NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: Appraisal well confirms potential for future Bourdon development cluster

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BW Energy is pleased to announce that second sidetrack DBM-1 ST2 well has confirmed the substantial oil discovery with good reservoir and fluid quality of the Bourdon prospect in the Dussafu Licence offshore Gabon, announced on 7 March 2025. Management estimates indicate 56 million barrels oil in place of which approximately 25 million barrels are considered recoverable.  

    “The appraisal well confirms the potential for establishing a new development cluster with a production facility following the MaBoMo blueprint. We expect at least four producing wells,” said Carl K. Arnet, CEO of BW Energy. “We continue to successfully expand the Dussafu reserve base which, together with multiple additional prospects yet to be to be drilled, will support long-term production and value-creation in Gabon.”   

    Initial data shows that oil from Bourdon field has the lowest viscosity of the Dussafu discoveries measuring an average of 3.5 centipoise (cp), compared to 5 cp and 7 cp for the Hibiscus / Tortue and Ruche fields, respectively.  

    Evaluation of logging data and formation pressure measurements confirm approximately 11.2 metres of pay in an overall hydrocarbon column of 35.2 metres in the Gamba formation. The well was drilled by the Norve jack-up rig to a total depth of 4,731 metres. 

    Bourdon is located approximately 15 kilometres west of FPSO BW Adolo and 7.5 kilometres southeast of the MaBoMo facility. The discovery will enable the Company to book additional reserves not included in its 2024 Statement of Reserves. 

    For further information, please contact:  

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy

    +33.7.81.11.41.16
    ir@bwenergy.no 

    About BW Energy:  

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025.  

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Hoyle Statement on the Passing of Pope Francis

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    April 21, 2025

    For Immediate Release: April 21, 2025

    EUGENE, OR – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement regarding the passing of Pope Francis:

    “Today we lost a great and moral leader of the Catholic faith who epitomized the vision of social justice that I learned growing up in the Church. Pope Francis lived his faith and prioritized the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. He recognized and put forward that the dignity of work could not be separated from the rights of workers to decent and fair wages, to the ability to organize and join unions.

    “In his encyclical letter, Fratelli Tutti, the core message was that universal fraternity and social friendship must be practiced together. His inspiring words and legacy for the Catholic Church, bringing it closer to the needs of the people, and to the world will not be forgotten:

    “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” “Too often we participate in the globalization of indifference. May we strive instead to live global solidarity.” “Kindness is firm and persevering intention to always will the good of others, even the unfriendly.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 27 Members or Associates of Tren de Aragua Charged with Racketeering, Narcotics, Sex Trafficking, Robbery and Firearms offenses

    Source: US State of California

    Note: A copy of the Anti-Tren indictment can be found here.

    Today, two superseding indictments were unsealed charging 27 individuals currently or formerly associated with the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses. The first superseding indictment (the “TdA Indictment”) charges six alleged members of TdA. The second superseding indictment (the “Anti-Tren Indictment”) charges 19 alleged members of “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction comprised of former TdA members, along with two additional associates of Anti-Tren. Of the 27 defendants, 21 are in federal custody, including 16 who were already in federal criminal, immigration, or state custody and five who were arrested last night and today in operations in New York and other jurisdictions.

    “As alleged, Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang – it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence, engaged in human trafficking, and spread deadly drugs through our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictments and arrests span three states and will devastate TdA’s infrastructure as we work to completely dismantle and purge this organization from our country.”

    “Today, we have filed charges against 27 alleged members, former members, and associates of Tren de Aragua, for committing murders and shootings, forcing young women trafficked from Venezuela into commercial sex work, robbing and extorting small businesses, and selling ‘tusi,’ a pink powdery drug that has become their calling card,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky for the Southern District of New York.  “Today’s Indictments make clear that this Office will work tirelessly to keep the law-abiding residents of New York City safe, and hold accountable those who bring violence to our streets.”“Tren de Aragua is one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, and the NYPD has taken significant action to shut down their operations in New York City,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “For the first time ever, TdA is being named and charged as the criminal enterprise that it is. This isn’t just street crime—it’s organized racketeering, and this gang has shown zero regard for the safety of New Yorkers. As alleged in the indictment, these defendants wreaked havoc in our communities, trafficking women for sexual exploitation, flooding our streets with drugs, and committing violent crimes with illegal guns.  Thanks to the dedicated members of the NYPD and the important work of our federal partners, their time is up.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictments:[1]

    The TdA Indictment

    TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere. The purposes of TdA included:

    • Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
    • Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
      • The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Peru and the United States;
      • The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the United States;
      • The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine; and
      • Armed robberies.
    • Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
    • Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
    • Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
    • Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.

    Members and associates of TdA transported “multadas” from Venezuela into Peru and the United States in exchange for debts that the “multadas” would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work. Members of TdA enforced compliance among “multadas” by, among other things:

    • Threatening to kill “multadas” and their families,
    • Assaulting “multadas,”
    • Shooting or killing “multadas,” and
    • Tracking down and kidnapping “multadas” who tried to flee.

    Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.

    The TdA Indictment charges Jarwin Valero-Calderon, also known as “La Fama,” 29; Samuel Gonzalez Castro, also known as “Klei” and “Kley, ” 28; Eferson Morillo-Gomez, also known as “Jefferson” and “Efe Trebol,” 20; Brayan Oliveros-Chero, 28; Sandro Oliveros-Chero, 25; and Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez, also known as “Biblia,” 30, (the “TdA Defendants”) with conspiring to participate in the TdA racketeering enterprise. Various of the TdA defendants are also charged with participating in offenses relating to drug trafficking, carjacking, robbery, and extortion, as well as firearms offenses. This case is assigned U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote for the Southern District of New York.

    If convicted of racketeering conspiracy, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Brayan Oliveros-Chero, Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and Perez Gonzalez face up to life in prison. If convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy, Valero-Calderon, Brayan Oliveros-Chero, Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and Perez Gonzalez face up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of carjacking conspiracy, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez face up to five years in prison. If convicted of carjacking, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez face up to 15 years in prison. If convicted of Hobbs Act robbery, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez face up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of firearm use, carrying, and possession, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez face up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison. If convicted of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez face up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Brayan Oliveros-Chero, and Sandro Oliveros-Chero face up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, Brayan Oliveros-Chero faces up to 15 years in prison. If convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien, Sandro Oliveros-Chero faces up to 15 years in prison. If convicted of firearm use, carrying, and possession, Perez Gonzalez faces up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. If convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien, Perez Gonzalez faces up to 15 years in prison.

    The Anti-Tren Indictment

    Anti-Tren is a criminal organization almost exclusively comprised of former members and associates of TdA. Anti-Tren operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, and in New Jersey, and elsewhere. Like TdA, the purposes of Anti-Tren included:

    • Preserving and protecting the power and territory of Anti-Tren and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at members and associates of TdA.
    • Enriching the members and associates of Anti-Tren through, among other things:
      • The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including women and girls from Venezuela, into the United States;
      • The sex trafficking of “multadas” who had been unlawfully smuggled into the United States;
      • The trafficking of controlled substances, including “tusi”; and
      • Armed robberies.
    • Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of Anti-Tren and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
    • Promoting and enhancing Anti-Tren and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
    • Providing assistance to members and associates of Anti-Tren who committed crimes for and on behalf of Anti-Tren, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of Anti-Tren to flee prosecution, or bail money for members or associates of Anti-Tren who are detained.
    • Protecting Anti-Tren and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of Anti-Tren.

    Like TdA, Anti-Tren engaged in human smuggling and sex trafficking of “multadas,” into the United States in exchange for debts that the “multadas” would pay back by engaging in commercial sex work. And like TdA, members of Anti-Tren enforced compliance among “multadas” by, among other things:

    • Threatening to kill “multadas” and their families,
    • Assaulting “multadas,”
    • Shooting or killing “multadas,” and
    • Tracking down and kidnapping “multadas” who tried to flee.

    Members of Anti-Tren also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and to expand Anti-Tren’s criminal operations, resolve disputes within Anti-Tren, to retaliate against rival organizations, including Tren de Aragua, and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. Anti-Tren members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.

    The Anti-Tren Indictment charges Reinaldo Rafael Gonzales-Valdez, also known as “Mariguana” and “Marijuana,” 41; Jose Manuel Guerrero-Zarate, also known as “Mantequilla,” 29; Jose David Valencia-De La Rosa, 27; Johan Carlos Mujica-Urpin, also known as “Sobrino,” 27; Luis Jose Velasquez-Hurtado, also known as “Chito,” 30; Stefano Said Pachon-Romero, 21; Guillermo Freites Velazquez, 26; Jesus David Barrios Garcia, also known as “Morocho,” 27; Giovanny Valentin Blanco Luciano, also known as “Cachorrito,” 20; Anderson Jesus Duran Berroteran, also known as “Cachorro, ” 22; Roiman Noe Bello Ferrer, 37; Luis Miguel Rodriguez-Tapia, 25; Mario Andres Pereda, also known as “Cara de Hombre,” 44; Anderson Smith Zambrano-Pacheco, 26; Yeferson Alejandro Prieto Galviz, also known as “Flaco T” and“Flacote,” 24; Jhonkennedy Bravo-Castro, also known as  “Negrito,” 27; Yender Maykier Mata, 36; Kellen Alejandro Jaspe Bustamante, 20; and Luis Andres Bello-Chacon, also known as  “Care de Peo,” 31 (the “Anti-Tren Defendants”) with conspiring to participate in an Anti-Tren racketeering enterprise. Various of the Anti-Tren Defendants, along with co-defendants Wilfredo Jose Avendaño Carrizalez and Carlos Gabriel Santos Mogollon, are also charged with participating in offenses relating to sex trafficking, conspiracy to import and harbor aliens, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and firearms offenses. This case is assigned U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil of the Southern District of New York.

    If convicted of racketeering conspiracy, Gonzales-Valdez, Guerrero-Zarate, Valencia-De La Rosa, Mujica-Urpin, Velasquez-Hurtado, Pachon-Romero, Freites Velazquez, Barrios Garcia, Blanco Luciano, Duran Berroteran, Bello Ferrer, Rodriguez-Tapia, Pereda, Zambrano-Pacheco, Prieto Galviz, Bravo-Castro, Maykier Mata, Jaspe Bustamante, and Bello-Chacon face up to life in prison. If convicted of sex trafficking conspiracy, Gonzales-Valdez, Guerrero-Zarate, Valencia-De La Rosa, Mujica-Urpin, Velasquez-Hurtado, Pachon-Romero, Freites Velazquez, Barrios Garcia, Duran Berroteran, Rodriguez-Tapia, Pereda, Zambrano-Pacheco, and Bravo-Castro face up to life in prison. If convicted of alien importation and harboring for immoral purpose – conspiracy, Gonzales-Valdez, Guerrero-Zarate, Valencia-De La Rosa, Mujica-Urpin, Velasquez-Hurtado, Pachon-Romero, Freites Velazquez, Barrios Garcia, Duran Berroteran, Rodriguez-Tapia, Pereda, Zambrano-Pacheco, and Bravo-Castro face up to five years in prison. If convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy, Gonzales-Valdez, Guerrero-Zarate, Mujica-Urpin, Freites Velazquez, Barrios Garcia, Blanco Luciano, Duran Berroteran, Prieto Galviz, Maykier Mata, Jaspe Bustamante, and Bello-Chacon face up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of firearm use, carrying, and possession, Gonzales-Valdez, Guerrero-Zarate, Mujica-Urpin, Freites Velazquez, Barrios Garcia, Blanco Luciano, Zambrano-Pacheco, Prieto Galviz, Maykier Mata, Jaspe Bustamante, and Bello-Chacon face up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. If convicted of obstruction of justice, Velasquez-Hurtado faces up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of unlicensed dealing of firearms, Pachon-Romero faces up to five years in prison. If convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a fugitive from justice and illegal alien, Zambrano-Pacheco, faces up to 15 years in prison. If convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien, Bravo-Castro, Avendaño Carrizalez and Santos Mogollonface up to 15 years in prison.

    The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

    Attorney General Bondi and Acting U.S. Attorney Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD. They also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office in Colorado; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the HSI National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations New York; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

    This case received significant support from Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division.  Additionally, the FBI; DEA; HSI; ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department 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). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, and Timothy Ly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    [1] The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What would Australia be willing to go to war over? This needs to be made clear in our defence strategy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Carr, Associate Professor, Strategy and Australian Defence Policy, Australian National University

    In 2024, the National Defence Strategy made deterrence Australia’s “primary strategic defence objective”.

    With writing now underway for the 2026 National Defence Strategy, can Australia actually deter threats to the nation?

    Traditionally, our defence strategy only asked that our military capabilities “command respect”. In today’s world, however, Australia needs a far more active military posture to defend itself.

    To effectively deter an adversary, Australia needs the equipment, signals and processes to convince a potentially hostile nation to reconsider the cost of militarily threatening us.

    A deterrence strategy promises to reduce the likelihood of conflict. It reduces the opportunities for an adversary to score “cheap” wins by communicating how we could “deny” their main goal and potentially “punish” them for their aggression.

    It forces an adversary to make a choice: back down or risk failing at your objective and starting a more significant confrontation.

    While we don’t know exactly how a future adversary might react, Australia must do more to make our intent clear on how we would respond to a provocation.

    We are part of an international team researching the ways to do this. This is what we think is needed in the next National Defence Strategy.

    What deterrence looks like

    Creating a credible deterrence posture is not easy. The 2024 defence strategy lists a wide variety of actions that could change an adversary’s risk assessment.

    Some of these things are specific (surveilling and protecting Australia’s sea lanes of communication). Others are vague and loosely connected to deterrence (supporting the global rules-based order).

    To make sure our deterrence message is as clear and effective as possible, the 2026 strategy will need a much tighter policy framework around where Australia would have the power to deter an adversary, and how we would do so.

    It will also need to detail the specific defence preparations Australia has undertaken to credibly deter threats.

    Vagueness in language or generalities in proposed actions will not cut it.

    What history can teach us

    The scholarly literature on how to implement an effective deterrence is largely drawn from Cold War history.

    Many times, the US and USSR made deliberate efforts to send deterrence signals to the other side. They did this by acquiring new capabilities (such as longer-range missiles) and expanding their nuclear stockpiles, or by conducting military exercises and deploying forces around the world. These messages, however, were often misunderstood.

    Sometimes, these signals – such as US President John F. Kennedy’s reinforcement of West Berlin with an additional battalion during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 – made political sense, but less so militarily.

    One way for Australia to approach this deterrence question is considering the adversary’s theory of victory – how they seek to achieve their goal – and then identifying ways to explicitly and publicly show we can disrupt it.

    For example, after winning the 1982 Falkland Islands War against Argentina, Britain invested significant resources into the Mount Pleasant Air Base on the islands. They are now home to up to 2,000 personnel, enabling significant and rapid reinforcements in the event of future hostilities.

    The use of ‘trip wires’

    Australia is now acquiring significant new strike capabilities. However, even if we increase our defence spending beyond the 3% of GDP currently being discussed, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will not be able to defend everything across the entire region and the waters around us.

    We will need to find low-cost defensive actions.

    Deterring an adversary from attempting a “cheap win” against Australia, for instance, might require the “forward presence” of Australian troops far from our own shores. Even if they would not be able to defend against an attack on their own, they could serve as a “trip wire” force. This means if they were attacked, it would likely compel Australia to go to war.

    So, let’s say Australia has a “forward presence” of troops stationed in the Cocos Islands, Papua New Guinea or even the Philippines. This signals a credible commitment to use those forces to protect ourselves and our regional partners against a threat. And should these soldiers be killed, it would likely generate public anger and a political insistence on a significant response.

    While a lot of contemporary military thinking is about how to put robots and drones in harm’s way instead of our fellow citizens, some tasks, such as a “forward presence” deterrence, can likely only be done by humans.

    We need to be clear about red lines

    All of this means that deterrence is not just about a country’s capabilities – going to war is ultimately about politics, and human emotion.

    As such, credibility also depends on practical rituals – such as Britain holding Cabinet meetings in the Falklands and NATO hosting flag parades in the Baltics. These convey a belief over what matters enough to go to war.

    For Australian deterrence to be more credible, the next iteration of the National Defence Strategy will have to be more explicit than its predecessor in spelling out what Australia would be willing to go to war over.

    If our government cannot address this now, how are we going to communicate this to an adversary – and convince them of it – in a crisis?

    The government is understandably reluctant to be specific about the commitments and threats it is willing and able to make in a public document, or to acknowledge the limits to Australia’s abilities.

    But deterring without communicating is a contradiction in terms. We need to be explicit about what would cause Australia to resist or retaliate, even at the cost of war, in order to credibly deter an adversary from taking such an action.
    This must be at the core of how the 2026 National Defence Strategy approaches deterrence as Australia’s “primary defence objective”.

    This piece is part of a series on the future of defence in Australia. Read the other stories here.

    Andrew Carr receives funding from the Department of Defence on a research project on ‘Pathways of Deterrence’.

    Stephan Fruehling receives funding from the Department of Defence on a research project on ‘Pathways of Deterrence’.

    – ref. What would Australia be willing to go to war over? This needs to be made clear in our defence strategy – https://theconversation.com/what-would-australia-be-willing-to-go-to-war-over-this-needs-to-be-made-clear-in-our-defence-strategy-253246

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Photos: Kaine Highlights Need to Continue Support for America’s Alliances on Official Visits to Poland, Ukraine, and Germany

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, concluded a week-long trip of official visits in Poland, Ukraine, and Germany to highlight his support for America’s transatlantic partnerships and Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal invasion. The visit came amid Russia’s horrific Palm Sunday attack on the Ukrainian town of Sumy, which killed dozens of innocent civilians, including children; global fallout from the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff regime that not only punishes allies, but also severely inhibits defense cooperation; and reported plans to shrink America’s diplomatic presence abroad—even as China moves to expand its own footprint.
    “America has always been strongest and safest when we link arms with our allies. I traveled to Poland, Ukraine, and Germany this week to highlight the importance of that principle, especially in the face of Russia’s continued illegal invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s horrific Palm Sunday attack in Sumy was a disturbing—yet unsurprising—sign that Russia is not negotiating in good faith to stop the fighting. It’s more important than ever that we strengthen our relationships across the Atlantic. I know that I have colleagues on both sides of the aisle who see how the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff regime and insulting comments about our friends abroad make that harder, and will keep doing all that I can to urge them to stand up for the alliances that keep America safe.”
    Photos of Kaine’s trip are available here.
    Kaine traveled to Poland to:
    Meet U.S. servicemembers stationed at the Logistical Support Area (LSA) in Jasionka, which has played a critical role in delivering security assistance to Ukraine since 2022.
    Visit Remote Maintenance Distribution Cell-Ukraine, a U.S. Army sustainment initiative that provides direct maintenance and repair support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
    Meet with Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijolek. Rzeszów was given the distinction of “Rescuer City” by President Zelenskyy in honor of the humanitarianism, charity, and solidarity it has offered the Ukrainian people. Kaine is a former mayor and the meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm U.S.-Polish cooperation on regional security, especially at the local level.
    Meet with Head of the National Security Bureau Lt. General Dariusz Lukowski, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss support for Ukraine and NATO.
    Visit the POLIN Museum, which is dedicated to telling the history of Jewish life in Poland, including the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Movement of 1943, in which Jewish insurgents in the Nazi-created ghetto resisted German troops and police who entered it to deport its surviving inhabitants.
    Then, Kaine traveled to Ukraine to:
    Meet with David Arakhamia, a leader of the Servant of the People political party in the Verkhovna Rada, and Sergiv Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration.
    Visit wounded Ukrainian veterans undergoing rehabilitation treatment at a NextStep Ukraine facility. NextStep Ukraine offers prosthetics, brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation to veterans. The organization receives U.S. funding.
    Tour the Kyiv Combined Heat and Power Plant No. 5, a major infrastructure site that supplies both electricity and heat to five districts of the city, to highlight U.S. support for energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The facility was severely impacted by Russian missile strikes in October 2022 and again in March 2023. USAID provided the funding and expertise to restore the plant’s operations.
    Lay flowers at the Bucha Memorial that honors the civilians and prisoners of war killed by Russian forces during their occupation of the town in early 2022.
    Lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, which honors the lives of thousands of soldiers and volunteers who have died defending Ukraine. The Wall of Remembrance was created through a collaboration between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the National Military History Museum, and civic memory organizations.
    Visit the site of the 1941 massacre at Babyn Yar, a ravine near Kyiv.
    Meet with Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, a leading civil society coalition dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Ukraine and pursuing accountability for Russian war crimes.
    Then, Kaine traveled to Germany to:
    Meet with Norbert Röttgen, a member of the German Bundestag who has long led on German foreign affairs issues; Deputy Director-General of the German Ministry of Defense Major General Stefan Schulz; and the German State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Susanne Baumann. 
    Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a place of remembrance and commemoration for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
    Visit United States European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart.
    Visit U.S. servicemembers assigned to United States Air Force Europe and Special Operations Command Europe in Ramstein.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Visits YWCA Clark County After Securing $475K for Therapeutic Preschool Program, Hears How Trump’s Funding Cuts, EOs Threaten Care for Survivors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Trump Admin Withholding Nearly $1 Billion in Funding for Head Start—Crunching Centers Nationwide and Forcing Devastating Closures

    ***PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***

    Vancouver, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited the YWCA Clark County and toured renovated classroom and outdoor space for the YWCA’s therapeutic pre-school program, which caters to children who have experienced trauma like abuse, neglect, and homelessness already in their early lives, and who need extra support to be able to thrive. Senator Murray secured $475,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding for the YWCA’s preschool program in the government funding bills she negotiated and passed last Congress as Chair of the Appropriations Committee. On her visit, Senator Murray also heard from YWCA staff about how the Trump administration’s funding freezes, cuts to federal funding, and Executive Order on DEI initiatives—as well as looming Republican cuts to Medicaid—are affecting their work helping domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.

    The Clark County YWCA is a multi-service organization that works with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse; youth aging out of foster care; and preschool children who have experienced or are at risk for homelessness. Without adequate funding, critical services at the YWCA are at risk of being reduced or eliminated, and many survivors rely on Medicaid and would be seriously harmed by deep cuts to the program, which Republicans are trying to pass through Congress right now. Senator Murray was joined during her visit by YWCA CEO Brittini Lasseigne, Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Yarie, VP of Support & Prevention Programs Laurie Schacht, VP of Domestic Violence Programs Beth Landry, and VP of Communications and Marketing Chandra Chase.

    “Federal investments like the one I was able to secure for the therapeutic preschool program here at the YWCA Clark County can make a real difference for kids and families at risk,” said Senator Murray. “Unfortunately, Trump’s unprecedented funding freezes and lack of communication with partners on the ground has created real chaos and uncertainty for places like the YWCA, who do really important work helping some of the most vulnerable in our communities—and have now been left without guidance on whether and when critical grant programs they rely on will open at all. And the Medicaid cuts Republicans are trying to force through Congress right now would also be devastating for the kids and survivors they serve who overwhelmingly rely on Medicaid for their health care. You can be sure I will take these stories with me back to the other Washington and keep fighting with everything I’ve got to end this chaos.”

    “Thanks to Senator Murray, our community has a therapeutic preschool option for trauma informed care for our youngest survivors. The Occupational Therapy room symbolizes what’s possible when federal-local partnerships focus on uplifting entire communities.  We’re not just addressing trauma—we’re preventing it by equipping families with resources to build safer, stronger futures together,” said Brittini Lasseigne, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Clark County. “Senator Murray’s visit to YWCA Clark County’s Y’s Care Therapeutic Preschool program and our new Occupational Therapy room—spaces her federal investment helped build—shows what’s possible when leaders prioritize people over profits. These rooms are more than facilities; they’re proof that trauma-informed care works. We’re grateful for allies like Senator Murray, who continue to fight to ensure no child is left behind as we face new federal funding challenges that are both devastating and far-reaching.”

    Senator Murray has long worked to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including authoring important provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) over the years. In the most recent reauthorization of VAWA, Senator Murray passed major provisions of her Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA) to develop national standards of care for survivors of sexual assault, strengthen the sexual assault examiner workforce, and expand access to sexual assault examination services. Murray first introduced SASCA in 2016, after her constituent, Leah Griffin, shared her personal story of surviving a sexual assault and then getting turned away from a hospital when it was unable to administer a rape kit—ultimately contributing to prosecutors declining to file criminal charges. Senator Murray also leads the SAFE for Survivors Act, which would provide increased economic security for survivors of domestic violence. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill Senator Murray authored and passed into law as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Murray secured $713 million—the highest funding level ever, for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women, a $13 million increase over the previous year support training for police officers and prosecutors, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, lethality assessment and homicide reduction initiatives, domestic violence hotlines, women’s shelters, transitional housing, and rural support services.

    Senator Murray has led the fight to tackle the child care crisis in Congress. She was instrumental in ensuring Congress took action when the COVID pandemic forced the child care sector to the brink of collapse. She authored the stabilization provisions in the American Rescue Plan alongside Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-03) and helped secure a historic $24 billion in stabilization funds and an additional $15 billion for CCDBG in the legislation. One third of child care providers who received a stabilization grant said their child care program would have closed permanently without the grants. Senator Murray introduced legislation and pushed to extend the stabilization grants—and has continued to push to deliver supplemental funding to address the child care crisis. In the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills Senator Murray authored and passed, she successfully secured $1 billion more for our nation’s primary child care program and for Head Start—in addition to a variety of other steps across government programs to help families find quality, affordable child care. Critically, Senator Murray has introduced and continues working to build the support needed to pass her Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to tackle the child care crisis and ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of EPA Administrator Zeldin’s Visit to San Diego, Rep. Mike Levin & Mayor Paloma Aguirre Called on the Trump Administration to Use Funding to Address Cross-Border Sewage Pollution & Demand No Funding Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    April 21, 2025

    San Diego, CA—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre called on the Trump Administration use Congressionally appropriated funds to address the cross-border sewage pollution and environmental crisis at the Tijuana River Valley. Ahead of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s visit to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tuesday, they urged him to commit to no cuts to funding dedicated to clean-up efforts in the region.

    “For decades, tens of billions of gallons of raw sewage, polluted stormwater, and trash have flowed from Mexico, down the Tijuana River, and into the Pacific Ocean. This pollution has had a devastating impact on public health, our local businesses, and the environment,” said Rep. Levin. “We can’t allow Administrator Zeldin or anyone in the Trump Administration to talk about solving this crisis while proposing cuts to the very agencies responsible for the solution. DOGE and House Republicans have already targeted funding for the IBWC, which operates the plant. You can’t say you support a solution and then gut the resources required to get it done. So, I look forward to Administrator Zeldin’s visit. But what matters most is what happens after he leaves. We need action. And we need to fix this in a bipartisan way—once and for all.”

    Rep. Levin and the Democratic Members of the San Diego Congressional Delegation secured over half a billion dollars to upgrade the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant and secured commitments from Mexico for clean-up on its side of the border. The use of this funding was delayed by the first Trump Administration and the Biden Administration. It is now threatened by the second Trump Administration’s slash-and-burn approach to government programs that address pollution and help keep our air and water clean. Rep. Levin and Mayor Aguirre will make clear that funds to address this crisis cannot be caught up in the Trump Administration’s haphazard cuts.

    ##

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: GOP PLAN TO CRIPPLE MEDICAID WOULD SLASH ADDICTION TREATMENT IN ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES AND WORSEN OPIOID EPIDEMIC ACROSS UPSTATE NY; STANDING WITH DOCTORS & PEOPLE IN RECOVERY THANKS TO…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Congressional Republicans Just Voted To Advance The Biggest Medicaid Cut In History — $880 BILLION — Which Could Devastate Rochester-Finger Lakes Healthcare, Hammering Hospitals Which Could Face Layoffs, Nursing Homes, And Kick Patients In Recovery To The Curb, Setting Back Upstate NY’s Efforts To Fight The Opioid Crisis

    70% Of Patients Receiving Addiction Treatment At Wayne County’s Finger Lakes Counseling & Recovery Agency Are Funded By Medicaid; GOP’s Dangerous Medicaid Cuts Would Impact 300,000+ Across Finger Lakes From Seniors To Children And Could Rip Away Healthcare For Thousands

    Schumer: GOP Medicaid Cuts Would Inflame Opioid Crisis Across Upstate NY

    Just two weeks after Congressional Republicans voted to advance the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer stood with Finger Lakes people in recovery and nurses at the Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency (FLACRA) to call on Congressional Republicans to block Trump’s plan to decimate Medicaid. The Republican plan to cut $880 billion from Medicaid would hurt more than 300,000 New Yorkers in the Finger Lakes and set back Upstate NY’s decades of efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

    “House Republicans just voted to advance the biggest Medicaid cut in history, putting places like the Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency where 70% of their patients in recovery in danger. Make no mistake: these cuts could set back decades of efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in Upstate NY and risk healthcare for over 300,000 across the Rochester-Finger Lakes region,” said Senator Schumer. “Medicaid is one of the largest funding sources for Rochester’s nursing homes, hospitals, and is a lifeline for our rural areas and especially our addiction treatment centers. Across the Finger Lakes, seniors are worried they could be kicked out of their nursing homes and patients in recovery are fearful they’ll be stuck, stranded, and abandoned with no support. We are in the fight of a lifetime to block the Republican plan to gut Medicaid by $880 BILLION. That’s why I’m demanding NY House Republicans stand up and join me in ensuring Finger Lakes rehab centers and patients have the resources they need to fight the opioid crisis.”

    Schumer said Finger Lakes patients in recovery will face the worst when Republicans cut Medicaid. Over 300,000 people in the Finger Lakes have Medicaid for their insurance, and many of them are patients in recovery who could be discharged from local rehab facilities if Congressional Republicans cut Medicaid. Schumer explained that once Medicaid is forced to stop paying for addiction treatment in these facilities, and once the facilities exhaust every possible way to keep patients in place, facilities could be forced to lay off staff and kick patients to the curb, setting back decades of efforts fighting the opioid crisis in the Finger Lakes.

    Schumer has long led the fight against the opioid crisis. In 2023, the senator personally met with the President of China to talk about how fentanyl is destroying families in Upstate New York and urged him to work with the United States to stop the flow. Under Schumer’s leadership, the Senate also passed critical legislation to upend the flow of fentanyl into the United States and expand access to treatment for people struggling with addiction.

    In the Finger Lakes, Medicaid is a lifeline for fighting the opioid crisis. FLACRA serves individuals and their loved ones across the Finger Lakes region affected by substance use and mental health disorders. FLACRA’s 500 employees provide substance abuse treatment including detox, stabilization, rehabilitation, outpatient and supportive living and housing assistance. In 2024 alone, more than 4,690 individuals received help and addiction treatment at FLACRA, of which 3,281 – or 70% – were able to get the care they and their loved ones needed because they were covered by Medicaid.

    FLACRA President & CEO Jennifer Carlson said, “The proposed Medicaid cuts will be devastating for individuals and families in need of critical, life-saving substance abuse and mental health treatment. These cuts will impede urgent and time-sensitive access to care programs offered through FLACRA and other Behavioral Health providers throughout our communities. The nation is in a substance abuse and mental health epidemic. Thank you, Senator Schumer, for opposing these cuts and for continuing to support access to vital care and services for people during such a critical time.”

    Medicaid funding is also vital to fund the work of the Wayne County Department of Mental Health and Wayne Behavioral Health Network (WBHN) which operates outpatient mental health and addiction treatment programs and support services through its clinics. In 2024 alone WBHN served 4,255 clients in over 95,000 individual sessions of which 76% were billed and paid by Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care. This Medicaid revenue has been critical for WBHN to fiscally sustain offsetting any cost to Wayne County for over a decade.

    Schumer added, “This proposal to decimate Medicaid is not just heartless, it would make streets across the Finger Lakes less safe. It would be a gut punch to our efforts to combat the opioid crisis in Upstate NY.”

    Wayne Behavioral Health Substance Use Treatment Senior Program Supervisor, Jamie Castellano-Gates said, “Our clients struggle with so many barriers dealing with addiction and other co-occurring disorders but also the lack of resources from living in a rural community. Medicaid has been so helpful to these individuals who rely on it to get in treatment programs…They are incredibly fearful they will be “stuck, stranded and abandoned” – with no support and unable to progress in recovery. Medicaid funding has made recovery a viable option for the majority of our clients to present them with opportunities they never would have.”

    Wayne Behavioral Health Director of Community Services (DCS), Sharon MacDougall said, “Medicaid funding for comprehensive behavioral healthcare, including critical substance use services, is an investment in the foundational health, safety, and welfare of every citizen. Access to this care is not a luxury, but a basic right that deserves the same level of unwavering commitment we provide to other essential infrastructure like accessible roads and a functioning emergency response system. Ensuring parity access to behavioral healthcare through Medicaid is principal to the overall well-being of our communities. We all welcome efforts to streamline costs for all essential services supporting our communities; but never at the cost of lives dependent on promised support.”

    Schumer emphasized Medicaid is a key tool for fighting the opioid crisis. Across New York, approximately 47% of Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder received medications for opioid use disorder in 2021. New York Medicaid covers all FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) – methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—without prior authorization requirements. In 2021 alone, more than 382,500 New Yorkers – and close to 5 million Americans – were treated for substance use disorder thanks to Medicaid coverage. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of people in New York getting buprenorphine – a medication that helps treat opioid addiction – went up by nearly 30%, meaning more people are getting access to this type of treatment. The most recent data available shows an approximately 25 percent drop in overdose deaths nationwide in 2024 compared to 2023, the largest drop in years.

    Last month, Trump cut $11 billion from state health services including $300 million for New York State providers like Delphi Rise’s Open Access Center which is Monroe County’s only 24/7 walk-in clinic for substance use care and recovery. Schumer said those cuts plus the looming loss of Medicaid funding could force Delphi Rising to shut its Open Access Clinic’s doors permanently since 80% of the nearly 2000 individuals who seek care to begin their recovery at Delphi Rise rely on Medicaid. Across the Finger Lakes, rehab centers depend on Medicaid and federal health funding to provide behavioral health treatment, but with both on the chopping block, people fear the fentanyl crisis will only worsen.

    Jen Cathy, President and CEO of Delphi Rise said, “Medicaid is more than a funding stream. It is a lifeline. On average, 80% of the individuals who walk through our doors at Delphi Rise’s Open Access Center rely on Medicaid. For those who aren’t yet enrolled, we connect them immediately so they can access the appropriate treatment facility. As the only 24/7 walk-in center for substance use in Monroe County, we’re often the last stop before someone ends up in the emergency room, in jail, or worse. Without Medicaid, that critical access to care is lost, and we miss the opportunity to intervene and save lives.”

    Mike Hoffman, Delphi Rise Peer Advocate who relied on Medicaid for his recovery said, “Medicaid coverage was the most important part of my recovery from substance use disorder. When I heard about the proposed cuts to Medicaid and OASAS funding, I felt terrified for people like me who live here in New York and across the county. I have turned my life around: without Medicaid, others might not get that chance.”

    The Republican proposal to cut $880 billion from Medicaid would mean that the costs of care shifts to states, which would result in slashed services, benefits, eligibility, and reimbursement rates. These agonizing decisions would happen at the state and local level, with county executives and state legislators forced to decide where to make up for the huge budget hole caused by Republicans slashing federal funding for Medicaid. Counties could even be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in Medicaid, using more local dollars to provide coverage because less federal funding will be coming in. This means legislators and county executives will have to decide who loses their Medicaid, what services will no longer be covered, or how much doctors will be paid. The senator said while some Congressional Republicans claim that this plan won’t cut Medicaid, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found the GOP plan could not be reached without reducing the funding that goes to Medicaid. There is no way to protect Medicaid benefits if Republicans move ahead with these cuts.

    Schumer added, “Medicaid has helped patients in recovery transform their lives, giving them the care they need to recover from substance use disorder and stay off the streets. Many have even become powerful advocates for others struggling with substance use disorder. Meanwhile, Trump wants these cuts for one reason: to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. He’s not looking out for our neighbors or trying to fight the fentanyl crisis. Republicans have tried to hide their Medicaid cuts, use smoke and mirrors and claim this isn’t a cut, but the math shows this would hurt our seniors and families’ Medicaid, and places like the Finger Lakes the most.”

    Schumer detailed the scope of Medicaid enrollment throughout the country and warned that Medicaid serves as a lifeline for millions of seniors. More than 7 million New Yorkers are enrolled in Medicaid, and it is the primary payer for long-term care in the United States. Many patients and families will have nowhere else to turn if Medicaid is cut, and millions of people will be left trying to figure out how to access the care and services they rely on every day.

    Major reductions in Medicaid spending will have serious consequences for seniors and people with disabilities. Nearly 1 in 4 Medicaid enrollees are eligible for the program because they are ages 65 and older or have a disability. Proposals to limit federal spending on Medicaid will force states to consider dropping or limiting eligibility or coverage for seniors and people with disabilities to make up for a huge budget hole with fewer federal dollars coming to New York. Loss of Medicaid coverage poses unique challenges for seniors and people with disabilities, people who are likely to live on fixed incomes, have high health care spending, and rely on Medicaid for help with everyday life and for coverage of long-term care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 21st, 2025 New Mexico Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Keep Hands Off of New Mexico’s National Monuments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee led the New Mexico Congressional Delegation — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), members of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) — in urging the Trump-Musk Administration to leave New Mexican national monuments intact.

    The letter comes in anticipation of a number of harmful executive orders to be announced tomorrow by the Trump Administration, including one that will purportedly target America’s national monuments.

    “Our national monuments in New Mexico protect some of the most significant landscapes and cultural resources in the nation. The monuments were carefully curated and represent a balance of public land protection negotiated between local leaders, communities, Tribes, and our constituents. The areas protected under national monument status across the state are culturally valuable, archeologically and geologically unique, and represent a conservation legacy that should not be erased,” the lawmakers wrote. “National monuments are vitally important to our history and any proposals to reduce their boundaries will not be reflective of the voices of New Mexicans.”

    The lawmakers emphasized how crucial New Mexico’s national monuments are to the state’s economy, underscoring the significant revenue particular monuments under threat of elimination generate annually, “In New Mexico, we have a $3.2 billion outdoor recreation sector and monuments are a significant contributor to this robust economy. In 2022 alone, monument visitation resulted in $1.9 million in tax revenue. The economic impacts of visitation to Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP) surpassed the initial prediction by more than 50 percent. In just one year after its establishment, the Rio Grande del Norte (RGDN) National Monument saw a 40 percent increase in visitors, resulting in a 21 percent increase in Town of Taos lodgers’ tax revenue.”

    The lawmakers continued, highlighting the immeasurable cultural and economic impact of three national monuments in New Mexico under consideration for reduction or elimination: Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks, Rio Grande del Norte, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, “In OMDP in southern New Mexico, you will find significant petroglyph and archeological sites and walk among historic travelers’ routes. In northern New Mexico, RGDN boasts some of New Mexico’s most prized recreational opportunities in an area where the Rio Grande carves an 800-foot gorge through historic volcanic activity. RGDN offers immense economic value to northern New Mexico and provides access for traditional use like piñon nut collection. As for the third monument under review, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, the Bureau of Land Management recently celebrated the monument’s inclusion on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025. Not only is Tent Rocks “geologically surreal,” but it is also a sacred landscape to the Cochiti Pueblo.”

    The lawmakers concluded by demanding the Administration keep New Mexico’s national monuments intact, “There is no greater value to these natural landscapes than what is brought to the community through their continued protection. Withdrawing protections from these sites would threaten the economic benefits associated with New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy and it undermines our community and tribal voices. We urge you to honor the voices of New Mexicans and confirm that you will leave the Organ Mountains, Rio Grande del Norte, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and all other national monuments intact.”

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on Denial of En Banc Review in Huntington Beach’s Federal Challenge to State Housing Laws

    Source: US State of California

    Monday, April 21, 2025

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

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to deny the City of Huntington Beach’s petition for rehearing en banc in its federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of certain California housing laws. On October 30, 2024, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit unanimously affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Huntington Beach’s federal lawsuit. The City subsequently petitioned for rehearing en banc, so that the full Ninth Circuit could hear its federal lawsuit. Today’s order notes that “[t]he matter failed to receive a majority of the votes of the nonrecused active judges in favor of en banc consideration.” This leaves in place the Ninth Circuit’s October 30, 2024 decision.  

    “We are pleased that Huntington Beach’s latest attempt to exempt itself from our state’s housing laws has failed. All along, Governor Newsom and I have asserted that the City’s federal lawsuit is meritless and a waste of the public’s money,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Like every other city in California, Huntington Beach has a legal obligation to build its fair share of housing. We will be closely monitoring what the City decides to do next. Our state lawsuit against Huntington Beach is also on appeal. We remain confident we will prevail there, too.” 

    A copy of the decision can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City offers low-cost self defence classes for women aged 55 plus

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City is offering a low cost, four week Women’s Self Defence and Situational Awareness Group program designed for women aged 55 plus to promote positive ageing in a fun, safe, and empowering space where they can connect and learn together.

    City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Acting Manager Nikki Williams said the program is subsidised by the City and will be delivered by local self-defence school Ova it.

    “The program blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based techniques with practical situational awareness strategies and will equip participants with skills that focus on using leverage, timing, and energy efficiency,” Ms Williams said.

    “These are techniques that work for all ages and abilities, recognising and assessing risk in different environments and setting boundaries using verbal and psychological strategies.

    “Learning self-defence can empower people. It decreases fear and anxiety and increases confidence, sense of self-efficacy, and self-esteem and helps you feel stronger and more confident in your bodies.”

    Classes will take place each Thursday from 5.15pm to 6.15pm. There will be two groups one starting on Thursday May 8 and running each Thursday until May 29 and the other starting on Thursday June 26 and running each Thursday until July 17.  

    Participants must commit to a course of four sessions.

    The cost of each session is $5 per person payable on the day via cash or EFTPOS.

    Places are limited and bookings are essential. To book, visit:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Launches Health Care Advisory Board Amid Alarming Attacks on Health Care

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

    GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI03) announced the formation of her new Health Care Advisory Board, bringing together a group of health leaders from across West Michigan for a roundtable conversation focused on protecting access to care, advancing medical innovation, and confronting looming federal health care cuts to Medicaid, health care research, and more.

    “The Health Care Advisory Board is the next step in my ongoing partnership with health care providers throughout West Michigan—one that brings together some of the most innovative and compassionate health care minds in the country who serve right here in West Michigan,” said Rep. Scholten. “At a time when leaders in Washington are pushing dangerous cuts that would kneecap our ability to prevent illness, fight disease, make progress on cancer research and save lives, I am fighting back–with my vote in Washington, and my voice back home here in West Michigan. I will keep engaging to ensure our region remains a leader in health care innovation and access.”

    The roundtable today convened a broad coalition of regional medical leaders who represent institutions ranging from major medical centers to community clinics, federally qualified health centers, and individual family practices across urban and rural settings. The Advisory Board will serve as a long-term partner to Rep. Scholten, helping shape her health policy work in Washington and ensuring that the voices of health care professionals and patients across West Michigan are front and center in the fight for equitable, accessible care. 

    The launch comes at a critical moment. Proposed cuts to health care will slash nearly a third of the federal health budget, including a 40% cut to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as a 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reducing its 27 research centers to just eight. The Department of Health and Human Services also plans to cut 10,000 employees from the workforce. Additionally, an upcoming May 7 mark-up in the House will look to cut $880 billion from the Energy and Commerce budget, which covers Medicaid. 

    Rep. Scholten emphasized her interest in supporting safe and accessible innovation and reiterated her commitment to bringing local insights back to Congress.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces Over $3.2 Million for Repairs Following Hurricanes Laura, Ida

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $3,279,624.93 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in reimbursement for permanent repairs following Hurricanes Laura and Ida.
    “These grants help return communities and classrooms to wholeness,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It’s a step forward for South Louisiana families and their communities.”
    The City of Lake Charles will receive $1,681,034.13 in federal funding for permanent repairs to communication towers damaged during Hurricane Laura. The Jefferson Parish Public School System will receive $1,598,590.80 in federal funding for permanent repairs to Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, The Candy Kitchen

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Published: April 21, 2025

    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: The Candy Kitchen of Muscatine County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “For over 100 years, The Candy Kitchen has cured sweet tooths across Iowa, serving up everything from classic cherry sodas to candy and ice cream,” said Chair Ernst. “Founded by Gus Nopoulos, who came to Wilton knowing only two English words, The Candy Kitchen now speaks the universal language of dessert—delighting eight generations of Iowans and visitors alike.”
    In 1910, Gus Nopoulos launched The Candy Kitchen in downtown Wilton, Iowa and grew the business even through the Great Depression and World War II. In 1946, after returning from military service, Gus’ son, George, purchased the business along with his wife, Thelma. The couple ran the family establishment for over 66 years. In 2015, Lynn and Brenda Ochiltree assumed ownership and have continued to serve all things sweet in the original booths and the 1951 marble soda fountain. In June, The Candy Kitchen will celebrate its 115th anniversary.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 27 Members Or Associates Of Tren De Aragua Charged With Racketeering, Narcotics, Sex Trafficking, Robbery And Firearms Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Pamela Bondi, the Attorney General of the United States; Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”); Todd M. Lyons, the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today two Superseding Indictments charging 27 individuals currently or formerly associated with the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (“TdA”) with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses.  The first Superseding Indictment (the “TdA Indictment”) charges six alleged members of TdA.  The second Superseding Indictment (the “Anti-Tren Indictment”) charges 19 alleged members of “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction comprised of former TdA members, along with two additional associates of Anti-Tren.  Of the 27 defendants, 21 are in federal custody, including 16 who were already in federal criminal, immigration, or state custody and five who were arrested last night and today in operations in New York and other jurisdictions.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Today, we have filed charges against 27 alleged members, former members, and associates of Tren de Aragua, for committing murders and shootings, forcing young women trafficked from Venezuela into commercial sex work, robbing and extorting small businesses, and selling ‘tusi,’ a pink powdery drug that has become their calling card.  Today’s Indictments make clear that this Office will work tirelessly to keep the law-abiding residents of New York City safe, and hold accountable those who bring violence to our streets.”

    Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “As alleged, Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang – it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence, engaged in human trafficking, and spread deadly drugs through our communities.  Today’s indictments and arrests span three states and will devastate TdA’s infrastructure as we work to completely dismantle and purge this organization from our country.” 

    NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “Tren de Aragua is one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, and the NYPD has taken significant action to shut down their operations in New York City.  For the first time ever, TdA is being named and charged as the criminal enterprise that it is.  This isn’t just street crime—it’s organized racketeering, and this gang has shown zero regard for the safety of New Yorkers.  As alleged in the indictment, these defendants wreaked havoc in our communities, trafficking women for sexual exploitation, flooding our streets with drugs, and committing violent crimes with illegal guns.  Thanks to the dedicated members of the NYPD and the important work of our federal partners, their time is up.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictments:[1]

    The TdA Indictment

    TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere.  The purposes of TdA included:

    • Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
    • Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
      • The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Peru and the U.S.;
      • The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the U.S.;
      • The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine; and
      • Armed robberies.
    • Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
    • Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
    • Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
    • Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.

    Members and associates of TdA transported “multadas” from Venezuela into Peru and the U.S. in exchange for debts that the “multadas” would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work.  Members of TdA enforced compliance among “multadas” by, among other things:

    • Threatening to kill “multadas” and their families,
    • Assaulting “multadas,”
    • Shooting or killing “multadas,” and
    • Tracking down and kidnapping “multadas” who tried to flee.

    Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims.  TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.

    The TdA Indictment charges JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON, a/k/a “La Fama”; SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO, a/k/a “Klei,” a/k/a “Kley”; EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ, a/k/a “Jefferson,” a/k/a “Efe Trebol”; BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO; SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO; and ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Biblia” (the “TdA Defendants”) with conspiring to participate in the TdA racketeering enterprise.  Various of the TdA Defendants are also charged with participating in offenses relating to drug trafficking, carjacking, robbery, and extortion, as well as firearms offenses.  This case is assigned U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.

    The Anti-Tren Indictment

    Anti-Tren is a criminal organization almost exclusively comprised of former members and associates of TdA.  Anti-Tren operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, and in New Jersey, and elsewhere.  Like TdA, the purposes of Anti-Tren included:

    • Preserving and protecting the power and territory of Anti-Tren and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at members and associates of TdA.
    • Enriching the members and associates of Anti-Tren through, among other things:
      • The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including women and girls from Venezuela, into the U.S.;
      • The sex trafficking of “multadas” who had been unlawfully smuggled into the U.S.;
      • The trafficking of controlled substances, including “tusi”; and
      • Armed robberies.
    • Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of Anti-Tren and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
    • Promoting and enhancing Anti-Tren and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
    • Providing assistance to members and associates of Anti-Tren who committed crimes for and on behalf of Anti-Tren, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of Anti-Tren to flee prosecution, or bail money for members or associates of Anti-Tren who are detained.
    • Protecting Anti-Tren and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of Anti-Tren.

    Like TdA,  Anti-Tren engaged in human smuggling and sex trafficking of “multadas,” into the U.S. in exchange for debts that the “multadas” would pay back by engaging in commercial sex work. And like TdA, members of Anti-Tren enforced compliance among “multadas” by, among other things:

    • Threatening to kill “multadas” and their families,
    • Assaulting “multadas,”
    • Shooting or killing “multadas,” and
    • Tracking down and kidnapping “multadas” who tried to flee.

    Members of Anti-Tren also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and to expand Anti-Tren’s criminal operations, resolve disputes within Anti-Tren, to retaliate against rival organizations, including Tren de Aragua, and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims.  Anti-Tren members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.

    The Anti-Tren Indictment charges REINALDO RAFAEL GONZALES-VALDEZ, a/k/a “Mariguana,” a/k/a “Marijuana”; JOSE MANUEL GUERRERO-ZARATE, a/k/a “Mantequilla”; JOSE DAVID VALENCIA-DE LA ROSA; JOHAN CARLOS MUJICA-URPIN, a/k/a “Sobrino”; LUIS JOSE VELASQUEZ-HURTADO, a/k/a “Chito”; STEFANO SAID PACHON-ROMERO; GUILLERMO FREITES VELAZQUEZ; JESUS DAVID BARRIOS GARCIA, a/k/a “Morocho”; GIOVANNY VALENTIN BLANCO LUCIANO, a/k/a “Cachorrito”; ANDERSON JESUS DURAN BERROTERAN, a/k/a “Cachorro”; ROIMAN NOE BELLO FERRER; LUIS MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ-TAPIA; MARIO ANDRES PEREDA, a/k/a “Cara de Hombre”; ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO; YEFERSON ALEJANDRO PRIETO GALVIZ, a/k/a “Flaco T,” a/k/a “Flacote”; JHONKENNEDY BRAVO-CASTRO, a/k/a “Negrito”; YENDER MAYKIER MATA; KELLEN ALEJANDRO JASPE BUSTAMANTE; and LUIS ANDRES BELLO-CHACON, a/k/a “Care de Peo” (the “Anti-Tren Defendants”) with conspiring to participate in an Anti-Tren racketeering enterprise.  Various of the Anti-Tren Defendants, along with co-defendants WILFREDO JOSE AVENDAÑO CARRIZALEZ and CARLOS GABRIEL SANTOS MOGOLLON, are also charged with participating in offenses relating to sex trafficking, conspiracy to import and harbor aliens, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and firearms offenses.  This case is assigned U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.

    *                *                *

    A chart containing the names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.

    The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) and NYPD.  He also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office in Colorado; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”); the Homeland Security Investigations National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); and the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

    This case received significant support from Joint Task Force Vulcan (“JTFV”), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division.  Additionally, the FBI; DEA; HSI; ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department 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). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, and Timothy Ly are in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The Tren de Aragua Indictment

    COUNT

    CHARGE

    DEFENDANTS

    MAX. PENALTIES

    1

    Racketeering

    conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,” 29;

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” 28;

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” 20;

    BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, 28;

    SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO, 25; and

    ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,

               a/k/a “Biblia,” 30

    		 Life in prison

    2

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    21 U.S.C. §  846

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO,

    SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO, and

    ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,

               a/k/a “Biblia”

    		 20 years in prison

    3

    Carjacking conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. § 371

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” and

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol”

    		 5 years in prison

    4

    Carjacking

    18 U.S.C. § 2119

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” and

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol”

    		 15 years in prison

    5

    Hobbs Act robbery

    18 U.S.C. §§  1951 and 2

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” and

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol”

    		 20 years in prison

    6

    Firearm use, carrying, and possession

    18 U.S.C. §§  924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), and 2

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” and

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol”

    Life in prison

    Mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison

    7

    Attempted Hobbs Act extortion

    18 U.S.C. §§  1951 and 2

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” and

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol”

    		 20 years in prison

    8

    Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. §  924(o)

    JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,

         a/k/a “La Fama,”

    SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Klei,” 

         a/k/a “Kley,” and

    EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,

         a/k/a “Jefferson,” 

         a/k/a “Efe Trebol”

    		 20 years in prison

    9

    Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. §  924(o)

    BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, and

    SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO

    		 20 years in prison

    10

    Firearm use, carrying, and possession

    18 U.S.C. §  924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2

    BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, and

    SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO

    		 20 years in prison

    11

    Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien

    18 U.S.C. §§  922(g)(5) and 2

    		 BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO 15 years in prison

    12

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien

    18 U.S.C. §§  922(g)(5) and 2

    		 SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO 15 years in prison

    13

    Firearm use, carrying, and possession

    18 U.S.C. §§  924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2

    ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,

               a/k/a “Biblia,”

    Life in prison

    Mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison

    14

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien

    18 U.S.C. §§  922(g)(5) and 2

    ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,

               a/k/a “Biblia,”

    		 15 years in prison

    The Anti-Tren Indictment

    COUNT

    CHARGE

    DEFENDANTS

    MAX. PENALTIES

    1

    Racketeering

    conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)

    REINALDO RAFAEL GONZALES-VALDEZ, 

         a/k/a “Mariguana,” 

         a/k/a “Marijuana,” 41;

    JOSE MANUEL GUERRERO-ZARATE,

         a/k/a “Mantequilla,” 29;

    JOSE DAVID VALENCIA-DE LA ROSA, 27;

    JOHAN CARLOS MUJICA-URPIN,

          a/k/a “Sobrino,” 27;

    LUIS JOSE VELASQUEZ-HURTADO,

         a/k/a “Chito,” 30;

    STEFANO SAID PACHON-ROMERO, 21;

    GUILLERMO ENRIQUE FREITES-VELAZQUEZ, 26;

    JESUS DAVID BARRIOS GARCIA,

         a/k/a “Morocho,” 27;

    GIOVANNY VALENTIN BLANCO LUCIANO,

         a/k/a “Cachorrito,” 20;

    ANDERSON JESUS DURAN BERROTERAN,

         a/k/a “Cachorro,” 22;

    ROIMAN NOE BELLO FERRER, 37;

    LUIS MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ-TAPIA, 25;

    MARIO ANDRES PEREDA,

         a/k/a “Cara de Hombre,” 44;

    ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO, 26;

    YEFERSON ALEJANDRO PRIETO GALVIZ,

         a/k/a “Flaco T,” 

         a/k/a “Flacote,” 24;

    JHONKENNEDY BRAVO-CASTRO,

         a/k/a “Negrito,” 27;

    YENDER MAYKIER MATA, 36;

    KELLEN ALEJANDRO JASPE BUSTAMANTE, 20; and

    LUIS ANDRES BELLO-CHACON,

        a/k/a “Care de Peo,” 31

    		 Life in prison

    2

    Sex trafficking conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. § 1594(c)

    REINALDO RAFAEL GONZALES-VALDEZ, 

          a/k/a “Mariguana,” a/k/a “Marijuana,”

    JOSE MANUEL GUERRERO-ZARATE, 

          a/k/a “Mantequilla,”  

    JOSE DAVID VALENCIA-DE LA ROSA,

    JOHAN CARLOS MUJICA-URPIN, 

          a/k/a “Sobrino,”

    LUIS JOSE VELASQUEZ-HURTADO,

          a/k/a “Chito,”

    STEFANO SAID PACHON-ROMERO, GUILLERMO FREITES VELAZQUEZ,

    JESUS DAVID BARRIOS GARCIA, 

          a/k/a “Morocho,”

    ANDERSON JESUS DURAN BERROTERAN,        a/k/a “Cachorro,”

    LUIS MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ-TAPIA,

    MARIO ANDRES PEREDA, 

          a/k/a “Cara de Hombre,”

    ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO, and

    JHONKENNEDY BRAVO-CASTRO,

          a/k/a “Negrito”

    		 Life in prison

    3

    Alien importation and harboring for immoral purpose – conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. § 371

    REINALDO RAFAEL GONZALES-VALDEZ, 

          a/k/a “Mariguana,” a/k/a “Marijuana,”

    JOSE MANUEL GUERRERO-ZARATE, 

          a/k/a “Mantequilla,” JOSE DAVID VALENCIA-DE LA ROSA,

    JOHAN CARLOS MUJICA-URPIN, 

          a/k/a “Sobrino,”

    LUIS JOSE VELASQUEZ-HURTADO,

          a/k/a “Chito,”

    STEFANO SAID PACHON-ROMERO, GUILLERMO FREITES VELAZQUEZ,

    JESUS DAVID BARRIOS GARCIA, 

          a/k/a “Morocho,”

    ANDERSON JESUS DURAN BERROTERAN,        a/k/a “Cachorro,”

    LUIS MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ-TAPIA,

    MARIO ANDRES PEREDA, 

          a/k/a “Cara de Hombre,”

    ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO, and

    JHONKENNEDY BRAVO-CASTRO,

          a/k/a “Negrito”

    		 5 years in prison

    4

    Drug trafficking conspiracy

    21 U.S.C. §  846

    REINALDO RAFAEL GONZALES-VALDEZ,

          a/k/a “Mariguana,” a/k/a “Marijuana,”

    JOSE MANUEL GUERRERO-ZARATE, 

          a/k/a “Mantequilla,”  

    JOHAN CARLOS MUJICA-URPIN, 

          a/k/a “Sobrino,”

    GUILLERMO FREITES VELAZQUEZ,

    JESUS DAVID BARRIOS GARCIA, 

          a/k/a “Morocho,”

    GIOVANNY VALENTIN BLANCO LUCIANO, 

          a/k/a “Cachorrito,”  

    ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO,

    YEFERSON ALEJANDRO PRIETO GALVIZ,        a/k/a “Flaco T,” a/k/a “Flacote,”

    YENDER MAYKIER MATA,

    KELLEN ALEJANDRO JASPE BUSTAMANTE, and

    LUIS ANDRES BELLO-CHACON, 

          a/k/a “Care de Peo”

    		 20 years in prison

    5

    Firearm use, carrying, and possession

    18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2

    REINALDO RAFAEL GONZALES-VALDEZ,

          a/k/a “Mariguana,” a/k/a “Marijuana,”

    JOSE MANUEL GUERRERO-ZARATE, 

          a/k/a “Mantequilla,”  

    JOHAN CARLOS MUJICA-URPIN, 

          a/k/a “Sobrino,”

    GUILLERMO FREITES VELAZQUEZ,

    JESUS DAVID BARRIOS GARCIA, 

          a/k/a “Morocho,”

    GIOVANNY VALENTIN BLANCO LUCIANO, 

          a/k/a “Cachorrito,”  

    ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO,

    YEFERSON ALEJANDRO PRIETO GALVIZ,        a/k/a “Flaco T,” a/k/a “Flacote,”

    YENDER MAYKIER MATA,

    KELLEN ALEJANDRO JASPE BUSTAMANTE, and

    LUIS ANDRES BELLO-CHACON, 

               a/k/a “Care de Peo”

    Life in prison

    Mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison

    6

    Obstruction of justice

    18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(c) and 2

    LUIS JOSE VELASQUEZ-HURTADO,

          a/k/a “Chito,”

    		 20 years in prison

    7

    Unlicensed dealing of firearms

    18 U.S.C. §§   922(a)(1)(A) and 2

    		 STEFANO PACHON-ROMERO 5 years in prison

    8

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a fugitive from justice and illegal alien

    18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(2) and (5), and 2

    		 ANDERSON SMITH ZAMBRANO-PACHECO 15 years in prison

    9

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien

    18 U.S.C. §§  922(g)(5) and 2

    JHONKENNEDY BRAVO-CASTRO,

               a/k/a “Negrito,”

    		 15 years in prison

    10

    Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien

    18 U.S.C. §§  922(g)(5) and 2

    WILFREDO JOSE AVENDAÑO CARRIZALEZ, 26; and

    CARLOS GABRIEL SANTOS MOGOLLON, 31

    		 15 years in prison

    [1] The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Purpose Investments Announces Risk Rating Change for Purpose Global Innovators Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose” or “Purpose Investments”) announced today that it has changed the risk rating for Purpose Global Innovators Fund (TSX: PINV, the “Fund”) from “medium” to “medium-to-high.” This change is a result of the risk rating methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators and the periodic review by Purpose to determine the risk level of its publicly offered mutual funds.

    No material changes have been made to the investment objective, strategies, or management of the Fund as a result. The change in the risk rating will be reflected in the Fund’s offering documents, which will be completed in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    About Purpose Investments

    Purpose Investments Inc. is an asset management company with over $22 billion in assets under management, focused on client-centric innovation across ETFs and investment funds. Purpose is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent financial technology company led by entrepreneur Som Seif.

    For further information, please email us at: info@purposeinvest.com

    Media inquiries:
    Keera Hart
    Keera.Hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Investment funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed; their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Suspected Murderer Wanted in Mexico Arrested in Spokane

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Spokane, WA – On April 18, 2025, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Jesus Salas-Rubio was arrested near the 1000 block of E Mission Ave in Spokane, Washington. Salas-Rubio was wanted on an outstanding federal arrest warrant in connection to a homicide in Mexico.

    The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) made the arrest without incident in coordination with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Spokane Police Department, and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with the Eastern District of Washington United States Attorney’s Office to issue a warrant and for the U.S. Marshals to execute an arrest warrant on April 16, 2025.

    Salas-Rubio was booked into the Spokane County Jail for his federal warrant. Mexican authorities have been notified that he is currently in custody.

    Salas-Rubio has a documented history of violence, including prior offenses involving shootings, assaults, and being a felon in possession of firearms.

    “The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force prioritizes working with the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and our global law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims, no matter where the crime occurred. This arrest also reflects the continued collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies in identifying, locating, and apprehending the most dangerous fugitives,” said U.S. Marshal Craig Thayer.

    The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.

    Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wicker, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Physician Shortage in Rural Areas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jackie Rosen, D-N.V., introduced a bill to help increase the number of specialist doctors and other medical specialists in rural communities. The bipartisan Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act would tackle the shortage of physicians in rural communities by creating a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians and other specialist medical professionals practicing in rural areas. Mississippi, especially rural areas, face severe physician shortages and is among the most medically underserved states within the United States.
    Click here for bill text.  
    “The entire nation is dealing with a physician shortage, and rural communities in Mississippi have been particularly affected. Congress can help provide a solution,” said Senator Wicker. “The SPARC Act would offer targeted incentives to medical professionals who choose to work in underserved towns and cities. I believe this bill will encourage providers to bring their services to areas that need them most.”
    “Nevada’s shortage of medical professionals is jeopardizing the ability of families to get the care they need — especially in our rural communities,” said Senator Rosen. “We need new solutions to bring more physicians to all parts of our state, which is why I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians practicing in rural areas. I’ll keep working to address the medical provider shortage crisis Nevada is facing.” 
    “As the only academic medical center and the largest health system in a rural state, the University of Mississippi Medical Center supports measures that increase access to health care for all Mississippians. The SPARC Act would be an effective tool to encourage more skilled physicians to establish specialty-medicine practices in rural Mississippi communities. UMMC’s overall mission is to foster a healthier Mississippi, and should this bill pass and be enacted, it will help us move closer to that goal,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of UMMC.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Padilla Outlines Bipartisan Approach to Mitigating Wildfire Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Padilla Outlines Bipartisan Approach to Mitigating Wildfire Risk

    LA Daily News Op-Ed
    LOS ANGELES — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Daily News highlighting his bipartisan push to address wildfires in the aftermath of the devastating Southern California fires.
    In the piece, Padilla discusses the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, which he recently introduced alongside Senators John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.). The Senate version of the legislation would help combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive.
    A list of Senate Fix Our Forests Act provisions particularly impactful for California is available here.
    Full text of the op-ed is available here and below.
    “California can’t wait for the political winds to shift. My bipartisan wildfire bill would save lives.”
    By Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    No matter how many times you’ve seen it, nothing can prepare you for the devastation you find in the aftermath of a wildfire.
    Nothing.
    I’ve visited the Forest Service’s Incident Post in Quincy as fire crews battled the raging Dixie Fire in 2021.
    And I toured what’s left of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods that were hit worst by this winter’s fires. What I’ve seen is heart wrenching.
    Car wheels melted into the sidewalk.
    A sea of embers and ashes, interrupted only by chimneys and fireplace mantels where family photos once rested.
    In some cases, brick sidewalks and doorways that once led to baby cribs and kitchen tables, that now lead to nowhere.
    No one could walk away after seeing what I’ve seen, year after year in California, and still deny the threat of climate change.
    We have to do more.
    That begins with listening to our climate scientists and working to reduce emissions to protect our planet in the long term.
    But reducing emissions alone won’t save your house or keep your neighborhood from burning down.
    As long as massive wildfires continue to burn, we’ll see those same greenhouse gases pouring out into the atmosphere — just as we did in 2020, when wildfires alone emitted enough to wipe out nearly 20 years of California’s emissions reduction progress.
    This isn’t a choice between addressing short-term wildfire risk and combatting climate change. We must do both.
    It may seem like an impossible task in our current political environment — Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. That means we face an uphill battle to passing any law that address the impacts of climate change.
    But whether it’s political division in Washington, or wildfires raging in Los Angeles — Californians can’t afford to wait.
    Since January, I’ve convened a bipartisan group of senators from Western states willing to work towards a comprehensive wildfire bill that could pass both chambers of Congress.
    It’s been hard, but I’ve been driven by that image I have of the Californians who would do anything they could to save their homes, their property, and their families.
    That’s why, I was proud to announce our Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act.
    It starts with a basic premise: The status quo isn’t working. Wildfires are getting worse. To protect our communities, we have to reassess how we prevent and mitigate wildfires.
    That means increasing the speed and scale of our prevention and mitigation efforts, while making sure no one exploits this crisis to compromise our natural resources.
    We’ve worked to make sure our Senate bill will protect both communities close to forests AND those in non-forested, urban areas like Los Angeles and Santa Rosa.
    Here’s how:
    Our bill would allow us to responsibly speed up the removal of hazardous fuels from our forests that serve as kindling for mega wildfires. Think dry branches, leaves, and dead and diseased trees that can pile up and spread fires very easily.
    It would make it easier for land managers and utilities to build “fuel breaks.” These strips of thinned out trees can serve like a gap in a long line of falling dominos which can allow firefighters to gain a foothold or even stop a growing wildfire in its tracks.
    It would help neighborhoods become more resilient to wildfires, with guidance to help Americans build or retrofit their homes with more fire-resistant materials and landscaping plans. And it would allow for prescribed burns to proactively clear hazardous fuel — just as Native American tribes have done for countless generations.
    Finally, it would create the first-ever Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline our wildfire preparedness and response — similar to what the National Weather Service does for storms.
    These are exactly the types of tools firefighters and state, tribal, and local agencies have been asking for.
    That’s why our bill is already supported by Governor Gavin Newsom, CAL FIRE Chief Joe Tyler, California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, along with environmental groups like The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the National Wildlife Federation.
    Of course, the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act may not stop every wildfire. Nothing could.
    But if these measures can prevent just one more community from having to experience the same heartbreak felt by families in Santa Rosa, in Paradise, and now in the Palisades and Altadena, then our efforts will have been worth it.Alex Padilla represents California in the United States Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Luján Lead Colleagues Warning Against Trump’s Plan to Privatize Postal Service That Would Undermine Vote by Mail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Luján Lead Colleagues Warning Against Trump’s Plan to Privatize Postal Service That Would Undermine Vote by Mail

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, led six Senators in expressing serious concerns about the harmful impacts to American voters of the Trump Administration’s plans to privatize the United States Postal Service (USPS) and move it under the control of the Department of Commerce. In their letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, the Senators emphasized that the move risks politicizing and imperiling vote by mail efforts across the nation, while violating the Postal Reauthorization Act.
    “We write to express our grave concern over your statements and ongoing reports that the Trump Administration may soon attempt to bring the United States Postal Service (USPS) under the control of the Department of Commerce and potentially privatize services that are relied upon by millions of Americans,” wrote the Senators. “Not only would such a move violate the Postal Reauthorization Act and harm Americans in many ways, but it would also have a very negative impact on our democracy by disrupting and undermining public confidence in the handling of election mail. We strongly urge you to stop your deeply misguided pursuit of this effort immediately.”
    Millions of Americans rely on vote by mail as a safe and trustworthy method to vote in federal and state elections, the Senators noted. In the 2024 general election cycle, USPS securely and efficiently delivered more than 99 million ballots to and from voters, including free mail delivery to rural and remote communities. President Trump’s own U.S. postal system task force found that a “comprehensive delivery network that covers every address in the country is a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure that cannot be replicated by private actors[.]”
    “Privatizing the Postal Service would put our democracy in the hands of corporations that are more focused on efficiency and profit than the public good,” continued the Senators. “Bringing the Postal Service under the control of political appointees at the Department of Commerce and potentially private companies raises serious concerns that partisan and private actors would deprive eligible voters of the confidence that USPS will properly handle their ballot by disrupting the robust delivery routes that connect our country or by imposing a cost on ballot returns.”
    In addition to Senators Padilla and Luján, the letter was also signed by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).
    Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump and Republicans’ reckless attempts to restrict the right to vote. Earlier this month, Padilla issued a statement condemning the House passage of Republicans’ Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible American citizens. Padilla also warned Secretaries of State, Lieutenant Governors, and Chief Election Officials across the country of the devastating potential impacts of Republicans’ SAVE Act, concerns that have been echoed by top election officials across the country. Padilla also led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records. Additionally, Padilla led 14 Democratic Senators in calling on Trump to revoke his illegal anti-voter executive order and issued a statement slamming the order when it was announced.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Lutnick:
    We write to express our grave concern over your statements and ongoing reports that the Trump Administration may soon attempt to bring the United States Postal Service (USPS) under the control of the Department of Commerce and potentially privatize services that are relied upon by millions of Americans. Not only would such a move violate the Postal Reauthorization Act and harm Americans in many ways, but it would also have a very negative impact on our democracy by disrupting and undermining public confidence in the handling of election mail. We strongly urge you to stop your deeply misguided pursuit of this effort immediately.
    Vote by mail is a safe and trustworthy method that millions of Americans use to cast their ballots in federal and state elections. During the 2024 general election cycle alone, the Postal Service delivered over 99 million ballots to and from voters, according to the USPS’s December 2024 post-election report. Data from the most recent 2024 general election cycle makes clear that the Postal Service provides reliable mail delivery without any partisan influence, as Democrats, Republicans and Independents all continued to embrace vote by mail as a secure and convenient way to participate in our elections.
    Privatizing the Postal Service would put our democracy in the hands of corporations that are more focused on efficiency and profit than the public good. The Postal Service provides free mail delivery to every address in the country, including rural and small communities that are hard to reach. President Trump’s Task Force on the United States Postal System concluded in its December 2018 report that the Postal Service’s “comprehensive delivery network that covers every address in the country is a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure that cannot be replicated by private actors[.]” Bringing the Postal Service under the control of political appointees at the Department of Commerce and potentially private companies raises serious concerns that partisan and private actors would deprive eligible voters of the confidence that USPS will properly handle their ballot by disrupting the robust delivery routes that connect our country or by imposing a cost on ballot returns.
    Generations of Americans have grown up trusting and relying upon the Postal Service, which for decades has operated as an independent agency.
    In addition to the myriad other harmful aspects of moving the USPS under the Department of Commerce and potentially privatizing it, we urge you to be especially mindful of this proposal’s effect on our democracy and cease all efforts to take political control over the Postal Service and the handling of Americans’ mail-in ballots.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Statement on 30th Anniversary of Oklahoma City Bombing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – On the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement:

    “On April 19, 1995, an awful act of domestic terrorism occurred at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Today, thirty years later, we remember the 168 precious lives that were brutally taken from us that day and pray for those who still mourn a loved one whose days were cut short,” said Congressman Cole.

    “As I reflect on this tragic day, I will also never forget the way our state responded to this horrific event. Oklahoma was launched onto the worldwide stage without any warning. Yet, we responded so strongly, swiftly, and compassionately – one of the many reasons I am proud to be an Oklahoman,” said Congressman Cole.

    “In conclusion, today, on the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, we mourn the innocent lives that were prematurely taken from us, grieve with those who lost a loved one on that heartbreaking day, thank our first responders and governing officials who responded so honorably, and stand strong with our fellow Oklahomans. They will not be forgotten,” said Congressman Cole.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Statement on Passing of Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Boston (April 21, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, on Easter Monday. In May 2014, Senator Markey traveled to the Vatican and met with Pope Francis and high-level Vatican leaders and Cardinals to discuss the importance to act on climate change and to encourage the Catholic Church to continue to use their moral authority to elevate the issue. Senator Markey lauded Pope Francis’s 2015 Joint Meeting of Congress Address as a “Sermon on the Hill.” 

    “I join the world in mourning the loss of the People’s Pope, His Holiness Pope Francis, who reminded us that no matter our faith, we are all caretakers of creation,” said Senator Markey. “It should be no surprise that a Jesuit trained in chemistry who was devoted to the poor and ensuring a just and better future for all mankind was the only pope to devote an entire encyclical to humanity’s relationship with the environment. Pope Francis delivered a powerful message in his encyclical Laudato Si’, or ‘Praise Be’: Mankind created this problem of climate change, and now mankind must fix it. With the world’s poorest and most vulnerable suffering the worst consequences of climate change – extreme poverty, famine, disease, displacement – Pope Francis challenged us in our actions to embody the moral obligation to act. 

    “He led with a vision of inclusion, compassion, and humility, calling on us to act boldly on the world’s most pressing issues and take up a mission centered around justice for the most vulnerable. He embraced the world’s sick, poor, and hungry with open arms. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis wrote: ‘Today, in the view of the common good, there is an urgent need for politics and economics to enter into a frank dialogue in the service of life, especially human life.’ In his passing and every day forward, Pope Francis would want us to be in service of life and to embrace the moments and opportunities to be part of a global movement that protects our people and our planet.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Paul S. Atkins Sworn In as SEC Chairman

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Paul S. Atkins was sworn into office today as the 34th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Chairman Atkins was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 9, 2025.

    “I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC,” said Chairman Atkins. “As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors. Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business.” 

    Prior to returning to the SEC, Chairman Atkins was most recently chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009. Chairman Atkins helped lead efforts to develop best practices for the digital asset sector. He served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015. 

    Chairman Atkins was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a Commissioner of the SEC from 2002 to 2008. During his tenure, he advocated for transparency, consistency, and the use of cost-benefit analysis at the agency. Chairman Atkins also represented the SEC at meetings of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council. From 2009 to 2010, he was appointed a member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. 

    Before serving as an SEC Commissioner, Chairman Atkins was as a consultant on securities and investment management industry matters, especially regarding issues of strategy, regulatory compliance, risk management, new product development, and organizational control. 

    From 1990 to 1994, Chairman Atkins served on the staff of two chairmen of the SEC, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt, ultimately as chief of staff and counselor, respectively.

    Chairman Atkins began his career as a lawyer in New York, focusing on a wide range of corporate transactions for U.S. and foreign clients, including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He was resident for 2½ years in his firm’s Paris office and admitted as conseil juridique in France.

    A member of the New York and Florida bars, Chairman Atkins received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983 and his A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College in 1980.

    Originally from Lillington, North Carolina, Chairman Atkins grew up in Tampa, Florida. He and his wife Sarah have three sons.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Wisconsin Couple for Forced Labor

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    An indictment was unsealed today in Madison, Wisconsin charging a Wisconsin man with seven counts of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and seven counts of alien harboring for private financial gain; the indictment further charged the man’s wife with seven counts of forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor.

    According to the indictment, between September 2015 and March 2018, Luis Abreu, 50, and his wife, Cybell Abreu, 50, used threats of serious harm and abuse of the law and legal process to coerce seven minor males and young men to perform labor and services. The indictment further alleges that Luis Abreu harbored the seven boys and young men, who he knew or recklessly disregarded to be unlawfully present in the United States.

    The defendants made their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Wisconsin on April 21. The charge of forced labor carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of alien harboring carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Homeland Security Investigations Resident Agent in Charge Eric Rice of the HSI Milwaukee Office made the announcement.

    The HSI Milwaukee Office of the Resident Agent in Charge conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.

    If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Kicks Off Weeklong “Medicaid Impact Tour” With Rural Health Roundtable at Northern Human Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Berlin, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) hosted a roundtable discussion on rural health care and the importance of Medicaid at Northern Human Services in Berlin. Shaheen was joined by health care providers and Medicaid recipients for the discussion. The event marked the first in a series of discussions Shaheen is hosting across the Granite State to highlight the disastrous impact that Republican-led cuts to Medicaid would have on New Hampshire’s health care system and working families. Photos from today’s event can be found here.

    “Despite what promises we may hear from President Trump, the unfortunate reality is that Congressional Republicans want to cut Medicaid to pay for a tax package that only benefits the wealthiest Americans,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was very appreciative of the chance to speak with Granite Staters in the North Country about their experiences and what the impact would be on our state’s most rural communities if Republicans slash Medicaid.”

    Shaheen’s “Medicaid Impact Tour” comes as Congressional Republicans, led by President Trump and Elon Musk, work to advance legislation that will pave the way for steep cuts to Medicaid funding and would impact millions of people across the country. Under the Republican proposal, more than 59,000 Granite Starters will be at risk of losing coverage including 7,600 patients that are currently receiving treatment for substance use disorders. 

    Earlier this month, Shaheen and Democrats held the floor and offered dozens of amendments to push back against the Republican-led budget resolution that paves the way for tax breaks for the wealthiest while slashing programs like Medicaid to pay for it. The majority of Senate Republicans worked to block several amendments Shaheen offered that would have helped make health care more affordable and accessible.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan, Lankford Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Disrupt Cartel Operations by Increasing Southbound Border Inspections

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK), both members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reintroduced bipartisan legislation to increase inspections of traffic going from the U.S. to Mexico, which would help combat the flow of illicit firearms and money that fuel drug cartels. 

    “Dismantling drug cartels requires cutting off the flow of illegal firearms and cartel money moving from the U.S. into Mexico, which help give cartels the resources to continue to operate and flood our communities with deadly drugs,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation significantly enhances our southbound inspection capabilities, which will help disrupt cartel operations and reduce the trafficking of fentanyl, which has devastated communities across New Hampshire and nationwide.” 

    “With border crossings at a record low, the results speak for themselves. President Trump’s leadership is making America safer; the southern border is much more secure than it was a year ago,” Lankford said. “But US Customs and Border Protection still doesn’t have the resources they need to stop gun smuggling to the criminal cartels in Mexico. We need to ensure border law enforcement has the personnel and technology to crack down on criminal activity that puts Americans at risk.”

    Specifically, the bipartisan Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would: 

    • Require that at least 10 percent of southbound vehicles are inspected, to the extent practicable 
    • Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate the smuggling of guns and money from the U.S. into Mexico
    • Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate drug smuggling, human trafficking, child trafficking, and unauthorized entries from Mexico into the U.S.
    • Authorize 50 additional x-ray inspection systems for southbound inspections 

    This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to support border security. Last year, the Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to allow U.S. and Canadian personnel to jointly patrol both sides of the Northern border on aircraft, helping better combat drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. In March, Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, passed the Senate. Additionally, in December, Senator Hassan worked with her colleagues to pass into law her bipartisan legislation to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and its contractors are operating as effectively as possible at the Southern border.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Thank you forever, Pope Francis

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    VaticanMedia

    by Gianni ValenteRome ( Fides Agency) – “Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.”This passage from the Letter to the Hebrews was very dear to Father Bergoglio. He often quoted it when he wanted to show how beautiful and important it is to remember the people and friends who brought us Christ’s liberation and who have already left this world. Those men and women who “brought us closer to sources of life and hope from which those who follow us will also be able to drink.”Pope Francis also left this world today, April 21, Easter Monday, due to complications from a seasonal illness. As is the case with many elderly people in the Villas Miseria of Buenos Aires, who in the heart of the Argentine winter ask San Pantaleo, doctor and martyr, for protection from atching the “flu” and falling ill with pneumonia. Thus, the offering of his mortal body, of his never-spared physicality, of the increasingly fragile reality of his human condition, that he never shied away from until the last of the days of work, hardships, inclement weather, and contagious diseases to which his vocation and ministry exposed him, was fulfilled to the very end. Even his death, which coincided with Holy Week, when the Church celebrates the mysteries of salvation brought to fulfillment by Christ, is also part of the mystery of offering and self-giving that marked his life.Now, for his children and for all those who loved him from near and far, the time has come to remember him. To give thanks with hearts filled with peace and gratitude for the things that he remembered, repeated, and showed to the Church and to the world during his mortal life. Small things and great things. Old things and new ones.Even during his years as Pope, Bergoglio repeatedly told us that faith does not come from man. Faith is a gift from Jesus. And no one can go to Jesus unless Jesus himself draws them to himself, unless he wins and captivates hearts “by attraction,” as he always said, quoting Pope Ratzinger, by “delectatio,” as St. Augustine said.That is why he said that “Each of us is chosen, no one chooses to be Christian among all the possibilities offered by the religious ‘marketplace’, we are chosen. We are Christians because we have been chosen” (Homily of April 2, 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic). He also said that faith is not “a spiritual path to perfection,” but “a gift of the Holy Spirit, a gift that goes beyond all preparation.” And when it weakens, it can become “only a culture or a gnosis, a knowledge” (homily, January 26, 2015).This is why he said that “It is not enough for us to know that God exists: a risen but distant God does not fill our lives; a distant God, however just and holy, does not attract us. We too need to ‘see God,’ to touch with our hands that he is risen, and risen for us, like the disciples: through his wounds.”Pope Francis repeated that the Church is the work of Christ and His Spirit. That the Church is His, that it is not “built” by itself, it is not self-sufficient.He repeated that only Christ, by forgiving it, can free/bring the Church itself from its inertial self-referentiality, from its withdrawal into itself.Pope Francis continued to repeat tirelessly that the “protagonist of the Church” is the Holy Spirit, the One who “from the very beginning gave the Apostles the strength to proclaim the Gospel,” and even now “does everything,” “carries the Church forward,” and even “when persecution breaks out,” it is He “who gives believers the strength to remain in the faith.”Pope Francis repeated that “it is not we, the popes, bishops, priests, or nuns who carry the Church forward,” but “it is the saints” (homily at Santa Marta, January 12, 2016).As Pope, he said that changes and possible reforms in the Church are fruitful if they have as their ultimate criterion the good and salvation of souls and serve to remove burdens and veils from the work of grace, to make it easier for souls to encounter Christ. Even with contradictions and things that went wrong, even with his human errors and his fragility as a “sinner whom Christ looked upon,” he has given witness that the miracles that save the Church cannot be performed by a poor man. He experienced in the flesh of his limitations and his earthly days, even as the Successor of Peter, the “Mysterium Lunae,” the formula – so dear to him – with which the Greek and Latin Fathers of the early Christian centuries suggested the most intimate nature and mystery of the Church, which can remain an opaque and dark body, with all its apparatus, its performances, its glorious antiquities, and its shrewd modernity, if Christ does not illuminate it with His light, as the sun does with the moon.Pope Francis has repeated and demonstrated with insistence devoid of human respect that in the mystery of salvation wrought by Christ and his Spirit, it is the poor of all poverty who are loved. The little ones, because of their smallness, enter more easily through the narrow gate that leads to the banquet of the Kingdom of Heaven.Pope Francis has repeated that the salvation promised by Jesus is for everyone, that its horizon is the world. And he freely inspires in his followers a closeness of mercy and charity toward all the expectations, sorrows, despair, sins, and miseries of the world. Towards all members of the human family, beginning with the derailed lives of the most wounded, the fallen and shipwrecked, those who suffer most and are most in need.The “pastoral conversion” he suggested to the whole Church was not and is not a retreat into a parallel world, separate from the world of men. It is precisely an “imperfect” and “battered” Church, a “Church with wounds,” he said, “that is capable of understanding the wounds of today’s world and making them its own, suffering them, accompanying them, and seeking to heal them.” Because “a Church with wounds does not place itself at the center, does not believe itself to be perfect, but places at the center the only one who can heal wounds, and that is Jesus Christ.” (Address during the trip to Chile, January 16, 2018).Much has already been written about this, and much more will be written. But for more than twelve years, the words and gestures of the Bishop of Rome who arrived from Buenos Aires have also and above all become almost daily companionship and comfort for multitudes of souls scattered throughout the world, of every language, culture, and nation, through the ordinary magisterium of the homilies at Santa Marta, the reflections accompanying the Angelus prayer, and the catechesis in St. Peter’s Square and in the Paul VI Hall.This unmediated closeness to the multitude was perhaps the most intimate treasure of the twelve years of his pontificate. An incomparable treasure, a flow of healed life, which he presented in simple and repeated terms, the words and gestures most proper and intimate to the dynamism of Christian faith and experience, reduced to their minimal traits: grace, mercy, sin, forgiveness, charity, salvation, predilection for the poor.Perhaps above all for this reason, the people of God have continued to bless Bishop Francis of Rome and to pray for him, as they did at his request on the first evening of his pontificate, when Pope Francis invoked the prayer of the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square (“I would like to give you the blessing, but first I ask you for a favor, I ask you to pray to the Lord: the prayer of the people who ask for the blessing of their bishop”).In the weave of those prayers, the People of God, with their sensus fidei, have always recognized and continue to recognize that the election of Pope Francis was a gift, a sign that the Lord still loves his Church. And only this enduring love of their Lord, a love without repentance, can make the Church—and also the Papacy—interesting to the world, interesting to everyone.With the same serene confidence, the People of God began months ago to accompany the Successor of Peter, chosen from “almost the end of the world,” in his last days. There was no sense of doom or abstract anguish over “unfinished projects” or “plans gone awry” in the hearts and eyes of those who accompanied him with their prayers during these last months of illness. There was only peace and moving gratitude in the prayers that rose to heaven for Pope Bergoglio from St. Peter’s Square and from homes, churches, and squares around the world. This was in complete harmony with the words with which the Pope himself had imagined his end. “The Lord, with his goodness,” Pope Bergoglio had pointed out in one of his homilies at Santa Marta, “says to each of us: ‘Stop, stop, not all days will be like this. Don’t get used to this as if it were eternity. There will be a day when you will be taken away, the other will remain, you will be taken away, you will be taken away.’ It is going with the Lord, thinking that our life will end. And this is good.”Thinking about death, he added, “is not a bad fantasy, it is a reality. Whether it is ugly or not, depends on me, on how I think about it, but it will be there. And there will be the encounter with the Lord. This will be the beauty of death. It will be the encounter with the Lord. He will come to meet us. He will say, ‘Come, come, blessed by my Father, come with me.’”Those who perceived him as a comforting companion on their journey prayed for him with peace in their hearts. This was something he himself often testified to, incredibly, in the midst of storms.Now, the same multitudes pray for him to Mary, Our Lady of Lujan. Mary, Salus Populi Romani. May she come and take him in her arms, like a child, on his final journey.On January 28, 2018, when he celebrated Mass on the feast of the transfer of the restored icon of Salus Populi Romani in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Pope recalled that “Where Our Lady is at home, the devil does not enter. Where the Mother is, turmoil does not prevail, fear does not win. Who among us does not need this, who among us is not sometimes troubled or anxious? (…). And we need her like a traveler needs refreshment, like a child needs to be carried in her arms.”For this reason, as he himself wished, Pope Francis’ mortal remains will rest forever in a chapel in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, connected by Via Merulana to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. He will rest under the gaze of the Salus Populi Romani. Forever, in the heart of Rome.(Fides Agency 21/4/2025).
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Pope Francis 1936-2025

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 21 April 2025

    Vatican Media

    Vatican City (Fides Agency) – At 9:47 this morning, Monday, April 21, Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis with these words: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was devoted to service to the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love the One and Triune God”.Pope Francis, formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. On December 25th of the same year, Christmas Day, he received the sacrament of Baptism.At the age of 22, he entered the diocesan seminary of Villa Devoto, then run by the Jesuits. On March 11, 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. After completing his humanistic studies in Chile, he returned to Argentina in 1963 and graduated in philosophy from the Colegio San José in San Miguel. From 1967 to 1970, he studied theology, also graduating from the Colegio San José.On December 13th, 1969, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. He continued his formation between 1970 and 1971 in Spain, and on April 22, 1973, he made his perpetual profession in the Jesuits. On July 31st, 1973, he was appointed provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina.On May 20th, 1992, John Paul II appointed him titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. On June 27th, he received episcopal ordination. On June 3rd, 1997, he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires. Nine months later, upon the death of Cardinal Quarracino, he succeeded him on February 28th, 1998, as Archbishop and Primate of Argentina.In the Consistory of February 21st, 2001, John Paul II created him Cardinal, with the title of San Roberto Bellarmino. He was elected Supreme Pontiff on March 13th, 2013.( Fides Agency)
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  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Defends FCC Order Capping the Cost of Phone and Video Call Rates for Incarcerated People and Their Families

    Source: US State of California

    Monday, April 21, 2025

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

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a multistate coalition, filed an amicus brief in support of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) order capping the cost of phone and video call rates for incarcerated people and their families. Communication services play an important role in keeping incarcerated people connected to their loved ones and support systems, ultimately reducing disciplinary actions in prison, improving the likelihood of rehabilitation, and mitigating the negative impacts of incarceration on the community. These services can be provided at a reduced cost without sacrificing accessibility or safety, as California and other states that have opted to provide these services free of charge have clearly demonstrated.

    “Staying connected to loved ones and a support system while in prison is one of the best ways to reduce recidivism and support successful rehabilitation later on,” said Attorney General Bonta. “States like California have shown that reducing and eliminating the cost of a simple phone call only serves to enhance public safety. I stand in strong support of the FCC’s rate caps.”

    Communication services in carceral settings have long been recognized as essential to successful rehabilitation. However, they have historically been provided at significant cost to the user, causing many to incur thousands of dollars in debt and sacrifice basic needs, such as food or utility payments, to stay connected to their loved ones in correctional facilities. The FCC first addressed this issue in 2015, issuing rate caps for calling services and prohibiting correctional facilities from taking a commission. After a court vacated these reforms, Congress enacted the Martha Wright-Reed Act in 2022, expressly authorizing the FCC to regulate these communications services. 

    In September 2024, the FCC issued a new order that, among other things: (1) lowers the maximum rates correctional facilities can charge for phone calls and video communications; (2) establishes rate caps, for the first time, of video communication services; (3) eliminates ancillary fees; and (4) prohibits commissions to correctional facilities. Under the new rate caps, the cost of a 15-minute phone call would drop from as much as $11.35 to $0.90 in large jails and from $12.10 to $1.35 in small jails. While state prisons and juvenile detention facilities in California are already required to provide free phone calls under the Keep Families Connected Act of 2022, local adult jails and federal prisons within the state are not. The FCC’s order would hold local adult jails and federal prisons to a similar standard, meaning that fees for communication services will be greatly reduced or eliminated.

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New York, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

    A copy of the brief is available here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas Project Receives Special Designation as a Priority Transparency Critical Mineral Project From the Trump Administration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWISVILLE, Ark., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, is proud to announce that its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project has been selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects to be advanced under Executive Order 14241, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, issued on March 20, 2025, by President Trump. This prestigious designation, announced by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council, underscores the project’s strategic importance to national security, economic prosperity, and energy independence.

    The SWA Project, a cornerstone of Smackover Lithium’s mission to bolster domestic lithium production, has been included on the Federal Permitting Dashboard as a transparency project. This designation ensures increased transparency, accountability, and predictability in the permitting review process, aligning with President Trump’s directive to expedite domestic critical mineral projects. The support from the White House signals strong federal backing for the project, reinforcing its role in reducing U.S. reliance on China. The SWA Project is one of only three domestic lithium projects and the sole Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) initiative to be included on the initial selected projects list. Additionally, it is the first project supported by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to be accepted into the Transparency Program.

    “We are honored by the Trump Administration’s recognition of the SWA Project as a priority project for American mineral production,” said Standard Lithium’s CEO, David Park. “This designation is a testament to the project’s economic viability and potential to strengthen national security, create high-quality jobs, and fuel economic growth in Arkansas and beyond. The streamlined permitting process, combined with federal support, reinforces our project development timeline and positions us well to deliver a low cost, sustainable, and domestic source of lithium critical to advanced energy technologies.”

    Smackover Lithium remains committed to environmentally responsible development, community engagement, and innovation as it advances the SWA Project. The JV looks forward to collaborating with federal, state, and local stakeholders to ensure the project’s success and to contribute to America’s leadership in the critical minerals sector.

    For more information about the SWA Project and Smackover Lithium, please visit www.smackoverlithium.com.

    About Standard Lithium Ltd.

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

    About Equinor

    Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and is present in around 30 countries worldwide. Our partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on our broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.

    For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US – Equinor

    Investor and Media Inquiries

    Chris Lang
    Standard Lithium Ltd.
    +1 604 409 8154
    investors@standardlithium.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

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