NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union District 6 Packs 25,000 Meals to Fight Hunger in Cedar Rapids

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    IAM Union District 6 held a HELPS event at Meals from the Heartland in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in which Local 1526 members and their families helped pack over 25,000 Taco Mac meals. When prepared, each meal pack contains six servings. Meals from the Heartland provides meals globally; however, these meals will be given to children and families in Cedar Rapids and throughout northeast Iowa to reach those in need.

    “Our union is rooted in service, not just to our members, but to the communities we live in,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “When we show up to help feed families in need, we’re putting our values into action.”

    “Food insecurity is real for many children and their families in Iowa,” said IAM District 6 Directing Business Representative Pam Gonzales. “We believe that taking some time from our busy lives to help provide nutritious meals for those in need is the least we can do to give back to our communities. Showing the public that the IAM Union cares about people in the community is humbling, and we are proud to volunteer our time.”

    H.E.L.P.S. stands for Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing, and Servicing. Each District and Unaffiliated Local in the Midwest Territory will host at least one H.E.L.P.S.event per year.

    The post IAM Union District 6 Packs 25,000 Meals to Fight Hunger in Cedar Rapids appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Wildfires burn in Turkey and France as early heatwave hits

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region.

    In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods.

    Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees.

    Turkey’s coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change.

    In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said.

    The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday.

    Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country’s 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said.

    HEATWAVE IMPACTS RHINE SHIPPING

    The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany’s Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said.

    The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne.

    In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C.

    Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. “Really hard currently,” Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said.

    Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said.

    Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday.

    “Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain,” said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency.

    Italy’s Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website IlMeteo.it said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia.

    The Lombardy region, part of Italy’s northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday.

    Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically.

    Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month.

    Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month.

    Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet’s hottest on record.

    (Reuters)

  • Wildfires burn in Turkey and France as early heatwave hits

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region.

    In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods.

    Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees.

    Turkey’s coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change.

    In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said.

    The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday.

    Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country’s 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said.

    HEATWAVE IMPACTS RHINE SHIPPING

    The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany’s Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said.

    The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne.

    In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C.

    Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. “Really hard currently,” Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said.

    Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said.

    Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday.

    “Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain,” said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency.

    Italy’s Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website IlMeteo.it said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia.

    The Lombardy region, part of Italy’s northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday.

    Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically.

    Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month.

    Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month.

    Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet’s hottest on record.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNESCO promotes community resilience in Trinidad, Cuba, through sustainable tourism and the safeguarding of living heritage

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    First capacity-building workshop held as part of the Communities for Heritage project in Cuba.

    As part of the regional project “Latin America and the Caribbean: Strengthening capacities for resilient communities through sustainable tourism and heritage safeguarding,” UNESCO held the workshop “Communities for Heritage: Heritage Safeguarding and Sustainable Tourism” in the historic center of Trinidad, a Cuban city recognized as a World Heritage Site along with the Valley de los Ingenios since 1988.

    The event, which was supported by the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba, the government of Trinidad, the Office of the Conservator of Trinidad, the National Council for Cultural Heritage, and the Network of Offices of the Historian and Conservator of Heritage Cities of Cuba, represented a key milestone in the implementation of the project in this emblematic heritage site.

    “This workshop is an opportunity to think about the future. A future where heritage is not only preserved, but also inspires new ways of living in our cities, telling our stories, and building more resilient, creative, and sustainable communities.”

    “The protection of cultural heritage is not only a matter of preserving buildings, it is also a way of ensuring that local communities benefit from their legacy and can use it as a source of development”.

    Over several days, the workshop brought together local heritage and tourism stakeholders, including community members, cultural associations, urban planning officials, tour guides, students from the Trinidad School of Tourism, and authorities. The objective was clear: to strengthen collaboration between the culture and tourism sectors to promote community-centered sustainable development.

    The program addressed two main themes:

    1. Promoting sustainable tourism and community participation, exploring responsible practices, regulatory frameworks, and strategies for integrating local identity into tourism experiences. Participants designed sustainable itineraries that reflect the cultural values and assets of Trinidad and the Valley of the Sugar Mills.
    2. Integrating the safeguarding of living heritage into urban planning, with training sessions for local actors to incorporate intangible heritage into urban development processes. At the end of the workshop, concrete actions were proposed to advance this integration.

    Communities are at the heart of heritage management and safeguarding policies and approaches, as they are the ones who create, maintain, and transmit intangible cultural heritage from generation to generation. They also play a key role in the management and supervision of World Heritage properties, contributing significantly to improving the visitor experience.

    In this context, the project supports strategies and mechanisms that recognize and promote community participation in two key areas: visitor management at World Heritage sites and the identification and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts.

    This project is part of UNESCO’s Culture and Digital Technologies Program, with the generous support of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Yellowstone, even animals sometimes make mistakes

    Source: US Geological Survey

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

    Aerial view of Excelsior Geyser (in the foreground) and Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin. The colors around the thermal features are locations of different thermophile communities. These thermophiles fix carbon, both from the atmosphere and from the hot water. Credit Jim Peaco; June 22, 2006; Catalog #20386d; Original #IT8M4075

    On the morning of Saturday, June 21, visitors at Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park observed a bison slip into a shallow part of the hot spring.  Clearly alarmed by the hot water—up to about 89 °C (192 °F), which is just below boiling temperature at that elevation—the animal stumbled as it tried to get out and ended up stepping into an area of deeper water and quickly perished.

    Yellowstone National Park officials decided not to remove the carcass.  Such work would be dangerous and could cause extensive damage to the colorful bacterial mats that give Grand Prismatic Spring its name—that sort of damage can take more than a year to naturally repair itself.  The bison’s body will break down quickly in the near-boiling water, and soon only the bones will be left.

    Although rarely witnessed, it is not unprecedented that animals fall into hot springs.  For example, an elk calf died while struggling to extract itself from mud pots in West Thumb Geyser Basin several years ago.

    There are also animal skeletons visible in many hot springs, like Gentian Pool, Ojo Caliente, and the aptly named Skeleton Pool.  Unexpectedly in 2022, University of California at Berkeley researchers found an elk skeleton in Doublet Pool, located on Geyser Hill near Old Faithful, when they put a camera into the spring as part of a study of hydrothermal activity. Similar incidents may have gone unwitnessed in the backcountry, or in winter or at night.  Animals can obviously feel the heat of thermal areas through their feet or hooves, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they never make mistakes near hydrothermal features.  Most of these wildlife fatalities probably take place when animals break through thin crusts on the edges of springs.

    The unfortunate incident of the bison at Grand Prismatic Spring provides an opportunity to revisit a common misconception about hot springs in Yellowstone, and also emphasize how to safely enjoy viewing the thermal features in the park.

    Many visitors to Yellowstone believe that all of the hot springs in the park are acidic (pH lower than 5), and that the water will cause an acid burn on contact and dissolve any animals or people that fall into the springs.  But nearly all major hot springs and geysers in Yellowstone are actually neutral (pH of around 7) or alkaline (pH greater than 7), including almost all of the geysers and hot springs in the famous thermal basins along the Firehole River.  Acidic features tend to be the fumaroles (gas vents), mud pots, and frying pans, which are all dominated by the release of acidic gases.  One of the most acidic front-country features in the park is Sulphur Cauldron, in the Mud Volcano area.  Fluids there have a pH less than 2, which is an acidity between that of stomach acid and lemon juice.  Fortunately, acid concentrations are low, so mud and water from these features will not burn on contact, although it can cause skin irritation.

    Elk skeleton at the bottom of Doublet Pool on Geyser Hill near Old Faithful, imaged by an underwater camera in 2022.  Photo by Mara Reed, University of California, Berkeley, under research permit YELL-2022-SCI-8058.

    What kills most animals and occasionally people who fall into hot springs is not acidity, but temperature.  Many hot springs are at or near boiling temperatures, and animal life will not survive for long when exposed, even if only briefly, to water that hot.

    This is why staying on boardwalks in thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park is a requirement and is so important for visitor safety.  Many thermal areas have thin crusts at the surface that overlie boiling waters or even hotter steam.  Many injuries and fatalities to people have happened off boardwalk, when people have broken through these crusts, stepped on an unsupported sinter ledge, or stumbled into springs that were obscured or not obvious.

    Yellowstone is a wild and dynamic place and can be hazardous.  Fortunately, humans (and most animals) can recognize and avoid those hazards.  So be sure to enjoy Yellowstone’s magnificent thermal areas from the safety of trails and boardwalks, and don’t forget to stay a safe distance from wildlife wherever you may encounter the park’s charismatic megafauna.  For more tips on staying safe in Yellowstone National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: POET Technologies Provides Results of 2025 Annual General and Special Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), the designer and developer of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), light sources and optical modules for the AI and data center markets today reported the voting results of its Annual General and Special Meeting (the ”Meeting” or “AGSM”), which was held virtually on Friday, June 27, 2025.

    The Company’s VP Finance and Administration, Kevin Barnes, delivered customary introductions and the call to order, and POET’s Chairman of the Compensation Committee, Glen Riley, conducted the formal business of the Meeting, which included the approval of all proposals outlined in the Company’s management information circular and voting material as previously distributed to shareholders.

    Following the completion of the formal business portion of the Meeting, the Company presented a video highlighting the transformation of its operations—from product development through to manufacturing. This was followed by a presentation from Chief Executive Officer Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, who provided an overview of the Company’s 2024 activities and outlined near-term opportunities. A brief Q&A session concluded the presentations.

    The video presentation can be accessed from the Company’s website at: https://poet-technologies.com/videos.

    AGSM Voting Results Summary
    A detailed Report on Voting Results of the AGSM follows. In summary, the shareholders of the Company approved the following proposals:

    • Re-election of Suresh Venkatesan, Jean-Louis Malinge, Theresa Lan Ende, Glen Riley and Robert “Bob” Tirva as directors, with no director receiving less than 94% of the votes cast;
    • Appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as the Company’s auditors by 96% of the votes cast;
    • Approval of the Corporation’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan by 84% of the votes cast, which included an increase in the number of awards available to 17,007,771, representing 20% of the 85,022,787 common shares issued at the time of the meeting.

    Detailed Report of AGSM Voting Results
    In accordance with section 11.3 of National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations, this report briefly describes the matters voted upon and the outcome of the votes at the annual general and special meeting of shareholders of POET Technologies Inc. (the “Company“) held virtually via the MEETNOW.GlOBAL platform on June 27, 2025 (the “Meeting“). Each of the matters is described in greater detail in the Company’s management information circular dated May 1, 2025 (the “Circular“)

    1.      Election of Directors.

    Each of the nominees set for in the Circular were elected as directors to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders, or until their respective successors are elected or appointed. The following table sets forth the vote of the shareholders at the Meeting with respect to the election of directors:

    Nominee For Withheld
    Number of Votes Percentage of Votes Number of Votes Percentage of Votes
    Glen Riley 6,475,012 94.43% 382,060 5.57%
    Jean-Louis Malinge 6,573,485 95.86% 283,586 4.14%
    Robert “Bob” Tirva 6,557,820 95.64% 299,251 4.36%
    Suresh Venkatesan 6,645,609 96.92% 211,462 3.08%
    Theresa Lan Ende 6,541,010 95.39% 316,061 4.61%
             

    2.      Appointment of Davidson & Company LLP.

    The Company’s shareholders approved the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as auditors of the Company to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company at such remuneration as may be fixed by the directors of the Company. The following table sets forth the vote of the shareholders at the Meeting with respect to the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP:

    For Withheld
    Number of Votes Percentage of Votes Number of Votes Percentage of Votes
    20,178,708 95.67% 914,338 4.33%
           

    3.      Amendment to Omnibus Plan

    The Company’s shareholders approved by an ordinary resolution an amendment to the Company’s omnibus equity incentive plan (the “Omnibus Plan”). The following table sets forth the vote of the shareholders at the Meeting with respect to the Omnibus Plan:

    For Against
    Number of Votes Percentage of Votes Number of Votes Percentage of Votes
    5,786,541 84.39% 1,070,529 15.61%
           

    The Company had 85,022,787 issued and outstanding shares at the time of the meeting. The awards issuable under the Omnibus Plan has been amended to 17,007,771.

    Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)
    Following the AGSM, the POET Board of Directors met to elect officers and to determine RSU grants for directors. For their service on the Board of Directors until the next Annual General Meeting, the directors were granted a total of 72,340 RSUs which will vest on the first anniversary of the grant. Should a director resign prior to the first anniversary of the grant, the RSUs will be vested pro-rata based on the time served as a director from the date of grant to the date of resignation. The number of RSUs granted was based on the allocation of total compensation to equity, using a per share price of CAD$7.23, being the closing price of the Company’s shares on June 27, 2025. The cash portion of each director’s compensation is paid over four quarters. Both are paid in accordance with an established formula for director compensation. The RSUs were granted subject to provisions of the Company’s 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan and are subject to the TSX Venture Exchange policies and applicable securities laws. For further details on the Company’s share capital, refer to the Company’s Financial Statements and MD&A for the three-months ended March 31, 2025, which may be found on SEDAR+ and EDGAR.

    About POET Technologies Inc.
    POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers.  POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems.  POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained “Edge” computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles.  POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Shenzhen, China, Penang, Malaysia and Singapore.  More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
    120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 – Fax: 416-322-5075

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Credicorp Ltd.: Credicorp Takes Legal Action to Defend Rule of Law in Tax Dispute with SUNAT

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Lima, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lima, PERU, June 30, 2025 – Credicorp Ltd. (“Credicorp” or “the Company”) (NYSE:BAP | BVL: BAP), the leading financial services holding company in Peru with a presence in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, and Panama, through its subsidiary Grupo Credito S.A. initiates legal action against the Peruvian Tax Administration (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria – SUNAT), for disregarding the law and the decision of SUNAT´s Review Committee (Comité Revisor), whose rulings are binding under current legislation. The Company expresses concern that SUNAT is ignoring the legal framework in effect at the time of the transactions in question, thereby undermining legal certainty for companies operating in Peru.

    The transactions in question involved Grupo Crédito S.A. purchasing Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP) shares from Credicorp Ltd. in 2018 and 2019, through the Lima Stock Exchange.  At the time, Peruvian law exempted such transactions from income tax, provided that the transferred shares did not exceed 10% of the total outstanding shares of the issuing company within a 12-month period.

    These transactions were communicated to the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores (SMV), approved by the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), and duly registered with Registro Central de Valores y Liquidaciones (CAVALI). They were conducted transparently and in full compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

    Credicorp notes that this case was previously reviewed by SUNAT’s own Review Committee, which confirmed the authenticity of the transactions and found no grounds for tax elusion claims. Nevertheless, SUNAT has reopened the matter and is now seeking over S/. 1.5 billion in purported unpaid income tax and accrued interest. Credicorp views this action as a serious breach of legal predictability, given it involves both the disregard of established legal norms, and the reopening of a case already assessed and resolved by SUNAT’s own Review Committee. In accordance with International Accounting Standards, no expense provisions are necessary.

    Credicorp is evaluating this new development and will respond through all appropriate legal and administrative channels. Grupo Crédito S.A., the entity involved, reaffirms its commitment to full regulatory and tax compliance, and to protecting the interests of its employees, clients, and investors.

    About Credicorp:
    Credicorp (NYSE: BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, and Panama. Credicorp has a diversified business portfolio organized into four lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Crédito del Peru (“BCP”) and Banco de Crédito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco in Peru and Colombia; Insurance & Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Management & Advisory, through Credicorp Capital, Wealth Management at BCP and ASB Bank Corp.

    For further information please contact the IR team:
    investorrelations@credicorpperu.com
    Investor Relations
    Credicorp Ltd.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 30, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 300600

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0100 AM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025

    Valid 301200Z – 011200Z

    …THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
    SOUTHERN PLAINS MIDWEST AND MID ATLANTIC AS WELL AS THE NORTHWEST…

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible across
    parts of the southern Plains, Ohio Valley, Midwest and the
    Mid-Atlantic today. A couple of severe thunderstorms also cannot be
    ruled out over parts of the Pacific Northwest.

    …Synopsis…
    A broad upper trough is forecast to intensify as it moves
    southeastward across the Great Lakes and Midwest through tonight. At
    the same time, sub-tropical ridging will build over the Plains,
    keeping stronger flow aloft displaced to the north. To the west of
    the ridge, an upper low will overspread portions of the West Coast.
    At the surface, a weak cold front will sag southward from the
    Midwest to the southern Plains. Numerous thunderstorms are likely
    ahead of the front with isolated damaging gusts and hail possible.

    …Midwest and Great lakes…
    Ahead of the slow-moving cold front, rich low-level moisture with
    dewpoints in the 70s F will be in place from MO/IL into Lower MI. A
    messy surface pattern, with multiple remnant outflows and cloud
    debris will likely modulate diurnal heating to some degree through
    the early afternoon. With little inhibition, scattered to numerous
    thunderstorms are expected by mid afternoon as ascent from the
    approaching upper trough overspreads the unstable air mass. Several
    loosely organized bands or clusters of strong pulse storms are
    likely. Weak mid-level flow and poor lapse rates suggests minimal
    potential for greater storm organization. Though high PWATS near 2
    inches will support heavy water loading and microburst potential,
    with the stronger storms.

    …OH valley to the Mid Atlantic…
    A similar pattern to the Midwest, with somewhat higher storm
    coverage, is expected from OH eastward into PA and the Mid Atlantic.
    Scattered to numerous thunderstorms should develop by late morning
    amid strong surface heating ahead of a subtle shortwave trough over
    the OH valley. 20-30 kt of mid-level flow could support some
    clustering of storms by early afternoon. Despite mediocre mid-level
    lapse rates less than 6 C/km, the high PWAT air mass and some
    consolidation of outflows could support isolated damaging wind
    potential across eastern OH, southern NY into PA and the Mid
    Atlantic states.

    …Southern Plains to the Ozarks…
    Scattered thunderstorms should develop by mid afternoon ahead of
    sagging cold front from the TX Panhandle across the southern Plains
    and western Ozarks. Beneath the northern fringes of the building sub
    tropical high, strong heating and rich boundary-layer moisture will
    support large buoyancy (MLCAPE (3000-4000 J/kg). Scattered
    thunderstorm development is likely ahead of the front, and along
    remnant outflows from overnight convection. Despite modest vertical
    wind shear, the large buoyancy may still support occasional strong
    to severe storms with the primary risk of damaging gusts and
    occasional hail.

    …Northern CA into southern OR…
    Ahead of the weak upper low over southern CA, southerly flow will
    aid in increasing mid-level moisture across parts of northern CA and
    southern OR. Ample heating, weak synoptic ascent and typical
    terrain-induced circulations will encourage scattered high-based
    thunderstorm development through the afternoon. Nearly dry adiabatic
    lapse rates from deep mixing of the boundary layer to near 500mb
    will favor strong downdrafts capable of isolated severe wind gusts.
    MUCAPE (~1000 J/kg) and 20-30 kt of southerly shear, may also
    support marginally severe hail with the strongest cores.

    ..Lyons/Darrow.. 06/30/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jun 30, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 300600

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0100 AM CDT Mon Jun 30 2025

    Valid 301200Z – 011200Z

    …THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
    SOUTHERN PLAINS MIDWEST AND MID ATLANTIC AS WELL AS THE NORTHWEST…

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible across
    parts of the southern Plains, Ohio Valley, Midwest and the
    Mid-Atlantic today. A couple of severe thunderstorms also cannot be
    ruled out over parts of the Pacific Northwest.

    …Synopsis…
    A broad upper trough is forecast to intensify as it moves
    southeastward across the Great Lakes and Midwest through tonight. At
    the same time, sub-tropical ridging will build over the Plains,
    keeping stronger flow aloft displaced to the north. To the west of
    the ridge, an upper low will overspread portions of the West Coast.
    At the surface, a weak cold front will sag southward from the
    Midwest to the southern Plains. Numerous thunderstorms are likely
    ahead of the front with isolated damaging gusts and hail possible.

    …Midwest and Great lakes…
    Ahead of the slow-moving cold front, rich low-level moisture with
    dewpoints in the 70s F will be in place from MO/IL into Lower MI. A
    messy surface pattern, with multiple remnant outflows and cloud
    debris will likely modulate diurnal heating to some degree through
    the early afternoon. With little inhibition, scattered to numerous
    thunderstorms are expected by mid afternoon as ascent from the
    approaching upper trough overspreads the unstable air mass. Several
    loosely organized bands or clusters of strong pulse storms are
    likely. Weak mid-level flow and poor lapse rates suggests minimal
    potential for greater storm organization. Though high PWATS near 2
    inches will support heavy water loading and microburst potential,
    with the stronger storms.

    …OH valley to the Mid Atlantic…
    A similar pattern to the Midwest, with somewhat higher storm
    coverage, is expected from OH eastward into PA and the Mid Atlantic.
    Scattered to numerous thunderstorms should develop by late morning
    amid strong surface heating ahead of a subtle shortwave trough over
    the OH valley. 20-30 kt of mid-level flow could support some
    clustering of storms by early afternoon. Despite mediocre mid-level
    lapse rates less than 6 C/km, the high PWAT air mass and some
    consolidation of outflows could support isolated damaging wind
    potential across eastern OH, southern NY into PA and the Mid
    Atlantic states.

    …Southern Plains to the Ozarks…
    Scattered thunderstorms should develop by mid afternoon ahead of
    sagging cold front from the TX Panhandle across the southern Plains
    and western Ozarks. Beneath the northern fringes of the building sub
    tropical high, strong heating and rich boundary-layer moisture will
    support large buoyancy (MLCAPE (3000-4000 J/kg). Scattered
    thunderstorm development is likely ahead of the front, and along
    remnant outflows from overnight convection. Despite modest vertical
    wind shear, the large buoyancy may still support occasional strong
    to severe storms with the primary risk of damaging gusts and
    occasional hail.

    …Northern CA into southern OR…
    Ahead of the weak upper low over southern CA, southerly flow will
    aid in increasing mid-level moisture across parts of northern CA and
    southern OR. Ample heating, weak synoptic ascent and typical
    terrain-induced circulations will encourage scattered high-based
    thunderstorm development through the afternoon. Nearly dry adiabatic
    lapse rates from deep mixing of the boundary layer to near 500mb
    will favor strong downdrafts capable of isolated severe wind gusts.
    MUCAPE (~1000 J/kg) and 20-30 kt of southerly shear, may also
    support marginally severe hail with the strongest cores.

    ..Lyons/Darrow.. 06/30/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Mon Jun 30 10:31:02 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Mon Jun 30 10:34:05 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Going the Distance: Lisa Pace Leads Exploration Development Integration at Johnson

    Source: NASA

    Lisa Pace knows a marathon when she sees one. An avid runner, she has participated in five marathons and more than 50 half marathons. Though she prefers to move quickly, she also knows the value of taking her time. “I solve most of my problems while running – or realize those problems aren’t worth worrying about,” she said.
    She has learned to take a similar approach to her work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Earlier in my career, I raced to get things done and felt the need to do as much as possible on my own,” she said. “Over time, I’ve learned to trust my team and pause to give others an opportunity to contribute. There are times when quick action is needed, but it is often a marathon, not a sprint.”

    Pace is chief of the Exploration Development Integration Division within the Exploration Architecture, Integration, and Science Directorate at Johnson. In that role, she leads a team of roughly 120 civil servants and contractors in providing mission-level system engineering and integration services that bring different architecture elements together to achieve the agency’s goals. Today that team supports Artemis missions, NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and other areas as needed.

    “The Artemis missions come together through multiple programs and projects,” Pace explained. “We stitch them together to ensure the end-to-end mission meets its intended requirements. That includes verifying those requirements before flight and ensuring agreements between programs are honored and conflicts resolved.” The division also manages mission-level review and flight readiness processes from planning through execution, up to the final certification of flight readiness.
    Leading the division through the planning, launch, and landing of Artemis I was a career highlight for Pace, though she feels fortunate to have worked on many great projects during her time with NASA. “My coolest and most rewarding project involved designing and deploying an orbital debris tracking telescope on Ascension Island about 10 years ago,” she said. “The engineers, scientists, and military personnel I got to work and travel with on that beautiful island is tough to top!”  
    Pace says luck and great timing led her to NASA. Engineering jobs were plentiful when she graduated from Virginia Tech in 2000, and she quickly received an offer from Lockheed Martin to become a facility engineer in Johnson’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, or ARES. “I thought working in the building where they keep the Moon rocks would be cool – and it was! Twenty-five years later, I’m still here,” Pace said.
    During that time, she has learned a lot about problem-solving and team building. “I often find that when we disagree over the ‘right’ way to do something, there is no one right answer – it just depends on your perspective,” she said. “I take the time to listen to people, understand their side, and build relationships to find common ground.”

    She also emphasizes the importance of getting to know your colleagues. “Relationships are everything,” she said. “They make the work so much more meaningful. I carry that lesson over to my personal life and value my time with family and friends outside of work.”
    Investing time in relationships has given Pace another unexpected skill – that of matchmaker. “I’m responsible for setting up five couples who are now married, and have six kids between them,” she said, adding that she knew one couple from Johnson.
    She hopes that strong relationships transfer to the Artemis Generation. “I hope to pass on a strong NASA brand and the family culture that I’ve been fortunate to have, working here for the last 25 years.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Welcomes Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station

    Source: NASA

    A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom Mission 4 crew docks to the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module on June 26. Axiom Mission 4 is the fourth all-private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, welcoming commander Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut and pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and mission specialists ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
    The crew is scheduled to remain at the space station, conducting microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities, for about two weeks. This mission serves as an example of the success derived from collaboration between NASA’s international partners and American commercial space companies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Green Enacts Legislation to Uphold Agricultural and Biosecurity Resilience and Support Local Innovation

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Governor Green Enacts Legislation to Uphold Agricultural and Biosecurity Resilience and Support Local Innovation

    Posted on Jun 27, 2025 in Main

    From the Office of the Governor

    June 27, 2025

    HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed five bills into law today, affirming the commitment to strengthening Hawai‘i’s agricultural and economic sectors for the benefit of the ‘āina, its people, and local businesses.

    “The health and resiliency of our agricultural lands and producers are not just vital — they are the very foundation of Hawai‘i’s well-being and future,” said Governor Green. “It is our kuleana to protect the ‘āina that nourishes our people and to uplift those who represent Hawai‘i through their unwavering dedication and hard work. The bills signed today mark our state’s continual support of those responsibilities.”

    “These are all about striving toward food, self-reliance and food security. Our state legislature is taking a firm stance to support agriculture and our local industries and food production,” said Senator Tim Richards, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment.

    SB 1249: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE
    Agricultural crimes undermine the stability of our state’s agricultural industry and infringe upon the rights of landowners. Senate Bill 1249 (Act 235) seeks to protect farmers and ranchers by establishing a temporary Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program within the Department of Law Enforcement operating on the islands of O‘ahu and Hawai‘i. This pilot program will allow for swift and effective responses to agricultural crimes and provide critical data to the state to better understand this nuanced crisis. The data gathered and the report provided will aid in the possible expansion of the program in the future.

    To further deter agricultural crimes, SB 1249 clarifies existing laws, creates new offenses, and strengthens penalties against violators. These enhancements include administrative enforcements and stricter consequences for habitual agricultural offenders, as well as increased penalty classes and fines. Additional deterrents address cattle branding violations, the illegal transportation of livestock, unauthorized hunting, theft, and trespassing on private property.

    By establishing clear enforcement measures, this bill emphasizes Hawai‘i’s commitment to protecting and respecting agricultural lands and communities.

    “SB 1249 is about protecting our farmers and ranchers while honoring the memory of Duke Pia,” said Senator Richards (Senate District 4 – North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, North Kona). “Duke was a young rancher who was tragically shot and killed while confronting trespassers on his land. This law strengthens enforcement, increases penalties, and gives us the tools to fight rural crime. It’s about justice, safety, and preserving the future of agriculture in Hawai‘i.”

    HB 427: RELATING TO BIOSECURITY
    House Bill 427 (Act 236) institutes the renaming of the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Board of Agriculture as the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The renaming, in addition to the amendments to the duties within the department, better strengthens the state’s resilience against biosecurity threats by reinforcing the need to protect against invasive species, pests, and diseases.

    The measure establishes a position of Deputy Chairperson for biosecurity to oversee all biosecurity initiatives within the department who will serve under the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Under HB 427, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in conjunction with the Governor’s approval, may declare a biosecurity emergency in response to the outbreak of a pest or resistant organism that poses an economic or environmental threat.

    Hawai‘i’s unique geographical characteristics underscore the importance of closely monitoring biosecurity risks entering the state. While isolation presents challenges, it also affords a strategic advantage by limiting the modes of transportation through which goods are received. To mitigate the spread of infections, pests, and outbreaks of harmful organisms, HB 427 establishes regulations for the creation of the state’s first transitional facilities. The transitional facilities require items entering through piers, airports, or other ports to be assessed and certified by a trained Biosecurity Compliance Auditor.

    Due to the fragility of our ecosystem, HB 427 increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms to safeguard our state’s economy, native landscape, and people.

    To keep the public informed, a pest dashboard is to be established with regularly updated treatment data with which departments, agencies, political subdivisions, or contracted parties that fail to provide information to the dashboard will be subject to the withholding of funds or denial of fund expenditures.

    Lastly, HB 427 transfers the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

    The administration remains dedicated to providing strong, ongoing support for biosecurity initiatives. The state budget reflects this commitment by allocating the highest level of funding ever for biosecurity — $26.6 million appropriated for the fiscal biennium to support positions and related expenses.

    “With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and growing biosecurity threats, safeguarding our resources and environment is a top priority for my administration,” said Governor Green. “Prevention and forethought will fortify our state, and by signing HB 427, we are keeping top of mind the ways in which we can stay in the driver’s seat — actively leading the effort to protect our agriculture and our islands.”

    HB 774: RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS
    To further expand and support to Hawai‘i’s local businesses, House Bill 774 (Act 237) establishes a food and product innovation network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The network will provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to facilities, equipment, expertise, and certification resources.

    The development of this network will facilitate the responsible use of labels such as “Hawai‘i made,” “Made in Hawai‘i,” “Produced in Hawai‘i” and “Processed in Hawai‘i,” aiding businesses scale and promote their products locally and internationally.

    HB 774 strengthens the state’s economic resiliency in sectors such as agriculture, sustainability, and culinary innovation, and promotes growth with the spirit of aloha at its core.

    “HB 774 is transformative for Hawaiʻi’s farmers and food entrepreneurs — empowering them to innovate, grow and proudly share their unique products with the world,” said Representative Kirstin Kahaloa, introducer of the legislation. “By establishing a Food and Product Innovation Network, we not only support local agriculture but also boost food security, fuel our state’s economic growth, and build a more resilient and sustainable Hawaiʻi. This initiative supports a stronger, thriving future for our communities and ʻāina,” she said.

    The complete list of bills signed includes the following. Click the link to see full details of the bill enacted into law.

    HB 534 (ACT 238) RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS
    HB 496 (ACT 242) RELATING TO MĀMAKI TEA

    Video of the bill signing can be seen here.
    Photos of the bill signing ceremony, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here.
    The slide deck presented at today’s bill signing can be found here.

     # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025-74 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION IN BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CASE

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2025-74 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION IN BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CASE

    Posted on Jun 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION IN BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CASE

     

                                                                                                                News Release 2025-74

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 27, 2025

    HONOLULU — Following today’s decision in the birthright citizenship case, Attorney General Anne Lopez, who represents the state of Hawaiʻi, issued the following statement:

    “The plain text of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is clear: all persons born in the United States are citizens of our nation. Three separate federal judges ruled that the Administration’s executive order purporting to end birthright citizenship is plainly unconstitutional. Nothing in the Supreme Court’s decision today modifies the judges’ decision that a presidential declaration purporting to end birthright citizenship is unlawful, unconstitutional and a dishonorable stain on our great country.

     

    Instead, today’s decision concerns the issue of the scope of injunctive relief. While we disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, our case is still very much alive. The court recognized that nationwide orders can be appropriate to protect plaintiffs like Hawaiʻi from harm, when the facts merit such relief and gave the states the opportunity to continue to make their case. We look forward to protecting the rule of law and the inalienable rights of the people of Hawaiʻi.”

     

    Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes and Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day represent the state of Hawaiʻi in this matter.

    # # #

     

    Media contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284

    Email: [email protected]

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

    Toni Schwartz

    Public Information Officer

    Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General

    Office 808-586-1252

    Cell: 808-379-9249

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – DOH Confirms Ninth Travel-Related Dengue Virus Case of 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – DOH Confirms Ninth Travel-Related Dengue Virus Case of 2025

    Posted on Jun 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

    KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

     

    1. KENNETH FINK

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    DOH REPORTS NINTH TRAVEL-RELATED DENGUE VIRUS CASE OF 2025

    25-073

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 27, 2025

    HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a new travel-related case of dengue virus on Oʻahu, bringing the total number of cases reported in Hawai‘i in 2025 to nine (eight on Oʻahu, one on Maui). The individual was likely exposed to the virus while traveling in a region where dengue is common.

    DOH teams have been deployed to conduct inspections and implement mosquito control measures in the affected area. The public is encouraged to follow best practices to help prevent local transmission, as outlined below.

    Dengue virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites another individual. Although Hawai‘i has mosquitoes capable of transmitting dengue, the disease is not currently endemic in the state. All confirmed cases in 2025 have been travel-related. Dengue is a year-round risk in the tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, Asia (including the Republic of the Philippines), the Middle East, Africa and several Pacific Islands, such as U.S. territories like American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are also affected.

    Anyone who plans to travel to or has recently visited an area with dengue risk is vulnerable to infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises travelers to take standard precautions when visiting such areas. This includes using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, rooms with window screens or under insecticide-treated bed nets.

    Some countries are reporting increased dengue cases, including Fiji, French Polynesia, Tonga, the Republic of the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Travelers should review up-to-date country-specific travel information for guidance on dengue riskand prevention measures at least four to six weeks before traveling.

    Travelers returning from dengue-endemic areas should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks. If dengue symptoms develop within two weeks of return, travelers should seek medical evaluation.

    Symptoms of dengue can range from mild to severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days, and while severe illness can occur, most people recover within a week. Individuals who have recently traveled and are experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Healthcare providers and individuals who suspect a dengue infection are advised to call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.

    In areas with suspected or confirmed dengue cases, DOH personnel from the Vector Control Branch (VCB) are conducting inspections and mosquito-reduction activities. Reducing mosquito populations lowers the risk of dengue transmission to others. In areas without reported dengue cases, eliminating mosquito breeding sites around the home is a helpful preventive measure.

    Mosquitoes need only small amounts of standing water to breed. Common breeding sites include buckets, water-catching plants (such as bromeliads), small containers, planters, rain barrels and even cups left outside. Pouring out containers of standing water can significantly reduce the potential for mosquito breeding.

    For more information, visit the Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) and Vector Control Branch (VCB) websites.

    # # #

    Media contact:

    Adam LeFebvre

    Information Specialist

    Hawaiʻi State Department of Health

    Mobile: 808-436-6195

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – Statement – Governor Green Statement on BLNR Decision

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Office of the Governor – Statement – Governor Green Statement on BLNR Decision

    Posted on Jun 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI
    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
     
    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA
     

    STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR GREEN ON BLNR DECISION

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 27, 2025

    The following is attributable to Governor Josh Green, M.D.:

    “The Board’s vote on the Army’s Final Environmental Impact Statement underscores the need for continued dialogue and shared responsibility when it comes to the future of state lands.

    “The Army’s proposal to retain a smaller footprint on Oʻahu reflects a commitment to align important military training with community and environmental considerations. We acknowledge and appreciate the Army’s dedicated engagement throughout this process. As global threats grow more complex and regional stability becomes more fragile, Hawai‘i’s unique position at the heart of the Indo-Pacific makes it vital to the defense of both our islands and the nation — highlighting the importance of maintaining military readiness that is both effective and accountable to the communities it serves.

    “Ensuring our Armed Forces remain prepared and resilient is a priority, and as we move forward, my administration is committed to working with all parties to ensure that next steps are guided by transparency, a shared sense of purpose, kuleana to future generations and long-term benefit to the people of Hawai‘i.”

     # # #

    Media Contacts:  
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Office: 808-586-0120
    Email: [email protected]

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: HAWAI‘I GREEN BUSINESS AWARDS PROGRAM HONORS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    HAWAI‘I GREEN BUSINESS AWARDS PROGRAM HONORS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES

    Posted on Jun 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI
     KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

    KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMOHALA PĀʻOIHANA, ʻIMI WAIWAI A HOʻOMĀKAʻIKAʻI

     

    JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

     

    HAWAIʻI STATE ENERGY OFFICE

    KE‘ENA HANA UILA MOKU‘ĀINA

    MARK B. GLICK

    CHIEF ENERGY OFFICER

    LUNA IKEHU

     

    2024/2025 HAWAI‘I GREEN BUSINESS AWARDS PROGRAM HONORS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND EVENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES  

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 27, 2025

     

    HONOLULU —The Hawai‘i Green Business Program (HGBP) recognized 45 Hawai‘i businesses and events today for their commitment to energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, pollution prevention and community involvement, as well as cultural and natural resource preservation.

    The 45 awardees representing six islands were recognized during the annual HGBP awards ceremony at historical Washington Place. Hosted by the Hawai‘i State Energy Office, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Hawaiʻi Energy, the awards program

    showcases the businesses advancing Hawaiʻi’s clean energy and sustainability goals, emphasizing energy efficiency as a key solution in accelerating Hawaiʻi’s move to renewable energy.

    Governor Josh Green, M.D., praised awardees for their commitment to sustain the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaiʻi, heralding lawmakers for the 2025 passage of the nation’s first climate impact fee to fund environmental stewardship and address the impacts of climate change.

    Governor Green said, “At a time when environmental protections are being repealed at the federal level, Hawaiʻi will not forfeit its commitment to a more resilient, clean economy. The businesses and organizations we recognize today honor a statewide commitment to malama ʻāina — to steward our precious natural resources for future generations.”

    “Simply put,” said Hawai’i Chief Energy Officer Mark Glick, “using less energy means we need to generate less. These 45 businesses are among the best applying efficiency to our commercial building stock and energy efficient business practices make a profound difference.”

    Newly appointed state director of energy efficiency and renewable energy Monique Zanfes concluded, “Many of the businesses in this room rely on Hawai‘i’s natural resources not just for operations, but as the foundation of what draws people here. Protecting these resources isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential to the long-term viability and health of Hawai‘i. I thank them for leading by example.”

    The honorees of this year’s Hawai‘i Green Business Program Awards are:

      Green Hotels, Resorts, Venue and Office Awardees:

    • Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra
    • Halekulani
    • Halepuna Waikiki
    • Hokulani, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
    • The Kahala Hotel & Resort
    • Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
    • Prince Waikiki
    • Kings’ Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
    • Maui Bay Villas, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club
    • The Cliffs at Princeville
    • Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina
    • Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
    • Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi
    • Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort
    • Hawai‘i Convention Center
    • Waialae Country Club
    • Honeywell International/Smart Energy
    • Coradorables Sustainable Corporation

    Green Event Awardees:

    • 2024 Hawai‘i Library Association/HASL HLA Conference
    • 2025 Sony Open
    • Artist Waltz
    • Green Business Engagement National Network 7th National GBENN Summit
    • Sentry 2024 Golf Tournament

    Entry Level Program Awardees:

    • Coconut Ave
    • Drip Studio
    • The Fresh Shave
    • Hoku Foods Natural Market
    • Kilauea Bakery
    • Lady Elaine
    • Leong’s Road House
    • Little Plum
    • Uncle Paul’s Corner Store
    • Maui Juice Co.
    • Morning Glass Coffee
    • Pele’s Kitchen
    • Pu‘u O Hōkū Ranch
    • Sweet Cane Café
    • The Locavore Store
    • Oko‘a Farms Produce
    • Hanalei Spirits Distillery
    • Kaua‘i Island Brewing Co.
    • Kona Brewing Company
    • Lanikai Brewing Co.
    • Maui Brewing Company
    • Waikulu Distillery

    In one year, the energy efficiency measures of the above businesses resulted in 38.8 million gallons of water saved, 6.5 million kWh of electricity saved, 22.7 tons of green waste diverted, 12,372 tons of waste recycled,119,110 therms (1 therm = 100,000 BTUs) of gas saved, 6,725 metric tons of CO2 equivalent for electricity kWh reduced and 945 metric tons of CO2 equivalent for gas reduced.

     

     

     # # #  

      

    Media Contacts:   

     

    Yvonne Hunter

    Strategy and Marketing Officer

    Hawaiʻi State Energy Office

    Cell: 808-497-0080

    Laci Goshi

    Communications Officer

    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

    Cell: 808-518-5480

    Erika Engle

    Press Secretary

    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i

    Phone: 808-586-0120

    Makana McClellan

    Director of Communications

    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi

    Cell: 808-265-0083

     

                    

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – LAND BOARD VOTES NOT TO ACCEPT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR ARMY LEASES ON OʻAHU, June 27, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – LAND BOARD VOTES NOT TO ACCEPT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR ARMY LEASES ON OʻAHU, June 27, 2025

    Posted on Jun 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

    DAWN N.S. CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

     

    LAND BOARD VOTES NOT TO ACCEPT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR ARMY LEASES ON OʻAHU

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 27, 2025

      

    HONOLULU — Citing significant gaps in environmental analysis as presented by DLNR staff, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) voted not to accept the U.S. Army’s final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the retention of state lands on Oʻahu. The BLNR’s decision was after hours of impassioned public testimony, primarily against the Army’s FEIS.

    Three Oʻahu sites were under consideration for this FEIS: state-leased portions of the Kahuku Training Area (KTA), the Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho) and the Mākua Military Reservation (MMR).

    The decision follows last month’s BLNR vote to not accept the Army’s FEIS for Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawaiʻi Island. “The action before the BLNR was whether to accept or non-acceptance of the FEIS based upon specific legal criteria set forth in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 343 and relevant administrative rules. Applying the legal criteria to the FEIS, reviewing hundreds of written and oral testimonies, as well as comments from DLNR’s own divisions, the BLNR members voted to not accept the FEIS,” said DLNR Chair Dawn Chang. “The FEIS did not meet that bar.”

    DLNRʻs Land Division (LD) consulted with multiple other divisions within the department, including the Commission on Water Resources Management (CWRM), the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) and the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) to review the FEIS. LD staff provided the BLNR a recommendation of non-acceptance based on a clear lack of baseline data to enable the DLNR and the BLNR to determine and understand the extent of any impacts to natural, historical and cultural resources. In the board submittal, the LD indicated this was a consensus among all the Divisions.

    Areas where staff felt the FEIS fell short included adequately accounting for known and likely archaeological sites, lack of recent data for biological resources and absence of stream aquatic surveys. Each of these concerns was raised in the draft EIS phase, but went unaddressed in the final report. 

    An FEIS is intended to support informed decision-making and does not, by itself, authorize any land use. A separate review and determination would be required should such a request be brought before the BLNR in the future.

    The Army’s current lease for more than 6,000 acres of state-owned land at the three sites on Oʻahu is set to expire in 2029.

     

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    Video and Photgraphs – Board of Land and Natural Resources Meeting and Chair Dawn Chang News Conference (June 27, 2025): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hbpd2qs28jjdfx72t4o52/ANnFfqfJLCgr1KbqsdJQu78?rlkey=iuj5ju0b77u3az4bnw7aq2jab&st=rzvn426n&dl=0

     

    (Note: video will be uploaded to folder as available)

     

     

    Media Contacts: 

    Patti Jette                                                                                          Dan Dennison

    Communications Specialist                                                           Communications Director

    Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources                            Hawai‘i DLNR

    808-587-0396                                                                                   808-587-0396

    [email protected]                                                            [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Enacts Legislation to Uphold Agricultural and Biosecurity Resilience and Support Local Innovation

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed five bills into law today, affirming the commitment to strengthening Hawai‘i’s agricultural and economic sectors for the benefit of the ‘āina, its people, and local businesses.

    “The health and resiliency of our agricultural lands and producers are not just vital — they are the very foundation of Hawai‘i’s well-being and future,” said Governor Green. “It is our kuleana to protect the ‘āina that nourishes our people and to uplift those who represent Hawai‘i through their unwavering dedication and hard work. The bills signed today mark our state’s continual support of those responsibilities.”

    “These are all about striving toward food, self-reliance and food security. Our state legislature is taking a firm stance to support agriculture and our local industries and food production,” said Senator Tim Richards, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment.

    SB 1249: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE
    Agricultural crimes undermine the stability of our state’s agricultural industry and infringe upon the rights of landowners. Senate Bill 1249 (Act 235) seeks to protect farmers and ranchers by establishing a temporary Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program within the Department of Law Enforcement operating on the islands of O‘ahu and Hawai‘i. This pilot program will allow for swift and effective responses to agricultural crimes and provide critical data to the state to better understand this nuanced crisis. The data gathered and the report provided will aid in the possible expansion of the program in the future.

    To further deter agricultural crimes, SB 1249 clarifies existing laws, creates new offenses, and strengthens penalties against violators. These enhancements include administrative enforcements and stricter consequences for habitual agricultural offenders, as well as increased penalty classes and fines. Additional deterrents address cattle branding violations, the illegal transportation of livestock, unauthorized hunting, theft, and trespassing on private property.

    By establishing clear enforcement measures, this bill emphasizes Hawai‘i’s commitment to protecting and respecting agricultural lands and communities.

    “SB 1249 is about protecting our farmers and ranchers while honoring the memory of Duke Pia,” said Senator Richards (Senate District 4 – North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, North Kona). “Duke was a young rancher who was tragically shot and killed while confronting trespassers on his land. This law strengthens enforcement, increases penalties, and gives us the tools to fight rural crime. It’s about justice, safety, and preserving the future of agriculture in Hawai‘i.”

    HB 427: RELATING TO BIOSECURITY
    House Bill 427 (Act 236) institutes the renaming of the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Board of Agriculture as the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The renaming, in addition to the amendments to the duties within the department, better strengthens the state’s resilience against biosecurity threats by reinforcing the need to protect against invasive species, pests, and diseases.

    The measure establishes a position of Deputy Chairperson for biosecurity to oversee all biosecurity initiatives within the department who will serve under the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Under HB 427, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, in conjunction with the Governor’s approval, may declare a biosecurity emergency in response to the outbreak of a pest or resistant organism that poses an economic or environmental threat.

    Hawai‘i’s unique geographical characteristics underscore the importance of closely monitoring biosecurity risks entering the state. While isolation presents challenges, it also affords a strategic advantage by limiting the modes of transportation through which goods are received. To mitigate the spread of infections, pests, and outbreaks of harmful organisms, HB 427 establishes regulations for the creation of the state’s first transitional facilities. The transitional facilities require items entering through piers, airports, or other ports to be assessed and certified by a trained Biosecurity Compliance Auditor.

    Due to the fragility of our ecosystem, HB 427 increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms to safeguard our state’s economy, native landscape, and people.

    To keep the public informed, a pest dashboard is to be established with regularly updated treatment data with which departments, agencies, political subdivisions, or contracted parties that fail to provide information to the dashboard will be subject to the withholding of funds or denial of fund expenditures.

    Lastly, HB 427 transfers the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

    The administration remains dedicated to providing strong, ongoing support for biosecurity initiatives. The state budget reflects this commitment by allocating the highest level of funding ever for biosecurity — $26.6 million appropriated for the fiscal biennium to support positions and related expenses.

    “With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and growing biosecurity threats, safeguarding our resources and environment is a top priority for my administration,” said Governor Green. “Prevention and forethought will fortify our state, and by signing HB 427, we are keeping top of mind the ways in which we can stay in the driver’s seat — actively leading the effort to protect our agriculture and our islands.”

    HB 774: RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS
    To further expand and support to Hawai‘i’s local businesses, House Bill 774 (Act 237) establishes a food and product innovation network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The network will provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to facilities, equipment, expertise, and certification resources.

    The development of this network will facilitate the responsible use of labels such as “Hawai‘i made,” “Made in Hawai‘i,” “Produced in Hawai‘i” and “Processed in Hawai‘i,” aiding businesses scale and promote their products locally and internationally.

    HB 774 strengthens the state’s economic resiliency in sectors such as agriculture, sustainability, and culinary innovation, and promotes growth with the spirit of aloha at its core.

    “HB 774 is transformative for Hawaiʻi’s farmers and food entrepreneurs — empowering them to innovate, grow and proudly share their unique products with the world,” said Representative Kirstin Kahaloa, introducer of the legislation. “By establishing a Food and Product Innovation Network, we not only support local agriculture but also boost food security, fuel our state’s economic growth, and build a more resilient and sustainable Hawaiʻi. This initiative supports a stronger, thriving future for our communities and ʻāina,” she said.

    The complete list of bills signed includes the following. Click the link to see full details of the bill enacted into law.

    HB 534 (ACT 238) RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS
    HB 496 (ACT 242) RELATING TO MĀMAKI TEA

    Video of the bill signing can be seen here.
    Photos of the bill signing ceremony, courtesy Office of the Governor, will be uploaded here.
    The slide deck presented at today’s bill signing can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 6.27.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 27, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
     
    Neal Payton, of Santa Monica, has been appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission. Payton has been Senior Principal at Torti Gallas + Partners since 1996. He was Associate Professor of Architecture at The Catholic University of America from 1987 to 1996. He is a member of American Institute of Architects and the Congress for New Urbanism. He earned a Master of Architecture degree from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Payton is a Democrat.

    Yong Ping Chen, of Camarillo, has been reappointed to the California Acupuncture Board, where she has served since 2020. Chen has been a Professor at Alhambra Medical University since 2020 and an Acupuncturist at Chen’s Chinese Medicine Clinic since 2002. She was Director of the Experimental Acupuncture Teaching Department and Laboratory at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from 2000 to 2002. Chen was Associate Professor and Deputy Chief Physician at Southern Medical University from 1989 to 1997. She was a Physician and Proctologist at Linhai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from 1984 to 1986. Chen is a Member of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. She earned a Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, a Master of Science degree in Classical Chinese Medicine from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Chen is a Democrat.

    Hyun “Francisco” Kim, of Fremont, has been reappointed to the California Acupuncture Board, where he has served since 2018. Kim has been an Acupuncture Practitioner at Harmony Holistic Wellness Center since 2019, Clinic Director and Acupuncturist at Healtones Medical Clinic since 2014, and Adjunct Clinical Instructor at Touro University California, College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2014. He was Partner at Eastridge Medical Group from 2012 to 2013. Kim was Owner of St. Francis Clinic from 2004 to 2012. Kim is a Member of the Association of Korean Asian Medicine and Acupuncture. He earned a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture from South Baylo University. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kim is registered without party preference.

    Gregory Leung, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the California Acupuncture Board, where he has served since 2024. Leung held several roles at the California Department of Public Health from 2001 to 2023, including Health Facilities Evaluator Nurse, Health Facilities Evaluator Supervisor, and Health Facilities Evaluator Nurse. He was a Medical Nurse at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center from 2000 to 2001. Leung was a Medical Charge Nurse at Willow Tree Convalescent Hospital from 2000 to 2001. He was a Home Visit Nurse at Corinthian Medical Services from 1990 to 2001. Leung was an Assistant to the Nurse Director at Parc Pacific Convalescent Hospital from 1998 to 1999. He was a Nurse Assistant at Chinese Hospital from 1997 to 1998. Leung was a Nurse Assistant at Jesuit Community Infirmary from 1993 to 1996. He is a member of the Chinese American Democratic Club and the Lions Club. Leung earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from California State University, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of San Francisco. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Leung is a Democrat.

    Justin Huft, of Colton, has been reappointed to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences where he has served since 2021. Huft has been a Marriage and Family Therapist in Private Practice since 2023, an Adjunct Lecturer for the Psychology and Sociology Departments at El Camino Community College since 2018, and an Adjunct Lecturer in the Psychology Department at California State University, Fullerton since 2016. He was a Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Program Director at Creative Care Calabasas from 2016 to 2023. He is a Member of the California Marriage and Family Therapy Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, American Sociological Association and Pacific Sociological Association. Huft earned a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University, a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Social Behavior and Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Huft is a member of the Peace and Freedom Party.

    Kelly X. Ranasinghe, of El Centro, has been reappointed to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, where he has served since 2020. Ranasinghe has served as a Deputy County Counsel in the Imperial County Counsel’s Office since 2020. He was Managing Partner at Henderson and Ranasinghe LLP from 2017 to 2020. Ranasinghe was Senior Program Attorney at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges from 2014 to 2017. Ranasinghe served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Imperial County Public Defender’s Office from 2011 to 2014. He was a Deputy Public Defender at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office from 2008 to 2010. He is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Association of Counsel for Children. Ranasinghe earned a Juris Doctor degree in Criminal Justice from the California Western School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Ranasinghe is a Democrat.

    Annette Walker, of Corona, has been reappointed to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, where she has served since 2021. Walker has been the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ReinventU! since 2024. She was a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant at DEI Consulting from 2021 to 2024. Walker was Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Life Chiropractic College West from 2020 to 2021. She was Director of Graduate Admissions at California State University, East Bay from 2005 to 2019. Walker was a Personnel Commissioner at Hayward Unified School District from 2010 to 2011. She was a General Counselor and Instructor at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District from 1998 to 2004. Walker was a Bilingual Elementary School Teacher at Ravenswood City School District from 1993 to 1997. She earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from University of San Francisco, a Master of Science degree in Education and Psychological studies from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from California State University, Fullerton. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Walker is a Democrat. 

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 27, 2025

    News What you need to know: The federal Republicans’ “Big, Beautiful bill” would eliminate health coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians, cut at least $28.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding, and put food assistance at risk for the hundreds of thousands of…

    Jun 27, 2025

    News What you need to know: Continuing Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda, the state is awarding nearly $5 billion today to infrastructure projects that improve roads, expand transportation, bus and rail options while improving public health and safety….

    Jun 27, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its ruling on Trump v. CASA, Trump v. Washington, and Trump v. New Jersey: In a challenge to the Trump Administration’s blatantly…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Washington, June 28, 2025

    HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met in Washington, with HE Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States of America, Allison Hooker on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    During the meeting, they reviewed the close strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the US, ways to support and strengthen them, and the joint efforts that resulted in the peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC, and the ceasefire agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel.

    The two sides also discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Syria, in addition to a host of topics of mutual interest.

    During the meeting, HE the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs expressed her country’s appreciation for the role played by the State of Qatar in mediation and conflict resolution, and its continuous efforts to support regional and international stability through peaceful and diplomatic means.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom slams Trump over bill that would cut millions in health coverage, food assistance for California

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 27, 2025

    What you need to know: The federal Republicans’ “Big, Beautiful bill” would eliminate health coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians, cut at least $28.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding, and put food assistance at risk for the hundreds of thousands of Californians who rely on it. 

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today slammed federal Republicans over their proposed cuts to the federal Medicaid program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in their “Big, Beautiful bill.” The proposed Medicaid changes and proposed federal rules regarding health care taxes would put an estimated over $28 billion dollars of federal funding at risk for California and could result in a loss of coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians. 

    Taken together, these changes will lead to hospital and clinic closures, increase uncompensated care costs, and roll back the progress California has made in reducing its uninsured rate to a recent historical low of 6.4%, threatening the state’s status as a national leader in expanding access to care.

    The bill would also cut federal funding for SNAP in California to $2.8 to $5.4 billion annually. Hundreds of thousands of Californians who need food assistance will be at risk of losing it, and it will punish working people by ending their eligibility.

    “The so-called ‘Big, Beautiful bill’ is not cost-saving. It is not smart. It is cruel, costly, and a significant encroachment on states’ rights – the opposite of what Republican leadership claims to stand for. Big government is getting bigger under Trump and Speaker Johnson, as they attempt to dictate every move states make and micromanage Americans through even greater bureaucracy. It’s dangerous, and anyone with common sense should oppose it.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Impact of Medicaid cuts on California 

    Beginning January 2027, states would be required to conduct eligibility determinations for Affordable Care Act expansion adults every six months instead of every twelve months, leading to an estimated loss of $2.4 Billion in federal funds and approximately 400,000 enrollees in California. The bill would also require states to implement work requirements beginning in 2027, which would result in an estimated loss of up to $22.3 billion in federal funds and up to 3 million California enrollees. Additional federal fund losses and health care safety net impacts would occur from restrictions on provider fees and local government payments that draw down federal funds to support local health systems.

    According to Planned Parenthood, provisions in the bill would also put nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers at risk of closing, block 1.1 million patients from essential care like birth control and cancer screenings, and decimate abortion care access in all 50 states. 
    Taken together, these changes will lead to hospital and clinic closures, increase uncompensated care costs, and roll back the progress California has made in reducing its uninsured rate to a recent historical low of 6.4%, threatening the state’s status as a national leader in expanding access to care.

    Risks to SNAP

    The billions of dollars in SNAP cuts in California are composed of a reduction of at least $1.25 billion in federal funds due to changes in eligibility rules and the loss of an additional at least $178 million in nutrition education grants. Cost shifts in the range of $1.35 billion to $4 billion annually to the State and counties. This cost shift is due to a mandatory shift of 5 percent of food benefits cost to the state, and a mandatory 25 percent shift in program administrative costs to the state and county effective immediately. At least 735,000 recipients would be at risk of losing their CalFresh — as SNAP is known in California — benefits.

    Footage of today’s press conference with California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson and California Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Baass can be found HERE. Slides from the presentation can be found HERE.

    Recent news

    Jun 27, 2025

    News What you need to know: Continuing Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda, the state is awarding nearly $5 billion today to infrastructure projects that improve roads, expand transportation, bus and rail options while improving public health and safety….

    Jun 27, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its ruling on Trump v. CASA, Trump v. Washington, and Trump v. New Jersey: In a challenge to the Trump Administration’s blatantly…

    Jun 26, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Kira Younger, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Finance and Accounting Division at the California Department of Social Services. Younger has…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs balanced state budget that cuts taxes for vets, fully funds free school meals, builds more housing, & creates jobs

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 27, 2025

    ✅ FUNDED: Tax cut for military retirees

    ✅ FUNDED: Universal pre-kindergarten for all 

    ✅ FUNDED: Expanded before school, after school, & summer school

    ✅ FUNDED: Free school meals for all kids 

    ✅ FUNDED: Game-changing literacy & reading investments

    ✅ FUNDED: Building more housing, ASAP

    ✅ FUNDED: Lowering drug costs

    ✅ FUNDED: Expanding medication abortion access with CalRx

    ✅ FUNDED: Historic firefighting & public safety investments

    ✅ FUNDED: Protecting California’s iconic film industry

    Signing of landmark package to cut red tape, fast-track housing, and infrastructure forthcoming  

    SACRAMENTO – Amid Donald Trump’s economic assault on California, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed the 2025 state budget bill advanced in partnership with Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Speaker Robert Rivas. Together, the Governor and Legislature are enacting a responsible, balanced spending plan that safeguards California’s values while maintaining long-term fiscal health. This budget and forthcoming trailer bills include new, landmark policies that will accelerate housing production and boost affordability in communities across the state — addressing California’s most urgent challenges.

    As we confront Donald Trump’s economic sabotage, this budget agreement proves California won’t just hold the line — we’ll go even further. It’s balanced, it maintains substantial reserves, and it’s focused on supporting Californians — slashing red tape and catapulting housing and infrastructure development, preserving essential healthcare services, funds universal pre-K, and cuts taxes for veterans.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Pro Tem Mike McGuire says: “The State is delivering a responsible on-time budget in a challenging year focused on fiscal restraint and investing in the people and programs that make this State great. This budget prioritizes record funding for our kids and public schools, protects access to health care for millions of the most vulnerable, and will create more housing at a scale not seen in years. Thanks to this budget agreement, the state will help get more folks off the streets and into permanent shelter, and we’ll expand the ranks of CalFire, deploying hundreds of additional full-time CalFire firefighters, which will save lives and make us all more wildfire safe. And this agreement helps prepare our state for the ongoing chaos and massive uncertainty caused by the Trump administration. Thank you to our Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener, Speaker Rivas and Governor Newsom and their staffs for their hard work for the people of California.”

    Speaker Robert Rivas says: “This is an incredibly difficult time for Californians. Trump is undermining our economy with reckless tariffs, harsh cuts, and ICE agents terrorizing our communities. At a moment when so many are already struggling, he’s adding fear and instability. In contrast, Democrats have delivered a budget that protects California. It cuts red tape to build more housing faster — because housing is the foundation of affordability and opportunity. It preserves critical investments in health care, women’s health, education, and public safety. And it honors our commitment not to raise taxes on families, workers, or small businesses. In unprecedented times, under painful circumstances, Democrats are delivering for Californians.”

    Tax cuts for vets, smaller class sizes, free school meals

    The budget reflects a shared commitment to protect opportunity and improve affordability in California, in the face of targeted attacks by the Trump administration. The budget makes historic investments in public education — from universal transitional kindergarten and free school meals to expanded before and after-school programs, summer school, smaller class sizes, and strengthened career training and higher education. The budget demonstrates the state’s commitment to honoring veterans by creating tax cuts for military retirees, recognizing their service and supporting their financial security. 

    Lowering prescription drug costs, protecting reproductive care, and safety nets 

    The budget preserves key health care programs for Californians targeted by Republicans. It preserves vital safety net programs, including in-home supportive services and women’s reproductive health. As part of the budget, the Governor is also expected to sign legislation protecting access to health care, license and regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers for the first time, increasing transparency and accountability in the pharmacy supply chain. The legislation also expands CalRx’s authority to procure brand-name drugs and respond to politically motivated supply disruptions, helping shield access to critical medications like mifepristone.

    Lights, camera, JOBS

    The budget protects California’s position as the 4th largest economy in the world – supporting business and continued economic growth, including California’s iconic film industry. Next week, the Governor is expected to sign additional legislation as part of the expansion of the film and TV tax credit program — further catapulting the program’s impact to $750 million a year.

    Trump’s economic assault

    The balanced budget comes as California continues to confront significant fiscal pressures fueled by the Trump administration’s reckless economic and immigration policies. According to the California Department of Finance, Trump’s tariff regime is projected to cost the state an estimated $16 billion in lost General Fund revenue through the next fiscal year. And a new study released June 17 by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, in collaboration with UC Merced, found that Trump’s mass deportations could slash $275 billion from California’s economy, eliminate $23 billion in annual tax revenue, and severely disrupt key industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. 

    In the face of these mounting challenges, the Governor issued a proclamation to access state reserves. This responsible and balanced budget protects Californians, creates more housing, preserves core programs, reinforces fiscal discipline, and invests in the state’s long-term economic strength.

    The Governor today announced signing the following bills:

    • AB 102 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Budget Act of 2025.
    • AB 118 by the Committee on Budget – Human services.
    • AB 121 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill.
    • AB 123 by the Committee on Budget – Higher education budget trailer bill.
    • AB 134 by the Committee on Budget – Public Safety.
    • AB 136 by the Committee on Budget – Courts.
    • AB 143 by the Committee on Budget – Developmental services.
    • SB 101 by the Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2025.
    • SB 103 by the Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Acts of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
    • SB 120 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Early childhood education and childcare.
    • SB 124 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources trailer bill.
    • SB 127 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Climate change.
    • SB 128 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation.
    • SB 132 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation.
    • SB 141 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – California Cannabis Tax Fund: Department of Cannabis Control: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.
    • SB 142 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

    The Governor’s signature on the state budget is contingent on the enactment of either AB 131 or SB 131 on Monday, June 30th.

    Para leer este comunicado en español, haga clic aquí.

    Recent news

    Jun 27, 2025

    News ✅ CUMPLIDO: Reducción de impuestos para jubilados militares ✅ CUMPLIDO: Pre-kinder universal para todos ✅ CUMPLIDO: Ampliación de programas antes y después de clases y cursos de verano ✅ CUMPLIDO: Alimentación escolar gratuita para todos los niños ✅ CUMPLIDO:…

    Jun 27, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments: Neal Payton, of Santa Monica, has been appointed to the State Historical Resources Commission. Payton has been Senior Principal at Torti Gallas + Partners since 1996. He was Associate…

    Jun 27, 2025

    News What you need to know: The federal Republicans’ “Big, Beautiful bill” would eliminate health coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians, cut at least $28.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding, and put food assistance at risk for the hundreds of thousands of…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets Chairman of US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Members

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Washington, June 28, 2025

    HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met in Washington with HE Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, along with a number Senators.

    During the meeting, the two sides discussed the close strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the United States of America, ways to support and strengthen them, and the joint efforts that resulted in reaching a ceasefire agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel.

    The latest developments in the Gaza Strip, the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Syria were also discussed.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs balanced state budget that cuts taxes for vets, fully funds free school meals, builds more housing, & creates jobs

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 27, 2025

    ✅ FUNDED: Tax cut for military retirees

    ✅ FUNDED: Universal pre-kindergarten for all 

    ✅ FUNDED: Expanded before school, after school, & summer school

    ✅ FUNDED: Free school meals for all kids 

    ✅ FUNDED: Game-changing literacy & reading investments

    ✅ FUNDED: Building more housing, ASAP

    ✅ FUNDED: Lowering drug costs

    ✅ FUNDED: Expanding medication abortion access with CalRx

    ✅ FUNDED: Historic firefighting & public safety investments

    ✅ FUNDED: Protecting California’s iconic film industry

    Signing of landmark package to cut red tape, fast-track housing, and infrastructure forthcoming  

    SACRAMENTO – Amid Donald Trump’s economic assault on California, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed the 2025 state budget bill advanced in partnership with Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Speaker Robert Rivas. Together, the Governor and Legislature are enacting a responsible, balanced spending plan that safeguards California’s values while maintaining long-term fiscal health. This budget and forthcoming trailer bills include new, landmark policies that will accelerate housing production and boost affordability in communities across the state — addressing California’s most urgent challenges.

    As we confront Donald Trump’s economic sabotage, this budget agreement proves California won’t just hold the line — we’ll go even further. It’s balanced, it maintains substantial reserves, and it’s focused on supporting Californians — slashing red tape and catapulting housing and infrastructure development, preserving essential healthcare services, funds universal pre-K, and cuts taxes for veterans.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Pro Tem Mike McGuire says: “The State is delivering a responsible on-time budget in a challenging year focused on fiscal restraint and investing in the people and programs that make this State great. This budget prioritizes record funding for our kids and public schools, protects access to health care for millions of the most vulnerable, and will create more housing at a scale not seen in years. Thanks to this budget agreement, the state will help get more folks off the streets and into permanent shelter, and we’ll expand the ranks of CalFire, deploying hundreds of additional full-time CalFire firefighters, which will save lives and make us all more wildfire safe. And this agreement helps prepare our state for the ongoing chaos and massive uncertainty caused by the Trump administration. Thank you to our Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener, Speaker Rivas and Governor Newsom and their staffs for their hard work for the people of California.”

    Speaker Robert Rivas says: “This is an incredibly difficult time for Californians. Trump is undermining our economy with reckless tariffs, harsh cuts, and ICE agents terrorizing our communities. At a moment when so many are already struggling, he’s adding fear and instability. In contrast, Democrats have delivered a budget that protects California. It cuts red tape to build more housing faster — because housing is the foundation of affordability and opportunity. It preserves critical investments in health care, women’s health, education, and public safety. And it honors our commitment not to raise taxes on families, workers, or small businesses. In unprecedented times, under painful circumstances, Democrats are delivering for Californians.”

    Tax cuts for vets, smaller class sizes, free school meals

    The budget reflects a shared commitment to protect opportunity and improve affordability in California, in the face of targeted attacks by the Trump administration. The budget makes historic investments in public education — from universal transitional kindergarten and free school meals to expanded before and after-school programs, summer school, smaller class sizes, and strengthened career training and higher education. The budget demonstrates the state’s commitment to honoring veterans by creating tax cuts for military retirees, recognizing their service and supporting their financial security. 

    Lowering prescription drug costs, protecting reproductive care, and safety nets 

    The budget preserves key health care programs for Californians targeted by Republicans. It preserves vital safety net programs, including in-home supportive services and women’s reproductive health. As part of the budget, the Governor is also expected to sign legislation protecting access to health care, license and regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers for the first time, increasing transparency and accountability in the pharmacy supply chain. The legislation also expands CalRx’s authority to procure brand-name drugs and respond to politically motivated supply disruptions, helping shield access to critical medications like mifepristone.

    Lights, camera, JOBS

    The budget protects California’s position as the 4th largest economy in the world – supporting business and continued economic growth, including California’s iconic film industry. Next week, the Governor is expected to sign additional legislation as part of the expansion of the film and TV tax credit program — further catapulting the program’s impact to $750 million a year.

    Trump’s economic assault

    The balanced budget comes as California continues to confront significant fiscal pressures fueled by the Trump administration’s reckless economic and immigration policies. According to the California Department of Finance, Trump’s tariff regime is projected to cost the state an estimated $16 billion in lost General Fund revenue through the next fiscal year. And a new study released June 17 by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, in collaboration with UC Merced, found that Trump’s mass deportations could slash $275 billion from California’s economy, eliminate $23 billion in annual tax revenue, and severely disrupt key industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. 

    In the face of these mounting challenges, the Governor issued a proclamation to access state reserves. This responsible and balanced budget protects Californians, creates more housing, preserves core programs, reinforces fiscal discipline, and invests in the state’s long-term economic strength.

    The Governor today announced signing the following bills:

    • AB 102 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Budget Act of 2025.
    • AB 118 by the Committee on Budget – Human services.
    • AB 121 by the Committee on Budget – Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill.
    • AB 123 by the Committee on Budget – Higher education budget trailer bill.
    • AB 134 by the Committee on Budget – Public Safety.
    • AB 136 by the Committee on Budget – Courts.
    • AB 143 by the Committee on Budget – Developmental services.
    • SB 101 by the Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2025.
    • SB 103 by the Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Budget Acts of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
    • SB 120 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Early childhood education and childcare.
    • SB 124 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Public resources trailer bill.
    • SB 127 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Climate change.
    • SB 128 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Transportation.
    • SB 132 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Taxation.
    • SB 141 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – California Cannabis Tax Fund: Department of Cannabis Control: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.
    • SB 142 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.

    The Governor’s signature on the state budget is contingent on the enactment of either AB 131 or SB 131 on Monday, June 30th.

    Para leer este comunicado en español, haga clic aquí.

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  • MIL-OSI: Hut 8 Energizes Vega Data Center

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    205 MW facility will support up to ~15 EH/s of next-generation rack-based ASIC compute with direct-to-chip liquid cooling

    Believed to be the largest single-building Bitcoin mining facility by nameplate hashrate

    MIAMI, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq | TSX: HUT) (“Hut 8” or the “Company”), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing, today announced the initial energization of Vega. Based on publicly available information, we believe Vega to be the largest single-building Bitcoin mining facility by nameplate hashrate. Spanning the equivalent of five football fields and covering 162,000 square feet, Vega is powered by 205 megawatts (“MW”) of nameplate energy capacity and at full energization will support up to ~15 exahash per second (“EH/s”) of BITMAIN U3S21EXPH servers for Bitcoin mining ASIC compute, or nearly 2.0% of current global Bitcoin network hashrate.

    Vega debuts a new Tier I data center form factor that narrows the gap between legacy air-cooled ASIC infrastructure and liquid-cooled GPU infrastructure. Unlike traditional mining facilities that rely on forced-air cooling and shelving systems that constrain compute density, Vega features a proprietary, rack-based, direct-to-chip liquid cooling system designed in-house by Hut 8. The architecture supports ASIC deployments at densities of up to 180 kilowatts (“kW”) per rack.

    The system’s modular architecture—including pump skids, fluid distribution networks, server racks, switchboards, and smart power distribution units—was designed by Hut 8’s in-house development organization to optimize thermal efficiency, miner stability, and operational reliability. The result is materially higher compute density, greater thermal control, and improved uptime in high-ambient environments like Texas. Initial customer discussions support the potential viability of this architecture for future iterations of high-density, direct-to-chip liquid cooled infrastructure to support emerging HPC workloads and customer needs.

    “Vega exemplifies our innovation-driven approach to digital infrastructure design,” said Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8. “We built it for where we believe the market is going, using modular architecture and adaptive thermal systems designed to scale and evolve as workload requirements grow more complex. Over the past several weeks, as we’ve brought the site online, it has become clear how well this architecture performs under real-world conditions.”

    “Vega’s design is particularly relevant for AI training and other non-customer-facing HPC workloads, where we believe speed, density, and cost efficiency will increasingly take precedence over traditional redundancy standards,” said Jake Palmer, Senior Vice President of Development at Hut 8. “The project represents a design philosophy we intend to scale, refine, and deploy as we continue to bridge the gap between high-cost, high-redundancy builds and lower-cost, application-optimized infrastructure.”

    BITMAIN is the client for the full ~15 EH/s deployment at Vega under an ASIC colocation agreement. Based on ERCOT forward energy prices, the agreement is expected to generate between $110 million and $120 million in annualized revenue upon full energization, subject to factors including ERCOT energy pricing and facility uptime. The agreement also includes a purchase option that allows Hut 8 to acquire all or part of the hosted fleet in up to three tranches at a fixed price, exercisable within six months of each tranche’s energization. This structure gives Hut 8 the ability to convert the deployment into self-mining capacity for its Bitcoin mining subsidiary, American Bitcoin Corp., supporting growth in its scale from 10 EH/s to 25 EH/s.

    “We are proud to have partnered with Hut 8 to successfully develop and commercialize the next generation of ASIC compute technology,” said Irene Gao, Vice President of Mining at BITMAIN. “Vega demonstrates what is possible when two industry leaders with deep technical expertise come together to push the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and design. We believe this collaboration has set a new benchmark for the industry, and we look forward to expanding on this success in the coming years.”

    Project Highlights

    • Industrial scale: 205 MW of nameplate capacity with a power usage effectiveness (“PUE”) of 1.06, powered behind-the-meter by a wind farm and front-of-the-meter by the ERCOT grid
    • Rack-based architecture: Proprietary rack-based architecture supports 180 kilowatts per rack, 50% higher than the 120-kW requirement of NVIDIA Blackwell HGX GPUs
    • Next-generation ASIC compute technology: Site will host up to 17,280 BITMAIN U3S21EXPH servers (at full energization), the first ASIC miner mass-commercialized by BITMAIN with direct liquid-to-chip cooling within a U form factor, each delivering up to 860 terahash per second (“TH/s”) at 13 joules per terahash (“J/TH”)
    • Direct-to-chip liquid cooling: 96 custom-designed cooling modules circulate 120,000 gallons of glycol-water solution through a closed-loop, reverse return system designed to reduce water consumption versus conventional high-density cooling systems
    • Capital efficiency: Estimated all-in cost of approximately $430,000 to $450,000 per MW of nameplate capacity
    • Time to market: From site acquisition in July 2024 to initial energization in June 2025, Vega was brought online in under a year, demonstrating Hut 8’s ability to use Bitcoin mining infrastructure development to rapidly monetize power assets
    • Commercialization through ASIC Colocation: BITMAIN will consume the full ~15 EH/s deployment at full energization pursuant to a colocation agreement that will generate revenue for Hut 8’s Digital Infrastructure segment and includes a purchase option that, if exercised, would enable American Bitcoin to scale its self-mining capacity from 10 to ~25 EH/s

    About Hut 8 

    Hut 8 Corp. is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing. We take a power-first, innovation-driven approach to developing, commercializing, and operating the critical infrastructure that underpins the breakthrough technologies of today and tomorrow. Our platform spans 1,020 megawatts of energy capacity under management across 15 sites in the United States and Canada: five Bitcoin mining, hosting, and Managed Services sites in Alberta, New York, and Texas, five high performance computing data centers in British Columbia and Ontario, four power generation assets in Ontario, and one non-operational site in Alberta. For more information, visit www.hut8.com and follow us on X at @Hut8Corp.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward–Looking Information

    This press release includes “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, “forward-looking information”). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the ability of the Vega facility to support up to ~15 EH/s of next-generation rack-based ASIC compute with direct-to-chip liquid cooling, the ability of Vega’s new Tier I data center form factor to narrow the gap between legacy air-cooled ASIC infrastructure and liquid-cooled GPU infrastructure, the ability of the infrastructure at the Vega facility to support ASIC deployments at densities of up to 180 kW per rack, the ability of the facility’s modular infrastructure to scale and evolve as workload requirements grow more complex, the performance of the infrastructure deployed at the Vega facility under real-world conditions, the relevance of the Vega design to AI training and other non-customer-facing HPC workloads, Hut 8’s intention to scale, refine, and deploy its design philosophy to bridge the gap between high-cost, high-redundancy builds and lower-cost, application-optimized infrastructure, the estimated revenues from the Bitmain colocation agreement and the factors impacting such revenues, the potential exercise of the ASIC purchase option and the benefits thereof to Hut 8 and American Bitcoin Corp., the total all-in cost to develop the Vega facility, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “allow”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “predict”, “can”, “might”, “potential”, “predict”, “is designed to”, “likely,” or similar expressions.

    Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; construction of new data centers, data center expansions, or data center redevelopment; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; failing to grow hashrate; purchasing miners; relying on third-party mining pool service providers; uncertainty in the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; Bitcoin halving events; competition from other methods of investing in Bitcoin; concentration of Bitcoin holdings; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company’s recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Hut 8 Corp. Investor Relations
    Sue Ennis
    ir@hut8.com

    Hut 8 Corp. Public Relations
    Gautier Lemyze-Young
    media@hut8.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99a463ce-e274-4ee7-a8e4-e134abc19825

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30d0ece1-8f33-4444-b754-a4c5f49538e5

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33bbd349-a468-455f-b11a-8cbaaad40232

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hut 8 Energizes Vega Data Center

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    205 MW facility will support up to ~15 EH/s of next-generation rack-based ASIC compute with direct-to-chip liquid cooling

    Believed to be the largest single-building Bitcoin mining facility by nameplate hashrate

    MIAMI, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hut 8 Corp. (Nasdaq | TSX: HUT) (“Hut 8” or the “Company”), an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing, today announced the initial energization of Vega. Based on publicly available information, we believe Vega to be the largest single-building Bitcoin mining facility by nameplate hashrate. Spanning the equivalent of five football fields and covering 162,000 square feet, Vega is powered by 205 megawatts (“MW”) of nameplate energy capacity and at full energization will support up to ~15 exahash per second (“EH/s”) of BITMAIN U3S21EXPH servers for Bitcoin mining ASIC compute, or nearly 2.0% of current global Bitcoin network hashrate.

    Vega debuts a new Tier I data center form factor that narrows the gap between legacy air-cooled ASIC infrastructure and liquid-cooled GPU infrastructure. Unlike traditional mining facilities that rely on forced-air cooling and shelving systems that constrain compute density, Vega features a proprietary, rack-based, direct-to-chip liquid cooling system designed in-house by Hut 8. The architecture supports ASIC deployments at densities of up to 180 kilowatts (“kW”) per rack.

    The system’s modular architecture—including pump skids, fluid distribution networks, server racks, switchboards, and smart power distribution units—was designed by Hut 8’s in-house development organization to optimize thermal efficiency, miner stability, and operational reliability. The result is materially higher compute density, greater thermal control, and improved uptime in high-ambient environments like Texas. Initial customer discussions support the potential viability of this architecture for future iterations of high-density, direct-to-chip liquid cooled infrastructure to support emerging HPC workloads and customer needs.

    “Vega exemplifies our innovation-driven approach to digital infrastructure design,” said Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8. “We built it for where we believe the market is going, using modular architecture and adaptive thermal systems designed to scale and evolve as workload requirements grow more complex. Over the past several weeks, as we’ve brought the site online, it has become clear how well this architecture performs under real-world conditions.”

    “Vega’s design is particularly relevant for AI training and other non-customer-facing HPC workloads, where we believe speed, density, and cost efficiency will increasingly take precedence over traditional redundancy standards,” said Jake Palmer, Senior Vice President of Development at Hut 8. “The project represents a design philosophy we intend to scale, refine, and deploy as we continue to bridge the gap between high-cost, high-redundancy builds and lower-cost, application-optimized infrastructure.”

    BITMAIN is the client for the full ~15 EH/s deployment at Vega under an ASIC colocation agreement. Based on ERCOT forward energy prices, the agreement is expected to generate between $110 million and $120 million in annualized revenue upon full energization, subject to factors including ERCOT energy pricing and facility uptime. The agreement also includes a purchase option that allows Hut 8 to acquire all or part of the hosted fleet in up to three tranches at a fixed price, exercisable within six months of each tranche’s energization. This structure gives Hut 8 the ability to convert the deployment into self-mining capacity for its Bitcoin mining subsidiary, American Bitcoin Corp., supporting growth in its scale from 10 EH/s to 25 EH/s.

    “We are proud to have partnered with Hut 8 to successfully develop and commercialize the next generation of ASIC compute technology,” said Irene Gao, Vice President of Mining at BITMAIN. “Vega demonstrates what is possible when two industry leaders with deep technical expertise come together to push the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and design. We believe this collaboration has set a new benchmark for the industry, and we look forward to expanding on this success in the coming years.”

    Project Highlights

    • Industrial scale: 205 MW of nameplate capacity with a power usage effectiveness (“PUE”) of 1.06, powered behind-the-meter by a wind farm and front-of-the-meter by the ERCOT grid
    • Rack-based architecture: Proprietary rack-based architecture supports 180 kilowatts per rack, 50% higher than the 120-kW requirement of NVIDIA Blackwell HGX GPUs
    • Next-generation ASIC compute technology: Site will host up to 17,280 BITMAIN U3S21EXPH servers (at full energization), the first ASIC miner mass-commercialized by BITMAIN with direct liquid-to-chip cooling within a U form factor, each delivering up to 860 terahash per second (“TH/s”) at 13 joules per terahash (“J/TH”)
    • Direct-to-chip liquid cooling: 96 custom-designed cooling modules circulate 120,000 gallons of glycol-water solution through a closed-loop, reverse return system designed to reduce water consumption versus conventional high-density cooling systems
    • Capital efficiency: Estimated all-in cost of approximately $430,000 to $450,000 per MW of nameplate capacity
    • Time to market: From site acquisition in July 2024 to initial energization in June 2025, Vega was brought online in under a year, demonstrating Hut 8’s ability to use Bitcoin mining infrastructure development to rapidly monetize power assets
    • Commercialization through ASIC Colocation: BITMAIN will consume the full ~15 EH/s deployment at full energization pursuant to a colocation agreement that will generate revenue for Hut 8’s Digital Infrastructure segment and includes a purchase option that, if exercised, would enable American Bitcoin to scale its self-mining capacity from 10 to ~25 EH/s

    About Hut 8 

    Hut 8 Corp. is an energy infrastructure platform integrating power, digital infrastructure, and compute at scale to fuel next-generation, energy-intensive use cases such as Bitcoin mining and high-performance computing. We take a power-first, innovation-driven approach to developing, commercializing, and operating the critical infrastructure that underpins the breakthrough technologies of today and tomorrow. Our platform spans 1,020 megawatts of energy capacity under management across 15 sites in the United States and Canada: five Bitcoin mining, hosting, and Managed Services sites in Alberta, New York, and Texas, five high performance computing data centers in British Columbia and Ontario, four power generation assets in Ontario, and one non-operational site in Alberta. For more information, visit www.hut8.com and follow us on X at @Hut8Corp.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward–Looking Information

    This press release includes “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws, respectively (collectively, “forward-looking information”). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that Hut 8 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including statements relating to the ability of the Vega facility to support up to ~15 EH/s of next-generation rack-based ASIC compute with direct-to-chip liquid cooling, the ability of Vega’s new Tier I data center form factor to narrow the gap between legacy air-cooled ASIC infrastructure and liquid-cooled GPU infrastructure, the ability of the infrastructure at the Vega facility to support ASIC deployments at densities of up to 180 kW per rack, the ability of the facility’s modular infrastructure to scale and evolve as workload requirements grow more complex, the performance of the infrastructure deployed at the Vega facility under real-world conditions, the relevance of the Vega design to AI training and other non-customer-facing HPC workloads, Hut 8’s intention to scale, refine, and deploy its design philosophy to bridge the gap between high-cost, high-redundancy builds and lower-cost, application-optimized infrastructure, the estimated revenues from the Bitmain colocation agreement and the factors impacting such revenues, the potential exercise of the ASIC purchase option and the benefits thereof to Hut 8 and American Bitcoin Corp., the total all-in cost to develop the Vega facility, and other such matters is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “allow”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “predict”, “can”, “might”, “potential”, “predict”, “is designed to”, “likely,” or similar expressions.

    Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events based on certain material factors and assumptions at the time the statement was made. While considered reasonable by Hut 8 as of the date of this press release, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, failure of critical systems; geopolitical, social, economic, and other events and circumstances; competition from current and future competitors; risks related to power requirements; cybersecurity threats and breaches; hazards and operational risks; changes in leasing arrangements; Internet-related disruptions; dependence on key personnel; having a limited operating history; attracting and retaining customers; entering into new offerings or lines of business; price fluctuations and rapidly changing technologies; construction of new data centers, data center expansions, or data center redevelopment; predicting facility requirements; strategic alliances or joint ventures; operating and expanding internationally; failing to grow hashrate; purchasing miners; relying on third-party mining pool service providers; uncertainty in the development and acceptance of the Bitcoin network; Bitcoin halving events; competition from other methods of investing in Bitcoin; concentration of Bitcoin holdings; hedging transactions; potential liquidity constraints; legal, regulatory, governmental, and technological uncertainties; physical risks related to climate change; involvement in legal proceedings; trading volatility; and other risks described from time to time in Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see the Company’s recent and upcoming annual and quarterly reports and other continuous disclosure documents, which are available under the Company’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov and SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Hut 8 Corp. Investor Relations
    Sue Ennis
    ir@hut8.com

    Hut 8 Corp. Public Relations
    Gautier Lemyze-Young
    media@hut8.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99a463ce-e274-4ee7-a8e4-e134abc19825

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30d0ece1-8f33-4444-b754-a4c5f49538e5

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33bbd349-a468-455f-b11a-8cbaaad40232

    The MIL Network –