NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada commits up to $7 million to support community infrastructure in the Regional District of Nanaimo

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, March 19, 2025 — Today, the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities announced a federal investment of up to $7 million for the Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion project in British Columbia through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.

    The expanded facility, which is owned and operated by the Regional District of Nanaimo, will be doubled in size and will include a new pool area as well as modernized change rooms. This space will connect rural and urban residents of the Oceanside area with publicly accessible and affordable aquatics programming. Once complete, this project will improve community services while meeting the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Standard V4.

    The federal government recognizes the importance of community spaces and remains committed to strengthening and revitalizing Canadian communities, ensuring we remain connected through common interest and shared spaces.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada commits up to $20 million to support community infrastructure in Thunder Bay

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Thunder Bay, March 19, 2025 — Today Minister Patty Hajdu, Ashley Larose, Chief Executive Officer of Science North, and James Lundrigan, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Science North, announced a federal investment of up to $20 million for a science centre in Thunder Bay, through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.

    This project will support a net-zero science centre attraction in Thunder Bay, designed to the Canadian Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standard (V4) and provide accessible community services to 67,500 people annually, including populations experiencing higher needs.

    The centre will offer high-quality cultural, recreational, and science-based experiences developed through extensive consultation with Indigenous communities, leaders, and advisors. The centre will also use green energy, including a heating and cooling system that uses geothermal power from Lake Superior.

    The federal government recognizes the importance of community spaces and remains committed to strengthening and revitalizing Canadian communities, ensuring we remain connected through common interest and shared spaces.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The CBSA launches investigations into the alleged dumping of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from China and Pakistan and its subsidization by China

    Source: Government of Canada News

    March 19, 2025
    Ottawa, Ontario

    The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it is initiating investigations to determine whether polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin originating in or exported from China and Pakistan is being sold at unfair prices in Canada and whether PET resin originating in or exported from China is being subsidized. These practices can harm Canadian industries by undercutting Canadian prices, which undermines fair competition.

    The CBSA is investigating because of a complaint filed with the CBSA by Compagnie Alpek Polyester Canada (Alpek). Alpek alleges that as a result of an increase in the volume of the dumped and subsidized imports, they have suffered material injury in the form of price undercutting, price depression, lost sales, lost market share, reduced net income and profitability, and reduced employment.

    The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) both play a role in the investigations. The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and will issue a decision by May 16, 2025. Concurrently, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices and/or are being subsidized, and will make a preliminary decision by June 17, 2025.

    Currently, there are 158 special import measures in force in Canada, covering a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. These measures have directly helped to protect approximately 31,000 Canadian jobs and $11.6 billion in Canadian production.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in Canada’s hydrogen potential

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Supporting HTEC’s construction of a hydrogen liquefier facility in British Columbia

    March 19, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario

    Canada has a long and proud history of being a reliable global supplier of energy. As the world looks for dependable energy partners, the government is ensuring Canada continues to lead. That is why we are investing in projects that make our economy cleaner and stronger.

    Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a $49 million investment in HTEC through the Strategic Innovation Fund. It will support the company’s $472 million project to build and operate a facility that will capture and liquefy 15 tonnes per day of industrial by-product hydrogen in North Vancouver, turning waste into a valuable, clean fuel.

    The facility will allow for cost-effective distribution of low-carbon hydrogen to HTEC’s refuelling station network in British Columbia and Alberta. It is a key component of HTEC’s H2 Gateway program, which includes up to 20 hydrogen refuelling stations, three hydrogen production facilities and a fleet of 100 hydrogen heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks. The project will also bring significant benefits to British Columbia by maintaining up to 500 jobs and supporting co-op hiring and collaborations within the hydrogen ecosystem.

    Once completed, the North Vancouver project will be the first full value chain ecosystem for heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks in Canada. Over the next three decades, global demand for clean hydrogen is expected to increase tenfold. Matching supply and demand for hydrogen will facilitate the large-scale adoption of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles. This will not only decarbonize commercial trucking but also help position Canada as a leader in hydrogen technologies and sustainable practices.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Mar 19, 2025 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    Mar 19, 2025 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Wed Mar 19 16:36:25 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 191636

    Day 2 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1136 AM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025

    Valid 201200Z – 211200Z

    …NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST…

    …SUMMARY…
    Thunderstorm development will be possible on Thursday in parts of
    the Mid-Atlantic and northern Rockies. A severe threat is not
    expected.

    …Synopsis…
    A mid-level trough will traverse the Rockies as a second upper
    trough ejects into the Atlantic tomorrow (Thursday). A surface cold
    front will accompany the East Coast trough, immediately preceded by
    marginal low-level moisture (e.g. low 50s F surface dewpoints).
    Scant buoyancy, driven by the meager low-level moisture, may
    encourage the development of a few thunderstorms from the Mid
    Atlantic to Carolina Piedmont region. Given relatively strong flow
    just above the boundary layer, strong wind gusts may occur with a
    few of the storms, but confidence in any appreciable severe gust
    coverage is too low for the addition of severe probabilities at this
    time. Otherwise, the only other location where lightning flashes may
    be observed is over the northern Rockies, where a plume of cold
    temperatures aloft, associated with the western trough, may promote
    enough buoyancy (albeit scant) to support a few thunderstorms.

    ..Squitieri.. 03/19/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 0600Z

    Top/Latest Day 1 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Mar 19, 2025 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 191559

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1059 AM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025

    Valid 191630Z – 201200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS
    AFTERNOON/EVENING FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL/NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND WEST
    CENTRAL INDIANA…

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon/evening
    from central/northern Illinois to western Indiana. A few tornadoes,
    large hail, and damaging wind gusts will be possible.

    …IL/IN vicinity into early tonight…

    A deep (990mb) surface low over northwest MO this morning will
    continue to shift east into northern IL through late afternoon, and
    into IN/MI and southern Ontario overnight. Meanwhile, the exit
    region of a 90-100+ kt 500 mb jet will overspread IL/IN this
    afternoon into early evening.

    Cloud cover and elevated convection this morning across IA and
    northern IL, along with lofted dust moving over the region may
    inhibit heating to some degree into the afternoon. Furthermore,
    boundary layer moisture is expected to remain modest, most likely in
    the 51-54 F range given 15z upstream observations in the low 50s F.
    If any stronger heating occurs, mixing may further limit dewpoints
    from climbing into the mid/upper 50s F as suggested by some forecast
    guidance. Nevertheless, cold temperatures aloft (-17 C on 12z RAOBs
    from DVN) will support steep midlevel lapse rates and modest
    destabilization into the early afternoon. A dryline is noted across
    central MO at 15z. This feature will continue to sweep east into the
    afternoon and become a focus for stronger thunderstorm development
    across IL by 18-19z.

    Vertical shear will be favorable for supercells given elongated
    hodographs with enlarged, looping low-level hodographs. These
    vertical wind profiles are already evident in VWP data from DVN and
    LOT where a west to east oriented surface warm front is roughly
    aligned across east-central IA/northern IL. Evolution of modest
    boundary layer moisture will be key for determining the tornado risk
    this afternoon across IL/IN. If dewpoints can reach 55-56 F, a
    localized area of enhanced tornado potential may develop. While some
    risk for tornadoes will still exist with lower dewpoints, the risk
    would be more muted and likely less intense. Given the conditional
    risk for a strong tornado or two, will maintain the 10 percent SIG
    tornado risk. Otherwise, somewhat low-topped supercells will also
    pose a risk for damaging gusts of 60-70 mph and isolated large hail
    up to 1-1.5 inches in diameter. Isolated convection may develop
    southward along the dryline/cold front into western/central KY by
    late afternoon before convection weakens after sunset.

    …TN/MS/AL vicinity this afternoon/evening…

    Dewpoints have gradually increased into the mid 50s late this
    morning. Continued warm advection ahead of a wind shift this
    afternoon should allow dewpoints to reach the upper 50s to low 60s
    F. While forcing for ascent will be weak compared to further north,
    it should be sufficient to erode capping in the persistent warm
    advection regime. Instability will remain modest, generally
    near/less than 500 J/kg MLCAPE. While vertical shear will be quite
    strong, this should limit updraft intensity/longevity. A broken band
    of storms may still pose a risk for a few strong gusts.

    ..Leitman/Bunting.. 03/19/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 2000Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Mar 19, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    Mar 19, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Wed Mar 19 12:45:23 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 191245

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0745 AM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025

    Valid 191300Z – 201200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS
    AFTERNOON/EVENING FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL/NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND WEST
    CENTRAL INDIANA…

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon/evening
    from central/northern Illinois to western Indiana. A few tornadoes,
    large hail, and damaging wind gusts will be possible.

    …IL/IN this afternoon into early tonight…
    A deep (989 mb) cyclone near the northeast KS/northwest MO border
    will move northeastward to northern IL by this evening and Lower MI
    overnight, in conjunction with a deep midlevel trough and 100+ kt
    midlevel jet streak. Elevated convection is ongoing this morning in
    a zone of focused ascent with warm advection/frontogenesis across
    IA, where isolated large hail may occur with MUCAPE around 500 J/kg
    and steep midlevel lapse rates/cool midlevel temperatures. The warm
    sector of the cyclone is characterized by a narrow/modest corridor
    of returning moisture (low-mid 50s boundary-layer dewpoints) that
    will overspread MO/IL through the afternoon. Surface heating in
    cloud breaks, continued moisture advection and relatively cool
    midlevel temperatures will all contribute to warm sector
    destabilization (MLCAPE 500-750 J/kg) through the afternoon across
    IL.

    Surface-based thunderstorm development will become probable by
    early-mid afternoon in a broken band along and just ahead of a
    remnant dryline moving from MO into IL, and storms will subsequently
    move eastward/northeastward into IN by early tonight before
    weakening gradually. The deeper buoyancy profiles will be on the
    cyclonic side of the midlevel jet, where 500 mb temperatures will be
    < -20 C. Forecast wind profiles suggest supercell potential with long hodographs (effective bulk shear vectors >50 kt), and
    sufficient low-level hodograph curvature/shear for tornado
    potential. The primary uncertainty centers of the degree of
    low-level moistening/destabilization, and the current forecast
    represents a conditional/reasonable worst case scenario. Otherwise,
    occasional large hail (1-1.5 inches in diameter) will be possible in
    IL this afternoon/evening, and the threat for damaging gusts (60-70
    mph) and a couple of tornadoes will persist into IN through early
    tonight.

    …TN/MS/AL this afternoon/evening…
    Boundary-layer dewpoints will slowly increase to the upper 50s/lower
    60s ahead of the surface wind shift moving across AR/LA this
    afternoon. Forcing for ascent should be sufficient to remove the
    cap, allowing some deep convection in a broken band this
    afternoon/evening. Buoyancy will be relatively weak compared to the
    vertical shear, so it will be difficult to get sustained severe
    storms and isolated wind damage will be the most probable threat.

    ..Thompson/Dean.. 03/19/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    .html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 243

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 0243
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1121 AM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025

    Areas affected…central Illinois

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch possible

    Valid 191621Z – 191845Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…60 percent

    SUMMARY…A gradual intensification of thunderstorm activity is
    likely across parts of southeastern Iowa into west central into
    central Illinois through 1-3 PM CDT. This may include increasing
    potential for a couple of tornadoes, severe hail and locally strong
    surface gusts. Trends are being monitored for the possibility of a
    watch, which appears more probable across parts of central/eastern
    Illinois later this afternoon.

    DISCUSSION…Scattered, modest convective development has been
    occurring to the east-northeast of a deep, occluding cyclone now
    centered north of Kansas City. This has been focused along a
    dryline, which may continue to become better defined into early
    afternoon, as the Rapid Refresh suggests that the trailing cold
    front may not quite overtake it. The leading edge of the primary
    cooling at mid-levels is contributing to steepening lapse rates
    along the dryline and, with a gradual moistening (surface dew points
    increasing through the lower 50s) of the boundary-layer ahead of it,
    appreciable further destabilization is expected. It appears that
    this may include mixed-layer CAPE increasing to 500-1000 j/kg in a
    corridor from near the triple point across the southeastern Iowa
    vicinity into central Illinois.

    As this occurs, initially scattered, low-topped thunderstorm
    development is likely to undergo a gradual intensification, beneath
    an intense south-southwesterly mid/upper jet. Low-level hodographs
    remain rather modest to weak, and Rapid Refresh forecast soundings
    suggest that this may not change much until later this afternoon
    across parts of east central Illinois (roughly near/east of the
    Bloomington and Decatur vicinities). However, it is possible that
    ambient vertical vorticity and steepening low-level lapse rates
    along the dryline, near the triple point, may support potential for
    at least a couple of generally brief/weak tornadoes, in addition to
    severe hail and locally strong surface gusts.

    ..Kerr/Leitman.. 03/19/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…LOT…ILX…LSX…DVN…

    LAT…LON 41469066 41088906 38938848 38998954 39438987 39639122
    40889185 41469066

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 57 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request
    Local forecast by”City, St” or “ZIP” 

    SPC on Facebook

    @NWSSPC

    NCEP Quarterly Newsletter

    Home (Classic)SPC Products   All SPC Forecasts   Current Watches   Meso. Discussions   Conv. Outlooks   Tstm. Outlooks   Fire Wx Outlooks     RSS Feeds   E-Mail AlertsWeather Information   Storm Reports   Storm Reports Dev.   NWS Hazards Map   National RADAR   Product Archive   NOAA Weather RadioResearch   Non-op. Products   Forecast Tools   Svr. Tstm. Events   SPC Publications   SPC-NSSL HWTEducation & Outreach   About the SPC   SPC FAQ   About Tornadoes   About Derechos   Video Lecture Series   WCM Page   Enh. Fujita Page   Our History   Public ToursMisc.   StaffContact Us   SPC Feedback

    Watch 57 Status Reports

    Watch 57 Status Message has not been issued yet.

    Top/Watch Issuance Text for Watch 57/All Current Watches/Forecast Products/Home

    Weather Topics:Watches, Mesoscale Discussions, Outlooks, Fire Weather, All Products, Contact Us

    NOAA / National Weather ServiceNational Centers for Environmental PredictionStorm Prediction Center120 David L. Boren Blvd.Norman, OK 73072 U.S.A.spc.feedback@noaa.govPage last modified: March 19, 2025
    DisclaimerInformation QualityHelpGlossary
    Privacy PolicyFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)About UsCareer Opportunities

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 57

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL7

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 57
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1215 PM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Far Eastern Iowa
    Northern and Central Illinois
    Western Indiana

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 1215 PM
    until 900 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Scattered supercell thunderstorms are expected to develop
    northeast through the early evening. These storms may produce a few
    tornadoes, damaging gusts, and hail.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 25 miles west northwest of Marseilles
    IL to 60 miles east of Salem IL. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 400. Mean
    storm motion vector 22035.

    …Leitman

    SEL7

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 57
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1215 PM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Far Eastern Iowa
    Northern and Central Illinois
    Western Indiana

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 1215 PM
    until 900 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Scattered supercell thunderstorms are expected to develop
    northeast through the early evening. These storms may produce a few
    tornadoes, damaging gusts, and hail.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 25 miles west northwest of Marseilles
    IL to 60 miles east of Salem IL. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 400. Mean
    storm motion vector 22035.

    …Leitman

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW7
    WW 57 TORNADO IA IL IN 191715Z – 200200Z
    AXIS..90 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    25WNW MMO/MARSEILLES IL/ – 60E SLO/SALEM IL/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 80NM E/W /30NE BDF – 43N PXV/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 400. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 22035.

    LAT…LON 41498739 38638619 38638953 41499087

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU7.

    Watch 57 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (50%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Mod (30%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (50%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (80%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Monday, March 24: IAM Union, NFFE-IAM, Labor Allies to Celebrate Federal Workers Outside L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station (Entrance C- 9th Street NW/L’Enfant Plaza)

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    WASHINGTON, March 19, 2025—The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), along with labor and community allies, will host an event to celebrate the contributions of federal workers on Monday, March 24, 2025, during peak morning commute hours outside the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station (Entrance C- 9th Street NW/L’Enfant Plaza).

    Federal workers are the backbone of our nation, providing essential services that keep our country running. They are healthcare professionals caring for our military veterans, wildland firefighters protecting our lives and property, and park rangers watching after our national treasures. The IAM Union, America’s largest defense labor union, has the highest percentage of military veteran members in the labor movement.

    Event Details:

    • What: IAM Union, NFFE-IAM, labor and community allies to host a visibility event to thank federal workers
    • When: Monday, March 24, 2025, from 7 to 9 a.m.
    • Where: Outside the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station (Entrance C- 9th Street NW/L’Enfant Plaza)
    • Who: IAM Union, NFFE-IAM, labor allies, and community supporters
    • RSVP: Reporters interested in attending can RSVP by emailing Bethany Shelton at bshelton@iamaw.org.

    Volunteers will distribute informational materials, engage with commuters, and hold signs thanking federal workers. Members of Congress, elected officials, and local community leaders are invited to attend this event.

    “Federal employees dedicate their lives to serving the American people, often under challenging circumstances,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “It’s crucial that we take time to recognize their hard work and commitment, not just on special occasions, but every day. They are going through a difficult time. We are proud to support them with a simple thank you.”

    The IAM Union invites members of the media to attend and cover this event. Visuals and interview opportunities will be available.

    “Federal workers are the unsung heroes who keep our government functioning,” said Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). “They deserve our respect, our support, and fair treatment. This event is a small way to show our appreciation for their dedication and service.”

    The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries. 

    goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: Eligible Californians May Submit Taxes for Free

    Source: US State of California

    Wednesday, March 19, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

     Offers tips to Californians amid tax season 

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert urging Californians to learn about free or low-cost tax filing options. As Tax Day approaches, many Californians may seek out assistance with filing their state and federal tax returns. Through the IRS Direct File and CalFile programs, eligible California taxpayers can file their 2024 federal and state taxes for free.  

    “For many families, tax season brings an opportunity to get a catch up on bills, build some financial breathing room for emergencies, or finally take the car in for repairs,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Many consumers turn to third-party tax preparation services for help filing their tax returns and too often wind up paying when they could file for free. To keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets, I encourage Californians to file early and find out if they qualify for free tax help.”

    IRS Direct File and CalFile allow eligible taxpayers to file federal and state tax returns, respectively, free of charge, quickly, and securely. By removing barriers to filing, these programs may allow consumers to get tax refunds and claim critical tax benefits like California’s Earned Income Tax Credit and Young Child Tax Credit. After completing their federal return with IRS Direct File, California taxpayers are provided a link to CalFile to complete their state tax return for free.

    • IRS Direct File is a free service that allows eligible taxpayers to electronically file their federal tax returns directly with the IRS. To see if you qualify, check here. 
    • Franchise Tax Board’s CalFile is California’s free e-filing service for state tax returns. The FTB’s CalFile program allows qualified individuals to quickly e-file their state tax return directly to the FTB, free of charge. To see if you qualify, check here.  

    MORE TAX PREPARATION RESOURCES: 

    • The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides free tax help to people who make $64,000 or less annually, persons with disabilities, and people who do not understand English well. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those over 60, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues. More information on these programs is available here.
    • More Cash in your Pocket: You may qualify for cash back or a reduction of the tax you owe under the Earned Income Tax Credit and the California Earned Income Tax Credit programs.
    • Need more time to prepare? You can use IRS Free File to electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension, regardless of your income. You will then have until October 15 to file a return. More information on how to request an extension can be found on the IRS website.
    • Find a Reputable Tax Preparer: If you decide to hire a tax preparer, make sure your tax preparer is reputable and qualified to provide tax services. In California, only an attorney, certified public accountant (CPA), IRS-enrolled agent, or registered-tax preparer can prepare tax returns for a fee. To confirm whether a tax preparer is registered with the IRS, check here. 

    If you believe you have been the victim of a tax-related scam or other misconduct, you can file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report or with the IRS. 

    To learn about how to protect yourself and your loved ones against fraud, visit our website at https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/taxes. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Apprehend Fugitive who Fled to Mexico After 2019 San Antonio Homicide

    Source: US Marshals Service

    San Antonio, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) in San Antonio, with the assistance of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force (GCVOTF) in Laredo, has apprehended a San Antonio man wanted in connection with the 2019 murder of an elderly man. 

    Joe Michael Rubio, 24, was apprehended March 14 with the assistance of Mexican authorities from La Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC) in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. His capture resulted from a multiagency effort that developed numerous leads.

    Rubio was detained, officially deported from Mexico, and placed into the custody of the U.S. Marshals GCVOTF in Laredo where he is currently awaiting extradition back to Bexar County. 

    On July 26, 2019, 77-year-old Jose Rodriguez was fatally shot outside a gas station on Fair Avenue in San Antonio’s South Side. After purchasing lottery tickets, he was confronted by two suspects in what police believe was an attempted robbery. During the altercation, Rodriguez sustained three gunshot wounds, including one to the face, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Rubio was subsequently charged with aggravated robbery and homicide. Members of the LSFTF followed multiple leads and gathered information suggesting that Rubio fled to Mexico upon learning of his active arrest warrant.

    In 2023, the LSFTF officially elevated the case involving Rubio to USMS Major Case status.

    “Through strong international partnerships, the U.S. Marshals Service collaborates with law enforcement agencies in Mexico and beyond to facilitate the apprehension of fugitives and uphold justice,” said Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “These cooperative efforts play a vital role in enhancing public safety and ensuring that fugitives are held accountable.”

    The LSFTF thanks the Mexican authorities from La Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana for their critical assistance.

    The USMS Major Case Fugitive Program prioritizes the investigation and apprehension of high-profile offenders considered to be some of the country’s most dangerous individuals. These offenders tend to be career criminals with histories of violence or who pose a significant threat to public safety.

    Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force – San Antonio:

    Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO)
    Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS)
    Texas Attorney General’s Office (TXAGO)
    Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
    New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD)
    Texas Board of Criminal Justice OIG (TBCJ)
    Bexar County District Attorney’s Office (BCDA)
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Marshal Service (USMS)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Westland Insurance unveils new benefits brand: Westland Benefits

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Surrey, BC/Territories of the Coast Salish (Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations), March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westland Insurance is proud to announce the launch of its new benefits brand, Westland Benefits, in BC, effective April 1, 2025. This launch marks a significant milestone in Westland’s continued growth, uniting its acquired benefits firms under one powerful national brand to better serve businesses across Canada.  

    Westland Benefits combines the personalized service and deep expertise of a boutique advisory firm with the scale, resources, and market influence of one of Canada’s largest insurance brokerages – offering employers of all sizes tailored, end-to-end benefits solutions.  

    Westland Insurance has appointed Matt Mann as the President of Westland Benefits. With extensive expertise in the benefits space and proven leadership in the insurance industry, Mann will oversee the growth and expansion of Westland Benefits across Canada. 

    “We’re excited to introduce Westland Benefits to BC,” said Jamie Lyons, President & CEO of Westland Insurance. “Over the past few years, we’ve made significant investments to strengthen our Employee Benefits offerings, including acquiring several high-performing advisory firms. Bringing these capabilities together under one unified brand – led by Matt – allows us to better serve our clients, compete more effectively in the market, and drive innovation at scale.”  

    The launch of Westland Benefits positions Westland to deliver a broader suite of benefits solutions – including group life and disability insurance, retirement and savings plans, key person coverage, and holistic wellness programs – to employers across most geographies in Canada. With plans to expand the Westland Benefits brand nationally, the company is poised to become a recognized leader in the Canadian benefits space.  

    “Launching Westland Benefits brand in BC is just the beginning – we’re at a breakthrough stage in terms of developing our national platform,” says Matt Mann, President of Westland Benefits. “I’m excited to lead this next chapter as we expand our operations across Canada. By bringing together our advisory culture, access to national insurance markets, and deep industry expertise, we’re uniquely positioned to help businesses of all sizes build competitive and high impact benefits programs.” 

    As part of this transition, Westland Benefits will bring together the existing operations of Dupuis Langen and Montridge Advisory Group, two highly regarded benefits firms that have played a key role in shaping the company’s success in the space. Clients can expect the same dedicated service and expertise they’ve always received, now under a unified national brand. 

    The introduction of Westland Benefits reinforces Westland Insurance’s commitment to helping Canadian businesses navigate the complex benefits landscape — ensuring organizations have access to innovative, people-focused solutions that drive employee well-being and business success. 

    For more information about Westland Benefits, visit our website.  

    – 30 – 

    About Westland Insurance Group:   

    Westland Insurance Group is one of the largest and fastest growing insurance brokers in Canada. Trading over $4 billion of premium, Westland continues to expand coast to coast. Westland’s brokers provide expertise and advisory-based services across commercial, personal, employee benefits, farm, and specialty insurance segments. The company’s mission is to protect individuals, businesses, and communities across Canada with trusted advice and tailored insurance solutions. As a Canadian-based company, Westland is proud to support local communities, Canadian jobs, and a strong economy. For more information, please visit westlandinsurance.ca.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indian National Found Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 170 Pounds of MDMA in Eastern Washington

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that a jury returned a verdict in the federal trial of Jaskaran Singh, age 31, who is a native of Gujarat, India. Singh was found guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), which is more commonly known as “Ecstasy” or “Molly.” United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over Singh’s trial, which began March 17, 2025. At sentencing, which is set for June 25, 2025, Singh faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years. He may also face removal from the United States.

    The evidence presented at trial established that on April 29, 2023, at approximately 10:00 p.m., three unknown individuals tripped motion sensor cameras in a remote area just south of the U.S.-Canada border, approximately one-half-mile west of the Danville, Washington port of entry. U.S. Border Patrol officials at the Curlew Border Patrol Station saw images of these individuals, who had crossed into the United States from Canada and were carrying backpacks and a suitcase. From the U.S. side of the border, the only route to drive into or out of this area is an unestablished dead end, dirt road known as Fourth of July Creek Road.

    Minutes later, Border Patrol observed a 2014 Honda Odyssey traveling east on Fourth of July Creek Road. Border Patrol Agents responded to the area and stopped Singh, who was driving the rented Honda Odyssey away from the U.S. Canada border.

    From outside the van, Border Patrol agents observed backpacks and suitcase in the rear cargo area of the Odyssey. The backpacks and suitcase were same as those carried across the border by the three individuals, who tripped the motion sensor cameras just a few minutes earlier. Border Patrol Agents obtained authorization to search the van and seized 173.7 pounds of MDMA stored inside the backpacks and suitcase.  Investigators later located a map of the area on Singh’s phone and messages detailing where Singh should go, when he should arrive, and directing him to “leave the back hood open.”

    Testimony at trial established that the three men transported the MDMA from the Canadian side of the border by carrying the backpacks and suitcase through approximately 300 yards of remote wilderness to where Singh had parked the rented Odyssey van.  The three men then returned to the Canadian side of the border, escaping apprehension by law enforcement.

    Just one day before the massive seizure, Singh traveled from Northern California to Washington State. Singh had purchased his ticket just prior to the flight and then rented a car in Seattle, before driving to the remote area where the drugs were smuggled across the U.S.-Canada border.

    “Mr. Singh trafficked more than 170 pounds of illegal drugs across our northern border into the United States,” stated Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker. This seizure, which was one of the largest ever in Eastern Washington, had a street value exceeding $7.8 million. Today’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that those who seek to exploit our nation’s borders by flooding our communities with dangerous controlled substances will be held accountable for their crimes.”

    “The transnational drug trafficking organization for whom Singh worked had identified the ideal, isolated location in rural Washington to smuggle illegal drugs across the northern border,” continued Acting United States Attorney Barker. “Fortunately, our team of experienced Border Patrol agents were ready, and they intercepted this poison before it could harm communities in Eastern Washington.”

    “International drug traffickers like Mr. Singh profit by flooding our country with illicit, dangerous drugs that harm our citizens,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “I am gratified that we, at the Drug Enforcement Administration, can stand with our partners in the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold people like Mr. Singh accountable for their crimes.”

    “Spokane Sector agents are vigilantly safeguarding our borders, swiftly detecting, and interdicting cross-border smuggling activities. This conviction highlights the Spokane Border Patrol Sector’s unwavering commitment to protecting communities from illicit drugs and those who attempt to smuggle them across our borders,” said Jason Liebe, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Spokane Sector for the U.S. Border Patrol.

    This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alison L. Gregoire and Dan Fruchter.

    2:23-cr-00052-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: European defence spending: three technical reasons for political cooperation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Francesco Grillo, Academic Fellow, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University

    How much would it really cost the European Union to defend itself against aggression? In the immediate term, that question, of course makes us think of Russia, but we can no longer exclude multiple other possibilities, including the potential need to defend territory – say, Greenland – from a former ally.

    How much would it cost to defend Europe if we added in the need to defend the UK, Norway, Turkey or even Canada – and any other Nato country willing to pool resources to fill the void left by US disengagement? Is there an intelligent way to avoid painful trade-offs between this and, say, spending on healthcare or education?

    It looks like EU institutions are finally “doing something” (as former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi recently asked them to do). They may even break the taboo of raising common debt in order to increase spending on joint defence procurements.

    Yet, it also seems they are about to launch a plan that could change the very nature of the European Union without even tackling the question of its financial feasibility. The answer to how joint defence can be paid for certainly doesn’t come from the plan that the European Commission has unveiled on “rearming Europe”. At the very last line of that statement, a figure of €800 billion is posited, but it is not clear how the sum was calculated and quite a few critical qualifications are missing.

    The debate over how much it costs to prevent a war (which is a very different notion from fighting one), has been dominated by what I would call “the fallacy of the percentage of GDP”.

    In 2014 (at the time of Russia’s annexation of Crimea), the leaders of Nato countries agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence (specifying that retirement benefits to veterans should be included). Yet by 2022, the overall ratio for Nato defence spending had, in fact, shrunk from 2.58% of GDP to 2.51% (thanks to the sharp reduction in the percentage of GDP contributed by the US). And, according to the European Defence Agency, the EU is spending around €279 billion, which is 1.6% of its GDP. Most likely, the €800 billion figure that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was citing in her communique is simply an estimate of how much it would yield to increase that spending up to 2% of GDP for each of the next ten years.

    Politicians sometimes need to make back-of-the-envelope calculations, but I would argue that here it points to a much broader problem. Europe hasn’t yet bothered to try to develop a strategy for how this additional money would be spent. A proper strategy should, in fact, start from three key technical considerations. To which I would add a no-less important political one.

    1. Spending smart is better than spending big

    Technologies (including AI) are radically changing the equation. The conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza demonstrate that cheap drones are now the key to modern warfare – not super expensive F35 strike fighters. Why spend billions designing, building and maintaining 2,500 F35s when a drone the size of a mobile phone can cross enemy lines unnoticed?

    In a world in which data is a weapon, and a large-scale attack can be mounted by taking remote control of pagers, what generals call “supremacy” doesn’t necessarily belong to the biggest spender.

    Israel’s military budget is one-third that of Saudi Arabia, yet it dominates the Middle East because its perpetual state of conflict forces innovation. Russia spends less than half of the 27 EU member states, but it has much more experience in hacking other countries’ infrastructures. The EU spends as much as China, but China invests more than twice in research and development and is the world’s largest exporter of drones as a result.

    2. Spending together is better value

    The European parliament estimates that merging the 27 member states’ defence budgets would free up €56 billion (which is a third of what the defence bonds proposed by the Commission would raise).

    Yet the trend is to spend more alone than together. According to the European Defence Agency, the bloc has more than doubled its expenditure on new digital technologies; yet the percentage of that going into joint projects between member states fell from 11% before Ukraine’s invasion to 6.5% in 2023.

    Joint tech spending in Europe.
    Vision, CC BY-ND

    3. Homegrown suddenly looks safer

    Any common defence would also have to rely on “buying European” as much as possible. The F35 fighter jet is another good example here. Denmark agreed to buy 27 of them (to the tune of around €3 billion) with an idea to station four of them in Greenland. The problem is that, according to the former president of the Munich security conference Wolfgang Ischinger, they cannot even take off if remotely disabled by the US. Again, Europe is not walking the walk. The share of equipment that European nations import from the US has massively increased in the last five years.

    A new era for the union

    Defence is probably the most important issue when talking about the Europe of the future. It provides a concrete opportunity to fill a technological gap out of the necessity to do so. Spending on defence in the interests of self-protection may have longer-term benefits beyond the military arena. It has been often the case that military research leads to major breakthroughs that can applied in public services. Who knows. Military innovations with drone or AI technology on today’s battlefields could lead to beneficial uses in peace time.

    The historic opportunity to transform the way we protect ourselves may even force a radical rethinking of not just the EU treaties but of the nature of the EU. The idea of the “coalition of the willing” may, indeed, push Europe towards an alliance which does not include some of its members (such as Hungary) but does include non-members like the UK, Norway and even Turkey. New arrangements will need to be pragmatically flexible.

    Europeans need much more strategy, whereas we now largely have rhetorical announcements with little substance. And we need much more democracy. After all, defence is one of the defining dimensions of the state. Having a common defence policy in Europe could make people feel more like European citizens. But that cannot happen without engaging citizens in an intelligent debate.

    Francesco Grillo is affiliated with the think tank Vision.

    – ref. European defence spending: three technical reasons for political cooperation – https://theconversation.com/european-defence-spending-three-technical-reasons-for-political-cooperation-252410

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center

    Source: US Geological Survey

    To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the USGS’s National Center, the USGS Library is showcasing its collection of materials documenting the planning, development, and completion of this iconic building.

     

    The events

    On display in the National Center Art Hallway during December and January were original photographs, blueprints, documents, and new photographs, including a group photograph on the roof of the National Center taken in October 2024 when more than 150 USGS employees, retirees, and emeriti stood together for an airborne Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS – or, “drone”) “selfie” that recreated original aerial photographs taken in the early 1970s.

     

    The Library hosted an exhibit-opening panel discussion and reception on Tuesday, December 3, in the Dallas Peck Auditorium. Director David Applegate provided opening remarks about the National Center’s storied history, its current role as the center of the USGS, and future opportunities for science and collaboration. Panelists Susan Russell-Robinson (emeritus and former associate program coordinator, Coastal and Marine Geology Program), Harvey Belkin (emeritus research geologist, Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center), Jim Devine (former senior advisor for science applications), and Jane Hammarstrom (research geologist) shared stories about the building’s early years, including:

    • Commuting on the employee shuttle bus between downtown D.C. and Reston, which included snacks and beverages on Friday afternoons.
    • Navigating the new building, with its labyrinthine hallways and colorful floor plans. Floors were initially identified by distinctive carpet and wall colors. Navigating the building often involved using landmarks like an American flag or even a “Snoopy” poster used as a waypoint. This system led to episodes of hijinks, such as the surreptitious wall repainting using the color of a different floor, and the moving of navigational landmarks to confusing yet comedic effect.
    • Enjoying a more open environment where exterior doors were left open and staff were not required to show identification.
    • The challenge of packing and unpacking vast numbers of geologic samples and sometimes finding that on-the-fly customization was needed when storage systems didn’t work as intended.
    • The plan to have a helipad on the roof for Secretarial visits. (Once it was determined that fume hood exhaust from the building’s labs posed a potential explosion hazard, the plan was scrapped.) 

    Sandy Brosnahan, the head of the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center’s UAS program, organized the UAS overflight with logistical support from Jessica DeWitt from the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center. Facilities support for the rooftop activities was provided by Alan Ragsdale and Erica Lowe.

    Building history highlights

    As the National Center in Reston marks this milestone, it’s an excellent time to reflect on its history. The journey to the National Center began long before its groundbreaking in 1971. In the years following World War II, the USGS had expanded significantly, operating out of more than 30 different buildings across Washington, D.C., and its surrounding areas, from Silver Spring to Arlington to McLean. With the need for a centralized location to support its growing mission, plans were set in motion to relocate the USGS to a single site. 

    After considering multiple location options, the decision was made to build in Reston, which was then a rural area far from the bustling heart of D.C. In 1970, the Bureau of the Budget approved the project to move forward and in 1971, the George H. Hyman Construction Company of Washington was awarded the $44 million contract to construct the USGS National Center. At the groundbreaking on July 31, 1971, Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B. Morton turned the ceremonial first shovelful of earth. 

    The challenges of moving to a less-developed location were numerous. Traffic studies were conducted to determine how to manage the daily influx of 2,500 employees into Reston, which at the time had only one bridge and narrow roads. Despite these hurdles, the site offered opportunities that could not be realized in the congested downtown D.C. area.  

    The building’s unique design, which evokes a compass rose, has become synonymous with the bureau’s mission of scientific exploration and discovery. The first occupants of the National Center included a large number of staff and machinery to conduct mapping, printing and the reproduction of USGS products. The building has since housed numerous labs, offices, and support functions, serving as a hub for geological, biological, and environmental research that serves the U.S. and the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP Goes Multi-Chain: Bitget Wallet’s Super DEX Unlocks XRP Trading Amid Ripple’s Legal Win

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, now enables seamless XRP trading through its Super DEX, offering users deep liquidity, optimized swap routes, and gas fee flexibility across multiple chains.

    Super DEX offers a seamless multi-chain trading experience, integrating 130+ blockchains and aggregating liquidity from top DEXs for secure and efficient swaps. It enables XRP and other long-tail asset trading with intelligent routing and slippage optimization, ensuring the best execution. Built-in gas abstraction allows users to pay network fees with multiple mainstream tokens, removing friction from cross-chain transactions. With robust security measures and MEV protection by default, Bitget Wallet ensures safe, unrestricted access to XRP trading as its adoption grows for borderless payments.

    Following the U.S. SEC’s recent decision to drop its appeal against Ripple, XRP has surged in market confidence, reinforcing its position as a key digital asset for cross-border payments. To celebrate, Bitget Wallet is launching an XRP trading campaign for new users, featuring a $10,000 prize pool in XRP and Gas Vouchers. From March 19, 23:00 to March 21, 23:00 (UTC+8), new Bitget Wallet users who cross-chain swap at least $50 in XRP will receive $10 in XRP and Gas Vouchers, available on a first-come, first-served basis. With $5,000 in XRP and $5,000 in Gas Vouchers up for grabs, this campaign aims to introduce more users to Super DEX’s XRP trading capabilities, making cross-chain swaps easier than ever.

    “Our goal is to make Web3 trading effortless, and this XRP campaign is the perfect way to welcome new users into the ecosystem,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “With XRP’s resurgence, we are doubling down on our commitment to cross-chain accessibility, allowing traders to capitalize on market trends without the friction of high fees or complicated processes.”

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c1d27ed-0d14-4085-be84-26f0b92e8c47

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces passport acceptance event for constituents

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that his office will host a passport acceptance event with the New Orleans Passport Agency for constituents to obtain or renew their passports.
    Date: March 26, 2025
    Time: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    Location: 7932 Wrenwood Blvd., Suites A and B, Baton Rouge, La.
    “My staff is working with our local passport agency to help Louisianians apply for and renew their passports. I hope this event will help Louisiana families enjoy their summer travel plans without any last-minute delays,” said Kennedy. 
    Although appointments are not required, applicants can contact Kathy Manuel at (337) 541-7990 or Christy Tate at (337) 541-7991 to schedule an appointment ahead of the event.
    Applicants must bring the following items with them:
    Completed passport application
    Passport photo
    Government-issued I.D. or driver’s license
    Proof of U.S. citizenship
    Payment by check, credit card or money order only

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Removing Discrimination and Discriminatory Equity Ideology From the Foreign Service

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATETHE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURETHE SECRETARY OF COMMERCETHE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCYFOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTTHE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THEUNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA
    SUBJECT: Removing Discrimination and Discriminatory EquityIdeology From the Foreign Service
    Section 1. Policy and Purpose. Over the last 4 years, divisive and discriminatory policies were systematically embedded into every part of the Federal Government, including hiring processes and employee performance evaluations in the Foreign Service. It is the policy of the Federal Government that hiring in foreign policy positions, like hiring in all other parts of the Government, shall be based solely on merit.
    Sec. 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this memorandum:
    (a) “discriminatory equity ideology” shall have the meaning given that phrase in section 2 of Executive Order 14190 of January 29, 2025 (Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling);
    (b) “Department,” “Foreign Service,” and “Secretary” shall have the meanings given those terms in 22 U.S.C. 3902; and(c) “Foreign Service Member” means an individual described by 22 U.S.C. 3903.
    Sec. 3. Equality and Non-Discrimination in the Foreign Service. (a) The Secretary of State shall, consistent with applicable law, promptly revise the 2022-2025 Decision Criteria for Tenure and Promotion in the Foreign Service, issued under section 2326.2 of title 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, to remove any reference to the Core Precept entitled “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.” The Secretaries shall promptly direct all employees of their Departments not to give this Core Precept any force or effect.
    (b) The Secretaries shall direct all officers and employees of their Departments not to:
    (i) base Foreign Service recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention decisions upon an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
    (ii) while acting in an official capacity, promote, advocate for, or otherwise inculcate support for discriminatory equity ideology.
    (c) The Secretaries shall determine if any current Foreign Service Members have knowingly and willfully engaged in unconstitutional or otherwise illegal discrimination based upon race or other protected characteristics, including actions motivated by discriminatory equity ideology. Consistent with Executive Order 14211 of February 12, 2025 (One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations) the Secretaries shall:
    (i) with respect to Foreign Service Members appointed by a Secretary whom that Secretary finds to have engaged in such discrimination, take appropriate action; and
    (ii) with respect to Foreign Service Members appointed by the President, determine whether to refer any findings of discrimination for the President’s consideration or take appropriate action under the Secretary’s own authority.
    Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
    DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Removes DEI From the Foreign Service

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    RESTORING THE VALUES OF INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY, HARD WORK, AND EXCELLENCE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a memorandum removing radical “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) from the Foreign Service.
    The memorandum directs the Secretary of State to remove the “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility” Core Precept from Foreign Service tenure and promotion criteria.
    It further directs that the U.S. government will not base Foreign Service recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention decisions on an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, nor embed discriminatory equity ideology within any element of the Foreign Service.
    Relevant agencies shall identify and take appropriate action regarding any Foreign Service Officer who knowingly and willfully engaged in illegal discrimination.
    PUTTING MERIT FIRST: President Trump believes that hiring in all parts of government should be based solely on merit.
    Under the previous administration, divisive and discriminatory policies were systematically embedded into every part of the State Department.
    Biden’s State Department conditioned eligibility for promotions on an employee’s ability to pass a DEI loyalty test.
    In 2023, Biden’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the State Department, Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, said: “We made the change that if you wanted to be considered for promotion at the Department of State, you must be able to document what you are doing to support diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility. This is how you are judged for promotion.”

    Biden’s State Department published a “Five-Year Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan” that included a department-wide “DEIA Climate Survey” and implemented a comprehensive recruitment plan to aggressively target so-called “underrepresented groups.”
    Foreign policy positions should be filled by the most qualified individuals, not by discriminatory quotas or ideological requirements.
    SERVING AMERICA, NOT IDEOLOGICAL AGENDAS: President Trump is restoring fairness and accountability in federal hiring, and terminating DEI across the federal government.
    In his first week in office, President Trump signed an Executive Order restoring merit-based hiring and promotions across the federal government.
    President Trump also signed an Executive Order ending radical and wasteful DEI programs and preferencing.
    President Trump: “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis, Including Rescinding 11 Pieces of Guidance

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The Justice Department today announced that it is taking action in response to President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis.” First, the Department is withdrawing 11 pieces of guidance to streamline Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance resources for American businesses. Next, the Department is raising awareness about tax incentives for businesses related to their compliance with the ADA.

    The Jan. 20 Presidential Memorandum described the regulatory demands put in place by the prior administration and called on the heads of all executive departments and agencies to take appropriate actions to lower the cost of living throughout the country. Today’s withdrawal of 11 pieces of unnecessary and outdated guidance will aid businesses in complying with the ADA by eliminating unnecessary review and focusing only on current ADA guidance. Avoiding confusion and reducing the time spent understanding compliance may allow businesses to deliver price relief to consumers.

    In addition, to further the goals of the Presidential Memorandum and to aid businesses during tax season, the Department is highlighting tax incentives available for businesses to help cover the costs of making access improvements for customers or employees with disabilities. The Department expects that small businesses will find this reminder helpful in reducing costs, especially as they prepare their tax filings. An explanation of these tax incentives is featured prominently on the ADA.gov website.

    “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that businesses and members of the public can easily understand their rights and obligations, including the tax incentives that are available to help businesses comply with the ADA,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Putting money back into the pockets of business owners helps everyone by allowing those businesses to pass on cost savings to consumers and bolster the economy.”

    The Department has identified the following 11 pieces of guidance for withdrawal:

    1. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Can a business stop me from bringing in my service animal because of the COVID-19 pandemic? (2021)
    2. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Does the Department of Justice issue exemptions from mask requirements? (2021)
    3. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Are there resources available that help explain my rights as an employee with a disability during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2021)
    4. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Can a hospital or medical facility exclude all “visitors” even where, due to a patient’s disability, the patient needs help from a family member, companion, or aide in order to equally access care? (2021)
    5. COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act: Does the ADA apply to outdoor restaurants (sometimes called “streateries”) or other outdoor retail spaces that have popped up since COVID-19? (2021)
    6. Expanding Your Market: Maintaining Accessible Features in Retail Establishments (2009)
    7. Expanding Your Market: Gathering Input from Customers with Disabilities (2007)
    8. Expanding Your Market: Accessible Customer Service Practices for Hotel and Lodging Guests with Disabilities (2006)
    9. Reaching out to Customers with Disabilities (2005)
    10. Americans with Disabilities Act: Assistance at Self-Serve Gas Stations (1999)
    11. Five Steps to Make New Lodging Facilities Comply with the ADA (1999)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Lufkin Industries Announces Sale of North America Downhole business to Q2 Artificial Lift Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lufkin Industries (“Lufkin”), a global leader in surface production equipment and automation solutions, has announced the sale of its North America Downhole (“NAM Downhole”) business to Q2 Artificial Lift Services (“Q2”), a leading provider of downhole reciprocating pumps. This transaction aligns with Lufkin’s strategic focus on its core surface business and Q2’s focus on subsurface business, positioning both companies for long-term growth and profitability. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    “This transition allows us to focus on Lufkin’s core strengths of Software, Automation, Surface Equipment and comprehensive service to our domestic and international customers, areas where Lufkin has for over 120 years been an industry leader,” said Brent Baumann, CEO Lufkin Industries. “By transitioning our NAM Downhole business to Q2, we are ensuring that our customers continue to receive world-class support while allowing Lufkin to invest further in innovation and growth within our core areas. We are confident that Q2 will be an excellent steward of the NAM Downhole business and great partner to the customers and employees transitioning as part of this sale.”

    Under the terms of the agreement, both downhole pump and rods assets team members and related customer relationships within North America will transition to Q2, ensuring continuity of service and support. Q2 Artificial Lift Services, known for its commitment to excellence in the sale, service, engineering and manufacturing of downhole reciprocating pumps, will integrate the NAM Downhole business into its portfolio, further strengthening its capabilities and expanding its reach into rods.

    Doug Quinn, CEO/President of Q2 ALS, said “We are extremely excited about this particular acquisition as it immediately strengthens our artificial lift products and services and expands our employee roster with highly skilled technical depth.  Additionally, with respect to US Rod, this part of the deal further expands our ability to provide a complete downhole system for our customer base. We have built a very dominant presence in the market, and this acquisition further demonstrates our continued commitment to the downhole artificial lift community across all of North America.”

    Both companies are working closely to ensure a seamless transition for all customers, employees and business partners. The sale reinforces Lufkin’s commitment to its flagship surface production and automation business while enhancing Q2’s position in the downhole market to include rods as well as expanding its downhole pump capabilities.

    For more information about Lufkin Industries please visit www.Lufkin.com. For more information on Q2 Artificial Lift Services please visit www.Q2ALS.com.

    About Lufkin Industries

    Lufkin Industries is a leading provider of surface production equipment, automation solutions, and oilfield services, helping operators optimize efficiency and maximize production. With a legacy of engineering excellence and innovation, Lufkin has been at the forefront of the energy industry for over 120 years, delivering high-quality Beam Pumping Units, advanced automation technologies, and global service solutions. By focusing on its core strengths, Lufkin continues to drive innovation and support the evolving needs of the oil and gas sector. For more information, visit www.Lufkin.com.

    About Q2 Artificial Lift Services

    Q2 Artificial Lift Services is a World Class Rod Lift System Solutions company that specializes in the sales, service, engineering and manufacturing of downhole reciprocating pumps. We are a fully integrated company with over 40+ repair and service locations strategically located across Western Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.Q2ALS.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Violence triggers record displacements in Haiti’s capital

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    In just one month, intensifying violence has forced over 60,000 people to flee their homes in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, marking another grim record in the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

    Gang violence, displacement and instability have long gripped Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country, but attacks over the past two months have shattered even the few remaining gang-free areas, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable.

    The Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed, and many neighbourhoods – once seen as relatively safe – are now under siege.

    Areas including Delmas, Carrefour-Feuilles, Martissant, Fort National, Pétion-Ville and Tabarre have been heavily impacted, forcing thousands of residents to flee in search of safety.

    The majority have sought refuge in 48 displacement sites, including 12 newly established ones, while others rely on overstretched host families for shelter.

    Forced to flee again

    “This alarming surge in displacements underscores the relentless cycle of violence devastating Haiti’s capital,” said Grégoire Goodstein, the UN migration agency’s (IOM) chief in Haiti.

    “We have never observed such a large number of people moving in this short time. Families are being uprooted time and time again, forced to leave everything behind as they flee for safety. Many of those displaced were already living in precarious conditions after previous displacements,” he explained.

    The crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with over one million people now forcibly displaced – three times the number recorded just a year ago.

    Yet, as suffering reaches new extremes, Haiti’s crisis continues to struggle for the world’s attention, and humanitarian efforts remain severely underfunded.

    Reaching a breaking point

    Humanitarian agencies warn that the situation is reaching a breaking point.

    “People fleeing violence need immediate protection, food, water and shelter. The situation is worsening by the day, and without additional support, we risk seeing an even greater humanitarian catastrophe unfold,” emphasised Mr. Goodstein.

    IOM continues its work in providing lifesaving assistance to displaced communities in Haiti.

    In the past month alone, over 16,000 people were reached with clean water and hygiene support, while 3,700 people benefited from emergency shelter, hygiene kits, medical care and psychosocial support.

    Despite these efforts, the growing number of displaced persons has stretched available resources to the limit.

    Call to action

    Beyond immediate aid, security in Haiti remains a pressing concern.

    Without greater international support, including enhanced resources for the Haitian National Police, restoring stability and protecting vulnerable communities will remain a challenge, IOM explained.

    From emergency relief to long-term recovery, the agency remains committed to providing relief and support for displaced Haitians, ensuring they receive the aid they need to survive and rebuild.

    However, without urgent international intervention, Haiti risks descending further into crisis.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government invests in natural infrastructure enhancements across British Columbia

    Source: Government of Canada News

    West Vancouver, British Columbia, March 19, 2025 — Three communities across British Columbia will see improvements to natural infrastructure that will increase their resilience while protecting local environments, after an investment of more than $1.6 million from the federal government.

    North of Kamloops, along the North Thompson River, funding will help Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band protect reserve lands and community infrastructure that are situated on the floodplain. The construction of a bioengineered living revetment will include brush and hedge brush layering, which will utilize live cuttings and rooted plants to stabilize approximately 130 metres of shoreline. This will reduce loss of land due to erosion, protect critical habitat, and increase flood resiliency in the community.

    In Tsay Keh Dene Nation (TKDN) Territory, funding will restore a portion of an existing wetland and construct a wetland park, featuring an interpretive trail with signage in both English and Tsek’ene (Sekani) languages. The project will address the loss of wetland area in TKDN Territory, following flooding and blocked waterways caused by the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and resulting Williston Reservoir.

    Additionally, funding will support the District of West Vancouver in developing and implementing a tree planting program to enhance local tree canopy cover in the community. 500 trees of varying species will be planted in high density areas, on streets and on slopes where trees are needed to provide shading and to minimize runoff and erosion during heavy rain by absorbing excess water. The planting program will support the District’s target of 52% tree canopy cover.

    These projects will help the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band, Tsay Keh Dene Nation, and West Vancouver adapt to and increase resiliency against the impacts of climate change and better protect their communities by leveraging natural infrastructure.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong

    Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein joined State Budget Director Kristin Walker to announce his 2025-2027 budget proposal to keep North Carolina strong. The Governor’s budget makes key investments in the economy, families, education, workforce, health care, and public safety to help ensure every North Carolinian has a shot at a brighter future.

    “North Carolina is strong because our people are strong, and we must work to maintain our strength so that future generations will continue to reap the benefits of our work,” said Governor Josh Stein. “My budget is balanced and puts kids and families – their job opportunities, their education, their wallets, their health and their safety – first.”

    Building A Strong Workforce

    Every North Carolinian deserves the opportunity to get a good-paying job or start a small business. The Governor’s budget expands job opportunities by investing in apprenticeship programs, providing free community college to students pursuing credentials in high-demand industries, and supporting people rejoining the workforce after incarceration. 

    Strengthening Families & Lowering Costs

    Too many North Carolinians are struggling to pay their bills as costs continue to climb, especially housing and child care. Governor Stein’s budget seeks to strengthen families and lower costs by expanding high-quality child care options and paying early childhood educators more, cutting taxes for middle class families, and building more homes. The budget’s targeted tax cuts will put more money back in people’s pockets and help offset the cost of child care and other basic necessities. 

    Improving Public Education

    Investing in North Carolina’s children is an investment in the state’s future. Governor Stein’s budget raises starting teacher pay to be the highest in the Southeast and rewards and retains teachers so that students have access to the best education. It also invests in student health by hiring more school nurses, counselors, and social workers and providing free breakfast in our public schools. It takes on school safety by upgrading school infrastructure and reduces the distraction of cell phones in classrooms. Finally, the Governor’s budget proposes a $4 billion bond to modernize old and outdated school buildings.

    Keeping North Carolinians Safe & Healthy

    Governor Stein is committed to keeping North Carolinians safe & healthy. The Governor’s budget addresses the shortage of law enforcement officers with raises for state law enforcement officers, particularly correctional officers and youth counselors. It also recommends investments that get deadly fentanyl off the street, solve cold sexual assault cases, and fund body cameras to produce objective evidence. Governor Stein’s budget strengthens the health of all North Carolinians by promoting affordable health care, supporting rural clinics, helping people who are struggling with substance use disorder, and ensuring people have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.

    Promoting Fiscal Soundness & Operational Excellence

    Taxpayers deserve to know that their money is being well spent. The Governor’s budget establishes an IMPACT Center to improve efficiency and effectiveness of state programs so that we can achieve greater value for every tax dollar and ensure a simple, user-friendly experience for North Carolinians. It also recognizes that North Carolina’s needed investments are impossible with current pre-programmed tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. Governor Stein’s budget proposes freezing current individual and corporate tax rates so that the state can keep up with its rapid population growth and avoid a fiscal cliff.

    Click here to read Governor Stein’s full budget proposal.  

    Mar 19, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney announces immigration case updates for the Eastern District of Virginia

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today significant case updates on six immigration cases in the district.

    On Jan. 20 the President signed executive orders addressing the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Protecting the American People Against Invasion recognized that enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States, and that it is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. The order tasked the Department of Justice with prioritizing the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States. Securing Our Borders prioritizes the pursuit of criminal charges against illegal aliens who violate immigration laws and against those who facilitate their unlawful presence in the United States.

    Carlos Alberto Sosa Horellana, a Honduran national, was removed from the United States in 2004. On Nov. 13, 2009, Sosa Horellana was removed again after reentering the United States and being convicted for an aggravated criminal felony in 2007 on two counts of rape with a child under age 13 as the victim. On Feb. 4, Sosa Horellana was arrested in Stafford, and a federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 4 charging him with illegally reentering the United States after removal for an aggravated felony conviction and failing to register as a sex offender. (Case No. 1:25-cr-48)

    On Oct. 2, 2023, Mario Ernesto Ortiz Escobar, a Salvadoran national, was convicted in the Southern District of Texas for illegally reentering the United States after a felony conviction and on Oct. 27, 2023, he was removed. Ortiz Escobar returned, however, and on Feb, 24 pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5. (Case No. 3:25-cr-31)

    Mayron De Jesus Salazar-De La Rosa, a Guatemalan national, was removed on April 3, 2014.  Salazar-De La Rosa subsequently returned and was found in Alexandria. On Feb. 27, he pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. Salazar-De La Rosa is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29. (Case No. 1:25-cr-11)

    Jose Charles Medrano, a Mexican national, first entered the United States illegally in 2008. After voluntarily departing the country, Medrano illegally reentered the United States and on July 2, 2014, was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). He was removed to Mexico on July 31, 2014. After illegally reentering the United States in January 2015, Medrano was convicted on March 21, 2016, of making terroristic threats in Houston, Texas. Medrano was removed to Mexico on March 29, 2016. When Medrano reentered the United States again, immigration officials located him and immediately removed him to Mexico on May 31, 2016. On April 22, 2023, Medrano was arrested in Henrico County for DUI and felony child abuse/neglect. On June 28, 2023, Medrano pled guilty to DUI and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and on Oct. 10, 2023, was removed again to Mexico. On August 17, 2024, Medrano again was arrested in Henrico County, this time charged with assault and battery of a family member and abduction. On Jan. 24, 2025, he was convicted of assault and battery of a family member. On March 5, Medrano pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20. (Case No. 3:24-cr-175)

    On July 8, 2019, Brayan Josue Flores-Torres, a Salvadoran national and MS-13 member, was arrested in Prince William County and charged with aggravated malicious wounding. On April 23, 2020, Flores-Torres pled guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of illegal alcohol, and assault and battery by mob. On Aug. 14, 2020, Flores-Torres was removed to El Salvador. On Dec. 13, 2022, Chesapeake Police responded to a report of a stabbing in which the victim, who was dating Flores-Torres’ ex-girlfriend, identified Flores-Torres as the person who stabbed him. Flores-Torres was arrested following a high-speed chase. On March 21, 2024, Flores-Torres pled guilty to eluding police and failing to identify himself. On Nov. 7, 2024, Flores-Torres pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. He was sentenced on March 11 and is subject to removal. (Case No. 2:23-CR-59)

    Melvin Mauricio Valencia Gil, a Salvadoran national, first illegally entered the United States before 2017. On Aug. 20, 2018, Valencia Gil was convicted in Nassau County, New York, of attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. On Nov. 26, 2021, Valencia Gil, a member of the Latin Kings gang, was removed to El Salvador. Less than a week after his removal, Valencia Gil left El Salvador and illegally reentered the United States. After being involved in a car accident in Virginia, Valencia Gil was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 2, 2023, for illegal reentry. He pled guilty on Sept. 23, 2024, and was sentenced on March 18 to three years in prison. (Case No. 3:23-CR-54)

    Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for the case number provided above.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Meets Tech Leaders in Lafayette

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    LAFAYETTE – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) met with leaders of the Lafayette Regional Technology Council to discuss their efforts to encourage the growth of high-tech businesses in their community. They also discussed how the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Opportunity Machine incubator is supporting their efforts.
    “We want the next Amazon, Google, or SpaceX to lay roots in Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Tech entrepreneurs and academic leaders are making that possible in Acadiana. And my infrastructure bill helps by extending high-speed broadband, so high-tech businesses can emerge and our young people have the same access to online resources no matter where they live.”
    During his time in Congress, Cassidy has worked to provide resources that make it possible for high-tech businesses to grow throughout Louisiana. In 2021, Cassidy secured $65 billion for broadband in his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will connect communities throughout America to high-speed Internet. This includes a $1.35 billion investment announced for Louisiana last year to connect 100,000 homes and 35,000 businesses.
    Cassidy also secured funds in Fiscal Year 2024 for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to help attract bio-medical start-up companies to Lafayette. He also visited FlyGuys, Inc. in February of 2022, an example of a Lafayette-based company using modern drone technology to perform aerial data collection for governmental and commercial entities.
    Founded in February, the Lafayette Regional Technology Council is working to develop and retain talent in the technology sector, facilitate connections and knowledge sharing across the technology community, promote Lafayette’s technology capabilities outside the region to encourage business growth and advocate for policies that support their efforts. A 15-member Steering Committee is at the heart of the council, uniting leaders from across Lafayette’s technology landscape.
    After the meeting, Cassidy took a tour of Opportunity Machine’s incubator and met young entrepreneurs building their businesses. He was welcomed to the meeting by Mr. Ben Johnson, chair of the council.
    “We are grateful to Senator Cassidy for taking the time to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Lafayette Regional Technology Council about the critical role technology and innovation play in driving economic growth and ensuring our community, state and nation remain competitive in a rapidly evolving world,” said Mr. Johnson. “His willingness to listen and explore solutions reinforces the importance of investing in innovation to strengthen our future.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Guilbeault announces the extension of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission

    Source: Government of Canada News

    GATINEAU, March 19, 2025

    The Future of Sport in Canada Commission is currently undertaking an independent and forward-looking review of Canada’s sport system.

    To allow the Commission to fulfill its mandate of developing concrete recommendations that will bring about meaningful and lasting change for Canadians and Canadian sport, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, today announced the extension of the mandate of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission.

    The work of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission will be extended until March 31, 2026. The Governor in Council appointments of Lise Maisonneuve as Commissioner and Ms. Noni Classen and Dr. Andrew Pipe as Special Advisors were also extended.

    The extension of the work of the Commission, at the request of the Commission’s independent leadership, will ensure that ample time is allocated for dialogue and for the development of recommendations on safe sport and the sport system in Canada.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASS Reinstates Select Data Collection Programs and Reports

    Source: US National Agricultural Statistics Service News

    Issued March 19, 2025, by the Agricultural Statistics Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. For more information, contact Troy Joshua at Troy.Joshua@usda.gov or (202) 690-3222.

    The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is reinstating the July Cattle report, as well as County Estimates for Crops and Livestock. The county estimate reinstatement is effective for the 2024 crop season for the row crops (corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans) and for the 2025 crop season for the small grain crops (barley, oats, wheat).

    Following are scheduled release dates:

    • County Estimates – corn, sorghum, soybeans: May 6
    • County Estimates – cotton: May 12
    • County Estimates – cattle: May 13
    • County Estimates – rice, peanuts: May 23
    • July Cattle: July 25

    The full calendar of NASS reports is available at nass.usda.gov/Publications.

    MIL OSI USA News –