NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Highway improvements coming to southern Interior

    Almost 630 kilometres of highways and side roads in B.C.’s southern Interior will be upgraded to provide better driving surfaces for residents, travellers and goods movement.

    As part of these projects, 88 kilometres of lanes (lane kilometres) on Highway 97 and nearby side roads between Vernon and Oyama will be resurfaced. The $11-million contract to complete the work has been awarded to Okanagan Aggregates, with completion expected in summer 2025.

    Other major resurfacing projects taking place in the region over the coming months:

    • Highway 97, Trout Creek to Summerland and area side roads (80.5 lane km):
      • conventional asphalt resurfacing;
    • Highway 97, West Kelowna & Highway 33 at Rutland (73 lane km):
      • conventional asphalt resurfacing;
    • Highway 23, Nakusp to Galena Bay (103 lane km):
      • seal coat;
    • Highway 1, Malakwa Four Lanes and area side roads (46 lane km):
      • conventional asphalt resurfacing;
    • Highway 3, Sunday Summit to Princeton (101 lane km):
      • hot in-place recycling;
    • Highway 5, Cedarside to Tete Jaune and side roads (60 lane km):
      • conventional asphalt resurfacing; and
    • Columbia Valley side roads (73 lane km):
      • conventional asphalt resurfacing.

    In 2025, almost $57 million is being invested to resurface southern Interior highways and local roads, ensuring a safe and comfortable driving experience.

    Drivers are reminded to observe construction-zone speed limits and the directions of traffic-control workers. Updates about delays and closures are available at: https://www.drivebc.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: 60 Million Reasons To Check The Highway Hotline This Past Year

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 9, 2025

    Today, Highways Minister David Marit announced the Highway Hotline’s digital platform was checked by motorists over the last year more than 60 million times – a new record for Saskatchewan’s provincial road information service.

    “Thank you to all drivers who take the time to check the Highway Hotline to make an informed decision before heading out on the road,” Marit said. “Understanding what may be on the road ahead can help you plan safer and more efficient trips, which supports our quality of life and export-based economy.”

    From April 2024 to March 2025, the Highway Hotline website had over 40 million pageviews, while its mobile app had a total of more than 20 million. A key contributing factor to this record was more storms this winter than previous.

    From April 2023 to March 2024 the Highway Hotline website had over 10 million pageviews, while its mobile app had more than 3 million for a total of 13 million views overall. The previous winter was milder.

    The Highway Hotline began more than 50 years ago as a telephone service answered by staff. It continues providing that service via modern automated audio reports of road conditions by dialing 1-888-335-7623 (across Canada) or 511 (within Saskatchewan) and using touch tone technology. About 33,000 calls are received a year.

    The service has evolved to include the latest version of the Highway Hotline mobile app available for free in the Google and Apple online stores.

    The service has more than 50 camera locations that can be seen online at https://hotline.gov.sk.ca/cctv or by using the mobile app, while the Track My Plow is a Highway Hotline winter feature showing motorists where a snowplow has recently been clearing snow or treating ice.

    Motorists are reminded to continue checking the Highway Hotline throughout the year at https://hotline.gov.sk.ca/map as it provides information such as construction zones, weather, ferry crossings, parks, along with closures and incidents related to vehicle collisions, forest and grass fires.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Getting Albertans back to work

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Redstone Rising: FBI Director Patel Touts Redstone Arsenal as “Premier” Law Enforcement Capability Center; Recommits to 500 new agents

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Representative Dale Strong, Vice Chairman of Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director, Kash Patel, regarding the Bureau’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. 

    The hearing focused on the agency’s budget requests to fight crime and protect the homeland. During the hearing, Representative Strong questioned Director Patel on Huntsville’s role in keeping Americans safe.  

    Read Rep. Strong’s remarks below or watch on YouTube. 

    STRONG: Let me start by shining a light on my district, Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Huntsville, Alabama, and Redstone Arsenal. The FBI’s presence at Redstone Arsenal dates back over 50 years to 1971. Currently, FBI Redstone seats over 2,000 personnel and includes personnel from 20 of the FBI’s 30 sections.  

    Time and again North Alabama has answered the call to support the FBI with a second to work for state-of-the-art facility and plenty of room for cost-effective and responsible growth. Director Patel, a few weeks ago you visited Redstone Arsenal in my hometown. Could you share with us what you saw while you were there and the impression to visit left with you? 

    PATEL:  What I saw while I was there was the best example of what I see when appropriators work with the bureau to defend the nation and I wish everybody would go down to Huntsville, Alabama. It is our premier, premier experienced law-enforcement capability center and training facility that the interagency only wishes they had.  

    What we have down there in cyber, in long-range missile defense capabilities, nested there with NASA and the Department of Defense and further programs, including our terrorism explosive device center, which the world relies on to stop bombs from going off and so much more is down in Huntsville, Alabama.  

    And the reason it’s there is because appropriators were brilliant enough to provide a space outside of Washington, D.C. to take a geographic footprint and save money instead of rebuilding here in Washington to do it for half the cost in Alabama and that’s why we’re moving 500 FBI employees this year to Huntsville because the technical expertise they possess and we do not want to remove from the FBI is nested in Huntsville and not Washington DC and in order to train the future men and women the FBI, the DHS, the DOD and every other intelligence agency we have they’re already asking us “When do we get to go to Redstone?” So, I encourage everyone to go down there. 

    STRONG: Director Patel, I applaud your efforts to making America safe again and returning the FBI to its core mission. We must continue to get our dedicated FBI agents into the field and out of the beltway to protect America. There’s no better place to achieve this than Redstone in Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville provides the most cost-effective location, distinct partnership opportunities, a high quality of life for personnel and remarkable talent. 

    Director Patel, could you expand on the plans for moving personnel and programs to Huntsville as it’s often called FBIHQ2? What are the timelines for executing this and do you have the necessary resources to execute this move? 

    PATEL: Taking those in reverse order, the short answer is no. So, we’ve got the North Campus in the South Campus down there. The North Campus is largely constructed and filled. The South Campus land has been leveled, and the plots have been mapped out. In order to fill it, and in order to build buildings three and four and five as we call them and the new training facilities—that we and the appropriators have already looked into and approved—we’re going to need another $160 million to accomplish that. And once those buildings are built in the next three years, we will move another 1,300 Maybe it’s 1,400 employees down Huntsville.  

    Because again, we are not removing them out of Washington D.C. to remove them. We need a place that allows their skills to be met and it’s not in Washington D.C. and tragically, it’s not Quantico either. I wish it worked, and we wouldn’t move, but that’s what we’re looking to build this for, the future— and it also gives us a landing platform in a more centrally located area of the country for the specialized teams to deploy out into the rest of America when something goes ‘boom’ or when there’s a tragic accident. So, I am asking the appropriators not only for the $145 million to finish the build but for the $60 million for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) to keep the facilities up. 

    STRONG: With the great work occurring in Huntsville, I want to highlight the agency collaboration between the FBI, ATF, and DHS to address bombing instances and the use of explosives. The FBI’s hazardous device school Terrorist Explosive Device Analytic Center or TEDAC is located at Redstone. The ATF’s National Center for Explosive Training and Research and the US bomb data center are also located in Huntsville likewise DHS routinely collaborates with these partners specifically for bombing prevention.  

    Director Patel, could you talk a little bit about the interagency efforts to address bombing instances in the use of explosives? 

    PATEL: Yes, I’ll try to be brief. Just like with drone technology, our adversaries when it comes to explosive devices, their technical capabilities have exponentially increased. And in order to keep up and stay ahead and not behind the boom— what we have to do is train. 

    And this is another point of training for Redstone Arsenal. Everyone that’s qualified as a bomb technician the FBI and the rest of the country gets that training in Huntsville, Alabama. And that’s the reason we need these schools to exist to stay ahead of the fight and these explosive devices that are being engineered in people‘s basements and places across the world and being shipped here we need to know how to shut those off before they explode and that’s what Redstone does. 

    Representative Strong serves as the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies which oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strong Leads Bipartisan Effort to Support Veterans, Law Enforcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Representatives Dale W. Strong (R-AL), Lou Correa (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Glenn Ivey (D-MD) introduced the Supporting Every at-Risk Veteran In Critical Emergencies (SERVICE) Act.  Nine additional Members joined as original cosponsors of the bill.

    The SERVICE Act would establish a pilot program to allow local law enforcement agencies to use the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants to establish dedicated “Veterans Response Teams” within departments to respond to emergency calls involving veterans in crisis.  

    A Veterans Response Team is a team of law enforcement officers who also have a background in military service. Members of the team would be available 24/7 to respond to instances of a veteran in crisis, including mental health or substance abuse situations. Following the initial response, members of the team would assist in connecting the individual with community and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources.  

    “The SERVICE Act is a crucial step toward ensuring our veterans get the care and understanding they deserve in times of crisis,” said Rep. Dale Strong. “We owe our servicemembers a debt that cannot be repaid, and it is my honor to introduce this legislation and work toward providing our veterans with the compassionate and effective resources they need. This legislation honors their service by meeting them with support, not stigma.”

    “When our nation’s veterans return home, we owe it to them to make sure they’re met with the support they deserve and have earned—and we must keep our moral commitment to them,” said Rep. Lou Correa. “Many of our veterans return home with invisible wounds and respond better to their fellow veterans in times of need. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation is key to fulfilling our promise to those who’ve offered their lives for our freedom—and will save countless lives along the way.”

    “Research shows that when a veteran is in crisis, they are most receptive to help and support provided by fellow veterans. Nearly 20% of our U.S. law enforcement has served in the military, and they are undoubtedly the most well-equipped to respond to other veterans in need,” said Rep. Maria Salazar. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, and we owe them the best care possible when they return from their service. I am proud to co-lead the SERVICE Act to provide support to our brave men and women in uniform.”     

    “Veterans have served us in our nation’s time of need. Now we must keep this sacred covenant to serve our veterans in their darkest hour. The SERVICE Act will help them get mental health services and prevent suicides. Service men and women who now face PTSD, psycho-social trauma, and physical symptoms of being in war zones across our world must get treatment for what ails them,” said Rep. Glenn Ivey. “My father and father-in-law both served in the military, so I know what it means to be a part of a military family. They deserve the respect and dignity of getting the care they rightly earned. I co-lead this bill because this is about doing what’s best for veterans in crisis and helping our law enforcement personnel assist in this effort.”  

    This program was first implemented in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now serves as the blueprint for the state. Sergeant Dave Corlett (Ret.), a veteran himself, established the program and maintains that having a fellow veteran respond to these calls is more effective in de-escalating and ensuring that veterans are aware of the resources available to them.  

    “I couldn’t be more thrilled than to hear about the reintroduction of the SERVICE Act. As a military veteran and 30-year first responder, I have seen the effects of trauma on our warfighters. We all want to reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health issues and reduce the number of military and first responder suicides. This program has proven itself in the real world to be a great step in that direction,” said Dave Corlett.

    The SERVICE Act has been endorsed by the American Legion, Hope for the Warriors, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Policing Institute, Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association, and the CJ3 Foundation.

    Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) strongly supports this legislation, saying, in part: “The SERVICE Act will provide veterans in law enforcement with tools and training to help our fellow veterans and the law enforcement community to better deal with veterans in crisis,” said Jack McManus, National Vietnam Veterans of America President. “The SERVICE Act presents an opportunity to improve community relations while saving the lives of our nation’s veterans.”

    “At HOPE for the Warriors, we stand firmly behind the SERVICE Act as a critical lifeline for veterans in crisis,” said Robin Kelleher, Hope for the Warriors CEO. “By empowering specialized Veteran Response Teams—who truly understand the unique challenges veterans face—communities can respond with compassion, defuse crisis situations more effectively, and create safer, healthier outcomes for everyone involved.”

    “Having served in both the military and law enforcement, I believe we have a sacred duty to support those who have protected us. Our veterans, much like our law enforcement officers, have answered the call in our nation’s time of need,” said Sheriff Eli Rivera, Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association President. “This bill presents an opportunity to uphold that covenant, ensuring our veterans receive the care and resources they deserve in their darkest hour. SRLEEA is committed to advocating for policies that honor and support our nation’s heroes, both on and off the battlefield.”

    “The SERVICE Act is a vital and strategic support for the critical role of trained veterans in responding to their peers in times of need—because no one understands a veteran like another veteran,” said Jim Burch, President of the National Policing Institute. “By establishing dedicated Veterans Response Teams, law enforcement can provide immediate, informed, and empathetic care, bridging the gap between crisis intervention and long-term support.”  

    “CJ3 Foundation is proud to endorse Congressman Dale Strong’s introduction of the Supporting Every at Risk Veteran In Critical Emergencies (SERVICE) Act of 2025, which proposes that the Attorney General support the creation and operation of ‘Veterans Response Teams’ in the law enforcement agencies of states, local government, and similar entities to assist veterans in need and strengthen local law enforcement relationships with the veteran communities they serve,” said Eric Thomas, CJ3 Foundation Founder and Director.

    Original cosponsors of the SERVICE Act include Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Derek Tran (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Don Davis (D-NC), Barry Moore (R-AL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Mike Rogers (R-AL).

    BACKGROUND:  

    There were 6,407 veteran suicides in 2022, according to the most recent VA data. Most veterans who committed suicide were not receiving any form of care at the VA.

    VA studies suggest that strides can be made toward prevention with greater community-based intervention and coalition-building and by increasing awareness of and access to mental health services, among other things.  

    It is estimated that 20-25% of law enforcement officers have a background in military service. Establishing Veterans Response Teams affords an opportunity for positive engagement for veterans both within their departments and within their broader communities – which could assist in the transition between military and civilian life and improve recruitment and retention efforts within law enforcement.  

    To that end, the SERVICE Act aims to take steps toward assisting veterans in crisis by allowing DOJ COPS grants to be used to:  

    • Train and educate law enforcement officers on mental health issues related to military service.  
    • Outfit law enforcement officers with insignia that indicate their branch of service.  
    • Provide overtime pay for law enforcement officers who participate in a Veterans Response Team.  
    • Grow awareness of the program within their communities and promote VA resources.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Urges Court to Immediately Halt Mass Firings Across Federal Government

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, et al. v. Trump, in support of the request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the Trump Administration’s illegal mass firings in agencies across the federal government. 

    “The illegal ransacking of federal agencies and the mass firing of federal workers that make these agencies run has sown tremendous chaos, instilled distrust among the American people, and caused deep harm to our country,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Beyond the on-the-ground impacts we are seeing, the continued uncertainty surrounding the fate of various federal agencies has a real and lasting impact on states that must devote substantial time and resources to prepare for agencies that may or may not cease to exist. I urge the court to order an immediate end to the Trump Administration’s firing rampage.”

    In the brief, the attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration is acting beyond its authority in dismantling agencies across the federal government — the Trump Administration does not have the power to incapacitate a department that Congress created, nor can it decline to spend funds that were appropriated by Congress for that department. 

    Massive federal layoffs substantially disrupt the ability of the states to protect and serve their residents and pose serious risks and harms to their citizens’ health, safety, and lives by impacting state programs ranging from emergency planning and response, infrastructure repair, environmental protection, public health, among many more.

    The brief includes multiple examples of federal statutes inviting or requiring federal and state collaboration to solve problems, including:

    • The United States Geological Survey’s work to identify, assess, and plan for potential landslide hazards; 
    • The tsunami hazard mitigation program created by the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA);
    • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) national suicide and mental health hotlines; 
    • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s deployment of a team to address crises such as food-borne pathogens’ threat to human health; and 
    • FEMA’s responsibility to develop operational plans and lead infrastructure workers who respond to disasters, establish programs for temporary housing during emergencies, and ensure that federal agencies work in coordination with state and local officials.  

    Attorney General Bonta has forcefully stood up to the Trump Administrations illegal efforts to dismember and impair the federal government though mass firing. 

    This week, Attorney General Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the unlawful mass firing of roughly 10,000 full-time HHS employees, the consolidation of 28 HHS divisions into 15 divisions, and the closing of half of HHS’s ten regional offices  — in addition to previously filed lawsuits challenging the illegal firing of probationary federal workers and U.S. Department of Education workers. 

    Attorney General Bonta has submitted two amicus briefs (here and here) in lawsuits challenging the Trump Administrations dismantling of the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau — actions that include issuing a suspension of work across the agency and terminating probationary employees — and rapidly and substantially increases the burden on state agencies to protect consumers. 

    Last month, Attorney General Bonta filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit challenging operational changes to Social Security Administration policies. These changes, including staffing cuts, field office closures, and the illegal shuttering of departments, have hampered SSA’s ability to help older adults and persons with disabilities access the benefits and services they depend on. 

    In filing the brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. 

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fugitive Wanted for Murder in Saint Lucia Indicted in Atlanta on Firearm Charge

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

    ATLANTA – Orville Andrew Pernell, also known as “Oneil Christopher Reid,” 32, of Saint Mary, Jamaica, was arraigned today before the Honorable John K. Larkins, III, United States Magistrate Judge, on a federal charge of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.  Pernell was indicted by a federal grand jury seated in the Northern District of Georgia on April 23, 2025.

    “Pernell is an international fugitive who was charged with murder before escaping custody in both Saint Lucia and Jamaica, and then unlawfully entering the United States under a false identity,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Our office is proud of the collaborative work of our United States, Saint Lucian, and Jamaican law enforcement partners whose efforts resulted in Pernell’s identification and apprehension.”

    “Law enforcement collaboration is instrumental in apprehending violent individuals locally and internationally,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “This arraignment sends a direct message to criminals that ATF and our local and international law enforcement partners will investigate and protect its citizens.”

    “This case demonstrates the far-reaching impact of Homeland Security Investigations in identifying and apprehending fugitives who pose a threat to public safety across international borders,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Pernell’s ability to evade law enforcement in multiple countries and unlawfully enter the United States under a false identity underscores the importance of strong global partnerships. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of HSI and our domestic and international counterparts, a dangerous individual is now off the streets and facing justice.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, Jr., the charges, and other information presented in court: Pernell was charged with the murder of Clius Alfred in Saint Lucia on October 8, 2020.  He then escaped custody in Saint Lucia while awaiting trial.  He was arrested in Jamaica on July 21, 2021, but then escaped Jamaican custody while awaiting his extradition to Saint Lucia.

    Pernell was then encountered by immigration authorities on December 7, 2022, when he attempted to illegally enter the United States via an unmanned border area near the San Ysidro point of entry.  He gave the false name of “Oneil Christopher Reid” and was allowed to enter the United States pending further immigration proceedings.

    On July 21, 2023, Pernell, using the Reid alias, was stopped by the Clayton County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office after being observed traveling 115 miles per hour on a motorcycle.  He attempted to flee but was forced to stop after he encountered a heavily congested intersection.  Once he was stopped, officers determined that the motorcycle he was driving was stolen. During a search that followed, officers found a firearm in the front pocket of his jacket.  Officers also determined that the firearm was stolen from a Southern Freight Lines firearms shipment.  He was arrested for possession of a stolen motorcycle, possession of a stolen firearm, and attempting to evade arrest.

    Pernell is facing federal charges of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the United States.  He has been ordered detained pending trial, and is subject to removal and extradition back to Saint Lucia once the proceedings in the United States are concluded.

    Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains a charge.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

    Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case.

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

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Expanding skills training at Olds College

    [. To help address the increased demand for apprentices and skilled journeypersons, Alberta’s government is investing $25 million through Budget 2025 for the expansion and renovation of the W.J. Elliott building at Olds College, as part of a $63 million total investment over three years beginning in 2024.

    Upon completion, this project will add more than 440 new seats for trades programming, as well as 100 seats for dual-credit trades programs, including Agricultural Equipment Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician, Welder and Landscape Horticulturist.

    “The expansion of the W.J. Elliott building at Olds College will strengthen apprenticeship training and provide new learning opportunities in Alberta. By investing in apprenticeship education, we’re creating more career opportunities for Albertans, strengthening our workforce and growing our economy while meeting labour market demand.”

    Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

    This expansion will increase apprenticeship learning opportunities for students by enhancing student spaces, ensuring more Albertans are equipped with the skills and training needed to meet the workforce demands of tomorrow.

    “Helping students find their passion through dual credit programs is key to their future success. We are proud to support a strong dual-credit program here in Alberta, and we will continue to work with education partners to find new ways to grow this important program for the benefit of Alberta’s students.”

    Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

    Since 1971, the W.J. Elliott building has served as a home to trades programming at Olds College. The renovations will include new collaborative student and staff spaces as well as adding lifting equipment, such as overhead cranes and vehicle lifts equipped with highway tractor alignment systems and wheel dynamometers, to improve trades programming. Construction is set to begin early this summer and is expected to be complete by spring 2027.

    “The enhanced W.J. Elliott building will allow us to deliver a best-in-class experience for students and partners. With expanded classrooms, advanced labs and state-of-the-art equipment, Olds College will continue to meet the growing demand for skilled trades training while elevating the student experience and deepening industry collaboration.”

    Debbie Thompson, president and CEO, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology

    Alberta’s graduates are highly skilled and well-educated professionals; many go on to become leaders, innovators, business owners and educators in their industry. Targeted investment from Alberta’s government is expanding access for students and creating modern learning environments, supporting graduates in building their future.

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • Alberta has 59 designated trades, 47 of which have associated apprenticeship education programs regulated under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act.  
    • In Budget 2024, Alberta’s government committed to investing $63 million over three years in the expansion and renovation of the W.J. Elliot building at Olds College.
      • Of the total funding, 13 million was allocated in 2024.

    Related information

    • Olds College
    • Tradesecrets – Home
    • W.J. Elliott (Trades) Building

    Related news

    • New campaign promotes Alberta’s skilled trades | Nouvelle campagne de promotion des métiers spécialisés de l’Alberta | alberta.ca (Sept. 26, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA and NIH Announce Innovative Joint Nutrition Regulatory Science Program

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 09, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new, joint innovative research initiative that will serve as a key element in fulfilling U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s commitment to Make America Healthy Again. With diet-related chronic diseases continually rising, it is imperative that the FDA and NIH work in lockstep to invest in gold standard science, prioritize a better understanding of the root causes to end the diet-related chronic disease crisis and safeguard the health of America’s children.
    Under the new Nutrition Regulatory Science Program, the FDA and NIH will implement and accelerate a comprehensive nutrition research agenda that will provide critical information to inform effective food and nutrition policy actions to help make Americans’ food and diets healthier. The initiative will aim to answer questions such as:

    How and why can ultra-processed foods harm people’s health?
    How might certain food additives affect metabolic health and possibly contribute to chronic disease?
    What is the role of maternal and infant dietary exposures on health outcomes across the lifespan, including autoimmune diseases?

    Answering these questions and many others will enable effective policy development and help promote the radical transparency Americans deserve about the foods they are eating and how those foods can impact their health.
    “The FDA is focusing resources on the greatest contributors to the staggering health care crisis: chronic diseases,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H, “Mirroring the highly successful FDA and NIH Tobacco Regulatory Science Program, we’re bringing together scientific expertise from both agencies to transform nutrition and food-related research.”
    The FDA will provide its critical expertise in regulatory science and NIH will provide the infrastructure for the solicitation, review and management of scientific research. The initiative will bring together experts in many disciplines—including chronic disease, nutrition, toxicology, risk analysis, behavioral science, and chemistry—all with the goal to advance the gold standard of nutrition and food science.  
    “Nutrition has always been a priority at NIH. By teaming up with the FDA, we’re taking a major step toward answering big questions about how food affects health—and turning that science into smarter, more effective policy. It’s time to tackle the chronic disease crisis head-on. That’s why NIH is making this investment alongside the FDA,” said NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D.
    The FDA and NIH will work together to develop a research agenda for the Nutrition Regulatory Science Program and are committed to ensuring all research conducted under the Program is fair, independent and free of conflicts of interest. 
    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    Content current as of:
    05/09/2025

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Diversion of Advanced Chips to America’s Adversaries and Protect U.S. Product Integrity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353May 8, 2025
    Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Diversion of Advanced Chips to America’s Adversaries and Protect U.S. Product Integrity
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Chip Security Act, legislation that will prevent advanced American chips from falling into the hands of adversaries like Communist China by improving oversight of advanced chips and directing Commerce and DoD to study promising chip security mechanism.
    “We must do better at maintaining and expanding our position in the global market, while safeguarding America’s technological edge. With these enhanced security measures, we can continue to expand access to U.S. technology without compromising our national security,” said Cotton.
    Text of the bill may be found here. 
    The Chip Security Act would direct the Secretary to:
    Require a location verification mechanism on export-controlled advanced chips or products with export-controlled advanced chips within 6 months of enactment and require exporters of advanced chips to report to BIS if their products have been diverted away from their intended location or subject to tampering attempts.
    Study, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, other potential chip security mechanisms in the next year and establish requirements over the next few years for implementing such mechanisms, if appropriate, on covered advanced chips. This longer timeline accommodates the years-long technological roadmap for development of the next generation of advanced chips. 
    Assess, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the most up-to-date security mechanisms annually for three years and determine if any new mechanisms should be required
    Make recommendations annually for three years on how to make export controls more flexible, thus streamlining shipments to more countries.
    Prioritize confidentiality when developing requirements for chip security mechanisms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: School of Nursing Class of 2025, Reflects on Their Time as a Husky

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    With commencement just around the corner, Samuel Geisler ’25 (NURS) sits down and recalls his UConn School of Nursing experience.

    Samuel Geisler ’25 (NURS). (Contributed Photo)

    Q: If you could describe your UConn SoN experience in three words or one phrase, what would they be?

    A: “Fun, collaborative, and short.”

    Q: What is your favorite thing about SoN?

    A: “The professors. The professors are very personable, very knowledgeable, and you can always reach out to them. They really love to see you succeed and that’s what I really appreciated during my time.”

    Q: What are some of your fondest memories as a nursing student?

    A: “The first few days of clinical are super exciting because you have no idea what to expect and it’s really the first time you’re utilizing everything that you learned in your first two years in the actual nursing practice.”

    Q: What are your biggest accomplishments during your time here?

    A: “I would say getting the job in the specialty that I wanted. I’m also proud that I was on the track team and was able to manage and continue both.”

    Q: What’s your biggest takeaway or something that stuck with you during your SoN experience?

    A: “I had a day where I was at clinical and we had a patient who had just recently lost their spouse, and they were having a really tough time. I took 30 minutes to sit with them and talk with them. When I went back to say bye, they said thank you for making me feel less alone. I feel like that is a perfect summary of what a nurse’s job is. I really appreciated that, and I know it’s something that I’ll always carry with me, be present for my patients and make them feel a little less alone.”

    Q: What’s something you wish you knew before coming into this program?

    A: “I wish I knew how rewarding it was before I came. I don’t think I appreciated, until I was on the clinical site, how much of a difference you’re making and how rewarding it is. You’re able to see the direct impacts of everything that you do”

    Samuel Geisler ’25 (NURS). (Contributed Photo)

    Q: Go-to spots on campus and why?

    A: “The Fieldhouse, I’m always in there for practice but I also study in there. The third floor of the nursing building, and if you can find an empty room in Gant, it’s perfect.”

    Q: Any study-hacks or superstition rituals before exams?

    A: “When I’m taking tests and an answer pops in my mind and I’m second guessing…I will always pick the first answer that pops in my mind, because every time I pick the second one, I always get it wrong.”

    Q: What advice would you give to incoming nursing students?

    A: “Enjoy the ride. Don’t take anything for granted and make sure that when you’re at clinical you’re taking advantage of it and using it as a time to better yourself for the future. A lot of opportunities will come your way and so definitely seek those opportunities.”

    Q: What are your plans after graduation?

    A: “I’m going to be working at Connecticut Children’s Hospital in the emergency room and then hopefully go back to school to get my masters.”

    Q: Any shoutouts to faculty or staff that helped you along the way?

    “Carrie Eaton, Dr. Sarage, Professor Cole, Annette Maruca, they really shaped me during my clinicals. All the professors were great here. They would always just back me up and tell me that I could do it.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Historic Education Investments & Distraction-Free Learning

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY 2026 Enacted Budget to make P-12 education investments, including $37.6 billion in total School Aid for the 2025-2026 school year — the highest level of school funding in state history. The Budget also includes the Governor’s plans to foster better learning opportunities for all students through the adoption of a Universal Free School Meals program and her Distraction-Free Schools initiative, making New York the largest state in the country with a smartphone restriction policy in schools.

    “As New York’s first mom governor, I’m committed to doing everything in my power to help kids across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “This Budget builds on our record funding for education, ensures no student goes to school hungry, and restricts smartphone use in schools to create a distraction-free learning environment so that our kids can focus on learning, not scrolling.”

    Record School Aid

    Following historic increases in School Aid over the last four years, the Enacted Budget maintains key investments and increases annual School Aid by $1.7 billion (4.9 percent), for a record total of $37.6 billion, while updating the Foundation Aid formula.

    With this Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul will have increased School Aid by approximately $8.3 billion (29 percent) over four years, including fully funding Foundation Aid for the first time ever. Foundation Aid alone will have increased by $6.5 billion, or 33 percent – an average increase of 7.4 percent per year.

    Universal Free School Meals

    The Budget provides $340 million for school meals, a $160 million (89 percent) year-to-year increase, and requires all school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that participate in the national school lunch and breakfast program to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students regardless of their families’ income, thereby reducing costs for families and ensuring that no student goes hungry at school.

    Distraction-Free Schools

    After participating in listening sessions across the state, Governor Hochul secured provisions in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget to restrict the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled devices on school grounds during school hours in order to ensure a distraction-free learning environment. This policy aims to improve student outcomes by addressing the negative impacts of smartphone use on children’s mental health and academic performance. The Budget provides $13.5 million to aid in the implementation of distraction-free school policies.

    Dual Enrollment Policy

    Governor Hochul secured the state’s first dual enrollment policy to help ensure that certain high school students can receive high-quality college credits for free. Taking college-level courses in high school helps students to matriculate and persevere through a four year degree program and make it more affordable to do so. The Budget includes $61 million, a $3 million increase, to support existing dual enrollment programs and encourage new, high-quality partnerships between high schools and colleges in the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $500M To Expand Families’ Access to Affordable Homes

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget that will make owning and renting a home more affordable. As part of the FY 2026 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul announced more than $1.5 billion in new state funding for housing statewide, including investing $100 million for pro-housing communities to fund critical infrastructure projects to support housing development, $100 million to promote mixed income housing development, $50 million for the first year of the Housing Access Voucher Program to address households that are homelessness or at risk of imminent homelessness, and $50 million for building more affordable starter homes, among other housing initiatives.

    “New Yorkers deserve a fair chance at achieving the American dream, whether it is buying their first home or renting their first apartment, and this bold plan does just that,” Governor Hochul said. “As part of my FY 2026 Enacted Budget, I secured over $500 million in capital for housing to uplift local economies and level the playing field so families can have more access to safe and affordable homes.”

    Helping Families Achieve The Dream Of Owning Their Own Home

    Disincentivizing Institutional Investors from Buying Up One- and Two-Family Homes
    Nationally, private equity firms own more than 500,000 homes. According to some estimates, private equity firms are expected to own up to 40 percent of the single-family rental market by 2030. When large investors hold a disproportionate share of a local housing market it removes opportunities for homeownership, exacerbating the existing scarcity and driving up prices for remaining homes on the market. These consequences are felt most intensely by first-time and low- or moderate-income homebuyers.

    To help level the playing field and increase the opportunities for everyday individuals and families to purchase a home, Governor Hochul signed legislation to disincentivize large investment entities who own 10+ single- and two-family homes and act as a fiduciary for at least $30 million in assets under management from buying single- and two-family homes en masse, and will require a 90-day waiting period for institutional investors to make an offer on one- or two-family homes.

    The prohibition would also apply to an entity that receives funding from a covered institutional investor, other than in the form of a standard mortgage. Nonprofits, land banks, community land trusts, and foreclosure sales would be exempted. With the New York State Attorney General’s enforcement, covered entities that violate the waiting period would be subject to $250,000 penalties, and to $10,000 penalties for failing to provide required notices.

    Additionally, Governor Hochul signed legislation to prohibit institutional investors from claiming depreciation tax deductions for single- and two-family homes, or claiming interest deductions with respect to such homes, to disincentivize their accumulation of single- and two-family homes. The legislation also requires the New York Department of State (DOS) to provide notice when establishing a “cease and desist zone” in which homeowners who opt into coverage are prohibited from being solicited to sell their homes. The notice requirements will require information about the zone to be posted on DOS’ website when a zone is established and annually included in a local newspaper within the area of the zone.

    Provide Starter Home Innovation Funding
    Oftentimes, homes being built by the market today are larger and therefore less affordable than a traditional starter home. An undersupply of homes limits mobility within the market, preventing young families from becoming homeowners and older New Yorkers from downsizing. Governor Hochul’s budget will include $50 million in capital funding to incentivize the building of more starter homes, including innovative approaches to homebuilding such as the use of factory-built and modular development.

    $40 Million to Support the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP)
    The Homeowner Protection Program is a state-wide network of housing counseling and legal services organizations serving every county in New York. The network provides critical services to at-risk homeowners struggling to maintain their housing and avoid foreclosure. HOPP is also a front line defense in gentrifying neighborhoods helping to prevent fraud and deed theft for vulnerable homeowners. This $40 million in funding will ensure that this network can continue to serve thousands of homeowners, preserving millions of dollars in equity and stabilizing communities.

    Expand and Strengthen the Resilient and Ready Programs
    Severe weather events are leaving New York homeowners in need of urgent repairs and long-term resilience measures. Governor Hochul secured $50 million in new funding for the Rapid Response Home Repair Program and Resilient Retrofits Program, which have provided vital assistance, helping over 1,300 homeowners to date recover and prepare for future disasters.

    Create an Affordable Homebuyer Tax Incentive
    Even when homes are developed for the express purpose of being sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers, local property tax assessments value the homes at fair market value, presenting challenges to creating homes these homebuyers can afford to purchase. The Governor has secured agreement for an affordable homebuyer property tax incentive at local opt-in for homes built with assistance from governmental entities, nonprofits, land banks, or community land trusts, and sold to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. This will aid such homebuyers by making their dream of homeownership more attainable by bringing down costs and increasing the supply of these homes.

    Strengthen Laws and Policies To Combat Home Appraisal Discrimination
    For many New Yorkers, their largest investment and most valuable asset is their home. Homes provide families with a safe place to live and an opportunity to build generational wealth. For too long, pervasive appraisal bias throughout the housing industry has unjustly stripped families of color of this opportunity, widening racial homeownership and wealth gaps. Governor Hochul secured agreement on legislation that will make it a violation of the State’s Human Rights Law to discriminate when providing real estate appraisals or in making such services available. The law will further enable DOS to fine appraisers for violations, in addition to other existing remedies, with half of those fines going to a fund to support fair housing enforcement. Additionally, the budget includes $4 million in new state support for fair housing testing.

    Unlocking Local Development

    Create $100 Million New York State Pro-Housing Supply Fund
    Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023 creating the Pro-Housing Communities Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. In the State Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul made the “Pro-Housing Community” designation a requirement for accessing up to $650 million in State discretionary programs. So far, 300 localities have been certified, with more than 420 submitting letters of intent from all corners of New York State. To further support localities that are doing their part to address the housing crisis, Governor Hochul is creating a $100 million Pro-Housing Supply fund for certified Pro-Housing Communities to assist with critical infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing, such as sewer and water infrastructure upgrades.

    Provide Communities Technical Assistance to Become Pro-Housing
    Without resources, some communities may not have the ability to design and adopt pro-housing policies such as master plans, zoning text updates, and streamlined permitting procedures. To help ensure more localities that want to promote housing growth have the ability to do so, Governor Hochul will provide $5.25 million in new grant funding to offer technical assistance to communities seeking to foster housing growth and associated municipal development.

    $1 Billion in State Funding for New York City To Secure “City of Yes”
    As New York City confronts a generational housing crisis with a 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate, the citywide rezoning will enable the creation of 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion. As part of Governor Hochul’s FY26 Enacted Budget, the State is investing $1 billion towards the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout New York City.

    Strengthening Investment in Communities

    Launch New York State’s First Mixed-Income Revolving Loan Fund
    With major forthcoming economic investments in Upstate New York, such as Micron’s $100 billion investment in Clay, the state continues to need an all-of-the-above approach to the housing supply to address acute housing needs and accommodate job growth. Too often, however, communities do not have the tools to create mixed income rental housing, leaving many developments permit-ready but unable to secure financing. To bridge this gap and unlock more housing, Governor Hochul is launching the State’s first revolving loan fund to spur mixed-income rental development. With a $100 million State investment for upstate and New York City, the fund will fill construction financing gaps by providing a lower-cost and more flexible form of capital than is generally available in market financing. The funding will revolve and self-sustain over time through repayments once projects have converted to permanent financing after construction.

    Double New York State Low Income Housing Credits
    Modeled after the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the New York State Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) was signed into law in 2000 and has been critical to supporting the development of housing for low-and middle-income households. Governor Hochul will build on this success by proposing to double the amount of the tax credits available through the SLIHC program, making it the largest state low-income housing tax credit program in America. This action alone will generate upwards of $210 million in private investment in affordable housing per year.

    Unlock Historic Tax Credits by Decoupling and Expanding Eligibility
    Currently, New York State law requires Federal and State Historic Tax credits to be coupled together to the same investor and be available only in certain census tracts. These factors depress the economic value of both tax credits and needlessly turn investment away from housing projects, a problem felt especially acutely in upstate New York communities. Governor Hochul’s budget agreement will unlock the maximum value of the tax credits and eliminate the census tract eligibility requirement.

    Empower Communities to Redevelop Vacant Properties Into Housing
    Many municipalities struggle to acquire and redevelop vacant and abandoned buildings. Many of these properties are in a significant state of disrepair due to years of neglect and are located in neighborhoods that lack the local economic conditions necessary to incentivize redevelopment by the private sector. Consequently, the investment required to redevelop these properties can exceed their value and the resulting funding gap prevents the property from being rehabilitated. Governor Hochul will better equip communities to fight back against blight while creating more affordable housing opportunities, by securing agreement to authorize localities across the state to adopt a tax exemption to incentivize redevelopment of these properties into affordable homes. The budget also includes $50 million in total funding for Land Banks and $30 million for Infill development.

    Protecting Housing Affordability

    Housing Access Voucher Program Pilot
    As part of the FY26 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul is investing $50 million for the first year of a four-year pilot program for state-funded vouchers for homeless families or families at imminent risk of losing their housing. Vouchers would be available to households making 50 percent of area median income. HCR will administer the program through local partners outside of New York City, with the NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and/or the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) administering the program within New York City. The vouchers will be a critical new tool to help New Yorkers escape or evade homelessness and housing insecurity.

    Reduce Shelter Rent Taxes for Mitchell-Lama Residents
    Mitchell-Lama Program supports 105,000 units of housing that are affordable to low- and middle-income families. Currently, Mitchell-Lama developments can receive a shelter rent tax abatement to reduce their share of local property taxes. However, the current tax abatement is often insufficient to address escalating increases in insurance, utility, and taxes that endanger building quality and the financial health of this critical supply of affordable housing. To provide much needed relief, Governor Hochul’s budget agreement includes legislation that will reduce Mitchell-Lama shelter rent taxes by at least half in New York City and allow for the same by local opt-in in the rest of the state.

    Preserving Public Housing Statewide
    As part of the budget, Governor Hochul has secured $225 million to fund capital improvements for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), including $25 million for vacant NYCHA units, and $75 million public housing authorities outside New York City, providing vital support to this essential housing stock and critical quality of life improvements for the residents who call it home.

    Expand Capital to Maintain and Improve Supportive Housing
    The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) was among the first programs in the country more than four decades ago to dedicate significant capital resources to creating housing, including permanent affordable and supportive housing, specifically for homeless individuals. Tens of thousands of units have been built since its inception, and today, requests for funding exceed what is available. To meet the growing demand for supportive housing and maintain existing units that provide a safe place to live for many of the most housing insecure and vulnerable New Yorkers, Governor Hochul has secured an increase in funding for HHAP.

    Increase Funding for Supportive Housing
    Governor Hochul has made landmark investments to expand supportive housing across New York State, recognizing that stable housing is the foundation for stable health and a stable life. Providers of supportive housing utilize two key State-funded programs to provide vital services to tens of thousands of New Yorkers, such as people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders who would otherwise be homeless. The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) has financed the supportive services and operating costs of over 9,600 units of safe and permanent housing for individuals and families in need, and the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) supports over 20,000 people living safely and stably in affordable housing. However, providers of supportive housing have not been immune to the impact of rising costs, which threatens future housing acquisition and their ability to provide the supportive services that make these programs unique and successful in helping people to remain stably housed. To ensure that New York State’s supportive housing stock and services remain viable and accessible to those who need them most, Governor Hochul has secured increases to take steps to stabilize both programs.

    Extend Security Deposit Protections to Rent-Regulated Tenants
    In 2019, New York State provided market-rate tenants statewide with protections for security deposits, including requiring the return of remaining security deposits within 14 days of vacating the unit and allowing tenants to request an inspection to determine what needs to be remedied to receive a security deposit back in full. Rent-regulated tenants were erroneously left out from receiving these important protections. The Governor has secured agreement to grant rent-regulated tenants the same protections for their security deposits as all other tenants.

    Preserve Expiring Affordable Housing in New York City
    The FY26 Enacted Budget includes legislation that would allow for certain large 100+ unit rental buildings in New York City that currently include affordable units to partially convert to condominiums in order to preserve its expiring affordable units as permanently affordable or increase the amount of existing permanently affordable units in a building. The conversions would be subject to approval by HCR or NYC HPD and have ongoing regulatory oversight over the affordable units, which would be owned by separate nonprofits. The New York State Attorney General’s office would further have an oversight role in approving the conversions. The affordable units could subsequently convert to affordable homeownership units, as well. This legislation is meant to help preserve affordable housing supply that would otherwise be lost when tax breaks expire, or increase the supply of existing permanently affordable units, while also increasing
    omeownership opportunities.

    Help Affordable Housing Access Captive Insurance to Lower Costs
    Insurance costs for affordable housing have skyrocketed, with many owners reporting paying higher premiums for less coverage and renters bearing an increasing share of costs. In recent years, private insurance captives, which are similar to self-insurance and allow for tailored risk management, have been created specifically for affordable housing owners. However, these insurance captives often have eligibility standards for participation, which nonprofits may struggle to meet. Governor Hochul will provide assistance to nonprofit affordable housing owners to undertake repairs and other steps needed to be eligible for such captives.

    Additional Capital Investments
    In addition to advancing these critical policy actions, the FY 2026 Budget includes more than $1.525 billion in new capital funding to support housing statewide, including but not limited to:

    • $225 million for capital improvements of New York City Housing Authority developments.
    • $110 million for capital improvements for Mitchell-Lamas.
    • $75 million for capital improvements of public housing authorities outside of New York City.
    • $100 million for mixed income revolving loan funds; $50 million for upstate and $50 million for New York City.
    • $40 million for Land Banks to redevelop vacant or abandoned properties.
    • $40 million for capital awards to upgrade vacant rental units outside of New York City.
    • $30 million for Infill Housing to fund development of small homes within unused and underutilized lands with existing development patterns.
    • $20 million to preserve distressed affordable housing in New York City.
    • $10 million for capital improvements of rural housing subsidized by the Federal USDA 515 program.
    • $10 million for small multifamily rental developments (SRDI).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Making Community College Free for Adult New Yorkers

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget to make major investments and enact initiatives to increase access to higher education. This legislation creates new pathways for free community college and takes key steps to expand access to financial aid and invest in State University of New York and City University of New York campuses.

    “When my dad got his college degree, our family’s life was changed forever – I want every New York student to have that opportunity,” Governor Hochul said. “I am proud to announce that with the passage of this budget, New Yorkers now have the chance to pursue a free associate degree at SUNY and CUNY community colleges to help fill the in-demand jobs of tomorrow.”

    Free Community College in High-Demand Occupations

    The FY 2026 Budget provides $47 million ($28.2 million SUNY, $18.8 million CUNY) to cover the remaining cost of tuition, fees, and books for community college students ages 25-55 pursuing select associate degrees in high-demand occupations, including nursing, pathways into teaching, technology and engineering.

    Investments in SUNY and CUNY Campuses

    The FY 2026 Budget provides $307 million in new State support for SUNY State-operated campuses ($138 million) and CUNY senior colleges ($169 million). This funding includes:

    • $244 million in general operating support ($114 million SUNY, $130 million CUNY)
    • $22 million in increased funding for university employee fringe benefits at CUNY
    • $20 million for ACE and ASAP, which support academic and career advisement, tuition grants, textbooks, and transportation costs ($12 million SUNY, $8 million CUNY)
    • $15 million in artificial intelligence investments ($10 million SUNY, $5 million CUNY)
    • $2 million for the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
    • $1.5 million for the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute
    • $1 million for the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at SUNY
    • $750,000 for the First Responder Counseling Scholarship Program at SUNY.
    • $250,000 for the Carol Robles Román Scholarship at CUNY

    In addition, the Budget provides SUNY Downstate with $100 million of operating support, for a total of $200 million over two years.

    The Budget also provides SUNY and CUNY with significant capital investments:

    • $433 million for research facilities at SUNY state-operated campuses ($300 million) and CUNY senior colleges ($133 million)
    • $979 million for other projects at SUNY state-operated campuses ($610 million) and CUNY senior colleges ($369 million)
    • $900 million for modernization and revitalization of SUNY hospitals ($450 million each for Upstate Medical University and Downstate Medical University)
    • $166 million for community colleges ($131 million SUNY, $35 million CUNY)
    • $25 million to establish the Green Energy Loan Fund at SUNY

    Part-Time TAP Program

    The FY 2026 Budget consolidates the three existing State financial aid programs for part-time students, expanding eligibility for part-time TAP to students taking a minimum of three credits per semester, down from six. This builds on Governor Hochul’s historic expansion of the Tuition Assistance Program in the FY 2025 Enacted Budget.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan, Whip Clark, and House Democrats Offer Solutions to Improve Child Care Access and Workforce Amid Republican Assault on Early Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) joined Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) to reintroduce the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act, two bills that address America’s child care crisis with robust investment in early learning facilities and early educators. The bills would build more classrooms, hire more teachers, and in turn, decrease costs for providers and parents. The legislation is co-led by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

    Since taking office, Donald Trump and Republicans have attacked programs that help families access child care and help lower costs for parents. Within days of being inaugurated, Trump cut off funding to Head Start providers, which was quickly reversed after Democrats and the American people spoke out. Since then, the Administration has closed five of the ten Department of Health and Human Services regional offices that help local grantees administer Head Start programs and has plans to defund early childhood education research that promotes quality care. Last week, Trump introduced his budget request for Fiscal Year 2026, which defunds the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program that provides child care to parenting students, and eliminates the Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program that helps states improve and expand early childhood care for young children. 

    “As one of the few Members of Congress with young children, I understand that early childhood lays the foundation for a child’s development, and I know just how tough it is to find high-quality, affordable child care,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “That’s why House Democrats push for real solutions to ease this financial burden on American families. I appreciate Whip Clark’s commitment to tackling this crisis in introducing the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act — two critical bills that will strengthen federal support for the child care system and encourage more providers to stay in this vital field.”

    “It is outrageous that families across America are going into debt to pay for child care,” said Whip Clark. “Today, we are introducing this pair of bills to build more classrooms, recruit more educators, and help reduce costs for child care providers and parents. While Republicans focus on tax cuts for the wealthy, House Democrats are putting forward serious solutions to make life easier and more affordable for families. It’s long past time my Republican colleagues start paying attention to families back home and stop listening to their billionaire donors.” 

    “Affordable, quality child care should be available to all families with children, but it remains out of reach for too many,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “These two bills will make overdue investments in our child care system to improve child care facilities and better compensate the dedicated early childhood educators who help kids learn and grow. I’m grateful to partner with Whip Clark in this important work.”

    “Affordable child care helps working parents keep their kids safe while they go to work to provide for their families. As a dad and founder of the Dads Caucus, I know how tough it is to find affordable, quality child care — especially in communities with few options,” said Congressman Gomez. “While House Republicans continue to ignore the child care crisis, I’m working with Whip Clark and my colleagues to tackle it head-on. Our legislation would build more classrooms and help more people become early educators, so every child gets a strong start.”

    “As a working mom of two boys, I know firsthand how difficult it is to find affordable child care – and the problem is even worse in rural communities,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “For both of my kids, I was put on long waitlists until a spot opened up. We’re some of the lucky ones – we could afford care and don’t live in a child care desert. But I know far too many families who aren’t as fortunate. That’s why I’m proud to work with Whip Clark to reintroduce these two pieces of legislation that will bolster our child care workforce, help lower costs for parents, and ensure every family can access the care they need for their children to thrive. While Republicans and Trump push tax breaks for billionaires and millionaires and try to gut the care families rely on, I’ll keep fighting back – because child care is one of the best investments we can make in our kids and our future.”

    “As a mother, I know the tough choices working parents face when it comes to finding affordable, quality child care. Constant threats by the Trump Administration to dismantle vital programs like Head Start and Preschool Grants will rob children of early education, nutrition, and services that are foundational to a child’s development,” said Congresswoman Tokuda. “I’m proud to join Whip Clark in reintroducing the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act, which will deliver more resources for working families. We need to ensure every child gets a strong start in life and that every parent has the means to support their family.”

    The Child Care Infrastructure Act would:

    • Establish a grant program at HHS to award grants to states for the purpose of constructing new or renovating existing child care facilities to help build child care capacity and ensure safe early learning facilities for children. The bill also requires a needs assessment of the condition of child care facilities throughout the U.S. financial institutions or other organizations that have demonstrated experience in developing or financing early care and learning facilities.

    The Child Care Workforce Development Act would: 

    • Create a student loan repayment program for early childhood educators and establish a program to provide grants to individuals pursuing a childhood development credential.

    Congresswoman McClellan is a champion for child care in Congress. Last Congress, she convened a child care roundtable with Senator Tim Kaine(D-VA) and joined Whip Clark and more than 70 House Democrats and 30 Senate Democrats to introduce landmark legislation to invest in the child care industry and stave off the child care cliff.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Named Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani, a fierce advocate for wild horses and burros, today launched the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of members dedicated to promoting humane policies to care for and manage these animals.  

    “Wild horses and burros embody the spirit and heritage of the West and deserve to be protected and treated humanely,” said Ciscomani. “For too long, these animals have been subject to cruel and costly roundups that, at best, remove them from their natural habitat to be housed in warehouses, and at worst, result in the death of the animal. Caring for wild horses and burros is not a partisan issue, which is why I am proud to be named as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus to promote humane policies, such as PZP fertility control and habitat preservation, to manage and care for these iconic animals.” 

    Joining Ciscomani as Co-Chairs are Reps. David Schweikert (AZ-01), Dina Titus (NV-03), and Steve Cohen (TN-09).  

    “Growing up, I had the blessing of spending much time on several ranches and farms in Arizona,” said Schweikert. “These experiences have led me to serve as an advocate for humane treatment and protection of these majestic species. I’m looking forward to the conservation initiatives that will come out of the formation of this caucus.” 

    “Nevada is home to more than 30,000 wild horses and burros – more than half of all the wild horses and burros in the United States,” said Titus. “These icons of the American West deserve to be treated humanely, and the bipartisan Wild Horse Caucus can lay the groundwork for better management of these herds by the Bureau of Land Management. I am hopeful that the Wild Horse Caucus will raise awareness in Congress that there are better ways to manage wild horses and burros. Protecting these animals from harm should be an issue we can all agree upon.  

    “I’m proud to be a co-chairman of the bipartisan Wild Horse Caucus and to work to protect these iconic symbols of our country,” said Cohen. “Wild horses and burros are part of our national heritage. How we treat animals is a direct reflection of who we are, and I hold firm in the belief that all beings should be treated humanely.” 

    “This is an important step toward reforming a broken system,” said Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC). “For too long, federal wild horse policy has relied on costly and inhumane roundups that remove animals from the range only to warehouse them in holding facilities. We commend the leaders of the Wild Horse Caucus for recognizing that there’s a better way to manage our wild herds that is rooted in humane treatment, science, and fiscal responsibility. 

    “Protecting America’s wild horses and burros has always been a bipartisan issue, in large part because these iconic animals hold an important place in our country’s history and because, for countless Americans, they continue to embody the spirit of freedom and resilience,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., Animal Welfare Institute’s (AWI) Equine Program Director and Senior Policy Advisor. “We are grateful to Representatives Titus, Ciscomani, Schweikert, and Cohen for their outstanding leadership on this issue. The Congressional Wild Horse Caucus will help ensure these beloved animals will be protected for generations to come.” 

    Background: 

    The launch of the caucus comes amid growing public concern over the Bureau of Land Management’s mass helicopter roundups, which are frightening and often deadly to the animals, and the record number of wild horses and burros–more than 65,000–confined in government holding facilities. Last fiscal year alone, this roundup and removal program cost taxpayers over $109 million.  

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Harshbarger Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

    WASHINGTON — The Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious prize in student computer science. Participation in the challenge has grown exponentially and has reached underserved, diverse, and rural student populations.

    This challenge is transforming how Congress views computer science and STEM. Since the challenge was first announced, Congressional mentions of computer science and coding have increased by 2,000% — thanks to the talented STEM students across the nation, including those in East Tennessee!

    Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger issued the following statement:

    “The STEM field is one of the fastest-growing industries around the world. The future of just about every industry — from manufacturing to farming — is centered around STEM.

    “The Congressional App Challenge provides an incredible opportunity for students across Tennessee’s First District to highlight their technical skills in innovation and coding by creating an app for smartphones, tablets, desktops, and other devices.

    “Last year, we had incredible submissions, including our first-place winner, Graham Mefford from University School. His app, Stridease, helps users monitor and maintain their foot health. With the amount of walking I do around Congress — I really appreciated this one! Our second-place winner, Ryan Zheng of Science Hill High School, developed EcoQuest, an app designed to empower individuals to protect the environment through fun challenges that encourage recycling.

    “I can’t wait to see what our incredible students will create this year!”

    To be eligible to participate in the Congressional App Challenge, students must be enrolled in middle or high school at the time of app submission. Students may register individually or in teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed per team.

    Students may compete in the district where they reside or where they attend school. If competing as a team, at least half of the team members must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating. All competing students must be U.S. residents at the time of submission.

    Students can use any programming language (C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, “block code,” etc.) and any platform (PC, web, tablet, robot, mobile, etc.). There are no limits on application theme or topic.

    A full list of rules is available HERE.

    Registration for the contest is open now and will close on October 30, 2025. Students are encouraged to register online before submitting their completed app by the deadline.

    Full details about the contest can be found on Congresswoman Harshbarger’s website or on the Congressional App Challenge website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Harshbarger Announces Opportunity for East Tennessee Students to Receive U.S. Military Academy Nomination

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger announced the launch of the military service academy nomination application for the upcoming application cycle. The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

    “As a member of Congress, I have the distinct privilege to nominate the deserving students of East Tennessee,” said Congresswoman Harshbarger.“It is a profound honor to serve to protect the freedom of this great nation and I am thrilled to help students in East Tennessee pursue this noble dream.”

    Each Member of Congress may nominate individuals to appointments at four of the five U.S. service academies:

    1. U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY
    2. U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD
    3. U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO
    4. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY.

    The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens between the ages of 17 and 23 and reside within Tennessee’s First Congressional District.

    The deadline to apply for a nomination is 11:59 pm on October 31, 2025. Interested students from Tennessee’s First District can find the application HERE and can read more about the application process on the academy nominations frequently asked questions page HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Charges Syracuse, N.Y., Man, His Firm with Fraud, Misappropriation

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced it filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York against Dean S. Dellas of Syracuse, New York, and his investment advisory company, DSD Capital Management, LLC, for fraud and misappropriation. 
    In its complaint, the CFTC seeks restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, permanent trading and registration bans, and a permanent injunction against further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, as charged.
    Case Background
    The complaint alleges Dellas and DSD Capital acted as commodity trading advisors who, from at least February 2021 through November 2023, committed fraud through material misrepresentations and omissions and misappropriation of more than $690,000 from at least two clients — a 61-year-old man (Client A) and his 91-year-old mother (Client B) — who had entrusted the defendants to manage their entire lifesavings. 
    The complaint alleges the defendants, who had complete authority over Client A’s accounts, entered into tens of thousands of futures transactions without warning him of the inherent risks. These trades incurred more than $169,000 in trading losses and commissions. The defendants concealed these losses and commissions from Client A, assuring him his accounts were doing well. Although the defendants agreed and represented they would only charge fees equating to 10% of profits, they took considerably more than they were entitled. Indeed, despite the significant losses Client A had suffered, the defendants misappropriated more than $235,000 from Client A by secretly transferring to themselves large sums of Client A’s money and fraudulently charging excessive, unjustified fees.
    The complaint also alleges after succeeding in defrauding Client A, the defendants expanded their fraud to Client A’s elderly mother, Client B. Without her knowledge, the defendants bought or sold futures contracts through Client B’s account tens of thousands of times, causing her to incur more than $196,000 in trading losses and commissions. The defendants actively concealed these losses from Client B and misappropriated more than $459,000 from her by transferring to themselves large sums of her money and fraudulently charging fees that were excessive and unjustified given the defendants’ promise to only charge fees equating to 10% of profits.
    According to the complaint, to keep their fraud ongoing, the defendants took various steps to conceal and obfuscate their conduct. Among other things, Dellas concealed the substance of documents he directed Clients A and B to sign and impersonated them in dealings with futures commission merchants.   
    Parallel Criminal Action
    On May 6, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York unsealed an indictment charging Dean Dellas with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the same scheme alleged in the CFTC’s complaint. United States v. Dellas, No. 5:25-cr-184 (N.D.N.Y.), ECF No. 1 (indictment).
    The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
    The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this case are Chrystal Gonnella, Dmitriy Vilenskiy, Derek S. Hammond, Jonah E. McCarthy, A. Daniell Ullman II, and Paul G. Hayeck.
    CFTC Fraud Advisories
    The CFTC has issued several customer protection Fraud Advisories and Articles about how customers can detect, avoid, and report scams.
    The CFTC also strongly urges the public to verify a company’s registration with the CFTC at NFA BASIC before committing funds. If unregistered, a customer should be wary of providing funds to that entity.
    Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, can be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a toll-free hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online or contact the Whistleblower Office. Whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected, paid from the Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions paid to the CFTC by violators of the CEA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Votes to Support Trump Nuclear Energy, Land Management, and Water Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) yesterday voted to support four of President Trump’s nominees in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
    “Idaho’s leadership in nuclear energy and our vast natural resources are critical to the state’s economy and way of life,” said Risch. “I’m proud to support President Trump’s nominees, who I am confident will prioritize Idaho’s resources and execute the president’s America First agenda.”
    Risch voted to advance the following nominees to the Department of Interior and Department of Energy:
    Andrea Travnicek to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. Travnicek will oversee the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation, which manages federal dams, powerplants, and other facilities across Idaho for irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and recreation.
    Leslie Beyer to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Mineral Management. Beyer will oversee four departmental agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, which manages nearly 12 million acres of public lands in Idaho for multiple use, including grazing, mining, timber production, and recreation.
    Theodore Garrish to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy. Garrish will oversee the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), which advances nuclear energy research, technology, and facilities. NE supports and oversees the Idaho National Laboratory, DOE’s nuclear research laboratory.  
    Tristan Abbey to be the Administrator of Energy Information Administration, responsible for providing independent and impartial energy information. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Standard Bots Expands Production Facility and Unveils New 30kg Payload Robot

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GLEN COVE, N.Y., May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Bots, a fast-growing American robotics company, has launched an expanded production facility in Glen Cove, New York, this month. The new 16,000-square-foot factory doubles the size of its previous Long Island location, cementing Standard Bots’ status as one of the few companies manufacturing robots at scale in the United States. This expansion aligns with the company’s unveiling of a new 30kg payload, 2m reach robot at The Automate Show, showcasing its commitment to advancing automation technology.

    “This new facility marks a pivotal moment for Standard Bots as we scale to meet growing demand for American-made robotics,” said Evan Beard, Co-Founder & CEO of Standard Bots. “We’re thrilled to debut both our expanded factory and our latest innovations at Automate.”

    At The Automate Show, Standard Bots will demonstrate its in-house-developed physical AI, a groundbreaking technology designed specifically for its robots and powered by the NVIDIA Isaac platform. This AI enables users to teach robots tasks through demonstration, eliminating the need for traditional coding or programming. Then users can annotate and augment their demonstration data through NVIDIA Isaac Sim, a reference application built on NVIDIA Omniverse for rapid deployment. Having undergone extensive private beta testing, this end-to-end model will be released to a broader audience in 2025, promising to simplify automation for thousands of complex processes previously out of reach through conventional robotics. Alongside this, the company will unveil its new 30kg payload, 2m reach robot. This model combines collaborative features—such as a compact footprint, user-friendly programming, and advanced safety—with robust specifications suited for heavy-duty tooling and large workpieces, a combination highly valued across industries like automotive, aerospace, and logistics. Notably, Standard Bots offers this American-built robot at a more competitive price than its rivals, strengthening its market position.

    The robotics industry is poised for significant growth, with the International Federation of Robotics reporting that global robot installations in manufacturing rose by 31% in 2022 alone. “Robotics has been the unlock for the repatriation of manufacturing, but the potential has been hindered by two major barriers: cost and flexibility,” said Quentin Clark, Managing Director of General Catalyst. “We look forward to supporting Standard Bots and seeing how their technology will open up new possibilities for robotics across American manufacturing.”

    Standard Bots invites the public to celebrate this milestone at a grand opening event on June 12 at the new Glen Cove facility. Interested attendees can contact Alex Thesken at alex@standardbots.com for more details or to RSVP.

    About Standard Bots
    Standard Bots is a leading American robot manufacturer dedicated to making robots simple so humans can do more. Headquartered in Glen Cove, NY, Standard Bots designs and assembles industrial robots in the USA that are bolstered by programming software and AI training models developed in-house to provide a robust physical AI platform to the world. The company has received over $63M in funding led by General Catalyst with participation from Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Samsung Next.

    Standard Bots is building the critical infrastructure for the robotics revolution, empowering every business to shape the future of work.

    Media Contact
    Alex Thesken
    Marketing Manager, Standard Bots
    (513) 330-4748
    alex@standardbots.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Spit science: why saliva is a great way to detect disease

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Genecy Calado de Melo, Lecturer in Operative and Primary Care Dentistry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    noriver/Shutterstock.com

    A few drops of saliva can now reveal what used to require a scalpel, a syringe or a scan.

    Scientists have developed ways to analyse spit for the tiniest traces of illness – from mouth cancer to diabetes, and even brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.

    Unlike blood tests or biopsies, saliva is easy to collect, painless and inexpensive. During the COVID pandemic, some countries used saliva-based testing for rapid screening.

    This isn’t entirely new. Scientists first noticed the diagnostic potential of spit decades ago. In the 1980s, researchers used saliva to detect hormones and drug use. By the 1990s, it was being explored as a way to detect HIV.

    What’s new is the speed and precision. Today’s techniques can detect subtle molecular shifts that would have been impossible to measure just a few years ago.

    Saliva holds a surprising amount of information. It’s full of tiny fragments of DNA, RNA, proteins and fats – many of which change when disease takes hold. Researchers have already shown that saliva can be used to detect changes linked to diabetes, Parkinson’s, heart disease and some cancers.

    A recent study even showed saliva could help distinguish between healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment, a possible early sign of Alzheimer’s.

    In dentistry, spit science is being studied for early signs of gum disease and even the risk of tooth decay.

    A light-based technique called Raman spectroscopy is one of the latest tools being used to scan saliva for hidden chemical changes. It works by bouncing harmless light off molecules in a spit sample and reading the pattern it sends back – a kind of fingerprint for what’s happening inside your body.

    It sounds like science fiction, but the technology is already being used in labs to detect early signs of cancer and other diseases often before symptoms appear.

    This could be a gamechanger for oral cancer, which often starts with small, painless changes inside the mouth that are easy to miss. Early detection is vital, but many people don’t realise they have a problem until it’s much harder to treat.

    A simple spit test during a regular dental check-up could help find cancer early, before it spreads.

    It’s not just about cancer, either. Saliva is being trialled as a tool to monitor everything from stress levels to infections.

    Spit could monitor stress levels.
    ViDI Studio/Shutterstock

    Simplicity

    What makes saliva so appealing is its simplicity – no needles, no specialist clinics. Samples can often be collected at home, posted to a lab and analysed within hours. This could make a huge difference in places with limited access to healthcare or for people who avoid doctors out of fear, cost or time.

    Of course, not every disease leaves a clear marker in spit and researchers are still working out which conditions saliva can reliably detect. But the idea of using what’s already naturally produced by the body to give an early warning is a powerful one. It could help catch disease when it’s most treatable, save lives and make healthcare faster, cheaper and more comfortable for everyone.

    There’s still work to be done before spit tests become part of routine check-ups. Larger clinical trials are needed and researchers are still fine tuning the best ways to analyse and interpret the data. But the direction of travel is clear: the days of saliva being seen as just drool are over.

    Saliva may not seem glamorous, but thanks to the rise of spit science, it’s fast becoming one of the most promising tools in the fight against disease. A future where your dentist, doctor, or even you could spot health problems early with nothing more than simple spit.

    Genecy Calado de Melo received funding from Science without Borders – Brazil (2015).

    Cathy E. Richards 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. Spit science: why saliva is a great way to detect disease – https://theconversation.com/spit-science-why-saliva-is-a-great-way-to-detect-disease-255342

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Empower and Protect VA Health Care Workers and Patients

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    May 09, 2025

    HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday reintroduced the VA Employee Fairness Act, legislation that would help right a long-standing wrong by expanding collective bargaining rights for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals. The bill would ensure that nurses, physicians, and other VA clinicians have the same rights as their counterparts in the private sector and other parts of the VA, empowering them to speak up on critical issues like staffing ratios, patient care, and compensation.

    Currently, Title 38 of the United States Code restricts these workers from negotiating over matters of professional conduct or competence, employee pay, and other key workplace issues. As a result, they are often unable to meaningfully advocate for improvements that would help address staffing shortages, enhance patient care, or recruit and retain qualified health care professionals.

    “Our veterans deserve the best care possible, and that starts with treating VA health care workers with dignity and respect,” said Murphy. “This bill gives nurses and doctors the tools they need to advocate for safe staffing and provide better care, just like their colleagues in the private sector.”

    “It has never been more important to give VA healthcare workers the opportunity to fight for better working conditions in order to provide the best possible care for veterans. With the entire VA workforce under attack from the Trump Administration, recruiting and retaining the very best doctors, nurses, and health care support staff is a challenge – but one we can meet with better, stronger workplace protections,” said Blumenthal. “Simply put: VA healthcare workers who have chosen to serve our nation’s veterans deserve the same opportunity to organize and collectively bargain for better pay, benefits, and working conditions that their VA colleagues have.”

    U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) also cosponsored the legislation.

    The legislation is endorsed by National Nurses United (NNU), the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of Labor (AFL), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), VoteVets and Union Veterans Council of AFL-CIO.

    Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wasserman Schultz Leads Democrats in Amicus Brief to Supreme Court Backing TPS for Venezuelans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

    “Amici, as members of Congress, are keenly aware of the critical role that separation of powers plays in our constitutional democracy as a means to safeguard against the concentration of power within a single government branch,” said the Members in the brief’s introduction and summary. “Separation of powers … obligates the Judiciary to not shy from its duty to prevent Executive Branch overreach that upsets the carefully calibrated role each co-equal branch plays in our constitutional democracy.”

    Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) led 48 Democratic Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in response to the Trump Administration’s attempt to override a district court ruling that blocked the Department of Homeland Security from vacating Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans. 

    The Trump Administration petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a district court decision that preserved TPS protections for Venezuelans while a case on the merits unfolds. The brief argues that Congress has a clear interest in preserving TPS and that the Administration’s attempt to vacate their status is unlawful and breaches separation of powers.

    “Amici, as members of Congress, are keenly aware of the critical role that separation of powers plays in our constitutional democracy as a means to safeguard against the concentration of power within a single government branch,” said the Members in the brief’s introduction and summary. “Separation of powers … obligates the Judiciary to not shy from its duty to prevent Executive Branch overreach that upsets the carefully calibrated role each co-equal branch plays in our constitutional democracy.”

    The brief continues, “The Executive Branch advances an interpretation of the TPS statute that, in essence, rewrites the statute to claim a power that Congress did not delegate to the Executive Branch…[A]mici, drawing on their experience and expertise as members of Congress, explain how these offered interpretations are incorrect and further explain that the TPS statute does not allow for vacatur.”

    Wasserman Schultz was joined by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8), House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-2), House Rules Committee Ranking Member Rep. James McGovern (MA-2), House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-7), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), New Democrat Coalition Chair Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), and House Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35).

    Additional signers include Reps. Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Danny Davis (IL-7), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Betty McCollum (MN-4), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Steve Cohen (TN-9), Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-4), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Dina Titus (NV-1), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Robin Kelly (IL-2), Donald Beyer (VA-8), Lou Correa (CA-46), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Darren Soto (FL-9), Steven Horsford (NV-4), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-7), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-4), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Troy Carter, Sr. (LA-2), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), Gabe Amo (RI-1), Janelle Bynum (OR-5), Maxine Dexter (OR-3), Luz Rivas (CA-29).

    Wasserman Schultz, who co-chairs the Venezuela Democracy Caucus, also recently partnered with Reps. Darren Soto (FL-9) and María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) to sponsor bipartisan legislation to reverse Trump’s termination of TPS for Venezuelans and redesignate protections. 

    The full amicus brief can be found here.

    ####

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Celebrates National Small Business Week, Slams Trump Admin’s Tariff-Taxes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Over two-thirds of small businesses say that Trump admin’s reckless tariff-taxes will hurt their business, according to WSJ poll
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 81 Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution declaring the week of May 5th as “National Small Business Week.” The measure recognizes the entrepreneurs and innovators who promote growth and create jobs across America.  
    “This week is National Small Business Week. Our week to celebrate the small businesses that power our economy and create jobs across Colorado,” said Hickenlooper. “The problem is, most small businesses aren’t in the mood to celebrate. The Trump admin’s tariff-taxes have created chaos and uncertainty for our small businesses.”
    Hickenlooper is a former small business owner and a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Colorado is home to over 715,000 small businesses that employ over 1.1 million Coloradans.
    Hickenlooper has been outspoken about the effects of the Trump administration’s tariffs on small businesses. 
    “Their reckless tariff-taxes – and their chaotic rollout – are creating so much uncertainty that they’ve literally paralyzed businesses,” Hickenlooper said in a video posted to his social media accounts. “It’s next to impossible to plan anything when their on-again, off-again tariffs make it impossible for small businesses to know whether they’ll be able to afford what they need to stay alive and grow… The bottom line: we should be supporting our small businesses, not crushing them.”
    Hickenlooper also called on Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to address the impacts of the Trump administration’s tariffs on small businesses and sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding answers on the national security and economic impacts of their tariffs on Canadian goods. 
    In a Giddy Up-Date newsletter posted to his Substack, Hickenlooper details how the Trump admin’s trade wars have “frozen businesses in their tracks.” 
    “Trump promised to lower prices on his first day in office. Instead, his administration announced major tariffs across the board and picked trade wars with our most valuable trading partners, like Mexico and Canada. We’re already seeing Mexico, Canada, and the other countries retaliate, targeting American businesses and producers with their own tariffs,” wrote Hickenlooper. “It’s especially harmful for the smallest businesses – the newest entrepreneurs – who are the most vulnerable… I know so many small businesses in Colorado and across the country are still reeling trying to figure out how to move forward in these unpredictable times.”
    Two Hickenlooper bills that make it easier for small businesses to access and offer retirement plans for their employees have been signed into law. Hickenlooper’s very first bills introduced as Senator focused on small business. His initial package of bills would help more women and underrepresented communities receive investment capital and give Native American small businesses a voice at the highest levels of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Last Congress, Hickenlooper introduced the Supporting Community Lenders Act and Investing in All of America Act, both of which focus on increasing access to affordable capital for small businesses. He intends to reintroduce both bills this Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Tim Scott Delivers Remarks at Opportunity Zone Summit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

    WASHINGTON — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) delivered remarks at a summit on Opportunity Zones (OZs) hosted by Great Opportunity Policy. The event covered various aspects of OZs including, commercial innovation, private sector investment, and sustainability growth. 

    “Opportunity Zones represent a powerful tool for economic revitalization, and I’m proud to have played a role in their creation,” said Senator Scott. “By attracting long-term investments into underserved communities, we are not just boosting the economy, we are unlocking hope and opportunity for individuals and families who need it most. These zones are about more than just numbers, they are about transforming lives and building stronger communities. I remain committed to expanding this initiative and ensuring that everyone has the chance to thrive.”

    Click here to view the media gallery.

    Background on Opportunity Zones

    The Opportunity Zones (OZ) program is a transformative initiative born from bipartisan legislation enacted in 2017, primarily led by Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and co-sponsored by Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). This program was designed to provide substantial tax benefits to investors who commit to long-term investments in Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) communities, which are designated areas identified by state and federal leaders as crucial for economic revitalization.

    By the end of 2020, OZ initiatives had attracted at least $48 billion in equity investment, leading to a large and immediate surge in both commercial and residential development. Notably, the probability of investment in designated areas increased by over 20% in the months following the establishment of Opportunity Zones, resulting in improved local home values—up by 3.4% between 2017 and 2020—while rents remained stable.

    Currently, Senator Scott’s Opportunity Zones initiative has driven a remarkable $84.7 billion into underserved communities, unlocking vital economic opportunities. His leadership extended to the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during President Trump’s first term, significantly contributing to the initiative’s success. As he looks ahead, Senator Scott plans to collaborate with President Trump and his Republican colleagues to broaden and extend the Opportunity Zones program, ensuring continued focus on driving economic growth in communities that need it most.

    As part of his Opportunity Summit series and in celebration of Black History Month,Senator Scott hosted a discussion focused on helping all Americans achieve their version of the American Dream. The conversation underscored his continued efforts to promote economic freedom and unlock new opportunities for underserved communities.

    The impact of Opportunity Zones on the housing crisis has been significant, facilitating major increases in the supply of housing and other developments. According to the Economic Innovation Group, OZs have led to:

    • An immediate boost in commercial and residential development in low-income areas.
    • A notable increase in investment probabilities within designated tracts. 
    • The doubling of new national multifamily housing developments.
      • Opportunity Zones now account for 20% of all new market-rate multifamily units, despite representing only 10% of the U.S. population.

    In total, Opportunity Zones have facilitated the creation of 172,000 new apartment units across 972 developments within 2,014 cities, significantly contributing to addressing housing needs in economically distressed regions. Senator Scott’s advocacy remains pivotal in shaping and advancing this initiative for ongoing community revitalization.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alternating lane closure on Des Allumettes Bridge

    Source: Government of Canada News

    For immediate release

    Pembroke, Ontario, May 9, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise motorists of an alternating lane closure on the Des Allumettes Bridge for annual spring cleaning during the following period:

    • Wednesday, May 14, from 9 am to 3 pm

    During this period, 1 lane will be closed and 1 lane will remain open for alternating traffic. Temporary traffic lights will be on site to direct traffic. Motorists may encounter delays.

    This closure will not impact cyclists or pedestrians.

    PSPC encourages users to exercise caution when travelling on the bridge and thanks them for their patience.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: HMCS Margaret Brooke returns from historic Operation PROJECTION

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 9, 2025 – Ottawa, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke has successfully completed Operation (Op) PROJECTION, marking the end of a historic deployment to the South American, Antarctic, and Caribbean regions. This mission, which began on January 10, 2025, was the first visit to Antarctica by a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) vessel, supporting the first all-Canadian scientific research expedition to the region.

    During the deployment, HMCS Margaret Brooke built and enhanced international relationships, in cooperation with Global Affairs Canada, through multiple port visits and engagements with regional partners throughout South America and the Caribbean. In Antarctica, the ship supported Canadian scientists in conducting vital research, showcasing Canada’s commitment to understanding this unique polar environment.

    The crew of HMCS Margaret Brooke demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication throughout Op PROJECTION. Their efforts have strengthened Canada’s forward presence and diplomacy in the Central and South Americas, contributing to international peace and security. The climate change research conducted in the Antarctic region will benefit Canadians and the world by improving understanding of climate change impacts

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on April Labour Force Survey results

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for April 2025:

    “Through global volatility and shifting economic winds, B.C. is holding steady – growing an economy that works for people, protecting what matters and building a cleaner, more secure future. B.C. stands with Team Canada and all the workers across the country who have been affected by this unnecessary trade war. 

    “Today’s Labour Force Survey data for April shows that B.C. held steady with a small gain of 6,000 jobs, compared to last month. So far this year, B.C. has gained 51,300 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces.

    “In April, private-sector employment increased by 1,600 and self-employment increased by 2,800. Since July 2017, B.C. has gained 174,400 private-sector jobs, and so far this year, we have the second-highest increase in private-sector employment across the country at 5,800 jobs.

    “Youth employment in B.C. increased in April by 8,400 jobs, which is the largest gain among provinces. And B.C. continues to lead the country with an average hourly wage of $38.24, with our average wage up 4.8% compared to this time last year, the second-highest growth among provinces.

    “Our unemployment rate is 6.2%, one of the lowest in Canada and below the national average of 6.9%.

    “The data shows that in April, B.C. had employment increases of 1,800 jobs in the manufacturing sector, which continues to show strong and steady growth overall with gains of 11,300 so far this year.

    “As tourism season begins, we are seeing people choosing to vacation locally and not travel to the United States. Many British Columbians are stepping up by supporting local restaurants, vacationing in B.C. and choosing locally made products. These everyday choices are a powerful show of support for workers, small businesses and communities throughout our province. 

    “B.C. also introduced legislation to ensure the Province can act quickly to break down interprovincial trade barriers and prioritize the purchase of Canadian goods. We have been a leader in reducing interprovincial trade barriers even prior to the tariff threat, advocating for a mutual recognition agreement and one of the provinces with the least exceptions. The commitment is to have a mutual recognition agreement soon that will cover thousands of goods sold or used in Canada.  

    “The Province has also introduced legislation to deliver more schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, which will create more jobs and support our growing communities. This legislation is part of work underway across government to deliver projects faster, reduce overall permitting times and strengthen B.C.’s economy through uncertain times.

    “We will continue to protect services and defend people’s jobs and the economy. Growing a stronger and more diverse economy will help protect people in B.C. from instability outside our borders, with investments that will bring good-paying jobs to the province as part of robust and sustainable industries.”

    Learn More:

    To learn more about B.C.’s response to tariffs, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/tariffs

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Nisg̱a’a, B.C., Canada celebrate 25th anniversary of Nisg̱a’a Treaty

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Nisg̱a’a Nation and the governments of Canada and British Columbia are commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Nisg̱a’a Final Agreement (the Nisg̱a’a Treaty) as a major milestone on the path of reconciliation.

    A landmark in the relationship between the parties, the Nisg̱a’a Treaty marked the end of a 113-year journey and the first steps toward a brighter future in a new direction. It is the first treaty in British Columbia to provide constitutional certainty in respect of an Indigenous people’s Section 35 right to self-government.

    The Nisg̱a’a Treaty put control over land and resources back in the hands of Nisg̱a’a Nation, recognizing Nisg̱a’a Lands (2,000 square kilometres), and provides constitutionally protected Treaty Rights, including Treaty Rights to hunt and fish in the Nass wildlife area and Nass area. It has opened the door for joint economic initiatives in the responsible, sustainable development of the Nisg̱a’a Nation’s natural resources — benefitting Nisg̱a’a citizens as well as their fellow British Columbians and Canadians.

    Over the past few decades, the Nisg̱a’a have made progress in building their government and institutions, as well as facilitating economic development for both the Nisg̱a’a Nation and surrounding communities. The Nisg̱a’a Nation created Canada’s first Indigenous-owned mining royalty company, pooling together the royalties of different First Nations across the country as a way to attract investors, lower risks and create revenue streams for its Indigenous owners and shareholders. 

    Through investments in tourism, the Nisg̱a’a Nation continues to attract Canadian and international audiences to experience the natural beauty of Nisg̱a’a Lands, creating jobs and economic opportunities not only in Nisg̱a’a communities but throughout the province of B.C. These projects have generated employment, business opportunities and revenue. The innovative partnerships the Nisg̱a’a Nation has stewarded to develop the Nass’s resources in a sustainable way is a visionary example of what is possible through treaty.

    Treaty relationships between partners are a critically important pathway to meaningful reconciliation. They help support strong, healthy, thriving communities that benefit people today and for generations to come. An outstanding example of modern treaty relationships, the Nisg̱a’a Treaty is studied internationally as a model of hope, trust and government-to-government co-operation.

    In honour of Nisg̱a’a Day and the government-to-government relationship built and continuing to build, the Nisg̱a’a flag is displayed in the Hall of Honour at the B.C. Parliament Buildings.

    Today, the Nisg̱a’a Nation includes citizens residing primarily in the Nisg̱a’a Villages of Ging̱olx, Lax̱g̱alts’ap, Gitwinksihlkw, and Gitlax̱t’aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh) on British Columbia’s northwest coast, as well as in Terrace, Prince Rupert/Port Edward, and throughout the Lower Mainland.

    Quotes:

    Eva Clayton, President, Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government –

    “As we stand here today, in front of our Nation, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of our treaty, let us each reflect on the sacrifices our ancestors made, our grandparents’ tireless contribution to the Nisg̱a’a Land question. It is a privilege to be standing here on behalf of the executive, members of Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisg̱a’a, our Council of Elders, to celebrate our first 25 years of self-governance. As we move forward, the responsibility rests with us, as Nisg̱a’a People, to imagine our future, and dream of the possibilities to show British Columbians, Canadians and the global community who the Nisg̱a’a are, as we leave our next mark in the history books.”

    Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada –

    “Twenty-five years ago, the Nisg̱a’a Nation made history, signing the first modern treaty in British Columbia. This milestone represents not only the strength and vision of Nisg̱a’a leadership but also the lasting impact of treaty partnerships rooted in respect, recognition and self-determination. As we reflect on the past quarter-century, we reaffirm our commitment to working together in true partnership to advance reconciliation and support a prosperous future for the Nisg̱a’a Nation.”

    David Eby, Premier of British Columbia –

    “A foundational and future-forward document, the Nisg̱a’a Treaty marked a turning point in our history, a moment where we came together and decided on a brighter future for our province. Reflecting on the past 25 years, we have achieved so much as treaty partners, and we will continue working collaboratively to realize our goals with the treaty as our guide. Partnerships are the path to progress. I thank the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government for their leadership and congratulate all Nisg̱a’a citizens on this anniversary.”

    Christine Boyle, B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

    “With this treaty, Nisg̱a’a citizens charted a new path on their journey of self-determination. At the same time, B.C. and Nisg̱a’a reset our relationship to focus on reconciliation, supporting an even better life for Nisg̱a’a communities and people. As a treaty partner, the Province has an ongoing and ever-evolving commitment to realize our shared priorities. I congratulate the past and present Nisg̱a’a leadership on the social, cultural and economic successes of the past 25 years, and look forward to the good work we will do together in the future.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The Nisg̱a’a Treaty, which came into effect on May 11, 2000, is the first modern treaty in British Columbia.
    • May 11, 2025, marks the 25th anniversary of the Nisg̱a’a Treaty’s effective date.
    • The parties to the Nisg̱a’a Treaty are the Nisg̱a’a Nation, the Province and Canada.
    • The Nisg̱a’a Treaty sets out the rights and interests of the Nisg̱a’a Nation and its citizens, and the responsibilities of the Nisg̱a’a Nation and its treaty partners.

    MIL OSI Canada News –