. Pillen Attends White House ‘Invest in America’ Event
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement celebrating the strength of Nebraska’s business community after attending President Donald Trump’s ‘Invest in America’ event at the White House.
“Bragging about Nebraska is the best part of my job, and I’m proud to highlight our hard-working agriculture, construction and manufacturing industries, as well as our dynamic small business owners and growing tech ecosystem. People around the country, and around the world, know that Nebraska is a special place for businesses to invest, build and grow because of our people.
President Trump’s vision for fixing trade and championing an ‘Invest in America’ policy is critical to our economy and our national security.”
During this afternoon’s event President Trump welcomed top executives from multiple companies pledging significant new U.S.-based investments.
. Pillen Announces Chairperson Cotton’s Retirement from Parole Board
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced the retirement of Rosalyn Cotton from the Board of Parole. Cotton has served on the board since 2005. She was first appointed as chairperson in 2015 and again in 2020. Her current term was set to expire next year.
“Chairperson Cotton served under three governors in a highly challenging and sometimes difficult role. She has been a strong collaborator with the Department of Corrections and provided solid leadership when implementing changes in law and bringing on new board members,” said Gov. Pillen. “I wish Ros the very best in her future endeavors, and I thank her for her dedication to public service.”
Cotton, in her letter to Gov. Pillen, said she enjoyed what was an extremely rewarding career, and that she looked forward to retirement and spending time with her family.
Cotton’s last day will be June 6. Gov. Pillen will announce an interim chairperson for the board at a later date.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 4 years in prison for a brutal attack that left the victim with life-threatening injuries.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on January 1, 2024, Tyrell Jordan Benally, 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico. Benally repeatedly struck Jane Doe with a closed fist and strangled her until she lost consciousness. As a result, Jane Doe suffered serious bodily injury, including life-threatening injuries from the strangulation.
Upon his release from prison, Benally will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced the acquisition of CFS International Inc. (CFS) into Willis, a WTW business. This targeted acquisition represents continued investment in the growing trade credit business, while concurrently expanding geographic coverage and presence on the U.S. West Coast.
Founded in 1990, CFS has specialized in delivering trade credit insurance solutions to global firms. Recognizing the growing need for effective credit risk management in an increasingly complex and competitive environment, CFS built its reputation on helping clients compete globally through tailored trade credit and trade finance programs.
Scott Burnett, Head of Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions for WTW’s Risk & Broking business, said, “The acquisition of CFS is our second in as many months. The first, Global Commercial Credit, expanded our trade credit footprint in the Midwest, while CFS enhances our coverage and service for clients and prospects on the West Coast. CFS aligns with our focus on specialized industries, expanding our resources and services nationwide. This deal strengthens our position as a leading trade credit provider and demonstrates WTW’s strategic investments to optimize our global portfolio and pursue high-growth broking businesses.”
Ralph Clumeck, President of CFS, commented, “After more than thirty incredible years in the trade credit insurance industry, I am proud to announce that our firm has been acquired by WTW, one of the world’s leading advisory, broking and solutions companies. This world-class organization is a perfect strategic fit for our clients as the transition will provide them with broader access to the markets, a wider range of products and solutions, and the strength of one of the industry’s most respected names. As I step away from the business, I do so with confidence and gratitude, knowing that our clients are in excellent hands. Bridget Clumeck is excited to lead this next chapter, and she will continue to provide the exceptional service and support our clients have come to expect.”
Todd Lynady, Regional Head of Willis Financial Solutions added, “Bringing CFS into WTW further demonstrates our commitment to building the leading trade credit platform in North America. We are excited to welcome their clients and colleagues, and we look forward to continuing to invest in regional talent and resources to better serve our clients throughout the U.S. and Canada.”
About WTW
At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce, and maximize performance.
Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.
Media Contact
Douglas Menelly; Douglas.Menelly@wtwco.com | +1 (516) 972-0380
Headline: One year of Phi: Small language models making big leaps in AI
Microsoft continues to add to the conversation by unveiling its newest models, Phi-4-reasoning, Phi-4-reasoning-plus, and Phi-4-mini-reasoning.
A new era of AI
One year ago, Microsoft introduced small language models (SLMs) to customers with the release of Phi-3 on Azure AI Foundry, leveraging research on SLMs to expand the range of efficient AI models and tools available to customers.
Today, we are excited to introduce Phi-4-reasoning, Phi-4-reasoning-plus, and Phi-4-mini-reasoning—marking a new era for small language models and once again redefining what is possible with small and efficient AI.
Reasoning models, the next step forward
Reasoning models are trained to leverage inference-time scaling to perform complex tasks that demand multi-step decomposition and internal reflection. They excel in mathematical reasoning and are emerging as the backbone of agentic applications with complex, multi-faceted tasks. Such capabilities are typically found only in large frontier models. Phi-reasoning models introduce a new category of small language models. Using distillation, reinforcement learning, and high-quality data, these models balance size and performance. They are small enough for low-latency environments yet maintain strong reasoning capabilities that rival much bigger models. This blend allows even resource-limited devices to perform complex reasoning tasks efficiently.
Phi-4-reasoning and Phi-4-reasoning-plus
Phi-4-reasoning is a 14-billion parameter open-weight reasoning model that rivals much larger models on complex reasoning tasks. Trained via supervised fine-tuning of Phi-4 on carefully curated reasoning demonstrations from OpenAI o3-mini, Phi-4-reasoning generates detailed reasoning chains that effectively leverage additional inference-time compute. The model demonstrates that meticulous data curation and high-quality synthetic datasets allow smaller models to compete with larger counterparts.
Phi-4-reasoning-plus builds upon Phi-4-reasoning capabilities, further trained with reinforcement learning to utilize more inference-time compute, using 1.5x more tokens than Phi-4-reasoning, to deliver higher accuracy.
Despite their significantly smaller size, both models achieve better performance than OpenAI o1-mini and DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-70B at most benchmarks, including mathematical reasoning and Ph.D. level science questions. They achieve performance better than the full DeepSeek-R1 model (with 671-billion parameters) on the AIME 2025 test, the 2025 qualifier for the USA Math Olympiad. Both models are available on Azure AI Foundry and HuggingFace.
Figure 1. Phi-4-reasoning performance across representative reasoning benchmarks spanning mathematical and scientific reasoning. We illustrate the performance gains from reasoning-focused post-training of Phi-4 via Phi-4-reasoning (SFT) and Phi-4-reasoning-plus (SFT+RL), alongside a representative set of baselines from two model families: open-weight models from DeepSeek including DeepSeek R1 (671B Mixture-of-Experts) and its distilled dense variant DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama 70B, and OpenAI’s proprietary frontier models o1-mini and o3-mini. Phi-4-reasoning and Phi-4-reasoning-plus consistently outperform the base model Phi-4 by significant margins, exceed DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama 70B (5x larger) and demonstrate competitive performance against significantly larger models such as Deepseek-R1.Figure 2. Accuracy of models across general-purpose benchmarks for: long input context QA (FlenQA), instruction following (IFEval), Coding (HumanEvalPlus), knowledge & language understanding (MMLUPro), safety detection (ToxiGen), and other general skills (ArenaHard and PhiBench).
Phi-4-reasoning models introduce a major improvement over Phi-4, surpass larger models like DeepSeek-R1-Distill-70B and approach Deep-Seek-R1 across various reasoning and general capabilities, including math, coding, algorithmic problem solving, and planning. The technical report provides extensive quantitative evidence of these improvements through diverse reasoning tasks.
Phi-4-mini-reasoning
Phi-4-mini-reasoning is designed to meet the demand for a compact reasoning model. This transformer-based language model is optimized for mathematical reasoning, providing high-quality, step-by-step problem solving in environments with constrained computing or latency. Fine-tuned with synthetic data generated by Deepseek-R1 model, Phi-4-mini-reasoning balances efficiency with advanced reasoning ability. It’s ideal for educational applications, embedded tutoring, and lightweight deployment on edge or mobile systems, and is trained on over one million diverse math problems spanning multiple levels of difficulty from middle school to Ph.D. level. Try out the model on Azure AI Foundry or HuggingFace today.
Figure 3. The graph compares the performance of various models on popular math benchmarks for long sentence generation. Phi-4-mini-reasoning outperforms its base model on long sentence generation across each evaluation, as well as larger models like OpenThinker-7B, Llama-3.2-3B-instruct, DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-7B, DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama-8B, and Bespoke-Stratos-7B. Phi-4-mini-reasoning is comparable to OpenAI o1-mini across math benchmarks, surpassing the model’s performance during Math-500 and GPQA Diamond evaluations. As seen above, Phi-4-mini-reasoning with 3.8B parameters outperforms models of over twice its size.
For more information about the model, read the technical report that provides additional quantitative insights.
Phi’s evolution over the last year has continually pushed this envelope of quality vs. size, expanding the family with new features to address diverse needs. Across the scale of Windows 11 devices, these models are available to run locally on CPUs and GPUs.
As Windows works towards creating a new type of PC, Phi models have become an integral part of Copilot+ PCs with the NPU-optimized Phi Silica variant. This highly efficient and OS-managed version of Phi is designed to be preloaded in memory, and available with blazing fast time to first token responses, and power efficient token throughput so it can be concurrently invoked with other applications running on your PC.
It is used in core experiences like Click to Do, providing useful text intelligence tools for any content on your screen, and is available as developer APIs to be readily integrated into applications—already being used in several productivity applications like Outlook, offering its Copilot summary features offline. These small but mighty models have already been optimized and integrated to be used across several applications across the breadth of our PC ecosystem. The Phi-4-reasoning and Phi-4-mini-reasoning models leverage the low-bit optimizations for Phi Silica and will be available to run soon on Copilot+ PC NPUs.
Safety and Microsoft’s approach to responsible AI
At Microsoft, responsible AI is a fundamental principle guiding the development and deployment of AI systems, including our Phi models. Phi models are developed in accordance with Microsoft AI principles: accountability, transparency, fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, and inclusiveness.
The Phi family of models has adopted a robust safety post-training approach, leveraging a combination of Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT), Direct Preference Optimization (DPO), and Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) techniques. These methods utilize various datasets, including publicly available datasets focused on helpfulness and harmlessness, as well as various safety-related questions and answers. While the Phi family of models is designed to perform a wide range of tasks effectively, it is important to acknowledge that all AI models may exhibit limitations. To better understand these limitations and the measures in place to address them, please refer to the model cards below, which provide detailed information on responsible AI practices and guidelines.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot at the Department of State on May 1, 2025.
———-
Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
X: https://x.com/StateDept
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/
Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw
State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou
Premier David Eby has issued the following statement in recognition of International Workers’ Day:
“On International Workers’ Day, we honour all those whose labour built the world we live in, and who struggled so that we can enjoy family-supporting paycheques, weekends off and safe workplaces. It is also a day to honour and celebrate the workers’ movements here in British Columbia and around the world that continue to organize for a better future.
“Without those struggles, many of the rights we cherish – from overtime pay to parental leave, from a minimum wage to health benefits – would not be available to workers today.
“Working people continue to fight to improve wages and conditions at a time when affordable housing and a rising cost of living persist as challenges. Unfair and unjustified tariffs imposed by the United States hurt working people on both sides of the border.
“Our government will continue to take action to address these challenges by building more housing, by offering more education and training to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, and by ensuring all British Columbians can access public health care when they need it.
“We stand in solidarity with the workers of British Columbia. You have helped make British Columbia the place it is today, a dynamic, diverse province where we know we are stronger together.”
Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, said:
“On International Workers’ Day, we honour the people whose hard work has built our province. As we reflect on the contributions made by workers in British Columbia, we remain committed to ensuring safe workplaces for all and to the fight for dignity, equity and opportunity for everyone.”
Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement in celebration of Asian Heritage Month:
“Each May, people in British Columbia come together to celebrate Asian Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honour the many diverse communities of Asian descent who call our province home. I am heartbroken that this year’s festivities began in tragedy, with the brutal act of violence at last weekend’s Lapu Lapu Day event in Vancouver.
“Our sense of grief over this senseless, horrific incident is only made more profound by the fact that Filipinos have given so much to B.C. From law and politics to health care, education and entrepreneurship, Filipinos have been integral in shaping the culture of our province. We are proud to be home to the second-largest Filipino diaspora in the country.
“The response we have already seen from people in British Columbia to this tragedy reminds us of the core message of Asian Heritage Month, resiliency. From East to South Asia, from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, people of Asian heritage have contributed immeasurably to the social, cultural, economic and political landscape of B.C.
“Chinese workers helped build our railways, Filipinos have been the backbone of our health-care system, Japanese Canadian families on the coast were pivotal to our fishing industries, South Asian farmers have kept us nourished – the list goes on. Most importantly, our ancestors did all of this in the face of tragedy, systemic discrimination, colonial policies, internment and racial violence.
“Let us honour their memories and efforts by recommitting ourselves to building a province where everyone, regardless of race, background or heritage, can live with dignity, in safety and have equal opportunity. Let us take our cue from those before us who never wavered in their commitment to building community, advocating for justice and believing in a better future, no matter what obstacle they faced.
“Let us not only honour the past but look forward, with hope and resolve. Happy Asian Heritage Month, B.C.”
Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement marking Jewish Heritage Month:
“As Jewish communities around the world conclude Passover celebrations, we in British Columbia enter May proudly recognizing and celebrating Jewish Heritage Month, a time to honour the rich history, culture and contributions of Jewish people to our province.
“Since the late 1800s, Jewish Canadians have played an integral role in B.C.’s vibrancy and growth, from David Oppenheimer, the mayor of Vancouver when Stanley Park opened, to Lumley Franklin, who successfully oversaw the effort to link B.C. to England via telegraph. Today, we are proud that our province is home to one of the fastest-growing Jewish populations in all of Canada.
“As we celebrate Jewish Heritage Month, we must confront the alarming rise of antisemitism in B.C. and around the world. For several years now, too many Jewish people in B.C. have reported an upsurge in both hate crimes and hateful sentiment targeting them. This has only worsened and is unacceptable. Every incident of hate is a stark reminder of the work that still lies ahead of us as we try to build a more understanding and accepting province.
“This May, let us not only celebrate the achievements and resilience of Jewish people in British Columbia, but also reaffirm our commitment to standing against antisemitism.
“By learning from the past and embracing diversity, we strengthen the bonds that unite us as one community made up of many communities. Together, let us mark Jewish Heritage Month with reflection and resolve.”
The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to proclaim May as Jewish Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich culture, history and significant contributions of Jewish communities in Saskatchewan.
Jewish Heritage Month provides the province with an opportunity to reflect on the resilience, traditions and diverse achievements of Jewish Canadians – past and present. From arts to business, science and public services, Jewish Canadians have played an essential role in shaping the social, economic and cultural fabric of both Saskatchewan and Canada as a whole.
“Jewish Heritage month is a time to honour the many ways Jewish Canadians have enriched our communities,” Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Alana Ross said. “It is also a time to promote understanding and inclusion while recognizing the strength found in unity.”
Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Canadians to learn more about Jewish heritage and celebrate the enduring legacy of Jewish life in Canada.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2
News Release Thursday, May 1, 2025
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) today announced the development of the next-generation, universal vaccine platform, Generation Gold Standard, using a beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated, whole-virus platform. This initiative represents a decisive shift toward transparency, effectiveness, and comprehensive preparedness, funding the NIH’s in-house development of universal influenza and coronavirus vaccines, including candidates BPL-1357 and BPL-24910. These vaccines aim to provide broad-spectrum protection against multiple strains of pandemic-prone viruses such as H5N1 avian influenza and coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV. “Our commitment is clear: every innovation in vaccine development must be grounded in gold standard science and transparency, and subjected to the highest standards of safety and efficacy testing,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The program realigns BARDA’s operations with its statutory mission under the Public Health Service Act—to prepare for all influenza viral threats, not just those currently circulating. “Generation Gold Standard is a paradigm shift,” said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. “It extends vaccine protection beyond strain-specific limits and prepares for flu viral threats – not just today’s, but tomorrow’s as well – using traditional vaccine technology brought into the 21st century.” Generation Gold Standard, developed exclusively by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):
Recalibrates America’s pandemic preparedness. Unlike traditional vaccines that target specific strains, BPL-inactivated whole-virus vaccines preserve the virus’s structural integrity while eliminating infectivity. This approach induces robust B and T cell immune responses and offers long-lasting protection across diverse viral families. Moreover, the intranasal formulation of BPL-1357 is currently in Phase Ib and II/III trials and is designed to block virus transmission—an innovation absent from current flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Embodies efficient, transparent, and government-led research. The BPL platform is fully government-owned and NIH-developed. This approach ensures radical transparency, public accountability, and freedom from commercial conflicts of interest. Marks the future of vaccine development. In addition to influenza and coronavirus, the BPL platform is adaptable for future use against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza. It also offers the unprecedented capability to protect against avian influenza without inducing antigenic drift—a major step forward in proactive pandemic prevention.
Clinical trials for universal influenza vaccines are scheduled to begin in 2026, with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval targeted for 2029. The intranasal BPL-1357 flu vaccine, currently in advanced trials, is also on track for FDA review by 2029. 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® ###
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Washington, D.C. — This week, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force elevated their fight against the Trump Administration’s illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship to the highest court in the land—filing an amicus brief for the three birthright citizenship cases currently before the United States Supreme Court (Trump v. State of Washington, Trump v. CASA, Inc., and Trump v. State of New Jersey).
The brief was signed by 183 House Democrats and offers a compelling argument that President Trump’s week one order to strip the guarantee of citizenship provided to children born in America violates the Constitution and over a century of Supreme Court rulings, and laws enacted by Congress. The justices are set to hear oral arguments in the cases on May 15th, following the administration’s request that they lift a nationwide pause currently halting the implementation of this policy.
The full brief is available HERE.
The lawmakers first got involved when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit considered the case of Trump v. State of Washington. Their latest endeavor is again being led by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with Litigation Task Force Co-Chairs Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin; Representatives Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, and Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement; as well as Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Yvette Clarke, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng, and Congressional Jewish Caucus (CJC) Co-Chairs Jerry Nadler and Brad Schneider.
See what they had to say below:
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to the United States Constitution. Their disgraceful actions on birthright citizenship violate our nation’s laws and are an assault on the American way of life. House Democrats will continue to push back aggressively against them in the courts, in Congress and in our communities. The Supreme Court of the United States must stand on the side of the Constitution and reject this outrageous effort. I am thankful for the leadership of Rep. Raskin, Rep. Thompson, Rep. Jayapal, Rep. Clarke, Rep. Espaillat, Rep. Meng, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Schneider and Assistant Leader Neguse of the Litigation Working Group and Rapid Response Task Force in standing up for the rule of law,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“The first sentence of the 14th Amendment overthrew the Dred Scott decision and replaced racial citizenship with birthright citizenship. For more than a century and a half, the Supreme Court has upheld the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment and Congress has codified it. Four district judges, two Republican appointed and two Democratic appointees, rejected and enjoined Donald Trump’s blatantly unconstitutional order. We will all uphold and defend the Constitution against Donald Trump,” said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin.
“President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and as our amicus brief makes clear, House Democrats will continue to vindicate our constitution,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse.
“We will not allow the Trump administration to redefine what it is to be an American just to fit their extreme anti-immigrant beliefs. Under the Constitution, people born here are United States citizens – no matter who they are, what they look like, or where their families came from. Americans reject what Trump is attempting to do, and the Supreme Court must too,” said Ranking Member Bennie Thompson.
“Birthright citizenship is a core piece of our Constitution. Ending it through executive order is simply unconstitutional and a dangerous overreach of executive power,” said Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal. “All persons born on U.S. soil are U.S. citizens, that is what our Constitution dictates and is something President Trump cannot undo by waving a pen. As the first immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, I am proud to be co-leading on this amicus brief to stand up for the immigration laws of this country.”
“Birthright citizenship is enshrined in our Constitution and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court numerous times — including in the landmark United States v. Wong Kim Ark decision. No matter what President Trump says or does, he cannot unilaterally overrule the law of the land by signing a piece of paper. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I join my colleagues in standing up for American values and against this unconstitutional executive overreach,” said CAPAC Chair Grace Meng.
“Birthright citizenship is a moral imperative in the United States because of its origins. It’s about our collective recovery from the evils of slavery, yes, but it’s also about equal opportunity for every American born in this country,” said CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat. “This brief reminds the Supreme Court of the historical weight of the 14th amendment and of the very real costs that would be imposed by additional legal requirements on all growing families by a spurious reinterpretation of this keystone amendment.”
“For more than a century, a cornerstone of our law is that those born on U.S. soil are American citizens. President Trump’s executive order to nullify birthright citizenship is in clear violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and is further evidence that extremist Republicans more concerned with dividing our country, not lower the cost of living, or improving economic conditions for hardworking Americans. President Trump has absolutely no authority to unilaterally write American citizens out of the Constitution, and any challenge to that notion is utterly fanciful. As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am proud to join my colleagues in making clear that we will not stand down against President Trump and extremist Republicans’ lawless and xenophobic attacks,” said CBC Chair Yvette Clarke.
“Donald Trump is not a king. He cannot dismiss a century and a half of legal and judicial precedent that affirms the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment of our Constitution with the swipe of a pen. Our Constitution clearly says if you are born here, you are a citizen. I’m hopeful that our highest court will follow the precedent set by its predecessors and send a clear message to the President that his flagrant, illegal overreach will be stopped,” said CJC Co-Chair Brad Schneider.
“Donald Trump’s divisive and xenophobic policies seek to divide and distract us,” said CJC Co-Chair Jerry Nadler. “We are dealing with a President who believes he is not just above the law, but above the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment is clear that persons born in the United States are U.S. citizens. And yet, President Trump feels compelled to single-handedly change what has been universally understood about the law since the Amendment was adopted in 1868. All Americans should be disturbed by Trump’s assertion that he can unilaterally change the Constitution at will to suit his purposes. This represents an assault on our democracy, and we cannot stand idly by and allow the President to disregard fundamental pillars of the Constitution. That is why I am proud as the Congressional Jewish Caucus Co-chair to join my colleagues in leading this effort.”
For more information on House Democrats efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump Administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2025 – Hundreds gathered outside Union Station on Tuesday, April 29, to honor and thank federal employees at an energizing celebration hosted by the IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM).
FEDERAL RALLY PHOTOS
The event, held during the IAM Union Legislative Conference week, brought together union members, labor allies, and elected officials in a show of unity and appreciation for the vital work of federal employees.
Massive rally takes place in Washington DC for fired federal workers marking Trump’s 100th day MSNBC
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) delivered powerful remarks, praising the commitment and service of federal workers across the country. Their attendance underscored the strong support in Congress for the civil servants who uphold essential government functions every day.
“Our federal workforce represents the very best of our nation,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our members keep our country safe, serve our veterans, protect our public lands, and so much more. I want to thank our elected officials who stand with us in this fight to protect our federal heroes.”
Throughout the event, IAM Union members and allies held signs to celebrate federal workers turning Union Station into a rallying place for hundreds of supporters.
“We must continue to stand up for our members rights and recognize their contributions,” said NFFE-IAM Union President Randy Erwin. “We are proud to host this event to celebrate the contributions of federal workers and to let them know that their union has their back. Events like these remind the nation who keeps our nation running and who’s ready to defend their rights.”
The event also highlighted the recently launched “Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network,” a powerful legal initiative supporting current and former federal workers who have faced retaliation or unjust treatment. The program, created in partnership with AFL-CIO, We The Action, Democracy Forward, and others, continues to offer vital legal resources. More information is available at workerslegaldefense.org.
As federal workers continue to face challenges, the IAM, NFFE-IAM, and their allies remain committed to advocating for their rights and celebrating their vital role in our democracy.
Social Media Roundup from the event:
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
In the 1880s, Chicago workers had had enough because of long hours and harsh conditions that pushed them to demand change. The International Working People’s Association, formed in 1883, championed the eight-hour workday. The movement gained national momentum. At its 1884 convention, the American Federation of Labor called for a nationwide strike on May 1, 1886.
On that day, over 340,000 workers took to the streets in support of an eight-hour workday. Tensions rose two days later during a strike at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. Police attacked protesters, killing at least six. The violence led to a rally in Haymarket Square on May 4. Though peaceful at first, the protest turned deadly when a bomb was thrown and police opened fire, killing several and injuring dozens.
The Haymarket Affair spurred the global labor movement. In 1889, labor leaders declared May 1 as International Workers Day—now known as May Day—to honor the fight for workers’ rights and the lives lost in the struggle. Once again, workers’ rights are under attack. The current administration has targeted federal workers’ bargaining rights, immigrant workers and freedom of speech. We honor the memory of our labor movement brothers and sisters, who for over a century have championed workers’ rights.
SINGAPORE, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the cryptocurrency market experiences increased volatility, BexBack, a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform, is offering traders unparalleled opportunities to maximize their profits. With Bitcoin surging to new highs, reaching $95,000, BexBack is at the forefront, helping both new and experienced traders capitalize on the market’s fluctuations. The platform provides up to 100x leverage, no KYC, and exclusive bonuses, redefining the way crypto trading is done.
Why Choose BexBack?
BexBack is designed to offer more than just a simple trading platform. Its innovative features empower traders to take control of their investments with enhanced flexibility, safety, and profitability. Key advantages of the platform include:
No KYC Requirement: Users can start trading immediately without undergoing complicated identity verification processes, ensuring maximum privacy.
100x Leverage: BexBack provides up to 100x leverage on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and more, allowing traders to open larger positions with smaller capital and maximize profit potential in volatile market conditions.
Exclusive Bonuses:
$100 Trading Bonus: New users who deposit at least 0.01 BTC or 1000 USDT and complete their first trade will receive a $100 bonus, helping them get started with trading and offset potential losses.
100% Deposit Bonus: Double your funds with a 100% deposit bonus, which can be used as margin for increased trading power. While this bonus is non-withdrawable, it can significantly amplify profits by allowing traders to open larger positions.
Zero Deposit Fees: There are no deposit fees on the BexBack platform, giving traders more freedom to manage their investments without worrying about additional costs.
How Does 100x Leverage Work?
100x leverage allows traders to open positions much larger than their initial investment, enabling them to profit from even small price movements in the market. For example, if the price of Bitcoin rises by $5,000, a trader using 100x leverage can earn up to 5 BTC from a 1 BTC investment, resulting in a 500% return. However, traders should be cautious, as higher leverage also increases the risk of liquidation.
Global Access and 24/7 Support
BexBack is accessible to users across the globe, including in the United States, Canada, Europe, and many other regions. The platform is available via both web and mobile applications, offering users a feature-rich, seamless trading experience wherever they are. Additionally, BexBack offers 24/7 customer support to assist traders with any questions or issues they may encounter.
The Future of Crypto Trading
BexBack continues to innovate, offering traders the tools they need to succeed in the ever-changing world of cryptocurrency. The platform’s commitment to providing high-leverage trading, a user-friendly interface, and robust customer support has quickly earned it a reputation as a trusted platform in the global crypto community.
Join BexBack Today
If you’re ready to take your crypto trading to the next level, now is the time to act. With 100x leverage, a 100% deposit bonus, and the opportunity to earn a $100 trading bonus, BexBack is the perfect platform for those seeking to capitalize on the current crypto market trends.
BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform that offers 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, and XRP futures contracts. It is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. It holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. Accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are no deposit fees, and traders can get the most thoughtful service, including 24/7 customer support.
Disclaimer: This content is provided by BexBack.The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario)
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-R) joined the Natural Resources Subcommittee on the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries which held a hearing yesterday.
During the hearing, it was noted that while actual dam removal may not proceed directly, there remains fear that dams will be functionally disabled in the name of fish conservation. Congressman Bentz attacked this narrative, emphasizing: dams on Snake and Columbia are not the primary obstacle to fish recovery. The greatest threat lies in the ocean, because fewer than 2% of the fish that reach the ocean return to spawn upstream. His comments serve as a strong reminder of the need for science-based policy that protects both hydropower energy production and rural communities that rely on these resources.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) this week reintroduced the bipartisan Water Research Optimization Act of 2025, legislation to streamline hydrological forecast modeling within the National Weather Service. The Senators’ legislation would place America’s 13 River Forecast Centers under the supervision and oversight of the Office of Water Protection and solidify existing hydrology work conducted through the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the United States’ first-ever center for water forecast operations.
CIROH has evolved into a revolutionary, collaborative hub between the public and private sector for research and development. The Water Research Optimization Act of 2025 would make CIROH’s research center at the University of Vermont (UVM) permanent and align UVM’s hydrology work with the National Weather Service to boost flood resiliency research.
“Investing in hydrology modeling and prediction is crucial to boosting flood resilience across the country, from Vermont to Alabama. That includes supporting important hydrology research and programs at the University of Vermont that improve hydrologic forecasting, such as the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will strengthen and align current hydrology research at the National Weather Service with vital research at UVM to foster flood resilience and help communities rebuild better after natural disasters.”
“The National Water Center has been instrumental to NOAA’s efforts to strengthen America’s water forecasting capabilities, improve weather-preparedness, and modernize water research technologies,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud of the Center’s world-class capabilities, and I have no doubt this legislation will further enhance critical research and applied sciences that benefit our entire nation. I’m grateful to Senator Welch for his support and leadership through our bipartisan bill.”
“We are grateful to Senators Welch and Britt for their leadership in introducing pivotal legislation to support CIROH. Funding for these efforts allows the University of Vermont to continue vital research on water that impacts the quality of life of Vermonters and communities across the country. We are proud to be able to contribute to this work,” said Kirk Dombrowski, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Vermont.
CIROH’s national coalition of academic, industry, and non-profit partners includes the University of Vermont, which functions closely alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Water Center to support stakeholders with hydrological data and important weather-related forecasts and warnings. This legislation would place CIROH Centers under the supervision and oversight of the National Weather Service’s Office of Water Protection and codify the National Water Center’s authority to lead the transition of water resources research.
Read and download the full text of the bill.
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) highlighted his efforts to fight for Nebraska priorities during the recent Senate state work period. Ricketts led a bipartisan delegation trip to the Philippines and Taiwan focused on deterring Communist China. Trade issues were also discussed. He then held a series of public events in Nebraska. Those included town halls in Scottsbluff, Valentine, and Kearney. He made the following comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media:
“Before Easter, I visited the Philippines and Taiwan,”said Ricketts. “I met with the leaders in both those countries. We discussed ways to push back on Communist China’s aggression. Communist China is our greatest external threat.”
Ricketts also underscored the potential for expanded trade opportunities for Nebraska agriculture producers.
“There is a lot of interest in signing new trade deals,” said Ricketts. “For example, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao expressed an interest in buying more of our soybeans instead of buying them from Brazil. Others expressed interest in buying more of our natural gas. They know Communist China is a bad trading partner. They want to work with us. There’s a lot of opportunity. We need to start cutting these trade deals.”
In addition, Ricketts recapped the many public events he held across Nebraska. This included three town halls, roundtable conversations in Grand Island and Scottsbluff, a cattle branding in Sioux County, and events in Lincoln with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
“I shared how I’m working with President Trump to secure the southern border, protect the 2017 tax cuts, and support Nebraska agriculture,”continued Ricketts.“I gave an update on how I’m fighting to address our $36 trillion national debt – which is our greatest domestic threat. I also heard feedback and answered questions directly from Nebraskans. These conversations help me stay connected to the priorities and values of my constituents.”
[embedded content]
Watch the video here
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “Over the last two weeks, I focused on some of the priorities that we face now as a nation.
“For example, specifically deterring China and tackling our debt.
“Before Easter, I visited the Philippines and Taiwan.
“I met with the leaders in both those countries.
“We discussed ways to push back on Communist China’s aggression.
“Communist China is our greatest external threat.
“Xi Jinping has said that he wants to be the world’s dominating power by 2049.
“Communist China’s dramatic military buildup and increasingly provocative actions are designed to force everyone else to bend to its will.
“Just this week, it took over an island in the West Philippine Sea.
“In the past, they have stolen intellectual property and continue to do so.
“They manipulate or disregard rules to gain advantages that risk our security.
“That threatens our security and threatens the security of many of our allies and partners.
“We also discussed expanding trade opportunities for American producers.
“There is a lot of interest in signing new trade deals.
“For example, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao expressed an interest in buying more of our soybeans instead of buying them from Brazil.
“Others expressed interest in buying more of our natural gas.
“They know Communist China is a bad trading partner. They want to work with us.
“There’s a lot of opportunity. We need to start cutting these trade deals.
“Last week, I held public events in the Western, Central, and Eastern parts of our state.
“For example, I hosted three town halls in Scottsbluff, Valentine, and Kearney.
“At these town halls, I shared updates on my work in Washington.
“I shared how I’m working with President Trump to secure the southern border, protect the 2017 tax cuts, and support Nebraska agriculture.
“I gave an update on how I’m fighting to address our $36 trillion national debt – which is our greatest domestic threat.
“I also heard feedback and answered questions directly from Nebraskans.
“These conversations help me stay connected to the priorities and values of my constituents.
“In addition to the townhalls, I spoke to the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
“I gave a legislative update and answered questions about taxes, tariffs, and other topics.
“In Lincoln, I partnered with Nebraska Farm Bureau to call for making the Trump tax cuts permanent.
“If the tax cuts expire, Americans would see a $4 trillion tax increase.
“That would hurt Nebraska families, farmers, and small businesses.
“The child tax credit will be cut by $1,000.
“The standard deduction will be cut in half.
“And the deduction for the Death Tax would also be cut in half, putting our Nebraska family farms and ranches at risk.
“If these tax cuts were to expire, a family of four making $80,000 would pay $1,700 more in taxes.
“I want to see Nebraskans’ taxes cut, not raised.
“I also held several important roundtable meetings.
“In Grand Island, I heard directly from local Chambers of Commerce.
“They shared their strategies for economic development and revitalization.
“For example, I heard about the Kearney sportsplex, which is attracting events from all over the region.
“In fact, they told me that they are entirely booked, having only two open weeks from now until 2029.
“That’s huge for central Nebraska.
“In Scottsbluff, I sat down with agriculture leaders.
“They shared with me the challenges facing rural communities.
“Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers feed the world.
“I’m committed to passing a comprehensive farm bill that delivers the tools they need to succeed.
“While in western Nebraska, I took part in a cattle branding in Sioux County.
“Branding is a great part of western life.
“It’s tough, honest work that brings families and communities together.
“The brand identifies cattle and protects against theft.
“The calves are also vaccinated to protect their health.
“Nebraska is the Beef State because of the grit demonstrated every day by our ranchers.
“I’ll always advocate for Nebraska agriculture.
“In addition, my team and I are hosting Mobile Office Hours in every single county.
“We did that in all 93 counties last year – twice.
“We help Nebraskans navigate the federal bureaucracy.
“And I’ll continue fighting every day to make sure Nebraskans’ voices are heard in Washington.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today led a bipartisan group of 44 House members in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the Agency to uphold the rule designating the two most dangerous PFAS — PFOA and PFOS — as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
“After years of widespread PFAS contamination impacting communities across the country, EPA finalized a CERCLA rule last year that gives the agency stronger tools to investigate and clean up some of the most contaminated sites. Rolling back this progress would pose risks to both public health and the economy,” the lawmakers write. “If the CERCLA rule is rescinded, the financial burden of cleaning up PFAS-contaminated sites would increasingly fall on taxpayers. The Department of Defense (DOD) has already spent more than $2 billion addressing PFAS contamination from legacy uses like firefighting foam — a fraction of what will be required to remediate all impacted military sites. Delaying cleanup only allows contamination to spread further, making future efforts more costly and complex. The CERCLA rule helps ensure that the parties responsible for PFOA and PFOS pollution — including industrial actors who contributed to widespread contamination — bear the financial responsibility. Without this vital rule, communities across the country could be left footing the bill for cleanup, placing a significant burden on states, localities, and communities.”
“Further, PFAS are linked to an array of health harms, including testicular and kidney cancer, impaired fetal development, and infertility. These chemicals are extremely toxic to both the environment and the human body, and due to their strong chemical bonds, they can take years to break down,” the lawmakers continue. “Communities across the country have faced significant PFAS contamination, including in areas like Oscoda, MI, and Horsham, PA, where legacy use of firefighting foam at military sites have contaminated drinking water sources. Also, several communities across the country are living with significant contamination, and it is our duty as Members of Congress to address this crisis and protect our constituents.”
“EPA’s core mission is to protect human health and the environment. In order to fulfill that mission with respect to PFAS contamination — while also avoiding significant economic burdens on taxpayers — it is essential that the CERCLA rule remains in place,” the lawmakers conclude. “For decades, utilities and landfills have managed the treatment of hazardous substances to safeguard public health, and EPA has made clear it will exercise enforcement discretion, focusing on the worst actors responsible for serious PFOA and PFOS contamination. With nearly every American having some level of PFAS in their blood, rescinding this rule would fail to protect our communities and would undermine long-term economic progress. For these reasons, we urge you to uphold the CERCLA designations for PFOA and PFOS.”
Dingell has long led the fight against PFAS as the sponsor of the PFAS Action Act, which includes establishing a strong national drinking water standard. Additionally, Dingell has introduced the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act, PFAS Alternatives Act, and Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act. The designation of PFOS and PFOA – two of the most widely used and notoriously harmful PFAS substances – as hazardous substances by the EPA under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), is a key pillar of Dingell’s bipartisan PFAS Action Act.
View the full text of the letter here.
The letter is also signed by Representatives Jake Auchincloss, Nanette Barragán, Jack Bergman, Brendan Boyle, André Carson, Troy Carter, Steve Cohen, Diana DeGette, Christopher Deluzio, Cleo Fields, Brian Fitzpatrick, Laura Gillen, Josh Gottheimer, Chrissy Houlahan, Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Jen Kiggans, Mike Lawler, Seth Magaziner, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Jim McGovern, Gwen Moore, Joe Neguse, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chris Pappas, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Deborah Ross, Pat Ryan, Linda Sánchez, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Eric Sorensen, Darren Soto, Haley Stevens, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Juan Vargas, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following statement on Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to South Carolina to deliver remarks on economic policy:
“South Carolinians will not be fooled by J.D. Vance’s rhetoric. The Trump Administration’s economic record in its first 100 days has been an abysmal failure, and a substantial course correction is needed to prevent grave harm to families and businesses. Trump’s exorbitant tariffs—imposed on countless essential products without any strategy—are increasing costs, jeopardizing retirement savings, threatening jobs, and putting small businesses at risk. We are one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, and are proud of our contributions to the global economy. South Carolina stands to be harmed disproportionately. The Vice President would be better served by using his visit today to hear from South Carolinians from all walks of life—longshoremen, autoworkers, farmers, aircraft assemblers, hospitality employees, small business owners, and everyone else trying to make ends meet and urging the Administration to alter its approach before it is too late.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)
Evidence points to a startling lack of enforcement of Wikipedia’s most basic rules and editorial safeguards. Given the immense influence that Wikipedia articles have over our online and real life global conversations, far more editorial responsibility and transparency is needed, immediately.
Washington DC– Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Don Bacon (NE-02) led a group of 23 Members in sending Wikimedia CEO Maryana Iskander a letter seeking answers on how the online encyclopedia will enforce its own rules, curb editor bias and prevent antisemitism and pro-terrorist content from infiltrating Wikipedia pages.
Despite its free, community-sourced platform, Wikipedia’s influence is immeasurable. Millions of internet readers read its reference material, and search engines and Artificial Intelligence language models draw on its articles. However, recentADL researchfound widespread antisemitic and anti-Israel bias on its pages, across multiple languages, especially on content related to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as an apparent coordinated promotion of pro-Hamas propaganda.
“Evidence points to a startling lack of enforcement of Wikipedia’s most basic rules and editorial safeguards. Given the immense influence that Wikipedia articles have over our online and real life global conversations, far more editorial responsibility and transparency is needed, immediately,” said Wasserman Schultz. “My hope is that our bipartisan questions and concerns can curb a suspected coordinated campaign to manipulate Wikipedia content that drives antisemitic content and biases.”
“Antisemitism and anti-Israel views have increased on Wikipedia due to their lack of enforcing their own rules and standards and they need to take steps immediately to fix the problem,” said Bacon. “Wikipedia has such a broad reach and people take what is posted there as 100 percent truth, when it always isn’t. I’m glad to join Rep. Wasserman Schulz on this bipartisan letter, in the hopes we can get Wikimedia to fix this.”
“Earlier this year,research from theADL Center for Technology and Society raised immense concerns regarding antisemitism, anti-Israel bias, and abuse of Wikipedia by coordinated actors,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO & National Director. “The majority of Wikipedia users assume the material on the platform is reliable. The reality is millions are being exposed to dangerous misinformation on contentious topics. I deeply appreciate Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Bacon for leading this crucial bipartisan effort, demanding answers from Wikimedia on how they are enforcing their own rules and pushing for greater transparency and accountability.”
Read the full letter below of thesigned version here.
Maryana Iskander
Chief Executive Officer
Wikimedia Foundation
1 Montgomery Street Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104
Dear Ms. Iskander:
We write to express our deep concern regarding antisemitism, anti-Israel bias, and the potential abuse of Wikipedia by coordinated actors. Wikipedia plays an important role not only for the hundreds of millions of regular users who access it directly, but also as a key source for search engines and Large Language Models (LLMs) which incorporate Wikipedia’s content into their answers.
Arecent reportby the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) identified a group of approximately 30 Wikipedia editors who have significantly undermined the platform’s credibility, making more than 1.5 million edits over the past decade to gradually and systematically distort neutral narratives on articles related to Israel, pushing an antisemitic, pro-Hamas, anti-Zionist, and anti-Israel agenda. While Wikipedia mandates that all content be written from a “neutral point of view (NPOV),” these edits go far beyond presenting differing perspectives. Instead, they suggest a deliberate effort to inject antisemitic bias and propaganda, raising concerns that some of these editors may be pro-Hamas or even acting on behalf of foreign state actors.
One particularly egregious example of this manipulation involves distorting history with an aim to hide certain groups’ and figures’ support for terrorism and violence. Editors have deliberately removed evidence of public figures’ support of political violence and overt antisemitism, as well as erasing references across multiple articles that document terrorist violence. This is especially evident on Wikipedia’s entry for Hamas, where significant edits have downplayed and de-emphasized the organization’s terror activities.
The ADL report concludes that these edits are not the result of the organic changes that occur on Wikipedia as editors update pages to reflect evolving understandings of complex issues. Instead, they appear to be part of a long-running, coordinated scheme that involved serious infractions to Wikipedia’s anti-bias policies, including violations such as canvassing and likely off-platform coordination and communication.
ADL is not alone in recognizing bias on the platform. Last month, Wikipedia’s English-language Arbitration Committee—a volunteer body of 15 senior editors elected by fellow Wikipedians—acknowledged the issue by banningeight editorsfrom changing articles related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Five of the eight editors were also identified in ADL’s list of 30 bad faith editors. While it is a welcome first step, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure Wikipedia remains free of bias, antisemitism, and pro-terrorist content. With that in mind, please answer the following questions by April 30, 2025:
Preventing Foreign Interference:Has the Wikimedia Foundation investigated if prolific Wikipedia editors and administrators are covertly acting on behalf of adversaries of the United States, including Iran, Hamas, and other antagonistic foreign entities?
What safeguards are in place to prevent coordinated editing campaigns by foreign actors, and how does Wikipedia detect and mitigate disinformation sponsored by state and nonstate actors?
In what cases does Wikipedia verify the identities and affiliations of editors, including those making frequent or high-impact edits on politically sensitive topics, to ensure that foreign adversaries are not abusing the platform to spread misinformation or propaganda?
Editor Oversight:What steps are being taken to ensure sufficient oversight of editors and administrators to prevent biased or coordinated manipulation of content?
Addressing Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Bias:What specific measures does Wikipedia have in place to prevent and address antisemitic, anti-Zionist, and anti-Israel bias among its editors? How does it ensure that factual, well-sourced information is not overridden by ideologically–motivated edits?
Ensuring Transparency and Accountability:Understanding that all edits are public but not easily retrievable or understood, can Wikipedia provide us data on content disputes, edit reversions, and administrator actions related to antisemitic, anti-Zionist, or anti-Israel bias?
1.What steps are being taken to increase transparency and accountability in addressing these issues?
2.Is Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Foundation considering using additional AI or data-related tools to better enforce its policies?
We greatly appreciate your swift attention to this matter and look forward to reviewing your thorough response.
For the ninth consecutive time, UConn’s John Dempsey Hospital holds the highest mark for hospital safety, according to an independent national nonprofit watchdog.
The Leapfrog Group issues its Hospital Safety Grades semi-annually to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 measures of accidents, error, injuries, and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
Dr. Scott Allen is UConn Health’s chief medical officer and the UConn John Dempsey Hospital medical director of clinical effectiveness and safety. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)
“Our continued letter grade ‘A’ for hospital patient safety by Leapfrog is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to being a high-reliability organization, from leadership to front-line staff,” says Dr. Scott Allen, UConn Health’s chief medical officer and the hospital’s medical director of clinical effectiveness and safety. “Keeping patients safe from harm is just one aspect of the overall excellence in care received at UConn Health.”
John Dempsey Hospital has maintained an ‘A’ grade from Leapfrog every six months since first earning it in the spring of 2021.
“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” says Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I extend my congratulations to UConn’s John Dempsey Hospital, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.”
Leapfrog describes its Hospital Safety Grade as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) leadership, and members of the Georgia General Assembly signed legislation strengthening the state’s workforce pipeline at the TCSG Leadership Summit. Building on recent measures that connect Georgians with career opportunities, each of the bills signed by the Governor further opened pathways for learners of all ages to receive the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
“As the No. 1 state for business, Georgia has seen record-breaking jobs and investment come to communities in every part of the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “With the bills I signed today, we’re taking further steps to prepare Georgians to walk through those open doors. I’m proud to sign these bills with so many of the men and women whose work every day is building the workforce of tomorrow.”
Governor Kemp signed three pieces of legislation included below:
HB 217, sponsored by Representatives Soo Hong and Chuck Martin and carried in the Senate by Senator Bo Hatchett, is TCSG agency legislation that reforms the Dual Achievement Program and extends the pilot an additional five years. It also includes Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) agency legislation on granting the agency the ability to use DOR’s data to verify income for Promise Scholarship applicants and a fix on the enrollment count reference date for the school board elections nepotism clause. The Governor is also grateful for the leadership of Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier, and GSFC Presidents Lynne Riley and Chris Green on this legislation.
SB 180, sponsored by Senator Clint Dixon and carried in the House by Representative Matt Dubnik, enables apprenticeship sponsors in addition to employer sponsors to participate in the High Demand Apprenticeship Program and receive funding for the successful completion of apprenticeships.
SB 193, sponsored by Senator Matt Brass and carried in the House by Representative Houston Gaines, establishes an adult workforce high school diploma program within TCSG to award diplomas to individuals between the ages of 21 and 40.
Governor Kemp extends his appreciation to all of those whose diligent work and efforts led to him being able to sign these bills today.
The Vatican’s College of Cardinals will soon gather in Rome to elect a new head of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.
As the church prepares for the papal conclave, the world is assessing Francis’s legacy and his stance on the role of women in the church, LGBTQ+ rights and the needs of migrants and refugees.
In many ways, it’s a remarkable document. At once rational and urgent, it calls on all of us — “every person living on this planet” — to think about what we are doing to the only planet we have.
Our common home, Francis wrote, “is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” And yet, we “have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.”
Unlike the IPCC report, however, Francis didn’t pull his punches. “The Earth, our home,” he wrote, “is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”
Francis didn’t hold back
A few months after the publication of Laudato Si’, the world gathered in Paris to draft a new climate treaty. It too is a remarkable document. However, if the authors of the Paris Agreement couldn’t mention the economic roots of the climate crisis – they couldn’t even use the term fossil fuels — the pope could and did.
Francis relentlessly called out our “models of growth which have proved incapable of ensuring respect for the environment,” our “irrational confidence in progress and human abilities” and our “blind confidence in technical solutions.”
He was critical of “current models of production and consumption” and our faith in “the invisible forces of the market,” as well as our “misguided anthropocentrism” and our “throwaway culture.”
Francis pointed a finger at obstructionism and denial. He worried about the rise of social media, which has led to disconnection from each other and from nature. And he was critical of “the idea of infinite or unlimited growth.”
Although terribly “attractive to economists, financiers, and experts in technology,” it’s a fantasy based on the lie “that there is an infinite supply of the Earth’s goods.” There isn’t, and the planet is “being squeezed dry beyond every limit.”
Using ironic quotation marks, he even criticized “green” rhetoric, so fashionable in eco-capitalist circles.
It wasn’t the first time Francis talked about a global economy that doesn’t work. A few years earlier, in 2012, he caused a minor fit in some circles with the publication of Evangelli Gaudium. Wealth moves up, not down, he argued, while the poor are excluded and grow in number.
The late American pundit Rush Limbaugh called it “pure Marxism.” Undeterred, Francis went further in Laudato Si’ when he linked the climate crisis to an economy premised on constant consumption.
Of course, Francis had stuck to his knitting in one important way: on at least four separate occasions in Laudato Si’, he singled out abortion — or, in his words, “eliminating children” — as part of the climate problem. He wrote:
“Thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.”
No, it doesn’t. Moreover, empowering women through access to birth control and abortion care is part of the solution to poverty in both the Global South and the Global North, something Francis cared deeply about, like his namesake St. Francis of Assisi.
In 2023, Francis published Laudate Deum, a short followup to Laudato Si’. At the same time as he urged the world to act, he condemned those who blame climate change on the poor for having so many children and who “attempt to resolve the problem by mutilating women in less developed countries.”
Still, Laudato Si’ invites all of us to connect the dots between growth, consumption, poverty and climate breakdown. One doesn’t need to be Catholic, or even religious, to read Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change for what it is: a powerful and deeply moral reminder that the climate is not something separate from us.
To quote Francis, it’s a “common good” that belongs to all of us.
Donald Wright does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Bank of Canada is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of its scholarship awards for students with disabilities, Indigenous students, LGBTQ2S+ students, francophones and students who identify as a woman or as a member of a racialized group. We know that the inclusion of diverse identities and ideas fosters innovative thinking and better policy outcomes for Canadians. It’s core to our success as a leading central bank. That is why our scholarships are designed to encourage Canadians from diverse backgrounds to further their education and consider employment in fields related to the work of the Bank.
The 2024-25 award recipients are as follows:
Abigail Meloche, pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at Carleton University
Allison Tsypin, pursuing a Bachelor of Mathematics at McGill University
Andy Duan, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Princeton University
April Quill, pursuing a Bachelor of Science with major in Statistics at University of Manitoba
Wendy Liao, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and business at Western University
Elliot Thordarson, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at I.H. Asper School of Business (University of Manitoba)
Katherine Brennan, completed a bachelor’s degree in economics and statistics at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
Katherine Karapetrovic, pursuing a Bachelor of International Economics at University of British Columbia
Laila Virani, pursing a bachelor’s degree in business at University of British Columbia
Linda Nidale-Sadeck, pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at Carleton University
Manahil Malik, completed a bachelor’s degree in economics at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
Manuel Fernandez, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce, Management, Economics and Finance at University of Guelph
Melody Johnson, pursuing a college diploma in Protection, Security and Investigation at Conestoga College
Rand Al-Nauimi, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with option in Business Technology Management at Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa)
Rosana Gao, pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science at University of Toronto
Simeon Muepu, pursuing a Bachelor of Finance at Université de Montreal
Xavier Desroches Borelly, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at Western University
Yeo Eun Chi, completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration with specialization in finance at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
The 2024–25 recipients of the Bank’s Scholarship Award for Post-Secondary Students receive Can$8,000. The award is intended to assist the following students with tuition at an accredited academic institution:
students with disabilities
Indigenous students
LGBTQ2S+ students
francophones
students who identify as a woman
students who identify as a member of a racialized group
Successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.
Recipients of the Master’s Scholarship Award for Women in Economics and Finance must have completed or be in the final two years of an undergraduate degree at a Canadian university and self-identify as a woman. In addition to the award of Can$10,000, successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.
For more information on all opportunities for students, please visit our webpage.
May 1, 2025 – As the 2025 G7 President, Canada will host the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta from June 15-17, 2025.
Media representatives who wish to cover the Summit must obtain media accreditation.
The media accreditation process is open to journalists (print, radio, television, news agencies and online media) who are on assignment with a bona fide media organization.
Individuals performing journalistic functions who do not work for a media organization and are unable to provide a letter of assignment will have to provide proof of recent publications under the applicant’s by-line that can be readily found in the public realm and under a bona fide media organization.
Government officials, representatives, or observers will not be accredited as media.
Only applications that include all requested information will be considered.
The application period will close on June 1,2025. Once the application process is closed, there will be no further opportunity to apply for accreditation. Please note that accreditation does not guarantee access to all events during the Summit.
April 30, 2025 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture will be closing application intake under the Irrigation Development Program as of April 30, 2025. Applications may still be submitted under the program from April 30 to May 30, but those projects must be completed, with claims submitted, by December 31, 2025.
The program supports infrastructure development to increase irrigation capacity by creating a secure water supply to land parcels suitable for irrigation. Introduced in April 2023, the successful program has seen high uptake from producers and is now fully subscribed. From the program’s launch on April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025,202 applications were received, and over 41,000 acres of irrigated acres were developed.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is committed to funding all projects pre-approved through to May 30, 2025, and completed by the claim deadline. The claim deadlines for those projects pre-approved before April 30 are indicated in the Ministry’s letter of pre-approval to each applicant.
The Irrigation Development Program is one of many ways in which the Government of Saskatchewan provides support for irrigation expansion in the province. Irrigation allows more diverse crops to be grown and increases the number of livestock that can be supported. It is also important for strengthening rural economies and stabilizing crop production with a consistent source of moisture.
ACHESON, Alberta, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG”) (TSX: NOA / NYSE: NOA) announced today that it has successfully closed its previously announced private placement offering (the “Offering”) of $225 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due May 1, 2030 (the “Notes”).
As previously stated, NACG will utilize the proceeds of the Offering to repay indebtedness under its existing Credit Agreement, and for general corporate purposes.
The Notes were offered for sale in Canada on a private placement basis pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions. The Notes have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“), or any state securities laws, and were offered and sold in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.
The Offering was underwritten by National Bank Financial Inc., including its U.S. affiliates, ATB Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., and Ventum Financial Corp.
About the Company
North American Construction Group Ltd. is a premier provider of heavy civil construction and mining services in Australia, Canada, and the U.S. For over 70 years, NACG has provided services to the mining, resource and infrastructure construction markets.
Forward-Looking Information
The information provided in this release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “should” or similar expressions and include guidance with respect to the Offering, including, but not limited to, the use of proceeds of the Offering. The material factors or assumptions used to develop the above forward-looking statements, and the risks and uncertainties to which such forward-looking statements are subject, include, but are not limited to, the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, interest rates and market conditions, heavy equipment demand, and credit risks and existing indebtedness. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements because of any number of factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond NACG’s control. Although NACG believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and NACG cautions you to not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. NACG undertakes no obligation, other than those required by applicable law, to update or revise such forward-looking statements. For more complete information about NACG, please read our disclosure documents filed with the SEC and the CSA. These free documents can be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or on the CSA website at www.sedarplus.ca and on our company website at www.nacg.ca.
For more information, contact:
Jason Veenstra, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer North American Construction Group Ltd. (780) 960.7171 ir@nacg.ca www.nacg.ca
WASHINGTON — Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) released the following statement after the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Armed Services Committee advanced major reconciliation packages that deliver on President Trump’s “Promises Made, Promises Kept” agenda, which secures America’s borders, rebuilds our military, and restores American strength on the world stage.
“House Republicans followed through on our commitment to the American people. We’re bringing law and order back to our border, and we’re rebuilding American strength around the world.
We’re building the wall, expanding Border Patrol forces, investing in the advanced technology, and taking the fight to the cartels and stopping the flow of drugs and human trafficking into our communities,”said Congressman Luttrell.
Luttrell continue, “We’re also making a generational investment to secure America’s future. We’re rebuilding our Navy, ramping up production of munitions and advanced weapons, modernizing our nuclear deterrent, accelerating our capabilities in cyber warfare and hypersonic weapons, building the Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect our country, enhancing forces to deter Communist China in the Pacific, and ensuring our servicemembers have the housing, healthcare, and support they have earned.
We are restoring American deterrence, defending American sovereignty, and securing the American Dream for generations to come. Promises made, promises kept.”
The Homeland Security Committee reconciliation package includes:
$46.5 billion to complete 701 miles of primary border wall, 900 miles of river barriers, and 629 miles of secondary barriers, integrating cutting-edge surveillance and technology.
$5 billion to modernize and expand CBP facilities.
$4.1 billion to hire 8,200 new CBP personnel, including Border Patrol agents, customs officers, and air and marine agents.
$2 billion for CBP workforce retention and recruitment incentives.
$2.7 billion to expand border surveillance and counter-drone technologies.
$1.076 billion to strengthen non-intrusive inspection systems at ports of entry.
$625 million for security planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Houston as one of the host cities.
The Armed Services Committee reconciliation package includes:
$9 billion to improve Servicemember Quality of Life including housing, healthcare, and family support.
$34 billion for Shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base to strengthen the Navy and invest in autonomous technologies.
$25 billion to develop the “Golden Dome” missile defense shield and counter hypersonic threats.
$21 billion to replenish America’s arsenal and expand production of critical minerals and munitions.
$14 billion to expedite innovation, scaling game-changing technology to the warfighter.
$13 billion to modernize and strengthen America’s nuclear deterrent.
$12 billion to enhance military readiness, including improving depots and shipyards.
$11 billion to expand Pacific deterrence and improve readiness.
$7 billion to reverse fighter force declines and accelerate next-generation air superiority.
$5 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) border security operations supporting Department of Homeland Security efforts.
$400 million to ensure fiscal responsibility through a historic clean audit initiative at DoD.