NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Many genes in male and female placentas expressed differently

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    Media Advisory
    Thursday, May 1, 2025

    NIH findings may lead to insights on pregnancy complications, adult health.
    What
    The genes of male and female placentas have marked differences in how they are expressed, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other institutions. These differences involve the presence or absence of tags on DNA known as methyl groups, which switch genes on or off without changing their structure. Understanding these DNA methylation patterns may inform future research on the higher risk for pregnancy complications involving male fetuses, such as stillbirth and prematurity, as well as later life health conditions that occur in adults who were born after a complicated pregnancy.
    Researchers analyzed male and female placental samples from a larger study for differences in their methylation patterns, and found differences in gene activity between male and female placentas that may play a role in birthweight and adult diseases.
    The study identified 2,497 previously unreported DNA sites that had different methylation patterns for males and females. Of these and more than 2,500 sites that had also been identified by previous studies, 66.9% of large increases in methylation occurred in DNA from male placentas and 33.1% from female placentas. Increases in methylation in male placentas was linked with greater neonatal size whereas those in females was linked with greater placental size.
    Some increases in methylation found in male placentas were located near the CCDC6 gene. Lower activation of CCDC6 has been linked with preterm birth in previous studies.
    Higher methylation near the FNDC5 gene was associated with lower expression of the gene in male placentas but not in female placentas. FNDC5 is involved with the manufacture of irisin, which protects the placenta from damage by reactive oxygen molecules and insulin resistance (cells’ difficulty in using insulin to lower blood sugar.) Lower irisin levels have been associated with the pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorder, known as preeclampsia.
    Variations in the genes ATP5MG and FAM83A, expressed in female placentas, have been associated with asthma, hay fever, eczema (dry, itchy, inflamed skin) and higher risk for breast cancer later in life.
    Genetic factors influence the health differences between males and females, from before birth to later in life. Male fetuses grow faster than female fetuses and their pregnancies are more likely to be complicated by such conditions as preeclampsia (a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy), failure to grow at an adequate rate, and preterm birth. They also are more likely to die in the year after birth. Dysfunction of the placenta underlies many pregnancy complications and is thought to set the stage for male and female health differences that occur later in life. Variations in methylation patterns are thought to underlie many of these differences.
    The study was conducted by Fasil Tekola-Ayele, Ph.D., of the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and colleagues at other institutions. It appears in Nature Communications.
    Who
     Fasil Tekola-Ayele, Ph.D., is available for comment on this study.
    Reference
    Tekola-Ayele F, et al. Sex-differentiated placental methylation and gene expression regulation has implications for neonatal traits and adult diseases Nature Communications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58128-3 (2025)
    About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For more information, visit https://www.nichd.nih.gov.
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Unveils New ND Icon

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    North Dakota’s new icon was unveiled at the 2025 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference. This icon is a colorful representation of the state’s geography, scenery, and spirit. It will be used in conjunction with the “Be Legendary” brand, which for more than 20 years has signified the state’s adventure, hospitality, and pioneering ambition.

    “The new ND Icon captures the essence of North Dakota – a place where our opportunities are as big as our skies, and our smiles are as bright as our sunsets,” said Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman. “It will serve as a powerful symbol of our shared identity and a source of pride for all North Dakotans.”

    The public was invited to participate in choosing the new icon through a widely advertised poll, which garnered over 10,000 responses, with 80% favoring the selected icon.

    The icon was designed in collaboration with state and local tourism officials and by the experienced marketing professionals at North Dakota advertising agency, The Good Kids. It is inspired by North Dakota’s vast and beautiful landscape, characterized by its wide-open spaces, stunning sunsets, and rural charm. It also draws upon the authentic and compelling voice of the “Be Legendary” brand:

    • Honest: Reflecting the state’s genuine and trustworthy character.
    • Real: Communicating in an approachable, conversational, and human style.
    • Spirited: Conveying the state’s energy, dynamism, and enthusiasm.
    • Optimistic: Expressing excitement about North Dakota’s future potential and the endless possibilities it offers.

    The icon will be used in a variety of applications to promote North Dakota and instill a sense of pride and unity among residents and help improve awareness for our state to attract visitors, businesses, and new residents.

    Get your own ND merchandise at https://belegendary.link/ShopND.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Scholten, Barrett Introduce Bipartisan TRANSPORT Jobs Act to Connect Veterans with Supply Chain Careers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    WASHINGTON, DC – This week, U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI03) and U.S. Congressman Tom Barrett (MI07) introduced the Transitioning Retiring And New Service Members to Port, Ocean, Rail, and Truck (TRANSPORT) Jobs Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen both veteran employment opportunities and the American supply chain workforce by developing a comprehensive plan to connect veterans with high-demand jobs in the transportation and logistics sector.

    “Veterans who have devoted their lives to serving our nation should never face obstacles in finding employment. Our home is the land of the free because of the brave, and it’s our duty to ensure that when their mission ends, a new path begins,” said Scholten. “The least we can do is help streamline the process and identify barriers to a career post-service. That’s why I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan TRANSPORT Jobs Act with Rep. Barrett, which would be an important first step in developing a more conducive job market for veterans in the supply chain industry.”

    “No one is better trained or more mission-focused than our veterans, yet too many are left struggling to find meaningful employment after leaving the military,” said Barrett. “It’s time we tear down the roadblocks that stand between those who served and the jobs that need doing in our economy. The TRANSPORT Jobs Act is a critical first step in that process and achieves two goals at once – supporting our veterans and strengthening our nation’s supply chain. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Rep. Scholten and look forward to working together to get it across the finish line.”

    Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to work with other federal agencies to develop and release a plan that will identify barriers to hiring veterans in trucking, rail, shipping, and other critical infrastructure roles. It will also require the department to make policy recommendations to eliminate them.

    Nearly two-thirds of newly separated service members face challenges transitioning to civilian life with “finding a job” being their top concern. The TRANSPORT Jobs Actaddresses this issue by aligning federal workforce development policy with the needs of both veterans and employers, bolstering economic opportunity, and national resilience. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Workers’ Memorial Day, Deluzio & Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Bipartisan Public Service Worker Protection Act

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan Public Service Worker Protection Act.  This bill seeks to expand the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to include public sector workers under its defined safety protections on the job. The goal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) is to “assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.” The 1970 law created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the federal level and provided that states could run their own safety and health programs as long as those programs were at least as effective as the federal program. Federal and state safety personnel work to ensure worker safety and health through work site enforcement, education, and compliance assistance.

    While the OSH Act protects some public sector workers working under federal authority, federal OSHA law does not inherently cover workers at state and local government agencies. Instead, public sector workers in these states are protected by the OSH Act only if their state has an OSHA-approved program—leaving a gap of public sector workers whose workplaces are subject to fewer safety standards and are given less protections. As of today, around two dozen states and territories have OSHA-approved programs that cover both private sector and public sector workers. Some states and territories may also have plans that only cover public sector workers. This leaves dozens of other states and territories where public sector workers lack worker safety protections.

    “We just marked Workers’ Memorial Day, a solemn day to remember workers who died or were hurt on the job in the last year. American workers in every sector should expect to work in safe conditions and to be able to come home,” said Congressman Deluzio. “Toward that goal, let‘s make sure that every American worker has the strong safety standards and protections of OSHA in their workplace. I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Public Service Worker Protection Act with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick to extend these essential to the public servants who power our governments and help keep all of us safe. Let’s get this done.” 

    “We entrust our public servants with some of the most critical responsibilities—educating our children, safeguarding our communities, responding in times of crisis. Yet millions of these dedicated workers remain unprotected by the very workplace safety standards that exist to prevent harm. That is a gap we can no longer ignore. Our Public Service Worker Protection Act is a critical step toward equal protection under the law—no matter your job or your zip code. Congressman Deluzio and I are urging our colleagues: join us in standing with America’s public servants and let’s get this done,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

    “Every worker deserves a safe workplace, whether they’re in public service or work in the private sector,” said American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) President Lee Saunders. “But nearly 8 million public service workers still aren’t guaranteed basic safety protections on the job. In 23 states, frontline workers like EMS responders, road crews, and corrections officers are excluded from OSHA coverage — even though public service workers report injuries at a rate 81% higher than those in the private sector. It’s time to fix that. On behalf of the 1.4 million public service workers of AFSCME, we thank Rep. Chris Deluzio for sponsoring the Public Service Worker Protection Act, which would finally extend OSHA protections to public service workers nationwide. And we urge Congress to pass this legislation without delay, because protecting our communities starts with protecting the workers who keep America running.”

    “More than 50 years after the introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, too many of the workers who keep our cities and towns running are at risk of injury, illness, and even death on the job,” said Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO. “The Public Service Worker Protection Act will ensure that these workers will finally have the full protections they are entitled to under federal law. This bill is an important step forward in our fight to make sure every worker comes home from work safe. We urge Congress to pass it without delay.”

    “Public service workers have dedicated their lives to improving our communities, often putting their communities’ needs ahead of their own. Relying on individual states to implement their own health and safety plans is simply not enough. These workers deserve federal protections now. CWA proudly supports the Public Service Worker Protection Act, which extends OSHA protections to the public sector workers who keep our cities and states running. We commend Representatives Deluzio and Fitzpatrick for their leadership on this vital issue and call for the swift passage of this important legislation.” – Dan Mauer, Director of Government Affairs, Communications Workers of America (CWA).

    “The fight for workplace safety is foundational to why the labor movement exists and core to the AFT,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). “No worker should fear for their safety on the job. We are proud to stand with Congressman Deluzio as he introduces the Public Service Worker Protection Act. Far too many public employees are not covered by a state OSHA plan. This legislation would change that and be a meaningful step towards safer workplaces. Congress should take it up without delay.”

    “Millions of public sector workers across 23 states are currently excluded from the Occupational Safety and Health Act, including thousands of USW members who serve as crossing guards, probationary officers, city workers and much more. This week, as we mark Workers Memorial Day and recommit ourselves to advancing workplace health and safety, we applaud Reps. Chris Deluzio and Brian Fitzpatrick for once again introducing the bipartisan Public Sector Worker Protection Act to close this loophole and protect public sector workers.” – United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall

    The full text of the bill is available here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Smith Reintroduce Bipartisan Bills to Help Students Navigate College Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Listen to audio from Senator Grassley HERE 

    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced three bipartisan bills to help students and families make informed decisions when choosing a college and taking out loans. 

    From the initial college search, to the acceptance of financial aid, to counseling once in college, the bills would help students avoid sticker shock, find the best school for their budget and avoid taking out ill-advised and oversized loans.

    “When it comes to college costs, we ought to focus on fixing the process on the front-end before students get in over their heads. The federal government should be offering commonsense resources to better prepare borrowers. Our bipartisan bills will provide additional counseling, resources and clarity to the student loan process so that students can know before they owe. I’m working to help America’s next generation pursue higher education opportunities without breaking the bank,” Grassley said. 

    “We need to better equip students and their families with information about the costs of college, from the initial search all the way up to when they receive financial aid offers. My bipartisan bills with Senator Grassley would help fix these problems,” Smith said. “Among other things, we would ensure that financial aid offers can be easily compared between schools, because time and again students and families are faced with inconsistent and incomplete information, making apples-to-apples comparisons impossible. These reforms will help students have more transparency when making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives—how to pay for college and take the next step in their education.”  

    Legislative Summaries:

    The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act would improve the effectiveness of and access to net price calculators. Net price calculators provide students with early, individualized estimates of higher education costs and financial aid figures before they decide where to apply. Rep. Brett Guthrie (Ky.) plans to introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. A summary of the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act is available HERE. 

    The Understanding the True Cost of College Act would create a universal financial aid offer form and standardize terms used to describe financial aid to allow students to more easily compare financial aid packages between schools. This move aims to prevent troubling findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that over 90% of college financial aid offer letters currently understate the price students would pay. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) are original cosponsors of the bill, and Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. A summary of the Understanding the True Cost of College Act is available HERE. 

    The Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act would strengthen the Higher Education Act to enhance the current loan counseling requirements for institutions of higher education. The bill would make loan counseling an annual requirement before new loans are disbursed, rather than a one-time requirement for first-time borrowers. The legislation would also allow students to decide exactly how much they would like to borrow, rather than offering the maximum possible loan amount as the default option. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) plans to introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. A summary of the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act is available HERE. 

    Background:

    Grassley has long warned of the fiscal danger posed by blanket cancelation after the fact and is an advocate for increased transparency to empower prospective and current students. Last Congress, Grassley joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in introducing the Student Transparency for Understanding Decisions in Education Net Terms (STUDENT) Act to provide student loan applicants with an estimate of the total amount of interest they would pay prior to accepting a loan. 

    Click HERE for audio of Grassley discussing this trio of bills, as well as the Education Department’s announcement that it will resume collections for federal borrowers with defaulted loans on May 5.  

    Support for the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act:

    “Education Finance Council supports Senator Grassley’s efforts to improve federal student loan counseling. Students deserve regular and more comprehensive information about paying for postsecondary education, and the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act equips them with the tools they need to make informed decisions,” said Gail daMota, President, Education Finance Council.

    “NACAC supports the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2025 as a critical step toward ensuring students receive clear, personalized, and timely information about borrowing. Strengthening loan counseling requirements will help students make informed decisions, minimize unnecessary debt, and navigate a more equitable path to higher education,” said Angel Pérez, CEO, National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

    Support for the Understanding the True Cost of College Act: 

    “At uAspire, we advise students every day on finding an affordable path to college—and we see firsthand how confusing and inconsistent financial aid offers can be. Too often, students struggle to understand how much they’ll actually owe or compare costs between schools. Financial aid offers must clearly communicate what students are expected to pay. We’re grateful to Senators Grassley, Smith, Hassan, and Tuberville and Representative Kim for leading the Understanding the True Cost of College Act, which would bring much-needed clarity and transparency to the process,” said Anika Van Eaton, Vice President of Policy, uAspire 

    “As a longtime advocate for financial aid transparency and consumer protection, I know firsthand how confusing and opaque financial aid offers can be—both from my time counseling low-income students and from over a decade of research at New America. The Understanding the True Cost of College Act is the result of years of evidence, advocacy, and bipartisan collaboration. It’s a commonsense solution that brings higher education in line with other major financial decisions that already require standardized, comparable information—like buying a home, financing a car, or choosing a health plan. This bill ensures that all students can make apples-to-apples comparisons and truly understand how much college will cost. I applaud Senators Grassley, Smith, Hassan, and Tuberville and Representative Kim for championing this long-overdue reform.” Rachel Fishman, Director, Higher Education, New America. 

    “We applaud Senators Grassley, Smith, Hassan, and Tuberville and Representative Kim for spearheading the Understanding the True Cost of College Act. College is one of the biggest financial decisions facing American families, yet too many higher education institutions continue to provide unclear and misleading cost information. This bipartisan bill would make common-sense reforms and empower students and families by ensuring colleges provide them with clear, transparent, and easily comparable information about expenses and financial aid options,” said Michele Zampini, Senior Director of College Affordability, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). 

    “In our work, IECA members witness, firsthand, the difficulty that exists in interpreting financial aid offers from U.S. colleges and universities. This proposed act is a critically important step towards providing students, and their families, with clear, consistent information regarding the accurate cost of higher education pursuits. We, thus, sincerely thank Senator Grassley (and his hardworking staff) for his intent to reintroduce this piece of legislation and strongly urge his fellow senatorial colleagues to cosponsor it, so that Congress can help students across the country make informed decisions about their education that will, in turn, ‘stem the tide’ as it pertains to the issue of staggering student debt,” said Leigh R. Allen II, Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Secure Nationwide Background Checks for Child Care Contractors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Download broadcast quality video HERE.

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today introduced the bipartisan Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act to ensure all individuals with unsupervised access to children – including contractors hired by schools – are authorized to receive a nationwide background check. 

    Reps. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) are leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

    “Parents should feel more confident that every individual who works with their children has been properly and thoroughly vetted. My bipartisan legislation with Senator Durbin would amend the Child Protection Improvements Act to help ensure all child care workers, including contractors, undergo nationwide background checks,” Grassley said. “Our legislative fix will help keep kids safe and give parents greater peace of mind.”

    “When parents drop their kids off at school, they shouldn’t have to worry if their children are safe in the care of the school’s faculty. While the Child Protection Improvements Act was passed with the intent of keeping children safe, it created an inadvertent complication in securing nationwide background checks for all personnel with unsupervised access to children, namely contractors hired by schools,” Durbin said. “Schools often rely on contractors for a number of services geared toward children, including providing safe transportation. Today, I’m introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Grassley to correct the current patchwork approach to securing nationwide background checks for those who work with children.”

    The CHILD Act is endorsed by Students Against Destructive Decisions, Student Transportation & Education Equity, Roundtable, Parents Helping Parents Inc., National Diversity Coalition, RaisingHOPE Inc., National Center on Adoption & Permanency, Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) and HopSkipDrive.

    “Safety has always been, and will always be, our top priority at HopSkipDrive and background checks are an integral component of our 15-step certification process. We are proud to support the bipartisan CHILD Act to amend the National Child Protection Act and enhance access to safe, reliable student transportation. This crucial amendment will help ensure the highest standards of safety are met nationwide, and we extend our gratitude to the bill sponsors for their leadership on this important issue,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive.

    Download bill text HERE.

    Download a broadcast quality video of Grassley discussing the legislation HERE.

    Background:

    The National Child Protection Act of 1993 authorized nationwide background checks for all child care workers. However, the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2018 amended the National Child Protection Act and inadvertently removed the provision that allowed states to request nationwide background checks on child care contractors. 

    The CHILD Act would amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to ensure child care contractors are authorized to receive the same national background checks as all other child care employees.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Internal FBI Emails Provide Behind-the-Scenes Look at Biden DOJ’s Plot to Take Down Trump Advisor Peter Navarro

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is further exposing the Biden Justice Department’s (DOJ) aggressive efforts to target President Donald Trump and his associates. Internal Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emails released by Grassley show Biden FBI agents planning and celebrating the indictment of Trump advisor Peter Navarro in 2022.

    The series of emails, which Grassley made public in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, detail preparations by the Biden FBI and D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office to arrest and press criminal charges against Navarro for contempt of Congress. Navarro was ultimately the first White House official in history to be jailed on a contempt of Congress conviction, serving four months in prison in 2024. Upon receiving news of Navarro’s impending indictment, former anti-Trump FBI official Timothy Thibault replied, “Wow. Great.”

    “According to the FBI’s own statistics, violent crime rose 4.5% in 2022. Meanwhile, the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute two-thirds of the criminals arrested in our nation’s capital that very same year. Instead of focusing on the rampant cases of murder and rape perpetrated against everyday Americans, personnel in the FBI’s Washington Field Office and D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office were obsessing over ways to target President Trump and his allies. Their conduct is disgraceful and un-American,” Grassley said of his letter. “Transparency brings accountability, which is why I’m requesting AG Bondi and Director Patel produce all records that further demonstrate this political rot.” 

    Grassley’s letter notes that three of the FBI officials involved in investigating Navarro also spearheaded the anti-Trump Arctic Frost investigation: Special Agent Walter Giardina, Supervisory Special Agent Blaire Toleman and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault.

    Grassley earlier this week requested Patel declassify the FBI’s analysis of the congressional criminal referral issued for Nellie Ohr, a former Fusion GPS contractor involved in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation against Trump. Despite feloniously making false statements to Congress in 2018, the FBI and DOJ chose not to press charges against Ohr. 

    Read Grassley’s letter to Bondi and Patel HERE, and view the related FBI email records HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Honors Israel’s Day of Independence

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued the following statement in honor of Israel’s Day of Independence.

    “Seventy-seven years ago, the Jewish people declared sovereignty over their ancestral homeland. Happy Independence Day to Israel — our greatest ally in the Middle East,” Chairman Mast said. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three North Carolina Men Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Material–Related Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wilmington man and a Bolivia man were arrested Tuesday on separate charges of child sex trafficking and producing child sexual abuse material. A Louisburg man, William Justin Lewis, was arrested today on child sexual abuse material charges.

    John Matthew Miller, 35, is charged with sex trafficking of a minor; enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct; and producing, distributing, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material. Miller was previously convicted of sexual battery and was a registered sex offender at the time of the offense. Miller faces at least 25 years and up to life in prison if convicted on all counts.

    Jesse Lonzo Teal, 72, also known as “Lonnie” and “Mark,” is charged with sex trafficking of a minor, enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct, producing child sexual abuse material, and using the internet to promote an illegal prostitution business enterprise. He faces at least ten years and up to life imprisonment if convicted on all counts.

    William Justin Lewis, 54, is charged with distributing child sexual abuse material and possessing child sexual abuse material. He faces at least five years’ imprisonment and up to twenty years’ imprisonment on each distribution count and up to twenty years’ imprisonment on the possession count.

    “These important cases reflect the unwavering commitment of our office and our justice system to protect the most vulnerable members of our community—our children. Wewill continue to work closely with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit such heinous acts are held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “There is no place in our community for those who prey on children, and we will do everything we can to not only seek justice for the victims, but to prevent additional child exploitation crimes.”

    “Producing and exchanging child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is a sickening reality in our world and it’s not just happening on the dark web. Pedophiles use the same platforms your family and friends use. No matter where this crime is occurring the FBI will find you. The Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program is uniquely positioned to work complex global and multijurisdictional crimes against children with he capacity to counter threats of abuse and exploitation of children,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and Robert M. DeWitt, FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Hanover County Sherriff’s Office, Brunswick County Sherriff’s Office, Wilmington Police Department, Onslow County Sherriff’s Office, the Franklin County Sherriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are investigating the cases and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charity L. Wilson and Erin C. Blondel are prosecuting the cases.

    Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos.7:25-CR-46-D-RN, 7:25-CR-47-UA-RJ, and 5:25-CR-94-D-KS.

    An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Danbury Man Charged with Trafficking Cocaine Through the Mail from Puerto Rico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging ROMAN SANTIAGO JR., 41, of Danbury, with cocaine trafficking offenses.

    As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, from September 2024 to February 2025, Santiago engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail.  During the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages containing a total of more than 11 kilograms of cocaine that were mailed from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Connecticut.  Each package was intended for Santiago and contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. 

    The indictment charges Santiago with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  Each offense carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

    Santiago was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on February 12, 2025.  He is currently released on a $50,000 bond.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, with the assistance of the Plainville and Danbury Police Departments.  The task force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Guevremont and Christopher Lembo.

    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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan Announces Launch of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Virginia’s Fourth

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

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the launch of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Fourth District, which encourages middle and high school students across the district to design an original software application.

    The winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge designed MelanomAI, an application that scans images for melanoma skin cancer with a 92.28% testing accuracy.

    “These days, technology is rapidly evolving, and STEM education is critical to help foster future leaders that are excited to be a part of this change,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “The 2025 Congressional App Challenge gives young people a platform to improve their existing coding knowledge and address longstanding problems with innovative solutions. I encourage all middle and high schoolers in the district with an interest in coding to participate!”

    Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four. Submissions will be chosen by a panel of expert judges, and the winning app will be featured on the Congressional App Challenge’s website, Congresswoman McClellan’s website and social media platforms, and may be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. The winning students will be invited to Washington, D.C. to meet Congresswoman McClellan and attend the annual #HouseOfCode science fair.

    Submission deadline: October 30, 2025 at 12 PM ET. Pre-registration link can be found here. Full rules, eligibility requirements, and submission guidelines are here. 

    For more information, visit Congresswoman McClellan’s website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $53 Million Expansion at Storm King Art Center Complete

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Hochul announced the reopening of Storm King Art Center with new buildings and landscapes, including visitor welcome pavilions with consolidated parking and accessible amenities; the construction of a conservation, fabrication, and maintenance building; and a holistic approach to landscape stewardship and environmental sustainability. The $53 million project is supported by a $11.3 million investment from the New York State Council on the Arts, Empire State Development and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

    “Storm King Art Center combines world-class art and culture with one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world,” Governor Hochul said. “With this incredible expansion of Storm King Art Center, Hudson Valley will benefit from increased tourism, expanded opportunities for growth and the restorative power of art and culture.”

    Storm King Art Center in the Town of New Windsor, Orange County, offers local, national, and international audiences a chance to discover sculpture amid 500 acres of Hudson Valley landscape. In response to growth, Storm King launched a capital project to enhance the visitor experience and protect its art, nature, and people. The completed project includes multiple elements: a ticket and information pavilion, restroom pavilion, and group pavilion — new spaces for visitor hospitality that are united by an outdoor lobby and framed by native plantings; and the state-of-the-art David R. Collens Building for Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance, which supports the museum’s work with artists and the care of its collection. The project also reclaims two former parking lots within the museum grounds, creating five acres of new landscape for art and programming.

    New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “Critical investments like this demonstrate the Governor and Legislature’s understanding of the importance and impact of our sector and of supporting the diversity of arts and culture across the state. With this support, Storm King will attract thousands of new visitors to experience this breathtaking destination that will serve residents and visitors for generations to come.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “With captivating installations and exhibits set against dramatic views of the Hudson Valley that have inspired artists for generations, Storm King is an only-in-New-York experience. Empire State Development and the Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council are proud to support Storm King’s expansion, which will not only boost intense interest from visitors, residents, and art lovers but also strengthen this cultural destination’s economic impact within the region and across the state.”

    New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Doreen M. Harris said, “Today we celebrate the power of public-private partnerships to advance energy progress for New Yorkers through creative solutions. The incorporation of sustainable building practices into the new Storm King Art Center visitor experience is an example of how this incredibly important work can blend seamlessly into New York’s existing landscape and support economic development in the Hudson Valley.”

    Storm King Executive Director Nora Lawrence said, “I am thrilled to welcome visitors back to Storm King as we unveil the completed capital project and open an exciting exhibition season. This project has resulted in thoughtfully designed spaces that elevate and enhance what Storm King does best–provide people with a singular experience of art in nature. It embodies our mission and commitment to a sustainable future, ensuring that Storm King can thrive and share that experience with generations to come.”

    State Senator James Skoufis said, “Storm King Art Center’s capital project is an outstanding, transformative addition for our region, providing for enhanced creative opportunities and proper stewardship of this remarkable place. I am thrilled to witness the Center’s continued expansion of arts education programming and accessibility for all who visit, and I applaud the Governor and Storm King’s leadership for supporting this extraordinary vision.”

    Cornwall Town Supervisor Josh Wojehowski said, “Storm King Art Center’s $53 million-dollar visionary project is a good example of what a public private partnership can deliver when local, county and state governments work together on a regionally significant project. The end result will enhance the way visitors, staff, and artists experience the Art Center. The Town of Cornwall and local business community look forward to working with SKAC on creating additional opportunities for Art Center visitors to enhance their trips in our downtown areas and take advantage of all our community has to offer.”

    Learn more about Storm King Art Center here.

    About the New York State Council on the Arts

    The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $162 million for FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

    About Empire State Development

    Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov

    About New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

    The project received $600,000 in funding through NYSERDA’s Building Cleaner Communities Competition to implement sustainable building practices, such as air source heat pumps, passive design strategies, energy recovery ventilation, an enhanced building envelope, roof mounted solar, as well as infrastructure 12 electric vehicle charging stations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BERKS COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick Off Small Business Week in Hamburg, Highlight Importance of Investing in Our Downtowns and Main Streets

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    May 02, 2025 – Hamburg, PA

    ADVISORY – BERKS COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick Off Small Business Week in Hamburg, Highlight Importance of Investing in Our Downtowns and Main Streets

    Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger will celebrate Small Business Week by touring downtown Hamburg and highlighting the important impact small businesses have on Pennsylvania’s economy. Governor Josh Shapiro has proclaimed May 4 through 10, 2025, as Small Business Week in Pennsylvania.

    Secretary Siger will also be announcing a new designation for the Berks County borough, highlighting a recent $100,000 investment through the Main Street Matters Program, and visiting local small businesses.

    The tour will include stops at the following: the Art & Craft Gallery of Hamburg, the Balthaser building, the Hamburg Item building, AEC Market, Liv Holistic, the Hamburg Strand Theater, Hazel’s Cafe, and the Hamburg Antique Center.

    Governor Shapiro created Main Street Matters to help revitalize downtowns, support small businesses, and strengthen local economies. The Governor, who recently announced investments in 81 community projects across Pennsylvania through the program, has included another $20 million in his 2025-26 budget proposal for this successful initiative.

    WHO:
    Rick Siger, DCED Secretary
    Deena Kershner, Executive Director, Our Town Foundation
    Lynn Weller, Assistant Director, Our Town Foundation
    Alyssa Mengel Wentz, Owner, AEC Market

    WHEN:
    Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM

    WHERE:
    Our Town Foundation Office, 320 State Street, Hamburg, PA 19526

    VISUALS:
    Following brief remarks, Secretary Siger will join local leaders to visit with owners and employees of the above-mentioned small businesses. The walking tour will occur rain or shine.

    MEDIA RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending should RSVP to dcedpress@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Phil Scott Appoints Jay Sweeny Assistant Judge in Franklin County and Joe Benning Assistant Judge in Caledonia County

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointments of Jay Sweeny of St. Albans Bay and Joe Benning of Lyndonville to fill assistance judge vacancies in Franklin and Caledonia counties, respectively. 

    “Jay and Joe both have demonstrated integrity throughout their decades of public service,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I believe they will each bring valuable experience to their new roles and I’m appreciative of their willingness to serve.”

    Sweeny began his career as a deputy sheriff for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office where he spent 34 ½ years before retiring as the chief deputy in 2019. During this time, he worked within the court system in both the criminal and civil systems and worked closely with various assistant judges during annual budget preparation.  In retirement, Jay works part time for Heald Funeral Home as well as maintains two cemeteries in St. Albans Bay.  Jay also recently completed a 6-year appointment with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.

    “It is truly an honor to be appointed by Governor Scott to fill the vacant assistant judge position in Franklin County. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Franklin County,” said Sweeny. “I look forward to working with the many professionals within the judiciary to maintain a fair and impartial process for all community members seeking access to assistance in the judicial system.”

    Sweeny is a lifelong resident of St. Albans Bay where he lives with his wife Ruth. He attended the University of Vermont and is a graduate of the Vermont Police Academy. Sweeny is a member of Franklin Masonic Lodge #4, MT Sinai Shriners, and is an active member of the St. Albans Town Fire Department where he has served since 1980.

    Benning recently closed his law practice after working as a trial attorney for over forty years. During that time, he also served for twelve years as a state senator for Caledonia County and held multiple leadership roles including minority leader, chair of the Senate Institutions committee, and chair of the Human Rights Commission during the Douglas Administration. Benning formerly served on the Lyndon Town School Board, as Lyndon town moderator, and as chair of the Lyndon State College Foundation.

    “It is an honor and a privilege to have been chosen as assistant judge to fill the shoes of retiring Judge John Hall.  I very much look forward to this opportunity to continue serving my state and community,” said Benning.

    Benning graduated with honors from Lyndon State College and Vermont Law School. He currently resides in Lyndonville with his wife Deb, an elementary school teacher, and has two children: Emily and Justin.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Whether GDP swings up or down, there are limits to what it says about the economy and your place in it

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sophie Mitra, Professor of Economics, Fordham University

    The price of eggs might mean more to some Americans than what’s going on with GDP. Scott Olson/Getty Images

    The Bureau of Economic Analysis released the latest U.S. gross domestic product data on April 30. In the first three months of 2025, it said, GDP contracted by 0.3%. The GDP growth rate captures the pace at which the total value of goods and services grows or shrinks. Together with unemployment and inflation, it usually receives a lot of attention as an indicator of economic performance.

    Some economists and analysts said the economy might not be as bad as this rate’s decline might suggest. While this is the first time in three years that GDP has shrunk instead of growing, it is a relatively small decline.

    This raises a critical question: Does a relatively small GDP contraction mean the economy is in trouble? I have spent much of my working life studying economic well-being at the level of individuals or families.

    What I’ve learned can offer a different lens on the economy than you’d get from just focusing on the most popular indicators, such as the GDP growth rate.

    GDP problems

    The GDP growth rate has many limitations as an economic indicator. It captures only a very narrow slice of economic activity: goods and services. It pays no attention to what is produced, how it is produced or how people assess their economic lives.

    GDP gets a lot of attention, in part, because of the misconception that economics only has to do with market transactions, money and wealth. But economics is also about people and their livelihoods.

    Many economists would agree that economics treats wealth or the production of goods and services as means to improve human lives.

    Since the 1990s, a number of international commissions and research projects have come up with ways to go beyond GDP. In 2008, the French government asked two Nobel Prize winners, Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen, as well as the late economist Jean-Paul Fitoussi, to put together an international commission of experts to come up with new ways to measure economic performance and progress. In their 2010 report, they argued that there is a need to “shift emphasis from measuring economic production to measuring people’s well-being.”

    Considering complementary metrics

    One approach is to use a composite index that combines data on a variety of aspects of a country’s well-being into a single statistic. That one number could unfold into a detailed picture of the situation of a country if you zoom into each underlying indicator, by demographic group or region.

    The production of such composite indices has flourished. For example, the Human Development Index of the United Nations, started in 1990, covers income per capita, life expectancy at birth and education. This index shows how focusing on GDP alone can mislead the public about a country’s economic performance.

    In 2024, the U.S. ranked fifth in the world in terms of GDP per capita, but was in 20th place on the Human Development Index due to relatively lower life expectancy and years of schooling compared to other countries at the top of the list, like Switzerland and Norway.

    Monitoring other indicators

    Another approach is to rely on a larger number of indicators that are frequently updated. These other data points reflect a variety of perspectives about the economy, including subjective ones that convey personal perceptions and experiences.

    For instance, in addition to inflation rates, there is data on stress due to inflation as well as inflation expectations. Both offer insights into people’s perceptions, perspectives and experiences about inflation.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual U.S. inflation rate increased from 1% in July 2020 to 8.5% in July 2022. My research partners and I found, using U.S. Census data, that more than 3 in 4 adults in the U.S. were experiencing moderate or high levels of stress due to inflation at that time and continued to do so even after inflation went down in 2023.

    More recently, the Trump administration’s sporadic tariff changes have made future prices more uncertain, which exposes people to risks. That, in turn, makes people adjust their expectations and feel worse off.

    The share of consumers expecting higher inflation rates has climbed sharply in 2025, while consumer confidence has declined abruptly. About 1 in 3 consumers expect that there will be fewer jobs created in the next six months, which is almost as low as during the Great Recession of 2007-2009.

    Consumers also have negative expectations about their own future income and worry about their own economic status.

    At this moment, the U.S. economy has not officially entered a recession – which requires a longer period of GDP contraction than just one quarter. Although unemployment and inflation rates remain relatively low, the broad picture of the economy that takes into account people’s expectations and perceptions is troubling. To be clear, I’m not saying that just because of what the GDP data may indicate.

    This article includes material from an article originally published on Aug. 7, 2018.

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

    – ref. Whether GDP swings up or down, there are limits to what it says about the economy and your place in it – https://theconversation.com/whether-gdp-swings-up-or-down-there-are-limits-to-what-it-says-about-the-economy-and-your-place-in-it-255688

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Statement on Army Right-to-Repair Victory

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    May 01, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to the Secretary of the Army, Daniel P. Driscoll’s announcement that the Army will ensure right-to-repair provisions are included in future Army contracts, Senator Warren, a long-time advocate of the policy, released the following statement:

    “I pushed the Army Secretary to get right-to-repair in the Army done, and I’m glad he kept his word. This reform means the Army will be more resilient in future wars, and it will end the days of soldiers being dependent on giant defense contractors charging billions and taking months and months to get the equipment they need repaired. It’d be a big win for our country if all of the services followed Secretary Driscoll’s lead to stand up to military contractors, side with warfighters, and commit to right-to-repair in every single contract.”

    In January 2025, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, secured a commitment from Mr. Dan Driscoll, then-nominee for Secretary of the Army, about his views on enhancing the Army’s right to repair its own equipment. The exchange is below.

    Senator Warren also pushed Trump’s Navy Secretary and Military Transportation Command Chief on committing to allowing servicemembers to repair their own equipment. They agreed.

    Senator Warren has been a leader on Right-to-Repair in the military:

    1. In December 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) introduced the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act, which would require contractors to provide DoD with “fair and reasonable” access to repair materials. It would also require cost-saving proposals to cut sustainment costs without reducing performance requirements, mandate a report on cost-saving strategies to enhance transparency, and require DoD to assess the cost-effectiveness of access to intellectual property throughout a program’s life cycle. 
    2. Senator Warren also wrote to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recommending $2 trillion in proposals to save taxpayers money, including tackling repair restrictions that the Government Accountability Office found “could save billions of dollars.” At the hearing, Mr. Driscoll agreed with this recommendation.
    3. In September 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent two letters denouncing the costly restrictions imposed by Pentagon contractors on the Department of Defense (DoD) that bar the military from repairing its own military equipment and instead force it to pay billions of dollars extra to contractors.
    4. In July 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren included a provision in the Senate Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA that would require Pentagon contractors to provide DoD with “fair and reasonable” access to repair materials.

    Transcript: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll to be Secretary of the Army
    Senate Armed Services Committee
    January 30, 2025

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Congratulations on your nomination, Mr. Driscoll. So what I’d like to do is continue the conversation we started in my office. The Army buys a lot of stuff, from tanks to helicopters. They buy a lot of stuff from big defense contractors. Those giant companies often sneak restrictions into the contracts. They hog up the software rights or the technical data, all to prevent service members from being able to repair their own equipment. So today I would like to talk through an example so we can see the difference in banks with the Army is not hamstrung by right-to-repair restrictions. 

    Last year, the Army needed a new cover for a safety clip, but the contractor told the Army they couldn’t have it for months and these safety clips would cost $20 a pop. Now, thankfully, the Army had managed to keep right-to-repair restrictions out of this contract and was able to 3D-print the part in less than an hour for a total cost of 16 cents. 

    Now, Mr. Driscoll, does being able to get the parts we need in hours – maybe minutes – instead of months, and for nickels instead of dollars, help U.S. readiness and national security? 

    Mr. Dan Driscoll, nominee for Secretary of the Army: Unequivocally, Senator. 

    Senator Warren: Good. You know, when right-to-repair restrictions are in place, it’s bigger profits for giant defense contractors, but also higher prices for DoD and longer wait times for service members who need to get equipment repaired so they’re ready to go. 

    Chairman Wicker has an acquisition reform agenda which calls for a complete review of data rights across the Department of Defense. I think that is exactly right because it would help put the Army fully in command of the equipment that it has paid so much for. 

    So, Mr. Driscoll, let me ask you, if confirmed, will you work with this committee to identify more opportunities where the Army can save money and time by making their own parts and fixing their own equipment? 

    Mr. Driscoll: If confirmed, unequivocally, Senator. 

    Senator Warren: Would you like to expand on that at all? 

    Mr. Driscoll: This type of innovation happening in the private sector at scale in a lot of ways seems to have not trickled into the Army as much. If we think about engagement with a peer like China, being able to repair our parts in areas around the world will be crucial to that. And, if we are having six-month delays in CONUS and paying 100x the rate, that is not scalable in an actual conflict, and so I’m totally supportive, Senator. 

    Chair Wicker: That was a very good answer, Mr. Driscoll. 

    Senator Warren: It was an excellent answer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, right-to-repair restrictions have truly gotten out of control. And they threaten our national security. In some cases, the Army cannot even write its own training manual without a sign-off from a contractor. My Servicemember Right to Repair Act would help fix this problem. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES: “TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS OWN ALL OF IT”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Know Your Immigration Rights

    If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

    Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

    Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

    Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

    The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

    Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Mizuho Americas Announces Five-Year Renewal Agreement With the LPGA Tour as Title Sponsor of the Mizuho Americas Open, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Women’s Sports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mizuho to Raise Purse to $3.25 Million in 2026

    Michelle Wie West to Continue as Mizuho Brand Ambassador and Tournament Host

    Liberty National Golf Club to Host Event in 2028-2030; Mountain Ridge Country Club Added for 2026-2027

    NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mizuho Americas, the New York-headquartered arm of Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE: MFG), announced today that it has renewed its title sponsor agreement for the Mizuho Americas Open through 2030 and will raise the 2026 purse to $3.25 million, one of the largest outside of the Major championships. The tournament will maintain its successful format where the American Junior Golf Association’s future stars compete alongside the best women golfers in the world.

    The new five-year agreement will allow the marquee tournament to remain in the New York City Metro area, providing unmatched benefits to the LPGA players, AJGA junior golfers, and the local community. After three years at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ, the Mizuho Americas Open will travel just a few miles west to Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ, for 2026 and 2027, and then back to its long-term home at Liberty National for the remaining years through 2030. Additionally, LPGA Tour Icon and Mizuho Americas Brand Ambassador Michelle Wie West will continue to serve as Tournament Host.

    “We first partnered with the LPGA, AJGA, and Liberty National in 2023 to create a one-of-a-kind tournament that stands apart from the others,” said Jerry Rizzieri, President & CEO of Mizuho Securities USA and Head of Americas Corporate and Investment Bank. “We share this tournament – not only with the players – but also with our employees and clients. We remain deeply committed to our investment in women’s sports as we aim to help advance the next generation of talent and level the playing field for women, both on and off the golf course.”

    During the five-year partnership, the prize purse will continue to escalate, ensuring that the Mizuho Americas Open remains one of the largest non-Major championship purses on the LPGA Tour. Mizuho raised the bar for player experience and will continue to provide complimentary first-class accommodations and transportation for all LPGA players participating in the event through 2030.

    Mizuho’s continued support of the LPGA and its players speaks volumes about the company’s culture and its commitment to empowering women and fueling their aspirations,” said Liz Moore, Interim LPGA Commissioner. “Through our partnership with Mizuho, we’re able to showcase the world’s best golfers on a global stage, right outside one of the world’s most iconic cities, while uniquely providing rising AJGA stars the opportunity to compete alongside them — creating an unparalleled platform to inspire the next generation and furthering our core mission of using the game of golf to transform and enrich the lives of girls and women

    In a few short years, the Mizuho Americas Open has cemented itself as a premier LPGA Tour stop. Played on one of the best golf courses in the country, its groundbreaking format offers an opportunity for top-ranked AJGA junior golfers to compete side-by-side with the best LPGA players in the world, creating an unprecedented week of education and access to help ignite the passion of young women to become the next generation of LPGA Tour superstars.

    “We’re thrilled to strengthen this tremendous partnership with Mizuho, LPGA Tour and AJGA to host the world’s best professional and junior players through the end of the decade,” said Dan Fireman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Liberty National Golf Club. “This event is truly unique and embodies our ethos and deep commitment to growing the game through the Liberty National Foundation’s Torch Lighters Club, which supports a number of charitable organizations, including the AJGA and others that benefit youth and our broader community.”

    Philanthropy will remain at the heart of the Mizuho Americas Open. Mizuho will continue to host its DrivHER Summit, a leadership forum developed in conjunction with Girls Inc., to help young women explore, aspire, and achieve. The comprehensive program features a golf clinic and workshops on self-confidence, career planning, and networking, reflecting the values championed by Girls Inc. of access, inclusivity, and opportunity.

    “Thanks in large part to the unwavering support of Mizuho, this tournament has grown into a crown jewel on the LPGA Tour,” said Michelle Wie West. “Mizuho is different than most sponsors in that they’re involved every step of the way, ensuring a premium is placed on the player experience and community impact. As tournament host, I feel inspired by how they’ve supercharged this event through innovative philanthropic and marketing efforts that put women’s golf front and center in the world’s largest media market.”

    The Mizuho Americas Open is operated by Excel Sports Management, a leading sports agency representing marquee brands, properties, and premier professional athletes – including many of the players and stars of today’s LPGA Tour.

    “We couldn’t be more excited to extend our partnership with Mizuho for another five years. What began as an ambitious vision has quickly become a cornerstone event on the LPGA Tour,” said Kevin Hopkins, Senior Vice President at Excel Sports Management. “As we look ahead, we’re energized by the opportunity to further elevate this championship experience for the players, our partners, and the dedicated golf fans across the New York metropolitan area who have embraced this event from day one”

    Information on ticket sales, corporate hospitality and volunteer opportunities are available at www.mizuhoamericasopen.com. Follow @MizuhoLPGA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news on the event.

    About Mizuho
    Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is one of the largest financial institutions in the world as measured by total assets of ~$2 trillion, according to S&P Global 2024. Mizuho’s 65,000 employees worldwide offer comprehensive financial services to clients in 36 countries and 850 offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

    Mizuho Americas is a leading Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) that provides a full spectrum of client-driven solutions across strategic advisory, capital markets, corporate banking, and fixed income and equities sales & trading to corporate, government, and institutional clients in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Through its acquisition of Greenhill, Mizuho enhanced its M&A, restructuring, and private capital advisory capabilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Mizuho Americas employs approximately 4,000 professionals. For more information, visit www.mizuhoamericas.com.

    About the Mizuho Americas Open
    The Mizuho Americas Open is a purpose-driven tournament on the LPGA Tour. As title sponsor, Mizuho Americas created and drove the vision for a distinctive and premium event that celebrates women and advances the next generation, with a charitable focus on providing leadership and life skills to young girls from underserved communities. Played at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club, with LPGA icon Michelle Wie West as celebrity host, the tournament features an elevated purse and a unique junior component where the AJGA’s stars of tomorrow compete alongside the best women golfers in the world. The tournament is also home to the Mizuho Americas DrivHER Summit, an inspirational day of learning and activities for Girls Inc., the official charitable partner of the Mizuho Americas Open. The Summit leverages the game of golf and the LPGA to inspire the members of Girls Inc. to discover the confidence they need to become leaders in their communities.

    About the LPGA 
    The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose Members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. The LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course. 

    Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube. 

    About the LPGA Tour 
    The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 32 annual events across 12 countries for over 200 athletes, awarding total prize funds exceeding $129 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel. 

    About the AJGA
    The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 9,000 members from 50 states and 51 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Liberty National ACE Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.

    TaylorMade and adidas are the AJGA’s Global Sponsors, supporting the AJGA for more than 25 years. TaylorMade has served as the Official Ball of the AJGA since 2016. adidas has been the Official Apparel and Footwear of the AJGA since 2017. Rolex, in its fourth decade of AJGA sponsorship, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

    AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 1,000 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang.

    About Liberty National Golf Club
    One of the world’s most iconic golf locales, Liberty National Golf Club is located along the Hudson River in Jersey City, NJ, with striking views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan skyline. Liberty National fittingly opened on July 4, 2006, and is guided by the vision and leadership of former Reebok Founder, Chairman & CEO Paul Fireman and his son Dan Fireman, managing partner of Fireman Capital Partners. Designed by US Open Champion Tom Kite and esteemed golf course mastermind Bob Cupp, Liberty National is kept in tournament ready playing condition. Liberty National hosted The Presidents Cup in 2017 as well as multiple PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoff events, and is currently the home of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open. For more information about Liberty National Golf Club, visit www.libertynationalgc.com.

    About Mountain Ridge Country Club
    Founded in 1912, Mountain Ridge Country Club has long been considered a historic venue. Originally established in West Orange, NJ, the Club moved to its current site in West Caldwell, located just 20 miles from New York City, in 1929 when it commissioned famed golf course architect Donald Ross to design a championship 18-hole course across 282 rolling acres. Often described as one of the NY City Metropolitan Area’s “hidden gems”, the course has always been viewed as a classic Donald Ross design. The course was considered a difficult test when it opened in 1931, and little has changed in the 90+ years since. The course is known for its distinctly Ross features, especially its challenging greens. Ross designed each nine-hole loop to wind down to the lower part of the property and conclude with a long assent back to the iconic fieldstone clubhouse, designed by renowned architect Clifford C. Wendehack. The venue has hosted many championships including the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship and the 2021 LPGA Cognizant Founder’s Cup. Over its century-long history, Mountain Ridge has been home to many prominent members and continues its commitment to excellence, community, philanthropy, and the game of golf.

    Media Contacts

    For Mizuho:
    Jon Schwartz, Prosek Partners
    (347) 794-9633
    jschwartz@prosek.com

    or

    Laura London
    Director, Media Relations, Mizuho
    (917) 446-5226
    laura.london@mizuhogroup.com

    For LPGA:
    Emily Carman
    emily.carman@lpga.com
    (714) 742-8301

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How can Mark Carney reduce violent crime in Canada? Through prevention and youth outreach

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jeffrey Bradley, Ph.D. Candidate, Legal Studies, Carleton University

    Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney and the governing federal Liberals must work to reverse the trends in rising violent crime. Canada needs a federal minister with clear responsibility for the prevention of violent crime, supported by a deputy minister with no other responsibilities than stopping violence before it happens.

    The evidence and successes in other countries suggest this approach could reduce violent and serious crime by 50 per cent in the next five years.

    Canadian homicide rates have increased by 50 per cent in the past 10 years, returning to levels from the early 2000s. Black and Indigenous Canadians are victimized at rates several times higher than the national rate. Intimate partner and sexual violence are at epidemic levels, with one in three women experiencing some form in their lifetime.

    Recent federal and provincial election campaigns left the impression that spending more on prisons and policing is enough to stop violent and serious crime.

    But if long prison sentences reduced violent crime, then American cities would be the safest in the world — they are not. If higher police salaries resulted in less violence in Canada, then Edmonton and Winnipeg would be Canada’s safest cities — they are not.



    Read more:
    Two years after the defund the police movement, police budgets increase across Canada

    How to truly reduce violent crime

    Current crime-fighting proposals lack concrete, evidence-based actions and proven public health strategies that are known to significantly and cost-effectively reduce violent crime.

    Over the last 50 years, research in Canada and internationally has identified a short list of programs proven to reduce violent crime by as much as 50 per cent within three years.

    These initiatives are promoted by prestigious organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Kingdom’s Youth Endowment Fund. The non-partisan Washington State Institute for Public Policy has also demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of many of these programs compared to the dominant systems of policing and incarceration. These initiatives include:

    • Community violence interveners who build trust with the young men most involved in violence and help them go back to school, get job training and gain control over the emotions that lead to senseless violence.

    • Stop Now and Plan, developed in Toronto, reaches young men as they enter adolescence to problem-solve instead of resorting to violence.

    • The Black-led Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education puts this science to work to tackle the high rates of deaths and injuries involving young Black men.

    • Participation in courses that prevent sexual violence by shifting societal norms about consent and encouraging students to take action as bystanders.

    The scene in the U.K. and the U.S.

    Public health strategies that diagnose the risk factors that contribute to crime and implement effective solutions have cut crime in half in other countries.

    In the 2000s, the Scottish city of Glasgow established a small violence reduction unit and organized community outreach to young men most involved in a violent lifestyle. The results were a 50 per cent reduction within three years.

    By 2020, the U.K. replicated the violence reduction unit model across more than half the country, where independent evaluations have demonstrated a 25 per cent reduction in violent crime in areas with a unit. While some areas are still facing problems with youth violence, experts point to multi-agency work as most effective when partners prioritized youth violence.

    Not satisfied with this rate of progress, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised in 2024 to halve knife crime in 10 years in addition to dramatically reducing the rates of violence against women in the same time period.

    In 2023 in the United States, Joe Biden’s administration established the White House Office on Gun Violence Prevention and provided funding for cities to implement proven solutions, including community violence interveners.

    Stakeholders said these efforts were helping to reduce homicides. After Donald Trump’s administration shuttered the office earlier this year, a Democratic senator tabled a bill to establish it permanently.

    The mayor of Boston based her public health strategy on convening citywide departments, community organizations and experts in violence prevention. By increasing outreach workers and teaching problem-solving skills, Mayor Michelle Wu promised to reduce violence by 20 per cent within three years — only to overachieve by cutting it by 50 per cent in two years

    What Canadian officials should do

    The Ontario Police Act calls for public health strategies called community safety and well-being plans to tackle the risk factors that contribute to crime and monitor results.

    When she was elected in 2023, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called for strategies to combat gun violence and violence against women. She called for “a scientific public health approach, like the one exemplified by Glasgow’s efforts to address violence as a public health issue (that) has proven effective in reducing violence.”

    Chow emphasized targeted interventions and monitoring results. But her funding has not yet followed the vision. In 2025, only $5 million was earmarked for prevention efforts, while $48 million was needed for more police and emergency services to respond to the increase in violence in Toronto.

    No Canadian officials are doing the smart planning or making the affordable and smart investments to reduce violent and serious crime significantly.

    Carney can and should lead by example. The federal government can invest in stopping violence before it happens by:

    • Developing the human capacity nationally for smart community safety planning;

    • Establishing a knowledge centre on violence prevention;

    • Shifting from its current funding model of short-term projects to partnering with the provinces via sustained and adequate funding of effective violence prevention programs.

    Prevention saves money

    Parliamentary committees have recommended an annual investment equivalent to five per cent of spending on police and corrections, or about $400 million federally, and $900 million from other orders of government.

    Research, results and best practices make clear that a 25 per cent reduction in violent and serious crime could be achieved within five years, and a 50 per cent reduction in a decade.

    That would mean 200 fewer lives lost and more than 500,000 fewer victims of violence in the next five years, and significantly less money — as much as $1.5 billion — spent annually on police and prisons.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How can Mark Carney reduce violent crime in Canada? Through prevention and youth outreach – https://theconversation.com/how-can-mark-carney-reduce-violent-crime-in-canada-through-prevention-and-youth-outreach-254978

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Petroleum Marketing Monthly

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Notice: EIA has suspended data collection for two surveys supporting the Petroleum Marketing Monthly. We will continue to update the PMM crude oil prices section (data tables 1, 1A, 18 – 27). See our latest press release for more details.

    Monthly price and volume statistics on crude oil and petroleum products at a national, regional and state level.

    Categories24/7 OSI, Energy, MIL-OSI, United States Government, US Energy Information Administration

    Highlights
    Petroleum marketing monthly highlights PDF
    Summary statistics tables PDF
    1 Crude oil prices PDF  
    1A Refiner acquisition cost of crude oil by PAD Districts PDF  
    2 U.S. refiner prices of petroleum products to end users PDF  
    3 U.S. refiner volumes of petroleum products to end users PDF  
           Motor gasoline to end users    
           Residual fuel oil and No. 4 fuel to end users    
           Other petroleum products to end users    
    4 U.S. refiner prices of petroleum products for resale PDF  
    5 U.S. refiner volumes of petroleum products for resale PDF  
           Motor gasoline for resale    
           Residual fuel oil and No.4 fuel for resale    
           Other petroleum products for resale    
    6 U.S. refiner motor gasoline prices by grade and sales type PDF  
    7 U.S. refiner motor gasoline volumes by grade and sales type PDF  
    8 U.S. refiner conventional motor gasoline prices by grade and sales type PDF  
    9 U.S. refiner conventional motor gasoline volumes by grade and sales type PDF  
    10 U.S. refiner reformulated motor gasoline prices by grade and sales type PDF  
    11 U.S. refiner reformulated motor gasoline volumes by grade and sales type PDF  
    12 U.S. propane (consumer grade) prices by sales type PDF  
    13 U.S. No. 2 distillate prices by sales type PDF  
    14 U.S. No. 2 diesel fuel prices by sulfur content and sales type PDF  
    15 Prices of No. 2 distillate to residences by PAD District and selected states PDF  
    16 U.S. refiner residual fuel prices PDF  
    17 U.S. refiner residual fuel volumes PDF  
    Summary statistics figures
    1 Crude oil prices PDF
    2 U.S. refiner retail petroleum product prices PDF
    3 U.S. refiner retail petroleum product volumes PDF
    4 U.S. refiner wholesale petroleum product prices PDF
    5 U.S. refiner wholesale petroleum product volumes PDF
    6 U.S. No.2 distillate prices to residences by PAD District PDF
    7 U.S. refiner residual fuel oil prices PDF
    Crude oil prices tables PDF
    18 Domestic crude oil first purchase prices PDF  
    19 Domestic crude oil first purchase prices for selected crude streams PDF  
    20 Domestic crude oil first purchase prices by API gravity PDF  
    21 F.O.B. costs of imported crude oil by selected country PDF  
    22 Landed costs of imported crude oil by selected country PDF  
    23 F.O.B. costs of imported crude oil by API gravity PDF  
    24 Landed costs of imported crude oil by API gravity PDF  
    25 Percentages of total imported crude oil by API gravity PDF  
    26 F.O.B. costs of imported crude oil for selected crude streams PDF  
    27 Landed costs of imported crude oil for selected crude streams PDF  
    Prices of petroleum products tables PDF
    28 Motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    29 Conventional motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    30 Reformulated motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    31 Refiner motor gasoline prices by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    32 Refiner prices of aviation fuels and kerosene by PAD District and state PDF  
    33 Refiner prices of distillate fuels by PAD District and state PDF  
    34 Propane (consumer grade) prices by sales type and PAD District PDF  
    35 No. 2 distillate prices by sales type, PAD District, and selected states PDF  
    36 No. 2 diesel fuel prices by sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    37 No. 2 diesel fuel prices by sulfur content, Sales type, and PAD District PDF  
    38 Residual fuel oil prices by PAD District and selected states PDF  
    Volumes of petroleum products tables PDF
    39 Refiner motor gasoline volumes by grade, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    40 Refiner motor gasoline volumes by formulation, sales type, PAD District, and state PDF  
    41 Refiner volumes of aviation fuels, kerosene, No. 1 distillate, and propane by PAD District and state PDF  
    42 Refiner No. 2 diesel fuel volumes by PAD District and state PDF  
    43 Refiner No. 2 distillate and fuel oil volumes by PAD District and state PDF  
    44 Refiner residual fuel oil and No. 4 fuel volumes by PAD District PDF  
    Prime supplier sales volumes of petroleum products for local consumption tables PDF
    45 Prime supplier sales volumes of motor gasoline by grade, formulation, PAD District, and state PDF  
    46 Prime supplier sales volumes of aviation fuels, No. 4 fuel oil, propane, and residual fuel oil by PAD District and state PDF  
    47 Prime supplier sales volumes of distillate fuel oils and kerosene by PAD District and state PDF  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Honoring Workers’ Memorial Day: IAM Union Remembers Fallen Members

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Get IAM MOBILE

    IAM Mobile Spaces offers more features and functions to read and share information about our union and the important issues we face as working families. This app combines all of the IAM’s popular online functions such as the IAM Journal, the Machinists News Network on demand video service, the IAM webpage GOiam.org, iMail, an IAM Photo Gallery, the IAM Facebook Page, and lots more — all in one easy-to-access App for tablets and smartphones.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater Welcomes Antitrust Division Leadership Team

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division welcomes a new member of the division’s leadership team. AAG Slater appointed Dina Kallay to serve as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International, Policy and Appellate. Kallay joins the division’s leadership team including Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, four Deputy Assistant Attorneys General and Chief of Staff.

    “The DOJ Antitrust Division is truly fortunate to have in place a deep bench of experts so early in the Trump 47 Administration. Each team member brings broad experience to their government service, and I am truly grateful to them for stepping into their roles as we take over several landmark cases,” said Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. “I look forward to working with this talented team as well as the dedicated staff of the Antitrust Division as we work together to enforce the nation’s antitrust laws.”

    The leadership team includes:

    Roger Alford serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Mr. Alford previously served in the first Trump Administration as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division. He is a tenured Professor of Law on leave from Notre Dame Law School, where he has taught since 2012. During that time, he also consulted on antitrust matters, including as an expert witness in the landmark 2023 real estate $1.8 billion litigation against the National Association of Realtors, and since 2019 consulting for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas v. Google. He served as a law clerk to Judge James Buckley of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Richard Allison of the Iran- United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. He also practiced law with Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C. and was a Senior Legal Advisor to the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Activities in Zurich, Switzerland.

    He earned his B.A. with Honors from Baylor University in 1985, his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his J.D. with Honors from New York University, and his LL.M., first in class, from Edinburgh University.

    Omeed Assefi serves as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on criminal enforcement. At the beginning of the second Trump Administration, Mr. Assefi served as the division’s Acting Assistant Attorney General. Prior to that position, he litigated criminal prosecutions and led complex investigations against major companies and individuals for antitrust violations as a member of the division’s Washington Criminal Section. Previously, Mr. Assefi served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia. There, he prosecuted violent crime in U.S. District Court as well as Superior Court.

    Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Assefi served in the Trump Administration as a Deputy Associate Attorney General in the Office of the Associate Attorney General. There, he helped supervise the Civil, Antitrust, and Civil Rights Divisions. Mr. Assefi also served as Chief of Staff of the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Assefi began his service in the Trump Administration as an Assistant Special Counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office, where he represented the Office of the President in the Department of Justice Special Counsel’s Investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Mr. Assefi earned a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, a M.P.P. from George Mason University’s Schar School of Public Policy, and a B.A. from Trinity College.

    Mark Hamer serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on civil litigation and enforcement. He has over 30 years of litigation experience in both public service and private practice.  Before returning to the Division, Mr. Hamer was a partner at a global law firm where he served as Global Chair of its Antitrust & Competition Practice Group, leading a team of over 250 competition lawyers in 43 countries. In private practice, he focused on antitrust litigation and antitrust conduct and merger investigations around the world. Mr. Hamer previously served as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division handling both merger and non-merger litigation. Mr. Hamer received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a B.A. in History with High Distinction from the University of Virginia.

    Dina Kallay serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Policy & International Affairs. Before joining the Antitrust Division, she was global Head of Competition Law at Ericsson. From 2006-2013, Dina served as Counsel for Intellectual Property & International Antitrust at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Office of International Affairs. Earlier in her career she practiced law at several law firms, most recently with Howrey LLP in Washington D.C., and worked at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition (DG COMP) in Brussels, Belgium

    Dina received her LL.B. magna cum laude and B.A. in economics from Tel Aviv University (1996), and her LL.M. (Int’l Economic Law) (1998) and S.J.D. (2003) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was a student of former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Professor Tom Kauper. She has taught antitrust and intellectual property at the Hebrew, Bar Ilan and Georgetown Universities, and is a frequent writer and speaker on international antitrust and antitrust-intellectual property topics.

    William “Bill” Rinner serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General with a focus on civil enforcement and mergers. Prior to his return to the division, Mr. Rinner was Senior Regulatory Counsel at Apollo Global Management Inc. There, he was responsible for overseeing antitrust and various other regulatory matters. From 2017-2020, Mr. Rinner served at the Antitrust Division first as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, and subsequently as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel. Earlier in his career, he practiced antitrust law at two major national firms. After law school, he clerked for Hon. Richard Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He received a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

    Dr. Chetan Sangvhi serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General focused on Economics. Dr. Sanghvi has deep experience conducting economic research and analyses in the context of antitrust policy. In his tours of duty at the FTC and in private practice, he has evaluated the competitive impacts of hundreds of proposed mergers and other antitrust concerns. He has been recognized by the FTC for his “outstanding intellectual and analytical contributions to a broad range of complex economic issues arising in the FTC’s competition mission” and by professional reference publications. Dr. Sanghvi has taught at New York University, Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, and Trinity College and holds a PhD in economics from Rutgers University and a BA in economics from Northwestern University.

    Sara Matar serves as the Chief of Staff. Prior to this role, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C. Sara was previously a senior advisor to Congressman Lee Zeldin on foreign policy and judiciary matters. She also served as a staff member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she worked on oversight and Middle East policy. Sara received her J.D from George Washington University Law School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College. She served as law clerk to the Honorable Judge Lynn Hughes in the Southern District of Texas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Participates in a National Day of Prayer Event

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    The White House

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdRSmD7yPtg

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Small Business Committee Passes Alford’s Returning SBA to Main Street Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Today, the House Small Business Committee passed Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee Chairman Mark Alford’s (MO-04) H.R. 2027, the Returning SBA to Main Street Act by a vote of 15-11. This legislation will decentralize the Small Business Administration (SBA) by relocating 30% of SBA D.C. headquarters employees across the country to be closer to the Americans they serve.

    The Senate version of this bill is led by Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA).

    Watch Rep. Alford’s remarks at the Small Business Committee in support of is legislation here or by clicking the image above.

    “We are on step closer to giving rural small businesses in Missouri’s Fourth District and across our great nation a seat at the table,” said Subcommittee Chairman Alford. “By passing our Returning SBA to Main Street Act out of Committee, Republicans are making it clear to small business owners: the days of empty SBA headquarters, unanswered phone calls, and inadequate access to capital and counseling are over. I thank Chairman Williams for his leadership and support, and Senator Ernst for her partnership. I look forward to passing this critical legislation on the House floor to drain the swamp and ignite a new golden age for American job creators.”

    “Small businesses across the country are faced with unique challenges. Despite this, the SBA is not located on Main Street, but instead, centralized in Washington, D.C.,” said House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (TX-25). “I want to thank Rep. Alford for introducing the Returning SBA to Main Street Act, which passed out of Committee today. By moving Agency employees to Main Street, this bill will ensure the SBA is more responsive and in tune with small businesses nationwide.”

    Read the full text of the legislation here.

    Background:

    According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, SBA headquarters was operating at a mere 10% capacity under the previous administration. This, combined with lax telework policies, prevented the SBA from fully fulfilling its statutory mandate. Our office has received countless complaints from constituents unable to get basic SBA services.

    The Returning SBA to Main Street Act complements the work of the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by saving taxpayer money on unused office space, making SBA interactions with small businesses more efficient, and improving SBA’s customer service.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Introduces Legislation to Revitalize U.S. Medical Manufacturing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, along with Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03), and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-09) introduced The Medical Manufacturing, Economic Development, and Sustainability (MMEDS) Act to revitalize domestic medical manufacturing. The legislation aims to strengthen production by offering federal tax benefits and other incentives to pharmaceutical manufacturers that operate in the United States or relocate their facilities to U.S. soil, with a particular focus on economically distressed areas across the nation and its territories.

     

    This legislation will secure the U.S. medical supply chain, restore economic well-being, and protect America’s patients. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that our health, economic, and national security are at risk because of our dependency on foreign jurisdictions to manufacture vital medical supplies. The MMEDS Actencourages U.S. companies to re-shore operations from nations deemed to pose a risk to U.S. medical preparedness into economically distressed zones within the United States by providing a dollar-for-dollar credit against Federal taxes to U.S. companies for the wages and capital investments made in distressed zones, and for purchases made by a manufacturer from within a distressed zone. An economically distressed zone is defined as an area that has historically suffered from pervasive poverty, unemployment, and low labor force participation, resulting in a prolonged period of economic decline.

     

    The MMEDS Act would also establish a BARDA-led public-private Strategic Initiative to drive innovation and the development of advanced population health medicines, while also providing tax incentives to encourage such innovation in economically distressed areas.

     

    “I am proud to introduce the bipartisan MMEDS Act to bring medical manufacturing to the United States and revitalize an industry that once thrived in regions such as Puerto Rico,” said Rep. Malliotakis. “The COVID-19 pandemic made clear the urgent need to restore our domestic supply chain so that we are not dependent on adversaries like Communist China for critical pharmaceutical and medical supplies needed by America’s hospitals and patients. The support of my colleagues representing different corners of the nation demonstrates the broad, bipartisan recognition that strengthening our medical supply chain is a national priority. I also thank Puerto Rico’s Governor Jenniffer González-Colón for her leadership and partnership in advancing this important initiative.”

     

    “As recently as 2019, data has shown that the United States imports nearly two-thirds of its medicines and medical supplies from Europe and Asia. This must change,” said Rep. Maria Salazar. “The MMEDS Act will prioritize American manufacturing and restore our medical supply chain while creating jobs and economic growth in Florida, Puerto Rico, and across the country.”

     

    “It is an honor to be an original cosponsor of the Medical Manufacturing, Economic Development, and Sustainability (MMEDS) Act from Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who is continuing Gov. Jennifer González-Colón’s critical legislation to strengthen our nation’s medical supply chain from the previous Congress. This bill is particularly important for Puerto Rico and would help revitalize the island’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, create good-paying jobs, and support long-term economic growth.” Rep. Ritchie Torres

     

    “I am proud to co-sponsor the MMEDS Act, which will provide tax incentives to bring medical manufacturing to rural areas in my district,” said Rep. Jeff Hurd. “This legislation will help grow manufacturing industries and support the development of advanced health medicines in Colorado’s 3rd District.”

     

    “I thank my dear friend Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for her leadership in reintroducing the MMEDS Act in the 119th Congress. This legislation supports bringing critical medical manufacturing back to American soil, including in Puerto Rico, fostering economic growth and job creation in economically distressed areas. It authorizes targeted tax credits tied to investment and repatriation of medical manufacturing companies, thus prioritizing measured incentives for work undertaken in the U.S. and safeguarding our supply chain. Our country has the infrastructure, expertise, and workforce needed to remain a leader in innovation, technology, and manufacturing. In the case of Puerto Rico, we host some of the main global medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, paired with a highly trained and specialized workforce that abides by American standards for safety and quality. I look forward to continue working with Congresswoman Malliotakis, who has seen first-hand the manufacturing capabilities in Puerto Rico and the rest of the country, and Representatives Salazar and Torres to get this bipartisan bill across the finish line,” said Governor Jenniffer González-Colón.

     

    Earlier this year, Malliotakis reintroduced the Supply Chain Security and Growth Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would leverage Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) to facilitate a rapid movement of critical U.S. supply chains to Puerto Rico from less desirable and unreliable locations such as China.

     

    View the Bill text HERE.

     

    The MMEDS Act was originally introduced by then Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón in the 118th Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New funding supports fight against invasive plants

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    May is Invasive Species Action Month and 33 organizations throughout B.C. will be able to continue their work fighting invasive plants, due in part to a funding boost from the Province.

    “B.C. has some of the most amazing ecosystems in the world, with many that are unique, fragile and in danger from invasive plants,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “No one person, group, agency or government can effectively control invasive plant species alone, and collaboration is critical to everyone’s success. The work these groups do is crucial in our fight together to ensure B.C.’s unique environments remain healthy and vibrant.”

    Invasive plants can disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, increase soil erosion, alter soil chemistry and adversely affect agriculture production and water quality, causing substantial economic and environmental damage. They may also pose a health risk to people and animals. 

    Nearly $3 million will go toward groups, such as regional invasive species committees, local governments, environmental groups, researchers and the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, to continue collaboration and support of invasive plant programs and management actions.

    “In Canada and B.C., invasive plants are spreading and taking over critical lands, especially sensitive ecosystems such as grasslands and riparian areas,” said Gail Wallin, executive director, Invasive Species Council of British Columbia. “They are estimated to cost us over $2 billion in losses annually. As many invasive species are intentionally introduced through activities, such as gardening or moved by tires, it is critical to stop the spread of invasive plants through increased awareness and adopting responsible practices, including PlantWise and Play Clean Go.”

    The work of these groups supports B.C.’s Invasive Plant Program in identifying and reporting where invasive plant species have been found, encouraging landowners and managers to control invasive plants and managing high-risk infestations to limit further spread throughout the province. 

    Some of the targeted invasive plant species in B.C. are: Japanese, Bohemian and giant knotweed; marsh plume thistle; common tansy; wild chervil; garlic mustard; poison hemlock; spotted knapweed; common bugloss; orange and yellow (non-native) hawkweeds; giant hogweed; blueweed; tansy ragwort; spartina species; hoary alyssum; purple loosestrife; field scabious; leafy spurge; yellow flag iris; and Scotch broom.

    People can report invasive plant species sightings from anywhere in B.C. by using the Report Invasives BC smartphone app or through the online reporting tool:  
    https://www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-specieshttp://www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-species

    Quotes:

    Philip Weyl, head of weed biocontrol, Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) –

    “Invasive plant (weed) biological control is a long-term sustainable tool for managing invasive plants that is safe and effective, but it does take time in terms research to ensure safety. The partnership between the B.C. Ministry of Forests and CABI provides support that forms an integral part in developing biological control options for invasive plant species of concern for B.C. and Canada as a whole.” 

    Kathy Ma Green, executive director, Fraser Valley Invasive Species Society –

    “Invasive plants cause long-lasting harm by altering our ecosystems, damaging our infrastructure and impacting our crops, livestock and natural resources. Due to landscape-level flooding, the Fraser Valley faces an ongoing challenge in managing the resulting increased spread of invasive plants like knotweed and wild chervil. The Province’s continued support and invasive plant funding are critical in order to protect our region’s important industries, natural areas and the quality of life of residents.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The Invasive Species Council of B.C. assists with invasive species program communications and co-ordination.
    • The council develops best-management practices in collaboration with regional organizations and invasive plant specialists that help increase public awareness and reporting of invasive species throughout the province.
    • Regional invasive species committees are non-profit societies that provide a forum for land managers and other stakeholders to co-ordinate invasive plant treatments and participate in outreach and educational opportunities.
    • Some regional groups also deliver invasive plant control actions.

    Learn More:

    Invasive Plant Management:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/invasive-species/management/plants

    Invasives BC Database:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/invasive-species/invasivesbc

    Invasive Species Council of British Columbia:
    https://www.bcinvasives.ca

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Increases Monthly Benefits for Income Assistance Clients

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 1, 2025

    Starting this month, income assistance clients are receiving higher monthly benefits. As announced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget, the Government of Saskatchewan is investing $11 million to increase monthly income assistance basic benefits by two per cent for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients. 

    “This year’s budget is investing in income assistance programs to help make life more affordable for individuals, families, and seniors,” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said. “Saskatchewan Income assistance benefits are among the highest in Canada, and this year’s increases will provide even more support to help people meet their basic needs as they work to become more self-sufficient to the best of their abilities.” 

    In May 2025, SIS clients will receive higher monthly benefits for the fourth year in a row. A $6 million investment is increasing the monthly Adult Basic Benefit and Shelter Benefit by a combined total of up to $40 per month.

    Also, in May 2025, SAID benefits will increase for the third year in a row. A $5 million investment will increase SAID living income benefits by up to $40 per month. SAID clients are also benefiting from a $500,000 investment announced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget to increase SAID annual earned income exemptions by $1,000, enabling clients to earn more from employment before their benefits are impacted. 

    Saskatchewan people and families with low incomes will also benefit from other affordability measures introduced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget. This includes doubling the Active Families Benefit, enhancements to basic tax credits, and a five per cent increase to the Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit annually for the next four years.

    Since 2007, the province has increased its investment in income assistance programs by $356.5 million, or 116 per cent.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Raytheon Companies and Nightwing Group to Pay $8.4M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Non-Compliance with Cybersecurity Requirements in Federal Contracts

    Source: US State of California

    Raytheon Company (Raytheon), RTX Corporation, and Nightwing Group LLC, and Nightwing Intelligence Solutions LLC (collectively, Nightwing), have agreed to pay $8.4 million to resolve allegations that Raytheon violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in contracts or subcontracts involving the Department of Defense (DoD). Raytheon is a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor RTX Corporation (formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation). In March 2024, RTX Corporation sold its Cybersecurity, Intelligence, and Services business, which since became part of Dulles, Virginia-based Nightwing. The settlement resolves conduct that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2021, prior to Nightwing’s acquisition of the business.

    The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Cyber Field Office, Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office.

    “Cyber threats have grown in size and reach in recent years, leaving no room for complacency among those in the public sector, private sector, or even among private citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia. “Government contractors must comply with the cybersecurity rules that govern their performance and be candid about their compliance. This settlement reflects the Government’s commitment to pursue contractors that fail to live up to those expectations.”

    “As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is critical that defense contractors take the required steps to protect sensitive government information from bad actors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue our efforts to hold contractors accountable when they fail to honor their DoD cybersecurity commitments.”

    The settlement resolves allegations that Raytheon and its then-subsidiary Raytheon Cyber Solutions, Inc. (RCSI), failed to implement required cybersecurity controls on an internal development system that was used to perform unclassified work on certain DoD contracts. The United States alleged that Raytheon and RCSI failed to develop and implement a system security plan for the system, as required by DoD cybersecurity regulations, and failed to ensure that the system complied with other cybersecurity requirements contained in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-21. FAR 52.204-21 requires federal contractors to apply basic safeguarding requirements to information systems that process or store federal contract information. DFARS 252.204-7012 requires contractors to provide adequate security for information systems that process or store covered defense information. The settlement resolved allegations that Raytheon used its noncompliant internal system to develop, use, or store covered defense information and federal contract information during its performance on 29 DoD contracts and subcontracts.

    “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, is steadfastly committed to upholding the integrity of all business systems used to process and store defense information,” said Special Agent in Charge DeChellis of the DCIS Cyber Field Office. “DCIS, along with our investigative partners, will continue to protect our service members and military technological edge by ensuring defense contractors strictly adhere to their cyber security contractual obligations.”

    “Failure to implement cybersecurity requirements can have devastating consequences, leaving sensitive DoD data vulnerable to cyber threats and malicious actors,” said Special Agent in Charge William Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Procurement Fraud Office, Andrew AFB, Md. “AFOSI, alongside our investigative partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to combat fraud affecting the Department of the Air Force and hold those accountable that fail to properly safeguard sensitive defense information.”

    “This settlement further demonstrates the resolve of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our law enforcement partners to protect and defend the assets of the United States Army,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office.”

    “Strict compliance with contractual cybersecurity requirements is of dire importance to adequately safeguard sensitive information from sophisticated adversaries, assure the safety of our warfighters, and maintain our military’s competitive edge,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our federal partners remain committed to investigating entities that do not responsibly protect critical information entrusted to them.”

    The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery.  The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Branson Kenneth Fowler, Sr., a former Director of Engineering with Raytheon, to receive a $1,512,000 share of the settlement amount.  The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Doe v. Raytheon Co. et al., No. 21-cv-2343 (D.D.C.).

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Air Force Materiel Command, AFOSI, DCIS, NCIS, and Army Criminal Investigation Division.

    The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez of the District of Columbia and Senior Trial Counsel Kimberly Friday of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Members of a Prolific Chinese Money Laundering Organization Plead Guilty to Laundering Tens of Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

    Source: US State of California

    Two Chinese nationals and a California man, all members of a prolific Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO), pleaded guilty yesterday to money laundering charges involving drug trafficking proceeds.

    According to court documents, Maoxuan Xia, 29, of China, Shao Neng Lin, 58, of Baldwin Park, California, and Zhou Yu, 42, of China, were members of the CMLO that laundered over $92 million in illicit funds, including proceeds from the importation and distribution of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico. Xia was one of the most active members of the Organization, traveling throughout the United States to collect drug trafficking proceeds from U.S.-based drug traffickers and deposit those illicit funds, using both real and fake identities, into shell company bank accounts registered by other members of the CMLO, such as Lin and Yu.

    Xia and Yu each pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and one count of monetary transactions involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. Lin pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, two counts of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and two counts of monetary transactions involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Xia admitted that he was personally responsible for laundering more than $30 million of illicit funds, including drug trafficking proceeds, in less than two years. Xia further admitted that he knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds or funds intended to promote drug trafficking. Pursuant to their respective plea agreements, Lin and Yu both admitted that they each received, through the shell company bank accounts that they created and operated for the CMLO, approximately $20 million in illicit funds, including drug trafficking proceeds. Lin and Yu both admitted that the total amount of illicit funds laundered in the conspiracy for which they had actual knowledge and involvement was approximately $40 million.

    The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and money laundering counts and a maximum of 10 years in prison on each of the monetary transactions counts. A federal district court judge will determine their respective sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division, and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The DEA Charlotte District Office and the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office are investigating the case.

    Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Mingda Hang, Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth, and Trial Attorney Jayce Born of the Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alfredo De La Rosa and Seth Johnson for the Western District of North Carolina are 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, 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 and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Announces Arrest of Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 Employee for Possession and Distribution of Child Sexual Exploitation Material

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Announces Arrest of Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 Employee for Possession and Distribution of Child Sexual Exploitation Material

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested a Chubbuck man on Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, for possession and distribution of child sexual exploitation material. 
    Forty-three-year-old (43) William Strength, a now former employee of Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, was charged with eight (8) counts of Possession and two (2) counts of Distribution of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM). A spokesperson for School District 25 told the Attorney General’s Office that Strength did not have direct contact with children in his role at the district and his employment was terminated after his arrest.
    The Idaho ICAC Task Force made the arrest with agency partners from the Chubbuck Police Department, Pocatello Police Department, Idaho Falls Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Homeland Security (HSI). On April 30, 2025, Strength was arraigned in court, where the State requested bail be set at $300,000. The court ultimately set bail at $50,000, payable by cash or surety.
    “These allegations highlight the importance of our ongoing partnerships with law enforcement and school districts. We remain committed to supporting these investigations and protecting children from online threats,” said Attorney General Labrador.
    Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. 
    The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.
    Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.
    The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    MIL OSI USA News –