NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Security: A Dozen Illegal Aliens Charged with Assaulting Federal Officers

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

    McALLEN, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging 12 illegal aliens for assaulting two federal correctional officers in January 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    All are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis at 9 a.m.

    Those charged include Mexican nationals Bryan Hernandez-Ruiz, 25, Francisco Antonio Hernandez-Mora, 27, Ivan Ramirez-Zapata, 40, Adrian David Guzman-Salas, 28, David Ramirez-Bautista, 21, Roberto Fabian Garza-Castaneda, 49, Jose Alberto Resendez-Hernandez, 27, Jose Ramos-Lerma, 45, Ruben Gonzalez-Balderas, 29, and Oscar Ambrocio Hernandez, 25, as well as Osman Joel Hernandez-Pavon, 22, and Roger Emmanuel Lemus, 42, both of Guatemala.

    The charges allege that all 12 men aided and abetted the assault of two federal corrections officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa.

    “The Department of Justice has zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” said Ganjei. “The grand jury has returned an indictment that alleges a serious attack on two corrections officers, and, rest assured, the Southern District of Texas will hold accountable all those found guilty.”

    If convicted, each face up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    All have been and will remain in custody.

    FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Avery Benitez prosecuted the case.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling Conspiracy on the Northern Border

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A New York woman pleaded guilty today for her role in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River.

    According to court documents, Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne-Mohawk, New York, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2024, respectively.

    “The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.”

    “A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon for the Northern District of New York. “Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.”

    According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow worked with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall to Cornwall Island, and then into northern New York. The HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into New York.

    Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted in their plea agreements that in late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four — mother, father, one-year-old boy, and two-year-old girl — from Cornwall into New York. The children were Canadian citizens. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall.

    Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result.

    “The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Buffalo. “Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them. ICE HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.”

    “The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe,” said Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp. “By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.”

    Montour pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and three counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory penalty of life in prison on the alien smuggling resulting in death counts.

    Sharrow and Terrance pleaded guilty to two counts and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, respectively, and each to four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. They each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy counts and two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory minimum of five years and maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts.

    A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests.

    Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

    The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, Klobuchar Introduce Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act. The bipartisan bill would allow companies to preserve Renewable Identification Number credits (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, when the fuel for use is in ocean-going vessels.
    “Expanding the use of biofuels like renewable diesel strengthens American energy independence, supports Nebraska agriculture, and reduces emissions,” said Senator Ricketts.“This bipartisan bill will deliver new market opportunities for Nebraska farmers who have played a crucial role creating a strong renewable diesel economy.”
    “Domestically produced biofuel strengthens our energy independence, supports our farmers, and boosts rural economies,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This common sense legislation will expand markets for farmers and fuel producers by providing ocean-going vessels a lower carbon fuel.”
    “Ocean-going cargo ships, tankers, and passenger vessels have a need for low-carbon, low-sulfur biodiesel and renewable diesel which provides an additional market for biofuels,” said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), the bill’s lead in the U.S. House of Representatives. “This legislation allows for RINs to be generated for renewable marine fuel without requiring an obligation on any parties. I thank my colleagues for supporting this legislation which opens the door for communities, like farmers in Iowa, to engage, and be involved, in the marine fuel industry and conversation.”
    Bill text can be found here.
    “This bill is a win for everyone who values stronger markets, cleaner energy, and a stronger, safer America,” said Dawn Caldwell, Executive Director of Renewable Fuels Nebraska. “It’s a commonsense step to put renewable energy to work on the high seas, which will support our country’s farmers and producers while moving us one step closer to energy independence. We’re grateful to Senator Ricketts for leading on this issue that is so crucial to Nebraskans. And we call on his colleagues in Congress to pass it quickly and look forward to President Trump signing it into law.”
    “Soybean farmers are constantly looking for new and innovative markets for our crop, including new opportunities for soy-based biofuels,” said Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association and soybean farmer from Kentucky. “The Renewable Fuels for Ocean-Going Vessels Act seeks to allow biofuels to truly tap into the marine transportation market through the RFS, and we appreciate the work of Senator Rickets, Senator Klobuchar, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, and Congressman Garamendi as they continue to advocate for soy-based biofuels.”
    “Global shipping companies are looking to U.S. farmers and fuel producers to take the lead in providing clean fuels,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels. “This commonsense legislation will remove a regulatory roadblock and enable U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers in partnership with soy and canola growers to meet the needs of shipping companies at a competitive price. It will allow refiners and blenders to keep RFS credits for fuel used in ocean-going vessels that are currently being sacrificed.”
    “Biofuels are an important pathway for future fuels for the maritime industry. And the United States with its vast biofuel feedstocks and resources creates an enormous economic opportunity for the nation’s farmers to produce fuels to meet the growing global demand for alternative fuels,” said Jennifer Garson, Executive Director of the Sustainable Maritime Coalition. “However, in order to match this enormous supply with the maritime sector, the biofuels industry needs the Renewable Fuels for Oceangoing Vessels Act. This Act is critical for compliance, as RINS are the currency of the RFS program and we applaud its reintroduction in this Congress.”
    BACKGROUND:
    The RFS excludes “fuel used in ocean-going vessels” from the definition of transportation fuels and from refiners’ and blenders’ obligations. Refiners and blenders are currently required to retire RINs from any biodiesel and renewable diesel used in vessels with Class 3 engines operating in international waters, including the Great Lakes. In the first ten months of 2023, more than 5 million D4 RINs were retired under this rule.
    The Environmental Protection Agency, however, allows companies to generate and use RINs for “additional renewable fuel,” which includes heating oil and jet fuel. The Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act would expand the RFS definition of additional renewable fuel and allow companies to use or sell the RINs associated with biodiesel and renewable diesel used in ocean-going vessels.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Senators Call for Investigation into Trump’s Purge of Workers Protecting Americans’ Health and Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 06, 2025
    Air travel, flood and wildfire response, infectious disease control, nuclear safety, veterans’ healthcare and benefits, food safety are all at risk after massive layoffs
    “Congress and the public need to better understand the full impact of these terminations on our health and safety, given that the Administration and Musk clearly do not.”  
    Text of Letter (PDF) 
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an investigation into how the recent mass firings of probationary federal workers have impacted Americans’ health and safety. 
    In recent weeks, President Trump has fired at least 25,000 probationary federal employees. Despite termination letters from many agencies citing “poor performance,” probationary employees appear to have been fired in indiscriminate batches, regardless of their individual performance. 
    Thousands of these fired workers were responsible for protecting Americans’ health and safety, across areas like air travel, flood and wildfire response, infectious disease control, nuclear safety, veterans’ healthcare and benefits, food safety, and managing the opioid epidemic. 
    The Trump Administration has since called some of the firings an “accident” and scrambled to rehire certain workers — including people who’d worked on the bird flu outbreak, nuclear security, veterans’ health, and health services in Tribal communities. To date, agencies have not been able to rehire all of the workers affected and continue to face critical workforce shortages. 
    “Rather than make government more efficient, these firings appear to have created massive inefficiencies and put the American people at risk,” wrote the senators. 
    As the Trump administration implements its “plans for large-scale reductions in force,” over 200,000 probationary workers are expected to be laid off, and private companies are expected to benefit. In fact, some private companies, including some owned by or connected to Elon Musk and other Trump officials, have begun entering agencies to take the role of fired workers. 
    “Unlike the federal government, those companies are not responsible for prioritizing Americans’ health and safety interests, and we are concerned that they will not do so,” said the senators. 
    The senators requested that GAO’s investigation cover the duties of fired probationary workers, attempts to hire those workers back, data on how the terminations are impacting Americans’ health and safety, and more. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: At Hearing, Military Transportation Command Chief Agrees with Warren: Right-To-Repair is Crucial for National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 06, 2025
    “[T]he last thing our troops should be doing is waiting around for contractors who charge more for slower repairs.” 
    Video of Exchange (YouTube) 
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned General Randall Reed, Commander for Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), about the importance of the military’s ability to have the right to repair its own equipment.
    TRANSCOM is responsible for air, land, and sea transportation that provides logistical support for troops around the world but is facing increasing challenges receiving the parts and supplies they need, which becomes even more concerning in a wartime scenario. 
    General Reed testified that even after Congress provided the Air Force with $10 billion to increase the availability of the C-5, one of its aircraft that carries cargo and personnel, its ability to complete missions dropped from 52% to 46% between 2022 and 2023. 
    The Air Force blamed the low C-5 availability on a lack of parts. Defense contractors often include restrictions in their contracts that deny the military the technical data needed to make these parts and repairs itself, which would often be cheaper and faster. General Reed agreed that providing the military with more flexibility to repair parts would increase the military’s ability to respond to threats. 
    Last year, Senator Warren and Senator Charles Grassley secured a provision in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to create pilot programs for the services to reverse-engineer the parts they need. In an effort to further address this national security risk, Senator Warren introduced the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act, which would improve the military’s ability to repair their equipment faster, easier, and at a lower cost to taxpayers. 
    Transcript: Hearing to examine the posture of the United States Transportation Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense ProgramSenate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management SupportMarch 5, 2025 
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for holding this hearing. TRANSCOM is responsible for making sure that our military and our allies get everything they need to win on the battlefield, whether it is a new engine for a fighter jet in the Middle East or a missile battery in the Philippines. And that means that TRANSCOM knows better than anyone why it is a very big problem if the military doesn’t have the right to repair its own equipment. 
    General Reed, one of TRANSCOM’s major workhorses, is the C-5M Super Galaxy, a strategic transport aircraft that carries cargo and DOD’s personnel around the world. But in 2022, it was only able to fly its mission only 52 percent of the time. That means nearly half of the time commanders needed it, it wasn’t there. Congress saw this, said that is not acceptable, and gave the Air Force $10 billion to fix that problem. 
    General Reed, about how often was the C-5 mission-ready the next year after you got the money? 
    General Randall Reed, United States Air Force Commander, United States Transportation Command: What I can tell you is that, in 2023, the mission-capable rate of the C-5 was about 46%.
    Senator Warren: About 46%. So, it went from 52% to 46%. We could reasonably ask, what happened? Well, the Air Force said the supply chain for replacement parts had dried up, and when companies can’t or won’t meet DoD’s needs, one option is for the military to actually make the parts themselves so you can get things up and running. It’s often cheaper and faster anyway, but you can’t do that if big defense contractors slip restrictions into their contracts that deny the military the technical data that they need to be able to make these repairs. 
    General Reed, it’s your responsibility to make sure the warfighter gets everything they need. How important is it to national security for C-5s to be ready to respond to commanders’ requests to carry cargo and personnel?
    General Reed: The C-5 is a key aircraft for us, and some of the things that we may be asked to do in the future. It would actually produce about 20% of the lift for us. 
    Senator Warren: So, you need this thing ready to go? 
    General Reed: Yes, we do.
    Senator Warren: So, TRANSCOM’s job is getting harder here because our enemies are making it more difficult to send ships and planes to our troops. As Senator Wicker was talking about a minute ago, this is contested logistics, and TRANSCOM models show that the “fight to get into the fight” means that getting critical materials to our troops is only going to get harder over time. That means the last thing our troops should be doing is waiting around for contractors who charge more for slower repairs. 
    General Reed, do you agree that giving the military more flexibility to repair parts in the field will increase our military readiness? 
    General Reed: I do, Senator. 
    Senator Warren: Good. Thank you, General Reed. Senator Grassley and I got a provision into last year’s NDAA for the military to start a pilot program to reverse engineer parts for sole source programs. It’s a good start, but it is a backstop, because reverse engineering can actually take years to get done, but if DoD negotiates with contractors for the right to repair from the start, that means our men and women in uniform get their equipment faster and at a lower cost to the taxpayers. 
    That’s exactly what my Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act does. It has bipartisan support here in the Senate. What’s happening right now is fundamentally wrong and we can put a stop to it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Presidential Message on the 255th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today our Nation commemorates the 255th anniversary of the Boston Massacre—the singular event that ignited the movement for American independence.  To this day, it stands as a defining crucible of the American Revolution.
    The years leading up to this tragic moment were marked by escalating tensions between the Patriots and the British Parliament.  The imposition of unjust global trade regimes and burdensome taxes, including the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, inspired the American Colonies in their bid for Freedom. 
    On the wintry evening of March 5, 1770, a fight broke out in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, between the British Redcoats and unarmed American Colonists.  The violence escalated as the soldiers fired their muskets into the crowd at the Custom House.  When the smoke cleared on King Street, three civilians were dead, two fatally wounded, and six more injured. 
    This massacre sparked outrage among the Colonists.  It has echoed throughout history as a seminal moment in the long and fraught battle for American liberty.  Roughly five years later, the first shots were fired in Revolutionary War—and the American Colonists ultimately secured their independence, paving the way for the birth of the greatest Nation in the history of the world. On this, the 255th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre, we pay tribute to and honor those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of America’s cherished values.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests 4 during worksite enforcement action in Philadelphia

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a worksite enforcement operation at Jumbo Meat Market in Philadelphia, Feb. 27. The operation resulted in the administrative arrest of four Brazilian nationals who had no status to enter or remain in the United States legally, or who had violated the terms of their lawful admission into the U.S.

    “Worksite enforcement is a crucial component in ensuring the integrity of our nation’s employment laws. By conducting these operations, we not only uphold the law but also protect the rights of legal workers and create a level playing field for businesses that comply with regulations,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens. “ICE remains steadfast in its commitment to targeting employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers, as well as those undocumented aliens who exploit the system. This worksite enforcement operation underscores our dedication to maintaining lawful employment practices and securing our nation’s economic and public safety interests.”

    Employers are required by federal law to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals they hire, and to document that information using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, or I-9. ICE uses the I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with the law, part of a comprehensive strategy to address and deter illegal employment. Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government uses to ensure that businesses are complying with U.S. employment laws.

    ICE is focused on public safety and national security threats first and foremost. However, any individual illegally present in the United States who is encountered during an enforcement operation may be taken into custody and processed for removal as stated by law.

    Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania and Delaware communities on X at @HSIPhiladelphia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former priest and convicted child molester sentenced for passport fraud, stripped of citizenship, and ordered deported

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    ALEXANDRIA, La. – An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in a one-year sentence for passport fraud for Jorge Antonio Velez-Lopez, a 69-year-old Columbian national, former archdiocese priest and convicted child molester, Feb. 28. Velez was also civilly denaturalized as a U.S. citizen and ordered removed from the United States.

    Velez entered the U.S. in 2003 as a temporary religious worker. Velez applied for permanent residency May 15, 2007, to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and stated under penalty of perjury that he had never knowingly committed any crime of moral turpitude. He was granted permanent residency Nov. 6, 2007.

    Velez applied for naturalization March 11, 2013, to Citizenship and Immigration Services and stated under penalty of perjury that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, that he had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. government official while applying for an immigration benefit, and that he had never lied to any U.S. government official to gain entry or admission to the U.S.

    Velez was interviewed May 23, 2013, by a Citizenship and Immigration Services officer and provided the same responses to the same questions while under oath and penalty of perjury. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen on May 29, 2013.

    Velez submitted a passport application Sept. 27, 2013, and declared under penalty of perjury that he had not included any false documents in support of the application.

    Velez was arrested Feb. 19, 2020, by local authorities in Howard County, Maryland, and charged with five counts of third-degree sex offense and one count of fourth-degree sex offense. He pled guilty May 14, 2021, to sexual abuse of a minor for whom he had temporary responsibility for supervising, in violation of Maryland Criminal Code, and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of nine years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

    Velez confessed to having sexually abused the victim from June 2003 through June 2009 while serving as the child’s priest.

    “Child molesters like Velez who lied about their crimes to become citizens thought they could hide behind those who earned what they stole,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans acting Field Office Director Scott Ladwig. “They thought ICE would have to search through thousands of records to find them. They were right. That’s exactly what we did. ICE and our partners will relentlessly defend the integrity of our nation’s naturalization process.”

    The case was investigated by ICE as part of an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship. The operation has successfully produced criminal and civil cases against defendants convicted of murder, serial rape, child molestation, incest, sodomy, child pornography, kidnapping, sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, tax fraud, pill mill prescription fraud, embezzlement, aggravated identity theft, and elder abuse.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana prosecuted the case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation and ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.

    For more news and information on how ERO New Orleans carries out its immigration enforcement mission in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, follow us on X at @ERONewOrleans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2 Mexican nationals, defendants in ICE cases secured in Arizona

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Two Mexican nationals who are targets of an ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation appeared for their initial appearances Feb. 28, after they were secured from Mexico the previous day.

    Jose Bibiano Cabrera-Cabrera, 37 and Jesus Humberto Limon-Lopez, 43, were taken into U.S. custody after members of drug cartels were recently designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cártel del Noreste, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and Cártel de Golfo.

    These defendants are collectively alleged to have been responsible for the importation into the United States of massive quantities of poison, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, as well as associated acts of violence.

    Limon-Lopez is charged with Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; Distribution of Methamphetamine; Distribution of Fentanyl; Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Unlawfully Export Firearms and Ammunition. He faces up to life imprisonment.

    Cabrera-Cabrera is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Unlawfully Export Firearms and Ammunition. He faces up to life imprisonment.

    An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

    The OCDETF Arizona Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Arizona Army National Guard, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Scottsdale Police Department.

    The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney Office for the District of Arizona.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sensitivity of the Distribution of Household Income to Capital Gains, 1979 to 2021

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Realized capital gains were historically high in 2021 and increased income inequality that year. In general, capital gains are more unequally distributed and more variable over time than other major sources of income.

    To demonstrate the sensitivity of the distribution of household income to capital gains, CBO examined several measures of income with and without realized capital gains. The comparisons highlight the significance of capital gains in different segments of the income distribution and how those gains have contributed to income inequality over time.

    This document supplements two of CBO’s publications: The Distribution of Household Income in 2021 and Trends in the Distribution of Household Income From 1979 to 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Data Shows Black Infants Are Dying at Rates Three Times Higher Than White Infants

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: New Data Shows Black Infants Are Dying at Rates Three Times Higher Than White Infants

    New Data Shows Black Infants Are Dying at Rates Three Times Higher Than White Infants
    jwerner

    The 2023 Infant and Child Mortality Data from the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force Report shows non-Hispanic Black and American Indian children have higher mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. In 2023, the disparity worsened, with Black infants dying at rates three times higher than white infants. When compared to other states, North Carolina had the 10th highest infant mortality rate in the country, highlighting the critical need for the Department of Health and Human Services efforts to ensure the health and well-being of children and families.

    “All babies born in North Carolina deserve a healthy start to life,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We are committed to ensuring women and families have the care and support they need prior to, during and after pregnancy, no matter where they live or how much money they make.”

    NCDHHS recently released an updated NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan that details efforts currently underway to improve maternal health and birth outcomes as well as recent accomplishments, including paid parental leave for state employees, Medicaid reimbursement for group prenatal care and increased postpartum health care coverage for NC Medicaid beneficiaries. North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunity Pilots have also been critical to address non-medical drivers of health like housing, food and transportation to improve the health of women and children in our state. 

    Additionally, Medicaid Expansion is improving health outcomes for children and families in North Carolina. In just over one year since North Carolina became the 41st state to expand Medicaid, more than 640,000 people have gained health care coverage, giving more people access to necessary and critical care, ultimately leading to healthier pregnancies. Studies show states that have expanded Medicaid have better maternal and infant outcomes than states that have not.

    Other key points of the 2023 Infant and Child Mortality Data include:

    • The 2023 overall infant mortality rate in North Carolina rose slightly in 2023 from 2022 to 6.9 deaths per 1,000 births. There have only been slight fluctuations in this number since 2010.
    • The youth suicide rate has increased over the past 20 years, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death for youth ages 10-18.
    • The child homicide rate remains high due to the substantial increase in firearm-related homicides.

    NCDHHS is working closely with NCDPS and the state’s Office of Violence Prevention to address the alarming trend of increased firearm related injuries and deaths in North Carolina. Together with partners, the state launched a safe storage campaign that includes the distribution of gun locks and safes to community organizations and local health departments. The Office of Violence Prevention has invested in the expansion of community and hospital-based violence prevention programs.  

    “By working together to address and prevent violence as a public health issue, we can create safer communities where our most vulnerable populations – especially infants and children – can thrive,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. “By offering proven, evidence-based solutions like safe gun storage that meet children and families where they are in North Carolina’s communities, we’re working to reverse the trends in preventable child fatalities related to violence and injury.”

    NCDHHS remains steadfast in its commitment to create a healthier North Carolina for all and ensuring every person in North Carolina has access to the right care, when and where they need it. 

    Los datos de mortalidad infantil y de niños de 2023 del Informe del Grupo de Trabajo de Fatalidad Infantil de Carolina del Norte muestran que los niños negros no hispanos e indios americanos tienen tasas de mortalidad más altas en comparación con otros grupos raciales y étnicos. En 2023, la disparidad empeoró, y los bebés negros murieron a tasas tres veces más altas que los bebés blancos. En comparación con otros estados, Carolina del Norte tuvo la décima tasa de mortalidad infantil más alta del país, lo que destaca la necesidad crítica de los esfuerzos del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) para garantizar la salud y el bienestar de los niños y las familias.

    “Todos los bebés nacidos en Carolina del Norte merecen un comienzo de vida saludable”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Estamos comprometidos a garantizar que las mujeres y las familias tengan la atención y el apoyo que necesitan antes, durante y después del embarazo, sin importar dónde vivan o cuánto dinero ganen”.

    NCDHHS publicó recientemente un Plan Estratégico de Salud Perinatal de Carolina del Norte actualizado que detalla los esfuerzos actualmente en curso para mejorar los resultados de la salud materna y nacimientos, así como los logros más recientes, entre ellos la licencia parental remunerada para empleados estatales, el reembolso de Medicaid para la atención prenatal grupal y el aumento de la cobertura de atención médica posparto para los beneficiarios de Medicaid de Carolina del Norte. Los programas Pilotos de Oportunidades Saludables de Carolina del Norte también han sido fundamentales para abordar los factores no médicos de la salud, como la vivienda, la alimentación y el transporte, para mejorar la salud de las mujeres y los niños en nuestro estado.

    Además, la expansión de Medicaid está mejorando los resultados de salud para los niños y las familias en Carolina del Norte. En poco más de un año desde que Carolina del Norte se convirtió en el estado número 41 en expandir Medicaid, más de 640,000 personas han obtenido cobertura de atención médica, lo que brinda a más personas acceso a la atención necesaria y crítica, lo que en última instancia conduce a embarazos más saludables. Los estudios muestran que los estados que han expandido Medicaid tienen mejores resultados para las madres y bebés que los estados que no lo han hecho.

    Otros puntos clave de los datos de mortalidad infantil y de niños de 2023 incluyen:

    • La tasa general de mortalidad de bebés de 2023 en Carolina del Norte aumentó ligeramente en 2023 de 2022 a 6.9 muertes por cada 1.000 nacimientos. Solo ha habido fluctuaciones leves en este número desde 2010.
    • La tasa de suicidio juvenil ha aumentado en los últimos 20 años, siendo el suicidio una de las principales causas de muerte entre los jóvenes de 10 a 18 años.
    • La tasa de homicidios de niños sigue siendo alta debido al aumento cuantioso de los homicidios relacionados con armas de fuego.

    NCDHHS está trabajando en estrecha colaboración con el Departamento de Seguridad Pública (NCDPS, por sus siglas en inglés) de Carolina del Norte y la Oficina de Prevención de la Violencia del estado para abordar la alarmante tendencia de aumento de lesiones y muertes relacionadas con armas de fuego en Carolina del Norte. Junto con sus colaboradores, el estado lanzó una campaña de almacenamiento seguro que incluye la distribución de cerraduras y cajas fuertes para armas a organizaciones comunitarias y departamentos de salud locales. La Oficina de Prevención de la Violencia ha invertido en la expansión de programas de prevención de la violencia basados en la comunidad y hospitales.

    “Al trabajar juntos para abordar y prevenir la violencia como tema de salud pública, podemos crear comunidades más seguras donde nuestras poblaciones más vulnerables, especialmente los bebés y los niños, puedan prosperar”, dijo la Dra. Kelly Kimple, directora de Salud Estatal Interina y directora Médica de NCDHHS. “Al ofrecer soluciones basadas en evidencia de datos empíricos, como el almacenamiento seguro de armas, que responden a las necesidades de las familias y niños allí en las comunidades de Carolina del Norte, estamos trabajando para revertir las tendencias en las muertes infantiles evitables relacionadas con la violencia y las lesiones”.

    NCDHHS se mantiene firme en su compromiso de crear una Carolina del Norte más saludable para todos y garantizar que todas las personas en Carolina del Norte tengan acceso a la atención adecuada, cuando y donde la necesiten.

    Mar 6, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Butterflies declined by 22% in just 2 decades across the US

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eliza Grames, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York

    The endangered Karner blue butterfly has struggled with habitat loss. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    If the joy of seeing butterflies seems increasingly rare these days, it isn’t your imagination.

    From 2000 to 2020, the number of butterflies fell by 22% across the continental United States. That’s 1 in 5 butterflies lost. The findings are from an analysis just published in the journal Science by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Powell Center Status of Butterflies of the United States Working Group, which I am involved in.

    We found declines in just about every region of the continental U.S. and across almost all butterfly species.

    Overall, nearly one-third of the 342 butterfly species we were able to study declined by more than half. Twenty-two species fell by more than 90%. Only nine actually increased in numbers.

    West Coast lady butterflies range across the western U.S., but their numbers have dropped by 80% in two decades.
    Renee Las Vegas/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Some species’ numbers are dropping faster than others. The West Coast lady, a fairly widespread species across the western U.S., dropped by 80% in 20 years. Given everything we know about its biology, it should be doing fine – it has a wide range and feeds on a variety of plants. Yet, its numbers are absolutely tanking across its range.

    Why care about butterflies?

    Butterflies are beautiful. They inspire people, from art to literature and poetry. They deserve to exist simply for the sake of existing. They are also important for ecosystem function.

    They’re pollinators, picking up pollen on their legs and bodies as they feed on nectar from one flower and carrying it to the next. In their caterpillar stage, they also play an important role as herbivores, keeping plant growth in check.

    A pipevine swallowtail caterpillar munches on leaves at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. Herbivores help keep plant growth in check.
    Judy Gallagher/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Butterflies can also serve as an indicator species that can warn of threats and trends in other insects. Because humans are fond of butterflies, it’s easy to get volunteers to participate in surveys to count them.
    ck
    The annual North American Butterfly Association Fourth of July Count is an example and one we used in the analysis. The same kind of nationwide monitoring by amateur naturalists doesn’t exist for less charismatic insects such as walking sticks.

    What’s causing butterflies to decline?

    Butterfly populations can decline for a number of reasons. Habitat loss, insecticides, rising temperatures and drying landscapes can all harm these fragile insects.

    A study published in 2024 found that a change in insecticide use was a major factor in driving butterfly declines in the Midwest over 17 years. The authors, many of whom were also part of the current study, noted that the drop coincided with a shift to using seeds with prophylactic insecticides, rather than only spraying crops after an infestation.

    The Southwest saw the greatest drops in butterfly abundance of any region. As that region heats up and dries out, the changing climate may be driving some of the butterfly decline there. Butterflies have a high surface-to-volume ratio – they don’t hold much moisture – so they can easily become desiccated in dry conditions. Drought can also harm the plants that butterflies rely on.

    Only the Pacific Northwest didn’t lose butterfly population on average. This trend was largely driven by an irruptive species, meaning one with extremely high abundance in some years – the California tortoiseshell. When this species was excluded from the analyses, trends in the Pacific Northwest were similar to other regions.

    The California tortoiseshell butterfly can look like wood when its wings are closed, but they’re a soft orange on the other side.
    Walter Siegmund/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    When we looked at each species by its historical range, we found something else interesting.

    Many species suffered their highest losses at the southern ends of their ranges, while the northern losses generally weren’t as severe. While we could not link drivers to trends directly, the reason for this pattern might involve climate change, or greater exposure to agriculture with insecticides in southern areas, or it may be a combination of many stressors.

    There is hope for populations to recover

    Some butterfly species can have multiple generations per year, and depending on the environmental conditions, the number of generations can vary between years.

    This gives me a bit of hope when it comes to butterfly conservation. Because they have such short generation times, even small conservation steps can make a big difference and we can see populations bounce back.

    The Karner blue is an example. It’s a small, endangered butterfly that depends on oak savannas and pine barren ecosystems. These habitats are uncommon and require management, especially prescribed burning, to maintain. With restoration efforts, one Karner blue population in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in New York rebounded from a few hundred individuals in the early 1990s to thousands of butterflies.

    Similar management and restoration efforts could help other rare and declining butterflies to recover.

    What you can do to help butterflies recover

    The magnitude and rate of biodiversity loss in the world right now can make one feel helpless. But while national and international efforts are needed to address the crisis, you can also take small actions that can have quick benefits, starting in your own backyard.

    Butterflies love wildflowers, and planting native wildflowers can benefit many butterfly species. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation has guides recommending which native species are best to plant in which parts of the country. Letting grass grow can help, even if it’s just a strip of grass and wildflowers a couple of feet wide at the back of the yard.

    A patch of wildflowers and grasses can become a butterfly garden, like this one in Townsend, Tenn.
    Chris Light, CC BY-SA

    Supporting policies that benefit conservation can also help. In some states, insects aren’t considered wildlife, so state wildlife agencies have their hands tied when it comes to working on butterfly conservation. But those laws could be changed.

    The federal Endangered Species Act can also help. The law mandates that the government maintain habitat for listed species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December 2024 recommended listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species. With the new study, we now have population trends for more than half of all U.S. butterfly species, including many that likely should be considered for listing.

    With so many species needing help, it can be difficult to know where to start. But the new data can help concentrate conservation efforts on those species at the highest risk.

    I believe this study should be a wake-up call about the need to better protect butterflies and other insects – “the little things that run the world.”

    Eliza Grames receives funding from the National Science Foundation (DEB 2225092).

    – ref. Butterflies declined by 22% in just 2 decades across the US – https://theconversation.com/butterflies-declined-by-22-in-just-2-decades-across-the-us-251468

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Joins Effort to Combat Fentanyl Crisis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) recently joined a bipartisan group to introduce legislation that aims to more forcefully go after criminals trafficking drugs and stop fentanyl from ravaging West Virginia communities. The legislation, known as the HIDTA Enhancement Act, would reauthorize the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program—which brings together federal and local law enforcement to stop drug trafficking—and provide them with greater resources to cover more activities to enhance fentanyl prevention and seizures. 
    “Every West Virginian has been impacted by the opioid crisis, and fentanyl being trafficked into our communities has made the problem exponentially worse,” Senator Capito said. “The brave law enforcement officers of HIDTA are working every day to stop illicit fentanyl and other illegal drugs in their tracks. I am proud to introduce this legislation that will continue to support the HIDTA program’s mission, provide additional resources to stop the trafficking of fentanyl, and save lives across the country.”
    Specifically, the HIDTA Enhancement Act:
    Reauthorizes the HIDTA program at $333 million annually through 2030, increasing support for law enforcement efforts to combat drug use and trafficking.
    Increases authorization for competitive grants to $14,224,000 and expands use of funds to include enhanced fentanyl seizure and interdiction activities.
    Directs collaboration between the Attorney General and the Executive Boards of each designated HIDTA.
    Requires ONDCP to provide a report within the annual National Drug Control Strategy describing the use of HIDTA funds to investigate fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. 
    See what stakeholders are saying about the HIDTA Enhancement Act:
    “Drug trafficking organizations continue to negatively impact the health and stability of our communities nationwide. The lethality of the drugs sold, coupled with the violence associated with their operations necessitate broad action and strategies designed to foster collaboration and effectiveness. The HIDTA program convenes law enforcement partners from federal, state, and local agencies, fostering investigative and enforcement practices designed to disrupt and dismantle these groups. Senator Capito’s leadership to ensure that the HIDTA program is funded through the HIDTA Enhancement Act is critical and prioritizes the welfare of communities throughout West Virginia and the nation,” Jeff Beeson, Washington/Baltimore HIDTA Executive Director, said.
    “Fentanyl and other deadly drugs have taken so many young lives in the last few years; devastating the family members left behind to suffer the loss, and no area has been affected more than Appalachia. This bill reauthorizing the HIDTA program is vital as it facilitates collaboration among Federal, State, Local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies and will allow the program to continue to combat the drug crisis in West Virginia, all of Appalachia, and the entire nation. Given the profound impact Fentanyl has had on so many families, schools, and communities across the nation, this bill will be instrumental in enabling the HIDTA program to continue the important work of investigating the violent Drug Trafficking Organizations, many with direct Cartel connections, bringing this poison into our country. Senator Capito’s dedication and commitment already has, and will continue to have, a huge impact on the issue. I am truly grateful to Senator Capito for her long-time commitment in keeping the country secure from the drugs that are plaguing the Appalachia region and the entire nation,” Vic Brown, Appalachia HIDTA Executive Director, said.
    “The NNOAC commends Senators Kelly, Blackburn, Capito, Cortez Masto, and Klobuchar for their efforts to put forward legislation that provides significant resource increases to the HIDTA Program by reauthorizing it at $333 million annually. The surge in drug poisoning deaths, especially from fentanyl, shows that more needs to be done. The HIDTA Enhancement Act will go a long way in assisting law enforcement with its efforts to detect and mitigate the threat of these dangerous substances. The HIDTA Program is the gold standard in bringing federal, state, and local resources together, and we are encouraged that this legislation will provide more to rid our communities of the scourge of illegal narcotics,” Eric Brown, President of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, said. 
    “The Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents (DEAFNA) strongly supports the HIDTA Enhancement Act to strengthen the proven successful efforts of HIDTAs across the USA. 300 Americans are dying daily from a drug overdose, this bill sponsored by Senators Kelly, Blackburn, Capito, Cortez Masto, and Klobuchar demonstrates determined unity to address these disturbing numbers. HIDTA’s commingled federal, state, local and tribal task forces are uniquely situated throughout the United States to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations determined to make a living on the backs of Americans dealing with drug addiction. The HIDTA Enhancement Act, authorizing the HIDTA program at $333 Million (annually), reflects determined efforts providing law enforcement agencies with necessary resources supporting drug law enforcement and prevention,” Marshall Fisher, President, DEAFNA, said.    
    “The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) applauds Senators Kelly, Blackburn, Capito, Cortez Masto, and Klobuchar for their ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl epidemic and for advocating for essential resources to support our mission of protecting communities across the nation. The HIDTA Enhancement Act would provide law enforcement with critical tools to target drug traffickers and prevent fentanyl from entering our communities. We also appreciate that the bill would reauthorize the HIDTA program at $333 million annually — an essential increase. The devastating impact of fentanyl on our communities requires us to adopt new and effective strategies, and this bill will equip us to meet that challenge head-on. We stand ready to support all efforts to advance this important legislation,” Megan Noland, Executive Director, MCSA, said. 
    BACKGROUND:
    The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), supports collaboration between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to reduce drug trafficking and misuse. There are 33 regional HIDTAs across the U.S., covering counties in all 50 states. HIDTA helps law enforcement share information, coordinate efforts, and pursue the most significant drug threats. In 2022 alone, HIDTAs seized an estimated $22 billion in illicit drugs and cash.
    In West Virginia, there are currently 24 counties that are designated a HIDTA. When she served as chair of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Capito provided the largest increase and amount of funding ever for the HIDTA program, a level that continues to the present time.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: New York Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling Conspiracy on the Northern Border

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A New York woman pleaded guilty today for her role in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River.

    According to court documents, Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne-Mohawk, New York, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2024, respectively.

    “The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.”

    “A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon for the Northern District of New York. “Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.”

    According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow worked with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall to Cornwall Island, and then into northern New York. The HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into New York.

    Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted in their plea agreements that in late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four — mother, father, one-year-old boy, and two-year-old girl — from Cornwall into New York. The children were Canadian citizens. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall.

    Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result.

    “The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Buffalo. “Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them. ICE HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.”

    “The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe,” said Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp. “By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.”

    Montour pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and three counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory penalty of life in prison on the alien smuggling resulting in death counts.

    Sharrow and Terrance pleaded guilty to two counts and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, respectively, and each to four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. They each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy counts and two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory minimum of five years and maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts.

    A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests.

    Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

    The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Honored for Support of Boys & Girls Club

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Beth Presley presents Sen. John Boozman with the Boys & Girls Club of America 2025 Champion of Youth Award.

    WASHINGTON—The Boys & Girls Club of America has recognized U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) as a recipient of its 2025 Champion of Youth Award for his work advocating legislation to combat childhood hunger and championing programs that provide meals to eligible American children at no cost to kids or their families.

    There are 5,400 Clubs across the nation, offering a second home to over 400,000 American children each day. Boozman, a product of the Jeffrey’s Boys Club in Fort Smith, reflected on its lasting impact through community involvement, nurturing good habits and friendships, and the opportunity to be connected to mentors.  

    “As a former participant myself, I know firsthand how the organization can positively change lives by providing a safe, supportive and fun environment for kids and teens to grow and reach their full potential,” said Boozman. “The Boys & Girls Club also plays an important role in providing access to nutritious meals for children during the summer months, an initiative I have championed, and we are grateful for its partnership to address food insecurity. Being recognized for supporting its mission is truly a full-circle moment and an honor I deeply appreciate.”

    Beth Presley, Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs CEO, alongside other Arkansan participants and leaders representing clubs in Fort Smith, Van Buren, El Dorado and statewide leadership, presented the award to Boozman at the organization’s 11th annual National Days of Advocacy event on Capitol Hill.

    Sen. Boozman with Arkansas Boys & Girls Club leaders upon receiving the 2025 Champion of Youth Award.

    “It was an incredible honor to present Senator John Boozman with the Boys & Girls Club Champion of Youth Award. As a distinguished alumnus of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club, Senator Boozman has never forgotten the impact of the Club on his own life, and he continues to be a tireless advocate for young people across Arkansas and the nation. His dedication to ensuring that all children have access to the opportunities, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed is truly inspiring. We are grateful for his unwavering support and proud to recognize him for his lifelong commitment to empowering the next generation,” said Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Beth Presley.

    “As an alumnus of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs Club, Senator Boozman is a testament to the impact of Boys & Girls Clubs. Since entering public office, Senator Boozman has remained a strong supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs in Arkansas and the youth they serve. We are especially grateful for his work to prevent childhood hunger which has enabled Clubs in Arkansas and around the country to provide more meals and snacks to youth at no charge to their families. It is an honor to provide Senator Boozman with our 2025 Champion of Youth Award,” said Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Boys & Girls Clubs of America Missy Dugan.

    As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Boozman has long advocated for increasing access to school and summer feeding programs. In recent years, Boozman successfully led passage of legislation modernizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) summer meals program and permanently allowing states flexibilities to reach more food-insecure children when school is out.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: Republican cuts to Medicaid would hurt kids, parents and seniors

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

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

    March 06, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee held a hearing examining the negative impacts of the Republican Budget’s cut to Medicaid.

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Madam Chair, I want to thank you and the Steering and Policy Co-Chairs for organizing this event. Thank you to Ranking Member Pallone, as well. 

    As we just saw, Medicaid ensures that our friends and neighbors in every corner of the country have access to affordable health care. Cuts to this program would have a ripple effect that impacts the entire health care system, driving up costs and preventing people from getting the health care that they need. The Republican budget takes an ax to Medicaid, with nearly $1 trillion in cuts. And despite what Republicans claim, there is no way to make those cuts without hurting kids, parents and seniors who count on Medicaid. 

    Today, our first witness is Kody Kinsley. Mr. Kinsley served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the state of North Carolina. In that capacity, Secretary Kinsley oversaw North Carolina’s Medicaid program, which covers more than 2 million people, including more than 40 percent of North Carolina’s kids. Under Secretary Kinsley’s leadership, and alongside a Democratic Governor and a Republican legislature, North Carolina expanded Medicaid to give health care to more than 600,000 people. Secretary Kinsley is a Senior Advisor currently with the Milken Institute, a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Civil Society Fellowship and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Before serving in state government in his home state of North Carolina, Secretary Kinsley served as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

    Secretary Kinsley, you are recognized. Thank you for being here. 

    Video of the full hearing can be viewed here.

    ###

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LANCASTER – Shapiro-Davis Administration Highlights Importance of Proposed 2025-26 State Budget Investment for Victims Compensation and the Critical Role of the Program for Victims and Survivors of Crime

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    March 07, 2025 – Lancaster, PA

    ADVISORY – LANCASTER – Shapiro-Davis Administration Highlights Importance of Proposed 2025-26 State Budget Investment for Victims Compensation and the Critical Role of the Program for Victims and Survivors of Crime

    The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) will join Lancaster County Victim/Witness Services, Lancaster County Children Alliance, Community Action Partnership, and YWCA Lancaster to highlight the importance of supporting victims and survivors of crime and to encourage support for the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed $9 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the 2025-26 state budget.

    Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 67,000 VCAP claims totaling $67 million to financially support victims of crime across all 67 Pennsylvania counties with medical costs, counseling, relocation, and more.

    WHO:
    Kathy Buckley, Office of Victims’ Services Director, PCCD
    Deanna Weaver, Victim/Witness Services Program Director, Lancaster County DA’s Office
    Mary Halye, Lancaster County Children’s Alliance Manager
    Christine Gilfillan, Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County Director, Community Action Partnership
    Mandy Billman, Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center Director, YWCA Lancaster

    WHEN:
    Friday, March 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM.

    WHERE:
    Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office
    50 North Duke Street, 6th Floor (Media Center)
    Lancaster, PA 17608

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP to algantz@pa.gov.

    Photos will be available on PAcast following the event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, Newsom Administration: La Cañada Flintridge Agrees to End Legal Battle Over Affordable Housing Project

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, March 6, 2025

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

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez released the following statements in response to the City of La Cañada Flintridge’s request to dismiss its appeal concerning a mixed-use affordable housing project that would bring 80 mixed-income residential dwelling units, 14 hotel units, and 7,791 square feet of office space to the community. 

    “Subject to court approval, our legal battle against La Cañada Flintridge has come to an end for now. It should not have taken them this long to follow the law,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “California desperately needs more affordable housing, and every city and county must be part of the solution — no exceptions. If La Cañada Flintridge tries to illegally delay this project any further, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable once again.”

    “We are pleased to hear that La Cañada Flintridge leaders made the right choice to end these costly legal delays,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “In the end, we were able to hold the city accountable to state housing law and to its constituents at a time when the region needs new housing more than ever to help so many neighbors displaced by fire.”

    On December 12, 2023, Attorney General Bonta, Governor Gavin Newsom, and HCD Director Velasquez requested that the court allow them to intervene in the case originally brought by California Housing Defense Fund to uphold California’s housing laws and reverse La Cañada Flintridge’s illegal denial of the mixed-use affordable housing project. On March 4, 2024, the Los Angeles County Superior Court held that La Cañada Flintridge unlawfully denied the project. The city decided to appeal the decision. On June 17, 2024, Attorney General Bonta filed a brief in support of the right of project applicants under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) to secure a bond pending appeal, writing that “[l]engthy litigation, even if it is meritless, can result in the cancelation of a housing development due to inflation, changing interest rates, carrying costs, and expiring affordability funding.” On February 28, 2025, the Los Angeles County Superior Court ordered La Cañada Flintridge to “post a bond of $14 million within thirty (30) days or to dismiss its appeal” and the La Cañada Flintridge City Council voted to dismiss its appeal.  

    A copy of the city’s dismissal can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Health Care Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay Over $1.9 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations

    Source: US State of California

    Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices; as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami, Florida, and Saeed Medical Group Ltd. doing business as Alliance Immediate and Primary Care of Chicago, Illinois, agreed to pay a total of $1,913,808 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.

    “We will continue to hold accountable individuals and entities that accept money to steer federal health care beneficiaries to a particular laboratory for testing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Kickbacks can undermine the integrity of taxpayer-funded health care programs, distort medical decisions, and result in unnecessary services.”

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, TRICARE, and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlements announced today resolve allegations that health care providers received kickbacks in return for their referrals to a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, and that a marketer and his marketing company received kickbacks from that South Carolina laboratory to arrange for laboratory testing referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickbacks allegedly resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.

    • Dr. Gerald Congdon, Coastal Urgent Care LLC, and Coastal Wellness Center LLC. Dr. Congdon and his medical practices in Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
    • Dr. Gbenga Aluko and Eagle Medical Center PC. Dr. Aluko and his medical practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
    • Dr. Anup Banerjee and Gastonia Medical Specialty Clinic P.A. Dr. Banerjee and his medical practice in Gastonia, North Carolina, agreed to pay $206,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2017 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
    • Omar Hussain and Curis Healthcare Inc. Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $817,808 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Hussain and his company received commissions from the South Carolina laboratory as independent contractors based on the volume and value of the Medicare and TRICARE referrals for laboratory testing that they arranged for and recommended.
    • Saeed Medical Group Ltd., Omar Hussain, and Curis Healthcare Inc. Saeed Medical Group and Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $240,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Saeed Medical Group received thousands of dollars in remuneration in the form of cash payments from Hussain and his company in return for ordering testing from the South Carolina laboratory.

    “Integrity must be the standard in our health care system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “Kickback schemes divert funds and focus away from patients and their medical needs.”

    “The public puts immense trust in medical professionals, and disdain for the rule of law damages that trust and erodes their credibility,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “These settlements should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its partners are committed to holding medical practitioners accountable for kickbacks.”

    “Kickback schemes undermine medical decision-making and jeopardize the integrity of federally funded health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our commitment is to safeguard taxpayer-funded health care and the patients who rely on it, and we will rigorously pursue any allegations of False Claims Act violations.”

    “The trust of the American taxpayer and the wellbeing of our service members are undermined when laboratories and physicians engage in collusive financial relationships,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves by prioritizing kickbacks over patient care.”

    The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The settlements announced today were handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas received kickbacks from the same South Carolina laboratory.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: US trade wars with China – and how they play out in Africa

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Johnston, Associate Professor, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    Since taking office, US president Donald Trump has implemented policies that have been notably hostile towards China. They include trade restrictions. Most recently, a 20% tariff was added to all imports from China and new technological restrictions were imposed under the America First Investment Policy. This isn’t the first time US-China tensions have flared. Throughout history the relationship has been fraught by economic, military and ideological conflicts.

    China-Africa scholar and economist Lauren Johnston provides insights into how these dynamics may also shape relations between Africa and China.

    How has China responded to hostile US policies?

    First, China tends to have a defiant official response. It expresses disappointment, then states that the US policy position is not helpful to any country or the world economy.

    Second, China makes moves domestically to prioritise the interests of key, affected industries.

    Third, China will sometimes impose retaliatory sanctions.

    In 2018, for instance, China imposed a 25% tariff on US soybeans, a critical animal feed source. The US Department of Agriculture had to compensate US soybean farmers for their lost income.

    Another example is how, following US tech sanctions, China took a more independent technology path. It has channelled billions into tech funds. The goal is to make financing available for Chinese entrepreneurs and to push technological boundaries in areas of US sanction, such as semiconductors. These efforts are backed up by subsidies and tax reductions. In some cases, the Chinese state will invest directly in tech companies.

    More recently, China retaliated to the US trade war by
    announcing tariffs on 80 US products. China is set to place 15% tariffs on certain energy exports, including coal, natural gas and petroleum. An additional 10% tariffs will be placed on 72 manufactured products including trucks, motor homes and agricultural machinery.

    Agricultural trade has been hard hit. The day the US announced a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, China announced “an additional 15% tariff on imported chicken, wheat, corn and cotton originating from the US”. Also, “sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products will be subject to an additional 10% tariff”.

    How have these Chinese responses affected Africa?

    We can’t say for certain that China’s response to US trade tensions has explicitly affected its Africa policy, but there are some notable coincidences.

    Less than one month after Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, and soon after the first tariffs were slapped on China’s exports to the US, China announced new measures to foster China-Africa trade efforts. The policy package aims to “strengthen economic and trade exchanges between China and Africa.”

    This is the latest in a series of Chinese actions.

    In January 2018 trade hostilities began to escalate after Trump imposed a first round of tariffs on all imported washing machines and solar panels. These had an impact on China’s exports to the US.

    Later the same year, China imposed 25% tariffs on US soy bean imports and took steps to reduce dependence on US agricultural products. China also took steps to expand trade with Africa, agricultural trade in particular.

    In September 2018, Beijing hosted the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation summit, a triennial head of state gathering. It was announced that China would set up a China-Africa trade expo and foster deeper agricultural cooperation. In the days after the summit, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs was already acting on this. A gathering of African agricultural ministers took place in Changsha, Hunan province.

    Hunan province has since taken centre stage in China-Africa relations. It’s now the host of a permanent China-Africa trade exhibition hall and a larger biennial China-Africa economic and trade exhibition (known as CAETE).

    Hunan also hosts the pilot zone for In-Depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation. The zone has numerous initiatives designed to overcome obstacles to China-Africa trade and investment, like support in areas of law, technology and currency, and vocational training.

    Finally, the zone is located in a bigger free-trade zone that is better connected to Africa by air, water and land corridors. African agricultural exports to China pass through Hunan, where local industry either uses these imports or distributes them across the country to retailers.

    Companies in Hunan are well placed to play a key role in supporting China-Africa trade, capitalising on the opportunities left by China-US hostilities.

    Hunan’s agritech giant Longping High-Tech, for instance, is investing in Tanzanian soybean farmers.

    Hunan is also home to China’s construction manufacturing and electronic transportation frontier. This includes global construction giant Sany, which produces heavy industry machinery for the construction, mining and energy sectors. China’s global electronic vehicle manufacturing BYD and its electronic railway industry are also in Hunan. They have deep and increasing interests in Africa and can also support China’s key minerals and tech race with the US.

    As US-China hostility enters a new era, what are the implications for China-Africa relations?

    As my new working paper sets out, African countries are, for example, responding to the new opportunities from China.

    At the end of 2024, while the world waited for Trump’s second coming, various African countries made moves to strengthen economic ties with China, Hunan province especially.

    In December 2024, Tanzania became the first African country to open an official investment promotion office in the China-Africa Cooperation Pilot Zone in Changaha.

    In November 2024, both the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Africa and the China Engineering Technology Exhibition were held in Abuja, Nigeria. Equivalent events were hosted in Kenya.

    Early in 2025 in Niamey, Niger, a joint pilot cooperation zone was inaugurated , and which is direct partner of the China-Africa Pilot zone in Hunan.

    As China moves away from US agricultural produce, for instance, African agricultural producers can benefit. Substitute African products and potential exports will enjoy a price boost, and elevated Chinese support.

    China’s newly elevated interest in African development and market potential will bring major prospects. The question will be whether African countries are ready to grasp them, and to use that potential to foster an independent development path of their own.

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

    – ref. US trade wars with China – and how they play out in Africa – https://theconversation.com/us-trade-wars-with-china-and-how-they-play-out-in-africa-249609

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trudeau’s record may be spotty, but his biggest accomplishment was a national child-care program

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Lightman, Associate Professor of Sociology, Toronto Metropolitan University

    As Canada prepares to close the book on the Justin Trudeau era, some will be happy to watch him go. But in Canada’s haste to see him out the door, let’s not forget his government’s significant achievements.

    His strong performance in the ongoing showdown with United States President Donald Trump, for example, may have led Canadians to view him in a distinctly more positive light.

    But what’s undoubtedly been his single greatest achievement — prodded in no small part by the NDP — was the introduction of a national child-care program: The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system, colloquially known as $10-a-day child care.

    As scholars of social policy — as well as a mother and grandfather — we believe this program is the biggest improvement to Canada’s welfare state since the initial implementation of medicare in 1966-67, updated via the Canada Health Act in 1984.

    Somehow, however, amid all the negative Trudeau headlines, this major contribution has been seemingly forgotten.

    Gender equality

    Trudeau’s child-care program is a massive advancement for gender equality and should be celebrated by all women, parents and — more broadly — people who care about reducing social inequalities.

    By freeing parents — mostly women — from the need to stay home with their children or from having to rely on ageing and often frail grandparents, evidence suggests Canada will experience substantial benefits to children, parents and society as a whole.

    The program allows highly skilled and motivated workers to join the paid labour force and could also affect fertility decisions in some cases if, for example, families decide to have more children due to reduced child-care costs.

    Just as importantly, formal child care benefits children developmentally, particularly in the case of disadvantaged and single-parent households.

    In purely fiscal terms, study after study shows that a dollar invested in child care yields a greater financial return over a lifetime than any other expenditure of public funds.

    Massive uptake rates

    The CWELCC program committed more than $30 billion federally to support early learning and child care, with specific funds dedicated to Indigenous child care.

    To date, it has created 150,000 new spaces, with a goal of creating an additional 100,000 new spaces by March 2026. All provinces and territories have participated, with uptake rates among child-care centres starting at 92 per cent in Ontario and rising higher elsewhere across the country.

    Notably, the road to implementing national child care in Canada has neither been short or easy.

    In 2004, Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin was unable to bring national child care to fruition, despite gaining bilateral child-care agreements with all 10 provinces.

    When Stephen Harper replaced Martin in 2006, among the first acts of his Conservative government was to cancel these agreements. Instead, he offered the Universal Childcare Benefit that delivered $100 per child to parents monthly, but did nothing to address the lack of available child-care spaces.

    It did, however, ensure that a rhetoric of “choice” and cash in hand for in-home care for children was prioritized over women’s equal participation in the labour market. Internationally, there is consistent evidence that care allowances offered in lieu of a publicly funded child-care services reinforce traditional gendered divisions of labour and reduce female employment rates.

    All provinces/territories signed up

    By contrast — and no small feat in terms of negotiation skills — Trudeau’s team was able to persuade each and every province and territory to sign an Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

    Major reductions in child-care fees for eligible families followed, with all territories and four provinces at $10-a-day as of 2024 (with New Brunswick and Alberta only slightly higher, while Nova Scotia] will be at $10-a-day as of March 1, 2026.)

    Even in Ontario, where rates are higher, costs now average about $23 a day.

    Trudeau managed to carry out this program by starting his efforts early in his tenure, unlike with the dental and pharmacare initiatives, and building consensus across a diverse and often contentious Canadian landscape.

    Supply issues

    It’s not all roses, of course. Some Canadians are frustrated about the slow expansion of subsidized child-care spaces. And the program remains plagued by serious supply (availability) issues, especially in rural and remote communities.

    Early childhood educators still do not receive fair pay for the essential work they do, and staff retention is a serious issue.

    But as we look towards the next federal election, Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre has had little to say about the national child-care program except for vague references to “flexibility” and a suggestion about replacing it with tax credits. This should set alarm bells ringing across the country.



    Read more:
    The baffling indifference of Canadian voters to child-care proposals

    Fortunately, Trudeau has set up a framework that will be difficult to dismantle in the future. There has been massive buy-in from users, providers, funders and much of the general public.

    We urge whoever replaces Trudeau as prime minister to highlight what’s been accomplished in child care over the last few years, and to prioritize the further expansion of the program in the years ahead.

    This would be Trudeau’s proudest legacy.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trudeau’s record may be spotty, but his biggest accomplishment was a national child-care program – https://theconversation.com/trudeaus-record-may-be-spotty-but-his-biggest-accomplishment-was-a-national-child-care-program-251318

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pressure to seem perfect can strain teen relationships, but kindness from peers can help

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Danielle S. Molnar, Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies; Canada Research Chair (Tier II) Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth, Brock University

    For many teens, the pressure to project a perfect persona can feel necessary to fit in, avoid criticism and gain approval from their peers. (Shutterstock)

    Imagine trying to always appear perfect. You stay on top of the latest beauty trends, excel academically and project confidence in social settings, even when you’re struggling or feeling completely overwhelmed. You work hard to hide any potential flaws, constantly worrying that if you stumble or show any cracks in your armour, everything will fall apart.

    For many teens, the pressure to project a perfect persona feels necessary to fit in, avoid criticism and gain approval from their peers. It’s easy to think that being perfect will make you more likeable, because who wouldn’t want to be around someone who seems to have it all together?

    However, our new study reveals an ironic twist: the very effort to appear perfect may actually push others away. Instead, positive interactions with peers may help teens break free from the constant need to seem perfect and foster more supportive friendships.

    With our research, we want to shed light on the hidden costs of trying to maintain a flawless image and reveal how letting go of this pressure can pave the way for more authentic and supportive connections for teens.

    Signs of perfectionism

    Perfectionistic self-presentation refers to the effort to create and maintain an image of perfection, where people go to great lengths to ensure they appear perfect to others. For teens, this often means showcasing a polished exterior and suppressing signs of distress, vulnerability or imperfection.

    Many teens who engage in perfectionistic self-presentation also struggle with feelings of insecurity. They may believe they aren’t worthy of love or support, so they try to create a flawless image in the hopes of securing the acceptance they long for.

    Research identifies some main aspects of perfectionistic self-presentation: self-promotion, where teens highlight their achievements while downplaying any struggles; perfectionistic non-disclosure, where they avoid revealing any personal challenges; and perfectionistic non-display, where teens make a concerted effort to refrain from doing anything that might be judged as imperfect by others.

    Many teens who engage in perfectionist self-presentation also struggle with feelings of insecurity.
    (Shutterstock)

    According to our research, parents, teachers and teens should be aware of the following signs that may indicate a young person is struggling with the pressure to appear perfect:

    • Hiding emotions: Suppressing signs of distress, such as sadness, anger or frustration, even when expressing them would be appropriate, like when they experience a disappointment, a loss or a setback.

    • Difficulty accepting compliments: Rejecting praise or positive feedback because they feel like they haven’t fully earned it or that their image isn’t “perfect” enough.

    • Unwillingness to ask for help: Shunning reaching out for assistance or support because they fear it will make them seem imperfect or incapable.

    • Outward self-promotion: Frequently discussing or showcasing successes, such as awards, honours or high grades, to reinforce their sense of accomplishment.

    • Effortlessness: Downplaying the effort behind an achievement, making any successes appear effortless.

    • Avoiding vulnerability: Avoiding sharing their authentic thoughts and experiences with friends out of worry that showing any flaws or struggles will lead to rejection or judgment, even if those feelings aren’t necessarily negative.

    • Risk aversion: Steering away from tasks they might not be immediately good at and seeking excessive reassurance or guidance before even starting, fearing failure will hurt their image.

    Our recent study

    In our recent study, we asked 239 teens between the ages of 13 and 19 (72 per cent of whom were female) to complete a series of four questionnaires, spaced approximately seven months apart between October 2017 and November 2021. The questions were designed to measure perfectionistic self-presentation, relational victimization and receipt of pro-social acts.

    We found that the more teens focused on appearing flawless, whether through constantly showing off achievements or hiding their real feelings, the more they experienced relational aggression, like gossip or social exclusion.

    This supports the idea that perfectionism can lead to social disconnection. When teens prioritize a perfect image over real connections, it can create a barrier between them and their peers. As a result, they may struggle to form meaningful friendships, and may even become targets of bullying because their perceived perfection may make others feel threatened or disconnected.

    Our study also revealed that when teens focused on presenting an ideal image and hiding their real selves, they received less kindness and support from their peers, creating a cycle that only increased the pressure to keep up the perfect image.

    Over time, this can lead to emotional distress, as teens may increasingly question their self-worth and struggle with deepening feelings of loneliness. The absence of meaningful connections can also limit opportunities for growth and learning from peers, which are crucial during adolescence.

    When teens prioritize a perfect image over real connections, it can create a barrier between them and their peers.
    (Shutterstock)

    Positive peer interactions

    The good news from our new study is that teens who received more acts of kindness and support from their peers felt less of a need to hide behind a flawless facade. This highlights the power of kindness and connection in helping teens let go of perfectionist tendencies.

    Fostering supportive, authentic friendships can be a crucial step in reducing the anxiety and isolation that comes with trying to appear perfect. Positive, supportive interactions with peers create the foundation for strong and meaningful connections, where teens can feel free to be themselves, imperfections and all. If you have a friend or relative who is struggling with the pressure to be perfect, here are some things you can try:

    Encourage them to share their feelings, even when things aren’t going well, and assure them it’s OK to show vulnerability in friendships. Remind them that real friends accept one other’s flaws, and that perfect friendships don’t exist; what matters is support, understanding and mutual care.

    Create an environment where imperfections are celebrated and help them understand that they matter and that they don’t need to be perfect to be loved or valued. Be open about your own struggles and show each other that vulnerability is a sign of strength, not weakness.

    The reality is that needing to keep up an image of perfection often keeps us from building the supportive, meaningful relationships we need. By letting go of the need to appear flawless and embracing imperfections, we open the door to more genuine relationships where we can receive the care and understanding we deserve.

    Danielle S. Molnar receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and from the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRC-2020-00095).

    Dawn Zinga receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Hanna Puffer receives funding from the Ontario Graduate Scholarship program.

    Melissa Blackburn receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Pressure to seem perfect can strain teen relationships, but kindness from peers can help – https://theconversation.com/pressure-to-seem-perfect-can-strain-teen-relationships-but-kindness-from-peers-can-help-251213

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Feeding families and children in need

    [. Since 2020, Alberta’s government has invested more than $31 million to help food banks and community organizations support Albertans in need. This funding has been crucial to meeting the challenge of food insecurity and helping put nutritious food on tables across the province. If passed, Budget 2025 would continue this important funding by providing an another $5 million in food security funding to help meet the needs of Alberta’s rapidly growing population.

    “No family should have to choose between buying groceries and paying their bills. Through the funding in Budget 2025, Alberta’s government will continue to support organizations across the province that provide nutritious food to Albertans every day.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    Food banks play a critical role by offering those in vulnerable situations the immediate support they need to feed their families. That’s why over the past five years, Alberta’s government has invested much of its food security funding into supporting the province’s food banks. Last year, Alberta’s government invested in a partnership with Food Banks Alberta to strengthen its existing programs to ensure the province’s network of food banks can respond to Albertans’ needs. This partnership ensured that food banks across the province could provide culturally appropriate food, established a program to support food banks during emergency situations, and assisted food banks with covering their core operating costs. Budget 2025 would meet the challenge of food insecurity by providing funding to further strengthen and continue to build on this recent progress.

    “We would like to extend our thanks to the Government of Alberta for its continued action in addressing the urgent issue of food insecurity within our province. Through collaboration and partnership such as this, we can make a difference for every Albertan in need.”

    Shawna Bissel, executive director, Food Banks Alberta

    It is critical that efforts to reduce hunger evolve to provide long-term solutions that meet the challenges facing Albertans in need. Looking to the future, this means offering those in vulnerable situations the immediate support they need to feed their families, while also providing long-term support by educating families and children on how to shop for, prepare and enjoy healthy food. The self-empowering model used by the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary is a great example of how to do exactly that. They help individuals and families eat healthier at a lower cost in the long-term by teaching them how to stretch their food budget further, lower their grocery bills and prepare cost-effective, nutritious meals. This emphasis on practical skills helps individuals and families gain more control over their food security in the long-term by teaching them how to create and maintain life-long healthy habits so they can feed themselves and their families. 

    “I would like to thank the Alberta government, Minister Nixon and Food Banks Alberta for their continued support of our collaborative efforts in making life better for Albertans living in poverty and food insecurity.” 

    Sundae Nordin, CEO, Community Kitchen Program of Calgary

    In addition to the $5 million in funding dedicated to food security, Budget 2025 would ensure that no kid has to go to school with an empty stomach by providing $20 million for Alberta’s school nutrition program if the budget passes. With this funding, school jurisdictions across the province provide about 58,000 students with a daily nutritious meal. Budget 2025 would also provide $105 million in funding this year for the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program, which supports local preventative services and programming across the province in partnership with local municipalities and Metis Settlements. Through the FCSS program, Alberta’s government provides community organizations, such as the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary, with funding so they can continue to improve the lives of Alberta’s families, children and communities.

    “Affordability and food security are deeply interconnected. More and more, Calgary Food Bank clients are individuals with full-time jobs who are unable to afford groceries for their families due to insufficient income. Our analysis shows that for every dollar invested in food security, there is a social return of $9.84, meaning taxpayer dollars have nearly a 10x impact when allocated to food banks. Direct support for food banks, coupled with policies that allow Calgarians to retain more of their hard-earned income, are initiatives that the Calgary Food Bank strongly supports.”

    Melissa From, president and CEO, Calgary Food Bank

    Alberta’s government remains focused on ensuring the province is the best place to live, work and raise a family. By providing dedicated food security funding, Alberta’s government is meeting the needs of the province’s rapidly growing population by providing Albertans – including families, seniors, and the vulnerable – with quality supports and services.

    “Edmonton’s Food Bank distributes food to more than 380 schools, shelters, food banks and community food programs. The last couple of years has placed tremendous stress on Edmonton’s Food Bank and food banks across Alberta. In October of 2024, we provided hampers to more than 47,000 individuals. We are seeing and serving record numbers of people. Moving forward, we are very concerned with world events and believe that we are entering a time of more uncertainty and increased community needs. Any financial support that we receive from the Government of Alberta through Food Banks Alberta will help us provide better services. Because of this support, we will be able to put food on the tables of our neighbors in need.”

    Marjorie Benz, executive director, Edmonton’s Food Bank

    “Strong communities are built on the foundation of well-being, and access to nutritious food is a key part of that. FCSS continues to witness the growing concern of household food insecurity in our communities and recognize the crucial role of food security in prevention and long-term stability. By investing in both immediate supports and preventive services, we can work together to create healthier, more resilient communities for all Albertans.”

    Kayla Blanchette, president, Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • Since 2020, Alberta’s government has invested more than $31 million to support food security for Albertans in need.
    • Budget 2025 invests $5 million in food security funding, $105 million in funding for Family and Community Support Services, and $20 million in funding for Alberta’s school nutrition program.

    Related information

    • Food Banks Alberta
    • Community Kitchen Program of Calgary
    • Food security | Alberta.ca
    • School Nutrition Program | Alberta.ca
    • Family and Community Support Services | Alberta.ca

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Proceed with Caution, California: Attorney General Bonta Alerts Consumers to Ongoing Scam Activity

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians of three popular text-based scams. These scam texts claim Californians owe past-due charges and provide fraudulent links for consumers to “resolve” the charge — the links are often a vehicle by which scammers can steal consumers’ sensitive payment data. Scammers often use the threat of a “late fee” or use words like “urgent action required” to pressure consumers into clicking the links. The California Department of Justice asks Californians to slow down and proceed with caution when faced with these types of messages. 

    “California, these scammers are relentless. While text-based toll charge scams remain widespread, consumers across our state are also receiving texts claiming they owe a parking ticket charge,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Bad actors are getting more sophisticated and show little signs of slowing. I urge Californians to not click on links in texts appearing to alert consumers to overdue charges, visit only official websites, and talk to friends and family who may be unaware of these dangers.” 

    If You Receive a Possible Scam Text:

    • DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK. 
    • File a complaint. File a complaint with the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and our office. Be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text.
    • Delete any scam texts received. 
    • Check your account using a legitimate website. 
    • Secure your personal information and financial accounts. Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions, especially after suspecting a scam. Dispute any unfamiliar charges. 

    TOLL CHARGE SCAMS

    These texts claim consumers owe FasTrak express lane or toll charges, link to a website, and ask for online payment. This scam is designed to trick drivers into entering banking or credit card information into a website fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies.

    FasTrak is the electronic toll collection system used on tolled bridges, lanes, and roads in California. It allows drivers to pay tolls electronically without having to stop at toll booths. FasTrak does not request payment by text with a link to a website. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), operator of The Toll Roads in Orange County, advises account holders to verify a valid text notification by logging into their account at thetollroads.com or through The Toll Roads app. 

    For all other toll agencies, please use official webpages only — you can find a list of California toll webpages below:

    PARKING CHARGE SCAMS

    These messages aim to scare consumers into thinking something they’ve dreaded has happened: that they’ve earned a parking ticket and have forgotten to pay it. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), an agency that scammers have imitated, does not request payment by text with a link to a website. For more information on paying a SFMTA parking citation, please visit SFMTA.com/PayCitation.

    If you live or visit another city, please use the official website of that city or transportation agency.  

    PACKAGE DELIVERY SCAMS 

    These text messages often state that there’s an issue with your delivery and include a link to “resolve” the problem. Package delivery scams are more common over the gift giving season but can occur at any time. Delivery companies do not ask for payment to release a package or correct a delivery error — any such request is a scam. 

    Consider signing up for alerts from trusted carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS. These alerts will notify you of package updates directly from the source. 

    Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing consumer protections in the state of California and speaking out for consumer protections nationwide — this includes working to put a stop to illegal and annoying robocalls, which are often a vehicle for scams. Last year, Attorney General Bonta, as part of the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in sending a warning letter to a telecom company responsible for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic and issued a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Blasts Trump’s Plans to Decimate the Department of Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray: “It does not take a former teacher to tell you how obliterating the Department of Education hurts students. I think even a preschooler could tell you this is a terrible, terrible idea.”
    Murray: “Trump and Musk don’t know what it’s like to count on their local public school having the resources to get their kids a great education. They don’t know why Pell Grants are so important. And they don’t care to learn why. They want to break the Department, break our government, and enrich themselves.”
    ICYMI: Ahead of Confirmation Vote, Senator Murray Blasts Linda McMahon’s Nomination: “We Cannot Have a Secretary of Education Who Doesn’t Believe in Having a Secretary of Education”
    ICYMI: Murray sends letter this morning demanding answers about Education Department’s reckless personnel plans
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democratic colleagues at a press conference to blast President Donald Trump’s expected Executive Order calling for the abolition of the Department of Education—and his plans to begin gutting the Department with mass firings.
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “Let’s be clear: We may not know when, but we absolutely do know Trump is preparing to ask the Department of Education to slam every door they can in the face of our students.
    “And let’s not pretend for one single second we think he is serious about doing so while following the law—because the very premise of his plan—shuttering the Department of Education—fundamentally goes against the bipartisan laws we’ve passed establishing and funding it.
    “And it goes against a very basic principle in this country that we put our kids first, that we do everything we can to set them up for success, and that our future depends on whether our kids get the support they need to grow and thrive.
    “It does not take a former teacher to tell you how obliterating the Department of Education hurts students. I think even a preschooler could tell you this is a terrible, terrible idea.
    “Trump and Elon Musk want to do to the Department of Education what they did to USAID.
    “They don’t care what they can legally do—they will act first and not care about the consequences.
    “Trump’s move to dismantle the Department of Education, fire the people who keep it running, and terminate funding will mean fewer teachers at public schools.
    “It will mean students stuck with outdated technology.
    “It will mean less access to special education for students with disabilities—and states and schools will have to pick up the costs.
    “It will mean no enforcement of basic education standards and no data helping us know what is working, and what is not.
    “It will also mean more barriers keeping students out of higher education, fewer career training opportunities, and fewer watchdogs protecting our students from predatory for-profit colleges, from predatory student lenders, and from discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault on campus.
    “That is all just the reality, and get ready for the disinformation now. Because you can bet when they realize how painful and unpopular this is: they are going to try and pretend everything is roses. They will say ‘oh this won’t go away’ and ‘oh we’ll just move this somewhere else.’ As if we haven’t already seen how they operate—with as much chaos, and pain, and damage as they can inflict.
    “We know that playbook. We are seeing it everywhere.
    “And as we saw from Trump last time, just because a program won’t disappear—that doesn’t mean it will still work! In Trump’s first term, he didn’t “abolish” Public Student Loan Forgiveness, it is also written in federal law, but he broke it as badly as he possibly could—to the point where 99 percent of applications were rejected—so how is that functionally any different?
    “And that’s what Trump, Musk, and McMahon are planning to do to the entire Department: break it up into pieces and then break the pieces.
    “Trump and Musk don’t know what it’s like to count on their local public school having the resources to get their kids a great education. They don’t know why Pell Grants are so important. And they don’t care to learn why. They want to break the Department, break our government, and enrich themselves.
    “However, we are not going to let the Department and the programs it supports for our kids go down without a fight.
    “I first got into politics many years ago to save an education program. I was told I couldn’t make a difference because I was just a mom in tennis shoes. But here is the thing: there are a lot of moms and dads in tennis shoes out there, and they do not play when it comes to their kids’ futures.
    “I saved that program back then by getting moms and dads to join with me, speak up, and say ‘wait, our kids come first.’
    “And we are going to fight for our students, teachers, and schools the same way by getting moms and dads—and, yes, students too—to speak up, by making clear: this is not some program you play politics with. This is about our kids. And we will not let anyone—not if they are the President, not if they are the richest man in the world—put our kids’ futures on the chopping block.”
    _______________________________________
    Senator Murray has been calling out the Trump administration’s devastating plans to worsen public education in America. She’s pressed the Trump administration on its plans to shutter the Department, blasted its dismantling of its research arm, and forcefully opposed Linda McMahon’s nomination and plans to execute Trump’s disastrous agenda. This morning, she sent a letter to the Department demanding answers about its reckless personnel plans that will hurt students, parents, and schools.
    Senator Murray has championed students and families at every stage of her career—fighting to help ensure every child in America can get a high-quality public education. Among other things, Senator Murray negotiated the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), landmark legislation that she got signed into law, replacing the broken No Child Left Behind Act. As a longtime appropriator, she has successfully fought to boost funding to support students and invest in our nation’s K-12 schools, and she has secured significant increases to the Pell Grant so that it goes further for students pursuing a higher education. Senator Murray also successfully negotiated the FAFSA Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the financial aid application process, simplify the FAFSA form for students and parents, and significantly expand eligibility for federal aid.
    In March 2020, Senator Murray introduced the Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act to support students as COVID-19 spread, and she proceeded to work across the aisle to deliver resources to schools to support students in the CARES Act in March 2020 and in December 2020 through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). In March 2021, Senator Murray helped secure critical resources for K-12 schools in the American Rescue Plan, which was passed without any Republican votes. She also worked to require a portion of the resources are specifically used to address learning loss—and has pushed to ensure the resources are being used effectively to help students get back on track. In the years since, Senator Murray has fought to renew federal investments in our schools, ensure resources are used effectively and consistent with federal laws, and successfully defeated House Republicans’ efforts to gut federal educational funding as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the 118th Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray Grills Trump’s FDA Nominee on Cancellation of Critical Vaccine Meeting, Upholding Science on Mifepristone, Contraception

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: In Letter to Makary, Sens. Murray, Baldwin, Alsobrooks Raise Alarm over Decision to Cancel Critical FDA Flu Shot Meeting Amid Worst Flu Season in 15 Years
    *** VIDEO of Senator Murray’s FULL questioning HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chairof the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, questioned Dr. Martin “Marty” Makary, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at a HELP committee hearing on his nomination. Murray pressed Dr. Makary on the FDA’s abrupt cancellation—in the middle of the worst flu season in 15 years—of its annual advisory committee meeting to make recommendations for the flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season, which she led a letter pressing for answers about last week, and about whether he would uphold the science and evidence-based approvals for contraception and medication abortion such as mifepristone, which has been proven safe and effective for decades but is now under attack by anti-abortion extremists peddling cherry-picked junk science.
    Murray began by pressing Dr. Makary on the sudden cancellation last week of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting: “Last week I sent you a letter, along with some of my colleagues, asking you about the FDA’s cancellation of that vaccine advisory committee meeting,” Murray said. “This is a meeting that takes place annually, for at least 30 years, to make recommendations for which influenza strains should be included in the flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season. And for the first time in decades, FDA cancelled that meeting—with no explanation given, no new date chosen. That is, I believe, unprecedented and dangerous.”
    “In 2022, you raised concerns when the FDA was considering not holding a vaccine committee meeting to authorize COVID-19 boosters for kids 12 to 15, and at the time you said it was ‘unconscionable’ and ‘undermined the integrity of the FDA’s standard process’ to not hold that committee meeting,” Murray continued her line of questioning.
    “So if you are confirmed, will you commit to immediately reschedule that FDA vaccine advisory committee meeting?”
    Dr. Makary dodged the question, saying he was not involved in that decision and that he would “immediately reevaluate which sessions the leadership of that center, which decisions, which topics could benefit from…”
    “So what goes into a reevaluation? This is done every year so we know what flu vaccine to have. What are you reevaluating?” Murray interrupted.
    Makary again denied having any awareness or involvement in the decision, and said it was something he would “look at” if confirmed. “Okay, I am very unclear because the FDA is the gold standard for all of us,” Murray replied. “And this committee hearing is what has always been what we look to, the FDA look to, the American people look to, to determine what the flu vaccine is. What are you going to look at to make a determination and figure something else out now, decades into this? What are you re-looking at?”
    When Makary dodged again, saying he was not involved in the decision to cancel the meeting, Murray interrupted: “I understand that, but I assume you would say ‘yes, I will reconfirm it immediately so we can let our public health experts and doctors know what flu [vaccine] to have next fall.’”
    “As I understand it, the committee members and the scientists at the FDA, the career professional scientists at the FDA, look at the recommendations of the international GIP group…”
    “I’m just asking, you just told me that you are going to ‘reevaluate’ it, and I want to know, what you are reevaluating it on,” Murray interrupted. “What are you looking at to make a decision whether to reconvene it?”
    “In conjunction with the center director of the Biologics Center, I would reevaluate which topics deserve a convening of the advisory committee members on VRBPAC and which may not require a convening,” Makary said.
    “So what would we base our decision on?… How will we know what flu to take next year—vaccine—if this committee doesn’t reconvene and make their recommendation?,” Murray pressed.
    Makary again dodged the question and said again that he wasn’t involved in the decision. “I just thought you would say ‘yes we’re, going to reconvene’ because who knows what’s coming,’” Murray replied.
    Murray continued her questioning by asking about FDA’s role in upholding the science on mifepristone, a critical medication millions of women rely on for reproductive health care including for abortion care and miscarriage care. “On mifepristone, because FDA does play a really critical role in making sure we have safe and effective medications. Contraception and medication abortion have been approved by the FDA for many, many decades, based on mountains of high-quality evidence and expert scientific judgment. So, if you are confirmed, will you commit to upholding the science and evidence-based drug approvals for all FDA-approved products, including contraception and medication abortion?’
    “You have my commitment to follow the independent scientific review process at the FDA, which is a tried and true process and has been around and so, that is my commitment to you, Senator,” Makary said.
    “Well I want to be clear, there have been over 100 high-quality studies over more than two decades backing up the science and safety of mifepristone,” Murray concluded.
    As a longtime appropriator and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Murray has a long history of demanding accountability and careful oversight when it comes to the safety of products families use every day. At the end of 2022, Senator Murray passed legislation giving FDA new authority to, for the first time ever, regulate the safety of cosmetic products and force a recall when necessary—and she successfully fought to secure funding for this important work last year as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Murray has also previously pressed FDA and industry for answers and action regarding asbestos in children’s make up kits, demanded answers from Johnson & Johnson regarding asbestos found in baby powder, and was a leading voice in holding FDA accountable and pushing for solutions following the infant formula contamination and shortage crisis in 2022.
    Senator Murray led her colleagues forcefully opposing the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.
    Senator Murray leads the Democratic caucus on reproductive health care and, throughout her career, has beat back countless Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and other family planning services—and is widely credited with successfully pushing the Bush administration’s FDA to follow the science and make Plan B available over the counter. Senator Murray led the response in Congress to FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a lawsuit brought by Republican anti-abortion extremists trying to rip away access to mifepristone, a safe and effective abortion medication that was approved by FDA in 2000—Murray led multiple amicus briefs, organized her colleagues, and raised the alarm at every turn. Last June, the Supreme Court dismissed the case on standing groups but Murray made clear that “the nationwide threat to medication abortion has not gone away—far from it. If Donald Trump and his anti-abortion allies return to power, they will do everything they can to rip away access to mifepristone and ban abortion nationwide.” Murray also spearheaded efforts in Congress urging the FDA to follow the science and review the application of Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, after the FDA’s Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend FDA approval.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: What is the World Health Organization and why does it matter?

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Eileen Travers

    Health

    When the plague, cholera and yellow fever rippled deadly waves across a newly industrialised and interconnected world in the mid-19th century, taking a global approach to health became an imperative. Doctors, scientists, presidents and prime ministers urgently convened the International Sanitary Conference in Paris in 1851, a precursor to what is now the largest of its kind: the World Health Organization, known as WHO.

    From laboratories to battlefields, the United Nations specialised health agency has been dedicated to the wellbeing of all people since 1948. It is guided by science and supported by its 194 member nations, including the United States, a co-founder that on Monday announced plans to withdraw.

    What has WHO done for the world? The short answer is – a lot. The UN agency currently works with its membership and on the health frontlines in more than 150 locations and has achieved many public health milestones.

    © WHO/Neil Nuia

    WHO and partners provide COVID-19 and other vaccines to remote communities, including in Kuvamiti in the Solomon Islands. (file)

    Here’s what you need to know about the planet’s biggest health body:

    Tackling emergencies

    Amid crises, conflict, the continuing threat of disease outbreaks and climate change, WHO has responded, from wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine to ensuring lifesaving vaccines and medical supplies arrive in remote or dangerous areas.

    With healthcare facing unprecedented risks, WHO documented in 2023 over 1,200 attacks affecting workers, patients, hospitals, clinics and ambulances across 19 countries and territories, resulting in over 700 deaths and nearly 1,200 injuries.

    Indeed, WHO teams often go where others do not. They routinely evacuate injured patients and provide lifesaving equipment, supplies and services in conflict or disaster-ravaged areas.

    Watch below as WHO teams helped to unroll a multi-agency polio vaccination campaign in war-torn besieged Gaza in September 2024, when the fast-spreading virus reappeared 25 years after it had been eradicated:

    Tracking and addressing health crises

    Every day and through the night, teams of WHO experts sift through thousands of pieces of information, including scientific papers and disease surveillance reports, scanning for signals of disease outbreaks or other public health threats, from avian flu to COVID-19.

    WHO mobilises to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks while also strengthening access to essential health services.

    That includes bolstering hospital capacity to do everything from delivering new babies to treating war injuries and training healthcare workers.

    © WHO/Ploy Phutpheng

    A laboratory scientist works at a WHO collaborating research centre in Thailand. (file)

    Eliminating diseases around the world

    A wide range of diseases and conditions are ripe for elimination given the right public health policies, including neglected infectious and vector-borne diseases, sexually transmitted infections, diseases passed from mother to child and those that vaccines can prevent.

    The UN health agency supplies essential medicines and medical equipment while working to enable – and where possible, strengthen – laboratory capacity to diagnose diseases.

    In 2024, WHO Member States achieved several milestones in tackling these major global health challenges. Seven countries (Brazil, Chad, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam) eliminated a range of tropical diseases, including leprosy and trachoma.

    Mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis have been eliminated in Belize, Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Namibia reached a key milestone towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B.

    WHO has also played a key role over the past seven decades, including in eradicating smallpox in 1980, achieving the near eradication of polio and providing lifesaving assistance in Gaza during the recent war.

    © WHO/Sebastian Meyer

    A WHO mobile clinic provides services in Duhok, Iraq. (file)

    AI and digital health

    WHO is embracing new frontiers, including artificial intelligence (AI), in digital health.

    As the influence of emerging AI technologies continues to grow, WHO is working to ensure its safety and effectiveness for health.

    That includes new guidance published last October listing key regulatory considerations on such issues as harnessing the potential of AI to treat or detect conditions like cancer or tuberculosis while minimising risks like unethical data collection, cybersecurity threats and amplifying biases or misinformation.

    WHO/Blink Media/Juliana Tan

    In Singapore, digital devices help patients reach their healthcare providers. (file)

    Taking on deadly climate-related health crisis

    The climate-related health crisis affects at least 3.5 billion people – nearly half of the global population.

    Extreme heat, weather events and air pollution caused millions of deaths in 2023, putting enormous pressure on health systems and the working population, from current wildfires burning across the US west coast to deadly flash floods in Indonesia.

    WHO/J.D.Kannah

    An Ebola virus survivor in the Democratic Republic of Congo has his eyes checked at a WHO-supported eye clinic in North Kivu. (file)

    Part of WHO’s response has been to protect health from the wide range of impacts of climate change, which includes assessing vulnerabilities and developing plans.

    The UN agency has also worked on implementing response systems for key risks, such as extreme heat and infectious disease and supporting resilience and adaptation in health-determining sectors such as water and food.

    What’s WHO working on now?

    WHO is leading efforts for a global treaty take a further, deeper step to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, much along the lines of the founders of the 1851 International Sanitary Conference.

    The UN agency is also currently working to achieve its “triple billion targets”.

    Set in 2019, the targets are that by 2025, one billion more people will be benefitting from universal health coverage, one billion more people will be better protected from health emergencies and one billion more people will be enjoying better health and wellbeing.

    Who leads WHO?

    The leadership is truly international.

    Based in Geneva, the UN agency is headed by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    The current approved biennium programme budget for 2024-2025 is $6.83 billion, coming from member assessments, alongside voluntary contributions.

    WHO’s decision-making body, the World Health Assembly, is made up of its member nations, which meet annually to agree on WHO priorities and policies.

    Members make decisions on health goals and strategies that will guide their own public health work and the work of the WHO Secretariat to move the world towards better health and wellbeing for all. That includes implementing reform measures that have made WHO more effective.

    Learn more about WHO here and in our latest video below:

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Tourism Celebrates Record Growth in 2024

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism and Marketing Division reports a strong year for tourism in North Dakota, despite a slowing economy and waning consumer spending.

    “Through strategic marketing, industry partnerships and the momentum of our ‘HELLO’ campaign we continue to see growth, despite being outspent by our competitors,” said Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman.”

    North Dakota saw an 8.8% increase in airport arrivals, a 10.2% rise in border crossings, and 7.4 million U.S. domestic road trips. Hotel revenues climbed to $548 million, a 5.8% increase, while tax receipts for accommodations and food services surpassed $2.2 billion. A 2024 study with Longwoods International confirmed that visitors are staying longer and engaging in more activities, outpacing national averages in outdoor recreation, sports tourism, and special events.

    North Dakota’s ‘HELLO’ campaign, now in its third year, continues to expand awareness with a $4.2 million media budget, generating 438 million media impressions through strategic advertising and partnerships. Marketing efforts resulted in 132 million digital impressions and 17 million video views, while website traffic soared with a 30% increase in users and significant growth in visitor engagement.

    Media outreach and influencer collaborations have strengthened North Dakota’s image, resulting in 3,429 media placements and an audience reach of 6.1 billion. Social media engagement continues to rise, with an 83% increase in web traffic referrals. The state’s abundant wide-open spaces, coupled with welcoming communities, have successfully showcased North Dakota’s scenic beauty and ease of access. 

    North Dakota Tourism looks forward to building on this momentum in 2025 and beyond. To view the 2024 Annual Report, visit https://www.commerce.nd.gov/tourism-marketing/research-and-reports. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republicans Reject Sen. Welch’s Resolution Condemning Russia’s Brutal Invasion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch Speaks on Senate Floor Reaffirming Support for Ukraine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) last night took to the Senate floor alongside Democratic colleagues to reaffirm that Congress and the American people stand with President Zelenskyy and will not abandon the people of Ukraine as they defend their country against Russia’s unjust invasion. In his remarks, Senator Welch asked the Senate to agree to a resolution reaffirming the United States’ support for the principle that no country can take another by force or threat of force. Senate Republicans rejected Senator Welch and his colleagues’ resolutions. 
    “America’s global alliances and leadership have been anchored on the principle that no country should seize and occupy the territory of another country by force…My hope is that we in the United States Senate would reaffirm those principles of territorial integrity and do that on behalf of the American people. And I have introduced a resolution that does just this,” said Senator Welch. “I think all of us know that’s among the most fundamental propositions holding together the world’s very fragile peace. It’s also a fundamentally American principle that we have advocated for and defended. And it’s a principle that we must uphold today on behalf of the people and the sovereignty of Ukraine—not just for their benefit, but for our national security.” 
    Read the full text of the resolution here, and watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 
    Read the Senator’s remarks as delivered here.
    On the third anniversary of the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Senator Welch joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and his colleagues in introducing the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump’s Deregulation Effort Has Already Saved Families Thousands of Dollars

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    TO: WHITE HOUSE COMMS STAFFFROM: CEA STAFFSUBJECT: PRESIDENT TRUMP SAVES AMERICAN FAMILIES $2,100 EACH BY HALTING COSTLY BIDEN REGULATIONS
    SummaryPresident Biden piled on nearly $2 trillion in new regulations over his four years in office, dramatically increasing costs for everyday working people and businesses — and left billions of dollars more in proposed rules still in the pipeline. Upon taking office, President Trump immediately blocked these proposed rules and has initiated an aggressive deregulatory agenda that requires substantial cuts in existing regulations for each new agency rule. President Trump is committed to cutting senseless red tape that will lower costs, lead to higher growth, and usher America into its Golden Age.
    Since returning to office, President Trump has saved Americans over $180 billion, or $2,100 per family of four, by halting proposed Biden-era regulations.
    The Biden Administration added more than $1.8 trillion, or $21,090 per family of four, in new regulatory costs, far surpassing any other administration on record.
    72% of these new regulatory burdens ($1.3 trillion or $15,457 per family of four) were the result of new EPA rules.
    Rolling back just automobile-related rules will save consumers over $1.134 trillion.
    In 2024, the Biden Administration set an all-time record by publishing 107,262 pages of final rules, proposed rules, and other public notices in the Federal Register.
    This stands in stark contrast to President Trump, who recently announced a bold deregulation initiative that requires the elimination of ten existing rules or guidance documents for every new regulation.
    Details
    Notable regulatory actions by President Trump via executive order include:
    Among finalized Biden EPA rules, the following edicts were the most expensive:
    $870 billion: Mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and a 50% reduction in other pollutant emissions from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 and beyond.
    $180 billion: Mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2023 and beyond.
    $106.19 billion: Unnecessary water regulations.
    $39 billion: Mandated the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter emissions in heavy-duty engines.

    Other notable costly Biden Administration regulations include:
    Department of the Treasury
    $84.1 billion: New mandates that certain entities disclose their beneficial owners to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

    Department of Transportation
    $45.2 billion: New mandates for increased fuel efficiency in passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2027 and beyond, and increased fuel efficiency for vans and heavy-duty pickups for model years 2030 and beyond.

    Department of Health and Human Services
    $43.15 billion: New mandates for Medicare and Medicaid Programs, increased nursing staffing levels in nursing homes, and additional reporting requirements for certain institutional services.
    $27.77 billion: New Medicaid and CHIP Program mandates

    Department of Defense
    $42.26 billion: New mandates to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI).

    In addition to the expensive regulations highlighted above, the Biden Administration also excelled at producing ridiculous regulations:
    A U.S. Postal Service regulation “requiring mailers to solely use the Cremated Remains shipping supplies provided by the Postal Service when mailing human or animal cremated remains, also referred to as cremains or ashes, domestically or internationally.”
    A Federal Trade Commission regulation “requiring manufacturers of home audio amplifiers making power-related claims to calculate power output using uniform testing methods to allow consumers to easily compare amplifier sound quality.

    MIL OSI USA News –