overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
SANTIAGO, Chile — From the sunbaked airstrips of Antofagasta to the bustling port of Valparaíso and the icy channels of Punta Arenas, elite troops from six nations dove into SOUTHERN STAR ’25, Latin America’s premier multinational special operations exercise. Designed around a simulated United Nations stabilization mandate, the event brings together special forces from Chile, the United States, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay, with ten additional nations participating as observers.
For three years, Jesús, a local bus driver from Colón, wore a cap to hide the large, painful scars on his ears. The disfigurement was a lingering reminder of a devastating vehicle accident that changed his life. This week aboard the Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), he received reconstructive surgery that marked a new beginning, thanks to a combined team of U.S. and Panamanian medical professionals.
I have worked in the women’s emergency shelter system in Hamilton, Ont., since 2012. I have met many women who have been navigating homelessness for years — with no permanent solution to their housing crisis. For my PhD in social work, I interviewed 21 women who had experienced homelessness for a year or longer in Hamilton. I asked them about their experiences, and through art-based activities, about their ideas for housing and support.
What I learned in the interviews, combined with existing research, highlights a hidden crisis. Within our current system resides a profound human cost that manages, instead of resolves, homelessness.
Among the women I spoke with, more than half had been experiencing homelessness for 10 years or longer. Six of the the women said they have never had a safe place of their own to live for the entirety of their adult lives.
All of the women who participated in this project accessed the services offered by the homeless serving sector, including shelters and outreach workers, designed to resolve their homelessness. Yet none of these women were able to have their housing and support needs met.
This means their experience of homelessness has persisted for years, and even decades.
Homelessness often starts in their teens
More than half of the participants I spoke with first experienced homelessness before they turned 18. Their primary route into youth homelessness was gender-based violence. They ran away from home when they were teenaged girls to escape violence and became caught in a cycle of events that include: hospitalization, incarceration, staying in youth shelters, living in group homes and unsafe places.
The women in my study described a frustrating and exhausting cycle of going among institutions such as hospitals, jails, emergency shelters, drop-in programs and transitional housing programs. They had all spent periods of time living outdoors, in encampments, in motels, with unsafe people and in other precarious and temporary housing arrangements. This phenomena is well-documented in existing Canadian research.
Better definitions, better data
The Canadian government defines those who have been homeless and using shelters for more than 180 days a year as experiencing “acute chronicity.”
Another term used by the federal government for individuals who have accessed shelters at least once in each of the last three years is “prolonged instability.”
People who meet one or both of these criteria are considered to have the highest housing needs in the country.
According to recent federal data, women and gender-diverse people across Canada experience slightly higher rates of acute chronicity than men (13.4 per cent for men, 15.4 per cent for women, and 13.9 per cent for gender-diverse people). But the real numbers for women are likely much higher due to under-reporting.
Research shows women remain invisible to official systems during periods of homelessness. For example, the available data relies solely on information about emergency shelter usage. It does not capture experiences of homelessness that occur outside of the shelter system.
For the women I spoke with, the official 180 days or three years that makes someone officially chronically homeless in Canada does not even begin to describe the length and complexity of their experiences of homelessness.
The current measurements from the government of Canada fall short of capturing the complexity of the homeless experience for many Canadian women.
Government officials must therefore not only rethink their definitions of those in the most housing need, they must develop responsive housing solutions to meet the needs of women who have been homeless for many years.
Mary Vaccaro consults for YWCA Hamilton. She receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, will participate in G20 and G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ (FMCBG) Meetings, in Durban, South Africa, from July 17 to 18.
Prior to the Meetings, during a short stay in Cape Town, the Minister will meet with local businesses and government officials with an eye to advance bilateral partnerships, economic development and innovation collaboration.
In Durban, the Minister, together with Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, will chair the fourth G7 FMCBG Meeting under Canada’s G7 Presidency. The agenda builds on the important progress made by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors at the G7 in Banff and the shared steps Canada and its partners are taking together to reduce ongoing trade and economic policy uncertainty.
G7 Ministers and Governors will also discuss Russia’s illegal and unjust war against Ukraine, as well as actions to improve supply chain resilience Australia and South Korea have been invited to join the discussion on supply chains.
The G20 FMCBG Meetings will focus on the global economy and on issues related to the international financial architecture, international taxation and ways to improve longer-term growth prospects in Africa and across the G20.
The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce the publication of the new research guide, Intellectual Property Law: A Beginner’s Guide. This guide provides an overview of resources for researching patent, copyright, and trademark law.
The guide begins with a general explanation of intellectual property, followed by print and online resources for further learning about the subject. There are also tabs for resources specific to patent, copyright, and trademark law. For each area of intellectual property law, we have gathered secondary sources, statutes, regulations, treaties, databases for searching records, case law sources, lists of organizations that can assist with applications for protection, and other online resources.
We hope that this guide will be a valuable resource for researchers seeking to learn more about intellectual property laws, researchers searching for existing patent, copyright, and trademark records, and researchers who want to learn about the processes to apply for protection for their intellectual property. As always, we encourage researchers who have further questions, comments, or feedback about this guide to reach out to us through Ask a Librarian.
Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.
Federal funds coming to airports in Aurora, Portland, Newport, Salem, John Day and Brookings.
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle along with, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Reps. Andrea Salinas and Maxine Dexter announced $5.15 million combined in federal infrastructure investments at airports in Newport, Brookings, Aurora, Portland, Salem, and John Day.
“Reliable, modern airport infrastructure is essential for the safety and economic vitality of our coastal communities,” said Rep. Hoyle. “These grants provide almost $750,000 in federal funding for the Newport and Brookings airports to input a new weather monitoring system, lighting upgrades, and essential safety equipment that will improve operations for pilots, emergency responders, and travelers alike. These investments are a win for public safety, regional connectivity, and the long-term resilience of Oregon’s South Coast.”
“Airports big and small are critical to keeping communities across the state connected and prepared to respond to natural disasters that include wildfires, winter weather and more,” Senator Wyden said. “These federal investments will help bolster local economies, improveservice and enhance safety. I applaud these investments and will continue to fight for similar investments for Oregon airports in the future.”
“Oregon’s regional airports serve as vital hubs for our communities and economies – supporting local businesses, connecting travelers to world-class recreational opportunities, and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Senator Merkley said. “This federal funding will allow Oregon regional airports to make critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit our communities and economy.? I’ll fight to protect the efficiency and safety of Oregon’s airports and the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.”?
“As the Willamette Valley continues to grow and economic opportunities expand, we must ensure Oregon has alternative and safe transportation routes,” said Rep. Salinas. “I’m proud to have helped secure this federal grant funding, which will improve the structural integrity of the tarmac so that the airport can continue safely serving our local community for years to come.”
“Investments in airport infrastructure are investments in public safety, regional resilience, and economic vitality,” said Rep. Dexter. “Portland was recently named the top airport in the nation and this funding will only further help keep Oregonians safe and our communities connected.”
The $5.15 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration will be distributed as follows:
$696,721 to Portland International to rebuild 550 feet of existing east curtain wall in the main terminal entrance, including six revolving doors.
$244,500 to McNary Field in Salem to rehabilitate 1,350 feet of existing paved taxiway to maintain its structural integrity and to extend its useful life.
$99,286 to Brookings Airport to install a new airport rotating beacon to enhance safety, rebuild a precision approach path indicator system and runway end identifier lights, and acquire and install a new wind cone navigational aid.
“We are thankful to be awarded an FAA grant to help fund a vital upgrade of the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at Newport Municipal Airport. Weather conditions on the Oregon coast can change within minutes, and it is essential that our airport is able to continue to provide accurate data and information that keeps pilots and passengers safe on their journey to and from Newport. We are also grateful for the continued support of our Oregon legislators in helping us to secure funding for critical infrastructure and safety projects and equipment to support the needs of our community and the over 2 million annual visitors to Newport,” said Nina Vetter, Newport City Manager.
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas and Dexter have all consistently supported airport infrastructure across Oregon. In June, Wyden, Merkley and Hoyle announced $9.7 million for rural airports across Oregon, in addition to another $1 million for airports on the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley including Brookings and Aurora. In May, the Oregon delegation announced $22 million for airport infrastructure investments across the state. In September 2024, Wyden and Merkley announced $10 million in federal grants for airports in Medford and Prineville. In July 2024, Merkley, Wyden and Hoyle announced $17 million from the federal Airport Improvement Program for airports across Oregon.
Federal funds coming to airports in Aurora, Portland, Newport, Salem, John Day and Brookings.
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle along with, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Reps. Andrea Salinas and Maxine Dexter announced $5.15 million combined in federal infrastructure investments at airports in Newport, Brookings, Aurora, Portland, Salem, and John Day.
“Reliable, modern airport infrastructure is essential for the safety and economic vitality of our coastal communities,” said Rep. Hoyle. “These grants provide almost $750,000 in federal funding for the Newport and Brookings airports to input a new weather monitoring system, lighting upgrades, and essential safety equipment that will improve operations for pilots, emergency responders, and travelers alike. These investments are a win for public safety, regional connectivity, and the long-term resilience of Oregon’s South Coast.”
“Airports big and small are critical to keeping communities across the state connected and prepared to respond to natural disasters that include wildfires, winter weather and more,” Senator Wyden said. “These federal investments will help bolster local economies, improveservice and enhance safety. I applaud these investments and will continue to fight for similar investments for Oregon airports in the future.”
“Oregon’s regional airports serve as vital hubs for our communities and economies – supporting local businesses, connecting travelers to world-class recreational opportunities, and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Senator Merkley said. “This federal funding will allow Oregon regional airports to make critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit our communities and economy.? I’ll fight to protect the efficiency and safety of Oregon’s airports and the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.”?
“As the Willamette Valley continues to grow and economic opportunities expand, we must ensure Oregon has alternative and safe transportation routes,” said Rep. Salinas. “I’m proud to have helped secure this federal grant funding, which will improve the structural integrity of the tarmac so that the airport can continue safely serving our local community for years to come.”
“Investments in airport infrastructure are investments in public safety, regional resilience, and economic vitality,” said Rep. Dexter. “Portland was recently named the top airport in the nation and this funding will only further help keep Oregonians safe and our communities connected.”
The $5.15 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration will be distributed as follows:
$696,721 to Portland International to rebuild 550 feet of existing east curtain wall in the main terminal entrance, including six revolving doors.
$244,500 to McNary Field in Salem to rehabilitate 1,350 feet of existing paved taxiway to maintain its structural integrity and to extend its useful life.
$99,286 to Brookings Airport to install a new airport rotating beacon to enhance safety, rebuild a precision approach path indicator system and runway end identifier lights, and acquire and install a new wind cone navigational aid.
“We are thankful to be awarded an FAA grant to help fund a vital upgrade of the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at Newport Municipal Airport. Weather conditions on the Oregon coast can change within minutes, and it is essential that our airport is able to continue to provide accurate data and information that keeps pilots and passengers safe on their journey to and from Newport. We are also grateful for the continued support of our Oregon legislators in helping us to secure funding for critical infrastructure and safety projects and equipment to support the needs of our community and the over 2 million annual visitors to Newport,” said Nina Vetter, Newport City Manager.
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas and Dexter have all consistently supported airport infrastructure across Oregon. In June, Wyden, Merkley and Hoyle announced $9.7 million for rural airports across Oregon, in addition to another $1 million for airports on the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley including Brookings and Aurora. In May, the Oregon delegation announced $22 million for airport infrastructure investments across the state. In September 2024, Wyden and Merkley announced $10 million in federal grants for airports in Medford and Prineville. In July 2024, Merkley, Wyden and Hoyle announced $17 million from the federal Airport Improvement Program for airports across Oregon.
Federal funds coming to airports in Aurora, Portland, Newport, Salem, John Day and Brookings.
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle along with, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Reps. Andrea Salinas and Maxine Dexter announced $5.15 million combined in federal infrastructure investments at airports in Newport, Brookings, Aurora, Portland, Salem, and John Day.
“Reliable, modern airport infrastructure is essential for the safety and economic vitality of our coastal communities,” said Rep. Hoyle. “These grants provide almost $750,000 in federal funding for the Newport and Brookings airports to input a new weather monitoring system, lighting upgrades, and essential safety equipment that will improve operations for pilots, emergency responders, and travelers alike. These investments are a win for public safety, regional connectivity, and the long-term resilience of Oregon’s South Coast.”
“Airports big and small are critical to keeping communities across the state connected and prepared to respond to natural disasters that include wildfires, winter weather and more,” Senator Wyden said. “These federal investments will help bolster local economies, improveservice and enhance safety. I applaud these investments and will continue to fight for similar investments for Oregon airports in the future.”
“Oregon’s regional airports serve as vital hubs for our communities and economies – supporting local businesses, connecting travelers to world-class recreational opportunities, and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Senator Merkley said. “This federal funding will allow Oregon regional airports to make critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit our communities and economy.? I’ll fight to protect the efficiency and safety of Oregon’s airports and the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.”?
“As the Willamette Valley continues to grow and economic opportunities expand, we must ensure Oregon has alternative and safe transportation routes,” said Rep. Salinas. “I’m proud to have helped secure this federal grant funding, which will improve the structural integrity of the tarmac so that the airport can continue safely serving our local community for years to come.”
“Investments in airport infrastructure are investments in public safety, regional resilience, and economic vitality,” said Rep. Dexter. “Portland was recently named the top airport in the nation and this funding will only further help keep Oregonians safe and our communities connected.”
The $5.15 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration will be distributed as follows:
$696,721 to Portland International to rebuild 550 feet of existing east curtain wall in the main terminal entrance, including six revolving doors.
$244,500 to McNary Field in Salem to rehabilitate 1,350 feet of existing paved taxiway to maintain its structural integrity and to extend its useful life.
$99,286 to Brookings Airport to install a new airport rotating beacon to enhance safety, rebuild a precision approach path indicator system and runway end identifier lights, and acquire and install a new wind cone navigational aid.
“We are thankful to be awarded an FAA grant to help fund a vital upgrade of the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at Newport Municipal Airport. Weather conditions on the Oregon coast can change within minutes, and it is essential that our airport is able to continue to provide accurate data and information that keeps pilots and passengers safe on their journey to and from Newport. We are also grateful for the continued support of our Oregon legislators in helping us to secure funding for critical infrastructure and safety projects and equipment to support the needs of our community and the over 2 million annual visitors to Newport,” said Nina Vetter, Newport City Manager.
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas and Dexter have all consistently supported airport infrastructure across Oregon. In June, Wyden, Merkley and Hoyle announced $9.7 million for rural airports across Oregon, in addition to another $1 million for airports on the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley including Brookings and Aurora. In May, the Oregon delegation announced $22 million for airport infrastructure investments across the state. In September 2024, Wyden and Merkley announced $10 million in federal grants for airports in Medford and Prineville. In July 2024, Merkley, Wyden and Hoyle announced $17 million from the federal Airport Improvement Program for airports across Oregon.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Cool Corridors Act of 2025. The bipartisan legislation focuses on mitigating extreme heat in urban areas by investing in tree canopies and shade infrastructure along transit corridors, sidewalks, bus stops, school zones, and underserved neighborhoods.
“As temperatures climb and heatwaves become more severe, we must ensure our communities are equipped to stay cool, safe, and livable,” said Strickland. “My bill promotes smart investments to improve public health, improve our infrastructure, make our communities more walkable and resilient.”
“In the Lower Hudson Valley, extreme heat causes serious damage to our roads, sidewalks, and public spaces, impacting families’ daily routines and expenses during the hottest months of the year. This bill will cool down our streets and transit corridors, helping protect our infrastructure and create safer, more comfortable neighborhoods for everyone. By investing in public works projects now, we will save taxpayers’ money in the long run and improve the quality of life for our communities,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Co-Chair of the Extreme Heat Caucus.
“At Trust for Public Land, we know that access to nature isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline. That’s why we support this effort to reauthorize the Healthy Streets Program,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, President and CEO of Trust for Public Land. “Through our work with communities across the country, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of trees, and how planting them in urban and rural neighborhoods alike results in added shade along with cleaner air, improved health outcomes, more local jobs, and documented protection from extreme temperatures and climate events.”
“Extreme heat is now the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., and it’s only getting worse. Trees are one of our most effective defenses—especially in the places where people are most exposed, like sidewalks, transit corridors, and bus stops. The Cool Corridors Act delivers smart, science-based investments in shade where people need it most. It’s a practical, proven way to protect public health and create safer, more connected neighborhoods. Led by Representatives Strickland and Rep. Lawler, this is bipartisan leadership turning down the temperature on extreme heat. We thank them for the coolest legislation of the summer and for championing life-saving, locally driven solutions that communities urgently need,” said Joel Pannell, Vice President of Urban Policy, American Forests.
The Cool Corridors Act aims to improve public health outcomes by addressing urban heat islands, reducing air and noise pollution, and decreasing stormwater runoff. Additionally, it promotes local workforce development through urban forestry job training, preserves existing roadside vegetation, and strengthens long-term maintenance and climate resilience strategies.
The bill also calls for interagency coordination across the Departments of Transportation, Energy, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It ensures accountability through community engagement and robust data reporting on environmental and public health outcomes.
House Co-Sponsors include: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Rep. Steven Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Rep. Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Josh Harder (CA-09).
You can read the full legislation here.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.
The program that pays court-appointed private attorneys to represent indigent federal criminal defendants has run out of money, starting the clock on a painful three-month delay in paying these attorneys and their related service providers for constitutionally mandated legal work.
The funding crisis has prompted concern throughout the federal Judiciary that many of these private lawyers, known as panel attorneys, could decline new cases. That could leave defendants, even those on death row, without adequate representation.
Judge Amy St. Eve, chair of the Judicial Conference’s Budget Committee, said, “The right of a criminal defendant to effective counsel regardless of the defendant’s economic status is guaranteed under our Constitution and the Criminal Justice Act. That fundamental right is at risk because we ran out of funding on July 3 to pay the private practice attorneys appointed to represent federal defendants.”
Panel attorneys are paid from funds appropriated by Congress to the Judicial Branch’s Defender Services program. Payments to panel attorneys have been suspended during previous congressional budget crises, but rarely for more than a few weeks in a single fiscal year.
“These attorneys will not be paid until October 1 for the work they have done and for the work that we continue to ask them to do, unless the Judiciary receives supplemental funding from Congress before then,” St. Eve said.
Over 90 percent of defendants in federal criminal cases have court-appointed counsel, because they cannot afford their own lawyer. Nationwide, federal defenders’ organizations handle about 60 percent of publicly financed cases. The remaining 40 percent are assigned to private, qualified defense lawyers who agree to serve on a court’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel.
The continuing resolution to fund the government for fiscal year 2025 passed by Congress in March froze all Judicial Branch funding at the FY 2024 level, which resulted in panel attorney funding running out unusually early. Because of the hard freeze funding level, funding is not available within other Judiciary accounts to address the funding gap.
The Judiciary has been in communication with congressional appropriators about the need for $116 million in supplemental funding to mitigate these payment deferrals and avert a continuing crisis.
During recent congressional testimony, St. Eve said, “These disruptions in panel attorney payments negatively affect our panel attorneys, potentially reducing their willingness to accept future appointments and jeopardizing the ability to provide necessary and timely representation.”
There are more than 12,000 private panel attorneys throughout the country who accept CJA assignments annually. About 85 percent of them work for small firms or are solo practitioners who can ill afford long delays in payments for their work. Significant amounts of work affected by the funding freeze have already been performed.
Some of the attorneys “continue to work but are not getting paid, which obviously is a tremendous hardship, especially for small firms and solo practitioners,” said Judge Cathy Seibel, who chairs the Judicial Conference’s Defender Services Committee.
The funding shortfall also affects specialists employed by the defense to help effectively present their clients’ cases, such as investigators, interpreters, and expert witnesses. Many of those vital roles may go unfilled for three months, with unpredictable consequences for the criminal justice system.
For example, in the District of North Dakota, several long-tenured CJA attorneys recently resigned from the panel. The concern among many federal courts is that attorneys will decline appointments and trials will have to be postponed, leaving some defendants detained for longer than necessary or even compromising criminal cases if requirements under the Speedy Trial Act cannot be met.
The work can’t simply be turned over to federal defender organizations across the country because those offices are already seriously understaffed. Federal defender offices have been under a hiring freeze for 17 of the past 24 months because of tight budgets from Congress. Many defender offices are experiencing increased burnout among employees working excessive overtime.
Panel attorneys are paid an hourly rate of $175 in non-capital cases, and, in capital cases, a maximum hourly rate of $223, which are significantly lower than market rate. The rates include both attorney compensation and office overhead, such as rent, supplies, and equipment.
Denver, USA, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AIXA Miner, a next-generation AI and blockchain infrastructure company, today announced the official launch of its fully automated, cloud-based cryptocurrency mining platform. Designed for both first-time users and crypto investors, AIXA Miner leverages artificial intelligence to optimize mining performance and deliver stable daily earnings without requiring users to manage hardware or trading decisions.
The launch comes at a time when AI-based cryptocurrencies—such as SingularityNET (AGIX), Fetch.ai (FET), and Ocean Protocol (OCEAN)—are surging in popularity, but present high volatility for retail investors. AIXA Miner offers a lower-risk alternative through AI-managed mining contracts that automatically identify profitable coins and reduce the complexity of crypto income generation.
A New Standard for AI Cloud Mining
AIXA Miner’s contract system introduces a streamlined mining experience by removing the typical barriers of hardware, electricity costs, and technical setup. Through proprietary AI algorithms, the platform dynamically shifts mining resources to maximize returns and efficiency—24 hours a day.
“We designed AIXA Miner to democratize crypto mining,” said spokesperson at AIXA. “By combining automation, AI-driven optimization, and transparent contract terms, users can now earn daily crypto rewards with a simple email sign-up—no prior experience required.”
Platform Features and Affiliate Capabilities
AI-Optimized Mining with 24/7 Automation – The core engine reallocates mining power based on real-time yield data, ensuring every contract works toward optimal returns.
No Hardware or Experience Needed –Register with your email and activate a contract with as little as $100. A $20 bonus is automatically credited upon sign-up.
Transparent Daily Payouts and Full Capital Return – Earnings are credited daily, and your full investment is returned at the end of the contract term—no hidden fees, no lock-ins.
Diversified Contract Strategy – Manage multiple short- and long-term mining contracts to match your investment goals and risk profile.
Four AI Mining Contracts Available at Launch
AIXA Miner contracts are designed to suit both entry-level users and institutional-scale investors. Whether you’re exploring crypto income for the first time or scaling large operations, AIXA’s infrastructure and AI optimization deliver predictable performance.
Contract Name
Investment
Duration
Daily Earnings
Total Return
ROI
DOGE iBeLink BM L3
$300
2 Days
$4.08
$300 + $8.16
2.72%
LTC AntMiner L9
$500
3 Days
$6.90
$500 + $20.70
4.14%
BTC S19 XP Hyd 3U
$4,600
12 Days
$70.38
$4,600 + $844.56
18.36%
BTC ANTSPACE MD5
$101,000
2 Days
$5,151.00
$101,000 + $10,302
10.20%
AIXA Miner’s 3-Level Affiliate Program
The AIXA Miner affiliate program allows users to earn commissions by sharing their referral links—no investment required.
Level 1 – 5% Commission – 5% of each direct referral’s deposit.
Level 2 – 2% Commission – 2% from contracts purchased by your referral’s referrals.
Level 3 – 1% Commission – 1% from third-level referral deposits, growing your income passively over time.
Whether you’re a content creator, community leader, or crypto enthusiast, AIXA’s affiliate structure rewards outreach and engagement with long-term benefits.
Get Started in 3 Simple Steps
Register with your email on the official AIXA Miner site and receive a signup bonus.
Choose a Mining Contract from a range of durations and investment levels.
Activate AI Mining and collect daily crypto rewards—monitor, reinvest, or withdraw anytime.
In a time when AI tokens dominate headlines but bring unpredictable swings, AIXA Miner offers a practical, AI-powered solution for stable crypto income. No hardware. No technical knowledge. No speculation. Just automated, transparent, daily rewards.
Combined with a low entry barrier, flexible contracts, and a rewarding affiliate model, AIXA Miner positions itself as a smarter, more accessible way to benefit from the AI revolution—without riding the market rollercoaster.
About AIXA Miner
AIXA Miner is a leading provider of cloud mining services. Utilizing the latest technology and renewable energy sources, we offer our clients the opportunity to engage in cryptocurrency mining without the need for personal hardware. Our services are designed to ensure compliance with the highest security standards, including FinCEN Certification. For more information on how we can help you achieve your crypto mining goals, visit our website at aixaminer.com.
SAN DIEGO, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, and Amwins, a leading distributor of specialty insurance products, today announced a partnership to bridge the gap between cyber insurance requirements and applicants’ cybersecurity technology and processes. In collaboration with ESET, Amwins clients will receive exclusive discounts on ESET’s top-tier MDR solution to help businesses maintain security and compliance for cyber insurance.
“As a leading global specialty insurance distributor, we are delighted to partner with ESET,” said David Lewison, Executive Vice President and National Professional Lines Practice Leader, Amwins. “ESET’s consistent global performance, achievements in third-party testing, and recent recognition as the Best Ransomware Remediation Solution by the SC Awards make them a great MDR choice for our clients.”
“Providing value-added resources from top service providers, like ESET, matter,” said Jason White, Executive Vice President and Professional Lines Broker, Amwins. “Whether our clients are entering the market for the first time or facing a challenging renewal, Amwins is here to help them become a better risk and secure the best coverage and terms possible.”
Covering a client’s complete resource requirements from cyber insurance approval and renewal to cybersecurity controls, the ESET/Amwins partnership provides an exclusive, discounted offer for fully managed Extended Detection and Response with ESET PROTECT MDR. By combining cyber risk and insurance assessments with competitive products and services across the spectrum, ESET and Amwins solve the longstanding problem of how to bring the right cybersecurity expertise directly into the insurance discussion.
“We are proud to partner with Amwins, a top global cyber insurance distributor, to provide exceptional solutions that help companies stay ahead of cyber threats and zero-day attacks, while helping to ensure they are not denied insurance coverage,” said Ryan Grant, Country Manager, US & Canada, for ESET North America. “Businesses choosing ESET benefit from 30 years of leading malware identification and incident response expertise, developed from protecting millions of customers and thousands of companies globally. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for ESET in the cyber insurance industry, delivering unmatched value and guidance for our mutual clients.”
ESET offers award-winning multi-layered solutions to help businesses of all sizes prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats. With 24/7 threat management service for any organization, and using AI and human expertise for premium ransomware protection without in-house security specialists, ESET MDR is a fully managed, standalone cybersecurity solution, providing continuous threat monitoring and automated response. Actively detecting, investigating, and neutralizing cyber threats before they escalate, ESET MDR delivers comprehensive security across endpoints, cloud applications, email, mobile devices, and networks achieving industry-leading protection without the need for in-house security specialists and eliminate data-organization bottlenecks that can hinder effective detection and response.
About Amwins Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S., dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefits, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 138 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $44.5 billion annually.
About ESET ESET provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of known and emerging cyber threats — securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud or mobile protection, its AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multi-factor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. An ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
ALBUQUERQUE – The recent flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, has brought devastating loss and hardship to our community. Lives have been lost, homes and businesses have been destroyed, and many families are facing an uncertain future. In the midst of this tragedy, we have witnessed countless acts of generosity and resilience as neighbors, volunteers, and organizations step forward to help those in need.
Unfortunately, history teaches us that disasters like this also attract individuals seeking to exploit the situation for personal gain. Fraudulent activity undermines recovery efforts and diverts critical resources away from genuine victims.
Past disasters have shown that fraud can take many forms, including:
Individuals not affected by the flooding who attempt to claim disaster benefits.
The creation of fraudulent charities or the diversion of donations intended for legitimate relief organizations.
Fraudulent applications for rebuilding grants and loans, such as those offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Our office has zero tolerance for those who seek to steal from disaster victims or misuse funds meant for recovery. We have established a Disaster Fraud Working Group, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, HUD, SBA, Postal Inspectors, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Marshals Service. This group is actively reviewing potential cases and will work closely with the New Mexico Department of Justice, local and tribal law enforcement, and community partners to ensure that fraudsters are brought to justice.
Anyone considering disaster-related fraud should be aware that federal law—specifically, 18 United States Code, Section 1040—provides for penalties of up to 30 years in federal prison.
We urge the public to remain vigilant. If you observe suspicious activity or suspect fraud, please report it immediately. The National Disaster Fraud Hotline is available toll-free at (866) 720-5721, or you may email disaster@leo.gov. The hotline operates 24/7.
Together, we can protect our community and ensure that help reaches those who truly need it.
BOSTON – An influential leader of a large-scale international gang based in Southern Arizona was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for attempting to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics into Massachusetts via inmate phone calls while serving four concurrent life sentences.
Noel Haro, 50, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 188 months in prison, to be served concurrent to the life sentences he is currently serving at the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The court also imposed five years of supervised release. On March 11, 2025, Haro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; aiding and abetting. He was indicted in April 2023 along with his brother Marcos Haro.
“Even behind bars, Noel Haro continued to direct the operations of an international drug trafficking network and peddle poison into our communities. This level of audacity is precisely why we remain vigilant and aggressive in dismantling drug trafficking networks at every level,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Our office and our agency partners will not allow prison cells to serve as command centers for criminal activity. We will pursue every lead, intercept every coded message, and hold every conspirator accountable.”
“While locked up for life, Noel Haro thought he had nothing more to lose so he used his ‘Get out of Jail Free’ card to solicit help in trafficking deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine across the country, but today’s lengthy prison sentence shows he could not have been more wrong,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “This case should make it crystal clear to anyone who thinks they can flagrantly violate the law and manage a drug trafficking organization while behind bars. It’s only a matter of time before you will get caught.”
“The DOC remains steadfast in advancing the policies, safety measures, and technology that support our ability to detect and deter illegal activity,” said Shawn Jenkins, Commissioner of the Department of Correction. “This case underscores our commitment to rooting out criminal activity within our facilities and holding accountable those who attempt to undermine the safety and integrity of our institutions. I’m grateful to the DOC staff for their dedication and vigilance and commend our state and federal law enforcement partners for their invaluable support.”
Noel Haro is a member and influential leader of the “Border Brothers” gang – a large-scale international gang known to be heavily involved in drug, weapon and human trafficking in Southern Arizona with a presence in Nogales, Mexico and the Arizona prison system. Noel Haro is currently serving a life sentence at a Massachusetts Department of Correction facility in connection with convictions in Arizona for drug distribution, conspiracy and money laundering. He was previously serving his sentence at a facility in Arizona but was transferred to serve his sentence in Massachusetts upon being deemed a security concern due to his alleged influence over other inmates and repeated introduction of cell phones and narcotics into Arizona facilities.
Beginning in or about April 2019, and investigation began into Noel Haro’s attempts to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics to Massachusetts during his inmate phone calls. Specifically, during his inmate calls, Noel Haro worked to recruit friends and family members to continue his drug trafficking business while he was incarcerated and to transport narcotics from Arizona to Massachusetts on his behalf.
In April 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Correction intercepted a letter that Noel Haro had sent to co-conspirator Denise Guyette, whom he had recruited and connected with his drug suppliers in Arizona. Inside the envelope, a “Get out of Jail Free” card from the board game Monopoly was found with a handwritten “key” on the back – which was to be used to discuss drug trafficking in code. For example, the number “736” was written above the word “coke,” the number “747” was written above the word “meth,” the number “766” was written above the word “fety,” and the number “746” was written above the word “heroin.” After sending Guyette this key card, the defendant instructed her to travel to Arizona to meet with his drug suppliers and send drugs back to Massachusetts for further distribution.
The defendant also worked with his brother, Marcos Haro, to arrange drug deals outside of prison. In June 2022, Marcos Haro agreed to supply an individual with samples of multiple narcotics – including fentanyl and methamphetamine. Marcos Haro later mailed the narcotics to the individual concealed in a purple teddy bear inside a postal package. On July 13, 2022, the package was retrieved and found to contain fentanyl, five fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and approximately three grams of black tar heroin. On July 25, 2022, during a recorded inmate call, Noel Haro and his brother discussed selling one pound of methamphetamine to the same individual and agreed on a sale price of $5,000. On July 27, 2022, a package sent from Marcos Haro was retrieved and found to contain approximately 446.6 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine.
During a recorded inmate call on Aug. 10, 2022, Noel Haro directed his brother to arrange the sale of five pounds of methamphetamine to the individual. Later, on Sept. 12, 2022, two packages sent from Marcos Haro were retrieved and each found to contain approximately 892.3 grams of 86% pure methamphetamine and approximately 1,320.2 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine.
Guyette was charged in a separate indictment and, in April 2025, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to drug trafficking offenses. Marcos Haro pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025 and is currently scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Foley, FBI SAC Docks and MADOC Commissioner Jenkins made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea E. Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
When we first got together, we wondered whether our unconventional project, linking space weather and human behavior, could actually bridge such a vast disciplinary divide. Now, two years on, we believe the payoffs – personal, professional and scientific – were well worth the initial discomfort.
Our collaboration, which culminated in a recent paper in the journal Science Advances, began with a single question: What happened to life on Earth when the planet’s magnetic field nearly collapsed roughly 41,000 years ago?
Weirdness when Earth’s magnetic shield falters
This near-collapse is known as the Laschamps Excursion, a brief but extreme geomagnetic event named for the volcanic fields in France where it was first identified. At the time of the Laschamps Excursion, near the end of the Pleistocene epoch, Earth’s magnetic poles didn’t reverse as they do every few hundred thousand years. Instead, they wandered, erratically and rapidly, over thousands of miles. At the same time, the strength of the magnetic field dropped to less than 10% of its modern day intensity.
So, instead of behaving like a stable bar magnet – a dipole – as it usually does, the Earth’s magnetic field fractured into multiple weak poles across the planet. As a result, the protective force field scientists call the magnetosphere became distorted and leaky.
The magnetosphere normally deflects much of the solar wind and harmful ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise reach Earth’s surface.
So, during the Laschamps Excursion when the magnetosphere broke down, our models suggest a number of near-Earth effects. While there is still work to be done to precisely characterize these effects, we do know they included auroras – normally seen only in skies near the poles as the Northern Lights or Southern Lights – wandering toward the equator, and significantly higher-than-present-day doses of harmful solar radiation.
The skies 41,000 years ago may have been both spectacular and threatening. When we realized this, we two geophysicists wanted to know whether this could have affected people living at the time.
The archaeologist’s answer was absolutely.
Human responses to ancient space weather
For people on the ground at that time, auroras may have been the most immediate and striking effect, perhaps inspiring awe, fear, ritual behavior or something else entirely. But the archaeological record is notoriously limited in its ability to capture these kinds of cognitive or emotional responses.
In response, people may have adopted practical measures: spending more time in caves, producing tailored clothing for better coverage, or applying mineral pigment “sunscreen” made of ochre to their skin. As we describe in our recent paper, the frequency of these behaviors indeed appears to have increased across parts of Europe, where effects of the Laschamps Excursion were pronounced and prolonged.
Naturally occurring ochre can act as a protective sunscreen if applied to skin. Museo Egizio di Torino
At this time, both Neanderthals and members of our species, Homo sapiens, were living in Europe, though their geographic distributions likely overlapped only in certain regions. The archaeological record suggests that different populations exhibited distinct approaches to environmental challenges, with some groups perhaps more reliant on shelter or material culture for protection.
Importantly, we’re not suggesting that space weather alone caused an increase in these behaviors or, certainly, that the Laschamps caused Neanderthals to go extinct, which is one misinterpretation of our research. But it could have been a contributing factor – an invisible but powerful force that influenced innovation and adaptability.
Cross-discipline collaboration
Collaborating across such a disciplinary gap was, at first, daunting. But it turned out to be deeply rewarding.
Archaeologists are used to reconstructing now-invisible phenomena like climate. We can’t measure past temperatures or precipitation directly, but they’ve left traces for us to interpret if we know where and how to look.
An artistic rendering of how far into lower latitudes the aurora might have been visible during the Laschamps Excursion. Maximilian Schanner (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany)
But even archaeologists who’ve spent years studying the effects of climate on past behaviors and technologies may not have considered the effects of the geomagnetic field and space weather. These effects, too, are invisible, powerful and best understood through indirect evidence and modeling. Archaeologists can treat space weather as a vital component of Earth’s environmental history and future forecasting.
Likewise, geophysicists, who typically work with large datasets, models and simulations, may not always engage with some of the stakes of space weather. Archaeology adds a human dimension to the science. It reminds us that the effects of space weather don’t stop at the ionosphere. They can ripple down into the lived experiences of people on the ground, influencing how they adapt, create and survive.
The Laschamps Excursion wasn’t a fluke or a one-off. Similar disruptions of Earth’s magnetic field have happened before and will happen again. Understanding how ancient humans responded can provide insight into how future events might affect our world – and perhaps even help us prepare.
Our unconventional collaboration has shown us how much we can learn, how our perspective changes, when we cross disciplinary boundaries. Space may be vast, but it connects us all. And sometimes, building a bridge between Earth and space starts with the smallest things, such as ochre, or a coat, or even sunscreen.
Agnit Mukhopadhyay has received funding from NASA Science Mission Directorate and the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School.
Raven Garvey and Sanja Panovska do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
AUSTIN, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurigo Software, the leading provider of capital planning and construction management software for capital owners, has announced the launch of Aurigo Primus, an AI-powered capital planning solution tailored for healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and data center development. Primus is purpose-built to support high-impact, upstream decision-making that drives long-term investment. By connecting planning with construction and leveraging real-time project data, Primus delivers greater visibility and ensures continuous improvement in future planning cycles.
The global capital expenditure market is projected to grow from $727.81 billion in 2024 to $767.84 billion in 2025, reaching $2.47 trillion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. Facility owners are under immense pressure to deploy capital effectively, yet many continue to face challenges due to outdated or siloed data, manual processes, and fragmented workflows. These inefficiencies often result in delayed decisions, missed opportunities, and a lack of clarity across programs.
“For years, we’ve helped governments plan over $450 billion in infrastructure by helping them identify the right projects, justifying them with data, and getting them approved,” said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and founder of Aurigo Software. “With Primus, we’re bringing that same capability to a wider audience, enabling them to score projects, compare scenarios, quantify ROI, build out multi-year cashflows, and get to a yes, more confidently.”
The Aurigo Primus Plan platform helps facility owners make smarter investments by providing a standardized framework for capturing and evaluating opportunities that align with business goals. It offers comprehensive financial tools to forecast costs, assess risks, and manage budgets effectively. AI-driven scenario planning enables users to prioritize projects, model cash flows, and optimize funding strategies. Real-time alerts and intelligent monitoring keep portfolio plans aligned with actual field data, ensuring decisions stay accurate and up-to-date.
With Primus, you can:
Maximize ROI and cut capital waste by funding the right projects
Accelerate planning cycles through automated workflows and AI-guided insights
Gain full financial visibility by aligning teams and centralizing data
Reduce risk with real-time visibility into portfolio health, cost drivers, and schedule impacts
“Facility owners are often navigating complex and high-stakes capital decisions while relying on legacy software and outdated processes,” said Pete Olds, Vice President of Professional Services and Customer Success at Aurigo Software. “Primus is built to support the strategic needs of capital planning leaders, giving FP&A professionals, department heads, and operational managers the visibility and control they need to drive better outcomes, faster.”
Aurigo’s customers include some of the largest infrastructure and facilities owners in North America, spanning federal and state agencies, departments of transportation, and water authorities. Building on this success, the company’s latest platform—Primus—is now available to owners in sectors such as data centers, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and warehousing. In 2025, Aurigo plans to expand the platform with additional AI-powered products to offer end-to-end solutions that transform how capital programs are planned, built, and delivered.
About Aurigo Software
Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. Aurigo provides modern, cloud-based solutions for capital infrastructure and private owners to help them plan with confidence and build with quality. With more than $450 billion of capital programs under management, Aurigo’s solutions are trusted by over 300 customers in transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and the government, with over 40,000 projects across North America. Aurigo helps capital program executives make better decisions based on proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Aurigo is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with global offices in Canada and India. Learn more at www.aurigo.com.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China firmly opposes the U.S. unilateral sanctions against Cuba and interference in Cuba’s internal affairs under the guise of so-called “human rights”, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
China urges the United States to immediately lift its blockade and sanctions against Cuba, the spokesperson added.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a query about U.S. sanctions imposed on senior Cuban officials.
Lin said that the United States has imposed a comprehensive blockade and illegal sanctions on Cuba for over 60 years, inflicting profound suffering on the Cuban people. “Sanctions should be lifted immediately instead of being intensified.”
Lin said that China firmly supports Cuba in taking a development path that suits its national conditions and firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity.
“We urge the United States to immediately lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba and remove it from the list of ‘state sponsors of terrorism,’” he added.
“If the U.S. side truly cares about human rights, it should reflect on its own record of human rights violations in Guantanamo, Cuba and around the world over the years,” he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China firmly opposes the U.S. unilateral sanctions against Cuba and interference in Cuba’s internal affairs under the guise of so-called “human rights”, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
China urges the United States to immediately lift its blockade and sanctions against Cuba, the spokesperson added.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a query about U.S. sanctions imposed on senior Cuban officials.
Lin said that the United States has imposed a comprehensive blockade and illegal sanctions on Cuba for over 60 years, inflicting profound suffering on the Cuban people. “Sanctions should be lifted immediately instead of being intensified.”
Lin said that China firmly supports Cuba in taking a development path that suits its national conditions and firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity.
“We urge the United States to immediately lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba and remove it from the list of ‘state sponsors of terrorism,’” he added.
“If the U.S. side truly cares about human rights, it should reflect on its own record of human rights violations in Guantanamo, Cuba and around the world over the years,” he said.
LEWISVILLE, Ark., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE.A: SLI) and Equinor, is pleased to announce that it has completed sampling from its newest exploration well, the Lester well, in the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project area, and has recorded the highest lithium concentration reported to date from the SWA Project area; 616 mg/L lithium in brine.
The Lester well was completed in the second quarter of this year and concludes all sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The location of the Lester well in relation to the SWA Phase 1 Project is shown in Figure 1 below, and an aerial photograph of the Lester well and associated pad is shown in Figure 2.
Sampling of brines from the upper Smackover Formation was completed by the Company, and subsequent analysis of the brine by an independent third-party certified laboratory demonstrated significantly higher than expected lithium concentrations in the Lester brine, marking the highest lithium grade reported for the SWA Project. The summarized lithium brine analyses are provided in Table 1 below which highlights the average lithium concentration from three brine samples was 582 mg/L.
Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium stated, “The Smackover Lithium team has now completed all the fieldwork and testing required for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. We completed this final well in a part of the project area where we expected the lithium concentration to be approximately 500 mg/L, so we’re encouraged with these latest sampling results that show the highest lithium concentrations in the whole SWA Project area (maximum 616 mg/L), demonstrating a marked improvement from levels in the existing world-class lithium brine resource.
With all of the fieldwork complete, the joint Smackover Lithium team is working to complete the FEED study, with a Definitive Feasibility Study expected later in the third quarter of this year. The completion of these studies will represent a significant milestone as the team rapidly advances Phase 1 of the SWA Project through off-take negotiations and project finance towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by year-end 2025.”
Figure 1: SWA Project, Phase 1 Reynolds Unit and Location of Lester Well
Table 1: Lester Well Lithium Brine Analyses in SWA Phase 1 Project Area
Sample Name[1]
Lithium mg/L
Lester 2 #1
559
Lester 2 #2
571
Lester 2 #5
616
Average Concentration[2]
582
Notes: Analyses conducted at WETLAB (Western Environmental Testing Laboratory) – 475 E Greg St, Suite 119, Sparks NV 89431. [1] Sample names are as reported by the independent third party laboratory. Samples #3 and #4 were a blank sample and a synthetic spike sample, used for laboratory data verification and QA/QC purposes. They are omitted here for clarity. [2] A simple average concentration is provided from the Lester well for illustrative purposes of the general lithium brine quality in the Lester well. Porosity-weighted averages will be used in future resource quality estimates.
Figure 2: Aerial Photo of Lester Well in SWA Phase 1 Project
Notes: Photograph is taken looking approximately northeast across the Lester well-pad.
Qualified Person
Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.
About Smackover Lithium
Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor. Formed in May 2024, Smackover Lithium is developing two Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) Project Companies in southwest Arkansas and east Texas. Standard Lithium owns a 55% interest and Equinor holds the remaining 45% interest in the two Project Companies, with Standard Lithium maintaining operatorship.
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSXV and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
About Equinor
Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and has offices in more than 20 countries worldwide. Equinor’s partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on its broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines,the timeline for completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
LEWISVILLE, Ark., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE.A: SLI) and Equinor, is pleased to announce that it has completed sampling from its newest exploration well, the Lester well, in the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project area, and has recorded the highest lithium concentration reported to date from the SWA Project area; 616 mg/L lithium in brine.
The Lester well was completed in the second quarter of this year and concludes all sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The location of the Lester well in relation to the SWA Phase 1 Project is shown in Figure 1 below, and an aerial photograph of the Lester well and associated pad is shown in Figure 2.
Sampling of brines from the upper Smackover Formation was completed by the Company, and subsequent analysis of the brine by an independent third-party certified laboratory demonstrated significantly higher than expected lithium concentrations in the Lester brine, marking the highest lithium grade reported for the SWA Project. The summarized lithium brine analyses are provided in Table 1 below which highlights the average lithium concentration from three brine samples was 582 mg/L.
Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium stated, “The Smackover Lithium team has now completed all the fieldwork and testing required for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. We completed this final well in a part of the project area where we expected the lithium concentration to be approximately 500 mg/L, so we’re encouraged with these latest sampling results that show the highest lithium concentrations in the whole SWA Project area (maximum 616 mg/L), demonstrating a marked improvement from levels in the existing world-class lithium brine resource.
With all of the fieldwork complete, the joint Smackover Lithium team is working to complete the FEED study, with a Definitive Feasibility Study expected later in the third quarter of this year. The completion of these studies will represent a significant milestone as the team rapidly advances Phase 1 of the SWA Project through off-take negotiations and project finance towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by year-end 2025.”
Figure 1: SWA Project, Phase 1 Reynolds Unit and Location of Lester Well
Table 1: Lester Well Lithium Brine Analyses in SWA Phase 1 Project Area
Sample Name[1]
Lithium mg/L
Lester 2 #1
559
Lester 2 #2
571
Lester 2 #5
616
Average Concentration[2]
582
Notes: Analyses conducted at WETLAB (Western Environmental Testing Laboratory) – 475 E Greg St, Suite 119, Sparks NV 89431. [1] Sample names are as reported by the independent third party laboratory. Samples #3 and #4 were a blank sample and a synthetic spike sample, used for laboratory data verification and QA/QC purposes. They are omitted here for clarity. [2] A simple average concentration is provided from the Lester well for illustrative purposes of the general lithium brine quality in the Lester well. Porosity-weighted averages will be used in future resource quality estimates.
Figure 2: Aerial Photo of Lester Well in SWA Phase 1 Project
Notes: Photograph is taken looking approximately northeast across the Lester well-pad.
Qualified Person
Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.
About Smackover Lithium
Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor. Formed in May 2024, Smackover Lithium is developing two Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) Project Companies in southwest Arkansas and east Texas. Standard Lithium owns a 55% interest and Equinor holds the remaining 45% interest in the two Project Companies, with Standard Lithium maintaining operatorship.
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSXV and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
About Equinor
Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and has offices in more than 20 countries worldwide. Equinor’s partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on its broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines,the timeline for completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
Because the final version of the legislation moved swiftly through the Senate and the House, estimates regarding the number of people likely to lose their health insurance coverage were incomplete when Congress approved it by razor-thin margins. Nearly 12 million Americans could lose their health insurance coverage by 2034 due to this legislation, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Work requirements target people eligible for Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act’s expansion. They tend to have slightly higher incomes than other people enrolled in the program.
Medicaid applicants who are between 19 and 64 years old will need to certify they are working at least 80 hours a month or spending that much time engaged in comparable activities, such as community service.
When these rules have been introduced to other safety net programs, most people lost their benefits due to administrative hassles, not because they weren’t logging enough hours on the job. Experts like me expect to see that occur with Medicaid too.
The new policies also make it harder for states to pay for Medicaid, which is run by the federal government and the states. They do so by limiting the taxes states charge medical providers, which are used to fund the states’ share of Medicaid funding. With less funding, some states may try to reduce enrollment or cut benefits, such as home-based health care, in the future.
Losing Medicaid coverage may leave millions of low-income Americans without insurance coverage, with no affordable alternatives for health care. Historically, the people who are most likely to lose their benefits are low-income people of color or immigrants who do not speak English well.
A supporter of the Affordable Care Act stands in front of the Supreme Court building on Nov. 10, 2020. Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Should they exit, there would be fewer choices and higher premiums for people getting their insurance this way. It could also mean that some counties could have no ACA plans offered at all.
Ramifications for the uninsured and rural hospitals
Having to struggle to pay the kinds of high medical bills people without insurance face takes a physical, mental and financial toll, not just on people who become uninsured but also their families and friends. It also harms medical providers that don’t get reimbursed for their care.
Public health scholars like me have no doubt that many hospitals and other health care providers will have to make tough choices. Some will close. Others will offer fewer services and fire health care workers. Emergency room wait times will increase for everyone, not just people who lose their health insurance due to changes in Trump’s tax and spending package.
Rural hospitals play a crucial role in health care access.
Republicans tried to protect rural hospitals by designating $50 billion in the legislative package for them over 10 years. But this funding comes nowhere near the $155 billion in losses KFF expects those health care providers to incur due to Medicaid cuts. Also, the funding comes with a number of restrictions that could further limit its effectiveness.
What’s next
Some Republicans, including Sens. Mike Crapo and Ron Johnson, have already indicated that more health care policy changes could be coming in another large legislative package.
Moving forward, spending on Medicare, the insurance program that primarily covers Americans 65 and older, could decline too. Without any further action, the CBO says that the law could trigger an estimated $500 billion in mandatory Medicare cuts from 2026 to 2034 because of the trillions of dollars in new federal debt the law creates.
Simon F. Haeder has previously received funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for unrelated projects.
Government has made regulatory changes that protect homebuilders’ projects from increases in Metro Vancouver Regional District development cost charges, freeing up hundreds of millions of dollars in capital to invest in additional new homes.
Eligible projects now will be protected from increases to development cost charges for 24 months instead of the previous 12. This will help to ensure that homebuilders, future homebuyers, renters and tradespeople in Metro Vancouver will have more certainty that housing projects, which are planned or under construction, will continue to be built.
“There’s no question that global financial uncertainty and rising costs of goods and skilled labour have challenged the housing market in cities all over the world,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “In B.C., we’re looking for new ways every day to make sure people can live in homes they can afford. That’s why we’re taking more steps to ensure major housing projects in our biggest region have the financial certainty they need to succeed.”
The change supports the Metro Vancouver Regional District’s eligibility for $250 million in federal infrastructure funding, while granting eligible homebuilders an extra year to access the lower development cost charge rates. Using federal funding in this way ensures that Metro Vancouver can continue to upgrade critical infrastructure without increasing costs for residents or future homebuyers.
“Metro Vancouver is committed to supporting the delivery of more affordable and diverse housing options across the region,” said Mike Hurley, chair, board of directors, Metro Vancouver. “Development cost charges are essential for funding the critical housing enabling infrastructure and aligning to the commitment of growth paying for growth — such as water, wastewater treatment, and parks — that keeps our region livable, while balancing affordability. Allowing more time to continue paying 2024 rates offers developers more financial certainty for eligible developments, which can help to advance housing, support local jobs, and stimulate the economy.”
This builds on recent changes to another provincial regulation to further reduce the cost of delivering new homes for people by allowing B.C. homebuilders to delay paying 75% of development fees as long as four years or until occupancy, whichever comes first.
The Province is doing its part to reduce barriers, support housing development and encourage developers to take advantage of these changes to help ensure the benefits are felt by future homeowners. These measures are part of B.C.’s work to help deliver more homes and address key infrastructure needs during uncertain financial times.
Quotes:
Anne McMullin, president and CEO, Urban Development Institute–
“Extending the instream protection period for Metro Vancouver’s DCC increase is a meaningful step that reflects the realities of today’s development environment. Current high-cost conditions have placed significant pressure on project viability, and without this change, many projects would not have been able to proceed. This change demonstrates a practical understanding of the barriers facing the industry and helps ease some of the immediate pressure on projects, so they can move forward.”
Duncan Wlodarczak, chief of staff, Onni Group–
“This protection will help ensure our existing project pipeline can continue with less uncertainty. This means we can keep working to build more housing people need. Minister Kahlon and the Province have demonstrated an openness in these uncertain economic times to have productive conversations on steps they can take to provide relief to homebuilders. We look forward to making projects more viable, activate much needed economic activity, and deliver the necessary housing needed in the region.”
Rick Ilich, CEO, Townline–
“Bold moves like today’s announcement bring cost clarity for every project that is in the queue for building permits. Minister Kahlon understands that the cost of delivery of new housing is a major obstacle in cities achieving mandated housing supply. For companies like Townline, this added certainty supports the viability of projects in our pipeline and helps protect thousands of jobs across the region. Coupled with deferring DCC and ACC payments, it delivers timely support for much-needed housing delivery.”
Colin Bosa, CEO, Bosa Properties –
“This extension of DCC protection to 24 months is a positive step for housing development in Metro Vancouver, improving our collective ability to move forward and support more housing and construction activity across the region. We look forward to continued collaboration with all levels of government to address broader housing challenges and deliver more homes for British Columbians.”
Quick Facts:
An order-in-council will bring into force provisions of the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (Bill 13), which received royal assent on May 29, 2025.
Homebuilders who submitted an application before March 22, 2024, and were issued permits between March 23, 2025, and March 22, 2026, will benefit from having lower development cost charge rates than new projects.
As part of the federal government’s funding agreement toward the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant project, the governments of Canada and British Columbia negotiated terms that better support communities throughout the province.
This change applies only to Metro Vancouver Regional District, Greater Vancouver Water District, and Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District development cost charges bylaws currently in effect.
Learn More:
Information about the development cost charges can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/finance/local-government-development-financing/development-cost-charges
To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for people in British Columbia, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/
Information about Bill 13 – 2025, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 can be found here: https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/overview/43rd-parliament/1st-session/bills/1st_read/gov13-1.htm
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Andrew J. Hoffman, Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise, Ross School of Business, School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan
Questions about the role of business education have led to introspection among business school leaders and researchers.Supatman/iStock via Getty Images
Programs to help students discern their vocation or calling are gaining prominence in higher education.
According to a 2019 Bates/Gallup poll, 80% of college graduates want a sense of purpose from their work. In addition, a 2023 survey found that 50% of Generation Z and millennial employees in the U.K. and U.S. have resigned from a job because the values of the company did not align with their own.
These sentiments are also found in today’s business school students, as Gen Z is demanding that course content reflect the changes in society, from diversity and inclusion to sustainability and poverty. According to the Financial Times, “there may never have been a more demanding cohort.”
Historically, studies have shown that business school applicants have scored higher than their peers on the “dark triad” traits of narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. These traits can manifest themselves in a tendency toward cunning, scheming and, at times, unscrupulous behavior.
Over the course of their degree program, other studies have found that business school environments can amplify those preexisting tendencies while enhancing a concern for what others think of them.
And these tendencies stick after graduation. One study examined 9,900 U.S. publicly listed firms and separated the sample by those run by managers who went to business school and those whose managers did not. While they found no discernible difference in sales or profits between the two samples, they found that labor wages were cut 6% over five years at companies run by managers who went to business school, while managers with no business degree shared profits with their workers. The study concludes that this is the result “of practices and values acquired in business education.”
Those who have decided it is worth the high cost either complain of its lack of rigor, relevance and critical thinking or use it merely for access to networks for salary enhancement, treating classroom learning as less important than attending recruiting events and social activities.
This is concerning because of the outsized role that business leaders play in today’s society: allocating capital, developing and deploying new technologies and influencing political and social debates.
At times, this role is a positive one, but not always. Distrust follows that uncertainty.
Facing this reality, business educators are beginning to reexamine how to nurture business leaders who view business not only as a means to making money but also as a vehicle in service to society.
Business schools have often included ethics courses in their curriculum, often with limited success. What some schools are experimenting with is character formation.
As part of this experimentation is the development of a coherent moral culture that lies within the course curriculum but also within the cocurricular programming, cultural events, seminars and independent studies that shape students’ worldviews; the selection, socialization, training and reward systems for students, staff and faculty; and other aspects that shape students’ formation.
Stanford’s Bill Damon, one of the leading scholars on helping students develop a sense of purpose in life, describes a revised role for faculty in this effort, one of creating the fertile conditions for students to find meaning and purpose on their own.
This is relational teaching that artificial intelligence cannot do. It involves bringing the whole person into the education process, inspiring hearts as much as engaging heads to form competent leaders who possess character, judgment and wisdom.
It allows an examination of both the how and the why of business, challenging students to consider what kind of business leader they aspire to be and what kind of legacy they wish to establish.
These are but a few examples of a growing movement. So, the building blocks are there to draw from. The student demand is waiting to be met. All that is needed is for more business schools to respond.
Andrew J. Hoffman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Pro-Palestinian supporters march outside Columbia University in September 2024.AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
In spring 2024, pro-Palestinian student encampments that began at Columbia and Harvard spread to university campuses throughout the U.S. as Israel invaded Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack. At least 100 campuses had encampments for at least a few days during this period.
In spring 2024, Ohio State University’s College Impact Laboratory, where we all work, surveyed universities to learn more about whether their campuses experienced protests, what happened and how they handled them. Part of our goal was to understand how spiritual leaders played a role, if any, in managing the protests. We’ve been analyzing the data ever since. The results from those who responded point to several lessons universities could learn from to avoid violence in future protests.
Often, these protests reflect broader societal tensions, and how universities respond has played a significant role in shaping their outcomes.
Historically, protests have been most likely to escalate when students feel unheard. In contrast, institutions that adopt proactive strategies, such as facilitating conversations or including students in decision-making, often experience better outcomes.
A George Washington University student carries a Palestinian flag at a student encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war in May 2024. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Snapshot of the pro-Palestinian protests
As our survey data shows, the pro-Palestinian protests illustrate this dynamic.
To gather data, the College Impact Laboratory sent questionnaires to administrators at the 329 universities that participate in our Interfaith Spiritual, Religious and Secular Campus Climate Index, also known as the INSPIRES Index, as well as hundreds of colleges and universities in our recruitment database.
In all, 35 schools responded to our 23-question survey. Of those, we found that most protests were led by students, half lasted less than a week, and the vast majority were nonviolent. Fifteen did not have protests, while the rest did. While the number of institutions that participated in this survey is relatively small, it does give us key insights into what schools were thinking.
Half of the campuses with protests reported law enforcement involvement – either campus police or city officers – with 20% experiencing physical altercations between protesters and police. Other disruptive actions such as academic interruptions, vandalism, physical violence and doxxing were reported with varying frequencies.
Protests at campuses that participated in our survey peaked during April and May 2024, with 70% of them experiencing demonstrations in these months.
Here are three takeaways from the survey, suggesting steps universities can take before and during future protests to avoid escalation:
1. Involve students in guidelines for engagement – early
At every surveyed institution that reported protests, students were at the forefront of organizing and leading these efforts.
Yet, despite this clear student leadership, about one-third of institutions said they didn’t consult with students to establish guidelines for engagement. Those that did invited representatives from student organizations or student government officers into the policymaking process to determine what protocols would be followed to manage protests and keep them peaceful.
On campuses where administrators didn’t engage with student leaders, tensions tended to escalate, and protests disrupted the institutions for weeks, often after police were called in or curfews were imposed.
While many of the protests lasted only one to seven days, we found that institutions that opened lines of communication early between administration and student protest leaders were more likely to deescalate tensions quickly. In contrast, campuses where administrators did not engage early on saw protests lasting weeks or involving greater disruptions.
Also, institutions that engaged early with student leaders were less likely to face stronger demands, such as calls for administrators to be fired, divestment from Israeli companies or calls to defund the campus police.
Our survey results suggest it’s important for administrators to engage with students early to establish clear guidelines to make it less likely future protests spiral into violence.
2. Communicate openly, often and before protests
Discussion of difficult topics, such as the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, shouldn’t wait until protests break out to begin. We found that every school in our survey that proactively supported dialogue between Jews and Muslims – before the war broke out – didn’t see violence result from the protests.
Dialogue isn’t just a strategy for preventing protests from spiraling out of control; it is fundamental to intergroup learning in higher education. These events create safe spaces for students − whether Arab, Jewish, Palestinian or members of different ethnic or religious groups − to engage with classmates with different points of view.
But even once protests begin, dialogue can help. When institutions engaged in dialogue, during or as a result of a protest, the protests were less likely to involve violence. At half of the campuses that participated in our survey and experienced protests, protests were ended peacefully through dialogue.
Brown, for example, modeled the power of institutional listening in its response to its April 2024 encampment. Rather than escalating tensions, university leaders engaged directly with student activists, resulting in a peaceful resolution and a commitment to bring the students’ divestment proposal to a formal vote in October. It ultimately failed to pass the board of directors.
Demonstrators unfurl a banner on a lawn after an encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war was taken down at Brown University on April 30, 2024, in Providence, R.I. AP Photo/David Goldman
3. Involve relevant groups in decision-making
Most administrators in our survey, as they considered how to engage with protesters, reached out to relevant student groups such as those that focus on Jewish and Muslim students to better understand their perspectives.
However, only 28% consulted a religious or spiritual life office staff member on campus.
Religious or spiritual life staff are present on both private and public campuses and may include university-employed multifaith chaplains, interfaith coordinators or directors of spiritual life. Unlike student-led religious groups, these professionals often serve as liaisons to the religious and nonreligious communities represented on campus.
The focus of such roles on serving students from all worldviews positions them as key resources for deescalation through community outreach, support and two-way communication. Additionally, these professionals have valuable expertise in religious pluralism and community relationships. This experience helps them to advise administrators on policy and potential courses of action in times of tension.
Consulting with university staff with a focus on religion or spiritual life makes particular sense given the nature of the protests and how religion is intertwined, but our data suggests they may be underutilized more broadly for their expertise in navigating tensions related to competing worldviews.
Proactive engagement with these leaders not only helps campuses navigate an immediate crisis but demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and respect for different groups’ perspectives.
Leading by example
Put another way, our research suggests institutions can avoid the negative outcomes of protests by embodying the traits commonly associated with universities, such as showing mutual respect, fostering democratic debate and engaging in critical thinking even on divisive issues. Engaging from a mindset of goodwill with student leaders shows administrators value student voices and are willing to work collaboratively toward solutions.
But when campuses ignore peaceful protests or refuse to engage with student leaders, they risk turning manageable situations into prolonged crises.
At a time when divisions run deep, we believe campuses that lead by example by embracing dialogue and engaging student activists before, during and after protests take place are not only likely to see less violence, but are likely to help heal America’s great divides.
Matthew J. Mayhew receives grant funding for various research projects from the National Science Foundation, the ECMC Foundation, the Templeton Religion Trust, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and Pew Charitable Trusts. Currently, Dr. Mayhew leads the College Impact Laboratory at The Ohio State University. He is the Principal Investigator for the INSPIRES Index project and is the current editor of the Digest of Recent Research.
Renee L. Bowling works for the College Impact Lab at The Ohio State University that produces the INSPIRES Index and serves as Chair of NASPA’s Spirituality and Religion in Higher Education Knowledge Community.
Hind Haddad does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Trump administration detained former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, center, for more than two months and is seeking to revoke his lawful permanent resident status.Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
Since the 1950s, Congress has removed some of this sprawling federal law’s most discriminatory features, such as racist national origins quotas. But other key provisions remain on the books. Now they are the primary legal basis for some of President Donald Trump’s most controversial immigration crackdowns.
Author and reporter Clay Risen discusses parallels between anticommunist fears in the 1950s and the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies.
Foreign policy trumps free speech
In March 2025, the White House invoked the McCarran-Walter Act to justify arresting and deporting Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident who had participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. Officials pointed to Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the law, which states that any “alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable.”
The Trump administration cited the same provision to justify detaining Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk in March. Ozturk came under government scrutiny because she co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts student newspaper criticizing the university’s position on the Israel-Gaza war.
Surveillance footage of a terrified Ozturk being arrested by masked Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents on a street in Somerville, Massachusetts, drew criticism from government officials and civil liberties advocates. In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that Ozturk had harmed U.S. interests by supporting “movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus.”
Khalil and Ozturk both were released after weeks in detention, pending final resolution of their cases. Their lawyers argue that their clients’ treatment violates free speech protections and that the defendants were punished for expressing their political beliefs.
On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to enforce an “alien registration requirement.” The agency issued a final rule in April requiring all noncitizens over the age of 14 to register and be fingerprinted. Parents or guardians must register noncitizen children under age 14. The rule also requires adult noncitizens to carry “evidence of registration” at all times.
Such policies aren’t new. Noncitizen registration was codified in the Alien Registration Act of 1940, on the eve of U.S. entry into World War II. The law was designed to regulate the foreign-born population and encourage eligible noncitizens to join the U.S. armed forces. Its requirements were written into the McCarran-Walter Act.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration created the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, which targeted noncitizen males age 16 or older from 25 Muslim-majority countries. It required registrants to submit biometric information, check in regularly with immigration authorities and use specific ports of entry for travel.
The Trump administration says it will strictly enforce a long-standing requirement for immigrants in the country more than 30 days to register with the federal government.
During his first term, Trump invoked these sections of the law to justify a travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately upheld this action in 2018 by a 5-4 vote in Trump v. Hawaii. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that the travel ban was well within broad powers over immigration granted to the president under the McCarran-Walter Act. He added that the court had “no view on the soundness of the policy.”
Trump’s new ban is more carefully crafted than earlier versions and more likely to withstand legal challenges. But his efforts to use the McCarren-Walter Act to ban international students from attending Harvard University face stiff legal headwinds.
On May 22, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem notified Harvard officials that the agency was revoking the school’s certification to participate in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which grants visas to international students to come to the U.S. In a June 4 proclamation, the White House claimed that foreign students at Harvard had behaved in ways that threatened U.S. national security.
A federal judge in Boston quickly blocked the revocation, holding that it violated core constitutional free speech rights. “The government’s misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this administration’s own views, threaten these rights,” wrote Judge Allison D. Burroughs.
The latest step came on July 9, when the Trump administration subpoenaed Harvard for information on its foreign students, including their disciplinary records and involvement in campus protests.
Broad power over noncitizens
Ironically, congressional sponsors of the McCarran-Walter Act were at odds with the White House when the law was enacted in 1952. They overrode a veto by President Harry S. Truman, who thought the law’s nativist ideas were unfitting for a nation of immigrants and global defender of democracy.
However, the expansive executive powers created by this law have endured largely unaltered over time, through waves of immigration reform.
Now they are a boon to the Trump administration’s ambitious immigration crackdown. It’s a telling reminder that repressive old laws can come back to life – even when they don’t reflect the current views of many Americans.
Daniel Tichenor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Because the final version of the legislation moved swiftly through the Senate and the House, estimates regarding the number of people likely to lose their health insurance coverage were incomplete when Congress approved it by razor-thin margins. Nearly 12 million Americans could lose their health insurance coverage by 2034 due to this legislation, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Work requirements target people eligible for Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act’s expansion. They tend to have slightly higher incomes than other people enrolled in the program.
Medicaid applicants who are between 19 and 64 years old will need to certify they are working at least 80 hours a month or spending that much time engaged in comparable activities, such as community service.
When these rules have been introduced to other safety net programs, most people lost their benefits due to administrative hassles, not because they weren’t logging enough hours on the job. Experts like me expect to see that occur with Medicaid too.
The new policies also make it harder for states to pay for Medicaid, which is run by the federal government and the states. They do so by limiting the taxes states charge medical providers, which are used to fund the states’ share of Medicaid funding. With less funding, some states may try to reduce enrollment or cut benefits, such as home-based health care, in the future.
Losing Medicaid coverage may leave millions of low-income Americans without insurance coverage, with no affordable alternatives for health care. Historically, the people who are most likely to lose their benefits are low-income people of color or immigrants who do not speak English well.
A supporter of the Affordable Care Act stands in front of the Supreme Court building on Nov. 10, 2020. Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Should they exit, there would be fewer choices and higher premiums for people getting their insurance this way. It could also mean that some counties could have no ACA plans offered at all.
Ramifications for the uninsured and rural hospitals
Having to struggle to pay the kinds of high medical bills people without insurance face takes a physical, mental and financial toll, not just on people who become uninsured but also their families and friends. It also harms medical providers that don’t get reimbursed for their care.
Public health scholars like me have no doubt that many hospitals and other health care providers will have to make tough choices. Some will close. Others will offer fewer services and fire health care workers. Emergency room wait times will increase for everyone, not just people who lose their health insurance due to changes in Trump’s tax and spending package.
Rural hospitals play a crucial role in health care access.
Republicans tried to protect rural hospitals by designating $50 billion in the legislative package for them over 10 years. But this funding comes nowhere near the $155 billion in losses KFF expects those health care providers to incur due to Medicaid cuts. Also, the funding comes with a number of restrictions that could further limit its effectiveness.
What’s next
Some Republicans, including Sens. Mike Crapo and Ron Johnson, have already indicated that more health care policy changes could be coming in another large legislative package.
Moving forward, spending on Medicare, the insurance program that primarily covers Americans 65 and older, could decline too. Without any further action, the CBO says that the law could trigger an estimated $500 billion in mandatory Medicare cuts from 2026 to 2034 because of the trillions of dollars in new federal debt the law creates.
Simon F. Haeder has previously received funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for unrelated projects.
