NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Bentz Holds Community Leader and Agency Coordination Roundtable

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario)

    BURNS, OR– Thank you to the community leaders, local Harney County officials, State Senator Mike McLane, State Rep. Mark Owens (Represented by his Chief of Staff), state agency representatives, and federal agency officials, for joining me and my staff at yesterday’s Community Leader and Agency Coordination Round table in Burns, Oregon.

    This meeting provided firsthand descriptions of the serious damage done and being done by the devastating and still ongoing flood of the Silvies River and surrounding watersheds which flow into the Harney Basin. We heard about, among many other problems, the damage to roads and streets, the precarious condition of the Burn’s City sewer system (now backing up into Burn’s resident’s homes), flood waters entering homes and businesses, and the danger of possible drinking water contamination.We also discussed possible solutions such as dredging the Silvies River, improving levee systems, and the remote possibility of building a flood control reservoir upstream from Burns.

    The Oregon Office of Emergency Management provided a comprehensive review of its efforts to coordinate with other communities to meet the criteria for an emergency declaration.  The Army Corp of Engineers explained that it was standing by to offer technical assistance. The Burns City Manager provided a thorough review of the many challenges facing the City. I assured everyone attending that I am committed to helping obtain the support that Harney County needs, and that my office stands ready to assist in any way that it can.  I do want to thank those who have been working so hard to help protect the residents of Burns, with particular emphasis on the County Court, the folks working for the City of Burns, and the Oregon Officer of Emergency Management.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Reintroduces the University Accountability Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, DC) –  Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) was joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) in reintroducing the University Accountability Act, legislation that would fine tax-exempt schools that violate students’ civil rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The legislation comes as colleges and universities across the United States still remain under fire for allowing and enabling antisemitic students to wreak havoc on their campuses.

     

    Under current federal law, a violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, can result in the loss of federal funds, but often times results in a mere corrective action that would bring the college or university back into compliance. The University Accountability Act would require colleges and universities that meet the penalty criteria to pay a fine of either five percent of the school’s aggregate administrative compensation as reported on the school’s Form 990, or $100,000, whichever is greater. After three civil rights violations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be required to review the college or university’s tax-exempt status for possible revocation.

     

    “Universities have a responsibility to protect their students from violence and discrimination but, instead, we’re seeing a disturbing increase in antisemitic attacks and rhetoric on college campuses,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Our legislation seeks to hold these institutions accountable and encourage them to investigate and crack down on instances of antisemitism to help foster a safer academic environment for all students, regardless of their gender, race or religion.”

     

    “I will continue to lead efforts to rid our colleges and universities of antisemitism alongside President Trump who is delivering on his promise to hold these failed institutions accountable for their neglect and abandonment of our Jewish students. The University Accountability Act will impose penalties on universities who violate the civil rights of their own students and put their undeserved tax-exempt status on the chopping block,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

     

    “Since the horrific October 7, 2023, attacks, there has been a sharp rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence on campuses, threatening Jewish students. The University Accountability Act ensures that any institution condoning this behavior is penalized by revoking its tax-exempt status and imposing harsh financial penalties. Not a dime of our tax dollars should be used to support colleges and universities that foster such heinous anti-Semitism,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

     

    Last Congress, Malliotakis introduced several pieces of legislation to hold universities accountable, including the Combating Antisemitic Messaging and Promoting Unity in School Act (CAMPUS) Act, that would prohibit federal funding from going to schools that provide funding, tuition assistance, support, or a platform to an organization that engages in antisemitic behavior or fails to hold a faculty member who promotes antisemitism accountable, and the No Visas for Antisemitic Students Act, that would revoke students visas of foreign students in the United States who engage in antisemitic behavior.

     

    View the Bill Text HERE.

    Malliotakis is a member of the bipartisan House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group, and has voted for, introduced and cosponsored several pieces of legislation to provide critical military assistance to Israel, restore maximum pressure on Iran, crackdown on rising antisemitism on college campuses and secure federal security grants for the local Jewish community.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Allow International Students Remain in the U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help international students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) remain in the United States. The Keep STEM Talent Act would streamline the bureaucratic process for international students to obtain legal status and bolster the United States’ STEM labor force. The legislation would ensure that American born participants in the STEM labor market receive preference in the hiring process.

    “In order for the U.S. to remain a leader in science and technology, we need highly skilled STEM graduates to stick around after graduation—even if they were born abroad,” said Senator King. “The Keep STEM Talent Act is a commonsense step toward keeping the world’s brightest minds in STEM in the U.S., while ensuring American born workers retain a leg-up in the job market.”

    Specifically, the Keep STEM Talent Act:

    1. Addresses Green Card Backlogs: This legislation would exempt advanced STEM graduates who are educated at U.S. universities and have a job offer in the United States, along with their spouse and children, from numerical limitations for employment based green cards. 
    2. Protects U.S. Workers: This legislation would protect American STEM workers by requiring that employers sponsoring foreign STEM graduates under this bill recruit U.S. workers first and agree to pay workers hired above-average wages.   
    3. Permits Dual Intent: Currently, a student visa holder cannot apply for a green card while in student status. This legislation would allow advanced STEM degree students at U.S. universities to have a dual intent, meaning that they will not lose their student visa status if they are sponsored by an employer for a green card.
    4. Imposes Rigorous Vetting: This legislation requires advanced degree students in STEM fields to apply for a visa or status before starting their advanced degree program, requiring them to undergo rigorous vetting and address any national security or counterintelligence concerns prior to being approved for student status.

    Endorsers of the Keep STEM Talent Act include: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers USA; American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics; Association of American Universities; Information Technology Industry Council; American Council on Education; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; Society of Women Engineers; NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Optica; American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

    In addition to Senator King, this legislation is sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Senator King is a staunch supporter of promoting American innovation in emerging technologies. In addition to advocating for US technology independence and expanding broadband connections across America, King has supported expanding STEM education for Maine students.

    The full text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator King Warns of a “Five-Alarm Fire” in Interview with The Washington Post

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) sat down with Patrick Svitek of The Washington Post in an interview to discuss the unprecedented, unconstitutional overstep from President Trump’s Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During the interview — which comes during a surge of reckless federal layoffs and in the midst of a global trade war spurred by the Administration’s announcement of widespread tariffs — King made clear the dangers of Congress further ceding its power to the President. He noted that doing so is a “fundamental misunderstanding” of what is outlined in the Constitution, and that the White House’s drastic overstep is “rendering Congress almost an afterthought.”

    The interview is the most recent instance of Senator King sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution. At the end of January, he gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared.” A couple weeks later, he took to the floor again to respond to the hiring freezes and firings, calling them “thoughtless and dangerous.” Senator King also previously declared that the proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement was illegal and a direct assault on the Constitution. He wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside 36 senators, sharing the detrimental effects of  the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials. Additionally, he appeared on “Morning Joe” to further warn of the Constitutional overstep by the White House.

    You can read the interview here or below.

    +++

    Svitek: Before we get into the issues of the day, what’s it like being an independent in the Senate in 2025?

    Sen. King: “Well, it’s kind of a luxury because I don’t have to worry about a primary and I don’t have to worry about some group or another that supports the party and whether or not I’m going to offend them. … If you had to put my political philosophy on a bumper sticker, it would be, “I call them as I see them.” And I think that’s an advantage. And it also allows me to work with people on the left, the right, Republicans, Democrats. My only goal is to get things done and to try to protect the country.”

    Svitek: You’ve said we’re in a constitutional crisis right now. What concerns you the most?

    Sen. King: “The first point is to try to step back from the daily deluge of information … and take a longer view of what’s actually going on in terms of our constitutional structure. And that’s where I think we’ve got a five-alarm fire. What we’re seeing is a fundamental restructuring of the way our government was designed that basically is moving more and more power to the executive, to the point of rendering Congress almost an afterthought. It’s happening in multiple ways. The collapse of an entire agency, USAID. The Department of Education. These were created by statute, and the executive has no authority whatsoever to eliminate a statutorily created agency. If they don’t like the agency, come to Congress and pass a bill to eliminate it. The same thing goes with the impoundment of funds. This is dangerous stuff, and … I don’t like a lot of things the administration is doing in terms of policy, but this structural collapse of our system where power is basically being given to one person — I don’t care if it’s the Archangel Gabriel — it’s dangerous, and that’s the moment that we’re in.”

    Svitek: Do you feel your colleagues in the Democratic caucus fully understand the urgency of this moment, as you see it?

    Sen. King: “I think most of them are getting it. Again, it’s very hard — I’m not disparaging anybody — but it’s very hard to focus on this broader problem when the daily actions are so damaging and dangerous. I divide what’s going on into … two categories. One is … a question of competence, and the other is danger. And the dangerous part is the constitutional part we’ve been talking about.”

    Svitek: I know you’re disillusioned about Republicans, but do you see any glimmers of hope among them? Four Senate Republicans crossed over to support the resolution to undo Trump’s tariffs on Canada.

    Sen. King: “I’m not going to name anybody, but I think there are members of the Republican caucus who are growing increasingly uncomfortable with what’s going on, both in terms of what I mentioned — the constitutional part — but also, you know, what Elon Musk [and the U.S. DOGE Service are] doing. I mean, attacking the National Park Service, attacking Social Security, attacking veterans — I think, after [Tuesday night’s special elections], the Republicans are coming to realize that this is not a good electoral strategy.

    Svitek: Do you think their concerns are more political than substantive?

    Sen. King: “I think some of them do understand and share the constitutional concerns, but I think a lot of them, again, after [Tuesday] night, are going to realize that they’ve got some real political problems. And the other thing — there are three levels of guardrails of our constitutional system. One is the Congress itself, and right now the Congress is failing in protecting itself. … The second guardrail is the courts, and they are largely stepping up, but we’re at the earlier stages of the testing of this, and we don’t know where the Supreme Court will go on some of these fundamental issues. But the final guardrail is the people. We don’t have elections for 18 months, and the question is, “How much damage to our constitutional system … is going to be done between now and those midterm elections?” But ultimately … people are engaged, and we’re seeing it in demonstrations. The most common question I get from people in Maine is, “What can I do?”

    Svitek: How do you respond?

    Sen. King:     “I encourage them to stay engaged. Members of Congress are, in fact, responsive to their constituents. And when you get thousands of phone calls and thousands of emails, it has an effect. And I think members have been surprised, and I think it’s only going to accelerate because the negative effects of a lot of what they’re doing right now is not going to manifest itself for weeks or months.”

    Svitek: You’ve alluded to DOGE. How is it impacting Maine the most?

    Sen. King: “I think the two items that are resonating the most strongly in Maine — other than a generalized fear and anger — is Social Security and the [Veterans Affairs Department]. Those are iconic agencies that serve the public so well, and … I’ll tell you what, if Social Security checks are late next month or the month after, there’s going to be hell to pay. And people instinctively support veterans. By the way, when you hear a thousand people are fired at some agency, chances are, 300 of them are veterans. About 30 percent of the federal workforce is veterans, and the VA is probably more. One of the problems is, the people who are doing this — the DOGE people and Musk — literally don’t know what they’re doing. You can quote me on that. … They don’t know what these agencies do. They don’t know what these programs do. They don’t understand the implications back home of these programs and how important they can be. Listen, I did a major restructuring of Maine state government the first year I was governor, but we did it with a task force of private citizens, legislators and administration people. And we did it over a period of almost a year, very deliberately, very slowly, with a lot of discussion back and forth, and then at the end, the plan had to be approved by the legislature. And yet we reduced the size of state government by almost 10 percent. But they’re … trying to do it, instead of in a year, they’re trying to do it in two or three months, and as I said, they really don’t know what they’re doing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor, Missouri roofing contractor reach agreement after teen worker’s fatal fall in 2023

    Source: US Department of Labor

    JAMESPORT, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor reached an agreement with Jamesport roofing contractor John Troyer after a federal investigation determined he violated federal laws, resulting in a teen worker’s fatal fall in March 2023.

    The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Troyer, owner of Troyer Construction LLP which operates as Troyer Roofing & Coatings, failed to provide workers with required fall protection. A separate investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found he violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by employing minors illegally in roofing work from May 2022 to June 2023.

    Under the agreement, Troyer must pay $290,000, which includes $156,259 in OSHA penalties, $15,000 in child labor penalties, and $118,741 in criminal fines to the U.S. Department of Justice. The company will also enroll in Missouri’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program.

    To learn more about OSHA’s fall protection requirements and how to protect workers from fall hazards, visit OSHA’s stop falls website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor removes Morton Salt Inc., Weeks Island Mine and Mill from MSHA’s pattern of violations list

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has released Morton Salt Inc.’s Weeks Island Mine and Mill from the agency’s pattern of violations designation after demonstrating significant and sustained improvements in safety and compliance.

    The New Iberia, Louisiana, operator of the Weeks Island Mine and Mill worked closely with MSHA to improve safety practices, reduce significant and substantial violations, and create a safe working environment for miners after MSHA issued the mine its POV designation in December 2022. One of the agency’s toughest enforcement actions, POV designations are assigned to mines when a high number of significant and substantial violations and other safety and health compliance problems are found. 

    “MSHA’s top priority is the health and safety of America’s miners, and we recognize the efforts made by Weeks Island Mine and Mill to take the corrective actions needed,” said MSHA’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations Melanie Calhoun. “By taking proactive steps to address safety concerns and maintain compliance, they have created a safer working environment for their miners.”

    Since 2022, Weeks Island implemented enhanced safety training, hazard mitigation measures, and stricter monitoring protocols. These actions led measurable improvements in workplace conditions and allowed the mine to meet the requirement for release from the POV designation. In February 2025, MSHA completed an inspection of the mine and did not issue a citation or order designated as significant and substantial. 

    MSHA will continue to monitor the mine for compliance and provide support to ensure safety remains a top priority. The agency encourages all mining operations to be proactive in taking steps to protect their workers and prevent future violations by using MSHA’s Pattern of Violations Calculator, which allows mine operators to monitor performance under the POV screening criteria and alerts mine operators that corrective actions are needed, and the Significant and Substantial Calculator, which enables mine operators to monitor their violations. Mine operators are responsible for tracking their violation and injury histories to determine if they must take action to avoid triggering a POV notice.

    Learn more about MSHA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer kicks off ‘America at Work’ listening tour with union leaders, elected officials in Pennsylvania

    Source: US Department of Labor

    NANTICOKE, PA – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer joined Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., union leaders, and local elected officials in Northeastern Pennsylvania on April 5 to kick off her nationwide America at Work listening tour. 

    During a roundtable and tour of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 163 Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, the group discussed supporting apprenticeships to develop a skilled workforce, improving infrastructure to attract businesses, investing in service members as they transition back home to their communities, and other ways to enhance America’s workforce. Union workers from a variety of trades, including electricians, ironworkers, and boilermakers participated in the roundtable along with state and local elected officials.

    “From strengthening educational pathways for good-paying jobs to eliminating burdensome regulations that will drive economic growth, I enjoyed learning first-hand about the challenges and priorities of workers in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said. “I look forward to hearing directly from more Americans as I help President Trump amplify the voices of workers who’ve been left behind by Washington.”

    “It is crucial we have the skilled trade workforces needed to carry out essential infrastructure projects like rebuilding our roads and bridges, modernizing our electric grid, and implementing high-speed internet,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “These strong workforces would not be possible without apprenticeships. I want to thank Secretary Chavez-DeRemer for joining us and for making Northeastern Pennsylvania the first stop on her listening tour. I look forward to continuing this collaborative partnership with the Secretary and labor leaders to protect and prioritize American workers.”

    Throughout her America at Work listening tour, the Secretary will continue meeting with various workers, union members, employers, and community leaders to ensure real-world experiences help shape and modernize federal labor policies and practices by taking the conversation directly to America’s workforce. 

    Learn more about the Secretary’s listening tour.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor cites Bio-Lab Inc. after chemical fire in Conyers

    Source: US Department of Labor

    ATLANTA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that improperly stored hazardous chemicals were the cause of a fire at a Bio-Lab Inc. facility in Conyers. 

    The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation learned that the incident originated at a company warehouse that stored various chemicals. OSHA cited Bio-Lab for four serious and two other-than-serious violations and proposed $61,473 in penalties.

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

    OSHA’s Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances webpage includes information on standard requirements, hazard recognition, controlling worker exposure. Employers can contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4500-4501: Bedrock With a Side of Sand

    Source: NASA

    Written by Sharon Wilson Purdy, Planetary Geologist at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
    Earth planning date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
    Wow, sol 4500. What an impressive number of sols (Martian days) exploring the Red Planet! This delightfully even sol number made me wonder where the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity was at this point in her mission (Opportunity’s twin rover, Spirit, explored Gusev crater on Mars for roughly 2210 sols). As it turns out, Opportunity was driving over fairly smooth terrain on sol 4500 and was approaching a light-toned rounded hill named “Spirit Mound” on the western rim of Endeavour crater in Meridiani Planum. 
    I am always so impressed and proud when I stop to think about the incredible fleet of rovers we have safely landed and operated on Mars, and the amazing scientific discoveries that have resulted from these missions!
    Today I served on science operations as the “keeper of the plan” for the geology and mineralogy theme group. In this role, I assembled the activities in our team planning software for this two-sol plan. Our small plan becomes part of a much larger set of instructions that will be relayed up to the rover later today. Currently, the Curiosity rover is driving up Mount Sharp over broken-up blocks of bedrock and sand through a small canyon en route to the boxwork structures ahead. This bumpy terrain can sometimes make it hard to pass the “Slip Risk Assessment Process” (SRAP) where all six wheels are required to be stable on the ground before we can unstow our robotic arm to use the contact science instruments. After our successful 8-meter drive (about 26 feet) from yestersol we passed SRAP and got to work selecting targets for contact and remote observations.
    The team chose to characterize a bedrock target in front of us called “Chuckwalla” using the dust removal tool (DRT), APXS, and MAHLI.  ChemCam used its LIBS instrument to analyze the chemistry of a nearby bedrock target with a knobby texture, “Pechacho,” and took a long distance RMI image to study the interesting layering in the “Devil’s Gate” butte. Mastcam assembled an impressive portfolio of observations in this two-sol plan. The team imaged variations in bedrock textures at “Jalama” and “Julian” and documented the nature of the “Mishe Mokwa” ridgeline. In addition, Mastcam imaged darker rocks within a previously acquired mosaic of Devil’s Gate and investigated narrow troughs (small depressions) within the sand in the workspace.
    The environmental theme group, with their eye on the sky, included activities to measure the optical depth of the atmosphere, constrain aerosol scattering properties, and observe clouds. A very busy day of planning for sols 4500-4501, with many more to come!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: From FIRST Robotics to NASA Rockets: Angel Saenz’s Journey to White Sands

    Source: NASA

    Long before joining NASA’s Test and Evaluation Support Team contract in October 2024, Angel Saenz was already an engineer at heart.
    A STEM education program at his high school helped unlock that passion, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

    The program – FIRST Robotics Competition – is run by global nonprofit, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). It was the brainchild of prolific inventor Dean Kamen, best known for creating the Segway.
    In what the organization calls “the ultimate sport for the mind,” teams of students spend six weeks working under adult mentors—and strict rules—to design, program, and build industrial-sized robots before facing off in a themed tournament. Teams earn points for accomplishing various engineering feats, launching, grappling, and climbing their way through the obstacles of a game that’s less football and more American Ninja Warrior.
    Competing during the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the White Sands-sponsored Deming Thundercats, Saenz said FIRST was a link between abstract mathematical ideas and real-world applications.
    “Before joining FIRST, equations were just something I was told to solve for a grade, but now I was applying them and seeing how they were actually useful,” he said.
    By turning education into an extracurricular activity as compelling as video games and as competitive as any varsity sport, FIRST completely reshaped Saenz’s approach to learning.
    “There are lots of other things kids can choose to do outside of school, but engineering was always that thing for me,” he said. “I associate it with being a fun activity, I see it more as a hobby.”
    That kind of energy—as any engineer knows—cannot be destroyed. Today Saenz channels it into his work, tackling challenges with White Sand’s Composite Pressure group where he tests and analyzes pressure vessel systems, enabling their safe use in space programs.
    “Having that foundation really helps ground me,” he said. “When I see a problem, I can look back and say, ‘That’s like what happened in FIRST Robotics and here’s how we solved it.’”
    Deming High School teacher and robotics mentor David Wertz recognized Saenz’s aptitude for engineering, even when Saenz could not yet see it in himself.
    “He wasn’t aware that we were using the engineering process as we built our robot,” Wertz said, “but he was always looking for ways to iterate and improve our designs.”
    Saenz credits those early hands-on experiences for giving him a head start.
    “It taught me a lot of concepts that weren’t supposed to be learned until college,” he said.
    Armed with that knowledge, Saenz graduated from New Mexico State University in 2019 with a dual degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
    Now 28 years old, Saenz is already an accomplished professional. He adds White Sands to an impressive resume that includes past experiences with Albuquerque-based global manufacturing company Jabil and Kirtland Airforce Base.
    Though only five months into the job, Saenz’s future at White Sands was set into motion more than a decade ago when he took a field trip to the site with Wertz in 2013.
    “The kind invitations to present at White Sands or to take a tour of the facility has inspired many of the students to pursue degrees in engineering and STEM,” Wertz said. “The partnership continues to allow students to see the opportunities that are available for them if they are willing to put in the work.”
    In a full-circle moment, Saenz and Mr. Wertz recently found themselves together at White Sands once again for the 2024 Environmental, Innovation, Safety, and Health Day event. This time not as student and teacher, but as industry colleagues in a reunion that could not have been better engineered.

    The 2025 FIRST Robotics World Competition will take place in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center from April 16 to April 19. NASA will host an exciting robotics exhibit at the event, showcasing the future of technology and spaceflight. As many as 60,000 energetic fans, students, and industry leaders are expected to attend. Read more about NASA’s involvement with FIRST Robotics here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gateway’s First Habitation Module Arrives Stateside

    Source: NASA

    From the mountains of Turin to the deserts of Arizona, a core element of Gateway, humanity’s first lunar space station, is now one step closer to the Moon. As seen in this April 1, 2025, photo, HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost), Gateway’s first pressurized module and one of its foundational elements, recently arrived in Gilbert, Arizona, following its fabrication by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. Now on U.S. soil, the module will undergo final outfitting by primary contractor Northrop Grumman before it’s integrated with the Power and Propulsion Element at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Together, the two modules will launch to lunar orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket ahead of the Artemis IV mission.
    HALO will support astronauts visiting Gateway and function as a command and control hub for the space station. It will feature docking ports for spacecraft such as NASA’s Orion, logistics vehicles and lunar landers, and provide data handling, energy storage, power distribution, thermal regulation, and communications and tracking capabilities.
    HALO’s arrival marks a major milestone in the construction of Gateway, a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis campaign to advance science and exploration on and around the Moon in preparation for the next giant leap: the first human missions to Mars.
    Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Launches Direct to Customer Flood Insurance Premium Quoting Tool

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Launches Direct to Customer Flood Insurance Premium Quoting Tool

    FEMA Launches Direct to Customer Flood Insurance Premium Quoting Tool

    WASHINGTON — Today, FEMA is announcing it is expanding ways people can access flood insurance products

    The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is making it easier to access flood insurance pricing information by launching a Direct to Customer Flood Insurance Quoting Tool

    Customers will be able to get a flood insurance policy quote for their property and be provided local and national carrier information to assist them in purchasing their quoted policy

      FEMA is expanding the tools for customers to learn about their flood risk, insurance costs and to close the insurance gap to create a more resilient nation

    This effort means customers have a new way to learn about flood insurance and connect with companies that service flood insurance policies

     “I encourage Americans to visit Floodsmart

    gov to get a flood insurance quote,” said Cameron Hamilton, Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator

    “It’s quick and easy and takes just a few minutes

    Insured survivors recover faster

    With spring flooding and hurricane season both approaching fast, it’s important to take this first step so you can better protect the life you’ve built

    ”“In this country, less than 4% of households have flood insurance, yet 99% of all communities have experienced a flood

    FEMA is working to make flood insurance more accessible and promote customer choice with its Direct to Customer (D2C) initiative,” said Elizabeth Asche, Ph

    D

    the senior executive of the National Flood Insurance program

     “The D2C platform provides customers direct access to a property’s flood risk and the ability to purchase a flood policy from just about anywhere

    We believe this new approach will appeal to customers that have never considered a policy before and we’re counting on it to help us narrow the insurance gap

    ”Flooding is the most common disaster across America and it is not covered under most homeowner’s insurance policies

    Flood insured survivors are more resilient and recover more quickly following a disaster

     On average, 40% of NFIP flood insurance claims occur outside high hazard areas

    That’s why it’s important to protect property with flood insurance even if one lives in an area with low-to-moderate flooding risk since it brings peace of mind to homeowners and renters no matter where they live

    FEMA encourages homeowners and renters nationwide to learn more about their unique flood risk by accessing the tool on Floodsmart

    gov

    This service is free and there is no cost to receive a quote

    Over the next year, the NFIP plans to expand the tool so customers will have the option to purchase policies directly through the tool

     Currently, the National Flood Insurance Program provides about $1

    3 trillion in coverage for approximately 4

    7 million policyholders in about 22,500 communities across the nation

    To learn what’s covered under an NFIP policy visit www

    floodsmart

    gov/whats-covered

    amy

    ashbridge
    Mon, 04/07/2025 – 14:50

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA+ to Stream Nomination Hearing for Next Agency Administrator

    Source: NASA

    Jared Isaacman is set to participate in a hearing to become the next NASA administrator at 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 9, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The nomination hearing will take place at Russell Senate Office Building in Washington.
    The agency will stream the hearing on NASA+, and the committee will stream it on its website and YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content on a variety of agency platforms, including social media.
    President Trump formally nominated Isaacman for NASA administrator on Jan. 20. The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro on the nomination hearing:
    “I’m glad the Senate has scheduled a hearing to consider Jared Isaacman’s nomination as NASA administrator. Isaacman’s experience in commercial spaceflight and his commitment to advancing space capabilities align with NASA’s ongoing efforts to enhance America’s position as the global leader in space exploration. Upon confirmation, his leadership will support our work to drive American innovation, strengthen partnerships, and further the essential mission of the agency for the benefit of all.”
    Media interested in participating in the event must contact Bethany Stevens and their respective Senate media gallery to RSVP. Contact details are available on the committee’s website.
    For more information about NASA missions, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Bethany Stevens / Cheryl WarnerHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Back to Earth, Forward to the Future: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Returns  

    Source: NASA

    After months of groundbreaking research, exploration, and teamwork aboard the International Space Station, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 has returned to Earth.  
    NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down safely on March 18, 2025, as a pod of dolphins circled the Dragon spacecraft near Tallahassee, Florida. 

    Williams and Wilmore made history as the first humans to fly aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft during NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT). Launched June 5, 2024, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the CFT mission was Boeing’s first crewed flight.  
    Hague and Gorbunov launched to the space station on Sept. 28, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. 

    During their long-duration mission, the American crew members conducted more than 150 unique experiments and logged over 900 hours of research aboard the orbiting laboratory.  
    Their work included studying plant growth and development, testing stem cell technology for patient care on Earth, and examining how spaceflight affects materials—insights vital for future deep space missions.  
    The crew kicked off 2025 with two spacewalks that included removing an antenna assembly from the station’s truss, collecting microbial samples from the orbital outpost’s exterior for analysis by Johnson’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science division, installing patches to cover damaged areas of light filters on an X-ray telescope, and more. 
    Williams now holds the record for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a woman — 62 hours and 6 minutes — placing her fourth among the most experienced spacewalkers in history. 
    While in orbit, the crew also engaged the next generation through 30 ham radio events with students around the world and supported a student-led genetic experiment. 
    As part of the CFT, Williams and Wilmore commanded Starliner during in-flight testing and were the first to see the spacecraft integrated in simulations and operate it hands-on in space, evaluating systems like maneuvering, docking, and emergency protocols. 
    “We’ve learned a lot about systems integrated testing that will pay benefits going forward and lay the groundwork for future missions,” said Wilmore.  

    Following the test flight, NASA and Boeing are continuing work toward crew certification of the company’s CST-100 Starliner system. Joint teams are addressing in-flight anomalies and preparing for propulsion system testing ahead of the next mission. 
    Despite the unexpected challenges, including technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft that extended their mission, both Wilmore and Williams said they would do it all over again. Wilmore emphasized his gratitude in being part of testing Starliner’s capabilities, stating, “I’d get on it in a heartbeat.”  
    After returning to Earth, the crew received a warm welcome from family, colleagues, and fellow astronauts at Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field. They were greeted by Johnson Acting Director Steve Koerner, who applauded their dedication and resilience. 

    Williams shared a heartfelt embrace with astronaut Zena Cardman, thanking her for “taking one for the team.” Cardman had originally been assigned to Crew-9, but in August, NASA announced the uncrewed return of Starliner to Earth and integrated Wilmore and Williams into Expedition 71/72 for a return on Crew-9. This adjustment meant Cardman and astronaut Stephanie Wilson would no longer fly the mission—a decision that underscored the flexibility and teamwork essential to human spaceflight. 
    Cardman is now assigned as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, set to launch in the coming months to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition. 

    Williams and Wilmore each brought decades of experience to the mission. Wilmore, a retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran fighter pilot, has logged 464 days in space over three flights. Outside of NASA, he serves as a pastor, leads Bible studies, and participates in mission trips across Central and South America. A skilled craftsman, he also builds furniture and other pieces for his local church. 
    Growing up in Tennessee, Wilmore says his faith continues to guide him, especially when navigating the uncertainties of flight. 

    Wilmore encourages the next generation with a call to action: “Strap on your work hat and let’s go at it!” He emphasizes that tenacity and perseverance are essential for achieving anything of value. Motivated by a sense of patriotic duty and a desire to help those in need, Wilmore sees his astronaut role as a commitment to both his country and humanity at large.  
    Wilmore believes he’s challenged every day at NASA. “Doing the right things for the right reasons is what motivates me,” he said.  

    A retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran of three spaceflights, Williams is a helicopter pilot, basic diving officer, and the first person to run the Boston Marathon in space—once in 2007, and again aboard the station in 2025. Originally from Needham, Massachusetts, she brings a lifelong spirit of adventure and service to everything she does. 
    “There are no limits,” said Williams. “Your imagination can make something happen, but it’s not always easy. There are so many cool things we can invent to solve problems—and that’s one of the joys of working in the space program. It makes you ask questions.” 
    Hague, a Kansas native, has logged a total of 374 days in space across three missions. A U.S. Space Force colonel and test pilot, he’s served in roles across the country and abroad, including a deployment to Iraq. 
    “When we’re up there operating in space, it’s focused strictly on mission,” said Hague. “We are part of an international team that spans the globe and works with half a dozen mission control centers that are talking in multiple languages — and we figure out how to make it happen. That’s the magic of human spaceflight: it brings people together.” 

    For Williams, Wilmore, Hague, Gorbunov, and the team supporting them, Crew-9 marks the beginning of a new era of space exploration — one driven by innovation, perseverance, and the unyielding dream of reaching beyond the stars.  
    Watch the full press conference following the crew’s return to Earth here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Disaster Assistance to West Virginians Tops $20 Million

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Disaster Assistance to West Virginians Tops $20 Million

    FEMA Disaster Assistance to West Virginians Tops $20 Million

    CHARLESTON, W

    Va

     — More than $20 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for homeowners and renters in seven West Virginia counties following the impacts of the Feb

    15-18 winter storms

       “Reaching this milestone in less than six weeks highlights the commitment to West Virginians of emergency management at all levels,” FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Mark K

    O’Hanlon said

    “Our FEMA team is proud to work hand in hand with our partners in state and local government and voluntary agencies in getting assistance to the people who need it most

    ”FEMA assistance for individuals and families in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne, and Wyoming counties who were affected by the Feb

    15-18, 2025, storms, mudslides, landslides, and straight-line winds can cover home repairs, personal property losses and other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance

    The deadline to apply for federal assistance is April 28, 2025

     “I want to urge West Virginians who were affected by the February storms to apply for assistance today,” Mr

    O’Hanlon said

    “Registering potentially opens the door to recovery funds that can change lives and help people find a new normal in their lives

    ”  Residents, both homeowners and renters, in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne, and Wyoming counties who sustained losses can apply for assistance in several ways:Visiting DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Downloading the FEMA App

    Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages

    If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, please provide FEMA your number for that service

    Speaking with someone in person at a Disaster Recovery Center

     Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are on the ground in Raleigh County, walking door-to-door to share information and help residents apply for FEMA assistance

    In coordination with the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and officials in impacted counties, FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Logan, Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties

    At a center, you can get help applying for federal assistance, update your application, and learn about other resources available

    The DRCs located in the table below remain open

     Logan County Disaster Recovery CenterMercer County Disaster Recovery CenterSouthern WV Community & Technical College100 College DriveLogan, WV 25601 Hours of operation:Monday to Friday: 9 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed Sundays  Lifeline Princeton Church of God250 Oakvale Road Princeton, WV 24740 Hours of operation:Monday to Friday: 9 a

    m

    to 5 p

    m

    Saturdays: 10 a

    m

    to 2 p

    m

    Closed Sundays Closed April 26 McDowell County (Welch) Disaster Recovery Center McDowell County Disaster (Bradshaw) Recovery Center  Board of Education Office900 Mount View High School RoadWelch, WV 24801 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Closed on Saturdays and Sundays Bradshaw Town Hall10002 Marshall HwyBradshaw, WV 24817 Hours of operation:Monday to Saturday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

    Closed SundaysMingo County Disaster Recovery CenterWyoming County Disaster Recovery CenterWilliamson Campus1601 Armory DriveWilliamson, WV 25661 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed on SundaysWyoming Court House24 Main AvePineville, WV 24874 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Saturdays: 9 a

    m

    to 3 p

    m

    Closed on Sundays Wayne County  Tolsia High School1 Rebel DriveFort Gay, WV 25514 Hours of operation:Monday through Friday: 8 a

    m

    to 6 p

    m

     Closed on Saturdays and Sundays  DRCs are accessible to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

    The easiest way to apply for FEMA assistance is by phone at 800-621-3362

    The toll-free telephone line operates from 7 a

    m

    to 11 p

    m

    , seven days a week

    If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service

    Residents can also apply online at DisasterAssistance

    gov or download the FEMA app to their smartphone or tablet

     April 28, 2025, is also the application deadline for homeowners, renters and business owners to apply for a U

    S

    Small Business Administration physical disaster loan

    Applicants can apply online at sba

    gov/disaster, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay service

    For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd

    wv

    gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4861 and www

    facebook

    com/FEMA

    ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters

    Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    Also, follow on X FEMA_Cam

    For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

    lianza

    yap
    Mon, 04/07/2025 – 13:04

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Apr. 12 in Berrien County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Apr. 12 in Berrien County

    FEMA is hosting a Housing Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 12, in Berrien County at the following location:Carrie Dorsey Perry Memorial Library315 W Marion AveNashville, GA 31639The Housing Resource Fair will bring together federal, state and local agencies in one place to offer services and resources to families recovering from Hurricane Helene.  The goal of this collaborative effort is to help connect eligible disaster survivors with affordable housing along with valuable information and resources on their road to recovery.Survivors will meet with local housing organizations, property owners and landlords, as well as get information on the HEARTS Georgia Sheltering Program, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.The Housing Resource Fair is an opportunity for survivors to: Explore affordable housing options and rental assistance programs. Meet with representatives from local housing organizations, landlords and property managers. Gain access to resources for displaced individuals and families. Learn from community partners about educational funding resources. For FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Wallace, the Housing Resource Fair will give survivors a one-on-one experience: “We want survivors to know we are here for them and want to see the best outcome, which is moving into safe, sanitary and functioning housing,” he said. “We will walk them through their options to ensure they are aware of the resources that are available to fit their need.”Everyone affected by Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, whether they have applied for FEMA assistance or not, is welcome to attend.
    jakia.randolph
    Mon, 04/07/2025 – 12:38

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – Easter Keiki Day At WCF Reunites Incarcerated Fathers With Their Children

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – Easter Keiki Day At WCF Reunites Incarcerated Fathers With Their Children

    Posted on Apr 6, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

         KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.

         GOVERNOR

         KE KIAʻĀINA

         TOMMY JOHNSON

         DIRECTOR

         KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

     

    EASTER KEIKI DAY AT WCF REUNITES INCARCERATED

    FATHERS WITH THEIR CHILDREN

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 6, 2025

    HONOLULU — The recreation field at Waiawa Correctional Facility (WCF) was abuzz with joy and laughter as fathers reunited with their children for Easter Keiki Day Sunday, April 6, 2025.

     

    WCF hosted the Easter Keiki Day event in collaboration with Keiki O Ka ʻĀina (KOKA) Family Learning Centers for 16 fathers, 23 children, six adult children and 13 caregivers.

     

    During the three-hour event, fathers and their children played activities and games that included soccer, volleyball and tossing a football to one another. Families also decorated egg-and-bunny-shaped sugar cookies and took photos with the Easter Bunny.

     

    Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation greeted fathers, children, staff and KOKA volunteers. “Reuniting fathers with their children on Keiki Day helps remind fathers what’s important which is family,” Director Johnson said.

     

    Executive Director Momi Akana of Keiki O Ka ʻĀina (KOKA) Family Learning Centers said fathers who remain connected with their children and maintain a strong relationship with their keiki before they are released from custody “have a much better chance of being successful once they go home.”

     

    During the event, fathers and their children also enjoyed an ʻono lunch of chili, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, nachos with jalapeño cheese sauce, rice and assorted fresh cut fruits. Strawberry cupcakes, carrot cake cookies with cream cheese frosting, ice cream and popsicles were also served.

     

    Nearly a dozen KOKA volunteers as well as five incarcerated men who helped at the event organized an easter egg hunt where children filled their baskets with pastel-colored eggs. Children also received a gift bag with new toys donated by KOKA and its community partners.

     

    The fun-filled event ended with a water balloon fight where fathers and children erupted with laughter and giggles.

     

    Photos and videos of Sunday’s Easter Keiki Day event at WCF are available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17FYKuJ1JopDUwxEVayn5RSi4NkW4rKbi?usp=sharing.

     

    # # #

     

     

     

     

    Media Contact:

    Rosemarie Bernardo

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

    Office: 808-587-1358

    Cell: 808-683-5507

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov

     

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – WCCC and Faith-Based Organization Host Kids’ Day To Support Keiki Of Incarcerated Mothers

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – WCCC and Faith-Based Organization Host Kids’ Day To Support Keiki Of Incarcerated Mothers

    Posted on Apr 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

     

    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION 

    KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA 

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR 

    KE KIAʻĀINA 

     

     

    TOMMY JOHNSON 

    DIRECTOR 

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE 

    WCCC AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION HOST KIDS’ DAY TO SUPPORT KEIKI OF INCARCERATED MOTHERS

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 5, 2025

    HONOLULU — On a humid Saturday morning, 10 mothers anxiously stood in the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) Maunawili Cottage courtyard with their eyes fixed on the security entry door, waiting for their children to arrive.

     

    Once their keiki entered the courtyard with their caregivers, the children’s mothers greeted them with big smiles, hugs and kisses.

     

    WCCC and Wellspring Covenant Church hosted an Easter Kids’ Day event for 10 mothers, 19 children and 11 caregivers Saturday, April 5, 2025.

     

    For three-and-a-half hours, mothers and their children enjoyed decorating eggs and bunny-shaped cookies. They also played games as numerous bubbles from a bubble machine filled the air.

     

    Six women who recently earned their certificate from the Kapiʻolani Community College (KCC) Culinary Arts Program prepared and served a delicious lunch of focaccia bread cheese pizza, chili and cheese flying saucers and musubis.

     

    KCC Culinary Arts Program instructor Chef Lee Shinsato, who teaches the course at WCCC, assisted graduates with food preparation at the event with fellow chefs from the Culinary Arts Program.

     

    The culinary arts’ graduates also prepared and served sweet treats of scones, cheesecake brownies, apple turnovers, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip coookies and chocolate croissants to Kids’ Day participants.

     

    Twenty-seven church volunteers and five incarcerated women who helped at the event organized an easter egg hunt for the children in the courtyard. Mothers helped their children open toy eggs filled with candy and raffle tickets. Children handed their raffle tickets to volunteers where each child picked new toys to bring home.

     

    Donations from Wellspring and its community partners made the event possible.

     

    WCCC has partnered with Wellspring for more than 20 years on Kids’ Day events. “Kids’ Day is a special event for women and their children to spend time bonding with one another,” said WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta.

     

    The Rev. Rebecca Stringer of Wellspring Covenant Church said they are honored to be a part of Kids’ Day. “Just to be involved in a small capacity as a small church, knowing that we don’t have to do huge, big things in order to make a difference in our world around us. Sometimes it’s just as small as showing up and giving the gift of connection between a mom and her kid.”

     

    Today’s Kids’ Day event is the first one of the year at WCCC. The facility hosts the event four to five times a year with various faith-based and nonprofit organizations.

     

    Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) attended the event where he greeted incarcerated mothers, children, volunteers and staff.

     

    “Events like this help strengthen the bond between mother and child,” said Director Johnson. “Kids’ Day could not be possible without our dedicated staff at WCCC and community partners.”

     

    Supporting mothers and fathers to maintain relationships with their children aids in rehabilitation.

     

    Waiawa Correctional Facility is scheduled to host an Easter Keiki Day event, in collaboration with Keiki O Ka ʻĀina, for incarcerated fathers and their children on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

     

    Hālawa Correctional Facility is also hosting its first Keiki Day on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

     

    Photos and videos of Saturday’s Kids’ Day event are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D3vAHodtk5nn4PjxaZDFSUHicfNy0BoV?usp=sharing

    # # #

    Media Contact:

    Rosemarie Bernardo

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

    Office: 808-587-1358

    Cell: 808-683-5507

    Email: [email protected] 

    Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov

     

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: #wintersportsclinic | Daehler’s Remarkable Return to Skiing

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

    Vietnam era Army Veteran Robert Daehler returns to the slopes after an injury that left him paralyzed. This year, he’s not skiing alone—Daehler’s entire family is by his side, cheering him on as he embraces his passion for skiing. Below are the family members who have gathered in Snowmass to join beloved father and grandfather on this memorable journey.

    Family Members:

    Grandchildren: Juna, Orion and Jacob
    Children: Maria, Kirsten, Denise and Erik
    In-Laws: Jess and Richard

    #sports4vets #DAV

    To learn how you can volunteer, or to learn more, visit www.wintersportsclinic.org

    This video was created by the NDVWSC Media Team.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCIiO0mXRj8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: #wintersportsclinic Downhill Daily | Sat 4/5

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

    Your Friday #wintersportsclinic Downhill Daily features a quick word about how staff are ensuring the event is maintaining safety standards. Ron Haskell, comms guy, prompts Veterans with questions about their experiences with adaptive sports as well as the event. Finally, get to know Cal Garcia and his service dogs.

    #sports4vets #DAV

    To learn how you can volunteer, or to learn more, visit www.wintersportsclinic.org

    This video was created by the NDVWSC Media Team.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RX5wk-pqpY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: #wintersportsclinic From Participant to Instructor: a Story of Triumph

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

    Join Army Veteran Mark Whitson as he embarks on an inspiring journey of resilience and triumph over the challenges posed by his injury. At the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, he discovers the power of camaraderie and the life-changing impact of adaptive sports.

    #sports4vets #DAV

    To learn how you can volunteer, or to learn more, visit www.wintersportsclinic.org

    This video was created by the NDVWSC Media Team.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCg1OihqDZE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Jared Isaacman Senate Nomination Hearing for NASA Administrator

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

    Jared Isaacman is set to participate in his confirmation hearing to become the next NASA administrator. The hearing will take place before Sen. Ted Cruz, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Russell Building in Washington. President Trump formally nominated Isaacman for NASA administrator on Jan. 20, 2025.

    For more information about NASA missions, visit: https://www.nasa.gov

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqejrlbfB84

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Padilla, Durbin Lead Colleagues in Demanding Answers on Dismantling of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Senators to Secretaries Rubio and Noem: “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, joined Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in leading 18 Senators to condemn the dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), including a funding freeze that has halted refugee processing and resettlement. The indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze have stranded tens of thousands in dangerous conditions, separated families, and left recently resettled refugees in the United States without adequate support. 
    “As you know, the USRAP was established on a bipartisan basis by the Refugee Act of 1980 and is a strong public-private partnership that drives U.S. economic growth, advances global stability and peace, and supports our national security and diplomatic priorities,” wrote the Senators. “The USRAP represents the best of American values and is part of what makes our country great. From 2005 to 2019, refugees contributed to the U.S. economy $123.8 billion more than they received in government expenditures. Refugees, including multiple former Secretaries of State, have shaped and improved our nation.” 
    President Trump suspended the USRAP “indefinitely” in a day one executive order with a review after 90 days, and on Friday, January 24, resettlement agencies received stop work orders, which the executive order defined as a “foreign assistance program.” Since then, on February 25, a federal court in Washington granted a nationwide preliminary injunction to restart refugee processing, but just 24 hours later, the State Department issued termination notices, effective immediately, to plaintiff organizations and all other resettlement agencies in attempt to circumvent the court’s order. Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted the funding freeze to stay in effect amid ongoing litigation but required resettlement to continue for refugees approved before January 20, 2025. 
    The Senators urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to fully comply with the federal court order, resume all refugee processing, and rebook canceled travel for refugees.  
    “We ask that you restart this life-saving program and immediately confirm that the Department of State is expeditiously complying with federal court orders to resume refugee resettlement and reimburse resettlement agencies for critical reception and integration services,” continued the Senators. 
    The Senators highlighted reports indicating that all 10 refugee agencies and many Resettlement Support Centers overseas have received termination notices for the cooperative agreements that allow them to resettle refugees, leading to mass layoffs and shutdowns of essential refugee processing systems. They also emphasized that the Administration has delayed payments to refugee agencies for services already provided, despite the preliminary injunction requiring those payments to resume.  
    The consequences of these stoppages are immense, including for Afghan allies evacuated to third countries, such as Pakistan, who are now stranded indefinitely without legal status or the ability to reunite with their families. On February 2, an Afghan man who had worked for the U.S. military in Afghanistan was murdered after his scheduled resettlement to Garden Grove, California was delayed by the refugee ban and funding freeze. 
    “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk,” wrote the Senators. “One of the most alarming consequences of the Administration’s funding and resettlement freeze is the situation facing Afghan allies who were evacuated to third countries with the promise of eventual resettlement in the United States. Many of these Afghans are former interpreters, civil society leaders, and their families, who now find themselves stranded without legal status and facing harassment, violence, and deportation.” 
    The Senators demanded answers regarding the refugee program suspension, refugees in the admissions pipeline, and current capacity of resettlement infrastructure. 
    In addition to Senators Welch, Padilla, and Durbin, the letter is also signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). 
    Read the full text of the letter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Death of an inmate from Pacific Institution / Regional Treatment Centre

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 7, 2025 – Abbotsford, British Columbia – Correctional Service Canada

    On April 2, 2025, an inmate from Pacific Insitution / Regional Treatment Centre died while in our custody as a result of apparent natural causes.

    At the time of death, the inmate was 80 years old and had been serving a sentence of 7 years, 1 month, and 13 days since June 19, 2024.

    The individual’s name has been anonymized to comply with a court-ordered publication ban to protect the identity of the victim(s).

    The inmate’s next of kin have been notified.

    As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances. CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 821, Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 821 would permanently extend a requirement for the Department of State to review and report on its guidance for maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The department conducted a review and provided a required report in 2021; under the bill, it would review the guidance every five years and report to the Congress on the results of those reviews.

    On the basis of information about similar reporting requirements, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D’Monte. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Pillen Statement on Upcoming Winner-Take-All Debate

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    .

    Ending this failed experiment has been attempted many times since then. We have the opportunity to fix it this year if Unicameral Republicans stand together as a team. President Trump has called for the restoration of WTA, as have the majority of Nebraskans across our state.

    I call upon our Republican Senators to answer this call and vote to advance WTA. In particular, I hope that veteran Senator Merv Riepe stands with his fellow Republicans on this critical issue. Sen. Riepe voted for WTA three times before and pledged to restore it in a special session just before the 2024 election. If he remains consistent with his past votes and his 2024 pledge, WTA can finally be restored. 

    At minimum, WTA deserves a fair up-or-down vote on its merits by the people’s representatives, not to be smothered by a filibuster led by ultra-liberal Democrats.”

    Following are images of Senator Riepe’s pledge to restore Winner-Take-All in a special session before the 2024 presidential election and his key votes to pass WTA in the 104th Legislature (2015-2016):

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Persecution of the opposition by Xiomara Castro’s communist government in Honduras – E-001287/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001287/2025/rev.1
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Jorge Martín Frías (PfE)

    We have recently learned that the current Government of Honduras, led by Xiomara Castro, has stepped up its campaign of persecution against the Honduran opposition and a number of institutions, including the National Electoral Council (CNE), whose President, Cossette López, was threatened by the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Honduras.

    The European Union has been an important partner in terms of sending aid to Honduras. Under the multiannual indicative programme for Honduras, the EU earmarked EUR 128 million for the years 2021-2024 alone.

    • 1.Given that the political persecution in Honduras is getting worse, what oversight and accountability mechanisms is the EU using to ensure that European taxpayers’ money is not propping up a regime that restricts political freedoms and undermines the independence of institutions?
    • 2.Does the Commission believe that the Honduran Government’s persecution of the opposition and interference in the CNE could be laying the foundations for electoral fraud in the upcoming presidential election on 30 November 2025?

    Submitted: 27.3.2025

    Last updated: 7 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Women in Politics and the Fight Against Violence – EoV with Brazilian Members – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Source: European Parliament

    On Wednesday, 9 April 2025, the FEMM Committee in association with EP Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil will exchange views on Women in Politics and the Fight Against Violence.

    Four Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil have been invited to exchange views on the challenges that women in politics are facing, and what measures we can jointly take to improve the situation, especially in the fight against violence.

    In Europe, women politicians face significant levels of violence, both online and offline, as a barrier to their participation in public life. A 2018 study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) found that 85% of surveyed women parliamentarians in Europe had experienced psychological violence, including threats and harassment, while 47% had received death, rape, or other forms of threats. Online abuse is particularly widespread, with Amnesty International reporting that women politicians in Europe receive disproportionate levels of hate speech, often with sexist and misogynistic undertones.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry of a Previously Removed Alien and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Cosme Marin-Ponce, age 41, of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien and failure to register as a sex offender.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Marin-Ponce had previously been removed from the United States in 2019, after pleading guilty to indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old.  Marin-Ponce was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. Marin-Ponce also failed to register as a sex offender, as his previous conviction required.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    This matter was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump, interrupted: Cory Booker’s 25-hour Senate speech calls for collective action

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Barbara Leckie, Professor, English and the Institute for the Comparative Study of Literature, Art, and Culture; Academic Director, Re.Climate: Centre for Climate Communication and Public Engagement, Carleton University

    At 7 p.m. on Day 71 of Donald Trump’s presidency, United States Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, rose to speak on the Senate floor. He did not cede his right to speech (“the right to recognition”) until 25 hours later, at 8:05 p.m. the following day.

    While the form of his speech resembled a filibuster — a prolonged speech designed to delay or prevent legislation — Booker’s speech was not aimed at any proposed law. Instead he was responding to what he called a “time of crisis” in the United States.

    That crisis, in Booker’s view, is driven by the actions of the Trump administration, including executive orders and other actions that he argued are eroding democracy, exacerbating the climate crisis and dismantling programs that offer life-saving support to both Americans and people around the world.

    Booker set a record for the longest continuous speech in the U.S. Senate, surpassing speeches by Ted Cruz in 2013 and Strom Thurmond in 1957. He had no food, bathroom or sitting breaks.

    Booker’s speech, both a physical feat and a call to action, has been much lauded. But while the content of his speech and its calls for cross-aisle collaboration are admirable, as a literary critic, I believe the form of his speech deserves equal attention.

    How Booker delivered the speech helps to bring into focus his call for a participatory democracy — where everyone is actively involved — using two main strategies: interruption of the current norm (disruption), and an appeal to collaboration (working together).

    The author of this article is a literary expert on political communication, especially with relation to climate change.
    Stanford University Press

    Based on my work in the climate humanities, interruption and working together are among the most effective and necessary ways to generate political action.

    Two forms of interruption

    Two contrasting forms of interruption are important here: interruption that fosters reflection and interruption that discounts it.

    The German philosopher Walter Benjamin developed the concept of interruption in the 1930s as a way to foster thinking in times of crisis.

    Some types of theatre, for example, interrupt their story to break with conventions and remind viewers that they’re watching a play. Building on Benjamin’s idea of interruption, I’m interested in how interruption can work in our current era of political crisis.

    The Trump administration practises the second form of interruption that discounts thinking.

    The administration’s technique of “flooding the zone,” for example, produces new actions in such quick succession that the conditions for thinking are eviscerated.

    Trump’s preferred mode of communication has also been social media, known for its short and punchy delivery. These communication strategies — flooding the zone and short social media posts — scatter attention.

    With the speed and volume of the Trump administration’s actions, it can feel impossible to respond to — let alone reflect on — every executive order, every overreach, every unconstitutional or illegal move.

    A communication shift?

    Until recently, the U.S. Democratic Party has neither changed the form of their political practice nor the form of their communications in any significant way.

    I believe that shifted last week.

    When Booker chose to rise in the Senate, he adopted Benjamin’s version of interruption — by changing the form. In this case, through a congressional address with the time-honoured practice of not ceding the floor.



    Read more:
    With Trump in charge, America is going back to more hostile times

    His single, extended action of uninterrupted speech (except for questions and a prayer) was exactly the opposite of flooding the zone.

    His 25-hour speech commanded and held attention. It was exactly the opposite of a hastily dispatched social media post.

    He asked his audience to listen in a form that reminded them of what listening demands. Stopping. Paying attention. Thinking. Acting.

    Working together: ‘We, the people’

    Booker stood alone at the podium for over 25 hours but he did not act alone.

    His speech is a powerful performance of collaboration and working together. This recognition of a collective debt to others is also mirrored in his repetition of the phrase “we, the people.”

    Here, too, the form of his speech is revealing. Literary critics pay attention to how documents open and close and how words are used and repeated.

    His first words acknowledge his debt to the “pages …the folks that work the door, the clerks, the Parliamentarians.” And his last words return to this point, thanking again “the pages… the Parlimentarian staffs … the clerks …the doorkeepers.”

    Throughout the speech, he reminds his audience that the people are “stronger together”. His words alone cannot stop the dismantling of democracy, he insists, but “we, the people” can.

    The form of his address is an expansive act of inclusion and working together. It incorporates questions to his audience, letters, poetry and literature, questions from the floor, community stories and historical examples.

    Two questions inform his speech overall: “Did you speak up?” and “what can I do?” (the first is repeated with variations 52 times and the second 36 times).

    Questions invite connection, participation, response and more questions. Booker’s answer to the linked questions is to “stand up, speak up” and promote the collective action of the people.

    One form of standing up and speaking up is writing letters to one’s political representatives. Over the course of his speech, Booker gave voice to these constituents and in doing so widened the circle of representation in Congress: “I am trying to elevate the voices,” he said, “that don’t get to come to this place — voices I am hearing from, voices that identify themselves as a Republican veteran, a Democrat.”

    The letters he read generate connection, closed gaps, and, like questions, invite further responses.

    Booker’s recitation of poetry and literature was similarly inclusive and expansive. He used his platform to share Langston Hughes’s lines, “To save the dream for one / It must be saved for all,” Alice Walker’s comment that, “the most common way people give up their power is not realizing they have it in the first place,” and a translation from the Bantu language, “I am because we are,” among many others.

    Bending the form

    In short, Booker bent the form of the congressional address to encourage “thousands of ignition points,” thousands of creative ways to bend the form and work together.

    He joins his voice to those of his constituents, literary and historical figures, Americans past and future, and to others around the world in an effort, as he put it — adapting the words of Martin Luther King Jr. — “to bend the arc of our nation … toward justice.”

    The endurance and content of Booker’s speech is important, but its form most interrupted this moment of political upheaval, invited its listeners to notice and think, and offered examples of “coming together” to support others, listen to their voices, share their stories and be “stronger together.”

    Barbara Leckie 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. Trump, interrupted: Cory Booker’s 25-hour Senate speech calls for collective action – https://theconversation.com/trump-interrupted-cory-bookers-25-hour-senate-speech-calls-for-collective-action-253819

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –