NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: CNBC Names North Carolina the #1 State for Business

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: CNBC Names North Carolina the #1 State for Business

    CNBC Names North Carolina the #1 State for Business
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    North Carolina has been recognized as the Top State for Business by CNBC. This announcement marks the third time in the last four years that the state has earned the ranking.

    “This confirms what we have known for a long time – that North Carolina is the best state in the country for business,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Our people, state’s business climate, top research universities and excellent community college system, infrastructure, and high quality of life help both companies and workers thrive. I want to thank leaders like former Governor Roy Cooper and state legislators of both parties who have helped North Carolina create a welcoming climate. I am proud of the progress our state has made, and we are just getting started.” 

    “This recognition reflects our relentless commitment to building a competitive, welcoming, and dynamic economy that creates opportunity for everyone,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “From our world-class workforce to our strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and innovation, North Carolina continues to lead the way as a place where businesses thrive, and communities prosper. We share this success with all of our partners across the public and private sectors and look forward to building on this momentum.”

    “North Carolina’s recognition as the best state for business for the third year in the last four is a testament to an economic development strategy that relies on the power of partnerships,” said Christopher Chung, CEO of the EDPNC. “Our strength lies in our ability to connect companies with the workforce, infrastructure, sites, industry ecosystems, and innovation resources needed to support their growth, as well as a business-friendly environment that’s especially valuable in times of economic uncertainty. From one of the nation’s top community college systems and the nation’s oldest public university to our modern transportation networks and robust utility capacity, North Carolina is built for growth.”

    The CNBC study measures states across 10 categories of competitiveness. Weights are assigned to each category based on how frequently states cite it as a selling point. States can earn a maximum of 2,500 points, and North Carolina scored 1,614 to take the top spot. North Carolina has been the top state for business for three out of the last four years, and the state’s biggest strengths this year are Economy, Workforce, and Business Friendliness.  

    Since taking office in January, Governor Stein has announced business expansions or new projects that will yield nearly $17 billion of new capital investment in North Carolina and create more than 20,000 new, good-paying jobs. North Carolina is a leader in the clean energy economy, with more than 100,000 people employed in the sector.  

    Governor Stein believes that North Carolinians should not have to get a traditional four-year degree to get a good job that can support a family. In March, he signed an executive order creating the Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, a bipartisan group directed to find strategies to strengthen North Carolina’s workforce development and expand access to good jobs with good wages. The council recently released its first report, which outlines 11 goals to ensure more people have the skills to build strong careers and bright futures in a changing economy. Governor Stein recently signed into law Senate Bill 124, which reduces the number of state government jobs that require a four-year college degree.

    To combat North Carolina’s child care crisis, the Governor launched his Task Force on Child Care and Early Education, which seeks to make high-quality child care more accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Governor Stein also established the Advisory Council on Student Safety and Well-Being to ensure that the state’s public schools support students’ learning growth and foster an engaging environment.

    Nine months after Hurricane Helene, Governor Stein remains committed to the economic recovery efforts in western North Carolina. He recently announced the “Rediscover the Unforgettable” tourism initiative in collaboration with Visit NC to encourage travelers to plan their next trips to western North Carolina. In partnership with the Dogwood Health Trust and the Duke Endowment, Governor Stein and the State of North Carolina invested in the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative. The $55 million program provided grants to more than 2,000 businesses across the region. This week, Governor Stein visited the Town of Clyde to award one of the first grants from the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program, which is helping local governments rebuild public infrastructure such as sidewalks and downtown parking. Governor Stein continues to urge people to visit western North Carolina and support its small businesses.

    Click here to read CNBC’s report.  

    Jul 10, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady’s Meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Headline: Readout of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady’s Meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape

    Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady welcomed Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, as part of the United States’ continued focus on strengthening defense relationships across the Pacific Islands region.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Stakeholder Support for the Big, Beautiful Bill Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Stakeholder Support for the Big, Beautiful Bill Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, President Trump signed H.R. 1, the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, into law. This legislation delivers tax relief for working families and small businesses, protects nuclear energy investments, and strengthens the agriculture industry. 

    Here’s what they are saying about the Big, Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1): 

    Michelle Hennings, Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, said, “We want to recognize Congressman Newhouse’s efforts to make sure our growers have the support they need to continue supplying the nation and the world with top quality wheat. The increase in the wheat reference price will more closely match the actual cost of production, giving much-needed support to growers who are struggling to make a profit when prices are low. We are also appreciative of the Congressman’s work to protect crop insurance, making it more affordable for farmers to adequately cover their crops in the face of drought or other natural disasters.” 

    Bob Schuetz, CEO, Energy Northwest, said, “I am pleased that Congress acknowledges the key role of nuclear power for America’s energy future. While policymaking involves hard choices, Representative Newhouse has consistently championed the U.S. as a leader in advanced nuclear technology. I am excited about actively pursuing the expansion of carbon-free and reliable electricity, marking the next chapter for nuclear energy in America.” 

    Former Congressman Rodney Davis, Head of Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill not only prevented the largest tax increase on the American people in history, it made permanent critical pro-growth provisions that will enable businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses, to grow and thrive. This will strengthen America’s economy and result in greater economic prosperity for all. We thank Congressman Newhouse for his leadership and for supporting this crucial legislation.” 

    David Reeploeg, Vice President for Federal Programs, TRIDEC, said, “Congressman Newhouse worked incredibly hard to prevent nuclear energy tax credits from being removed from H.R. 1. Retaining these tax credits will help our existing nuclear energy facilities while also supporting advanced nuclear development, which is an area where we see huge opportunities for the Tri-Cities. Not only do the power plants create direct jobs, they also provide the baseload energy needed to attract industry and create even more family wage jobs. We sincerely appreciate Congressman Newhouse’s understanding of how important these tax credits, and nuclear energy, are for his district.” 

    Ted Tschirky, 2025 President, National Potato Council, and grower from Pasco, said, “We give great credit to Congressman Newhouse and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for taking the opportunity to deliver on key priorities for the specialty crop industry. The tax certainty provided by the bill, coupled with the historic enhancements in essential Farm Bill programs serving specialty crops will significantly improve our competitiveness against foreign competition well into the future.” 

    Clay Sell, CEO, X-energy, said, “For next-generation advanced nuclear companies, tax credits are more than just financial incentives—they’re a catalyst for market entry. For early movers, these credits significantly reduce capital risk, unlock private investment, and enable us to compete on a level footing with other energy technologies. Without them, commercialization slows and investor confidence erodes. With them, we’re positioned to scale faster and deliver reliable, always-on abundant power to the market.” 

    Bill Lampson, Chairman and CEO, Lampson International LLC, said, “Congressman Dan Newhouse’s support of the Big Beautiful Bill was essential for all Americans to avoid the Largest Tax Hike in history, which would have crippled future investments of all types. In our case, we have watched the construction industry struggle with the high cost of overly burdensome regulations, costly and lengthy permitting process and high taxes of all types.  The Big Beautiful Bill will allow the construction industry to flourish and create real jobs for many that would have otherwise gone without opportunity.   We are so thankful to have a Congressman who truly cares about the ability of his constituents to make a decent living and care for their families.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Statement on Secretary of Agriculture Joining CFIUS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Newhouse Statement on Secretary of Agriculture Joining CFIUS

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding placing the United States Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

    “Over the past few years, we have learned about the significant threat the Chinese Communist Party poses to our supply chains and economy here at home. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, I have worked to ensure the CCP does not take roots on American farmland and around sensitive national security sites. Today, I’m encouraged to see the Secretary of Agriculture finally take a seat at the CFIUS table, and I look forward to working with Secretary Brooke Rollins to keep the CCP out of our backyards and away from American farms.” 

    This Memorandum between the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Agriculture implements a provision Rep. Newhouse secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS.

    Specifically, it implements Section 787 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42).  

    Read the Memorandum here. 

    Background 

    Rep. Newhouse has led the effort in Congress to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS. 

    In addition to securing the provision in the appropriations legislation, Rep. Newhouse passed a bill out of the House of Representatives in September 2024 to add the Secretary to CFIUS. 

    In addition to securing the provision in the appropriations legislation, Rep. Newhouse passed a bill out of the House of Representatives in September 2024 to add the Secretary to CFIUS. 

    Rep. Newhouse is a founding member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party tasked working on a bipartisan basis to build consensus on the threat posed by the CCP and develop a plan of action to defend the American people, our economy, and our values. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Commends Latest Administrative Action Protecting Lower Snake River Dams

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Newhouse Commends Latest Administrative Action Protecting Lower Snake River Dams

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation announced the withdrawal of the Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Columbia River Systems Operations.

    “This decision is in line with what we have known for years; we can benefit from the Lower Snake River dams while working to improve salmon populations,” said Rep. Newhouse. 

    Newhouse continues, “The 2020 EIS reflects the scientific evidence, community input, and stakeholder engagement that should be at the center of these discussions. Unfortunately, the Biden administration disregarded these key parts of the process. I am glad to see this administration’s Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation reverse course and rescind the plan for a supplemental EIS targeting our dams.”  

    Background: 

    In September 2020, the “Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision” for the Columbia River System Operation Environmental Impact Statement (CRSO EIS) published by the co-lead agencies, found that the Lower Snake River Dams should not be breached. Instead, it found that efforts should be focused on improving and maintaining hydropower assets while working to improve salmon passage and conditions.

    Subsequently, in December of 2023, the Biden Administration announced a 10-year stay in the CRSO mediation, alongside the new Resilient Columbia Basin Initiative (RCBI), an agreement that provides taxpayer dollars for wild fish restoration in the Columbia Basin. The RCBI includes U.S. government commitments that are detrimental to the operations of the CRSO and include a number of initiatives designed to weaken the operation of the Lower Snake River Dams and lead to their eventual breach. One of these commitments included a review of existing environmental compliance documents and initiating any supplemental compliance documents, which the previous administration deemed necessary when it issued a notice of intent (NOI) to supplement the 2020 EIS. This all occurred without the input of key regional stakeholders and was justified through unscientific studies.

    On June 12, 2025, President Trump signed a Memorandum revoking the Biden Administration’s “Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin” Memorandum. 

    The Memorandum directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to withdraw from agreements stemming from Biden’s misguided executive action, including the December 14, 2023, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) filed in connection with related litigation. 

    Rescinding the NOI for a Supplemental EIS is the latest step in reversing the Biden administration’s executive actions targeting the Lower Snake River dams.  

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charlotte Man Sentenced For Possession Of A Machinegun

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Joshua Michael Jenkins, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced yesterday to 88 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    According to court records, on October 30, 2022, a trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol attempted to stop Jenkins for speeding on the interstate. Jenkins refused to stop and instead proceeded to drive at a high rate of speed, reaching speeds of 130 miles per hour. Court documents show that Jenkins exited the highway and ran a red light, where his vehicle collided with four other vehicles at an intersection. Jenkins then fled on foot and ran toward a shopping center. The state trooper ran after Jenkins and observed Jenkins holding a firearm in his hand, which he pointed at the trooper. Jenkins was eventually apprehended.

    According to court documents, law enforcement searched a trashcan in a parking lot nearby after a witness saw Jenkins drop something in it. Law enforcement recovered from the trashcan a Glock model 23, .40 caliber pistol, with an affixed machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch.” During the investigation, law enforcement located multiple social media posts of Jenkins posing with firearms that appeared to be equipped with Glock switches, and a video showing muzzle flash and the sound of repeated firing of an automatic weapon.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa to address the nation on security matters 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to brief the nation on national security matters on Sunday, the Presidency has announced.

    “President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 13 July 2025, address the nation on developments arising from a public statement by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that details allegations against senior political and South African Police Service leadership,” the Presidency said on Thursday.

    President Ramaphosa was attending a BRICS summit in Brazil on Sunday, 6 July 2025, when General Mkhwanazi outlined numerous allegations at a media briefing.

    “The President undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, in view of the implications for national security.

    “President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence at 19h00 on Sunday, 13 July 2025,” it said. 

    The President’s message will be broadcast and streamed on various platforms. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, WY Delegation Introduce Legislation to Modernize Wyoming School Trust Fund Investments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
    Washington, D.C. –  Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), alongside Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), today introduced the Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act, legislation to amend Wyoming’s State Act of Admission to provide the state’s permanent school land fund with enhanced investment flexibility, potentially increasing annual returns for K-12 education.
    “Wyoming’s school trust fund represents one of our state’s most valuable assets for supporting public education and the next generation of Cowboy students,” said Senator Lummis. “My legislation would allow Wyoming to modernize our investment policies while maintaining the strong protections that have served this fund for more than a century. I believe we can do better for our kids by investing that money more strategically and increasing Wyoming’s returns. That result would mean millions of dollars more every year for Wyoming classrooms, without raising taxes or touching Wyoming’s principal.”
    “Wyoming has done an incredible job investing in the future of our students,” said Senator Barrasso. “The Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act will help build on this success by giving our state more flexibility when it comes to investing our permanent school land fund. Diversifying investments of this vital fund will increase resources for students and teachers across Wyoming.”
    “Wyoming’s students deserve every opportunity we can provide, and that starts with strengthening the long-term stability of our education funding,” said Representative Hageman. “The Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act is a commonsense, forward-looking solution that honors our constitutional protections while unlocking the full potential of our permanent school land fund. By allowing for modern investment strategies, we can responsibly increase returns and better support K-12 education. This is about keeping our promises to future generations and ensuring that Wyoming’s children benefit from the resources entrusted to the state over a century ago.”
    “This long-overdue proposal is a natural extension of some of the reforms I undertook while serving as State Treasurer,” said Governor Gordon. “I support this effort to generate additional returns for Wyoming schools while preserving the permanent trust fund structure.”
    “This is a game-changer for Wyoming’s public schools,” said Superintendent Degenfelder. “By modernizing our investment policies, we are unlocking the full potential of our school trust lands. It is a common-sense solution that is anticipated to provide a sustainable increase in funding for our classrooms, without raising taxes.” 
    “Since Wyoming became a state, financial markets and investment strategies have evolved dramatically,” said Representative Bear, Wyoming House District 31. “Today, responsible and prudent management of public funds requires far more flexibility than was imaginable in 1890. Congress has both the authority and the duty to ensure that Wyoming’s state government can effectively safeguard taxpayer assets and uphold citizens’ freedoms—now and for generations to come.”
    Background:
    Wyoming’s State Act of Admission, established by Congress upon statehood in 1890, governs how the state manages federally granted school lands. Proceeds from school trust land sales, exchanges, or disposals must be deposited into a permanent land fund under strict federal regulation. Current law prohibits investing principal funds, and only accrued interest can be used for K-12 education funding.
    Wyoming’s permanent school trust fund currently holds $5.4 billion. The fund generates approximately 5% annual interest under current investment restrictions. Enhanced investment flexibility could significantly boost annual education funding without touching the principal. Proposed legislation would modernize investment policies to potentially increase returns from 5% to 8.3%.
    The bill preserves all constitutional protections for education funding while maintaining principal protection. Only investment returns can be spent, which keeps all existing controls on land disposal and exchanges unchanged, fully maintaining the longtime permanent trust fund structure. 
    Read the full bill here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Visits LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, visited LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Virginia. The visit featured a roundtable discussion on rural health care issues with hospital leadership and staff.

    “As the new chairman of the Health Subcommittee, it is my responsibility to explore policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, including those in rural communities,” said Representative Morgan Griffith.  “It is critical to assess and determine solutions that help our rural hospitals serve patients. I appreciate the dedication of LewisGale Hospital Montgomery and all of our hospitals and their interest in discussion about hospital operations and challenges.”

    “We were honored to host Congressman Griffith at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery today to discuss the challenges currently facing hospitals, especially those in rural areas,” said LewisGale Hospital Montgomery CFO Rachael Stanton.

    Pictured: Representative Griffith in discussion with LewisGale Hospital Montgomery leadership and staff.

    BACKGROUND

    This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. 

    In a recent Rules Committee hearing, Congressman Griffith committed to working with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie to analyze the status of our rural hospitals and explore improvements to health care access for rural communities.

    LewisGale Hospital Montgomery operates under HCA Healthcare.

    Other hospital health systems that serve communities in Virginia’s Ninth District include Centra Health, Carilion Clinic, Lifepoint Health, Ballad Health and Sovah Health.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith, Harshbarger Visit Lee County Community Hospital

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    Following their respective appointments as Chair and Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. Representative and Health Subcommittee Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and U.S. Representative and Health Subcommittee Vice Chair Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) made their first joint public action visiting Lee County Community Hospital. They had a roundtable discussion focused on rural health care issues with hospital leadership and staff.

    “In our new roles on the Health Subcommittee, we look forward to advancing policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, including those in rural communities,” said Representatives Griffith and Harshbarger. “It is critical to assess and determine solutions that help our rural hospitals serve patients. We thank Ballad Health for the opportunity to tour Lee County Community Hospital.”

    Pictured: Reps. Griffith and Harshbarger participate in roundtable discussion with Lee County Community Hospital leadership and staff.

    BACKGROUND

    This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Representative Harshbarger was also named Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee.

    Lee County Community Hospital, located in Pennington Gap, Virginia, operates as part of the Ballad Health system.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Visits Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, visited Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, Virginia. The visit featured a roundtable discussion on rural health care issues with hospital leadership and staff.

    “Clinch Valley Medical Center is an important health care provider for the area,” said Representative Griffith. “I visited Clinch Valley Medical Center to gain more knowledge of their needs and challenges. As the new chairman of the Health Subcommittee, I am committed to working with Congressional and industry partners to advance policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, particularly those in rural communities.”

    “Clinch Valley Health was honored to have Congressman Morgan Griffith visit with us today,” said Clinch Valley Health President and CEO Peter Mulkey.  “We had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of rural healthcare now and in the future and how we can work together with him in his new role as Chairperson of the Health subcommittee on Energy and Commerce.  I believe we both have the interest of the communities we serve in ensuring we are able to continue to provide top quality care to those that call our region home.”

    Pictured: Representative Griffith with Clinch Valley Medical Center leadership and personnel.

    BACKGROUND

    This July, Representative Griffith was named Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. 

    In a recent Rules Committee hearing, Congressman Griffith committed to working with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie to analyze the status of our rural hospitals and explore improvements to health care access for rural communities.

    Clinch Valley Medical Center operates under Lifepoint Health.

    Other hospital health systems that serve communities in Virginia’s Ninth District include Centra Health, Carilion Clinic, HCA Healthcare, Ballad Health and Sovah Health.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Hochul’s Letter to Secretary of Homeland Security

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul issued a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging the Department to make funding available to state and local governments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) as has been done every year since 2002.

    HSGP provides states, local jurisdictions and their law enforcement, public safety, homeland security and emergency management officials with critical resources to further their preparedness and response capabilities. Without these resources, first responders and frontline emergency management operation teams will be unable to access state-of-the-art training, the latest advancements in equipment and the ability to seamlessly share and analyze intelligence with each other.

    As the threat of terrorism increases amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, it is essential that the federal government ensures the availability of funding for all essential components of counterterrorism efforts.

    The full text of the letter is below:

    Dear Secretary Noem:

    As Governor, my chief responsibility is ensuring the safety and security of New York State and all its residents. Not only does New York face the nation’s most diverse threat landscape, but with numerous economic, governmental, and recreational assets, it remains the nation’s top target for terrorism. In recent months, that threat has only grown given the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, making it essential that the federal government, specifically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ensure the availability of critical homeland security funding to states and local governments.

    I am deeply troubled that DHS has yet to make funding available to states and local governments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) as it has every year since 2002.

    On June 22, 2025, DHS issued a bulletin through the National Terrorism Advisory System notifying Americans of the heightened threat environment our nation faces due to our recent involvement in the ongoing conflict between the nations of Israel and Iran. As noted in the bulletin:

    “….Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020. The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.”

    As home to the country’s largest economic center, and the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, these threats put New York communities at a greater risk than perhaps anywhere else in the nation. Thankfully, since your agency’s inception, New York and DHS have maintained a strong partnership to counter these threats. This partnership has been essential to ensure that the State and local governments and their public safety agencies have the funding and resources needed to prepare for, mitigate, prevent and withstand terrorist threats and targeted violence.

    One core component of this partnership has been DHS’ Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). In 2024, New York received $219.9 million in HSGP funding, $156.1 million of which was allocated through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) for jurisdictions in the New York City Metro Area, principally the New York Police Department. In 2023, New York received $244.7 million with $173.9 million allocated through UASI.

    HSGP provides states, local jurisdictions and their law enforcement, public safety, homeland security and emergency management officials with critical resources to further their preparedness and response capabilities. Without these resources, the heroic men and women who continuously put their lives on the line to protect their fellow Americans are unable to access state of the art training, the latest advancements in equipment and the ability to seamlessly share and analyze intelligence with each other – all essential components of counterterrorism efforts.

    Furthermore, HSGP funding is vital to securing and maintaining critical infrastructure assets (transportation hubs, power grids, water systems, communication networks) which are top targets of nefarious actors, as well as to assist local law enforcement with border security via Operation Stonegarden. Through Operation Stonegarden, jurisdictions along international borders receive direct funding to not only enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, but to support joint operations. As a state with a 445-mile international border, security of this boundary is of the utmost importance to me. To that end, I have secured $8 million in state funds, as well as dedicated State Police and other public safety resources to support this federal mission.

    Any further delays in the availability of HSGP will degrade the capabilities of our nation to prevent terrorism and make us less safe at a time when the variety and severity of security threats continue to grow.

    I urge you to release the FY2025 HSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity immediately and help ensure our nation remains ready and able to defend ourselves against anyone seeking to threaten our way of life.

    Sincerely,
    Governor Kathy Hochul

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: STMicroelectronics and Metalenz Sign a New License Agreement to Accelerate Metasurface Optics Adoption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    T4717D

    STMicroelectronics and Metalenz Sign a New License Agreement to Accelerate Metasurface Optics Adoption

    • New license agreement enabling the proliferation of metasurface optics across high-volume consumer, automotive and industrial markets: from smartphone applications like biometrics, LIDAR and camera assist, to robotics, gesture recognition, or object detection.
    • The agreement broadens ST’s capability to use Metalenz IP to produce advanced metasurface optics while leveraging ST’s unique technology and manufacturing platform combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production, test and qualification.

    Geneva, Switzerland, and Boston, MA, USA – July 10, 2025 — STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and Metalenz, the pioneer of metasurface optics, announced a new license agreement. The agreement broadens ST’s capability to use Metalenz IP to produce advanced metasurface optics while leveraging ST’s unique technology and manufacturing platform combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production, test and qualification.

    “STMicroelectronics is the unique supplier on the market offering a groundbreaking combination of optics and semiconductor technology. Since 2022, we have shipped well over 140 million metasurface optics and FlightSense™ modules using Metalenz IP. The new license agreement with Metalenz bolsters our technology leadership in consumer, industrial and automotive segments, and will enable new opportunities from smartphone applications like biometrics, LIDAR and camera assist, to robotics, gesture recognition, or object detection,” underlined Alexandre Balmefrezol, Executive Vice President and General Manager of STMicroelectronics’s Imaging Sub-Group. “Our unique model, processing optical technology in our 300mm semiconductor fab, ensures high precision, cost-effectiveness, and scalability to meet the requests of our customers for high-volume, complex applications.”

    “Our agreement with STMicroelectronics has the potential to further fast-track the adoption of metasurfaces from their origins at Harvard to adoption by market leading consumer electronics companies,” said Rob Devlin, co-founder and CEO of Metalenz. “By enabling the shift of optics production into semiconductor manufacturing, this agreement has the possibility to further redefine the sensing ecosystem. As use cases for 3D sensing continue to expand, ST’s technology leadership in the market together with our IP leadership solidifies ST and Metalenz as the dominant forces in the emergent metasurface market we created.”

    The new license agreement aims to address the growing market opportunity for metasurface optics projected to experience significant growth to reach $2B by 2029*; largely driven by the industry’s role in emerging display and imaging applications. (*Yole Group, Optical Metasurfaces, 2024 report)

    Note to editors
    In 2022, metasurface technology from Metalenz, which spun out of Harvard and holds the exclusive license rights to the foundational Harvard metasurface patent portfolio, debuted with ST’s market leading direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) FlightSense modules.

    Replacing the traditional lens stacks and shifting to metasurface optics instead has improved the optical performance and temperature stability of the FlightSense modules while reducing their size and complexity.

    The use of 300mm wafers ensures high precision and performance in optical applications, as well as the inherent scalability and robustness advantage of semiconductor manufacturing process.

    About STMicroelectronics
    At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027.
    Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    About Metalenz
    Metalenz is at the forefront of driving innovation in optics with metasurface technology, providing solutions that redefine the possibilities of mobile imaging and sensing. Metalenz is the first company to bring metasurfaces to mass markets, with millions of its meta-optics already integrated in consumer devices, combining the functionality of three or four complex lenses and components into a single flat device, mass produced in existing semiconductor foundries. The company’s first full system solution, Polar ID, is a groundbreaking, ultra-secure, small, and affordable face unlock solution for mobile that harnesses the unique polarized light sorting capabilities of metasurfaces, enabling mobile devices to see beyond the limits of current visual systems. metalenz.com

    CONTACTS

    STMicroelectronics

    INVESTOR RELATIONS
    Jérôme Ramel
    EVP Corporate Development & Integrated External Communication
    Tel: +41.22.929.59.20
    jerome.ramel@st.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS
    Alexis Breton
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
    alexis.breton@st.com

    Metalenz

    Carly Glovinski
    Sr. Marketing Manager
    media@metalenz.com

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau monitoring Interac’s commitment on e-transfer pricing

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Changes will help smaller banks compete by levelling the playing field in the financial services sector

    July 10, 2025 – GATINEAU (Québec), Competition Bureau 

    The Competition Bureau is monitoring Interac’s commitment to change its wholesale e-transfer pricing structure from volume-based to a flat-fee, which is set to take place on November 1, 2025. Interac charges banks, credit unions and other financial institutions a wholesale fee for each e-transfer that their customers make.

    Interac’s current tiered, volume-based pricing provides significant discounts to financial institutions that process large volumes of e-transfers. This benefits Canada’s largest banks who process hundreds of millions of
    e-transfers each year but burdens smaller financial institutions with higher costs because they operate at a much lower volume.

    Flat-fee pricing for e-transfers, where financial institutions of all sizes pay the same rate, will help level the playing field. This will support more competition and innovation in Canada’s financial services sector. More competition will allow Canadians to benefit from greater choice, lower prices and better service.

    The Bureau will continue to monitor Interac’s e-transfer pricing and business practices to ensure they comply with the Competition Act. Businesses that have a dominant position in the market must not misuse their market power to create an unfair competitive advantage and hurt competition.

    The Bureau urges Canadians to use the online complaint form to report any potential anti-competitive behaviour related to Interac’s commitment or its conduct in the marketplace.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Plenty of Water in Prairie Potholes

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Surface water in the prairie potholes is highly responsive to both air temperature and precipitation (Renton et al., 2105). In addition, a strong connection between groundwater and potholes is described as filling and subsequently spilling (Vanderhoof et al., 2016). When aquifers are full, surface water recedes slowly. Throughout the Dakotas, recent wet periods may be a part of natural variability that is likely to be repeated over longer time spans (Nustad et al., 2016; Ryberg et al., 2016; Liu and Schwartz, 2011). 

    Thirty-nine years of Annual NLCD land cover provide two good visual examples of prairie pothole flooding events: the Devils Lake area in northeastern North Dakota and Day County in northeastern South Dakota. Lakes, potholes and wetlands in those areas saw large increases in open water (Newsdakota.com, 2020). The James River, a tributary to the Missouri River that flows through Day County, also had recent flooding events (NASA, 2020).

    Right: This map shows open water in North Dakota and South Dakota from 1985 to 2023. The colors indicate whether the open water areas gained or lost water, fluctuated between gains and losses or remained unchanged during that time period. Areas of special interest to this article are Devils Lake in North Dakota and Waubay Lake and Bitter Lake in South Dakota.

    References:

    Auch, R.F., 2015. Chapter 7, northern glaciated plains ecoregion.In Status and Trends of Land Change in the Great Plains of the United States—1973 to 2000, Taylor, J.L., Acevedo, W., Auch, R.F., and Drummond, M.A. pp. 69-76. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1794-B, Reston, Va. 

    Baulch, H.M., Elliott, J.A., Corderio, M.R.C., Flaten, D.N., Lobb, D.A., and Wilson, H.F., 2019. Soil and water management: opportunities to mitigate nutrient losses to surface waters in the Northern Great Plains. Environ. Rev. 27: 447–477.https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/er-2018-0101

    Blackwell, B.G., Smith, B.J., Kaufman, T.M., and Moos, T.S., 2020. Use of a restrictive regulation to manage walleyes in a new glacial lake in South Dakota. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 40:1202–1215.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nafm.10486

    Damschen, W.C., and Galloway, J.M., 2016, Water-surface elevation and discharge measurement data for the Red River of the North and its tributaries near Fargo, North Dakota, water years 2014–15: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1139, 16 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20161139

    Hoogestraat, G.K., and Stamm, J.F., 2015, Climate and streamflow characteristics for selected streamgages in eastern South Dakota, water years 1945–2013; U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5146, 35 p., with appendix, https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20155146

    Johnston, C.A., 2013, Wetland Losses Due to Row Crop Expansion in the Dakota Prairie Pothole Region; Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications, 95.https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nrm_pubs/95/  

    Liu, G. and Schwartz, F.W., 2011, An integrated observational and model-based analysis of the hydrologic response of prairie pothole systems to variability in climate; Water Resources Research, 47, W02504,https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2010WR009084

    NASA, 2020,https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146515/relentless-floods  

    Newsdakota.com, 2020,https://www.newsdakota.com/2020/08/07/excess-water-continues-to-plague-prairie-pothole-region/   

    National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA), 2025, Climate at a Glance: National Time Series, published May 2025, accessed May 8, 2025, from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/national/time-series 

    Nustad, R.A., Kolars, K.A., Vecchia, A.V., and Ryberg, K.R., 2016, 2011 Souris River flood—Will it happen again?; U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016–3073, 4 p.,https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/fs20163073

    Renton, D.A., Mushet, D.M., and DeKeyser, E.S., 2015, Climate change and prairie pothole wetlands—Mitigating water-level and hydroperiod effects through upland management: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5004, 21 p.,https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20155004  

    Ryberg, K.R., Vecchia, A.V., Akyüz, F.A., and Lin, W., 2016, Tree-ring-based estimates of long-term seasonal precipitation in the Souris River Region of Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Manitoba, Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressources hydriques, 41:3, 412-428, 17 p., https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07011784.2016.1164627  

    Shapley, M.D., Johnson, W.C., Engstrom, D.R., and Osterkamp, W.R., 2005, Late-Holocene flooding and drought in the Northern Great Plains, USA, reconstructed from tree rings, lake sediments and ancient shorelines. The Holocene, 15 (1): 29-41.

    Todhunter, P.E. 2018, A volumetric water budget of Devils Lake (USA): non-stationary precipitation–runoff relationships in an amplifier terminal lake. Hydrological Sciences Journal, vol. 63 (9):1275–1291. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02626667.2018.1494385

    Todhunter, P.E., 2021, Hydrological basis of the Devils Lake, North Dakota (USA), terminal lake flood disaster. Nat Hazards 106, 2797–2824 (2021).https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-021-04567-2  

    USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, 2022, Lake levels rise: U.S. Geological Survey Earthshots webpage, 2022, accessed online 6/26/2025, athttps://eros.usgs.gov/earthshots/lake-levels-rise  

    Vanderhoof, M.K., Alexander, L.C., and Todd, M.J., 2016a, Temporal and spatial patterns of wetland extent influence variability of surface water connectivity in the Prairie Pothole Region, United States; Landscape Ecology 31, 805–824 (2016). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10980-015-0290-5

    Vanderhoof, M.K., and Alexander, L.C., 2016b, The Role of Lake Expansion in Altering the Wetland Landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region, United States; Wetlands 36 (Suppl 2), 309–321. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-015-0728-1

    Vanderhoof, M.K., Christensen, J.R. and Alexander, L.C., 2017, Patterns and drivers for wetland connections in the Prairie Pothole Region, United States; Wetlands Ecology and Management 25, 275–297. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11273-016-9516-9

    Vecchia, Aldo V., 2011, Simulation of the effects of Devils Lake outlet alternatives on future lake levels and water quality in the Sheyenne River and Red River of the North; 2011; SIR; 2011-5050.

    Wimberly, M.C., Janssen, L.L., Hennessy, D.A., Luri, M., Chowdhury, N.M., and Feng, H., 2017, Cropland expansion and grassland loss in the eastern Dakotas: New insights from a farm-level survey; Land Use Policy, Volume 63, Pages 160-173.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Applied Systems Recognized for Being a Great Place to Work

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, IL., July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems® today announced that the company earned multiple honors for its commitment to creating an outstanding employee experience. For the second year, Applied received the Great Place To Work® Certification™, the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve and the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace.

    As eligible by its Great Place To Work® Certification, Applied was also ranked #14 on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Chicago™ 2025 list. This list highlights organizations excelling in creating positive, inclusive, and engaging environments.

    Applied Systems has also been recognized with rankings on multiple Newsweek Greatest Workplaces lists. These lists are backed by a rigorous, independent study conducted by Newsweek and market research firm Plant-A Insights, highlighting organizations committed to workplace excellence. The lists include:

    • America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women 2025  
    • America’s Greatest Workplaces for Mental Wellbeing 2025  
    • America’s Greatest Workplaces for Gen Z 2025  
    • America’s Greatest Workplaces 2025  
    • America’s Greatest Workplaces Parents & Families 2025

    “We are honored to receive recognition for the workplace we have built as Team Applied,” said Bridget Penney, chief people officer, Applied Systems. “The Great Place to Work Certification and rankings on the Fortune and Newsweek lists demonstrate our commitment to upholding a culture developed on values that make us indispensable to each other and our customers.”

    # # #

    The Applied products and logos are trademarks of Applied Systems, Inc., registered in the U.S.

    About Applied Systems
    Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Moomoo Midyear 2025 Investor Survey Findings: Investors Take a Neutral Stance, Expect More Volatility in the Second Half

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The intuitive investment and trading platform moomoo has recently completed a 2025 second quarter North American users survey. Similar to last year, moomoo surveyed its users halfway through the year to find out how their investing journey has progressed to-date this year and learn what their expectations for the second half will be. Results showed that the investors in the survey take a neutral stance and expect more volatility in the second half. Many investors are growth focused and confident in meeting their investment goals despite poor consumer sentiment about the economy.

    Investors anticipate just a few cuts from the Fed in 2025 despite expectations of a possible recession and rising unemployment. As they are using several apps to invest, they want information available at their fingertips. New features like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and extended hours trading are gaining traction.

    Markets climbed a wall of worry after an initial tariff fueled selloff at the beginning of the year to finish modestly in the green and near all-time highs. Overall, investors held on through the dip and emerged in a solid financial position at the end of the half. As of June 30, the S&P 500 index gained 5.5%, the tech heavy Nasdaq 100 index was up 7.9% and the Magnificent Seven index gained 2.5%. Moomoo surveyed 1,200 of its users in North America halfway through the year to find out how their investing journey has progressed and what their expectations for the second half will be. Overall, investors remain positive but are striking a more cautionary tone as uncertainly over the economy and tariffs are expected to lead to more volatility. In addition, moomoo’s investors in Canada are closely watching political developments both at home and in the US and adjusting their investing plans accordingly.

    “While more investors report having made money in 2025 compared with the same period last year, the uncertainty surrounding inflation drives mixed reactions among users. However, investors trade more often with a more diversified portfolio and goals. Even though they are expecting more volatility in the second half, investors believe trading through self-direct platforms help them achieve their financial freedom goals,” said Justin Zacks, Vice President of Strategy, Moomoo Technologies Inc.

    About the Survey:

    The Q2 Moomoo Users survey was conducted in June 2024. The survey included approximately 1,000 participants in the US and 200 in Canada that are registered users of the moomoo app. The data shown in the survey represents the opinion of those surveyed and may change based on the market and other conditions. The survey results provided herein may not represent other customers’ experience, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success and should also not be construed as investment advice. Experiences may differ than the ones represented here. Investing involves risks regardless of the strategy selected.

    This whitepaper is for informational and educational use only and is not a recommendation or endorsement of any particular investment or investment strategy. Past investment performance does not indicate or guarantee future success. You should consider the appropriateness of this information having regard to your relevant personal circumstances before making any investment decisions.

    Moomoo is a financial information and trading app offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. In the U.S., Investment products and services on Moomoo are offered by Moomoo Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

    About moomoo

    Moomoo is an investment and trading platform that empowers global investors with pro-grade, easy-to-use tools, data, and insights. It provides users with the necessary information and technology to make more informed investment decisions. Investors have access to advanced charting tools, technical analytics, and in-depth data. Moomoo grows with its users, cultivating a community where investors share, learn, and grow together in one place. Moomoo provides free access to investment courses, educational materials, and interactive events that any investor, at any level, can gain from. Users can join forum discussions, trending topics, and seminars to better their investment knowledge and insights.

    The moomoo app is offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. (“MTI”) a company that is based in Jersey City, New Jersey. The app is used globally in countries including the U.S., Singapore, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Canada. MTI is not a broker-dealer and does not provide investment advice or recommendations. In the U.S., securities products and services are offered by Moomoo Financial Inc. (“MFI”), an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC. MTI and MFI are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Futu Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: FUTU).

    For more information, please visit moomoo’s official website at www.moomoo.com/us or feel free to email: pr@us.moomoo.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d32e64b-3806-4aa1-84ba-0235456d9e21

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Diane Winston, Professor and Knight Center Chair in Media & Religion, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

    Rev. Jimmy Swaggart preaches at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on March 29, 1987. AP Photo/Mark Avery, file

    Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most popular and enduring of the 1980s televangelists, died on July 1, 2025, but his legacy lives.

    Along with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, he drew an audience in the millions, amassed a personal fortune and introduced a new generation of Americans to a potent mix of religion and politics.

    Swaggart was an old-time evangelist whose focus was “saving souls.” But he also preached on conservative social issues, warning followers about the evils of abortion, homosexuality and godless communism.

    [Swaggart also denounced] what he called “false cults,” including Catholicism, Judaism and Mormonism. In fact, his denunciations of other religions, as well as his attacks on rival preachers, made him a more polarizing figure than his politicized brethren.

    As a reporter, I covered Swaggart in the 1980s. Now, as a scholar of American religion, I argue that while Swaggart did not build institutions like Falwell’s Moral Majority or Robertson’s 700 Club, he helped to spread right-wing positions on social issues, such as sexual orientation and abortion, and to shape the image of televangelists in popular culture..

    Swaggart’s cousins

    Born into a hardscrabble life in a small Louisiana town, Swaggart grew up alongside his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, the future rockabilly pioneer, and future country singer Mickey Gilley.

    All three loved music and singing. They polished their playing on an uncle’s piano and sneaked into African American nightclubs to hear the jazz and blues forbidden by their parents.

    Jimmy Swaggart delivering a sermon at the Flora Blanca Stadium in El Salvador.
    Cindy Karp/Getty Images

    While Gilley and Lewis turned their musical talent into recording and performing careers, Swaggart felt called to the ministry. He dropped out of high school, married at 17, began preaching at 20 and was ordained at 26.

    He was licensed by the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination that believes the Holy Spirit endows believers with spiritual gifts that include speaking in tongues and faith healing.

    The glory years

    Pentecostals were nicknamed Holy Rollers because of their tendency to shake, quake and roll on the floor when feeling the Holy Spirit. Their preachers excelled at rousing audiences’ ardor, and Swaggart commanded the stage better than most. He paced, pounced and poured forth sweat while begging listeners to turn from sin and accept Jesus.

    Starting small, he drew crowds while preaching on a flatbed trailer throughout the South. His following grew, and in 1969 he opened the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge.

    Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart leaves his office complex in Baton Rouge, La., on Jan. 7, 1977.
    AP Photo

    At capacity, the church held 10,000 worshippers, who represented a broad swath of America: young girls and grannies, white and Black, bankers and farmers. His sermons began calmly but built to a fever pitch. CBS newsman Dan Rather once called him the “country’s greatest speaker.”

    During services, Swaggart also sang and played piano. In 1982, Newsweek magazine noted his musical chops, naming him the “King of Honky Tonk Heaven.” His music crossed gospel, country and honky-tonk – songs with a strong rhythmic beat – and he sold 17 million albums over his lifetime.

    By 1975, Swaggart’s on-stage charisma powered the launch of a television ministry that would reach millions within a decade. Viewers were captivated by his soulful tunes and fire-and-brimstone sermons. At its height, Swaggart’s show was televised in 140 countries, including Peru, the Philippines and South Africa.

    His ministry also became the largest mail-order business in Louisiana, selling books, tapes, T-shirts and biblical memorabilia. Thanks to the US$150 million raised annually from donations and sales, Swaggart lived in an opulent mansion, possessed a private jet previously owned by the Rockefellers, sported a yellow gold vintage Rolex and drove a Jaguar.

    The downfall

    Swaggart disliked competition and had a history of humiliating rival preachers. Wary of the Rev. Marvin Gorman, a Pentecostal minister whose church also was in Louisiana, Swaggart accused the man of adultery. Gorman admitted his infidelity and was defrocked.

    Gorman had heard rumors about Swaggart’s own indiscretions, and he and his son decided to tail the famed evangelist. In 1988, they caught Swaggart at a motel with a prostitute, and Gorman reported the incident to Swaggart’s denomination. He also gave news outlets photos of Swaggart and the prostitute. In a tearful, televised apology, Swaggart pleaded for a second chance.

    While his fans were willing, the Assemblies of God had conditions: Swaggart received the standard two-year suspension for sexual immorality. Defying the ruling, Swaggart went back to work after three months, and the denomination defrocked him.

    A parishioner overcome with grief lies on steps to the altar after Jimmy Swaggart’s confession of sexual indiscretions.
    Thomas S. England/Getty Images

    Swaggart might have succeeded as an independent minister, but in 1991 the police stopped his car for driving on the wrong side of the road. Inside they found the preacher with a prostitute. This time, Swaggart did not ask for forgiveness. Instead, he informed his congregation, “The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.”

    Afterward, Swaggart never regained his former standing. His mail-order business dried up, donations fell, and attendance at services cratered. But up until his death, he kept on, in his own words, as an “old-fashioned, Holy Ghost-filled, shouting, weeping, soul-winning, Gospel-preaching preacher.”

    Swaggart’s legacy

    Swaggart, like other 1980s televangelists, brought right-wing politics into American homes. But unlike Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, Swaggart was less interested in winning elections than saving souls. In fact, when Robertson considered a presidential run in 1988, Swaggart initially tried to dissuade him – then changed his mind and supported him.

    Swaggart’s calls for a return to conservative Christian norms live on – not just in Sunday sermons but also in today’s world of tradwives, abortion restrictions and calls to repeal gay marriage. His music lives on, too. The day before he died, the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame inducted him as a member.

    But his legacy also survives in popular culture. In recent years, both reality television and scripted series have starred preachers shaped in the image of Swaggart and his peers. Most exaggerate his worst characteristics for shock and comedic effect.

    “Preachers of L.A.,” a 2013 reality show that profiled six Los Angeles pastors, featured blinged-out ministers whose sermons mixed hip-hop with the Bible. The fictional “Greenleaf” followed the scandals of an extended family’s Memphis megachurch, while “The Righteous Gemstones,” a dark spoof of Southern preachers, turned a family ministry into a site for sex, murder and moneymaking.

    But these imitations can’t match the reality. Swaggart was a larger-than-life minister whose story – from small-town wannabe to disgraced pastor, to preaching to those who would listen – had it all: sex, politics, music and religion.

    For those who want a taste of the real thing, The King of Honky Tonk Heaven lives on. You can see his old services and Bible studies streaming daily on his network.

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

    – ref. Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism – https://theconversation.com/jimmy-swaggarts-rise-and-fall-shaped-the-landscape-of-american-televangelism-260377

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Wildfire smoke can make your outdoor workout hazardous to your health – an exercise scientist explains how to gauge the risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By John C. Quindry, Professor of Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training, University of Montana

    Air pollution from wildfire smoke can worsen heart and lung disease. helivideo/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    As the summer’s sunny days take hold, many people turn to outdoor exercise.

    But in parts of North America, pleasant weather often aligns with wildfire season. As summers get drier, both the frequency and the intensity of wildfires have grown, producing more polluting smoke.

    A fire’s smoke can spread across several states, leaving people at risk for the health consequences of air pollution.

    Exercisers and health experts are asking whether the benefits of outdoor exercise are negated when the skies are hazy with wildfire smoke.

    How does air pollution make people sick?

    Air pollution’s components depend on its source. For instance, traffic-related air pollution consists largely of vehicle exhaust and brake and tire wear, while industrial pollution contains significant amounts of ozone.

    Wildfires produce huge quantities of airborne particles, also called fine particulate matter. These particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – about a tenth the size of a pollen grain.

    Particles of that size, which air quality experts refer to as PM2.5, raise serious health concerns because they are tiny enough to be carried to the air sacs in the deepest parts of the lungs. From there, they can cross into the blood stream, leading to bodywide inflammation – essentially, the immune system’s fight response – which can promote or aggravate multiple chronic illnesses.

    Research shows that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to lung diseases, heart disease and other conditions. Since these illnesses take decades to develop, scientists think that the health problems caused by wildfire smoke inhalation accumulate after years of exposure.

    One-time smoke exposures may have cumulative effects

    My research team and others are investigating how short-term smoke exposure might also influence long-term health outcomes such as heart and lung diseases.

    Particulate matter from wildfire smoke can aggravate chronic illnesses.

    To estimate the effects of exposure from a single fire event, environmental scientists can study a variety of factors such as immune system markers of inflammation, signs of physiologic stress and changes in heart, blood vessel and nervous system function. How exactly smoke exposures worsen disease is still poorly understood, but these immediate responses in the body may also be linked to developing chronic disease.

    In a study published in June 2025, my colleagues and I examined these outcomes in healthy participants who exercised during a wildfire simulation in our air inhalation lab. The air was filtered to contain high concentrations of PM2.5 particles produced by burning local pine trees – the equivalent to being downwind of a major wildfire.

    We asked 20 generally healthy participants in their mid-20s to exercise on a stationary cycle at about half their maximum effort for two hours while breathing the smoke. We found that participants’ blood vessel and nervous system function declined immediately after their smoky exercise session. These stress indicators bounced back to normal within an hour of returning to a clean air environment.

    Half of our study participants had a heightened response to physiological stress, which scientists think may signify a heightened risk of chronic diseases. We selected them based on a stress test administered before the experiment: Specifically, their blood pressure spiked when their hands were dipped in ice water for two minutes. The stress-responsive participants experienced significantly stronger declines in blood vessel and nervous system function than people in the typical response group, suggesting that exercise in a very smoky climate may affect some people more than others.

    While it isn’t possible to predict who is most at risk, our study underscores the need to think carefully about exposure to wildfire smoke.

    How smoky is too smoky for outdoor exercise?

    Unfortunately, precise air quality thresholds based on factors such as age and medical condition do not exist. But some simple guidelines and considerations can help.

    The first step is to check the air quality where you live at the government website AirNow. It uses a scale called the Air Quality Index, created by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1999 – which ranks air quality regionally on a scale from 0 to 500. The website is searchable by ZIP code. The reading for a given region reflects the contribution of several pollutants, including PM2.5 levels.

    The Air Quality Index ranks air quality at six levels.
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

    When the air quality is ranked “good,” the decision is simple – get out there and enjoy the outdoors. And there is little debate that people should generally limit their outdoor exposure when air quality levels cross into the “unhealthy” threshold – or at least be aware that doing so poses health risks.

    The risks and benefits of exercising outdoors when air quality is in the “moderate” and “unhealthy for sensitive” ranges are less clear, particularly for people who don’t have chronic health conditions.

    Gauging your risk

    One major factor in deciding when and whether to exercise outdoors is your health status. AirNow recommends that people with chronic conditions err on the side of caution and remain indoors when smoke levels cause the air quality rating to approach the “unhealthy for sensitive” category.

    That advice may be obvious for people with diagnosed lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, given that particles from wildfire smoke aggravate the lungs. But studies suggest it’s true for milder disease states, too. For example, a large study of people with elevated but not clinically high blood pressure indicated that those who lived downwind of air pollution were more likely to develop high blood pressure and, ultimately, heart disease.

    Another consideration is the time of day. As the afternoon heats up, the column of air we breathe expands, diluting the particulate counts. And afternoon winds frequently blow stagnant air out of the valleys and downtown areas where particulate matter can concentrate during the cooler parts of the day. That means evening workouts may be safer than early-morning ones, though direct confirmation with air quality readings is key.

    Also important is the intensity at which you exercise. Higher-intensity exercise means deeper, more frequent breathing, which likely elevates your exposure to harmful air. So you might choose a shorter jog over a longer run when air quality is moderate or poor.

    My lab is currently working to quantify how much pollution a person breathes in while exercising in smoky conditions, based on their exercise intensity, exercise duration and local particulate counts. This line of research is still in its infancy, but our early findings and other published research suggest that when wildfire smoke puts air quality into the “moderate” and “unhealthy for sensitive” range, people can dial down the effects of smoke exposure by decreasing their exercise intensity or the time they spend outside.

    John C. Quindry received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the National Institutes of Health – INBRE/RAIN.

    – ref. Wildfire smoke can make your outdoor workout hazardous to your health – an exercise scientist explains how to gauge the risk – https://theconversation.com/wildfire-smoke-can-make-your-outdoor-workout-hazardous-to-your-health-an-exercise-scientist-explains-how-to-gauge-the-risk-255812

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health?

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Pooja Shree Chettiar, Ph.D. Candidate in Medical Sciences, Texas A&M University

    Chatbot ‘therapists’ use artificial intelligence to mimic real-life therapeutic conversations. Pooja Shree Chettiar/ChatGPT, CC BY-SA

    Recently, I found myself pouring my heart out, not to a human, but to a chatbot named Wysa on my phone. It nodded – virtually – asked me how I was feeling and gently suggested trying breathing exercises.

    As a neuroscientist, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was I actually feeling better, or was I just being expertly redirected by a well-trained algorithm? Could a string of code really help calm a storm of emotions?

    Artificial intelligence-powered mental health tools are becoming increasingly popular – and increasingly persuasive. But beneath their soothing prompts lie important questions: How effective are these tools? What do we really know about how they work? And what are we giving up in exchange for convenience?

    Of course it’s an exciting moment for digital mental health. But understanding the trade-offs and limitations of AI-based care is crucial.

    Stand-in meditation and therapy apps and bots

    AI-based therapy is a relatively new player in the digital therapy field. But the U.S. mental health app market has been booming for the past few years, from apps with free tools that text you back to premium versions with an added feature that gives prompts for breathing exercises.

    Headspace and Calm are two of the most well-known meditation and mindfulness apps, offering guided meditations, bedtime stories and calming soundscapes to help users relax and sleep better. Talkspace and BetterHelp go a step further, offering actual licensed therapists via chat, video or voice. The apps Happify and Moodfit aim to boost mood and challenge negative thinking with game-based exercises.

    Somewhere in the middle are chatbot therapists like Wysa and Woebot, using AI to mimic real therapeutic conversations, often rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. These apps typically offer free basic versions, with paid plans ranging from US$10 to $100 per month for more comprehensive features or access to licensed professionals.

    While not designed specifically for therapy, conversational tools like ChatGPT have sparked curiosity about AI’s emotional intelligence.

    Some users have turned to ChatGPT for mental health advice, with mixed outcomes, including a widely reported case in Belgium where a man died by suicide after months of conversations with a chatbot. Elsewhere, a father is seeking answers after his son was fatally shot by police, alleging that distressing conversations with an AI chatbot may have influenced his son’s mental state. These cases raise ethical questions about the role of AI in sensitive situations.

    Guided meditation apps were one of the first forms of digital therapy.
    IsiMS/E+ via Getty Images

    Where AI comes in

    Whether your brain is spiraling, sulking or just needs a nap, there’s a chatbot for that. But can AI really help your brain process complex emotions? Or are people just outsourcing stress to silicon-based support systems that sound empathetic?

    And how exactly does AI therapy work inside our brains?

    Most AI mental health apps promise some flavor of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is basically structured self-talk for your inner chaos. Think of it as Marie Kondo-ing, the Japanese tidying expert known for helping people keep only what “sparks joy.” You identify unhelpful thought patterns like “I’m a failure,” examine them, and decide whether they serve you or just create anxiety.

    But can a chatbot help you rewire your thoughts? Surprisingly, there’s science suggesting it’s possible. Studies have shown that digital forms of talk therapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially for mild to moderate cases. In fact, Woebot has published peer-reviewed research showing reduced depressive symptoms in young adults after just two weeks of chatting.

    These apps are designed to simulate therapeutic interaction, offering empathy, asking guided questions and walking you through evidence-based tools. The goal is to help with decision-making and self-control, and to help calm the nervous system.

    The neuroscience behind cognitive behavioral therapy is solid: It’s about activating the brain’s executive control centers, helping us shift our attention, challenge automatic thoughts and regulate our emotions.

    The question is whether a chatbot can reliably replicate that, and whether our brains actually believe it.

    A user’s experience, and what it might mean for the brain

    “I had a rough week,” a friend told me recently. I asked her to try out a mental health chatbot for a few days. She told me the bot replied with an encouraging emoji and a prompt generated by its algorithm to try a calming strategy tailored to her mood. Then, to her surprise, it helped her sleep better by week’s end.

    As a neuroscientist, I couldn’t help but ask: Which neurons in her brain were kicking in to help her feel calm?

    This isn’t a one-off story. A growing number of user surveys and clinical trials suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy-based chatbot interactions can lead to short-term improvements in mood, focus and even sleep. In randomized studies, users of mental health apps have reported reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety – outcomes that closely align with how in-person cognitive behavioral therapy influences the brain.

    Several studies show that therapy chatbots can actually help people feel better. In one clinical trial, a chatbot called “Therabot” helped reduce depression and anxiety symptoms by nearly half – similar to what people experience with human therapists. Other research, including a review of over 80 studies, found that AI chatbots are especially helpful for improving mood, reducing stress and even helping people sleep better. In one study, a chatbot outperformed a self-help book in boosting mental health after just two weeks.

    While people often report feeling better after using these chatbots, scientists haven’t yet confirmed exactly what’s happening in the brain during those interactions. In other words, we know they work for many people, but we’re still learning how and why.

    AI chatbots don’t cost what a human therapist costs – and they’re available 24/7.

    Red flags and risks

    Apps like Wysa have earned FDA Breakthrough Device designation, a status that fast-tracks promising technologies for serious conditions, suggesting they may offer real clinical benefit. Woebot, similarly, runs randomized clinical trials showing improved depression and anxiety symptoms in new moms and college students.

    While many mental health apps boast labels like “clinically validated” or “FDA approved,” those claims are often unverified. A review of top apps found that most made bold claims, but fewer than 22% cited actual scientific studies to back them up.

    In addition, chatbots collect sensitive information about your mood metrics, triggers and personal stories. What if that data winds up in third-party hands such as advertisers, employers or hackers, a scenario that has occurred with genetic data? In a 2023 breach, nearly 7 million users of the DNA testing company 23andMe had their DNA and personal details exposed after hackers used previously leaked passwords to break into their accounts. Regulators later fined the company more than $2 million for failing to protect user data.

    Unlike clinicians, bots aren’t bound by counseling ethics or privacy laws regarding medical information. You might be getting a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, but you’re also feeding a database.

    And sure, bots can guide you through breathing exercises or prompt cognitive reappraisal, but when faced with emotional complexity or crisis, they’re often out of their depth. Human therapists tap into nuance, past trauma, empathy and live feedback loops. Can an algorithm say “I hear you” with genuine understanding? Neuroscience suggests that supportive human connection activates social brain networks that AI can’t reach.

    So while in mild to moderate cases bot-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy may offer short-term symptom relief, it’s important to be aware of their limitations. For the time being, pairing bots with human care – rather than replacing it – is the safest move.

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

    – ref. The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health? – https://theconversation.com/the-ai-therapist-will-see-you-now-can-chatbots-really-improve-mental-health-259360

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: How weather changes cause migraines – a neurologist explains the triggers and what you can do to ease the pain

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Danielle Wilhour, Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Migraines can be debilitating – and frustrating when triggered by weather you can’t control. fizkes/iStock/Getty Images Plus

    “Is it just me, or is there a storm coming?”

    If you are one of the 39 million Americans in the U.S. living with migraines, there’s a good chance an intense headache will begin when the weather shifts.

    You aren’t alone. Studies find 30% to 50% of people with migraines identify some type of weather change as a trigger, making it the most commonly reported migraine source.

    Yet, it’s also one of the most puzzling.

    Some people are more sensitive to weather

    As a neurologist and headache specialist practicing in Colorado, a place with frequent weather shifts, patients often tell me that weather is one of their biggest migraine triggers. The results can disrupt work, school and social plans, and create a sense of helplessness.

    Doctors still don’t fully understand why some brains are more sensitive to environmental changes.

    What we do know is that people with migraines have especially sensitive nervous systems, and that certain environmental changes – like shifts in air pressure, temperature, humidity and air quality – can activate pathways in the brain that lead to pain.

    What’s going on in the brain during migraines? TEDx.

    Key ways weather can trigger migraines

    Weather triggers can vary from person to person, but there are a few common migraine culprits:

    Barometric pressure changes, or changes in atmospheric pressure, are among the most commonly cited triggers.

    When a storm system moves in, the air pressure drops. Some scientists believe this change may affect the pressure inside your head or how blood vessels in your brain dilate and constrict.

    One theory is that changes in barometric pressure may cause a small imbalance in the pressure between the inside of your skull and the outside environment. That might directly stimulate pain-sensitive nerves in the head, triggering inflammation and the start of a migraine.

    Others point to inflammation, the way the brain processes sensory input, and changes in serotonin levels – which play a key role in activating migraine.

    Temperature extremes, with very hot or very cold days, or sudden changes in temperature, can throw off the body’s internal balance. High humidity or rapid shifts in moisture levels can have a similar effect.

    Air pollutants like ozone and nitrogen dioxide can cause inflammation in the nerves that play a role in migraines.

    Bright sunlight can also be especially bothersome, likely due to heightened sensitivity to light and an overactive visual processing system in the brain.

    Lightning and strong winds may also be linked to migraine attacks in certain individuals.

    In short, weather changes can act as stressors on a brain that’s already wired to be more sensitive. The exact triggers and responses vary from person to person, but the research suggests that the interaction between weather and our biology plays a significant role for a subset of patients with migraines.

    Steps you can take to reduce the pain

    You can’t change the weather, but you can be proactive. Here are a few tips to help weather-proof your migraine routine:

    1. Track your migraines and watch the forecast: Use a migraine diary or app to track when attacks occur, along with weather conditions. Patterns may emerge, such as attacks a day before rain or during temperature changes, that will allow you to adjust your schedule or medication plan.

    2. Develop healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits: Dehydration, poor sleep and skipped meals can magnify the effects of weather triggers, so keeping your body on an even keel helps reduce vulnerability. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can also help.

    3. Create a migraine-friendly environment: On days when the sun is harsh or the humidity is high, stay inside. Sunglasses, eye masks or even blue-light glasses can be helpful. Some people find that certain earplugs are able to reduce pressure changes felt in the middle ear.

    4. Try meditation, mindfulness techniques or biofeedback, which teaches people to moderate their physiological responses, such as muscle responses and breathing. These strategies can help your nervous system become less reactive over time, which can be especially helpful when dealing with uncontrollable triggers like weather.

    5. Consider pretreatment: If you know a storm is likely to trigger your migraines, you can keep rescue medications close by or even preemptively treat yourself during weather events.

    6. Look into preventive treatment: If weather triggers frequent migraines, talk to your health care provider about preventive treatments – medications, supplements or neuromodulation devices – which can be used on a regular basis to reduce migraine occurrence.

    The bigger picture

    It’s important to remember that while weather can be a trigger, it’s rarely the only one. Migraine is usually the result of a perfect storm of factors: genetic susceptibility, hormones, stress, sleep, food and, yes, the weather.

    That’s why identifying your personal triggers and building a plan, if necessary, with the support of a medical provider, can make a big difference in managing migraines.

    Weather-related migraine can be one of the most frustrating triggers because it feels completely out of your hands. However, with knowledge, tracking and the right treatment strategies, you can take back a sense of control.

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

    – ref. How weather changes cause migraines – a neurologist explains the triggers and what you can do to ease the pain – https://theconversation.com/how-weather-changes-cause-migraines-a-neurologist-explains-the-triggers-and-what-you-can-do-to-ease-the-pain-258899

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why recycling solar panels is harder than you might think − an electrical engineer explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University

    Broken and worn-out solar panels can be recycled, but it’s not easy. Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    It’s hard work soaking up sunlight to generate clean electricity. After about 25 to 30 years, solar panels wear out. Over the years, heating and cooling cycles stress the materials. Small cracks develop, precipitation corrodes the frame and layers of materials can start to peel apart.

    In 2023, about 90% of old or faulty solar panels in the U.S. ended up in landfills. Millions of panels have been installed worldwide over the past few decades – and by about 2030, so many will be ready to retire that they could cover about 3,000 football fields.

    As an electrical engineer who has studied many aspects of renewable energy, recycling solar panels seems like a smart idea, but it’s complicated. Built to withstand years of wind and weather, solar panels are designed for strength and are not easy to break down.

    All of these solar panels will need to be disposed of one day – perhaps by being recycled.
    David McNew/Getty Images

    The cost conundrum

    Sending a solar panel to a landfill costs between US$1 and $5 in the U.S. But recycling it can cost three to four times as much, around $18. And the valuable materials inside solar panels, such as silver and copper, are in small amounts, so they’re worth about $10 to $12 – which makes recycling a money-losing prospect. Improvements in the recycling process may change the economics.

    But for now, it’s even hard to reclaim the glass in solar panels. Many layers are glued together and need to be separated before they can be melted down for reuse. And if the separation is not precise enough, the glass that is recovered won’t be of high enough quality to use in making other solar panels or windows. It will be suitable only for lower-quality uses such as fill material in construction projects.

    Other panels, usually older ones, may contain small amounts of toxic metals such as lead or cadmium. It can be difficult to tell whether toxic materials are present, though. Even experts have trouble, in part because current tests, such as the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, can give inaccurate results. Therefore, many companies that own large numbers of solar panels just assume their panels are hazardous waste, which increases costs for both disposal and recycling. Clearer labels would help people know what a solar panel contains and how to handle it.

    If someone wants to recycle a solar panel, and is willing to bear the cost, there aren’t many places in the U.S. that are willing to do it and are equipped to be safe about it.

    Recycling solar panels can involve detailed manual labor.
    AP Photo/Gregory Bull

    Designing for a new life

    Despite the Trump administration’s cuts to subsidies for solar projects, millions of solar panels are already in use in the U.S., and millions more are expected to be installed worldwide in the coming years. As a result, the solar industry is working on ways to minimize waste and repeatedly reuse materials.

    Some ideas include sending used solar panels that still work at least a bit to developing nations, or even reusing them within the U.S. But there are not clear rules or processes for connecting reused panels to the power grid, so reuse tends to happen in less common, off-grid situations rather than becoming widespread.

    Future solar panels could also be designed for easier recycling, using different construction methods and materials, and improved processing systems.

    Making panels last longer – perhaps as long as 50 years – using more durable materials, weather-resistant components, real-time monitoring of panel performance and predictive maintenance to replace parts before they wear out would reduce waste significantly.

    Building solar panels that are more easily disassembled into separate components made of different materials could also speed recycling. Components that fit together like Lego bricks – instead of using glue – or dissolvable sealants and adhesives could be parts of these designs.

    Improved recycling methods could also help. Right now, panels are often simply ground up, mixing all of their components’ materials together and requiring a complicated process to separate them out again for reuse. More advanced approaches can extract individual materials with high purity. For example, a process called salt etching can recover over 99% of silver and 98% of silicon, at purity levels that are appropriate for high-end reuse, potentially even in new solar panels, without using toxic acids. That method can also recover significant quantities of copper and lead for use in new products.

    Crushing solar panels can make different materials easier to recover from various components.
    AP Photo/Gregory Bull

    A shared journey

    Increasing the practice of recycling solar panels has more than just environmental benefits.

    Over the long term, recovering and reusing valuable materials may prove more cost-effective than continually buying new raw materials on the open market. That could lower costs for future solar panel installations. If they are fully reused, the value of these recoverable materials could reach over $15 billion globally by 2050.

    In addition, recycling panels and components reduces American reliance on materials imported from overseas, making solar power projects less vulnerable to global disruptions.

    Recycling also keeps toxic materials out of landfills. That can help ensure a shift to clean energy doesn’t create new or bigger environmental problems. Also, recycling solar panels emits far less carbon dioxide than manufacturing panels from raw materials.

    There are already some efforts underway to boost solar panel recycling. The Solar Energy Industries Association trade group is working to collect and share information about companies that recycle solar panels.

    Governments can provide tax breaks or other financial incentives for using recycled materials, or ban disposing of solar panels in landfills. California, Washington, New Jersey and North Carolina have enacted laws or are studying ways to manage solar panel waste, with some even requiring recycling or reuse.

    These efforts are important steps toward addressing the growing need for solar panel recycling and promoting a more sustainable solar industry.

    Anurag Srivastava receives funding from the US Department of Energy and National Science Foundation to work on renewable energy integration into the grid. He is an IEEE Fellow and member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society and CIGRE working groups.

    – ref. Why recycling solar panels is harder than you might think − an electrical engineer explains – https://theconversation.com/why-recycling-solar-panels-is-harder-than-you-might-think-an-electrical-engineer-explains-259115

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: NextNRG Reports Preliminary June 2025 Revenue Growth of 231% Year-Over-Year

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AI-Driven Energy Pioneer Delivers Sixth Consecutive Record Month

    Company on Clear Path to $100 Million Revenue Run-Rate with Canadian Acquisition

    MIAMI, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNRG, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXXT), a pioneer in AI-driven energy innovation transforming how energy is produced, managed, and delivered through its Next Utility Operating System®, smart microgrids, wireless EV charging, and mobile fuel delivery, today announced preliminary unaudited financial results for June 2025.

    June 2025 Highlights:

    • Revenue: $6.98 million, up 231% year-over-year and 6% month-over-month
    • Gallons delivered: Over 2.04 million gallons, up 270% year-over-year and 4% month-over-month
    • Year-to-date revenue through June reached approximately $35.87 million, representing a 33% increase over full-year 2024 revenue of approximately $27 million

    “We’re thrilled to report our sixth consecutive record month, with June’s 231% year-over-year revenue growth demonstrating the scalability of our AI-driven energy platform and strong market demand for our integrated solutions,” said Michael D. Farkas, Executive Chairman and CEO of NextNRG. “With our pending acquisition of ReFuel Mobile in Canada and expanding domestic operations across six U.S. states with 144 active fuel delivery trucks, we are positioned to achieve $100 million in forward 12-month revenues. More importantly, our improving operational efficiency and recurring revenue contracts provide a direct pathway to profitability in 2026 – a critical milestone that will transform NextNRG from a high-growth company into a sustainable, cash-generating enterprise. The combination of our proven mobile fueling platform, microgrid pipeline, and strategic international expansion creates multiple revenue streams that support both our near-term growth targets and long-term profitability objectives.”

    NextNRG’s robust growth continues to be driven by strong adoption from commercial fleets and strategic partnerships in its mobile fueling operations. The company is also preparing to deploy its Next Utility Operating System®, AI-powered microgrid systems, and wireless EV charging products in key markets to diversify its revenue streams.

    The pending acquisition of ReFuel Mobile, Canada’s #36 fastest-growing company with 1,166% three-year revenue growth, is expected to close by August 1, 2025, and will immediately contribute to NextNRG’s recurring revenue base while providing a strategic platform for international expansion.

    Note on Preliminary Results
    The financial results for June 2025 are preliminary and unaudited. Final results may differ and will be confirmed upon the completion of standard month-end closing procedures.

    About NextNRG, Inc.
    NextNRG Inc. (NextNRG) is Powering What’s Next by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into renewable energy, next-generation energy infrastructure, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging and on-demand mobile fuel delivery to create an integrated ecosystem.

    At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is its Next Utility Operating System®, which leverages AI and ML to help make existing utilities’ energy management as efficient as possible, and the deployment of NextNRG smart microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, healthcare campuses, universities, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.

    NextNRG continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division and Shell Oil’s trucks, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry. NextNRG is also integrating sustainable energy solutions into its mobile fueling operations. The company hopes to be an integral part of assisting its fleet customers in their transition to EV, providing fuel delivery while advancing efficient energy adoption. The transition process is expected to include the deployment of NextNRG’s innovative wireless EV charging solutions.

    To find out more visit: www.nextnrg.com

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement describing NextNRG’s goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions, or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Words such as “expect,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to NextNRG’s business and macroeconomic and geopolitical events. These and other risks are described in NextNRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. NextNRG’s forward-looking statements involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although NextNRG’s forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by NextNRG. Except as required by law, NextNRG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations Contact
    NextNRG, Inc.
    Sharon Cohen
    SCohen@nextnrg.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Trump’s ‘big’ bill gives millions of taxpayers a new charitable tax break, but whether it will help nonprofits is unclear

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Daniel Hungerman, Professor of Economics, University of Notre Dame

    Tax policy changes can influence how much Americans donate. Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The multitrillion-dollar bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025, will change how the U.S. tax code treats charitable donations. It also has several tax provisions that affect some colleges, universities and other nonprofits. The Conversation U.S. asked Daniel Hungerman, an economist who studies charitable activities and public policy, to explain how these tax policies could influence charitable giving and affect nonprofits.

    What will change for donors?

    The consequences generally vary depending on how much money a donor gives to charity. They also depend on whether a donor claims the standard deduction – as about 90% of U.S. taxpayers have done since the 2017 tax reforms took effect during the first Trump administration – or itemizes their tax returns.

    Anyone taking the standard deduction, which will rise in 2025 to US$15,750 for an individual and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly, will get a new broadly available tax break of up to $1,000 for giving to a charitable nonprofit if they file on their own. Married couples filing jointly may deduct $2,000 from their taxable income if they give at least that amount to charity. To put this into sharper perspective, the average middle-income household gives about $3,300 annually.

    Americans who give a bit more than the typical donor – say, between $5,000 and $20,000 – will see major changes too. In some places, it will become easier for people to deduct more of the amount they pay in state and local taxes from their federal taxes – at least for a few years. Those taxpayers may also deduct their charitable giving from their income when they file their taxes.

    But there’s a new catch. People who itemize their taxes can’t claim the charitable deduction unless they give at least the equivalent of 0.5% of their adjusted gross income to charity. For example, someone who earns $100,000 a year would have to donate at least $500 to qualify for this tax break.

    A similar new catch will apply to corporate donations: Unless corporations give at least 1% of their taxable income to charity, they will no longer get a charitable tax deduction.

    The tax law also revises a rule that limits how much the biggest donors can give to charity and still get a tax break.

    What could that mean for charitable giving?

    Based on my research on tax policies and donations, I don’t expect the $1,000 charitable deduction for taxpayers who take the standard deduction to boost giving. The government has tried this before.

    The first time was in the 1980s. Starting in 1982, people taking the standard deduction could take a charitable deduction. The amount changed annually. In 1984, for example, it was $75 – $236 in 2025 dollars. Congress ended this experiment with the 1986 tax reforms.

    There was also a temporary $300 charitable deduction for people who took the standard deduction in 2020.

    The results were underwhelming both times, for two reasons.

    First, the maximum size of those tax breaks was too small in those earlier efforts. Many people were already giving enough to max out this new benefit. When that happens, the government is giving up tax revenue without encouraging people to donate more.

    To be fair, there are a couple of reasons that things might be better this time. First, $1,000 in 2025 – or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly – is more money than the $300 deduction in 2020. Also, this time it is permanent. A permanent provision gives charities time to publicize the bill and people time to learn about it.

    Another concern with this bill is that Americans who have not given to charity in the past might not begin to open their wallets but will still try to get the new $1,000 charitable deduction anyway by lying about it on their tax returns. There is evidence that a growing number of taxpayers try to game the tax system this way. The only way to stave off that sort of tax evasion would require additional work by the IRS, costing more tax dollars.

    This part of the tax law also sends a message that giving is not just for the wealthy, but that everyone can do it and get a tax break for it. That could help halt or reverse a decline in gifts from people who aren’t rich. And it makes me wonder whether a charitable deduction for people who don’t itemize their tax returns will work better this time around.

    What’s happening to higher education?

    The government will raise its tax on the income earned by the endowments held by some colleges and universities from 1.4% to as much as 8%. The system is complicated and hinges on how large an endowment is per student enrolled. Colleges attended by fewer than 3,000 students don’t have to pay this tax.

    Endowments are pooled financial investments that belong to a nonprofit. Those assets usually come from donations, and the income they earn typically flows into the nonprofit’s budget.

    Several prominent schools are bracing for higher taxes. Yale University, for example, says it will have to pay $280 million once this goes into effect.

    The higher endowment tax is unlikely to raise a whole lot of tax revenue, but it could force some schools to scale back financial aid, hike tuition or freeze hiring.

    What about K-12 schools?

    Perhaps the most significant change will be a new federal K-12 educational tax credit. Starting in 2027, it will be available to help offset the cost of private K-12 school tuition or other educational expenses, such as homeschooling. If someone makes a $1 gift to a nonprofit scholarship-granting organization – which would then deliver those funds to the school the donor designates – the government will cut their tax bill by $1. This tax credit can be worth up to $1,700 per year.

    Many details about how this system would work are yet to be determined.

    I believe that this provision could mark another step in the transformation of how private schools are funded in the United States. Beyond that, many private schools are run by churches, and many churches running schools already get large amounts of their funding from vouchers issued by state and local governments. Ultimately, private K-12 education could become an increasing source of revenue for churches.

    What about nonprofits that provide social services?

    Even if the megabill boosts charitable giving, nonprofits providing social services are likely to find themselves financially squeezed.

    That’s because the bill also cuts spending and tightens eligibility restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, and Medicaid, the public health insurance program that mainly covers people who are low-income or have disabilities.

    I have researched the effects of the welfare reforms President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1996. One of my findings was that when the government cut spending on safety net programs by a dollar, charities, including churches, stepped in to provide 25 cents of services or more. But for every extra dollar needed to compensate for lost government spending, donors only gave 5 cents more.

    Another concern is that this bill makes permanent increases in the standard deduction – which I’ve found to have historically lowered charitable giving considerably. Perhaps the deduction for people who don’t itemize their tax returns, together with the state-and-local-taxes change, will counteract this trend. But it is certainly possible that Americans will give less to charity starting in 2025 compared with a world where there were no Trump tax reforms at all.

    Daniel Hungerman is a professor at the University of Notre Dame, and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

    – ref. Trump’s ‘big’ bill gives millions of taxpayers a new charitable tax break, but whether it will help nonprofits is unclear – https://theconversation.com/trumps-big-bill-gives-millions-of-taxpayers-a-new-charitable-tax-break-but-whether-it-will-help-nonprofits-is-unclear-260379

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Dune patterns in California desert hold clues that help researchers map Mars’ shifting sands

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lauren Berger, Ph.D. Student in Geology, Texas A&M University

    The author did some of her fieldwork at the Algodones Dunes in California. Ryan Ewing

    Our two-person team loaded the car with a GPS, a drone, notebooks, sample bags, a trowel and a flat spatula lovingly called a scoopula. Then we drove 30 minutes in our rented truck from Yuma, Arizona, to the Algodones Dunes, a sandy field bordering California, Arizona and Mexico. The day was sunny, with a strong breeze. Turning off the highway, we carefully headed onto a gravelly path that acted as our road.

    After making decent – if bumpy – progress, we pulled off onto the sand flats and drove slowly toward the dunes, worried we might get stuck in the sand. Having arrived on the outskirts of the Algodones, we stopped and loaded our backpacks, then set off into the desert on foot.

    The coarse- and fine-grained sand at the Algodones Dunes.
    Lauren Berger

    It was November 2022. As a graduate student at Texas A&M University, I was beginning part of my Ph.D. research with my adviser, geology professor Ryan Ewing. We were looking for coarse-grained sand ripples, which are patterned piles of sand shaped by wind. Sand ripples and sand dunes are types of aeolian bedforms, which are wind-created geologic features.

    Aeolian bedforms are common on Earth and across the solar system, including on Mars, Venus, Pluto, the Saturn moon Titan, the Neptune moon Triton, and Comet 67P. These geological features, among the first landforms observed by remote images of planetary surfaces, are robust indicators of a world’s wind patterns.

    Flying a drone at Algodones. Note the GPS on the tripod, and a GPS target on the ground, which was also a landing pad for the drone.
    Ryan Ewing

    Measuring sand patterns in person

    The shapes and patterns of aeolian bedforms can reveal the environmental conditions that created them.

    Two sizes of the same bedform, such as small dunes on top of big dunes, are called compound bedforms. I study compound bedforms at two scales – the meter- and centimeter-sized coarse-grained ripples at the dunes here on Earth, and the kilometer- and meter-sized dunes on Mars.

    At the Algodones, I measured the height of each large coarse-grained sand ripple and the distance between neighboring ripples. Then we flew our drone low and steady, above the ripples, to create high-resolution images. The drone data allows us to do further measurements on the ripples later, back at my desk.

    On that day, I learned an essential rule of fieldwork in the desert: Don’t forget a shovel. Otherwise, if your vehicle gets stuck, as ours did, you’ll have to dig it out by hand. Luckily for us, a dune buggy driver passing by helped us out and we were able to get back to Yuma in time for dinner.

    High-resolution drone images of the sand ripples at Algodones.
    Lauren Berger

    My introduction to Mars

    I first became interested in aeolian bedforms during my sophomore year of college, when I interned at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. My job was to view surface images of Mars and then map the sand ripples in the regions where Perseverance, the Mars rover, might land. I assessed the areas where ripples could be hazards – places where the rover could get stuck in the sand, the way our rental truck did in the Algodones.

    I mapped those sand ripples on Mars for two years. But while I mapped, I became fascinated with the patterns the ripples made.

    A potential compound dune on Mars.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    Now, as a graduate student and aspiring planetary geologist, my time is split between work in the field and at my computer, where I have stitched together the drone’s photographs of the Algodones to create a large image of the entire study area. I then look for compound dunes on the Martian surface in images taken by the Mars reconnaissance orbiter’s context camera.

    Scientists already know about Earth’s weather patterns, sand grain size and wind data. By measuring different parts of bedforms on both planets – such as their height, shape and spacing – I can compare the similarities and differences of the bedforms to find clues to the wind patterns, grains and atmosphere on Mars. Slowly but surely, as I listen to Studio Ghibli soundtracks, I’m creating the first database of compound dunes on Mars.

    Two dune fields on Mars, both inside an impact crater.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    Developing this database is essential to the proposed human mission to Mars. Dust storms are frequent, and some can encircle the entire planet. Understanding aeolian bedforms will help scientists know where to put bases so they don’t get buried by moving sand.

    It is wonderful to spend an afternoon ping-ponging all over a planet that’s 140 million miles from us, seeing gorgeous terrain while I try to answer questions about the compound dunes on Mars. How common are they? Where do they form? How do they compare to those on Earth? I hope to answer these questions as I work toward earning my Ph.D in geology.

    Lauren Berger receives funding from NASA FINESST. Lauren Berger would like to acknowledge the help of her mentors Dr. Ryan Ewing (NASA Johnson Space Center), Dr. Marion Nachon (Texas A&M University), and Dr. Julia Reece (Texas A&M University).

    – ref. Dune patterns in California desert hold clues that help researchers map Mars’ shifting sands – https://theconversation.com/dune-patterns-in-california-desert-hold-clues-that-help-researchers-map-mars-shifting-sands-251761

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: An Interview with Foreign Law Intern at the Law Library of Congress, Raksmei Dara

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Today’s blog post is an interview with a foreign law intern at the Law Library of Congress, Raksmei Dara. She works with Foreign Law Specialist Sayuri Umeda in the Global Legal Research Directorate. 

    Describe your background.

    My name is Raksmei Dara, but people call me Mei. I was born in the heart of Phnom Penh city, Cambodia. I have an older brother, and I am the youngest one in my family.

    What is your academic/ professional history?

    I have a bachelor’s degree in law from the American University of Phnom Penh and a Bachelor of Arts in law from the University of Arizona. I interned at the Fraud Prevention Unit in the U.S. Consular Affairs Office at the United States Embassy in Cambodia during my undergraduate program. Shortly after, I was offered a scholarship from Pennsylvania State University for an LL.M. program, where I earned my concentration in international, foreign, and comparative law. While at Penn State, I was chosen and coached as a competitor for Penn State Law in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Moot Court Competition 2025. That is when my passion for international law grew.

    How do you describe your job to other people?

    I am a foreign law intern in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress. I research and analyze Cambodian legal frameworks, draft articles on new laws and other regulations, and compile those findings into clear, up-to-date reports and articles for our global audience.

    Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

    The Law Library of Congress is an open door for me to deepen my legal skills, gain new research knowledge, and collaborate with incredible scholars from around the world. Most importantly, the Library of Congress is a place of rich history and unparalleled resources, making it the perfect stepping stone for my legal career. I am grateful to have such an honorable institution like the Law Library of Congress as part of my legal professional journey.

    What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?

    I am blown away by how professional and talented everyone is in the workplace. The Library of Congress feels like a jungle of unmatched resources and archival treasures you simply cannot find anywhere else in the world. Its global network of scholars and the depth of its collections make it a truly one-of-a-kind institution that words cannot do justice.

    What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

    I always find myself interested in the psychology behind laws and how law shapes both legislation and enforcement.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Multi-Billion Virtual Healthcare Industry Witnessing Substantial Growth with Rapid Expansion Expected

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The global telehealth market has been substantially growing over the past years and is expected to continue this growth well into the future. A report from Grand View Research said that: “The global telehealth market size was estimated at USD 123.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 455.27 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 24.68% from 2025 to 2030. North America dominated the telehealth market with the revenue share of 46.58% in 2024. The market is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of digital health & smartphones, rising investments, improved internet connectivity, and growing technological advancements… the growing adoption and acceptance of telehealth services are expected to boost the market’s growth over the forecast period.” The report continued: “Moreover, smartphones have evolved from devices of communication & entertainment to devices that can monitor health and fitness. Some market players are developing Chatbot services for basic medical inquiries and one-time consultations… Moreover, the market is propelled by favorable government initiatives to expand telehealth by making healthcare services more accessible and convenient for patients. The focus on cost-effective and efficient healthcare solutions further propels the adoption of telehealth services. The rising adoption of telehealth facilities by patients, physicians, and government authorities is boosting the market. Access to healthcare through specific applications and video consultations enables communication between patients and doctors in remote locations, eliminating the need to visit hospitals or clinics. Market players such as Apple, Google, and IBM focus on improving the mobile health experience by providing numerous solutions through different subscription plans and emphasizing data security. These factors are expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.”   Active tech companies in the markets this week include Treatment AI, Inc. (OTCQB: TREIF) (CSE: TRUE), CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS), Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC), Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM), Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS).

    Grand View Research concluded: “Telehealth services are rapidly expanding, particularly in cardiology, behavioral health, radiology, and online consultations. This growth is fueled by a surge in startup funding and the introduction of new solutions and services, especially those designed for virtual consultations. Furthermore, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms enhances the personalization of healthcare services. In addition, favorable government initiatives promoting telehealth adoption drive the market. The telehealth market in the U.S. accounted for the largest market revenue share in North America in 2024, owing to innovative software development, advanced healthcare management, and the presence of several market players operating across segments, such as mobile and network operations. Increasing awareness regarding the availability of digital health solutions, such as mHealth and telehealth, is driving their adoption rate.”

    Treatment AI Inc. (OTCQB: TREIF) (CSE: TRUE) News: EngageWell, Rocket Doctor, and CVS Health Foundation Launch Virtual Healthy Aging Program for Adults over 60 –

    Backed by $1 million in funding from the CVS Health Foundation, the pilot initiative offers free, virtual health screenings to support aging with confidence, care, and convenience

    • Health checks include assessments for heart health, memory, cognitive function, and mental health
    • No travel required — all appointments are virtual and confidential
    • Community Health Workers provide personalized follow-up support and connect patients to local resources
    • The program is now available in New York City, with plans to expand throughout 2025
    • Free for patients on Medicaid, covered by insurance for patients on Medicare

    Treatment.com AI Inc. (Frankfurt: 939) (the “Company” or “Treatment”) is pleased to announce that building off their successful graduation from AARPs AgeTech Accelerator, its subsidiary, Rocket Doctor Inc., has partnered with EngageWell IPA in a program funded by CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) Foundation to launch the Healthy Aging Program — a new pilot initiative offering virtual health screenings for adults aged 60 and older across New York City.

    Funded through a 5-year, $1M grant from the CVS Health® Foundation, EngageWell and Rocket Doctor’s program is designed to support older adults in maintaining their health and independence. It offers confidential virtual assessments that screen for common health concerns related to aging, including heart health, memory and brain function, and mental well-being. Board-certified physicians conduct consultations via phone or video and develop personalized follow-up care plans. Community Health Workers are also available to help patients connect with the telehealth provider and with necessary follow-up care.

    “Aging shouldn’t mean losing access to care, it should mean getting the support you need, wherever you are,” said Dr. William Cherniak, Founder and CEO of Rocket Doctor. “We’re proud to again partner with EngageWell to bring high-quality, proactive care directly into the homes of older adults across New York City. We’re equally thrilled that the CVS Health Foundation is funding EngageWell to implement this important program.”

    Participants who complete their screenings receive valuable health information, a physician consultation, and can receive up to $45 in gift cards. No insurance is required for patients on Medicaid, and is accepted for patients on Medicare. The entire process is designed to be simple, supportive, and stress-free.

    “Too often, older adults who face language barriers, low health or digital literacy, or systemic inequities are left to navigate fragmented healthcare systems on their own,” said Christopher Joseph, Executive Director of EngageWell IPA. “Through the Healthy Aging Program, we’re not just delivering services – we’re building a care model rooted in dignity, cultural relevance, and trust. By combining community-based outreach with user-friendly technology, we’re bridging gaps and creating lasting pathways to better health for aging New Yorkers.”

    The program is now live and being offered in partnership with community-based organizations and care navigators throughout New York City. By combining technology, human connection, and wrap-around support, the Healthy Aging Program helps ensure older adults stay healthy, informed, and in control of their care, without ever needing to leave home. CONTINUED… Read this full press release and more news for Treatment.com AI at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-true/.

    Other recent developments in the healthcare industry of note include:

    CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) has recently announced the opening of its new Workforce Innovation and Talent Center (WITC) in Chicago. The center, situated at the Chicago Baptist Institute, will improve the community’s access to workforce training services and provide every participant who completes the program an opportunity to apply for a position at CVS Health.

    The WITC will transform lives in the Chicago community, like that of Catrina Malone. Her journey began when she attended an informational session while pursuing a film career. Now, as a pharmacy technician at CVS Health, Catrina shares her story: “Growing up in an unstable home environment, I faced many barriers. My mother struggled with substance abuse, and there were times when I didn’t know where my next meal would come from. With the support of my legal guardian, I stayed determined to forge my own path and build a career despite the odds being against me. This new role as a pharmacy technician for CVS Pharmacy has given me just that. Through this center and the kindness of everyone here, I’ve felt truly encouraged and supported — and for that, I am extremely thankful.”

    Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC), the global leader in virtual care, recently announced earlier this year it has acquired UpLift, an innovative and tech-enabled provider of virtual mental health therapy, psychiatry and medication management services.

    The acquisition supports the company’s strategy to further enhance its leadership position in virtual mental health, including the ability for consumers served by its BetterHelp segment to access benefits coverage for mental health services. UpLift serves the health plan market and has arrangements covering over 100 million lives, a network of over 1,500 mental health professionals, important capabilities and a talented team.

    Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM), a technology company leading the adoption of AI to advance precision medicine and patient care, recently announced the expansion of its care pathway intelligence platform, Tempus Next, into breast cancer. Since its launch in 2024, Tempus Next has screened thousands of patients across its network of provider sites, helping close critical care gaps for patients with lung cancer. Now, the platform will support five different biomarker testing gaps specific to breast cancer with the goal of helping physicians deliver guideline-directed medical care to eligible patients.

    Tempus Next supports physicians administering guideline-based care by surfacing care gaps and identifying patients who may benefit from these guideline-based suggestions. The platform integrates multimodal data available in the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR) with up-to-date clinical guidelines to support providers in delivering guideline-based care. As with lung cancer, clinical guidelines around breast cancer are continually evolving, and Tempus is working to help providers keep pace, starting at Mercy, which has already integrated Tempus Next for both breast and lung cancer into its EMR system to support patient care. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners serving patients across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

    Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) the leading digital health and wellness platform, recently announced its plans to bring its affordable, holistic weight loss program to Canada, timed with the anticipated first-ever availability of generic semaglutide anywhere in the world. This move follows the recent closing of the company’s acquisition of ZAVA, the pioneering digital health platform in Europe.

    Almost two thirds of adults in Canada are overweight or living with obesity, yet access to proven treatments remains limited due to high costs and availability. With branded semaglutide often priced out of reach, the introduction of generics marks a pivotal moment for access to care. Hims & Hers plans to offer access to lower-cost treatment options through its digital platform, paired with 24/7 access to licensed providers and personalized, clinically backed care plans. In Canada, branded semaglutide with no surrounding clinical support currently costs more than C$200 a month. The price for generic semaglutide is expected to be available at a significant discount to the branded versions, with the prices expected to lower over time.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies.

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated forty two hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Treatment.com AI Inc. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Advancing the global goals together | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    “The multilateral system is the best we’ve got. There is no other system that can help us to deal with our global problems,” says Bob Rae, President of the Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. As the international community is getting ready to convene for the 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this month, Ambassador Rae stresses the opportunities for multilateral action.

    Read more: https://desapublications.un.org/un-desa-voice/feature/july-2025/advancing-global-goals-together

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXT8bIghjv0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: World-First Gene Editing Trial for Rare Genetic Disease at UConn Health

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In a global first, UConn Health, in collaboration with Connecticut Children’s, has dosed a patient in a groundbreaking clinical trial testing gene editing technology to treat glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD1a), a rare inherited metabolic disorder, marking the third “first-in-human” trial for GSD1a conducted by this research team.

    This clinical trial is evaluating a therapy that uses permanent gene editing, one of the most novel technologies in modern medicine. Instead of delivering a missing gene, this approach edits a single letter of DNA directly inside the patient’s liver cells, thereby correcting the genetic error at its source.

    “This therapy marks a groundbreaking achievement for the treatment of GSD and similar rare diseases,” said Juan C. Salazar, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the UConn School of Medicine and Physician-in-Chief at Connecticut Children’s. “This milestone represents a beacon of hope for patients and their families worldwide, showcasing out commitment to advancing healthcare and saving lives.”

    GSD is a metabolic disorder caused by an enzyme deficiency where the liver fails to break down glycogen into glucose, causing the body’s blood sugar levels to drop. The disorder is devastating, causing potential damage to kidneys and liver along with other serious side effects, including death.

    The trial is being led by Rebecca Riba-Wolman, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist in the Department of Pediatrics and a physician-scientist at both the Connecticut Children’s Research Institute and UConn Health. She serves as the principal investigator for the study, with Karen Loechner, MD, Ph.D., and Malaya Mount, MS, RD serving as sub-investigators.

    “This is truly a next-generation therapy,” says Riba-Wolman. “What makes this especially exciting is that this technology allows us to make a permanent edit in the liver cells of patients with GSD1a. If it works, it could last a lifetime.” Though in its earliest phase, the potential of this technology extends far beyond a single disorder. “Liver cells are one of the most accessible organs for genetic treatments, so while this is a treatment for GSD1a, it is also a stepping-stone,” Riba-Wolman explains. “What we are learning here could be applied to other diseases in the future.”

    The therapy is based on nucleotide editing and is part of the cutting-edge field born out of the precision technique of CRISPR-Cas genetic editing technology, which earned the Nobel Prize in 2020. The trial corrects a single nucleotide (one of the DNA “letters” A, G, C, or T) that is the basis for the most common mutation causing GSD1a. This targeted approach could allow for lifelong correction of the underlying disease. To date, there exists only one FDA-approved gene editing treatment in the world – for sickle cell disease.

    The trial has generated excitement among researchers and patients alike. Many families with GSD1a have followed the progress of the gene editing mouse studies that laid the foundation for this moment. For them, this trial represents the real possibility of a long-awaited breakthrough. “This is not just a clinical study. It is a hopeful step forward for a community that has been waiting years for new treatment options,” says Riba-Wolman.

    While the first trial participant was from out of state, UConn Health and Connecticut Children’s have built a robust local and regional GSD1a community, supported by a dedicated clinical team that includes physicians, nurses, study coordinators, research dietician and others, many of whom played a critical role in preparing for this first infusion.

    “This kind of clinical research requires an enormous amount of collaboration,” says Riba-Wolman. “I cannot say enough about the commitment of UConn Health to our research. From nursing leadership to pharmacy to respiratory therapy, everyone came together to make this possible.”

    Though results may not be fully appreciated for several years, this historic milestone underscores the growing reputation of UConn Health and Connecticut Children’s as leaders in rare disease research and gene-based therapies.

    “We have now been involved in three first-in-human trials for GSD1a, and this one is the most ambitious yet,” says Riba-Wolman. “It is incredible to think how far the science has come, and to be part of that here at UConn Health and Connecticut Children’s is something really special.”

    In partnership with Beam Therapeutics, this trial builds on decades-long leadership in GSD1a research, and it is expected to help shape the future of treatment not just for this rare condition, but for all genetic diseases.

    We’d like to acknowledge the significant contributions of the dedicated research team, including Shaylee King, administrative director of the Department of Pediatrics; study coordinators Vi Nguyen and Shila Bhandari from the Department of Pediatrics, and Julieta Bonvin Sallago from CT Children’s; as well as research nurses Stephanie Ruggiero, Travis Healy, Love Joy Tacadena Melendez, Osob Yusuf, Darby Lamontagne, and Amber Barry, all from the Department of Pediatrics.

    If you or a loved one have GSDIa and are interested in learning more about this trial as well as other Clinical Trials for GSDIa, please contact pediatricclinicaltrials@uchc.edu for more information.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: For Restoring Biodiversity Look for Help from the Humble, World-building Muskrat

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In his speech for the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) this past spring, keynote speaker Rodney Butler ’99 (BUS), Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, told an abbreviated version of the Indigenous creation story of Skywoman. 

    “When the world was covered in water, Skywoman fell from an opening in the Skyworld and landed on the back of a giant turtle. Skywoman enlisted the help of many animals to dive deep to retrieve soil from the depths of the ocean in an effort to create land. Many animals attempted to grab the soil, but it was the unlikely muskrat, who was both humble and courageous, that was able to return the soil and place it on the back of the great turtle. As the mud is placed on the turtle’s back, it grows and expands, eventually forming the continents and life-sustaining world we know today.” 

    Butler spoke of how the story emphasizes the importance of working together and that we are all better when we work and learn together. There is also great strength in partnering Indigenous knowledge with science to build a sustainable future. 

    Associate Professor Beth Lawrence has a joint appointment with the Center for Environmental Science and Engineering and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in CAHNR, and her work adds to the time-honored appreciation of the courageous and humble muskrat. In research published in Freshwater Science, Lawrence and collaborators, including project lead Shane Lishawa and Andrew Monks from Loyola University, and Danielle Fegan and Eric Clark, who are biologists with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, describe how muskrats engineer more biologically diverse marsh ecosystems. 

    The researchers study cattail-dominated marshes and strategies to create more varied, or heterogeneous, ecosystems using methods like mechanical harvesting or by applying herbicides. While out on field research, Lawrence says they made an intriguing observation.

    “We noticed in some years that muskrats were doing naturally what we were doing with our aquatic weed whackers and gas-powered equipment. We thought that maybe we should investigate how muskrats alter cattail and associated species,” says Lawrence. 

    The project focused on a marsh that connects the St. Mary’s River outlet of Lake Superior to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. In vast marshes like this one, the non-native cattail species Typha can take over and make acres of marshland look similar to cornfields in terms of the lack of diversity, says Lawrence. These kinds of monocultures do not support biologically diverse ecosystems. 

    “It homogenizes the wetland, and is not an ideal habitat for birds, macro-invertebrates, fish, and native plants, so over the last 15 years we’ve been interested in how we can manage these invaded cattail marshes of the Great Lakes,” Lawrence says. 

    The researchers have tried a variety of methods to control the cattails, but they are most interested in using mechanical means, rather than chemical control measures. 

    “Cutting the cattail at different intensities and frequencies can reduce its abundance and promote native diversity and also open up habitat that creates heterogeneity in these monotypes. This promotes species diversity overall, and improves habitat for native fish and bird communities,” says Lawrence. 

    Muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents that naturally harvest cattails by cutting them below the water level. This is important because the stems of the plant act almost like a snorkel to provide oxygen to the roots. Cutting stems below the water essentially drowns the cattail by severing the connection between the oxygen-rich atmosphere and the anoxic sediment common to wetlands. The muskrats use the cattails to build their lodges, and the process creates openings that give other plant species a chance to grow. 

    “These important aquatic rodents transform habitats in many ways that some communities, like the Native Americans, have appreciated for 1000s of years, and Western science is just now discovering that importance.” (Adobe Stock)

    Using drones and aerial photography, the researchers identified several lodges and openings where they sampled the vegetation and water quality parameters. They also harvested cattails via mechanical methods or with herbicides to create muskrat disturbance analogs (MDAs) to simulate the muskrat openings. They compared these data with data collected from adjacent non-muskrat-impacted areas.  

    “Then we monitored the vegetation and water quality parameters for two growing seasons after that. We found there was greater biodiversity with the muskrat disturbances and the MDA treatments,” says Lawrence. 

    The muskrats and the MDA methods reduced the presence of the cattails as well as another invasive plant called European frogbit (Hydrocharis), therefore they helped promote more heterogenous communities and the authors note that efforts to increase muskrat populations should be taken as a management strategy in areas where these two invasive plant species dominate. 

    “Restoring biodiversity is critical to our future. Climate change is happening rapidly, and we’re rolling the dice. Maintaining and protecting a diversity of species is important because we don’t know which species will survive or thrive in different climate scenarios,” says Lawrence. “I think of Aldo Leopold’s quote about how an intelligent tinkerer always keeps all the parts. We want to keep all of the parts of the planet because we don’t know exactly what the future is going to look like.” 

    Lawrence also has projects focusing on beavers, which are also vital ecosystem engineers. Like muskrats, beavers transform habitats and act as keystone species that play an important role in creating wetland habitats, 

    “These important aquatic rodents transform habitats in many ways that some communities, like the Native Americans, have appreciated for 1000s of years, and Western science is just now discovering that importance. Beavers are resurging on the landscape after being almost extirpated in New England due to hunting. They were reintroduced after being essentially extinct in Connecticut about 200 years ago and then reintroduced about 100 years ago. Now, their populations are exploding, and they’re transforming our landscape again.”  

    Lawrence also reflects on the significance of teamwork in this project:

    “I think science takes a team. Our relationship with the tribe and across institutions is a big part of the importance of this paper and this project. It was a really satisfying project, both in terms of the relationships that have developed over the years, but also how we’ve gained a lot of insights by studying the system over decades.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –