NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Court Orders Lions of Forex and Owner to Pay $685,000 For Foreign Currency Fraud

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the Southern District of Florida entered orders of default final judgement against Roberto Pulido aka Berto Delvanicci and his company, Lions of Forex LLC, both of Miami, Florida.
    The orders stem from the CFTC’s complaint filed Sept. 28, 2023, charging Pulido with fraudulently soliciting at least four clients to trade leveraged or margined retail off-exchange foreign currency (forex) and charging LOF with aiding and abetting Pulido’s fraudulent scheme [See CFTC Press Release No. 8795-23].
    Under the terms of the orders, the defendants are required to pay, jointly and severally, approximately $172,000 in restitution to defrauded clients and over $516,000 in civil monetary penalties. The court’s decision also permanently enjoins the defendants from engaging in conduct that violates the Commodity Exchange Act, as charged, and permanently bans them from registering with the CFTC and from trading in any CFTC-regulated markets. The orders resolve the CFTC’s lawsuit against both defendants.
    Case Background
    The orders filed Nov. 13, 2024, find from approximately January 2019 to March 2021, Pulido, aided by LOF, fraudulently solicited clients to trade leveraged or margined retail off-exchange forex on their behalf. Several clients subscribed to a retail forex signals trading service LOF offered that would send signals to buy or sell retail forex for a monthly fee, and, for a higher monthly fee, offered live one-on-one training with Pulido. LOF offered this signals trading service through its website which touted Pulido as a “seven-figure trader.” Pulido, in various social media platforms claimed significant profits trading retail forex. After prospective clients were identified through LOF’s signals subscriptions, Pulido made various material misrepresentations and omissions to the clients, including falsely representing they would earn guaranteed monthly profits by having Pulido use his discretion to trade retail forex on their behalf, and clients could withdraw their funds at any time. However, Pulido failed to pay the promised monthly returns and when clients requested their funds, he did not return a significant portion of the clients’ funds.
    The orders also find LOF aided Pulido’s fraud by, among other things, receiving client funds into its own bank accounts; allowing Pulido to use the accounts in connection with his fraudulent scheme; touting Pulido’s supposed trading expertise on the LOF website; and using the LOF email address to communicate with clients whom Pulido defrauded.   
    The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission, and the Financial Services Authority of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this action include Elizabeth C. Brennan, David MacGregor, Lenel Hickson, Manal S. Sultan and former staff member Steven I. Ringer.   
    CFTC’s Commodity Fraud Advisory
    The CFTC has issued several customer protection fraud advisories that provide the warning signs of fraud, including the Foreign Currency (Forex) Trading Fraud Advisory, to help customers identify this sort of scam.
    The CFTC strongly urges the public to verify a company’s registration with the Commission at NFA BASIC before committing funds. If unregistered, a customer should be wary of providing funds to that entity
    Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, should be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a Toll-Free Hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online or contact the CFTC Whistleblower Office.  Whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected paid from the CFTC Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions and paid to the CFTC by violators of the CEA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Federal Prison for Armed Carjacking of U.S. Postal Service Truck

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— Robert Powell, 23, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 79 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to robbery of mail.

    According to court documents, on the morning of June 15, 2022, a United States Postal Service worker was in a Postal truck delivering mail at an apartment complex in Avon. At approximately 10:15 a.m., Powell approached the postal worker on foot, wearing a mask over his face and displaying a firearm. Powell ordered the carjacking victim to get out of the truck and leave her belongings inside.

    Powell stole the truck and drove it out of the apartment complex at a high rate of speed for about a mile before pulling over to meet with another person waiting in a Mazda 6 sedan. Another letter carrier in the area saw the victim’s mail truck speed by and noticed that something was amiss. The second letter carrier followed the stolen truck and saw Powell and the other individual take mail and parcels from the postal truck and put them in the Mazda. The pair noticed the second mail truck and fled the scene, leaving the stolen postal vehicle behind as the second carrier called 911.

    As the investigation continued, U.S. Postal Inspectors located Powell’s Facebook account, “Syko Bob.” On this account, Powell regularly solicited bank account information from other users, in furtherance of a type of fraud called card cracking, even going as far as attempting to recruit a USPS mail carrier into his scheme. Card cracking is deceptive practice where scammers convince individuals to share their bank account information, so the scammer can use their account to deposit fraudulent checks or other financial instruments. Scammers obtain these stolen checks by either stealing mail (as Powell did in this case) or purchasing stolen checks from other criminals. The scammer then alters the stolen checks, deposits them into the other individual’s account, and withdraws the funds as quickly as possible, sometimes splitting the profit with the account holder.

    “This criminal chose to threaten the life of a letter carrier at gun point, engaging in gun violence to facilitate the fraud scheme he perpetrated against countless victims. Fortunately, the letter carrier was not physically harmed, but the lasting trauma he inflicted is palpable,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Letter carriers should not have to live in fear of gun violence simply for doing their jobs. Americans should not have to fear that their important financial documents will be stolen and exploited by fraudsters who wreak financial havoc. The serious federal prison sentence in this case demonstrates that there will be serious consequences for violence against public servants and fraud against the public. I commend the Postal Inspection Service, the Avon Police Department, and our federal prosecutor for their commitment to seeking justice for letter carriers and the public who depend upon them.”

    “As postal inspectors, we are committed to ensuring the safety of USPS employees and the sanctity and security of the mail. Thanks to the hard work of our inspectors and the Avon Police Department, Mr. Powell can no longer threaten these,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “I would also like to extend my appreciation to AUSA Massa for ensuring justice was served in this case.”

    The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Avon Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Read Senator Welch’s Op-Ed in The New York Times: “Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this morning published an opinion in the New York Times entitled: “Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It.”  
    In the Guest Essay, Senator Welch outlined why President Trump’s actions to undermine and potentially dissolve FEMA are misguided—but also commits to working with the President to improve the agency’s broken long-term recovery process, which needs serious reform. Following Vermont’s catastrophic floods of July 2023 and July 2024, flood-impacted families and communities have struggled with red tape and frustrating bureaucracy. Bipartisan reform is necessary.    
    Read Senator Welch’s essay and view an excerpt below:  
    Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It. By U.S. Senator Peter Welch Published January 27, 2025, by the New York Times 
    My state of Vermont is still recovering from two catastrophic floods in the past two years. That’s why I agree with President Trump that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is broken and needs serious reform if it is to meet local communities’ long-term recovery needs. 
    But to do away with it completely would be a disaster for red and blue states alike. 
    On Friday, while visiting victims of September’s Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Mr. Trump said he was considering “getting rid of FEMA.” He now reportedly plans to sign an executive order as a step toward reshaping FEMA, which could eliminate the agency. 
    Read Senator Welch’s full opinion piece in the New York Times. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Congressional Delegation and Governor Scott Announce $3.8 Million in Northern Border Regional Commission Grants for Vermont Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    MONTPELIER, VT – Today, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large), along with Vermont Governor Phil Scott and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) announced the recipients of the NBRC’s Fall 2024 Catalyst Program and Forest Economy Program Awards. Seven projects in Vermont will receive a cumulative $3.88 million in funding, which will support projects including early childhood education, a new surplus crop processing center and food hub, and rural health care clinic upgrades. 
    Established in 2008, the NBRC is a Federal-State partnership in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire collaboration to improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to accomplishing those goals. 
    “The Northern Border Regional Commission plays a major role in fostering long-term economic development in communities across Vermont. These new investments from the NBRC will support seven projects that benefit folks in every corner of the Green Mountain State–from building new child care centers to making energy-efficient upgrades to purchasing new classroom supplies,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “We’ll continue to work alongside state and local partners to support the growth and success of rural communities in Vermont.” 
    “These infrastructure, economic and community development projects make important investments across Vermont,” said Governor Scott. “These projects will help revitalize our rural communities and I want to thank our Congressional Delegation for their support.” 
    When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature. Awarded projects in the 2024 Catalyst Fall Competition will help pay for start-up costs—including classroom supplies and furniture for the Orange County Parent Child Center—implement new energy-efficient facilities at the Carlos G. Otis Health Care Center, transform a vacant facility into a child care center in the Northeast Kingdom, expand water and sewer infrastructure throughout the Town of Essex, and more.   
     The 2024 Catalyst Fall Competition Awardees include:  
    Carlos G. Otis Heath Care Center (Windham County) – $1,000,000:  
    Replace two aging, inefficient structures with a new energy-efficient facility that will increase patient privacy and enhance accessibility.  
    Orange County Parent Child Center (Orange County) – $379,124.82:  
    Funding for furniture, playground equipment and classroom supplies, as well as start-up operations costs towards launching the early childhood education program.  
    Northeast Kingdom Community Action (Essex County) – $62,888:  
    Convert a facility previously utilized as a health clinic into a childcare center providing 8 to 10 new Early Childhood Education spots.  
    Salvation Farms (Lamoille County) – $469,621.30:  
    Establish a 6,100 square foot Surplus Crop Processing Center & Food Hub.  
    Town of Essex (Chittenden County) – $500,000:  
    Planning and design to support the expansion of water and sewer infrastructure throughout the Essex Town Center area where proposed municipal facilities, fire station, library, and community space are planned.  
    Vermont Council on Rural Development (Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor Counties) – $472,192.28:  
    Provide 9 rural communities with targeted, holistic capacity building services and support for long term economic development success. This project will scale up services to meet the overwhelming demand for facilitated community-led prioritization, technical assistance, leadership coaching, and resource guiding. 
    Read more from NBRC here.  Pre-applications for the 2025 Catalyst Program are due February 28. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Orders Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter William “Bill” Nix

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JANUARY 27, 2025

    Today, Governor Mike Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at government buildings in Oregon County, the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City, and firehouses statewide on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from sunrise to sunset in honor of Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter William “Bill” Nix.

    “In his retirement, Bill Nix answered a calling to serve Oregon County by becoming a volunteer firefighter,” Governor Mike Kehoe said. “A retired trucker, Bill could handle the Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department’s large tanker. He also expertly maintained the department’s other trucks, earning the 2022 Thomasville Volunteer Firefighter of the Year award for his dedicated service. Firefighter Nix’s commitment to helping others and his devotion to supporting his community serve as inspiration to all of us to give back. Claudia and I send our heart-felt prayers and condolences to the Nix family and the entire Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department.”

    On the evening of January 16, Firefighter Nix was responding to a structure fire as a passenger in a Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department fire engine when the vehicle overturned on U.S. Highway 160 four miles south of Thomasville, causing Nix’s death.

    The flags will be held at half-staff on the day of Nix’s memorial services. To view the Governor’s proclamation, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Greg Dolezal Introduces the ‘Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities’ Act

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (January 27, 2025) — On Monday, January 13, Sen. Greg Dolezal (R–Cumming) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1, the “Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities” Act, which would provide competitively fair and safe student participation in sports. The bill would require athletes to participate on teams that align with their biological sex at birth.

    “This summer, I had the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Georgia Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports,” said Sen. Dolezal. “As the father of three daughters, I take this issue to heart. Female athletes have worked tirelessly to earn their place in competition, and they deserve a level playing field. Ideologically driven policies that undermine the fairness in women’s sports have no place in Georgia. Our committee dedicated countless hours to thoroughly studying this issue, and I’m proud to say the Majority Caucuses in both the Senate and House stand firmly united in protecting these opportunities for women and girls. I am confident this legislation will move swiftly through the General Assembly and deliver the protection female athletes deserve.”

    “Biological men do not belong in women’s sports, period,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “This is common sense to everyone but the most radical liberals in Georgia. The Senate has always led the way on protecting women’s sports and with Senate Bill 1, we will continue to be on the right side of this common-sense issue. I will never waver in the fight to protect our sisters and our daughters participating on equal footing in Georgia sports. I look forward to Senate Bill 1 becoming law and the protection of women’s sports becoming a reality for all female athletes in Georgia.”

    SB 1 aims to provide equal athletic opportunities and safety for men and women at all levels. It would prohibit males from participating in interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions on teams designated as female as well as prohibit females from participating in competition on intercollegiate teams designated as male.

    SB 1 can be found here.

    # # # #

    Sen. Greg Dolezal serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation. He represents the 27th Senate District, which includes a portion of Forsyth County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-7127 or via email at greg.dolezal@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Now Open: Free, Easy Online Tax Filing

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to consider using the Direct File program in New York State to ease the burden of filing taxes. The joint project with the IRS, available starting today, allows taxpayers to file their federal and state taxes online at no cost. Building on Governor Hochul’s initiative to make New York more affordable, this program helps the average New York taxpayers save around $260 in tax preparation fees.

    “Direct File is a common-sense approach to filing taxes,” Governor Hochul said. “If you have a basic return, you’ll find that it’s easy to complete the process and that you can save hundreds of dollars in tax preparation fees.”

    The Tax Department estimates that 3.4 million New Yorkers will be able to use Direct File this year. To find out if you’re eligible, visit the New York State Tax Department’s webpage.

    New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said, “Direct File is a safe, secure system that you can access from a smartphone or desktop computer. Qualified New Yorkers can answer simple questions instead of filling out forms or paying a preparer to complete their income return.”

    New York piloted Direct File with the IRS in 2024. In its first year, the program was open for a limited time to a limited number of taxpayers. Some 14,000 New Yorkers used Direct File last year and 96 percent reported a positive experience.

    The 2025 Direct File Program — available starting today — expands eligibility, covering more tax credits and different types of income. The Tax Department estimates that 3.4 million New Yorkers will be able to use Direct File this year. New Yorkers with 2024 wages of up to $200,000, or $250,000 if filing a joint return, may qualify.

    Direct File is part of Governor Hochul’s ongoing effort to save New Yorkers money and improve government services. As part of her FY 2026 Budget, Governor Hochul proposed a middle class tax cut to deliver nearly $1 billion in tax relief to more than 8.3 million New Yorkers. When fully phased in, the middle class tax cut will deliver hundreds of dollars in average savings to nearly 77 percent of filers — representing three out of every four taxpayers. Additionally, Governor Hochul proposed New York’s first-ever inflation refund that will put $3 billion back in the pockets of 8.6 million taxpayers. Joint tax filers who make $300,000 or less will receive a $500 payment and all single New York taxpayers who make $150,000 or less will receive a $300 payment. Governor Hochul also proposed a vast expansion of New York’s Child Tax Credit that will double or triple the current credit in many cases, offering up to $1,000 annually per child under four and up to $500 per child aged four to 16. This marks the largest increase in the credit’s history, significantly surpassing the current maximum of $330 per child.

    More information on the Governor’s Affordability Agenda is available online.

    For more information on Direct File, visit the New York State Tax Department’s webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Announces Five Arrests During Operation “To Catch a Predator” in Madera County

    Source: US State of California

    Monday, January 27, 2025

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

    FRESNO – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, together with the Madera County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol, today announced the results of operation “To Catch a Predator” which targeted sexual predators who use the internet to seek out potential underage victims. Over the course of the three-day operation, five suspects were arrested and charged with contacting and meeting with minors for sexual purposes. The California Department of Justice’s Fresno Human Trafficking Sexual Predator Apprehension (HT-SPAT), the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) joined forces in a three-day multi-jurisdictional operation, which was completed on January 18, 2025.
     
    “The exploitation of children will not be tolerated in California,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI estimate there are 500,000 online predators active each day. One child exploited is one too many. I would like to thank the efforts of our partners who helped conduct this operation. When we work together, we get results.” 
     
    “We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the CA DOJ Human Trafficking Team in Fresno and CA Highway Patrol, and our shared commitment to protecting one of our most vulnerable populations, said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue. “May this operation and subsequent arrests be a reminder to all that we will not tolerate predators in Madera County.”
     
    “The safety and well-being of our children is our top priority,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting California’s most vulnerable residents and holding those who prey on them accountable. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to ensure that no child is ever subjected to such harm.”
     
    Agents and officers identified subjects looking to exploit minors for the purpose of committing sexual acts.  During the operation, undercover agents and detectives posed as minors on various social media platforms and websites commonly used by child sex predators. After being identified, the suspects were located and arrested. All suspects were booked into the Madera County Jail and were charged with Penal Code Section 288.3 – contacting a minor for sexual purposes and Penal Code Section 288.4 – meeting with a minor for sexual purposes. The Madera County District Attorney’s Office will be prosecuting the cases.
     
    The CA DOJ Victims’ Services Unit (VSU) works in conjunction with victim service providers and all across the state to provide victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally-sensitive support services to all crime victims, including underserved, at-risk, underrepresented, and vulnerable populations. More information about VSU is available at oag.ca.gov/victimservices or by calling (877) 433-9069 or emailing VSU atVictimServices@doj.ca.gov. 

    If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to access help and services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Additional information and resources to support survivors of human trafficking is available here.
     

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Remembering victims of the Holocaust and preserving their stories

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Eighty years ago, the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp was liberated. The cruelty committed within its walls must never be forgotten. During the Holocaust, the Nazis senselessly killed six million Jews. They also murdered 500,000 Roma and Sinti people and millions of others, including Poles, prisoners of war, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Today, amid a disturbing rise in antisemitism around the world, we stand united to remember the victims of the Holocaust, listen to the stories of survivors, and reaffirm the solemn vow to never forget.

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today concluded the first day of his visit to Poland, where he attended a commemorative event to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp. He was accompanied by Canadian Holocaust survivors as well as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, Deborah Lyons.

    In Kraków, Prime Minister Trudeau highlighted a $90.5 million package of measures announced in Budget 2024 to combat antisemitism, preserve Holocaust remembrance, and educate against Holocaust denial and distortion. He also announced almost $3.4 million in new funding to strengthen Holocaust education and awareness efforts in Canada and around the world. This includes new funding to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Montréal Holocaust Museum, the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, the Toronto Holocaust Museum, the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, and the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island.

    In meetings with Canadian Holocaust survivors, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering commitment to building a country where Jewish people can live open and proud Jewish lives, without intimidation or fear.

    Let the resilience, courage, and strength of Holocaust survivors inspire us to be better – and do better. Together, let us honour their memories, re-tell their stories, and continue our work to build a world that is more just and more peaceful.

    Quotes

    “The Holocaust and the unimaginable cruelty of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp must never be forgotten. In Kraków today, we announced a new suite of initiatives to increase Holocaust education and awareness in Canada, and we reaffirmed our solemn vow: Never forget. Never again.”

    “Eighty years ago, humanity saw one the darkest chapters in history with the murder of over six million Jews during the Holocaust. We have a responsibility to never forget and ensure the events of the Holocaust are never repeated. As we see a rise in antisemitism today, we must be reminded that it is our collective responsibility to combat hate in all its forms. That is why we introduced the new National Holocaust Remembrance Program, which will support initiatives to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and teach Canadians how they can play an active role in combatting antisemitism now and into the future.”

    “Every generation must know the enduring significance of ‘never again’. As we mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau, let us pay tribute to the lives we have lost during the Holocaust. Because ‘never again’ is not just a reminder – it is our solemn responsibility. Together, we must uphold this promise and always stand against antisemitism and hate.”

    “For the last 80 years, the Holocaust has reminded us of humanity’s capacity for inhumane cruelty. It has also stood as a warning to never again allow such hatred and horror to go unchecked. With antisemitism once again on the rise, we all have a responsibility to take concrete action, and that’s why the federal government is convening provinces, territories, municipalities, police, and civil society to the National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism. Our synagogues, schools and community centres must be safe spaces for our people. Jewish Canadians must be able to live without fear.”

    Quick Facts

    • The Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp was the largest camp under Hitler’s regime. One million Jewish people were murdered in Auschwitz Birkenau alone.
    • Canada has the fourth largest Jewish community in the world, following Israel, the United States, and France. According to the 2021 census, 335,000 Canadians identify as Jewish. As of December 2024, Canada’s Holocaust survivor population is roughly 9,800 – one of the largest around the globe.
    • The position of Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism was created in 2020 as part of the federal government’s commitment to strengthening national and international efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and honour the stories of survivors. Irwin Cotler was appointed Canada’s first Special Envoy in November 2020 and was succeeded by Deborah Lyons in October 2023. The Special Envoy works to combat antisemitism, hatred, and racism, while promoting and defending democracy, pluralism, inclusion, and human rights.
    • Canada’s commitment to protecting human rights and combatting antisemitism at home and abroad is anchored in our membership in – and work with – the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). As the only international institution mandated to focus on issues related to the Holocaust, the IHRA works to raise awareness of the global impact of antisemitism and seeks ways to end it. In 2022, Canada announced it would double its annual contribution to the IHRA.
    • In October 2024, the Government of Canada released the Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. Using Canadian examples, the Handbook serves as a tool to identify and address antisemitism across various sectors. Notably, it is the first such handbook produced by a national government.
    • In 2022, the federal government amended Canada’s Criminal Code to make it a crime to willfully promote antisemitism by condoning, denying, or downplaying the Holocaust.
    • In addition to the $90.5 million package of measures on Holocaust remembrance, Budget 2024 also invested over $273 million over six years to implement Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate, including over $29 million ongoing to combat hate crimes and enhance community security.

    Related Product

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Water system upgrade closes northbound I-5 Scatter Creek Rest Area in Thurston County Feb. 10-28

    Source: Washington State News 2

    GRAND MOUND – Travelers who use the northbound Interstate 5 Scatter Creek Rest Area between Centralia and Olympia will need to make other plans in February. 

    Beginning 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10, contractors working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close the rest area around-the-clock until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. 

    The planned closure allows crews to update the facility’s water system. The work includes:

    • Installation of new well pumps and pipes.
    • New automated water management systems.
    • Repairs inside and outside of the restrooms.

    The work will reduce long-term maintenance costs and extend the service life of the system. 

    About the rest area

    On average, approximately 2,284 vehicles a day use the Scatter Creek Rest Area. The facility opened 1969 and was rebuilt in 1988. Amenities include water fountains, restrooms, picnic areas, vending machines, a visitor information center, short term parking, and a recreational vehicle wastewater disposal area.

    Alternate facilities

    The nearest rest area with restrooms, short term parking and picnic areas is located three miles north near Maytown along southbound I-5 in Thurston County. 

    The nearest rest area with wastewater disposal for recreational vehicles on I-5 is 50 miles north at the SeaTac Rest Area in King County.

    Travelers are encouraged to sign up for email updates about work on state roads and facilities in Thurston County. Real-time travel information is available from the WSDOT app and statewide travel map.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Fluent, Inc. Named to Ad Age’s 2025 Best Places to Work List

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fluent, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLNT), a leading commerce media solutions company, today announced it has been recognized as one of Ad Age’s 2025 Best Places to Work, appearing on the list as #18.

    Ad Age Best Places to Work is an annual ranking of companies that set the standard in terms of pay, benefits, corporate culture, and leadership. The 2025 list honors 50 companies that demonstrated excellence and adaptability as the advertising industry and media landscape continued to evolve over the past year.

    With nearly 200 employees across the US and Canada, Fluent will continue to invest into its commerce media team as it executes a strategic pivot toward a growing suite of commerce media solutions.

    “We are honored to be recognized in Ad Age’s 2025 Best Places to Work rankings,” said Patrick Sweeney, VP of People at Fluent. “Our commitment to cultivating top talent and fostering a performance-driven culture allows us to deliver outstanding experiences for consumers and measurable results for clients. As an emerging leader in the commerce media space, we’re proud to celebrate this milestone as we continue to drive positive momentum for our business and people.”

    Fluent is dedicated to building a collaborative and supportive work environment where innovation and creativity thrive. Offering benefits that prioritize well-being and professional growth, employees enjoy access to mental health services, flexible paid time off and work schedules, and mentorship programs that connect junior staff with senior leaders. Fluent’s commitment to giving back is equally strong, with annual community service events and a generous donation-matching program empowering employees to support the causes they care about.

    “The companies on Ad Age’s 2025 Best Places to Work list have shown a deep commitment to building workplaces where employees truly want to be—no small feat in today’s challenging labor market,” said Dan Peres, President of Ad Age. “Earning this recognition isn’t just a win for company culture; it also strengthens an organization’s reputation, making it a more attractive place for top talent.”

    Ad Age produced Best Places to Work 2025 in partnership with Workforce Research Group, a research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work. The competition was open to agencies, ad tech firms, data and research firms, brand or corporate marketing departments or groups, and in-house agencies of marketers.

    Ad Age’s scoring system factors in employee responses and a company’s policies and practices on topics including pay and benefits, work/life balance, recruitment, training, and development. The winners reflect the highest overall numerical scores based on an analysis of questionnaires submitted by employers and survey responses from their employees.

    To see current job openings at Fluent, visit https://fluentco.com/careers/.

    About Fluent, Inc.

    Fluent, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLNT) is a commerce media solutions provider connecting top-tier brands with highly engaged consumers. Leveraging diverse ad inventory, robust first-party data, and proprietary machine learning, Fluent unlocks additional revenue streams for partners and empowers advertisers to acquire their most valuable customers at scale. Founded in 2010, Fluent uses its deep expertise in performance marketing to drive monetization and increase engagement at key touchpoints across the customer journey. For more insights visit https://www.fluentco.com/.

    About Ad Age

    Created in 1930 to cover a burgeoning industry with objectivity, accuracy and fairness, Ad Age continues to be powered by award-winning journalism. Today, Ad Age is a global media brand focusing on curated creativity, data and analysis, people and culture, and innovation and forecasting.

    Contact Information

    Investor Relations
    Fluent, Inc.
    InvestorRelations@fluentco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Scott Op-ed Highlights Importance of Education Savings Accounts to School Choice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Dr. Mick Zais, former deputy and acting U.S. Secretary of Education, penned an op-ed in the Post and Courier discussing school choice and the benefit of Education Savings Accounts for students in South Carolina. 
    Commentary: SC students lose in fight over education savings accounts
    The Post and Courier
    By Senator Tim Scott and Dr. Mick Zais
    We live in a society where we can personalize anything based on our individual needs and preferences, whether it’s the channels we watch, the food we order or the cars we drive. Ironically, there remains so much resistance to parents being able to choose the education that is best-suited to help their children succeed.
    No two children are the same. Each child has different interests, talents and needs. So what should we expect from a one-size-fits-all school system where every child learns the same material, on the same schedule, in the same way? Mediocrity, at best — and that’s exactly what we’re getting.
    Only 26% of eighth graders are proficient in math, and just 31% are proficient in reading. South Carolina’s eighth graders ranked 39th in math proficiency and 38th in reading proficiency nationwide. Our students deserve better. Disastrous school closures galvanized the most powerful interest group in education: parents. Now, more than ever, parents are exercising their right to oversee their children’s education. They want a say in where, how, what and by whom their children are taught. As a result, school choice — in its many forms — is rapidly expanding across the country, including here in South Carolina.
    In South Carolina, we are fortunate to have 95 charter schools serving 49,000 students. Another 49 schools are in the planning stage to help serve the 15,000 students on waiting lists. Charter schools work, and parents know it. From 2009 to 2023, Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes studied more than 2 million students across 29 states, and while it had significant concerns about S.C. charters, it concluded that nationally, charter schools “produce superior student gains despite enrolling a more challenging student population.”
    Education savings accounts can provide parents with yet another option. With these scholarships, parents can choose which education best meets their child’s needs from numerous state-approved, public or private providers. These accounts are efficient — the funds go directly to the student’s education, not the school system’s operation.
    South Carolina’s program provides opportunities for lower- and middle-income families to attend private K-12 schools, a privilege that affluent families have always enjoyed. Under the program, qualifying students could receive scholarships of up to $6,000 to attend state-approved private schools. But the scholarships are not limited to private school tuition. Public-school students can benefit as well. Parents are permitted to use these dollars to pay transfer fees between school districts, or to pay for individual classes or services. Parents can also use the dollars to pay for textbooks, tutoring, computers, online courses, transportation and other instructional expenses. This year, nearly 2,000 South Carolina students used these scholarships. And the number of scholarships was set to increase to 10,000 next year and 15,000 the year after.
    However, much of that came to a halt when South Carolina’s Supreme Court ruled that using money from the program for private school tuition violates our state constitution because it provides taxpayer dollars directly to private schools. We disagree. The scholarships do not fund schools; they fund students. And the parents of the students can direct the money to an educational provider of their choice.
    Using food stamps, a single mom can choose the grocery store from which she will buy her family’s food. Using Medicare, a senior can choose the hospital from which he will receive care. Using  federal and state grants, a low-income student can choose the college she will attend. The Education Scholarship Trust Fund program was no different. The South Carolina Legislature thought it wise to give parents the ability to choose the best education for their child.
    Relatedly, the court’s decision also begs the question: If the scholarships for K-12 education are unconstitutional, what other programs are? Is the LIFE scholarship unconstitutional because a student can use it to attend Presbyterian College? Is the SC HOPE scholarship unconstitutional because a student can use it to attend Bob Jones University? Is the Palmetto Fellows program unconstitutional because a student can use it to attend Newberry College? Is South Carolina’s tuition grants program unconstitutional because it can be used at private institutions?
    In the back-and-forth between the court and the Legislature, families are caught in the crosshairs. For many, South Carolina’s program was a chance to escape a one-size-fits-all system and find a school that meets the unique needs of their child. This is especially true for low-income families whose students are often trapped in perennially failing schools.
    School choice is a lifeline to opportunity. Whether in the form of charters, education scholarships or other programs, we must continue the work of making educational freedom a reality for all students. Students and their parents are counting on us.
    Click here to read the op-ed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Rural communities in Québec are embracing ‘mushroom tourism’ to boost local economies

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Amélie Cloutier, Professor of Strategy and Innovation, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

    Mycotourism combines mushroom foraging in natural habitats with culinary traditions and rural culture, offering a unique experience distinct from traditional tourism. (Shutterstock)

    Mycotourism, or mushroom tourism, is becoming increasingly popular as travellers seek out more nature-focused experiences. This unique tourism niche combines guided mushroom foraging with culinary traditions and rural culture to offer travellers an experience distinct from more traditional forms of tourism.

    Mycotourism has significant economic and environmental potential to boost local economies, particularly in rural areas, while also fostering a deeper connection between visitors and nature. When it is practised sustainably, it can also help conserve local ecosystems and cultural traditions by sharing traditional mushroom harvesting methods and ecological knowledge with the public.

    The growing popularity of mycotourism reflects a larger shift toward forest-related and gastronomy tourism. Forest-related tourism includes activities like foraging and product harvesting as travellers seek closer connections to nature, while gastronomy tourism involves travellers seeking out culinary experiences.

    Rural tourism, too, has seen growing interest in recent years. United Nations Tourism designated 2020 as the “Year of Tourism and Rural Development” and mycotourism aligns with this focus, as it is tied closely to rural economies, often involving small, seasonal businesses that face seasonal and visibility challenges.

    In response to this trend, the Québec government has revealed a 2024-2029 strategy to establish the province as a premier culinary destination with a promising future. As mycotourism grows, it aligns with Québec’s broader culinary and tourism goals.

    Mycotourism: A brief overview

    While mushroom foraging has long been practised informally in many parts of the world, it’s now evolving into a formalized tourism industry, led by local experts to ensure safety. Countries such as Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Scotland and South Africa are current pioneers in this market.

    Spain, where mycotourism originated, leads the way with its well-established “micoturismo” industry, especially in the Castilla y León region.

    While mushroom foraging has long been practised informally in many parts of the world, it’s now evolving into a formalized tourism industry.
    (Shutterstock)

    In Canada, Québec has become a hotspot for mycotourism thanks to its rich natural landscapes, including vast forests and diverse ecosystems. The province has seen increased demand from both local and international visitors.

    The Québec regions of Kamouraska and Mauricie, in particular, have emerged as leaders in North American mycotourism. This surge, which was boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has positioned these regions as key destinations for mushroom enthusiasts.

    The number of amateur mycology circles and their members has also risen sharply in the province, reflecting a growing interest in wild mushrooms.

    However, despite its growth, mycotourism remains relatively unfamiliar to many Canadians. It signals an untapped opportunity for the tourism industry in the country.

    Overcoming industry challenges

    The mycotourism sector faces several challenges, including fragmented initiatives, which presents challenges in areas like promotion, infrastructure and knowledge sharing.

    There is a need for better co-ordination among mycotourism stakeholders. In Québec, these stakeholders include regional tourism associations, sectoral tourism associations like Terroir et Saveurs du Québec.

    Establishing a unified platform or network for mycotourism stakeholders stakeholders could facilitate the exchange of best practices, improve promotion and support its sustainable growth.

    By closely monitoring new initiatives, researchers, entrepreneurs and tourism professionals can better understand the challenges and opportunities in this field.

    This collaborative approach would identify potential partners for future collaborations, highlight resources and tools and ensure the development of this industry respects all the stakeholders, including Indigenous communities.

    Canada is well-positioned to become a global leader in mycotourism.
    (Shutterstock)

    Our mushroom tourism research

    Our recent research study sheds light on the growth of the mycotourism industry in Québec. Through an in-depth environmental scan, we identified 57 providers across the province, with the majority concentrated in Mauricie and Bas-Saint-Laurent, including the region of Kamouraska.

    We found that most mycotourism businesses in Québec are micro or very small enterprises, which means collaboration and networking are both essential for supporting their growth and sustainability.

    The activities offered by these providers fell into five main categories:

    1. Events and learning: Includes festivals, conferences, training sessions and courses.
    2. Culinary experiences: Features culinary workshops and tasting sessions.
    3. Guided tours and hosting: Encompasses guided tours and group hosting events.
    4. Nature exploration and foraging: Includes guided, self-picking foraging expeditions.
    5. Accommodations with mushroom picking: Lodging experiences that allow guests to participate in mushroom picking during their stay.

    In addition, our study identified four types of enterprises in the sector. These ranged from solo ventures specializing in niche activities, to versatile solo ventures with a diverse range and experiences and services, to slightly larger businesses focusing on targeted services.

    It’s clear that Québec’s mycotourism sector is dynamic, with businesses continually developing new and innovative offerings. The wide range of experiences offered are designed to attract new segments of tourists interested in agritourism, gastronomy or other unique accommodations.

    Unlocking mycotourism potential

    As mycotourism continues to grow, it is crucial for small-scale initiatives in this sector to gain stronger support and recognition from tourism authorities, regional organizations and government agencies.

    Without this support, these businesses may struggle to overcome challenges like limited visibility, fragmented efforts and insufficient resources. If these challenges are not addressed, it could hinder the growth of the sector and its ability to contribute to local economies and rural development.

    With its vast forests, rich biodiversity and developing agritourism and gastronomy sectors, Canada is well-positioned to establish itself as a top destination for mushroom enthusiasts. But to fully realize its full potential, Canada must create an environment that promotes innovation, collaboration and investment in mycotourism.

    Amélie Cloutier receives funding from FRQSC.

    Marc-Antoine Vachon receives funding from Développement Économique Canada pour les régions du Québec et de la Fondation de l’UQAM grâce à un don de Transat A.T..

    Patrick Coulombe 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. Rural communities in Québec are embracing ‘mushroom tourism’ to boost local economies – https://theconversation.com/rural-communities-in-quebec-are-embracing-mushroom-tourism-to-boost-local-economies-246392

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New intake open for connectivity funding applications

    The sixth intake of the Connecting Communities BC funding program will be open for applications until June 30, 2025.

    In March 2022, B.C. and Canada announced a partnership to invest as much as $830 million, contributing $415 million each, toward high-speed connectivity infrastructure projects in rural and remote areas.

    Through Connecting Communities BC, the Province aims to provide all remaining underserved households and First Nation communities with access to high-speed internet by 2027. This program also fulfils a Call to Action in the Declaration Act Action Plan.

    Eligible applicants can apply for funding to support the expansion of high-speed internet in any area of the province, with a focus on specific areas that do not have access to internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download speed and 10 Mbps per second upload speed.

    The Connecting Communities BC program completed five intakes between September 2022 and December 2024. Projects applying for the sixth intake will be evaluated as they are received. Successful project applications from previous intakes will continue to be announced when they are approved.

    Learn More:

    Areas of interest are outlined in the Connecting Communities Application Guide available here::
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/services-policies-for-government/initiatives-plans-strategies/internet-in-bc/connecting-communities-bc-application-docs/ccbc_application-guide.pdf

    Connecting Communities BC:
    https://www.gov.bc.ca/connectingcommunitiesbc

    Connectivity in B.C.: 
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/connectivity-in-bc

    StrongerBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities:
    https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Good-Lives-Strong-Communities-2023.pdf

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Pentagon Arrival Remarks

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Morning, everybody. How we doing? It’s an honor to be here. It’s an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the country. It’s an amazing job, beyond what anyone can fathom.

    But in talking to the chairman and so many other folks here, we’re in capable hands. The warfighters are ready to go. If you see what the president said last week in his executive orders, he’s hitting the ground running. He’s made it very clear there’s an emergency at the — at the southern border, that the sovereign — the protection of the sovereign territory of the United States is the job of the Defense Department, and the cartels are foreign terrorist organizations.

    As a result, this Pentagon snapped to last week. We helped move forward troops, put in more barriers, and also to ensure mass deportations — support of mass deportations in support of the president’s objective. That is something the Defense Department absolutely will continue to do.

    And today, there are more executive orders coming that we fully support, on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of COVID mandates, the Iron Dome for America. This is happening quickly. And as the secretary of defense, it’s an honor to salute smartly, as I did as a junior officer and now as the secretary of defense, to ensure these orders are complied with rapidly and quickly.

    Every moment that I’m here, I’m thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, in Germany, in Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, on missile defense sites and aircraft carriers. Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting.

    We’re going to hold people accountable. I know the chairman agrees with that. The lawful orders of the president of the United States will be executed inside this Defense Department swiftly and without excuse. We will be no better friend to our allies and no stronger adversary to those who want to test us and try us.

    So, Mr. Chairman, thanks for welcoming me today.

    GENERAL CHARLES Q BROWN: My pleasure.

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: I look forward to serving the troops, the warriors of this department. It’s the honor of a lifetime, and we’re going to get to work. God bless you all.

    Q: [Off mic] wristband? Who’s that?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: This right here is Jorge Oliveira. He was killed in Afghanistan on — he was — asked about what I wear on my wrist every single day. It was a troop I served with, a soldier I served with in Guantanamo Bay when I was a platoon leader. He was killed in Afghanistan, not in my unit but when I was there. It’s these guys that we do this for, those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.

    Q: Secretary, should we expect additional troops to be sent to the border soon?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Whatever is needed at the border will be provided, whether that is through state active duty, Title 32 or Title 10, because we are — we are reorienting. This is a shift. This is not the way business has been done in the past.

    This is — the Defense Department will support the defense of the territorial integrity of the United States of America at the southern border to include reservists, National Guard, and active duty in compliance with the Constitution, with the laws of our land, and the directives of the commander in chief.

    Q: [Off mic] looking at the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, yes?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Those will be decisions made by the White House. I look forward to conversations about anything we need to do to ensure we’re securing our southern border.

    Q: Mr. Secretary, how are you going to change military training?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: I’m sorry?

    Q: Are you going to change military training?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Military training will be focused on the readiness of what our troops in the field need to deter our enemies. More rapid fielding, more rapid opportunity to train as we fight will be something we want our units to do across the spectrum.

    One more.

    Q: [Off mic] exceptions —

    Q: [Off mic] Joint Chiefs of Staff and other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: I’m standing with them right now. Look forward to working with them. Thank you.

    Q: [Off mic] an exception to the executive order for some transgender troops that?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: There’ll be an executive order on that right now, today.

    Q: [Off mic] for Afghans who served?

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Hey, we’re gonna — we’re gonna make sure there’s accountability for what happened in Afghanistan and that we stand by our allies. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Acting Chairman Pham to Launch Public Roundtables on Innovation and Market Structure

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham is launching a series of public roundtables on evolving trends and innovation in market structure, including issues such as affiliated entities and conflicts of interest, prediction markets, and digital assets. Pham renewed calls for open public engagement and increased transparency by the CFTC on its policy approach to changes in derivatives markets last year. 
    “As I have long said, the CFTC must take a forward-looking approach to shifts in market structure to ensure our markets remain vibrant and resilient while protecting all participants,” Pham said. “Innovation and new technology has created a renaissance in markets that presents new opportunities that are accessible to more people, as well as risks. The CFTC will get back to basics by hosting staff roundtables that will develop a robust administrative record with studies, data, expert reports, and public input. A holistic approach to evolving market trends will help to establish clear rules of the road and safeguards that will promote U.S. economic growth and American competitiveness.”
    Over the next several months, the CFTC will engage with industry leaders, market participants, other market structure experts, and public interest groups through open and transparent public roundtables to provide the CFTC with the best information and latest data. Details about the series will be provided as they become available.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OEM Assists with the Rescue of a 26-year-old Missing Hiker on Mt. Hood

    Source: US State of Oregon

    he Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) played a role in the successful search and rescue mission for Brendan Davis who was found alive and well Friday at about 3:30 p.m. by Clackamas County Search and Rescue.

    OEM’s Statewide Search and Rescue Coordinator, Scott Lucas, coordinated air support and ensured the seamless collaboration between the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, the Army National Guard, and various search and rescue teams. OEM’s swift response and coordination were essential in locating the missing climber.

    The 26-year-old hiker was reported missing at around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2025, after becoming separated from his friend in foggy weather conditions while descending Mt. Hood after summiting.

    Immediately following the report, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams were activated to assist with the search. Portland Mountain Rescue teams worked late into the night on Thursday, following leads based on cell phone signals.

    As the search effort expanded, Clackamas Search and Rescue (CSAR) volunteers, Mountain Wave SAR, PNW Search & Rescue, and Hood River Crag Rats joined the mission on Friday morning.

    OEM’s coordination ensured the effective use of air support and resources, helping to bring the search to a successful conclusion when the missing hiker was located at the 3300-foot level by Hidden Lake / Zig Zag Canyon.

    “A team effort is always required to have a successful ending with a search and rescue mission on Mt. Hood,” Lucas said. “OEM’s leadership and coordination helped bring all the partners together to ensure a safe outcome.”

    More information can be found at the Sheriff’s Office searching for missing climber on Mount Hood | Clackamas County or by contacting the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office public information officer sheriffpio@clackamas.us.

    Photo caption: image were taken from an aerial view during the morning search.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Blasts Trump’s Midnight Massacre of Independent Government Watchdogs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    January 27, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., co-chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, blasted Donald Trump’s firing of 17 federal inspectors general last night. IGs are independent watchdogs that investigate waste and fraud within government agencies, and have been a nonpartisan check on abuse of federal taxpayer resources.
    “Donald Trump is systematically dismantling the protections against abuse, corruption and fraud within the federal government,” Wyden said. “Courts should immediately strike down this blatantly illegal action. Firing IGs without notifying Congress 30 days in advance is clearly illegal. The only reason for Trump to carry out the midnight massacre of more than a dozen inspectors general without notice is to make it easier for him to break the law and help him and his wealthy cronies profit from the government without anyone looking over his shoulder.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Webster County Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Taylor Morrow, 34, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty January 24, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

    At the plea hearing, Morrow admitted that between March and April 2024, he and others distributed more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area.  

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Morrow remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Morrow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-3034.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Votes to Confirm Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Pete Hegseth was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Defense:
    “President Trump has promised to restore American dominance on the world stage and enact his peace-through-strength agenda following years of weakness under Joe Biden. I am confident my friend Pete Hegseth will play an invaluable role in carrying out that mission at a time when our nation and our world need it most. With Pete at the helm, the status quo will be shaken up and the warrior spirit will finally be restored at the Pentagon.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Votes to Confirm Kristi Noem for DHS Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
    “Texas is on the front lines of the border crisis, but Governor Noem knows all too well that every state became a border state under the failed Biden-Harris-Mayorkas administration. She was one of the first governors to send reinforcements to support Texas’ efforts to secure the border when President Biden refused to do so, and she’s solidified herself as a strong defender of President Trump’s border agenda ever since.”
    “I look forward to working with Governor Noem in her new capacity to finally secure our southern border and put an end to this crisis that has wreaked havoc on the Lone Star State.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Premier Smith

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Red Tape Awareness Week: Minister Nally

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More families access new child care spaces in Powell River

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Families in Powell River have access to 28 new child care spaces opening at Kelly Creek Community school, including 12 spaces for children younger than three, and 16 spaces for children ages three to five.

    “Access to affordable and reliable child care makes life easier for families,” said Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care. “These new child care spaces in Powell River will help more parents and caregivers go to work and school, and are conveniently located on school grounds. We’re going to keep working to bring down costs and build a bright future for British Columbians.”

    The Province partnered with the qathet School District (SD47) to build the new child care centre at Kelly Creek Community school. The $1.1-million investment from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund supported construction, as well as furniture and appliances bought for the facility.

    “We are thrilled to have another child care option for the families in qathet,” said Jaclyn Miller, board chair, qathet School District. “The centre at Kelly Creek will provide children five and younger with a strong start to their school experience, fostering connections and continuity alongside the school they will likely attend, while strengthening their sense of belonging within the community.”

    The Province also worked with the qathet School District to open a new child care centre at Edgehill Elementary school, which opened in fall 2024. The two projects have added a total of 56 new child care spaces in Powell River.

    “I am over-the-moon happy with the staff and my experience at Edgehill YMCA Child Care,” said Sarah, whose child attends the program. “Thank you so much for bringing more child care spaces to Powell River. “This is the child care I wanted for my treasured child.”

    School districts throughout B.C. are partnering with the provincial government to create new child care spaces to help address the child care needs of families within their communities. Child care on school grounds makes life easier for families by requiring only one dropoff and pickup location, streamlining their daily routines, reducing stress and creating a smoother transition for children.

    Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s accelerated space-creation programs have helped fund more than 40,000 new licensed child care spaces in B.C. and 23,000 of those are now open. Funding the creation of new child care spaces is part of the Province’s ChildCareBC plan to build access to affordable, quality, inclusive child care as a core service families can rely on.

    Quotes:

     Randene Neill, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast –

    “Families in communities like Powell River face unique challenges when it comes to accessing affordable, quality child care. The new child care spaces at Kelly Creek Community school and Edgehill Elementary school are a game-changer for families here, providing vital support for parents and ensuring children in our rural community have the same opportunities to thrive as those in larger centres. By investing in child care, we’re helping to build a stronger, more connected Powell River.”

    Cathy Poole, vice-president, Children and Youth Services, YMCA BC –

    “YMCA BC is proud to partner with the qathet School District and the Government of B.C. to extend our child care services to families in the Powell River community. The program at Kelly Creek YMCA Child Care will be structured on our national YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum and led by our professional early childhood educators who are committed to providing the children with happy, healthy learning experiences.”

    Learn More:

    For more information about ChildCareBC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

    More information about the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund is available here: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund  

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: No Invasive Mussels Found in Saskatchewan Waters in 2024

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on January 27, 2025

    Good news from the Ministry of Environment’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) monitoring program: in 2024, no invasive zebra or quagga mussels or spiny waterflea were found in Saskatchewan waters. Last year, the program tested more than 450 water samples from waterbodies all across the province.

    “Our surveys confirm that Saskatchewan’s efforts to protect our lakes and rivers from AIS have been successful,” Environment Minister Travis Keisig said. “Collaborating with our partners, the ministry will continue to implement a robust AIS prevention program that includes monitoring, roadside watercraft inspections and decontamination, and public awareness and education, to ensure that success continues.”    

    In 2024, the ministry inspected more than 3,500 watercraft across the province. Ministry staff intercepted and decontaminated six watercraft carrying invasive zebra or quagga mussels and decontaminated more than 250 watercraft coming to Saskatchewan from high-risk areas infested with AIS that were not properly cleaned, drained or dried. The AIS program also focused on several species of invasive fish, including goldfish, koi and Prussian carp, as well as flowering rush, an invasive aquatic plant that can quickly outcompete native plants in our waterways. 

    Invasive mussels continue to spread in many waters across North America, including waterbodies in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, as well as in 34 states including North Dakota and Minnesota. AIS such as invasive mussels pose a serious threat to Saskatchewan. Once established, these organisms are nearly impossible to eliminate. They can significantly affect aquatic habitat and fisheries and can cost the province millions of dollars each year to manage.   

    In the fight against AIS, partnerships are key. The ministry works closely with Saskatchewan’s AIS Task Force, which includes other government agencies, researchers and conservation organizations. The province also partners with Canada Border Services Agency and other federal, provincial and territorial governments to co-ordinate prevention efforts across Western Canada.

    Watercraft users also have an important part to play in reducing the spread of AIS: 

    • Carefully follow the clean-drain-dry protocols for watercraft and gear that comes in contact with the water, before moving between waterbodies.
    • Stop at roadside watercraft inspection stations or risk a $500 fine, plus $80 surcharge.
    • Remove drain plugs on all watercraft during transport, as required by law.

    For more information, visit the AIS page on saskatchewan.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Nominates Judge William Bright to the Supreme Court, Judge Robin Wilson to the Appellate Court, and 13 Other Jurists to the Superior Court

    Source: US State of Connecticut

     

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is forwarding to the Connecticut General Assembly the nominations of several jurists to serve in positions on Connecticut’s courts, including the Honorable William H. Bright, Jr. as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable Robin L. Wilson as a judge of the Appellate Court, and 13 other jurists as judges of the Superior Court.

    Additionally, the governor is nominating two jurists to serve as family support magistrates and three as administrative law judges on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.

    “Nominating judges to serve on our courts is one of the most important responsibilities of a governor, especially because judges are the final authority on the interpretation of the law and the constitution, and for ensuring that justice is administered fairly and without prejudice,” Governor Lamont said. “Judge Bright has been an excellent leader of our Appellate Court over these last four and a half years, and he has had an impressive career handling all types of cases both on the trial and appellate levels. Likewise, Judge Wilson is an incredibly well-respected member of Connecticut’s legal community, having served in the Superior Court for more than two decades. I am confident that these nominees each have the high standards and qualifications the people of Connecticut deserve to have serving for them on the bench.”

    Judge Bright, 62, of Columbia, is currently the chief judge of the Appellate Court. He is being nominated to fill the associate justice seat on the Supreme Court that was most recently held by the Honorable Raheem L. Mullins, who was recently nominated by Governor Lamont to become chief justice.

    Judge Bright has served on the Appellate Court since 2017 and as chief judge since 2020. In the role of chief judge, he has been responsible for managing the operations of the Appellate Court, in addition to sitting on a full docket of cases, assigning cases to authoring judges, reviewing all opinions of the court before publication, overseeing clerks for judge trial referees, and addressing personnel and building management issues.

    Immediately prior to his nomination to the Appellate Court, Judge Bright served as a judge of the Superior Court from 2008 to 2017, presiding over criminal, civil, habeas corpus, and juvenile trials. While on the Superior Court, he served as the presiding judge of the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s statewide mediation program in 2017, chief administrative judge for civil matters from 2015 to 2017, administrative and presiding judge for the Tolland Judicial District from 2013 to 2017, and presiding judge of a civil complex litigation docket from 2011 to 2013.

    Before being nominated to the bench, he was a partner with the law firm of McCarter and English from 2003 to 2008, and with Cummings and Lockwood from 1987 to 2003. With both firms, he worked as a trial attorney, handling cases in both state and federal courts and representing individuals, government entities, and small and large businesses in environmental, property, and commercial matters.

    Judge Bright graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, summa cum laude, and earned a Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from the University of Chicago Law School. He is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and a member emeritus of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court.

    “I want to thank Governor Lamont for his faith and confidence in me,” Judge Bright said. “It is truly an honor to be nominated and considered for a position on our state’s highest court. It has been my distinct pleasure to serve the people of Connecticut as a judge of the Superior Court and the Appellate Court over the past 17 years. If confirmed, I promise to bring to my job as an associate justice of our Supreme Court the same work ethic, fidelity to the law, and respect for the parties and attorneys who appear before us that I have strived to demonstrate every day since becoming a judge.”

    Judge Wilson, 64, of New Haven, is currently a judge of the Superior Court, where she has served since 2003. She is being nominated to fill the seat on the Appellate Court that will become vacant following the confirmation of Judge Bright to serve on the Supreme Court.

    Judge Wilson is presently assigned to the Waterbury Complex Litigation Docket, presiding over complex civil cases. Prior to this, she served in the Civil Division of the New Haven Judicial District for 15 years, also presiding over complex civil cases, including medical and legal malpractice cases, motor vehicle accident cases involving catastrophic injuries, and commercial contract disputes.

    Immediately prior to her nomination to the Superior Court, she served as an administrative law judge on the Workers’ Compensation Commission from 1994 to 2003. She also worked from 1986 to 1994 as an assistant attorney general in the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, serving in both the Child Support Department and the Workers’ Compensation Department.

    In recognition of her influence and leadership, Judge Wilson has been honored as one of the NAACP’s 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut and as one of the 100 Women of Color Leadership in the State of Connecticut.

    Judge Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government, with honors, from Connecticut College, a Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree in labor relations from New York University School of Law.

    “I am deeply honored and humbled by Governor Lamont’s nomination to serve as an Appellate Judge for the State of Connecticut,” Judge Wilson said. “It is an absolute honor and privilege to have this opportunity. If confirmed by the legislature, I am committed to upholding the principles of fairness, justice, and integrity as I take on this important responsibility and will work hard every day to prove myself worthy of the governor’s trust. Thank you, Governor Lamont, for entrusting me with this opportunity to serve our great state.”

    There are currently 22 judicial vacancies in the Superior Court. The 13 nominations Governor Lamont is making to fill those positions include:

    • David G. Bothwell, 55, of Fairfield: Bothwell graduated from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He currently serves as legal counsel and legislative liaison to the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Prior to that, he spent his entire career as a criminal defense attorney in both his own private practice, as well as many years with the Connecticut Division of Public Defenders.
    • Tracie C. Brown, 53, of Windsor: Brown graduated from Southern Connecticut State University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is currently the chief operating officer for the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Previously, she was the assistant legal director for the Connecticut Department of Correction, where she focused on constitutional and employment law. Prior to that, she served as a principal attorney and commission counsel for the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. In that capacity, she presided over contested cases as a hearing officer and represented the commission at the Connecticut Superior Court, Appellate Court, and Supreme Court.
    • Michael C. D’Agostino, 53, of Hamden: D’Agostino graduated from the University of Virginia and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is currently a partner at Morgan Lewis and Bockius, residing in its Hartford office, where he handles a wide range of commercial litigation matters for clients in Connecticut’s courts, as well as courts across the country. From 2013 to 2025, he served the 91st Assembly District of Hamden in the Connecticut House of Representatives, and in this capacity severed for several years as the House chair of the General Law Committee.
    • Jesse Giddings, 43, of North Haven: Giddings graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Roger Williams University School of Law. He is currently a supervisory assistant state’s attorney in the Hartford State’s Attorney Office. Prior to that, he served as an assistant state’s attorney in Hartford, focusing primarily on the prosecution of serious felony cases.
    • Diana M. Gomez, 42, of Easton: Gomez graduated from Central Connecticut State University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is currently an assistant public defender in the Ansonia-Milford Judicial District, specializing in criminal defense of indigent defendants. She has worked in the Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services for the past eleven years. Prior to serving as a public defender, she worked in private practice. Additionally, she serves on many boards, committees and commissions.
    • Donald R. Green, 58, of Meriden: Magistrate Green graduated from Trinity College and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is currently a family support magistrate and has served in this capacity for six years. He presides over cases involving adjudication of parentage, child support, modifications, and contempt petitions. He was formerly an assistant attorney general at the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, where he served primarily in the Child Protection Department.
    • Kaitlin A. Halloran, 41, of West Hartford: Halloran graduated from New York University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law.  In 2010, she co-founded Halloran & Halloran, where her practice focused on personal injury, wrongful death claims, medical malpractice and business litigation. Halloran & Halloran merged with BBB Attorneys in 2021, where she litigated complex cases.  Halloran also maintains a very active pro bono special education law practice and has helped many families navigate the system and access services for their children.
    • Angeline Ioannou, 55, of West Hartford: Ioannou is a graduate of Sacred Heart University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law (now Widener University Commonwealth Law School) in Wilmington, Delaware. She is currently the managing partner of the Hartford office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith, LLP.  Ioannou has more than 25 years litigating complex tort and medical malpractice matters involving wrongful death and catastrophic injuries.
    • Kevin C. Kelly, 65, of Stratford: Kelly obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, a Master of Arts degree from Fairfield University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is currently an attorney and owner of Kevin Kelly and Associates, a practice that is focused on elder law, estate planning, probate administration and litigation, and municipal law. Prior to his legal career, he worked for the Connecticut Department of Social Services. From 2011 to 2025, he served the 21st Senatorial District of Monroe, Seymour, Shelton, and Stratford in the Connecticut State Senate, and in this capacity represented his caucus for several years as minority leader.
    • Daniel Shapiro, 58, of Westbrook: Shapiro graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and obtained his Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, where he also obtained a Master of Studies in environmental law. He is currently a deputy associate attorney general and chief of health and education for the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. He has practiced law for more than 30 years with a primary focus on health and education matters. Prior to his current role, Shapiro worked as an attorney for the Connecticut Department of Public Health and as an attorney for the Connecticut Legislative Commissioners’ Office.
    • Kevin Shea, 58, of Madison: Shea graduated from the University of Connecticut and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is a partner with Clendenen and Shea, LLC in New Haven, where he has practiced for the past 24 years representing individuals, companies, institutions, and municipalities as both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of civil litigation. He was previously an associate with Delaney, Zemetis, Donahue, Durham, and Noonan, P.C., and Wiggin and Dana, LLP, and worked as an in-house litigation attorney with United States Surgical Corporation in Norwalk.
    • Latonia C. Williams, 41, of West Hartford: Williams graduated from Howard University and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is currently a partner at Shipman and Goodwin LLP, where her practice focuses on a range of commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts, including commercial bankruptcies, landlord-tenant disputes, and commercial foreclosures. Additionally, she serves on the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Client Security Fund Committee, the board of directors for Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc., and as her firm’s hiring chair.
    • Yonatan Zamir, 48, of Woodbridge: Zamir graduated from University of Illinois and received his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law. He is currently a staff attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance Association, where his focus is on housing law and eviction prevention. He also co-teaches the Reentry Clinic at Yale Law School, through which he supervises students in serving clients facing barriers to reentry in areas such as housing and employment, as well as in assisting those clients’ seeking pardons or criminal conviction erasure. Prior to coming to Connecticut, he served as counsel to a member of Congress and a Congressional committee. He started his legal career at the Legal Aid Society of New York.

    The two family support magistrate nominees include:

    • Benedict R. Daigle, 43, of Cromwell: Daigle obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He currently serves as an assistant public defender, legislative/family magistrate for the Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services. Prior to that, he held roles with the City of Hartford, the Connecticut Association for Community Action, and other government and nonprofit entities. He serves in several roles within the Connecticut Bar Association, including as a member of the House of Delegates and Board of Governors and co-chair of the Legal Aid and Public Defense Committee. He has served as a board member of various nonprofit organizations.
    • LeeAnn Neal, 39, of Waterbury: Neal graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is currently an assistant attorney general in the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, serving in the child protection section. In this role, she represents the Connecticut Department of Children and Families in state court proceedings. Prior to her current position, she worked as a staff attorney at the Center for Children’s Advocacy, where she advocated for youth in education and delinquency cases. She also previously served as an assistant state’s attorney with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice, representing the state in both adult criminal and juvenile delinquency matters in the New Britain and Waterbury Judicial Districts.

    The three workers’ compensation administrative law judge nominees include:

    • Michael L. Anderson, 54, of North Stonington: Anderson graduated from the University of New Hampshire and the University of Connecticut, and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Vermont Law School. He is currently a trial lawyer with Anderson Trial Lawyers in Norwich, where he represents injured workers in the Workers’ Compensation Commission and those seriously injured due to the negligence of others. He currently serves as chairman of the Town of North Stonington Board of Finance. He has been practicing law for more than 20 years.
    • Christine Conley, 42, of Groton: Conley graduated from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is currently an attorney with McGann, Bartlett and Brown, LLC, where she represents employers and municipalities in defending work-related injuries. She has experience in worker’s compensation and personal injury, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.  She is a Connecticut board certified workers’ compensation specialist. She formerly worked for Embry, Neusner and Arscott, and the Law Offices of Lori M. Comforti, representing individuals with workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. Prior to representing individuals, she was an associate at Murphy and Beane. From 2017 to 2025, she served the 40th Assembly District of Groton and New London in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
    • Colette Griffin, 66, of Newtown: Griffin graduated from the University of Bridgeport and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac School of Law. She is currently a partner with Strunk Dodge Aiken Zovas and has served as the chair of both the workers’ compensation and animal law sections of the Connecticut Bar Association. She was previously a partner with Howd and Ludorf, LLC, where she began and ran their workers’ compensation practice. She serves on the workers’ compensation legal advisory and medical advisory committees.

     

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  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Minute: The Future of Aging

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The UConn Center on Aging conducts a variety of studies on aging-related issues. In this UConn Health Minute, Jenna Bartley, PhD, discusses her research looking at ketone ester supplementation to promote health, function and independence in older adults.

    [embedded content]

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Emanuel Jones to Hold Press Conference on Safe Gun Storage Legislation

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (January 27, 2025) — On Tuesday, January 28, Sen. Emanuel Jones (D–Decatur) will hold a press conference on proposed legislation relating to safe gun storage.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
    • Time: 1:00 p.m.
    • Where: Georgia State Capitol, South Steps, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
    • This Event is Open to the Public.

    ABOUT THE EVENT:

    The proposed legislation was developed as a result of Sen. Jones’ findings during the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage. Information pertaining to the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage can be found here.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    # # # #

    Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes a portion of DeKalb County.  He may be reached at (404) 656-0502 or via email at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James and Pine Barrens Commission File Lawsuit Against Roberts Premier Development for Violations in Protected Conservation Area

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission (Pine Barrens Commission) today filed a lawsuit against Long Island developer David Roberts and his company, Roberts Premier Development, LLC (Roberts Premier), for removing trees and vegetation to construct a commercial cabinetry and woodworking business on protected Pine Barrens land without proper approval. The Pine Barrens are located on top of Long Island’s largest source of drinking water, and their preservation is necessary to ensure residents’ access to clean water. Roberts damaged 13,000 square feet of this land by clearing natural vegetation and grading soil to build a 5,500 square foot commercial barn without authorization from the Pine Barrens Commission, harming the Pine Barrens’ delicate ecosystem. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James and the Pine Barrens Commission seek to require Roberts to remove the barn and associated infrastructure, restore the property to its previous state, and pay civil penalties for the destruction he caused.

    “Long Island’s Pine Barrens are one of New York’s most precious environmental treasures, and we are committed to protecting it,” said Attorney General James. “Preserving this land is critical to the health of Long Island’s drinking water. Any bad actor that takes action to harm our protected lands must be held accountable. I am grateful to the Commission for their partnership and look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the Pine Barrens are preserved for generations to come.”

    “We’re happy to partner with Attorney General James in this action against Roberts Premier Development. There’s a reason the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act included a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that has for three decades guided land use in this spectacular region,” said Central Pine Barrens Commission Executive Director Judith Jakobsen. “It’s because there’s a place for development in the Central Pine Barrens and a place for ecological preservation. When someone breaks the rules, they should suffer the consequences.”

    The Long Island Central Pine Barrens is a 106,000-acre natural area in Suffolk County that is home to some of New York’s greatest ecological diversity, including many endangered or threatened animal and plant species. In 1993, New York adopted the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act, which established the Pine Barrens Commission to safeguard the Pine Barrens and develop and oversee a comprehensive land use plan for the area. The Act designated 55,000 acres of the Pine Barrens as a core preservation area and specified that any entity seeking to engage in development activities such as clearing, excavation, or construction in the area must apply for and receive a waiver from the Pine Barrens Commission.

    Roberts Premier acquired a four-acre Pine Barrens property in Brookhaven, Suffolk County in July 2022. The property falls within a residential zoning district that strictly prohibits any non-residential use of land. In August 2022, Roberts applied for a permit from the town to build a new 5,500 square foot barn but did not apply for any waiver from the Pine Barrens Commission for its planned clearing, excavation, and construction on protected Pine Barrens land. Before hearing back from the town on his building permit application, Roberts moved forward with the project, clearing vegetation, grading the land, and fully constructing a new barn. Roberts was issued a building permit on November 28, 2022.

    In March 2023, the town alerted the Pine Barrens Commission that approximately 13,000 square feet of natural vegetation had been removed from Roberts’ property and that a new barn had been constructed in its place. By this time, Roberts Premier had added storage containers, which are not permitted in residential districts, and set up parking areas and paved roadways on the protected land. The Commission discovered in June 2023 that a custom cabinetry and millwork business, Green Leaf Cabinet Corp., had set up a website citing the Pine Barrens property as its business address and included a map directing potential customers to the newly constructed barn.

    The compound built by Roberts Premier on protected Pine Barrens land.

    In April 2023, the Pine Barrens Commission issued a Notice of Violation to Roberts and Roberts Premier, stating that the company had engaged in prohibited conduct by building the new barn for non-residential use and clearing Pine Barrens land without authorization. In June 2023, the Commission inspected the property and found extensive evidence that Roberts was conducting a commercial carpentry business on the property, including industrial-grade manufacturing woodworking equipment and machinery, commercial-grade power supply, construction equipment, and industrial-grade HVAC equipment.

    The lawsuit filed today seeks to mandate the removal of the unauthorized structure and associated infrastructure and require the development and implementation of a restoration plan for the affected land under the Commission’s supervision. Attorney General James is also seeking civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation and $1,000 for each day the violations persist. The lawsuit follows unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a resolution with Roberts Premier and Roberts.

    This matter was handled for the Pine Barrens Commission by Executive Director Judith Jakobsen, Pine Barrens Manager Julie Hargrave, Enforcement Officer Frank Carbone, and Counsel John C. Milazzo. 

    This matter was handled for OAG by Assistant Attorney General Abigail Katowitz-Liu and Section Chief Elizabeth Morgan of the Environmental Protection Bureau under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Monica Wagner. The Environmental Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic and is part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Record Attendance at State Parks in 2024

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) saw a record 88.3 million visits in 2024. Total visits statewide surged by over four million, which is a five percent increase compared to the previous record year in 2023. These numbers reflect Governor Hochul’s commitment to expanding access to parks and outdoor recreation, including her investment in the park system’s 100th anniversary last year, the 2024 total solar eclipse viewing events that broke state tourism records, and her free swimming initiatives.

    “This new attendance record is a result of our commitment to expanding opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy safe, healthy recreation, whether it’s through swimming, hiking, camping, or gathering to take in our world-class vistas, beaches and waterfalls,” Governor Hochul said. “We are fortunate that our state parks offer a much-needed break from the addictive digital landscape many are exposed to, and with my “Unplug and Play” strategy, we are going to make sure even more New Yorkers and future generations have access to phenomenal recreational facilities in their state parks and in their own communities.”

    Over the last two decades, State Parks’ attendance has climbed steadily, increasing 66 percent, with last year marking the 12th consecutive annual increase. Contributing to this surge in visitation was the New York State park and historic site system’s Centennial in 2024. The year-long celebration honored influential figures and milestone moments in State Parks’ development and gave the agency an opportunity to connect with local communities across the state by hosting dozens of Centennial-themed events.

    On April 8, State Parks hosted a range of events and activities to celebrate the rare total solar eclipse that passed through western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Adirondacks. Governor Hochul was one of 45,000 visitors who experienced the celestial event at Niagara Falls State Park. The eclipse brought record-setting tourism numbers in New York from April 6 to April 9 of last year.

    Governor Hochul’s free swimming initiatives fortified the new record. Prior to the July 4 weekend last year, Governor Hochul removed swimming pool entry fees at State Parks for the entire summer. Through Labor Day, pool attendance increased 36 percent, with over 542,000 people visiting a State Park pool. Twenty-two facilities hosted free swimming lessons, tripling the number of facilities from previous years and teaching over 2,000 students how to swim.

    State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “State Parks is one of the most admired parks systems in the world, welcoming many millions more visitors than ever before to unplug and play! Governor Hochul’s continued support for outdoor recreation and land conservation, paired with the passion and hard work of our State Parks team, undoubtedly helped us reach this new record. We look forward to working with partners around the state to keep the momentum going, aid in the mental and physical wellness of all, drive affordability and help deliver economic boosts to communities around the Empire State for years to come.”

    Assemblymember Ron Kim said, “I am incredibly excited to join Governor Hochul and my colleagues in continuing to invest in our state parks, recreational areas, and cultural sites. They have proven to be an essential engine for New York’s economic development, bringing millions of annual visitors and immeasurable intrinsic value to our communities, which is critical for long-term sustainable growth.”

    Camping continued to be an in-demand offering at State Parks in 2024 with 2,206,986 campers pitching their tents at New York’s state park facilities. With more than 226,000 reservations, those campers spent a collective 753,731 nights under the stars while providing a boost to local economies.

    The New York State Parks Wellness Challenge  was launched Jan. 1 to encourage both mental wellness and outdoor recreation while also educating residents and visitors on wellness-focused activities within State Parks in 2025. The challenge was designed to align with Governor Hochul’s efforts to encourage New Yorkers to get off their devices and enjoy the outdoors. The challenge includes 50 missions that can be completed at various State Parks. Once participants finish 25 of the available 50 missions, they will receive a commemorative sticker and postcard mailed to their address as a prize.

    Governor Hochul’s Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget proposes $200 million for State Parks to invest in and aid the ongoing transformation of New York’s flagship parks and support critical infrastructure projects throughout the park system. The Governor’s new Unplug and Play initiative also earmarks $100 million for construction and renovation of community centers through the Build Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS), $67.5 million for the Places for Learning, Activity and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) initiative helping New York communities construct new playgrounds and renovate existing playgrounds; and an additional $50 million for the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative supporting municipalities in the renovation and construction of swimming facilities.

    The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit  parks.ny.gov, download the free  NY State Parks Explorer app  or call (518) 474-0456. Connect with them on  Facebook,  Instagram,  X (formerly Twitter), the  OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.

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