NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces Plans for Third Special Tax Refund for Hardworking Georgians

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker of the House Jon Burns, and members of the Georgia General Assembly, today announced plans to return over $1 billion to the taxpayers of Georgia via a third special tax rebate. The proposed one-time, special refund would mirror previous rebates, returning $250 to single tax filers, $375 to head-of-household filers, and $500 to married couples filing jointly. Between this latest measure and the previous tax rebates, multiple state gas tax suspensions, homeowner tax relief grant, and acceleration of the largest income tax cut in state history enacted by the Governor and General Assembly, these policies have saved Georgia taxpayers over $6.6 billion.  

    “Inflation may have fallen, but high prices are still here and weighing down hardworking Georgians every time they go to the grocery store, the gas pump, and so many other places in our daily lives,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “While bad policies coming out of Washington, D.C. are still hurting America’s families, here in Georgia we’re working to give our people relief. I want to thank the General Assembly for their support of the measure we announced today, and the many actions we’ve taken before now to put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Georgians.”

    This special tax refund would serve as the third rebate package delivered by Governor Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly over the last three years, and it follows the historic tax cut package enacted earlier this year which accelerated the largest state income tax cut in Georgia history. 

    “Under our state’s strong conservative leadership, we’ve balanced the budget every year while lowering our income tax rate and returning billions of dollars to taxpayers,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp for his leadership and for prioritizing the budgets of Georgia’s families. Priorities like the one announced today will help Georgians keep more of their hard-earned money and will separate us from the failed policies in Washington. I made a promise to the people of Georgia that as your Lt. Governor, I would work every year to lower your taxes and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pockets, and I look forward to working with the Governor and the Speaker to do that again when we reconvene in January.”

    “Georgia’s strong conservative leadership and strategic fiscal policies have created a historic $16 billion budget surplus, and we’re proud that we’ve been able to continue investing in everything from healthcare and education to infrastructure and workforce development – all while cutting taxes and saving Georgia families and businesses millions of dollars,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “The House is looking forward to working alongside Governor Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Jones, and members of the General Assembly in 2025 to continue returning taxpayer dollars to hardworking Georgians.”

    As with the prior special tax refunds, the tax rebates announced today will not be taxable income under Georgia law. No additional action is necessary from taxpayers beyond filing their individual income tax returns from the two previous taxable years (2023 and 2024 tax returns).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DOD, German Ministry of Defence Enter Into Security of Supply Arrangement

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    The Department of Defense (DoD) entered into a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) with the Federal Ministry of Defence for the Federal Republic of Germany (DEU MOD). The arrangement will enable both the U.S. and Germany to acquire the industrial resources they need to quickly meet defense requirements, resolve unanticipated disruptions that challenge defense capabilities, and promote supply chain resiliency.

    The SOSA was signed on October 22, 2024 by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. William LaPlante, on behalf of the United States and the Head of the Directorate-General for Equipment within the Federal Ministry of Defence, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, on behalf of Germany in Brussels, Belgium.

    “This SOSA is an important step forward and further strengthens the robust defense partnership between Germany and the United States,” said Dr. LaPlante.

    Through this arrangement, the U.S. and Germany commit intent to support one another’s priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defense resources. The U.S. will provide Germany some assurances under the U.S. Defense Priorities and Allocations System, with program determinations by the DoD and rating authorizations by the Department of Commerce. Germany will in turn establish a government-industry Code of Conduct with its industrial base, in which German firms will voluntarily agree to make every reasonable effort to provide the U.S. with priority support. Participation in this Code of Conduct is made voluntarily.

    SOSAs are an important mechanism for DoD to strengthen interoperability and are a proven supply chain tool for enabling a resilient, global defense ecosystem for the U.S. and key partners and allies. The arrangements institute working groups, establish communication mechanisms, streamline DoD processes, and proactively act to allay anticipated supply chain issues in peacetime, emergency, and armed conflict.

    Germany is the nineteenth SOSA partner of the United States. Other SOSA signatories include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. For more information on SOSAs, visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/security-of-supply.html

    About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD (IBP):

    The OASD IBP works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: UN Security Council renews sanctions regime on Haiti

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The UN Security Council on Friday authorized the renewal for one year the sanctions regime on Haiti.

    The Security Council, by unanimously adopting resolution 2752, decided to continue a travel ban and asset freeze, and expand the scope of an arms embargo as well as the designation criteria for those measures initially established in October 2022 to quell rampant gang violence and restore security in the crisis-torn nation.

    The council decided that, with respect to those designated for sanctions, actions that threaten peace, security or stability of Haiti as set forth in council resolution 2653 (2022) include “engaging in activities that destabilize Haiti through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources.”

    It also decided that the scope of the arms embargo, which had been amended in council resolution 2699 (2023), shall include “arms and related material of all types,” as well as “technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance, related to military activities,” as initially stipulated in council resolution 2653.

    The council encouraged greater coordination among the Security Council Committee and its Panel of Experts, UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other regional frameworks, on the implementation of the sanctions, including arms embargo provisions.

    Further, the council decided to extend for a period of 13 months the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which was requested by the 15-member organ to report on the implementation of the resolution in its regular reporting to the council.

    The Security Council adopted Resolution 2653 in October 2022, which established a sanctions regime on Haiti. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Delivers Remarks at Inauguration of Husson University President

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: October 18, 2024

    Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos
    Bangor, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the inauguration of Husson University’s 7th president, Lynne Coy-Ogan, at the University’s Gracie Theater. Former Husson University Presidents Bob Clark and Bill Beardsley were also in attendance to congratulate President Coy-Ogan.
    “From serving as principal at Bangor’s Fruit Street School to a nearly 20-year career here at Husson as dean, provost, and vice president, Lynne has dedicated her life to education,” Senator Collins said during her remarks. “As a Maine native, she is devoted to our State and its people.  As the first woman to hold this position, she is a role model and an inspiration. I commend the Board of Trustees for this excellent, enthusiastic, and unanimous choice.”
    Dr. Coy-Ogan was born in Bangor, Maine and earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a master’s in school counseling from Johns Hopkins, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Liberty University, where she focused her research on first-generation college students. She later served as a principal in the Bangor School Department and Regional School Unit 68. She joined Husson University in 2005 as dean of the School of Education, eventually becoming provost and Vice President before being named the University’s 7th President.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 10.18.2024 Sen. Cruz Issues Statement Following Senate’s Passage of Bipartisan Bill Cracking Down on Contraband and Organized Crime in Federal Prisons

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement following the Senate passage of the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for smuggling a contraband cellphone into a federal prison from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives.
    Upon passage, Sen. Cruz said, “Prison isn’t a taxpayer-funded hotel. Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati was murdered for doing his job and enforcing rules against contraband. I’m proud to work with Sens. Ossoff and Grassley on their bipartisan legislation to place stricter penalties on criminals who violate prison contraband rules, to better protect security guards like Lieutenant Albarati.”
    Sen. Cruz joined Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in introducing the legislation.
    Read the full text of the bill here.
    BACKGROUND
    The legislation is named in honor of Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati, a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer who was murderedcompleting his shift at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Guaynabo in Puerto Rico in 2013. Five men who later pleaded guilty to the crime admitted they targeted Albarati as a direct result of continuous seizures of contraband, including cellphones. The inmate who placed the hit on Albarati did so using a contraband cellphone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Honduras and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 18, 2024

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Honduran authorities have reached staff level agreement on a set of comprehensive policies and reforms needed to complete the first and second reviews of Honduras’ program supported by the IMF.
    • The authorities have made important progress under their program. Fiscal policy remains prudent, public investment continues to expand, and the authorities have recently begun normalizing monetary and exchange rate policies.
    • Strengthened budget execution, energy sector reforms, including to reduce the public power company’s arrears, and further adjustments to monetary and exchange rate policies remain key to safeguard macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive and sustained growth.

    Tegucigalpa, Honduras: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ricardo Llaudes visited Tegucigalpa during October 7-18, 2024. The mission was a continuation of presential and virtual discussions in recent months. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Llaudes issued the following statement:

    “The Honduran authorities and the IMF team have reached staff level agreement on the economic policies necessary to complete the first and second reviews of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangements. The IMF’s Executive Board is expected to consider the case in the coming weeks.

    “The team and the authorities concurred that the Honduran economy remains broadly resilient despite a still-challenging global environment and the impact of the El Niño climate shock. Robust growth has continued this year—projected close to 4 percent—and inflation has stabilized between 4½ and 5 percent, within the tolerance range around the BCH’s inflation objective. On the external front, international reserves levels remain adequate but have continued to decline this year owing to a variety of factors, including the severe drought in the first half of the year—hindering agricultural exports and increasing energy imports—and lower-than-expected multilateral and bilateral financing support.

    “The authorities have reiterated their strong commitment to implement a prudent macroeconomic policy mix to strengthen economic stability and to take prompt actions on all critical aspects of their economic reform program supported by the IMF to ensure program objectives are met. Policy discussions and program reforms revolved around five key pillars.

    “First, continued budgetary discipline to preserve debt sustainability. As in 2023, fiscal performance this year is expected to overperform program objectives, supported by solid tax revenues and strengthened public financial management. The authorities are planning additional measures to further bolster the fiscal position, including enhancing transparency in budget execution, further strengthening the Treasury Single Account, and modernizing the public procurement framework. Timely adoption of the 2025 budget in line with program objectives is essential to support the authorities’ fiscal efforts and public investment program.

    “Second, strengthened social spending to protect the most vulnerable. The authorities have faced capacity constraints in disbursing social support. These constraints are now being lifted, and the authorities agreed on the need to roll out more decisively monetary transfers under the flagship program Red Solidaria, accelerate completion of the census of urban households in extreme poverty, and finalize the Single Social Sector Information System to facilitate the design, monitoring, and transparency of Honduras’ social programs.

    “Third, decisive implementation of monetary and exchange rate policies to keep inflation low and safeguard international reserves. Following the global shocks of 2020-2023—including the COVID-19 pandemic, global commodity shocks, and climate events—the authorities have recently begun normalizing monetary and exchange policies. Key recent measures include an increase in reserve requirements, adjustments to the monetary policy rate (TPM), and a higher rate of crawl of the Lempira, in line with the crawling band regime. There was agreement on the need for additional tightening of the TPM to support demand for Lempira assets and continued decisive implementation of the crawling band regime to achieve a healthy and sustainable external position. The authorities agreed to stand ready to further adjust these policies as needed to ensure achievement of program objectives. Strong communication with the public and markets on these measures will be key to strengthen their effectiveness.

    “Fourth, improved health of the energy sector. The team was encouraged by the recent downward trend in electricity losses by the public power company ENEE. That said, it was agreed that continued reforms will be vital to underpin ENEE’s financial health. In the short run, the authorities agreed that reducing ENEE’s payment arrears through domestic bond issuances and enhancing coordination across relevant official stakeholders to tackle ENEE’s challenges are a priority. These measures are also essential to attract needed investment to expand generation capacity and guarantee adequate provision of energy. In parallel, the authorities committed to continue other structural reforms, including integration of ENEE’s three distribution units and upgrading of its financial accounting to international standards.

    “Fifth, steadfast commitment to fight corruption. The recent establishment of an asset declaration system for public level officials and a National Observatory of Transparency and Anticorruption are welcome. Continuing efforts to strengthen the AML/CFT framework ahead of the evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2026 are essential, including approval of the Beneficial Ownership Law and creation of a corresponding firm registry including beneficial ownership information. The authorities also committed to ensure the adoption of the Honduran National Transparency and Anti-Corruption Strategy (ENTAH) and continue to strengthen the public dialogue and participation of civil society.

    “The IMF team would like to thank the authorities, the private sector, and civil society for their kind hospitality and candid discussions.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Rosa A Hernandez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/19/pr24384-imf-concludes-visit-to-honduras-and-reaches-staff-level-agreement

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Announces $290,000 in New Funding to Fight Fentanyl Trafficking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    10.18.24
    Cantwell Announces $290,000 in New Funding to Fight Fentanyl Trafficking
    Funding goes to Northwest HIDTA, which successfully seized nearly 5 million illicit fentanyl pills last year in WA
    EDMONDS, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program will receive $290,000 in new funding.
    “With overdose deaths continuing to rise in our state, the federal government is stepping up to help,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Northwest HIDTA seized nearly 5 million illicit fentanyl pills last year, and this funding will aid their successful work with more than 75 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies across 15 counties to disrupt drug traffickers. We must continue to support proven ways to address this crisis and keep this dangerous illicit drug out of our communities.”
    The funding comes from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and is in addition to $5,031,349 in base funding allocated to Northwest HIDTA earlier this year.
    The HIDTA Program coordinates and assists federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to address regional drug threats and reduce illicit drug production and trafficking.
    Sen. Cantwell has traveled across the State of Washington hearing from people in 10 communities on the front lines of the fentanyl crisis, including first responders, law enforcement, health care providers, and people with firsthand experience of fentanyl addiction. She’s using what she heard in those roundtables to craft and champion specific legislative solutions, including:
    The Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act, which would create first-ever inspection strategies to stop drug smuggling by commercial aircraft, railroads, vehicles, and ships. The legislation would boost state, local, and tribal local law enforcement resources,; deploy next generation non-intrusive detection technologies,  and increase inspections at ports of entry.
    The Opioid Overdose Data Collection Enhancement Act, which would which would direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to states, units of local government, law enforcement task forces, and tribes to adopt and implement an overdose data collection program.
    The Fatal Overdose Reduction Act, which would expand an evidence-based, low-barrier fentanyl treatment pilot program across the United States; and
    The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act, which would require that all pill presses be engraved with a serial number and impose penalties for the removal or alteration of the number.
    Sen. Cantwell’s other legislative actions to fight fentanyl include cosponsoring the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, a new law enacted earlier this year that will help U.S. government agencies disrupt opioid supply chains by imposing sanctions on traffickers and fighting money laundering.
    In addition, in March 2024, Sen. Cantwell voted for a series of federal funding bills allocating $1.69 billion to combat fentanyl and other illicit drugs coming into the United States, including an additional $385.2 million to increase security at U.S. ports of entry, with the goal of catching more illegal drugs like fentanyl before they make it across the border. Critical funding will go toward Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology at land and sea ports of entries. NII technologies—like large-scale X-ray and Gamma ray imaging systems, as well as a variety of portable and handheld technologies—allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to help detect and prevent contraband from being smuggled into the country without disrupting flow at the border. The funding breakdown includes:
    $201 million for construction and infrastructure activities for drive-through NII deployment;
    $75.5 million for the Fentanyl Initiative for NII at ports of entry and for labs at eight ports of entry;
    $65.3 million to procure and deploy new NII detection devices;
    $14.4 million to procure advanced Computed Tomography scanners for deployment to mail and courier facilities;
    $12.6 million for artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities; and
    $12.1 million for system integration that brings together the use of the scanning, machine learning and other customs data.
    Sen. Cantwell also cosponsored and helped advance the TRANQ Research Act of 2023, which President Joe Biden signed into law last year. That measure will spur more research into xylazine and other novel synthetic drugs, by directing the National Institute of Standards and Technology to tackle these issues.
    A full timeline of Sen. Cantwell’s actions to combat the fentanyl crisis is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Zambia develop matrix for implementing FOCAC agreements

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    LUSAKA, Oct. 18 — The Chinese Embassy in Zambia said Friday that the two countries have developed a matrix for the implementation of agreements reached at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

    “All relevant Zambian authorities, including the Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, are working closely with the embassy to make sure that this matrix be translated into real changes on the ground at the end of the day,” Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing made this statement during a roundtable meeting aimed at assessing the opportunities presented by the FOCAC summit for enhancing China-Zambia relations.

    He emphasized that China values concrete action over empty rhetoric and is committed to collaborating with Zambian authorities to ensure the implementation of the FOCAC outcomes.

    The meeting, organized by the International Relations Association of Zambia, brought together experts from academia and think tanks to discuss and exchange views on the opportunities presented by the FOCAC summit.

    The Chinese ambassador noted that since its establishment in 2000, the FOCAC has become a primary platform for Sino-Africa cooperation and a symbol of South-South cooperation, adding that there was a lot of evidence to testify that Zambia has benefited from the FOCAC.

    He expressed confidence that the 2024 FOCAC summit will help boost Zambia’s development, noting that China was determined to support Zambia’s benefit from the FOCAC outcomes such as supporting the southern African nation to improve its business environment, cement its industrial foundation, and upgrade its industries.

    In the realm of infrastructure, the Chinese envoy said the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) will serve as a game changer for promoting regional connectivity, positioning Zambia as a land-linked and industrial hub. He further noted that many other infrastructure projects are in the pipeline to facilitate the unimpeded movement of goods and services.

    He further said that China would support Zambia in achieving green development following the signing of several cooperation documents during the FOCAC, aimed at ensuring a stable power supply and diversifying the energy mix in the country.

    China, he added, is working to bring more capacity building and vocational training in Zambia as part of efforts to promote innovation, which is the best way to achieve sustainable development towards modernization.

    Etambuyu Gundersen, permanent secretary for International Cooperation and Relations in Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the FOCAC has become an important mechanism for cooperation between China and Africa and a significant framework for South-South cooperation.

    Gundersen, who congratulated China for successfully hosting the summit, said China’s assistance under the FOCAC, spans a wide range of areas. She highlighted that Zambia’s priority within FOCAC has centered on economic cooperation, aligning with the country’s focus on projects designed to create jobs and sustain economic growth.

    Gundersen commended China for its longstanding support to Zambia, emphasizing that the nation remains indebted for this assistance. She also remarked that the two countries have enjoyed warm and cordial relations since establishing diplomatic ties, with their partnership continuing to strengthen over time.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mexico’s president says ties with China ‘very good’

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday highlighted Mexico’s “very good relationship” with China and the broad opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

    “There is a very good relationship with China” in cultural matters, trade and other areas, she said during her daily press conference in response to a question from Xinhua.

    Sheinbaum added that one of the tasks facing the Mexican government is to meet with its Chinese counterparts to jointly assess and enhance the bilateral relationship.

    She also expressed her gratitude to China for its support after Hurricane Otis, which devastated the Pacific Coast resort of Acapulco in October last year.

    “Mexico is very grateful to the Chinese government for the goods arriving in Mexico after Otis in Acapulco,” said Sheinbaum, referring to China-made household appliances and utensils.

    She also stressed that Mexico and China, as important economies and markets, collaborate in various multilateral forums such as the Group of Twenty (G20) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.

    Mexico’s position at multilateral forums remains aligned with its foreign policy, focusing on “the search for peace because of what the world is experiencing,” said the president.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Case Announces $40 Million Federal Grant To Improve Resiliency Of O‘ahu Power Grid Serving Both Military And Civilian Communities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-HI-01) today announced that a $40 million grant funded by the landmark 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will develop a back-up power source for O‘ahu’s electric grid, providing resiliency to both military and civilian communities in the event of disruptions from various sources. 

    The federal grant award will fund the Pu‘uloa Microgrid and Backbone Project, a partnership between the U.S. Navy, Hawaiian Electric and Ameresco, Inc.

    “I strongly advocated for this project with the U.S. Department of Energy when the partnership applied for funding under the Department’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program,” said Case.  

    “Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) plays a critical role in promoting national security throughout the Pacific theater. Especially given its importance, the Department of the Navy has identified energy resilience gaps that could significantly impact JBPHH’s ability to respond to and recover from grid outages. Further, new state and federal policy directives have required the Department of the Navy to improve resilience and reduce carbon emissions from the installation. 

    “As the U.S. Congressman in whose district JBPHH is located and a member of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, I have focused on the installation’s grid challenges and the potential for disruption of service to our civilian communities as well, and on assuring available funding to address these issues. This GRIP funding is critical to enabling this project to succeed.”

    “We are thrilled to be chosen for the Department of Energy’s GRIP program,” said Nicole Bulgarino, Executive Vice President at Ameresco. “Partnering with the U.S. Navy and Hawaiian Electric Company on the groundbreaking Pu`uloa Microgrid project will not only enhance energy resilience and reliability for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, but also provide significant benefits to the broader O‘ahu community. This project exemplifies our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement.”

    According to the project description, the Pu`uloa Microgrid will detect the loss of power during grid outages, disconnect from the broader grid and direct power from Pu`uloa Energy to support JBPHH’s national security needs while maintaining civilian community service. During a full island outage, the system will provide black start capabilities. The project will also improve power quality to JBPHH and the local grid through ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage support. 

    Pu`uloa Microgrid is designed to strengthen the grid and improve resilience by increasing or establishing interconnections between Hawaiian Electric substations at JBPHH with new 46 kV transmission infrastructure that will be integrated into the microgrid control system and utilize state of the art smart grid technologies.

    “Since 2021 I have been working hard to ensure that my government and community partners throughout Hawai‘i are aware of project and funding availability from both the $1.2 trillion BIL, as well as from the $500 billion Inflation Reduction Act (which Congress passed in August 2022). Together these two landmark measures are addressing our country’s most pressing infrastructure needs including those arising from climate change,” said Case.

    ·      Details of the project can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 10/19/2024 Blackburn Receives Update on Flooding Repairs Along Nolichucky River

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) met with local and state officials to receive an update on repairs following the devastating damages caused by Hurricane Helene. In Washington County, Senator Blackburn met with families who have lost loved ones, homes, and businesses during the destruction alongside Governor Bill Lee and Deputy Governor and Commissioner of Transportation for Tennessee Butch Eley. In Greene County, Senator Blackburn received an update on the reconstruction of Kinser Bridge, which was washed away in the Nolichucky River during the storm.
    “Our staff is working every single day to help people with flood recovery, and right now people are trying to get things cleaned up and cleaned out so they can make assessments about rebuilding and what recovery is going to look like. Our goal at the federal level is to continue to work with FEMA to get these projects completed as quickly as possible. We continue to lift up those who have felt the wrath of this storm in prayer.” – Senator Blackburn
       
    Click here to download this photo of Senator Blackburn, Governor Lee, and First Lady Maria Lee. 

    RELATED:  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 10/17/2024 Blackburn, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Advanced Wheelchairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Choices for Increased Mobility Act to increase access to wheelchairs made with advanced materials by allowing Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to lighter, more functional wheelchairs without bearing the entire upfront cost. These manual wheelchairs help prevent shoulder injuries, enhance maneuverability, and reduce overall pain and fatigue for users. 

    “Too many Americans with disabilities face unnecessary barriers to obtaining the best mobility equipment to meet their needs,” said Senator Blackburn. “By making it easier for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to wheelchairs made with advanced, lighter materials like carbon fiber and titanium, this bipartisan bill would help improve the quality of life for countless individuals. I’m pleased to work with Senator Duckworth to reduce financial burdens on those who rely on these essential devices and ensure that more people have access to the mobility solutions they deserve.”

     “For too long, Medicare recipients have struggled to access lighter, more functional wheelchairs that would help them get around more easily while putting significantly less strain on their bodies,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our bipartisan legislation would help ensure Medicare recipients are better able to access the wheelchairs they need to live healthier, more independent lives—with minimal cost to the federal government. It’s a win-win.”
    BACKGROUND
    Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) is a specialized subset of the Durable Medical Equipment benefit, which includes highly configurable manual and power wheelchairs, adaptive seating, and positioning systems. Among these, manual wheelchairs constructed from advanced materials like carbon fiber and titanium are significantly stronger and lighter than standard aluminum wheelchairs.
    When the Medicare billing code for ultra-lightweight manual wheelchairs was established in 1993, materials like titanium and carbon fiber were not considered, as they were not yet in use for wheelchairs. As a result, CRT providers have struggled to supply wheelchairs with these advanced materials at the fee schedule amounts set by Medicare.
    Historically, Medicare allowed beneficiaries who met medical necessity requirements to upgrade their equipment by paying the difference between standard and upgraded materials. However, a policy change in 2016 removed this option, requiring beneficiaries to prepay the entire cost of the wheelchair out-of-pocket and await reimbursement for the standard portion, significantly limiting access to these advanced wheelchairs.
    CHOICES FOR INCREASED MOBILITY ACT
    The Choices for Increased Mobility Act would create two new billing codes for ultra-lightweight manual wheelchairs: one for base models and another for those constructed with titanium or carbon fiber. This change would allow Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to lighter, more functional wheelchairs without bearing the entire upfront cost. Instead, beneficiaries would only pay for the cost of the specialized materials, significantly reducing their financial burden.
    This bill aims to restore the option for beneficiaries to choose and pay for advanced materials for their wheelchairs without removing medical necessity requirements. It would ensure that Medicare covers the standard portion of the wheelchair cost, with beneficiaries responsible only for the upgraded materials.
    ENDORSEMENTS
    This legislation is supported by the American Association for Homecare, Permobil Americas, National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology, National Registry for Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers, Clinical Task Force, The VGM Group, U.S. Rehab, Association for Tennessee Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment Services, Great Lakes Home Medical Services Association, Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services, Southwest Medical Equipment Suppliers Association, Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association, Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association, Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers, Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers, Texas Medical Equipment Providers Association, Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England, Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers, Florida Alliance of Home Care Services, Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association, Northeast Medical Equipment Providers Association, Nevada Association of Medical Product Suppliers, Big Sky Association of Home Medical Equipment Suppliers, Pacific Association for Medical Equipment Services, Colorado Association for Medical Equipment Services, California Association of Medical Product Suppliers, Ohio Association of Medical Equipment Services, and Arkansas Medical Equipment Providers. 
    “We are so fortunate to be able to work with leaders like Senator Blackburn and Senator Duckworth who share our passion for supporting people with disabilities,” said Tom Ryan, President & CEO of the American Association for Homecare. “Their work to improve access to lightweight wheelchairs is the latest example of their commitment to ensuring people with mobility challenges can remain actively engaged in their communities.”
    “Our mission will always be to enable those with disabilities to live life with independence by providing aides of the same technical standards that we all use in our daily lives. S. 5154 is a common sense, budget neutral solution that empowers individuals with the choice to access to the many benefits of titanium or carbon fiber wheelchair frames,” said Chuck Witkowski, President of Permobil Americas. “We are immensely grateful to Senators Blackburn and Duckworth and thank them for their continued leadership and support of this community.”
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. 7th Fleet Destroyer and The Royal Canadian Navy Conduct Bilateral Transit in the Taiwan Strait

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    TAIWAN STRAIT  –  

    The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Oct. 20 (local time) through waters where high-seas freedom of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law. The ship transited through a high seas corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. Higgins and Vancouver’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States’ and Canada’s commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. The international community’s navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be limited. The United States rejects any assertion of sovereignty or jurisdiction that is inconsistent with freedoms of navigations, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and air.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Mecklenburg County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Mecklenburg County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Mecklenburg County

    RALEIGH, N.C. –  A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Monday, Oct. 21 in Charlotte (Mecklenburg County) to assist North Carolina survivors who experienced loss from Tropical Storm Helene. 

    The Mecklenburg County DRC is located at: 

    Corvian Community School
    9501 David Taylor Drive
    Charlotte, NC 28262
    Open: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday

    A DRC is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more.

    FEMA financial assistance may include money for basic home repairs, personal property losses or other uninsured, disaster-related needs, such as childcare, transportation, medical needs, funeral or dental expenses.

    Centers are already open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Brevard, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Marion, Morganton, Newland, Old Fort, Sparta, Sylva and Waynesville. To find those center locations, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a zip code to 43362. Additional recovery centers will open soon. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. 

    Homeowners and renters in 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can visit any open center, including locations in other states. No appointment is needed. 

    It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for FEMA assistance. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA app. You may also call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
     

    aubrey.pound

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wichita Local 774 Machinists Vote to Accept Latest Contract Offer from Textron Aviation

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    WICHITA, Kan., Oct. 20, 2024 — Today, local Textron IAM members voted to accept the latest contract offer, which covers nearly 5,000 members across three campuses in Wichita. They will return to work beginning Wednesday, Oct. 23.

    IAM Local 774 (District 70) members voted down the companies’ last, best, and final offer in September, citing concerns over wages and healthcare as some of the top issues they felt Textron Aviation did not address.

    Read: Together We are Unstoppable: IAM Leadership Gives Boost to Local 774 Textron Strike Lines

    “Our skilled members in Wichita know what it takes to make Textron Aviation products just like they know how to stick together for what’s right,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The dedication it takes to stand up with your Brothers and Sisters to fight for what you deserve is admirable, and the entire IAM is beyond proud of Local 774.”

    Read: IAM Local 774 Members at Textron Aviation Vote to Reject Contract, Strike for Fairness

    The offer extended across the table in September was not enough for many workers at one of Wichita’s largest aircraft producers. Keeping Textron Aviation as a strong player in a competitive market, these essential workers toiled during the worst pandemic in recent history. With wages 7% below the national average for aerospace members at Local 774, they fought hard to bring their wages up and over flatline.

    Healthcare was another top concern for many families employed by Textron Aviation. With a deeply flawed healthcare system, many of the industry’s top savings measures include passing these costs onto hardworking families for Local 774.

    Read: IAM Local 774 Members Demand More for Families, Wichita Community as Textron Aviation Strike Enters Second Wee

    The new offer that Local 774 members voted on over the weekend includes a fifth year, as several members were adamant about not having a contract expire in an election year. There is also a 5% wage increase and an additional $3,000 directable bonus.

    Some of the other highlights include:

    • 31% overall increase in wages throughout the five-year agreement
    • $3,000 directable lump sum to use how the member sees fit
    • Longevity bonuses
    • New technical and license holder premium pays
    • Automatic Quarterly Increases raised to 30 cents per hour
    • COLA cap increased from $700 to $1,500
    • Define Benefit plan negotiated new rate increases
    • New Insurance premium increase caps at 3%
    • Insurance premium rates will remain at 2025 rates for the No Deductible plan for the life of the agreement
    • Improvements earned time off with improved accrual time

    “Our members know what matters to them and used their voices as the essential tool to gain more,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “Textron Aviation is a powerhouse in today’s market and needed to offer more. I am proud of our members in Wichita – they stood strong and won for their families and communities.”

    At a time when unions are flexing their power, there appear to be small glimpses of hope when it comes to business leadership—or at least an understanding that you have to treat your employees respectfully and listen. For those businesses that don’t, the members of the IAM have no problem giving a little push.

    “We know aircraft in Wichita,” said IAM District 70 Business Representative for Local 774 Clint Shockley. “We also know family, survival, and our members’ rooted values here. Local 774 members have shown that through collective action and won.”

    The new offer will be backdated to Sept. 23 and will remain in effect until September 2029.

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: B.C. election tells the tale of two British Columbias divided along ideological fault lines

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Philip Resnick, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, University of British Columbia

    The British Columbia election has turned out to be a nail-biter. Throughout the four-week campaign, the polls predicted a very close race between the incumbent NDP led by David Eby and a newly rejuvenated Conservative Party under the leadership of John Rustad. Those polls turned out to be accurate as no clear winner has emerged in the hours after British Columbians cast their ballots.

    The B.C. Liberal Party, a right-of-centre amalgam of Liberal and Conservative voters federally that had ruled the province between 2001-2017, disappeared from the scene, resulting in a political realignment — New Democrats vs. Conservatives — and matching what has become the norm in Canada’s three other western provinces.

    As I write this, the NDP leads or is elected in 46 seats, the Conservatives in 45, with the Green Party’s two elected members holding the balance of power. The results are so close in several ridings that it may be at least another week for outstanding mail ballots to come in and recounts to occur before knowing the definitive result.

    Parallels to previous elections

    In one way, the 2024 election is a repeat of the 2017 vote, when the B.C. Liberals and the NDP were just two seats apart. The Greens threw their three seats behind the NDP to pave the way for an NDP government. The same may well prove to be the case this time around once the dust has settled.

    In another way, this election is reminiscent of 1952, when a newly led Social Credit party under W.A.C. Bennett came out of nowhere to topple the old-line Liberal and Conservative parties, edge out the CCF (the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) — predecessor to today’s NDP — by a single seat and go on to rule the province for a full 20 years.



    Read more:
    How the British Columbia election is being haunted by the ghosts of 1952

    In 1951, Bennett had broken with his party, the Conservatives, to sit as an Independent MLA. Rustad had been turfed out of his party, the B.C. Liberals, to sit as an Independent MLA, before assuming the leadership of a B.C.’s dormant Conservative Party. The Conservatives had not held a seat in the provincial legislature for almost 50 years, and had last won a provincial election in 1928.

    Yet in 2024, with 43.5 per cent of the popular vote compared to the NDP’s 44.5 per cent, Rustad’s party is a major contender for power.

    Geographical and ideological divides

    What the election results ultimately show is that there are two British Columbias. The NDP tends to dominate on the coast, with a clear majority of the seats in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. The Conservatives dominate the B.C. Interior of the province, with a fair sprinkling of suburban seats in the Lower Mainland as well.

    Beyond the geographical divide lies a deeper ideological one. In some ways it parallels the old divide between a more free-enterprise oriented party and one with a stronger commitment to the welfare state. Rustad said as much in his speech on election night. But there is more to the story than that.

    The NDP, after all, has become much more of a centrist party than it was previously, in particular when it governed the province under Dave Barrett between 1972 and 1975.

    It’s no accident that in the 2024 election, no small number of federal Liberal supporters voiced their support for the NDP rather than the Conservatives. With respect to issues like gun control, protection of the environment, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples or vaccine mandates during pandemics, their views align more closely with the NDP than the Conservatives.

    The Conservatives, on the other hand, spoke to the frustrations many British Columbians feel in terms of the housing affordability crisis, the serious shortcomings in the province’s health-care system and the toxic drug crisis in B.C. cities. Eby admitted as much in his own election night speech.

    The B.C. Conservatives’ call for change echoed what federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been saying at the federal level. Not surprisingly, support for the Conservatives provincially closely matches for support for the federal Conservatives in the province.

    Governing from the centre

    British Columbia is clearly polarized politically, a phenomenon we’re seeing even more distinctly south of the border and in various European countries.

    The task of governing from the centre — on the assumption that the NDP and Greens reach a confidence-and-supply agreement — may therefore prove a more challenging one than before due to a much empowered Conservative opposition.

    But had the Conservatives won a clear mandate to govern, they would have faced significant opposition from the more liberal-minded sections of the population given some of the party’s hard-line positions on unabashed resource development, Indigenous reconciliation and the role of private versus public providers in the health-care system.

    Such is the state of play in Canada’s westernmost province.

    Philip Resnick 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. B.C. election tells the tale of two British Columbias divided along ideological fault lines – https://theconversation.com/b-c-election-tells-the-tale-of-two-british-columbias-divided-along-ideological-fault-lines-241767

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Small Business Week: Parliamentary Secretary Yao

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “Small businesses are the backbone of Alberta’s economy, driving innovation, creating jobs and enriching our local communities.

    “Small businesses make up about 95 per cent of all businesses and employ almost 35 per cent of all private sector employees across the province, a testament to the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of Albertans.

    “Almost 19 per cent, or one out of every five Albertans, are starting or have recently opened a business. The impact of small businesses is far-reaching. Their contributions matter deeply to their neighbours, families, friends and communities who support them.

    “Small Business Week gives us all the opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our entrepreneurial community. They employ hundreds of thousands of hard-working Albertans across the province and their ingenuity, hard work and creativity spurs new economic opportunities for Alberta. The simple fact is: when small businesses thrive, so does Alberta.

    “In honour of Small Business Week, I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to shop local, support Alberta’s entrepreneurs and celebrate the business landscape that makes our province so unique.

    “Working alongside our business community, we can build a more prosperous future for our province.”

    Related information

    • Small business resources

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Supporting North Carolina After Hurricanes Helene & Milton

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

    We’re working together to repair roads and support communities hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

    Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Governor Roy Cooper in North Carolina, where our department has already sent $100 million to repair roads; there’s more to come as we rebuild.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eniwJ7Y2XQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams Help People Register for FEMA Assistance and More

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

    We have Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams spread out across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia in areas impacted by #Milton, #Helene and #Debby.

    Our teams can assist survivors with:
    · applying for assistance
    · provide application updates
    · provide referrals to additional resources

    fema.gov/about/glossary/disaster-survivor-assistance

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIFDuX-VWsY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Replacing America’s aging pipelines

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

    Aging, leak-prone natural gas pipes are bad for safety, bad for the environment, and bad for energy bills.

    That’s why President Biden and Vice President Harris are investing in replacing outdated pipelines. With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re supporting communities nationwide with new projects that will protect public safety and keep down energy costs for hundreds of thousands of Americans.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh9oT2I9Fao

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Business committed to secure robust and workable benefit sharing regime at COP16, says ICC  

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: Business committed to secure robust and workable benefit sharing regime at COP16, says ICC  

    Sustainability

    The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has called on governments to agree on a robust and workable multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism to advance biodiversity conservation at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 in Cali, Colombia.

    With nearly one million species at risk of extinction according to the 2019 Global Assessment Report, global biodiversity is severely at risk. At COP15 in 2022, world leaders agreed on a goal of living in harmony with nature by 2050 and adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to help achieve that vision. This year’s COP 16 will review progress on the GBF and decide how to monitor and fund its implementation.

     With regard to the latter, governments are also expected to determine the design of a multilateral mechanism for the sharing of benefits from the use of “digital sequence information”.

    Daphne Yong D’Herve, Director of Global Network
    Policy Engagement at ICC said : 

    “Businesses are ready to engage fully at COP16, as they can and must be a key part of the solution to halting biodiversity loss. A benefit sharing mechanism with a broad contributor base would help ensure a meaningful stream of funds, help raise awareness of the principle of benefit sharing, and encourage a sense of collective responsibility among all sectors benefiting from biodiversity.” 

    Ahead of the start of the conference, ICC has outlined key elements of any new multilateral deal on benefit sharing – calling for a workable mechanism that provides legal certainty to businesses through innovation and commercialisation processes. The business organisation has also emphasized the imperative to ensure that any new mechanism:

    • incentivises participation by both countries and a broad base of private sector contributors;
    • ensures contributions collected are used to fund biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, including supporting the role of indigenous peoples and local communities as stewards of biodiversity;
    • support research and innovation by providing open access to data; and
    • recognise that tracking and tracing through value chains is not practical.

    Ms. Yong D’Herve added : 

    “Business continues to engage at COP16 and beyond, in the further work needed to build a workable mechanism which could provide legal certainty and have the broadest possible engagement from countries, rightsholders and stakeholders.” 

    Find out more about the Business Views on a multilateral benefit sharing mechanism.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Tower Semiconductor Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel – October 21, 2024 – Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ/ TASE: TSEM), the leading foundry of high-value analog semiconductor solutions, will issue its third quarter 2024 earnings release on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its third-quarter 2024 financial results and fourth-quarter 2024 guidance on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (09:00 a.m. Central, 08:00 a.m. Mountain, 07:00 a.m. Pacific and 05:00 p.m. Israel time).

    The call will be webcast and available through the Investor Relations section of Tower Semiconductor’s website at https://ir.towersemi.com/, where the pre-registration form required for dial-in participation is also accessible. Upon completing the registration, participants will receive the dial-in details, a unique PIN, and a confirmation email with all necessary information. The teleconference will be available for replay for 90 days.

    About Tower Semiconductor         
    Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: TSEM), the leading foundry of high-value analog semiconductor solutions, provides technology, development, and process platforms for its customers in growing markets such as consumer, industrial, automotive, mobile, infrastructure, medical and aerospace and defense. Tower Semiconductor focuses on creating a positive and sustainable impact on the world through long-term partnerships and its advanced and innovative analog technology offering, comprised of a broad range of customizable process platforms such as SiGe, BiCMOS, mixed-signal/CMOS, RF CMOS, CMOS image sensor, non-imaging sensors, displays, integrated power management (BCD and 700V), photonics, and MEMS. Tower Semiconductor also provides world-class design enablement for a quick and accurate design cycle as well as process transfer services including development, transfer, and optimization, to IDMs and fabless companies. To provide multi-fab sourcing and extended capacity for its customers, Tower Semiconductor owns two facilities in Israel (150mm and 200mm), two in the U.S. (200mm), two in Japan (200mm and 300mm) which it owns through its 51% holdings in TPSCo, shares a 300mm facility in Agrate, Italy, with ST as well as has access to a 300mm capacity corridor in Intel’s New Mexico factory. For more information, please visit: http://www.towersemi.com.

    ###
    Contact Information:
    Tower Semiconductor Investor Relations                        
    Noit Levy, SVP Investor Relations                
    noitle@towersemi.com | +972-74-7377556                 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The receding waters of Nuphar Lake, near Norris Geyser Basin

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

    Nuphar Lake is a small, non-thermal body of water—more pond than lake, really—adjacent to the entrance road to Norris Geyser Basin.  It was mostly unremarkable until the past few years, when some interesting changes began occurring.

    In 2021 and 2022, the lake level started to rise dramatically, by several feet (about a meter), and the water changed color from dark green to a bright milky blue.  These changes were caused by the input of hot water from hydrothermal features on a ridge just above the lake.  Those features normally sent water into the adjoining Porcelain Basin of Norris Geyser Basin—a plain full of colorful and active geysers and hot springs.  When the hot water started to flow instead into Nuphar Lake, the water changed color to the milky blue that is typical of many hydrothermal ponds and pools, and the water level began to rise.  By early 2024 the lake was threatening to overtop its edges and possibly flow into Porcelain Basin. 

    High-resolution satellite images of Norris Geyser Basin showing the area of Porcelain Basin and Nuphar Lake (both images cover the same area).  In the left image, acquired on April 2, 2024, springs on Porcelain Terrace are full of water, and warm hydrothermal water is flowing into Nuphar Lake from the area circled in yellow.  This warm water kept the north part of the lake free of ice, the lake level is high, and the color is a milky blue.  Boardwalks in the area appear as white lineations because they are covered in snow. In the right image, acquired on August 20, 2024, the lake level is lower, and the color is a deep green.  The variations in lake level and color were caused by the cessation of thermal water flowing into the lake from nearby hydrothermal features—a change that was coincident with a hydrothermal explosion in the area on April 15, 2024.  Imagery were processed by R. Greg Vaughan (USGS), and data were collected by WorldView-3 satellite and made available thanks to the NEXTVIEW End User License Agreement between Maxar (formerly DigitalGlobe, Inc.), which supports Earth science research and applications.

    By the end of summer in 2024, however, the lake level had receded, and the water had returned to its previous deep green color.  What happened?

    An explosion happened. That’s what.

    Photo of dead trees along the edge of Nuphar Lake.  The white staining at the base of the trees is a telltale sign that the trees were immersed in thermal water containing silica.  USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 1, 2024.

    On April 15, 2024, a newly installed monitoring station in Norris Geyser Basin detected an explosion from the direction of the hydrothermal features above Nuphar Lake.  Inspection of the area in May revealed a crater measuring about 10 feet (about 3 meters) across, surrounded by cracked and disrupted ground.  Also, the nearby hydrothermal features were no longer emitting water—not into Nuphar Lake, and not into Porcelain Basin.  Instead, only some vigorous steam vents and a pool of hot, but not boiling, water were present in the area.

    It appears that pressure had been building beneath the hydrothermal features above Nuphar Lake during the preceding years.  This pressure resulted in an increase in hot water and steam emissions, but the plumbing must have become clogged and sealed in April.  The explosion on April 15—similar to, but smaller than, the well-observed explosion in Biscuit Basin on July 23, 2024—broke that seal and disrupted the hot-water plumbing to the features.

    Because hot water was no longer flowing into Nuphar Lake after the explosion, the lake level dropped over the course of the summer of 2024, and the milky blue color faded as silica settled out of the water and was not replaced.  The changes are especially visible in satellite images of the area.

    The formerly high level of thermal water still left its mark, though.  Nuphar Lake is now surrounded by a ring of dead trees along the shoreline. These trees, some of which have already fallen into the lake, were killed when they were inundated by the silica-rich water, marked by telltale white stains on the tree trunks.

    Hydrothermal activity in the area of Nuphar Lake seems to have calmed significantly since 2021–2022, but the lesson of Yellowstone is one of change.  The thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park are dynamic, so it would not be a surprise if the pools and vents above Nuphar Lake surged to life in the future and sent their hot, silica-laden water coursing into the lake once again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Problems arising from the EU’s agreement with the Mercosur countries – E-001995/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001995/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikolas Farantouris (The Left)

    The protests by farmers in the first quarter of 2024 across the EU demonstrated, among other things, the problems stemming from the finalisation of the EU’s agreement with the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Specifically, it was emphasised that the agreement does not reflect the challenges facing EU agriculture, such as the climate crisis, food security issues and the war in Ukraine, while huge disparities exist between EU and non-EU farmers in terms of labour, social and environmental matters and production standards. Talks on the agreement remain stalled on the key point of the ‘mirror clauses’, for the application of the same standards to products imported from the Mercosur countries. On 7 February Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič announced to the European Parliament that ‘the conditions for the conclusion of the Mercosur agreement are not met’[1]. However, on 8 February Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, responsible for trade, said that ‘work is continuing’[2].

    In view of this:

    • 1.At exactly what stage are the negotiations for the finalisation of the EU’s agreement with the Mercosur countries?
    • 2.Have European farmers’ reasonable requests for the removal of the inequalities created by the agreement been incorporated into the negotiations?

    Submitted: 9.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-conditions-complete-mercosur-trade-deal-not-met-yet-2024-02-07/
    • [2] https://www.lafranceagricole.fr/libre-echange/article/862757/le-dossier-mercosur-continue-malgre-la-france
    Last updated: 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Vice President Kamala  Harris on New Rulemaking to Expand Access to Contraception

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Every woman in every state must have reproductive freedom and access to the health care they need. That is why I have fought to lower health care costs and protect the ability of every woman to make her own decisions about her own body. Today, our Administration is proposing the largest expansion of contraception coverage in more than a decade. This new proposed rule will build on our Administration’s work to protect reproductive freedom by providing millions of women with more options for the affordable contraception they need and deserve. That includes coverage for no-cost over-the-counter contraception without a prescription for the first time in our nation’s history. These lower contraception costs would be in addition to the billions of dollars that women have already saved on contraception under the Affordable Care Act which President Biden and I have strengthened since taking office. While we fight to protect and expand health care, extremist so-called leaders are attacking reproductive freedom at every turn. Republicans in Congress have repeatedly blocked legislation to protect the right to contraception across the country. They have also consistently refused to protect access to IVF, and continue to propose national abortion bans. President Biden and I stand with the majority of Americans – Republicans and Democrats alike – who support access to contraception. And we continue to call on Congress to pass federal legislation that restores reproductive freedom nationwide.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from President Joe  Biden on New Action to Significantly Expand Contraception Coverage Under the Affordable Care  Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Since Roe v. Wade was overturned more than two years ago, Republican elected officials have made clear they want to ban or restrict birth control, defund federal programs that help women access contraception, and repeal the Affordable Care Act. And Congressional Republicans have repeatedly blocked federal legislation to safeguard the fundamental right to birth control for women in every state. It’s unacceptable.
    Today, my Administration is taking a major step to expand contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This new action would help ensure that millions of women with private health insurance can access the no-cost contraception they need. Vice President Harris and I have worked tirelessly to protect and build on the Affordable Care Act. We lowered costs for Marketplace coverage by an average of $800 per year for millions of Americans, and more Americans than ever before have signed up for health insurance through the law.  
    At a time when contraception access is under attack, Vice President Harris and I are resolute in our commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable contraception. We believe that women in every state must have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including the right to decide if and when to start or grow their family. We will continue to fight to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore reproductive freedom and safeguard the right to contraception once and for all.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Proposes Rule to Expand Coverage of Affordable Contraception Under the Affordable Care  Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Biden-Harris Administration Announces Proposal for Most Significant Expansion of Contraception Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act in More Than a Decade
    President Biden and Vice President Harris have protected and built on the Affordable Care Act. Nearly 50 million people over the past decade have had coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces, and the law has protected more than 100 million people with preexisting medical conditions. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, Affordable Care Act coverage is more affordable than ever with millions of families saving an average of $800 per year on Marketplace coverage.
    The Affordable Care Act has also helped millions of women save billions of dollars on contraception—an essential component of reproductive health care that has only become more important since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ steadfast commitment to reproductive rights, the Biden-Harris Administration has further strengthened contraception access and affordability under the Affordable Care Act, through Medicare and Medicaid, through the Title X Family Planning Program, through federally qualified health centers, and for federal employees, Service members, veterans, and college students.
    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is proposing a rule that would significantly increase coverage of contraception without cost sharing for 52 million women of reproductive age with private health insurance. Building on the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that most private health plans must cover contraception without cost sharing, today’s proposed rule from the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury would:
    Expand coverage of over-the-counter contraception without cost sharing. Under the proposed rule, for the first time, women would be able to obtain over-the-counter (OTC) contraception without a prescription at no additional cost. As a result, more women would be able to access and afford critical OTC medications such as emergency contraception and the first-ever daily oral contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use without a prescription that is now widely available across the country.
    Make it easier to learn about coverage for OTC contraception. To help ensure that women understand this new benefit, most private health plans would be required to disclose that OTC contraception is covered without cost sharing and without a prescription—and take steps to help women learn more about their contraception coverage.
    Strengthen coverage of prescribed contraception without cost sharing. The proposed rule would make it easier for most women with private health insurance to obtain contraception without cost sharing that is prescribed by their health care provider. Health plans would be required to cover every FDA-approved contraceptive drug or drug-led combination product without cost sharing unless the plan also covers a therapeutic equivalent without cost sharing, eliminating barriers that some women continue to face in accessing contraception prescribed by their provider.
    This proposed rule, if finalized, would be the most significant expansion of contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act since 2012, when contraception was first required to be covered. Also today, the Biden-Harris Administration is issuing new guidance to help ensure that patients can access other preventive services, such as cancer screenings, that must be covered without cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act.
    The Biden-Harris Administration is issuing this proposed rule at a time when reproductive rights are under attack, and Republican elected officials remain committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, dangerous and extreme abortion bans are putting women’s health and lives at risk and disrupting access to critical health care services, including contraception, as health care providers are forced to close in states across the country. At the same time, Republican elected officials in some states have made clear they want to ban or restrict birth control in addition to abortion, and Republicans in Congress have attacked contraception access nationwide by proposing to defund the Title X Family Planning Program. In contrast, President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that women in every state must have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including the right to decide if and when to start or grow their family.
    Today’s announcements build on actions that the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to expand access to affordable contraception, including to implement the President’s Executive Order on Strengthening Access to Affordable, High-Quality Contraception and Family Planning Services from June 2023. The Administration has taken action to:
    Expand contraception coverage and affordability under the Affordable Care Act. The Departments of HHS, Labor, and the Treasury proposed a rule to provide a new pathway under the Affordable Care Act for women to access coverage of contraceptives when their private health coverage is exempt from covering this benefit due to a religious objection. These agencies also issued new guidance to support expanded coverage of a broader range of FDA-approved, cleared, or granted contraceptives at no additional cost under the Affordable Care Act, building on guidance issued after Roe v. Wade was overturned to clarify protections for contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Further, HHS strengthened the standard for inclusion of family planning providers in Marketplace plan provider networks and provided nearly $9 million in grant funding to support state efforts to enhance and expand coverage of, and access to, reproductive and maternal health services, including contraception. And the Internal Revenue Service issued new guidance affirming that high-deductible health plans can cover OTC contraception as preventive care.
    Bolster family planning services through Title X clinics. HHS continues to rebuild and grow the Title X Family Planning Program, which has played a critical role in ensuring access to a broad range of high-quality family planning and preventive health services for more than 50 years. During the prior administration, more than 1,000 service sites left the Title X Family Planning Program, leading to a significant decline in people served. The Biden-Harris Administration reversed the policy changes that led to those departures, strengthening the Title X Family Planning Program and helping ensure that the Program remains a critical part of the nation’s health safety net. In 2023, HHS provided about $287 million to nearly 4,000 Title X clinics across the country to provide free or low-cost voluntary, client-centered family planning and related preventive services for 2.8 million women and families—an 80 percent increase since 2020.
    Support family planning coverage through the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance to state Medicaid programs and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) to help ensure that enrollees can access family planning services. The new guidance outlined existing state obligations under federal law, highlighted strategies to enhance access to contraception, affirmed confidentiality requirements for those seeking family planning services, and shared recommendations on ways to measure quality in delivering family planning services. To help ensure that women with Medicare coverage have access to more covered types of contraception without unnecessary barriers, CMS updated its Medicare Part D formulary clinical review process for plan year 2024 and 2025 to include additional contraceptive types, such as long-acting contraceptives, and is increasing public awareness of contraceptive coverage options under Medicare Part B. The Secretary of HHS also issued a letter to state Medicaid and CHIP programs as well as private health insurers and Medicare plans about their existing obligations to cover contraception for those they serve.
    Increase contraception access through federal health centers. Federal health centers continue to be an important source of family planning services: in 2023, health centers provided nearly 3 million contraceptive services visits to patients, a 14 percent increase since 2020. To support health centers in providing high-quality family planning services, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided updated guidance on existing federal requirements for family planning and related services, which is a required primary health care service under federal law, as well as evidence-based recommendations and resources. HRSA also adopted new data measures for health centers that will help assess whether patients have been screened for contraception needs. Screening and data measures will help enhance the overall delivery of voluntary family planning and related services.
    Support contraception access for federal employees and their families. The Office of Personnel Management strengthened access to contraception for federal workers, retirees, and family members by issuing guidance to insurers participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to clarify standards and support expanded coverage of a broader range of FDA-approved, cleared, or granted contraceptives at no additional cost. The Office of Personnel Management also required insurers that participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to take additional steps to educate enrollees about their contraception benefits and launched a public education campaign to highlight contraception benefits available to federal employees and their families.
    Promote contraception access and affordability for Service members and their families and certain dependents of veterans. To improve access to contraception at military hospitals and clinics, the Department of Defense expanded walk-in contraceptive care services for active-duty Service members and other Military Health System beneficiaries and eliminated TRICARE copays for certain contraceptive services. And the Department of Veterans Affairs eliminated out-of-pocket costs for certain types of contraception through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    Support access to affordable contraception for college students. To help increase access to contraception for college students, President Biden directed the Secretary of Education to convene institutions of higher education to share best practices and ways to help students understand their options for accessing contraception. In 2023, Vice President Harris joined a Department of Education convening of representatives from 68 colleges and universities across 32 states to discuss promising strategies for protecting and expanding access to contraception for their students. This convening followed Vice President Harris’s multiple conversations about reproductive health access with students on college campuses across the country.
    Enhance contraception access through technical assistance and public-private partnership. In June 2023, HHS announced a new five-year public-private partnership to expand access to contraception with Upstream, a national nonprofit organization that provides health centers with free patient-centered, evidence-based training and technical assistance to eliminate provider-level barriers to offering the full range of contraceptive options. To date, HHS has connected Upstream to more than 130 health care clinics, resulting in partnerships that will help Upstream accelerate their national expansion to reach 5 million women of reproductive age every year.
    Promote research and data analysis on contraception access. To document the gaps and disparities in contraception access as well as the benefits of comprehensive coverage, HHS convened leading experts to discuss the state of research, data collection, and data analysis on contraception access and family planning services. These convenings helped identify research gaps, opportunities for collaboration, and ways to bolster research efforts for both Federal agencies and external partners.
    In addition to strengthening access to affordable contraception, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to implement President Biden’s threeExecutiveOrders and a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to protect access to reproductive health care issued since the Court overturned Roe v. Wade. To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken action to protect access to abortion, including FDA-approved medication abortion; defend access to emergency medical care; support the ability to travel for reproductive health care; safeguard the privacy of patients and health care providers; and ensure access to accurate information and legal resources.
    The Vice President has led the White House’s efforts to partner with leaders on the frontlines of protecting access to abortion, highlighting the harm of abortion bans to women’s health at more than 100 events in more than 20 states since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and meeting with hundreds of  state legislators, health care providers, and advocates. On what would have been the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Vice President launched a nationwide Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour to continue fighting back against extreme attacks throughout America.
    President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law to ensure that women in every state are able to make their own decisions about reproductive health care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Interested Parties Memo: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Expands Coverage of Contraception Under the Affordable Care Act as Republican Elected Officials Continue Attacks on Reproductive  Freedom

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Jennifer Klein, Director, White House Gender Policy Council
    Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, the Administration is taking bold action to expand coverage of contraception for the 52 million women of reproductive age with private health insurance, marking the most significant expansion of contraception benefits under the Affordable Care Act in more than a decade. Today’s announcement builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong record of defending access to reproductive health care and commitment to ensuring that women have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including if and when to start or grow their family.
    Meanwhile, Republican elected officials continue to threaten women’s health, lives, and freedom through extreme abortion bans, some with no exceptions for rape or incest. Women are being denied essential medical care while doctors and nurses are threatened with jail time. Abortion, contraception, and IVF are under attack, while Republicans in Congress refuse to protect nationwide access to this vital reproductive health care. This extreme agenda is out-of-touch with the American people—which is why voters have overwhelmingly chosen to protect reproductive freedom in every state where abortion has been on the ballot.President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with the vast majority of Americans in supporting a woman’s right to choose, and they will continue the fight against a national abortion ban and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law once and for all.
    Women’s Health and Lives at RiskFrom day one, President Biden and Vice President Harris knew that state abortion bans would have devastating consequences for women’s health and lives. Since Roe was overturned, more than 1 in 3 women of reproductive age live in the more than 20 states with dangerous and extreme abortion bans in effect.
    Abortion bans are leaving women without emergency care. Courageous women and their families have shared harrowing stories about being denied urgently needed care because of state abortion bans. Women have died because they did not get the care they needed—or women only received care after developing sepsis or losing more than half of their blood. Some women are suing their states so other women with severe and dangerous pregnancy complications will not be similarly forced to the brink of death before they can receive an abortion.
    Abortion bans are worsening maternal mortality. States with abortion bans have higher rates of maternal mortality than states where abortion remains legal. For instance, after a dangerous Texas abortion ban went into effect in 2021, maternal mortality increased by 56% (compared to 11% nationwide). One year after Dobbs, two-thirds of OBGYNs reported that the Court’s decision worsened pregnancy-related mortality and their ability to manage pregnancy-related emergencies. And criminal and civil penalties under state abortion bans are causing doctors to flee abortion ban states, exacerbating the maternal health crisis and creating maternity care deserts that impact entire communities. 
    Abortion bans are making it even harder to access contraception and other essential care. Since Roe was overturned, abortion bans have caused dozens of reproductive health care clinics to shutter, jeopardizing access to abortion, contraception, and preventive care that women rely on. In states with abortion bans, there were over 4% fewer filled prescriptions for oral contraception in the first year after Roe was overturned. Some states had far greater declines: Texas, for instance, had a 28% decline in filled prescriptions for oral contraception.
    Abortion bans are forcing women to travel hundreds of miles for care. State abortion bans are forcing many women to travel to another state to obtain care that would have been available in their state if Roe were still the law of the land. Women in nearly a quarter of counties in America—especially in the South—have been forced to travel more than 200 miles to get the essential care they need.
    Abortion bans are jeopardizing our ability to train the next generation of medical providers. States with abortion bans continue to see a decrease in medical and residency student applications, especially among prospective OBGYNs. Nearly 60% of third- and fourth-year medical students said they were unlikely or very unlikely to apply to a single residency program in a state with abortion restrictions, while nearly 80% said that access to abortion care would influence where they would pursue their residency. And about 1 in 5 OBGYN residents said that the overturning of Roe changed where they had planned to practice medicine, and those who had planned to practice in a state with abortion bans were eight times more likely to change their intended practice location.
    Republican Officials’ Extreme Agenda
    Despite the devastating impact of state abortion bans, Republican officials continue to push for a nationwide abortion ban to restrict the rights of women in every state, deny access to emergency medical care, and eliminate access to safe and effective, FDA-approved medication abortion.
    Republicans in Congress have proposed four national abortion bans that would deny every woman in America the right to choose, regardless of where she lives. This includes a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest that puts IVF treatment squarely at risk. House Republicans have also attacked contraception access nationwide by repeatedly proposing to defund the Title X Family Planning Program. And Senate Republicans continue to block federal legislation that would safeguard nationwide access to abortion, contraception, and IVF.
    Republican elected officials have enacted or enforced abortion bans in more than 20 states. Republican attorneys general have made clear they seek to access women’s medical records—even for out-of-state care—and have tried to discourage women from traveling out-of-state to receive lawful abortion care by threatening those who help them with criminal charges.
    Republican elected officials filed more than 350 bills restricting abortion during the 2024 legislative session. In Louisiana, Republican officials classified medications used in abortion and miscarriage management as controlled substances, making it even harder to access these critical medications during an emergency. In Florida, state officials are attempting to undermine support for a reproductive freedom ballot measure, including by threatening TV stations that run ads with criminal charges. And Republican state legislators are proposing legislation that would jeopardize access to IVF.
    Republican elected officials want to ban medication abortion nationwide, including in states where abortion remains lawful. They are also fighting to prevent women from receiving the emergency medical care they are entitled to under federal law— including abortion care when necessary to save a woman’s health or life.
    No attempt to “rebrand” can change the fact that Republican elected officials have spent decades undermining reproductive freedom. Republican elected officials will not stop pursuing extreme policies until there is a national abortion ban in place.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor issues statement on the passing of Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel Sr.

    Source: US State of New Mexico

    SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Sunday issued the following statement on Navajo Code Talker, John Kinsel Sr.

    “John Kinsel’s service as a Marine and Navajo Code Talker represented the values and valor that helped the U.S., and its allies prevail in World War II. His legacy is one of extraordinary courage and profound patriotism, not only as a warrior but as a protector of his Navajo heritage. I invite my fellow New Mexicans and Americans to join me in reflecting on Mr. Kinsel’s bravery and sacrifice in honor of his service to America and the Navajo Nation. Manny and I extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Kinsel’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

    As we honor Mr. Kinsel’s life and contributions, it is also an opportunity to recognize the importance of the Navajo Code Talkers Museum. Although still in development, this museum will serve as a lasting tribute to the remarkable stories of Navajo Code Talkers like John Kinsel, ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate their vital role in history.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to Three Fentanyl Overdose Deaths

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to distributing fentanyl, which resulted in three overdose deaths in Belton and Raymore, Mo., as part of a drug-trafficking conspiracy.

    Tiger Dean Draggoo, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distributing fentanyl resulting in death.

    By pleading guilty today, Draggoo admitted that he distributed fentanyl on Sept. 3, 2022, the use of which caused the death of another person. Draggoo admitted that he distributed fentanyl between Aug. 22 and Sept. 13, 2022, the use of which caused the death of another person. Draggoo admitted that he distributed fentanyl between Dec. 7 and 20, 2022, the use of which caused the death of another person.

    Draggoo also admitted that the government’s evidence of the total amount of drugs he is responsible for distributing or possessing is at least 22,364 pills that contained a total of 2,460 grams of fentanyl.

    Victim #1 Fatality

    On Sept. 4, 2022, Cass County, Mo., sheriff’s deputies found a juvenile, identified in court documents as “Victim #1,” deceased in her bedroom. An autopsy report identified “Fentanyl Intoxication” as the cause of death. Investigators determined that Draggoo was selling fentanyl pills to the victim and had supplied her with fentanyl pills on the evening of Sept. 3, 2022.

    Victim #2 Fatality

    On Sept. 13, 2022, a deceased person, identified in court documents as “Victim #2,” was found in the Belton residence where she lived with her mother. A blue pill was found in her bedroom, which was tested and determined to contain fentanyl. An autopsy report identified the cause of death as “Acute Fentanyl Toxicity.” Investigators learned that Draggoo was selling fentanyl pills to Victim #2. Draggoo typically would drop off pills near midnight at Victim #2’s bedroom window, and cell phone GPS information indicated Draggoo was in the area of Victim #2’s residence at approximately 12:20 a.m on Sept. 13, 2022.

    Attempted Arrest of Draggoo

    On Sept. 22, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted surveillance of Draggoo’s apartment and attempted to arrest him. Draggoo got into a Jeep Renegade driven by his brother, co-defendant Colt Justin Draggoo, 21, of Kansas City, Mo. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle, but the vehicle fled. Tiger and Colt Draggoo later returned to the apartment complex, but when an officer drove into the parking lot, Tiger Draggoo ran into the apartment building and was able to escape.

    Colt Draggoo was arrested. Officers found a loaded Springfield Armory 9mm handgun sitting on the driver’s seat of the Jeep. A laundry bag in the back seat contained two fire safes that had a total of $184,500 in cash. Colt Draggoo has pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

    Officers searched Tiger Draggoo’s apartment and found 17 firearms, including two machine guns, ammunition of various calibers, $246,769 in cash, a ballistic vest with plates, a money counter, numerous pills that contained fentanyl, eight suspected LSD tabs, and marijuana. The 17 firearms included a Del-Ton 5.56-caliber rifle (converted into a machine gun), a Glock switch (used to convert a Glock pistol into a machine gun), three Marlin .22-caliber rifles, a Norinco 7.62-caliber rifle, a Mosin-Nagant rifle, an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .223-caliber rifle, a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, an Armscorp USA .308-caliber rifle, a Century Arms 7.62-caliber rifle, a Herbert Schmidt .22-caliber revolver, a New England Firearms .22-caliber revolver, a Kimber 9mm pistol, a Glock 9mm pistol, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, and a Metro Arms .45-caliber pistol.

    Victim #3 Fatality

    On Dec. 20, 2022, Raymore police officers were dispatched to a residence in Raymore regarding a non-breathing female, identified in court documents as Victim #3. Victim #3 was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased. A small jewelry box in Victim #3’s bedroom contained three broken segments of a blue pill that were tested and determined to contain fentanyl. An autopsy report identified the cause of death as “Acute Fentanyl Toxicity.” Investigators learned that Tiger Draggoo had been selling fentanyl to Victim #3 since as early as May 31, 2022. The last Facebook Messengers conversation between Tiger Draggoo and Victim #3 occurred on Dec. 7, 2022, when they agreed to meet and an amount of $50 was agreed upon.

    Arrest of Draggoo

    Tiger Draggoo was arrested at his residence on Jan. 20, 2023. Tiger Draggoo was in possession of almost $2,000 in cash in his billfold and pockets. Officers searched Tiger Draggoo’s apartment and recovered pills from the toilet. Officers also found suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 144 grams of yellow THC wax, and more than $62,000 in additional cash. Officers searched Tiger Draggoo’s Honda Accord and found three handguns, a Palmetto State Armory multi-caliber rifle, an unregistered short-barreled 12-gauge shotgun, and $1,250 in cash. Officers searched his girlfriend’s Jeep Renegade, which was located at the apartment complex, and found a backpack that contained more than $82,000 in cash.

    Under federal statutes, Tiger Draggoo is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Belton, Mo., Police Department, the Raymore, Mo., Police Department, the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –