NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Andover Man Sentenced for Multistate Fentanyl and Cocaine Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A former North Andover man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his participation in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances that spanned across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Puerto Rico.

    Elvis DeJesus, 34, formerly of North Andover, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In June 2024, DeJesus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and other controlled substances. In December 2021, DeJesus was charged along with 20 other individuals.

    In May 2020, an investigation began into a network of Lawrence-based drug traffickers. From December 2020 through December 2021, intercepted communications between targets of the investigation and their associates revealed that the defendants distributed fentanyl and cocaine in and around the Lawrence area. Some of the cocaine was obtained from suppliers in Puerto Rico and shipped to Massachusetts in the U.S. mail.

    Together with other co-defendants, DeJesus operated a wholesale fentanyl and cocaine distribution businesses until approximately August 2021, when he was arrested on state firearms charges. In February 2021, $75,930 was seized from co-defendant Luis Martinez after Martinez had collected drug proceeds from DeJesus outside of DeJesus’s residence. In April 2021, a package sent from Puerto Rico to DeJesus’s residence that contained 978 grams of cocaine was also seized. In March 2021, 200 grams of cocaine supplied by DeJesus from co-defendant Othoniel Lara Gonzalez was also seized.  

    After DeJesus’s arrest on the state firearms charges, he was detained in state custody. DeJesus continued to operate his drug distribution business from jail. In November 2021, over 500 grams of fentanyl and over 100 grams of cocaine that co-defendant William Rivadeneira was transporting on DeJesus’s behalf was seized. Prior to the seizure, DeJesus was intercepted chastising Rivadeneira for not having taken adequate precautions while preparing the fentanyl for distribution, telling him, “[Y]ou can get an overdose.”

    In November 2021, DeJesus and his co-conspirators paid co-defendant Gregorit Sanchez, a former Corrections Officer at Middleton House of Corrections where DeJesus was then detained, to smuggle a package containing fentanyl, cocaine, Suboxone and other contraband into the jail. The package was seized from Sanchez when he attempted to enter the jail.

    In February 2025, Luis Martinez was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In January 2023, Othoniel Lara Gonzalez was sentenced to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. William Rivadeneira pleaded guilty in March 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22, 2025. In June 2024, Gregorit Sanchez was sentenced to five years’ probation with the first year to be served on home detention.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Essex County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Ferguson and J. Mackenzie Duane prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Signs SB 4 into Law, Securing Missouri’s Energy Future and Economic Growth

    Source: US State of Missouri

    APRIL 9, 2025

    Today, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill (SB) 4 into law, taking a major step forward in strengthening Missouri’s energy infrastructure and supporting long-term economic development.

    “With this legislation, Missouri is well-positioned to attract new industry, support job growth, and maintain affordable, reliable energy for our citizens,” said Governor Mike Kehoe. “This is about powering Missouri for Missourians and not relying on other states and countries to produce our power. This legislation strengthens our economic development opportunities, helps secure our energy independence, and provides consumer protections to build a resilient energy future for generations to come.”

    The legislation is designed to respond to skyrocketing energy demand and outdated energy policy, introducing vital reforms to ensure Missouri can meet its growing electricity needs and includes some of the strongest consumer protections in the nation. SB 4, sponsored by Senator Mike Cierpiot and Representative Josh Hurlbert, includes the following provisions:

    • “Watt for Watt”: Requires utilities to replace current capacity with dispatchable sources of energy prior to decommissioning an existing power plant, ensuring Missouri continues to have reliable power generation resources.
    • Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) Accounting: Incentivizes new power generation facilities and reduces financing costs, saving Missourians money in the long run and expanding Missouri’s electrical grid capacity.
    • Plant in Service Accounting (PISA): Allows utilities to recover certain depreciation expenses from new natural gas power plants over a 20-year period, incentivizing the construction of new power generation facilities and helping to avoid rate shocks for consumers.
    • Hot and Cold Weather Rule: Extends the disconnection grace period during extreme weather from 24 to 72 hours to protect vulnerable customers.
    • Special Residential Customers Rates: Authorizes the Public Service Commission (PSC) to create tailored utility rates for seniors, low-income families, and other overly burdened customers.
    • Advanced Meters and Time-of-Use Rates: Provides residential customers the option whether to participate in time-of-use rates or advanced meters programs.
    • Lowering of the Revenue Requirement Impact Cap: Places stricter limits on recoverable deferred costs to help keep utility rates in check.

    The bill’s significance is further emphasized by the Missouri’s recent selection by the National Governor’s Association and the U.S. Department of Energy to convene an in-state nuclear summit, underscoring Missouri’s commitment to develop new reliable energy.

    For more information on SB 4, click here. To view photos from the bill signing, click this link.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Virginia Man Indicted for Obstructing the IRS and Failing to File Tax Returns

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, returned an indictment yesterday charging a Virginia man with obstructing the IRS and willfully failing to file tax returns.

    According to the indictment, Omini Tete Riman, of Woodbridge, was an information technology specialist. He allegedly filed false 2013 and 2014 tax returns, reporting that he earned nearly $2 million in income and had almost $1 million withheld in taxes. Based on those false statements, Riman allegedly claimed nearly $400,000 in refunds, which the IRS paid.

    The indictment states that starting in 2016, after notifying Riman about his outstanding tax liabilities, the IRS attempted to recover the funds from him. However, Riman allegedly took numerous steps to frustrate the IRS’s collection efforts. For example, it is alleged he transferred his property to a trust, opened bank accounts in the trust’s name and directed that his wages be deposited into the trust’s bank account. It is further alleged that he also submitted false documents to the IRS, including false documents which purported to show that an IRS employee owed him money and that Riman had canceled the debt, which, if accurate, would have caused the IRS employee’s own tax liability to increase.  

    In addition, the indictment alleges that for tax years 2018 through 2023, Riman knew he was legally required to file tax returns but willfully did not do so timely. In fact, after being notified that he was the target of a grand jury investigation in 2025, Riman allegedly filed tax returns for 2017 through 2020 which falsely reported that he had earned no income during those years. 

    If convicted, Riman faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of obstructing the IRS and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each count of failing to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd III and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Changing the Eurocentric narrative about the history of science – why multiculturalism matters

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Karen K. Christensen-Dalsgaard, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, MacEwan University

    An illustration by the medieval Islamic scholar Abu Rayhan al-Biruni depicting the phases of the moon in relation to the Sun. (Wikimedia Commons)
    The medieval Islamic mathematician, astronomer and physicist Ibn al Haytham (965 – c. 1040) lived in Cairo, Egypt, during the Islamic golden Age and is considered the father of optics.
    (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY

    In the 11th century in Cairo, the foundations for modern science were laid through the detention of an innocent man.

    The mathematician Abu Ali al-Hasan Ibn al-Haytham had been tasked with regulating the flow of the Nile, but when he saw the river that had shaped 4,000 years of human civilization, the hubris of the task became all too obvious.

    To avoid the wrath of the Fatimid caliph in Egypt, Ibn al-Haytham supposedly feigned madness and was placed under house arrest, giving him time to focus on optics.

    In doing so, he developed a scientific method based on controlled, reproducible experiments and mathematics. This would not only change humanity’s understanding of optics and how our eyes actually see, but also later lay the foundations for empirical science in Europe.

    When I started teaching the history of biology, the importance of this pivotal period of scientific history was often diminished in western analysis of science history. Studying the contributions of non-western scholars has shown me what history can teach us about the value of multiculturalism.

    A video from The Smithsonian explaining Ibn al-Haytham’s experiments with light.



    Read more:
    Explainer: what Western civilisation owes to Islamic cultures

    A Eurocentric version of history

    The story typically told in the West is that science was invented in ancient Greece and then, following close to a millennium of intellectual darkness, developed in Western Europe over the past 500 years.

    Other cultures might have contributed a clever trick here or there, like inventing paper or creating our modern number system, but science as we know it was developed almost entirely by white men. As such it becomes a story of superiority, one that demands gratitude.

    The scars of this way of thinking are all over our geopolitical landscape. It shapes how many western leaders interact with other cultures, apparently entitling them to share their intellectual authority without needing to listen to others. It is a mindset that belittles other civilizations and led to centuries of colonial violence.

    This Eurocentric version of scientific history omits some of the most important events that shaped modern thinking. Science was not developed so much by individuals but by a highly complex global process that brought together ideas, lived experiences and approaches from all major civilizations.

    The Plimpton 322 clay tablet, with each row of the table relating to a Pythagorean triple, is believed to have been written in Babylonia around 1800 BCE, around 1,000 years before the Greek mathematician Pythagoras was born.
    (Wikimedia Commons)



    Read more:
    What was the first thing scientists discovered? A historian makes the case for Babylonian astronomy

    Ancient Greek scholarship, for instance, was indeed instrumental in developing science, but it was not inherently western. The Greek empire spanned much of the Mediterranean region and the Black Sea. Scholars travelled extensively, and the centres of scholarship drifted over time from Ionia in present-day Turkey, for example, to Athens to Alexandria in Egypt.

    Greek natural philosophy was influenced by the mathematical and astronomical achievements of the Babylonians and the medical traditions of the Egyptians. Later, Alexandrian scholars made great advances in human anatomy when they overcame the Greek aversion to dissections, likely because of Egyptian influences. Natural philosophy was born from the merger of these scholarly traditions.



    Read more:
    Why are algorithms called algorithms? A brief history of the Persian polymath you’ve likely never heard of

    Importance of testing ideas

    Similarly, Ibn al-Haytham was one of thousands of scholars who, during the golden age of Islam, were engaged in the immense task of translating, combining and developing the world’s knowledge into great encyclopedic texts. They admired Indian and Chinese scholarship and technology but revered the ancient Greeks.

    While the Greeks had an impressive greatness of mind, they had largely shunned the idea of experiments and believed that developing instruments was the job of slaves.

    Many Arab scholars, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of experimentally testing ideas and developed scientific and surgical instruments that allowed for significant advances.

    The opening page from Ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine.
    (Yale University Medical Historical Library)

    Arguably, Arab scholars built the foundations for modern science by developing a method for controlled experimentation and applying it to Greek scholarship combined with knowledge and technologies from all accessible parts of the world.

    Later, Latin translations of the Arabic texts would allow science to grow in the West from the intellectual ashes of medieval Catholicism. Texts like Ibn Sina’s Qānūn fī al-ṭibb (Canon of medicine) would become standard textbooks throughout Europe for hundreds of years.

    Ibn Al-Haytham inspired scholars like Roger Bacon to work toward European implementation of the scientific method. This would ultimately lead to Europe’s scientific revolution.



    Read more:
    Avicenna: the Persian polymath who shaped modern science, medicine and philosophy

    Importance of intercultural exchange

    Great civilizations existed all over the world in the beginning of the 16th century, in Africa, the Middle East, the Americas and East Asia. Most had scholarship that was superior to the West’s in at least some respects. Arguably, the most valuable thing Europeans took from the rest of the world was knowledge.

    The first vaccine, for instance, was based on variolation techniques developed in China, India and the Islamic world. People were inoculated against smallpox by blowing powdered scabs up their noses or rubbing pus into shallow cuts.

    Europeans believed that diseases were caused by bad air (miasma) and so did not initially trust this technique. It only became widespread in Europe and North America after English aristocrat Lady Montagu saw its efficacy firsthand in Constantinople in the early 18th century and advocated that it be tested in England.

    A vaccine developed by English physician Edward Jenner 80 years later was simply the well-known variolation technique made much safer by inoculating with cowpox instead.

    The importance of intercultural exchanges should not be surprising. Scientific data and observations are ideally objective, but the questions we ask and the conclusions we draw will always be subjective, shaped by our prior knowledge, beliefs and past experiences. Different cultures can help each other see beyond their inherent biases and grow beyond the intellectual constraints of individual approaches.

    In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Potawatomi botanist and writer Robin Wall Kimmerer gives a beautiful example of this in the context of how Indigenous approaches can inform modern science.

    One of Canada’s greatest gifts is our diversity. Here, cultures from across the world come together, forming a multiplicity of minds that is well positioned to solve the problems of our world. However, this only has value if we can connect and learn from each other. When we advocate for a diversity of ideas in curricula, both nationally and abroad, we are promoting a future built on the knowledge of people and cultures from around the world.

    There is nothing more intimately personal than the thoughts in your head, and yet you did not conceive them. They are a continuation of knowledge and ideas that for thousands of years have travelled the globe, shaped by countless minds from all civilizations. In a time of seemingly growing division, that is a thought that ought to bring us all together.

    Karen K. Christensen-Dalsgaard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Changing the Eurocentric narrative about the history of science – why multiculturalism matters – https://theconversation.com/changing-the-eurocentric-narrative-about-the-history-of-science-why-multiculturalism-matters-252884

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deluzio, Norcross, Hirono Introduce Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI) reintroduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bicameral legislation to guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. The lawmakers were joined by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) in introducing the legislation. 

    “No matter where they live, American workers in every sector should have the ability to form and join a union, or to collectively bargain to improve their workplace,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Public servants should have this right, just like other workers. Now is the time for solidarity: let’s come together and stand with hardworking Americans, defend the union way of life, and pass the bipartisan Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.” 

    “I know the power of collective bargaining because I’ve lived it,” said Congressman Norcross, a union electrician, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus. “I spent decades at the negotiating table standing up for working families—fighting for fair pay, safer jobs, and better benefits like health care and retirement. This bill ensures public-sector workers across the country have the same rights to a voice on their job and a seat at the table.”  

    “Public sector workers teach our children, protect our safety, and keep our communities moving forward—they deserve the right to organize,” said Senator Hirono. “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act will help ensure that millions of public sector workers across our country have the federal protections they deserve as they fight for fair wages, benefits, and improved working conditions. Private sector workers are already guaranteed the right to organize under federal law, it should be common sense that public sector workers are afforded those same rights. As President Trump works to gut our public sector workforce, this bill is crucial to protect workers’ freedom to organize and bargain collectively. I’m proud to lead this important legislation with Representative Norcross to help ensure that every public employee has their voice heard in the workplace.” 

    “Passing this legislation has never been more urgent — especially now, as federal workers face unprecedented attacks on their collective bargaining rights,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “We believe, as most Americans do, that every worker deserves a union — no matter who they work for. This bill is about something fundamental: respect. Respect for the public service workers who’ve devoted their careers to serving their communities. And respect means the freedom to negotiate.” 

    “When workers stand together in a union, their jobs and lives improve. But in half of the country, the people who keep our cities and towns running are banned from collectively bargaining for a good union contract. Every day, the attacks on the fundamental freedoms of workers who keep our streets and water clean, our public transportation moving, and our children learning are increasing from the highest level of government. We need federal law to protect their rights to form a union and negotiate fair contracts that allow them to continue to do the work that is so essential to our communities. We call on every member of Congress to stand with working people and support the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. 

    “For years now, the rights of workers like nurses, librarians, educators, and all our essential public servants who dedicate themselves to our communities have been chipped away at, despite their dedication and selfless service to their communities,” said Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America. “That’s why the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act is so vital. It protects public sector workers’ fundamental right to join together, bargain for fair pay, and stand up for decent working conditions. Congress needs to step up and pass this now and push back against efforts trying to undermine these essential rights.” 

    “As education, healthcare and public service workers, our members make a difference in the lives of others every day. But too many states don’t allow the people who do the work to have a voice,” said Randi Weingarten, President of AFT. “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would change that, ensuring public servants, no matter where they reside, have a means to influence their own lives. Whether it’s higher wages, safer working conditions, or a secure retirement, the ability to organize a union and bargain collectively lifts working families, students, patients, and entire communities up. That’s why we enthusiastically support this legislation and are committed to moving it forward.”  

    The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would establish baseline federal protections to ensure all public service workers can join a union and negotiate workplace conditions—regardless of state law. The bill comes at a critical time, as recent federal actions have renewed attention on the collective bargaining rights of public employees, including those serving in national security-related agencies. 

    Specifically, the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would set a minimum nationwide standard of collective bargaining rights that states must provide, including allowing public service workers to join together and have a voice on the job to improve both working conditions and the communities in which they live and work. The legislation gives public service workers the freedom to: 

    Read the full bill text here.  

    The bill is supported by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Communications Workers of America (CWA); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); AFL-CIO; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE); International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); International Union of Police Associations (IUPA); International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT); Laborer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA); National Education Association (NEA); National Nurses United; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Transport Workers Union of America (TWU); UNITE HERE!; United Autoworkers; United Steelworkers (USW). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao’s Legislation to Combat Romance Scams Passes Out of House Committee on Energy and Commerce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced H.R. 2481, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, out of a full committee markup. The Romance Scam Prevention Act is a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Reps. Brittany Petterson (CO-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Craig Goldman (TX-12). This legislation would require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app for fraudulent activity.

    Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the companion bill in the Senate, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on March 12, 2025.

    “Millions of Americans use online dating services to make connections, making them the perfect platform for romance scammers to target their victims,” said Congressman Valadao. “Alerting users that they have been in contact with someone who has been banned for fraud is a basic security feature that will save Americans billions, and I’m proud to lead this effort alongside my Congressional colleagues. I want to thank Chairman Brett Guthrie and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for their attention to this critical issue.”

    Background:

    Over 60 million Americans used an online dating service in 2023, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing over $1.1 billion. Criminals use false names and stories to lure individuals into conversation before manipulating them to give up sensitive information. When an online dating service provider becomes aware of a user committing fraudulent activity, like illegally obtaining money, the online dating service provider immediately deactivates the fraudulent user’s account. However, individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, an individual might not know they are still communicating with someone who was banned from the platform.

    If you or someone you know has seen a suspicious profile on an online dating service, please file a report with the FTC on their website.

    Read a one-pager on the bill here.

    Read the full bill here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim’s Bipartisan Uyghur Policy Act Passes Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Uyghur Policy Act (H.R. 2635), led by Rep. Young Kim (CA-40), Rep. Ami Bera (CA- 06), chairwoman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, as well as Committee Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-05),  to help the United States take concrete steps to support Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities subject to unthinkable atrocities by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

    Watch Rep. Kim speak in support of the bill in today’s markup HERE.

    This bipartisan bill would create a comprehensive, multilateral strategy to raise international awareness of the persecution of Uyghurs at home and abroad, direct the State Department to effectively respond to human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and push back on CCP efforts to silence Uyghur voices.  

    The Uyghur Policy Act would:

    • Coordinate U.S. Efforts by designating the Secretary of State to oversee Uyghur human rights-related policies and programs that preserve Uyghurs’ ethnic, religious, cultural, and linguistic identities.
    • Empower human rights advocates working on behalf of Uyghurs and minorities persecuted by the CCP.
    • Force the CCP to End Crackdowns against Uyghurs by increasing accountability to human rights organizations and developing a strategy to close detention facilities and political reeducation camps.
    • Support the Uyghur Diaspora by addressing transnational repression and creating reporting mechanisms for Uyghur victims.

    The Uyghur Policy Act passed the House in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner in the 117th and 118th Congresses.

    “Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang are victims of the CCP’s genocidal campaign and subject to silencing, detention, torture, and brainwashing simply because of their identity. By staying silent, we become complicit,” said Rep. Young Kim, Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. “The Uyghur Policy Act provides the U.S. with the necessary tools to defend the basic human rights and unique identities of those facing inhumane treatment. I thank my House Foreign Affairs Committee for supporting this effort, and I will relentlessly stand against the CCP’s abuses and push for freedom and human rights around the world.”

    “The PRC’s ongoing repression of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang is a moral outrage that demands a clear and coordinated international response,” said Representative Ami Bera (CA-06). “The Uyghur Policy Act sends a strong, bipartisan message that the United States stands against genocide, forced labor and transnational repression. I am proud to support this legislation, which strengthens our ability to hold the PRC accountable and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to human rights. America must continue to lead with our values — standing up for religious freedom, cultural identity and the dignity of all people.”

    “America must be vocal about human rights everywhere. This bill will help hold Beijing accountable for its genocide in Xinjiang and ensure that the United States is supporting Uyghurs and other minorities who face PRC atrocities at home and repression abroad,” said Ranking Member Meeks.

    “The Uyghur Policy Act enhances the United States’ ability to confront the CCP’s genocide in the Uyghur region and address transnational repression beyond China’s borders. It is a strategic necessity that supports Uyghurs globally while challenging the international community to uphold the values it claims to defend. We are especially moved that the bill names Dr. Gulshan Abbas, my innocent sister, whose unjust imprisonment, along with that of countless others, exemplifies the repression this legislation seeks to end.” – Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director, Campaign for Uyghurs.

    “Congresswoman Young Kim’s bill is a beacon of hope for Uyghurs. Our people are suffering unbearable torments under a deliberate genocide,” said Omer Kanat, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP). “We urge the Congress to move quickly to pass the Uyghur Policy Act into law.”

    “Now more than ever it is critical to provide tools and guidance for the United States government to take effective action in coordination with allies to address this ongoing genocide. The provisions of this legislation are a powerful framework to do just that and we are thankful for Congresswoman Kim’s dedicated leadership on these issues,” said Julie Millsap, Government Relations Manager, No Business With Genocide

    “Without leadership from the United States on the Uyghur issue, and in particular on the issue of access to detention facilities and the release of prisoners, it is very difficult for the international community to make progress on a wide breadth of human rights-related concerns. We appreciate this legislation as a means of advancing efforts in support of a global rules-based order which respects the dignity of each and every person and thank Congresswoman Kim for her leadership. We encourage policymakers to move the bill through committee swiftly and hope to see it passed into law soon,” said Emily Upson, Program Coordinator, Wild Pigeon Collective

    “This vital legislation ensures that the plight of the Uyghur people remains a priority in U.S. foreign policy. As American Muslims, we cannot turn a blind eye to such grave injustice. As President of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, I commend Congresswoman Young Kim for her steadfast leadership in reintroducing the Uyghur Policy Act. This is a meaningful step toward accountability and justice, and we strongly urge bipartisan support for its swift passage,” said Anila Ali, President, American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Issa and Calvert Join Riverside Leaders: Keep Galway Downs an Olympic Venue

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)

     

    Washington: Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) today joined Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) and a range of Riverside County regional leaders to encourage the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic Games, and the International Olympic Committee to extend continued support for Temecula’s Galway Downs Equestrian Center as the idea venue to host the Equestrian events during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

    The official correspondence stated that, “In every way, this international destination for the disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping is the ideal location for the equine activities of the 2028 Summer Games, as it combines a SoCal tourist destination with world class state-of-the-art facilities for athletes, horses, their teams, and all spectators to experience and enjoy.”

    Galway Downs equestrian center is a premier multi-use facility spanning 242 acres, 400 permanent stalls, a 1-mile racetrack, 5/8-mile training track, 14 arenas for training and competition, 15 miles of trails, and numerous other amenities. It hosts multiple events year-round, including Hunter/Jumper, Arabian Horse and Dressage.

    The letter concludes: “Temecula, Riverside County and the region have also made the community commitment and long-term investment in Equestrian sports that will truly leave a lasting legacy that honors the Olympic Movement.”

    The letter was also signed by California State Senator Kelly Seyarto, California Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, and Temecula City Council Member Matt Rahn.

    Read the letter here.

    Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District, which encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Veteran Access to Suicide Prevention Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – When Congress passed the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, it authorized several new programs designed to improve veterans’ access to mental health care. Among the provisions, the bill established the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) to reduce veteran suicide through a community-based approach. 

    While the SSG Fox SPGP authorized $174 million to be appropriated for Fiscal Year 2021 through Fiscal Year 2025, neither North Dakota nor Delaware, or entities serving these states, have received any funding. 

    To address this shortcoming, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the bipartisan Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act to provide for priority consideration of SSG Fox SPGP applications to entities in states which have not previously received a grant.

    “Veterans across North Dakota and the nation bravely served our country and have been promised timely access to mental healthcare, no matter where they live,” said Cramer. “Our bipartisan bill provides a practical fix to ensure North Dakota veterans receive suicide prevention support if they need it.”

    “We have a duty to support those who have volunteered to serve in our armed forces, and no aid is more urgent than helping our veterans at risk of suicide,” said Coons. “Until now, Delaware has missed out on critical funds to address veterans’ mental health and suicide risk despite the amazing organizations in the First State ready to expand their reach. This bill rights that wrong so that more Delaware veterans who have risked their lives to keep us safe will receive the life-saving support they deserve when they come home.”

    The legislation is supported by several organizations, including the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (NDDVA), American Legion Department of North Dakota, Disabled American Veterans Department of North Dakota, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of North Dakota.

    “Thank you, Senator Cramer, for leading this legislation,” said Lonnie Wangen, Commissioner of NDDVA. “Highly rural states such as North Dakota face a unique challenge in serving our most vulnerable veterans. NDDVA considers suicide prevention the most important and difficult task we are facing. Two words that need to stop being used together are “veteran” and “suicide.” We need all the partners and resources available and appreciate any help we can get in this critical mission.”

     Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Reintroduce Bill to Expand Sarvis Creek Wilderness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with Representative Joe Neguse, reintroduced the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act to expand the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest by 6,817 acres, protecting sub-alpine wilderness habitats and wildlife while preserving access to outdoor recreation. 

    “Coloradans love the Sarvis Creek Wilderness,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s home to stunning landscapes, recreation opportunities, and wildlife. Let’s expand and protect it.”

    “Colorado’s public lands are the cornerstone of our Western way of life, and for decades, this Northwest Colorado landscape has deserved further protection,” said Bennet. “Local elected officials and outdoor recreation, agriculture, water, and environmental leaders came together to craft this bill that protects critical watersheds, enhances wildlife habitats, and safeguards outdoor exploration for Coloradans. I look forward to getting this important legislation across the finish line for our state.”

    “I’m proud to join Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet in reintroducing legislation that would expand the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest by more than 6,000 acres, advancing the preservation of our public lands, protecting local wildlife, and providing increased access to outdoor recreation,” said Neguse.

    Specifically, this legislation:

    • Fulfills the community’s vision for the entire Sarvis Creek wilderness area by adding 6,817 acres on to the existing 44,556 acres, which had originally been excluded due to a previously-proposed plan to develop a ski area.
    • Extends wilderness protection to the Harrison and Green Creek watersheds—rare, pristine sub-alpine regions that feed into the Yampa River, safeguarding aquatic resources and preserving water quality.
    • Protects winter range and spring calving areas for elk that inhabit the area, in addition to habitat for other native Colorado wildlife and fish species.
    • Provides easy public access from Steamboat Springs and Stagecoach for low impact recreation—including hunting, fishing, back-country skiing and hiking.

    Full text of the legislation is available HERE.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Help U.S. Host Cities Bolster Local Infrastructure Ahead of 2026 World Cup, 2028 & 2034 Olympics

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    04.09.25

    Cantwell, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Help U.S. Host Cities Bolster Local Infrastructure Ahead of 2026 World Cup, 2028 & 2034 Olympics

    Cantwell: “With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, and Jerry Moran (R-KS), a member of the Commerce Committee, reintroduced the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act to provide federal funding for local communities to prepare for transportation demands and ensure the successful movement of fans, workers, and goods during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics, and the 2034 Winter Olympics that will all be held in the United States.

    “With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This bill will help ensure the hundreds of thousands of fans visiting Seattle can get to and from games safely and efficiently by improving coordinated transportation planning across the Pacific Northwest.”

    “It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” said Sen. Moran. “Preparations are already underway for the games, and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”

    The United States, Canada, and Mexico were selected to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, and 11 U.S. cities are preparing to host World Cup matches, including Kansas City, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Transportation demands will increase greatly as host cities and surrounding communities are expecting hundreds of thousands of additional visitors from across the globe during the games. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics and Salt Lake City was selected to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.

    This legislation would create a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide host cities with funding for projects that improve transportation in the region during World Cup or Olympic games. Grants would support permanent transportation projects – building new roads, expanding light rail, purchasing new buses, creating bike lanes, improving existing roads or highways, or making airport terminal improvements. 

    The Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act would:

    • Provide resources to host cities through grant funding for projects that improve transportation in the region during World Cup or Olympic games, which could include acquiring buses, improving airports, or building roads.
    • Allow DOT to provide technical and planning assistance to host cities, states, and tribes within 100 miles of a World Cup or Olympic event to help improve coordination and prepare regional transportation systems for the influx of fans.
    • Allow DOT to facilitate sharing public transportation equipment, such as buses, between host cities and other cities, helping reduce costs while meeting transportation demand.
    • Direct the Department of Commerce to study the economic impact hosting the World Cup and the Olympics has on travel and tourism in the United States

    “The USOPC strongly supports the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Host Cities Act, and we thank Senators Moran and Cantwell for their leadership on this issue. This legislation is crucial to ensuring the United States is prepared to host the decade of sport ahead, from the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. This bill will make it possible for cities to enhance their infrastructure and provide a seamless experience for athletes and fans alike. The essential transportation assistance set forward in this bill will help make these global events a success and demonstrate American excellence on the world stage.” – The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

    “We are excited for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to take place in the United States,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, U.S. Soccer Federation President. “We appreciate Senators Moran and Cantwell for introducing legislation to provide the 11 U.S. cities hosting World Cup matches, and the dozens more cities hosting team base camps, fan fests and other events and activities, with the resources they will need to welcome the hundreds of thousands of people that will travel here from around the world.”

    “From ferries to trains, buses to highways, the World Cup will undoubtedly put Washington state’s transportation system to the test,” said Peter Tomozawa, CEO, Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Organizing Committee. “We appreciate Senator Cantwell’s leadership to provide transportation agencies the support they need so we’re ready to showcase Washington to the world in 2026.”

    “We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, Chief Executive Officer of KC2026. “Senator Moran continues to be a leader in transportation, mobility, safety and security in the Kansas City region. This legislation will give much needed support to our efforts to ensure safe and efficient transportation of people and goods throughout the region during the World Cup. More importantly, these investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

    “On behalf of the KCATA, we are grateful that Senator Jerry Moran is demonstrating his foresight and leadership by introducing bipartisan legislation that will help us, and other host cities effectively host these games and move people to where they need to be,” said Frank White III, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). “The Senator’s outreach and understanding of our needs to serve both visitors and residents will help us with effective planning and preparation to host sizable crowds on our transit systems next summer.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin Welcomes Norman Chamber of Commerce to Washington, Holds Q&A

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Senator Mullin Welcomes Norman Chamber of Commerce to Washington, Holds Q&A

    Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke with the Norman Chamber of Commerce about DOGE cuts, returning power to the states, and the important roles he and Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) have on their respective Committees, advocating for Oklahomans. The Chamber’s meeting with Senator Mullin was part of their annual Washington Fly-in event.

    Highlights of the Senator’s remarks are below.

    On getting the bureaucracy out of Washington, D.C., and returning power to the states:

    “The President wants to get it closer to the communities and let you guys make decisions on what’s best for your community. You know, it’s very difficult for people up here in Washington, DC to know what’s going on in Norman. They don’t. It’s kind of like the Department of Ag… the Department of Ag covers two city blocks and most of those people have never been kicked by a horse, much less have crap on their boots, and they’re trying to tell us how to run our places. They’re too far removed.”

    “We’re trying to push it closer to the states and allow the states to handle that, that’s the whole point of what we’re doing, and what DOGE is about.”

    On the Senate and House Appropriations Committees:

    “Tom and I will work closely together with it… I felt like we could be more helpful being on Approps… With Tom there, we have real opportunities to get this stuff funded… If we’re going to be in this spot, I want to be as effective as possible. And I felt like that was a positive move for us. So, all these infrastructure projects, I’m well aware of them, and we’ll continue to try carrying them, to fight for them, with you guys.”

    On DOGE cuts rumors:

    “Now talking about DOGE, here’s what I tell all the different chambers that’s coming up here…  don’t chase a rumor… I’ve got a great relationship with the President. I’ve also got an outstanding relationship with Pete Hegseth, who I consider a friend. I consider the President a friend. In fact, just about any nominee that’s out there, I promise you, or a Secretary out there, I have their cell phone, and all of them I have great relationships with… I can find out the answer. So, before you go and chase a rumor, just have someone call me and let’s ask about it. Let’s find out.”

    “With transportation, I can tell you, Sean Duffy, they’re shrinking the size of the Department of Transportation too, just like they’re doing this stuff with Department of Ed, and it’s not that the money is going to go away. It’s that we feel like if we can get it closer to the state with transportation working with ODOT, rather than having some person in Washington, D.C. decide where the grants are going to go based on how the state voted.”

    “So, with all this, it’s about pushing it closer to the state. The President says over and over again, he wants the dollar to go further.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ICYMI: President Trump Is “President for Main Street, Not Wall Street”

    Source: The White House

    Last night, President Donald J. Trump made clear whose side he is on — everyday Americans, not the globalist politicians who have spent decades selling out American workers to foreign countries.

    Here’s what you missed during President Trump’s speech:

    • President Trump on his motivations: “I’m proud to be the president for the workers, not the outsourcers; the president who stands up for Main Street, not Wall Street; who protects the middle class, not the political class; and who defends America, not trade cheaters all over the globe.”
    • President Trump on the America First agenda: “Our opponents are not afraid that our America First policies will fail, they’re terrified that our strategy will succeed and we’re going to get bigger and stronger and better … and that is what’s happening … We’re going to prove that all of their treasonous years of betrayal will not be forgotten.”
    • President Trump on trade: “The shrill voices that you’re hearing this week about tariffs are the same scoundrels and frauds who never thought twice about when the United States lost 90,000 factories and plants … since NAFTA.”
    • President Trump on deporting foreign terrorists: “Last month, we officially designated Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and the Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. And thanks to the Supreme Court yesterday … We will continue to deport these monsters under the Alien Enemies Act.”
    • President Trump on his second term: “I had somebody say the most successful first month in the history — now they say the most successful 100 days in the history of our country, and I believe that’s right, and we’re going to continue that way, if not more so.”
    • Keith Siegel, an American held hostage by Hamas, delivered moving remarks: “I am here and I am alive. President Trump, you saved my life. You saved the life of 33 hostages because of your efforts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Statement Regarding Creation of a 2nd Amendment Task Force

    Source: US State of California

    WASHINGTON – Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement regarding her creation of a 2nd Amendment Task Force at the Department of Justice:

    “The prior administration placed an undue burden on gun owners and vendors by targeting law-abiding citizens exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. The Department of Justice’s new 2nd Amendment Task Force will combine department-wide policy and litigation resources to advance President Trump’s pro-gun agenda and protect gun owners from overreach.”

    Background:

    • This follows the DOJ and ATF’s Monday repeal of the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy and the review of Final Rule 2021R-08F, related to stabilizing braces, and Final Rule 2022R-17F, related to the definition of “engaging in the business” of firearms dealing. Read more here.
    • Read the full memo establishing the 2nd Amendment Task Force here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Large-Scale COVID-19 Pandemic Loan Scheme

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

    A Pennsylvania man who organized a large scheme to defraud the federal government out of COVID-19 pandemic loan moneys in 2021 was sentenced today to more than six years in federal prison.  Alhaji Kundu Aly, age 35, from Chester, Pennsylvania, formerly of Liberia, received the prison term after a June 14, 2024, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.

    In a plea agreement, and at the sentencing hearing, Aly admitted that, in 2021, he and others recruited and assisted various individuals in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans for which they did not actually qualify, in exchange for a fee.  False, fraudulent, and fictitious documents and statements were submitted to various lending institutions in support of the PPP loans for the PPP applicants.  After the PPP applicants received the fraudulent PPP loans, it was part of the scheme to demand a portion of the PPP moneys from the PPP applicants and, if necessary, Aly traveled to demand payment in person.  Aly traveled to Iowa and demanded payment in person from a PPP applicant.  Aly admitted at his sentencing hearing that he was responsible for approximately $3.5 million in loss based on more than 170 fraudulent PPP loans as a result of the scheme to defraud.

    Aly was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Aly was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make $3,478,781 in restitution the Small Business Administration and two PPP lenders.  Aly must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.         

    Aly was released on a bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on April 28, 2025, at 10 a.m., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration assisted the investigation.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 23-CR-9.

    Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack: Double Your Deposit, Get $50 Bonus, and Trade with 100x Leverage – No KYC Required!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin continues to trade below $85,000 and analysts predict that the crypto market will remain volatile, holding spot positions may not generate short-term profits. Recent economic shifts, including policy announcements such as President Trump’s tariff decisions, have brought some stabilization, but the volatility remains. For investors seeking to maximize returns in these uncertain times, BexBack Exchange offers a powerful solution. With 100x leverage, a 100% deposit bonus, and a $50 welcome bonus for new users, BexBack empowers traders to seize market opportunities. And with no KYC requirements, it provides a seamless and efficient way to trade.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $60,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $63,000, your profit will be (63,000 – 60,000) * 100 BTC / 60,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and more than 50 other major altcoins. Headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by over 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe, and offers no deposit fees, along with exceptional customer service, including 24/7 support.

    Why recommend BexBack?

    No KYC Required: Start trading immediately without complex identity verification.

    100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds, double your profits.

    High-Leverage Trading: Offers up to 100x leverage, maximizing investors’ capital efficiency.

    Demo Account: Comes with 10 BTC in virtual funds, ideal for beginners to practice risk-free trading.

    Comprehensive Trading Options: Feature-rich trading available via Web and mobile applications.

    Convenient Operation: No slippage, no spread, and fast, precise trade execution.

    Global User Support: Enjoy 24/7 customer service, no matter where you are.

    Lucrative Affiliate Rewards: Earn up to 50% commission, perfect for promoters.

    Take Action Now—Don’t Miss Another Opportunity!

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this could be your chance. With BexBack’s 100x leverage and 100% deposit bonus and $50 bonus for new users (complete one trade within one week of registration), you can be a winner in the new bull run.

    Sign up on BexBack now, claim your exclusive bonus and start accumulating more BTC today!

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
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    business@bexback.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack.The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7f3f8aa-dcf2-46c0-86de-7673dcf42440

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    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99b86064-d3c9-4218-a19f-a24e58af7211

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Hoyle to Join Senator Merkley for Townhalls in Curry, Coos, Douglas Counties

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    April 08, 2025

    For Immediate Release: April 8, 2025

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) announced she will join U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley for townhalls in Curry, Coos, and Douglas Counties on April 15, 2025. Senator Merkley and Representative Hoyle will start the day with a townhall in Brookings, Oregon, at 10 AM, followed by North Bend, Oregon, at 2:30 PM, and end the day in Reedsport, Oregon,at 5:00 PM. Details on each townhall are below, with additional details to be sent to local media by Sen Merkley’s office ahead of each event.

    CURRY COUNTY TOWNHALL

    Location:        Southwestern Oregon Community College, Curry Campus – Lower (Sprague) Commons

                            96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings, OR 97415

    Doors Open: 

    Event Time:   10:00 AM

    COOS COUNTY TOWNHALL

    Location:        North Bend Community Center – Main Hall

                            2222 Broadway Avenue, North Bend, OR 97459

    Doors Open: 

    Event Start:   2:30 PM

    DOUGLAS COUNTY TOWNHALL

    Location:        Reedsport Community Center – Main Gym

                            451 Winchester Avenue, Reedsport, OR 97467

    Doors Open: 

    Event Start:   5:00 PM

    For more information on Senator Merkley’s townhalls please visit his website, linked here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Carter Introduces Bill to Cut through Red Tape to Fix Bus Driver Shortage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)

    Representative John Carter (TX-31) introduced H.R. 2360, the Driving Forward Act, in the House this week. The bill aims to end a burdensome regulation that requires prospective bus drivers to pass an under-the-hood mechanics test to get behind the wheel.

     Representative John Carter (TX-31) introduced H.R. 2360, the Driving Forward Act, in the House this week. The bill aims to end a burdensome regulation that requires prospective bus drivers to pass an under-the-hood mechanics test to get behind the wheel.

    “When I was in law school, I was a school bus driver,” said Representative John Carter. “This profession is filled with people who understand what it means to show up early, work hard, and care for kids. Across the country, there are stories of students being unable to get to school because of bus driver shortages. The most basic requirement for a student to learn is simply being at school. Still, federal bureaucrats created a rule requiring a mechanics test that keeps otherwise qualified individuals out of the profession. We need to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic regulations to fix the nationwide bus driver shortage. My bill makes the current exemption permanent to do just that.”

    The bill is endorsed by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), School Superintendent Association (AASA), National Rural Education Association (NREA), National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), and Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA).

    “The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) strongly supports the Driving Forward Act as one method to help alleviate the school bus driver shortage. The existing temporary exemptions from the under-the-hood testing requirement have been proven to increase the number of newly licensed school bus drivers without compromising safety. NSTA believes making the exemption permanent will encourage more states to adopt it and lay the groundwork to license even more school bus drivers, which ultimately allows more children access to the safest way to and from school, the yellow school bus. NSTA thanks Representative John Carter for his leadership on the Driving Forward Act as well as Chairman Tom Cole, Chairman Jason Smith, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, and Representatives David Valadao, Troy Nehls, and Keith Self for cosponsoring the bill and looks forward to seeing it get enacted into law,” said Curt Macysyn, Executive Director of the National School Transportation Association.   

    Original cosponsors of the legislation are Representatives Tom Cole (OK-04), Jason Smith (MO-08), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), David Valadao (CA-22), Troy Nehls (TX-22), and Keith Self (TX-03). Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is expected to introduce the Senate companion bill soon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Native Fish Bounce Back after “Direct” Interventions in Two Wisconsin Lakes

    Source: US Geological Survey

    As climate change progresses, profound environmental changes are becoming a widespread concern. A new management paradigm is developing to address this concern with a framework that encourages strategic decisions to resist, accept, or direct ecological trajectories. Effective use of the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework requires the scientific community to describe the range of plausible ecolog

    Learn More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Governor Phil Scott on Importance of Rising Above National Rhetoric

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement:

    “I’ve been clear, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted or live in a constant state of fear, anger or outrage over the next 45 months. Instead, we need principled and responsible leadership because there is too much work to do right here in Vermont like building more housing and making Vermont more affordable.

    “We’ll continue to separate rhetoric from reality and make decisions based on what’s in the best interest of Vermont and Vermont’s values.

    “A good example of this is the current conversation in education. There’s fear that Vermont might change how diversity, equity and inclusion policy is implemented in our school system. The reality is that we’ve been asked to verify we comply with existing federal civil rights laws and our democratic Attorney General agrees with our assessment.

    “Still, without acknowledging the facts, or how my Administration was handling the matter, some activists stoked more fear and anxiety throughout our education system.  My office heard from hundreds of parents and educators – all of whom had been given inaccurate information or worse, misled.

    “To move the Nation past the chaos Washington is causing, we need to rise above it and lead by example.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kristin Rehler, Special Agent in Charge of the Jacksonville Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Announces Retirement

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Kristin Rehler, special agent in charge of the Jacksonville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has announced her retirement, with a departure date of April 17, 2025. She retires after more than 29 years of honorable and dedicated service to the FBI.

    Reflecting on her career, Ms. Rehler stated, “Leading FBI Jacksonville has been the honor of a lifetime. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated professionals in law enforcement—both within the FBI and among our incredible local, state, and federal partners. Our shared mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution is made stronger through these vital partnerships. I’m endlessly proud of the work we’ve accomplished together and deeply grateful for the men and women, past and present, whose selfless service make our communities and our country safer.”

    Ms. Rehler began her FBI career in 1996 as a special agent in the Houston Field Office, where she investigated myriad criminal violations, including violent crime, narcotics, and financial crimes. In 2008, she was promoted to supervisor of Houston’s Civil Rights Squad, overseeing the Human Trafficking Task Force.

    In 2012, she was assigned to FBI Headquarters as an assistant inspector/team leader in the Inspection Division, conducting field office inspections, agent-involved shooting investigations, and national program reviews.

    She returned to Houston in 2013 as a supervisor and later served as acting assistant special agent in charge (ASAC) of both the Criminal Branch and the newly formed Technical and Administrative Branch.

    In 2015, Ms. Rehler was promoted to ASAC in the Tampa Field Office, leading the Criminal Branch and overseeing the Evidence Response Team and Operation Panama Express. In 2021, she was appointed ASAC over Tampa’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Branch, managing human intelligence, surveillance, and administrative programs.

    Later that year, she returned to the Inspection Division, where she served as an Inspector prior to being appointed by the Director to lead the Jacksonville Division in April 2024.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Barry Moore introduces Family Notification of Death in Custody Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Barry Moore

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) introduced the Family Notification of Death in Custody Act alongside Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), John Rutherford (FL-05), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04). Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the companion bill in the United States Senate.

    This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to implement policies and procedures to notify family members in the event of death, serious illness or serious injury while in custody. The Attorney General would also be directed to develop and distribute model notification policies and procedures to state and local detention agencies.

    “Families deserve to be informed when their loved one has died, has a serious illness, or sustains an injury while in custody. In FY21 alone, the Department of Justice failed to identify at least 990 prison and arrest related deaths,” said Moore. “This legislation requiring the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to implement clear procedures for notifying families if these events occur is a step toward transparency and accountability that ensures no family is left in the dark.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s identity is at stake if we don’t equitably fund and support its music now

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rosheeka Parahoo, PhD Candidate, Musicology, Western University

    Amid a trade war, sovereignty threats and a federal election campaign, Canada is facing renewed calls for national unity.

    The need to define, refine and reassert what it means to be Canadian has never been stronger. To understand Canada, we need to listen.

    Canadian music is how one can hear Canadian identity. Now more than ever, we must ensure equitable funding for this vital part of Canada’s cultural fabric so that Canada’s past, present and future stories are preserved in all their complexity and diversity.

    As a PhD candidate in musicology with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion in the Canadian music industry, I examine how systemic barriers shape this. I also explore strategies for advancing equity in creating, producing and promoting music in Canada.

    Canadian music industry

    Music has played a critical part in building Canadian identity.

    The recent rise in pro-Canada songs brought on by United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats of annexation demonstrates how powerful a medium music can be in voicing a nation’s frustrations.

    Canada has a unique chance to define its music on its own terms and better reflect the full diversity and complexity of Canadian identity through music. Canadian policymakers can bolster music-making, production and circulation while taking stock of broader discourses of what Canadian music includes, and more importantly, what it leaves out.

    For an industry that has strived to set itself apart from the American music scene, the time is ripe for Canada to increase and ensure equitable funding of the arts and music scenes.



    Read more:
    How Canadian R&B artists like Drake and Justin Bieber complicate ideas of race, music and nationality

    After recognizing American and British artists dominated airways, Canada introduced rules requiring radio stations to play homegrown music.
    (Shutterstock)

    Promise of representing all of Canada?

    In the 1960s and ‘70s, the Canadian government recognized that American and British artists were dominating the country’s airwaves. In response, it established the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and introduced Canadian content rules, requiring radio stations to dedicate airtime to homegrown music.

    The introduction of this policy, perhaps more protectionist than promotional in nature, was a pivotal moment because it meant that Canadian musicians could finally be heard in their own country.

    Many Canadian musicians and artists used this opportunity to speak out against injustice, inequality and erasure. Folk singers, Indigenous performers and artists from marginalized communities turned music into a form of resistance, challenging dominant narratives and redefining what it means to live in Canada.



    Read more:
    Junos 2023 reminds us how Canadian content regulations and funding supports music across the country

    Shrinking arts funding, barriers

    Now, decades later, we find the arts and music that once built Canadian identity isn’t an investment priority.

    This became especially clear during recent debates over the modernization of Canadian content regulations that spotlighted growing concerns from music industry stakeholders, such as artists and musicians’ associations, about shrinking arts funding, particularly for emerging and marginalized artists.

    Funding structures have shifted over the last several years, both in terms of government funding and artists’ revenue streams, leaving many artists, especially those from underrepresented communities, at greater risk. The result has been a music industry increasingly shaped by market forces.



    Read more:
    Artists’ Spotify criticisms point to larger ways musicians lose with streaming — here’s 3 changes to help in Canada

    Research on the Canadian music industry further complicates this. Industry reports from the Toronto Metropolitan University Diversity Institute shows that Black and Indigenous artists, and those from 2SLGBTQ+ communities, still face serious barriers to getting radio play, funding or recognition.

    The Canadian francophone music scene has also faced challenges, including being disproportionally impacted by streaming and a slim market share that puts its survival in peril. When it comes to radio play, funding and recognition, the promise of diverse Canadian music has seldom matched the reality.

    Who gets to define Canadian music?

    The recent renaming of the Minister of Canadian Heritage to the Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Québec Lieutenant could signal a promising shift. This ministry oversees the Canadian Heritage Fund, which distributes much of Canada’s arts funding.

    In response to emailed questions from the media about the rebrand of this ministry, and how it might affect policy, Minister Steven Guilbeault, recently sworn into the new dossier, wrote that his appointment came at a time “when our national unity and shared identity have never been more important.”

    He added: “Our culture and values define who we are as a country. In a period of political uncertainty, I will make strengthening our Canadian identity a priority to safeguard our sovereignty.”

    Strengthening Canadian identity must include sustained investment in Canadian arts and music.

    While recent national frustrations and political sentiment might make it easier to gravitate towards a safer and nostalgic version of Canada’s identity, Canadian music is most powerful when it holds space for both comfort and complexity. Take the recent viral clip of Liberal Leader Mark Carney joking with comedian Mike Myers, quizzing him about his Canadian identity. “Tragically?” Carney asks. “Hip!” Myers replies.

    Liberal federal election ad showing Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaking with comedian Mike Myers. (The Independent)

    It is a charming exchange that evokes a sense of shared pride — rightly so — and familiarity. It is also a gentle reminder of how quickly the boundaries of Canadian identity and music can be reduced to a set of familiar artists.

    The Tragically Hip captured lyrical portraits of small-town life and touched on themes of loss and injustice, as in “Wheat Kings.” In contrast, artists like Tanya Tagaq confront colonial violence using a blend of Inuit throat singing with electronic influences, soundscapes and performance styles that reclaim Indigenous presence.

    Both stories are part of Canada, and have also resonated and found acclaim on global stages. Canadian music finds its power nested between the tension of comfort and critique.

    ‘Let the world know who we are’

    In a recent open letter to the arts community, Michelle Chawla, director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts, urged the sector to seize the moment: “We need the arts to let the world know who we are — an open, diverse and globally minded society.”

    She went on to emphasize that, as Canadians look to contribute more directly to the economy, the arts must be part of that vision. She noted decision-makers must understand the arts “have a vital role to play as part of the solution” as Canada navigates uncertain times.

    For policymakers, that means prioritizing funding for the arts and setting clear parameters to ensure this funding is distributed equitably, with meaningful support for emerging and underrepresented artists.

    For everyday Canadians, it means being open to stories that challenge us, and resisting the urge to simplify what Canadian music or identity is supposed to be. It also means supporting local artists and musicians, attending shows and investing in local music scenes.

    Now is the moment to invest in the arts and Canadian music industry, not just to preserve its past, but to ensure we continue telling bold, complex and uniquely Canadian stories. If we allow Canadian identity to become a curated artefact, and Canadian music to be stripped of its tension, complexity and defiance, we lose far more than funding. We lose the stories that make Canada, Canada.

    Rosheeka Parahoo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Canada’s identity is at stake if we don’t equitably fund and support its music now – https://theconversation.com/canadas-identity-is-at-stake-if-we-dont-equitably-fund-and-support-its-music-now-253674

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: America Can Recycle 90% of Wind Turbine Mass, According to New DOE Report

    Source: US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

    A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) outlines recommendations that could increase the recycling and reuse of decommissioned wind energy equipment and materials. Among other findings, the research reveals that existing U.S. infrastructure could process 90% of the mass of decommissioned wind turbines. However, the remaining 10% will need new strategies and innovative recycling methods. This research will help guide over $20 million in funding previously announced from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to advance technologies that address this gap.
     “The U.S. already has the ability to recycle most wind turbine materials, so achieving a fully domestic wind energy industry is well within reach,” said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Innovation is key to closing the loop, and this research will help guide national strategies aimed at advancing technologies that can solve the remaining challenges and provide more affordable renewable energy options to the American people.”
    The Recycling Wind Energy Systems in the United States Part 1: Providing a Baseline for America’s Wind Energy Recycling Infrastructure for Wind Turbines and Systems report provides an assessment of research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) needs and gaps in existing wind energy-related supply chains to support the U.S. wind energy industry. 
    A team of researchers, led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, developed the report. The first of a suite of reports, this part provides DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) with short-, medium-, and long-term RD&D priorities along the life cycle of wind energy systems. 
    The effective reuse and recycling of wind system components, parts, and materials will rely on a combination of measures, including: 

    Improved end-of-life decommissioning collection and scrap sorting practices. 
    Strategic siting of recycling facilities. 
    Expanded and improved recovery and recycling infrastructure. 
    Substitution of hard-to-recycle and critical materials with more easily separable and affordable materials, improved component designs and manufacturing techniques, or the development of modular system components. 
    Optimized properties of recovered materials for second-life applications. 
    Greater access to wind energy waste streams and the equipment required to disassemble wind energy components. 

    Towers, foundations, and steel-based subcomponents in drivetrains offer the greatest potential currently to be successfully recycled, whereas blades, generators, and nacelle covers are likely to prove more difficult. Recovering critical materials and alloying elements from generators and power electronics, such as nickel, cobalt, and zinc, will be crucial in the reuse and recycling of wind systems. 
    Short-term strategies for decommissioning include promoting blade production using more easily recyclable thermoplastic resins and reusing these resins in cement production. Thermoplastic-based blade recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis and chemical dissolution, could be viable medium- and long-term options. Other medium- and long-term solutions include high-yield techniques for separating compounds found in power electronics and hybrid methods for recycling permanent magnets. 
    Regional factors—such as material demand, disposal fees, transportation distances, and an available skilled workforce—will play vital roles in ensuring the success and cost-competitiveness of recycling wind energy components. 

    Funding for Wind Turbine Recycling

    Research used to compile this report will be used to guide the development of the Wind Energy Recycling Research, Development, and Demonstration program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 
    DOE recently announced an investment of $20 million to improve the recycling of wind energy technologies. This effort, which focuses on wind turbine components, enabling wind turbine material recycling and reuse processes, and qualifying recycled and recyclable material, will help bolster the domestic supply chain. Applications are due on Feb. 11, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET.
    In September 2024, DOE also announced six final winners of the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize. This $3.6 million competition expands domestic capabilities for the recycling and recovery of wind materials as teams use their winnings to bring their technologies closer to commercialization. 
    Research for the Recycling Wind Energy Systems in the United States Part 1: Providing a Baseline for America’s Wind Energy Recycling Infrastructure for Wind Turbines and Systems report drew from DOE’s Renewable Energy Materials Properties Database (REMPD), which catalogs the type, quantity, availability, and properties of materials worldwide needed to construct wind and solar energy technologies. Additional modeling and analysis identified technical, environmental, and economic potential and trade-offs related to recycling each of the wind energy components using a range of processes. The team also incorporated scenarios from the corresponding report on the REMPD database. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Crisis Services — Support When You Need It Most

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Crisis Services — Support When You Need It Most

    NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: NC Crisis Services — Support When You Need It Most
    hejones1

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, April 10, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss how people can support their mental well-being, find resources and get help for themselves or someone else experiencing a mental health crisis.

    Event participants include: 

    • Lisa DeCiantis, MA, LCMHC, Chief Clinical Officer for Mental Health Wellness, Treatment and Recovery, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, NCDHHS
    • Sandy Feutz, LCSW, Chief Operating Officer, RHA Health Services
    • Holly Provance Doggett, MS, Executive Director, NAMI North Carolina  

    Nearly 1 in 4 adults in North Carolina have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Support is available when you need it most. Mental health crisis services offer non-judgmental, confidential and compassionate care to connect North Carolinians with resources and support — available at little or no cost. People of all ages can get help with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, substance use or if they just need someone to talk to. 

    The fireside chat will stream live from the NCDHHS Facebook and YouTube accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can dial into the event by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 120794#. Fireside chat and tele-town hall panelists will discuss: 

    • Where to find mental health information and resources  
    • What crisis services are and how to access them  
    • When to get help for yourself or a loved one 

    NCDHHS recently launched a Crisis Services page available in English and Spanish to describe and connect people to services. This page includes a searchable map to find community crisis centers and has a zip code search to find a mobile crisis team. If you or someone you love is feeling overwhelmed, NC crisis services are here to help: 

    • Call, text or chat with 988 for immediate support, 24/7
    • Talk to someone with lived experience through the Peer Warmline: 855-PEERS-NC
    • Have help come to you — trained mobile crisis teams will meet you in a safe place at low or no cost
    • Visit a community crisis center for fast, in-person help from licensed clinicians
    Apr 9, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: VelocityEHS Named a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces Winner

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS®, the global leader in EHS & ESG software solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner. This prestigious award, based entirely on employee feedback collected through the Energage Workplace Survey, highlights VelocityEHS’s dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being.

    “At VelocityEHS, our people are the driving force behind our success,” said Rachel Kaiser, SVP and Chief People Officer at VelocityEHS. “Being recognized as a USA TODAY Top Workplace affirms our commitment to fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to make a meaningful impact every day.”

    More than 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey, which recognizes organizations with 150 or more employees that have established outstanding workplace cultures. Winners are selected solely based on employee feedback gathered through Energage’s employee engagement survey, which measures core statements including benefits and pay, feelings of respect and support, opportunities for growth and development, empowerment to execute, overall engagement, and more.

    “Earning a Top Workplaces award is a true mark of distinction because it comes directly from employees,” said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “In today’s competitive landscape, fostering a workplace where employees feel heard and valued is essential. Top Workplaces achieve this, and the benefits are immeasurable.”

    For more insights and company updates, visit the VelocityEHS press page.

    About VelocityEHS

    Relied on by over 10 million users worldwide, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform sets the industry standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. Additionally, VelocityEHS offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.

    The VelocityEHS team boasts unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified professionals in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS continues to drive innovation and thought leadership in the EHS industry. The company’s stringent security protocols, including SOC 2 Type II attestation, ensure the highest levels of privacy and data protection.

    Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, VelocityEHS has additional locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com.

    About Energage

    Making the world a better place to work—together.™ Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations transform employee feedback into actionable insights and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Backed by 18 years of culture research and insights from 27 million employees across 70,000 organizations, Energage provides the industry’s most accurate competitive benchmarking. With patented analytics and expert guidance, Energage enables companies to foster engaged workplaces and gain recognition for their commitment to culture.

    For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

    Media Contact
    Jennifer Sinkwitts
    jsinkwitts@ehs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Celebrates the Addition of Three Iconic Latino Music Recordings to the National Recording Registry

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    April 09, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and longtime advocate for Latino representation in media and entertainment, celebrates this morning’s announcement that the Library of Congress has selected three of his nominations for the National Recording Registry.

    This year, the Library of Congress will induct Vicente Fernández’s “El Rey,” Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” and the “Hamilton” album to the growing small percentage of Latino musicians currently represented in the registry.    

    “Today’s announcement represents the Library of Congress’ growing recognition that music by Latino musicians has shaped the soundtrack of American life,” said Congressman Castro. “Vicente Fernández’s cover of José Alfredo Jiménez’s “El Rey” is one of the most recognizable Mexican songs in the world that has touched many beyond the Mexican American community. Freddy Fender’s 1975 hit, “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” landed him the No.1 spot on the pop and country charts and underscored a true commitment to creating art no matter the obstacles in his path. And finally, the release of Hamilton ten years ago changed Broadway forever, shattered sales records, and uplifted the profound role of immigrants in the building of our great nation. I am proud to see that these three iconic recordings from iconic artists are rightfully taking their place as legends in American music history.”

    Background:

    During this year’s nomination process, the office of Congressman Joaquin Castro received hundreds of suggestions from the community. Congressman Castro personally curated a list of 30 nominations—ranging from albums of the 90s to Hamilton’s mixtape.

    Since it was established by Congress in 2000, the National Recording Registry has worked to preserve recordings with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. For the last nineteen years, the Library of Congress has selected 25 recordings for inclusion each year, with works by Latino musicians currently representing less than five percent of inducted titles.

    Over the last three years, as part of his long-running efforts to improve the recognition of Latino contributions to American history and culture, Congressman Castro has solicited public suggestions for congressional nominations to the National Recording Registry. In his first year of nominations, Congressman Castro received hundreds of public suggestions and submitted 33 titles to the Library of Congress for consideration. The following year, the National Recording Registry inducted two of his nominations – Irene Cara’s “Flashdance…What a Feeling” (1983) and Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” (2004), the latter of which made history as the first reggaeton song to be preserved in the registry.

    In 2023, Congressman Castro received more than 700 suggestions from members of the public and nominated titles by 35 performers – including Juan Gabriel and Héctor Lavoe – for inclusion in this year’s list of inductees.

    Later this year, Congressman Castro will launch a new call for suggestions to shape his nominations for additions to the National Recording Registry that are expected in 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan, Blumenthal Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Research & Treatment Development for Brain Cancers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reintroduced the Bolstering Research and Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen research and treatment development for brain tumors and to improve the accessibility of brain tumor health care. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), as well as Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08) and John Joyce (R-PA-13) joined Trahan and Blumenthal in introducing the bicameral legislation.
    “Too many families across our communities have faced the devastating reality of a brain tumor diagnosis. With more than a million Americans currently battling malignant brain tumors, we must act with urgency and purpose,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The bipartisan BRAIN Act will accelerate life-saving research, drive innovation in treatment, and expand support for survivors – offering hope to patients and their loved ones.”
    Today, more than one million people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor. Another 94,000 more will likely be diagnosed in 2025, in addition to hundreds of thousands of Americans diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer. Despite major improvements made in the treatment of other cancers in recent years, incidence and survival rates for malignant brain tumors have remained stagnant for 45 years, with a five-year relative survival rate of only 35.7%.
    “Our son Will was a remarkable and driven young man—accomplishing so much, including earning two master’s degrees while undergoing treatment for a brain tumor,” said Arlene Gluck, a Concord, Massachusetts resident. “Sadly, there is still no cure for brain tumors. That’s why we’re thankful to Representative Lori Trahan for sponsoring the BRAIN Act, which supports innovative, collaborative research and enhanced survivorship care among its key initiatives. We remain hopeful that our advocacy will help bring meaningful change for those who face this devastating disease in the future.”
    “Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation promotes research and development for brain cancer treatment to help Americans suffering from this viscous form of cancer,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Stagnant incidence and survival rates that have persisted for decades make it all the more clear—we must redouble our efforts to defeat brain tumors once and for all.”
    “A brain tumor diagnosis is devastating news for too many American families, and the federal government needs to step up to help find a cure and better diagnostics and treatment. The BRAIN Act is about saving lives, changing lives, and improving health outcomes. It would help fast-track scientific discovery and breakthroughs by improving access to clinical trials for patients and advancing innovative new treatments. It would also make it easier for researchers to access biospecimens for new research on brain tumors and fund more clinical trials for the most aggressive, hard-to-treat brain tumors,” said Senator Reed. “This bipartisan bill would also establish new programs and research for brain tumor survivors to improve quality of life and ensure appropriate follow up care over the long term.”
    “After losing my wife, Bobbi, to glioblastoma, I know firsthand how tragic a brain tumor diagnosis can be for patients and their families. Raising awareness and supporting efforts to find a cure is a personal priority for me,” said Senator Barrasso. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to advance treatments and support research to find a cure for these deadly diagnoses.”
    “For me, the fight against cancer is personal. When my late wife Jean was courageously battling cancer a few years ago, we were already seeing encouraging progress in the development of new treatments for many cancers,” said Senator Rounds. “I firmly believe we are years, not decades, away from seeing cures to many of the most deadly cancers. The BRAIN Act will allow us to continue capitalizing on the progress we have made so far by implementing programs and funding that will advance research and treatments for brain tumors. I am glad to be joining a bipartisan group of my colleagues on this legislation.”
    “As a pediatrician, I know brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer related deaths in children. That’s why we need the BRAIN Act signed into law – to invest in brain cancer research, provide new treatment options and hope for families, and ensure transparency in this public health investment.” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. 
    “The BRAIN Act marks a major leap forward in the fight against brain tumors and rare cancers,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “For too long, patients and families have faced these devastating diagnoses with limited options. This bipartisan bill drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and ensures greater transparency and support for those affected. By investing in research and accelerating progress, the BRAIN Act brings us closer to breakthroughs—and ultimately, a cure.”
    “Thousands of Americans are diagnosed with fatal brain tumors every year, yet there are very few treatments available,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. “Like so many throughout the country, I have experienced firsthand the pain these brain tumors can cause for families and patients alike, and as a physician, I understand how critical medical innovations are to give patients hope and to save American lives. I am proud to join the BRAIN Act, which will encourage further advancements in the treatment of cancerous brain tumors, giving hope to so many patients.”
    In order to reduce mortality rates and make meaningful progress against brain tumors, better-funded and collaborative research is needed. The BRAIN Act takes a comprehensive, complementary approach to meet this need and further advance research for these aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers.
    Specifically, the BRAIN Act:

    Increases transparency of federally-funded biobank collections so that researchers are aware of others who possess samples that might be shared to enable important research.
    Sufficiently resources the National Cancer Institute’s Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network, so that it can realize its promise of vetting treatments and completing innovative early-phase clinical trials. 
    Enables team science to advance immunotherapy research (CAR-T) engineered to attack brain cancer cells.
    Directs the Centers for Disease Control to conduct a public education campaign around the importance of clinical trials and biomarker testing in cancer treatment.
    Augments and expands funding to develop innovative systems of care models for brain tumor survivors.
    Directs FDA to issue guidance to ensure brain tumor and other rare and recalcitrant cancer patient access to clinical trials evaluating treatments for other diseases.

    “This is a landmark bill for the brain tumor community,” said David Arons, President & Chief Executive Officer of the National Brain Tumor Society. “As far as we know, the BRAIN Act represents the first piece of legislation introduced in Congress specifically designed to target policy solutions at the many barriers impeding progress for brain and other rare and difficult-to-treat cancers. We thank Senators Blumenthal, Barrasso, Reed, and Rounds, as well as Representatives Trahan, Fitzpatrick, Schrier, and Joyce, for realizing the major unmet needs of this community and championing policies that support brain tumor patients, survivors, families, and the research poised for breakthroughs ahead.”
    “In my 12-year career as a practicing neuro-oncologist and clinical researcher, I’ve seen first-hand the devastating toll that brain tumors take on patients and families,” said Nicholas Blondin, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine. “I’ve also witnessed transformative changes in the way we treat other cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. Unfortunately, we have not experienced the same level of progress in the tools and treatment options for patients with malignant brain tumors. More concerted policies to adequately fund cutting-edge research, paired with initiatives to raise awareness about the advances that are currently happening in diagnostics and clinical trials, are essential. New models for addressing the challenges patients face in their brain tumor journey will greatly benefit efforts in the field of neuro-oncology to catch up to the progress we have seen in treating other cancers.”
    A section by section for the BRAIN Act is available HERE and a one-page summary of the bill is available HERE.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kelly, Thompson introduce bipartisan Mental Health Research Accelerator Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee Chairman Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ranking Member Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) re-introduced the bipartisan Mental Health Research Accelerator Act to incentivize private companies with financial resources to collaborate with academic or nonprofit research institutions on neurological and mental health research to tackle the root causes of mental health conditions.

    “When it comes to addressing mental health access and care, we must utilize every tool in our toolbox,” Rep. Kelly said. “This new legislation allows us to make America’s tax system work for the American people by incentivizing research partnerships into brain health. I’m proud to work with my Ways and Means Committee colleague, Rep. Mike Thompson, on this vital legislation.”

    “Investing in brain research is key to addressing the root causes of mental health conditions, not just managing the symptoms,” Rep. Thompson said. “Mental illness is often at the core of challenges like homelessness, substance abuse, and workplace struggles. Simply funding symptom management isn’t enough—we must get ahead of the problem by advancing research that can prevent these issues from arising in the first place. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Kelly to support this critical work and help drive meaningful progress.”

    “Today, more than 60 million Americans suffer from a mental illness. Recent work by Price Water House Coopers estimated that the economic burden of mental illness was more than $1 trillion annually, not counting the value of human life associated with the almost 50,000 deaths by suicide. Research from the pharmaceutical industry has moved away from mental illness drugs because of the cost and risks involved. H.R. 2085 will provide necessary economic incentives for industry to partner with research universities across our country to engage in public-private partnerships that will have the potential to find new drugs and treatments but also to provide new jobs. This is a non-partisan issue and merits the support of everyone,” said Garen Staglin, Founder of the One Mind Foundation.

    BACKGROUND

    The Mental Health Research Accelerator Act provides $10 billion in allocable tax credits over a six-year period. The credits are available to nonprofits, state and local agencies, and private companies who collaborate on neurological research.

    Because of the high cost of neurological research, and the challenges in producing market-viable products, there is not enough investment in cutting edge neurological research. The credit is capped at 25 percent of allowable expenses and is a competitive credit to be allocated based on merit, as determined by the Treasury Department. Any credits not allocated by the end of the window are simply deemed moot and returned to Treasury unless the credit is extended by Congress.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam to Speak at UConn Law 2025 Commencement

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Arunan Arulampalam, mayor of the City of Hartford, will deliver the commencement address as the UConn School of Law celebrates the Class of 2025 on Sunday, May 18.

    “It is an honor to have Mayor Arulampalam, a leader who has tirelessly worked to revitalize Hartford, as our commencement speaker,” Dean Eboni S. Nelson says. “Many of this year’s graduates have provided legal services to underserved individuals in Hartford through our clinics and pro bono programs, making them key partners in the vital work being done to strengthen our local community. Considering the mayor’s distinguished career of service and advancing justice, his personal and professional journeys will serve as tremendous inspiration for our graduates as they begin their legal careers.”

    The son of Sri Lankan refugees, Arulampalam was born in Zimbabwe and made a home and a family in Hartford after graduate school. Prior to being elected mayor in November 2023, he served as CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, where he developed a first-in-the-nation program to train Hartford residents to become local developers and tackle blight in their city.

    Arulampalam served in Governor Ned Lamont’s administration as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Before that, he was a lawyer at the downtown firm Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. Arulampalam also served on the Board of the Hartford Public Library, the House of Bread, and on the Hartford Redevelopment Authority. He earned his BA in International Studies from Emory University and his JD from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

    “It is an incredible honor to join the UConn School of Law community and celebrate the Class of 2025,” Arulampalam says.  “These graduates represent the future of justice and advocacy, and their commitment to serving others, particularly through their work in Hartford, inspires hope for a stronger, more equitable society. As they embark on this next chapter, I am confident they will continue to make a profound impact on our city, our state, and beyond.”

    The University of Connecticut School of Law will hold its 102nd commencement on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. on the law school campus. The Class of 2025 includes nearly 200 graduates receiving JDs, LLMs, and SJD degrees. For more information, please visit our commencement site.

    MIL OSI USA News –