in the first half of 2025 and will be delivered by Te Rā Nui. It will increase the amount of water available from 4.5 million litres to 13.5 million litres.
    For more information visit poriruacity.govt.nz/link-roads

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Recommend Avoiding Contact with Lake Washington in Glocester

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Lake Washington in Glocester due to blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) bloom in the lake. Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by the DEM.

    Use caution in all areas of Lake Washington. Cyanobacteria can sink or float to control their location in the water column. Other factors such as, wind, rain and wakes from recreational activities can affect the location of a bloom. All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, should be avoided. People should not ingest water or eat fish from the ponds. Pets can also be affected by exposure to the algal toxins and thus owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in the water. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

    Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae commonly causes irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and/or throat. Common health effects associated with ingesting water containing algal toxins include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Rarer health effects include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at a particular risk for health effects associated with algal toxins. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    If you come into contact with the water, rinse your skin with clean water as soon as possible and, when you get home, take a shower and wash your clothes. Similarly, if your pet comes into contact with the water, immediately wash your pet with clean water. Do not let the animal lick algae off its fur. Call a veterinarian if your animal shows any symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning, including loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or any unexplained sickness that occurs within a day or so after being in contact with water. People are cautioned that toxins may persist in the water after the blue-green algae bloom is no longer visible.

    It is possible that blue-green algae blooms may be affecting other waterbodies in Rhode Island. People are advised to avoid contact with waterbodies that exhibit bright green coloration in the water or at the water surface and/or dense floating algal mats that form on the water’s surface. The water may look like green paint, thick pea soup, or green cottage cheese.

    To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Empty podium: Adam Gray dodges first CA-13 debate

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    October 3, 2024

    Adam Gray dodging last night’s Spanish-language debate in Mendota showed he would rather hide than face tough questions about his record of raising the gas tax and food costs.

    “Self-serving Sacramento politician Adam Gray prefers to run from tough questions than explain why he repeatedly voted to make the cost of living more expensive for hardworking Valley families.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

    In case you missed it…

    Duarte debates empty podium, Gray skips Mendota’s Spanish-language debate
    SJV Sun
    Reid Stone

    Latino voters in the hotly-contested 13th Congressional District fumed over former Asm. Adam Gray’s (D–Merced) decision to skip out on the nationally-watched race’s sole Spanish-translated debate. 

    Driving the news: The Mendota Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate for the 13th District on Wednesday evening, but only Rep. John Duarte (R–Modesto) showed up. 

    Duarte is running for reelection against Gray in a rematch from 2022 that was separated by only 564 votes, one of the closest in the nation. 

    Despite Gray’s no-show, the Chamber of Commerce went ahead with the event with only Duarte.

    The big picture: California’s 13th Congressional District is one of a handful of so-called “majority-making” races in the 2024 contest to control the House of Representatives.

    Duarte squeaked out a victory against Gray in 2022, winning the nation’s closest House contest that year and helping cement a slim majority for now-former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

    Since his election, Duarte has carved a staunch moderate stance. He was ranked the most moderate Republican in the House, per rankings from the conservative Heritage Foundation.

    What they’re saying: Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez was not surprised Gray did not attend the debate. 

    “It’s not a surprise that Adam Gray did not show up for our Latino community,” Martinez said. “He never does. That’s why I’m supporting Congressman Duarte. He is always here for us when we need him. Our community is behind John because he supports us.” 

    Other 13th District voters agreed with Martinez, arguing that the ex-Assemblyman’s no-show indicates Gray does not care about the Latino community. 

    “He turns his back on the Latino community every chance he gets,” voter Alex Chavez said. “Just look at his ads, they have fancy sheriffs, big farmers, and rich guys, but never people who look like me. Adam Gray isn’t for the Latino community and everyone knows it.”

    Voter Yoshi Trujillo said, “Makes sense that Adam Gray didn’t show up tonight. Sure, it’s the only opportunity for people in our community to hear from him in our language, but that isn’t important to him clearly. He has lost a lot of support from people around here who know that he doesn’t like our Latino community.”

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Prison Safety – Second Person Dies in Mount Eden Prison

    Source: People Against Prisons Aotearoa

    People Against Prisons Aotearoa can confirm that a second person has died in Mount Eden Corrections Facility. 

    This second death was discovered on Thursday morning, less than a week after Andrew Chan Chui was found dead in the same prison. Dr. Emmy Rākete, spokesperson for PAPA and a lecturer in criminology at the University of Auckland, says the string of deaths raises concerns about the facility’s management.  

    “Mount Eden Prison is a death trap,” says Dr. Rākete. “I am extremely concerned that prison management either can’t or won’t ensure the safety of the people they’re locking up.”

    Sources informed Dr. Rākete that emergency services were called to Mount Eden Corrections Facility on the morning of Thursday October 3rd, where they declared that the patient was deceased almost immediately. Correspondence from within the Department of Corrections, provided to Dr. Rākete, confirms that a death occurred in Mount Eden Corrections Facility on Thursday.

    “This is the third death in Mount Eden Prison this year. Andrew Chan Chui was murdered in his cell last week. Another man took his own life in Mount Eden Prison in June. There is a pattern of violence and death in Mount Eden Prison that Dion Paki, the director of the prison, needs to be held accountable for. How many more people will Mount Eden Prison let die?”

    People Against Prisons Aotearoa and the Chan Chui family will be holding a candlelight vigil outside of Mount Eden Corrections Facility tomorrow, October 5th, at 7:30pm.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Lawler’s Bill Enhancing Secret Service Protection for Vice President Harris and Former President Trump Signed Into Law

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    This week, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 – Representative Mike Lawler’s (R-NY-17) bill introduced with Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) to provide enhanced United States Secret Service protection for former President Trump and Vice President Harris – was signed into law by President Biden. Last week, the legislation passed the Senate unanimously, after unanimously passing the House the previous week.

    “I am glad to see my legislation ensuring former President Trump and Vice President Harris have the same level of Secret Service protection as the sitting President is now the law of the land,” said Congressman Lawler. “It should not have taken two assassination attempts against the former President to ensure our presidential candidates have the protection they need.”

    “Political violence has no place in our country and its precipitous rise in recent years is deeply disturbing,” Congressman Lawler concluded. “The Enhanced Presidential Security Act will ensure our elections are always determined by ballots, not bullets – something that is vital to our democracy and something that we can all agree on, regardless of party.”

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Cammack & Dunn, Speaker Johnson Visit North Florida Communities Devastated By Hurricane Helene

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    GAINESVILLE, FL — This afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) joined Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) and Congressman Neal Dunn (R-FL-02) for a visit to the areas in North Central Florida devastated by Hurricane Helene. 

    The group took an aerial tour of the damage, viewing Cedar Key, Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach, and Steinhatchee from above. Hurricane Helene made landfall last Thursday evening, dumping heavy rain that generated 18 feet of storm surge along the coastal areas in Florida’s Big Bend region.  

    The congressional leaders stopped in Steinhatchee to view the damage on the ground and to visit with local leaders who have been working around the clock to aid in initial cleanup efforts. The lawmakers also spoke with members of local, state, and national media, sharing important updates about recovery efforts and what more Congress can and should do to help the communities devastated by the storm. 

    “I’m grateful to Speaker Johnson for visiting some of Florida’s hardest-hit communities today. Seeing the damage and destruction from Hurricane Helene firsthand and hearing directly from the folks who continue to struggle with relief from the federal government was critical, especially because these same communities also endured Hurricane Idalia and Debby in the last 13 months. Some of those very same folks have yet to receive the disaster assistance they applied for,” said Rep. Cammack. “We’re going to continue our efforts to get our region back up and running and I’m grateful for the Speaker’s commitment to this work.” 

    Speaker Johnson, Rep. Cammack, and Rep. Dunn speak to members of the local, state, and national media about their visit.

    Speaker Mike Johnson told members of local, state, and national press during a stop in Steinhatchee: “I think this has been an extraordinary effort by Florida, the state and local officials. It’s just really inspiring to see how well it’s been covered and how much the community is rolling up its sleeves and working together. Here in this community, it would inspire the entire country to see how they’re really banded together. They’re undeterred. This is a very resilient community of people. That’s the best of America. We have this disaster now that’s around the country. We have people in North Carolina still stranded in their homes in the mountains, and people in Georgia and a number of other states that have been terribly affected by this storm. So, Congress is on the ground, the representatives who represent all those districts are there with their constituents, with their people trying to help, and we will do what’s necessary to make sure that Americans are taken care of.”

    “North Florida is tough, and the resilience of our communities in the wake of Hurricane Helene continues to inspire. Local leaders, residents, and federal officials have come together with strength and determination, showing the grit and dedication needed to rebuild,” Congressman Neal Dunn said. “I am honored to host Speaker Johnson as we work together, and I am committed to advocating for aid and providing the support our communities need through every step of the recovery process.” 

    Initial damage estimates from the storm could total over $160B.  

    For assistance with recovery resources from Hurricane Helene, visit cammack.house.gov or call (352) 505-0838. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –