IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed George Edwards to serve as Eastern Territory Coordinator, effective April 1, 2025.
Edwards, who had served as an International Representative, was appointed to the Eastern Territory as a Special Representative in August 2021. Prior to that, Edwards had served as District 4’s Directing Business Representative and Assistant Directing Business Representative.
Edwards is known as one of the leading voices for shipbuilding and repair workers in the IAM and nationally. He has participated in numerous high-profile negotiations and organizing campaigns over the course of his IAM career.
“George has spent decades dedicating himself to the IAM Union, our members and the labor movement as a whole,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “He is a passionate and knowledgeable voice for IAM members in all industries, and we welcome George to this new role in the Eastern Territory.”
Edwards began his career as an IAM Local S6 tinsmith at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, where he helped build ships for the U.S. Navy. He held several positions in the local, including officer and general steward, before joining District 4’s staff.
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, penned a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. regarding the recent layoffs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown, W.Va. Specifically, Senator Capito highlighted the important role NIOSH plays in the health and wellbeing of West Virginia coal miners and requested that the administration bring back these critical programs and employees that allow them to function properly.
“I believe in the President’s vision to right size our government, but I do not think eliminating the NIOSH coal programs and research will accomplish that goal. The mission and work conducted by the specially trained NIOSH employees is not duplicative of any other government program. I am concerned that the RIFs at NIOSH will undermine the vital health programs important to so many West Virginians. I urge you to bring back the NIOSH employees immediately so they can continue to support our nation’s coal industry,” Senator Capito wrote.
The full letter can be found HERE or below:
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me regarding the important work CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) does to improve and monitor the health care of our coal miners in West Virginia. During our discussion, I was pleased you agreed with me that the work happening at NIOSH is unique across the federal government. Now, I ask that the Department bring back not only the functions of the NIOSH coal offices and programs, but also some of the specialized employees impacted by the April 1 HHS-wide Reduction in Force (RIF) who do this important work in Morgantown, West Virginia.
The NIOSH facility in Morgantown is known for its research aimed at preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, particularly in coal miners. The NIOSH Mining Program works to eliminate mining fatalities and injuries. Research on rock dust has resulted in safety changes to prevent explosions in underground mines. NIOSH research has also resulted in industry standards for pillar design and roof support programs to prevent collapses in underground mines. NIOSH’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) studies respiratory disease and provides black lung screenings to coal miners. It is my understanding that the RIF impacted every employee in these important programs.
There are specialized labs at the NIOSH facilities in Morgantown where dedicated scientists with years of training had been researching coal and silica dust along with black mold. This research stands not just to make the mining industry safer but also to benefit workers exposed to silica dust at construction sites and residents in West Virginia and North Carolina impacted by the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene. With all the scientists and employees that work in theses labs impacted by the RIF, the CDC will be starting the process to decommission the Morgantown labs in the coming days. Decommissioning the labs will cost millions of taxpayer dollars. If the labs were to later be brought back online, additional taxpayer dollars would be spent to re-comply with numerous regulations and inspections.
Earlier this month, I was honored to join President Trump, along with miners from West Virginia, at the White House as he signed Executive Orders to support the coal industry and unleash American energy. The President’s Executive Orders are welcome news for our miners and will help ensure all Americans have access to affordable and reliable energy resources like coal. As the President recognizes the importance of coal, we must also recognize the health of our miners and I encourage you to bring back the NIOSH coal programs and researchers that will help ensure the President’s vision to unleash American energy can be done safely.
I believe in the President’s vision to right size our government, but I do not think eliminating the NIOSH coal programs and research will accomplish that goal. The mission and work conducted by the specially trained NIOSH employees is not duplicative of any other government program. I am concerned that the RIFs at NIOSH will undermine the vital health programs important to so many West Virginians. I urge you to bring back the NIOSH employees immediately so they can continue to support our nation’s coal industry.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to Make American Healthy Again.
Sincere regards,
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, traveled to Morgantown, W.Va. to deliver keynote remarks at the seventh annual Focus Forward conference: Long Live West Virginia.
During her remarks, Senator Capito discussed the intersection of health, wellness, and economic mobility, as well as provided an update on some of the legislative solutions she has worked on in the United States Senate to improve health outcomes for West Virginians. After her remarks, Jon Retzlaff, Chief Policy Officer of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) presented Senator Capito with AACR’s 2025 Distinguished Public Service Award.
“The health and wellbeing of West Virginians is directly tied to the strength of our economy and the resilience of our people. As a United States Senator and as someone who has spent years working on health and economic issues—particularly in rural areas like West Virginia—I know just how interconnected these challenges are. We cannot talk about economic mobility without talking about health, we cannot promote wellness without looking at access to care, and we cannot plan for the future without acknowledging that Americans are living longer – often with more complex health needs. I was glad to share this message during the Focus Forward Conference and continue working together to improve health care opportunities so all West Virginians have a fair shot at a healthy, productive life,” Senator Capito said.
“We are honored that Senator Capito could join our seventh annual Focus Forward conference, a broad-based convening of leaders to better understand an emerging issue that will impact West Virginia’s workforce and economy,” Jen Giovannitti, President of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, said. “As a leading champion in supporting legislation and policy on health, aging, neuroscience, cancer research and caregiving, her voice and impact at the federal and state level are critical as we navigate the future opportunities and challenges of how increasing life expectancies will impact our society, work, economy and everyday lives. We are grateful for her continued engagement at this event, as well as her leadership and time today.”
Photos from today’s visit are below:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) speaks at the Focus Forward conference in Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) receives the Distinguished Public Service Award from Jon Retzlaff of the American Association of Cancer Research in Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) at the Focus Forward conference in Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday April 22, 2025.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) introduced the Flexible Savings Arrangements for Healthy Robust America (FSA-HRA) Act, to expand options for Americans seeking to save responsibly for their future health costs.
Specifically, this commonsense bipartisan legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit Americans to transfer Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) contributions into Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in connection with establishing coverage under a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said: “Many hardworking individuals and families find our nation’s health care system too convoluted and confusing to navigate. As a result, many often forfeit their unused FSA contributions or lose their HRA contributions. We need to give Americans the flexibility to plan, save, and take charge of health care decisions for their families. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill that will make it easier for families to take control of both their physical and financial health.”
Congressman Bean was joined by Congressmen Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) in introducing this bill.
“This bill is simple. If you contribute your dollars to a tax advantaged account, you should be able to use those dollars to fund a health savings account,” said Congressman Crenshaw. “Arbitrary government rules shouldn’t stop Americans from using their own savings for health care.”
“All too often, too many working families lose their unused FSA and HRA funds because of outdated “use-it-or-lose-it” rules,” said Congressman Panetta. “The FSA-HRA Act lets them roll those unused dollars into their Health Savings Accounts so they can save for future medical expenses tax-free. This bipartisan fix gives working families more flexibility and ensures they’re not penalized for being prepared.”
BACKGROUND
Currently, the law requires FSA and HRA contributions to be spent by the end of the year or otherwise forfeited and returned to the employer.
The FSA-HRA Act will allow American workers, or those switching jobs, to preserve their unused FSA and HRA funds by removing this out-of-date use-it-or-lose-it policy and giving them the flexibility to save for future medical expenses tax-free.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued the following statement in support of Secretary Rubio’s comprehensive reorganization of the State Department that will reverse decades of bloat and advance America’s core national interests abroad.
“Warfare and diplomacy in the 21st century are changing every day. Yet, bloat and bureaucracy keep the State Department from responding to those changes,” Chairman Mast said. “This reorganization will make the State Department leaner and meaner and ensure every dollar and diplomat puts America First.”
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the second round of awards in the state’sConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Totaling $9.9 million, these funds will be used by internet service providers to build out broadband infrastructure, which will serve an estimated 3,802 residences and businesses in 44 towns and cities.
The grant awards announced today build on $24 million in grants benefitting 88 cities and towns announced last year in round 1 of this program. Funded through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program was established to fund the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure designed to support the goal of universal access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband. DEEP has made great progress towards awarding funds to advance this work.
To date, with this second round included, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program has announced $34 million in awards to support buildouts for:
5,582 locations;
116 cities and towns; and
30 distressed municipalities.
“This is a milestone in the state’s ongoing work to increase access to high-speed broadband for all Connecticut residents,” Governor Lamont said. “Fast, affordable internet connectivity is essential to the success and wellbeing of our residents. Being able to go online and access the internet is tied to nearly every aspect of daily life from paying bills to finding employment and housing and even accessing healthcare.”
“This latest round of grant awards is supporting the vital work of bringing broadband infrastructure to locations with the greatest needs,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “Research shows that 92% of jobs require digital skills and 60% of adults get health information online. This effort is critical. It’s about increasing access to vital elements of daily life, and helping to improve health, safety, affordability, and prosperity for the people of Connecticut.”
The grant recipients for the second round of the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program are as follows:
Bolton, Burlington, Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Guilford, North Haven, Salem, Sharon, Shelton, Wallingford, Watertown
38
64
$540,273.06
For an interactive map of locations awarded in this grant round, click here.
DEEP is also administering the $144 million Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is in the deployment phase now, and will bring broadband to unserved and underserved locations and community anchor institutions.
ConneCTed Communities Funds Still Available
DEEP has approximately $6.7 million remaining in funding available through the ConneCTed Communities Program. Municipalities, community organizations, and internet service providers are eligible to apply. A major focus of this initiative is supporting broadband upgrades in multi-dwelling units (MDUs). To identify MDUs in need of faster, more reliable broadband, DEEP has launched a survey to help with the identification process. Learn more about this effort and take the survey here.
As noted in the 2024 Connecticut Broadband Report, the state has made great strides toward Governor Lamont’s goal of ensuring broadband internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) download and 100 megabits per second (Mbps) upload for all residents. Gigabit-speed broadband is now available to nearly 850,000 locations statewide, up from nearly zero in 2022. The percentage of residential and small business locations lacking basic internet access has dropped from 1.7% in 2022 to just 0.4% in 2024. Efforts to address price and non-price barriers to adoption have helped contribute to a rise in overall internet subscriptions, now covering 92.2% of households.
For more information about the many initiatives supporting broadband expansion in Connecticut, click here.
EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that Preston High School in the Bronx will remain open for years to come. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) facilitated an agreement between the Sisters of the Divine Compassion of the State of New York, which owned the property of Preston High School since 1947, Preston High School, and the Bally’s Foundation of North America, a charitable nonprofit organization. The Bally’s Foundation has purchased the property from the Sisters of the Divine Compassion and will lease the property to Preston High School for $1 per year for the next 25 years. The agreement gives Preston High School the option to renew its lease for successive five-year intervals at the end of the current 25-year lease term. Today’s agreement to keep Preston High School open follows a public hearing held by Attorney General James with teachers, students, parents, alumni, elected officials, and community members.
“Preston High School is a pillar of the Bronx community that has educated generations of young women and today I am proud to announce that the school will stay open for years to come,” said Attorney General James. “I want to thank all the students, teachers, parents, alumni, and elected officials who submitted testimony to my office and advocated to keep the school open. Today’s announcement would not have been possible without their relentless advocacy and leadership. Preston High School raises young women to become strong leaders, and I am thrilled that many more generations will benefit from this treasured school.”
“From the very beginning, when families and community members voiced their concerns about the possible closure of Preston High School, I made it a priority to listen and support them,” said Senator Nathalia Fernandez. “I’m truly grateful that Attorney General Letitia James took our concerns seriously and acted swiftly, resulting in an agreement to keep Preston open for years to come.”
“I’m thrilled at the news that an agreement has been reached to keep Preston High School open,” said Assemblymember Michael Benedetto. “This is a tremendous victory for the students, families, and the entire Throggs Neck community. I want to sincerely thank Attorney General Letitia James and her team for their steadfast commitment to protecting our schools and standing with Preston students during this critical moment.”
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Attorney General Letitia James for her swift and thoughtful action in helping to prevent Preston’s abrupt closure,” said City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “Her open communication, leadership, and commitment to keeping all parties at the table were instrumental in reaching this critical turning point. As a proud Preston alumna, I’ve been deeply invested in this fight from the very beginning – organizing, advocating, and working directly with stakeholders to ensure Preston had a future. I’m especially grateful that the Attorney General heard our concerns, launched a timely investigation, and ensured that due process and community voices were respected every step of the way. This outcome – including the historic agreement with the Bally’s Foundation to secure Preston’s home for the next 25 years and beyond – is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we lead with love, persistence, and unity. I am proud to have helped shape a deal that not only protects the future of Preston but honors the community that fought so hard for it. We didn’t just preserve a beloved institution – we protected a legacy.”
“I am thrilled to hear that an agreement has been reached to keep Preston High School open,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “At a time when we’ve seen the heartbreaking closure of several Catholic schools in our borough and across New York City, this outcome is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together. Preston High School has been a beacon of education and opportunity in the Bronx since it first opened its doors in 1947. Its legacy of academic excellence, character formation, and service has touched generations of young women and helped shape countless leaders in our city and beyond. Thank you to Attorney General Letitia James, the Charities Bureau, parents, students, educators, advocates, alumni, and my elected colleagues who fought tirelessly to preserve this institution. Our collective voices made this happen. This is more than just a win for Preston — it’s a win for the Bronx and for every young person who dreams of a bright future.”
Preston High School is an all-girls Catholic school that has served the Bronx community for 75 years. In late February, the Sisters of the Divine Compassion announced their plans to close the school and sell the property at the end of the 2025 academic year, citing financial hardship. On April 8, Attorney General James held a public hearing to gather input from students, teachers, parents, alumni, and community members on the impact of the closure.
Today, Attorney General James announced that the Bally’s Foundation has purchased the property from the Sisters of the Divine Compassion for $8.5 million. The Bally’s Foundation will lease the property to Preston High School for $1 per year for the next 25 years, with the opportunity to renew the lease for five successive years at the end of the current 25-year term. The lease also gives Preston High School the option to purchase the property and a right of first refusal if the Bally’s Foundation seeks to sell the property in the future. Moreover, the Bally’s Foundation has agreed to fund up to $1 million in capital improvements for the school and to cover up to $600,000 in legal and closing costs that associated with the process.
In addition, the Sisters of the Divine Compassion have agreed to establish independent governance of Preston High School that requires them to:
Work with Preston High School to establish the school as an independent Catholic school as acceptable to the Archdiocese of New York;
Help establish an independent board of trustees for Preston High School by appointing, with OAG approval, trustees to the board of trustees who are not affiliated with the Sisters of the Divine Compassion or employed at Preston High School; and
Immediately relinquish all but one seat on the schools’ board of trustees and give up that seat once the school is fully independent.
Attorney General James thanks the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, the Bally’s Foundation, and Preston High School for working together with her office to find a financial and practical resolution for Preston High School to stay open for years to come.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Peggy Farber, Assistant Attorney General William Wang, and Section Chief Emily Stern, all of the Charities Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Karin Kunstler Goldman and Bureau Chief James Sheehan. The Charities Bureau is part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. The public hearing was led by Operations team members Andrea Rua, Michael Fasullo, Sally Rifkin, Rouselle Ligon, and Wayne Collins, all under the supervision of Director of Strategic Planning Ryan Doyle. Hearing testimony was collected and managed by members of the Intergovernmental Affairs team, including Hanadi Doleh, Julian Sepulveda, Jessica Mates, Javier Medrano, and Casandra Walker, all under the supervision of Intergovernmental Affairs Director Harold Miller. Both the Operations and Intergovernmental Affairs teams are part of the Executive Division, which is overseen by Chief of Staff Anna Brower. Technical support for the hearing was provided by Jermaine Francis, Malik Donadelle, and Marcus Williams, all of the Administration Division’s Bureau of Internet Technology.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped reintroduce the IDEA Full Funding Act, legislation to ensure that Congress finally fulfills its commitment to fully fund 40 percent of costs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Fifty years ago, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to public education. This law was a historic step forward, but since its passage, Congress has failed to provide the funding that it promised. The legislation is cosponsored by more than 30 members in the Senate and more than 60 members in the House of Representatives and is endorsed by 60 organizations. The legislation is especially critical as the Trump Administration attacks the Department of Education and its work to support students with disabilities.
“IDEA funding makes a difference for families across New Hampshire by helping fund the support and resources that allow students with disabilities to succeed academically and thrive,” said Senator Hassan. “I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to fulfill our decades-old promise to fully fund IDEA, ensuring that children with disabilities receive a quality public education. This legislation is one of the many things that the Trump Administration could focus on instead of its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and threaten access to public education for all students.”
Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure for special education; however, that pledge has never been met. According to the Congressional Research Service, current funding is at less than 12 percent, and the IDEA shortfall in the 2024-2025 school year nationwide was $38.66 billion. IDEA currently provides more than $57 million to New Hampshire schools through the IDEA Grants to States program to help fund the education of children ages three through 21. New Hampshire has 31,000 students with disabilities – reflecting 17% of New Hampshire’s student population. Under full funding, New Hampshire alone would have received an additional $153 million in funding this year to support students with disabilities. The IDEA Full Funding Act would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet our obligation to America’s children and schools.
The full text of the bill can be viewed here.
This legislation is supported by a broad and diverse group of more than 50 national organizations, including The School Superintendent Association (AASA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Occupational Therapy Association, Assistive Technology Industry Association, Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Autism Society of America, Center for Learner Equity, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Education Association, and The Arc of the United States.
Senator Hassan is leading efforts to ensure that individuals who experience disabilities receive the support that they need to be fully included in their communities. Senator Hassan helped pass into law bipartisan legislation to support autism education, research, and resources. Senator Hassan also helped secure funding to help families of children experiencing disabilities navigate the special education process and better access the resources available for children experiencing disabilities as part of a bipartisan government funding package.
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and his fellow Senate Democrats on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee called on Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to address the impacts of the Trump administration’s tariffs on small businesses.
“President Trump’s trade policies have placed the survival of America’s small businesses in jeopardy,” wrote the senators. “Small businesses, which operate on razor-thin margins, are uniquely vulnerable to the cost increases caused by President Trump’s tariffs. Many small business owners face a dire choice: either raise prices, risking losing customers, or absorb the cost increases, potentially laying off workers or closing their doors entirely.”
The senators called on Administrator Loeffler to protect the country’s more than 34 million small businesses from the damage caused by the administration’s reckless tariffs. The senators also urged the administrator to support domestic manufacturing and small businesses by fixing our broken tax code, investing in stable supply chains, and training a skilled workforce.
Full text of the letter is available HERE.
CHICAGO, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Midwest Award. Now in its 40th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and making a profound impact on communities. The program honors bold entrepreneurs whose innovations shape the future and pave the way for a thriving economy and a hopeful tomorrow. The Midwest program celebrates entrepreneurs from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
An independent panel of judges selected Neil Araujo, CEO and co-founder of iManage, among 29 finalists for their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.
“This recognition is a reflection of our team’s resilience and commitment to long-term success,” said Neil Araujo, CEO of iManage. “We’ve transformed iManage into a global SaaS leader trusted by knowledge workers in law, accounting, financial services, and beyond. I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made, not just in business, but in the communities we serve and the lives we touch through our platform.”
Founded in 1995, iManage helps over 4,000 global organizations — including 85% of the Global 100 law firms and 41% of the Fortune 100—manage and protect confidential information. Under Neil’s leadership, iManage has grown into a market leader in AI-powered, cloud-native work management platforms, and is committed to delivering purpose-driven innovation. The company’s SaaS platform is more carbon efficient than on-premises alternatives, and its commitment to community impact includes long-standing partnerships with nonprofits like Genesys Works and Chicago Debates.
Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.
Regional award winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 11, during a special celebration in Chicago and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.
Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA and SAP. In the Midwest, sponsors also include LaSalle Staffing, Inc. and Becker Professional Education.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 60 countries globally.
The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where National finalists and award winners are announced. The overall National winner represents the US at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
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Media Contact: Alicia Saragosa Head of Public Relations, iManage press@imanage.com
he Secretary-General announced today the appointment of Ian Martin of the United Kingdom as Head of the Strategic Assessment, as part of his UN80 initiative, of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The Secretary-General is tasking Mr. Martin with conducting the Strategic Assessment in order to review UNRWA’s impact; implementation of its mandate under present political, financial, security and other constraints; and, consequences and risks, for Palestine Refugees. He has further been tasked with identifying options for action, by Member States and/or the United Nations, and considering overall United Nations mandates provided by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
Mr. Martin has had a distinguished service within the United Nations. He was involved in a number of strategic reviews, most recently as the Lead of the Independent Strategic Review of the United Nations Mission in Somalia and before then as a member of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. Mr. Martin served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and in various positions in other UN field operations, including in Timor-Leste, Nepal, Eritrea, Rwanda and Haiti.
Mr. Martin holds a Master of Arts in history and economics from Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and studied development economics at Harvard University, United States of America.
eHealth Saskatchewan released a list of the top 20 baby names for 2024 today and it shows a lot of movement.
In 2024, Sophia ended Olivia’s nine-year run as the most popular name for baby girls, bumping Olivia down to second spot. Hazel rose from 20th to sixth, Ellie from 19th to fifth, Harper from 17th to eighth, and Isla from 10th to fourth. Ivy lost ground, falling from fifth place last year to 17th place this year. For the first time, Lainey is one of the most popular names for baby girls, coming in at number 20. Sadie and Grace return after being absent from the list for a few years, while Brielle, Nora, Evelyn and Sophie did not return this year after appearing in the top 20 in 2023.
On the boys’ side, Henry jumped from 18th place all the way up to number one, bumping Oliver down to second place while long-time favourites Liam and Noah follow in third and fourth spots respectively. Other favourites like Levi, Hudson, Jack and Theodore remain strong. Daniel appears back on the list for the first time since 2017, and Asher, Alexander, Brooks and Elijah also return after being absent for some years. Muhammad climbed to 13th this year after first appearing in the top 20 in 19th place last year. Another favourite, Leo, fell from fourth place last year to 16th place this year, while Lincoln, Emmett, Ethan and Luke did not return to the top 20 this year.
Check out the top 20 baby names over the last 10 years.
The list of top 20 baby names for 2024 is created with a preliminary count of 13,189 live births registered in Saskatchewan as of April 5, 2025. eHealth is still completing birth registrations from the end of 2024. The number of live births registered in 2023 was 13,080. This does not include Saskatchewan mothers who gave birth outside of the province.
Gatineau, Quebec, April 22, 2025 – Public Services and Procurement Canada wishes to advise pedestrians that the pathway behind the Centre Block on Parliament Hill, which was closed for the winter season, will reopen on Wednesday, April 23.
The Queen Victoria Monument and area, located on the west side of the Centre Block, will also reopen.
The stairway on the west escarpment of Parliament Hill, as well as the Summer Pavilion behind the Centre Block, will remain closed until further notice to complete ongoing repairs.
The U.S. Geological Survey provides grants to local, state, territorial, and Tribal governments for risk communication, planning and coordination, mapping and assessments, and data collection of landslide hazards to develop information, knowledge, and methods that leads to the reduction of losses from landslides and increases public safety.
Patent-Pending Technology Turns Lignin—a Plant Structural Material—Into Aromatic Hydrocarbons That Could Help Leap Over Synthetic Aviation Fuel ‘Blend Wall’
NREL research technician Spencer Lask prepares feedstock for hydrodeoxygenation using a batch pressure reactor—allowing NREL to work in parallel with industry partner Comstock Fuels. Photo by Mickey Stone, NREL
It is an ideal complement to Comstock Fuels’ own technologies: an additional refining step to upgrade lignin from biomass into aromatic hydrocarbons, which are molecules needed to produce “drop-in” synthetic aviation fuel (SAF).
SAF can be made with abundant biomass and waste resources from America’s farms, forests, and waste facilities. However, most SAF today must be combined with petroleum jet fuel (Jet A) to meet strict performance requirements for aviation. This is because jet engines need fuel that contains a blend of hydrocarbons for safe operation—alkanes (including n-alkanes, isoalkanes, and cycloalkanes) and aromatics. To date, most SAF production processes yield fuels rich in n-alkanes and isoalkanes, but pathways for producing aromatics and cycloalkanes are scarce.
But the SAF technology being codeveloped by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is different. It yields aromatic-rich SAF by deconstructing lignin in plants and hydrodeoxygenating the resulting molecules to jet-range blendstocks.
Understanding that SAF needs to comprise roughly 20% aromatics, Comstock Fuels President David Winsness jumped on the opportunity to scale up the technology. In September 2024, Comstock Fuels signed a cooperative research and development agreement with MIT and NREL.
If the MIT–NREL technology is successfully scaled up and integrated into Comstock’s existing processes, the combination of technologies could help address the so-called SAF “blend wall”—providing a path toward SAF that is functionally identical to Jet A.
A Chance Encounter Sparks Research Agreement
Winsness discovered the patent-pending MIT–NREL lignin conversion technology during an exploratory meeting at NREL’s Golden, Colorado, campus, where he was discussing scaling up Comstock’s Bioleum SAF technology. During that meeting, NREL Principal Scientist Robert Baldwin introduced Winsness and his colleagues to the new lignin pathway and recommended an introduction to NREL Senior Research Fellow Gregg Beckham and NREL chemical engineer and group manager David Brandner, who together lead NREL’s component of the work with a team of researchers.
A veteran of the biofuels industry, Winsness had himself developed and commercialized a patented process that recovers distillers corn oil from corn ethanol facilities for use in producing additional fuels, increasing yields and revenues. Upward of 95% of the U.S. corn ethanol industry uses the technology today. Winsness and his team then set their sights on lignin as their next innovation on the belief that doing so could support petroleum, pulp and paper, forestry, and other relevant industries.
After more than 10 years, they developed a patented and patent-pending process that extracts and converts lignin into an intermediate called Bioleum. In an August 2024 press release, the company reported yields of cellulosic ethanol and Bioleum-derived fuels exceeding 125 gallons per metric ton of biomass (on a gasoline-gallon-equivalent basis), depending on feedstock, lignin content, site conditions, and other process parameters.
After Baldwin’s initial introduction to Beckham and a series of follow-up communications, it became clear that the MIT–NREL lignin-based SAF technology could complement Comstock’s processes by refining Bioleum further to produce both alkane and aromatic SAF. The parties recently executed an exclusive license agreement, in addition to the research agreement, just six months after their first meeting.
At its pilot facility in Wisconsin, Comstock Fuels is currently scaling up and demonstrating its Bioleum technology to convert woody biomass into SAF. One step of Comstock’s chemical processes isolates lignin by separating it from the other major plant polymers—the polysaccharides cellulose and hemicellulose—which continue through the process for conversion into alkane SAF.
“The type of digestion we are already doing is ideal for MIT and NREL’s technology,” Winsness said.
It was there—where Comstock produces a stream of lignin—that Baldwin and Winsness saw an exciting interdependency and linkage point.
“MIT and NREL’s technology makes a highly aromatic blendstock, but that’s great because most of the other SAF technologies out there today make blendstocks that don’t contain aromatics,” Baldwin said. “To get 100% SAF, you have to have some source of aromatics, and one way to get them is from lignin.”
MIT and NREL first described their lignin conversion technology in 2022, outlining steps for turning poplar (left) into lignin oil (center) and finally into aromatic-rich SAF (right). Photo by NREL
From Lignin to Highly Aromatic SAF
Lignin—which makes up around 30% of biomass—is a complex polymer that supports plants and helps them resist decay. Based on projections of future feedstock supply, which are outlined in the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 Billion-Ton Report, lignin could generate as much as 63 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2040—three times more fuel than U.S. airlines consumed in 2019.
NREL and MIT’s technology uses reductive catalytic fractionation and hydrodeoxygenation to turn lignin into aromatic hydrocarbons. Figure by NREL
However, for years the industry has lacked the key for unlocking that potential. Researchers continue to search for economical methods for turning lignin into useful products, including the aromatic hydrocarbons needed for SAF. In the pulp and paper industry today, lignin is burned for heat, though NREL and other researchers are also developing technologies for turning waste lignin into valuable bioproducts.
However, building on advances in catalysis, a multi-institution team of researchers, including MIT’s Mickey Stone, Matt Webber, and Yuriy Román-Leshkov, unveiled a study with the potential to overturn that dynamic. With support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, they demonstrated a method for removing oxygen from lignin and a catalyst to refashion the resulting molecules into an aromatic-rich SAF blendstock—an additive for mixing with alkane SAF.
First described in a 2022 Joule article, the technology combines alcohol extraction of lignin from biomass with an Earth-abundant hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to stabilize the extracted lignin and produce an oil enriched with aromatics. Importantly, this catalyst resists deactivation or poisoning from impurities often present in biomass.
Having successfully demonstrated the technology in the lab, MIT and NREL filed a patent application for the technology. Now, to show its value outside the lab for the biofuels industry, it is time to scale it up.
The Three-Year Plan: Scaling It Up
Over the next three years, Comstock will build a pilot-scale version of the MIT–NREL lignin conversion technology, a task that involves linking the various steps into an uninterrupted process that can run continuously. They will also incorporate larger reactors and equipment, moving from producing milliliters of the aromatic SAF blendstock to a few gallons.
That process will provide Comstock with valuable data and engineering designs to consider as it works to integrate it with its own Bioleum technology. Winsness said that the MIT–NREL process can be added with a few minor modifications to accept the existing lignin stream.
At its facility in Wausau, Wisconsin, Comstock’s 50-gallon flow-through reactor is a workhorse and represents the kind of reactor the company aims to integrate with the MIT–NREL technology. Photo from Comstock Fuels
“We already have over 2,000 runs on our pilot reactor and a tremendous amount of data,” Winsness said. “We think we can take the MIT–NREL process from a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 to 6 very quickly if all goes well.”
Of course, that would not be the end of the systematic process for demonstrating and commercializing the technology. After successfully piloting the MIT–NREL process at TRL 6 and 7, Comstock would then need to integrate the process into even larger facilities in the coming years, elevating the Comstock and MIT–NREL processes to TRL 8 and 9. Comstock Fuels plans to license the technologies globally and to build, own, and operate its own network of Bioleum refineries in the United States with several sites under evaluation for construction of its initial demonstration-scale facility—paving the way for commercialization.
Success could put millions of more gallons of SAF into the marketplace, according to NREL senior licensing executive Eric Payne.
“It’s not every day the lab gets a partner like Comstock who’s ready to jump in and fund technology scale-up, which is so critical for commercialization,” he said. “They’ve got the potential to impact billions of gallons of SAF, and that is really exciting. This is a huge market.”
Learn more aboutNREL’s biofuels and bio-based chemicals research, as well as the laboratory’s broaderadvanced aviation research.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Department of State, on April 22, 2024.
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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.
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Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 22, 2025
“We write to seek answers about why you are crippling an agency that punches so far above its weight and is essential to enabling access to libraries, museums, archives, historic sites and more for Massachusetts residents and Americans in every state.”
Lawmakers highlight Massachusetts impacts, including canceled projects which helped state capture and preserve history and culture, promote learning, make humanities more accessible
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), sent a letter to Michael McDonald, Acting Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), regarding the impacts of recent staffing cuts and attempts to cancel grants in Massachusetts and across the country.
During the week of April 1, 2025, following the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) recommendations, a majority of NEH staff were placed on administrative leave and hundreds of grants were canceled. In the following days, state humanities councils and other grant recipients received emails notifying them that their funding would be terminated immediately and that the Trump administration would be “repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the president’s agenda.”
“We write to seek answers about why you are crippling an agency that punches so far above its weight and is essential to enabling access to libraries, museums, archives, historic sites and more for Massachusetts residents and Americans in every state,” wrote the lawmakers.
Congressionally appropriated NEH program funds directly benefit local communities. The NEH was founded by Congress in 1965 to “promote progress and scholarship in the humanities and the arts in the United States,” and the agency enables work in the humanities by funding libraries, museums, archives, historic sites, media outlets, research institutions, educators and independent scholars. These cuts will have devastating impacts on cultural institutions and scholarship in Massachusetts and across the country.
The Trump administration’s actions put tremendous financial strain on researchers, universities, and institutions. According to one institution in Massachusetts, the termination notices sent to individual recipients of NEH grants included language that the individuals will remain “subject to audit.” Grant recipients now face concerns that they will have to repay their funds to NEH at an undetermined time.
NEH-funded projects in Massachusetts — including research projects to better understand the impact of war on naval veterans and their families, projects to understand the role of historic textile mills in the American industrial revolution, and programs supporting museums’ efforts to digitize, archive, and modernize the products of Massachusetts art and culture — have enriched the state’s ability to capture and preserve history and culture, promote new knowledge and learning, and make the humanities more accessible.
“These actions at NEH mark another instance of overreach by the Trump administration, causing more destruction and devastation to research institutions and scholars across the country, but providing little in savings,” wrote the lawmakers.
Senator Warren has consistently pressed for answers on other federal funding cuts impacting Massachusetts, including those from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) causing “ongoing chaos” and harm to research institutions across Massachusetts.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)
ICYMI: New York Post: Stefanik calls for fed probe of NY school district for ‘direct violation’ of Trump’s order on trans athletes | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (21st District of New York)
Stefanik Requests Education Department Investigate Saratoga Springs City School District for Title IX Violations | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Manuel Rolando Meza-Cambo, 34, of Los Rios Province, Ecuador, has been charged by criminal complaint with transporting illegal aliens.
On April 21, 2025, Meza-Cambo appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Meza-Cambo be detained during the pendency of this matter.
According to court records, Meza-Cambo attempted to pick-up four illegal aliens along Richford Road in Richford, Vermont, in the early morning hours of April 19, 2025. A member of the United States Border Patrol spotted Meza-Cambo’s minivan before he could pick up the aliens and followed the minivan. After the minivan stopped in the middle of road, investigating Border Patrol Agents then found two Mexican citizens and two Venezuelan citizens near the side of the road. These four individuals are being prosecuted separately for illegal entry to the United States.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Meza-Cambo is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Meza-Cambo faces up to 5 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Meza-Cambo is represented by the Federal Public Defenders Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
LAS VEGAS – Mexican and Salvadorian nationals unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances Monday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
Heraldo Neftali Gomez-Jacobo, 54, and Ismael Perez-Reyes, 38, are both charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for May 5, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Gomez-Jacobo, a citizen and national of El Salvador, and Perez-Reyes, a citizen and national of Mexico, were both previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.
On April 5, 2025, Gomez-Jacobo was remanded to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from the Clark County Detention Center, based on an ICE detainer after he had been arrested on a bench warrant. Gomez-Jacobo had previously been deported on or about October 15, 2003, after being convicted of four counts of Attempt Lewdness with A Child Under the Age of 14.
On March 31, 2025, Perez-Reyes was remanded to the custody of ICE, from the Clark County Detention Center, based on an ICE detainer after he been arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Allow Child Abuse/Neglect, by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Perez-Reyes had previously been deported to Mexico on December 7, 2022, and November 8, 2023. Perez-Reyes has two prior felony convictions: one for Possession or Use of a Controlled Substance in a Correctional Facility, and another for Illegal Reentry After Deportation. Perez-Reyes also has an active warrant out of Utah for violating the terms his probation by returning to the U.S illegally.
If convicted, Gomez-Jacobo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
If convicted, Perez-Reyes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)
Safford, AZ – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani told Graham County ranchers that they should receive full compensation for cattle killed by Mexican gray wolves.
“Ranchers in Arizona and other western states face an intolerable situation,” said Ciscomani. “Their livelihood is directly threatened by an animal that the federal government has reintroduced into our communities. Yet when a wolf kills their cattle, they can’t get full compensation. This just isn’t right.”
Ciscomani told ranchers he’s a co-sponsor of the Wolf and Livestock Fairness (WOLF) Act (H.R. 2227) to fully reimburse ranchers for any livestock killed or harmed by endangered Mexican gray wolves. Currently, ranchers are compensated for 75 percent of the value of livestock killed by gray wolves. This bill increases compensation for ranchers to 100 percent of the value of cattle loss and compensates them for decreased herd sizes.
“Government bureaucracy cannot stand between ranchers and their way of life,” said Ciscomani.
The Congressman’s meeting with ranchers in Safford was part of a day spent in Graham County. He also provided a congressional update to elected officials, students, business leaders, educators, and community members at Eastern Arizona College. Here is some of the legislation he has introduced and cosponsored to support students, veterans, and workers across Arizona’s 6th District:
TheSecure our Rural Schools Act(H.R. 1383) which provides funding to rural counties and schools that are impacted by federal land management, particularly those with large areas of federally owned, tax-exempt forests.
TheVeterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act (H.R. 1458), would expand veterans’ access to educational opportunities in high-demand skill and vocation programs, whether in-person or partially online.
The Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act (H.R. 1055) would create a grant program to fund and develop residential construction education and certification programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools
“I am committed to making sure that rural communities, which are often overlooked by the federal government, have a seat at the table,” said Ciscomani. “I spent the day in Graham County, where I met with ranchers to talk about my efforts to strengthen water security, the problem posed by Mexican gray wolves, and my support of a bipartisan bill to provide full reimbursement to ranchers when livestock are killed or harmed by these wolves. Afterwards, I had an engaging meeting with local leaders and community members where I provided an update on my work in Congress and reiterated my ironclad support of Pell Grants, protecting Medicaid, and next steps in reconciliation process. As I always say, you never have to wonder what people in rural Arizona think, and today’s dialogue equips me to better deliver for all of my constituents.”
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is now accepting applications for a new Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). This council is designed for Saskatchewan students in Grades 8 to 12 who have a passion for public safety, emergency preparedness and community leadership.
The YPC provides a platform for youth to share their ideas, engage in collaborative projects and gain firsthand experience in emergency management and public education.
“This is a unique opportunity for young leaders to make a meaningful impact in their communities while developing valuable skills and connections,” SPSA President and Fire Commissioner Marlo Pritchard said. “This council will support emergency preparedness projects within the students’ own communities and help them prepare for a career in emergency services.”
Selected members will serve on the council from September 2025 to June 2026. Members will be expected to participate in regularly scheduled virtual meetings that will consist of learning opportunities, project support and other collaborative activities.
For more information and to complete an application form, please visit: https://www.saskpublicsafety.ca/at-home/youth-programs.
The 2025 YPC application period is open until July 14, 2025.
If you have any further questions about the YPC, please email youthpreparednesscouncil@gov.sk.ca.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)
CHERRY HILL, NJ — Today, the office of Congressman Donald Norcross issued an update about his condition and treatment.
“Congressman Norcross’ health has continued to improve and he was transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit on Friday. He has been successfully treated for his infection and has completed his course of antibiotic. The Congressman is on his way to making a full recovery.”
The Congressman and his family are grateful for the well wishes and prayers he has received. Among the many people they’d like to thank are his incredible medical team, including the nurses and staff at Cooper University Health Care.
Antibodies to influenza A virus in Lesser (Aythya affinis) and Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) in the USA
Scaup, including both Lesser and Greater (Aythya affinis and Aythya marila, respectively), are a grouping of populous and widespread North American diving ducks. Few influenza type A viruses (IAV) have been reported from these species despite a high prevalence of antibodies to IAV being reported. Existing virologic and serologic data indicate that IAV infection routinely occurs in scaup…
Authors
Harrison Huang, Rebecca L. Poulson, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Hutchison Walbridge, David E. Stallknecht, Diann Prosser
Reproductive trends in Little Brown Bats before and after the onset of white-nose syndrome in Virginia
Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) declines in Virginia following white-nose syndrome (WNS) prompted an investigation into reproductive behaviors of surviving individuals. To examine reproductive change, we examined female bats prior to, during and after endemism establishment. We also examined capture trends of juveniles at maternity colonies. Timing and proportion of reproductive…
Authors
Karen E. Powers, W. Mark Ford, Richard J. Reynolds, William D. Orndorff, David E. Yates, Thomas E. Malabad
Defining the pathobiomes associated with drippy blight in Colorado and drippy nut in California
Drippy blight, an emergent bacterial disease of oaks, was described recently from urban oaks in the Front Range of Colorado, U.S.A. This disease, which causes branch dieback and oozing of bacterial exudates from cankers, is caused by Lonsdalea quercina and primarily affects red oaks, with northern red oak (Quercus rubra) being the most susceptible. Drippy nut is a similar, less acute…
Authors
Hope Raymond, Rachael Sitz, Ian Pearse, Jorge Caballero Ibarra, Brad Lalande, Jane Stewart
Demographic risk factors vary in the invasion front of chronic wasting disease in West Virginia, USA
After detecting chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA, in 2005, we investigated the change of CWD apparent prevalence and potential factors influencing infection risk during the invasion front. Over eight sampling years (2006–2012 and 2017) during a 12-yr period within a 101-km2-area monitoring zone, we sampled…
Authors
Brian Scott Dugovich, Ethan P. Barton, James M. Crum, M. Kevin Keel, David E. Stallknecht, Mark G. Ruder
Genomic characterization of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses from Alaska during 2022 provides evidence for genotype-specific trends of spatiotemporal and interspecies dissemination
The ongoing panzootic of highly pathogenic H5 clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza (HPAI) spread to North America in late 2021, with detections of HPAI viruses in Alaska beginning in April 2022. HPAI viruses have since spread across the state, affecting many species of wild birds as well as domestic poultry and wild mammals. To better understand the dissemination of HPAI viruses…
Authors
Christina Ahlstrom, Mia Kim Torchetti, Julianna B. Lenoch, Kimberlee Beckmen, Megan Boldenow, Evan J Buck, Bryan Daniels, Krista Dilione, Robert Gerlach, Kristina Lantz, Angela Matz, Rebecca L. Poulson, Laura Celeste Scott, Gay Sheffield, David R. Sinnett, David E. Stallknecht, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Eric B. Taylor, Alison R. Williams, Andrew M. Ramey
Pathology of tissue loss in three key gorgonian species in the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean is known for its marine biodiversity, especially gorgonian forests. Unfortunately, these are experiencing rapid declines due to climate change, manifested by repeated marine heat waves resulting in mass mortality events since the early 1990 s. To better understand why gorgonians are declining, more systematic approaches to investigate the exact causes are needed, and…
Authors
Jacopo Gobbato, Thierry M. Work, Martina P. Facchinelli, Federica M. Siena, Enrico Montalbetti, Davide Seveso, Yohan D. Luisa, Paolo Galli, Simone Montano
Freshwater mussel viromes increase rapidly in diversity and abundance when hosts are released from captivity into the wild
Freshwater mussels create habitat, filter water, and enhance food webs, but they are also among the world’s most imperiled taxa. Conservation efforts largely rely on captive propagation in which mussels are grown in protected aquaculture environments (hatcheries) for later release. Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of pathogens in population losses of freshwater mussels. In…
Authors
Jordan C. Richard, Tim W. Lane, Rose E. Agbalog, Sarah Colletti, Tiffany Leach, Christopher D. Dunn, Nathan Roy Bollig, Addison R. Plate, Joseph T. Munoz, Eric M. Leis, Susan Knowles, Isaac Standish, Diane L. Waller, Tony L. Golberg
The skin I live in: Pathogenesis of white-nose syndrome of bats
The emergence of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in North America has resulted in mass mortalities of hibernating bats and total extirpation of local populations. The need to mitigate this disease has stirred a significant body of research to understand its pathogenesis. Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of WNS, is a psychrophilic (cold-loving) fungus that resides within the…
Authors
Marcos Isidoro-Ayza, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Bruce S. Klein
Quantitative support for the benefits of proactive management for wildlife disease control
Finding effective pathogen mitigation strategies is one of the biggest challenges humans face today. In the context of wildlife, emerging infectious diseases have repeatedly caused widespread host morbidity and population declines of numerous taxa. In areas yet unaffected by a pathogen, a proactive management approach has the potential to minimize or prevent host mortality. However…
Authors
Molly Bletz, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Graziella Vittoria DiRenzo
Disentangling genetic diversity of Myotis septentrionalis: population structure, demographic history, and effective population size
Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat) has recently suffered a >90% decline in population size in North America due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). We assessed genetic diversity, population structure, current effective population size, and demographic history of M. septentrionalis distributed across the United States to determine baseline levels pre-WNS. We analyzed RADseq data…
Authors
Jenna R. Grimshaw, Deahn M. Donner, Roger W. Perry, W. Mark Ford, Alex Silvis, Carlos J. Garcia, Richard D. Stevens, David A. Ray
Host jump of an exotic fish rhabdovirus into a new class of animals poses a disease threat to amphibians
Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) is a rhabdovirus that primarily infects cyprinid finfishes and causes a disease notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health. Amphibians, which are sympatric with cyprinids in freshwater ecosystems, are considered non-permissive hosts of rhabdoviruses. The potential host range expansion of SVCV in an atypical host species was evaluated by…
Authors
Eveline J. Emmenegger, Emma K. Bueren, Carla M. Conway, George E. Sanders, A. Noble Hendrix, Tamara Schroeder, Emiliano Di Cicco, Phuc H. Pham, Lumsden John S., Sharon C. Clouthier
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today he has joined a 26-state coalition of attorneys general in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi in strong support of the newly created Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force.
The letter, led by West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey, applauds the Trump Administration and AG Bondi for launching the Task Force as a powerful new tool to protect and enforce Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
“The Biden administration spent four years trying to punish gun owners and dismantle Second Amendment protections,” said Attorney General Wilson. “This Task Force marks a major course correction. It shows that under President Trump, we’re back to defending the Constitution, not bypassing it.”
In the letter, the 26 attorneys general commit to partnering with the U.S. Department of Justice to support litigation, share regulatory expertise, and assist in law enforcement efforts to uphold Second Amendment rights. The coalition described the Task Force as a crucial reset from the prior administration’s anti-gun agenda and a vital step toward restoring the Second Amendment as a first-class liberty.
“My office is ready to assist however we can, whether that’s in court, with policy reform, or alongside law enforcement,” Attorney General Wilson added. “South Carolina will always defend our citizens’ right to bear arms, and we’re proud to stand with AG Bondi and President Trump in this fight.”
The attorneys general also cited recent actions in their own states to protect firearm freedoms and combat discrimination against the firearms industry.
State of Wyoming A Proclamation By the Governor of Wyoming WHEREAS, 250 years ago, on April 19, 1775, the fires of the American Revolutionary War were ignited at Lexington and Concord, where “the shot heard round the world” symbolized the courageous fight for independence and heralded the establishment of a nation built on the principles of liberty and self-rule; and WHEREAS, the gallant individuals known as the Patriots, who stood valiant against oppression, sacrificed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in their quest for liberty, thereby laying the cornerstone for what would become the United States of America; and WHEREAS, it is appropriate and just to reflect upon and rejoice in the liberties won through their valor, to educate our youth about the virtues of resilience and unity, and to renew our pledge to maintain these fundamental ideals; and WHEREAS, the citizens of Wyoming, heirs to both a pioneering spirit and a commitment to freedom, observe this day as a chance to honor the legacies of those early American Patriots and express gratitude for the enduring freedoms we enjoy; and WHEREAS, the Wyoming National Guard and other military units in Wyoming, embracing the ethos “Ride for the Brand,” serve as both the Sword and Shield of our State and Nation, with our brave Airmen and Soldiers currently deployed around the world, upholding these traditions and our commitment to global peace and security; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Gordon, Governor of the State of Wyoming, do hereby proclaim April 19, 2025, to be, PATRIOTS’ DAY And urge all citizens of Wyoming to join in commemorating the American Patriots and the brave members of our Wyoming military forces who valiantly fight for our independence and freedoms. Given at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, this nineteenth day of April, in the year two thousand and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-ninth. By the Governor, Mark Gordon Governor of the State of Wyoming State of Wyoming Proclamation Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ WHEREAS, 250 years ago, on April 19, 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with clashes in Massachusetts at Lexington and Concord, where “the shot heard round the world” marked the first stand in the fight for independence and the birth of a nation founded on liberty and self-governance; and WHEREAS, the brave men and women who stood against tyranny, known as the Patriots, risked their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in the pursuit of freedom, laying the foundation for the United States of America; and WHEREAS, it is fitting to reflect upon and celebrate the freedoms secured through their struggle, to educate future generations about the values of perseverance and unity, and to reaffirm our commitment to upholding these ideals; and WHEREAS, the citizens of Wyoming cherish the freedoms and rights established by our nation’s founders, and Patriots’ Day serves as an opportunity to express gratitude for the blessings of liberty; WHEREAS, the Wyoming National Guard, serving as both the Sword and Shield of our State and Nation, embodies the spirit of those early American Patriots, maintaining readiness to defend our freedoms and actively participating in community and state functions, thereby fostering a continuous link to our foundational values of liberty and service; WHEREAS, the motto “Ride for the Brand” encapsulates the loyalty, dedication, and sense of duty that our Wyoming military personnel bring to their service, committing to the defense and well-being of our community and country; and WHEREAS, our Airmen and Soldiers, deployed around the world, continue to uphold these principles, ensuring our state and nation remain a beacon of freedom and security in the global community; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Gordon, Governor of the State of Wyoming, do hereby proclaim April 19, 2025, as Patriots’ Day in Wyoming and encourage all residents to join in honoring the legacy of the American Patriots and our own Wyoming military forces, both at home and abroad, who valiantly fight for our independence and freedoms. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the State of Wyoming to be affixed this nineteenth of April 2025. Mark Gordon Governor of Wyoming