NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Leaders’ Statement on Countering Migrant Smuggling

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the Leaders of the G7, reaffirm our commitment to prevent and counter migrant smuggling through the G7 Coalition to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants and the 2024 G7 Action Plan to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants. We are determined to enhance border management and enforcement and dismantle the transnational organized crime groups profiting from both migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

    Migrant smuggling often has links to other serious criminal offences, including money laundering, corruption and trafficking in persons and drugs, that threaten the safety of our communities. It can expose vulnerable smuggled persons to grave and life-threatening risks, including physical abuse, sexual and gender-based violence, extortion, labour exploitation, and forced labour and criminality. 

    Through the G7 Coalition, we have made concrete progress on strengthening the operational and investigative capacities of our law enforcement agencies in the fight against migrant smuggling; and enhancing international cooperation between police, judicial, prosecution and border services.

    We task our Interior and Security Ministers to double down on the following areas of the G7 Action Plan this year: 

    • Adopt a “follow the money” approach, exploring innovative solutions that leverage financial intelligence and information-sharing to identify criminal actors; use administrative or judicial processes to hold these criminal actors accountable, seize their assets and strip them of their profits;
    • Boost prevention with countries of origin and transit through strengthening border management capacities and by raising awareness of the risks;
    • Collaborate with social media companies to agree on voluntary principles to prevent organized crime groups from exploiting online platforms to advertise, coordinate, and facilitate migrant smuggling operations;
    • Engage with transport operators to prevent the facilitation of irregular migration, including the weaponization of migrants to undermine stability or as a hybrid warfare tactic.

    We will explore, consistent with our legal systems, the potential use of sanctions to target criminals involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking operations from countries where those activities emanate.

    We will continue to leverage synergies with other global and regional initiatives aimed at fostering international cooperation.

    We support the continuation of policies for legal migration that members assess to be in their respective national interests. As we work to prevent migrant smuggling and human trafficking, we remain committed to countering all forms of abuse and exploitation of migrants, ensuring protection of the most vulnerable, including refugees and forcibly displaced persons. In so doing, we will meet our respective international human rights commitments. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Leaders’ Statement on Transnational Repression

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the Leaders of the G7, are deeply concerned by growing reports of transnational repression (TNR). TNR is an aggressive form of foreign interference whereby states or their proxies attempt to intimidate, harass, harm or coerce individuals or communities outside their borders. 

    TNR undermines national security, state sovereignty, the safety and human rights of victims, and principles of international law. It has a chilling effect in our countries. TNR often impacts dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders, religious minorities, and those identified as part of diaspora communities.

    We condemn all acts of TNR including but not limited to those involving: 

    • Threats or acts of physical violence such as harassment, assault, abduction or assassination;
    • Misuse of cooperation with other foreign states, international bodies and intergovernmental organizations, in order to detain, forcibly return, or repress targets, such as leveraging extraterritorial law application and counterterrorism and investigative tools;
    • Forced return by confiscating passports, invalidating documents, or denying consular services;
    • Digital transnational repression, such as doxing and sexualized smear campaigns particularly targeting women, to induce compliance, silence, threaten, discredit, or retaliate;
    • Misuse of spyware and cyber tools to engage in surveillance, and to enable physical targeting and tracking, hacking, or cyber harassment; and
    • Direct or implicit threats against family members. 

    We also remain seized of threats by foreign states and their proxies to our citizens outside our borders, such as arbitrary detention.

    We recognize the important role played by all partners, including civil society, academia and the private sector, in countering this threat. We welcome the recommendations for action emanating from the G7 multistakeholder Dialogue on Transnational Repression, hosted in Ottawa in February 2025, to develop concrete strategies for protecting those who are targeted.

    Building on the 2018 Charlevoix commitment on defending democracy from foreign threats, and these recommendations, we, the Leaders of the G7, commit to foster a common understanding of TNR, raise awareness, and promote accountability to increase the costs for those who engage in acts of TNR. As part of these efforts, we intend to: 

    • Build global understanding of the threat and its corrosive impact, including on human rights and democracy; this includes reporting on TNR as an important vector of foreign interference in G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) public reports, and strengthening engagement with likeminded partners and engaging more broadly in relevant multilateral fora.
    • Develop a TNR Resilience and Response Framework that includes: measures to boost G7 cooperation to counter TNR; a compendium of operational, diplomatic, policy, legislative, and community engagement best practices; and information sharing around the latest techniques, trends and vectors of TNR observed globally, drawing on wider initiatives such as the Pall Mall process related to cyber intrusion capabilities.
    • Launch a Digital TNR Detection Academy through the G7 RRM to build collective capacity to detect TNR online; the Academy will provide G7 and partners with the technical skills and tools for identifying and responding to the latest technology-enabled threats.
    • Support those who may be targets of TNR as well as members of civil society who are actively working to counter the threat, including through initiatives like the Canada-UK Common Good Cyber Fund, and by acting in solidarity with other states affected by TNR.  

    We will redouble our efforts to keep our communities safe, to defend human rights, including the freedom of expression online and offline, and to safeguard our sovereignty.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Kananaskis Wildfire Charter

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the Leaders of the G7, are deeply concerned that the world has experienced record-breaking wildfires across every forested continent over the past decade, often overwhelming available national resources and requiring governments to request assistance from other countries. These increasingly extreme wildfires are endangering lives, affecting human health, destroying homes and ecosystems, and costing governments and taxpayers billions of dollars each year.

    We resolve to boost global cooperation to prevent, fight and recover from wildfires by taking integrated action to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of wildfires and ensure our readiness to help each other, and partners, when needed.

    We will take steps to prevent and mitigate the occurrence of wildfires by:

    • Adopting a whole of society approach, including different levels of government, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, international and non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector, to share knowledge and drive research on reducing risks.
    • Implementing mitigation and adaptation actions, grounded in scientific research and local knowledge, that reduce the risk of extreme wildfires, such as sustainable forest management, nature-based solutions, Indigenous land management practices including cultural or controlled burning, and adopting fire risk reduction measures around communities, buildings, and infrastructure.
    • Raising awareness of the different causes of wildfires and measures to prevent them, including to reduce the number of wildfires started accidentally or maliciously.

    We will strengthen global capacity to prepare for and respond to wildfires when they happen by:

    • Leveraging research, tools and technology that forecast, identify, and monitor wildfires, such as fire danger rating systems, geospatial technologies, and systems to provide early warnings when wildfire moves towards inhabited areas or infrastructure.
    • Collaborating on data collection and information sharing to better understand and respond to wildfires and their impacts, including on different population groups.
    • Building our shared capacity to mitigate and respond to the impacts of wildfire exposure on human health and well-being.
    • Enhancing interoperability, through sharing best practices and where relevant, developing common protocols, capabilities, and procedures related to wildfire response, including on training.
    • Exploring ways to improve timely access to basic firefighting equipment and capabilities that help meet country-specific needs.

    We will rebuild for resilience to recover from wildfires by:

    • Identifying areas for active restoration efforts versus those where natural regeneration works best, taking actions that support biological diversity and restore nature and deploying nature-based solutions to strengthen resilience and reduce risks.
    • Rebuilding with wildfire-resilient infrastructure, including strengthening the wildland-urban interface through resilient urban design, landscape, and infrastructure planning.
    • Encouraging research to better understand local conditions to support and scale-up ecological restoration, finding best methods for sustainable forest management to help prevent and mitigate wildfires, including in rapidly shifting conditions, and using community-based, whole of society approaches that incorporate local and, where opportunities exist, Indigenous practices, and increased participation by women.

    We will seek synergies with work underway at the G20. Interested signatories will also work through forums like the United Nations Global Fire Management Hub. We will align with commitments to halt and reverse deforestation and forest and land degradation by 2030 globally.

    Together, we will achieve a stronger and more coordinated global approach to wildfire resilience.

    We welcome the endorsement of the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter by the Leaders of Australia, India, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the Leaders of the G7, recognize that critical minerals are the building blocks of digital and energy secure economies of the future. We remain committed to transparency, diversification, security, sustainable mining practices, trustworthiness and reliability as essential principles for resilient critical minerals supply chains, and acknowledge the importance of traceability, trade, and decent work in contributing to our economic prosperity and that of our partners.

    We have shared national and economic security interests, which depend on access to resilient critical minerals supply chains governed by market principles. We recognize that non-market policies and practices in the critical minerals sector threaten our ability to acquire many critical minerals, including the rare earth elements needed for magnets, that are vital for industrial production. Recognizing this threat to our economies, as well as various other risks to the resilience of our critical minerals supply chains, we will work together and with partners beyond the G7 to swiftly protect our economic and national security. This will include anticipating critical minerals shortages, coordinating responses to deliberate market disruption, and diversifying and onshoring, where possible, mining, processing, manufacturing, and recycling.

    We are launching a G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, building on the Five-Point Plan for Critical Minerals Security established during Japan’s G7 Presidency in 2023 and advanced by Italy in 2024. The Action Plan will focus on diversifying the responsible production and supply of critical minerals, encouraging investments in critical mineral projects and local value creation, and promoting innovation.

    We are committed to action in the following areas:

    Building standards-based markets 

    We recognize that critical minerals markets should reflect the real costs of responsible extraction, processing, and trade of critical minerals, while ensuring labour standards, local consultation, anti-bribery and corruption measures and addressing negative externalities, including pollution and land degradation.

    We will develop a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals, in collaboration with industry, international organizations, resource producing nations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, unions, and civil society. The roadmap will establish a set of criteria that constitute a minimum threshold for standards-based markets, strengthening traceability as a necessary measure. As part of these efforts, we will evaluate potential market impacts.

    We task relevant ministers to produce this roadmap, setting out milestones to be met in fulfilling this commitment, before the end of the year. 

    Mobilizing capital and investing in partnerships 

    We recognize the need to work together to increase investment in responsible critical minerals projects within the G7 and around the world. Immediate and scaled investment is required to secure future supply chains and ensure promising mining and processing projects overcome barriers such as delays in permitting and approvals processes, market manipulation, and price volatility. 

    Critical minerals are an opportunity to build mutually beneficial partnerships and drive economic development, innovation and shared prosperity. We will continue to work with emerging market and developing country partners to develop quality infrastructure, such as economic corridors. We will address investment barriers and support policy and regulatory reforms that improve the investment climate of our partners and empower entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries, including through the G20 Compact with Africa. Our approach will support local economic growth, build community trust, and reduce investment risks, creating the necessary conditions to attract responsible private capital. 

    We will continue to support the development of responsible critical minerals projects through direct partnerships with each other and by promoting private sector investment. We encourage our export credit agencies and development finance institutions (DFIs) to identify more opportunities for collaboration. We also welcome the work of the G7 DFIs to enhance coordination on critical minerals projects as an important step.

    To build on this momentum, we encourage multilateral development banks, as well as private sector lenders, to make further capital available for investment in standards-based critical minerals projects, including through innovative financing. We also encourage them to leverage existing financing mechanisms to de-risk projects, maximize and mobilize private capital, and increase the resilience and security of global critical minerals supply chains. 

    We are committed to deepening our cooperation with mineral-rich emerging market and developing country partners. We will help build their capacity; foster local value creation; create opportunities for all; promote responsible mining practices; combat gender-based violence in the mining industry; support the improvement of artisanal mining; and diversify global critical minerals value chains. 

    In this spirit, to promote responsible mining-related activities in emerging mining nations, we welcome the G7 Finance Ministers commitment to strengthen the World Bank-led Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement (RISE) Partnership. Interested G7 members will also support initiatives such as the Minerals Security Partnership and its MSP Forum, and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development.

    Recalling our commitment to promote debt sustainability and transparency, we acknowledge the challenges faced by developing countries with mounting debt levels, including to finance infrastructure. We will promote debt sustainability through transparent and fair development finance, and we will support countries facing debt challenges including near-term liquidity challenges. We call on all international providers of finance to do the same. This includes working within the G20 to improve the implementation of the Common Framework.

    Promoting innovation

    We have rich public and private innovation ecosystems with untapped potential to address strategic technology and processing gaps essential to bringing critical minerals to market. 

    We will intensify our collaboration to fill targeted innovation gaps in critical minerals research and development, with a focus on processing, licensing, recycling, substitution and redesign, and circular economy. We will work with partner organizations to showcase new technologies and production processes.

    We look forward to the upcoming Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals, to be chaired by the United States in Chicago, in September 2025, in order to advance this work. 

    We welcome the endorsement of the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan by the Leaders of Australia, India, and the Republic of Korea. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Leaders’ Statement on AI for Prosperity

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    We, the Leaders of the G7, recognize the potential of a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence (AI) to grow prosperity, benefit societies and address pressing global challenges. To realize this potential, we must better drive innovation and adoption of secure, responsible, and trustworthy AI that benefits people, mitigates negative externalities, and promotes our national security. We will power AI now and into the future. And we will work with emerging market and developing country partners to close digital divides, in line with the United Nations Global Digital Compact. 

    We must seize the potential of AI in our public sectors to drive efficiency and better serve our publics. We also recognize that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including microenterprises, are the backbone of our economies, driving growth and creating jobs. In 2024, we committed to work together to help SMEs adopt and develop new technologies, including AI, to accelerate broad-based growth. We also committed to fully leverage the potential of AI to enable decent work while addressing challenges for our labour markets. We reiterate the importance of operationalizing Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) through trustworthy, cross-border data flows, and affirm its value in enabling trusted AI development and use. We recognized the transformative impact of AI for the cultural and creative sectors, including challenges to business models and job security, and opportunities to boost innovation. 

    We recognize that increased AI adoption will place growing pressure on our energy grids, produce negative externalities and have implications for energy security, resilience and affordability. At the same time, AI can be harnessed to promote energy innovation and bolster the resilience and reliability of our energy systems. 

    We hear the concerns of emerging market and developing country partners about the challenges they face in building resilient AI ecosystems, including the risks of disruption and exclusion from today’s technological revolution. 

    To fully realize the potential of AI for our publics and our partners, we commit to: 

    Work together to accelerate adoption of AI in the public sector to enhance the quality of public services for both citizens and businesses and increase government efficiency while respecting human rights and privacy, as well as promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability. 

    • To this end, Canada as G7 presidency is launching the G7 GovAI Grand Challenge and will host a series of “Rapid Solution Labs” to develop innovative and scalable solutions to the barriers we face in adopting AI in the public sector.
    • We will leverage our existing government AI expertise to establish a G7 AI Network (GAIN) to advance the Grand Challenge; develop a roadmap to scale successful AI projects; and create a catalogue of open-source and shareable AI solutions for members. GAIN will collaborate to ensure that AI solutions in government have measurable and real benefits for our communities.
    • We task relevant Ministers to explore strategic investments for accelerating public sector AI adoption in transformative ways, including for large language models and digital infrastructure. 

    Promote economic prosperity by supporting SMEs to adopt and develop AI that respects personal data and intellectual property rights, and strengthen their readiness, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. 

    • We launch the G7 AI Adoption Roadmap, which provides clear, actionable pathways for companies to adopt AI and scale their businesses. Through this Roadmap, we commit to: sustain investments in AI adoption programs for SMEs, including supporting access to compute and digital infrastructure; publish a common blueprint for AI adoption by SMEs underpinned by proven use-cases from G7 economies; deepen our cooperation on talent exchange to integrate AI skills within businesses looking to scale; and develop tools that grow business and consumer confidence and trust in AI adoption including by leveraging the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI Process. We will collaborate with international partners, like the Global Partnership on AI, to advance this work.
    • We will build resilient future workforces by preparing workers for AI-driven transitions. To do so, we will advance implementation of the 2024 G7 Action Plan for a human-centered adoption of safe, secure and trustworthy AI in the world of work, including by developing a voluntary compendium of best practices.
    • We will drive economic growth, address talent shortages, and ensure equal opportunity, by encouraging girls, as well as members of communities left behind by globalization, to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and increasing women’s representation in the AI talent pool at all levels. 

    Meet the energy challenges of AI and harness its potential for advancements in energy efficiency and innovation. 

    • We will cooperate on innovative solutions to address energy challenges across our economies, including for AI and data centres, that support our respective national and international commitments. We will also support innovation that improves the energy and resource efficiency of AI models and optimizes data centre operations. We will advance AI solutions to unlock energy innovation and breakthrough discoveries, including optimization of energy use, and adopt AI to help build secure, resilient, and affordable energy systems and supply chains. We will strive to identify solutions that mitigate negative externalities and generate benefits for people and preserve our natural resources. We will cooperate on knowledge-building and sharing with trusted international partners and promote AI skills and talent development in the energy sector.
    • We task relevant Ministers to advance these commitments by delivering a workplan on AI and energy, before the end of this year, including working with international and industry partners to provide ongoing data analysis.

    Expand mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging markets and developing country partners to increase access to AI for everyone. 

    • We will harness trusted and secure AI technology to promote growth and enable partners to tackle the unique challenges they face. To do this, we will leverage our combined expertise, resources and networks to bridge gaps in AI infrastructure and capacity, invest in locally led AI-enabled innovations, and voluntarily collaborate with local universities to share knowledge and access to AI on mutually agreed terms.
    • We will deliver this by aligning our efforts through initiatives including AI for Development, AI Hub for Sustainable Development, Current AI, FAIR Forward, Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group, AI for Public Good, and others. Interested G7 members plan to strengthen the AI for Development Funders Collaborative. 

    ANNEX: G7 AI ADOPTION ROADMAP 

    We, the Leaders of the G7, recognize the promise of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to unlock competitiveness and deliver unprecedented prosperity for the firms, organizations and countries that integrate them into their business processes. We seek to further promote secure, responsible, and trustworthy AI that benefits people, mitigates negative externalities, and promotes our national security. We will do this through advanced AI research, world-class commercial applications, and deep business and policy expertise. We plan to create the conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including micro-enterprises—the engine of our economies— to access, understand, and adopt AI in ways that drive value and productivity. 

    This roadmap outlines our shared vision and practical steps to help our SMEs move from uncertainty to opportunity—to shift from being AI-aware to being AI-powered. Building on the 2024 Italian Presidency’s report on Driving factors and challenges of AI Adoption and Development among companies, especially micro and small enterprises, we commit to: 

    Accelerate AI Readiness and Competitiveness 

    We intend to double down on AI adoption efforts that connect research to practical applications, helping businesses—especially SMEs—integrate AI technologies that drive productivity, growth and competitiveness. We recognize the need to respect intellectual property rights in enabling these efforts. While we have already taken steps to promote AI adoption, scaling these efforts remains essential, including access to computing resources, expertise, and partnerships to move from AI experimentation to impact. We intend to promote AI adoption programs that, in particular, focus on: 

    • Commercialization support for SMEs and startups, including access to advanced computing infrastructure connectivity and computing resources, facilitating effective use of open and closed source AI models, business mentorship, and targeted support to bridge the gap between academic breakthroughs and industry implementation in order to bring AI-enabled products and services to market;
    • Cross-sector collaboration to facilitate adoption, connecting businesses with AI solutions providers, national AI research institutes, academia, innovation hubs, and clusters to accelerate deployment of AI across the economy;
    • Practical use case development, including easy to implement and existing solutions, showcasing successful applications of AI across sectors and by SMEs to demonstrate return on investment and stimulate wider industry demand; and
    • AI literacy and skills development, ensuring businesses—especially SMEs—have access to the tools and skilled workforce needed to adopt AI confidently and effectively. 

    Develop an AI Adoption Blueprint 

    We intend to deliver an AI Adoption Blueprint that equips governments and businesses with practical tools, evidence-based policy options, and real-world examples to accelerate SME AI integration. This will be a solutions-focused resource, informed by expert-driven, collaborative research activities and workshops, in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and drawing on empirical G7 AI trends, adoption initiatives, and frontline SME experiences. The Blueprint will: 

    • Present actionable policy recommendations that governments can choose to implement to lower barriers and build enabling ecosystems for SME AI adoption; and
    • Provide case studies of successful AI integration, offering concrete examples that businesses across sectors and countries can choose to replicate. 

    Expand G7 Talent Exchanges 

    We intend to expand G7 cross-border talent exchanges to connect AI expertise with businesses—including SMEs—accelerating adoption and building a future-ready workforce. We expect to encourage a focus in our initiatives that matches sectoral expertise with the AI competencies needed for impactful adoption. We look to further our cooperation on talent exchange to connect emerging AI research and commercialization expertise from across our world-class talent pool with real-world business needs. To do so, we plan to: 

    • Support AI-focused talent exchanges, including with students from G7 members, specifically targeting Al adoption projects, to bridge research with practical application, developing high-level expertise in critical areas; and,
    • Connect SMEs with AI skilled workers so that they have access to AI capabilities and tools to enhance their operational efficiency and competitiveness. 

    Unlock AI opportunity through trust-building 

    We plan to build on progress achieved under the Japanese and Italian presidencies and leverage the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI Process (HAIP) to foster trust. As AI adoption accelerates, trust remains essential—especially for smaller firms deploying powerful technologies—to provide assurance to customers. We will now translate shared principles into concrete tools for SMEs, with the aim of enabling responsible AI deployment across all sectors and business sizes in a manner that fosters consumer trust and unlocks market opportunities. We will: 

    • Lead multi-stakeholder efforts to identify opportunities and challenges in deploying AI, aligned with the Hiroshima AI Process, in collaboration with SMEs, AI developers, international standards-setting organizations, and Global Partnership on AI members;
    • Publish a toolkit to identify and explain relevant resources for AI deployers; and
    • Raise awareness of the HAIP Code of Conduct Reporting Framework that the OECD is implementing. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CSAF and CMSAF visit MacDill AFB

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: CSAF and CMSAF visit MacDill AFB

    U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi hosted an all-call for Airmen at MacDill Air Force Base, highlighting the base’s vital contributions to force readiness, talent development and global power projection.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: GROW NC Visits McDowell Tech to Highlight State-Funded Emergency Tuition Grants and Scholarships for Students

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: GROW NC Visits McDowell Tech to Highlight State-Funded Emergency Tuition Grants and Scholarships for Students

    GROW NC Visits McDowell Tech to Highlight State-Funded Emergency Tuition Grants and Scholarships for Students
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Matt Calabria, Director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), met with students and administrators from McDowell Technical Community College to highlight the state’s emergency grant and scholarship programs to help college and university students impacted by Hurricane Helene. So far, more than 45,000 scholarships and grants were awarded to Helene-impacted students and students at Helene-impacted schools.

    “After Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, students faced a major disruption to their studies,” said Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC. “The students I met today from McDowell Tech showed tremendous resilience. We’ve sought to do everything we can to help alleviate some of the financial burdens on students through state-funded emergency grant and scholarship programs.”

    “This investment didn’t just help individuals—it strengthened our entire campus community to Learn, Grow, and Dream, ensuring that local employers can continue to count on a skilled, resilient workforce,” said Dr. James “J.W.” Kelley, McDowell Technical Community College President. “The impact of this support will be felt for years to come in the lives of our students and the vitality of our region.”

    The emergency and tuition grant funding programs were designed to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in the North Carolina Community College System, UNC System, and private universities and colleges. More than $48 million in state funds were directed to scholarships and emergency grants, with nearly half of those funds supporting community college students.

    Thousands of community college students like those at McDowell Tech were able to stay enrolled and continue pursuing their degrees and certificates because of these grants.

    Grants and Scholarships for Western NC Community College Students

    • At least 20,725 community college students from western North Carolina or studying in the region received a total of nearly $23 million in grants and scholarships
    • These funds helped students enrolled in the North Carolina Community College System cover costs related to tuition, fees, and emergency expenses impacting their ability to remain enrolled. 
    Jun 17, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Continues to Hold Price Gougers Accountable, Files Charges Against LA Real Estate Agent

    Source: US State of California

    LOS ANGELES — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the filing of charges against a Southern California real estate agent for price gouging two families who were evacuated in the wake of the Pacific Palisades Fire. The investigation by the California Department of Justice revealed that after the Emergency Order was in place, the defendant increased the rental price by over 30% — including to tenants who eventually signed a lease. These increases exceeded the 10% limit laid out in Penal Code section 396. The charge carries a potential penalty of a $10,000 maximum fine and the possibility of 12 months in jail.  

    “Today, we’ve announced another price gouging charge, this time against a real estate agent for price gouging two families in the wake of the Pacific Palisades Fire. Profiting off Californians’ pain though price gouging is illegal and I will not stand for it,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I urge current or prospective tenants to share their stories directly with local authorities like the LA City Attorney or LA District Attorney, or our office by visiting oag.ca.gov/LAfires or calling our hotline at (800) 952-5225.”

    As part of Attorney General Bonta’s work to protect Californians following the Southern California wildfires, DOJ has also sent more than 750 warning letters to hotels and landlords who have been accused of price gouging. Working alongside our District Attorneys, City Attorneys, and other law enforcement partners, DOJ has opened active investigations into price gouging, fraud, scams, and unsolicited low-ball offers on property during the state of emergency.

    California law – specifically, Penal Code section 396 – generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10%, the price a seller charged for an item before a state or local declaration of emergency. For items a seller only began selling after an emergency declaration, the law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds the seller’s cost of the item by more than 50%. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, and gasoline. The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations, and long- and short-term rental housing. Exceptions to this prohibition exist if, for example, the price of labor, goods, or materials has increased for the business. 

    Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief, and mandatory restitution. The Attorney General and local prosecutors can enforce the statute.

    TIPS FOR REPORTING PRICE GOUGING, SCAMS, FRAUD AND OTHER CRIMES:

    1. Visit oag.ca.gov/LAfires or call our hotline at: (800) 952-5225.
    2. Include screenshots of all correspondence including conversations, text messages, direct messages (DMs), and voicemails
    3. Provide anything that shows what prices you were offered, when, and by whom.
    4. If you’re on a site like Zillow, you can also send screenshots of the price history and a link to the listing. 
    5. Include first and last names of the realtors, listing agents, or business owners you spoke to. Be sure to include phone numbers, email addresses, home and business addresses, websites, social media accounts.
    6. Don’t leave out any information that can help us find and contact the business or landlord.

    Californians who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should report it to their local authorities or to the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/LAfires. To view a list of all price gouging restrictions currently in effect as a result of proclamations by the Governor, please see here.

    A copy of the complaint can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Josh Brecheen Reintroduces Patriotism Not Pride Act

    Source: US Congressman Josh Brecheen (2nd District)

    Today, Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.

    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added.

    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna.

     Today, Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.

    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added. 

    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna. 

    ###

    , Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.

    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added. 

    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna. 

    ###

    , Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.

    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added. 

    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna. 

    ###


    Washington, D.C. – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 17, 2025 – Today, Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.

    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added. 

    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna.

     Today, Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.


    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added. 


    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna. 

    ###

     Today, Congressman Josh Brecheen reintroduced the Patriotism Not Pride Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer resources to promote Pride Month or any event with a similar theme. The bill also prohibits the display of flags representing gender identity or sexual orientation by agencies on federal property.

    “Our national flag is a symbol of the enduring principles that define our nation. When federal institutions display flags or use funding to promote destructive ideologies, it undermines the dignity of all Americans,” said Congressman Brecheen.

    “Symbols matter. As our culture continues to decline in our country across all political lines, we chose to reintroduce this bill to reaffirm our commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular,” he added. 

    Daily Signal’s George Caldwell wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which is available to read here.

    Original co-sponsors: Representatives Mary Miller, Glenn Grothman, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Mike Collins, and Anna Luna. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Why Canada’s largest battery project is an energy gamechanger

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Why Canada’s largest battery project is an energy gamechanger

    “Being able to move energy from times of surplus to times of need is a real asset,” says Vittoria Bellissimo, president and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. “What you need to run a reliable, clean, affordable electricity system is a diversified set of supply resources but also demand resources.” Read more.
    The post Why Canada’s largest battery project is an energy gamechanger appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: A new mission: helping heroes find civilian success

    [. Whether protecting the country abroad or ensuring the safety of communities at home, these individuals have made immense sacrifices in the name of duty. As their time in uniform comes to a close, Alberta’s government is committed to standing behind them – just as they have stood for us.

    Transitioning to civilian life can present unique challenges, especially when it comes to finding meaningful employment that reflects the skills and leadership developed through service. To help ease this transition, Alberta’s government is investing $1.2 million in Prospect Human Services’ Forces@WORK program, which provides specialized supports to help former military and public service personnel rejoin the workforce.

    “Our government is committed to ensuring that veterans and public safety personnel have the support they need to build meaningful careers beyond their service. Through this partnership, we’re honouring Alberta’s heroes by helping them transition into rewarding careers in the civilian workforce.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services

    “Every Albertan deserves an opportunity to pursue meaningful employment, especially those who have served our country as public safety personnel or in the Canadian Armed Forces. This funding will make it possible for more veterans and former public safety personnel to connect with jobs that fit within their needs and contribute their success.”

    Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration

    “As military liaison, I know the immense value of former military and public safety personnel’s unique skill sets. The strength, determination, and discipline developed in their line of work are valuable assets to any industry. This investment helps ensure those strengths are recognized and supported as they transition into meaningful civilian careers.”

    Justin Wright, Alberta government’s Military Liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces

    The transition from military and public safety careers to civilian employment often involves addressing both personal and professional factors, such as physical, psychological, or emotional barriers, as well as the need to adapt highly specialized skills to new work environments. The Forces@WORK program is specifically designed to address these challenges and help participants move forward with confidence as they enter the next chapter of their careers.

    Participants receive individualized assessments and customized supports tailored to their unique experiences and goals. The program offers a range of services, including peer support, career planning, job search assistance, resume and interview preparation, on-the-job training opportunities, as well as ongoing support to help maintain long-term employment. By addressing both the practical and personal aspects of career transition, Forces@WORK helps ensure participants are able to find fulfilling work and are well-equipped for success in the civilian workforce.

    “The Forces@WORK program is life-changing, helping veterans and public safety personnel overcome physical and psychological challenges during career transitions. Forces@WORK changed my life after I medically retired following 25 years in the Canadian Army, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help others through the program now. Prospect is pleased to partner with the provincial government, so that more Albertans are able to benefit from the same support I have.”

    Major (retired) David Blackburn, senior manager of program operations and director of military employment services, Prospect Human Services

    “Within OSI-CAN Alberta, a common belief amongst new participants is that their skills are not relevant for the civilian workforce. Being able to connect them to the Forces@WORK program provides them hope and reassurance. Before long, they’ve found meaning and purpose through a follow-on career, thanks to the work done by this important program.”

    Sergeant (retired) Jason Trenholm, provincial services coordinator, OSI-CAN

    Quick facts

    • The Forces@WORK: Public Safety Personnel Program helps former military and public safety personnel including corrections workers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and RCMP members.
    • Founded in 1980, Prospect Human Services Society helps Albertans overcome barriers to employment through skill development, job search support and career services.

    Related information

    • Supports for employees and job seekers

    Related news

    • Boosting job support for parents (May 29, 2025)
    • Helping young Albertans get jobs (May 26, 2025)
    • Investing to help Albertans get hired (April 30, 2025)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the new conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mexican national gets 110-month prison sentence for trafficking cocaine, illegally reentering the US following federal investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    CAMDEN, N.J. — A Mexican national was sentenced for trafficking cocaine into the United States following a federal investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Newark.

    Anastacio Santiago Chaparro, also known as Arnoldo Urquidez, 41, of Mexico, was recently sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment for trafficking cocaine at the U.S. District Court of New Jersey in Camden. In February, Santiago Chaparro pleaded guilty to an indictment of those charges and illegal reentry by a convicted felon.

    “Santiago Chaparro is a criminal alien who has ties to a dangerous drug trafficking organization based out of Sinaloa, Mexico, and has disregarded our nation’s immigration law by repeatedly crossing the border illegally,” said ICE HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “This sentence highlights our whole-of-government approach to dismantle the flow of illicit drugs into America and hold criminals accountable for their role in poisoning our communities. We commend our partners in the DEA and Customs and Border Protection who supported HSI’s investigation that led to Santiago’s sentencing along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey.”

    HSI Newark also credited HSI’s Special Operations Unit and the New Jersey State Police for their support in the investigation leading up to the sentencing.

    According to the investigation, on Nov. 6, 2023, ICE HSI Newark arrested Santiago Chaparro while he was caught transporting a backpack that contained over 10 kilograms of cocaine. Santiago Chaparro admitted that the cocaine was intended for distribution. Additionally, Santiago Chaparro had been deported from the United States to Mexico three times and previously sustained a conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, an aggravated felony.

    In addition to Santiago Chaparro’s prison sentence, he was ordered three years of supervised release on each charge and ordered to cooperate with ICE regarding his deportation proceedings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kean, Craig Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ban Members of Congress from Betting Against the Market

    Source: US Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)

    Contact: Riley Pingree

    (June 17, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07) and Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced the No Shorting America Act, a bipartisan bill that prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents from engaging in short selling, the practice of profiting by betting that a stock or investment will lose value.

    While legal, short selling by lawmakers or their families raises serious ethical concerns, especially when it involves profiting from the failure of American businesses. The No Shorting America Act will restore public trust by ensuring that elected officials cannot bet against the American economy while entrusted with public power.

    “Americans deserve to know that their elected leaders are working to strengthen the economy, not betting against it,” said Congressman Kean. “The No Shorting America Act is a straightforward, bipartisan effort to restore integrity in public service by banning Members of Congress and their families from short selling. Betting against American companies while holding public office undermines the public’s faith in our government institutions. This legislation helps rebuild that trust by ensuring Members remain focused on growing the economy and serving their constituents, not on personal financial gain.”

    “Too many Minnesotans don’t trust that their representatives are working for them, and that’s because for too long, Members of Congress have been able to use their positions for personal gain,” said Congresswoman Craig. “Since I was elected to the House of Representatives, I’ve been working to clean up Washington and increase transparency in Congress. I’m proud to be introducing this bipartisan bill with Rep. Kean to hold Members of Congress accountable and ensure they aren’t using insider information to play the stock market.” 

    The No Shorting America Act would:

    • Increase the public’s trust in Congress by prohibiting Members of Congress and their families from profiting off the downfall of American companies.
    • Require Members of Congress to demonstrate compliance by reporting stock investments to the supervising ethics office, strengthening Congressional ethics practices.
    • Ensure there is no conflict of interest in Member’s investments by allowing the Attorney General to impose a fine of up to $50,000 if a Member is found short-selling American companies. 

     This bill aims to ensure public trust by preventing potential conflicts of interest where lawmakers could profit from betting against the U.S. economy.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Leads Resolution Supporting Israel’s Strikes to End Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), alongside Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), introduced a resolution reaffirming the United States’ steadfast support for Israel as it works to dismantle the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities and defends its citizens from ongoing Iranian attacks.

    Additional cosponsors of this resolution include Representatives Don Bacon (NE-2), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-5), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-10), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Chris Smith (NJ-4), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-5), Randy Feenstra (IA-4), Tom Barrett (MI-7), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Robert Aderholt (AL-4), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21). The resolution was also supported by FDD Action, JINSA, AJC, AIPAC, and Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI).

    For decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has actively pursued a nuclear weapons program in direct violation of international agreements while funding terrorism, threatening the existence of Israel, and fueling instability throughout the Middle East. Despite bipartisan diplomatic efforts across multiple U.S. administrations, Iran has consistently obstructed inspections, expelled international monitors, and advanced its uranium enrichment to levels dangerously close to weapons-grade. On Friday, June 13th, the International Atomic Energy Agency declared Iran in breach of its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

    This resolution underscores the United States’ full support for Israel’s recent targeted actions to degrade the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure,  which protects not only Israel but also the United States and the free world. It reaffirms the vital importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance and makes clear that the pursuit of a nuclear-armed Iran will not be tolerated.

    “This bipartisan resolution reaffirms the United States’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense and for its bold, courageous efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program once and for all. The U.S.-Israel partnership remains unshakable, and this resolution sends a clear and unified message: we will work together to ensure the Iranian regime is never able to obtain a nuclear weapon,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

    The Islamic Republic of Iran has made clear time and time again its intent to ‘annihilate’ Israel and attack the United States and has funded direct military attacks on Israel and the United States for decades. It’s regrettable that Iran’s decades of violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which it signed has led us to a point where this is necessary. The only thing more dangerous than this war is an Ayatollah with access to nuclear weapons. Israel could not wait until Iran had a stockpile of nuclear weapons ready to be launched,” said Congressman Sherman.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 17th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Withdraw Military Forces from Los Angeles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty troops to American cities without the request of state or local leaders.

    The letter comes after Trump’s unprecedented move to federalize and deploy the California National Guard without the consent of the California Governor and mobilize U.S. Marine Corps elements, deploying approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles amid unrest created by the President’s indiscriminate and intentionally inflammatory immigration enforcement raids across the region. The first 200 Marines arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building on Friday, marking the first time in over 30 years that the Marines have been deployed in the United States.

    Trump deployed these military personnel without the request or support of Governor Gavin Newsom, manufacturing a crisis and repeatedly escalating the conflict in order to create a spectacle. The federalizing of California’s National Guard marked the first time the Guard had been deployed without a Governor’s consent since 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson federalized the Alabama National Guard to protect civil rights protesters in Selma.

    “We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders,” wrote Heinrich, Luján, Padilla, and the entire Democratic Senate Caucus. “This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.”

    The senators slammed the deployment of military personnel as an abuse of power that undermines state and local leadership, interferes with critical law enforcement operations, and wastes military resources and taxpayer dollars. They also expressed concern for the dangerous precedent Trump’s misguided deployment of military forces could set for mobilizing military personnel to other cities across the country.

    “For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order,”continued the senators. “Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

    “We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor,” concluded the senators. “Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.”

    The Trump Administration has repeatedly utilized excessive force and aggressive tactics in its immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and across the country. This pattern of unnecessary violence was evident on Thursday when Padillawas forcibly removed from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s press conference, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed after simply trying to ask a question.

    The legality of Trump’s federalizing of California’s National Guard without the Governor’s consent is currently being disputed in federal court. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a stay to pause a lower court’s ruling, which had returned command of the California National Guard to Governor Newsom.

    The district court ruled that the President did not follow the statutorily mandated procedure necessary to deploy the National Guard and ordered him to return control of the Guard to California. The Court ruled that Trump violated the 10th Amendment and 10 USC § 12406, the provision that authorizes the President to federalize the Guard in the event of insurrection or rebellion. The court held that California was also likely to prevail on the merits of its suit — there was no rebellion or insurrection, and local, county, and state law enforcement were fully capable of enforcing the law.

    “At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court must determine whether the President followed the congressionally mandated procedure for his actions. He did not. His actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith,” wrote the court.

    “We’re talking about the president exercising his authority, and the president is, of course, limited to his authority,” the court continued. “That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George. It’s not that a leader can simply say something, and it becomes it.”

    In addition to Heinrich, Luján, and Padilla, the letter to President Trump was signed by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.),  John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear President Trump,

    We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders. This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.

    For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order. Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

    We are particularly concerned by the precedent that this ill-conceived deployment of military personnel to Los Angeles sets for other cities and states. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guards when operating within state borders. As Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said last year when serving as Governor of South Dakota, “If Joe Biden federalizes the National Guard, that would be a direct attack on states’ rights.”

    We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor. Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 17th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration to Resume Processing DACA Applications

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to urge the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, following a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that limited a nationwide injunction to Texas.

    The senators began by highlighting the popular support for providing Dreamers a pathway to citizenship, writing: “Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.”

    The senators continued by making their request, writing: “Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately.”

    Sunday, June 15 marked the thirteenth anniversary of President Obama establishing the DACA program via policy memorandum in 2012. Since then, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA, empowering recipients to bolster their careers and contribute an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power and $40 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen halted the DACA program and enjoined USCIS from approving any new DACA applications nationwide. While the program was enjoined, USCIS has continued to accept and hold initial applications, and in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published the DACA Final Rule, codifying the 2012 memorandum establishing DACA into regulation. More than 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.

    On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision limiting Judge Hanen’s injunction to Texas.

    The senators further elaborated on the Fifth Circuit’s decision to limit the injunction, writing: “Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, nearly three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.”

    The senators concluded: “We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.”

    The letter is led by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The text of the letter is here and below:

    Dear Acting Director Alfonso-Royals:

    Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States. Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately.

    In 2001, the Dream Act was introduced on a bipartisan basis to provide a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children but remained vulnerable to deportation. Since that time, the Dream Act has been introduced in every Congress. It has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate with bipartisan majority votes, but no version has yet to be signed into law. In response to bipartisan pressure to protect Dreamers until Congress acted, the Obama Administration implemented DACA through a policy memorandum in 2012.

    Since 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA. Many DACA recipients report that deferred action—and the accompanying employment authorization — allowed them to apply for their first job or move to a higher-paying position more commensurate with their skills. Since its establishment, DACA recipients have contributed an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power, and $40 billion dollars in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen halted the DACA program and enjoined USCIS from approving any new DACA applications nationwide. While the program was enjoined, USCIS has continued to accept and hold initial applications, and in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published the DACA Final Rule, codifying the 2012 memorandum establishing DACA into regulation. Over 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.

    On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision limiting Judge Hanen’s injunction to Texas. Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.

    We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams Republican Attempt to Ban Abortion Nationwide, Defund Basic Health Care in Big Ugly Betrayal Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***VIDEO OF SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered the following remarks at a press conference on Republicans’ efforts to ban abortion nationwide as part of their One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which they are pushing through Congress via the budget reconciliation process, which only requires a simple majority to pass in each Chamber.

    In addition to kicking 16 million people off their health insurance through massive cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the legislation also seeks to make abortion care impossible to access everywhere by defunding Planned Parenthood—which would threaten the closure of 200 health centers across the country and rip away care from 1.1 million patients—and by banning ACA marketplace health plans from covering abortion services.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks are below and HERE:

    “Well, you know there is a lot to be mad about in Republicans’ big, ugly, betrayal, and I want to make sure one hugely important issue does not get missed.

    “Because I’ve come to know by now there is not a day that ends in Y, where Republicans are nottrying to ban abortion here in Congress. Republicans just can’t help themselves! If they can find a way to attack abortion care—they do it.

    “And wouldn’t you know it? They snuck what essentially amounts to a backdoor abortion ban into the health provisions of this big, ugly, betrayal. That’s right, not only does this Republican monstrosity of a bill make health care more expensive, and harder to get—they are trying to stop health plans from covering abortion care altogether.

    “This bill would effectively ban health insurance on the ACA marketplaces from covering abortion. This would send a shock wave through the country and put abortion care out of reach for countless women.

    “It would be a nightmare for states like mine that require these plans to cover abortion. And it would be yet another blow for women across the country, as abortion access gets pushed farther and farther out of reach by right-wing politicians who think they should get to make deeply personal decisions about women’s health and lives.

    “And the attacks don’t stop there. Because Republicans want to shut the doors of one of the biggest health care providers in the country. They want to defund Planned Parenthood.

    “That is wildly unpopular with the American people. And it is widely dangerous for patients who turn to Planned Parenthood for a wide spectrum of care—including cancer screenings, and pap smears, and birth control.

    “And if it were successful, Republicans would be closing the doors to 200 health centers—and that includes cutting the number of Planned Parenthood health centers in states with abortion access by half—and stripping away people’s access to abortion and other reproductive health care.

    “It is hard to understate how devastating that would be. We are talking clinics shuttering across the country, overwhelmingly in states where abortion is legal. We are talking women left with no options for the care that they need.

    “It doesn’t matter if you are a rape survivor, or you have a medical emergency, or if you simply do not want to become a parent. Whatever your reason—and whatever state you are in—if Republicans get their way, abortion care will be a lot more expensive, and a lot less accessible. For some patients, it will simply be impossible to get the care they need regardless of how badly they need it.

    “We have already seen, with painful clarity, how dangerous abortion bans can be for patients. We have already seen patients pushed to the brink—and even killed—because they could not get the care they needed. And now, Republicans are about to mark the anniversary of the Dobbs decision by taking their extremism to new heights.

    “We are not going to be silent about this big, ugly, betrayal, including what it means for reproductive rights. We are not going to be silent about Republicans’ backdoor efforts to ban abortion nationwide, and we are not going to stop pushing back to make sure this bill goes nowhere—except the garbage bin.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Republican Tax Bill Will Raise Energy Costs For Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    Published: 06.16.2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after Senate Republicans released new details on their tax legislation that would raise energy costs for Americans and gut health care and food assistance to fund tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.
    “Democrats took historic action to contain energy costs and fight the climate crisis through the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, Trump’s bill to cut taxes for billionaires will upend our progress – pulling the rug out from under wind and solar projects that are already underway. This bill will jack up people’s energy prices, reduce energy supply, and deny certainty for businesses investing in clean energy – all while dramatically expanding fossil fuel production and selling off millions of acres of public land. Trump and the Republicans are out of touch with regular people’s daily lives, and this existential moment for the planet, and Americans across the country will pay the price, for generations.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Canadian PM Mark Carney welcomes PM Narendra Modi for G7 summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday welcomed by his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney as the Indian leader arrived for the G7 Outreach Summit.

    Confirming the meeting between Carney and PM Modi at the G7 Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on social media platform X said: “Building bridges for global progress and cooperation. PM @MarkJCarney of Canada welcomed PM @narendramodi at the #G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.”

    Earlier, PM Modi met with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa separately on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

    These interactions came just weeks after India’s Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-oOcupied Kashmir, following the Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22.

    The MEA said, “At the Summit, the Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Monday morning to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis, his first visit to Canada in a decade.

    He is set to discuss various topics of development, such as energy security, technology and innovation with world leaders.

    PM Modi said he will discuss important global issues and emphasise the priorities of the Global South.

    The Kananaskis gathering on June 16 to 17 is the Prime Minister’s sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit.

    Canadian PM Carney had extended an invite to PM Modi in an attempt to rebuild ties after India-Canada relations nosedived following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations on the killing of a Khalistani terrorist.

    In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contact and both sides were looking at the possibility of appointing new High Commissioners.

    During his nearly 24-hour stay in Canada, Prime Minister Modi will not only attend the Outreach Session of the Summit but also hold several significant bilateral meetings with various world leaders before leaving for Zagreb early Wednesday, India time.

    The three-nation visit, PM Modi had stated while leaving New Delhi, is also to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South,” PM Modi posted on his X handle after arriving in Canada.

    The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies — France, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and the European Union.

    At the Summit, PM Modi will be interacting with G7 leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen along with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

    (With IANS inputs)

  • Canadian PM Mark Carney welcomes PM Narendra Modi for G7 summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday welcomed by his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney as the Indian leader arrived for the G7 Outreach Summit.

    Confirming the meeting between Carney and PM Modi at the G7 Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on social media platform X said: “Building bridges for global progress and cooperation. PM @MarkJCarney of Canada welcomed PM @narendramodi at the #G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.”

    Earlier, PM Modi met with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa separately on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

    These interactions came just weeks after India’s Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-oOcupied Kashmir, following the Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22.

    The MEA said, “At the Summit, the Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Monday morning to attend the G7 Summit at Kananaskis, his first visit to Canada in a decade.

    He is set to discuss various topics of development, such as energy security, technology and innovation with world leaders.

    PM Modi said he will discuss important global issues and emphasise the priorities of the Global South.

    The Kananaskis gathering on June 16 to 17 is the Prime Minister’s sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit.

    Canadian PM Carney had extended an invite to PM Modi in an attempt to rebuild ties after India-Canada relations nosedived following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations on the killing of a Khalistani terrorist.

    In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contact and both sides were looking at the possibility of appointing new High Commissioners.

    During his nearly 24-hour stay in Canada, Prime Minister Modi will not only attend the Outreach Session of the Summit but also hold several significant bilateral meetings with various world leaders before leaving for Zagreb early Wednesday, India time.

    The three-nation visit, PM Modi had stated while leaving New Delhi, is also to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South,” PM Modi posted on his X handle after arriving in Canada.

    The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies — France, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada and the European Union.

    At the Summit, PM Modi will be interacting with G7 leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen along with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

    (With IANS inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Canadian Council of Forest Ministers chair appointment

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, has released the following statement on the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM):

    “This week, I met with federal, provincial and territorial forest ministers from across Canada to discuss shared priorities, challenges and emerging opportunities for Canada’s forestry sector.

    “It’s an honour to take on the role of incoming chair of the CCFM for the upcoming year. I want to thank the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Fisheries, Forests and Agriculture for Newfoundland and Labrador, for her leadership over the past year.

    “As British Columbia’s minister of forests, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of working together across jurisdictions to strengthen Canada’s forest sector in the face of persistent and new challenges. From global trade dynamics and U.S. tariffs, to ever-intensifying wildfire seasons and shifting labour markets, these challenges don’t stop at provincial or territorial boundaries, and neither can our solutions.

    “My priority will always be to put people first. Whether it’s protecting their homes from wildfire, adding more local jobs or ensuring forestry continues to be a source of pride and prosperity for our rural, remote and First Nations communities, this work must be rooted in the well-being of people. Together with my colleagues across the country, I look forward to scaling up our wildfire response, including expanded aerial firefighting capacity, and accelerating reforestation efforts, like B.C.’s commitment to planting hundreds of millions of trees.

    “The ongoing threat of U.S. softwood lumber tariffs continues to unfairly impact workers, families and communities in Canada. As the new chair, I’m committed to working with the federal government and my counterparts across Canada to push back against these unjust trade actions and advocate for a long-term deal that will ensure that B.C. and Canadian forestry businesses can compete on a level playing field. We will continue to expand our market access through trade diversification, opening new doors for Canadian wood products, advancing innovation in value-added wood manufacturing and strengthening our global competitiveness.

    “I’m grateful to my provincial and territorial colleagues for their ongoing commitment to this work, and I look forward to building on the CCFM’s legacy of collaboration as we move forward, together.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Reps. Lynch, Courtney and Golden Join IAM Union, Boston Ship Repair to Call for Urgent Investments in U.S. Shipbuilding, Repair

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    BOSTON, June 17, 2025 – U.S. Reps. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) joined the IAM Union and Boston Ship Repair leadership to call for urgent investments to save the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industries.

    Joined by IAM Union-represented workers at Boston Ship Repair, the coalition of elected officials, union leaders and shipyard management highlighted the national and economic security risk posed by a dwindling U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry. Currently, about 80 U.S.-flagged ships are engaged in international commerce compared to over 5,500 China-flagged vessels. China recently overtook the U.S. in Navy fleet size.

    The group has backed U.S. Trade Representative penalties on Chinese ships and steps to incentivize the production and purchase of U.S.-built vessels. They are also championing the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, which would rebuild the U.S. shipyard base and invest in recruitment and training of shipyard workers and mariners. The coalition is highlighting the need to efficiently utilize and grow domestic shipbuilding and repair capacity to increase the workforce at Boston Ship Repair and across the country. 

    “Revitalizing American shipbuilding is critical to our national and economic security. It’s a bipartisan goal in Washington, and we need to use all of our available shipyard capacity to get the job done if we’re going to deliver on it,” said Rep. Courtney. “We must provide American shipyards and shipbuilders, like Boston Ship Repair, with the demand they need to make investments in their future and the future of our domestic shipbuilding industry.”

    “America needs strong shipyards. On the defense front, we are lagging in the production of American warships necessary to meet current and future force needs. We also lack the commercial vessels we need to compete in the global economy,” Rep. Golden said. “The reality is simple: If we aren’t giving work to the men and women who power America’s shipyards, they will find new jobs and we will fall further behind. Congress needs to keep up demand for warships to sustain the world’s greatest Navy and we need to pass the SHIPS Act to strengthen our shipyards, our commercial fleet and our supply chains. Our future demands it.”

    “American national and economic security depends on urgent and long overdue investments in our shipbuilding and repair industry,” said IAM Union Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “That’s why the IAM Union has led the way toward tougher trade rules on China, much-needed investments in U.S. shipyard workers, and a strong call for the efficient use of our existing shipyards, like Boston Ship Repair. We’re incredibly grateful for our champions in this fight, including Congressmen Lynch, Courtney and Golden.”

    “We’ve invested in Boston Ship Repair because we believe in its potential—not just as a business, but as a critical national asset,” said Boston Ship Repair Owner Jon Cronin. “With a highly skilled union workforce, proven infrastructure, and the experience to deliver, BSR stands ready to be part of the solution to America’s shipyard capacity crisis. But we can’t do it alone. Without consistent work and federal investment, this vital facility—and the hundreds of jobs it sustains—are at risk. We’re calling on Congress and the Navy to recognize BSR not just as a shipyard, but as a strategic pillar of the defense industrial base. With immediate support, we can expand our capacity, modernize our infrastructure, and begin reducing the Navy’s repair backlog today—while preserving American maritime strength for generations to come.”

    “Our IAM Union members at Boston Ship Repair are skilled, dedicated workers who are proud to support our maritime missions,” said IAM Union Local S25 President Andre Lavertue, a 30-year IAM Union member and crane operator at Boston Ship Repair. “But over the years, we’ve seen these jobs become less reliable and too often result in layoffs when work goes away. American shipyard workers are ready to reinvigorate this industry and win the future of global shipbuilding and repair.”

    The IAM Union, which represents workers at Boston Ship Repair and shipbuilding and repair workers across the country, is leading the charge to restore U.S. shipbuilding by investing in American workers, as well as taking on predatory Chinese trade practices through a U.S. Trade Representative’s Office investigation and supporting the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act.

    Boston Ship Repair has provided personalized services for domestic, international and government customers since 1995. It is one of the largest docks on the Eastern and Gulf Coasts and can handle vessels up to 1,000 feet with a 105 foot beam. Boston Ship Repair is committed to provide vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services that are unsurpassed in the industry.

    The post U.S. Reps. Lynch, Courtney and Golden Join IAM Union, Boston Ship Repair to Call for Urgent Investments in U.S. Shipbuilding, Repair appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Alder Springs Fire in Oregon

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Alder Springs Fire in Oregon

    FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Alder Springs Fire in Oregon

    BOTHELL, Wash

     –  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Alder Springs Fire burning in Jefferson County, Oregon

     The state of Oregon’s request for a declaration under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Administrator Vincent J

    Maykovich on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 10:27 p

    m

    PT

    He determined that the Alder Springs Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster

     This is the second FMAG declaration in 2025 to help fight Oregon wildfires

     At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Crooked River Ranch and Redmond

    FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters

    Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire

    These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire

      ###Follow FEMA Region 10 on X and LinkedIn for the latest updates and visit FEMA

    gov for more information

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters

    mary

    j

    edmon
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 18:31

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Claims Office Reimbursement Available for Certain Risk-Reduction Projects: November 14, 2025, Deadline for Claimants

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Claims Office Reimbursement Available for Certain Risk-Reduction Projects: November 14, 2025, Deadline for Claimants

    Claims Office Reimbursement Available for Certain Risk-Reduction Projects: November 14, 2025, Deadline for Claimants

    SANTA FE, NM — Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire claimants whose structures were left with increased risks of wildfires, flooding or other cascading impacts may be reimbursed for costs to reduce these risks to pre-fire levels, but they must finish the work by the deadline of November 14, 2025

     DEADLINE DETAILS: Claimants must have a valid NOL requesting risk reduction, must complete the risk reduction project, and incur all costs by November

    14, 2025

      Claimants must own the property, identify the heightened risks to structures and outline the project’s costs, scope, date of completion and how the project reduces the risks to pre-fire levels

     Risk-reduction costs may be reimbursed under the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act

     Risk reduction differs from repairing or rebuilding a damaged property, which is done to restore structures to their pre-fire condition, capacity and function

     A site visit may be required to verify a completed project

    Total reimbursement for projects will be capped at 50% of the replacement cost value of the structure being protected

    Any costs that exceed this cap are the claimant’s responsibility

    Eligible risk reduction projects for public facilities must first be submitted to FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program and denied for all or partial assistance before they can be submitted to the Claims Office

    Properties in areas damaged by wildfire are often more vulnerable to natural hazards or cascading impacts after a fire, so it’s vital that affected property owners know how to reduce their risks and minimize potential impacts from future disasters

      “Risk reduction is essential to help claimants remain in or return to their homes and communities by improving their properties’ resilience against future wildfires or flooding,” said Jay Mitchell, Director of Operations for the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office

    “I would encourage claimants to take advantage of this program, which will decrease the risk of future property damage

    ” Examples of possible risk reduction projects Installing a fire-retardant roofDecreasing wildfire risks by cutting back vegetation and creating fire breaksBuilding a berm or other barrier to block floodwaterDigging a drainage channel to divert stormwater Installing a culvert and associated ditches near a private road or driveway  Stabilizing the ground under structures and culverts to prevent erosion For information and updates, please visit the Claims Office website at www

    fema

    gov/hermits-peak

    For information in Spanish, visit www

    fema

    gov/es/disaster/current/hermits-peak

    To stay updated on upcoming events, visit the News and the “News and Events” page on our website at www

    fema

    gov/hermits-peak/media

    You can also follow our Facebook page at facebook

    com/HermitsPeakCalfCanyonClaimsOffice for updates on the claims process, deadlines, and program announcements

     
    joy

    li
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 17:16

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Engineers Simulate Lunar Lighting for Artemis III Moon Landing

    Source: NASA

    Better understanding the lunar lighting environment will help NASA prepare astronauts for the harsh environment Artemis III Moonwalkers will experience on their mission. NASA’s Artemis III mission will build on earlier test flights and add new capabilities with the human landing system and advanced spacesuits to send the first astronauts to explore the lunar South Pole and prepare humanity to go to Mars.
    Using high-intensity lighting and low-fidelity mock-ups of a lunar lander, lunar surface, and lunar rocks, NASA engineers are simulating the Moon’s environment at the Flat Floor Facility to study and experience the extreme lighting condition. The facility is located at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

    “The goal is really to understand how shadows will affect lander visual inspection and assessment efforts throughout a future crewed mission,” said Emma Jaynes, test engineer at the facility. “Because the Flat Floor Facility is similar to an inverted air hockey table, NASA and our industry partners can rearrange large, heavy structures with ease – and inspect the shadows’ effects from multiple angles, helping to ensure mission success and astronaut safety for Artemis III.”
    Data and analysis from testing at NASA are improving models Artemis astronauts will use in preparation for lander and surface operations on the Moon during Artemis III. The testing also is helping cross-agency teams evaluate various tools astronauts may use.
    The 86-foot-long by 44-foot-wide facility at NASA is one of the largest, flattest, and most stable air-bearing floors in the world, allowing objects to move across the floor without friction on a cushion of air.
    Test teams use large, 12-kilowatt and 6-kilowatt lights to replicate the low-angle, high contrast conditions of the lunar South Pole. Large swaths of fabric are placed on top of the epoxy floor to imitate the reflective properties of lunar regolith. All the mock-ups are placed on air bearings, allowing engineers to easily move and situate structures on the floor.

    “The Sun is at a permanent low angle at the South Pole of the Moon, meaning astronauts will experience high contrasts between the lit and shadowed regions,” Jaynes said. “The color white can become blinding in direct sunlight, while the shadows behind a rock could stretch for feet and ones behind a lander could extend for miles.”
    The laboratory is large enough for people to walk around and experience this phenomenon with the naked eye, adding insight to what NASA calls ‘human in-the-loop testing.
    NASA is working with SpaceX to develop the company’s Starship Human Landing System to safely send Artemis astronauts to the Moon’s surface and back to lunar orbit for Artemis III.
    Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars – for the benefit of all. 
    For more information about Artemis missions, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/artemis

    Corinne Beckinger Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256.544.0034  corinne.m.beckinger@nasa.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Training for the Moo(n)

    Source: NASA

    A curious cow watches as NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Kate Rubins perform a simulated moonwalk in the San Francisco Volcanic Field in Northern Arizona on May 14, 2024, in preparation for NASA’s historic Artemis III Moon landing mission. Flight controllers and scientists guided activities during the week-long simulation from mission control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
    Tests like this are critical for NASA’s Artemis science teams because they provide an opportunity to test integration with mission control. In the Science Evaluation Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, lunar scientists, geologists, and experts in image analysis and sample science direct and evaluate lunar surface science and geologic observations. They assess and adapt moonwalk traverses, communicating any feedback or changes with the science officer on the flight control team. The science officer conveys those messages to the Capcom officer, who then shares insights and recommendations with the crew during missions.
    Learn why training like this is critical to mission success.
    Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster

    Disaster Recovery Centers to Open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster

    Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will open in Howell, Ozark, Perry and Webster counties to provide in-person assistance to residents affected by the March 14-15 disaster

     If you’ve already applied for assistance, you can speak with a FEMA representative in-person about the status of your application or get help uploading needed documents to complete your application

    DRC LocationsDRC Hours of OperationPerry CountyPerry County Courthouse15 W

    Sainte Marie St

     Perryville, MO 63775June 18: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 19-21: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Webster CountyWebster County Emergency Management433 E

    Commercial StMarshfield, MO 65706June 18: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 19-21: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Howell CountyWest Plains Civic Center 110 St Louis St

    West Plains, MO 65775June 23: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 24-27: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    Ozark CountyBakersfield R IV School District1201 SSR-OBakersfield, MO 65609June 23: 9 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    June 24 and 25: 8 a

    m

    -7 p

    m

    If you still need to apply for FEMA disaster assistance, you can go online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, call toll-free 800-621-3362, or download the FEMA App

     Homeowners and renters affected by the March 14-15 disaster in Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St

    Louis, Wayne, Webster, and Wright counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance that includes rental assistance, lodging expenses reimbursement, home repair and other needs

    You may visit any of our DRCs in your community to apply for FEMA assistance

    sara

    zuckerman
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 14:45

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, German Aerospace Center to Expand Artemis Campaign Cooperation

    Source: NASA

    While attending the Paris Air Show June 16, NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro signed an agreement with DLR (German Aerospace Center, or Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) to continue a partnership in space medicine research. This renewed collaboration builds on previous radiation mitigation efforts for human spaceflight. As NASA advances the Trump-Vance Administration’s goals for exploration on the Moon and Mars, minimizing exposure to space radiation is one of the key areas the agency is working to protect crew on long duration missions.
    With this agreement, DLR will leverage its human spaceflight expertise and provide new radiation sensors aboard the Orion spacecraft during NASA’s Artemis II mission, building on previous work in this area during the Artemis I mission. Scheduled for launch no later than April 2026, Artemis II will mark the first test flight with crew under Artemis.
    “In keeping with the historic agreements NASA has made with international partners as a part of Artemis, I am pleased to sign a new NASA-DLR joint agreement today, to enable radiation research aboard Artemis II,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. “The German Aerospace Center has been a valuable partner in Artemis, having previously worked with NASA to test technology critical to our understanding of radiation on humans aboard an Orion spacecraft on Artemis I and providing a CubeSat as part of Artemis II. Following a productive meeting between President Trump and German Chancellor Merz earlier this month, I am excited to build upon our great partnership with Germany.”
    During the Artemis II mission’s planned 10-day journey around the Moon and back, four of DLR’s newly developed M-42 extended (M-42 EXT) radiation detectors will be on board, contributing vital data to support astronaut safety. This next-generation device represents a new phase of research as NASA and DLR continue working together to safeguard human health in space.
    Under the leadership of President Trump, America’s Artemis campaign has reignited NASA’s ambition, sparking international cooperation and cutting-edge innovation. The continued partnership with DLR and the deployment of their advanced M-42 EXT radiation detectors aboard Artemis II exemplifies how the Trump-Vance Administration is leading a Golden Era of Exploration and Innovation that puts American astronauts on the path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
    “To develop effective protective measures against the impact of space radiation on the human body, comprehensive and coherent radiation measurements in open space are essential,” says Anke Pagels-Kerp, divisional board member for space at DLR. “At the end of 2022, Artemis I carried 12,000 passive and 16 active detectors inside the Helga and Zohar mannequins, which flew aboard the Orion spacecraft as part of DLR’s MARE project. These provided a valuable dataset – the first continuous radiation measurements ever recorded beyond low Earth orbit. We are now excited to take the next step together with NASA and send our upgraded radiation detectors around the Moon on the Artemis II mission.”
    Through the Artemis campaign, the agency will establish a long-term presence on the Moon for scientific exploration with our commercial and international partners, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
    For more information about Artemis, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
    -end-
    Bethany Stevens / Rachel KraftHeadquarters202-358-1600bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gv / rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A New Hybrid System Could Enable Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems to Perform Scientific Measurements

    Source: NASA

    A NASA-sponsored team is creating a new approach to measure magnetic fields by developing a new system that can both take scientific measurements and provide spacecraft attitude control functions. This new system is small, lightweight, and can be accommodated onboard the spacecraft, eliminating the need for the boom structure that is typically required to measure Earth’s magnetic field, thus allowing smaller, lower-cost spacecraft to take these measurements. In fact, this new system could not only enable small spacecraft to measure the magnetic field, it could replace the standard attitude control systems in future spacecraft that orbit Earth, allowing them to provide the important global measurements that enable us to understand how Earth’s magnetic field protects us from dangerous solar particles.

    Photo of the aurora (taken in Alaska) showing small scale features that are often present. Credit: NASA/Sebastian Saarloos
    Solar storms drive space weather that threatens our many assets in space and can also disrupt Earth’s upper atmosphere impacting our communications and power grids. Thankfully, the Earth’s magnetic field protects us and funnels much of that energy into the north and south poles creating aurorae. The aurorae are a beautiful display of the electromagnetic energy and currents that flow throughout the Earth’s space environment. They often have small-scale magnetic features that affect the total energy flowing through the system. Observing these small features requires multiple simultaneous observations over a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, which can be accomplished by constellations of small spacecraft.
    To enable such constellations, NASA is developing an innovative hybrid magnetometer that makes both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) magnetic measurements and is embedded in the spacecraft’s attitude determination and control system (ADCS)—the system that enables the satellite to know and control where it is pointing. High-performance, low SWAP+C (low-size, weight and power + cost) instruments are required, as is the ability to manufacture and test large numbers of these instruments within a typical flight build schedule. Future commercial or scientific satellites could use these small, lightweight embedded hybrid magnetometers to take the types of measurements that will expand our understanding of space weather and how Earth’s magnetic field responds to solar storms
    It is typically not possible to take research-quality DC and AC magnetic measurements using sensors within an ADCS since the ADCS is inside the spacecraft and near contaminating sources of magnetic noise such as magnetic torque rods—the electromagnets that generate a magnetic field and push against the Earth’s magnetic field to control the orientation of a spacecraft. Previous missions that have flown both DC and AC magnetometers placed them on long booms pointing in opposite directions from the satellite to keep the sensors as far from the spacecraft and each other as possible. In addition, the typical magnetometer used by an ADCS to measure the orientation of the spacecraft with respect to the geomagnetic field does not sample fast enough to measure the high-frequency signals needed to make magnetic field observations.
    A NASA-sponsored team at the University of Michigan is developing a new hybrid magnetometer and attitude determination and control system (HyMag-ADCS) that is a low-SWAP single package that can be integrated into a spacecraft without booms. HyMag-ADCS consists of a three-axis search coil AC magnetometer and a three-axis Quad-Mag DC magnetometer. The Quad-Mag DC magnetometer uses machine learning to enable boomless DC magnetometery, and the hybrid search-coil AC magnetometer includes attitude determination torque rods to enable the single 1U volume (103 cm) system to perform ADCS functions as well as collect science measurements.

    The HyMag-ADCS team is incorporating the following technologies into the system to ensure success.
    Quad-Mag Hardware: The Quad-Mag DC magnetometer consists of four magneto-inductive magnetometers and a space-qualified micro-controller mounted on a single CubeSat form factor (10 x 10 cm) printed circuit board. These two types of devices are commercially available. Combining multiple sensors on a single board increases the instrument’s sensitivity by a factor of two compared to using a single sensor. In addition, the distributed sensors enable noise identification on small satellites, providing the science-grade magnetometer sensing that is key for both magnetic field measurements and attitude determination. The same type of magnetometer is part of the NASA Artemis Lunar Gateway Heliophysics Environmental and Radiation Measurement Experiment Suite (HERMES) Noisy Environment Magnetometer in a Small Integrated System (NEMISIS) magnetometer scheduled for launch in early 2027.
    Dual-use Electromagnetic Rods: The HyMag-ADCS team is using search coil electronics and torque rod electronics that were developed for other efforts in a new way. Use of these two electronics systems enables the electromagnetic rods in the HyMag-ADCS system to be used in two different ways—as torque rods for attitude determination and as search coils to make scientific measurements. The search coil electronics were designed for ground-based measurements to observe ultra-low frequency signals up to a few kHz that are generated by magnetic beacons for indoor localization. The torque rod electronics were designed for use on CubeSats and have flown on several University of Michigan CubeSats (e.g., CubeSat-investigating Atmospheric Density Response to Extreme driving [CADRE]). The HyMag-ADCS concept is to use the torque rod electronics as needed for attitude control and use the search coil electronics the rest of the time to make scientific AC magnetic field measurements.
    Machine Learning Algorithms for Spacecraft Noise Identification: Applying machine learning to these distributed sensors will autonomously remove noise generated by the spacecraft. The team is developing a powerful Unsupervised Blind Source Separation (UBSS) algorithm and a new method called Wavelet Adaptive Interference Cancellation for Underdetermined Platforms (WAIC-UP) to perform this task, and this method has already been demonstrated in simulation and the lab.
    The HyMag-ADCS system is early in its development stage, and a complete engineering design unit is under development. The project is being completed primarily with undergraduate and graduate students, providing hands-on experiential training for upcoming scientists and engineers.

    For additional details, see the entry for this project on NASA TechPort .
    Project Lead: Prof. Mark Moldwin, University of Michigan
    Sponsoring Organization: NASA Heliophysics Division’s Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science (H-TIDeS) program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County Relocates

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County Relocates

    Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County Relocates

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    – The Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County has relocated to offer in-person support to Kentucky survivors who experienced loss as the result of the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from May 16-17

    The new location for the Disaster Recovery Center in Laurel County is: Somerset Community College, Laurel Campus Building 2, Room 206, 100 University Drive, London, KY 40741 Working hours are 9 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time, Monday through Saturday and 1 – 7 p

    m

    Eastern Time, Sunday

    Disaster Recovery Centers are one-stop shops where you can get information and advice on available assistance from state, federal and community organizations

     You can get help to apply for FEMA assistance, learn the status of your FEMA application, understand the letters you get from FEMA and get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance

     FEMA is encouraging Kentuckians affected by the May tornadoes to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible

    The deadline to apply is July 23

    You can visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get in-person assistance

    No appointment is needed

    To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema

    gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362

     You don’t have to visit a center to apply for FEMA assistance

    There are other ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

    If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    For more information about Kentucky tornado recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4875

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Tue, 06/17/2025 – 13:07

    MIL OSI USA News –