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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee, Commissioner Infante-Green Launch Math Matters RI Campaign, Award $2.85 Million in Learn365RI Grants Aimed to Improve Math Skills

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Published on Thursday, February 13, 2025

    PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Providence Public School District (PPSD) Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez, Principal Cassandra Henderson, and 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) recipient Kerry Johnson joined state, municipal, school and community leaders today at Asa Messer Elementary School to launch the statewide Math Matters RI campaign, which aims to promote the importance of mathematics.

    As part of the launch, Governor McKee and Commissioner Infante-Green awarded the latest round of Learn365RI grants, which will provide 38 communities with $2,125,000 in grant funding aimed at improving math skills. Additionally, $725,000 has been allocated as a State set-aside for statewide intervention and support. Asa Messer Elementary was chosen to host the event because the school saw one of the highest increases in math proficiency, with a more than 12 percentage point improvement in students meeting or exceeding expectations in the 2024 RICAS results.

    “In every home, every day, learning matters and we are launching our statewide Math Matters RI campaign to place an extra emphasis on math instruction and learning,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We’re underscoring that math is important for the future success of students and state with an investment of $2.85 million in Learn365RI funding that will support out-of-school math-focused programming statewide. Our intention is to build on the success of our nationally recognized Attendance Matters RI campaign and continue our work to improve academic achievement across the Ocean State.”

    “Providing our students with the tools and support they need to excel in math is an investment in both their future and the future of Providence,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “Strong math skills create pathways to higher education and careers in high-demand industries, strengthening our local workforce and economy. We are pleased to partner with the State to expand access to high-quality learning opportunities. By working together, we can ensure that every student has the foundation to reach their full potential and succeed for years to come.”

    “While some of our students are seeing positive momentum in math and have rebounded past pre-pandemic levels of achievement, we have to double down on our efforts to promote math to help all students get back on track,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “RIDE is working diligently to expand access to high-quality math instruction for students and math-focused professional learning for teachers, and we know that the funds made available to communities through the Governor’s Learn365RI initiative will complement and strengthen our efforts to improve math understanding and skills. RIDE is excited to kick off the Math Matters RI campaign alongside math teachers, coaches, champions, and representatives from cities and towns throughout Rhode Island.”

    Funding for the third round of Learn365RI Municipal Learning Project grants has been aligned to the Math Matters RI campaign and will support out-of-school time learning programs with an explicit focus on math programs for students currently enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8. The program’s grant recipients may offer April break math camps, intensive afterschool and/or weekend math programming, and/or a four (or more)-week summer program.

    State leaders emphasized the need to focus on improving math instruction and learning, citing positive trends in math RICAS results that have rebounded past pre-pandemic levels of achievement with 30.1% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in 2023-2024 results compared to 29.8% in 2018-2019. However, math SAT results remain below pre-pandemic levels, with 21.7% of secondary students meeting and exceeding expectations compared to 31.2% in 2018-2019. At the national level, NAEP, known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” underscored a need to focus on math with 2024 national math scores declining by 5 percentage points in grade 4 and 8 percentage points in grade 8 compared to 2019.

    “When our future leaders succeed, Rhode Island succeeds, and I am proud that representatives from across our state are joining to support students reach their highest potential,” said Chair of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Patti DiCenso. “A comprehensive, high-quality education opens doors for all students, but we’ve seen that math can serve as a gatekeeper for many. By focusing joint efforts to promote math, we can help expand college and career options for students of all backgrounds.”

    As part of the $725,000 State set-aside, $500,000 will help provide math-focused and enrichment courses through EnrollRI.org. The All Course Network (ACN), accessible through EnrollRI, helps students get a head start on postsecondary success, master the skills required of a lifelong learner, and be prepared for jobs in sectors critical to Rhode Island’s future prosperity. ACN courses offer students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit, offsetting the cost of college tuition, and preparing students for a life without limits. With the goal of supporting college and career readiness, last December state leaders announced a new partnership with Khan Academy, offering a no-cost opportunity to all local education agencies (LEAs) to enhance SAT preparation and student success through the integration of Khan Academy Districts and Khanmigo tools.

    Providence Public Schools will receive $225,000 of the State set-aside to set up spring recess math programming. PPSD’s math RICAS results show positive trends with 14.7% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in 2023-2024 compared to 11.9% in 2018-2019, prior to the pandemic. PPSD has seen steady increases in math RICAS annually since levels reached their lowest point during the pandemic.

    “PPSD is committed to promoting the message that math matters, and we are working hard to expand access to learning opportunities that will boost math outcomes in the capital city,” said Superintendent Montañez. “Since the height of the pandemic, PPSD has made gains in math RICAS every year, and are now above where we were prior to the disruption of COVID-19. We know work remains and we are thankful for the State’s support in helping ensure our students continue to learn and develop their math skills beyond the classroom.”

    The new campaign is in alignment with Governor McKee’s goal to meet or beat Massachusetts’ achievement levels by 2030 improving school attendance, boosting FAFSA completion rates, and improving RICAS English Language Arts (ELA) and math scores. To promote greater outcomes, state leaders have made a series of investments to support students and teachers. Notably, last year, the State announced the investment of $5 million in funding for instructional coaching in mathematics and ELA for more than 20 schools and districts across the state, with $4 million going towards staffing and the remaining $1 million going towards accompanying professional development.

    “We are all math people, and as a math educator it brings me great joy to see statewide support towards elevating and strengthening math skills across the Ocean State,” said 2023 PAEMST recipient Kerry Johnson. “We can all learn and thrive in math if given the right support and I join the chorus of Rhode Island officials, teachers, parents, and business and community partners proudly saying that math matters!”

    Grant Funding Breakdown:

    • City of Providence – $200,000.00
    • City of Pawtucket – $145,000.00
    • City of Cranston – $125,000.00
    • City of Warwick – $80,000.00
    • City of Woonsocket –  $100,000.00
    • Town of Cumberland – $70,000.00
    • City of East Providence – $70,000.00
    • City of Central Falls – $75,000.00
    • Town of Coventry – $55,000.00
    • Town of North Providence – $55,000.00
    • Town of North Kingstown – $55,000.00
    • Town of West Warwick – $55,000.00
    • Town of Lincoln – $55,000.00
    • Town of Barrington – $55,000.00
    • Town of East Greenwich – $55,000.00
    • Town of South Kingstown – $55,000.00
    • Town of Smithfield – $55,000.00
    • Town of Westerly – $55,000.00
    • Town of Burrillville – $55,000.00
    • Town of Portsmouth – $55,000.00
    • Town of Middletown – $55,000.00
    • City of Newport – $75,000.00
    • Town of Bristol – $40,000.00
    • Town of North Smithfield – $40,000.00
    • Town of Tiverton – $40,000.00
    • Town of Glocester – $40,000.00
    • Town of Scituate – $40,000.00
    • Town of Hopkinton – $40,000.00
    • Town of Richmond – $40,000.00
    • Town of Warren – $40,000.00
    • Town of Narragansett – $20,000.00
    • Town of West Greenwich – $20,000.00
    • Town of Exeter – $20,000.00
    • Town of Charlestown – $20,000.00
    • Town of Jamestown – $20,000.00
    • Town of Foster – $20,000.00
    • Town of Little Compton – $15,000.00
    • Town of New Shoreham – $15,000.00

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US says European security no longer its primary focus – the shift has been years in the making

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David J. Galbreath, Professor of International Security, University of Bath

    European defence ministers left their meeting in Brussels on February 12 in shock after the new US secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, told them they could no longer rely on the US to guarantee their security.

    Hegseth said he was there “to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe”.

    He also insisted that European countries provide the “overwhelming” share of funding for Ukraine in the future. The US has been the biggest source of military aid to Ukraine, with its weapons, equipment and financial assistance crucial in helping Kyiv resist the Russian invasion.

    Hegseth’s comments are in keeping with the stance of the US president, Donald Trump, on the Nato transatlantic military alliance. Trump sees Nato as an excessive financial burden on the US and has repeatedly called on its members to increase their defence spending.

    But Hegseth’s remarks could also be seen as a sign of America’s waning commitment to the terms of Nato’s founding treaty. Signed in 1949 by the US, Canada and several western European nations, Article 5 of the treaty requires member states to defend each other in the event of an armed attack.

    The US has the largest military – and the biggest stockpile of nuclear weapons – in Nato. So, on the face of it, efforts to recast the alliance appear a drastic shift in Europe’s security landscape in the post-cold war era.

    However, those familiar with the political sentiment around Nato and the defence of Europe in the US will see that this move follows in the footsteps of what others have sought to do – starting from the very end of the cold war.

    Changing over time

    In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Nato was under considerable pressure to change for the new world order. A rising China was not yet on the minds of many in Washington, but the feeling was that the financial commitments the US had made to defend western Europe during the cold war could not continue.

    The so-called “peace dividend”, a slogan popularised by former US president George H.W. Bush and former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher, allowed nearly all Nato states to reduce their military spending at this time.

    In 1992, almost as soon as European Nato countries were shrinking their forces and moving away from mass armies to professional soldiering, the alliance became actively engaged in maintaining a no-fly zone over Yugoslavia.

    A new Nato was becoming apparent. It was transitioning from being a collective defence organisation to one of collective security, where conflicts were managed on Nato’s borders.

    A US fighter jet at Aviano air base, Italy, after a mission over Bosnia to enforce the no-fly zone in 1993.
    Sgt. Janel Schroeder / Wikimedia Commons

    This collective security arrangement worked well to keep the alliance together until 2001, when the administration of George W. Bush entered the White House and involved the US in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US, Nato invoked Article 5 and returned to the principle of collective defence.

    Many European countries, including the new, smaller Nato states like Estonia and Latvia, sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. The persistent justification I heard in the Baltic states was “we need to be there when the US needs us so that they will be there when we need them”.

    Yet in 2011, before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were over, the administration of Barack Obama introduced a foreign policy strategy known as the “pivot to Asia”. The implication was that the US would shift its attention from primarily the western hemisphere to China.

    By this point, China had become the second-largest economy in the world and was rapidly developing its military. The reaction to this US policy shift in European capitals was one of shock and disappointment. They saw it as the US deciding that its own security did not sit in Europe like it had since 1945.

    Then, in 2014, Russia invaded Crimea and the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. The pivot to Asia looked like it had stalled. But US interest and investment in European defence continued to decline, with American military bases across Europe closed down. The first Trump administration continued the pattern set by Obama.

    President Joe Biden, who entered office in 2021, used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to show European leaders that the US still saw its own security in Europe and that it would stand beside Ukraine.

    But the US continued to insist that European countries invest in their own defence. The UK, Poland and France have all committed to increase their defence spending over recent years – though spending by European Nato states as a whole continued to fall.

    There has been a long-held belief in the US that Europe is “freeriding” on American power. While the US saw its own security in Europe, this freeriding was allowed to continue.

    But as the perspective of the US has changed, with the focus now on countering China, it has been keen to suggest that European defence should increasingly become the job of Europe itself.

    Nato will not go out with a bang. It is much more likely to gradually disappear with a whimper. After all, who did Trump meet on his second day in office? Not Nato but the Quad: an alliance between Australia, India, Japan and the US in the Indo-Pacific.

    David J. Galbreath has received research funding from the UKRI.

    – ref. US says European security no longer its primary focus – the shift has been years in the making – https://theconversation.com/us-says-european-security-no-longer-its-primary-focus-the-shift-has-been-years-in-the-making-249813

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Will Lucy Letby get a retrial? Here’s what happens next with her case

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Alge, Senior Lecturer in Criminology & Criminal Justice, Brunel University of London

    Lucy Letby was convicted in two trials in 2023 and 2024 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others in her care at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England between 2015 and 2016.

    She is currently serving 15 whole life sentences for the murders. But the case has been called into question as a result of growing concerns about the expert evidence presented at her trial. Will she get a retrial? Here’s what happens next.

    In the context of usually cautious expert opinion, the press conference held on February 4 2025 was extraordinary. An international panel of medical experts investigating the medical evidence against Lucy Letby concluded that there were alternative explanations for each of the deaths. They said they found no evidence of deliberate harm, and believe Letby did not murder any babies.

    The panel’s chair, Dr Shoo Lee, is a retired neonatal care expert. His 1989 paper on air embolisms was heavily relied on by the prosecution in the Letby trial and appeals. However, Lee has previously said that his research was misinterpreted at trial. At the press conference he said, “we did not find any murders. In all cases, death or injury were due to natural causes or just bad medical care.”

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    The panel’s findings put the case in uncharted territory, given Letby’s very recent convictions and the continuing public inquiry into the case.

    The public inquiry – the Thirlwall Inquiry into events at the Countess of Chester hospital – will operate based on the assumption, following her convictions, that Letby is guilty. Letby’s barrister has called for the inquiry to be halted pending the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) review of her case.

    Despite the findings of the expert panel, Letby’s release or even a retrial is by no means imminent, let alone guaranteed. Letby has already had two applications for leave to appeal refused. The grounds of appeal were related to what her defence argued were errors in judicial decision making during the trial, rather than the medical evidence. Nonetheless, this means that the CCRC is the only route left open to Letby to challenge her convictions.

    Letby’s defence team confirmed that a preliminary application has been made to the CCRC, with a full submission to follow. The CCRC investigates potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    The commission is expected to treat Letby’s case as a priority given the public interest. But it is still likely to take at least a year to review the considerable evidence before a referral back to the Court of Appeal could even be considered.

    What evidence will be considered?

    The CCRC aims to complete cases within 12 months of receiving the application. But the organisation has recently come under criticism over how it handled the case of Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly jailed for 17 years for a crime he did not commit.

    When the CCRC considers the full application, they have the power to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal. In order to do so, the commission requires new evidence or other relevant factors which would support a fresh appeal.

    The findings of the medical panel will be part of the defence submission. The CCRC will decide, with other factors, whether they constitute fresh grounds for an appeal. It is particularly compelling that the prosecution case relied on Dr Lee’s research, and yet it is in part his expertise that has become a crucial element of the defence.

    To send the case back for appeal, the CCRC would also need to conclude that there was a “real possibility” of the conviction being overturned.

    It is important to remember that the case against Letby included statistical and circumstantial evidence as well as medical opinion. However, what are alleged to be numerous fallacies in the statistical evidence have been highlighted. And circumstantial evidence is just that – circumstantial. Letby was convicted on the medical evidence.

    The evidence given as part of the Thirlwall Inquiry will be within the remit of the CCRC too. Although the inquiry has not yet formally concluded, all oral testimony has taken place. As would be expected given the inquiry’s terms of reference, much of the evidence heard has been less favourable to Letby.

    The CCRC also has the power under the Criminal Appeals Act 1995 to instruct its own expert witnesses and interview previous and potential new witnesses.

    If the CCRC ultimately decides to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, it will be treated like any other appeal. It could result either in the conviction being quashed and Letby going free, or a retrial.

    A retrial would follow if the appeal judges believed that a retrial met the criteria set out in the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 and was in the interests of justice. The likelihood of this outcome depends on the strength of the medical evidence presented to the CCRC and the Court of Appeal.



    Read more:
    Lucy Letby case: the problems with expert evidence

    As the Thirlwall Inquiry and the CCRC application are separate processes, is it technically not essential that the inquiry concludes before the CCRC makes a decision. Closing submissions to the inquiry are scheduled for March 2025, with the report expected later in the year. This should fit within the expected timeframe of the CCRC taking at least a year to consider the application.

    A further complicating factor is Lee’s assertion that the Countess of Chester hospital provided such bad care that it would have been “shut down” in his home country of Canada. This will no doubt lead to legal claims against the NHS trust, particularly if Letby is exonerated and culpability for avoidable deaths is sought elsewhere.

    Some, including Lee, have gone so far as to suggest the new evidence is so compelling that Letby should be released on house arrest pending the CCRC review. This would be highly unusual, and for the time being, Letby remains imprisoned as one of the worst child serial killers in modern British history.

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

    – ref. Will Lucy Letby get a retrial? Here’s what happens next with her case – https://theconversation.com/will-lucy-letby-get-a-retrial-heres-what-happens-next-with-her-case-249415

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: West Virginia Boasts Perfect Terrain for Winter Adventures – Almost Heaven – West Virginia

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    Best Conditions in a Decade Await Skiers, Snowboarders, and Winter Enthusiasts

    CHARLESTON, W.VA – Feb. 12, 2025 – West Virginia’s ski season is still in full swing, delivering the best winter conditions in over a decade. While West Virginia was one of the first states in the region to welcome snow this winter, the state’s ski season is far from over. An additional eight to 10 inches of snowfall is expected over Presidents’ Day Weekend, making it the ideal time for a Mountain State winter getaway.

    This season, West Virginia’s mountainous terrain has been transformed with snowfall reaching 142 cumulative inches and counting. Ski resorts have further enhanced these prime conditions by producing billions of gallons of man-made snow to ensure nearly all terrain is open and ready for action. With feet of natural snowfall enhanced by man-made snow blanketing the slopes, the majority of trails are open and ready to welcome skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. Now is the perfect time to experience West Virginia’s spectacular winter wonderland. 

    “The conditions are incredible right now, setting up for a perfect holiday weekend,” says Tom Wagner, President of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. “I can’t remember the last time we’ve seen such pristine conditions.”

    From thrilling ski runs to serene Nordic trails, the Mountain State is home to world-class winter sports destinations, including Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Winterplace Ski Resort, Timberline Mountain, and Oglebay’s Nutting Winter Sports Complex. The state’s alpine resorts are delivering excellent conditions for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing against the backdrop of stunning mountain vistas. Nordic skiing enthusiasts can explore serene cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at destinations like White Grass Ski Touring Center, Blackwater Falls State Park, and the Monongahela National Forest.

    “This winter has brought with it an incredible amount of snow that has created the perfect conditions for winter outdoor adventures,” said West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby. “We’re anticipating these conditions will continue for weeks to come. If you’ve been dreaming of a winter getaway, West Virginia awaits.” 

    Beyond traditional winter sports, the state offers a range of unique activities to make every visit memorable. Canaan Valley Resort features one of the longest multi-lane snow tubing parks in the Mid-Atlantic, while Snow Riders Tubing Hill in Harpers Ferry provides an unforgettable multicolor, LED-lit tubing experience. Adventure awaits on snow-covered trails at the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System and Snowshoe Mountain, perfect for snowmobiling and ATV riding.

    West Virginia’s commitment to inclusivity shines with adaptive skiing programs at Snowshoe Mountain, Canaan Valley, and Timberline Mountain. In collaboration with the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, these programs offer personalized lessons and specialized equipment, ensuring everyone can share in the magic of the slopes. 

    With a combination of stunning mountain scenery, top-tier resorts, and a wide range of winter activities, West Virginia stands out as the ultimate destination for snowy escapes. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy these exceptional conditions this season. Now is the time to plan your winter getaway!

    For more information about West Virginia, visit WVtourism.com and start planning your trip today.

    To access images of winter in West Virginia, click here. 

    ###

    This post was last updated on February 12, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson fully supports Section 504 school accommodations for childrenRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson assures parents whose children rely on “Section 504” accommodations in school that nothing is changing, and your child’s accommodations are not going away.

    “My grandfather was wounded in World War II and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair, so there’s no way I would ever do anything to take away accommodations for anyone with a disability,” Attorney General Wilson said.

    Section 504 is a law that protects school accommodations for children with disabilities such as ADHD or diabetes. When Congress passed it, the law excluded “gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments, or other sexual behavior disorders.”

    When President Biden was in office, he signed an executive order adding “gender identity disorders” into the law. South Carolina then joined a 17-state lawsuit, led by Texas, challenging that executive order. The Attorney General’s Office joined the lawsuit with the sole intention of removing “gender identity disorders” and restoring Section 504 to what Congress passed originally. There was no intention to throw out Section 504 entirely.

    On January 20th, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that undoes President Biden’s order. President Trump’s order removes “gender identity disorders” from Section 504.

    Attorney General Wilson supports President Trump’s executive order and believes it resolves his concerns, so our mission is complete.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colombian Woman Charged with Identity Theft Offenses and Stealing Federal Benefits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Colombian woman residing in Boston was arrested for identity theft offenses and stealing housing benefits.

    Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, 58, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of misuse of a Social Security number, one count of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport and one count of theft of government money. Orovio-Hernandez appeared in federal court in Boston yesterday.

    According to court documents, Orovio-Hernandez, a citizen of Colombia, applied for a United States passport and a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Real ID using the name and other biographical information of another individual. Additionally, Orovio-Hernandez is alleged to have stolen approximately $259,589 in Section 8 housing assistance benefits from October 2011 through January 2025.

    The charge of misuse of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years of in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making a false statement in an application for a United States passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. If convicted, the defendant will also be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentenced imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Vicky Vazquez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Northeast Region made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

    The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Hold PBMs Accountable for Driving Up Drug Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    02.13.25
    Cantwell Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Hold PBMs Accountable for Driving Up Drug Costs
    Prescription pricing middlemen inflate costs for consumers, making it harder for pharmacies to stay open and creating pharmacy deserts; WA state ranks sixth worst in the nation for pharmacy access
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in reintroducing the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act, which would increase drug price transparency and hold Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) accountable for unfair and deceptive practices that drive up prescription drug prices. This legislation will reduce prescription costs for consumers and save taxpayers $740 million. 
    “Increasing prescription drugs costs have a devastating impact on the pocketbooks of American consumers,” said Sen.  Cantwell.  “For too long, Americans have been left in the dark while PBMs – the mysterious drug middlemen – manipulate prices.  Preliminary findings by the FTC found that the three biggest PBMs hiked prices of some lifesaving drugs by 1,000 percent.  This legislation will prevent PBMs from engaging in spread pricing and claw backs that harm consumers and independent pharmacies.  It’s time for Congress to reinforce FTC’s ability to hold PBMs accountable for deceptive and abusive practices.” 
    In Washington state, local pharmacies are struggling. The Washington State Pharmacy Association reported that a record 83 pharmacies shuttered across the state in 2023 and the first half of 2024 – in rural and urban areas alike – and an analysis by the Associated Press found that Washington state is sixth worst in the nation for access to pharmacies. Many of the region’s pharmacists point to the lower reimbursement rates on most of their prescriptions as a main reason for why their pharmacies are struggling, an issue caused by unfair PBM pricing practices.
    In addition, new data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that inflation rose to 3 percent in January – including a record monthly increase in the cost of prescription drugs.
    PBMs were initially formed to process claims and negotiate lower drug prices with drug makers, but today they the wield too much influence over the price and access to prescription drugs.  PBMs administer prescription drug plans for hundreds of millions of Americans and three PBMs control nearly 80% of the prescription drug market.
    Pharmacy Benefit Managers are middlemen that manage nearly every aspect of the prescription drug benefits process for health insurance companies, self-insured employers, unions, and government programs. They operate out of the view of regulators and consumers — setting prescription costs, deciding what drugs are covered by insurance plans, and determining how they are dispensed – pocketing unknown sums that might otherwise be passed along as savings to consumers and undercutting local independent pharmacies. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to fully understand if and how PBMs might be manipulating the prescription drug market to increase profits and drive-up drug costs for consumers.
    Key takeaways from a July 2024 interim Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff report show that:
    Market concentration and vertical integration have given PBMs significant power and control over what drugs are available to patients and at what price, without public transparency or accountability.
    PBMs engage in self-preferencing by steering patients to affiliated pharmacies and away from independent pharmacies.
    PBMs may be using their market power to force independent pharmacies into unfair contract terms and below-cost reimbursement rates.
    PBMs and manufacturers enter into rebate agreements that may impair or block access to lower-cost drugs.
    A subsequent interim staff report released a few weeks ago found that the three largest PBMs significantly marked up prices for specialty generic drugs—some by over 1,000% — and made an estimated $1.4 billion in income from spread pricing.
    Last September, the FTC sued the three largest PBMs for engaging in anticompetitive and unfair practices that inflated the price of insulin drugs, blocked patients’ access to more affordable products, and shifted the cost of high insulin list prices to vulnerable patients. 
    The PBM Transparency Act would save taxpayers $740 million over 10 years.
    The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2025 will:
    Prohibit unfair or deceptive practices.
    Block PBMs from engaging in spread pricing, unfairly reducing or clawing back drug reimbursement payments to pharmacies, and unfairly charging pharmacies more to offset federal reimbursement changes.
    Incentivize fair and transparent PBM practices.
    Provide some exceptions to liability for PBMs that pass along 100% of rebates to health plans or payers and fully disclose prescription drug rebates, costs, prices, reimbursements, fees, and other information to health plans, payers, pharmacies, and federal agencies.
    Improve transparency and competition by requiring PBMs to report:
    The amount of money they obtain from spread pricing, pharmacy fees, and clawbacks.
    Any differences in the PBMs’ reimbursement rates or fees PBMs charge affiliated pharmacies and non-affiliated pharmacies.
    Whether and why they move drugs to a higher-cost formulary tier.
    Direct the FTC to report to Congress its enforcement activities and whether PBMs engage in unfair or deceptive formulary design or placement.
    Authorize the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce the bill.
    Protect whistleblowers from being fired or reprimanded for bringing violations to light.
    Sen. Cantwell has worked for years to bring transparency to the PBM industry and reduce drug costs for consumers.  She first introduced the bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act in May 2022 with Sen. Grassley and again in 2023.  Sen. Cantwell led passage of the bill in the Commerce Committee in 2022 and again in March 2023, and vowed to keep  fighting until the bill becomes law.  She led a press conference at a Seattle pharmacy in October 2023 and called for the bill’s passage by the Senate in June 2024, and again in July following the damning FTC report.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Lee, Rep. Comer Introduce a Bill to Fast-Track Pres. Trump’s Government Reorganization Plans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON—Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-KY) today introduced the Reorganizing Government Act of 2025. This legislation ensures Congress takes an up or down vote on government-wide reorganization plans submitted to Congress by President Donald Trump to streamline government operations and better serve the American people. 
     “This legislation allows the President to use his constitutional authority as Chief Executive to reorganize federal agencies, eliminate weaponization, and right-size the government to better serve the American people,” said Sen. Lee. “Congress cannot afford to sit on its hands in this fight. Reauthorizing presidential reorganization authority is the most comprehensive tool that the President can use to restore good governance to Washington.” 
    “Americans elected President Trump to reform Washington, and his team is working around the clock to deliver on that promise,” said Chairman Comer. “The federal bureaucracy has grown dramatically in size and scope, creating unnecessary red tape. We must cut through the inefficiency and streamline government to improve service delivery and save taxpayers money. Congress can fast-track President Trump’s government reorganization plans by renewing a key tool to approve them swiftly in Congress. The Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 does just that. I look forward to advancing this bill in the House Oversight Committee soon. We owe it to the American people to make government efficient, effective, and accountable.” 
    The federal government has expanded significantly over the past 200 years, leading to inefficiencies, redundancies, and bureaucratic obstacles. With a federal budget that has grown from $3.6 billion to $7.3 trillion and over 400 executive agencies, streamlining government operations is essential for cost savings and improved service delivery.
    The Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 seeks to renew and extend the President’s authority to propose executive branch reorganization plans until December 2026. This legislation restores a reorganization authority that was last in effect in 1984, aiming to modernize and improve government efficiency. Under this bill:
    Congress must vote on proposed reorganization plans within 90 days, using an expedited process that cannot be filibustered.
    The President’s authority expands to include entire executive departments, not just agencies.
    The bill prohibits reorganization plans that increase federal workforce size or expenditures.
     The Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 has been endorsed by Heritage Action, Pacific Legal Foundation, and Job Creators Network.

    “Thank you, Chairman Comer and Sen. Lee for introducing the Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 to empower the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size and scope of government burdening small businesses and ordinary Americans. As the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency have uncovered, there is tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies and departments. This legislation will make it easier to eliminate this reckless spending, reduce the deficit, and return savings to taxpayers.” – Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of Job Creators Network
    You can read the bill text by clicking HERE.
    You can read the one-pager by clicking HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Tulsi Gabbard Sworn In as Director of National Intelligence in the Oval Office

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    Tulsi Gabbard has officially been sworn in as Director of National Intelligence by AG Pam Bondi in the Oval Office!

    MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8IKYWDPdpw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Global aviation giant lands in Alberta

    Lufthansa Technik Canada is establishing a state-of-the-art maintenance and repair facility at Calgary International Airport, specializing in Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines. As one of just five certified global operators for these next-generation engines, this $120-million investment positions Alberta at the heart of the global narrow-body aircraft market. This investment is a key catalyst for WestJet to enter into a 15-year, multi-billion-dollar maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik, which will build and support Alberta’s aviation industry for years to come.

    “Alberta’s government is proud to welcome this historic partnership between WestJet and Lufthansa Technik Canada right here in Calgary. This agreement will have a far-reaching impact on our economy and it serves as a testament to the strong levels of investor confidence in our province. Alberta is a place where you can grow your business and thrive into the future. With our low corporate tax rate and highly educated workforce, Alberta continues to be one of the most business-friendly jurisdictions in North America. Today’s investment is further proof of Alberta’s national and international reputation as a leading aerospace and aviation hub.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

    “This new, state-of-the-art facility is a major step toward making Calgary and Alberta global leaders in aviation innovation. Our government is proud to partner with the Calgary Airport Authority, industry leaders, and all levels of government to strengthen Canada’s aviation sector. We beat out strong competition to secure this opportunity, showcasing our region’s innovative spirit and commitment to  reducing emissions. Together, we’re developing and adopting cutting-edge technologies that will boost the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized businesses across the aviation supply chain.”

    Terry Duguid, federal minister of Sport and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development

    Lufthansa Technik Canada is the latest grant recipient of Alberta’s Investment and Growth Fund (IGF), receiving $3 million in provincial funding to build a new aerospace maintenance facility at the Calgary airport. The IGF is one of several investor support services and programs offered by Alberta’s government.

    Alberta’s government is also providing $4.45 million through the Aerospace Workforce Development Grant to provide training and employment supports to ensure Lufthansa Technik Canada has the skilled workers it needs to expand into the province. This grant is administered through Calgary Economic Development as part of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to attract investment, drive innovation and spur transformative economic development in the aerospace sector. 

    Lufthansa’s investment is helping to further diversify Alberta’s economy and create important jobs for hard-working Albertans. Lufthansa Technik Canada’s investment will create up to 160 permanent jobs and up to 170 temporary construction jobs, giving Albertans more access to stable, well-paying jobs in a growing sector. These jobs will span across various roles, from highly skilled technicians to engineers and support staff, catering to the demands of the next-generation LEAP engines. This surge in jobs is taking off at a time when Alberta is diversifying its economy and expanding key industries, making these roles a vital part of the province’s economic growth trajectory.

    “Lufthansa Technik Canada’s investment is the latest addition to our growing aviation and aerospace sector. Alberta continues to attract world-class companies like Lufthansa Technik Canada because of its pro-business policies, low taxes and innovative talent. This investment will create hundreds of jobs for hard-working Albertans and further diversify our economy.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    Lufthansa Technik Canada will offer mobile engine maintenance and test cell services at Calgary International Airport, providing Canadian aviation operators with a more cost-effective, efficient alternative to overseas maintenance. This boosts operational efficiency while cutting costs. Its new Calgary facility will contribute to the growth of Alberta’s aerospace and aviation sector and create valuable jobs for Albertans.

    “Our agreement with WestJet represents one of the largest awards ever granted to any maintenance, repair and overhaul provider for CFM LEAP engines worldwide. It’s a contract that underlines Lufthansa Technik’s leading position in the support of new generation engine types. At the same time, we are grateful for the strong support from our local allies in Canada, which is essential in advancing the creation of a new engine repair shop and test cell facility in Calgary.” 

    Soeren Stark, chief executive officer, Lufthansa Technik

    This investment builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between WestJet and Alberta’s government. WestJet committed to make Calgary its global headquarters, with both parties agreeing to work together to grow Alberta’s aerospace and aviation industry – including through attracting important aviation infrastructure investments. The facility is expected to break ground in mid-2025, with completion expected in 2027. WestJet will be Lufthansa Technik Canada’s first customer at the newly created engine maintenance facility, underscoring the partnership’s confidence in local expertise and innovation. WestJet’s request for proposal award was the largest contract in WestJet’s history and the largest award granted to any premier maintenance and repair provider for such engines in the Americas.

    “WestJet was founded on the idea of improving air travel and making it affordable for Canadians. This historic contract award will allow us to bring critical engine repair operations home to Canada and provide greater efficiency and cost certainty to a critical part of our operations, all while demonstrating our commitment to improving our competitiveness and supporting the Alberta economy. We are proud to partner with Lufthansa Technik. This is an extraordinary moment for WestJet, our guests, WestJetters, Western Canada’s communities and our suppliers.”

    Alexis von Hoensbroech, chief Executive officer, WestJet Group

    “After years of hard work and collaboration to showcase our city and build connections with industry partners, we are excited to see Lufthansa Technik land in the Blue Sky City. Calgary’s competitive business environment and deep talent pool position us for future growth, and the establishment of Lufthansa Technik’s Western Canada hub in our city proves what’s possible as we continue to establish ourselves as a global aerospace leader.”

    Brad Parry, president and CEO, Calgary Economic Development

    “This project is a remarkable example of what can be achieved when our aviation ecosystem and all levels of government come together – Lufthansa Technik as the premier supplier, WestJet as a vital cornerstone customer, critical support from Calgary Economic Development and the Government of Alberta through the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade along with funding from the Calgary Airport Authority, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, Prairies Economic Development Canada and Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. By building this cutting-edge facility in Calgary, we ensure that WestJet and all Canadian airlines will have access to reliable, cost-effective and efficient maintenance services while building essential infrastructure in engineering, training and enterprise to make Calgary and Alberta a centre of aviation excellence within North America.”

    Chris Dinsdale, president and CEO, Calgary Airport Authority

    “We are proud to commit $172 million in financing towards infrastructure that supports aviation services at the Calgary International Airport. Our collaboration with the Calgary Airport Authority moves its project from the planning stage into shovels in the ground. The world-class facilities will strengthen Canada’s aviation infrastructure, and bring long-term, high-quality jobs and economic growth to the region.”

    Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank

    Alberta’s government will continue to work with Lufthansa Technik Canada to expand its footprint in Alberta once this project is in operation. With strong government support and a strategic position in the international market, Alberta remains the best place to live, work and invest in the future.

    Quick facts

    • The Investment and Growth Fund (IGF) is designed to be offered in select late-stage investment decisions, when Alberta may be competing with comparable jurisdictions that may offer other benefits or incentives to investors.
    • Since fall 2021, 12 IGF grants have been announced that will create more than 1,100 permanent full-time jobs and more than 1,100 temporary jobs, with a total capital investment of more than $765 million.
      • The IGF has helped to secure nearly $29 in private investments for every $1 in IGF funding.
    • The aviation and aerospace industry in Alberta is thriving with a growth in revenues of more than 17 per cent from 2021 to 2023.
    • Alberta’s Aerospace Workforce Development Grant supports attraction and training in the aviation and aerospace sector and aims to attract new investment while supporting the expansion of aerospace companies in Alberta.

    Related information:

    • Aviation, aerospace industries to take flight
    • WestJet news release
    • Lufthansa news release

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AFSCME’s Saunders: Front-line health care workers need a leader at HHS who shares their values – not RFK Jr.

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

    “Front-line health care workers need a leader at HHS who shares their values – someone who believes, as they do, in safeguarding public health. But Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s values could not be further from the front lines. Instead of increasing our communities’ access to vital care, he is only interested in increasing profits for his billionaire backers. RFK Jr. has made it clear that he will execute his boss’s orders to dismantle critical HHS programs like Head Start, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid and end negotiations to lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. He is an accomplice in their plan to rob our most vulnerable communities of critical health services to make the ultra-rich even richer.

    “AFSCME’s 1.4 million members – including hundreds of thousands who work in health care, social work, home care, early childhood education and beyond – make sacrifices daily to care for the health of our communities. We will keep organizing to make sure that Kennedy and his anti-worker friends don’t get in the way of their essential work.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Releases Tips for New Yorkers to Protect Themselves from Predatory Debt Collectors

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released a guide to help New Yorkers use the state’s Exempt Income Protection Act (EIPA) to protect their money from debt collectors. The EIPA is a state law that prevents debt collectors from draining consumers’ bank accounts, leaving them unable to cover the costs of basic needs. The law automatically protects a certain amount of money in people’s bank accounts from being frozen or seized, and also protects vital government benefits like Social Security, disability benefits, and veteran’s benefits. The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) guide comes after Attorney General James recently secured $1 million from Netspend, a financial services company that illegally turned over its customers’ funds to debt collectors when those funds should have been protected under EIPA. The OAG’s guide will help New Yorkers use their rights under EIPA to protect their money and report debt collectors who are breaking the law to OAG.

    “When banks allow debt collectors to wipe out New Yorkers’ bank accounts, they’re not only throwing vulnerable people into financial chaos, they’re breaking the law,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers should know how to protect their money from debt collectors so they can continue to pay their bills while they manage their debt. My office’s helpful guide provides valuable tips for New Yorkers to protect their funds and hold banks and debt collectors accountable when they break the law. I encourage anyone who has had their hard-earned money illegally seized or frozen to report it to my office.”

    The EIPA automatically exempts a certain amount of money in people’s bank accounts from being frozen or seized. This protected amount is based on the minimum wage and is $3,960 for those in New York City, Long Island, or Westchester, and $3,720 for those anywhere else in New York as of January 2025. The EIPA also protects 90% of wages or salary earned in the 60 days before a debt collector attempts to seize funds. 

    Crucially, EIPA also protects government benefits and retirement funds from being frozen or seized, ensuring New Yorkers have enough money to pay their bills. These funds include:

    • Social Security;
    • Supplemental security income;
    • Disability benefits;
    • Unemployment insurance;
    • Workers compensation;
    • Veterans benefits;
    • Spousal support, alimony, or child support; and
    • Payments from public or private pensions and retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

    Attorney General James has successfully secured restitution for New Yorkers whose funds were illegally seized by debt collectors. In April 2024, Attorney General James secured more than $700,000 from Pathward Bank for unlawfully freezing customer accounts and illegally transferring money to debt collectors in violation of EIPA. In February 2024, Attorney General James secured more than $650,000 from a debt collection law firm for filing frivolous lawsuits against vulnerable New York City tenants. In May 2022, Attorney General James and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shut down a predatory debt collection operation that used deceptive and abusive tactics to illegally collect millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of consumers.

    The OAG’s guide includes the steps New Yorkers must take to use EIPA to protect their funds from being seized, as well as instructions on how to report violations to OAG. Any consumer who has had their money frozen or seized in violation of the law should report the violation to OAG’s Consumer Frauds Bureau online or by calling 1-800-771-7755.

    This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Ben Fishman and Chris Filburn, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine, all of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau. Also assisting in this matter were Irene Kim of the Public Information and Correspondence Unit, under the supervision of Brandon Kennedy, Deputy Director of Public Information; Vanessa Ip, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Lucas McCullough, of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer; Jodi Burick, Kiersten Burns, Michaela Simmons, and Lisa O’Hara of the Information Technology Bureau. The Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau is a part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Statewide 9-1-1 Software Testing Lab Announced

    Source: US State of Oregon

    strong>PHOTO CAPTION: Statewide 9-1-1 Manager Frank Kuchta stands next to 9-1-1 Dispatcher Loren Hall who was working at a 9-1-1 emergency call taking position at the State 9-1-1 Testing Lab. The stations are fully functioning dispatcher stations that, when not being used to take actual 9-1-1 calls, serve as a space to test new software functionality. Download a High-Resolution Version of the above Image.

    STAYTON, OR – Oregon’s State 9-1-1 Program announced today the establishment of their new State 9-1-1 testing lab capabilities located in Stayton, Oregon. This lab will allow for the testing of new 9-1-1 system capabilities in a simulated environment before deploying them in a live setting.

    This project was developed in partnership with both METCOM 911 (Marion Area Multi-Agency Emergency Telecommunications) and Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) that serve Marion County.

    Previously, operators tested new 9-1-1 technology solutions by deploying them live in Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). This approach introduced significant risk to Oregon PSAPs—potentially affecting service availability and compromising the evaluation process—and is generally not considered an industry best practice.

    “METCOM’s partnership with ODEM and WVCC has paved a path toward the future of 9-1-1 in Oregon,” MECOM Executive Director John Thompson, said. “Additionally, as new technologies in 9-1-1 continue to emerge, the space and newly installed equipment can be utilized in an environment and tested thoroughly without interrupting operations in other primary ECC’s.”

    The Stayton facility, where the test lab is located, serves Marion County as a backup center to ensure 9-1-1 call services will still be provided if the primary Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) or METCOM PSAP goes down. Partnership with the State 9-1-1 Program enabled the use of the facility to be expanded to support enterprise technology pre-deployment 9-1-1 lab testing capabilities.

    “METCOM’s back-up ECC has evolved from a mostly vacant building with a few radios and limited access to fully capable dispatch center,” Thompson, said. “This center is not only a benefit to METCOM and WVCC but can provide the ability for ECC’s from across the state to relocate and access the technology to continue providing call-taking services to their citizens, in the event of a disaster, center evacuation or other needs.

    The 9-1-1 test lab fully replicates the infrastructure necessary to support emergency calls from the public. The testing environment uses the same network and equipment currently used by primary PSAPs throughout the majority of the state Oregon. It also provides security access controls, facility monitoring, power management, staff facilities, and the delivery of automatic location information (ALI).

    “We are very excited for this new partnership with METCOM 9-1-1 and WVCC and the launch of the new testing lab capabilities within Oregon,” Statewide 9-1-1 Manager Frank Kuchta, said. “Having access to a dedicated environment to confidently test and validate emerging public safety technologies while ensuring risk is reduced as we undertake significant modernization of the statewide 9-1-1 emergency communications system is invaluable.”

    ###

    It is the mission of Oregon Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem. You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email OEM_publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov or dial 711.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Auditor General DeFoor: DCNR Ignored its Internal Policies and Procedures When Awarding Grants for Conservation Projects

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    February 13, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA

    Auditor General DeFoor: DCNR Ignored its Internal Policies and Procedures When Awarding Grants for Conservation Projects

    Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today released an audit of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that showed it did not award all Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grants competitively, instead using its own discretion when awarding some grants despite advertising it as a competitive process. “We found instances where DCNR executive management made the decision to award grants to applicants who missed application deadlines, funded projects that were ranked lower than others or ignored the ranking all together,” Auditor General DeFoor said. “This is very concerning because DCNR’s executive management opened the door to outside pressure and influence in awarding state grants by not solely relying on the advertised process. When management can make its own rules, it diminishes the integrity of a grant program.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Scott Leads Effort to Ease Burdens on Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, introduced commonsense legislation to ease burdens and shield small businesses from excessive legal red tape. The Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 would extend the filing deadline for businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) until January 1, 2026, giving the U.S. Department of Treasury more time to educate business owners on the new reporting requirements, assess Biden administration BOI decisions, and ensure small businesses are not overburdened – and potentially held liable – with unclear and unnecessarily complicated regulations.
    Senate Banking Committee members, including Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), joined Senator Scott on the legislation. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) also signed onto the bill.
    “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we need to ensure they have the necessary time and information to comply with reporting requirements from the federal government. This commonsense bill will ensure small businesses are protected and not overly burdened by unclear and unnecessarily complicated regulations – allowing them to focus on serving their customers while following the law,” said Senator Scott.
    “The beneficial ownership reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are excessive and overly burdensome, particularly for small businesses,” said Senator Tillis. “This commonsense legislation delays these unreasonable standards until January 1, 2026 for small business owners, providing further time for the courts to continue their examination of the constitutionality of the CTA.”
    “Wyoming’s small businesses are the cornerstone of our state’s economy, yet Biden-era red tape continues to threaten Main Street,” said Senator Lummis. “It’s time for us to dethrone Biden’s unelected bureaucrats and cut red tape to create an environment where small businesses thrive, not drown in a sea of regulations.”
    “Alabama’s small businesses do more than just keep our state running — they employ our friends and neighbors, provide invaluable goods and services, and make our communities and state so special,” said Senator Britt. “This commonsense legislation would pare back unnecessary and costly regulations while providing needed clarity and reprieve to job creators across Alabama and the nation.”
    “Small businesses create jobs and power our economy,” said Senator Ricketts. “They deserve fair and clear rules, not burdensome and costly regulations. This bill cuts red tape and ensures our job creators can focus on growing their businesses, not navigating bureaucratic hurdles.”
    “Small businesses are the backbone of our rural communities, and with limited staff and resources, the current reporting requirements place an unnecessary burden on our businesses,” said Senator Moran. “Extending the filing deadline allows small businesses the additional time they need to comply with updated guidelines and avoid harmful penalties.”
    Representative Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) led companion legislation in the House, which passed on Monday by a vote of 408-0.
    “Iowa’s economy is driven by small businesses – more than half of Iowans are employed by Main Street,” said Representative Nunn. “D.C. bureaucrats insist businesses comply with onerous red tape without considering the burden it puts on business operations. That has to change. Thank you, Chairman Scott, for joining me in this fight to roll back unnecessary regulations and simplify requirements for job creators while still adhering to the law.” 
    BACKGROUND: The Corporate Transparency Act was signed into law as part of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act and established new reporting requirements around beneficial ownership for businesses.
    During implementation of the rule, the U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) failed to notify small businesses of the new reporting requirements. According to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), 80% of NFIB members have never heard of the new reporting requirements. Complicating matters further, according to the National Small Business Association (NSBA), the average small business owner will spend nearly $8,000 to comply with these new reporting requirements in the first year alone. 
    On January 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block the enforcement of these filing requirements. Now, small businesses across the country are expected to comply immediately or face harsh penalties. The Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 would extend the filing deadline until January 1, 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Confirmation of RFK Jr. as Nation’s Top Health Official 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    RFK Jr. Has Troubling History of Pushing and Profiting Off of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services:
    “At a time when the Trump administration is taking a sledgehammer to public health, New Mexicans deserve a chief health official who will put the health and well-being of all Americans over the Administration’s reckless and dangerous political agenda. In just a few weeks, we have seen President Trump cut spending for lifesaving medical research, lock critical Medicaid payment portals, and play politics with American lives. Mr. Kennedy’s long and troubling track record of peddling misinformation and conspiracy theories will not help make America healthier. Instead, it will only add fuel to the fire created by President Trump.
    “Throughout Mr. Kennedy’s nomination process, he made it abundantly clear that he will put his loyalty to President Trump over protecting health care for American families. During his nomination hearing, I pressed Mr. Kennedy on his commitment to defend health care programs from cuts pushed by President Trump. Not only did he demonstrate significant confusion regarding Medicaid, but he also refused to protect it from cuts. Mr. Kennedy will not work to serve the American people and protect public health; he will be a rubber stamp for President Trump’s chaos, confusion, and cruelty.
    “Mr. Kennedy has shown he is willing to play politics with people’s lives to serve President Trump’s political agenda. His troubling history and lack of understanding of his role will undermine our public health and put the American people at risk of a public health crisis. I will fight to ensure New Mexicans have access to quality, affordable health care, and I am committed to holding Mr. Kennedy and the Trump administration accountable for threatening the health of Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Islamic Development Bank, WFP launch ‘nutritious start’ financing initiative to boost funding for child nutrition and school meals

    Source: World Food Programme

    ROME – The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) today launched an innovative financing initiative to boost funds available for governments to combat child malnutrition and expand school meals programmes.

    The ‘Nutritious Start’: Human Capital Development Initiative (HCDI) will see IsDB provide governments with financing worth up to US$3 for every $1 secured in grants for nutrition and school meals programmes in least-developed and lower-middle-income countries belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

    The agreement was signed by WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain and IsDB President H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser at WFP headquarters in Rome on 12 February 2025.

    “Ensuring vulnerable people are well-nourished, healthy, and educated is fundamental for long-term economic growth,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “Across the world, school meals and nutrition programs are the essential building blocks of a future free from hunger and poverty. WFP is proud to partner with IsDB on this innovative financing initiative. Together, we will mobilize critical resources to transform the lives of the most vulnerable people.”

    HCDI addresses the first 8,000 days of a child’s life through adolescence (up to 21 years of age). This starts with the first 1,000 days – a crucial window for cognitive and physical growth. Every US$1 invested in addressing early childhood undernutrition can yield up to US$23 in economic returns, while school feeding programmes generate between US$7 and US$35 per dollar invested.

    “Investing in human capital is fundamental to breaking the cycle of poverty and achieving sustainable development,” said H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. “The ‘Nutritious Start’ initiative is not just about combating malnutrition—it is about equipping future generations with the foundation to thrive. By strategically blending our financing with targeted grant funding, we are amplifying impact and ensuring that every dollar drives meaningful progress toward national development goals.”

    This collaboration builds on the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IsDB and WFP reinforcing their shared commitment to addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. The IsDB and WFP are also partners in the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and the School Meals Coalition, two country-driven initiatives focusing on combating child malnutrition.

    Notes to Editor

    • Least-developed and lower-middle-income Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen

    • The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement is an initiative led by 66 countries and 4 Indian States – collectively known as the SUN Countries and includes thousands of stakeholders from across society – all united in their mission to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030. 

    • The School Meals Coalition, hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) as Secretariat, is led by over 100 governments and supported by more than 140 partners, working together to urgently scale and strengthen school meals programmes worldwide to ensure every child receives a healthy, nutritious meal at school by 2030.
    • High resolution photos are available here.

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    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media 

    About the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

    Rated AAA by the major rating agencies of the world, the Islamic Development Bank is the pioneering multilateral development bank (MDB) of the Global South that has been working for over 50 years to improve the lives of the people and communities it serves by delivering impact at scale. The Bank brings together 57 Member Countries across four continents, touching the lives of nearly 1 in 4 of the world population. It is committed to addressing development challenges and promoting collaboration to help

    achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by equipping people to drive their own green economic and sustainable social progress, putting planet-friendly infrastructure in place and enabling them to fulfil their potential. Headquartered in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, IsDB has 10 regional hubs and a center of excellence.  Over the years, the Bank has evolved from a single entity into a group comprising: the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI); the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC); the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD); the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC); and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD).

    For more information, please visit ( www.isdb.org). Find updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/islamic-development-bank/

    Visit us on X: @isdb_group Engage with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isdbgroup

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 260, Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 260 would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to issue or update guidance to minimize the risk of contaminating breastmilk, baby formula, and related accessories during the passenger screening process at airports. The bill also would require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to audit that guidance.

    According to information from the agency, TSA regularly updates its guidance for screening breastmilk and related items under current law. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing that provision would not significantly affect the federal budget. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that conducting the audit would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Emma Uebelhor. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: BC Coroners Service announces inquest into the death of Cailin Shea McIntyre-Starko

    A coroner’s inquest has been scheduled to review the circumstances of the death of Cailin Shea McIntyre-Starko, known as Sidney.

    The public inquest will begin on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Burnaby Coroners’ Court (20th floor, 4720 Kingsway, Metrotower II, Metrotown, Burnaby), starting at 9:30 a.m.

    The death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko, 18, was reported to the BC Coroners Service on Jan. 26, 2024, in Victoria.

    Under Section 19(1) of the Coroners Act, the minister of public safety and solicitor general may order an inquest if the minister is satisfied it is necessary or desirable in the public interest that an inquest be held.

    A coroner’s inquest is a non-fault-finding public inquiry that serves three primary functions:

    • to determine the facts related to a death, including the identity of the deceased and how, when, where and by what means the individual came to their death, as well as a classification for the death;
    • to make recommendations, where appropriate and supported by evidence, to prevent deaths in similar circumstances; and
    • to ensure public confidence that the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored.

    Larry Marzinzik will be the presiding coroner. He and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death. The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations as outlined above, though a jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.

    Livestreaming allows the public and media to virtually attend an inquest. The same rules apply as for in-person attendance at an inquest. Reproduction, broadcasting and publishing of inquest proceedings is prohibited, including through social media. Supreme Court accredited media are permitted to record the proceeding solely for the accuracy of their notes. The recording is not to be broadcast in any form. Accredited media members must provide proof to the sheriff and always visibly display their accreditation when they are recording or using electronic devices in court. Recording for any other purpose or by anyone without appropriate accreditation is strictly prohibited. 

    Learn More:

    For more information about inquests, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/inquest-schedule-jury-findings-verdicts

    To access the livestream, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/death/coroners-service/inquest-schedule-jury-findings-verdicts/inquestlivestream

    To learn more about BC Coroners Service, visit: https://www.gov.bc.ca/coroners/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE ERO Newark arrests Peruvian wanted for child rape overseas

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    February 13, 2025Newark, NJ, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

    NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present Peruvian alien wanted overseas for the rape of a minor in in Guttenberg, New Jersey, Feb. 11. The name of the alien is being withheld due to privacy issues involved with the case.

    “Our arrest of a Peruvian fugitive, who is wanted for prosecution in the heinous crime of child rape overseas, is further evidence dangerous criminals will not find a safe haven in the United States” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark acting Field Office Director Ruben Perez. “Egregious criminals are a primary target in ICE ERO Newark’s daily routine immigration enforcement actions. We appreciate the added support from our federal partners to accomplish our mission, specifically from the FBI and ICE Homeland Security Investigations who supported this arrest.”

    The Peruvian fugitive, who is illegally present in the United States, was served a notice to appear before an immigration judge and his court date is pending with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

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

    Learn more about ICE ERO Newark’s mission to increase public safety in New Jersey communities on X: @ERONewark.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New I.A.M. C.R.E.S.T. Associate Instructors Complete Train-the-Trainer Program

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Fifteen new I.A.M. C.R.E.S.T. Associate Instructors from District 19, Local S6, District FD1, and other Norfolk Southern Railroad representatives recently completed the Train-the-Trainer program. This comprehensive training is specifically designed to equip workers with the skills needed to educate their peers on the hazards associated with the storage, shipment, loading, and unloading of dangerous goods in the workplace. The participants demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality training.

    The training modules, developed by IAM CREST, are designed to supplement and enhance the training programs currently provided by employers. Workers who handle hazardous materials by rail are required to undergo this specialized training under a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). This initiative highlights IAM’s proactive approach to ensuring workers receive the most up-to-date and effective safety training.

    Each training module focuses on critical topics such as identifying dangerous goods, understanding the associated hazards, and following proper handling and shipping protocols. The knowledge gained through this program empowers workers to play an essential role in maintaining safety standards in their workplaces.

    Class Participants:

    Myron Magee, Mike McKenna, Mark Kroeger, James Orwan, Cortez Mason, Carollyn McCabe, Mike DeKraker, Matt Dustin, Robert MacArthur III, Patrick Linck, Mathew Wooten, Travis Pickell, Stephan Hodgdon, Brandt McCollett, and Mike Wright

    I.A.M. C.R.E.S.T. Staff:

    Project Coordinator/Instructor: Barry Eveland

    Associate Instructors: Kurt Pool, Gayle Kelly, and John Cabral III

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unions Expand Suit to Block Elon Musk from Accessing Private Data at DOL, HHS and CFPB

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    The AFL-CIO, AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, CWA, SEIU, Economic Policy Institute, and partner organizations are expanding their legal challenge to stop DOGE’s takeover of Americans’ private data

    (Washington, D.C.)—A coalition of the AFL-CIO, unions, an economic think tank and partner organizations filed an amended lawsuit to protect the confidential information of America’s working people housed at the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

    The lawsuit expands the initial challenge to the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)’s attempt to raid the DOL for key information on America’s workers in order to hobble the agency tasked with protecting their rights, health and safety on the job, as Elon Musk expands his slash-and-burn approach to Americans’ private data and their most essential government services.

    As the complaint lays out: “DOGE seeks to gain access to sensitive agency systems of data before courts can stop them, dismantle agencies before Congress can assert its Constitutional prerogatives in the federal budget, and intimidate and threaten employees who stand in their way, without regard for the consequences. The results have already been catastrophic. DOGE has seized control of some of the most carefully protected information systems housed at the Treasury Department, taken hold of all sensitive personnel information at the Office of Personnel Management, and dismantled an entire agency within a week.”

    “Elon Musk and DOGE continue to jeopardize Americans’ most sensitive, personal data, and threaten our health, safety, rights, paychecks, and the essential services we depend on,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Unions and allies will vigorously fight DOGE’s attempt to put working people at risk through reckless actions that endanger workers and our families. They must be stopped—and today we’re getting back in court to do just that.”

    “What Elon Musk is doing is not an audit—it’s an illegal violation of American citizens’ most sensitive personal information by an unelected billionaire who seems to believe he has been delegated the powers of the elected president,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “Unions and our allies will continue to stand up against Elon Musk and anyone else who thinks they can buy the government of the United States.”

    “Together with our union partners and allies, we filed a lawsuit to protect working people from billionaires stealing their data. Elon Musk thinks his wealth and political contributions give him the right to disregard the law and masquerade as an elected official—but he is not,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Working people deserve a government that will protect their privacy and hold corporations that break the law accountable. We call on the courts to address this unlawful corruption and ensure that our government remains for the people.”

    “Elon Musk, under the guise of making bureaucracy more ‘efficient,’ is effectively eviscerating  Americans’ privacy and fundamental freedoms,” said American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten. “This may be one of the biggest data hacks in U.S. history—I doubt anyone who voted for Donald Trump thought he would enable Musk to vacuum up their Social Security numbers, spousal details, and kids’ medical records for his own ends. Americans want a better life for themselves and their families: lower costs and higher wages. Yet Musk’s goal is evidently to weaponize this invasion of privacy to cut support for working families and ram through tax cuts for himself and his billionaire buddies. We are joining this lawsuit to stop the heist, end the chaos and confusion, and prevent Musk from causing irreparable harm to millions of American lives.”

    “Elon Musk is a notorious union buster whose retaliation against workers exercising their union rights won praise from Donald Trump as thousands of CWA members went out on strike,” said Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Claude Cummings Jr. “Musk and the other billionaires who supported Trump aren’t looting our confidential records to find ways to help workers organize to join unions and collectively bargain. They aren’t feeding sensitive personal data into AI systems to make sure working families are able to secure the benefits they are entitled to or to stop the big banks from ripping us off. They are looking for ways to enrich themselves and punish anyone who stands in the way of their profits.”

    “Every person in our country—regardless of race, occupation or political party affiliation—should have the comfort of knowing that their government is attempting to work in their best interests,” said Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President April Verrett. “No one deserves to have their privacy violated when they visit their doctor and seek care for their sick child. Nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals should be able to provide their patients with quality care without the threat of having their personal healthcare information being exposed to unelected billionaires. Medical privacy is the cornerstone of quality patient care and necessary for improving health outcomes across our nation. It is an injustice when our leaders willingly leave any person vulnerable to becoming a victim of fraud, scams, and discrimination. Today SEIU members and our allies are saying that working people will not back down to these attacks on our health and safety from the Trump-Musk Administration. We will not stop fighting to build a future where every worker, of every race and from every place, can join together in a union to win the wages, healthcare, and security we all deserve.”

    ​​“Elon Musk’s DOGE is illegally seizing Americans’ private data. No responsible policymaker—whatever their political party—should tolerate this, and we all have a moral obligation to stand up against Elon Musk’s takeover,” said Economic Policy Institute (EPI) President Heidi Shierholz.

    The lawsuit was brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the AFL-CIO and a coalition of unions representing workers across the federal government and public sector: the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFSCME, AFT, CWA and SEIU, as well as EPI, Economic Action Maryland Fund and Virginia Poverty Law Center.

    The full complaint can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: School of Pharmacy Faculty Member Appointed to Board of the Cochrane Heart, Stroke and Circulation Thematic Group

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Hernandez brings to the board expertise in systematic review methodology, cardiovascular diseases, collaborative work with researchers from South America and prior work within Cochrane. He is an expert in systematic reviews and meta-analyses and has been working for several years in the former Cochrane Heart Group as author, peer reviewer and editor. He performs collaborative work with researchers from several countries and languages, especially Peru and Brazil.

    Adrian Hernandez presenting his work

    Cardiovascular disease is one of the 12 broad topic areas of importance identified by Cochrane and the World Health Organization (WHO). Cochrane has brought together the four former Cochrane groups – Cochrane Heart, Cochrane Hypertension, Cochrane Stroke, and Cochrane Vascular – into a single Thematic Group. This group is led by Professor Gillian Mead of the University of Edinburgh, UK. It shares collective expertise and knowledge and ensures that evidence synthesis in cardiovascular disease reflects the multimorbidity paradigm, the large global burden of vascular disease (including in developing countries), and the continuous development of interventions and diagnostic tests for these conditions.

    Professor Hernandez’s work on the board will help map existing reviews and identify areas of overlap of interventions and cardiovascular diseases, identify high priority reviews and updates, provide topic, content and editorial expertise to the Cochrane central team, and create a dissemination strategy of updated and new reviews within the Group.

    C. Michael White, Pharm.D., FCP, FCCP, FASHP, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Pharmacy Practice, noted, “Cochrane is the major international body behind systematic reviews and it is wonderful that they recognized the expertise that Dr. Hernandez brings. From his stellar publication record and international presentations on cardiovascular diseases, to his high-quality reviewing for cardiovascular journals across the globe, I am sure he will provide tremendous value to the organization.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Asian immigrants to the U.S. resisted pressures to assimilate, creating a vibrant American suburbia

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Bianca Mabute-Louie, Sociology PhD candidate, Rice University

    This article is adapted from UNASSIMILABLE: An Asian Diasporic Manifesto for the 21st Century by Bianca Mabute-Louie (HarperCollins, January 2025).

    I grew up in San Gabriel Valley — also referred to as SGV or the 626. SGV is an ethnoburb — an ethnic enclave — that grew out of the 1970s, with its own economy and ecosystem that includes banks, grocery stores, hair salons and restaurants.

    Since many early Asian immigrants to this country were barred from accessing white institutions, working together to build and protect this ethnic ecosystem was a matter of survival and necessity.

    Wei Li, a Chinese American geographer, first proposed the term “ethnoburb” to describe the hybridity of ethnic enclaves and middle-class suburbs: suburban ethnic clusters of people and businesses.

    The ethnoburb demonstrates that we can create our own power and belonging — without learning English, without participating in white institutions, and Americanizing. It is a communal endeavour, one that requires everybody’s imagination and care.

    The ‘Chinese Beverly Hills’

    Fuelled by foreign capital, ethnoburb immigrants redefined the entire landscape of the suburb and instigated an economic boom. The growth of Chinese American banking institutions, along with the political and economic factors that prompted the migration of wealthy ethnic Chinese from Taiwan and Hong Kong, played an important role in facilitating the Chinese economic growth in Monterey Park, a city in San Gabriel Valley.

    With their resources, Chinese immigrants bought homes and started businesses with distinct Chinese and Vietnamese language signs to cater to fellow Asian transplants. Valley Boulevard, which runs through 10 cities in San Gabriel Valley, became home to Asian-owned malls, commercial plazas, office complexes, shops, hotels and industrial plants, often with trilingual signage in Chinese, Vietnamese and English.

    Asian immigrants transformed neglected strip malls into prosperous Asian marketplaces and forged a sense of permanence and community. Monterey Park, and eventually the rest of San Gabriel valley, began to be referred to as “Little Taipei” or the “Chinese Beverly Hills” by journalists and Chinese diasporic media.

    By the 1980s, Monterey Park was known as “the first suburban Chinatown,” converting San Gabriel Valley from predominantly white suburbs into an Asian-majority ecosystem with a conspicuous and diverse first-generation, unassimilated immigrant presence.

    Bypassing urban Chinatowns for the suburbs

    The ethnoburb troubles the American construction of the suburbs as static sites of whiteness and socioeconomic mobility.

    The majority of new immigrants, especially those with resources, bypassed urban ethnic enclaves like Chinatown that previously served as immigrant gateway cities and settled immediately into suburbs instead.

    Min Zhou, a professor of sociology and Asian American Studies at UCLA, argues that the deliberate preservation of ethnic values, ties and institutions is what actually acclimates non-white immigrants to the U.S.

    Zhou also says the direct insertion of new Asian immigrants into traditionally white middle-class suburbs offends the conventional understanding of immigration and assimilation. Ethnoburb immigrants were non-white, didn’t always speak English, made considerably less effort to acculturate into whiteness, and many of them were already educated and affluent. They broke the bounds of the American imagination of an immigrant.

    In addition to higher levels of education and incomes, many ethnoburb immigrants also possessed expansive and transnational social networks that shaped their reluctance to acculturate. They did not need to learn English or go through the ethnic enclave to reach a middle-class dream of financial stability.

    The ethnoburb was not a “staging ground” for somewhere better or whiter. The ethnoburb was the final desired destination.

    In actuality, contrary to popular conceptions, the ethnoburb was not apolitical or insular at all. It was and remains a site of resistance against the confining, white imagination of suburbia. With the emergence of Monterey Park as an Asian ethnoburb, questions over group identity, spatial boundaries, and the character of Monterey Park became politicized.

    White hostility in an ‘all-American’ city

    Nativist white residents were at the forefront of erecting boundaries of belonging that stigmatized first-generation immigrants. In addition to Asian businesses changing the esthetic and cultural identity of Monterey Park, Asian immigrants took on local politics. This direct insertion of unassimilated Asian immigrants into traditionally white suburbs and its institutions troubled conventional American understandings of who an immigrant is, the norms they should follow, and how they should behave.

    Lily Lee Chen’s official portrait as mayor of Monterey Park, California, 1983. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

    On Nov. 8, 1983, Lily Lee Chen, a first-generation immigrant from Taiwan, was inaugurated in Monterey Park as the first Chinese American mayor in the nation. Chen was relatable, charismatic, and not assimilated. The Los Angeles Times described Chen’s speech as “accented with pauses and grammatical errors, characteristic of someone speaking in their second language.”

    In another Times article from 1985, Chen told the reporter that she enjoyed dressing in bright reds and jade greens, despite being told by her consultant to look more subdued because her bright colours made her appear “aggressive.” During her campaign, she was met with fierce resistance from white residents, who commonly took down her neighbourhood campaign signs.

    As a response, Chen worked tirelessly on voter engagement among Asian Americans and Latinos, publishing multilingual voter handbooks, registering voters, and building relationships with ethnic communities, including working with Cesar Chavez to support the Latinos in Southern California.

    The same year as Chen’s election, Monterey Park’s five-member city council became multiethnic, with two Mexican Americans, one Filipino American, one Chinese American, and one white council member.

    As Monterey Park became touted as a “successful suburban melting pot” by journalists and even won an “All-American City” award in 1985 for its civic engagement and racial diversity, white flight accelerated and resentment festered among the minority of white residents.

    The large influx and increasing influence of Chinese immigrants over a short period of time caused racial tension to build, with mounting struggles over cultural differences, language barriers, and explicit mistrust of immigrants. Chinese businesses, political candidates, religious institutions, and entrepreneurs became racialized targets of nativist animus.

    A particularly contentious conflict emerged over the proliferation of business signs in languages other than English. In 1986, white hostility among the remaining white residents swept the council members of colour out of office, and replaced them with three long-established white residents, who promptly launched an anti-immigrant, “English-only” campaign attacking the proliferation of business signage in Chinese.

    A scene from the 2010 play by Annette Lee about the English only movement from the 80s. 17-year-old Scarlett Wong, an ‘all-American teenager’ struggles with her neighbors who don’t speak English.
    Angry Asian Man/Annette Lee

    The “English-only” movement in Monterey Park reflects the struggle to control the identity and narrative of a built environment. It represents the tension between America’s idea of how immigrants should assimilate, and how ethnoburb immigrants instead created their own unassimilable institutions and communities.

    Frank Arcuri, one of the Monterey Park residents and community activists who started the “English-only” petition campaign, insisted, “Immigrants are welcome here, but they must realize that English is the language we use in America… They must realize they are making a negative impact on our city. They must adapt to our ways. They must use our language and respect our culture.”

    The nativist, inflammatory rhetoric Arcuri employed to speak about immigrants is as American as apple pie, comparable to replacement theory touted by white nationalist conspiracists today.

    The English-only conflict illustrates the deeper, ideological tensions behind an increasingly diverse and polyglot constituency, composed of politically active immigrants, and nostalgic white residents desperately (and at times violently) clinging on to institutional power and a homogeneous past.

    Asian immigrants defied assimilation theories

    Traditionally, sociologists of immigration and assimilation theorists believed that all immigrant groups would eventually assimilate and integrate into white Protestant American institutions, culture, and society. They argued that doing so would be in the best interests of immigrants. They were also all white scholars. For the most part, what they theorized was true for European immigrants.

    However, Asian immigrants in the ethnoburb remained proudly unassimilable and trans-national. While the ethnoburb was their final destination, they maintained diasporic ties. Many with socioeconomic privilege shuttled back and forth to their home countries.

    It is our diasporic connections to our motherlands and our ethnic communities, not necessarily our assimilation into whiteness, that help us thrive in the U.S.

    Bianca Mabute-Louie is affiliated with Asian Texans for Justice.

    – ref. How Asian immigrants to the U.S. resisted pressures to assimilate, creating a vibrant American suburbia – https://theconversation.com/how-asian-immigrants-to-the-u-s-resisted-pressures-to-assimilate-creating-a-vibrant-american-suburbia-247184

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Comments on RFK Jr. Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services: 
    “I’m a survivor of childhood polio. In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world. I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles. 
    “Individuals, parents, and families have a right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance on preventing and treating illness. But a record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts.
    “This Administration – led by the same President who delivered a medical miracle with Project Warp Speed – deserves a leader who is willing to acknowledge without qualification the efficacy of life-saving vaccines and who can demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of the U.S. healthcare system. Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America’s largest health agency. As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr. Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Opposes RFK Jr. For Secretary of Health: “It’s hard, in many ways, to see how we could do worse.”   

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor late last night to reiterate his opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Senator Welch detailed his concerns about Kennedy’s character, competence, and priorities. The Senator has previously expressed reservations about Kennedy’s nomination in the Senate Finance Committee. 
    “The bottom line here for me, on the question of any nominee, is character, competence, and priorities. And on all three of these, I come up short with respect to Mr. Kennedy. Aside from the fact that we could better, it’s hard, in many ways, to see how we could do worse. So, I would urge all of my colleagues to consider the consequences of their vote. A vote that would put a person of questionable character, a person of questionable competence, and a person of—in my view—bad priorities at the head of our health care system,” said Senator Welch. 
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 
    Senator Welch’s Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress include:  
    Senate Committee on Finance  
    Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry 
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit  
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary 
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution  
    Senate Committee on Rules & Administration 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Advancing midwifery access in Alberta

    As of January 2025, 181 midwives were practising across the province, reflecting a 26 per cent increase from 2020. Midwives play a crucial role in improving health outcomes for women, newborns and families by bringing maternal care closer to home. They build strong relationships with families, provide emotional support, help manage pregnancy risks and make referrals when needed.

    Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans can access high-quality maternal health care anywhere in the province. To help achieve this goal, $10 million is being invested over three years to implement the comprehensive new Alberta Midwifery Strategy.

    “Midwives play an important role in delivering primary health care to Albertans. Our goal is to continue leading the way in women’s and children’s health programs, and implementing initiatives through our midwifery strategy is an important part of achieving this goal.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    The midwifery strategy outlines short-, medium-, and long-term goals to strengthen care and support midwifery pathways to practice. In the short term, the focus is on enhancing care for Indigenous populations through provider and community engagement. Medium-term efforts aim to address midwifery attrition and identify the supports needed to sustain the workforce. Long term, the strategy seeks to formalize guidelines and processes to integrate midwifery practice while monitoring supply and demand.

    First Nations, Métis and Inuit families have emphasized that increased access to midwifery services is critical, especially in rural and remote areas of the province. They believe that improved midwifery access will help to address physical, emotional and cultural barriers that affect health outcomes for mothers, babies and communities.

    “Implementing this strategy will support midwifery practice and improve rural Albertans’ access to the maternity services they need.”

    Martin Long, parliamentary secretary for rural health

    Funding will support engagement with Indigenous communities and birth workers, pilot innovative projects within Indigenous populations, assess data gaps and develop resources to provide midwifery services effectively. Additionally, it will help attract and retain internationally educated midwives and promote the integration of midwifery practice in team-based primary care. 

    “The Alberta Association of Midwives values the government’s commitment to supporting midwifery in Alberta through the provincial midwifery strategy. We look forward to collaborating on initiatives to grow and sustain midwifery in our province.”

    Marita Obst, president, Alberta Association of Midwives

    Midwifery services are in high demand across Alberta, and Alberta’s government recognizes the need to expand options and improve access to maternal care. This strategy will help ensure families receive the care they need, when and where they need it.

    Quick facts

    • Alberta’s government is investing $2 million for midwifery projects in 2024-25, followed by $3 million in 2025-26 and $5 million in 2026-27.
    • Alberta’s government worked with the Alberta Association of Midwives, the College of Midwives of Alberta, Mount Royal University, Alberta Health Services and internal stakeholders to develop the midwifery strategy.  
    • Midwifery is a publicly funded service in Alberta.
    • Midwives are regulated by the College of Midwives of Alberta under the Health Professions Act and must complete formal education in midwifery and pass written and practical examinations before practising in Alberta.
    • Midwives provide comprehensive care to individuals with low-risk pregnancies through labour and birth, continuing to support the health and safety of mothers and babies until six weeks after birth.

    Related information

    • Alberta Midwifery Strategy
    • Minister of Health 2023 mandate letter 

    Related news

    • Investing in women’s and children’s health (May 3, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Leads Western Canada in Key Health Workforce Study

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 13, 2025

    Numbers show higher than national and regional average staffing levels in nursing, and paramedics

    The Government of Saskatchewan’s strategy to increase the health care workforce is showing results. Health care staffing numbers in Saskatchewan rank higher than the five-year national and western Canadian average in several key categories, as recently released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and other sources.

    “There are many reasons for Saskatchewan residents to have confidence, as we strive to ensure our province is a desired place for health-care professionals to work and build a career,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “As we train and recruit more staff to work here, we continue building capacity that meets or exceeds regional and national levels.”

    According to CIHI’s Health Workforce in Canada Overview, Saskatchewan had the highest per capita numbers of regulated nursing professionals in western Canada every year between 2019 and 2023. Saskatchewan’s 2023 rate of 1,384 nursing professionals per 100,000 people was higher than both the Western Canadian and Canadian averages of 1,188 and 1,192 respectively. Over the past five years, Saskatchewan has added 1,056 more nursing professionals to its workforce, or a 6.7 per cent increase.

    Saskatchewan’s Registered Nurses (RN) rates per 100,000 residents rose to 973 in 2023, up from 940 in 2019, a 3.5 per cent increase. The 2023 per capita RN numbers are considerably higher than the national average of 803, and the western average of 810. Saskatchewan is continuing work to increase those rates by adding capacity in training programs, and targeted efforts in recruitment programs. These per capita rates from CIHI are validated by licensing numbers published by the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan that show a nearly 18 per cent increase in licensed RNs between 2018 and 2023.

    We are also seeing a per capita increase in Saskatchewan’s Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) from 318 in 2019 to 324 in 2023, a rate that is expected to grow even further with recent increases in training capacity. Saskatchewan’s 2023 per capita LPNs is also above the western Canadian average of 309.

    Provincial data shows nursing training and recruitment efforts are working. From December 2022 to June 2024, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has hired more than 1,400 in-and-out-of-province nursing graduates.  

    CIHI’s release also reports that in 2023, there were 200 paramedics in Saskatchewan per 100,000, a 19.5 per cent increase from 2019. That 2023 rate for Saskatchewan led all western provinces and was more than double the national average.

    In addition, incentive programs geared to attract physician specialists to Saskatchewan is showing results. Over the past five years, rates increased by 7.1 per cent to 103.1 per 100,000. More can be expected through an increase in residency seats, as well as incentive programs offering up to $200,000 to new physicians practicing in qualifying communities.

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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FORT scientists present research at the Society for Range Management 2025 Annual Meeting

    Source: US Geological Survey

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairwoman McClain’s Statement on Passage of the Midnight Rules Relief Act

    Source: US House of Representatives Republicans

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

    Chairwoman McClain’s Statement on Passage of the Midnight Rules Relief Act

    Washington, February 12, 2025

    WASHINGTON – House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Midnight Rules Relief Act. 

    “On his way out the door, Joe Biden saddled our small businesses with last-minute regulations,” Chairwoman McClain said. “Congressman Andy Biggs’ legislation will allow Congress to reverse these actions quickly while making the federal bureaucracy more efficient and America more competitive in the long-run. House Republicans are yet again working to restore efficiency and common-sense in our government.”  

    The Midnight Rules Relief Act would allow amend the Congressional Review Act to allow the overturning of multiple regulations issued within the final months of a presidential administration with a single vote, instead of addressing them one by one.

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    MIL OSI USA News –