A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander (IM-2) soars upward after liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The lander is set to land on the Moon on March 6. The NASA science and technology demonstrations aboard the lander will, once on the Moon, gather data to support future human missions. NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which launched as a rideshare with the IM-2 mission, also began its journey to lunar orbit, where it will map the distribution of the different forms of water on the Moon. Image credit: NASA/Cory S Huston
Located 2.5 million light-years away, the majestic Andromeda galaxy appears to the naked eye as a faint, spindle-shaped object roughly the angular size of the full Moon. What backyard observers don’t see is a swarm of nearly three dozen small satellite galaxies circling the Andromeda galaxy, like bees around a hive. These satellite galaxies represent a rambunctious galactic “ecosystem” that NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is studying in unprecedented detail. This ambitious Hubble Treasury Program used observations from more than a whopping 1,000 Hubble orbits. Hubble’s optical stability, clarity, and efficiency made this ambitious survey possible. This work included building a precise 3D mapping of all the dwarf galaxies buzzing around Andromeda and reconstructing how efficiently they formed new stars over the nearly 14 billion years of the universe’s lifetime.
In the study published in The Astrophysical Journal, Hubble reveals a markedly different ecosystem from the smaller number of satellite galaxies that circle our Milky Way. This offers forensic clues as to how our Milky Way galaxy and Andromeda have evolved differently over billions of years. Our Milky Way has been relatively placid. But it looks like Andromeda has had a more dynamic history, which was probably affected by a major merger with another big galaxy a few billion years ago. This encounter, and the fact that Andromeda is as much as twice as massive as our Milky Way, could explain its plentiful and diverse dwarf galaxy population. Surveying the Milky Way’s entire satellite system in such a comprehensive way is very challenging because we are embedded inside our galaxy. Nor can it be accomplished for other large galaxies because they are too far away to study the small satellite galaxies in much detail. The nearest galaxy of comparable mass to the Milky Way beyond Andromeda is M81, at nearly 12 million light-years. This bird’s-eye view of Andromeda’s satellite system allows us to decipher what drives the evolution of these small galaxies. “We see that the duration for which the satellites can continue forming new stars really depends on how massive they are and on how close they are to the Andromeda galaxy,” said lead author Alessandro Savino of the University of California at Berkeley. “It is a clear indication of how small-galaxy growth is disturbed by the influence of a massive galaxy like Andromeda.” “Everything scattered in the Andromeda system is very asymmetric and perturbed. It does appear that something significant happened not too long ago,” said principal investigator Daniel Weisz of the University of California at Berkeley. “There’s always a tendency to use what we understand in our own galaxy to extrapolate more generally to the other galaxies in the universe. There’s always been concerns about whether what we are learning in the Milky Way applies more broadly to other galaxies. Or is there more diversity among external galaxies? Do they have similar properties? Our work has shown that low-mass galaxies in other ecosystems have followed different evolutionary paths than what we know from the Milky Way satellite galaxies.” For example, half of the Andromeda satellite galaxies all seem to be confined to a plane, all orbiting in the same direction. “That’s weird. It was actually a total surprise to find the satellites in that configuration and we still don’t fully understand why they appear that way,” said Weisz.
The brightest companion galaxy to Andromeda is Messier 32 (M32). This is a compact ellipsoidal galaxy that might just be the remnant core of a larger galaxy that collided with Andromeda a few billion years ago. After being gravitationally stripped of gas and some stars, it continued along its orbit. Galaxy M32 contains older stars, but there is evidence it had a flurry of star formation a few billion years ago. In addition to M32, there seems to be a unique population of dwarf galaxies in Andromeda not seen in the Milky Way. They formed most of their stars very early on, but then they didn’t stop. They kept forming stars out of a reservoir of gas at a very low rate for a much longer time. “Star formation really continued to much later times, which is not at all what you would expect for these dwarf galaxies,” continued Savino. “This doesn’t appear in computer simulations. No one knows what to make of that so far.” “We do find that there is a lot of diversity that needs to be explained in the Andromeda satellite system,” added Weisz. “The way things come together matters a lot in understanding this galaxy’s history.” Hubble is providing the first set of imaging where astronomers measure the motions of the dwarf galaxies. In another five years Hubble or NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will be able to get the second set of observations, allowing astronomers to do a dynamical reconstruction for all 36 of the dwarf galaxies, which will help astronomers to rewind the motions of the entire Andromeda ecosystem billions of years into the past. The Hubble Space Telescope has been operating for over three decades and continues to make ground-breaking discoveries that shape our fundamental understanding of the universe. Hubble is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope and mission operations. Lockheed Martin Space, based in Denver, also supports mission operations at Goddard. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, conducts Hubble science operations for NASA.
Media Contact: Claire Andreoli (claire.andreoli@nasa.gov)NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland Ray VillardSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland Science Contact: Alessandro SavinoUniversity of California, Berkeley, California
NASA has selected eight participating scientists to join its Lucy mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. These asteroids are remnants of our early solar system trapped on stable orbits associated with – but not close to – the planet Jupiter.
NASA’s Lucy in the L4 Trojans Participating Scientist Program supports scientists to carry out new investigations that address outstanding questions related to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids as part of the Lucy mission. Launched in 2021, the Lucy spacecraft is currently on its way to the L4 Trojan swarm, which leads Jupiter in its orbit around the Sun. This is the first selection of Lucy participating scientists, who will become mission science team members for the four major asteroid encounters that the Lucy spacecraft will have in the L4 swarm in 2027 and 2028, and who will remain on the team for subsequent scientific analysis until 2030. The newly selected participating scientists are:
Harrison Agrusa, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur in Nice, France Benjamin Byron, University of Central Florida in Orlando Emily Costello, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Masatoshi Hirabayashi, Georgia Tech Research Corporation [TSS1] in Atlanta Fiona Nichols-Fleming, Smithsonian Institution in Washington Norbert Schorghofer, Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona Jennifer Scully, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California Anne Verbiscer, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Lucy’s principal investigator, Hal Levison, is based out of the Boulder, Colorado, branch of Southwest Research Institute, headquartered in San Antonio. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built and operates the spacecraft. Lucy is the 13th mission in NASA’s Discovery Program. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Discovery Program for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. For more information on NASA’s Lucy mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/lucy
The next set of NASA science and technology demonstrations is on its way to the lunar surface, where they will gather data about Earth’s nearest neighbor and help pave the way for American astronauts to explore the Moon and beyond, for the benefit of all. Carrying NASA instruments as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign, Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission launched at 7:16 p.m. EST, Feb. 26, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander is scheduled to touch down on Thursday, March 6, in Mons Mouton, a plateau in the Moon’s South Pole. “With each CLPS mission, the United States is leading the way in expanding our reach and refining our capabilities, turning what was once dreams into reality,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro. “These science and technology demonstrations are more than payloads – they represent the foundation for future explorers who will live and work on the Moon. By partnering with American industry, we are driving innovation, strengthening our leadership in space, and preparing for sending humans farther into the solar system, including Mars.”
Once on the Moon, the NASA CLPS investigations will aim to measure the potential presence of volatiles or gases from lunar soil – one of the first on-site demonstrations of resource use on the Moon. In addition, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array on the top deck of the lander will bounce laser light back at any future orbiting or incoming spacecraft to give them a permanent reference point on the lunar surface. Other technology instruments on this delivery will demonstrate a robust surface communications system and deploy a propulsive drone designed to hop across the lunar surface. NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which launched as a rideshare with the IM-2 mission, also began its journey to lunar orbit, where it will map the distribution of the different forms of water on the Moon. Lunar Trailblazer will discover where the Moon’s water is, what form it is in, and how it changes over time. Observations gathered during its two-year prime mission will contribute to the understanding of water cycles on airless bodies throughout the solar system while also supporting future human and robotic missions to the Moon by identifying where water is located. NASA’s Artemis campaign includes conducting more science to better understand planetary processes and evolution, to search for evidence of water and other resources, and support long-term, sustainable human exploration. The NASA science and technology instruments that launched aboard the IM-2 mission are:
Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1): This experiment will explore the Moon’s subsurface and analyze where lunar resources may reside. The experiment’s two key instruments will demonstrate the ability to extract and analyze lunar soil to detect volatile chemical compounds that turn into gas. The two instruments will work in tandem: The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains will drill into the Moon’s surface to collect samples, while the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations will analyze these samples to determine the gas composition released across the sampling depth. The PRIME-1 technology will provide valuable data to better understand the Moon’s surface and how to work with and on it.
Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA): This collection of eight retroreflectors will enable precision laser ranging, which is a measurement of the distance between the orbiting or landing spacecraft to the reflector on the lander. The LRA is a passive optical instrument and will function as a permanent location marker on the Moon for decades to come.
Micro Nova Hopper: Funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate Tipping Point initiative, Intuitive Machines’ Micro Nova hopper, Grace, is designed to enable high-resolution surveying of the lunar surface under its flight path. This autonomous propulsive drone aims to deploy to the surface and hop into a nearby crater to survey the lunar surface and send science data back to the lander. It’s designed to hop in and out of a permanently shadowed region, providing a first look into undiscovered regions that may provide critical information to sustain a human presence on the Moon.
Nokia Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS): Also developed with funding from NASA’s Tipping Point initiative, Nokia’s LSCS 4G/LTE communications system will demonstrate cellular communications between the Intuitive Machines lander, a Lunar Outpost rover, and the Micro Nova hopper. Engineered to transmit high-definition video, command-and-control messages, and sensor and telemetry data, the LSCS aims to demonstrate an ultra-compact advanced communication solution for future infrastructure on the Moon and beyond.
Learn more about NASA’s CLPS initiative at: https://www.nasa.gov/clps -end- Karen Fox / Jasmine HopkinsHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600 / 321-432-4624karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov Natalia Riusech / Nilufar RamjiJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111nataila.s.riusech@nasa.gov / nilufar.ramji@nasa.gov Antonia JaramilloKennedy Space Center, Florida321-501-8425antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov
Disaster Recovery Center in Richmond County to Permanently Close Feb. 28
The Disaster Recovery Center in Richmond County is set to permanently close at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. It is currently open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.The recovery center is at this location:Diamond Lakes Branch Library101 Diamond Lakes WayHephzibah, GA 30904There are additional ways to check the status of your application or update your contact information:Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.The FEMA App for mobile devicesCall the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Survivors can also contact the Georgia Call Center Monday through Saturday at 678-547-2861 for assistance with their application.FEMA Staff will also be available at these Small Business Administration locations:Bulloch County Statesboro-Bulloch County Library124 S. Main St.Statesboro, GA 30458Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.Coffee CountySatilla Regional Library200 S Madison AveDouglas, GA 31533Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.Lowndes County Lowndes County Civic Center Bldg. D 2102 E. Hill Ave. Valdosta, GA 30601 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; closed Sunday.Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County Recreation Department83 Buford RoadHazlehurst, GA 31539Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.Telfair CountyTelfair Community Service Center91 Telfair Ave # DMcRae-Helena, GA 31055Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, Closed Saturdays and SundaysFEMA provides help to all disaster survivors, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Our top priority is ensuring that disaster assistance is reaching people in need. jakia.randolph Thu, 02/27/2025 – 13:14
NASA Science at AMS Hyperwall Schedule, January 13-16, 2025 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #401) for Hyperwall Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Hyperwall Agenda below.
MONDAY, JANUARY 13
6:10 – 6:25 PM The Golden Age of Ocean Science: How NASA’s Newest Missions Advance the Study of Oceans in our Earth System Dr. Karen St. Germain
6:25 – 6:40 PM Integration of Vantage Points and Approaches for Earth System Science Dr. Jack Kaye
6:45 – 7:00 PM Helio Big Year Wind-Down and a Look Ahead Dr. Joseph Westlake
7:00 – 7:15 PM Chasing Snowstorms with Airplanes: An Overview of the IMPACTS Field Campaign John YorksLynn McMurdie
7:15 – 7:30 PM NASA Earth Action Empowering Health and Air Quality Communities Dr. John Haynes
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14
10:00 – 10:15 AM Earthdata Applications Hannah Townley
10:15 – 10:30 AM Climate Adaptation Science Investigators (CASI): Enhancing Climate Resilience at NASA Cynthia Rosenzweig
10:30 – 10:45 AM From Orbit to Earth: Exploring the LEO Science Digest Jeremy Goldstein
12:00 – 12:15 PM Visualizaiton of the May 10-11 ‘Gannon’ Geospace Storm Michael Wiltberger
12:15 – 12:30 PM Explore Space Weather Through the Community Coordinated Modeling Center and OpenSpace Elana Resnick
12:30 – 12:45 PM Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG): US Government Agencies’ Source of NASA ESD-wide Earth Observations solutions Natasha Sadoff
12:45 – 1:00 PM Connecting Satellite Data to the One Health Approach Helena Chapman
1:00 – 1:15 PM A Bird’s-Eye View of Pollution in Asian Megacities Laura Judd
1:15 – 1:30 PM Space Weather at Mars Gina DiBraccioJamie Favors
3:00 – 3:15 PM Open Science: Creating a Culture of Innovation and Collaboration Lauren Perkins
3:15 – 3:30 PM NASA’s Early Career Reseach Program Paving the Way Cynthia HallYaítza Luna-Cruz
3:30 – 3:45 PM SciX: Accelerating Discovery of NASA’s Science through Open Science and Domain Integration Anna Kelbert
6:15 – 6:30 PM Using NASA IMERG to Detect Extreme Rainfall Within Data Deserts Owen KelleyGeorge Huffman
6:30 – 6:45 PM Satellite Remote Sensing of Aerosols Around the World Rob Levy
6:45 – 7:00 PM The Sun, Space Weather, and You Jim SpannErin Lynch
7:00 – 7:15 PM Eyes on the Stars: The Building of a 21st-century Solar Observatory Ame FoxDr. Elsayed Talaat
7:15 – 7:30 PM NASA ESTO: Launchpad for Novel Earth Science Technologies Michael Seablom
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15
10:00 – 10:15 AM Parker Solar Probe Outreach and the Power of Indigenous Thought Leaders Troy Cline
10:15 – 10:30 AM Forecasting Extreme Weather Events at Local Scales with NASA High-Resolution Models Gary Partyka
10:30 – 10:45 AM North American Land Data Assimilation System: Informing Water and Agricultural Management Applications with NASA Modeling and Remote Sensing Sujay Kumar
12:00 – 12:15 PM Life After Launch: A Snapshot of the First 9 Months of NASA’s PACE Mission Carina Poulin
12:15 – 12:30 PM Space Weather and the May 2024 Geomagnetic Storm Antti Pulkkinen
12:30 – 12:45 PM Geospace Dynamics Constellation: The Space Weather Rosetta Stone Dr. Katherine Garcia Gage
12:45 – 1:00 PM Monitoring Sea Level Change using ICESat-2 and other NASA EO Missions Aimee Neeley
1:00 – 1:15 PM Space Weather Center of Excellence CLEAR: All-CLEAR SEP Forecast Lulu Zhao
1:15 – 1:30 PM Harnessing the Power of NASA Earth Observations for a Resilient Water Future Stephanie Granger
3:00 – 3:15 PM From EARTHDATA to Action: Enabling Earth Science Data to Serve Society Jim O’SullivanYaitza Luna-Cruz
3:15 – 3:30 PM GMAO and GEOS Related Talk TBD Christine Bloecker
3:30 – 3:45 PM Live Heliophysics Kahoot! Quiz Bowl Jimmy Acevedo
3:45 – 4:00 PM Parker Solar Probe Nour Rawaf
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16
10:00 – 10:15 AM Sounds of Space: Sonification with CDAWeb Alex Young
10:30 – 10:45 AM Developing the Future of Microwave Sounding Data: Benefits and Opportunities Ed Kim
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe will hold a public hearing titled “Bridging the Gap: Turkey Between East and West” on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
What: House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Hearing
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Location: 2172 Rayburn
Subject: Bridging the Gap: Turkey Between East and West
Witnesses:
Dr. Anna Borschevskaya
Harold Grinspoon Senior Fellow
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Dr. Jonathan Schanzer
Executive Director
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
The Honorable Celeste Wallander
Adjunct Senior Fellow
Center for a New American Security
***Check here for updates. The hearing will be webcast live here and open to the public and press. Members of the media who would like to attend in-person should RSVP with Joe Clark at joseph.clark@mail.house.gov by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025. ***
An artist’s rendition of one of the many thousands of near-Earth objects that could potentially impact Earth in the future. (European Space Agency/P.Carril)
For a few days in mid-February, headlines around the world buzzed about the potential for an asteroid to hit the Earth in 2032 — specifically, asteroid 2024 YR4. The chance of this impact rose to a high of 3.1 per cent on Feb. 18.
The number has since dropped to near zero, but this news was a real-life Don’t Look Up moment, and a stark reminder of the threat that asteroid impacts pose to life on Earth.
As a planetary geologist, my research focuses on meteorite impact craters, the scars of large asteroid and cometary impacts in Earth’s past.
Impact Earth
There are countless numbers of asteroids and an unknown number of comets throughout our solar system. Most of these objects date back to the very beginnings of our solar system, around 4.5 billion years ago.
Research has identified approximately 200 locations where these asteroids or comets have struck the Earth in the past to form meteorite impact craters. It’s very rare that planetary geologists can tell whether it was an asteroid or comet that hit.
One of the most famous of these 200 or so impact craters is the 200 km diameter Chicxulub impact crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This impact wiped out 65 per cent of all species on Earth, including the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago.
One of the most recent and best-preserved craters on Earth is the 1.2 km in diameter Meteor Crater in Arizona, which formed 50,000 years ago.
The Meteor Crater in Arizone is one of the most recent and best-preserved craters on Earth. (G.Osinski), CC BY
Millions of craters
Two hundred craters over 4.5 billion years hardly seems like a big number or cause for concern however, this number is a tiny fraction of the actual record. Most impact craters formed on Earth have been erased due to plate tectonics, volcanic eruptions, and erosion by water, wind and ice.
To truly appreciate how common impact craters are, we need to look to Earth’s closest neighbour, the moon. Because of its proximity, objects that can hit the moon can also hit the Earth. In fact, because the Earth is bigger, which means our gravitational attraction is higher, more asteroids and comets would have hit the Earth over the past 4.5 billion years than the moon.
The best estimate is 1.3 million craters over one kilometre in diameter on the moon, with another 700,000 or so smaller ones.
The dots represent a snapshot of the population of near-earth asteroids that scientists think are likely to exist. The simulated near-Earth asteroids are blue, and Earth’s orbit is green. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
In January, the probability of this asteroid hitting Earth surpassed one per cent, which triggered a series of international responses. The International Asteroid Warning Network coordinates telescopes around the world to make further observations and narrow down uncertainties in its orbit.
An image of asteroid 2024 YR4 captured by one of the ATLAS telesopes. (SOURCE)
On Feb. 18, NASA and the European Space Agency announced that the probability of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2023 was 3.1 per cent, the highest ever recorded for an object of this size. This represents one in 32 odds. For comparison, the chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash in the United States is one per cent, or one in 95; the chances of the asteroid hitting Earth were pretty significant.
Thankfully, the most recent estimates of the probability of impact have gone down to near zero, based on improved calculations of its orbit.
We’re off the hook… for now.
Potential impact
Bruce Betts, chief planetary scientist at the Planetary Society, was quoted as saying: “If you put it over Paris or London or New York, you basically wipe out the whole city and some of the environs,” leading to asteroid 2024 YR4 being dubbed “a city-killer.”
The average impact velocity for an asteroid on Earth is a whopping 17 km per second — this is 25 times faster than an F-35 Lightning strike fighter.
To calculate the mass of an asteroid, we need to know its size. Estimates for 2024 YR4 range from 40 to 90 metres. If we take the upper estimate of 90 m, we can calculate the energy released at approximately nine megatons, the equivalent of the explosive energy of nine million tons of TNT. For comparison, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan in 1945 was only 0.015 megatons.
The destruction doesn’t stop there, however. Research on nuclear weapons suggests that each megaton can destroy roughly 50 square kilometres, so this impact could destroy up to 450 square km around the crater through a fireball, supersonic ejecta and seismic shaking.
Would this be a city killer as some reports suggested? Absolutely. With an urban area of 232 square kilometres, my hometown of London, Ont., with a population of around 420,000 would be totally destroyed.
The good news is that we estimate that the impact of a 90 m diameter asteroid will occur once in every 10,000 years. For a 40 m size asteroid, this drops to once every 1,000 years — but the destructive effects are drastically reduced. It’s worth pointing out that these numbers are very approximate, and they don’t really help us figure out when the next one might happen.
As the story around asteroid 2024 YR4 shows, there is more good news in that we are getting better at detecting asteroids. Thanks to the coordination of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, many space agencies around the world are collaborating, with the knowledge that this is a problem for our entire planet.
If the calculations had continued to show that the chance of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032 was high, with enough time, an attempt to deflect the asteroid could have been attempted. In September 2022, NASA’s DART spacecraft provided the first demonstration that deflecting an asteroid from its path is possible, something that had been imagined in Hollywood movies, but not proven to be possible until then.
Gordon Osinski receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to reverse drastic funding cuts to an Affordable Care Act program that helps Americans access quality, affordable health insurance coverage, including for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Navigator program helps people enroll in the ACA and the Trump Administration slashed nearly 90 percent funding, threatening to leave millions of Americans without critical assistance to access the insurance they need and leading to a reduction in health care enrollment.
“This decision threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical assistance in choosing a health care plan, undermining longstanding efforts to enroll every American in quality, affordable health insurance coverage,” wrote Baldwin and the lawmakers.
“In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) slashed funding for the Navigator program by 84 percent. […] Unsurprisingly, ACA enrollment shrank by more than 2.5 million over the course of the Trump administration. Once Navigator funding was restored in 2021, enrollment rose and reached historic levels for the 2025 plan year,” the lawmakers continued.
“We strongly urge the administration to reconsider this harmful decision and restore full funding to the Navigator program. Cutting these vital resources will only create more barriers for individuals and families seeking coverage, ultimately increasing the number of uninsured Americans,” the lawmakers concluded.
Full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Secretary Kennedy:
We write today to express deep concern over the Trump administration’s recent decision to dramatically cut funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Navigator program by nearly 90 percent. This decision threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical assistance in choosing a health care plan, undermining longstanding efforts to enroll every American in quality, affordable health insurance coverage.
Congress created the Navigator grant program to provide consumers with “fair and impartial information and services” related to not just ACA Marketplace coverage, but assistance enrolling in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as well. Since its inception, Navigators have become a critical resource for individuals and families, especially those living in rural and underserved areas, by helping them purchase health coverage that meets their needs. Over the past decade, more than 49 million Americans have obtained health coverage through the Marketplace, and an additional 20 million enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage last year alone. Navigators have played a significant role in those gains, working tirelessly to enroll Americans with the highest barriers to care that may otherwise go uninsured.
Every year, millions of Americans turn to professionals – including Navigators – for help purchasing health insurance. They assist enrollees with understanding their coverage options, application requirements and even basic health insurance terminology. For the 2025 plan year, 44 Navigator grantees across 28 states offered free assistance to people exploring health coverage options through the Marketplace, Medicaid and CHIP. They provide support in reviewing available plans, assisting with enrollment forms, educating enrollees on premium tax credit eligibility and even utilizing post-enrollment services such as using their coverage to get care. Increasingly, Navigators have also spearheaded state and local outreach initiatives, ensuring communities are aware of their coverage options not just during open enrollment but year-round. These campaigns both maximize enrollment and education for hard-to-reach individuals while decreasing the need for federal, nationwide outreach.
Since the first Trump administration, Navigators have needlessly faced attacks for the services they provide. In 2017 and 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) slashed funding for the Navigator program by 84 percent. Surveys following the decision to cut Navigator funding documented that consumers seeking coverage through the Marketplace under the Trump administration had a significant unmet need for enrollment help. Most commonly, people cited difficulty understanding coverage options or lack of knowledge about enrollment processes as why they chose to seek professional assistance. Unsurprisingly, ACA enrollment shrank by more than 2.5 million over the course of the Trump administration. Once Navigator funding was restored in 2021, enrollment rose and reached historic levels for the 2025 plan year. This administration’s decision to leave consumers without free, impartial assistance will likely lead to many more Americans without quality, affordable insurance.
Navigators ensure that all people—regardless of income, geography, or background—can access quality, affordable health care. We strongly urge the administration to reconsider this harmful decision and restore full funding to the Navigator program. Cutting these vital resources will only create more barriers for individuals and families seeking coverage, ultimately increasing the number of uninsured Americans.
Sincerely,
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
02.27.25
Washington, DC – Following the third anniversary of Russia’s catastrophic invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that she has joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) as a cosponsor of his Protecting Our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, which 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. In addition to Murkowski, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are cosponsors of the legislation.
“I have had the opportunity to visit with many Ukrainians who fled Russia’s unprovoked war who have found safety and community in Alaska. These families—and the Alaskans and Alaskan businesses who have supported and employed them—have expressed their strong desire to remain and work here,” said Murkowski. “Granting temporary guest status for Ukrainians already in the United States achieves this goal. As the war enters its fourth year, we must continue to provide the Ukrainians who have taken refuge in the U.S. a safe haven to weather the storm.”
“Three years ago, Putin began his brutal, criminal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine—which remains on the frontlines of democracy and transatlantic security,” said Durbin. “When the war started, Americans across the country opened their hearts and communities to Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression. Both Republicans and Democrats petitioned President Biden to protect them from deportation. I’m glad Senator Murkowski joined my legislation to ensure Ukrainians lawfully present in the U.S. have temporary guest status until conditions in Ukraine are safe for return. I hope others will follow her lead.”
The individuals covered by the bill already underwent rigorous vetting to ensure that they present no criminal or public safety risks. The legislation would also allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revoke this temporary status if new information raises such concerns about any individual. Bill text can be found here.
The following organizations endorsed the Protecting Our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act: Refugee Council USA; Chin Association of Maryland; HIAS; World Relief; Center for Gender & Refugee Studies; Human Rights First; Church World Service; International Refugee Assistance Project; Global Refuge; Boat People SOS; Center for Victims of Torture; Jesuit Refugee Service; and Veterans for American Ideals.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Expanding Local Meat Processing Act, legislation that would remove regulatory roadblocks to increase meat processing capacity and allow livestock auction market owners to invest in small and regional packing facilities. U.S. Representatives Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Ca.), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) lead the companion legislation in the House.
This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act to allow livestock auction market owners to hold ownership in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a meat packing entity with a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than 2,000 animals per day or 700,000 animals per year. This cap would exclude investment in the top 10 meat packers.
Livestock auction markets, called marketing agencies selling on commission, are not currently able to own or invest, or participate in the management or operation of a packing plant or meat marketing business due to a Packers and Stockyards Act regulation. This legislation is essential in removing this unnecessary barrier in the cattle industry.
“Lowering costs for New Mexicans and increasing competitiveness for local producers will support local economies and livelihoods – especially in our rural communities,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Ernst to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to remove outdated regulations that hinder producers’ ability to increase livestock processing capacity. This is a priority for New Mexico, and I will continue to advocate for it in the Farm Bill.”
“Removing outdated regulations that hinder the livestock industry should be a no-brainer,” said Senator Ernst. “Allowing livestock auction markets to invest in small meat processing facilities will reduce market consolidation, decrease reliance on federal funding, and provide small producers with much-needed processing options. I’m proud to strengthen local food systems, increase competition, and ultimately lower meat costs for consumers through this effort.”
“The A-PLUS Act will modernize livestock regulations to ensure government policy is consistent with our 21st Century marketplace,” said Rep. Alford. “For decades, restrictive rules have prevented smaller and local meat processors from competing for decades. By reforming these burdensome restrictions, we’re working to level the playing field, without sacrificing consumer safety. This commonsense legislation is a win for ranchers, auctions, consumers, and the entire livestock ecosystem. I’m proud to once again lead this bipartisan bill with my colleagues Congressmen Panetta and Johnson, as well as Senators Luján and Ernst.”
“Congress and the cattle industry agree there is a need to increase the U.S. beef packing capacity and to add more competitors to the marketplace,” said Charlie Rogers Owner and General Manager of Clovis Livestock Auction. “We greatly appreciate Senator Luján introducing this bill to remove an outdated regulatory barrier and allow local livestock auction owners to be part of the solution investing in new local and regional packing capacity.”
Full text of the legislation is available here. A one-pager of legislation is available here.
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2025. The bipartisan legislation would expand and expedite access to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services by authorizing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to order cardiac rehabilitation.
“Our bill can reduce barriers to accessing cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation, thereby improving the health of those living with heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is particularly important in places like West Virginia, where these diseases impact the lives of far too many residents that often face shortages of health care professionals. I’m proud to re-introduce this legislation that offers solutions to increase the level of health services available to West Virginians and all Americans who need them most,” Senator Capito said.
“Timely access to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation care is critical to improving the lives of Americans with cardiac conditions or recovering from cardiac events, especially in rural areas,” Senator Klobuchar said. “Our bipartisan legislation will save lives by expanding which clinicians can refer patients to cardiovascular care so that all seniors can get the care they need in a timely manner.”
BACKGROUND:
Cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation are medically directed and supervised programs designed to improve a patient’s physical, psychological, and social functioning. Currently, only physicians are authorized to order cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation for Medicare patients. This restriction can create unnecessary obstacles, delays, and paperwork before patients can receive the rehabilitation services that are needed on a timely basis and make it challenging for programs to operate in areas where physicians are scarce.
The Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2025 builds upon the innovative Improving Access to Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Act – legislation that was passed as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 – which authorized physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to supervise cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation beginning in 2024. Senators Capito and Klobuchar previously introduced this legislation in 2023.
The Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2025 is supported by several organizations, including: American Heart Association; American Lung Association; American Nurses Association; National Rural Health Association; American Academy of Physician Associates; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Association for Respiratory Care; American College of Cardiology; American Thoracic Society; Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association; and WomenHeart.
Question for written answer E-000718/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Barbara Bonte (PfE)
The Nicaraguan Government has been systematically persecuting Christians since 2018; there have been more than 870 attacks on the Catholic Church plus a ruthless crackdown on priests and other religious figures.
The 2021-2024 Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Nicaragua amounts to EUR 82 million; combating climate change is its key priority.
1.Does the Commission consider that, in a country that is systematically persecuting Christians, climate change is the key priority ?
2.How often has the Commission urged the Government of Nicaragua to put an immediate end to this violation of human rights?
3.What percentage of the funds pledged under the MIP for Nicaragua have been withheld in response to the repressive policy against Christians in that country?
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2
News Release Thursday, February 27, 2025
NIH study reveals key players underlying disease onset and repair. Using an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have created a four-dimensional brain map that reveals how lesions similar to those seen in human MS form. These findings, published in Science, provide a window into the early disease state and could help identify potential targets for MS treatments and brain tissue repair. The researchers, led by postdoctoral fellow Jing-Ping Lin, Ph.D., and senior investigator Daniel S. Reich, M.D., Ph.D., both at NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), combined repeated MRI imaging with brain-tissue analysis, including gene expression, to track the onset and development of MS-like lesions. They uncovered a new MRI signature that can help detect brain regions at risk for damage weeks before any visible lesions occur. They also identified “microenvironments” within affected brain tissue based on observed patterns of neural function, inflammation, immune and support cell responses, gene expression, and levels of damage and repair. “Identifying the early events that occur after inflammation and teasing apart which are reparative versus which are damaging, can potentially help us identify MS disease activity sooner and develop treatments to slow or stop its progression,” said Dr. Reich. MS is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the protective covering of nerve fibers, called myelin. This leads to inflammation, loss of myelin, and formation of “lesions” or “plaques” within the brain tissue. Most of what is known about MS progression has come from analysis of postmortem human brain tissue, usually obtained decades after the initial onset of disease. This means missing early changes that occurred prior to the onset of symptoms. To mimic the conditions of the human brain, the researchers opted not to use a mouse model for MS, instead advancing a model that uses the marmoset, a nonhuman primate. Compared to mouse brains, marmoset and human brains have a higher ratio of white matter (the “wires” of the brain) to gray matter (neuronal cell bodies). The marmoset model creates multiple lesions that closely resemble those seen in human MS and that can be tracked in real time using MRI imaging. Because these lesions can be induced experimentally, the model offers a look at the earliest stages of inflammation and immune responses that lead to MS-like demyelination. One key player identified was a specific type of astrocyte, one of the support cell types in the brain, that turns on a gene called SERPINE1 or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI1). They found SERPINE1-expressing astrocytes in vulnerable brain borders before visible damage occurs, clustering near blood vessels and the fluid-filled ventricles of the brain and signaling future areas of lesion development. These astrocytes also appeared to influence the behavior of other cells near the lesion area, including the ability of immune cells to enter the brain and contribute to inflammation, as well as the precursor cells involved in myelin repair. Given that SERPINE1-expressing astrocytes accumulated at the edges of growing lesions, where damage happens but healing also begins, their potential dual role in coordinating signals that could lead to either tissue repair or further damage was an unexpected wrinkle that will require further study. It’s possible that the earliest responses could be a part of a protective mechanism that becomes overwhelmed as the injury progresses. It’s also possible that the same mechanism could itself become disease-causing. “If one imagines a fort under siege, initially the walls might hold off the attack,” said Dr. Reich. “But if those walls are breached, all the defenses inside can be turned against the fort itself.” These findings may also have implications for brain injuries beyond what is seen in MS. While there are different types of focal brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, inflammation, and infection, there is a finite number of ways the tissue can react to injury. In fact, many of the reactions seen here to inflammation, stress, and tissue damage are likely to be common across injury types, and the brain map created in this study can act as a resource to allow comparisons to be made in a more human-like context. The scientific teams are building a new model of a different autoimmune condition affecting brain borders. They are also looking to expand their data set to include aged animals, which could help improve our understanding of progressive MS, a disease state with a significant and unmet therapeutic need. This study was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program at the NIH with additional support from the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): NINDS is the nation’s leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
Article Lin J-P et al. 4D marmoset brain map reveals MRI and molecular signatures for onset of multiple sclerosis-like lesions. Science. February 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1126/science.adp6325
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Tyree Eugene Rideaux, 31, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 132 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Rideaux pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor on September 16, 2024.
Rideaux met the 16-year-old minor, Jane Doe, at a party in Phoenix a short time before August 15, 2021. Jane Doe traveled with Rideaux and two other females to Inglewood, California. Rideaux told Jane Doe to pretend that she was 18 years old. Once in California, Rideaux placed Jane Doe on the “blade,” an area in a city known for high rates of prostitution. Rideaux assigned a fictitious name to Jane Doe and posted commercial sex advertisements of her online for sex buyers. Jane Doe gave the money she earned to Rideaux, as he directed her to do. On August 15, 2021, Jane Doe convinced a sex buyer to take her to a hospital where she could notify police and family, who returned her home.
“Predators who traffic in teenagers and force them into prostitution to support the trafficker’s own lifestyle are deserving of the harshest sentences,” stated Rachel C. Hernandez, Acting United States Attorney. “I’m pleased with the excellent results in this case that came about through the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and our prosecutors.”
“As law enforcement officers, we are used to handling difficult encounters, but few can prepare us for working on human trafficking investigations involving vulnerable children,” said ICE HSI Arizona Special Agent in Charge, Francisco B. Burrola. “HSI is committed to ensuring sex traffickers face the fullest extent of the law by putting them behind bars for years – significant prison time rightly awaits this trafficker.”
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecutions.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01291-PHX-DJH RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-024_Rideaux
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZfor the latest news.
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the February Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Dylan Ray Alexander.Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Alexander, 31, of Bartlesville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with unlawfully killing Kevin Holden and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Tara Heign are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-052
Jeremiah Jacob Drake.Production of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Drake, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with coercing a minor child to produce sexually explicit content. He is additionally charged with receiving, possessing, and distributing sexually explicit material that depicts the sexual abuse of a minor child. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-056
Carl Anthony Epps, II.Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence in Indian Country (superseding). Epps, 42, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Further, he is charged with using a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-007
Anthony Wayne Jeremiah.Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Malicious Mischief in Indian Country; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jeremiah, 43, transient and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and maliciously destroying the victim’s property. He is further charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition after previously being convicted of felonies. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Emily Dewhurst are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-055
Blake Alan Miller.Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country. Miller, 41, of Forrest City, Arkansas, and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a child under 12 years old. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-045
Gabriel Urquiza-Urquiza; Daisy Villanueva; Javier Rodarte; Ricardo Plateado-Martinez; Rosa Maria Olmos; Rafael Gonzalez; Joel Rosales Pina.Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Firearms Conspiracy (Count 2); Firearms Trafficking (Count 3); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Count 4); Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity (Counts 5 & 6); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 7); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 8); Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms (Count 9); Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 10); Illegal Export of Firearms (Count 11); Smuggling Firearms from the United States (Count 12); Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (Count 13); Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance (second superseding). Urquiza-Urquiza, 26, a Mexican National; Villanueva, 24, of Oklahoma City; Rodarte, 26, of Moore; Plateado-Martinez, 34, of Broken Arrow; Olmos, 35, of Broken Arrow; Gonzales, 31, of Beaumont; and Pina, 40, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Urquiza-Urquiza, Villanueva, Rodarte, Plateado-Martinez, Olmos, Gonzalez, and Pina are charged with conspiring to conceal or disguise proceeds from the transactions of methamphetamine distribution. Urquiza-Urquiza is charged with two counts of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions that involved criminally derived property valued at more than $10,000. Villanueva is also charged with intentionally distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Pina is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. Urquiza-Urquiza, Gonzalez, and Pina are charged with conspiring to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from Mexico. Urquiza-Urquiza is also charged with possessing firearms, knowing he is an illegal alien unlawfully in the United States, and with possessing firearms in the furtherance of drug trafficking. He is additionally charged with willfully exporting and smuggling firearms from the United States to Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Oklahoma City Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-131
Adrian Marquez Rodriguez.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2005. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-054
Ronald Dewayne Thompson.Possession of Child Pornography; Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender. Thompson, 33, of Claremore, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He knowingly engaged in sexual conduct with a minor under 12 years of age. Additionally, Thompson knowingly is required to register and committed a felony involving a minor child. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-058
Delawnsha Lemar Tiger.Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Tiger, 30, transient, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender in Dec. 2024. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-053
We’ve probably all had a moment when we stopped taking the Oscars too seriously. For me, it was when Denzel Washington won best actor for Training Day (2001), a crime film in which he displays virtually none of his acting chops.
And as popular cinema becomes uglier (it’s mostly shot on digital video now, which almost never looks as good as film) and streamers (or logistics companies such as Amazon) take over film production, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to appreciate the point of the ceremony.
From this year’s ten nominees for best picture, The Brutalist, Conclave and I’m Still Here are good – while (most of) the other nominees are only okay.
Some well-made films, but nothing outstanding
Writer-director Sean Baker’s Anora is nominated for best picture this year, after already winning the Palme d’Or. It’s a moderately sweet film in the tradition of Pretty Woman – having more nudity and sex, and a disappointing ending, doesn’t automatically make it edgier. It’s too long by at least half an hour, with some okay performances.
It’s certainly not bad, but the idea that this is one of the “best pictures” of 2024 is alarming – or would be, if I wasn’t already so cynical. Most importantly, there’s nothing formally or aesthetically compelling about it, in which case I might have forgiven the silly (anti) Cinderella story.
Another nominee, A Complete Unknown, is similarly well-made. Timothée Chalamet gives a predictably moody performance as Bob Dylan, and it’s fun to learn something about the relationships between Dylan and musical legends Joan Baez and Pete Seeger.
But there’s also something fundamentally weird about watching a memoir about a person as iconic as Dylan. It veers too often into the terrain of impersonation, and this is even more off-putting given Dylan is still alive. Throw in Chalamet’s (certainly accomplished) singing of Dylan’s songs, and it feels like we’re watching someone do karaoke really well.
The Substance tries to shock and titillate the viewer with its caricature of celebrity in an era of body modification and mega-media corporations. Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid try hard to be funny, but the whole thing plays like an undergraduate essay that makes the same point ad nauseam. Though the actors surely had fun, there’s nothing compelling about their guffawing.
This is also the problem with messy hybrid musical-thriller Emilia Pérez, the other over-the-top genre film tipped by some to win the award.
The film, following a cartel leader who disappears and transitions into a woman, is overly dependent on making a point about the world outside of itself. This point is so obvious that it rapidly becomes tedious, with insufficient attention given to the formal and narrative tensions and ambiguities that compel an audience to engage with a film on a serious, visceral level.
Dune: Part Two sounds and looks good, but is more meandering than Part One in developing Herbert’s unwieldy epic. If you liked Part One, you’ll probably like Part Two, but it’s not exactly cutting-edge material.
Nickel Boys is a low-key, sentimental rendition of Colson Whitehead’s novel about two African American boys sent to a reform school in Florida in the early 1960s, and their coming of age as they survive myriad abuses. It’s watchable, if not particularly memorable.
Finally, Wicked is, well … Wicked. If you like the musical you may like the film (although the live aspect of musicals makes this one play better on the stage than on the screen, unlike The Wizard of Oz, which was made for the screen). In any case, it’s not ridiculously bad, even though it is too long.
A few top contenders
Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here – which traces the struggle of an activist in Brazil after the forced disappearance of her husband in 1970 – works well in its evocation of place and time, and should soften the heart of even the most cynical viewer.
Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 memoir, the entire film is washed over with a faint scent of nostalgia that complements the idea of failing to find, and then remembering, that which is missing.
Conclave, adapted from Robert Harris’ novel, is another solidly made affair. It follows the political machinations of the Vatican as the Dean of Cardinals sets up a conclave to elect a new pope after the previous one dies of a heart attack.
Ralph Fiennes is as effective and sombre as usual in the lead role as Cardinal Lawrence and various twists and turns keep us watching throughout. But one suspects the primary pleasure of the film is that it seems to offer an insider’s view of the Vatican, including all the fetishistic processes and rituals.
Despite its serious tone, Conclave is a fun romp. And what a pleasure it is to watch Isabella Rossellini on the big screen once again.
The strongest nominee
The film that is most classically like a best picture nominee is The Brutalist – an epic, visually-magnificent study of the struggles of (fictional) architect László Toth, a Hungarian Jew who moves to America following the Holocaust.
Testament to the technical accomplishments of the film, and its superb creation of a coherent world, The Brutalist runs close to four hours (thankfully with an intermission) without becoming tedious. It chugs along with the relentless momentum of a steam engine.
Adrien Brody is charming as Toth, endowing the character with a roguish and playful quality, and the supporting cast are solid. Akin to one of Toth’s constructions (as we hear in the epilogue section), the film neither indicates nor tells us anything beyond itself.
There may be conclusions to be drawn regarding the relationship between art, power and capitalism, but the film gives you the space to devise these yourself. The film is, in a sense, beautifully mute.
Out of all the nominations, The Brutalist is the only one that feels like a genuine best picture contender (with something of the grandeur of classical Hollywood cinema about it). Although many critics arepredicting Anora will win, The Brutalist is the strongest of the nominees.
That said, my pick for the best film of 2024 goes to a production that didn’t get a best picture nomination (as usual). Magnus von Horn’s The Girl With the Needle is a stunning Danish expressionistic nightmare that seamlessly integrates formal experimentation with a thrilling and horrific true crime narrative.
It is absolutely sensational – the kind of thing you never forget. Thankfully, it has been recognised through its nomination for best international feature film.
Ari Mattes 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.
This working paper provides an estimate of a probability distribution of changes in gross domestic product (GDP) in the year 2100 resulting from changes in temperature. To estimate that distribution, we perform a meta-analysis of the literature on the effects of climate change on GDP and combine those effects with forecast global temperature distributions for the year 2100. We fit Gaussian distributions to the underlying data and numerically estimate the joint distribution of GDP and temperature. Using that distribution, we project that, on average, future temperature increases will cause GDP to be 4 percent lower in 2100 than it would have been if temperatures remained unchanged after 2024. However, considerable uncertainty surrounds the long-run effects of temperature on output in the United States. There is a 5 percent chance that GDP in 2100 will be at least 21 percent lower than it would have been in the absence of additional changes in temperature. There is a similar chance that GDP will be at least 6 percent higher by 2100.
Priority question for written answer P-000773/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Stine Bosse (Renew), Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Renew), Catarina Martins (The Left), Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE), Lena Schilling (Verts/ALE), Lucia Yar (Renew), Karin Karlsbro (Renew), Emma Wiesner (Renew), Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew), Romana Jerković (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Maria Walsh (PPE), Olivier Chastel (Renew), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Christine Singer (Renew), Barry Andrews (Renew), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew), Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew), Benoit Cassart (Renew), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Elena Kountoura (The Left), Rasmus Nordqvist (Verts/ALE), Villy Søvndal (Verts/ALE), Marit Maij (S&D), Charles Goerens (Renew), Marc Angel (S&D), Anna-Maja Henriksson (Renew), Isabella Lövin (Verts/ALE), Alice Kuhnke (Verts/ALE), Pär Holmgren (Verts/ALE)
The United States’ impending withdrawal from the WHO, its reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy and the abandonment of the pandemic prevention treaty present an urgent challenge both to Europe and the entire world at a time when global collaboration on anti-microbial resistance (AMR), HIV, and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is as important as ever.
1.Given Europe’s role as one of the principal WHO donors, what concrete steps will the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy take to both step up EU action on global health financing and mitigate the likely harm to health in Europe and globally resulting from these decisions, and how will Europe seek to fill the global financing gap in the fight against HIV and in promoting SRHR?
2.Given the failure to agree on binding measures on AMR at the UN level, what specific actions will the Commission and the European External Action Service now take to bolster international efforts to combat AMR?
3.Will the Commission address AMR in the upcoming strategy for a Preparedness Union? If so, how will it complement ongoing initiatives such as the Health and Digital Executive Agency’s drug subscription pilot and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority’s plans to explore pull incentives?
Question for written answer E-000632/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Jorge Martín Frías (PfE)
In late January 2025, President Trump designated Mexican cartels as ‘foreign terrorist organisations’ so that he could allocate the requisite resources to tackling drugs.
To put a stop to drug trafficking, strong policies must be taken to combat traffickers, who are usually linked to other crimes such as human trafficking and financial crimes. Attacking cartel finances is a good strategy.
In Mexico, however, as this Member has warned, President Sheinbaum is complicit with drug traffickers, for example, her government has adopted a chapucera judicial reform that enables cartels to finance campaigns for the election and an unambitious security strategy intended to limit police capacities, which promotes illegal activities and impunity for drug trafficking in Mexico.
Between 2015 and 2023, the Commission spent EUR 140 million on aid and grants for Mexico.
1.Can the Commission confirm that not a single euro ends up in the hands of cartels?
2.I insist: will the Commission suspend all further financial transfers to Mexico until it ensures that the Mexican Government commits properly to fully tackling drug trafficking?
3.Will it provide the US administration with the mechanisms and tools at its disposal to combat drugs?
Atmospheric Rivers Disrupt Traditional Rainfall Predictions in the Southwest
In 2023, La Niña was supposed to bring dry conditions to the Southwestern U.S. Instead, California experienced one of its rainiest seasons on record. A new study supported by the Southwest CASC reveals how atmospheric rivers can disrupt traditional El Niño/La Niña weather predictions.
New research from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, supported by the Southwest CASC, challenges traditional reliance on seasonal El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) patterns for predicting precipitation in the Southwestern United States. ENSO typically brings wet (El Niño) or dry (La Niña) conditions to the region, but 2023 – a La Niña year – was California’s 10th wettest year on record.
The new study points to atmospheric rivers – powerful air currents carrying large amounts of water vapor – as the driving force behind these precipitation anomalies. Analyzing over 70 years of weather data, researchers found that atmospheric rivers explained 70% of anomalous years (when precipitation did not match ENSO expectations) and, in some years, accounted for up to 65% of annual precipitation in Northern California and 40% in Southern California. In 2023, nine atmospheric rivers brought significant rainfall to the region, altering the usual dry influence of La Niña.
While ENSO patterns are predictable months in advance, atmospheric rivers can currently only be forecast about 3 weeks ahead of time, making it more difficult to anticipate how they may affect precipitation patterns each year. Climate change may increase the role of atmospheric rivers in determining annual precipitation in the Southwestern United States, potentially reducing the reliability of El Niño and La Niña predictions. Researchers highlight the need to improve atmospheric river forecasting, and to integrate those forecasts with seasonal ENSO predictions to help water managers, farmers, and policymakers make informed decisions on reservoir planning, water allocation, and agricultural planning.
Clarksville, Tenn., Feb. 27, 2025 – Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) Local 1296, who manufacture large commercial heating and air units at Trane Technologies, overwhelmingly ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement that delivers historic wage increases, enhanced benefits, and stronger workplace protections.
The agreement, covering over 1300 employees and approximately 1100 IAM Union members at the Clarksville, TN plant, includes an immediate 9.3% wage increase in the first year, amounting to a $2 raise for all employees and an additional $2 skill adder adjustment for maintenance workers. It also includes wage increases over the four years.
“This agreement is a major win for IAM Union Local 1296 members, the Clarksville community, and it represents the power of solidarity,” said IAM Union District 1888 Business Representative/Organizer Casey Page. “We secured the highest wage increases our members have ever seen, alongside critical language protections around work-life balance and job security.”
Beyond wages, the contract improves bereavement leave, increases paid time off, enhances insurance benefits, and reinforces language protecting workers from mandatory weekend overtime. Additionally, provisions allowing union stewards to conduct union business will ensure they receive proper training to better serve the IAM Union Local 1296 membership.
“This contract is about more than just numbers—it’s about dignity on the job,” said IAM Union District 1888 Assistant Directing Business Representative Bill Benson. “We fought for these gains at the table, and they will have a lasting impact on the lives of our members and their families.”
“The strength of this agreement is a testament to our members’ preparation and dedication,” said IAM Union Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “Their hard work has resulted in a contract that not only raises the standard for wages and benefits but also strengthens the IAM’s presence in the South.
“The wages and benefits in this contract are the most we’ve ever seen, and the additional protective language ensures long-term security for our members,” said IAM Union Local 1296 President Brandie Givens. “This agreement empowers workers and will help empower the community together. We are grateful to District 1888 for their leadership in helping us achieve this victory. It was an honor to carry the torch forward and continue the work that began decades ago.”
Givens also acknowledged the role of the LEADS program in mentoring future union leaders, noting that she and IAM Local 1296 Recording Secretary Ashley Carpenter are the second generation of women leaders in the local, following in the footsteps of Sandra Threatt, the first female IAM Union Local 1296 vice president to sit at negotiations almost a decade ago.
“Solidarity and support for the leadership and the bargaining committee was the key to these successful negotiations,” said IAM Union Collective Bargaining Director Craig Norman. “The ratification of this contract showed the power of the coordinated bargaining committee and demonstrated how important it is to speak with one voice at the negotiating table.”
IAM Union District 1888 represents members at Trane, military installations, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Bluegrass Station, and more than 60 other worksites throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia. It continues to advocate for better working conditions across industries in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Golar LNG Limited advises that its 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday May 20, 2025. The record date for voting at the Annual General Meeting is set to March 13, 2025. A copy of the notice, agenda and associated material will be distributed to shareholders by normal distribution methods prior to the meeting and will also be made available on the Company’s website at www.golarlng.com
Golar LNG Limited Hamilton, Bermuda February 27, 2025
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are reintroducing a slate of Tribal water rights settlement bills they are pushing to pass in this Congress.
The full slate of Tribal water rights settlements legislation includes:
The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act;
The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act;
The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act; and
The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act.
Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments;
The Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act;
“I’m proud to introduce these bills to finally unlock critical water infrastructure funding from these water rights settlements and ensure Tribes have the resources to use the water they own,” said Heinrich. “These settlements are supported by all parties involved, including Tribal and non-Tribal communities. Congress should pass these urgently needed bills to help communities manage their precious and limited water resources.”
“Water rights are part of the federal trust responsibility for our Tribal communities,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “I’m proud to reintroduce legislation to allow our Tribal communities to promote water security and complete much-needed water infrastructure projects. I’m especially proud to reintroduce my legislation to amend the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, ensuring it has the resources and time needed to deliver clean drinking water to communities in northwestern New Mexico. These pieces of legislation will help fulfill our trust responsibility and promote water security for Tribes and Pueblos, as well as non-Tribal users, in New Mexico.”
“This legislation upholds our trust responsibility to Tribes and helps bring certainty to disputes about water across the Southwest. The settlements included in these bills secure clean, reliable water for Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, 11 pueblos, and the rural communities that are their neighbors across New Mexico,” said Leger Fernández. “It is with great expectation that I reintroduce this legislation which reflects decades of negotiation and collaboration. We must pass these bills so the scarce water resources our communities need to thrive for generations to come are available to all.”
“In New Mexico, we know water is life,” said Stansbury. “That’s why these Tribal Water Settlement bills are so important. These pieces of legislation will give water rights back to our Tribes and Pueblos, ensuring the federal government upholds our Trust and Treaty Responsibilities. Indigenous people have been stewards of the land and water since time immemorial, and now is the time for them to lead these efforts.”
“I will always stand with our Tribal communities in Congress,” said Vasquez. “These water rights settlements are a crucial step in fulfilling our delegation’s commitment to ensuring every New Mexican has access to safe, reliable water. By providing our Tribes and Pueblos with the resources they need, we are investing in vital water infrastructure that will serve generations to come.”
The Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act is led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján, Stansbury, and Vasquez are original cosponsors. The bill would implement two fund-based water settlements: one between the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties; and another between the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties. The settlements are strongly supported by all parties involved.
Heinrich and Leger Fernández previously introduced this legislation in March 2023. The bill received a hearing and was reported out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in December 2023. The House version of this bill received a legislative hearing in the House Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee in July 2024.
Read the full bill text here.
The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act is also led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján and Stansbury are original cosponsors. The bill establishes a trust fund to implement the negotiated settlement between the United States, the State of New Mexico, the City of Española, the Asociación de Acéquias Norteñas de Rio Arriba, El Rito Ditch Asociación, La Asociación de las Acéquias del Rio Tusas, Vallecitos y Ojo Caliente, the Rio de Chama Acéquia Association, and Ohkay Owingeh to settle the Pueblo’s water claims in the Rio Chama Basin. The funding will be used for Ohkay Owingeh’s development of water resources to ensure the Pueblo has appropriate water infrastructure to use the water that they have claim to in the basin.
Heinrich and Leger Fernández initially introduced the bill in June 2024. The bill then received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in July 2024.
Read the full bill text here.
The Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act is led by Heinrich and Vasquez. Luján, Stansbury, and Leger Fernández are original cosponsors. The bill authorizes $685 million to support a trust for sustainable water management and infrastructure development that upholds the federal government’s trust responsibility while protecting the sacred Zuni Salt Lake. The bill ratifies the settlement between the federal government, State of New Mexico and Zuni Tribe that affirms their water rights for irrigation, livestock, storage, and domestic and other uses.
Heinrich and Vasquez initially introduced the bill in July 2024. The bill received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in September 2024.
Read the full bill text here.
The Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act is led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. Luján, Stansbury, and Vasquez are original cosponsors. This bill would approve the water rights settlement for the Navajo Nation as well as participating non-Tribal parties in the Rio San José watershed.
Heinrich and Leger Fernández initially introduced this bill in September 2024. The bill then received a key hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that same month.
Read the full bill text here.
The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments is led by Luján and Leger Fernández. Heinrich and Stansbury are original cosponsors. The bill amends the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project to ensure it has the resources and time needed to reach completion to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities.
The Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project was first authorized as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and funded the design and construction of the waterline to reach an estimated 250,000 people by the year 2040. Upon completion, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to roughly 43 Chapters on the eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality.
Luján, Leger Fernández, and Heinrich initially introduced the bill in June 2023. The bill was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November 2023.
Read the full bill text here.
The Technical Corrections to the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act, Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, and Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act is led by Luján and Leger Fernández. Heinrich and Stansbury are original cosponsors. This bill authorizes the appropriation of $6.3 million for the Navajo Nation Water Resources Development Fund; $7.8 million for the Taos Pueblo Water Development Fund; and $4.3 million for the Aamodt Settlement Pueblos’ Fund, which covers Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos. It will support water resources development projects for the Tribes.
Luján and Leger Fernández initially introduced this bill in December 2023.
Read the full bill text here.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025. The legislation amends the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to ensure it has the resources and time needed to reach completion to deliver drinking water to northwestern New Mexico communities.
The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project was first authorized as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which settled the Navajo Nation’s water rights in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and funded the design and construction of the waterline to reach an estimated 250,000 people by the year 2040. Upon completion, the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will provide a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to roughly 43 Chapters on the eastern Navajo Nation, the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply of poor quality. Full project completion is planned for 2029. When complete, it will include approximately 300 miles of pipeline, two water treatment plants, 19 pumping plants and multiple water storage tanks.
“Communities in northwest New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation deserve water security and clean drinking water. Our legislation achieves this by funding the completion of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to deliver clean, reliable water to 43 Tribal communities and the City of Gallup. I call on the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and ensure the project can be completed,” said Heinrich.
“Ensuring that the Navajo Nation, City of Gallup, and Jicarilla Apache Nation have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water is vital for the health and well-being of rural and Tribal communities,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.“The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project will help provide a reliable, sustainable surface water supply to improve the public health and economic opportunities for the region. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to move this critical project forward and reduce the financial burden on Tribal and local governments. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this much-needed legislation to help meet the water needs in the San Juan Basin for years to come.”
“Since I was elected to Congress, I have prioritized funding for the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project so we can provide clean, reliable, and affordable water to the Navajo people and surrounding communities in New Mexico. We secured $615 million in funding to move the project forward,” said Leger Fernández. “The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act builds upon this work. We won’t stop until this project is completed because in New Mexico, we know that water sustains us. Sabemos que Agua Es Vida.”
“Water is the lifeblood of the West, and Utahns know that securing a reliable water supply is essential for our communities, our economy, and our way of life,” said Curtis. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation to help ensure the Navajo Nation in Utah have the water they need to thrive.”
The amending legislation makes several important changes:
Increases the project funding authorization to match updated construction costs;
Extends the project timeline beyond 2025 to 2029 to provide additional time for completion;
Establishes trust funds for operations and maintenance costs for the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation once construction is complete; and
Allows the project to expand its service area to reach Navajo communities without running water.
The Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, State of New Mexico, and the City of Gallup support the legislation.
Heinrich, Luján and Leger Fernández have long supported efforts to fund and complete the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
Heinrich, Luján and Leger Fernández secured $137 million in 2023 and $164 million in 2024 for the project through the Infrastructure Law toward the total authorized project cost. In August 2024, the N.M. Delegation welcomed a $267 million Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project contract to design and build the San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant in northwest New Mexico. The plant is the largest and most important feature of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
In January 2025, Heinrich, Luján and Leger Fernández announced $120 million for Fiscal Year 2025 for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project using funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. The original version of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in November 2023. However, new legislation is required to authorize additional time and resources to complete the project and for its long-term, sustainable operations and maintenance.
Additionally, the N.M. Delegation recently reintroduced a slate of Tribal water rights settlement bills they are pushing to pass in this Congress.
For more information about the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, click here.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Delegation Letter Comes Amid Measles Outbreak in New Mexico and Texas;
Measles is One of the Most Highly Infectious Diseases and Can Lead to Serious Complications Like Pneumonia, Blindness, Brain Swelling, and Death
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. demanding immediate action to contain the recent outbreak of measles in New Mexico. Measles, once declared eliminated in the U.S. over two decades ago, has sickened nine individuals in Lea Country.
“Given the Department of Health and Human Services’ important responsibility to stop the spread of infectious diseases, we request that you utilize HHS’ authorities for testing and monitoring and vaccine education and promotion, as well as rehire critical federal employees, to stop the spread of this dangerous infection,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Secretary Kennedy.
The lawmakers urged Secretary Kennedy to maintain regular reporting on measles cases, “States report confirmed measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Previously, measles tracking on the CDC website was consistently updated weekly. These updates are critical for public health officials to effectively track the rapid spread of this life-threatening disease. We urge you to maintain posting updated measles tracking data weekly.”
Following the firing of federal public health officials, the lawmakers demanded the reinstatement of these officials to contain the outbreak, “Just last Friday, two dozen employees at the CDC charged with training public health laboratory staffers and supporting outbreak response efforts were fired. These firings will worsen outbreaks and ultimately threaten the health of all Americans in the face of the next public health emergency. We urgently request that you reinstate the fired federal health workers to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.”
Additionally, to prevent future outbreaks, the lawmakers pressed Secretary Kennedy to support life-saving measles vaccines, “Given that most of the infected individuals are unvaccinated, more must be done to increase vaccination rates against measles. Vaccination rates can and should be increased and therefore we request that HHS launch a national campaign to improve measles vaccination rates to prevent future outbreaks.”
The text of the letter is here and below:
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
We are concerned about the recent outbreak of measles in New Mexico. As of Wednesday, there are nine people with confirmed cases of measles in isolation in Lea County, New Mexico. This news comes as the nearby counties of Gaines, Terry, Lubbock, and Yoakum in Texas have recently reported 90 cases with 16 people hospitalized. Given the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) important responsibility to stop the spread of infectious diseases, we request that you utilize HHS’ authorities for testing and monitoring and vaccine education and promotion, as well as rehire critical federal employees, to stop the spread of this dangerous infection.
Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases because the virus can survive in the air for up to 2 hours. Ninety percent of people who are susceptible will become infected if exposed. While many recover, some experience serious complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death.
Preventing and mitigating outbreaks is only possible through effective disease tracking and communication, an adequate workforce, and vaccination. States report confirmed measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Previously, measles tracking on the CDC website was consistently updated weekly. These updates are critical for public health officials to effectively track the rapid spread of this life-threatening disease. We urge you to maintain posting updated measles tracking data weekly.
The public health workforce protects community health by tracking disease and communicating with the public about health threats. But on January 29, 2025, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that there are still health care workforce shortages that inhibit the U.S.’s ability to protect and improve the health of American communities. Despite these health care workforce shortages, federal employees have been fired from the CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Indian Health Service (IHS). Just last Friday, two dozen employees at the CDC charged with training public health laboratory staffers and supporting outbreak response efforts were fired. These firings will worsen outbreaks and ultimately threaten the health of all Americans in the face of the next public health emergency. We urgently request that you reinstate the fired federal health workers to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.
Finally, the most effective way to protect people from contracting measles is to increase vaccination rates as quickly as possible. The measles vaccine, which also inoculates against mumps and rubella, has been in use for about 60 years and has consistently been found to be safe and effective. We urge you to keep your commitment to maintain the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for vaccination. The ACIP is critical for ensuring safe and effective vaccination practices among American adults and children. The resources provided by the ACIP not only help health care providers make vaccination recommendations to their patients but also empower everyday Americans to make informed decisions about their health. Given that most of the infected individuals are unvaccinated, more must be done to increase vaccination rates against measles. Vaccination rates can and should be increased and therefore we request that HHS launch a national campaign to improve measles vaccination rates to prevent future outbreaks.
In closing, your action is urgently needed to stop the spread of measles in New Mexico and across America. In order to mitigate the further spread of this life-threatening disease, we urge you to utilize HHS’ authorities and proven outbreak mitigation strategies. Specifically, we are asking that you maintain weekly disease tracking data updates, rehire federal health workers, launch a vaccination promotion campaign against measles and other life-threatening infectious diseases, and trust the recommendations of public health experts, physicians, and scientists.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Download video HERE
WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve health care access for children with complex medical conditions. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act simplifies out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care providers, while retaining key safeguards to preserve the integrity of the program. Rep. Mariannettee Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“Moms and dads seeking life-saving care for their kids should be able to access it quickly and wherever it’s available. Families shouldn’t have to trip over red tape to reach the most effective specialist, treatment or procedure, whether around the corner or across state lines. Our bill simplifies the process so parents can ensure children with a rare disease or cancer diagnosis get the right specialized medical care,” Grassley said.
“For children with complex medical conditions, bureaucratic red tape should not be an obstacle to care. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for families to navigate our health care system and relieve some of the stress that they face to get their kids the care they need when they need it,” Bennet said.
Click HERE to download broadcast-quality video of Grassley discussing the legislation.
Click HERE for text of the legislation.
Background:
Children with complex medical conditions cannot always secure specialized care in their home states. When this happens, parents must work with their in-state providers and Medicaid officials to identify out-of-state providers who do offer that care. The process is riddled with regulatory hurdles that often delay, or even prohibit, children from receiving critical medical treatments. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act would alleviate these burdens for families, as well as providers.
The legislation builds off the Grassley-Bennet ACE Kids Act, which was signed into law in 2019. Following the bill’s enactment, the lawmakers closely monitored implementation to ensure it would be executed as Congress intended.
Grassley was recognized in December 2024 for his persistent efforts to support children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. Learn more HERE.
Support for the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act:
This bill is backed by children’s hospitals, patients and research organizations nationwide, including in Iowa:
“As a specialty pediatric healthcare provider serving thousands of children and young adults with complex medical needs, ChildServe strongly supports the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act,” said Teri Wahlig, M.D., ChildServe CEO. “This bipartisan legislation prioritizes access to quality healthcare, critical services and specialists for children with complex medical conditions by simplifying, standardizing and streamlining the referral process. It creates a more efficient pathway for children to receive the timely care they need. We are grateful to Senator Grassley and Senator Bennett for their continued dedication to advocating for children with complex medical needs.”
“This legislation will be a lifeline for families across the country facing childhood cancer,” said E. Anders Kolb, MD, President and CEO of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “By streamlining the Medicaid provider screening and enrollment process, we’ll spare families the anguish of needless treatment delays at a time when every day counts. We thank Senators Grassley and Bennet for introducing this bill and urge Congress to pass it quickly. Kids can’t wait.”
“We are thrilled to see this important legislation reintroduced. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act has the potential to save lives. Our children must receive specialized care on their own timelines, without bureaucratic interference. We thank Sens. Grassley and Bennet for their work on behalf of our families,” said Mike Henry, Director of Advocacy, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Additional cosponsors of the legislation are Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).
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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
February 27, 2025
In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin detailed the list of crimes committed by January 6 rioters President Trump pardoned, which keeps growing longer
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, detailed the list of crimes committed by January 6thinsurrectionists, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers, pardoned by President Trump on his first day back in office. The grim result of the insurrection was the subsequent deaths of five law enforcement officers and the injuries to approximately 140 others, many of whom are still paying the price for that day.
“It came as a shock when, on the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency, he issued a blanket pardon for those who had been convicted for that January 6 attack on the Capitol… The American people overwhelmingly disagree with the President… Eighty-three percent of them oppose the pardons that he gave. That includes 70 percent who lean Republican in their voting,” Durbin said.“Despite this overwhelming opposition, the Justice Department has now broadened the scope of President Trump’s pardons for January 6 rioters to include separate charges stemming from searches conducted during those investigations.”
Federal prosecutors recently dropped firearms cases being pursued against two January 6 defendants pardoned by President Trump—Daniel Ball and Elias Costianes. Ball and Costianes had both been charged in separate proceedings with illegally possessing weapons that law enforcement discovered during January 6-related searches.
“Just last Friday, just a few days ago, a number of these pardoned individuals decided to hold their own press conference outside the U.S. Capitol to announce their intent to sue the Justice Department for prosecuting them for this [January 6 insurrection]. Dangerous individuals included former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who had been serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy before the Trump pardon; Proud Boy Ethan Nordean, who had been serving an 18-year sentence; Dominic Pezzola, the first rioter to breach the building on January 6. He was serving a 10-year sentence for stealing a police riot shield and using it to break a window,” Durbin said. “The group paraded through the Capitol after the press conference following the same route they took on January 6, 2021. They posed for photos, chanting as they did that day ‘Whose house? Our house.’ And after the press conference, Mr. Tarrio was even arrested, again, outside the Capitol forassaulting a female counter-protestor.”
Durbin continued, “Tarrio also posted a video of himself stalking Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn, former police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6. Tarrio was following them through the lobby of a hotel where the officers were attending a conference. While Tarrio followed them, he was calling out at them that they were ‘cowards’ and telling them to ‘keep walking.’ Does this sound like a man ashamed of his actions on January 6 and full of remorse? Does this sound like an innocent victim of assault? No, this sounds like a man who now thinks he is above the law with his Trump pardon and expects to be bailed out by President Trump for every crime he decides to commit.”
Durbin made the case that these individuals are a threat, and the more power and freedom they are given, the more danger they pose to our democracy and the law enforcement officers they are harassing. Just this month, dozens of former January 6 offenders joined forces on social media to compile and publicize the identities of at least 124 individuals who had been involved in their convictions—including prosecutors, judges, and FBI agents.
“The post, which has received [at least] 60,000 views, included names, photos, disparaging remarks, and demands for accountability,” Durbin said. “In January, another pardoned January 6 defendant who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers, Ryan Nichols Sr., identified in a Twitter post ‘officers in the D.C. Jail who need to be investigated for corruption and abuse,’ adding the names and LinkedIn profile photos of two D.C. Jail employees.”
Durbin concluded, “The men and women who bravely defended the members of this body deserve better than this… I hope that all of us, regardless of our political persuasion, will finally agree on one thing—violence has no place in a democracy and Donald Trump’s pardon of these 1,600 January 6 attackers is not only an insult to the Capitol police who risked their lives to stop them, but has emboldened these convicts to harass these officers and their families. Mr. President, the question for the Senate is simple. Whose side are you on? The police or the rioters.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.
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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
February 27, 2025
At today’s Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, Durbin urged members of both sides to realize that their obligation is to the Constitution, not a political party
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s executive business meeting. In his remarks, Durbin recalled yesterday’s Judiciary Committee nominations hearing in which Justice Department nominees suggested that elected officials are allowed to defy federal court orders.
Key Quotes:
“During my time on this Committee, my respect has grown for this Committee, the Senate, Congress, and the Constitution, of course. From advice and consent to the power of the purse, the founding fathers granted the legislative branch exclusive powers in the Constitution, exclusive—in part to ensure the executive branch did not become too powerful.”
“For nearly 250 years, this system has held. But let’s be honest—brutally honest. President Trump is testing the limits of our Constitution like they have never been tested in my lifetime.”
“President Trump and Elon Musk are pursuing a power grab that—if left unchecked—will leave the federal courts impotent and Congress a museum piece. That’s a fact.
“The notion that anyone can ignore a court order, particularly an elected official, really calls into question the fundamentals of checks and balances.”
“I want to caution my Republican colleagues that the precedents that the Trump Administration is establishing could be followed by a future Democratic president.”
“We now have a precedent that an incoming president can fire the FBI director and nominate a partisan campaign advisor who pledges to seek retribution against the president’s rivals.”
“We have a precedent that the Deputy FBI Director can now be someone like Dan Bongino, a partisan conspiracy theorist with no previous FBI experience… For more than 100 years, the Deputy FBI Director has been a career FBI agent. Today, we have a Deputy Director in Mr. Bongino who called the FBI ‘an oppo research firm for Democrats with an armed political enforcement branch’ and said the agency should be disbanded. He’s now the Deputy.”
“Thanks to Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, we also now have the precedent that the Justice Department’s senior ethics officials can be partisan political appointees. This is a dramatic departure from longstanding practice under previous administrations—Democratic and Republican—where a senior official had responsibility for ethics.”
“But the list doesn’t end here. President Trump is trying to establish a precedent that he can fire inspectors general and the heads of independent agencies for no reason at all, violating laws duly enacted by this Congress, even by members of this Committee on both sides of the aisle.”
“The Justice Department recently informed this Committee that it plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a 90-year-old precedent known as Humphrey’s Executor, which upheld the constitutionality of laws protecting the heads of independent agencies from being fired.”
“I hope we have a Congress that survives this process. And I hope that members of both sides will realize our obligation is to the Constitution more than any single political party.”
Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.
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Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act to prevent any migrant tied to Hamas from entering the country. This follows Hamas’ savage murder and release of four innocent hostages, including a young mother, her two toddlers, and a journalist, last week.
“The Biden-Harris administration released nearly 100 individuals on the terrorist watchlist into our country over the last four years, and we need to make certain anyone tied to Hamas is not allowed to enter or remain in the U.S.,” said Senator Blackburn. “This common-sense, bipartisan bill would ensure that no migrant tied to Hamas and its savage terrorist attack on October 7 can enter our nation or receive immigration benefits on the taxpayer dime.”
“No one who participated in Hamas’s brutal October 7 terrorist attack should be allowed to enter the United States,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m helping introduce bipartisan legislation to prohibit Hamas terrorists from being eligible to receive immigration benefits. I’ll always work across the aisle to keep our nation safe.”
NO IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR HAMAS TERRORISTS ACT
The No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act would:
Prohibit any migrant who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support to, or otherwise facilitated in any way the attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, from being admitted to the United States; and
Prohibit any such individual from being eligible for any immigration benefits.
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Click here for bill text.
