NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Auditor General DeFoor to Release Findings from Audit of Five Pennsylvania Cyber Charter Schools

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    February 20, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA

    ADVISORY – Auditor General DeFoor to Release Findings from Audit of Five Pennsylvania Cyber Charter Schools

    What: Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor will release the findings from an audit of five Pennsylvania cyber charter schools: Commonwealth Charter Academy; Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School; Insight PA Cyber Charter School; Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School; and Reach Cyber Charter School.

    When: Thursday, February 20, 2025; 11:30 a.m.

    Who: Timothy L. DeFoor, Pennsylvania Auditor General
    Gordon Denlinger, Deputy Auditor General for Audits
    Lisa Conner, Assistant Director for the Bureau of Performance Audits
    Mark Wieczorek, Audit Manager

    Where: Capitol Media Center, Commonwealth Ave, Harrisburg, PA

    Watch: pacast.com/live/audgen and facebook.com/PaAuditorGeneral

    # # #

    Media contacts: April Hutcheson, Auditor General 717-787-1381 or news@paauditor.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom proposes $125 million in mortgage relief to benefit victims of recent natural disasters

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 19, 2025

    Survivors of the Park Fire, Franklin Fire, and the recent Palisades and Eaton fires would be eligible for direct mortgage relief

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom is proposing an over $125 million package that includes disaster mortgage relief for homeowners whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by natural disasters since 2023 and are at risk of foreclosure, as well as mortgage counseling services.

    LOS ANGELES — Governor Newsom today announced a new proposal to create an over $125 million mortgage relief program to assist homeowners whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by recent natural disasters, placing them at risk of foreclosure. The proposal also includes funding to extend an existing counseling services program which would help affected homeowners navigate their recovery. The package would utilize existing mortgage settlement funding, and would not impact the proposed 2025-2026 budget. 

    “As survivors heal from the trauma of recent disasters, the threat of foreclosure should be the last thing on their minds. This disaster mortgage relief program would help lift this burden and give families more time to focus on recovery.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The package will be administered by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalFHA) and includes over $100 million in direct mortgage assistance, with an additional $25 million to extend an existing program that provides mortgage counseling and serves survivors by offering guidance on FEMA disaster assistance and other related needs. The program will provide mortgage relief for homeowners at risk of foreclosure and whose property was destroyed or substantially damaged as a result of declared emergencies since January 1, 2023. The proposal will be considered at CalHFA’s next meeting on February 20. Survivors of natural disasters since 2023, including those affected by the Park Fire, Franklin Fire, and the recent Palisades and Eaton Fires, would be eligible for mortgage assistance. Once approved, the direct assistance program and eligibility criteria will be developed and announced in more detail.

    The Governor last month announced that five major lenders (Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo) and recently announced that there are now 420 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders who have committed to offering impacted homeowners a 90-day forbearance of their mortgage payments, without reporting these payments to credit reporting agencies, and the opportunity for additional relief.

    Funding for the mortgage relief program comes from settlement funds California secured from big banks resolving allegations of misconduct during the mortgage crisis.

    This adds to the Governor’s work to provide tax and mortgage relief to those impacted by the Los Angeles area firestorms. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline. The Governor also worked with state– and federally-chartered banks that have committed to providing mortgage relief for survivors in certain zip codes.

    Historic recovery and rebuilding efforts — faster than ever before 

    As the Los Angeles community recovers from the firestorm disaster, Governor Newsom is removing barriers and helping survivors quickly by: 

    • Cutting red tape to help rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger. Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. The Governor also issued an executive order removing bureaucratic barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly.
    • Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms.

    • Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas. 

    • Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.

    • Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers. The Governor also launched LA Rises, a unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts. Governor Newsom announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires living in certain zip codes may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits.

    • Getting kids back in the classroom. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.

    • Protecting survivors from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm survivors from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.

    • Helping businesses and workers get back on their feet. The Governor issued an executive order to support small businesses and workers, by providing relief to help businesses recover quickly by deferring annual licensing fees and waiving other requirements that may impose barriers to recovery.

    •  

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 19, 2025

    News State continues raising awareness of dangerous drug  What you need to know: California is using a multifaceted approach to tackle illicit fentanyl, including seizing nearly $300 million of illicit fentanyl since 2023 and increasing public education in schools…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Melissa Stone, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Child Support Services. Stone has been Deputy Director of the Disability Insurance Branch at…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News What you need to know: California’s work to pre-deploy resources ahead of this week’s major storms paid off with successful rescue efforts and no major damage reported. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today praised the proactive emergency response efforts that…

    Feb 19, 2025

    What you need to know: The passage of Proposition 1 by California voters adds rocket fuel to Governor Gavin Newsom’s transformational overhaul of the state’s behavioral health system. These reforms refocus existing funds to prioritize Californians with the most serious mental health and substance use issues, who are too often experiencing homelessness. They also fund more than 11,150 new behavioral health beds and supportive housing units and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots.

    Los Angeles, California – California took a major step forward in correcting the damage from 50 years of neglect to the state’s mental health system with the passage of Proposition 1. This historic measure — a signature priority of Governor Gavin Newsom — adds rocket fuel to California’s overhaul of the state’s behavioral health systems. It provides a full range of mental health and substance abuse care, with new accountability metrics to ensure local governments deliver for their communities.

    This is the biggest reform of the California mental health system in decades and will finally equip partners to deliver the results all Californians need and deserve. Treatment centers will prioritize mental health and substance use support in the community like never before. Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and begin implementing this critical reform – working closely with city and county leaders to ensure we see results.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

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    gun-violence-San Diego Guns Package 2.18.22_2

    What they’re saying: 

    • Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, original author of the Mental Health Services Act: “Twenty years ago, I never could have dreamed that we would have the strong leadership we have today, committing billions and making courageous policy changes that question the conventional wisdom on mental health. Now, with the passage of Proposition 1. California is delivering on decades old promises to help people living with brain-based illnesses, to live better lives, to live independently and to live with dignity in our communities. This is a historic moment and the hard work is ahead of us.“
    • Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), author of Senate Bill 326: “Today marks a day of hope for thousands of Californians who are struggling with mental illness – many of whom are living unhoused. I am tremendously grateful to my fellow Californian’s for passing this important measure.  And I am very appreciative of this Governor’s leadership to transform our behavioral health care system!”
    • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of Assembly Bill 531: “This started as an audacious proposal to address the root cause of homelessness and today, Californians can be proud to know that they did the right thing by passing Proposition 1. Now, it’s time for all of us to get to work, and make sure these reforms are implemented and that we see results.”

    Bigger picture: Transforming the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act and building more community mental health treatment sites and supportive housing is the last main pillar of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health Movement – pulling together significant recent reforms like 988 crisis line, CalHOPE, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, CalAIM behavioral health expansion (including mobile crisis care and telehealth), Medi-Cal expansion to all low-income Californians, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (including expanding services in schools and on-line), Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Veterans Mental Health Initiative, Behavioral Health Community Infrastructure Program, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing, Health Care Workforce for All and more.

    More details on next step here

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 19, 2025

    News State continues raising awareness of dangerous drug  What you need to know: California is using a multifaceted approach to tackle illicit fentanyl, including seizing nearly $300 million of illicit fentanyl since 2023 and increasing public education in schools…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Melissa Stone, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Child Support Services. Stone has been Deputy Director of the Disability Insurance Branch at…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News What you need to know: California’s work to pre-deploy resources ahead of this week’s major storms paid off with successful rescue efforts and no major damage reported. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today praised the proactive emergency response efforts that…

    Feb 19, 2025

    What you need to know: The passage of Proposition 1 by California voters adds rocket fuel to Governor Gavin Newsom’s transformational overhaul of the state’s behavioral health system. These reforms refocus existing funds to prioritize Californians with the most serious mental health and substance use issues, who are too often experiencing homelessness. They also fund more than 11,150 new behavioral health beds and supportive housing units and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots.

    Los Angeles, California – California took a major step forward in correcting the damage from 50 years of neglect to the state’s mental health system with the passage of Proposition 1. This historic measure — a signature priority of Governor Gavin Newsom — adds rocket fuel to California’s overhaul of the state’s behavioral health systems. It provides a full range of mental health and substance abuse care, with new accountability metrics to ensure local governments deliver for their communities.

    This is the biggest reform of the California mental health system in decades and will finally equip partners to deliver the results all Californians need and deserve. Treatment centers will prioritize mental health and substance use support in the community like never before. Now, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and begin implementing this critical reform – working closely with city and county leaders to ensure we see results.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    newsom-news-template
    IMG_3682-min
    contact-governor-landing
    workers-FxAJ5fkakAAtVI3
    priorities-and-progress-image
    economy-F-isBKpbsAAxdab
    gun-violence-San Diego Guns Package 2.18.22_2

    What they’re saying: 

    • Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, original author of the Mental Health Services Act: “Twenty years ago, I never could have dreamed that we would have the strong leadership we have today, committing billions and making courageous policy changes that question the conventional wisdom on mental health. Now, with the passage of Proposition 1. California is delivering on decades old promises to help people living with brain-based illnesses, to live better lives, to live independently and to live with dignity in our communities. This is a historic moment and the hard work is ahead of us.“
    • Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), author of Senate Bill 326: “Today marks a day of hope for thousands of Californians who are struggling with mental illness – many of whom are living unhoused. I am tremendously grateful to my fellow Californian’s for passing this important measure.  And I am very appreciative of this Governor’s leadership to transform our behavioral health care system!”
    • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of Assembly Bill 531: “This started as an audacious proposal to address the root cause of homelessness and today, Californians can be proud to know that they did the right thing by passing Proposition 1. Now, it’s time for all of us to get to work, and make sure these reforms are implemented and that we see results.”

    Bigger picture: Transforming the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act and building more community mental health treatment sites and supportive housing is the last main pillar of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health Movement – pulling together significant recent reforms like 988 crisis line, CalHOPE, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, CalAIM behavioral health expansion (including mobile crisis care and telehealth), Medi-Cal expansion to all low-income Californians, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (including expanding services in schools and on-line), Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Veterans Mental Health Initiative, Behavioral Health Community Infrastructure Program, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing, Health Care Workforce for All and more.

    More details on next step here

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 19, 2025

    News State continues raising awareness of dangerous drug  What you need to know: California is using a multifaceted approach to tackle illicit fentanyl, including seizing nearly $300 million of illicit fentanyl since 2023 and increasing public education in schools…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Melissa Stone, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Child Support Services. Stone has been Deputy Director of the Disability Insurance Branch at…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News What you need to know: California’s work to pre-deploy resources ahead of this week’s major storms paid off with successful rescue efforts and no major damage reported. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today praised the proactive emergency response efforts that…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $300 million of illicit fentanyl seized in California since 2023

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 19, 2025

    State continues raising awareness of dangerous drug 

    What you need to know: California is using a multifaceted approach to tackle illicit fentanyl, including seizing nearly $300 million of illicit fentanyl since 2023 and increasing public education in schools statewide. The work this year adds to efforts last month to remove nearly $3.6 million of deadly fentanyl from our communities.

    Sacramento, California – Kicking off 2025 with enhanced focus to combat the scourge of illegal fentanyl trafficking, the state has now supported the seizure of nearly 22,000 pounds and more than 37 million pills containing fentanyl, with a street value of nearly $300 million. 

    Through the state’s Counter Drug Task Force operations statewide, California National Guard (Cal Guard) Task Force members have been strategically deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and trafficking illegal narcotics like fentanyl, in support of federal, state and local law enforcement partners. 

    I’m proud of the work we are doing across the state to educate Californians on the dangers of fentanyl, remove this addictive drug off our streets and provide treatment – like naloxone – to save lives.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Service members helped confiscate 557 pounds and 319,732 pills of this dangerous drug in January alone, accounting for a street valuation of $3.6 million. 

    In addition, Cal Guard service members continue to transform drug prevention in elementary, middle, and high schools statewide through the Task Force’s Drug Demand Reduction Outreach program. Between October and December 2024, servicemembers visited 45 high-risk schools, engaging 33,437 students. By conducting in-person outreach and understanding students’ beliefs about their own health using a Health Belief Model, Cal Guard is implementing an impactful initiative in the fight against opioid abuse.

    Within the last year, Governor Newsom announced continued augmentation in staffing and enforcement of Cal Guard’s illicit fentanyl operations. 

    Addressing the opioid crisis

    The state has launched various initiatives in recent years to combat illicit opioids through the Governor’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis, which provides a comprehensive framework to support overdose prevention efforts, hold the opioid pharmaceutical industry accountable, crack down on drug trafficking, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids like fentanyl.

    The Campus Opioid Act, signed by Governor Newsom in 2022, requires that every public college campus in California distribute a federally approved opioid overdose reversal medication like naloxone, and include information about opioid overdoses in their orientation process. Building on this effort, the Governor last year signed AB 2429, requiring that fentanyl education be included in high school health classes starting in the 2026-27 school year.

    Serving as a one-stop tool for Californians seeking resources for prevention and treatment, the website opioids.ca.gov provides information on how California is working to hold Big Pharma and drug traffickers accountable in this crisis.

    The public education campaign Facts Fight Fentanyl informs Californians about the dangers of fentanyl and how to prevent overdoses and deaths. This effort will provide critical information about fentanyl and life-saving tools such as naloxone. 

    Latest laboratory testing from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency indicates five out of 10 pills tested in 2024 contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl, which is down from seven of 10 pills in 2023.

    Providing lifesaving emergency treatment

    Through the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP), over-the-counter CalRx®-branded naloxone is now available across the state. The CalRx®-branded over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone HCL nasal spray, 4 mg, is available for free to eligible organizations through the state and for sale for $24 per twin-pack through Amneal. Since 2018, there have been over 334,000 reversals reported from NDP naloxone since 2018. 

    How we got here

    In 2024, Governor Newsom doubled down on the deployment of the Cal Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force by more than doubling the number of service members supporting fentanyl interdiction, and seizing other drugs, at California ports of entry to nearly 400. Fentanyl is primarily smuggled into the country by U.S. citizens through ports of entry. 

    Cal Guard’s coordinated drug interdiction efforts in the state are funded in part by California’s $60 million investment over four years to expand Cal Guard’s work to prevent drug trafficking by transnational criminal organizations. This adds to the Governor’s efforts to address fentanyl within California, including by cracking down on fentanyl in communities across the state, including San Francisco.

    Recent news

    Feb 14, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Melissa Stone, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Child Support Services. Stone has been Deputy Director of the Disability Insurance Branch at…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News What you need to know: California’s work to pre-deploy resources ahead of this week’s major storms paid off with successful rescue efforts and no major damage reported. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today praised the proactive emergency response efforts that…

    Feb 14, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his appointment of 14 Superior Court Judges: seven in Los Angeles County; one in Modoc County; two in Riverside County; one in San Diego County; one in San Mateo County; one in Tulare County; and one in Ventura…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New UN Mediator for Libya — Tenth in 14 Years — Must Avoid Past Failures, Delegate Warns Security Council

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    UN Political Chief Says Libyans’ Dream Unfulfilled after February Revolution 14 Years Ago

    Libya’s leaders and security actors are prioritizing political and personal gain over national interests, the United Nations’ top political official told the Security Council today, as the country’s delegate blamed proxy wars for its instability.

    Fourteen years on since the 17 February 2011 Revolution in Libya, “the dream of a civil, democratic and prosperous Libya remains unfulfilled” due to “entrenched divisions, economic mismanagement, continued human rights violations and competing domestic and external interests”, said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.  Highlighting efforts by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to revive the political process, she noted the establishment of an Advisory Committee comprising legal and constitutional experts to provide proposals supporting efforts towards holding national elections.

    Pointing to the lack of progress on a unified budget or an agreed spending framework, as well as disagreement over the leadership of the Libyan Audit Bureau, she said it is critical to support the Central Bank’s efforts to stabilize the financial situation.  The dispute over the position of President of the High Council of State remains unresolved.  “Politicization and political divisions are also hindering progress on national reconciliation,” she said, noting that amendments to a draft law on that topic have raised concerns over the independence of a future National Reconciliation Commission.

    Following successful local elections in 56 municipalities in November 2024, the High National Elections Commission is preparing for the next 63 elections.  “Funding from the Government is crucial to enable the High National Elections Commission to implement this next phase of municipal council elections,” she stressed.  On the security front, the activities of non-State and quasi-State armed actors continue to pose a threat to Libya’s fragile stability, she said, noting that the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement has only been partially implemented.

    She also expressed concern about the continuing trend of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances across Libya.  Drawing attention to “the alarming and tragic discovery of mass graves” earlier this month in north-east and south-east Libya, she said:  “This is yet another reminder of the urgent need to protect migrants and combat human trafficking.”  Calling for support to the 2025 Libyan chapter of the Sudan Refugee Regional Response Plan, which requires $106 million, she urged Council members to support the newly appointed Special Representative Hanna Tetteh, who will be taking up her functions in Tripoli on 20 February.

    In December 2024, a senior UN official announced a new UN-mediated process aimed at breaking the political deadlock — marked by the presence of rival Governments — and facilitating elections.  (See Press Release SC/15938.)

    Libya Battleground for Proxy Wars

    Libya’s delegate, who spoke at the end of today’s meeting, pointed out that Ms. Tetteh will be the tenth Special Representative of the Secretary-General assigned to his country in 14 years, calling this “a record”.  The Council must reflect on whether this indicates a “problem” with the imposition of solutions, UN mechanisms or the officials themselves.  He added:  “We hope that she will harness the lessons from the past and will not repeat the same misgivings by trying the same things and expecting different results.”  He also raised several concerns about the Advisory Committee established by UNSMIL, including whether it was expected to put forward a single proposal or numerous proposals, and how exactly political stakeholders would contribute to this process.

    “My country has become a ground for the settlement of disputes” in proxy wars, he said, adding that it is influenced by instability in the region, including “political and security-based changes”.  However, he pointed out, the recent holding of municipal elections around the country is a good example of Libya’s ability to ensure electoral processes where there is support and political will.  Any reconciliation must be based “on transitional justice, on accountability, on truth and on redress and compensation”, he stressed, while reiterating a request for the removal of individuals on the Sanctions List for humanitarian reasons or if their “listing was erroneous, or because their file was used to further political friction”.

    Many Council members welcomed the establishment of the Advisory Committee and the appointment of the new Special Representative as positive steps towards relaunching the political process.

    The representative of the United States said Ms. Tetteh’s prior experience in Sudan and South Sudan can inform her approach in Libya.  A political solution is the path to long-term stability, and time is of the essence, she said, noting “destabilizing activities from external actors” and the need for “east-west security integration”. Recalling the visit of a delegation from her country to Libya, she urged all parties to reach agreement on a unified budget to end persistent conflicts over revenue-sharing.

    The Russian Federation’s delegate expressed hope that the new Special Representative will adopt an impartial approach, informed by a sober assessment of the political climate.  Ms. Tetteh will have the difficult task of redressing imbalance and revitalizing UN mediation efforts, he said.  This month marks the fourteenth anniversary since the “egregious Western intervention and the virtual destruction of Libyan Statehood”, he observed, adding:  “The collapse of the country took place and is ongoing to this date.”

    Updating Sanctions Regime

    The United Kingdom’s delegate welcomed the recent adoption of new designation criteria for the UN sanctions regime to hold those exploiting Libyan crude oil and petroleum accountable and help to safeguard its resources.  “Until a unifying political agreement is achieved in Libya, it will be impossible to unlock its great potential,” she added.  (See Press Release SC/15967.)  Along similar lines, France’s delegate said:  “Libyan money needs to benefit the Libyan people”, adding that a unified budget and a unified Government go hand in hand.  Such a Government, capable of organizing presidential and legislative elections as soon as possible, is crucial.

    “Good-faith engagement and demonstrating compromise” will be essential in overcoming all outstanding, contentious issues, Slovenia’s speaker advised, adding that the political process must include Libyans from all walks of life, with women and young people.  Denmark’s delegate added:  “No woman should fear reprisals as a consequence of political engagement — neither online, nor offline.”  Further, organizations promoting women’s rights should be able to operate freely.

    The representative of Panama acknowledged the enormous political challenges in Libya, where “the crisis has fragmented the social fabric and institutions in the country”, as he expressed support for efforts to hold elections representing different factions of Libyan society.  Greece’s delegate pointed out that stability in Libya remains key for the region, and even more so for immediate neighbours like his own country which are impacted by the significant increase of irregular migration flows.

    Communications between East-West Security Institutions

    On security, the representative of Pakistan highlighted the reported agreement between Eastern and Western security institutions to establish a joint centre for communication and information exchange.  Noting that these are preliminary steps, he added:  “This will need a well-defined comprehensive peacebuilding and reconciliation strategy”.  Also welcoming the establishment of the joint centre for border security, the representative of the Republic of Korea noted that efforts to unify military institutions will be essential for strengthening Libya’s security.  Calling on “foreign Powers” to refrain from providing arms to Tripoli “for their narrow geopolitical interests”, he said that those weapons destabilize the broader region and bolster terrorism.

    Several speakers echoed the need to avoid external interference and respect the leadership of the Libyan people.  The representative of Guyana, also speaking for Algeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia, said the Advisory Committee’s proposals are meant to foster further consultations between UNSMIL and the relevant Libyan decision makers and stakeholders.  She called for “careful attention to how this work is undertaken, so that it “avoids creating any additional challenges”.  She also expressed concern about the lack of progress in convening national elections.

    The representative of China, Council President for February, speaking in his national capacity, stressed the need to avoid undue external interference, while Libya is on the path to elections and national reconciliation.  UNSMIL must strengthen its communication with Libyan parties and put forward practical proposals, he said, hoping that the Special Representative will advance the political process.  The Mission should monitor the ceasefire, he said, noting that improving the security situation and fighting the crime trajectory are imperative.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Deputy ferries commissioner appointed to BC Ferry Commission

    Carol Bellinger has been appointed deputy ferries commissioner of the BC Ferry Commission.

    The commission sets price caps on the maximum allowable annual increase in fares and approves major capital expenditures for BC Ferries.

    Bellringer has been appointed for a six-year term, effective Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, following a competitive and public application process. She is a full-time governance professional who chairs the University of Victoria Foundation board and sits on boards and audit committees of organizations in the energy, transportation and public sectors.  

    Bellringer is retired from a career in auditing, having worked as the president and CEO of the Canadian Audit and Accountability foundation. Her previous experience includes serving the legislature as the auditor general for the provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba.

    The BC Ferry Commission is a quasi-judicial regulatory agency operating under the Coastal Ferry Act, and is independent of the provincial government and BC Ferry Services Inc.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Screening of “American Coup: Wilmington 1898” Explores History of Massacre and Insurrection

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Screening of “American Coup: Wilmington 1898” Explores History of Massacre and Insurrection

    Screening of “American Coup: Wilmington 1898” Explores History of Massacre and Insurrection
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    ELIZABETH CITY

    The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Museum of the Albemarle, and Elizabeth City State University, in partnership with PBS North Carolina and Working Films invite teachers and community members to a free screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898. The film shares the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city, Wilmington, in 1898. The screening is part of a statewide effort to better equip educators to share the story of the massacre, its place in US history, and its lasting impact. The screening will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. in the Gaither Auditorium of the Museum of the Albemarle.

    American Coup: Wilmington 1898 documents this story, which was the only successful coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of “Negro Rule,” self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

    “American Coup: Wilmington 1898 is a cautionary tale about a breakdown of a cornerstone of our democracy: fair and free elections,” says Rachel Raney, PBS North Carolina’s Director of National Productions and co-executive producer of the film. “When we started researching these events in Wilmington, we quickly discovered that many North Carolinians are not aware of this important history, in part because it was intentionally buried. The more we learned, the more it became clear that all Americans need to know what happened.”

    The screening will include North Carolina 2024 Teacher of the Year, Kim Jones, who will speak to available resources for educators to incorporate 1898 into lesson plans. These resources include a curriculum for incorporating the film into the classroom, as well as a virtual “Community of Practice” for continued support and conversations for teachers. This will be a place where teachers can go with questions as they undertake the curriculum.

    A panel discussion and audience Q&A will follow the screening and will include three historians with Elizabeth City State University: Dr. Glen Bowman, Dr. Latif Tarik, and Dr. Tomiko Ballentyne. They will be joined by LeRae Umfleet, a historian and author featured in the film.

    The American Coup: Wilmington 1898 screening and discussion will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Teachers and community members are invited to join us at 5 p.m. for refreshments before the event starts. More event details can be found here and more details about the documentary and educational resources can be found here.

    For high-resolution images and additional media assets, visit this link.

    About PBS North Carolina

    As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

    About Working Films

    Founded in 1999, Working Films is a national nonprofit organization based in North Carolina that leverages the power of documentary films to advance social justice and environmental protection. For more information, visit www.workingfilms.org.

    About the Museum of the Albemarle

    The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

    Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.dncr.nc.gov.   

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

    Feb 13, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: History for Lunch: Manteo During World War II and Manteo Boat Building Company

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: History for Lunch: Manteo During World War II and Manteo Boat Building Company

    History for Lunch: Manteo During World War II and Manteo Boat Building Company
    jejohnson6

    ELIZABETH CITY

    The Museum of the Albemarle will host our monthly History for Lunch on Wed., April 2 at noon in the Gaither Auditorium.  Author LeVern Davis Parker will share the story of life during World War II in Manteo through the lens of the Manteo Boat Building Company. 

    The Museum will offer the History for Lunch program in-person and through Zoom.  To attend the lecture virtually, register in advance by clicking here to receive the link.  Registration is not required to attend the lecture in person.

    The virtual program is supported by Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle.

    About the Museum of the Albemarle

    The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

    Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.dncr.nc.gov.   

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

    Feb 14, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Take It, Make It Saint Patrick’s Day

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Take It, Make It Saint Patrick’s Day

    Take It, Make It Saint Patrick’s Day
    jejohnson6

    ELIZABETH CITY

    Stop by the Museum of the Albemarle on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and pick up a free Take It, Make It packet to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.  You’ll find at-home activities and learning resources that explore the holiday’s history and traditions.  Packets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

    About the Museum of the Albemarle

    The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

    Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.ncdcr.gov.   

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.

    Feb 18, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fourteen Members and Associates of Violent Transnational Motorcycle Gang Indicted on RICO and Murder Charges

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in murder, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution, and witness intimidation in and around Houston.

    The indictment accuses the defendants of various crimes, including engaging in a conspiracy to commit racketeering (RICO) activity and committing violent crimes in furtherance of the gang such as murder, attempted murder, and assault. The indictment alleges that the Bandidos are a self-identified “outlaw” motorcycle organization with a membership of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 in the United States and an additional 1,000 to 1,500 members internationally, including in Mexico.

    “Today’s indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets. Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities.”

    “Ensuring the safety of the public is Southern District of Texas’ paramount concern,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “The indictment here not only alleges shocking crimes of violence, but also alleges that these offenses were committed openly and wantonly, where any innocent member of the public could have been hurt or killed.”

    According to court documents and statements in court, beginning in 2019, a violent turf war erupted between the Bandidos and B*EAST, a rival outlaw motorcycle gang in the Houston area. As part of this turf war, Bandidos national leadership allegedly put out a “smash on site” order to commit physical assaults, including murder, against B*EAST members. The turf war has resulted in gunfire exchanged on public roadways and in public establishments with innocent civilians present, according to the charges.

    John M. Pfeffer, also known as Big John, 32, Darvi Hinojosa, also known as 10 Round, 35, and Bradley Rickenbacker, also known as Dolla Bill, 37, all of Katy, Texas; Michael H. Dunphy, also known as Money Mike, 57, of Cleveland, Texas; Christopher Sanchez, also known as Monster, 40, of Tomball, Texas; and Brandon K. Hantz, also known as Loco and Gun Drop, 33, of Crosby, Texas, are charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering activity. Pfeffer, Dunphy, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez are further charged with multiple counts of assault in aid of racketeering. Pfeffer, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez are also charged with using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, while Sanchez faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hantz is also charged with arson.

    If convicted, Pfeffer, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez each face a maximum penalty of life in prison, while Dunphy and Hantz each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of their counts.

    The indictment also charges David Vargas, also known as Brake Check and First Time, 33, of Houston, with murder in aid of racketeering; using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; and using a firearm during and in relation to the attempted murders. All those charges relate to the killing of a rival and the shooting of two others. If convicted, Vargas faces a mandatory penalty of life in prison or the death penalty.

    Further, Marky Baker, also known as Pinche Guero and Guero, 40; Ronnie McCabe, also known as Meathead, 56; and Jeremy Cox, also known as JD, 37, all of Houston; Roy Gomez, also known as Repo, 50, of Richmond, Texas; and Marcel Lett, 56, of Pearland, Texas, are charged along with Pfeffer and Rickenbacker with assault in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. These charges are in relation to an alleged assault and robbery that resulted in the death of a rival. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    Hinojosa is also charged along with John Sblendorio, also known as Tech9, 54, of Houston, with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with the shooting of a rival gang member. Hinojosa is also charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and three counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, Sblendorio and Hinojosa each face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    In addition, Sean G. Christison, also known as Skinman, 30, of Katy, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    For all defendants, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI, Texas Board of Criminal Justice — Office of Inspector General, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Houston and Pasadena Police Departments; Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; LaMarque and Katy Police Departments; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Police Department.

    Trial Attorneys Grace H. Bowen and Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black and Kelly Zenón-Matos for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

    This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Justice Department’s OCDETF webpage.

    This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Justice Department’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Who Supervised a Drug Trafficking Organization Operating in Orville, Washington, Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 100 pounds of illegal drugs

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on February 19, 2025, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Erubey Arciga Medrano, age 35, of Michoacan, Mexico, to 180 months in federal prison on drug trafficking charges. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release. When he imposed the sentence, Judge Rice noted the large amount of drugs and firearms involved in this case.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in January 2023, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) identified Medrano as the leader of a drug trafficking organization flooding portions of the Eastern District of Washington, including the Oroville area and the Colville Indian Reservation, with methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    Between January 2023 and March 2023, BIA, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Washington State law enforcement and Colville Tribal law enforcement conducted a series of controlled drug buys from Medrano and others selling drugs on his behalf.

    On April 19, 2023, BIA, DEA, the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, and other Federal, State, Local, and Tribal law enforcement, executed a series of federal search warrants at a number of homes in rural Okanogan County, near Oroville, Washington. In total, investigators seized approximately 161,000 fentanyl-laced pills (to include Mexi-blues and rainbow-colored pills), approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 6 pounds of heroin, and more than 2 pounds of cocaine. The BIA, DEA, and their partners also seized approximately 12 firearms.

    “The volume of drugs and firearms seized during this operation is staggering. I am so grateful for the incredible law enforcement team, which came together to conduct this operation and remove these drugs from Eastern Washington communities,” stated Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker. “Because of the joint efforts of federal state, local, and Tribal law enforcement – which were led in this case by the BIA’s Division of Drug Enforcement – Eastern Washington is safer today.  Many of these drugs were destined for Native American communities, including in Eastern Washington and Montana. I am confident that lives were saved as a result of the incredible work that was done in this case.”   

    “The impact of this individual and his drug trafficking organization on numerous tribal members, their communities, and surrounding areas – between the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington to the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana – cannot be quantified. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) expresses its gratitude for the robust partnerships with various law enforcement agencies that contributed to the successful conclusion of this investigation,” Deputy Associate Director of the BIA Division of Drug Enforcement, Tom Atkinson, stated. “This achievement exemplifies the BIA’s unwavering commitment to dismantling organizations that exploit Indian Country and to safeguarding all residents of our native lands.”

    “Drug traffickers like Mr. Medrano profit from the pain they cause selling poison to our neighbors,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Division. “We at the Drug Enforcement Administration, and our partners, work tirelessly to protect our community and this case highlights the lengths we will go to ensure people trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine are held accountable for the suffering they cause.”

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force.  The investigation team was assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Okanogan County Sheriff, Colville Tribal Police Department, and the Kalispel Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker and Assistant United States Attorney Nowles H. Heinrich.

    2:23-cr-00047-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary-General Travel, Deputy Secretary-General & other topics – Daily Press Briefing

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    – Secretary-General Travel
    – Deputy Secretary-General
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo
    – Children in Eastern and Southern Africa
    – Sudan
    – Libya
    – Myanmar
    – Central America
    – Ukraine
    – Guest Tomorrow
    – Financial Contribution

    SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL
    The Secretary-General traveled to Bridgetown, Barbados today where, this evening, he will speak at the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM. 
    In his remarks, he is expected to highlight three key areas where, together, we must drive progress – peace and security, the climate crisis and sustainable development.
    Also today, the Secretary-General will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados.
    Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will have a closed session with CARICOM Heads of Government, to exchange views on pressing issues in the region, such as Haiti. 
    He is expected back in New York later tomorrow.

    DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
    The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa today to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on behalf of the Secretary-General. Ms. Mohammed will underline support for multilateral cooperation and the South African G20 Presidency and reinforce the case for dialogue and joint action to address common challenges, including trade, tax, debt, and financing climate action. On the margins of the meeting, she is expected to meet with senior government officials from G20 members and guest countries.
    From Johannesburg, Ms. Mohammed will proceed to Nairobi, Kenya, to hold meetings with a wide range of stakeholders and UN entities in preparation of the second UN Food System Summit Stocktaking and to meet with senior government officials.
    On 26 February, Ms. Mohammed will return to South Africa – this time to Cape Town to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting and open the Finance in Common Summit 2025 on behalf of the Secretary-General.
    The Deputy Secretary-General will return to New York on 27 February.

    OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
    The World Health Organization and UNICEF say that the emergency polio outbreak response in the Gaza Strip is continuing, with a mass vaccination campaign scheduled to begin on Saturday and continue until 26 February. The novel oral polio vaccine type 2 will be administered to more than 591,000 children under 10 years of age to protect them from polio. The campaign aims to reach all children under 10 – including those previously missed – to close immunity gaps and end the outbreak.
    Meanwhile, partners supporting water, sanitation and hygiene services are working to increase the production and distribution of water for drinking and domestic purposes to improve living conditions in the Strip and minimize public health risks.
    There are now more than 1,780 operational water points across Gaza. Over 85 per cent of them are used to support water trucking activities by UN partners. 
    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that UN partners are also training and deploying mobile teams and volunteers at aid distribution points to ensure that vulnerable groups – including people with disabilities – have safe and dignified access to humanitarian assistance. More than 100 such teams are operating at nearly 70 aid distribution points throughout Gaza.
    Turning to the West Bank, OCHA says that Israeli forces’ operations in northern areas continue, causing further destruction and displacement among Palestinian residents.
    Yesterday, in Tulkarm refugee camp, Israeli forces demolished at least five homes, with several others also slated for demolition.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=19+February+2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0iEq-V8ZyE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: How Long Does it Take to Get to the Moon… Mars… Jupiter? We Asked a NASA Expert

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

    How long does it take to get to the Moon? Mars? Jupiter? The answer is: it depends — and speed is only one factor. Travel times also depend on distance, fuel, physics and clever trajectory planning. From quick trips to the Moon to years-long voyages to the outer planets, every mission follows a unique path. Watch as a NASA scientist breaks down what it really takes to travel through space.

    Learn more about how we navigate the solar system: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/basics-of-space-flight/

    Link to download this video: coming soon

    Producers: Scott Bednar, Pedro Cota, Jessica Wilde
    Editor: James Lucas

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gDntIl2JSc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Express Concern, Demand Transparency Regarding Termination of Forest Service and Department of the Interior Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent two letters to the Trump Administration regarding his recent decision to terminate several thousand employees at the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). The senators expressed deep concerns about the risks that these mass firings could have on the millions of acres of public lands in Nevada and demanded transparency about the projects the terminated employees had been responsible for. 
    “President Trump’s reckless firing of thousands of employees at the Department of the Interior and the United States Forest Service raises serious concerns about the impacts this could have on Nevada’s public lands,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m joining Senator Cortez Masto in pushing back and requesting more information from the Trump Administration to understand how this will impact ongoing projects across our state.”
    “The Trump administration has made the chaotic decision to fire thousands of hard-working federal employees who keep Nevadans safe from wildfires and protect their access to clean water,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The federal government is responsible for managing over 80% of the land in Nevada, and our families deserve answers about how this decision will impact their communities.”
    Nevada has the highest percentage of land managed by DOI – more than any other state. Specifically, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages over 60 percent (approximately 48 million acres) of Nevada’s land. Nevada is also home to prominent lands managed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Additionally, the USFS manages approximately 5.9 million acres of land in Nevada, including some of our most cherished landscapes such as the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Ruby Mountains within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area outside of Las Vegas. Many Nevadans rely on the services provided by Forest Service staff. 
    The Senators asked that the following information about the terminated employees be made public:
    The number of employees terminated. 
    A description of the position and responsibilities of each terminated employee.
    A list and description of the projects to which each terminated employee was assigned.
    A description of what information the terminated employees were provided.
    The letter to the USFS can be found here and the letter to the DOI can be found here. 
    Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto are champions for Nevada’s great outdoor spaces and public lands. They recently joined Nevada’s Congressional delegation in urging the Trump Administration to preserve national monument designations in Nevada. The Senators passed critical legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which protects public lands in Nevada and across the U.S. They also passed bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, and they delivered critical funding to protect Lake Tahoe in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last year, Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto announced over $375 million for recreation and conservation projects across Nevada.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Calls On Trump Administration to Take Immediate Action to Lower Egg Prices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter urging Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to use every tool at her disposal to help lower the surging cost of eggs. In her letter, Senator Rosen expressed her concern about the skyrocketing price of eggs and asked the Trump Administration to take immediate action to address the bird flu epidemic and strengthen the food supply chain to prevent disruptions.
    “Astronomical prices, coupled with a severe egg supply shortage, are hurting hardworking families in my state. My constituents have continued to reach out, concerned that they cannot access this staple item and if they can, it is too expensive for their family to afford. On top of this, overall inflation increased by 3 percent last month. This is further compounding the high egg prices we are seeing because of supply chain deficiencies,” wrote Senator Rosen. “With egg prices expected to climb by another 20 percent this year, it is imperative for USDA to take immediate actions to mitigate this sharp projected increase.”
    “In addition to taking immediate steps to combat the spread of bird flu, I urge you to work with your partners at other federal agencies to address the high costs of eggs and remedy the broader supply chain challenges we are experiencing,” Rosen continued. “This includes working with the Federal Trade Commission to ensure bad actors are not taking advantage of the current dire situation and partaking in price gouging practices that hurt Nevadans.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been holding the Trump Administration accountable for their promise to lower costs for hardworking Nevadans. Earlier this month, she took the Senate floor to call out the Trump Administration for its lack of action to lower grocery prices and address the egg shortage. This week, Rosen joined her Senate colleagues in urging President Donald Trump to reject Congressional Republicans’ plans to increase the cost of living for Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin, Welch, Murray, Cortez Masto, Hassan, Warnock, and Wyden to Republicans: “Hands Off Medicaid”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) held a press conference to call out President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ plans to slash Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the super wealthy and billionaires. Medicaid is a lifeline that helps rural hospitals keep their doors open and provides health care to 72 million Americans, including over 8 million seniors and over 30 million kids.
    “Republicans have admitted all along it’s their plan to cut Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. It’s flat-out wrong. Americans want us to lower the cost of their health care, not rip it away from Americans with disabilities, seniors in long-term care, and poor kids,” said Senator Baldwin. “Donald Trump promised to lower costs for American families. He lied. Now he is going to kick grandmothers out of nursing homes and kids off their health care, going against the wishes of the over 70 percent of Americans who want Medicaid protected, including the majority of Republicans.”
    “Republicans have made clear they won’t hesitate to bleed health programs dry if it means they can shower more tax cuts on billionaires and big corporations,” said Senator Murray. “The cold hard reality is that if Republicans are going to cut this deeply and painfully to extend tax cuts for billionaires—they are going to have to cut things like veterans’ health care, Medicare, and Medicaid. Every time Republicans have tried this—including in Trump’s first term—the American people have made clear: don’t sabotage our health care, and don’t jack up our costs. So, Republicans may be charging down this same dangerous path once again, but once again, Democrats will not be silent about it. Neither will the American people.”
    “Here’s the hard truth Republican leadership and the Trump Administration won’t admit to the American people: they can’t fund Trump’s tax scam by just cracking down on fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “To cut nearly a trillion dollars, which their budget plan calls for, they have to gut Medicaid. Donald is being dishonest with Americans. It’s cruel, it’s dangerous, and it’ll leave hundreds of thousands of Nevadans without access to affordable health care – just so billionaires can pay less in taxes.”
    Republicans are planning deep cuts to Medicaid that will jeopardize the coverage of 72 million Americans, or 1 in 5 people living in the United States who use Medicaid. This includes nearly half of all children, 31.5 million, over 8.3 million seniors, and around 15 million people with disabilities. Medicaid also pays for 6 out of 10 of residents in nursing homes, with 5.6 million Americans counting on Medicaid for their long-term care bills and Medicaid paying for over half of long-term care in the United States. Severe cuts to Medicaid will also jeopardize rural hospitals and clinics’ ability to keep their doors open. Over 12 million rural Americans rely on Medicaid for health care.
    In Wisconsin, over 1.2 million are enrolled in Medicaid. About 1 in 3 children in both Wisconsin’s rural and metro communities have Medicaid coverage. More than 300,000 kids under age 19 are members of BadgerCare Plus or another Wisconsin Medicaid program.
    Republicans released a budget blueprint that directed the committee with jurisdiction over Medicaid to find $880 billion in cuts for their upcoming budget to pay for tax breaks for the super-wealthy and large corporations. Today, President Trump endorsed that blueprint. As Republicans move forward with their legislation, their plans to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid will jeopardize care for individuals with autism, seniors seeking long-term care, low- and middle-class children, and Americans who rely on rural hospitals.
    A full recording of the press conference is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Stopping The Exploitation Of Children Online

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 19, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Children’s Safety in the Digital Era: Strengthening Protections and Addressing Legal Gaps.” Reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) have exploded in recent years. Between March 2009 and February 2022, the number of victims identified in CSAM rose tenfold from 2,172 victims to more than 21,413 victims. Between 2012 and 2022, the volume of reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline concerning child sexual exploitation increased from 415,650 reports to more than 32 million reports.

    Key Durbin Quotes:

    “Almost exactly two years ago, this Committee held a similar hearing where we heard from six witnesses about the harms social media does to our kids and grandkids—a mom whose son took his own life after he was bullied online; a young woman whose mental and physical health suffered as she chased the unattainable lifestyle depicted on Instagram and other apps; experts who told us how Big Tech designs their platforms to be addictive, keeping users online for longer and longer so they can be fed more targeted ads; and individuals combatting the tidal wave of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, flowing across the internet.”

    “[Two years ago], the Committee reported five bills that would help protect kids online. This included my STOP CSAM Act and I want to thank Senator Hawley for joining me in that effort, along with bipartisan bills from Senators Graham, Blumenthal, Klobuchar, Cornyn, Blackburn, and Ossoff. These bills were reported out of this Committee unanimously. [The Committee contains] the most conservative Republicans to the most Progressive Democrats. It’s almost unheard of to pass a bill unanimously, yet we did it. Five times.”

    “Now let’s be clear, none of these bills are the silver bullet that would make the internet completely safe for our kids. But they would be significant steps toward finally holding tech companies accountable for the harms they’ve caused, the damages they’ve caused, the deaths that they’ve caused. And that’s why the tech companies opposed them as strongly as they did.”

    “So just over a year ago, I called in the CEOs of five major tech platforms—some under subpoena—to demand answers under oath. And that hearing produced results. Several companies implemented child safety improvements just days before their CEOs came to testify. And Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, under pressure from Senator Hawley, gave a long overdue apology to the parents his platform has hurt. But apologies and too-little-too-late reforms are simply not enough. The dozens of parents and survivors in that room and the thousands more impacted in every community across our country demand more. And I, for one, plan to follow through.”

    “I’m under no illusion that it will be easy to pass legislation to protect kids online and finally make the tech industry legally accountable for the damage they cause, but they should face the same liability [that] every other industry in America [faces]. Just last year, Big Tech and its allies in the House killed a bill—the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act—that would have imposed a basic duty of care on tech platforms. That bill passed the Senate 91 to 3. Yet it didn’t get a vote in the House.”

    “The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children receives 100,000 reports to its CyberTipline every single day. That’s not just a statistic. Each of those reports involves a victim. It could be anything from images of a toddler being raped to a teenager being coerced, extorted, groomed, and encouraged to commit suicide. One hundred thousand reports …every single day. I hope everyone keeps that in mind as we hold this hearing. And I hope it drives them to demand that Congress finally do something.”

    Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

    During his time as Chair, Durbin and the Committee extensively examined the plague of online child sexual exploitation through hearings, legislation, and oversight efforts. On January 31, 2024, the Committee held a hearing featuring testimony from the CEOs of social media companies Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter). This hearing highlighted the ongoing risk to children and the immediate need for Congress to act on the bipartisan bills reported by the Committee. Last Congress, the Committee also reported out Durbin’s STOP CSAM Act, which provides a comprehensive response to online child sexual exploitation by supporting victims and increasing accountability and transparency for online platforms. During today’s opening statement, Durbin announced he plans to re-introduce the STOP CSAM Act again this Congress.

    This week, Durbin will join U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to introduce a bill that would sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act in two years.  Section 230—and the legal immunity it provides to Big Tech—has been on the books since 1996—long before social media became a part of our daily lives. To the extent this protection was ever needed, its usefulness has long since passed.

    In addition to the STOP CSAM Act, since February 2023 and under then-Chair Durbin’s leadership, the Committee unanimously reported multiple bipartisan bills to help stop the exploitation of kids online, including:

    1. The EARN IT Act, which removes Big Tech’s blanket immunity from civil and criminal liability for CSAM and establishes a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention;
    2. The SHIELD Act, which ensures that federal prosecutors have appropriate and effective tools to address the nonconsensual distribution of sexual imagery;
    3. The Project Safe Childhood Act, which modernizes the investigation and prosecution of online child exploitation crimes; and
    4. The REPORT Act, which combats the rise in online child sexual exploitation by establishing new measures to help strengthen reporting of those crimes to the CyberTipline.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Condemns President Trump’s Comments About Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 19, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after President Donald Trump publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the post, President Trump claimed the U.S. was “duped” into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s 2022 full-scale military invasion and that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections.” Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, President Trump also falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war against Russia.

    “The 46,000 Ukrainians who have died defending their country from Putin’s invasion deserve more than the insulting rant President Trump delivered this morning.

    “I would call on President Trump to apologize to the people of Ukraine, but it would be a waste of breath. Donald Trump is a pushover for Putin.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on treaty commissioner appointment

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, has released the following statement on a newly appointed commissioner to the BC Treaty Commission:

    “I wish to congratulate George Abbott on being appointed by the Government of British Columbia to a two-year term at the BC Treaty Commission as the commissioner.

    “In recent years, First Nations, Canada and B.C. have been focused on creating innovative agreements that are strong but flexible, and better suited to addressing the needs of individual Nations.

    “Abbott is a seasoned diplomat who has significant experience of working with First Nations, local governments, labour and business, and has a track record of engaging shoulder to shoulder with First Nations on agreements that advance reconciliation and self-determination to build a stronger province.

    “First elected in 1996, Abbott served with distinction as a member of the legislative assembly for 17 years, including 12 years as a cabinet minister. Over his many years of public service, Abbott led portfolios in Indigenous relations, sustainable resource management, health and education.

    “Throughout his time in elected office, Abbott had many notable achievements, including introducing the historic Haida Gwaii Reconciliation Act in 2010 and working with First Nations leaders to officially name the large area of coastal waters off the southern coast as the Salish Sea. During his role as minister of Aboriginal relations and reconciliation (now the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation), Abbott regularly engaged in the work of the Treaty Commission as the Province’s principal in the tripartite treaty negotiations process.

    “He served as chair for the Institute for Health System Transformation and Sustainability until December 2024. He is the current board chair at Technical Safety BC. He completed his doctorate in political science at the University of Victoria in April 2019.

    “I’d also like to acknowledge and thank Angela Wesley, who is serving her third term as the provincially appointed commissioner, for her important contributions to advancing reconciliation through treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.

    “Since her initial appointment in December 2018, she has brought her wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of commissioner. Thanks to her years of service to the Treaty Commission, she has helped shape many significant moments in treaty negotiations in B.C., including the initialling of three treaties last summer with K’ómoks, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum First Nations.

    “The success of the treaty negotiations process is possible because of the hard work and dedication of individuals like Angela Wesley, George Abbott and all the other treaty commissioners.

    “I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessors, by working in partnership with the Treaty Commission and alongside my colleagues in the federal government and the First Nations Summit, to support progress in negotiations of modern treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea in Unregistered Firearm Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Alamogordo man pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to possessing a modified shotgun that was used in the fatal shooting of Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson on July 15, 2023.

    According to court documents, on July 15, 2023, Dominic De La O, 28, possessed a modified 12-gauge shotgun with a barrel length of less than 16 inches and an overall length of less than 26 inches, making it subject to registration under federal law. De La O admitted that the modified shotgun was operable and not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. He also acknowledged that the firearm lacked the new serial number required by law for modified weapons.

    On that date, De La O used the shotgun to shoot and kill Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson during a traffic stop.

    Jonah Apodaca was subsequently charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after the ATF determined that he had provided the modified shotgun to De La O. Apodaca pled guilty to the charges on June 18, 2024, and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison.

    De La O will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, De La O faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2024, a jury in New Mexico’s Twelfth Judicial District convicted De La O of murdering Officer Ferguson and a judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Alamogordo Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Lummis Addresses Wyoming Legislature 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
    Cheyenne, WY — Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) on Friday addressed her former colleagues in two speeches to the Wyoming House of Representatives and the Wyoming Senate.  
    Senator Lummis discussed the excitement in Washington surrounding President Trump’s agenda, important policy changes that will positively impact Wyoming, and the progress that DOGE and Elon Musk are making in rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse from within our government. 
    Click here to watch Sen. Lummis’ remarks to the Wyoming Senate
    Click here to watch Sen. Lummis’ remarks to the Wyoming House of Representatives
    Excerpts from Sen Lummis’ Wyoming Senate Remarks:
    “It’s such an honor for me to come and get to visit with you. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, and this state, in the United States Senate. It’s an absolute new day in Washington. 
    …
    “Three hundred executive orders. One that we are all proud of is to reverse the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP), and the Buffalo RMP, there is recognition by this president that we need all sources of energy, including hydrocarbons to run this nation. 
    “Artificial intelligence is going to double the demand we have now for energy – and we don’t have enough baseload energy to meet that need. Well Wyoming does – we export about twelve times more energy than we consume. So, my office is working with AI companies to encourage them to bring their computing needs here and use our energy to produce the computer capacity to make the United States number one in AI – and keep it that way. 
    “I want you to know that I’ve invited three of our new cabinet members to Wyoming. The Senate, as they say, is so different from the U.S. House – the Senate is in the personnel business. And that’s about all we’ve done since January 20th. We’ve confirmed more cabinet members than have been confirmed by this time in recent memory. 
    “One of them, that I’ve invited to Wyoming, is EPA Director Lee Zeldin. Lee has only been to Wyoming once and it was to Teton County. So, he has yet to see the EPA’s impacts on our state. He is anxious to come and anxious to learn. I served in the U.S. House with Lee Zeldin. He is a great guy but he is from New York and our issues are somewhat different than theirs. And he wants desperately to help us through challenging permitting issues and to understand just how clean we can do hydrocarbon energy. No state can do it cleaner than we can.
    “I’ve also invited Sean Duffy, another person with whom I served with in the U.S. House, who is our Transportation Secretary. As you know, the Highway Trust Fund is heading for insolvency in about three years. Part of that is driven by the fact that electric vehicles pay no fuel taxes so the funds are depleted because there are enough vehicles on the road who are not contributing to the safety of our highways because they pay no taxes. Only those of us who drive gasoline and diesel vehicles are contributing. 
    ….
    “The other person I invited out was RFK Jr. RFK Jr. hunts in Sweetwater County and he’s hoping after a pretty grueling process that he has just completed to come out and do a little hunting in Sweetwater County. I asked if while he’s here he might consent to do a healthcare roundtable in Rock Springs. And he said, “absolutely.” 
    And so, unless the president has other plans for his time, we hope to get him this spring to Rock Springs. That is an opportunity to help him understand frontier and rural healthcare in a way that only frontier and rural areas can. 
    ….
    “We are in a new Golden Age in Washington. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. I got to be at the White House when President Trump signed the executive order restricting women’s sports to women. It was just a celebration. There were over a hundred women athletes behind the president on these bleachers. 
    …..
    “It’s been indescribably humbling to be there and see America back in charge – and the people back in charge of America.
    “I want to also tell you what Elon Musk is doing is incredibly important to America. He is ferreting our true waste, fraud, and abuse. And it’s shocking to see the pushback he is getting. He is auditing – he is finding where people were paid who should not have been. Government benefits, our dollars, going to people who should not have had them.
    ….
    “Mr. President – thank you for the privilege of the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA:  Welch Provides Remarks at the Vermont Dairy Producers Conference 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) delivered remarks at the Vermont Dairy Producers Conference on Monday. He discussed the path forward to protect Vermont’s dairy industry from harmful policies put forth by the Trump Administration, including the Administration’s actions on immigration and the Trump Tariffs, which will raise prices for farms, businesses and families.
    “I’m fighting to strengthen Vermont’s dairy farms, but many of President Trump’s actions during his first month in office are hurting farms and rural communities. His policies—threatened and enacted through Executive Order—are already putting pressure on dairy farmers and the USDA. None of us want this to happen, and we have to resist,” said Senator Welch. “A strong dairy industry is a strong Vermont, and I’ll do everything I can to fight for Vermont’s dairy farmers in Washington.” 
    As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, Senator Welch has led bipartisan efforts to support Vermont’s dairy farmers and strengthen the state’s dairy industry. 
    View photos from the event below: 
    In 2023, Vermont imported $76 million worth of livestock feed from Canada. New blanket tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration on Canada and Mexico would increase costs for dairy farmers by raising the cost of livestock feed and eventually reduce the size of their milk check. Additionally, President Trump’s actions on immigration risk limiting Vermont’s agricultural workforce, with farming communities across the state reporting increased presence from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, especially in Addison County. 
    The Trump Administration’s illegal freeze on programs across the federal government have caused serious harm to farmers and producers across Vermont. The unconstitutional funding freeze broke the government’s promise to reimburse farmers for projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, leaving farmers to foot the bill–sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. 
    Last Congress, Senator Welch introduced several bills to support Vermont’s dairy, organic, and specialty crop farmers; strengthen rural development and infrastructure; increase energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption; improve access to nutrition; strengthen our local food systems and expand markets; and make our communities more resilient to flooding—all of which were included in the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. Senator Welch plans to reintroduce many of these bills and policy provisions in the 119th Congress, including his bipartisan, bicameral Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would bring nutritious whole milk back into schools. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Questions Infrastructure Experts on the Permitting Process and Necessary Reforms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    February 19, 2025
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) questioned infrastructure policy experts during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on improving the federal environmental review and permitting process. During the hearing, Sen. Ricketts said the following: 
    Click here to watch
    “I believe we can make common-sense permitting reform to unleash projects for American energy, infrastructure, homebuilding, agriculture, all those sort of things—while protecting our environment. Permitting reform is about modernizing our regulatory system to ensure that we’re deploying projects efficiently, not about undercutting environmental standards. Regulatory delay for permitting infrastructure, energy and environmental projects is a hidden tax on Americans,” Sen. Ricketts said. “As Governor, one of the things I did to be able to help streamline this was I implemented a process called Lean Six Sigma. It’s about streamlining the process, which we’ve been all talking about here today. So, for example, we can’t change environmental regulations for the state, but we could look at the process. It was 110 steps long, for example, to issue an air construction permit. We cut that down to 22 and cut the time delay down for issuing that permit from 190 days to just 65 days. Those are the kind of reforms that are possible.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Statement on Confirmation of Kelly Loeffler as Administrator of the Small Business Administration

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    February 19, 2025

    February 19, 2025
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), issued the following statement after the confirmation of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration:
    “Kelly Loeffler is a strong leader who understands the vital role small businesses play in our communities. Nebraska is home to over 180,000 small businesses. I look forward to working with her to ensure that small business owners receive the support they need to thrive and continue driving our local economies forward.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rollins Meets with U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighters

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

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins met with U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters who were deployed to southern California to help suppress the devastating wildfires.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38UWfMl9kFo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee, Rhode Island Commerce Launch New Grant Program to Increase Workforce Development in Ocean Tech Hub Industries

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Published on Wednesday, February 19, 2025

    PROVIDENCE, RI — Today, Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Commerce launched the Blue Youth Innovation Grant program — a collaboration between Rhode Island Commerce, the RI Department of Labor and Training, and the Community College of Rhode Island — to increase student interest and skills in careers that support industries critical to the success of the Ocean Tech Hub. The Blue Youth Innovation Grant seeks to prepare at least 100 students for future learning and employment in up-and-coming industries critical to our national and regional economic development and security.

    “Through programs like the Blue Youth Innovation Grant, we are charting a course toward a brighter and more prosperous future for Rhode Islanders through education,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Helping to advance the Ocean Tech Hub and our blue economy will help raise incomes and lead to greater economic prosperity.”

    The Ocean Tech Hub was one of 31 initiatives to receive a Tech Hub designation by the Biden-Harris Administration in 2023. Its mission is to advance national and regional economic development, security, and environmental sustainability through innovative ocean technology. Core industries that support the Ocean Tech Hub include robotics, sensors, advanced materials, composites, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, with a focus on undersea applications.

    The Blue Youth Innovation Grant is open to Rhode Island public high schools (including traditional local education districts, charter schools, and career and technical schools), Rhode Island-accredited higher education institutions, and Rhode Island-based employers (employers with at least 51% of employees working in Rhode Island and who are registered with the RI Secretary of State). 

    Funds can be used to:

    • Establish partnerships.
    • Hire coordinators.
    • Compensate instructors.
    • Purchase materials.
    • Develop coursework.
    • Cover additional instructional, coordination, and related expenses.

    “Rhode Island is the Ocean State, and any investment in our blue economy is an investment in our future,” said Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “Creating the workforce of tomorrow starts in the classroom, and the Blue Youth Innovation Grant will help students, schools, and businesses adapt and innovate to ensure Rhode Island is the leader in ocean technology.”

    “This grant is an exciting investment in the state’s evolving blue economy,” said Director of RI Department of Labor & Training, Matthew Weldon. “By equipping students and workers with the skills needed for ocean technology careers, we are building a strong talent pipeline that will land good jobs in the fast-growing sector and ensure the long-term success of our Ocean Tech Hub.”

    “CCRI is proud to partner in this initiative to expand opportunities for students in Rhode Island’s growing ocean technology sector. As the state’s largest provider of workforce education, we are committed to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in these high-demand industries. The Blue Youth Innovation Grant will help strengthen the pipeline from education to employment, ensuring that Rhode Islanders are at the forefront of innovation in the blue economy,” added Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, interim president of CCRI.

    The deadline to apply is Friday, March 28, 2025.

    For more information on eligibility requirements and where to apply, click here.

    For more information on the Ocean Tech Hub, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 3 ways to improve access to justice through court modernization

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: 3 ways to improve access to justice through court modernization

    The legal maxim that “justice delayed is justice denied” has long been a rallying cry to encourage judges and courts to operate more efficiently. If legal redress or fair relief are potentially available to an injured party but aren’t promptly provided or supported, that is effectively no remedy at all. Today, the need for accessible and fair judicial systems is at least as relevant as when William Penn voiced it back in the seventeenth century. Fortunately, technology is playing a key role in helping to realize the vision and improve access to justice.

    Worldwide, courts are contending with growing pressures that threaten to bog down judicial processes and erode trust in the judiciary. Antiquated case management systems, critical data stuck in silos, and public demand for digital means of participating in justice contribute to the urgency to find new solutions that are cost-effective and adequately cyber-secure.

    Innovative courts are already busy modernizing systems and taking early steps with generative AI technologies. At Microsoft for government, we help courts and judicial organizations maintain trust within their communities through solutions that transform operations and help to increase fairness, accountability, and transparency. Let’s have a look at some important benefits of court modernization, including a new way for courts to experiment with AI innovation in a safe and productive fashion.

    Explore public safety and justice capabilities

    Better access to justice in 3 key areas

    The adoption of cloud technologies typically has an almost immediate impact in terms of power, scalability, and flexibility. Modernizing tools and systems can further deliver new capabilities that help improve access to justice. Among these:

    1. Streamline court operations

    Courts function better with a more empowered workforce, and modernization makes it possible to quickly realize significant gains in efficiency. For example, by simply adopting Microsoft 365 copilot, 70% of users surveyed across industries reported being more productive and able to focus more on high-value activities and creative work.1

    Even greater benefits are gained by cloud solutions that bring together vast stores of data. Courts are often supported by aging legacy systems that hold data in disconnected silos, making it difficult, if not impossible, to integrate it all. For example, the Orange County Superior Court (OCSC) managed three disparate case management systems (containing more than 70 million paper files), which created serious inefficiencies. So, they integrated it all into a single data warehouse on Microsoft Azure, and realized new benefits in decision making and improved operational efficiency, as well as setting the stage for greater innovation.

    Case management systems are especially being transformed by modernization. Courts are moving away from expensive, limited legacy systems to modern solutions that speed up case processing, help judges access necessary information faster, and even increase the capacity of caseloads. Cloud-based case management systems can also fundamentally change how people interact with courts. For example, the Alabama Appellate Courts System developed a hybrid cloud solution that allowed 6,000 Alabama licensed lawyers to access information and file motions with no need to physically travel to any of its three courts.

    2. Improve everyday access to justice

    Trust in the court is central to justice, but for many people, the cost and friction involved in legal proceedings is high and the results are not always satisfactory. Modernization can help ease the burden with new services and capabilities that are user friendly and engage the public.

    Remote access to court proceedings is a profound benefit of modernization, making it faster, easier, and less expensive for people to participate. Widely adopted during the pandemic, remote hearings with Microsoft Teams are now being enhanced with generative AI features that can do things like generate unofficial transcripts or session recaps.

    The Teams experience can also be expanded to provide additional services. For example, the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1) in Brazil improved access to the court with a new Virtual Support Desk—an integrated online service platform within Teams that offers easy access to important judicial services for people across Brazil. It also provides a personalized work hub for court service agents, giving them access to real-time engagement analytics, proactive notifications, and service governance indicators.

    Modernization is also helping people to better navigate the legal system. Easy to use digital tools can provide guidance in legal processes, assist with document preparation, and help find important resources. Virtual assistants and chatbots can help people understand legal terms, access case information, and represent themselves in litigation in areas such as family law. Translation and transcription capabilities can also be included to make these services even more accessible.

    3. Enhanced experiences through new services

    Innovation with generative AI and advanced cloud services is still evolving for courts, but the early benefits give us a glimpse of how significantly courts will be transformed in the months and years to come.

    Many of the benefits listed above will accelerate dramatically as more courts invest in modernization. For individuals, AI-enabled online portals and mobile applications will provide easier access to case information, explain options, and answer questions about legal processes—providing support that even court staff cannot always offer due to legal restrictions.

    For judges and court staff, modernization promises faster processing of cases, with solutions that speed up administrative tasks, reduce delays caused by paperwork errors, and improve the filing of legal documents. AI can automate the extraction, categorization, and organization of information from documents such as invoices, contracts, and emails.

    Generative AI is increasingly also being integrated into legal workflows to automate tasks like tagging and classification. This promises to advance a key industry initiative called SALI (Standards Advancement for the Legal Industry, in which Microsoft is a participant), that is creating a standardized way to define and document legal matters. By automating tagging and classification of documents (commonly done by hand), AI can help SALI achieve its mission to benefit legal professionals and their clients by fostering innovation and efficiency in legal workflows.

    A low risk way to explore AI innovation in the court

    Many courts are understandably cautious about involving their critical data and systems in innovation with new technology such as AI. That’s why Microsoft endorses an important new initiative called the AI Sandbox, by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).

    The AI Sandbox helps leaders in judicial organizations explore generative AI and learn how it can improve productivity, efficiency, and citizen service. Designed to serve the needs of courts across geographies, the AI Sandbox lets judges and court staff experiment with generative AI in a secure private cloud environment built on Azure. It supports the development of use cases such as drafting court orders, creating job descriptions, providing legal information, and much more. Best of all, it’s easy to use via the NSCS portal (no travel required).

    To get started, visit the NCSC AI sandbox website.

    Advancing your modernization journey

    Whether it’s the AI Sandbox or early experimentation with Microsoft 365 Copilot, the path to modernization is unique for every court. There are some fundamental elements that every organization will eventually need in order to realize the complete benefits of AI:

    • A cloud platform like Azure delivers proven scalability, security, and compliance.
    • A data and AI platform like Microsoft Fabric provides a common way to reason over your data.
    • A development platform like Azure AI Foundry lets you build world-class AI-native applications.

    Improving access to justice through technology is a long-term journey, but one that delivers benefits early and often. It’s important to define your goals, take a strategic approach, and choose a technology partner who will be with you every step of the way.

    Learn more

    To see how Microsoft is empowering court systems to be more agile, secure, and accessible for all, watch our video. To learn more about how we can help in your court’s modernization journey, visit our website or get in touch with your Microsoft sales representative or technology partner.

    Explore Microsoft for public safety and justice

    1Microsoft Work Trend Index Special Report.

    David Williams

    Director, Global Public Safety and Justice

    As a leader in Microsoft’s worldwide government team, David Williams is passionate about the application of technology to empower the people and organizations dedicated to Public Safety and Justice. He works closely with partners, field teams, and customers to find solutions that meet each organization’s unique requirements. A retired United States Army major, he has worked for more than 10 years in technology roles focused on intelligence, investigations, and data analytics.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian flight attendants are pushing for fair ground pay amid union negotiations

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kenneth Haggett, Master’s Student, Women and Gender Studies, Saint Mary’s University

    Canadian flight attendants and their union, CUPE’s airline division, have faced chronic workplace issues for the past four decades. Notably, their union has been pushing the federal government and airlines for equitable pay since 2022.

    A key development came in June 2024 when Conservative MP Lianne Rood proposed Bill C-409 to the House of Commons, which would compensate attendants for training and ground time, which includes tasks like aircraft preparation, boarding, deplaning and safety demonstrations.

    However, the Conservative Party of Canada did not consult with CUPE’s airline division in tabling Bill C-409, and CUPE has expressed their uncertainty regarding the Conservative Party’s support.

    In October 2024, NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo tabled Bill C-415, which goes further by requiring attendants to be paid for all hours worked at their full rate of pay. CUPE and the NDP Party have collaborated to push for this bill.

    The issue of unpaid ground time first gained media attention in May 2022 but has been a long-standing concern among flight attendants.

    Industry labour issues

    Flight attendants in Canada work approximately 35 uncompensated hours per month, according to CUPE Airline Division President Wesley Lesosky.

    Attendants are only paid while the aircraft is in the air, meaning ground tasks and delays are unpaid. Flight attendants may work a 10- to 12-hour shift, but only be paid for six to eight hours.

    In the past, attendants were compensated well enough to cover ground duties, but stagnant wages and the current cost-of-living crisis in Canada have left attendants poorly compensated.

    Though the union primarily focuses on organizational inequities resulting in unpaid ground time, flight delays are a major cause of such extended, unpaid hours by prolonging attendants’ duty time.

    While some negotiations have been reported between airlines and the union, such as Air Transat and Air Canada, few deals have been made, leaving flight attendants uncompensated for ground duties.

    Unions mobilize against unpaid ground time

    To call public attention to the issue, the union staged demonstrations in April 2023 and May 2024.

    While the union has sought to avoid taking strike measures — likely due to non-strike provisions in collective agreements — it could legally take job action after March 31 if negotiations fail. Union members could then vote to strike.

    CUPE’s airline division began to renegotiate union agreements with Air Canada in mid-December, ahead of the March 2025 contract expiration. The union’s primary focus is to make better bargains with employers surrounding unpaid ground time. Ideally, new agreements would compensate flight attendants for all hours worked, not simply time spent in the air.

    A Feb. 3 update from the union reveals that, while negotiations are steadily progressing, the process remains lengthy and complex. To strengthen its position, the union has commissioned legal and research professionals to aid in the negotiation of benefits, pensions, wage increases and scheduling changes, among others.

    As sociologists focusing on labour relations, we conducted a literature review on historical trends within the Canadian airline industry, digging deeper into structural issues leading to unpaid ground time.

    Our research has found that the neoliberal shifts of the 1980s are a major determinant of attendants’ deteriorating working conditions. Over time, rising corporate austerity has placed attendants’ wages on the back burner.

    Structural roots of unpaid ground time

    The issue of unpaid ground time is not an isolated issue in the airline industry, but a byproduct of broader economic and labour trends.

    Our findings highlight how neoliberal economic policies — particularly the wave of deregulation and privatization in the 1980s — have strengthened corporate power while weakening unions’ bargaining capacity.

    Founded in 1948, Canada’s first flight attendant union, the Canadian Air Line Flight Attendants’ Association (CALFAA), focused on addressing attendants’ health, safety and wage concerns.

    But with the neoliberal push to deregulate and privatize the industry, CALFAA’s challenges were amplified. In response, CALFAA voted to merge with CUPE — Canada’s leading union — to extend their influence, becoming CUPE’s airline division.

    Yet the growing emphasis on corporate profit continues to erode union power to secure and maintain fair pay and equitable workplace standards. Bargaining processes have become increasingly difficult, with arbitrators often favouring corporate interests.

    State-imposed anti-strike provisions from previous years have curtailed unions’ ability to strike against unfair conditions. Successful airline lobbying has also threatened workplace safety, as indicated in a 2015 case of pilot duty time.

    As airlines continue to compete in a “race to the bottom” to minimize expenses and maximize profit, flight attendants continue to face unpaid labour issues. Federally supported through bailouts and bankruptcy protections, airlines have been pandered to at the expense of airline workers.

    A lack of state and corporate response to the issue at hand indicates the prioritization of austerity over Canadian flight attendants’ financial well-being. Without meaningful policy changes, key issues like unpaid ground time will remain chronically neglected.

    Looking ahead

    Though unpaid ground time is presented as the major issue within the workplace, the extensive, unpaid labour required of flight attendants can lead to poorer mental health, chronic fatigue and other health concerns that pose risks due to their impact on attendants’ ability to perform safety duties.

    With contract negotiations underway, CUPE’s airline division has an opportunity to push for better working conditions and pay structures that reflect all hours worked.

    Canadian airlines must address the issue of unpaid labour and, ultimately, implement more equitable workplace standards for flight attendants.

    Whether airlines and the federal government will indeed act on these demands remains to be seen. Yet the growing pressure from unions and political figures suggests the fight for fair pay is far from over.

    Lauren Cormier, an undergraduate student in sociology at Trent University, co-authored this article.

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

    – ref. Canadian flight attendants are pushing for fair ground pay amid union negotiations – https://theconversation.com/canadian-flight-attendants-are-pushing-for-fair-ground-pay-amid-union-negotiations-238959

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Leads Bipartisan Effort to Improve Important Weather Forecasting Tools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the collection of weather and soil moisture data and improve the accuracy of extreme weather warnings and agriculture forecasts.
    “The mesonet and soil moisture monitoring probes are crucial tools for Kansans. Weather affects everything on the farm, and a deeper understanding of what’s happening above and below the ground provides farmers more certainty when making crop decisions,” said Senator Marshall. “Better weather data collection for Kansas also helps us predict wildfires and tornadoes before they arrive, which has the potential to save lives in cases of extreme weather. I’m proud to introduce this important, bipartisan legislation.”
    “For Hawai‘i and other states vulnerable to floods, droughts, and severe weather, better data means better forecasts, better prepared communities, and faster emergency response times,” said Senator Schatz. “This same data also helps farmers and ranchers navigate droughts.”
    The Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025 codifies and expands the National Mesonet Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and updates other programs that are crucial to Kansans, such as the National Drought Information System and the Soil Moisture Monitoring Network. 
    You may click HERE to read the full bill text. 
    BACKGROUND:
    Mesonets are weather observation data tools that observe and track mesoscale weather events, and they are crucial for collecting hyperlocal meteorological data, such as soil moisture and stream gauges, to better forecast weather, flood, fire, and agricultural impacts. 
    Improving the National Mesonet Program and outlining its objectives through this bill would give NOAA authority to address critical gaps in weather data and forecasting. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Marshall and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Hold Fireside Chat at Top Producer Summit and Join RFD-TV to Discuss Agricultural Priorities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Kansas City – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to Kansas this week. They made multiple stops around the state at key Kansas agriculture locations and ended their trip by attending Top Producer Summit in Kansas City where they held a fireside chat which was moderated by Senator Marshall.
    During the conversation, Secretary Rollins discussed her background and priorities for improving American agriculture. Both Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins emphasized that they are not just fighting for policies, but fighting for the American farmer and rancher who put so much on the line to feed our country and the world. Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins also discussed the importance of cutting government regulations and increasing agricultural production. 
    In addition, Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins joined RFD-TV to discuss tariffs, their commitment to working with President Trump to help ranchers and farmers, and the status of the next Farm Bill.
    You may click HERE  to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview with RFD-TV.
    Highlights from the interview include:
    Senator Marshall on how rural farmers are struggling and what can be done:
    “As the Secretary mentioned, there’s been a record drop in net farm income. But the opportunities are there. The dairy industry is growing in Kansas. The cattle industry is growing as well. Biofuels are huge opportunities as well. So I think again, in the spirit of optimism, rolling back regulations. The Secretary was very involved before in the previous Trump Administration, rolling back Waters of the U.S. Our farmers and ranchers are being strangled by regulation, so we are looking forward to rolling those back as well.”
    Senator Marshall on the importance and function of tariffs:
    “Farmers and ranchers support President Trump. They know under Trump 1.0 that he gave us USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)… He used those tariffs for the long-term gain of the farmers. [President Trump is] the best deal maker that you’ve ever met, and he’s going to make a deal with India. And I think India will replace China as one of our top markets as well, but not if they’re tariffing us 50% and we’re not tariffing them. So I think there are huge opportunities. We’ve got a deal maker in DC now, and the Secretary is gonna be right there pushing them down that road as well.”
    Senator Marshall on the outlook of the next Farm Bill:
    “We’ll get done this year. I am looking forward to working with Senator Klobuchar who’s the new ranking member for the Democrats… So, I think working with her and Senator Bozeman, we’ll get it across the finish line. We will put the farm back in Farm Bill. We’ll take care of the crop insurance. We’re going to take care of reference prices and maybe expand the guardrails for the conservation program so that the farmers and ranchers can actually use them. So, we’ll put the farm back in Farm Bill. We’ll get it done.”
    Senator Marshall on working with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins:
    “Secretary Rollins lives, breathes, and eats this agriculture world. And I think she did a great job communicating what was on her heart. She was born and raised in agriculture and that agriculture isn’t just an industry, it’s a way of life. And then her relationship with President Trump over the last eight years, and what a huge priority rural America is to President Trump. 90% of rural Americans voted for President Trump. That’s not lost on him, and he wants us to do everything that he can to make rural America great again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy: It is disgraceful to waste taxpayer dollars on biased public broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) highlighted some of the biased reporting from National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and argued that the federal government should not keep subsidizing these programs through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in a speech on the Senate floor.
    Key excerpts of the speech are below:
    “At least half of America would look at these headlines and be offended. They would be offended . . . really for three reasons. Number one, they disagree with opinion journalism. Number two, they would disagree with the headline. And number three, they would disagree with the fact that these headlines are not fair. They are not objective. They are obviously slanted to one point of view, and they are using taxpayer money.” 
    . . . 
    “I have introduced legislation, not to eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, not to eliminate the Public Broadcasting Service, and not to eliminate the National Public Radio—they can go exist on their own if they want to—but I do want to defund them.
    “We are running $36 trillion in debt. This is disgraceful in 2025. It is disgraceful whether it is left-of-center opinion journalism or right-of-center opinion journalism. It is disgraceful to the American people to have to fund this rot. It doesn’t mean the rot doesn’t have a right to exist, but they don’t have a right to taxpayer money.”
    Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –