NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mastermind of Multimillion-Dollar Penny-Stock Scam Indicted for Fraud and Obstruction

    Source: US State of California

    A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging a Michigan man with defrauding investors in Minerco Inc. (stock ticker MINE) — leading to millions of dollars in investor losses — as well as obstructing a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proceeding by destroying evidence.

    According to the indictment, Bobby Shumake Japhia (Shumake), 56, also known as Robert Samuel Shumake Jr., Robert Japhia, and Shaman Bobby Shu, of Michigan, allegedly ran Minerco’s day-to-day operations and organized a scheme to defraud investors in the publicly traded securities of Minerco by, among other things, making or causing to be made materially false and misleading statements to the public, including in press releases, in an effort to artificially inflate the share price of, and demand for, Minerco stock. Beginning in or around January 2020, Minerco purported publicly to be in the business of developing, marketing, and distributing psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms.

    As alleged in the indictment, Shumake concealed his role with Minerco, even though he controlled all aspects of Minerco, by recruiting another individual, Julius Jenge, to serve as the nominal chief executive officer of Minerco because Shumake had a criminal history and negative news articles about Shumake were available on the internet. To further conceal the scheme, Shumake allegedly made materially false and misleading statements to investigators from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority who were investigating Minerco.

    Shumake allegedly used an alias to promote Minerco on an investor message board and provided the false and misleading impression that he was not affiliated with Minerco and was an independent investor. Shumake also allegedly recruited others to promote Minerco on internet message boards to further create the false and misleading impression that the public had a favorable view of Minerco.

    Shumake allegedly sold nearly one billion shares of Minerco that he covertly acquired and then caused himself or entities under his control to receive at least $2.5 million from the sale of the shares. Shumake’s scheme to defraud allegedly caused the share price of, and demand for, Minerco’s securities to artificially increase, ultimately resulting in Minerco investors’ losing millions of dollars.

    After learning of an SEC investigation into Minerco, Shumake allegedly obstructed the SEC proceedings by deleting the contents of at least one Minerco email account, which Shumake used to conduct Minerco business.

    Shumake is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The chief executive officer of Minerco, Julius Jenge, was arrested earlier this year on charges of securities fraud related to a scheme to defraud investors in Minerco.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; SEC Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.

    The SEC Office of Inspector General and USPIS are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Kyle Crawford of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. You are also encouraged to visit the webpage for this case at www.justice.gov/criminal/case/united-states-v-bobby-shumake-japhia.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Obtains Injunction to Prevent California Company from Manufacturing and Distributing Adulterated Food Following Listeria Outbreak

    Source: US State of California

    A federal court yesterday enjoined a California company from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products following a listeria outbreak linked to multiple hospitalizations and two deaths.

    In a civil complaint filed on Sept. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the United States alleged that Rizo Lopez Foods Inc., along with its president, chief executive officer and co-owner, Edwin Rizo, and its chief financial officer, secretary and co-owner Tomas Rizo, violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) at the company’s facility in Modesto, California, by manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products. Rizo Lopez Foods produced cotija cheese and other cheeses, yogurt, sour cream and other foods sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas and 365 Whole Foods Market.

    The complaint further alleged that, in January, Hawaiian state health officials detected Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), the bacterial pathogen that can cause listeriosis, in cheese made by the defendants. The government further alleged that during a subsequent inspection of the defendant’s facility, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found L. mono in two locations as well as various insanitary conditions. The complaint alleged that a genetic analysis matched the L. mono strain collected in Hawaii to the strain from defendants’ facility, as well as to L. mono samples from patients sickened as early as 2014 during a years-long listeriosis outbreak. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control identified 26 cases of listeriosis in 11 states linked to the same L. mono strain. The CDC reported that 23 individuals were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, including two patients who died. In February, Rizo Lopez recalled all cheese and dairy products produced at their facility.

    “Food manufacturers have an important responsibility to ensure the safety of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and FDA will continue to work closely on enforcement actions against food manufacturers who fail to meet their obligations and put the health of their customers at risk.”

    “Food producers in the Eastern District of California feed the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Our office is committed to assuring compliance with the FDCA throughout the District.”

    The defendants agreed to settle the suit and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The injunction entered by the court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the FDCA. As part of the settlement, the defendants represented that they have discontinued all operations related to preparing and processing food. Under the permanent injunction, the defendants must notify FDA in advance of resuming such operations, comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction and allow FDA to inspect their facility, including the buildings, sanitation-related systems, equipment, utensils, all articles of food and relevant records.

    Trial Attorney David G. Crockett Jr. and Senior Trial Attorney James Nelson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division prosecuted this case, with assistance from Assistant Chief Counsel for Enforcement Lauren Fash of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel.

    Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

    The claims resolved by the consent decree announced today are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    Consent Decree

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson co-leads lawsuit against federal agency over staffing rule that would shut down some nursing homes and raise costsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.)– South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that he has co-led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general and groups that represent hundreds of not-for-profit aging services providers across the country in filing a lawsuit to overturn a new nursing home staffing mandate that’s impossible to implement. The staffing mandate is being implemented by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).

    Filed in the United States District Court’s Northern District of Iowa, the complaint intends to overturn the mandate itself and vacate certain of the more onerous requirements in the rule.

    “This new staffing rule is impossible to implement based on the nursing shortage and will force the closure of nursing homes and raise costs at those that remain, devastating families financially and leaving people without the care they need,” Attorney General Wilson said.

    In April, CMS released the Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Standards final rule to the Federal Register. The rule requires all federally funded nursing homes to produce a revised facility assessment and changes the minimum number of hours per resident day (HPRD). All providers must provide 3.48 hours of direct nursing care per patient, per day and staff a registered nurse 24 hours a day. These specific breakdowns also require 0.55 RN and 2.45 certified nurse aide (CNA) coverage per patient, per day.

    These newly prescribed HPRDs mean nursing homes across the U.S. will need an additional 27,000 full-time registered nurses (RNs) and 78,000 full-time nurse aides costing over $7 billion—an impossible requirement to meet amid a worldwide nursing shortage and dismal Medicaid reimbursement rates that do not fully cover the actual cost of care. Sadly, the HPRD limits the utilization of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who provide most of the direct patient care in nursing homes, potentially displacing thousands of these workers across the U.S.

    LeadingAge South Carolina’s CEO, Kassie South, commented, “We are thankful for Attorney General, Alan Wilson, for fighting for the elders, healthcare system, and taxpayers in South Carolina and nationwide that will be gravely impacted by this unfunded and unlawful mandate.”

    You can read the complaint here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Columbia Man Arrested on Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and Related ChargesRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina


  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces $52 million multistate settlement with Marriott for data breach of Starwood guest reservation databaseRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that a coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. as the result of an investigation into a large multi-year data breach of one of its guest reservation databases. The Federal Trade Commission, which has been coordinating closely with the states throughout this investigation, has reached a parallel settlement with Marriott. Under the settlement with the attorneys general, Marriott has agreed to strengthen its data security practices using a dynamic risk-based approach, provide certain consumer protections, and make a $52 million payment to states. South Carolina will receive $767,458.00 from the settlement.

    “This case should serve as an important reminder for businesses to take preventive measures to protect the private information of their customers,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Data privacy is one of the most important issues facing consumers right now, and our office will continue to do its part in ensuring the protection of our citizens in this way.”

    Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016 and took control of the Starwood computer network in 2016.  However, from July 2014 until September 2018, intruders in the system went undetected. This led to the breach of 131.5 million guest records pertaining to customers in the United States. The impacted records included contact information, gender, dates of birth, legacy Starwood Preferred Guest information, reservation information, and hotel stay preferences, as well as a limited number of unencrypted passport numbers and unexpired payment card information.

    Shortly after the breach of the Starwood database was announced, a coalition of 50 attorneys general launched a multi-state investigation into the breach. Today’s settlement resolves allegations by the attorneys general that Marriott violated state consumer protection laws, personal information protection laws, and, where applicable, breach notification laws by failing to implement reasonable data security and remediate data security deficiencies, particularly when attempting to use and integrate Starwood into its systems.

    Under the terms of the settlement, Marriott has agreed to strengthen and continually improve its cybersecurity practices. Some of the specific measures include:

    • Implementation of a comprehensive Information Security Program. This includes new overarching security program mandates, such as incorporating zero-trust principles, regular security reporting to the highest levels within the company, including the Chief Executive Officer, and enhanced employee training on data handling and security.
    • Data minimization and disposal requirements, which will lead to less consumer data being collected and retained.
    • Specific security requirements with respect to consumer data, including component hardening, conducting an asset inventory, encryption, segmentation to limit an intruder’s ability to move across a system, patch management to ensure that critical security patches are applied in a timely manner, intrusion detection, user access controls, and logging and monitoring to keep track of movement of files and users within the network.
    • Increased vendor and franchisee oversight, with a special emphasis on risk assessments for “Critical IT Vendors,” and clearly outlined contracts with cloud providers.
    • In the future, if Marriott acquires another entity, it must timely further assess the acquired entity’s information security program and develop plans to address identified gaps or deficiencies in security as part of the integration into Marriott’s network.
    • An independent third-party assessment of Marriott’s information security program every two years for a period of 20 years for additional security oversight.

    These settlement terms are grounded in a well-developed risk-based approach in which Marriott not only needs to conduct an annual enterprise level risk assessment, but it must also perform risk analyses throughout the year for changes to security controls.  Those ongoing risk assessments must address the criteria of “harm to others” – which would include potential harm to consumers. 

    As part of the settlement, Marriott will give consumers specific protections, including a data deletion option, even if consumers do not currently have that right under state law. Marriott must offer multi-factor authentication to consumers for their loyalty rewards accounts, such as Marriott Bonvoy, as well as reviews of those accounts if there is suspicious activity.

    Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon as well as the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas co-led the multistate investigation, assisted by the Executive Committee of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, and joined by Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Breast Cancer Survivor is an Inspiration for Others

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, there will be about 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women.

    But there is hope.

    Advancements in early detection methods and support continue to increase the chances of survival. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate of breast cancer is 99%.

    Annual mammograms for those over the age of 40 and other imaging as determined by your provider is the key to early detection.

    Terry Deely was diligent about her health and faithfully did all her preventative tests.  So, in May of 2021 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was shocked.

    “I was so surprised, my world crashed,” says Deely.  “My sister and husband were with me, and I could see the doctor’s mouth moving but I could not hear what she was saying.”

    All she could think was “how and why is this happening to me, I did all the right things.”

    About half of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than age and sex. However, a woman’s risk of breast cancer increases if she has a first-degree relative with breast cancer. About 5–10% of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

    Deely’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40 years old and had passed away from the disease at 47. Both of Deely’s sisters also had breast cancer.

    She had a painful lump in her breast that led to an MRI that showed a fibroadenoma.  A fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous, solid breast tumor that’s usually painless and feels like a marble under the skin. They are the most common type of benign breast tumor and are made up of glandular and connective tissue.

    Advocating for herself, she told her doctor that she wanted it removed. Upon removal a 1.7 cm tumor was found hiding behind the fibroadenoma that had travelled to her lymph nodes.  A biopsy concluded that two of the four nodes were cancerous.

    Yueming Chang, MD, is a physician in the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health. (Photo by LIndsay Vigue)

    Deely had a lumpectomy, and her breast surgeon referred her to oncologist, Dr. Yueming Chang to devise a treatment plan.

    “The first time I met her, I left her office, and I said to my husband Pat, I know I am in good hands,” says Deely. “She is amazing and throughout the whole journey she was there.”

    Deely had 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 21 rounds of radiation finishing chemotherapy in 2022.  She had horrible side effects including mouth sores and brittle nails as well as the loss of her hair which was the hardest for her.

    “If my hair doesn’t look good, I don’t feel good,” says Deely. “I hated wigs, but I lost all my hair, so I got a great wig and called it Amazing Grace.”

    Each day as Deely went to work, which she did throughout her treatment, she would say “Grace lets go be amazing.”   No one knew it was a wig until her hair started growing back.

    When she heard Dr. Chang had left the practice she went to, she was disappointed and didn’t want to see anyone else. So, when she learned from a colleague that Chang was now practicing at UConn Health, she picked up the phone to see if she could see her and was thrilled when they booked an appointment for her.

    “Honestly I love that woman, she is so good to me, so caring and concerned and always so positive,” says Deely.

    Deely doesn’t mind the 45-minute drive from Watertown to Farmington to see Chang at UConn Health, “I’d follow her to the ends of the earth, I didn’t want to see anyone else.”

    During her residency training, Chang’s mother who came to visit and help her taking care for her 2-month-old baby, started having some health issues and a colonoscopy detected colon cancer.  For Chang, it was a harsh moment, she felt like she was in the medical field and didn’t know what to do.  She leaned on her attending physicians and mentors for support, and her mother has since made it through and is now well.

    Going through that experience made her want to help others knowing that patients and their family members need someone who understands when they get such a difficult diagnosis, and this led her to oncology as her subspecialty.

    Chang joined the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health a year ago and has been helping patients with breast and lung cancer navigate their treatment.

    “Early detection is very important, know your risk and going for screenings, you have a higher chance to cure the disease,” says Chang. “With advances in early detection and treatment options the survival rate is better compared to decades ago.”

    In addition to a healthy diet, Chang encourages patients to exercise as physical activity helps reduce fatigue and exercise itself reduces the risk of recurring cancer.

    “The prognosis and treatment are different for each patient, and here at UConn Health we individualize the patient’s treatment plan. Our multidisciplinary team considers genetics, tumor molecular changes, overall medical conditions, patient’s preference, psychosocial status to provide personalized care, ” says Chang.

    Deely who is the clerical coordinator in the recovery room at a hospital sees this as her opportunity to be an inspiration to others and help them get through. She saw how hard her mother fought for her family, and she had to do it for hers.  She is cancer free now and is regularly monitored.

    “It’s a journey, everyone has the strength to overcome it. We are here to provide cancer patients the right support and care they need to navigate this challenging time, offering compassion and understanding every step of the way,” says Chang.

    It takes a team to beat a breast cancer diagnosis and the team approach is the cornerstone of our breast cancer services at UConn Health.  Every patient’s case and treatment program is designed specifically for the patient and is carefully assessed and frequently reviewed by a diverse team of specialists. In addition our breast cancer program offers support care services.  To schedule your mammogram contact 860-679-2784.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NY National Guard to Assist in Response to Hurricane Milton

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 65 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will deploy to Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to assist the Florida National guard in responding to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit Florida’s west coast late on Wednesday.

    “As hurricanes wreak devastation along much of the Southeastern United States, we are stepping up to support response efforts for those in need,” Governor Hochul said. “I am deploying the New York National Guard to protect Floridians in the path of Hurricane Milton — offering resources, assistance and standing united with our neighbors in this time of crisis.”

    The New York National Guard will deploy 65 Soldiers and Airmen to Camp Blanding Joint Training Center near Jacksonville, Florida. The New York Army National Guard will deploy 41 Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse and 10 Humvees to provide general purpose support as required by circumstances. The Soldiers will deploy to Florida on board a C-17 Globemaster III transport flown by the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.

    The New York Air National Guard will deploy 24 pararescue Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing which is based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island. The Pararescue Airmen are all trained EMTs who go through extensive training that involves parachuting, scuba diving and survival skills. The Airmen will deploy with watercraft and specialized vehicles. They will deploy from Gabreski Air National Guard Base to Florida on board the wing’s organic HC-130J search and rescue aircraft. The New York National Guard contingent will be on the ground north of the hurricane’s expected landfall before the storm hits.

    Major General Ray Shields said, “At the direction of Governor Hochul, the New York National Guard is ready to support our fellow citizens in Florida, as Hurricane Milton heads for their state. Our Soldiers and Airmen are simply amazing at the way they respond on very short notice. I could not be prouder of their dedication and professionalism. They continue to make a difference in people’s lives every day. At the same time, the Citizen Soldiers and Airmen we have already deployed are continuing their support of the response effort in North Carolina.”

    The New York National Guard currently has 48 Soldiers and Airmen deployed, including Army engineers and CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters on storm response missions in North Carolina.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Andrew Cardno, CTO of Quick Custom Intelligence, Receives Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Gaming & Leisure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is proud to announce that its Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Cardno, has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by Gaming & Leisure, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the gaming and hospitality industries over the course of his career.

    Andrew Cardno, a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience, has been at the forefront of driving technological advancements in gaming analytics, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence systems. His innovative work has transformed the way gaming operators leverage data to improve decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance the customer experience.

    “It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from Gaming & Leisure. I have dedicated much of my career to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with data and technology in the gaming industry, and this award reflects the collective effort of my team at QCI and our partners across the sector,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of Quick Custom Intelligence.

    Jeannie Caruso, CEO of Gaming & Leisure, praised Cardno’s impact across industries, stating, “Andrew is a rare and amazing human. The terms innovative and disruptive have been incredibly over-used, however, Andrew is the type of genius that actually brings innovative, disruptive and broad solutions to not only our industry, but many industries. He’s often sought after by vendors and properties alike for counsel on complex challenges they face. His passion extends beyond the walls of business to a role he’s devoted many years to as a Science Olympiad Coach to pass his incredible gift on to middle and high schoolers who compete in a broad range of science-related challenges. The world needs more Andrews, and it was my great honor to present him with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year, while still knowing he’ll bring boundless innovation to us far past this award.”

    The Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded annually by Gaming & Leisure to individuals who have made substantial and lasting contributions to the gaming, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Cardno’s career is highlighted by a series of innovations, including the development of cutting-edge solutions that have enabled gaming operators to better understand their customers and optimize business strategies.

    With this award, Andrew Cardno joins an elite group of industry pioneers whose work has had a profound and enduring impact on the gaming industry.

    About Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI)

    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is the pioneer behind the QCI Player, an artificial general intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with real-time tools designed for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI Player, managing over $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, serves as a best-in-class solution for on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based operations, enabling coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming and hospitality. QCI’s data-driven, AGI-powered software facilitates swift, informed decision-making, vital in the ever-changing casino industry, optimizing resources, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is headquartered in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. For more information, contact us at http://www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    About Andrew Cardno

    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the field of artificial intelligence and data plumbing, with over two decades of experience leading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams. His expertise has made significant contributions to data tooling, including groundbreaking innovations like the deep zoom image format, now a cornerstone in many mapping tools. Andrew’s leadership has earned him two Smithsonian Laureates and garnered 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Co-founding Quick Custom Intelligence with Dr. Ralph Thomas, Andrew holds over 150 patent applications and has made a profound impact across various industries, from telecommunications and retail to the medical sector. He is also a prolific author, contributing to over 100 industry publications and co-authoring eleven influential books with Dr. Thomas. Andrew advocates for community and diversity and has made a significant impact on over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, reflecting his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    About Gaming & Leisure

    Gaming & Leisure® (G&L) is an organization dedicated to the betterment of the gaming and hospitality industry. G&L provides influential insights, best practices and brings together leading operators and the business partners who serve them, to collaborate and shape the landscape of operations each year. For over 20 years the annual G&L Roundtable seeks to initiate meaningful change in our industry by the very people who can foster that change. The G&L Forum is a North American leadership congress on innovation, AI and cybersecurity serving as a guide post for the industry. The G&L Community’s greatest asset continues to be its dedicated leadership representing a vast majority of domestic gaming and hospitality spend, and the new terrain they carve for us all to lead well. Visit http://www.mygamingandleisure.com.

    Contact:
    Laure Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ontario’s Elevate Condo Towers Change Hands Mid-Completion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KITCHENER, Ontario, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian mortgage lender Dorr Capital Corporation, ELM Developments, and BC’s Gentai Capital Corporation teamed up to acquire mid-rise condominium project from 1776411 Ontario Ltd. for approximately $75 million with hopes to aid the country’s housing crisis.

    Located at 1333 Weber Street East in Kitchener, Ontario, the proposed 4-tower Elevate project stands under construction to complete a 15 Storey Tower A & Tower B and 12 storey Tower C & D with a commercial component attached. The project was slated to bring 622 new homes to market by 2029, before facing a string of cost overruns and failing to service the loan in Canada’s rising interest rate and construction costs environment.

    The project has a total land area of 3.60 acres and was originally rezoned in 2016. Building A, which is halfway through construction is a 15-storey building with a total of 177 residential dwelling units. Similarly, Building B is approved for a 15-storey tower with 193 residential units, and Building C & D are both 12-storeys, providing commercial space as well as 159 and 93 residential units, respectively.

    “While our plan is to develop all four towers as quickly as possible, our primary focus is to complete the existing tower that stands 65% complete and save the existing sales,” says Brian Dorr, CEO of Dorr Capital Corporation. “We already know we’ll have to reassess the sales strategy for one of the other towers and rental is not off the table.”

    Construction and misspending appeared to be the primary culprit in the project’s initial demise. To ensure the success of this project, it would require significant restructuring of financing, a complex sales strategy, and adequate development of the project. Vancouver’s Gentai Capital Corporation will adopt the role of majority stakeholder by providing a loan on the property, while Dorr Capital focuses on facilitating the transaction alongside ELM Forward, a division of ELM Developments that specializes in the construction and development of distressed assets.

    “Relationships and context play an integral part of saving a project,” explains Dorr. “We not only understood the project coming in, but we also knew the dynamics, and the players involved. We developed a degree of trust and empathy for the existing stakeholders during the initial default phase, which made it easier to come up with a win-win solution.”

    Partner Dorr Capital spent over 10 months and countless hours assessing all downsides of this deal to mitigate and fix it with the original partner before constructing the acquisition. Now, equipped with a new team, they have enlisted an improved management structure and are better positioned with access to funding to complete it. “This complex deal required attention to detail and thorough due diligence. Reaching a favourable outcome is possible when you work with competent groups who are committed to achieving a win-win scenario rather than focusing solely on profits.”

    “Successful real estate ventures thrive on collaboration, transparent communication, share vision and steadfast focus on leveraging our strengths—opening the door to limitless possibilities,” says Michael Yeung, Executive Vice President, Lending at Gentai Capital.

    “With this new team of construction and development experts, we as partners have a clear vision forward,” says Elliot Steiner, President at ELM Developments, “We’re proud to provide over 600 much-needed housing units to the community of Kitchener and are committed to conducting good business to move this project forward.”

    “In these delicate and vulnerable situations, it’s better to work as a team, refrain from being greedy, and focus on turning a normal profit. We see considerable upside in sales revenue and would like to capitalize and revive this project to benefit the partnership group and support in dealing with the housing crisis,” concludes Dorr.

    The deal was officially approved by the courts on October 8th, 2024 and is anticipated to close this month.

    About Dorr Capital

    Dorr Capital is Ontario’s trusted commercial real estate financing company. Facilitating +$3Billion dollars in loan servicing, the firm provides viable borrowing solutions for the purchase of land to fuel much needed new home construction in the region. Since 2011, Dorr Capital and its network of lenders have evolved its operations as a traditional loan brokerage to include mortgage loan servicing, syndicated mortgage investments, and CMHC approved loans to meet the growing needs of the Canadian population and of our valued partners.

    About Gentai Capital Corporation

    Gentai Capital is a leading Canadian alternative investment manager, offering value-added real estate financing solutions coast to coast. With a national portfolio of residential and commercial real estate mortgage loans, and a diversified pipeline of lending opportunities, our scope and scale distinguish us as an integrated asset manager and one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada.

    About ELM Forward

    ELM Forward is a division of the ELM Developments Group, specializing in the development and construction for distressed assets. The team brings over 30 years of experience in problem-solving for distressed real estate assets, delivering customized solutions from acquisition to completion. To date, they have developed and managed more than 55 projects across Canada and the U.S., covering multiple asset classes. They have delivered 6,300 residential units and 900,000 square feet of commercial space, exceeding a combined value of $4 billion.

    Media Contact:
    Britainny Hari
    Founder, Dual Agency Inc.
    brit@thedualagency.ca
    (778) 686-9711

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Streaming online and airing on PBS affiliates. Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s multi-award-winning National Film Board of Canada animated short Boat People featured on POV Shorts, starting November 12.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Beginning November 12, 2024, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s acclaimed new National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short Boat People will be featured in season seven of POV Shorts—a collection of the best and boldest independent short films streaming free of charge on POV.org and on the PBS App.

    October 8, 2024 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Beginning November 12, 2024, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s acclaimed new National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short Boat People will be featured in season seven of POV Shorts—a collection of the best and boldest independent short films streaming free of charge on POV.org and on the PBS App.

    POV Shorts will be airing on PBS affiliate stations—check local listings.

    Canadians can also continue to enjoy Boat People on the NFB’s free online screening platform, nfb.ca.

    About the film

    Boat People by Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma (10 min)
    Produced by Justine Pimlott and Jelena Popović for the NFB
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/boat-people-2

    • As a little girl in Vietnam, Thao’s mother would rescue ants from bowls of sugar water. The tiny creatures would later return the favour, leading her desperate family through darkness—and pointing the way to safety.
    • With Boat People, illustrator and author Thao Lam undertakes a creative rescue mission of her own, joining forces with animator Kjell Boersma to recount the experiences of her family, who were among over 1.6 million refugees who fled the chaotic aftermath of the Vietnam War, venturing across the South China Sea in precarious open boats.
    • Boat People employs a hybrid of traditional 2D animation, stop-motion multiplane, and 3D rendering to capture the unique aesthetic of Lam’s handmade paper textures and patterns. The film speaks across time and culture to anyone who’s ever fought to protect their family or community.

    Acclaim for Boat People

    • Boat People has been selected by more than 30 festivals around the world, including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, DOC NYC, the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
    • The film has garnered 10 awards and mentions to date, including the Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, a Special Mention at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival in Germany, and the Audience Award and Helen Hill Award for Animated Short at the New Orleans Film Festival, a short-films qualifying festival for the 97th Academy Awards.

    About the filmmakers

    • Thao Lam is a critically acclaimed Vietnamese-Canadian children’s book author and illustrator who arrived in Canada with her parents at the age of three as a refugee from Vietnam. Her books include the multi-award winning Wallpaper (2018) and Paper Boat (2020).
    • Kjell Boersma is a writer, director and animator whose projects combine traditional and digital animation techniques in novel ways. He directed the short film Monster Slayer (2015) and was commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and TIFF Kids to write and direct DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver (2017).

    About the National Film Board of Canada

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.

    About American Documentary, Inc.

    American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

    Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Chris and Nancy Plaut, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee, Acton Family Giving, and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.

    About PBS

    PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirm that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV—including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at http://www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.

    About POV

    Produced by American Documentary, POV is the longest-running independent documentary showcase on American television. Since 1988, POV has presented films on PBS that capture the full spectrum of the human experience, with a long commitment to centering women and people of color in front of, and behind, the camera. The series is known for introducing generations of viewers to groundbreaking works like Tongues Untied (1989), Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1992), Rabbit in the Room (1999), Of Civil Wrongs & Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story (2001), Made in L.A. (2007), American Promise (2013), Not Going Quietly (2021), While We Watched (2022), A House Made of Splinters (2022) and the mini-series And She Could be Next (2020). Throughout its history POV has featured the work of award-winning, innovative filmmakers including Jonathan Demme, Laura Poitras, Nanfu Wang, Frederick Wiseman, Emiko Omori, Janus Metz Pedersen and Ava DuVernay. In 2018, POV Shorts launched as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. In 2024, Indiewire named seven POV films in its roundup of “The 50 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century”: Faya Dayi (2021), The Mole Agent (2020), Minding The Gap (2018), Cameraperson (2016), The Look of Silence (2015), The Act of Killing (2013) and After Tiller (2013). All POV programs are available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.

    POV goes “beyond the broadcast” to bring powerful nonfiction storytelling to viewers wherever they are. Free educational resources accompany every film and a community network of thousands of partners nationwide work with POV to spark dialogue around today’s most pressing issues. POV continues to explore the future of documentary through innovative productions with partners such as The New York Times and the National Film Board of Canada and on platforms including Snapchat and Instagram.

    POV films and projects have won 48 Emmy Awards, 28 George Foster Peabody Awards, 16 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, three Academy Awards® and the first-ever George Polk Documentary Film Award. Learn more at pbs.org/pov and follow @povdocs on social media.

    About POV Shorts

    POV Shorts launched in 2018 as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. The series is known for its curation, and for broadcasting award-winning titles, including: Emmy®-nominated Earthrise, Water Warriors, The Changing Same, Emmy® winner The Love Bugs and the Oscar® shortlisted A Broken House and Aguilas. It won Best Short Form Series at the IDA Documentary Awards in 2023, 2022 and 2020.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Breaking ground on supportive housing in Spruce Grove

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Seniors lodges play an essential role in Alberta’s housing system by ensuring that seniors have access to housing that fits their needs and budgets. Today, there are 11,000 seniors lodge units in Alberta.

    Through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP), Alberta’s government is contributing $14.7 million to the Spruce Grove Supportive Living Lodge project to provide 102 units for seniors in Spruce Grove.

    “Through Alberta’s commitment to affordable and supportive seniors housing, we are taking care of those who paved the way before us. By investing in these new units in Spruce Grove, we are ensuring that more seniors can live in the communities they choose, and in homes that fit their budgets and provide comfort and security.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    “Our government is building more homes than ever before. Today’s groundbreaking of 102 new supportive living units for seniors is proof that we are delivering on that goal. This means more homes, faster, to benefit seniors in Spruce Grove.”

    Randy Boissonnault, federal minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

    By investing in this project, Alberta’s government is ensuring more seniors have access to safe, secure and affordable homes in environments where they can thrive. Funding will go toward a new building which will ensure a diversity of housing options are available for Albertan seniors in the Spruce Grove-Stony Plain region. Through the Spruce Grove Supportive Living Lodge project, Alberta’s government is supporting the creation of a mix of studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2026.

    “Seniors lodges play a vital role in our province and I’m grateful to see a facility like this being built in Spruce Grove-Stony Plain. I know this project will help address the need for affordable housing options for seniors in our community, and I look forward to its completion.”

    Searle Turton, MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain

    The Spruce Grove Supportive Living Lodge project is a partnership between Alberta’s government, Meridian Housing Foundation, the City of Spruce Grove, and the federal government. The province will continue to work closely with its housing partners like Meridian Housing Foundation to make sure Alberta’s seniors have the supports they need.

    “It’s exciting to see this work that will bring more housing options to our seniors in Spruce Grove. It’s so important for seniors to have the opportunity to remain in the community they call home, surrounded by friends and family as they enjoy their golden years, and this new facility will provide a place where they can maintain that connection.”

    Jeff Acker, mayor, City of Spruce Grove

    “This groundbreaking ceremony marks more than the start of a building – it represents a promise to our seniors, ensuring they have a safe, affordable place to call home in the years to come. This lodge will be a haven where they can live with dignity, surrounded by care and community. Together, we are laying the foundation for a future where every senior feels valued and supported.”

    Lori-Anne St. Arnault, executive director, Meridian Housing Foundation

    Funding for the Affordable Housing Partnership Program is eligible for cost-matching through the Canada–Alberta Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy.

    Quick facts

    • Since 2019, Alberta’s government has invested almost $850 million to build more than 5,100 affordable units and close to 900 shelter spaces. This includes projects the province has committed to, that are in progress and that are complete.  
      • Through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, Alberta’s government has approved $189 million to support construction of 1,500 affordable housing units.
    • The Alberta government’s Stronger Foundations strategy will help support a total of 82,000 low-income households by 2031 – an increase of more than 40 per cent compared with 2021.
    • Together with partners that include municipal and federal governments and non-profit and private organizations, Alberta is supporting $9 billion in housing investments to support 25,000 additional households by 2031.

    Related information

    • Affordable Housing Partnership Program
    • Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy
    • Affordable housing and rent assistance
    • Canada’s National Housing Strategy

    Related news

    • Building affordable homes and stronger communities (May 10, 2024)
    • Investing in affordable housing (March 9, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory: Three-Night Closure of Providence Street Bridge Over I-295 Scheduled to Begin Tuesday, October 15 for Pier Work

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    On the nights of October 15-17, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will close the Providence Street Bridge over I-295 in West Warwick for ongoing work at the bridge. Motorists are advised to use the signed detour via Route 2 and East Avenue during the closure period from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for each of these three nights.

    The Providence Street Bridge was built in 1968 and carries 10,500 vehicles per day. RIDOT used accelerated bridge construction methods to replace it, installing the new bridge deck in just one weekend in August. The entire project finishes in spring 2025.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings and weather.

    The replacement of the Providence Street Bridge is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at http://www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Arts Agency encourages high schools to sign up for 20th Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    This school year marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud�, the national and local arts education program and dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students. A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Poetry Foundation, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), the competition boasts “lifting poetry off the page” and improving students’ public speaking skills.

    The state’s arts agency, RISCA, a 20-year participant, has opened registration and is calling on high schools to participate in the competition. The deadline to sign up is Nov. 17. This year’s state championship will occur Saturday, March 8, at the Providence Public Library.

    “RISCA is a proud partner with the NEA and the Poetry Foundation for this venerable arts education program, which inspires an appreciation of great classic and contemporary poems. Additionally, students gain public speaking skills and life-long confidence,” said Todd Trebour, Executive Director of RISCA. “Rhode Island is looking forward to celebrating Poetry Out Loud’s incredible milestone. We invite high schools to register and take part in this program that has 20 years of proven success.”

    All 50 states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in the Poetry Out Loud competitions. Poetry Out Loud provides free poetry education resources nationally, including lesson plans and other educational materials for teachers and organizers, tips on reciting, and an online anthology of more than 1,200 classic and contemporary poems.

    Poetry Out Loud starts at the local level in the classroom where students memorize and recite poems they select from supplied materials. Each school’s winner advances to the state competition. The state champion moves onto the Regional and National Finals.

    The state winner receives $200, and the school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. Other prize money will be given out at the national and regional finals as stipends to winning finalists, schools or organizations.

    R.I. Poetry Out Loud champions for the past 20 years were:

    � 2024: Jennifer Shon, Portsmouth Abbey School

    � 2023: Natasha Connolly, Classical High School

    � 2022: Mariama Hawa Bandabaila, Classical High School

    � 2021: Virginia Keister, Chariho Regional High School

    � 2020: Nayeli Santana Vazquez, Central Falls High School

    � 2019: Haley Long, Classical High School

    � 2018: Steven Rosario, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts

    � 2017 Simon Rabatin, Moses Brown School

    � 2016: Austin Paulhus, Central Falls High School

    � 2015: Zoe Butler, Portsmouth Abbey School

    � 2014: Yesenia Rego, Barrington Christian Academy

    � 2013: Jenifer Henriquez, Classical High School

    � 2012 & 2011: Daraja Aranda Hinds, Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts

    � 2010 & 2009: Amber Rose Johnson, Classical High School

    � 2008: Andrew Westlake, Burrillville High School

    � 2007: Jean-Paul D. Lagace, Providence Country Day School

    � 2006: Kris Aponte, William M. Davies Career and Technical Institute

    For the 2024-25 school year, Rhode Island’s coordinators for the Poetry Out Loud R.I. Program are its director, Damont Combs and teaching artists, Marlon Carey and Sarah Ashley, all live in Providence.

    In 2004, the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts began developing and piloting a first-of-its-kind national poetry recitation program for high school students. Poetry Out Loud launched at the start of the following school year in time for the 2005-06 school year. Since then, the program has reached more than 4.4 million students and 81,000 teachers from 20,000 schools across the nation.

    A study completed in 2020 found that participation in Poetry Out Loud can help schools become more vibrant learning spaces and support students in their academic, literary and social-emotional development.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Eight Charged in $68M Social Adult Day Care and Home Health Care Scheme

    Source: US State of Vermont

    An indictment was unsealed today in Brooklyn, New York, charging eight defendants for their alleged roles in a scheme to defraud Medicaid of approximately $68 million through the operation of two social adult day cares and a home health care financial intermediary that were paying kickbacks and bribes for services that were not provided.

    According to court documents, Zakia Khan, 53, of Brooklyn, and Ahsan Ijaz, 27, of Brooklyn, owned two social adult day cares, Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social), and a financial intermediary, Responsible Care Staffing Inc. (Responsible Care), for the New York Medicaid Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services Program (CDPAP), which permits family members of Medicaid recipients to receive payment for assisting Medicaid recipients with activities of daily living. Beginning in approximately October 2017, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, marketers Elaine Antao, 45, also known as Aleena, of Brooklyn, Omneah Hamdi, 61, of Brooklyn, and Manal Wasef, 44, of Brooklyn, allegedly referred Medicaid recipients to Happy Family, Family Social, and/or Responsible Care. The marketers in turn allegedly paid kickbacks and bribes to Medicaid recipients for social adult day care and CDPAP services that Happy Family, Family Social, and Responsible Care billed to Medicaid but were not provided or were induced by kickbacks and bribes. Ansir Abassi, 38, also known as Zaib Abassi and Ansir Zaib, of Brooklyn, and Amran Hashmi, 53, of Brooklyn, allegedly managed Happy Family and Family Social and the marketers. To carry out the kickback scheme, Khan, Antao, Ijaz, Abassi, and Hamdi allegedly used business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes. Seema Memon, 30, of Brooklyn, an employee of Happy Family who was previously charged by complaint on July 1, was also indicted.

    “As alleged in the indictment, these defendants orchestrated a years-long scheme to defraud Medicaid of tens of millions of dollars for social adult day care and home care services for seniors that they did not provide,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants allegedly paid cash bribes and kickbacks to recruiters and Medicaid recipients as part of a scheme to enrich themselves at the expense of vital programs for senior citizens. Today’s charges make clear that the Criminal Division will not tolerate schemes that brazenly steal from federal health care programs.”

    “Social adult day care and home health services are meant to help seniors, but as alleged, the defendants allegedly turned their businesses into a brazen cash grab of millions of dollars from the Medicaid program,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “My office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who plunder taxpayer-funded, federal health care programs dollars while purporting to offer health care services.” 

    “HHS-OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations that bribes and kickbacks are paid with Medicaid monies,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients.”

    “The crimes outlined in this indictment took advantage of a network that offers essential health care and other services to those in need,” said Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). “Let it be clear: anyone who attempts to profit by defrauding the system will face consequences, as these schemes drain already limited resources and deprive beneficiaries of crucial funds. I commend our NYPD investigators and federal law enforcement partners for their successful and continued collaboration.”

    “As alleged, the defendants saw nothing beyond the dollar signs associated with their crimes, and in turn defrauded the U.S. government of $68 million in welfare funds meant for one of our country’s most vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Today’s announcement underscores the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force’s unrelenting focus on dismantling and disrupting financial fraud schemes that exploit the American public and hurt our economy.”

    Khan is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, three counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, paying health care kickbacks, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and paying health care kickbacks, and five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.

    Abassi, Antao, Hamdi, and Ijaz are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.

    Hashmi is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, three counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and paying health care kickbacks. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and paying health care kickbacks, and five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.

    Memon is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and paying health care kickbacks. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and paying health care kickbacks and five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.

    Wasef is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks.

    HHS-OIG, NYPD, and HSI are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanisha R. Payne for the Eastern District of New York is assisting with forfeiture matters.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BrucePac Recalls Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising consumers that BrucePac is recalling nearly 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.

    The recalled products were produced from June 19, 2024, to October 8, 2024, and were shipped and/or distributed nationwide to establishments, distributors, restaurants, and institutions. The recalled products have establishment numbers 51205 or P-51205 inside or under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection. USDA will provide updates about product labels and list of products when they are available.

    USDA urges restaurants, institutions, and other establishments to not use or serve the recalled products. The recalled products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

    There have been no confirmed reports of illnesses related to recalled products.

    Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause listeriosis. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the illness and symptoms may last from days to several weeks. Consumers who may have consumed the affected product and are experiencing symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues should seek medical attention.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Astronauts, Leadership Visit Children’s Hospital, Cancer Moonshot Event

    Source: NASA

    NASA astronauts, scientists, and researchers, and leadership from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) met with cancer patients and gathered in a discussion about potential research opportunities and collaborations as part of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative on Oct. 4.
    Roundtable discussions centered conversation around the five hazards of human spaceflight: space radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth, gravity, and closed or hostile environments. Many of these hazards have direct correlations to a cancer patient’s lived experience, like the isolation of a hospital room and long-term effects of radiation.
    During the visit with patients at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, NASA astronaut Yvonne Cagle and former astronaut Kenneth Cockrell answered questions about spaceflight and life in space.
    Patients also received a video message from NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station, and met with Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Eugene Tu, director of NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, and other agency leaders.

    By connecting the dots between human space research and cancer research, NASA and the University of California hope to open doors to innovative new research opportunities. NASA is working with researchers, institutions, and agencies across the federal government to help cut the nation’s cancer death rate by at least 50% in the next 25 years, a goal of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
    Learn more about the Cancer Moonshot at:
    https://www.whitehouse.gov/cancermoonshot

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy in the Ouachita Citizen: Don’t forget the American hostages who remain in Hamas’s captivity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in the Ouachita Citizen arguing that America must stand firm alongside Israel until every American hostage is home safe. Kennedy noted that Hamas is still holding four American citizens in Gaza and argued that the Biden-Harris administration must do more to hold Hamas and its supporters accountable. 
    Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
    “While our hearts go out to the many Israeli families who lost loved ones during Hamas’s attack, we cannot forget that October 7 was an attack on Americans, too.”
    . . .
    “At least four American hostages are still alive in Gaza, including Edan Alexander, Omer Neutra, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Keith Siegel. Israeli officials believe three other Americans—Judith Weinstein Haggai, Gadi Haggai, and Itay Chen—died in captivity, but Hamas refuses to turn over the bodies of these Americans so their families can finally lay them to rest.”
    . . .
    “Both President Biden and Vice President Harris seem to have fallen silent in their support for Israel to appease a handful of leftist institutions that believe Hamas was justified in raping and murdering innocent people.
    “The Biden-Harris administration continues to support the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA), for example, despite clear evidence that the global organization is riddled with Hamas supporters. Just last week, Israel killed a Hamas leader in Lebanon who just happened to be an UNRWA employee.”
    . . .
    “The same is true on college campuses. Last spring, anti-Israel rioters set up encampments on public property, vandalized buildings with antisemitic slogans, and blocked Jewish students from attending classes. One protester at Columbia University even held up a sign stating that Hamas’s ‘next targets’ were the Jewish students on American campuses. As some of the most influential universities in America devolved into campgrounds for antisemites, the Biden-Harris administration sat on its hands.
    “These campus protestors—and far too many of my colleagues in Washington—seem to be confused about who the bad guys are in this conflict between Israel and Hamas. People in Louisiana, however, aren’t confused.
    “Louisianians understand that the Hamas terrorists who brutally murdered and kidnapped innocent civilians are the bad guys. They know these campus protesters who are rooting for Hamas are like rocks, only dumber. They support the Israelis who are fighting to free the hostages, not the monsters who carried out the October 7 attack.
    “As we reflect on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, I hope President Biden, Vice President Harris, and my colleagues in Washington will remember why we need to stand strong alongside Israel in its fight against evil. We must have Israel’s back until every American is home and Hamas is in ruins.” 
    Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Project Engineer Miranda Peters Flips the Script on Neurological Differences

    Source: NASA

    In her six years working with NASA, Miranda Peters has filled a variety of roles. She trained in flight control for the International Space Station, worked as a safety engineer in the station’s program office, and served as a project engineer working on next-generation spacesuit assembly and testing.
    She has also embraced an unofficial duty: speaking openly and honestly about her neurodivergence.
    “I used to hide it or avoid talking about it. I used to only see it as an impediment, but now I see how I can also do things or think about things in a unique way because of my disability,” she said. Peters said that when her neurodivergence impacts her ability to do something, she is honest about it and seeks help from her colleagues. “My hope is that when I talk about it openly, I am creating an environment where others with disabilities also feel comfortable being their true selves, in addition to humanizing the disabled community for those who are not a part of it.”

    Over time, Peters has also shifted her self-perception. “I’m an anxious person and was made to feel self-conscious about that in the past, but that anxiety also makes me transparent about what I’m doing and where the gaps in my knowledge are, which has earned praise from team leadership,” she said. Similarly, while Peters once saw her sensitivity as a weakness, she learned to appreciate her ability to empathize with and anticipate the needs of others. “That makes me a good mentor and leader,” she said.
    Learning to filter feedback has been another important lesson. “Advice and criticism are both useful tools, but not all of the time,” she explained. “I found myself tightly holding on to all of the criticism I received. It was easier to determine which advice didn’t work for me.” When Peters stopped to ask herself if she would take advice from the same person who was critiquing her, it became easier to take their feedback “with a pinch of salt.”

    Peters applies these lessons learned as a design verification and test hardware lead within the Spacesuit and Crew Survival Systems Branch at Johnson Space Center in Houston. She currently supports tests of the Portable Life Support System (xPLSS) that will be integrated into the new spacesuits worn by astronauts on future missions to explore the lunar surface. She is responsible for assembling and disassembling test units, making hardware and software updates, and integrating the xPLSS with various components of the spacesuit, known as the xEMU.   
    Peters’ most recent prior position was assembly and integration engineer within the same branch. She had an opportunity to serve as the interim xPLSS hardware lead when a colleague went on leave for several months, and suddenly found herself managing a major project. “We got a lot done in a short amount of time without loss of procedural integrity, even when we encountered unexpected changes in schedule,” she said. “I also used this large amount of lab work as an opportunity to train new hires and interns in assembly processes.” When the colleague returned, Peters was promoted to the newly created  role overseeing design verification and testing.
    “I really love how universal spacesuits are in their ability to excite and draw wonder from across the human spaceflight community and the general public,” she said. “Working on the xEMU project has affirmed for me that human surface mobility is the field that I want to make my career.” That realization inspired Peters to pursue a graduate degree in space architecture from the University of Houston, which she expects to complete in May 2026.

    Peters looks forward to a future where NASA’s astronaut classes include individuals with different abilities. She encourages agency leaders, contractors, and others to have open conversations about workplace accommodations early in their hiring and performance review processes. “I think if we provide the opportunity to talk about accommodations and how to request them, employees would be more empowered to ask for what they need to be successful,” she said. Educating managers about available accommodations and allocating resources to expand the accessibility of those accommodations would also be helpful.
    Peters hopes to pass that feeling of empowerment on to the Artemis Generation. “Empowerment to be themselves, to do the hard things, and to not limit themselves,” she said. “We need to take advantage of all the opportunities we can, and not let the fear of failure or not being ‘good enough’ stop us from going where we want to.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INS TALWAR ARRIVES SOUTH AFRICA TO PARTICIPATE IN IBSAMAR VIII

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:14PM by PIB Delhi

    Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Talwar, arrived at Simon’s Town, South Africa, on 06 Oct 24 to participate in the eighth edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian, and South African Navy scheduled from 06 to 18 October 2024.

    The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen cohesion between the three navies. The broad concept is based on Blue Water Naval Warfare, encompassing the dimensions of Surface and Anti-Air Warfare.

    The harbour phase of IBSAMAR VIII will include professional exchanges, Damage Control & Firefighting drills, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure drills, cross-boarding, aviation safety lectures, joint diving operations, an Ocean Governance seminar, sports interactions, cross-decks visits, and interaction among Special Forces and Junior Officers.

    Multi-lateral interactions are crucial bridges of friendship that increase mutual trust and enhance interoperability among navies of like-minded littoral nations towards the common goal of a peaceful maritime domain and positive maritime environment.

    Defence cooperation between India and South Africa is on an upward trajectory. Operational Sea Training and Submarine Rescue Support have been commenced between both navies since the 12th edition of Navy-to-Navy talks held on 26-28 August 2024 at New Delhi. The visit of INS Talwar aims to further strengthen the ties and reaffirm India’s commitment to constructive collaboration and mutual growth.

    INS Talwar was commissioned on 18 June 2003 and is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. The ship is commanded by Captain Jithu George.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EXERCISE MALABAR 2024 – OPENING CEREMONY

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

    The Opening Ceremony of MALABAR 2024 under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command was held onboard Indian Naval Ship Satpura at Visakhapatnam on 09 Oct 24. The 28th edition of the multi-national maritime exercise that commenced on 08 Oct 24, would extend till 18 Oct 24. MALABAR, which was initiated in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US, gained further traction as a significant maritime engagement, with Japan and Australia joining in subsequently.

    The ceremony, hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, was attended by senior naval and military dignitaries from participating nations. The heads of delegations and other dignitaries participating included General Yoshihide YOSHIDA, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan, Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander US Pacific Fleet, VAdm Katsushi OMACHI, C-in-C, Japan Self Defence Fleet and RAdm Chris Smith, Commander Australian Fleet. The crew and planning staff of participating Ships, Aircraft and Special Forces from Australia, India, Japan and the USA were also present. The Commanders of all participating navies acknowledged the importance of Ex MALABAR in enhancing understanding, collaboration and engagement to address common maritime challenges and to create cooperative framework.

    The exercise will be conducted in two distinct phases both at Harbour and at Sea. MALABAR 2024 will witness live weapon firings, complex surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills and joint manoeuvres. The high-tempo event will witness participation by destroyers, frigates, corvettes and fleet support ships along with long range maritime patrol aircraft, jet aircraft, integral helicopters and submarine assets.

    The exercise brings together like-minded nations to further enhance the ability to train and operate jointly, towards establishing the synergy critical to achieve shared objectives. The exercise is aligned with the Indian Government’s vision of Security & Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and reflects India’s growing engagement with like-minded nations.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Funding Strategies for Nonprofits and Schools: Incentives and Rebates and How to Find Them

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

    Nonprofits and schools often dedicate so much time and money to serving their communities that Investing in essential building improvements can feel impossible. To support organizations with energy upgrades which boost efficiency and save money, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hosted a webinar in an ongoing series called, “Funding Strategies for Nonprofits.”

    The webinar covers the value of utility rebates and incentives and how they can be part of an organization’s capital stack for infrastructure projects. Speakers highlight resources available to identify local rebate and incentive programs and demonstrated the tangible first step to accessing this funding.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian urban mobility is woefully lacking, but building a better future is still possible

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Betsy Donald, Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Canadian cities are falling behind globally when it comes to efficiently moving people. Long commute times, high congestion rates and infrastructure that is vulnerable to climate change are symptoms of a mobility crisis.

    Mobility is an essential public good, and modern policies aim to move people in a safe, efficient, accessible and non-polluting way. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and worsened existing vulnerabilities in Canada’s urban mobility systems, undermining progress toward these goals.

    Our new book, Urban Mobility: How the iPhone, COVID, and Climate Changed Everything, explores how technology, the pandemic and climate change have shaped, and continue to shape, urban mobility, particularly for those with inadequate transportation networks.

    Population growth outpacing transit

    One of the primary challenges Canadian cities face is that they have grown faster than their sustainable transportation options. While urban populations have expanded, investment in public transportation has not kept pace, resulting in a gap between capacity and potential.

    The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted city life in profound ways, and urban life and economies in Canada are still being affected to this day. Remote work became the norm for many, reducing the number of people commuting and causing a significant drop in public transit ridership.

    Additionally, the shift to hybrid work has permanently altered how Canadians engage with their cities. People are shopping online more, using public transit less, and central business districts and physical retail spaces are seeing less foot traffic.

    Urban economies, which have been designed to rely heavily on the movement and presence of large numbers of people through public transit and local businesses, are still grappling with this new reality. Activity levels, for instance, are down by about 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in many downtown spaces still.

    Tech platforms and mobility

    Digital platform firms like Zoom, Uber, Amazon and Instacart adapted quickly during the pandemic, offering safe work-from-home options, private transportation and online shopping services to people. These platforms disrupted the traditional urban economic model, which relies on transit, physical stores and foot traffic.

    Ride-hailing services drew passengers and their fares away from local economies into foreign-owned ride-hailing companies. Transit systems not only depend on the massive built public infrastructure, but also passenger fares and other government funding to maintain the public system over time.

    In addition, these tech platform companies come with equity and accessibility concerns. Research on the use of ride-hailing and public transit during the pandemic found that its usage in Toronto was clearly organized along class, neighbourhood and social lines. People identifying as one or more of the following were more likely to continue riding transit during the pandemic: low-income, immigrant, racialized, essential workers and car-less, in large part because other options were not available to them.

    Similarly, in Calgary, private technology experiments in electric scooters privileged wealthier neighbourhoods. Electric scooters were used more in wealthier neighbourhoods, and as poverty levels increased at the neighbourhood level, the use of them dropped. The researchers concluded that greater attention needs to be paid to ensuring all communities, regardless of economic status, have access to micro-mobility options.

    Canada has a history of importing technological solutions, rather than creating its own. Montréal, however, offers a successful example with its Bixi bike program, the third largest bike share system in North America after New York and Chicago, with 11,000 bikes and almost 900 stations. A non-profit runs the program, Rio Tinto Alcan provides aluminum for the bikes and Cycles Devinci manufactures them in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

    Canadian cities need to build innovation opportunities that promote economic development and improve mobility at the same time. Canada’s technology sector is woefully undersupported at present.

    Bixi bikes stand on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montréal in August 2019. The City of Montréal bought the bike sharing system in 2014 and created a non-profit entity to run the bike sharing operations.
    (Shutterstock)

    Climate crisis intensifying challenges

    The third, and perhaps most pressing challenge facing Canadian cities is the growing climate crisis. Cities are both instigators and victims of climate change. They contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but are also heavily impacted by severe weather events, heat waves and other side effects.

    These impacts are becoming increasingly concerning with the intensification of wildfires, urban flooding and other extreme weather events.

    By the end of the 20th century, most large Canadian cities were heavily investing in strategies to encourage people to use alternatives to cars, such as transit, light rail, biking and walking.

    However, shifting priorities, ideologies and budgetary adjustments led to government cutbacks to transit funding and a lack of new transportation innovation. In Ontario, for example, the government continues to push unrealistic road-building ideas at the expense of more active transit options.

    This failure to effectively move people around has left an opening for new mobility experiments led by private companies, but some of these programs don’t really integrate well into the Canadian urban mobility ecosystem. Many of these mobility options — such as ride-hailing — are also costly and exclusive. Others, like electronic scooters, can lead to e-waste.

    Building a better future

    The disruptions caused by technology, the pandemic and climate change are reshaping how people and goods move in cities. To build a better future, Canadian cities must address the interconnected challenges of three transitions: digital, health and environmental.

    While all sectors need to invest, strong leadership and policy action from governments at all levels is needed to create a more climate-friendly, economically vibrant and equitable urban mobility future. Governments will need to embrace bold, innovative solutions that address all three of these challenges.

    This means policy frameworks that reduce carbon emissions through climate action plans, leveraging political will and funding in efforts to shift away from private automobiles and toward transit, bike lanes and pedestrian pathways, and experimenting with digital mobility services while still prioritizing sustainability.

    Betsy Donald receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Shauna Brail receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Canadian urban mobility is woefully lacking, but building a better future is still possible – https://theconversation.com/canadian-urban-mobility-is-woefully-lacking-but-building-a-better-future-is-still-possible-239679

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Climb Global Solutions Sets Third Quarter 2024 Conference Call for October 31, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EATONTOWN, N.J., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLMB) (“Climb” or the “Company”), a value-added global IT channel company providing unique sales and distribution solutions for innovative technology vendors, will host a conference call on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Company’s results will be reported in a press release prior to the call.

    Climb’s management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties may submit questions to the Company prior to the call by emailing CLMB@elevate-ir.com.

    Date: Thursday, October 31, 2024
    Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern time
    Toll-free dial-in number: (800) 274-8461
    International dial-in number: (203) 518-9814
    Conference ID: CLIMB
    Webcast: Climb’s Q3 2024 Conference Call

    If you have any difficulty registering or connecting with the conference call, please contact Elevate IR at (720) 330-2829.

    The conference call will also be available for replay on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://www.climbglobalsolutions.com.

    About Climb Global Solutions

    Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLMB) is a value-added global IT distribution and solutions company specializing in emerging and innovative technologies. Climb operates across the US, Canada and Europe through multiple business units, including Climb Channel Solutions, Grey Matter and Climb Global Services. The Company provides IT distribution and solutions for companies in the Security, Data Management, Connectivity, Storage & HCI, Virtualization & Cloud, and Software & ALM industries.

    Additional information can be found by visiting http://www.climbglobalsolutions.com.

    Company Contact

    Drew Clark
    Chief Financial Officer
    (732) 389-0932
    Drew@ClimbGS.com

    Investor Relations Contact

    Sean Mansouri, CFA
    Elevate IR
    (720) 330-2829
    CLMB@elevate-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Reimagining Poverty Solutions – seeking new ways to connect politics, measurement, and policy action in Latin America and the Caribbean

    Source: CAF Development Bank of Latin America

    Reintroducing Poverty to the Forefront of Public Debate  

    Reducing poverty requires a strong political commitment from all sectors of society. To accelerate progress, it is imperative to re-establish poverty as a central issue in public debate. In recent years, the focus on poverty has been overshadowed by a series of severe crises affecting the region. Beyond the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the escalating climate crisis, with massive fires in areas like the Amazon and the Chaco, and increased flooding in other regions, has had a devastating effect. Governance crises have also emerged, including in countries that traditionally excelled in economic growth and poverty reduction, such as Chile. Moreover, migration crises, once primarily directed towards the United States, have now developed an intraregional dimension, imposing pressure on public expenditure and, at times, leading to conflicts within recipient communities. Violence has spread to previously peaceful countries, with organized crime posing an ever-greater threat. These crises have diverted attention away from the poverty debate, even though poverty remains a fundamental factor in each of these challenges. 

    Public discourse should stimulate action and encourage a more ambitious discussion on the determinants of poverty and their policy implications. Key determinants such as high inequality, sluggish economic growth, environmental degradation, entrenched power structures, inadequate social protection systems, ineffective governance, a fragile rule of law, an unfavorable business environment, low female labor force participation, informality, crime and violence, and a lack of innovation, have all been identified as determinants of poverty in the region (UNDP, 2021; IMF, 2024; CODS, 2020). A comprehensive debate is needed to distil the most critical aspects and understand their interconnections to optimize efforts towards achieving sustainable development and equitable growth. 

    Furthermore, public debate is essential concerning the data needed to make meaningful progress in poverty reduction. While the availability of data in the region has improved, there remain issues related to periodicity, potential for disaggregation, and gaps in crucial topics. For example, the inability to link data on crime and violence with poverty data hampers a comprehensive understanding of these phenomena. Thus, a rigorous debate on where to channel limited resources for data collection is vital to generate robust data that can effectively guide policy decisions. 

    New Instruments for Poverty Reduction 

    As previously highlighted, economic growth and the widespread implementation of conditional cash transfer programs have played a pivotal role in reducing income poverty across the region in recent decades. However, from 2015 onwards, the pace of poverty reduction began to slow due to declining growth rates, a trend further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three years after the crisis, income poverty levels in the region are only now returning to pre-pandemic figures (The World Bank, 2023). Yet, economic growth—and consequently, the fiscal capacity to fund poverty reduction initiatives—remains constrained, with regional GDP projected to expand by merely 1.6% in 2024, 2.7% in 2025, and 2.6% in 2026, rates insufficient to generate widespread prosperity (The World Bank, 2024). 

    Given this, the principal mechanisms that drove poverty reduction in previous years must be supplemented with innovative tools capable of maximizing poverty alleviation within a restricted fiscal environment. Aspects such as strategic planning, effective coordination, rigorous monitoring, and efficient expenditure will become increasingly crucial in the coming years. The region must foster innovation and develop a new generation of poverty reduction strategies and instruments that can effectively complement the existing frameworks. 

    Strengthening the Integration of Poverty Reduction Strategies with National Policies 

    In many cases, significant national policies that have a direct impact on poverty are formulated and implemented without a clear analysis or identification of their connections to the country’s poverty reduction strategy. Policies in areas such as energy, productivity, private sector development, and environmental or climate change often have profound implications for poverty alleviation. However, these policies are frequently designed with sector-specific objectives and within a growth-oriented framework, rather than with a focus on poverty reduction. Strengthening these connections can facilitate valuable cross-fertilization between different policy agendas, thereby accelerating efforts to reduce poverty. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding boost for municipal infrastructure

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Municipalities play an important role in shaping Alberta’s communities and contributing to a stronger province. Alberta’s government is providing reliable funding so municipalities can plan more effectively for the future.

    Alberta’s government introduced the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) in Budget 2024 to replace the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) and provide a more predictable, legislated municipal infrastructure-funding model that is 100 per cent tied to provincial revenues, as municipalities requested. This means that when provincial revenues increase, municipal funding increases at the same percentage. Next year, municipalities will receive more than $820 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, an increase of just over 13 per cent from Budget 2024.

    “Our government recognizes the importance of infrastructure funding for communities across Alberta, and for that funding to be predictable. We agreed to tie capital infrastructure funding for municipalities to provincial revenues, and the Local Government Fiscal Framework delivers on that promise. LGFF funds are increasing in 2025 because of our shared commitment to sustainability.”

    Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs

    The LGFF provides funding for local infrastructure priorities in cities, towns, villages, summer villages, municipal districts and counties, and Metis Settlements across Alberta. Budget 2024 also included $60 million in LGFF operating funding for communities outside Calgary and Edmonton.

    Through the Local Government Fiscal Framework Act, the LGFF includes a revenue index factor that ties future funding levels to the percentage change in provincial revenues from three years prior. The boost in municipal infrastructure funding for Budget 2025 is the result of increased provincial revenues for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, and is evidence of the LGFF revenue index factor at work.

    Quick facts

    • The Local Government Fiscal Framework Act was passed in the Alberta legislature in December 2019. 
    • Alberta’s municipalities received $722 million in LGFF funding for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which is equivalent to the average amount municipalities have received annually since Budget 2021.

    Related information

    • Local Government Fiscal Framework
    • LGFF 2024-2025 Allocations

    Related news

    • Predictable funding for municipalities (Dec. 15, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: BigCommerce to Announce Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on November 7, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. (“BigCommerce”) (Nasdaq: BIGC), an open SaaS, composable ecommerce platform for fast-growing and established B2C and B2B brands and retailers, today announced it will report its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, before market open on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

    The financial results and business highlights will be discussed on a conference call and webcast scheduled at 7:00 a.m. CT (8:00 a.m. ET) on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (833) 634-1254 from the United States and Canada or (412) 317-6012 internationally and requesting to join the “BigCommerce conference call.” The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed from BigCommerce’s investor relations website at http://investors.bigcommerce.com.

    Following the completion of the call through 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 14, 2024, a telephone replay will be available by dialing (877) 344-7529 from the United States, (855) 669-9658 from Canada or (412) 317-0088 internationally with conference ID 1719588. A webcast replay will also be available at http://investors.bigcommerce.com for 12 months.

    About BigCommerce

    BigCommerce is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands and retailers of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated enterprise-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Burrow, Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit http://www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson sues TikTok for violating South Carolina consumer protection lawsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok for violations of state consumer protection laws. Attorney General Wilson’s action alleges that TikTok exploits and harms young users and deceives the public about the social media platform’s dangers.

    “TikTok is knowingly addicting children to their platform and monetizing this behavior, all while deceiving parents about the safety of their business model,” said Attorney General Wilson.​

    Use of TikTok is pervasive among young people in the United States. In 2023, 63% of all Americans aged 13 to 17 who responded to a Pew Research survey reported using TikTok, and most teenagers in the U.S. were using TikTok daily.  In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Wilson alleges TikTok violated South Carolina consumer protection statutes.

    TikTok’s misconduct arises from its underlying business model that focuses on maximizing young users’ time on the TikTok platform to enable the company to boost revenue from selling targeted advertising space. TikTok’s misconduct includes:

    • Deploying a business model that is designed to be addictive and maximize the time young users spend on the platform.
    • Using manipulative features, such as continuous scrolling, to keep kids and teens on the platform longer.
    • Marketing the platform and platform features to parents as safe for kids and teens online and in app stores.

    Attorneys general from the following states join Attorney General Wilson today in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok to hold it accountable for its role in the children’s mental health crisis: California, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    As of today, 23 attorneys general have filed actions against TikTok for its conduct toward youth, including existing actions filed by the attorneys general of Utah, Nevada, Indiana, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas.

    You can read the complaint here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 7776, Help Hoover Dam Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 7776 would allow the Department of the Interior (DOI) to use money from a particular account within the Colorado River Dam Fund to pay for operations, maintenance, and repairs of the Hoover Dam. Under current law, amounts collected from Hoover Dam project contractors are deposited into the fund and, excepting that one account, are available to be spent for those purposes. The bill would allow DOI to draw from that account for Hoover Dam projects. 

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted before the end of calendar year 2024. Using information from the Office of Management and Budget, CBO estimates that $48 million currently in the fund would become available to DOI under the bill; CBO does not expect any additional deposits into that account. Based on historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would cost $48 million over the 2025-2034 period. That spending would be classified as direct spending because the bill would allow those amounts to be spent without further appropriation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 8068, Stop the Baseline Bloat Act of 2024

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 8068 would amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to change how the discretionary spending baseline is projected in the baseline. Under the bill, budgetary resources designated as an emergency requirement or provided in supplemental appropriation laws would no longer be projected in the discretionary spending baseline in subsequent years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 9686, HEALTH Panel Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 9686 would amend the Congressional Budget Act to establish in statute a Panel of Health Advisors for the Congressional Budget Office. Under the bill, the 15-person panel would provide technical advice to CBO, meet at least once each year, and report annually to the House and Senate Committees on the Budget.

    MIL OSI USA News –