NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Castor, Soto Urge Federal Investigation into Unlawful Diversion of Medicaid Funds to Hope Florida

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Darren Soto (FL-09) are urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to investigate the potentially unlawful diversion of $10 million in Medicaid funds by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the Hope Florida Foundation and Centene in a letter released today.

    Reps. Castor and Soto’s call for a Medicaid fraud investigation comes on the heels of the debate in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee over the future of Medicaid and House Republicans’ cruel proposal to kick millions of Americans off Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Republicans repeatedly claimed during the marathon Energy and Commerce debate that they were concerned about waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid. Castor and Soto now point to a concrete example of potential fraud and abuse, while urging an immediate investigation into this inappropriate diversion of taxpayer funds to an unrelated political action committee. 

    “As members of the U.S. House Committee that provides oversight of Medicaid, I can assure you that Congress is very focused on waste, fraud and abuse of Medicaid dollars. Any unlawful diversion of Medicaid dollars in Florida means that the state is less able to provide services to our neighbors who rely on Medicaid and the providers who serve them,” the lawmakers wrote.

    The lawmakers continued, “The diversion of Medicaid dollars requires immediate investigation. These are proceeds that rightfully belong to state taxpayers to serve the citizens who rely on Medicaid, including children, pregnant women, neighbors with disabilities and those served by long-term care.”

    Castor and Soto serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, and advocated for families and providers during the 26-hour Energy and Commerce Committee markup of the House Republicans’ cruel proposal to slash Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, which concluded yesterday.

    Read the full letter here and below:

    RE: Urge Investigation into Unlawful Diversion of Medicaid Funds in Florida 

    Dear Acting Inspector General Hodgkins and Administrator Oz:

    A recent bipartisan investigation by the Florida Legislature and press reports have uncovered that proceeds from a legal settlement between the State of Florida and Florida’s largest Medicaid managed care operator, Centene, were inappropriately diverted to unrelated political committees. Federal law requires that Medicaid proceeds be used solely for health services authorized by law and for the benefit of those served by Medicaid. Therefore, we respectfully request that you investigate the potential unlawful diversion of Medicaid funds by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Hope Florida Foundation and Centene. Medicaid is a federal/state partnership, and the federal government may be entitled to recoup funds from the legal settlement and improperly diverted funds as well.

    Hope Florida was established in 2021 as a referral program, operated by state employees, to direct Floridians to businesses, faith-based organizations and nonprofits for housing and social services instead of to government agencies. The Hope Florida Foundation is Hope Florida’s nonprofit arm and is subject to spending limits on lobbying and campaigns. According to its website, Hope Florida “firmly believe(s) that more government is not always the best solution to the problem. Instead, government is utilized as a meaningful connection point and then gets out of the way.” Many Florida state agencies prominently display links on their homepage to Hope Florida, directing individuals to a Hope Navigator instead of contacting a state agency, including the websites of Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida Department of Elder Affairs. AHCA administers Florida’s Medicaid program.

    On September 27, 2024, the State of Florida reached a settlement agreement with Centene relating to the overbilling of taxpayers by over $67 million. The agreement directed Centene to pay $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation through a wire transfer and pay the remaining $57 million to AHCA. The settlement also stated that “AHCA desires an expanded role for Hope Florida in the Florida Medicaid program.”  

    On October 16, two days after receiving the $10 million wire transfer, the Hope Florida Foundation wired $5 million to Secure Florida’s Future, a 501(c)4 nonprofit that proposed spending the ‘grant’ on a “long-term, targeted business partner recruitment strategy and public awareness campaign.” 

    On October 17, Secure Florida’s Future donated $2 million to Keep Florida Clean Inc., a Political Action Committee (PAC) controlled by Governor DeSantis’s then-chief of staff James Uthmeier that was created to campaign against Amendment 3, a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. Governor DeSantis strongly opposed Amendment 3. Days later, Secure Florida’s Future sent Keep Florida Clean Inc. an additional $1.75 million. 

    On October 22, the Hope Florida Foundation wired $5 million to the 501(c)4 nonprofit Save Our Society from Drugs that proposed spending the ‘grant’ on “developing and implementing strategies that directly address the substance use crisis facing our communities.” 

    On October 23, the next day, Save Our Society from Drugs donated $1.6 million to Keep Florida Clean Inc. Over the coming days, Save Our Society from Drugs donated an additional $3.15 million to Keep Florida Clean Inc. 

    While there are limited financial disclosure requirements associated with 501(c)4 organizations, records appear to show that a total of $8.5 million from the Centene settlement with AHCA went from the Hope Florida Foundation to the Amendment 3-focused Keep Florida Clean, Inc. PAC, the same PAC that also donated funding to the Republican Party of Florida and the Florida Freedom Fund. 

    The transfer of Medicaid dollars to a charitable committee and then political committees appears to run afoul of federal law, including 18 U.S.C. 1347 (to knowingly execute or attempt a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program or obtain money from it) and 18 U.S.C. 371 (for two or more people to agree to defraud the United States.), and may implicate other relevant statutes and regulations. As members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that provides oversight of Medicaid, we can assure you that Congress is very focused on waste, fraud and abuse of Medicaid dollars. Any unlawful diversion of Medicaid dollars in Florida means that the state is less able to provide services to our neighbors who rely on Medicaid and support the providers who serve them.

    Hope Florida had raised only about $2 million during its three years of existence, but in one fell swoop, received $10 million from a Medicaid settlement, which was immediately funneled through other nonprofits to a PAC directed by the Governor’s Chief of Staff. The Florida House of Representatives initiated an investigation into what State Representative Alex Andrade called a potential “conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud,” but ultimately determined that “the best avenue is probably a federal investigation because…these were Medicaid dollars.”  The diversion of Medicaid dollars requires immediate investigation. These are proceeds that rightfully belong to serve the citizens who rely on Medicaid, including children, pregnant women, neighbors with disabilities and those served by long-term care.

    Therefore, we respectfully urge you to investigate whether or not the $10 million settlement scheme violates federal law and complies with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) legal and regulatory framework and any other applicable federal laws and regulations.  

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six Illegal Aliens Charged For Brutal Murder Of South Carolina Mother in Random Attempted Robbery

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    LANCASTER, SC – Local authorities have charged six illegal aliens, between the ages of 13 and 21, with the random murder of a South Carolina mother of two, Larisha Sharell Thompson. They have also been charged with burglary and attempted armed robbery.

    The six illegal aliens allegedly pulled up alongside Thompson, fatally shot her and attempted to enter her vehicle. Not only did these individuals allegedly murder this innocent mother, but they are also accused of attempting to rob a convenience store. 

    Photo: Lancaster Sherriff’s Office

    On May 12, local authorities announced the arrests of six illegal aliens from Honduras including Asael Torres-Chirinos, Jarby Ramos-Ardon, Jeyson Salgado-Pineda, and three juveniles, ages 13, 14 and 15, for the murder of Thompson and the convenience store burglary.

    Torres-Chino was previously arrested in 2023 for domestic violence.  

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed detainers on all six criminal illegal aliens as they await criminal prosecution in South Carolina. 

    Statement Attributable to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: 

    “Larisha Sharell Thompson’s life was tragically taken by criminal illegal aliens. She was a mother who was driving to a friend’s house when her life was brutally taken by these criminal aliens who should have never been in our country. President Trump and Secretary Noem will always fight for the victims of illegal alien crime and their families. The safety of American citizens comes first.” 

    Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration. 

    If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone. Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423). 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 14th, 2025 Heinrich Votes Against Advancing Nominees for the Interior Solicitor and Energy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Electricity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted no against William Doffermyre’s nomination to be the Department of the Interior (DOI) Solicitor and Catherine Jereza’s nomination to be the Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Electricity.

    Last week, Heinrich pressed Doffermyre on the Interior Department’s failure to unfreeze federal funding that was passed into law and adhere to court rulings. Heinrich also questioned Doffermyre on his views on permitting reform and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

    Referring to his no vote on Mr. Doffermyre, Heinrich said, “I have been particularly troubled by the Acting Solicitor’s decision to summarily revoke all of the legal opinions issued by the previous Solicitor, including one issued in response to a federal court decision.”

    “Similarly, I take strong exception to the Department’s decision to stop work on the Empire Wind Project, and its intention to shorten environmental reviews to an unrealistic 90 days,” continued Heinrich. “I did not get a sense from Mr. Doffermyre that he shared my concerns and would correct these matters if confirmed.”

    On his no vote on Ms. Jereza, Heinrich said, “I am also unable to vote for Ms. Jereza because of her role in withholding funds for life-sustaining solar and battery energy projects at community healthcare centers in Puerto Rico in her current job as senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Infrastructure.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Calls On Trump White House To Honor Blue Slip Rule For U.S. Attorneys During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    May 15, 2025

    During his remarks, Durbin also questioned the legal status of Ms. Pirro’s appointment to be Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia

    WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting,

    U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the White House to work in good faith with Senators from both sides of the aisle to find U.S. Attorney candidates who will have home state support. Durbin cautioned that while this has been the case for filling some vacancies, not all Democratic Senators have been afforded the same opportunity to consult with the Trump White House.

    Durbin also noted that because of then-Senator J.D. Vance holding U.S. Attorney nominations during the Biden Administration, there is now a new precedent for roll call votes on the Floor for confirming U.S. Attorney nominees. For decades, the Senate confirmed U.S. Attorneys by voice vote or unanimous consent after they had been considered in the Judiciary Committee. That precedent changed during the Biden Administration when a Senate Republican refused to allow the Senate to confirm nearly a dozen Justice Department nominees by voice vote—the typical practice. During the first Trump Administration, all 85 of President Trump’s U.S. Attorney nominees moved through the Judiciary Committee and were confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent.

    Finally, Durbin called out President Trump’s appointment of yet another Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro. In 2007, on a bipartisan basis, Congress passed legislation requiring that after an Interim U.S. Attorney had served for 120 days, the district court would fill the position until a permanent U.S. Attorney could be confirmed by the Senate. Durbin argued that President Trump’s appointment of Ms. Pirro is contrary to Congressional intent and undermines the Senate’s constitutional advice and consent role.

    Key Quotes:

    “A blue slip gives the Senators from the state where the appointment is being made the option of approving or disapproving. We are an integral part of that decision process. I think that is important, and we have to work hard to make sure it continues.”

    “I’m sorry to say that the White House is reaching out to individual Senators in a capacity that is not consistent with the blue slip. But if we are going to hold fast to that as a principle, I urge the White House to work on a bipartisan basis to help.”

    “I also want to say that I understand that Jeanine Pirro was sworn in yesterday to serve as Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.”

    “For the record, [during] President Trump’s first term, over 80 U.S. Attorneys were appointed. No roll call votes in this Committee. No roll call votes on the Floor. They all went by voice vote.”

    “That world has changed because of the insistence of one Republican Senator…We are now required to take roll calls on each U.S. Attorney… because of former Senator and now Vice President Vance, [there is] a requirement [that] they also get a roll call vote on the floor.”

    “Now with this particular one, Jeanine Pirro, I’m concerned that this [her appointment] is not consistent with what we are trying to do. We wanted to give a President an option of an Interim U.S. Attorney while we, at the Senate level, deliberate, advise, and consent on a permanent appointment. That has been changed dramatically.”

    “Instead of 120 days, we now have a daisy chain situation where Ed Martin was [in office for] almost 120 days. He stepped aside. Jeanine Pirro comes in for her 120 days. I think that is a violation of what we were trying to achieve to give interim authority. Instead, what we have now is the possibility of repeated appointments over and over again for these interim positions.”

    “It means we, in the Senate, are giving up our constitutional authority and responsibility. That is a mistake.”

    Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Meets With Illinois NPR As Trump Administration Threatens Public Media

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    May 15, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leadership from National Public Radio (NPR) stations across Illinois to discuss the importance of continuing to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), NPR, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) after President Trump issued an executive order seeking to prohibit these programs from receiving any federal funds. 

    “As a democracy, we should pride ourselves on having freedom of the press.  Yet, the Trump Administration continues to threaten journalists and news outlets, including our public media,” said Durbin.  “NPR and PBS provide unbiased, informative news to Illinoisans, especially those who live in rural areas.  We cannot let the Trump Administration bulldoze the press, which holds our government accountable.  I will continue to fight for and protect funding and support for public media in Illinois.”

    Photos of the meeting are available here.

    Through the government funding bill passed earlier this year, CPB will receive $535 million in advanced appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. However, the Trump Administration has rescinded all funding that goes directly to NPR and PBS, including funding appropriated for FY 2025, FY 2026, and FY 2027. NPR and PBS provide educational programming for young children, unbiased and local news, especially in rural communities, and lifesaving emergency alerts during natural disasters.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 9th, 2025 Heinrich Questions Trump Nominee on the Interior Department’s Failure to Unfreeze Federal Funding & Adhere to Court Rulings, Complying with the Law, and Permitting Reform

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    VIDEO: Heinrich Questions Interior Department Nominee for Solicitor William Doffermyre

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, questioned the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor nominee, William Doffermyre, on the Interior Department’s failure to unfreeze federal funding that was passed into law and adhere to court rulings. Heinrich additionally questioned Doffermyre on his views regarding permitting reform and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

    During his opening remarks at an ENR hearing to consider Doffermyre, Heinrich stressed that the Interior Department Solicitor does not make the law but enact law. Heinrich also highlighted that a Senior Advisor to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Greg Zerzan, used his authority to suspend the legal opinions of the prior Interior Solicitor. Heinrich stressed that while departmental policies change from one administration to another, the laws do not. Heinrich also expressed his concerns that Zerzan had reinstated an earlier’ Solicitor’s opinion, which was vacated by a Federal District Court. Heinrich then directed his questions to Mr. Doffermyre on his nomination to serve as the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

    Watch a video of Heinrich’s line of questioning here.

    Heinrich opened his questions by discussing the disbursement of obligated funds, “Mr. Doffermyre, the Office of the Solicitor is responsible for making sure that the Department follows the law. However, right now, the Department continues to violate court orders with respect to frozen funds, and at some point, the excuse that these funds are quote “under review” begins to not hold water. If confirmed, will you ensure that appropriated funds are obligated and disbursed in a timely manner, in accordance with the law and in accordance with the Impoundment Control Act?”

    Doffermyre answered, “Thank you, Senator Heinrich. I have not started working at the Department of Interior yet, so I’m not familiar with what appropriated funds have or have not been spent. But as the Solicitor, my job will be to review the facts and review the law and provide my clear advice on what the law requires, and the Impoundment Control Act and other legal requirements say that you know, Congress controls the purse strings. And I will analyze them and give the advice that if the law requires that funds be obligated and spent, then the funds will be obligated and spent.”

    Heinrich then turned his line of questioning to highlight the Interior Department’s recent actions overruling decisions of a federal judge, “Last month, a Senior Advisor to the Secretary exercising the power of the Solicitor outside of the Vacancies Reform Act reinstated a legal opinion that had been vacated by a Federal District Court. The District Court vacated the prior solicitor’s opinion because the solicitor had misinterpreted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Notably, the Justice Department did not press an appeal to that court’s decision. Yet the Senior Advisor’s opinion purports to reinstate the vacated opinion in 93 of the nation’s 94 judicial districts. So I’m curious, do you believe that a Solicitor, or even an Advisor exercising the Solicitor’s authority can overrule the decision of a federal district judge?”

    Doffermyre replied, “Thank you, Senator Heinrich. the short answer is, No. I do not believe that the Solicitor can overrule a Federal District Judge. M-Opinions, what you’re referring to, is something that I’ve learned a little about. And I look forward to learning a lot more about. But they’re the highest-level legal interpretation by the Solicitor, and they are binding. Those opinions are binding on the Department of Interior. My past, as you heard, in addition to Easter Bunny and Hannah Raft guide and other things, I was a litigator for 12 years. I’ve since gone on to the private sector, but when I first learned about M-Opinions, and took, you know, turn through a few of them, I thought, wow, this is really going to hurt them. Back to my, my litigation days, they are very long, reasoned opinions. They look a lot like court opinions, and I look forward to exercising some of those skills that I learned in order to analyze the law and the facts and provide them opinions that are that are sound and, and durable, and will stand up in court.”

    Heinrich then turned to permitting reform and the necessity of meeting legal requirements throughout the process, “I want to go back for just a minute to something that the Chairman asked you about, which is complying with NEPA, with both environmental impact statements and environmental assessments in these 14 to 28 day timelines. And if you can do that and meet all the requirements of the law, I’m all for it. I think what you’ve seen in this Committee has been a bipartisan commitment to permitting reform, to getting to yes or no faster for projects. However, if you get to the end of 28 days and, and you haven’t been able to meet all the legal requirements for an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), if at that point you publish an EIS that does not meet those requirements, it creates litigation risk. That’s the opposite of shovels in the ground. So, talk to me about how you’re going to balance that. If you can get to a high-quality legal product that does not create litigation risks for the proponents in 28 days? I’m all for that, but if you haven’t checked all those boxes, at the end of 28 days, are you going to continue forward and make sure that those products actually will withstand, legal challenge?”

    Doffermyre answered, “Thank you. That’s a great question, and I do want to first say thank you very much to you and the members of this committee for the work that you’ve done on permitting reform. The Fiscal Responsibility Act, with the time limits for NEPA, as well as the work for the permitting reform bill that didn’t quite pass last year were both very, very welcome is to the industry, when it comes to…”

    Heinrich interjected to speak to his colleagues, “We could still pass that law, I would just mention to all of my colleagues. I think that would be a good idea.”

    Doffermyre continued, “But the short answer to your question is, well, I don’t know if there’s a short answer. What I will say is, it would do no good and would be counterproductive to publish a final EIS and a record of decision that did not, you know, entail the necessary hard look at what’s required by the statute. You know, you can get a permanent 28 days, but if two years’ worth of litigation results in a remand, that’s going to require six months of a new analysis that’s not doing anyone good, that’s not getting shots in the ground. So, we are completely aligned on that Senator Heinrich. Thank you.”

    Heinrich wrapped his questions, “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Banning young people from social media sounds like a silver bullet. Global evidence suggests otherwise

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jasleen Chhabra, Research Fellow, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne

    Monkey Business / Shutterstock

    Around 98% of Australian 15-year-olds use social media. Platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram are where young people connect with friends and online communities, explore and express their identities, seek information, and find support for mental health struggles.

    However, the federal government, seeking to address concerns about young people’s mental health, has committed to ban under-16s from these platforms from later this year.

    There is no doubt social media presents risks to young people. These include cyberbullying, posts related to disordered eating or self-harm, hate speech, and the basic risk of spending long hours scrolling or “doomscrolling”.

    But is banning young people really the answer? We reviewed 70 reports from experts in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada to understand what they recommend – and found broad agreement that a ban may not address the real problems.

    Humans preventing harm

    The overall verdict is that we need a much more thoughtful response than just a ban: only a coordinated approach between governments, regulators, tech companies and young people themselves will address youth mental health and online safety.

    We should be asking what we can do to make online spaces safer for young people, not jumping straight to removing them entirely.

    Content moderation is one area in need of urgent attention. Young people regularly report being exposed to harmful and age-inappropriate content on social media, while platforms replace moderation staff with cheaper AI systems.

    Automated processes have their place, but many recommendations in our review emphasised the importance of human moderators to keep up.

    Data and endless advertising

    A second issue exists around the collection and use of user data. Tech platforms have built their business model around user engagement and ad revenue.

    To keep users scrolling (and watching ads), companies collect large amounts of user data to deliver highly personalised feeds.

    Many experts advocate against the widespread collection and use of young people’s data, particularly for delivering advertising materials that promote dieting, unregulated supplements and cosmetic procedures. Posts like these often appear in an endless stream, interspersed between non-harmful and entertaining content.

    Starting with safety

    Alongside greater regulation of advertising material, many experts emphasised the need to consider “safety by design”.

    In other words, social media should be designed from the outset to prevent harming users. It may mean the end of “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling, frequent push notifications, and auto-play videos.

    Regulators also need the tools and power to hold platforms to account.

    That includes financial penalties, more transparent reporting from big tech companies, and taking proactive steps to keep harmful material off these platforms – not just taking down content after the fact.

    Age-checking tech troubles

    Our review did find a small number of reports that recommend barring young people from social media. However, experts questioned the feasibility of age verification technology and raised privacy concerns.

    The federal government has passed the buck to social media companies for actually implementing age verification of users.

    Platforms must take “reasonable steps” to restrict access by under-16s. It is unclear what these steps will be, but the prospect of facial recognition or digital ID checks raises serious privacy concerns.

    Others argue that banning under-16s from social media will drive them to less regulated online spaces, including online forums such as the notorious 4Chan, where some pages have an explicit “no rules” policy.

    It is also important to acknowledge that many young people find important support and communities on social media. Taking away social media may present risks to mental health in these circumstances.

    Listening to young people

    An age ban sounds decisive but comes with its own set of questions.

    In the absence of social media, where do young people questioning their sexual or gender identity go to find information and support? What would a ban mean for young people who engage with news on social media?

    There is little evidence about what impact a ban will have on young people, particularly those from diverse backgrounds.

    What’s more, young people have had minimal input into the policy. They have the insight to offer practical, real-world insights into what works and what does not.

    A blanket ban does nothing to make social media platforms safer for users. It might just delay problems and expose young people to an avalanche of harm when they log on at the age of 16.

    A ban brings its own risks

    The push to ban social media for under-16s is driven by genuine concerns. But unless it is a part of a broader, more thoughtful approach to online safety, it risks doing more harm than good.

    If we want a healthier digital environment, we can’t just lock out young people and hope for the best.

    Vita Pilkington receives funding from the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Margaret Cohan Research Scholarship, both awarded by the University of Melbourne.

    Zac Seidler has been awarded an NHMRC Investigator Grant. He is also the Global Director of Research with the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. He advises government on men’s health, masculinities, violence prevention and social media policy.

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

    – ref. Banning young people from social media sounds like a silver bullet. Global evidence suggests otherwise – https://theconversation.com/banning-young-people-from-social-media-sounds-like-a-silver-bullet-global-evidence-suggests-otherwise-256587

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public Invited to Appeal or Comment on Flood Maps in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Public Invited to Appeal or Comment on Flood Maps in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

    Public Invited to Appeal or Comment on Flood Maps in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

    DENTON, Texas – Preliminary flood risk information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

    Residents and business owners are encouraged to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements

    The updated maps were produced in coordination with Tribal, local, state and FEMA officials

    Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community residents can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the 90-day appeal and comment periods

    The 90-day appeal and comment period will begin on or around May 15, 2025

    Appeals and comments may be submitted through Aug

    13, 2025, for:The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the city of Antlers; the towns of Albion, Clayton and Rattan; and the unincorporated areas of Pushmataha CountyResidents may submit an appeal if they consider modeling or data used to create the map to be technically or scientifically incorrect

    An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim

    Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress

    If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information — such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary — they can submit a written comment

    The next step in the mapping process is to resolve all comments and appeals

    Once these are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps

    To review the preliminary maps or submit appeals and comments, visit your local floodplain administrator (FPA)

    A FEMA Map Specialist can identify your community FPA

    Specialists are available by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

    The preliminary maps may also be viewed online:The Flood Map Changes Viewer at http://msc

    fema

    gov/fmcv FEMA Map Service Center at http://msc

    fema

    gov/portalThe Base Level Engineering-to-FIRM Viewer at https://webapps

    usgs

    gov/fema/ble_firmFor more information about the flood maps:Use a live chat service about flood maps at floodmaps

    fema

    gov/fhm/fmx_main

    html (just click on the “Live Chat Open” icon)

    Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

    There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone

    Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting floodsmart

    gov
    toan

    nguyen
    Thu, 05/15/2025 – 14:45

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Meet the Space Ops Team: Christine Braden

    Source: NASA

    Christine Braden values new experiences that broaden her perspective; a mindset that has guided her 26-year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where she currently serves as a senior systems engineer in the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program. In her role, Braden works with engineering teams to develop commercial space stations that will prioritize the safety of astronauts while maximizing cost-effectiveness and the scientific research capabilities onboard. 
    Managed by NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, the program supports the development of commercially owned and operated space stations in low Earth orbit from which the agency, along with other customers, can purchase services and stimulate the growth of commercial activities in space. Designing and developing these space stations is the first step of NASA’s two-phase approach, enabling the agency to certify stations and procure services as one of many customers.
    With a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Braden brings a strong engineering foundation to her work. However, her role unique because it allows her to merge technical expertise with her creative instincts. 
    “My team must think outside the box to define new ways that ensure that the commercial providers’ technical integrations, requirements, development, and operations are designed to the highest degree possible,” said Braden.
    Recently, she proposed a certification and systems engineering architecture that redefines how companies will interface with NASA and each other in an evolving landscape. Braden’s hybrid approach strikes a balance, allowing companies to innovate while favoring shared assurance and accountability. It also gives NASA situational awareness of the companies’ design, tests, mission, and operational approaches. As a result of her efforts, Braden was recognized with an “On the Spot” award.

    Looking ahead, Braden envisions a world where commercial space stations are a hub for science and technology, spacecraft are more efficient, spaceflight is more accessible, humans are back on the Moon, and Mars is the next frontier. In reflecting on these agency-wide goals, Braden finds that working with passionate team members makes her day-to-day work truly special and enjoyable.
    “I am a part of a small, close-knit team that works together to make these advancements in space exploration happen for the world,” said Braden. “Working at NASA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not only defines my working life going forward but also provides me with an experience I can share with some truly amazing people.” 

    Christine Braden
    Senior Systems Engineer, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program

    Outside of work, Braden is inspired by her faith, which encourages her to see things from new perspectives and try to understand people from all walks of life. Additionally, Braden is a lifelong learner who loves listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, and reading web articles. She is eager to learn everything from music and dance to plants and animals. 
    “When I look through scientific websites where new planets and galaxies are discovered, it makes me think of ways humanity may expand itself to the stars, and ways that we can preserve the life we have here on Earth,” said Braden.
    On the topic of preservation, one of Braden’s many hobbies is antique restoration. “It reminds me of my dad and grandfather restoring homes together during my childhood and gives me hope that I can inspire my children as they watch me follow in our family’s footsteps,” said Braden. Her other hobbies include gardening and family activities such as puzzles, board games, watching television, playing video games, hunting, and traveling.
    As a driven individual known for her creativity and curiosity, Braden’s fresh ideas and spirit are key in guiding the agency’s progress into new frontiers. 
    NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate maintains a continuous human presence in space for the benefit of people on Earth. The programs within the directorate are the hub of NASA’s space exploration efforts, enabling Artemis, commercial space, science, and other agency missions through communication, launch services, research capabilities, and crew support.
    To learn more about NASA’s Space Operation Mission Directorate, visit: 
    https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/space-operations

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Spacewalk Research and Technology

    Source: NASA

    Crew members on the International Space Station periodically conduct spacewalks to perform a variety of tasks such as installing, upgrading, and repairing equipment. During a spacewalk on May 1, astronauts installed hardware to support the planned addition of a seventh roll-out solar array on the exterior of the space station. Each of these arrays produces more than 20 kilowatts of electricity and together they will increased power production by up to 30%, enabling more scientific operations on the orbiting lab.

    Some spacewalks include operations for scientific research. On January 20, 2025, crew members collected samples for ISS External Microorganisms, an investigation examining whether microorganisms have exited through station vents and can survive in space. Results could help determine changes needed in design of spacecraft (including spacesuits) to prevent human-associated microbes from contaminating Mars and other exploration destinations.

    The CSA (Canadian Space Agency) investigation EVA Radiation Monitoring, used a miniature, power-efficient wireless radiation measurement system or dosimeter worn by crew members during spacewalks. This type of device could help identify parts of the body that are exposed to the highest radiation levels during spacewalks. Results showed that this type of device is a feasible way to monitor individual dose during spacewalks. The device also has potential uses on Earth, such as monitoring radiation exposure during cancer treatments.

    Spacesuits are essentially one-person spacecraft that protect their wearers from the hazards of space, including radiation and extreme temperatures. Space station research is helping improve the suits and tools for spacewalks and activities outside spacecraft and for the exploration of the Moon and Mars.
    SpaceSkin on ExHAM, a JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) investigation, evaluated the durability of a fabric with imbedded sensors to detect damage. Sensors integrated into the exposed outermost layer of a spacesuit could detect damage such as impacts from micrometeoroids. Researchers documented factors to consider in design of textiles with sensing capabilities as well as the ability to withstand the hazards of space. Such fabrics could be integrated into spacesuits and habitats to help protect astronauts on spacewalks and future exploration missions.

    Researchers use the Materials International Space Station Experiment or MISSE facility on the exterior of the space station for experiments exposing various materials and components to the harsh environment of space. Along with solar cells, electronics, and coatings, MISSE-7 tested pristine fibers from Apollo mission spacesuits and others scratched by lunar dust to examine the combined effects of abrasion and radiation damage. Researchers report that the fabrics significantly degraded, suggesting the need for ways to prevent or mitigate radiation damage to spacesuits on extended missions to the Moon.
    MISSE-9 tested spacesuit materials treated with shear-thickening fluids. These suspensions of tiny particles in a fluid react to stress by quickly changing from a liquid to a solid. The research showed that the materials maintained their mechanical performance characteristics and puncture resistance after extended exposure.
    Keeping cool also is important on a spacewalk, where temperatures can reach 250 degrees. SERFE, or Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment, tested a technology using water evaporation to remove heat from a spacesuit so crew members and equipment remain at appropriate temperatures during spacewalks. A current cooling method, called sublimation, exposes small amounts of water to space, causing it to freeze and then turn into vapor that disperses, removing heat as it does so. The SERFE technology may be less susceptible to water contamination than sublimation.

    Crew members use specialized airlocks to exit the station for spacewalks. Airlocks also make it possible to deploy satellites and other external equipment. The Nanoracks Bishop Airlock was the first commercially owned and operated airlock installed on the space station. Its size, design, and automation enable faster and more efficient movement of materials out of and into the station, reducing the crew and robotics time needed. In addition to facilitating spacewalks, this facility could support increased commercial use of the space station and expand research capabilities.

    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cass County Residents Invited to Review Flood Maps

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Cass County Residents Invited to Review Flood Maps

    Cass County Residents Invited to Review Flood Maps

    CHICAGO — Preliminary flood risk information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review by residents and business owners in Cass County

    Property owners are encouraged to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements

    Community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the 90-day appeal and comment period

    The 90-day appeal period will begin on or around May 17, 2025

    The preliminary maps and changes from current maps may be viewed online at the FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer: msc

    fema

    gov/fmcv

    The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state, and FEMA officials

    Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments

    Contact your local floodplain administrator to do so

    Appeals must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim

    Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress

    If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information, such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary, they can submit a written comment

    The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals

    Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps

     For more information about the flood maps: Use a live chat service about flood maps at go

    usa

    gov/r6C (just click on the “Live Chat” icon during operating hours)

    Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone toll-free at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

     Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding

    Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent and visiting www

    FloodSmart

    gov

    For more information, contact the FEMA Mapping Team at FEMA-R5-MAP@fema

    dhs

    gov

     
    kimberly

    keblish
    Thu, 05/15/2025 – 12:44

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Governor Josh Stein on Proposed Cuts to SNAP

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Statement from Governor Josh Stein on Proposed Cuts to SNAP

    Statement from Governor Josh Stein on Proposed Cuts to SNAP
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein released the following statement on proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 

    “SNAP helps 1.4 million North Carolinians put food on the table. Congress’s proposed cuts are unprecedented and would make North Carolina pay up to $700 million to continue current benefits, all so that the wealthiest Americans can receive even bigger tax cuts. If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions – should North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services? I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry.” 

    Currently, the federal government covers 100% of food benefits for SNAP participants. Now, Congress has proposed shifting food benefit costs to states for the first time in the program’s history. North Carolina footing $700 million in SNAP benefits for the first time would be the equivalent of 8,900 K-12 public school teacher positions.

    Four in five families participating in SNAP in NC have either a child, a senior, or an adult with a disability in the household. Each dollar in support for paying for groceries through SNAP frees up household resources for other essential needs like rent, utilities, or child care.

    SNAP contributes nearly $2.8 billion to North Carolina’s economy, and has a multiplier effect, with every $1 invested in SNAP benefits generating between $1.50 and $1.80 for local economies. SNAP cuts would mean people have less to spend at NC’s more than 9,200 SNAP retailers, which would hurt farmers, the larger food distribution pipeline, and local economies overall, especially in rural areas and small towns.    

    SNAP is playing a vital role in supporting western North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene. The 25 western NC counties most impacted by Helene still have higher enrollment in SNAP in April 2025 than they did in September 2024 before the storm hit. Notably, immediately after the storm, SNAP received169,000 applications – the highest number of applications since Hurricane Florence in 2018.

    Last week, Governor Stein sent a letter to Congress laying out the implications for North Carolina if SNAP cuts move forward. Click here to read his letter. 

    Click here to learn more about the impact of proposed SNAP cuts on North Carolina.

    Click here to view county enrollment data for the SNAP program. 

    May 15, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: Restrictions on Large-Capacity Magazines and Assault Weapons Are Constitutional and Commonsense

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a coalition of 17 attorneys general, filed a brief in support of Illinois in Barnett v. Raoul, which is pending before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Illinois’ law bans the possession, sale, or transfer of certain assault weapons and large-capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns. California law also imposes similar restrictions on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
     
    “We do not need these dangerous weapons and firearm accessories on our streets, and their use and possession are not protected by the Second Amendment,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Assault weapons and large-capacity magazines have been used in many horrific mass shootings around the country, including right here in California. I urge the Seventh Circuit to reject this effort to invalidate these life-saving prohibitions.”
     
    In California, it has been illegal to manufacture, import, keep, or offer for sale, give, or lend large-capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition since 2000. It has been illegal to purchase and receive large-capacity magazines since 2013. Proposition 63, which was passed by Californians in 2016, added a ban on the possession of large-capacity magazines. Since 1989, California law has restricted certain makes and models of assault weapons and, since 2000, has banned assault weapons with certain specific, combat-oriented characteristics, such as a pistol grip, folding or telescoping stock, or a flash suppressor.  
     
    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New Jersey, Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington in filing the brief.

    A copy of the brief can be found here. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Will the Sun Ever Burn Out? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 60

    Source: NASA

    [embedded content]

    Will the Sun ever burn out?
    Well, the Sun, just like the stars we see at night, is a star. It’s a giant ball of super hot hydrogen.
    Gravity squeezes it in and it creates energy, which is what makes the Sun shine. Eventually, it will use up all of that hydrogen. But in the process, it’s creating helium. So it will then use the helium. And it will continue to use larger and larger elements until it can’t do this anymore.
    And when that happens, it will start to expand into a red giant about the size of the inner planets. Then it will shrink back down into a very strange star called a white dwarf — super hot, but not very bright and about the size of the Earth.
    But our Sun has a pretty long lifetime. It’s halfway through its 10-billion-year lifetime.
    So the Sun will never really burn out, but it will change and be a very, very different dim kind of star when it reaches the end of its normal life.
    [END VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]
    Full Episode List
    Full YouTube Playlist

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kentuckians in 24 More Counties Now Eligible To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Severe Storms

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Kentuckians in 24 More Counties Now Eligible To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Severe Storms

    Kentuckians in 24 More Counties Now Eligible To Apply for FEMA Assistance Following April Severe Storms

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    –Twenty-four additional counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been added to the major disaster declaration for Kentucky’s severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides and flooding that began April 2 and continuing

    Homeowners and renters with disaster damage in Breckinridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Daviess, Garrard, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Lincoln, McLean, Meade, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Powell, Trimble, Warren, and Webster counties are eligible to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program

    These counties are added to Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen and Woodford which were designated eligible April 24

    The first step to receive FEMA assistance is to apply

    The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is June 25

     How To Apply for FEMA AssistanceSurvivors in the designated counties who have disaster-caused damage or loss from the April 2 storm can apply for federal disaster assistance under the major disaster declaration DR-4864-KY in several ways:Online at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Visit any Disaster Recovery Center

    To find a center close to you, visit fema

    gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”)

    Use the FEMA mobile app

    Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    It is open 7 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    Eastern Time

    Help is available in many languages

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

     Assistance from FEMA may include grants for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as temporary housing assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs for both owners and renters, and grants for disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles, funds for moving and storage, medical, dental, childcare and other miscellaneous items

    FEMA assistance may also be provided for repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately owned access routes, such as driveways, roads or bridges

     Applicants should keep their current contact information on file with FEMA as the agency may need to schedule a home inspection or get additional information

    Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster

    The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts

    For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860 and www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

    martyce

    allenjr
    Thu, 05/15/2025 – 12:21

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 253

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    WW 253 TORNADO IL WI 152005Z – 160300Z

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 253
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    305 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Far Northern Illinois
    Central/Eastern/Southern Wisconsin

    * Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 305 PM until
    1000 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3
    inches in diameter likely
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

    SUMMARY…Thunderstorms are expected to develop along a warm front
    and move into the region over the next several hours. Environmental
    conditions support supercells capable of all severe hazards,
    including large to very large hail and tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 40 miles northeast of Wausau WI to 20
    miles south southwest of Janesville WI. For a complete depiction of
    the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
    WOU3).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 251…WW 252…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 21030.

    …Mosier

    Read more

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Legislation considered under suspension of the Rules of the House of Representatives during the week of May 19, 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives announces bills that will be considered under suspension of the rules in that chamber. Under suspension, floor debate is limited, all floor amendments are prohibited, points of order against the bill are waived, and final passage requires a two-thirds majority vote.

    At the request of the Majority Leader and the House Committee on the Budget, CBO estimates the effects of those bills on direct spending and revenues. CBO has limited time to review the legislation before consideration. Although it is possible in most cases to determine whether the legislation would affect direct spending or revenues, time may be insufficient to estimate the magnitude of those effects. If CBO has prepared estimates for similar or identical legislation, a more detailed assessment of budgetary effects, including effects on spending subject to appropriation, may be included.

    CBO’s estimates of the bills that have been posted for possible consideration under suspension of the rules during the week of May 19, 2025, include:

    • H.R. 217, CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025, as amended
    • H.R. 658, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration.
    • H.R. 1147, Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act, as amended
    • H.R. 1223, ANCHOR Act
    • H.R. 1263, Strengthening the Quad Act
    • H.R. 1286, Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act, as amended
    • H.R. 1364, ASSIST Act of 2025, as amended
    • H.R. 1453, Clean Energy Demonstration Transparency Act of 2025
    • H.R. 1578, Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025, as amended
    • H.R. 1701, Strategic Ports Reporting Act
    • H.R. 1815, VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, as amended
    • H.R. 1823, VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act, as amended
    • H.R. 1969, No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, as amended
    • H.R. 2201, Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act, as amended

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE makes significant arrest of previously removed MS-13 gang member

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 26-year-old illegal Salvadoran national Nelson Vladimir Amaya-Benitez May 12, in Gaithersburg. Amaya is a validated MS-13 gang member and has been convicted of second-degree malicious burning, rogue and vagabond, and possession of marijuana.

    “The arrest of this criminal alien MS-13 gang member is yet another stark reminder of the dangers posed when our immigration laws are not enforced. This individual, who had previously been removed from the United States, reentered illegally and repeatedly jeopardized the safety of our Maryland communities,” said ICE Baltimore acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker. “ICE Lodged five detainers — four of which were not honored — allowing him to return to the streets and reoffend time and time again. This pattern is unacceptable. We strongly encourage our local law enforcement partners to honor our detainers to ensure that dangerous individuals like this are held accountable and removed from our communities to protect the law-abiding residents we serve.”

    The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Amaya after he illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas, Feb. 3, 2016, and served him a notice to appear.

    The Irving Police Department in Texas arrested and charged Amaya with possession of marijuana Sept. 1, 2016. The Criminal District Court 2 in Dallas convicted him of possession of marijuana Sept. 21, 2016, and sentenced him to 36 days of confinement.

    The Seagoville, Texas, Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with unauthorized use of a vehicle and evading arrest Oct. 8, 2016. The 291st District Court in Dallas convicted him of unauthorized use of vehicle and evading arrest Nov. 13, 2018, and sentenced him to 90 days of confinement. ICE arrested Amaya Nov. 14, 2018.

    The Montgomery County Police Department in Rockville arrested and charged him with armed robbery May 26, 2017. On May 27, 2017, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center. The Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville convicted him of robbery June 29, 2017, and sentenced him to 10 years of confinement with all but 18 months suspended.

    A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Amaya removed from this U.S. Aug. 13, 2019. ICE removed him to El Salvador Aug. 28, 2019.

    Amaya illegally reentered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by an immigration officer.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center Aug. 18, 2022, following his arrest by Montgomery County police. The detention center declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody the same day.

    Montgomery County police arrested and charged him with theft Feb. 8, 2023. The District Court for Montgomery County in Silver Spring convicted him of theft July 7, 2023, and sentenced him to two months and 29 days of confinement but suspended his entire sentence.

    On May 13, 2023, the Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with motor vehicle theft and rogue and vagabond. The District Court for Montgomery County in Silver Spring convicted him of motor vehicle theft and rogue and vagabond Aug. 4, 2023. He received a sentenced of five years confinement with all but 18 months suspended. On the same date, the ICE lodged an immigration detainer against him with the Montgomery County Detention Center. On an unknown date, the detention center declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody.

    The Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with second-degree malicious burning May 22, 2023. The District Court for Montgomery County in Silver Spring convicted him of the charge Aug. 7, 2023, and sentenced him to 18 months of confinement. ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center Oct. 11, 2023. On an unknown date, that facility again declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody.

    The Montgomery County Police Department arrested and charged Amaya with attempted motor vehicle theft Sept. 29, 2024. On the same date, the ICE an immigration detainer on Amaya with the Montgomery County Detention Center. The Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville convicted Amaya of attempted motor vehicle theft April 4, and sentenced him to three years of confinement with two years, five months and 11 days suspended. On April 18, the Montgomery County Detention Center again declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer and released Amaya from custody.

    Amaya is currently in ICE custody.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The rebrand that went full circle: HBO Max to New HBO Max

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Omar H. Fares, Lecturer of Marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

    The HBO Max rebrand saga highlights how quickly brand equity can be undermined when recognition cues are disrupted. (Shutterstock)

    Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) recently announced the streaming app Max will revert to the name HBO Max this summer. The move comes only two years after HBO was dropped from the brand name.

    The announcement has sparked a wave of commentary of social media, including self-aware humour. HBO’s social media team posted memes from shows like Friends and Euphoria, joking that the company had finally “come home.”

    HBO Max launched in 2020, promising big-budget series alongside the Warner film catalogue. In May 2023, the service’s name was shortened to “Max” after the US$43 billion merger that created Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Many viewers and analysts questioned the loss of a label long associated with award-winning television. When WBD CEO David Zaslav announced the return to HBO Max on May 14, he argued the original three letters still carry unique weight with audiences worldwide.

    The major U-turn offers a clear lesson for marketers: when a rename threatens familiarity, consistency and clear messaging, customers will push back.

    Brand familiarity: A memory shortcut

    The HBO Max rebrand saga highlights how quickly brand equity can be undermined when recognition cues are disrupted. Although the 2023 name change aimed to reflect a broader content mix, it unintentionally distanced the platform from its most recognizable asset.

    HBO, as both a name and a legacy, had become shorthand for a specific kind of quality — one that audiences weren’t ready to see stripped away.

    Brand familiarity may be described as the ease with which consumers recognize, recall and understand a name based on prior experience. In marketing, brand familiarity is a key factor in driving consumer confidence and supporting stronger emotional ties.

    In other words, when the existing memory structures are already in place, it reduces the cognitive effort that typically results in a more favourable action. Dropping “HBO,” a label linked to award-winning dramas for decades, removed a trusted shortcut and left viewers asking whether the service had changed its focus.

    Consistency as a pillar of trust

    One of the key drivers of brand engagement is brand consistency, which is the uniform application of brand elements such as colours, logo and tone. This consistency is typically associated with trust and loyalty.

    The shift from HBO Max to Max disrupted this consistency, leading to confusion about the platform’s identity and offerings. Consumers who associated HBO with certain types of content were unsure what to expect from Max.

    To make matters even more challenging, Max not only changed its name but shifted from the purple-and-black palette of HBO Max to blue, then to silver-on-black before finally circling back. Each redesign forced viewers to get used to a new look and tone, eroding the sense of continuity that subscription services rely on.

    Keeping the audience informed

    Missteps in messaging can sink even well-researched rebrands. Communications firm Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer points out that silence during change amplifies speculation and negative assumptions.

    The quick collapse of Gap’s 2010 logo makeover offers a classic example. The retailer unveiled a new mark without preparation, then reverted within a week after a backlash.

    A direct parallel can be drawn between that episode and the confusion that followed the Max launch, where any reasoned arguments for the shorter name never reached much of the audience.

    By contrast, the 2025 reversal was accompanied by plain statements from Warner Bros. Discovery, intensive press outreach and humour that admitted the misstep which is a communication style more likely to rebuild trust.

    Lessons for marketers

    Customer research should always precede radical changes to familiar signals, because the goodwill embedded in a long-running name is not easily replicated.

    Any shift in title or visual identity must be matched by consistent deployment across every touch point, from app icons to ad copy, otherwise confusion undercuts the strategy.

    Finally, customer perceptions cannot be an afterthought. Clear, timely messages that are supported by a tone that suits the brand’s personality will help audiences understand what is changing and why it benefits them, turning potential backlash into renewed engagement.

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

    – ref. The rebrand that went full circle: HBO Max to New HBO Max – https://theconversation.com/the-rebrand-that-went-full-circle-hbo-max-to-new-hbo-max-256777

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Bera Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Establish Permanent U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA)

    U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a permanent Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. 

    Following its initial creation by the State Department in 2022, this bill would formally codify the position of U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs to ensure the role becomes a permanent fixture of U.S. foreign policy and Arctic engagement.

    Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) joined Bera in introducing the bill in the House. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

    “The Arctic is a critical region for U.S. national security, economic development and environmental preservation,” said Representative Bera. “From increased ship traffic to growing competition with Russia and China, the United States must ensure we have a strong, unified presence in the Arctic. This legislation will help us do just that by formally establishing a senior diplomat position charged with leading and coordinating America’s Arctic strategy.”

    Reporting directly to the Secretary of State, the Ambassador-at-Large would coordinate efforts across federal agencies and international partners to advance U.S. security and scientific interests, strengthen Arctic cooperation, promote sustainable development, protect the environment and empower Indigenous Arctic communities.

    “As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ve seen firsthand how Arctic issues—from melting ice caps to rising geopolitical tensions—impact both U.S. national security and global stability,” Bera added. “This Ambassador will ensure the United States leads with our values, partners with our allies and protects one of the most strategically significant regions of the world.”

    “Establishing a permanent ambassador-level position is an important step to coordinate U.S. interests in the Arctic,” said Rep. Larsen. “The position also demonstrates Congress’ bipartisan commitment to international cooperation with regional partners on Arctic policy.”

    “A strong U.S. presence in the Arctic is essential to securing our geopolitical interests and countering adversarial influence,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “As the region presents growing strategic opportunities in security, science, and development, U.S. representation ensures we remain a leading voice in shaping its future and advancing shared values with our allies.”

    You can read the full legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten, FSC Ranking Member Waters, and 39 Democratic Members Call out Top U.S. Financial Institutions for Abandoning Commitment to Address Growing Climate Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    May 15, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and 39 other Members sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officers of leading U.S. financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Northern Trust, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton Investments, State Street Global Advisors, PIMCO, and Invesco. The letter follows recent decisions by U.S. financial institutions and investment companies to abandon their previous commitments to combat climate change amidst growing political pressure from the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.

    In the letter, the lawmakers criticize the companies for withdrawing from several global coalitions of leading companies committed to combating climate change, particularly in light of our nation’s worsening climate crisis. In fact, 2024 was the hottest year on record, with natural disasters increasing in frequency and severity, causing billions in damages. The letter also highlights the past findings of key financial regulators that have repeatedly flagged climate risk as a rising threat to the economy and U.S. financial stability. For example, the Financial Stability Oversight Council identified climate risk in its 2022, 2023, and 2024 reports, urging financial institutions to manage their exposure to climate-related risks. Similarly, in 2023, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reaffirmed that climate change poses a significant risk to the stability of financial institutions and the broader economy. 

    “We write to express disappointment over your company’s decision to backtrack on its climate goals in response to political pressure and the influence of fossil fuel special interests. Your organization recently withdrew from a coalition of leading global companies committed to taking significant actions to address the serious financial threats posed by climate change. Ignoring climate change’s destabilizing effects on the economy is not an option,” wrote the lawmakers. “…It bears repeating that climate risk is financial risk, a fact acknowledged by investors, asset managers, businesses, and regulators, including many of your organizations.”

    The lawmakers also underscore the negative consequences of turning a blind eye to their climate commitments which will exacerbate financial risks and as a result, directly affect how investors allocate their funds. 

    “Financial institutions contribute to the emissions of nearly every business sector, making your organization a crucial player in limiting the average global temperature rise and seizing the economic opportunities presented by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Moreover, as top financiers of fossil fuels, a failure to address financed emissions could expose banks to long-term climate impacts, including the risk of stranded assets,” added the lawmakers.

    In closing, the lawmakers emphasize the importance of climate coalitions and commitments, and request the CEOs provide detailed answers by May 29, 2025 to a series of questions, including explanations for their reversal on climate commitments, what they are currently doing to achieve previously stated net-zero carbon emissions goals, and the nature of their correspondence with the Trump Administration.

    See the letter HERE.

    Full list of signers: Representatives: Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Jesús García (D-IL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Doris Matsui (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-GA).

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: “Siloing Innovation” Harms American Security, Entrepreneurialism

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with Dr. William Greenwalt, the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, on the wide-ranging benefits of the United States’ collaboration with allies to bolster American defense modernization. During the exchange, Senator King noted that by retreating from our European, Japanese and Australian allies, we are “squandering that asset and siloing innovation.” Dr. Greenwalt agreed with Senator King, saying that cooperation with our allies is critical to the future of innovation and shared national security.
    “Dr. Greenwalt, I was struck by what you said in your opening statement. One of our asymmetric or I think our principal asymmetric advantage in terms of national security is our allies, and yet we put them through this long, arduous process. And there should be, I think you suggested a, I don’t know whether you call it an exemption or a bobtail process or something, so that we’re not, so that we can have greater cooperation with our allies. Is that? Is that a fair interpretation of what you said,” questioned Senator King.
    “Yes, I won’t even call it an easy pass lane,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I think that’s and the other piece of this, and as I travel and meet with security people in other countries, we’re missing an innovation multiplier by not working with our allies. Countries like Japan and Australia, Europe, Germany, UK, all have brilliant scientists who are working on a lot of innovative areas. And instead of having innovation be siloed by country, it’s always occurred to me that it would be much more, as I say, a multiplier, if we could work more closely and have better cooperation with the countries that are aligned with us? Is that a fair observation,” asked Senator King.
    “I think that’s a fair observation. We’re a country of 340 million, our allies together, the EU, NATO, Japan, Korea, kick us up over to over a trillion. We were close to the Chinese population,” responded Dr. Greenwalt.
    “And we’re squandering that asset by siloing innovation,” replied Senator King.
    “The number of scientists, engineers working together would be critical in the future, and unfortunately, right now, we’re all stove pipe working on these things separately,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I do want to, I have a visual aid in terms of the process. I’m not going to burden the committee, Mr. Chairman, by submitting it for the record, but this is the foreign military sales manual, 642 pages. I mean this to me this summarizes, in many ways, the problem of the of the process itself, which has impeded our ability to work with, again, with our allies,” finished Senator King.
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Last year, Senator King urged the DoD to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies. In previous SASC hearings, he has encouraged the DoD to adopt smart spending practices when it comes to developing defense technologies, and has emphasized that “new technologies win wars.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Marshall Introduce Bill to Support Families of Victims Killed by Illegal Immigrants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Justice for Angel Families Act to allow federal funds to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs for families whose loved one has been killed by an illegal immigrant. The bill would also codify the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), originally established by President Trump in 2017 and reopened last month by the Trump Administration after the Biden Administration shuttered it. The VOICE Office provides critical services like grief counseling and case follow-ups for victims’ families. This bill would ensure the VOICE Office can never be shut down again.
    “Angel families deserve the same compensation as do angel victims. Perpetrators of crime should compensate the Angel family since the Angel victim can no longer be compensated,”said Dr. Cassidy.
    “President Trump is righting the catastrophic wrongs of the Biden-Harris Administration by restoring law and order, securing our borders, and putting an end to the lawlessness that plagued our nation for too long,”said Senator Marshall. “But for countless Angel Families, the damage is permanent – their loved ones were taken from them because of disastrous open-border policies. I urge my colleagues to join Congressman Nehls and me in delivering justice and ensuring these families receive the resources and support they deserve by passing the Justice for Angel Families Act.”
    The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).
    “Under the Biden administration’s watch our country faced record levels of illegal immigration that resulted in innocent American lives lost,”said Senator Budd. “Our nation’s Angel Families have faced unimaginable tragedies because of Joe Biden’s senseless open-border policies. Now, we must stand with them – giving them the support and justice they deserve.”
    “Families of victims murdered by illegal immigrants are forced to face unimaginable grief,”said Senator Cramer. “This bicameral bill supports Angel Families by ensuring they have the help and resources they need.”
    U.S. Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) introduced a companion version of this bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “President Trump and his administration are restoring law and order and standing up for American citizens,” said Representative Nehls. “Millions of illegal aliens flooded our country during the Biden Administration, and many of them took the lives of Americans, such as Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, and Rachel Morin. By codifying the VOICE Office, which was reopened last month by Secretary Noem, no future president can close the office again, ensuring that families that fall victim to illegal alien crimes are supported, not left behind.”
    The legislation is also supported by Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, NumbersUSA, and National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE).
    “As a nation, we spend hundreds of billions of dollars supporting illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country. Yet the victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens are left to fend for themselves at the worst times in their lives,”said Don Rosenberg, President and Treasurer of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime. “Financial compensation will never replace the loss of a loved one, but the “Justice for Angel Families Act” will at least reduce the financial burden faced by those families who have been betrayed by the failure of some in our government to uphold the rule of law.”
    “It’s a shame that our past open border policies have made it necessary and needed to pass legislation to aid Angel families who suffered loss at the hands of illegal immigrants,”said Michael Hough, Director of Federal Government Relations at NumbersUSA. “This legislation will rightfully help those families who have lost their loved ones.”
    “To support angel families – American citizens permanently separated from loved ones due to illegal alien crime – President Trump relaunched the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement (VOICE) office,”said RJ Hauman, President of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE). “Now fully operational again, VOICE is assisting thousands of angel families, connecting them to vital services like grief counseling, tracking their cases, and ensuring criminal aliens responsible for their suffering are arrested, detained, and removed. This stands in stark contrast to the previous administration, which dismantled VOICE, opened our borders, and neglected angel families while policies led to more tragic losses. With Republicans now leading Congress, angel families are no longer ignored. Congressman Nehls and Senator Marshall are championing the Justice for Angel Families Act, reaffirming that their highest duty is to American citizens. This bill honors angel families, ensures their loved ones’ deaths were not in vain, and strengthens our nation’s safety and security. NICE urges everyone to support the Justice for Angel Families Act and calls on Congress to pass it after ICE receives critical resources via reconciliation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Call on Trump Admin to Reverse Illegal Firings of Consumer Product Safety Commissioners

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    The administration fired three of the five commissioners who help protect consumers from harmful products
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with four of his Senate colleagues, called on the Trump administration to reverse the illegal firings of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officials who help protect Americans from potentially harmful products.
    “This move compromises the ability of the federal government to apply data-driven product safety rules to protect Americans nationwide, away from political influence,” wrote the senators. “We urge you to immediately reverse this order and allow the three Democratic CPSC Commissioners to continue their work to protect consumers, especially children and families, from hazardous products.”
    Congress created the CPSC to help regulate the manufacture and sale of products, ranging from children’s toys to fireworks, to protect the public from dangerous products that could lead to injury or death. Last year, the CPSC helped recall 153 million consumer products to protect kids and families from defective and harmful products.
    On May 8th, the Trump administration announced its intention to fire the CPSC’s three Democratic Commissioners, Commissioner Hoehn-Saric, Commissioner Trumka, and Commissioner Boyle, without cause. The commission is made up of five commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
    Hickenlooper currently serves the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear President Trump:
    We write to express serious concern regarding your intention to fire the three Democratic Commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This move compromises the ability of the federal government to apply data-driven product safety rules to protect Americans nationwide, away from political influence. We urge you to immediately reverse this order and allow the three Democratic CPSC Commissioners to continue their work to protect consumers, especially children and families, from hazardous products.
    Congress established the CPSC in the Consumer Product Safety Act as an independent regulatory commission composed of five bipartisan Commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Since 1972, the CPSC has regulated the manufacture and sale of products ranging from children’s toys to fireworks, working to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death. In fiscal year 2024 alone, the CPSC negotiated and implemented the recall of 153 million consumer product units and conducted more than 4,100 in-depth investigations to remove defective and potentially harmful products from shelves. For over 50 years, the CPSC’s bipartisan commissioners have carried out this critical work to ensure that Americans can feel confident about the safety and reliability of the products they use every day.
    As at other independent agencies, CPSC Commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to staggered, seven-year terms. The Consumer Product Safety Act establishes that the President may remove Commissioners only “for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office but for no other cause.” Further, the Act is explicit about the legal requirement for bipartisanship on the CPSC, mandating that “not more than three of the Commissioners shall be affiliated with the same political party.” These provisions exist to limit the Commissioners’ exposure to political influence, allowing them to focus entirely on their job of protecting American consumers.
    Despite these clear, congressionally-mandated protections, late on Thursday May 8, you announced your intention to fire the CPSC’s three Democratic Commissioners, Commissioner Hoehn-Saric, Commissioner Trumka, and Commissioner Boyle, without cause. This action degrades the ability of CPSC to establish robust product safety protections and casts doubt on its capacity to pursue recalls and investigations without being influenced by the politics of the day.
    More than ninety years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress has the authority to create bipartisan, multi-member commissions to serve the public without undue political influence. More recently, in 2020, the Court refused to rule that the President has the power to remove members of bipartisan commissions at-will. As you know, the President can lawfully exercise influence over the Commission by nominating new members and appointing the Chair. This illegal order to terminate three CPSC Commissioners without cause stands in opposition to clear legislative guidelines and nearly a century of Supreme Court precedent. It must be reversed.
    Commissioners Hoehn-Saric, Trumka, and Boyle must be allowed to continue their work at the CPSC and carry out its vital mission to protect American consumers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thirty Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Murder, Drug Trafficking, Fraud, and Firearm Charges

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Thirty Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Murder, Drug Trafficking, Fraud, and Firearm Charges

    An eight-count indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Georgia charging 30 defendants – all alleged Sex Money Murder (SMM) gang members and associates – with crimes including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and related firearm and drug trafficking crimes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Gillibrand Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Military Installations from Unauthorized Drones

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    May 15, 2025

    Cotton, Gillibrand Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Military Installations from Unauthorized Drones

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) today introduced the Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act, bipartisan legislation to enhance airspace security at military installations. 

    Senators Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Jim Moran (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and Todd Young (R-Indiana) are co-sponsoring this legislation. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania-06) and August Pfluger (Texas-11) are introducing companion legislation in the House.

    “Leaving American military facilities vulnerable to drone incursions puts our service members, the general public, and our national security at risk. Our bill will expand the Department of Defense’s authority to neutralize unauthorized drones,” said Senator Cotton. 

    “As commercial drones become more commonplace, we must ensure that they are not being used to share sensitive information with our adversaries, to conduct attacks against our service members, or otherwise pose a threat to our national security. This legislation will enable DoD to more effectively mitigate threats from drones and allow for better interagency cooperation to keep Americans safe. I am proud to be introducing this important piece of bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it passed,” said Senator Gillibrand. 

    “In recent years, there has been a disturbing increase in threats posed to U.S. military bases by unmanned aircraft systems, including from systems controlled by foreign adversaries. Despite this, our armed forces continue to tell us that they lack the authority to protect the skies over some of our most sensitive military installations,” said Rep. Houlahan. “Today’s introduction of the bipartisan COUNTER Act marks the next step towards delivering the expanded authorities our military needs to address the threats of unmanned aircraft systems and keep these facilities safe.”

    “Unauthorized drone activity near and over U.S. military installations has become a persistent and growing national security concern. In the past year alone, there were more than 350 drone detections at 100 different military installations,” said Rep. Pfluger. “This is why I am proud to help lead the bipartisan COUNTER Act, which gives our armed forces the clear authority they need to take down hostile drones and defend our most sensitive installations. As a fighter pilot with hundreds of hours in combat experience, I know firsthand how critical airspace security is — and how urgent this action has become.”

    Full text of the legislation may be found here.

    The COUNTER Act would:

    • Expand the definition of a “covered facility” as it is in current law, enabling more bases to apply for approval to detect, track, and, if necessary, neutralize drones.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Duos Technologies Group Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (“Duos” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DUOT), a provider of machine vision and artificial intelligence that analyzes fast moving vehicles, reported financial results for the first quarter (“Q1 2025”) ended March 31, 2025.

            
    First Quarter 2025 and Recent Operational Highlights

    • Recorded over $4.8 million in Services and Consulting revenue including $3.9 million for services related to the Asset Management Agreement (“AMA”) with New APR Energy.
    • Significant improvement in Gross Margin compared to the same quarter one year ago and further improvements expected in Q2.
    • Showcased the first production standalone Edge Data Center with revenues starting April 1.
    • Placed orders for 4 additional data centers for a total of 10 units so far all of which have identified locations and expect to meet goal of 15 deployed units by year end.
    • Over 2.3 million comprehensive railcar scans performed in the first quarter across 13 portals, of which more than 379,000 were unique railcars. This metric encompasses all railcars scanned at locations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, representing approximately 24% of the total freight car population in North America.
    • As of the end of the first quarter, the Company had $17.8 million of revenue in backlog plus $7.0 – $8.0 million near-term awards and renewals to be recognized during the remainder of 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
    It should be noted that the following Financial Results represent the consolidation of the Company with its subsidiaries Duos Technologies, Duos Edge AI, Inc., and Duos Energy Corporation (“Duos Energy”).

    Total revenues for Q1 2025 increased 363% to $4.95 million compared to $1.07 million in the first quarter of 2024 (“Q1 2024”). Total revenue for Q1 2025 represents an aggregate of approximately $65,000 of technology systems revenue and approximately $4,890,000 in recurring services and consulting revenue. The significant revenue increase in the first quarter, compared to the same quarter last year, was primarily driven by Duos Energy beginning to execute against the Asset Management Agreement (“AMA”) with New APR that was signed on December 31, 2024. Under the AMA, Duos Energy oversees the deployment and operations of a fleet of mobile gas turbines and related balance-of-plant inventory, providing management, sales, and operational support services to New APR. The decrease in technology systems revenues was primarily attributed to delays outside of the Company’s control with deployment of our two high-speed Railcar Inspection Portals. Although these systems remain largely ready for deployment, customer delays at the deployment site continue to prevent the Company from entering the installation phase. In spite of the timing delays that continue to impact the quarterly results, management remains confident in the long-term potential of the RIP product.

    Cost of revenues for Q1 2025 increased 273% to $3.64 million compared to $0.98 million for Q1 2024. The significant increase in cost of revenues was primarily due to supporting the AMA with New APR, where Duos Energy oversees the deployment and operations of a fleet of mobile gas turbines and related balance-of-plant inventory, providing management, sales, and operational support services to New APR. An additional contributing factor to the increase in cost of revenues on services and consulting is $548,121 in amortization expense of the intangible asset related to a nonmonetary transaction, which was not present in the corresponding period of 2024. The cost of revenues on technology systems decreased compared to the equivalent period in 2024. This reduction is primarily driven by our ability in Q1 2025 to reallocate certain fixed operating and servicing costs for technology systems to support the AMA, an allocation we could not make in the comparative period because the agreement was not yet in effect. It also reflects the ramp-down of manufacturing ahead of field installation of our two high-speed Railcar Inspection Portals, which has been further delayed and further reduced cost of revenues while we await customer readiness for site deployment.

    Gross margin for Q1 2025 increased 1,288% to $1.31 million compared to $0.09 million for Q1 2024. Gross margin improved primarily due to Duos Energy beginning performance of the AMA with New APR. This includes $904,125 in revenue recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2025, related to the Company’s 5% non-voting equity interest in the ultimate parent of New APR, which carried no associated costs and therefore contributed at a 100% margin. These revenues and the associated margin contribution were not present in the prior year period.

    Operating expenses for Q1 2025 increased 9% to $3.10 million compared to $2.86 million for Q1 2024. The increase in expenses is largely attributed to non-cash stock-based compensation charged for restricted stock granted to the executive team on January 1, 2025, under new employment agreements with a three-year cliff vesting schedule. Sales and marketing costs declined as resources were allocated to costs of service and consulting revenues in support of the AMA with New APR. Conversely, research and development expenses rose 11%, reflecting new engineering hires dedicated to supporting the AMA. The Company continues to focus on stabilizing operating expenses while meeting the increased needs of our customers.

    Net operating loss for Q1 2025 totaled $1.79 million compared to net operating loss of $2.76 million for Q1 2024. The decrease in loss from operations was primarily the result of increased revenues during the quarter, driven by revenue generated by Duos Energy through the AMA with New APR.

    Net loss for Q1 2025 totaled $2.08 million compared to net loss of $2.75 million for Q1 2024. The 24% decrease in net loss was mostly attributed to the increase in revenues generated by Duos Energy through the AMA with New APR as described above.

    Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2025 totaled $3.80 million compared to $6.27 million at December 31, 2024. In addition, the Company had over $2.68 million in receivables and contract assets for a total of approximately $6.48 million in cash and expected short-term liquidity.

    Financial Outlook
    At the end of the first quarter, the Company’s contracts in backlog represented approximately $45.4 million in revenue, of which approximately $17.4 million is expected to be recognized in calendar 2025 not including an estimated $7.0 – $8.0 million in expected near-term awards and renewals. The remaining contract backlog consists of multi-year service and software agreements, along with project revenues extending beyond 2025, related to Duos, Duos Edge AI, and Duos Energy.

    Based on these committed contracts and near-term pending orders that are already performing or scheduled to be executed throughout the course of 2025, the Company is reiterating its previously stated revenue expectations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The Company expects total revenue for 2025 to range between $28 million and $30 million, representing an increase of 285% to 312% from 2024. Duos expects this improvement in operating results to be reflected over the course of the full year in 2025.

    Management Commentary
    “I am delighted with the progress we have made in the first quarter and am very impressed at the speed at which the Duos team has adapted to the new opportunities in the Data Center and Power business,” said Chuck Ferry, Duos CEO. “While our Q1 results were anticipated, my expectation is that we will deliver growth, particularly in the second half, as the results of all our initiatives become booked revenues as indicated by the increase in backlog.”

    Conference Call
    The Company’s management will host a conference call today, May 15, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results, followed by a question-and-answer period.

    Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
    Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time)
    U.S. dial-in: 877-407-3088
    International dial-in: 201-389-0927
    Confirmation: 13753649

    Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call. An operator will register your name and organization.

    If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact DUOT@duostech.com.

    The conference call will be broadcast live via telephone and available for online replay via the investor section of the Company’s website here.

    About Duos Technologies Group, Inc.
    Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOT), based in Jacksonville, Florida, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Duos Technologies, Inc., Duos Edge AI, Inc., and Duos Energy Corporation, designs, develops, deploys and operates intelligent technology solutions for Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) applications including real-time analysis of fast-moving vehicles, Edge Data Centers and power consulting. For more information, visit www.duostech.com , www.duosedge.ai and www.duosenergycorp.com.

    Forward- Looking Statements
    This news release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s financial results and estimates and business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and typically address the Company’s expected future business and financial performance. The forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, information regarding anticipated timing for the installation, development and delivery dates of our systems; anticipated entry into additional contracts; anticipated effects of macro-economic factors (including effects relating to supply chain disruptions and inflation); timing with respect to revenue recognition; trends in the rate at which our costs increase relative to increases in our revenue; anticipated reductions in costs due to changes in the Company’s organizational structure; potential increases in revenue, including increases in recurring revenue; potential changes in gross margin (including the timing thereof); statements regarding our backlog and potential revenues deriving therefrom; and statements about future profitability and potential growth of the Company. Words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “target,” “potential” and other words and terms of similar meaning, typically identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash to continue and expand operations, the competitive environment generally and in the Company’s specific market areas, changes in technology, the availability of and the terms of financing, changes in costs and availability of goods and services, economic conditions in general and in the Company’s specific market areas, changes in federal, state and/or local government laws and regulations potentially affecting the use of the Company’s technology, changes in operating strategy or development plans and the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. The Company believes its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that the Company will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Indeed, it is likely that some of the Company’s assumptions may prove to be incorrect. The Company’s actual results and financial position may vary from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements and the variances may be material. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or other matters attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

     
    DUOS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (Unaudited)
                     
                For the Three Months Ended
                March 31,
                  2025       2024  
                     
    REVENUES:              
      Technology systems         $ 64,684     $ 269,855  
      Services and consulting           972,751       800,825  
      Services and consulting – related parties           3,914,750       –  
                     
      Total Revenues           4,952,185       1,070,680  
                     
    COST OF REVENUES:              
      Technology systems           232,264       583,437  
      Services and consulting           748,194       392,611  
      Services and consulting – related parties           2,658,068       –  
                     
      Total Cost of Revenues           3,638,526       976,048  
                     
    GROSS MARGIN           1,313,659       94,632  
                     
    OPERATING EXPENSES:              
      Sales and marketing           294,975       553,486  
      Research and development           424,431       382,142  
      General and administration           2,383,881       1,920,050  
                     
      Total Operating Expenses           3,103,287       2,855,678  
                     
    LOSS FROM OPERATIONS           (1,789,628 )     (2,761,046 )
                     
    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):              
    Interest expense           (322,577 )     (445 )
    Other income, net           32,542       9,182  
                     
      Total Other Income (Expenses), net           (290,035 )     8,737  
                     
    NET LOSS         $ (2,079,663 )   $ (2,752,309 )
                     
                     
    Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share         $ (0.18 )   $ (0.38 )
                     
                     
    Weighted Average Shares-Basic and Diluted           11,390,016       7,306,949  
                     
    DUOS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
         
                March 31,   December 31,
                  2025       2024  
                (Unaudited)    
    ASSETS        
    CURRENT ASSETS:          
      Cash       $ 3,799,281     $ 6,266,296  
      Accounts receivable, net     215,060       109,007  
      Accounts receivable, net – related parties     1,760,625       294,434  
      Contract assets       700,458       635,774  
      Inventory       520,122       605,356  
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets     468,252       176,338  
      Note receivable, net     –       –  
                     
      Total Current Assets     7,463,798       8,087,205  
                     
      Inventory – non current     196,315       196,315  
      Property and equipment, net     3,300,754       2,771,779  
      Operating lease right of use asset – Office Lease     3,937,256       4,028,397  
      Financing lease right of use asset – Edge Data Centers     1,943,547       2,019,180  
      Security deposit       500,000       500,000  
                     
    OTHER ASSETS:          
      Equity Method Investment – Sawgrass APR Holdings LLC     7,233,000       7,233,000  
      Intangible Asset, net       9,043,996       9,592,118  
      Patents and trademarks, net     133,714       127,300  
      Software development costs, net     334,960       403,383  
      Total Other Assets       16,745,670       17,355,801  
                     
    TOTAL ASSETS     $ 34,087,340     $ 34,958,677  
                     
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
                     
    CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
      Accounts payable     $ 698,518     $ 969,822  
      Notes payable – financing agreements     129,914       17,072  
      Accrued expenses       451,130       373,251  
      Operating lease obligation – Office Lease -current portion     803,536       798,556  
      Financing lease obligations – Edge Data Centers – current portion     487,695       367,451  
      Notes payable, net of discount – related parties     1,027,707       1,758,396  
      Contract liabilities, current     3,001,352       3,188,518  
      Contract liabilities, current – related parties     7,366,500       8,616,500  
                     
      Total Current Liabilities     13,966,352       16,089,566  
                     
      Contract liabilities, less current portion     6,851,513       7,399,634  
      Contract liabilities, less current portion – related parties     2,712,375       3,616,500  
      Operating lease obligation – Office Lease, less current portion     3,767,106       3,867,042  
      Financing lease obligations – Edge Data Centers, less current portion     1,638,040       1,724,604  
                     
      Total Liabilities       28,935,386       32,697,346  
                     
    Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)        
                     
    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:        
      Preferred stock: $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 authorized, 9,441,000 shares available to be designated    
      Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock, $10 stated value per share,   –       –  
      500,000 shares designated; 0 and 0 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively,
      convertible into common stock at $6.30 per share        
      Series B convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value per share,     –       –  
      15,000 shares designated; 0 and 0 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025      
      and December 31, 2024, respectively, convertible into common stock at $7 per share    
      Series C convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value per share,     –       –  
      5,000 shares designated; 0 and 0 issued        
      and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively,        
      convertible into common stock at $5.50 per share        
      Series D convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value per share,     1       1  
      4,000 shares designated; 999 and 1,299 issued        
      and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively,        
      convertible into common stock at $3.00 per share        
      Series E convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value per share,        
      30,000 shares designated; 13,500 and 13,500 issued        
      and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively,     14       14  
      convertible into common stock at $2.61 per share        
      Series F convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value per share,        
      5,000 shares designated; 0 and 0 issued        
      and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively,     –       –  
      convertible into common stock at $6.20 per share        
                     
      Common stock: $0.001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized,        
      11,655,229 and 8,922,576 shares issued, 11,653,905 and 8,921,252       11,654       8,921  
      shares outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively        
      Additional paid-in-capital     81,745,409       76,777,856  
      Accumulated deficit     (76,447,672 )     (74,368,009 )
      Sub-total       5,309,406       2,418,783  
      Less: Treasury stock (1,324 shares of common stock        
      at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024)       (157,452 )     (157,452 )
    Total Stockholders’ Equity     5,151,954       2,261,331  
                     
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 34,087,340     $ 34,958,677  
                     
    DUOS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
     (Unaudited)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31,
        2025       2024  
           
    Cash from operating activities:      
    Net loss $ (2,079,663 )   $ (2,752,309 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   712,388       158,208  
    Inventory write-off   25,000       –  
    Stock based compensation   995,647       159,320  
    Stock issued for services   50,000       37,500  
    Amortization of debt discount related to warrant liabilities   269,311       –  
    Amortization of operating lease right of use asset – Office Lease   91,142       83,348  
    Amortization of lease right of use asset – Edge Data Centers   75,633       –  
    Changes in assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable   (106,053 )     866,373  
    Accounts receivable-related parties   (1,466,191 )     –  
    Note receivable   –       (1,875 )
    Contract assets   (64,684 )     (270,099 )
    Inventory   10,624       23,828  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (42,467 )     57,944  
    Accounts payable   (271,304 )     (415,718 )
    Accrued expenses   77,879       76,370  
    Operating lease obligation – Office Lease   (94,956 )     (82,306 )
    Lease obligations – Edge Data Centers   33,680       –  
    Contract liabilities   (2,889,411 )     26,697  
           
    Net cash used in operating activities   (4,673,425 )     (2,032,719 )
           
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Purchase of patents/trademarks   (9,264 )     (980 )
    Purchase of fixed assets   (572,359 )     (8,830 )
           
    Net cash used in investing activities   (581,623 )     (9,810 )
           
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Repayments on financing agreements   (136,606 )     (130,535 )
    Repayments of notes payable, related parties   (1,000,000 )     –  
    Proceeds from common stock issued   3,954,940       –  
    Proceeds from excercise of stock options   107,925       –  
    Stock issuance cost   (138,226 )     (36,188 )
    Proceeds from preferred stock issued   –       2,745,002  
           
    Net cash provided by financing activities   2,788,033       2,578,279  
           
    Net increase (decrease) in cash   (2,467,015 )     535,750  
    Cash, beginning of period   6,266,296       2,441,842  
    Cash, end of period $ 3,799,281     $ 2,977,592  
           
    Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:      
    Interest paid $ 3,865     $ –  
    Taxes paid $ 15,945     $ –  
           
    Supplemental Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:      
    Notes issued for financing of insurance premiums $ 249,448     $ 272,322  
    Transfer of inventory to fixed assets $ 49,609     $ –  
           
     

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b5abe56-f21b-4ee5-9a09-7f9852d9bd2b

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Caliber Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Caliber (NASDAQ: CWD; “CaliberCos Inc.”), a real estate investor, developer, and asset manager, today reported results for the first quarter ended on March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Platform Financial Highlights (compared to First Quarter 2024)

    • Platform revenue of $3.5 million, compared to $4.7 million
      • Asset management revenue of $3.5 million drove the stated results
      • No significant performance allocations were earned, compared to prior period
    • Platform net loss of $4.1 million, or $3.59 per diluted share, compared to Platform net loss of $3.6 million, or $3.30 per diluted share
    • Platform Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.4 million, compared to Platform Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.7 million

    Management Commentary

    “Building on the narrowed strategy we outlined earlier this year, Caliber is now actively executing with a focus in hospitality, multifamily, and multi-tenant industrial real estate,” said Chris Loeffler, CEO of Caliber. “While our Q1 results reflect some of the transitional costs associated with this shift, our recent business developments set the stage for success.

    “Our recently announced partnership with Hyatt is a tremendous win for Caliber. The announcement is also a vote of confidence from an industry leader that provides a strategic advantage in building our Caliber Hospitality portfolio.

    “Our strategy is to continue focusing on fee-generating, income-producing assets while reducing our exposure to long-duration development projects. We have also strengthened our liquidity through new equity offerings, strengthened our balance sheet through financing, and improved our operating efficiency.”

    Business Update

    The following are key milestones completed both during and subsequent to the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    • On March 17, 2025, Caliber announced an offering of Series AA Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock had been qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and that the Company is seeking to raise up to $20 million through the offering.
    • On March 27, 2025, Caliber announced the launch of its 1031 Exchange Program, a tax-deferral strategy that allows real estate investors to sell a property and reinvest all of the proceeds into a like-kind property while deferring capital gains taxes.
    • On April 22, 2025, Caliber announced the recent Phoenix City Council’s unanimous approval of the Company’s Canyon Village redevelopment project, a retrofit of a distressed +300,000 square foot office building to a 376-unit rental multifamily residential building. The project also benefits from opportunity zone tax incentives.
    • On May 8, 2025, Caliber announced that Caliber Hospitality Development (“CHD”) has entered into a Development Rights Agreement with an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) to exclusively develop 15 new Hyatt Studios hotels in target market areas within Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Louisiana.
    • On May 9, 2025, Caliber announced it closed a $22.5 million refinance on the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Tuscon, AZ, which is a holding of a Caliber-managed opportunity zone fund. The new $22.5 million loan was refinanced with a unit of Citibank at a fixed rate of 7.43% maturing in June 2030. Proceeds will be utilized for reinvestment across the Fund’s portfolio.

    First Quarter 2025 Consolidated Financial Results (compared to First Quarter 2024)

    • Total consolidated revenue of $7.3 million, compared to $23.0 million reflecting the deconsolidation of Caliber Hospitality Trust, Caliber Hospitality, LP, Elliot, DT Mesa, and Caliber Fixed Income Fund III, LLC (“CFIF III”) in 2024.
    • Consolidated net loss attributable to Caliber of $4.4 million, or $3.85 per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to Caliber of $3.8 million or $3.53 per diluted share
    • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.1 million, compared to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $2.2 million

    Conference Call Information

    Caliber will host a conference call today, Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its first quarter 2025 financial results and business outlook. To access this call, dial 1-800-717-1738 (domestic) or 1-646-307-1865 (international). A live webcast of the conference call will be available via the investor relations section of Caliber’s website under “Financial Results.” The webcast replay of the conference call will be available on Caliber’s website shortly after the call concludes.

    Platform Financial Highlights

    Within this earnings release, we refer to performance results of the ‘Platform’. Platform refers to the performance of CWD itself, excluding the performance of any assets and funds that are included in our consolidated results, as required by the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Management believes that Platform performance offers the most meaningful information needed to understand the value of CWD. The assets and funds that are consolidated into our GAAP presentation are included because Caliber is a guarantor of debt held by these assets and funds.

    While GAAP consolidation rules require CWD to include the performance and cash flows of these assets and funds in our consolidated financial information, CWD does not benefit from the performance of those assets and funds, except to the extent that CWD earns fees from managing the assets and funds (which are included in the Platform results). Management believes presenting Platform results, which exclude consolidated assets, directly shows the business performance that CWD stockholders benefit from.

    Consolidated Financial Results

    Caliber’s GAAP consolidated financial statements have been impacted by the deconsolidation of certain variable interest entities’ assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. These entities were deconsolidated because Caliber was no longer a guarantor on the respective entities’ third-party debt. Caliber’s GAAP financial metrics are impacted by the timing of deconsolidation. As such, prior periods presented may not be comparable due to the deconsolidation of certain entities in the current period.

    About Caliber (CaliberCos Inc.) (NASDAQ: CWD)

    With more than $2.9 billion of managed assets, including estimated costs to complete assets under development, Caliber’s 15-year track record of managing and developing real estate is built on a singular goal: make money in all market conditions. Our growth is fueled by our performance and our competitive advantage: we invest in projects, strategies, and geographies that global real estate institutions do not. Integral to our competitive advantage is our in-house shared services group, which offers Caliber greater control over our real estate and visibility to future investment opportunities. There are multiple ways to participate in Caliber’s success: invest in Nasdaq-listed CaliberCos Inc. and/or invest directly in our Private Funds.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to adequately grow cumulative fundraising, AUM and annualized platform revenue to meet 2026 targeted goals, and the viability of and ability of the Company to adequately access the real estate and capital markets. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the final prospectus related to the Company’s public offering filed with the SEC and other reports filed with the SEC thereafter. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    CONTACTS:

    Caliber Investor Relations:
    Ilya Grozovsky
    +1 480-214-1915
    Ilya@caliberco.com

    NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS

    The following information reconciles the performance of the Platform to the consolidated GAAP presentation. Management believes that the Platform view of Caliber’s performance is more meaningful to a CWD shareholder as it includes all revenues and expenses generated by Caliber and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

    ASSET MANAGEMENT PLATFORM(1)
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) (UNAUDITED)
     
      Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
      Platform   Impact of Consolidated Fund and Eliminations   Consolidated
    Revenues          
    Asset management $ 3,542     $ (346 )   $ 3,196  
    Performance allocations   7       (6 )     1  
    Consolidated funds – hospitality revenue   —       3,919       3,919  
    Consolidated funds – other revenue   —       145       145  
    Total revenues   3,549       3,712       7,261  
    Expenses          
    Operating costs   4,168       (124 )     4,044  
    General and administrative   1,592       (11 )     1,581  
    Marketing and advertising   165       —       165  
    Depreciation and amortization   162       (5 )     157  
    Consolidated funds – hospitality expenses   —       3,465       3,465  
    Consolidated funds – other expenses   —       458       458  
    Total expenses   6,087       3,783       9,870  
               
    Other income (loss), net   6       (372 )     (366 )
    Interest income   33       (1 )     32  
    Interest expense   (1,611 )     —       (1,611 )
    Net loss before income taxes $ (4,110 )   $ (444 )   $ (4,554 )
    Provision for income taxes   —       —       —  
    Net loss   (4,110 )     (444 )     (4,554 )
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   —       (147 )     (147 )
    Net (loss) income attributable to CaliberCos Inc. $ (4,110 )   $ (297 )   $ (4,407 )
    Basic and Diluted Platform loss per share $ (3.59 )       $ (3.85 )
    Weighted average common shares outstanding:          
    Basic and Diluted   1,146           1,146  
                       
      Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
      Platform   Impact of Consolidated Fund and Eliminations   Consolidated
    Revenues          
    Asset management $ 4,555     $ (1,385 )   $ 3,170  
    Performance allocations   171       (5 )     166  
    Consolidated funds – hospitality revenue   —       18,145       18,145  
    Consolidated funds – other revenue   —       1,470       1,470  
    Total revenues   4,726       18,225       22,951  
    Expenses          
    Operating costs   5,484       (222 )     5,262  
    General and administrative   1,949       (9 )     1,940  
    Marketing and advertising   106       —       106  
    Depreciation and amortization   183       (37 )     146  
    Consolidated funds – hospitality expenses   —       16,782       16,782  
    Consolidated funds – other expenses   —       3,072       3,072  
    Total expenses   7,722       19,586       27,308  
               
    Other income (loss), net   452       (180 )     272  
    Interest income   285       (168 )     117  
    Interest expense   (1,295 )     1       (1,294 )
    Net loss before income taxes $ (3,554 )   $ (1,708 )   $ (5,262 )
    Provision for income taxes   —       —       —  
    Net loss   (3,554 )     (1,708 )     (5,262 )
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   —       (1,457 )     (1,457 )
    Net loss attributable to CaliberCos Inc. $ (3,554 )   $ (251 )   $ (3,805 )
    Basic and Diluted Platform loss per share $ (3.30 )       $ (3.53 )
    Weighted average common shares outstanding:          
    Basic and diluted   1,077           1,077  

    ____________________

    (1) Represents the results of our asset management platform, which are presented on a basis that deconsolidates our consolidated funds (intercompany eliminations) and eliminate noncontrolling interest.
       
     
    PLATFORM REVENUE(1)
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED)    		  
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025     2024
    Fund management fees   2,744     2,569
    Financing fees   74     73
    Development and construction fees   528     1,654
    Brokerage fees   196     259
    Total asset management   3,542     4,555
    Performance allocations   7     171
    Total revenue $ 3,549   $ 4,726

    ____________________

    (1) Represents the results of our asset management platform, which are presented on a basis that deconsolidates our consolidated funds (intercompany eliminations) and eliminates noncontrolling interest.
       

    FV AUM and Managed Capital (UNAUDITED)

    The following information summarizes management’s estimates of fair value related to the entire portfolio of investments that Caliber manages and the total amount of capital that is being managed across the portfolio. The fair value of our AUM conveys an indication of the overall health of our investments and potentially how much performance allocation Caliber would earn if those assets were sold. Managed Capital is used to evaluate, among other things, the amount of asset management fees we generate from the portfolio.

    FV AUM
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED)
           
    Balances as of December 31, 2024 $ 794,923  
    Assets acquired(1)   10,300  
    Construction and net market appreciation   25,800  
    Credit(2)   379  
    Other(3)   (644 )
    Balances as of March 31, 2025 $ 830,758  
           
    FV AUM, by asset class
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED)
           
      March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Real Estate      
    Hospitality $ 68,400   $ 68,500
    Caliber Hospitality Trust   244,900     236,800
    Residential   173,100     161,700
    Commercial   266,300     249,600
    Total Real Estate   752,700     716,600
    Credit(1)   72,730     72,351
    Other(2)   5,328     5,972
    Total $ 830,758   $ 794,923

    ____________________

    (1) Credit FV AUM represents loans made to Caliber’s investment funds by our diversified credit fund.
    (2) Other FV AUM represents undeployed capital held in our diversified funds.
       
    MANAGED CAPITAL
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED)
               
    Balance as of December 31, 2024     $ 492,542  
    Originations       2,990  
    Return of capital       (315 )
    Balance as of March 31, 2025     $ 495,217  
           
           
      March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Real Estate      
    Hospitality $ 49,260   $ 49,260  
    Caliber Hospitality Trust(1)   97,157     97,414  
    Residential   98,617     96,687  
    Commercial   172,125     170,858  
    Total Real Estate(2)   417,159     414,219  
    Credit(3)   72,730     72,351  
    Other(4)   5,328     5,972  
    Total $ 495,217   $ 492,542  

    ____________________

    (1) The Company earns a fund management fee of 0.70% of the Caliber Hospitality Trust’s enterprise value and is reimbursed for certain costs incurred on behalf of the Caliber Hospitality Trust.
    (2) Beginning during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company includes capital raised from investors in CaliberCos Inc. through corporate note issuances that was further invested in our funds in Managed Capital. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had invested $15.9 million and $20.4 million, respectively, in our funds.
    (3) Credit managed capital represents loans made to Caliber’s investment funds by the Company and our diversified funds. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had loaned $0.4 million to our funds.
    (4) Other managed capital represents unemployed capital held in our diversified funds.
       

    Consolidated GAAP Results

    The following information presents our consolidated GAAP results which includes the performance of certain entities we manage where Caliber is the guarantor of debt owed by those entities, despite not having significant equity at risk. As a result of these guarantor commitments, Caliber is required under GAAP to include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of those entities even though a shareholder of CWD stock is neither entitled to nor exposed by those entities’ benefits or obligations. This accounting outcome also removes revenues that we earn from those entities, which a shareholder of CWD stock would be entitled to. See discussion elsewhere related to CWD’s Platform performance.

    CALIBERCOS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
       
      Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
      (unaudited)
    Revenues      
    Asset management revenues $ 3,196     $ 3,170  
    Performance allocations   1       166  
    Consolidated funds – hospitality revenues   3,919       18,145  
    Consolidated funds – other revenues   145       1,470  
    Total revenues   7,261       22,951  
           
    Expenses      
    Operating costs   4,044       5,262  
    General and administrative   1,581       1,940  
    Marketing and advertising   165       106  
    Depreciation and amortization   157       146  
    Consolidated funds – hospitality expenses   3,465       16,782  
    Consolidated funds – other expenses   458       3,072  
    Total expenses   9,870       27,308  
           
    Other (loss) income, net   (366 )     272  
    Interest income   32       117  
    Interest expense   (1,611 )     (1,294 )
    Net loss before income taxes   (4,554 )     (5,262 )
    Benefit from income taxes   —       —  
    Net loss   (4,554 )     (5,262 )
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   (147 )     (1,457 )
    Net loss attributable to CaliberCos Inc. $ (4,407 )   $ (3,805 )
    Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders $ (3.85 )   $ (3.53 )
    Weighted average common shares outstanding:      
    Basic and diluted   1,146       1,077  
                   
    CALIBERCOS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
           
      March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
      (unaudited)    
    Assets      
    Cash $ 845   $ 1,766
    Restricted cash   2,518     2,582
    Real estate investments, net   21,514     21,572
    Notes receivable – related parties, allowance of $236 and zero, respectively   385     105
    Due from related parties, allowance of $3,985   7,366     6,965
    Investments in unconsolidated entities   15,523     15,643
    Operating lease – right of use assets   135     147
    Prepaid and other assets   2,664     3,501
    Assets of consolidated funds      
    Cash   723     549
    Restricted cash   274     —
    Real estate investments, net   44,102     45,090
    Accounts receivable, net   181     163
    Notes receivable – related parties   6,475     6,848
    Due from related parties, allowance of $28   514     320
    Prepaid and other assets   424     284
    Total assets $ 103,643   $ 105,535
           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
    Notes payable $ 51,555   $ 50,450
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   9,421     9,532
    Due to related parties   443     313
    Operating lease liabilities   86     93
    Other liabilities   1,317     750
    Liabilities of consolidated funds      
    Notes payable, net   29,444     29,172
    Notes payable – related parties   2,114     2,047
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   1,123     1,207
    Due to related parties   16     79
    Other liabilities   766     639
    Total liabilities   96,285     94,282
           
    Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)      
           
    CALIBERCOS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
           
      March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Series A non-cumulative convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 22,500,000 shares authorized, and 5,875 and 5,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   —       —  
    Common stock Class A, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 795,285 and 759,370 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   1       1  
    Common stock Class B, $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, 370,822 shares issued and outstanding as March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024   —       —  
    Paid-in capital   45,205       44,017  
    Accumulated deficit   (61,014 )     (56,607 )
    Stockholders’ deficit attributable to CaliberCos Inc.   (15,808 )     (12,589 )
    Stockholders’ equity attributable to noncontrolling interests   23,166       23,842  
    Total stockholders’ equity   7,358       11,253  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 103,643     $ 105,535  
                   

    Definitions

    Assets Under Management

    AUM refers to the assets we manage or sponsor. We monitor two types of information with regard to our AUM:

    1. Managed Capital – we define this as the total capital we fundraise from our customers as investments in our funds. It also includes fundraising into our corporate note program, the proceeds of which were used, in part, to invest in or loan to our funds. We use this information to monitor, among other things, the amount of ‘preferred return’ that would be paid at the time of a distribution and the potential to earn a performance fee over and above the preferred return at the time of the distribution. Our fund management fees are based on a percentage of managed capital or a percentage of assets under management, and monitoring the change and composition of managed capital provides relevant data points for Caliber management to further calculate and predict future earnings.
    2. Fair Value (“FV”) AUM – we define this is as the aggregate fair value of the real estate assets we manage and from which we derive management fees, performance revenues and other fees and expense reimbursements. We estimate the value of these assets quarterly to help make sale and hold decisions and to evaluate whether an existing asset would benefit from refinancing or recapitalization. This also gives us insight into the value of our carried interest at any point in time. We also utilize FV AUM to predict the percentage of our portfolio which may need development services in a given year, fund management services (such as refinance), and brokerage services. As we control the decision to hire for these services, our service income is generally predictable based upon our current portfolio AUM and our expectations for AUM growth in the year forecasted.

    Non-GAAP Measures

    We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate operating performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections, make strategic decisions, and for other discretionary purposes. We believe that these measures enhance the understanding of ongoing operations and comparability of current results to prior periods and may be useful for investors to analyze our financial performance because they provide investors a view of the performance attributable to CaliberCos Inc. When analyzing our operating performance, investors should use these measures in addition to, and not as an alternative for, their most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our presentation of non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly identified measures of other companies because not all companies use the same calculations. These measures may also differ from the amounts calculated under similarly titled definitions in our debt instruments, which amounts are further adjusted to reflect certain other cash and non-cash charges and are used by us to determine compliance with financial covenants therein and our ability to engage in certain activities, such as incurring additional debt and making certain restricted payments.

    Asset Management Platform or Platform

    Platform refers to the performance of the Caliber asset management platform, which generates revenues and expenses from managing our investment portfolio, which does not include any consolidated assets or funds. These activities include asset management, transaction services, and performance allocations. Management believes that this is an important view of the Company because it communicates performance of the Company that would be most useful for understanding the value of CWD.

    Fee-Related Earnings and Related Components

    Fee-Related Earnings is a supplemental non-GAAP performance measure used to assess our ability to generate profits from fee-based revenues, focusing on whether our core revenue streams, are sufficient to cover our core operating expenses. Fee- Related Earnings represents the Company’s net income (loss) before income taxes adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, interest expense and extraordinary or non-recurring revenue and expenses, including performance allocation revenue and gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, public registration direct costs related to aborted or delayed offerings and our Reg A+ offering, the share repurchase costs related to the Company’s Buyback Program, litigation settlements, and expenses recorded to earnings relating to investment deals which were abandoned or closed. Fee-Related Earnings is presented on a basis that deconsolidates our consolidated funds (intercompany eliminations) and eliminates noncontrolling interest. Eliminating the impact of consolidated funds and noncontrolling interest provides investors a view of the performance attributable to CaliberCos Inc. and is consistent with performance models and analysis used by management.

    Distributable Earnings

    Distributable Earnings is a supplemental non-GAAP performance measure equal to Fee-Related Earnings plus performance allocation revenue and less interest expenses and provision for income taxes. We believe that Distributable Earnings can be useful as a supplemental performance measure to our GAAP results assessing the amount of earnings available for distribution.

    Platform Earnings

    Platform Earnings represents the performance of the Caliber asset management platform, which generates revenues and expenses from managing our investment portfolio, excluding any consolidated assets or funds.

    Platform Earnings per Share

    Platform Earnings per Share is calculated as Platform Earnings divided by weighted average CWD common shares outstanding.

    Platform Adjusted EBITDA

    Platform Adjusted EBITDA represents the Company’s Distributable Earnings adjusted for interest expense, the share repurchase costs related to the Company’s Buyback Program, other income (expense), and provision for income taxes on a basis that deconsolidates our consolidated funds (intercompany eliminations), Loss on CRAF Investment Redemption, Gain on extinguishment of Payroll Protection Program loans, and eliminates noncontrolling interest. Eliminating the impact of consolidated funds and noncontrolling interest provides investors a view of the performance attributable to the CaliberCos Inc. Platform and is consistent with performance models and analysis used by management.

    Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

    Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA represents the Company’s and the consolidated funds’ earnings before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, transaction fees, expenses and other public registration direct costs related to aborted or delayed offerings and our Reg A+ offering, the share repurchase costs related to the Company’s Buyback Program, litigation settlements, expenses recorded to earnings relating to investment deals which were abandoned or closed, any other non-cash expenses or losses, as further adjusted for extraordinary or non-recurring items.

    NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED)
       
      Three Months Ended March 31,
      2025       2024  
    Net loss attributable to CaliberCos Inc. $ (4,407 )   $ (3,805 )
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   (147 )     (1,457 )
    Net loss   (4,554 )     (5,262 )
    Provision for income taxes   —       —  
    Net loss before income taxes   (4,554 )     (5,262 )
    Depreciation and amortization   162       183  
    Consolidated funds’ impact on fee-related earnings   71       1,361  
    Stock-based compensation   661       400  
    Severance   51       7  
    Performance allocations   (1 )     (166 )
    Other income, net   366       (272 )
    Investments impairment   279       —  
    Bad debt expense   3       —  
    Interest expense, net   1,578       1,010  
    Fee-related earnings   (1,384 )     (2,739 )
    Performance allocations   1       166  
    Interest expense, net   (1,578 )     (1,010 )
    Provision for income taxes   —       —  
    Distributable earnings   (2,961 )     (3,583 )
    Interest expense   1,611       1,294  
    Other income, net   (366 )     272  
    Provision for income taxes   —       —  
    Consolidated funds’ impact on Platform adjusted EBITDA   364       348  
    Platform adjusted EBITDA   (1,352 )     (1,669 )
    Consolidated funds’ EBITDA adjustments   1,210       3,856  
    Consolidated adjusted EBITDA $ (142 )   $ 2,187  
                   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Satellite Images Could Provide Early Volcano Warnings 

    Source: NASA

    Scientists know that changing tree leaves can indicate when a nearby volcano is becoming more active and might erupt. In a new collaboration between NASA and the Smithsonian Institution, scientists now believe they can detect these changes from space.
    As volcanic magma ascends through the Earth’s crust, it releases carbon dioxide and other gases which rise to the surface. Trees that take up the carbon dioxide become greener and more lush. These changes are visible in images from NASA satellites such as Landsat 8, along with airborne instruments flown as part of the Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean (AVUELO).
    Ten percent of the world’s population lives in areas susceptible to volcanic hazards. People who live or work within a few miles of an eruption face dangers that include ejected rock, dust, and surges of hot, toxic gases. Further away, people and property are susceptible to mudslides, ashfalls, and tsunamis that can follow volcanic blasts. There’s no way to prevent volcanic eruptions, which makes the early signs of volcanic activity crucial for public safety. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA’s Landsat mission partner, the United States is one of the world’s most volcanically active countries.

    When magma rises underground before an eruption, it releases gases, including carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. The sulfur compounds are readily detectable from orbit. But the volcanic carbon dioxide emissions that precede sulfur dioxide emissions – and provide one of the earliest indications that a volcano is no longer dormant – are difficult to distinguish from space. 
    The remote detection of carbon dioxide greening of vegetation potentially gives scientists another tool — along with seismic waves and changes in ground height—to get a clear idea of what’s going on underneath the volcano. “Volcano early warning systems exist,” said volcanologist Florian Schwandner, chief of the Earth Science Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, who had teamed up with Fisher and Bogue a decade ago. “The aim here is to make them better and make them earlier.”
    “Volcanoes emit a lot of carbon dioxide,” said volcanologist Robert Bogue of McGill University in Montreal, but there’s so much existing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that it’s often hard to measure the volcanic carbon dioxide specifically. While major eruptions can expel enough carbon dioxide to be measurable from space with sensors like NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2, detecting these much fainter advanced warning signals has remained elusive.  “A volcano emitting the modest amounts of carbon dioxide that might presage an eruption isn’t going to show up in satellite imagery,” he added.

    Because of this, scientists must trek to volcanoes to measure carbon dioxide directly. However, many of the roughly 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide are in remote locations or challenging mountainous terrain. That makes monitoring carbon dioxide at these sites labor-intensive, expensive, and sometimes dangerous. 
    Volcanologists like Bogue have joined forces with botanists and climate scientists to look at trees to monitor volcanic activity. “The whole idea is to find something that we could measure instead of carbon dioxide directly,” Bogue said, “to give us a proxy to detect changes in volcano emissions.”
    “There are plenty of satellites we can use to do this kind of analysis,” said volcanologist Nicole Guinn of the University of Houston. She has compared images collected with Landsat 8, NASA’s Terra satellite, ESA’s (European Space Agency) Sentinel-2, and other Earth-observing satellites to monitor trees around the Mount Etna volcano on the coast of Sicily. Guinn’s study is the first to show a strong correlation between tree leaf color and magma-generated carbon dioxide.
    Confirming accuracy on the ground that validates the satellite imagery is a challenge that climate scientist Josh Fisher of Chapman University is tackling with surveys of trees around volcanoes. During the March 2025 Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean mission with NASA and the Smithsonian Institution scientists deployed a spectrometer on a research plane to analyze the colors of plant life in Panama and Costa Rica.

    Fisher directed a group of investigators who collected leaf samples from trees near the active Rincon de la Vieja volcano in Costa Rica while also measuring carbon dioxide levels. “Our research is a two-way interdisciplinary intersection between ecology and volcanology,” Fisher said. “We’re interested not only in tree responses to volcanic carbon dioxide as an early warning of eruption, but also in how much the trees are able to take up, as a window into the future of the Earth when all of Earth’s trees are exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide.”
    Relying on trees as proxies for volcanic carbon dioxide has its limitations. Many volcanoes feature climates that don’t support enough trees for satellites to image. In some forested environments, trees that respond differently to changing carbon dioxide levels. And fires, changing weather conditions, and plant diseases can complicate the interpretation of satellite data on volcanic gases.

    Still, Schwandner has witnessed the potential benefits of volcanic carbon dioxide observations first-hand. He led a team that upgraded the monitoring network at Mayon volcano in the Philippines to include carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide sensors. In December 2017, government researchers in the Philippines used this system to detect signs of an impending eruption and advocated for mass evacuations of the area around the volcano. Over 56,000 people were safely evacuated before a massive eruption began on January 23, 2018. As a result of the early warnings, there were no casualties.
    Using satellites to monitor trees around volcanoes would give scientists earlier insights into more volcanoes and offer earlier warnings of future eruptions. “There’s not one signal from volcanoes that’s a silver bullet,” Schwandner said. “And tracking the effects of volcanic carbon dioxide on trees will not be a silver bullet. But it will be something that could change the game.”
    By James RiordonNASA’s Earth Science News Team
    Media contact: Elizabeth VlockNASA Headquarters

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Let’s Bake a Cosmic Cake!

    Source: NASA

    To celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman — NASA’s first chief astronomer and the namesake for the agency’s nearly complete Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope — we’re baking a birthday cake! This isn’t your ordinary birthday treat — this cosmic cake represents the contents of our universe and everything the Roman telescope will uncover.

    The outside of our cosmic cake depicts the sky as we see it from Earth—inky black and dotted with sparkling stars. The inside represents the universe as Roman will see it. This three-layer cake charts the mysterious contents of our universe — mostly dark energy, then dark matter, and finally just five percent normal matter. As you cut into our universe cake, out spills a candy explosion symbolizing the wealth of cosmic objects Roman will see.
    Ingredients:

    Two boxes of vanilla cake mix and required ingredients
    Food coloring in three colors
    Black frosting
    Edible glitter

    Yellow sprinkles 
    Nonpareil sprinkle mix 
    Chocolate nonpareil candies 
    Popping candy 
    Miniature creme sandwich cookies 
    Granulated sugar 
    Sour candies 
    Dark chocolate chips 
    Jawbreakers 

    To make our cosmic cake, we first need to account for the universe’s building blocks — normal matter, dark matter, and dark energy. Comprising about five percent of the universe, normal matter is the stuff we see around us every day, from apples to stars in the sky. Outnumbering normal matter by five times, dark matter is an invisible mass that makes up about 25 percent of the universe. Finally, dark energy — a mysterious something accelerating our universe’s expansion — makes up about 68 percent of the cosmos.
    No one knows what dark matter and dark energy truly are, but we know they exist due to their effects on the universe. Roman will provide clues to these puzzles by 3D mapping matter alongside the expansion of the universe through time. 
    To depict the universe’s building blocks in our cosmic cake, mix the cake batter according to your chosen recipe. Pour one-fourth of the batter into one bowl for the dark matter layer, a little less than three-fourths into another bowl for dark energy, and the remainder into a separate bowl for normal matter. This will give you the quantities of batter for dark energy and dark matter, respectively. Use the remainder to represent normal matter. Color each bowl of batter differently using food coloring, then pour them into three separate cake pans and bake. The different sized layers will have different baking times, so watch them carefully to ensure proper cooking.
    While our cake bakes, we’ll create the cosmic candy mix — the core of our cake that represents the universe’s objects that Roman will uncover.
    First, pour yellow sprinkles into a bowl to symbolize the billions of stars Roman will see, including once-hidden stars on the far side of the Milky Way thanks to its ability to see starlight through gas and dust. 
    Roman’s data will also allow scientists to map gas and dust for the most complete picture yet of the Milky Way’s structure and how it births new stars. Add some granulated sugar to the candy mix as gas and dust.
    Next, add nonpareil sprinkles and chocolate nonpareil candies to symbolize galaxies and galaxy clusters. Roman will capture hundreds of millions of galaxies, precisely measuring their positions, shapes, sizes, and distances. By studying the properties of so many galaxies, scientists will be able to chart dark matter and dark energy’s effects more accurately than ever before.
    Now, add popping candies as explosive star deaths. Roman will witness tens of thousands of a special kind called type Ia supernovae. By studying how fast type Ia supernovae recede from us at different distances, scientists will trace cosmic expansion to better understand whether and how dark energy has changed throughout time.
    Supernovae aren’t the only stellar remnants that Roman will see. To represent neutron stars and black holes, add in jawbreakers and dark chocolate chips. Neutron stars are the remnants of massive stars that collapsed to the size of a city, making them the densest things we can directly observe. 
    The densest things we can’t directly observe are black holes. Most black holes are formed when massive stars collapse even further to a theoretical singular point of infinite density. Sometimes, black holes form when neutron stars merge—an epic event that Roman will witness. 
    Roman is also equipped to spot star-sized black holes in the Milky Way and supermassive black holes in other galaxies. Some supermassive black holes lie at the center of active galaxies—the hearts of which emit excessive energy compared to the rest of the galaxy. For these active cores, also spotted by Roman, add sour candies to the mix.
    Finally, add both whole and crushed miniature creme sandwich cookies to represent distant planets and planets-to-be. Peering into the center of our galaxy, Roman will scan for warped space-time indicating the presence of other worlds. The same set of observations could also reveal more than 100,000 more planets passing in front of other stars. Additionally, the Coronagraph Instrument will directly image both worlds and dusty disks around stars that can eventually form planets.
    After baking, remove the cake layers from the oven to cool. Cut a hole in the center of the thicker dark matter and dark energy layers. Then, stack these two layers using frosting to secure them. Pour the cosmic candy mix into the cake’s core. Then, place the thin normal matter layer on top, securing it with frosting. Frost the whole cake in black and dust it with edible glitter.
    Congratulations — your Roman Cosmic Cake is complete! As you look at the cake’s exterior, think of the night sky. As you slice the cake, imagine Roman’s deeper inspection to unveil billions of cosmic objects and clues about our universe’s mysterious building blocks.
    By Laine HavensNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    MIL OSI USA News –