NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Remarks at “Children’s Congress” Hearing on Type 1 Diabetes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on accelerating research and a cure for Type 1 diabetes—the annual “Children’s Congress”—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered opening remarks underscoring the importance of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Special Diabetes Program and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress and set back hope for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “Thank you again Chair Collins for again convening this really important, impressive hearing to talk about the NIH Special Diabetes Program’s critical work that supports life-changing research for millions of people who are living with Type 1 Diabetes, and in particular, to hear from all the kids and young adults who are living with Type 1 diabetes who came all the way here today to talk about why this program matters.

    “I know all of you have traveled from all over the country, I don’t think anybody made it here from Washington state, it’s a long trip—oh in the back, awesome! Great to see you! I want you to know that your voices make a huge difference in making sure that Congress takes action to treat and, eventually, cure Type 1 diabetes. It’s important that all of us understand your experiences with diabetes, which is of course, what this hearing is all about.

    “And of course—it is important that we improve our understanding of this disease itself, which is what the NIH Special Diabetes Program is all about.

    “This program has a great history of accomplishment: getting new artificial pancreatic devices to market, bringing us a new medication to delay Type 1 diagnoses, and improving care for patients with serious complications, and more breakthroughs that we all know are just around the corner.

    “This work is life-changing. Which is why I do want to really express my concern today about the fact that the Trump administration is terminating or freezing more than 260 grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    “The care and research that people are counting on is really in jeopardy, and your voices are important today.

    “Four of those cancelled NIDDK grants are in my home state of Washington—including a clinical trial looking at blood pressure in 200 hemodialysis patients, and a grant to train the next generation of researchers.

    “And I know that at Columbia University, President Trump terminated funding for research on how Type 1 diabetes affects bone strength in kids.

    “I don’t think anyone here needs us to explain why that’s so important, we need to strengthen bones and avoid fractures—so everyone can run, and play, and compete in sports, and live life to its fullest.

    “So, I want to be clear here today: Trump does not get to decide funding for diabetes. Congress does. And I know members on both sides of the aisle are committed to making sure we maintain strong investments in this work.

    “But we need more than just talk right now, we need to stand up and reject what is happening right now to biomedical research at NIH. And I know that my colleagues understand that as well.

    “So again, I really want to thank all of you for being here today. Because when it comes to defending this research, when it comes to pushing back against these kinds of cuts and funding freezes that we are seeing—the most effective tool we have is our voices—like the advocates in this room. The strongest way all of you can push back is by speaking out, just like you are doing today, sharing your stories, which are so important, and making sure everyone knows what is at stake.

    “And I know that with the incredible advocates like all of you, we are going to keep making progress, and we’re going to keep investing in life-changing research, and—eventually—cure Type 1 diabetes.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 769, United States Research Protection Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 769 would clarify that the prohibition on receiving benefits related to participation in programs sponsored by foreign countries for researchers who receive federal funds includes the indirect provision of such benefits. CBO estimates that implementing S. 769 would have no effect on the federal budget over the 2025-2030 period.

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

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1605, SOPRA

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 1605 would authorize federal courts that review agency actions to decide all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions and rules, without deferring to previous legal determinations by the agency.

    Under the bill, federal courts could overturn some agency decisions that they would have upheld under current law. Some of those decisions could affect federal spending by overturning regulations that affect direct spending, revenues, and spending subject to appropriation. However, CBO has no basis for estimating either the likelihood that such actions would be overturned or what the effects on spending might be.

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

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Improving Catskill Conservation and Public Access

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced two milestones that will both enhance recreational access for New Yorkers and ensure long-term protections in unique and ecologically important locations in the Catskill Forest Preserve. New York State acquired 900 acres in Ulster County that form the largest addition to the Catskill Forest Preserve since 2011 and will help ensure the long-term protection of drinking water in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. In addition, expansive upgrades at the Peekamoose Blue Hole are now complete, helping enhance safety and accessibility to the popular attraction in the town of Denning, Ulster County.

    “The Catskill region provides countless ways to get offline, get outside and connect with nature,” Governor Hochul said. “With the acquisition of 900 acres of forested beauty and water quality protection, and enhancements at one of the State’s most frequented natural wonders, New York State is continuing to invest in the Catskills to ensure their continued natural legacy and the ability of all New Yorkers to enjoy it.”

    The State’s acquisition of 900 acres in the town of Olive ensures an undisturbed viewshed of the Catskills from all points east, including the Ashokan Reservoir and Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) worked closely with the Open Space Institute to secure the parcel after the organization took ownership in 2019. Notable landmarks include Wagon Wheel Notch, Low Point, and Little High Point, and the property provides significant opportunities for public recreation and expanded access to forest preserve lands. The property will be managed by DEC in conjunction with the adjoining State-owned forest preserve lands that make up the Sundown Wild Forest.

    The $4.2 million purchase was the State’s first land acquisition funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. This acquisition and others underway are part of the Governor’s ‘30×30’ Initiative to protect 30 percent of New York’s lands and waters by 2030.

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “With Governor Hochul’s leadership, DEC is making comprehensive and meaningful investments to support Catskill communities. We are protecting New York’s invaluable natural resources and improving access and safety to open spaces here in Ulster County and throughout the region. This marks our first land acquisition funded through the historic Environmental Bond Act and we are grateful to our partners at the Open Space Institute for ensuring the permanent protection of 900 acres in this special place. As we protect these important places, we are advancing significant upgrades to the Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor to improve safety and support local governments and we are addressing key aspects of visitor use management across the region. DEC is demonstrating our commitment to the Catskill Forest Preserve and the region’s communities.”

    Open Space Institute President and CEO Erik Kulleseid said, “The Open Space Institute celebrates the sale of the Golden properties to DEC as an addition to the Catskill Forest Preserve. By keeping these landscapes wild and undisturbed, we are protecting vital wildlife habitat, creating new recreational opportunities, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and preserving the land’s natural ability to filter water flowing into the Ashokan watershed, a critical resource for millions of people and businesses. These properties are in good hands with our partners at DEC, and we also thank the Golden family for preserving these landscapes and working with OSI and DEC to ensure that they are protected forever.”

    In addition to conserving land and providing watershed protections to ensure the Catskills region continues to provide clean water to the millions of New Yorkers who depend on it, DEC also continues to improve safety and access to public lands in the region. As part of Governor Hochul’s Get Offline, Get Outside initiative, the Peekamoose Blue Hole’s newly constructed parking lot and first phase of a 3,270-foot accessible connector trail improves the visitor experience and promotes sustainable use of natural resources in the three-mile Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor.

    The second and final phase of the connector trail will include constructing a footbridge and retaining wall. Visitors are reminded that a permit is required for use of the entire Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor between May 15 and September 15 annually and can be obtained through DEC’s website. A new video detailing the Blue Hole visitation requirements and recommendations can be found at DEC’s YouTube page.

    State Senator Pete Harckham said, “With this important land acquisition and land improvement project in the Catskill Forest Preserve, New York State continues to achieve its 30×30 goals of preserving its open spaces and protecting water sources while also offering unparalleled opportunities to experience the natural world. The collaboration between state government and land conservation advocates that has led to this remarkable expansion of protected land deserves thanks to all involved.”

    Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, “Digital addiction is a growing concern for both children and adults. It’s important to put down our devices and spend time outdoors, getting fresh air and exercise. We’re fortunate to have beautiful and ecologically significant spaces across the state, from forest preserves to city parks, where New Yorkers can unplug and reconnect with nature. Governor Hochul’s recent acquisition of 900 acres in the Catskills to protect water quality and preserve critical habitat is a prime example of how we can expand access to the outdoors. It’s also a meaningful investment of Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act funds, helping us reach our ‘30×30’ goal of protecting 30 percent of New York’s lands and waters by 2030.”

    Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said, “As someone who’s had the opportunity to walk these trails and see the transformation firsthand, I’m thrilled to celebrate these major milestones for Ulster County and the Catskills. The upgrades at Peekamoose Blue Hole will make this beloved destination safer and more accessible for all, while the 900-acre land acquisition in Olive — one of the largest additions to the Catskill Forest Preserve in recent memory — will protect critical watershed lands and expand opportunities for public recreation. I want to thank Governor Hochul, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Open Space Institute for their leadership and partnership in preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of our region for generations to come.”

    Town of Denning Supervisor David Brooks said, “The Town has been working closely with DEC for many years to assist with the management of the Peekamoose Blue Hole. The completed upgrades will make the area safer for both residents and visitors. I greatly appreciate the cooperation of all agencies involved.”

    Town of Olive Supervisor Jim Sofranko said, “The acquisition and preservation of forestland by DEC helps Olive achieve its goal of maintaining a rural character. It is satisfying to know this land will remain “forever wild” and sustain natural habitats for future generations.”

    This week, DEC also released a draft Visitor Use Management Plan for the Formerly Trailless Catskill High Peaks to help address impacts like soil compaction, increased erosion, and damage to vegetation and wildlife habitat from increased visitation. The draft plan is helping fulfill a recommendation from the Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group by outlining sustainable management strategies for ecologically sensitive high-elevation peaks in the Forest Preserve that were historically managed to be free of trails and other recreational facilities. DEC is holding a hearing on the draft plan August 6 and will be accepting public comments until September 15. Visit DEC’s website for more information.

    DEC encourages all visitors to forests, trails, waterways, and other natural areas to “Love Our New York Lands” and be safe, respectful, and responsible. Simple actions – like staying on trails, picking up trash, and being prepared – help keep these areas clean, healthy, and enjoyable for all. By working together, we can make sure that these beautiful lands and the habitat they provide stay accessible and protected for future generations. Learn more by visiting DEC’s website.

    New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
    On Nov. 8, 2022, New York voters overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs. Bond Act funding will support new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. Progress on implementing funding continues, with New York State awarding approximately $1.25 billion, or 25 percent, of Bond Act funds to date. For more information and to sign up for progress updates, go to the Environmental Bond Act webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moran, Sorensen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Rural Weather Radar Coverage

    Source: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)

    Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) reintroduced the Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act, a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen weather radar coverage in rural and underserved areas, including regions like East Texas that face consistent gaps in early warning systems.

    Today, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) reintroduced the Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act, a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen weather radar coverage in rural and underserved areas, including regions like East Texas that face consistent gaps in early warning systems.

    Originally introduced in June 2023, key provisions from the bill were included in the Weather Act Reauthorization of 2023, which passed the House as H.R. 6093. Now, with the broader reauthorization effort moving forward, Moran and Sorensen are reintroducing this bill as a standalone measure to underscore its importance and ensure rural communities are not left behind.

    “When severe weather hits, every second counts,” said Congressman Moran. “But far too many rural communities lack the radar coverage they need to detect threats in time. This bill directs the National Weather Service to identify where rural radar coverage is falling short, so that communities like East Texas can get the tools they need to track storms earlier, respond faster, and save lives. While a key part of this effort is already included in the Weather Act Reauthorization of 2025, we’re reintroducing this bill to emphasize the necessity for making rural weather safety a national priority. Our families, first responders, and local officials deserve better, and we’re working together to deliver it.”

    “Having access to accurate and reliable weather forecasting is critically important for everyone, whether you’re a farmer trying to plant your harvest or a family determining if you need to shelter in place for a tornado,” said Congressman Sorensen. “During severe weather season, it is critical that we get an accurate picture of the state of our weather monitoring systems across the country. This bipartisan bill will help us ensure that we’re meeting the needs of my neighbors in rural communities who rely on the NOAA and the NWS to get their weather forecasts.” 

    Background:

    This legislation requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the current state of rural weather radar systems, identify gaps in coverage, and recommend actions to improve early detection of severe weather. The bill also calls on the GAO to outline regulatory, technical, and funding obstacles that delay or prevent the deployment of modern radar infrastructure.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Permanent Gaza Ceasefire Talks to Take Place If Interim Agreement Reached – Israeli FM

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JERUSALEM, July 9 (Xinhua) — Israel is ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a temporary truce is reached with the Palestinian movement Hamas, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday.

    As noted in a statement released by the office of the head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, G. Saar made the relevant comments during a joint press conference with Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar in Bratislava.

    “Israel is seriously seeking to reach an agreement on the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza,” noted G. Saar.

    He added that an Israeli delegation remained in Doha, Qatar, for indirect talks with Hamas on a proposed 60-day truce that would include the release of 10 living hostages and the return of the bodies of several dead.

    Earlier, two meetings took place in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the second of which took place on Tuesday. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Parks Canada and British Columbia invest more than $8 M to improve ecological connectivity

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The initiative will help conserve biodiversity and improve connections between important natural areas in British Columbia

    July 9, 2025                              Kelowna, British Columbia                       Parks Canada

    Today, the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defense procurement, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced $5.3 million in federal funding to support an agreement to advance ecological corridor projects, nature conservation and Indigenous stewardship in British Columbia. The Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, announced that the Province of British Columbia is contributing an additional $3 million, further strengthening this collaborative effort to improve ecological connectivity.

    Many animals need to reach habitat well beyond the boundaries of protected areas to survive, and ecological connectivity is the movement of these wild species and the flow of natural processes through a landscape. With support from both governments, the Stewardship of Ecological Corridors in British Columbia initiative focuses on identifying, planning, and acting to improve movement through ecological corridors — linkages that connect natural habitats, including protected and conserved areas. Ecological corridors provide biodiversity and human well-being benefits and are vital for the long-term health of ecosystems.

    The project will build on existing natural resource programs and partnerships to promote and accelerate stewardship and conservation. It will advance ecological connectivity in areas of shared national, provincial, and Indigenous priority, and strengthen collaboration between all partners. Indigenous leadership and involvement are central to the approach, guiding planning and achieving on-the-ground action.

    This collaborative approach reflects the shared commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and honour Indigenous stewardship. It helps create connections that matter for wildlife, communities and generations to come.

    Through this investment, the Parks Canada National Program for Ecological Corridors and the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship are building a strong foundation for the long-term conservation of the diverse and changing landscapes in British Columbia. 

                                                                                                        -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce over $21 Million in Federal Funding for Virginia Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

    “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major win for Virginia’s travelers and communities and will help to ensure our airports are safer, more efficient, and ready to meet growing demand in the years to come.” 

    The funding is broken down as follows:

    • $6,000,000 to the Peninsula Airport Commission to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing paved taxiways at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport;
    • $5,927,653 to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission through grants to rehabilitate existing runway and taxiway at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport;
    • $4,000,000 to the Capital Region Airport Commission for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Richmond International Airport;
    • $1,699,218 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority to upgrade and replace existing security equipment at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport;
    • $1,229,342 to the City of Lynchburg to rehabilitate runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport;
    • $750,000 to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to construct a new hangar for aircraft storage at Orange County Airport;
    • $600,000 to the County of Halifax to reconstruct runway lighting at William M. Tuck Airport;
    • $164,000 to the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand the terminal apron to allow for a wider variety of aircrafts at Dinwiddie County Airport;
    • $107,112 to the County of New Kent to remove trees obstructing operations at New Kent County Airport;
    • $76,950 to the Tazewell County Airport Authority to remove trees obstructing operations at Tazewell County Airport; and
    • $700,000 to the Commonwealth of Virginia to update Virginia’s existing airport system plan.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Sens. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last month, the senators announced over $5 million in federal funding, building on more than $12 million for improvements to Virginia’s airports announced in January of this year. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding for revitalizations efforts, and in September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Discover Sask Parks: July 9 – July 23

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 9, 2025

    Visitors can enjoy an entire summer of camping, glamping, hiking and fun at the lake in Saskatchewan Provincial Parks. Engaging family-friendly programming is also scheduled throughout the week. 

    Take a moment to create new memories and experience nature to the fullest. Here are a few special events occurring over the next two weeks; all are free with a valid Park Entry Permit:

    Parks Day 

    July 19, many parks

    Times may vary

    Celebrate Parks Day with free entry into every Saskatchewan Provincial Park on July 19, 2025. Enjoy exciting games, fun crafts, guided hikes and so much more. Each park has something unique to offer, so enjoy a day in the sun while learning from park interpreters and exploring nature. This celebration is part of Saskatchewan Parks Week – July 12 to 19, 2025. Learn more.

    SaskExpress: Lost in a Musical

    July 11 – Great Blue Heron Provincial Park

    July 12 – Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park

    July 13 – Pike Lake Provincial Park

    7 to 8:30 p.m.

    Welcome SaskExpress back as they embark on a five-park tour with a new musical showcase, Lost in a Musical. Join the SaskExpress cast from 2 to 3:30 p.m. before each show for their Workshop in the Park and learn a song and dance to perform with the cast during the show. Learn More.

    Trade Days

    July 12 – Fort Carlton Provincial Historic Park

    1 to 5 p.m.

    Step back in time and experience life at Fort Carlton Provincial Historic Park. Join park interpreters in exploring the daily life of fur trappers and traders, experience Indigenous cultural presentations and more! Learn more.

    Upcoming Events and Programs

    Bison Day

    July 24 – Buffalo Pound Provincial Park

    4 to 8 p.m.

    Head to Buffalo Pound Provincial Park to find out how bison play an important role within the ecosystem and learn more about the exciting new bison tracking system! Join park interpreters on a guided hike to learn insider knowledge on the unique animals. Learn more.

    There are many other things to do and see in Saskatchewan Provincial Parks. Visit the Sask Parks Events Calendar to find all events and programs.

    Make memories close to home this summer in Saskatchewan Provincial Parks. To find your park and book a campsite, visit: SaskParks.com.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce Over $21 Million in Federal Funding for Virginia Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

    “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major win for Virginia’s travelers and communities and will help to ensure our airports are safer, more efficient, and ready to meet growing demand in the years to come.” 

    The funding is broken down as follows:

    • $6,000,000 to the Peninsula Airport Commission to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing paved taxiways at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport;
    • $5,927,653 to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission through grants to rehabilitate existing runway and taxiway at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport;
    • $4,000,000 to the Capital Region Airport Commission for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Richmond International Airport;
    • $1,699,218 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority to upgrade and replace existing security equipment at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport;
    • $1,229,342 to the City of Lynchburg to rehabilitate runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport;
    • $750,000 to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to construct a new hangar for aircraft storage at Orange County Airport;
    • $600,000 to the County of Halifax to reconstruct runway lighting at William M. Tuck Airport;
    • $164,000 to the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand the terminal apron to allow for a wider variety of aircrafts at Dinwiddie County Airport;
    • $107,112 to the County of New Kent to remove trees obstructing operations at New Kent County Airport;
    • $76,950 to the Tazewell County Airport Authority to remove trees obstructing operations at Tazewell County Airport; and
    • $700,000 to the Commonwealth of Virginia to update Virginia’s existing airport system plan.

    Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last month, the senators announced over $5 million in federal funding, building on more than $12 million for improvements to Virginia’s airports announced in January of this year. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding for revitalizations efforts, and in September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Keeps Sounding the Alarm on Health Care Emergency Worsened by Trump Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, July 9 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today delivered remarks on the impact of the Republican reconciliation bill — which passed the Senate by one vote and will throw nearly 17 million Americans off the health care they have.

    There is no question that cybersecurity and protecting the privacy of Americans’ health care records are important issues that we need to deal with. 

    But, Mr. Chairman, let me be very clear. That is not the issue that is right now on the minds of the American people. What people are worried about is the catastrophic impact that the reconciliation bill that was passed last week will have on the health and well-being of the American people. And that is the issue that I’m going to be focused on today. 

    That legislation, passed by one vote here in the Senate, will be making the largest cut to Medicaid in American history to pay for the largest tax break for billionaires in American history. 

    At a time when our current health care system is broken, dysfunctional and cruel — 85 million today are uninsured or underinsured. This bill will make a horrible situation even worse. 

    This legislation will cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1.1 trillion. 

    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this bill, along with the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, will cause 17 million people to lose their health insurance. 

    Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and health care economists at the University of Pennsylvania have found that these health care policies would cause over 50,000 people in our country to die unnecessarily every year. That’s what happens when you can’t get to a doctor. 

    I am delighted that one of the lead researchers of this report, Dr. Alison Galvani, is here with us today to talk more about that study.

    Mr. Chairman: it is not rocket science. You’re a doctor, you know this. If people don’t have access to health care, if they can’t get to a doctor when they need to, people will suffer and tens of thousands will die. It happens today and it will only get worse. 

    Make no mistake about it: This bill is a death sentence for working-class and low-income Americans. 

    Further, as a result of this bill, more than 300 rural hospitals are now at risk of closing down altogether or substantially reducing their services. That is not my estimate. That’s what the Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina recently estimated. 

    And we are already beginning to see the devastating impact this bill will have on rural America: The Curtis Medical Center in Southwest Nebraska has already announced that it will be shutting down because it cannot withstand the cuts to Medicaid contained in this bill. 

    It’s not just rural hospitals that are now in crisis as a result of this legislation.

    According to a recent survey from the American Health Care Association, as a result of this bill, 27% of nursing homes have indicated that they will be forced to close their doors and 58% will have to reduce staff. And it’s not just nursing homes. 

    Health care researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University have found that this bill will be a disaster for community health centers. 

    They have estimated that as a result of the passage of this bill, over 40% of community health center sites will shut down. Today, there are over 15,000 community health center clinics throughout America. This could result in the shutting down of some 9,000 of them. 

    And it’s not just community health centers, it’s not just nursing homes and it’s not just individuals. 

    This legislation will substantially increase the uninsured rate in every state in this country. 

    As a result of this bill, the uninsured rate in my own state of Vermont would go up from 3.3% to 6%.

    In Louisiana, the Chairman’s state, the uninsured rate will go up from 6.7% to 12.4%.

    In Florida, the uninsured rate will go up from 10.4% to 18.8%.  

    In Texas, the second largest state in this country, the uninsured rate will go up to 20% — in the United States, in the richest country in the history of the world.

    Mr. Chairman, this is an issue that needs to be explained to the American people, and I look forward to discussing it with all of our panelists. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Padilla, Booker in Cosponsoring New Bill to Require Immigration Officers to Display Clear Identification 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Welch also joined letter to DHS requesting information about ICE’s use of unidentified plainclothes agents 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring new legislation to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 would strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability of the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities across the nation.  
    Under the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda, civil immigration enforcement operations have increasingly involved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear, concealing clothing, and face coverings that obscure both agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials. 
    This lack of transparency endangers public safety by causing widespread confusion and fear, especially in communities already subject to heightened immigration scrutiny. It also increases operational and safety risks for law enforcement personnel by creating an opportunity for immigration enforcement impersonators and compounding uncertainty in high-stress situations. Clear, consistent, visible identification helps reduce miscommunication during enforcement encounters, strengthens officer credibility, and improves public cooperation, all of which are vital to mission success.  
     “Public safety requires trust. When federal immigration agents are in plainclothes and unidentifiable, it threatens that public safety, undermines trust in government, and can even lead to escalating violence,” said Senator Welch. “This is about accountability and transparency.” 
    The VISIBLE Act would place a critical check on the government’s power, ensuring basic transparency safeguards that protect public trust and legitimacy in immigration enforcement operations. Specifically, the VISIBLE Act: 

    Requires immigration enforcement officers — including DHS personnel such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized state or local officers — to display clearly legible identification, including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing; 

    Prohibits non-medical face coverings (such as masks or balaclavas) that obscure identity or facial visibility, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; and 

    Requires DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, report annually to Congress on compliance, and investigate complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 

    The bill does not apply to covert or non-public facing operations, nor does it prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety. It also does not apply to enforcement actions conducted solely under criminal authority. 
    The VISIBLE Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bill is endorsed by the ACLU and Public Counsel. 
    Learn more about the VISIBLE Act. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 
    Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Senator Padilla and 12 of their colleagues in criticizing ICE for engaging in counterproductive, theatrical enforcement activities — including raids on courthouses and restaurants — and requesting information from the agency on its mask and uniform policies. The Senators argued that these tactics are designed to sow fear and chaos and that allowing masked, plainclothes officers to engage in public raids creates situations where bad actors can commit crimes while claiming to be ICE agents. 
    In addition to Sens. Welch and Padilla, the letter was signed by Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Hirono, Schiff, Smith, Van Hollen, Wyden, Murray, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). Read the full text of the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How a lottery-style refund system could boost recycling

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jiaying Zhao, Associate Professor, Psychology, University of British Columbia

    Imagine you’re standing at a bottle depot with an empty pop can. You can get a dime back, or you can take a chance at winning $1,000. Which would you choose?

    Every year, the world produces two trillion beverage containers but only 34 per cent of glass bottles, 40 per cent of plastic bottles and 70 per cent of aluminium cans are recycled.

    To increase recycling rates, many countries have adopted deposit refund systems, where you pay a small deposit, say 10 cents, when you buy an eligible beverage container and get this deposit back when you return it to a local depot.

    Through this system, approximately 80 per cent of containers in British Columbia and almost 85 per cent of containers in Alberta are recovered. Still, that leaves millions of containers as litter, in landfills or incinerated every year, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

    With Canada’s goal of zero plastic waste by 2030 drawing near, a new approach to recycling beverage containers could make a difference.

    We recently conducted a research experiment to find out if more people would recycle more often if they had a chance to win a prize.

    A lottery-style refund to boost recycling

    Psychology research shows that people tend to prefer a small chance to win a large reward over a guaranteed small reward. For example, people would more often prefer a small chance to win $5,000 over receiving a $5 reward.

    Applying this insight to recycling, we turned the small guaranteed refund of $0.10 in B.C. and Alberta into a 0.01 per cent chance of getting $1,000. We set up recycling tables at food courts in Vancouver and at a RibFest event in Spruce Grove, Alta.

    When people brought their beverage containers to us to recycle, we presented them with five options for a refund. They could get their guaranteed 10 cents, or a chance to win a larger amount of money, the highest option being $1,000.

    We found that people preferred the chance to win $1,000 over the other options, and they felt the happiest after making this choice.

    To see if the lottery option actually increased recycling, we conducted an experiment where we told people ahead of time that they would get their guaranteed 10-cent refund or that they had a chance to win $1,000 for each bottle they brought to our study.

    We found that people brought 47 per cent more beverage containers when we offered them a chance to win $1,000 than when we offered them the guaranteed refund.

    Overall, our findings suggest that offering a chance to win a larger amount of money can meaningfully boost beverage container recycling. The excitement of a potential big win can motivate people who may not be enticed by the typical small, guaranteed refund.

    Choice matters

    A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. People recycle for different reasons. They also have different risk tolerances, and some may rely on the guaranteed refund for additional income. To capture diverse preferences and needs, it’s vital that the lottery-style refund is offered in addition to the guaranteed refund, not instead of it.

    It would also be beneficial to include smaller, more frequent prizes alongside the grand prize, so people win relatively frequently to keep motivations high.

    This is Norway’s approach to their recycling lottery, with 39 per cent of people choosing the lottery option when they recycle. In 2023, Norway’s recycling lottery achieved a 92.3 per cent container return rate.

    Importantly, our research does not capture people who collect large bags of containers to return to the depot. It’s possible that this demographic may have different preferences for the refund, and future research should examine this group in particular.

    Green lottery for good

    The lottery-style refund has the same expected payout as the 10-cent refund per bottle. This means that, on average, people will take home the same amount of money as with the guaranteed option, without incurring additional losses or gains. This benevolent factor distinguishes the lottery-style refund from other types of lotteries or gambling that often profit off the players.

    Since the only way to enter this lottery-style refund is to recycle beverage containers, it’s impossible to directly re-enter any winnings into the lottery. There are also no near-misses, losses disguised as wins, exciting lights and sounds or other sensory stimulation often associated with gambling.

    Some might be apprehensive about potential gambling dangers of creating a lottery system. However, there has not been a single case linking the recycling lottery to gambling addiction. There is also no evidence that purchases of beverage containers would increase as a result of the lottery-style refund.

    Our study’s transparent design, with clear odds, ensures fairness, unlike casino games built to take players’ cash. For this approach to be successful, deposit refund systems must maintain this transparency in lottery-style program operations and payouts.

    If done right, offering a chance to win a higher amount of money for recycling can meaningfully increase recycling rates, contribute to a circular economy and allow people to choose the refund option that works best for them.

    Jiaying Zhao receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Jade Radke receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship and the University of British Columbia Indigenous Graduate Fellowship.

    – ref. How a lottery-style refund system could boost recycling – https://theconversation.com/how-a-lottery-style-refund-system-could-boost-recycling-259896

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville to ICE Agents Being Violently Attacked: “If you need to defend yourself, shoot back.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the Radical Democrats who are violently attacking ICE agents.
    Excerpts from Sens. Tuberville and Scott’s interview can be found below or on YouTube or Rumble.
    KUDLOW: “I want to get down to the point. You’ve got people shooting at ICE agents and Border Patrol agents, right? And cops in general. And according to the Daily Caller and according to Axios and some other sources now, the Democratic Party—the people at the bottom and the constituencies and so forth at the grassroots—are urging their leaders to urge this kind of violence. In fact, they’re telling their leaders to take a shot in order to show their resistance to Trump. This is insanity. In America, we don’t shoot cops, Senator Tuberville. What you have to say about this?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, first of all, it was a disaster what the Biden administration did for four years—open borders, it was insane. Senator Scott and I went down several times. You can’t put a number on what it is number one, gonna cost the American taxpayers over the next years to get all these illegals back out of the country. But the law and order in this country—and Rick will talk about this too—is vital. You can be educated, you can have money, you can have everything you want as an American citizen—if you don’t have safe streets and neighborhoods, you don’t have anything. And so, we have to take our country back. The Democrats did this on purpose. It was all by design. They want to run over our law and order. They want social justice people running our police departments. That’s not gonna happen. I’m all for ICE. If you need to defend yourself, shoot back. Do not take this from these people. Do not take it from the Democrats. We have to take our country and neighborhoods back.”
    KUDLOW: “Yeah. If you need to defend yourself, shoot back. That has to happen, Senator Scott. And you know, we had Tom Homan on just at the top of the show. A terrific man, really. A great patriot doing the job. We can’t let up. They’re crazy—they’re crazy people shooting now. They’re crazy people who illegally walked into this country. And they’re murderers. And they’re rapists, sex traffickers, drug traffickers. That battle’s not over yet, Senator Scott. We’ve got a lot of work to do. You all just put $175 billion dollars for it into the One Big Beautiful Bill. This has got to change.”
    SCOTT: “But, it’s like who do these Democrats represent? They’re insane. I mean, they represent actual criminals. People that are selling drugs to our kids to kill them. People that have murdered and raped people—[the Democrats are] out trying to make sure they don’t go to jail. And then the people that are trying to put them in jail, they wanna kill them, these ICE agents and Border Patrol. These Democrats have gone crazy, but this is—as Coach Tuberville said—this is all designed by the Democrats. They wanted to change this country by opening up the border to criminals and drug traffickers and terrorists, and they’ve done it. Donald Trump has got his work cut out for him, but he’s gonna do it. We’re gonna clean up this country.”
    KUDLOW: “You know, Senator Tuberville, I got a guy up here in New York. Trump calls him ‘Mamdani the Commi.’ This guy wants the city to run grocery stores. He wants to defund the police, and he’s a tremendous antisemite. Hates Jewish people. He claims he’s not gonna let ICE into his sanctuary city. I mean, he’s a Democrat. Okay? This is insanity. Utter insanity. The Democrats have been the stupid party. This makes them even stupider.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, you know, he’s showing his stripes. And I don’t think this will fly, even with the people in New York. You never know. But at the end of the day, the guy is truly a communist. He believes in the government taking care of everybody, and that doesn’t work in the greatest country ever. You can just go to Venezuela, some of the other countries. If he does win, you can sack the bats in New York, Larry. We will take you in Alabama in a heartbeat. We’ll put you a TV studio up, and we’ll let you preach the gospel from the State of Alabama.”
    KUDLOW: “You know I love the gospel, Senator. You got me there. Senator Scott, you know it too. Gentlemen, you’re both terrific. Thank you so much for coming on. Appreciate it very much.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government and East Gwillimbury partner to help residents walk a new path

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    East Gwillimbury, Ontario, July 9, 2025 — East Gwillimbury will expand its active transportation network thanks to a joint investment of $7.6 million with the federal government and York Region.

    The project will build 1.5 kilometres of new multi-use path along Yonge Street in the downtown core. Work will include installing wayfinding signage and beautifying the streetscape with plantings, benches and seating walls. By establishing an accessible link between the Nokiidaa Trail and the Doane Road Pedestrian Bridge, this project will provide a vibrant streetscape enhancement through the core of Holland Landing, while extending York Region’s Lake-to-Lake trail network.

    Walking, cycling, rolling and other methods of active transportation are healthy, convenient, affordable and sustainable ways for residents to get around. Once complete, this project will help make getting around East Gwillimbury easier and more enjoyable. It will help encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto the trails, reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Diab to participate in a citizenship ceremony in Calgary

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    Calgary, July 9, 2025—The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, will welcome 20 of Canada’s newest citizens from four countries. The ceremony will be presided by Citizenship Judge James Clover.

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    9:45 a.m. (Mountain time)

    Calgary, Alberta

    Notes for media:

    • Media must register in advance by sharing their name, title, email address and outlet with IRCC.Info-Info.IRCC@cic.gc.ca by Wednesday, July 9, at 5 p.m., Eastern time. Please include “RSVP for July 10 citizenship ceremony” in the email subject line.
    • Media attending the event in person are asked to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. (Mountain time).
    • Photography and video are permitted during the ceremony.

    For more information (media only):

    Media Relations
    People and Communications Sector
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
    613-952-1650
    media@cic.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assessing the U.S. Climate in June 2025

    Source: US National Oceanographic Data Center

    Key Point:

    A widespread late-June heatwave impacted much of the central and eastern U.S., and brought record-setting temperatures. More than 100 million people across 726 counties experienced record heat from June 22–25.

    Map of the U.S. selected significant climate anomalies and events in June 2025

    Other Highlights:

    Temperature

    June U.S. Mean Temperature Departures from Average Map

    The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in June 2025 was 71.2°F, 2.8°F above the 20th-century average, and ranked seventh warmest in the 131-year record. Temperatures were above average across most of the Lower 48, with much-above-average warmth affecting large areas of the western third of the country, along with parts of the Florida Peninsula, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Rhode Island saw its second-warmest June on record and its warmest for nighttime minimum temperatures, which were 5.8°F above average.

    Alaska’s average temperature for June was 50.8°F, 1.6°F above the long-term average and ranking in the warmest third of the 101-year record. While parts of the southeast Panhandle were slightly cooler than average, the North Slope was notably warm at more than 3 degrees above average.

    The average temperature for the CONUS during the first half of 2025 (January–June) was 49.6°F, 2.1°F above the 20th-century average, ranking in the warmest third of the 131-year record. All states recorded temperatures above their long-term averages for the six-month period, with much-above-average warmth observed across parts of the West, Southwest and portions of the East Coast. Alaska’s year-to-date average temperature was 26.8°F, 5.5°F above its long-term average, tying as the fourth-warmest January–June in the 101-year record.

    Precipitation

    June 2025 U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles

    The average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. in June was 3.22 inches, 0.30 inch above the long-term average, ranking in the wettest third of the 131-year record. Much of the Southwest, the southern and central Plains, the middle and upper Mississippi Valley, parts of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region and areas of the Deep South recorded above-average rainfall. In contrast, drier-than-average conditions prevailed from the central West Coast through the Northwest and into the Rockies. The Northwest region experienced its third-driest June on record—and driest since 2003—with Washington and Oregon each receiving less than half an inch of rain for the month. Parts of north-central California and south-central Washington recorded no measurable rainfall for the entire month.

    For the January–June period, the CONUS averaged 15.70 inches of precipitation, 0.40 inch above the long-term average, ranking in the middle third of the 131-year record. Most of the western half of the country, along with a narrow band from the central Plains through the mid-Mississippi Valley and parts of the Southeast, were drier than average. Above-average precipitation was recorded from the southern Plains through the lower Mississippi and Ohio Valleys into the Northeast, as well as in parts of the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley.

    Alaska received 2.32 inches of precipitation in June, which was near the long-term average. Conditions were drier than average across the eastern interior and North Slope but wetter than normal in the western and southwestern parts of the state. For the first half of the year, Alaska recorded 16.58 inches of precipitation, 2.96 inches above average, marking its fifth-wettest start to the year on record.

    Drought

    According to the July 1 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 32.4% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, an increase of approximately 2.8% since the beginning of the month. Drought developed or intensified across much of the Northwest through the Rocky Mountains and in small areas of the Alaskan interior. Conversely, drought contracted or was reduced in intensity across parts of the Southwest and southern Texas, the central and northern Plains, the upper Mississippi Valley and parts of Florida.

    Monthly Outlook

    July temperatures are expected to be above normal across the entire contiguous U.S., with the highest likelihood of warmer-than-average conditions in the Mountain West, southern Texas and throughout much of the Great Lakes and the Northeast. For rainfall, parts of the Northwest and the southern and central Plains are expected to be drier than normal, while the interior East is favored to have a wetter-than-average July. Drought is likely to persist across much of the western U.S. in July, with some further development in the Northwest, while improvement is expected across southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and far West Texas, where above-average rainfall is favored.

    Visit the Climate Prediction Center’s Official 30-Day Forecasts and U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook website for more details.

    Significant wildland fire potential is above normal for July across the Northwest, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For additional information on wildland fire potential, visit the National Interagency Fire Center’s One-Month Wildland Fire Outlook.

    For more detailed climate information, check out our comprehensive June 2025 U.S. Climate Report scheduled for release on July 14, 2025. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chris Houser, Professor in Department of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dean of Science, University of Waterloo

    Between 2010 and 2017, there were approximately 50 drowning fatalities each year associated with rough surf and strong currents in the Great Lakes.

    In addition to the personal loss experienced by family and friends, these drownings create an annual economic burden on the regional economy of around US$105 million, and that doesn’t include the direct costs of search and rescue.

    Types of rip currents

    Rip currents — commonly referred to as rips or colloquially as rip tides — are driven by the breaking of waves. These currents extend away from the shoreline and can flow at speeds easily capable of carrying swimmers far from the beach.

    Structural rips are common throughout the Great Lakes (Grand Haven on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, for example) and develop when groynes, jetties and rock structures deflect the alongshore current offshore, beyond the breaking waves. Depending on the waves and the structure, a shadow rip can also develop on the other side of the groyne or jetty.

    Rips can also develop anywhere that variations in the bathymetry (the topography of the sand underwater) — such as nearshore bars — causes wave-breaking to vary along the beach, which makes the water thrown landward by the breaking waves return offshore as a concentrated flow at the water’s surface. These are known as channel or bathymetric rips and are they can form along sand beaches in the Great Lakes.

    While it can be difficult to spot a channel rip, they can be identified by an area of relatively calm water between breaking waves, a patch of darker water or the offshore flow of water, sediment and debris.

    A person caught in a rip is transported away from shore into deeper water, but they are not pulled under the water. If they are a weak swimmer or try to fight the current, they may panic and fail to find a way out of the rip and back to shore before submerging.

    Rip current hazards

    Most rip fatalities occur on unsupervised beaches or on supervised beaches when and where lifeguards are not present. While many popular beaches near large urban centres have lifeguards, many beaches don’t. Along just the east coast of Lake Huron, there are more than 40 public beaches, including Goderich, Bayfield, Southampton and Sauble Beach, but only two have lifeguard programs (Sarnia and Grand Bend).

    Simple warning signs are used on many beaches, but visitors either don’t pay attention or don’t know how to interpret the warning.

    Non-local visitors are a high-risk group for drownings. They are less likely to make safe swimming choices than residents or regular beach-goers, because visitors are generally unfamiliar with the beach and its safety measures, have poor knowledge of beach hazards like rip currents and breaking waves and are overconfident in their swimming ability.

    Recent findings from a popular beach on Lake Huron suggest that those with less experience at the beach tend to make decisions of convenience rather than based on beach safety. Residents with greater knowledge of the local hazards tend to avoid swimming near where the rip can develop.

    But even when people are aware of rip currents and other beach hazards, they may not make the right decisions. Despite the presence of warnings, people’s actions are greatly influenced by the behaviour of others, peer pressure and group-think. The social cost of not entering the water with the group may appear to outweigh the risk posed by entering the water.

    Rip channel and current on Lake Huron. (Chris Houser)

    The behaviour of beach users is affected by confirmation bias, a cognitive shortcut where a person selectively pays attention to evidence confirming their pre-existing beliefs and ignores evidence to the contrary. When someone enters the water and does not encounter strong waves or currents, they’re more likely to engage in risky behaviour on their next visit to that beach or a similar beach.

    Vacationers and day visitors can stay safe only if they are aware that there is the potential for rip currents and rough surf at beaches in the Great Lakes. Just because a beach is accessible and has numerous attractions does not mean it is safe.

    Advocating for beach safety

    In the United States, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration runs programs designed to educate beach users about surf and rip hazards. But Canada hasn’t implemented a national beach safety strategy.

    Education about rips and dangerous surf falls on the shoulders of advocates, many of whom have been impacted by a drowning in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has been tracking and educating school and community groups about rip currents and rough surf in the Great Lakes since 2010.

    Several new advocacy groups have started in recent years, including Kincardine Beach Safety on Lake Huron and the Rip Current Information Project on Lake Erie. Given that there is limited public interest in surf-related drownings and limited media coverage, these advocacy groups are helping to increase awareness of rip currents and rough surf across the Great Lakes.

    To ensure a safe trip to the beach, beachgoers should seek out more information about rip currents and other surf hazards in the Great Lakes.

    Chris Houser receives funding from NSERC.

    – ref. The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning – https://theconversation.com/the-great-lakes-are-powerful-learning-about-rip-currents-can-help-prevent-drowning-260060

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chris Houser, Professor in Department of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dean of Science, University of Waterloo

    Between 2010 and 2017, there were approximately 50 drowning fatalities each year associated with rough surf and strong currents in the Great Lakes.

    In addition to the personal loss experienced by family and friends, these drownings create an annual economic burden on the regional economy of around US$105 million, and that doesn’t include the direct costs of search and rescue.

    Types of rip currents

    Rip currents — commonly referred to as rips or colloquially as rip tides — are driven by the breaking of waves. These currents extend away from the shoreline and can flow at speeds easily capable of carrying swimmers far from the beach.

    Structural rips are common throughout the Great Lakes (Grand Haven on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, for example) and develop when groynes, jetties and rock structures deflect the alongshore current offshore, beyond the breaking waves. Depending on the waves and the structure, a shadow rip can also develop on the other side of the groyne or jetty.

    Rips can also develop anywhere that variations in the bathymetry (the topography of the sand underwater) — such as nearshore bars — causes wave-breaking to vary along the beach, which makes the water thrown landward by the breaking waves return offshore as a concentrated flow at the water’s surface. These are known as channel or bathymetric rips and are they can form along sand beaches in the Great Lakes.

    While it can be difficult to spot a channel rip, they can be identified by an area of relatively calm water between breaking waves, a patch of darker water or the offshore flow of water, sediment and debris.

    A person caught in a rip is transported away from shore into deeper water, but they are not pulled under the water. If they are a weak swimmer or try to fight the current, they may panic and fail to find a way out of the rip and back to shore before submerging.

    Rip current hazards

    Most rip fatalities occur on unsupervised beaches or on supervised beaches when and where lifeguards are not present. While many popular beaches near large urban centres have lifeguards, many beaches don’t. Along just the east coast of Lake Huron, there are more than 40 public beaches, including Goderich, Bayfield, Southampton and Sauble Beach, but only two have lifeguard programs (Sarnia and Grand Bend).

    Simple warning signs are used on many beaches, but visitors either don’t pay attention or don’t know how to interpret the warning.

    Non-local visitors are a high-risk group for drownings. They are less likely to make safe swimming choices than residents or regular beach-goers, because visitors are generally unfamiliar with the beach and its safety measures, have poor knowledge of beach hazards like rip currents and breaking waves and are overconfident in their swimming ability.

    Recent findings from a popular beach on Lake Huron suggest that those with less experience at the beach tend to make decisions of convenience rather than based on beach safety. Residents with greater knowledge of the local hazards tend to avoid swimming near where the rip can develop.

    But even when people are aware of rip currents and other beach hazards, they may not make the right decisions. Despite the presence of warnings, people’s actions are greatly influenced by the behaviour of others, peer pressure and group-think. The social cost of not entering the water with the group may appear to outweigh the risk posed by entering the water.

    Rip channel and current on Lake Huron. (Chris Houser)

    The behaviour of beach users is affected by confirmation bias, a cognitive shortcut where a person selectively pays attention to evidence confirming their pre-existing beliefs and ignores evidence to the contrary. When someone enters the water and does not encounter strong waves or currents, they’re more likely to engage in risky behaviour on their next visit to that beach or a similar beach.

    Vacationers and day visitors can stay safe only if they are aware that there is the potential for rip currents and rough surf at beaches in the Great Lakes. Just because a beach is accessible and has numerous attractions does not mean it is safe.

    Advocating for beach safety

    In the United States, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration runs programs designed to educate beach users about surf and rip hazards. But Canada hasn’t implemented a national beach safety strategy.

    Education about rips and dangerous surf falls on the shoulders of advocates, many of whom have been impacted by a drowning in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has been tracking and educating school and community groups about rip currents and rough surf in the Great Lakes since 2010.

    Several new advocacy groups have started in recent years, including Kincardine Beach Safety on Lake Huron and the Rip Current Information Project on Lake Erie. Given that there is limited public interest in surf-related drownings and limited media coverage, these advocacy groups are helping to increase awareness of rip currents and rough surf across the Great Lakes.

    To ensure a safe trip to the beach, beachgoers should seek out more information about rip currents and other surf hazards in the Great Lakes.

    Chris Houser receives funding from NSERC.

    – ref. The Great Lakes are powerful. Learning about ‘rip currents’ can help prevent drowning – https://theconversation.com/the-great-lakes-are-powerful-learning-about-rip-currents-can-help-prevent-drowning-260060

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Membership Updates for July 2025

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: Membership Updates for July 2025

    IADC welcomes 8 new Members:

    • ASIATIC ENERGY – Mahesana, Gujarat, India

    • BASRA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER – Al Hussien District, Basra, Iraq 

    • BETATEC HOP PRODUCTS – Malvern, Worcestershire, UK 

    • BRUNO SILVA CARNEIRO MAPURUNGA – Mojave, California, US

    • DUKE MARINE TECHNICAL SERVICES USA INC – Katy, Texas, US

    • FARSUND DRILLING SOLUTION AS – Farsund, Agder, Norway 

    • INTERNATIONAL UPSTREAM ENERGY CONSULTANTS LLC FC – Pecos, Texas, US

    • STEPWISE AS – Stavanger, Norway

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: IADC Meets with Suriname Officials, Participates in SEOGS Event

    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC

    Headline: IADC Meets with Suriname Officials, Participates in SEOGS Event

    In June 2025, IADC representatives traveled to Suriname to meet with officials and participate in an industry conference. These representatives included Jim Rocco, Sr Director – Government & Industry Affairs – Offshore, Gerardo Barrera, Asst Director – Accreditation Programs, and Ricardo Carvalho, Latin America Chapter Regional Representative. 

    On 16 June, the team met with four officials from Suriname’s offshore regulatory agency, Staatsolie Hydrocarbon Institute (SHI). The team discussed how IADC training programs could benefit SHI staff and university students in Suriname, and how IADC’s commitment to advocacy could support the region’s flourishing sector through increased understanding of industry standards and best practices. 

    From 17-20 June, the IADC team attended the 2025 Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition (SEOGS). This 5th edition of the event was hosted by Staatsolie in Paramaribo, Suriname under the theme “A New Dawn.” The event provided an excellent forum for our team to network and participate. Jim moderated a 90-minute drilling and completions session, which consisted of presentations followed by a panel discussion.

    Among the session topics were:

    • Machine learning affects to optimizing cementing operations
    • Risk reduction via advanced geology assessment
    • Subsea relief well techniques
    • Offshore waste management (spent mud treatment)
    • Low ECD drilling fluids for drilling ahead

    As a session moderator, Jim was invited to provide a 5-minute video interview addressing high-level questions regarding the implications of burgeoning offshore activities on the country’s outlook. He covered topics such as local content, advantages of low production carbon footprint, and technologies to benefit Suriname’s offshore industry. 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Richard R. Barker Concludes Service as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

     Spokane, Washington – On July 7, 2025, Richard R. Barker stepped down as the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Barker will be returning to private practice in Spokane after a distinguished career in public service.

    Acting United States Attorney Barker has over a decade of experience as a career prosecutor, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2014.  During his career, Barker has held the positions of First Assistant United States Attorney, Tribal Liaison, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Coordinator, Digital Asset Coordinator, and Public Affairs Officer.  From 2014 – 2019, Barker served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the nation’s capital, where he served as a dedicated homicide prosecutor.  In early 2019, Barker joined the Eastern District of Washington, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) in the Spokane office.

    Acting United States Attorney Barker has dedicated his career to serving victims of violent crime, while handling numerous homicide and violent crime cases. Late last year, Barker was lead counsel with AUSA Michael J. Ellis in the trial of Zachery Holt and Dezmonique Tenzsley for the double murder of two Tribal members and the attempted murder of a federal officer on the Colville Indian Reservation. In 2023, Barker successfully prosecuted Ronald Craig Ilg, who attempted to hire hitmen on the dark web to harm his wife and a former work colleague.  Earlier this year, Barker was lead counsel with AUSA Nowles Heinrich and Echo Fatsis in the successful trial of Luis Esquival Balonos, who was convicted on multiple drug trafficking charges stemming from more than one hundred pounds of illegal drugs being distributed on and around the Colville Indian Reservation and into Montana. Barker, who carried an active caseload while leading the office, was the first Eastern Washington U.S. Attorney in nearly two decades to try a case to a verdict while serving in the U.S. Attorney role.

    Throughout his career, Acting United States Attorney Barker also handled several significant drug trafficking prosecutions.  In 2023, Barker, with co-counsel AUSA Stephanie Van Marter, prosecuted the “Fetty Bros” Drug Trafficking Organization, which was distributing hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and other drugs into Eastern Washington and using extreme violence to insulate their organization. In his efforts to further address the fentanyl crisis, Barker worked with now former U.S. Attorney Waldref and the City of Spokane to create a Special U.S. Assistant Attorney position focused on prosecuting those responsible for illegal narcotics impacting the Spokane area.

    As First Assistant United States Attorney, Barker supervised the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s litigating units, which include the Criminal, Civil, and Appellate Divisions. As the Chief Deputy to the U.S. Attorney, Barker helped establish the District’s dedicated Appellate Division and worked closely with the Office’s administrative team to obtain additional DOJ resources for increasing public safety throughout Eastern Washington.

    Throughout his service, Former Acting U.S. Attorney Barker built strong relationships with Washington’s Native American communities and worked tirelessly to honor federal treaty rights with Tribal Nations in Eastern Washington and address the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous people. In early 2024, Barker played a key role in hiring the district’s first MMIP AUSA, who is fully dedicated to prosecuting cases of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.  For Barker’s dedication to working with Native American communities and improving public safety, he received a Department of Justice Director’s Award in 2024.

    “Serving as a federal prosecutor has been the highlight of my career,” said Barker. “It has been an honor to represent the United States and seek justice for victims and their families. Spokane has truly become home for me and my family, and I look forward to remaining active in the legal community as I return to private practice right here in Eastern Washington.”

    Former U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated, “Acting U.S. Attorney Barker is an exceptional leader, a talented trial attorney, and a fearless advocate for justice. His service to the Department of Justice and dedication to protecting the communities of Eastern Washington is second to none. He led the District with distinction, focusing every day on doing the right thing for victims and the community and maintaining an unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law.”

    Outside the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Barker will continue to serve as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, where he has taught courses in Trial Advocacy and Conflicts of Law. Barker also serves as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Stephanie Van Marter will be assuming the role of Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “I’m honored to pass the torch to Acting U.S. Attorney Van Marter,” said Barker. “Steph has dedicated her career to the Department of Justice, and she will lead this office with the same honor, integrity, and commitment to justice as those who have served before her.” A formal announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Ms. Van Marter’s new role will be issued in the coming days.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Sacramento Men Sentenced for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Two members of a Sacramento-based drug trafficking organization were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for fentanyl trafficking and related crimes, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Zamora, 30, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

    Joaquin Alberto Sotelo Valdez, 28, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court documents, Lopez-Zamora was the leader of the organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone “M-30” pills from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. The group also distributed cocaine and methamphetamine.

    Fourteen other co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to over 10 years. Rosario Zamora Rojo and Jose Aguilar Saucedo are scheduled to be sentenced in July 2025. Luis Lopez Zamora, Leonardo Flores Beltran, Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo, and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Sacramento Men Sentenced for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Two members of a Sacramento-based drug trafficking organization were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for fentanyl trafficking and related crimes, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Zamora, 30, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

    Joaquin Alberto Sotelo Valdez, 28, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to court documents, Lopez-Zamora was the leader of the organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone “M-30” pills from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. The group also distributed cocaine and methamphetamine.

    Fourteen other co-defendants have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 19 months to over 10 years. Rosario Zamora Rojo and Jose Aguilar Saucedo are scheduled to be sentenced in July 2025. Luis Lopez Zamora, Leonardo Flores Beltran, Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo, and Sandro Escobedo are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2025.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To Prison For Armed Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Solamon Flores-Garcia, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for carjacking and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, on October 24, 2023, Flores-Garcia, a previously deported alien that was residing illegally in Monroe, N.C., went to a neighbor’s home. When the neighbor answered the door, Flores-Garcia pointed a red handgun at the neighbor and demanded her wallet and car keys. Flores-Garcia then drove the victim’s car to La Chiquita Mexican store, where he robbed that establishment. During the robbery, Flores-Garcia pointed a red firearm at the head of the clerk before taking money from the store and fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle. Flores-Garcia was arrested shortly thereafter.

    Flores-Garcia remains in custody pending transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    The FBI and CMPD investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced To Prison For Armed Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Solamon Flores-Garcia, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for carjacking and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to court documents and court proceedings, on October 24, 2023, Flores-Garcia, a previously deported alien that was residing illegally in Monroe, N.C., went to a neighbor’s home. When the neighbor answered the door, Flores-Garcia pointed a red handgun at the neighbor and demanded her wallet and car keys. Flores-Garcia then drove the victim’s car to La Chiquita Mexican store, where he robbed that establishment. During the robbery, Flores-Garcia pointed a red firearm at the head of the clerk before taking money from the store and fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle. Flores-Garcia was arrested shortly thereafter.

    Flores-Garcia remains in custody pending transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

    The FBI and CMPD investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Security: El Salvadoran with prior sex offense pleads guilty to illegally reentering United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – An illegal alien from El Salvador pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony. 

    Adiel Hernandez-Orellana, 39, was previously convicted in Arkansas of sexual assault.

    In 2003, Hernandez-Orellana was arrested for unlawfully entering the United States. In 2004, he was ordered removed from the United States after failing to appear for an immigration court hearing. In 2010, he was convicted of sexual assault in Sebastian County, Arkansas, and sentenced to seven years in prison. Following his prison sentence, he was removed from the United States.

    In March 2025, the defendant was detained at the Delaware County jail in Ohio for outstanding traffic warrants. He was then processed for the instant immigration offense of illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a felony.

    Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to up to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Transporting illegal aliens is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

    This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Connecticut Man Sentenced to 69 Months in Fentanyl Distribution Case

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

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 26, 2025, Alexander Marcano, 33, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 69 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Marcano previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl on December 9, 2024.

    According to court records, in the early hours of January 30, 2023, U.S. Border Patrol Agents patrolling in the area of North Troy, Vermont, approximately one-half mile from the U.S./Canada border, encountered a vehicle driving erratically and pulled it over. Marcano was the front-seat passenger of the vehicle. Border Patrol agents learned that Marcano had an extraditable warrant from Connecticut for a shooting, for which Marcano was later convicted of Assault 1st Degree – Serious Physical Injury. At the time of the traffic stop, Marcano was found to be in possession of more than 98 grams of fentanyl, over 41 grams of cocaine base, over 75 grams of cocaine powder, a loaded 9 millimeter pistol, over $20,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Vermont Drug Task Force.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Corinne Smith. Marcano was represented by Ian Carleton, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Honduran Man Charged with Illegal Reentry to the United States

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

    Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on June 26, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Yubert Yasiel Lopez-Lopez, 31, of Honduras, with being found in the United States on February 2, 2025, after having previously been removed from the United States.

    Lopez-Lopez entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on June 27, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Lopez-Lopez be detained during the pendency of this matter.

    According to court records, Lopez-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed from the United States on two occasions. On December 8, 2014, Lopez-Lopez was removed pursuant to an order issued by an Immigration Judge in Houston, Texas, after he had illegally crossed the U.S./Mexico border near Hidalgo, Texas in May 2014. On June 26, 2018, Lopez-Lopez was removed to Honduras after pleading guilty to illegal entry into the United States and receiving a sentence of time served in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Pursuant to his order of removal in 2018, Lopez-Lopez was prohibited from entering, attempting to enter, or being in the United States for 20 years thereafter. Lopez-Lopez was additionally expelled from the United States on two occasions in 2022 after illegally crossing the U.S./Mexico border near Yuma, Arizona.

    On February 2, 2025, Lopez-Lopez was encountered by a law enforcement officer who recorded Lopez-Lopez’s presence on the officer’s body worn camera. Lopez-Lopez provided his legal name and date of birth that matched his immigration records and indicated that his presence in the United States was illegal. On February 2, 2025, Lopez-Lopez was also wanted by law enforcement in Honduras for weapons trafficking. Lopez-Lopez was taken into custody by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies on June 10, 2025, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Lopez-Lopez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Lopez-Lopez faces up to 2 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Customs and Border Protection.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jason Turner. Lopez-Lopez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles Curlett.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Nick Langworthy Announces Federal ARC Grant for Chemung County Canal Connector

    Source: US Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced that Chemung County has been awarded $248,815 by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Chemung Canal Connector. The funds will be used to construct a 7-mile connection between the Lackawanna Trail and the Catharine Valley Trail. 

     

    Specifically, the connector trail will route pedestrian and bicycle traffic through the Village of Elmira Heights and the City of Elmira, generating local economic impact from increased tourism. The project will result in a continuous 29-mile trail which will ultimately connect to the regional 580-mile Finger Lakes Trail System. By improving recreation access, this project will help the community attract new visitors, increase spending in the local economy, attract new businesses, increase property values, and support the region’s tourism and outdoor recreation sector.

     

    “This investment in the Chemung Canal Connector is a win for our community, our economy, and our quality of life. By linking key trail systems through Elmira and Elmira Heights, we’re opening the door to thousands of new visitors, stronger small businesses, and a more vibrant outdoor recreation economy,” said Congressman Langworthy. “I’m proud to support a project that will benefit Chemung County for generations to come.” 

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –