NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FRAILYN ARGUETA-JERONIMO, a/k/a “Frailyn Argeta-Jeronimo,” (“ARGUETA-JERONIMO”) age 25, a native of Guatemala, was indicted on April 11, 2025, for re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to the indictment, ARGUETA-JERONIMO was found in the United States on March 27, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on February 6, 2020.
ARGUETA-JERONIMO faces up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for re-entry of a removed alien.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that defendants Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, 24, both of Mexico, were charged with Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by Alien Admitted Under a Nonimmigrant Visa.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 26, 2025, Detectives with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FSCO) conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by defendants in Canon City. Defendant Martinez Solis consented to a search of the vehicle. During the search, the Detectives found what they estimated to be approximately 150 boxes of .308 ammunition, and approximately 30 boxes of 7.62 ammunition. Each box was labeled as containing 1,000 rounds.
The investigation is being handled by the Denver Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Denver Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
In another gesture towards Canadian national solidarity, the iconic 2000 “I am Canadian” beer ad was recently revived by the ad’s original actor, Jeff Douglas.
The desire to rally behind symbols of unity is understandable in precarious times. However, it is also a good time to consider who and what is being obscured behind this version of Canadian patriotism.
It’s grown significantly more diverse in recent years. But dominant discourse about Canadian nationalism often flattens these realities, invoking multiculturalism while failing to engage with deeper histories and contemporary realities.
These shifts reflect long-term immigration reforms, especially those beginning in the 1960s, when the federal government moved away from “White Canada” policies that explicitly excluded non-European immigrants.
Today, many people in Canada — Indigenous, immigrant, Canadian-born — maintain complex relationships to settler colonialism, as well as multiple homelands, cultures and histories.
In my teaching and academic leadership roles, I engage with young people and aim to centre their voices in reimagining our institutions and communities. Through this work, I have the privilege of listening as young people reflect on their perceptions of Canada and desires for its future.
There is also a growing desire among the young people I teach to reconcile their profound lack of formal education in Indigenous histories, ideas and issues.
Even in our resistance to external threats, we must remain committed to addressing the internal legacies of colonial violence, as outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and its framework for healing.
The TRC provides a road map for the critical work of bridging gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, as led by Indigenous leaders and organizations.
The recently published book Deyohahá:ge: Sharing the River of Life features chapters written by members of Six Nations as well as non-Indigenous neighbours, indicating a need for dialogue. The book reflects on the Two Row Wampum Agreement and how these agreements might restore good relations today.
Part of the Canadian identity story is about being a welcoming nation. But Canadians have long scapegoated newcomers as being to blame for a host of issues.
But distancing ourselves from American crises doesn’t excuse us from confronting our own contradictions. This moment of heightened patriotism demands more than just symbolic unity.
My students increasingly challenge shallow notions of multiculturalism, pushing instead for structural change that is material, not just rhetorical.
Their critiques reflect wider public conversations: youth-led panels, academic research and lived experiences that question the limits of inclusion without equity. They are asking: Who benefits from these patriotic myths? Who gets erased?
To move forward, Canada must build a collective story rooted in truth — not just selective nostalgia. One that honours Indigenous sovereignty, confronts contemporary inequities and reflects the rich diversity of its people. Only then can we begin to imagine a future Canada worth rallying behind.
Alpha Abebe does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – As the Trump Administration continues to take hasty, unjustified steps that could weaken the U.S. real estate market and make it harder and more expensive for responsible, credit-worthy Americans to secure an affordable 30-year fixed mortgage, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, are calling for an independent watchdog to investigate potentially unlawful administrative actions of President Trump’s newly confirmed head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Bill Pulte.
“We write to urge you to open an investigation into FHFA’s apparent noncompliance with Federal laws and regulations in connection with recent corporate governance changes that Director Pulte has made at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,” the three U.S. Senators wrote to FHFA Inspector General Brian Tomney, whose office oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s regulator.
Senator Reed helped create the FHFA, which was established under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, to oversee and manage two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) known as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), which guarantee mortgages to facilitate financing for single-family homes and for apartment buildings. FHFA is both the conservator and regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both of which were at imminent risk of failing during the 2008 financial crisis, and sets affordable housing goals for the two companies while also overseeing a system of 11 federal home loan banks.
The Senators are sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent partisan and potentially unlawful administrative actions at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They warn that the Trump Administration could negatively impact lending and risk management, driving up mortgage rates and making it more difficult for families to buy a home, putting taxpayers at risk, and setting the stage for a chaotic and disorderly exit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship.
After becoming FHFA Director a few weeks ago, Mr. Pulte ousted a majority of the nonpartisan directors of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, installing himself, business associates, and partisan loyalists in their place. Director Pulte also removed critical financial expertise from the boards and stripped independent voices from overseeing these companies, which are two of the largest companies in both the United States and the entire world. Strong and effective corporate governance arrangements at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are essential because taxpayers both stand behind these companies and could face higher mortgage rates if either entity is mismanaged.
In calling for independent oversight of Mr. Pulte’s actions, the Senators wrote: “Director Pulte is prohibited by law from holding any position at either company and Federal statute requires at least one board member to represent the public’s interest. The Director has no authority to waive the law. Under FHFA regulations, a majority of directors must be independent, the chairmen of the boards must be independent, the companies must have audit committees comprised of independent directors, and if there is no financial expert on an audit committee then the public is owed an explanation of why. The nominating and corporate governance committee must be composed entirely of independent directors, including an independent chair. While the Director has authority to waive regulations, he may do so only “in connection with a particular transaction or activity”—not for corporate governance matters that apply to all transactions and activities.”
The Senators’ request for a IG probe into Mr. Pulte’s questionable actions at FHFA come after the Senators sent a previous letter directly to Mr. Pulte on March 31 asking for an explanation of his governance changes to date—and asking him to reverse course for the benefit of taxpayers. The Senators were so dissatisfied with Mr. Pulte’s response, that they quickly asked for the IG probe, noting: “Although Mr. Pulte responded in a letter dated April 8 that “U.S. Federal Housing FHFA [sic] remains committed to complying with all applicable federal laws and regulations,” he offered no evidence to show that the agency he runs, and the companies he oversees, are in actual compliance with these statutory and regulatory requirements nor did he dispute the portion of our letter noting his recent governance changes at Fannie and Freddie violate the law. If an ordinary public company had put in place such poor governance arrangements, it would be at serious risk of being delisted from a major stock exchange.”
The Senators are also asking the Inspector General to publicly announce its investigation in order to discourage any potential future noncompliance and violations of the law.
Full text of the letter follows:
Hon. Brian M. Tomney
Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency
400 7th Street SW
Washington, DC 20219
Dear Inspector General Tomney:
We write to urge you to open an investigation into FHFA’s apparent noncompliance with Federal laws and regulations in connection with recent corporate governance changes that Director Pulte has made at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Director Pulte is prohibited by law from holding any position at either company and Federal statute requires at least one board member to represent the public’s interest. The Director has no authority to waive the law. Under FHFA regulations, a majority of directors must be independent, the chairmen of the boards must be independent, the companies must have audit committees comprised of independent directors, and if there is no financial expert on an audit committee then the public is owed an explanation of why. The nominating and corporate governance committee must be composed entirely of independent directors, including an independent chair. While the Director has authority to waive regulations, he may do so only “in connection with a particular transaction or activity”—not for corporate governance matters that apply to all transactions and activities.
Director Pulte has taken actions that do not appear to be consistent with these Federal laws and regulations. Within a week of taking office, he removed a majority of the directors of Fannie and Freddie, installing himself, his business associates, and partisan loyalists in their place. He also removed Fannie’s entire audit committee. After these actions, the boards appear to lack anyone from an organization that has represented consumer or community interests, or has shown a career commitment to low-income housing. They also appear to lack a financial expert. Director Pulte has also installed himself as the chair of both companies’ boards of directors and the boards’ nominating and corporate governance committees.
On March 31, we wrote to Director Pulte to urge him to correct these apparent violations. Although Mr. Pulte responded in a letter dated April 8 that “U.S. Federal Housing FHFA [sic] remains committed to complying with all applicable federal laws and regulations,” he offered no evidence to show that the agency he runs, and the companies he oversees, are in actual compliance with these statutory and regulatory requirements nor did he dispute the portion of our letter noting his recent governance changes at Fannie and Freddie violate the law. If an ordinary public company had put in place such poor governance arrangements, it would be at serious risk of being delisted from a major stock exchange.
In light of this apparent pattern of noncompliance and inability to attest to compliance, we ask that you open an investigation into whether FHFA is in fact following Federal laws and regulations regarding the management and governance of Fannie and Freddie. To the extent permissible, we also ask you publicly announce this investigation in order to discourage any potential violations.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
PROVIDENCE, RI – Starting May 7, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin enforcing REAL ID rules at airports nationwide. All airline passengers aged 18 and older will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport or U.S. Military ID when passing through TSA security checkpoints at airports across the United States.
Many states, including Rhode Island, have issued REAL ID-compliant licenses for years. Rhode Island’s DMV began offering REAL ID-compliant licenses in 2018. If you haven’t renewed your Ocean State driver’s license since 2018, now is a good time to act.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed says the Trump Administration should also be taking action to get the word out and explain the transition to people to prevent unnecessary travel delays and disruption.
Reed sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noting that millions of Americans still do not have a REAL ID compliant license or an acceptable alternative form of identification. Senator Reed wants the Trump Administration to spell out its REAL ID plans for travelers, writing: “Since it seems likely that many travelers will not have a compliant ID by May 7th, please describe how you will ensure that there are not delays at TSA security checkpoints and what steps the TSA is taking to process travelers who arrive at airport security checkpoints without REAL ID compliant identification.”
According to the TSA, 81 percent of travelers at airport security checkpoints are currently presenting an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID. TSA says after May 7, air travelers without a Real ID could face more screening and longer efforts to validate their identity.
Senator Reed says this effort has been years in the making and there should be a clear plan and public education to ensure people know the rules and can avoid last-minute issues at the airport.
Full text of Senator Reed’s letter follows:
Dear Secretary Noem:
I write regarding the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) plans to enforce REAL ID travel requirements beginning on May 7, 2025.
Following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, Congress passed, and then-President George W. Bush signed, the REAL ID Act of 2005, which requires minimum security standards for driver’s licenses or other identification of anyone seeking to board a domestic flight. Recognizing the time and complexity involved in switching to REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards, President Trump signed legislation in 2020 that confirmed the Secretary of Homeland Security’s discretion over when to begin enforcing this requirement. Last week, TSA confirmed that enforcement will begin on May 7th.
According to the TSA, around 20 percent of air travelers still use a form of identification that is not compliant with REAL ID requirements. Indeed, millions of Americans still do not have a REAL ID compliant license or an acceptable alternative form of identification, such as a passport or a military identification card. As you told the President at a recent cabinet meeting, “We don’t want anybody to get delayed and not be able to travel when they get to an airport.” Since it seems likely that many travelers will not have a compliant ID by May 7th, please describe how you will ensure that there are not delays at TSA security checkpoints and what steps the TSA is taking to process travelers who arrive at airport security checkpoints without REAL ID compliant identification.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 7, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT:
e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov
c: 202.913.0126
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), alongside Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), John Rutherford (FL-05), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), introduced Ellie’s Law—bipartisan legislation that delivers urgently needed federal investment to combat the deadly and often overlooked crisis of brain aneurysms.
Each year, approximately 30,000 Americans suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm—half of those individuals do not survive. Among survivors, nearly two-thirds are left with permanent neurological damage. Aneurysms strike most often between the ages of 35 and 60, but can occur at any age, including in children. Women are disproportionately affected, and African American and Hispanic individuals are at significantly greater risk of rupture.
Yet despite the scale and severity of this crisis, the federal government invests just $2.94 per year for every person affected by a brain aneurysm.
A Direct Response to a Neglected Crisis:
Ellie’s Law authorizes $20 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), with funding available through 2033. This investment will:
Support comprehensive research into unruptured intracranial aneurysms, with a focus on prevention and early detection.
Expand study populations to reflect real-world diversity, specifically addressing disparities across age, sex, and race.
Supplement, not supplant, existing research funding to ensure meaningful progress without disruption.
Ellie’s Law is a focused, bipartisan commitment to disrupt that cycle—by equipping researchers with the tools they need to save lives and prevent heartbreak before it happens.
“I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues. Now more than ever, it is critical that we secure funding for the NINDS to conduct and support essential research on brain aneurysms, which stands as one of the most underfunded public health crises in our Nation. With agencies such as the Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) experiencing budget cuts to its workforce and grants, preventing potentially fatal brain aneurysms and combatting long-term medical consequences for brain aneurysm survivors will require significant innovations only meaningful funding can deliver,” said Rep. Clarke. “Ellie’s Law will make huge strides in cementing our long-term commitment for new treatment discoveries to save the lives of patients, who are disproportionately women and African Americans. It’s a privilege to lead this necessary legislation and look forward to it being signed into law.”
“Brain aneurysms are a silent threat—often striking without warning and leaving families shattered in an instant. Despite the devastating toll, federal investment remains shockingly low,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “Ellie’s Law is about changing that. It directs the resources necessary to advance early detection, drive breakthroughs in treatment, and confront the racial and gender disparities that persist in outcomes. We have the science. What’s been missing is the commitment. This legislation is how we fix that.”
“I’m proud to join my bipartisan colleagues in reintroducing Ellie’s Law this Congress,” said Rep. Rutherford. “This legislation will support critical research to detect and treat unruptured brain aneurysms. We must continue to raise awareness to better catch the signs of brain aneurysms and save lives.”
“Despite the tragically far-reaching physical, mental, emotional, and financial toll brain aneurysm ruptures have on our communities, they are one of the most underfunded disease research projects in the U.S.,” said Rep. Scanlon. “I’m proud to join Reps. Clarke, Fitzpatrick, and Rutherford in introducing Ellie’s Law to address the deficiency in federal funding for brain aneurysm research, increase the quality of life of survivors and their families, and save lives.”
“More than 1 in 50 Americans have an unruptured and often undetected brain aneurysm. Each year 30,000 people will suffer a rupture, of which half will not survive — and those who do likely to suffer significant long-term disabilities. Ellie’s Law is essential to funding research for better detecting and treating aneurysms and, in turn, preventing their devastating impact on individuals and families and financial impact on health systems and society,” said Christine Buckley, Executive Director of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
“Ellie’s Law is being reintroduced on a bipartisan basis, reminding us that when we come together—across party lines, communities, and sectors—we can bring real change to the brain aneurysm community. Raising awareness and funding research are vital steps in tackling this devastatingly underfunded disease, and the combined efforts of both private and public funding are critical to progress. Every dollar invested and every voice raised brings us closer to a future where brain aneurysm ruptures are prevented,” said Erin Kreszl, Executive Director of The Bee Foundation for Brain Aneurysm Prevention.
Ellie’s Law is endorsed by: The Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF), The Bee Foundation for Brain Aneurysm Prevention (TBF), American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
April 17, 2025
Addressing Health and Wellness Needs of Public Safety Professionals
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA-35) introduced the bipartisan Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma (PROTECT) 911 Act, alongside Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). This critical legislation will improve the mental health and well-being of the nation’s 9-1-1 call-takers and dispatchers, a group often exposed to high-stress and traumatic situations.
The PROTECT 911 Act is being introduced during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a time dedicated to honoring the essential contributions of public safety telecommunicators across the country. This legislation recognizes the unique challenges faced by those on the front lines of emergency response and ensures that they have the resources and support needed to stay healthy and effective in their vital roles.
“I am proud to co-lead the PROTECT 911 Act and to stand with my colleagues in supporting our nation’s 9-1-1 professionals who face unimaginable stress every day,” said Congresswoman Torres. “As a former 911 dispatcher for more than 17 years I know firsthand the personal toll this job can take on you. This bill is about giving our emergency responders the tools and support they need to manage their mental health, as well as creating a safer and more sustainable working environment for those who work tirelessly to protect us.”
“Emergency operators help callers in violent and disturbing situations — but after the call is over, operators themselves don’t receive the mental health support and resources they need,” said Rep. Kelly. “The PROTECT 911 Act aims to fix that and provide our country’s 911 operators and dispatchers the treatment they deserve. They are the first responders to the first responders. I introduced this bill because my stepdaughter was a 911 operator, and she’s told me about the harrowing calls she received every day. As our dispatchers and operators save people’s lives, we need to take care of them in return.”
“Public safety starts with the voice on the other end of a 9-1-1 call. The PROTECT 911 Act delivers long-overdue federal support for our emergency dispatchers through evidence-based standards, targeted wellness grants, and specialized training resources. This bipartisan legislation strengthens the foundation of our emergency response system and ensures these unseen first responders are finally recognized—not overlooked—for the critical role they play,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.
Background: PROTECT 911 Act ensures that these first responders have access to the support they need to continue providing critical services to the public, without sacrificing their own mental health in the process and includes:
Developing best practices to identify, prevent, and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in public safety telecommunicators.
Creating resources for mental health professionals to better assist these personnel in managing emotional trauma.
Establishing grants to fund health and wellness programs within emergency communications centers.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman, along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) led Senate passage of a bipartisan resolution designating April 5, 2025, as Gold Star Wives Day. The resolution honors the spouses and families of fallen service members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
“Our fallen servicemembers’ loved ones bear a grief few can ever understand, but we must never forget their sacrifice. I am proud to join my colleagues to extend our eternal gratitude to every family member of the heroes who have laid down their lives in defense of our nation and freedoms,” said Boozman.
“The fallen members of our military have paid the ultimate sacrifice, laying down their lives in defense of our country’s freedom and security. They will never be forgotten, but the sacrifices made by their spouses are often overlooked. I am proud that my bipartisan resolution honoring our nation’s Gold Star wives received unanimous support and passed the Senate. Amy Kate and I extend our deepest gratitude to the spouses of our fallen veterans in North Carolina and across the nation,” said Budd.
“As a veteran myself, I know the sacrifices our servicemembers make—and I know their families often sacrifice even more. Gold Star spouses have faced the greatest loss, and their strength in the face of that grief is a powerful reminder of what service truly means. We owe them not just our gratitude, but our continued support,” said Kelly.
The resolution also particularly acknowledges the contributions of Gold Star Wives of America, an organization founded in 1945 with the help of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt that supports and advocates for the spouses and families of fallen members and veterans of our nation’s military.
Boozman has also introduced bipartisan legislation that would adjust monthly benefits for family members and survivors of veterans who lost their lives in service to our country. The Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 will bring parity to payments for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) recipients, which currently lag behind other federal program payments by nearly 12 percent.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
April 17, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and John Barrasso (R-WY), and Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY) issued a response to liberal former judges and lawyers attempting to publicly pressure the delegation into falsely condemning President Trump and allowing judges to continue blocking the agenda more than 70% of Wyoming residents support.
After receiving the letter through a press release, the delegation thought it necessary to respond and make it clear that unelected judges imposing their policy biases on our nation without democratic legitimacy is unacceptable to the people of Wyoming.
“The Supreme Court has consistently noted that political questions should be kept at arm’s length by the judiciary,” the delegation wrote. “Unelected judges imposing their policy biases on our nation without democratic legitimacy are the root cause of today’s controversy. Our Constitution impels all members of the judicial branch to administer justice with impartiality. Congress is using the power granted to it under Article III of the U.S. Constitution to ensure courts fulfill their core mission of providing impartial justice based on the law, not narrow partisan preferences.”
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 17, 2025
Over 45 lawmakers sound alarms about possible illicit payments, influence-peddling, insider trading
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, along with Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, and Judy Chu (D-Calif.), led a group of 44 Congressional Democrats in writing to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer with concerns over the potential for corruption in the implementation of the administration’s tariff policy.
The Trump administration’s tariffs rollout is rife with opportunities to unduly influence President Trump and other administration officials. The chaotic nature of the tariffs, including announcing them and pausing them shortly after they went into effect, provides ample opportunity for private sector corporations or sovereign nationals to corruptly seek exemptions.
“Corporations and sovereign nations facing existentially high stakes, and knowing tariffs are controlled by a small circle in the White House, can petition officials not to apply tariffs to them after the 90-day pause, to grant them exemptions, to decrease tariffs, or to impose tariffs on competitors — and can quietly offer something in return,” wrote the lawmakers.
President Trump’s record on tariffs in his first term illustrates his willingness to give preference to donors and allies while punishing enemies. Politically loyal companies that donated to Republican candidates, as well as companies with financial or political ties to President Trump, were more likely to be granted tariff exemptions after President Trump imposed them in his first administration. After auditing the Trump Administration’s tariff exclusion practices in 2018 and 2019, the Commerce Department’s Office of Inspector General found evidence of “off-record communications” and an “appearance of improper influence in decisionmaking for tariff exclusion requests.”
“We fear the Administration is once again turning its tariffs policy into an underground market of exemptions in exchange for financial and political favors,” said the lawmakers.
President Trump has said he will consider exemptions and make decisions “instinctively,” while bragging about global leaders calling him in search of exemptions.
Trump’s ad-hoc process has started to bear fruit for special interests. Last week, the White House exempted smartphones and certain other high-end electronics from tariffs targeting China. Within hours, Big Tech stock prices soared — particularly the value of Apple, which makes the vast majority of its iPhones in China. Apple CEO Tim Cook donated to President Trump’s inauguration and cultivated a strong relationship with him in recent months, as he did during Trump’s first term to win tariff exemptions.
The on-and-off nature of President Trump’s tariffs also opens the door to rampant insider trading. Administration officials — and their families and friends — with early knowledge of changes in tariff policy can buy positions they expect will rise and sell those that will fall. On April 9, 2025, minutes before the administration announced a pause on most tariffs, the trading market began to skyrocket — suggesting that insiders acted on non-public information about the coming pause. President Trump then posted on social media “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!,” still before any official announcement, causing stocks to further spike.
Members of Congress, including Senator Warren, have asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and ethics officials to investigate whether any securities laws were violated with this announcement.
At the same time, the top ethics watchdog who can hold the administration accountable appears poorly positioned to tackle tariff-related corruption. In late March 2025, USTR Ambassador Greer was named Acting Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and now serves in both roles simultaneously. Therefore, a top tariff policy official is responsible for ensuring that tariff policy decisions are made free of financial conflicts.
“This dual appointment raises blatant conflicts that risk undermining OGE’s ability to independently monitor trade officials’ conduct and recommend investigations into misconduct when necessary,” concluded the lawmakers.
The lawmakers asked the officials to provide clarity on the Trump administration’s exemption policy, if any official exemption request processes exist, where exemptions will be reported, whether an appeals process exists, the administration’s plans to ensure tariff exemptions are not corrupted, and more, by April 29, 2025.
Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) joined in signing the letter.
The following Representatives joined in signing the letter: Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Greg Casar (D-T.X.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Cleo Fields (D-La.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Summer Lee, (D-Pa.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).
WFP scaling up emergency assistance in hard-hit areas, but needs outpacing available resources.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Despite the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) expanded emergency response, an escalation in violence, displacement, economic turmoil and disruptions to local food production are fueling hunger, leaving millions at risk.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows a record 5.7 million people – more than half of all Haitians – are projected to experience acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+) through June 2025. Of those, just over two million are projected to face Emergency level hunger (IPC phase 4), while about 8,400 people are expected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most critical level of food insecurity where people experience an extreme lack of food, severe acute malnutrition and risk of starvation.
Growing armed violence has driven massive displacement and increased hunger as armed groups seek to expand their control, forcing over one million people from their homes. In Port-au-Prince, displaced families are sheltering in schools and public buildings, enduring overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to clean water, food and healthcare.
WFP and its partners have significantly scaled up operations in Haiti, reaching more than 1.3 million people to date in 2025. This includes one million people in March, a record number of people assisted in one month, but more is urgently needed.
“Right now, we’re fighting to just hold the line on hunger,” said Wanja Kaaria, WFP Country Director in Haiti. “Without the immense efforts already underway, the situation would be far worse. To keep pace with the growing crisis, we call on the international community to provide urgent support – and above all, the country needs peace.”
WFP is providing first-line emergency assistance as well as long-term support to those internally displaced. So far in 2025, WFP has supplied 740,000 hot meals to more than 112,000 recently displaced people, as well as cash for food and support to prevent malnutrition among children.
WFP has also secured unprecedented access to areas controlled by armed groups, delivering lifesaving food to hard-to-reach communities in Croix-des-Bouquets, Cité Soleil, Lower Delmas and La Saline.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP, continues to serve as a vital lifeline for the humanitarian response — ensuring aid workers and supplies reach communities in need.
WFP urgently needs US$53.7 million to continue its life-saving operations in Haiti over the next six months.
Wyoming Army and Air National Guard team up for first-ever firefighting exercise
Wyoming Air National Guard
By Airman 1st Class Michael Swingen
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center is home to semi-arid scrubland, prairie grass, and conifer cover, all of which can be primed for fire during hot, dry conditions, especially when troops shoot round after round of heavy artillery at the camp’s vast impact area.
Due to this heightened risk, the firefighters in the camp’s Army National Guard Fire Department specialize in practices and techniques unique to wildland firefighting. A usual day can consist of prescribed burns, which is the controlled use of fire to clear downed trees, control plant diseases, and create fire breaks between the camp’s training ranges and neighboring properties.
So, when Camp Guernsey’s Fire Chief received an invitation to conduct a joint training exercise with the 153rd Airlift Wing, a unit of the Wyoming Air National Guard in nearby Cheyenne, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Leah Urquhart jumped at the chance for her firefighters to brush up on skills they don’t use on a day-to-day basis.
Eight firefighters made the 65-mile trip south to Cheyenne for the 6-day joint training exercise. It was the first collaborative training of its kind between the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard nationwide.
“As firefighters, we have to meet yearly training requirements to keep our certifications,” Urquhart said. “You also hit a lot of the same, but more in-depth training to get certified in the first place. We have three guys on the Army side who are working towards their initial certifications. They are stoked to have this training.”
The first day focused on gear familiarization. For firefighters who focus on structural fires, like burning buildings, the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, or SCBA, is an essential piece of equipment that provides a supply of breathable air from a compressed air cylinder.
Although not required for wildland firefighting, firefighters from Camp Guernsey readjusted to the equipment, tugging at the elastic facemask straps while hopping into trousers.
The SCBA has four main components, the first being the backplate with shoulder straps and a waistbelt. The second is the air cylinder itself, which weighs 16-20 pounds, contains 4,500 psi of compressed air, and provides 30-60 minutes of breathing time for firefighters.
The third component is the regulator assembly. The compressed air from the cylinder tank travels through a hose and the regulator assembly, which drops the air pressure to levels slightly above atmospheric. Once its breathable, the air hits the facemask.
The facemask is the last component. When a firefighter inhales, the pressure in the facemask is lowered, tilting the admission valve just enough to allow the breathable air into the facemask. The exhalation valve, located on the chin, releases a breath without allowing any outside contaminants to enter.
Every assembly also has a Personal Alert Safety System, or PASS device, that sounds a distress signal if it does not detect motion for 30 seconds, alerting nearby firefighters of a downed firefighter in need of rescue. (This is why standing firefighters periodically shimmy-shake, resetting the countdown.) Also, the PASS device features a gage that indicates pressure levels in the air cylinder.
Gear familiarization culminated in what is called a SCBA confidence course, which tests a firefighter’s knowledge and expertise with the equipment.
Urquhart and her team leaders also incorporated elements of search and rescue into the course. They disassembled the SCBA gear, scattering it around the bunkroom of the firehouse, as if the equipment were incapacitated victims. They then created an obstacle course.
The firefighters in training were hooded to simulate the lack of visibility in a smoke-filled room.
As they crawled on their hands and knees around the obstacle course, the instructors yelled, played loud music, and banged on lockers. Calmly, the firefighters communicated above the din of music and the clamor and clang. Once they all located their equipment, they reassembled it slowly by touch.
Finally, the firefighters paired up to connect a buddy breather to each other’s SCBA. A buddy breather is an accessory hose that allows two firefighters to share the same air supply, in the event one of them is depleted. They then exited the obstacle course.
For an experienced firefighter, a SCBA confidence course can take about an hour to complete. For a firefighter in training, it can take much longer.
“The course is as much about teamwork as it is about familiarity with your gear,” Urquhart said. “Our Army guys from Camp Guernsey performed really well. We got to see what to do from here and how to improve. They were super motivated.”
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Beau Murphy helped lead the vehicle extrication training the next day. Vehicle extrication is the process of safely removing a patient from an automobile involved in a collision. The firefighters traveled to a local salvage yard at the edge of town where cars lay on cinderblocks and cranes grazed in the background with their long necks. Two old cars were waiting for them.
“We folded the Army guys right into our ranks,” Murphy said. “We were happy to have them along.”
As real-time goes up at the scene of an emergency, patient survivability rate goes down. For that reason, effective time management is crucial for first responders, with vehicle extrication ideally taking no longer than 10 minutes.
After staging their hydraulic tools nearby, two firefighters knelt on each side of the car, tucking wheel chocks under its belly to stabilize it. They swept around the car, one moving around it clockwise, the other counterclockwise, in opposing circles, punching out glass, razorblading seatbelts, peeling back molding, marking cut locations, and popping tires. These steps should take no longer than two minutes.
A Halligan bar is a tool used by firefighters for forced entry. A firefighter used one to pry off the grille, exposing the hood latch. He held the fork of the Halligan bar around it and twisted. He popped the hood, cut the battery cables, and closed it again. After prepping the car, they retrieved their hydraulic tools to begin chopping it up.
The group of hydraulic tools used by firefighters in a vehicle extrication are known as the Jaws of Life. They include cutters, spreaders, and rams. These tools use hydraulic pressure to create immense force, allowing them to slice through metal, spread vehicle doors, and lift heavy objects.
The car was ready for door removal. A firefighter used the spreader to push apart the fender of the car, exposing the two door hinges. He spread them to their breaking point. He then jiggled the door from its place and walked it out of the scene, setting it down carefully, paint to pavement. The door cannot be set down otherwise. If an airbag inadvertently deploys, it could launch the door into the sky.
With access to the patient now, a firefighter would begin to administer first aid, if necessary.
“Weather conditions can change how you do things,” Murphy said. “Down in Georgia, you worry about heat injuries. Up here, you deal with cold injuries, like complicating shock. Or if the car is on an incline and it’s crazy icy, you’ve got to get creative with vehicle stability.”
The firefighters began to cut through the pillars of the roof. The cutters have clawlike blades, pulling the metal back to their pivot point where the greatest force is generated. As the firefighters swept around the car, biting through metal, the goal was to move forward, never backward, which increases the time at the scene of an emergency. They peeled off the roof.
“We call this turning it into a convertible,” Murphy said.
When a car is crushed like an accordion, a patient’s lower body may become pinched under the dashboard. The technique by which firefighters extricate the lower body is called a dash roll. That was their next step.
A firefighter made relief cuts around the dashboard, freeing it up. He grabbed the spreader and began to lift the dashboard. The firefighter then wedged the ram between the dashboard and the floor of the car. As the ram extended, the dashboard rolled onto itself, creating ample space for the lower body to be extricated.
“These guys got a lot of really good hands-on experience and tool time,” Murphy said. “That’s what I’m looking for: proficiency with the equipment.”
They worked on more trainings in the following days. Their necks craned, they toured the cargo compartment and flight deck of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a massive, gunmetal gray transport aircraft. They did a lot of bunker drills, where firefighters practice putting on their protective clothing and SCBA gear in a timed manner.
“They’re standing over their gear, and we yell, ‘Bunker drill, bunker drill, bunker drill!’” Urquhart said. “After two hours of doing that, the slowest guy was able to get down to a minute and 45 seconds. Really scary, crazy timeline when you think about all the gear you have to put on.”
They consolidated their training with a structural fire exercise on the last day. It took place in an abandoned building on base with tables and chairs still in place, as if the building was vacated only a moment ago. Two large fog machines emitted a dense vapor that looked like smoke, clouding over the wide bays and office rooms. Visibility was very low.
In the building were two victims in need of rescue. For the exercise, four firefighters manned the fire truck, two firefighters were search and rescue, and two firefighters were the Rapid Intervention Team, or RIT crew, who are on standby if firefighters become lost, trapped, or injured and need rescuing themselves.
Urquhart and other team leaders walked around the building, observing how the firefighters used their training. They would go through three rotations of the exercise.
Oftentimes, a firefighter goes into a burning building blind, literally and figuratively. Before the parking brake on the fire truck gets pulled, they are already thinking of structures that resemble the one that is on fire. Understanding building construction can help predict how the fire will spread, while having an idea of the floorplan and layout can help locate a victim.
When they arrive on the scene, the highest-ranking firefighter does what is called a size up. He observes the exterior of the structure for indications of the size and location of the fire. The color of the smoke can also indicate the type of fuel being burned, the phase of the fire, and where the fire will spread. If the building shows no potential for collapse, he identifies means of entry and escape routes, like doors, windows, and fire escapes. After making his assessment, the firefighter radios it in to forward command.
They then look for clues for who could be inside, like window lights still on, toys in the backyard, cars in the parking lot, or even a car-window sticker depicting stick figure versions of family members. But they always remain ready for the unexpected.
“When you get on scene to a structural fire, you’re typically going to have anywhere from one to 50 different things going on,” Urquhart said.
The exercise used a digital fire training system. A screen emitting LED-driven flames glowed in one of the smoke-filled rooms of the building. The firefighters were equipped with a digital nozzle.
In the building they crawled on their hands and knees towards the seat of the fire as they looked for victims at the same time. Thermal layering of the heat and the buoyancy of the smoke will create clearer vision just above floor level, while also being cooler.
Instead of slowly fighting their way towards the seat of the fire, firefighters begin their attack at its point of origin and move outwards from there. This also allows them to locate potential victims who may be in the greatest danger.
Once the firefighters located the fire’s ignition point and steadied their digital nozzle, the orange-glowing panels on the LED screen slowly dimmed.
As they went through different rotations of the exercise, Urquhart and her team leaders would mix it up.
“We told a firefighter during one scenario, ‘Hey, you’re down. You ended up passing out. Let your PASS alarm go off,’” Urquhart said. “Now, there’s a firefighter who found a victim, but also his partner went down, which is a very possible real-life situation. Now what do you do? So we watched him work through the process of getting both people out.”
As the firefighters crawled through the smoke-filled building, they sounded the floor, tapping a tool on it. In a real-life scenario, if the floor feels too spongy or breaks through, they go another way.
When a team came to a door, they felt it with the back of their hand. They located the handle and opened the door and shut it behind them, shielding themselves from fire spread. They hugged the wall as they made their way around the room, looking for victims. They swept a bunkbed, felt under a table, and handled a chair. Like the house of a person who is blind, they never misplaced things, which can become disorienting. Anchored to the wall, they extended themselves across the floor and swept the center of the room with a tool, furthering their reach.
They found a victim. They checked his status through physical contact. Radioing it in to forward command, they stated they located a victim, his status, what they planned to do, and if they needed help. They webbed the victim with nylon straps and dragged him to the door, careful to keep his head and shoulders elevated. In the hallway, they followed the hose line until they were back outside.
“We were planning to do three different rotations of the exercise in a four-hour time slot,” Urquhart said. “We were able to do four with still time to spare because everybody was so motivated and efficient at doing their job. You don’t see that all the time.”
By the end of the week, the joint training exercise created a strong partnership between the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard Fire Departments, while ensuring both units are better prepared and proficient in their firefighting roles.
U.S. Army Pvt. Cody Carr, for example, wasted no time in applying the skills he learned during the week of training in a real-life situation. The first night back home, Carr and his fire department responded to an emergency call for a chimney fire. Carr was standing outside the burning building in the cold night when a mayday went out over the radio. The chimney had collapsed on the two firefighters inside. Without thinking, Carr threw his gear on, went on air, found a teammate, and rushed inside.
“Going into it, I’m like, I’m ready for this. I just learned all this. I can use my knowledge and get them out very quickly,” Carr said.
Carr and his teammate followed the hose line to the smoking rubble. As they began to pull the brick and mortar off one firefighter, another began shouting from the other side of the room. Carr rushed to the yelling firefighter and checked his status. Carr hoisted him up and dragged him out of the burning building and to safety.
“It was all fresh in my mind,” Carr said. “Just got done doing it. I was able to put it in play.”
Carr is looking forward to further collaboration between the 153rd Airlift Wing and Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center. Future plans include sending firefighters up to Camp Guernsey to get certified in wildland firefighting.
“It was amazing to watch the Army and Air Guard learn from each other over this training,” Urquhart said. “This is just the beginning of a fantastic relationship.”
Wyoming Army and Air National Guard team up for a six-day firefighting exercise at the 153rd Airlift Wing in Cheyenne, Wyo., Feb. 28, 2025. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Samuel Toman)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Rob Wittman (VA-1) introduced the Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Finding ORE) Act to strengthen U.S. mineral security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
Critical minerals are essential to producing technologies for the defense, semiconductor, automotive, and energy sectors—industries that will determine America’s economic future and global influence. Although we have an abundance of domestic mineral resources, demand already outstrips this supply – we must work with allies and partners to achieve mineral security. Additionally, the U.S. is heavily dependent on China for the production and processing of many key critical minerals. This bill would leverage the strengths of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in geological mapping of critical mineral reserves while giving U.S. firms a leg up in responsibly developing global mineral resources around the world with strong environmental and labor standards.
This bill builds upon the bipartisan legislation of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Critical Minerals Working Group, which Reps. Castor and Wittman co-chaired in the 118th Congress.
“America’s dependence on adversarial nations for critical minerals poses a significant threat to our national security and our clean energy future,” said Representative Castor. “The Finding ORE Act leverages our expertise in geologic mapping to promote the sustainable development of critical mineral supply chains through international partnerships. This legislation will make our nation safer and stronger while supporting our strategic alliances. I’m grateful to my bipartisan colleagues for working together to enhance U.S. leadership in the clean energy transition.”
“Critical minerals and rare earth elements are the building blocks of our modern economy and our national security,” said Representative Wittman. “This bill ensures that the United States can work hand-in-hand with like-minded nations to identify and responsibly develop these essential resources, while strengthening supply chain resilience and promoting American leadership in mineral exploration. Through this bill, we are reinforcing our alliances, building technical capacity, and supporting global standards in responsible mineral development. I’m proud to introduce the Finding ORE Act as a forward-looking solution to this pressing global challenge.”
“From the technology that powers the cell phones in our pockets to the systems that keep us safe, Americans depend on critical minerals for our economic strength and national security,” said Senator Coons. “The Finding ORE Act makes sure that our nation will have access to the essential materials we need to keep innovating, growing our economy, and deterring our enemies. I’m grateful for the bipartisan and industry support this bill has received and look forward to pushing for its enactment.”
“Many countries are unmapped or reliant on outdated geological surveys. Our bill would create opportunities for collaboration between the United States and these countries to update geological mapping with the goal of locating critical mineral deposits. These partnerships would be mutually beneficial and provide the United States access to more critical minerals, reducing our dependence on China,” said Senator Todd Young.
“We can’t solve climate change or strengthen national security without harnessing the power of critical minerals,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Better and more accurate maps will help us and our allies safely and ethically explore untapped critical mineral deposits.”
“Access to a reliable supply chain of critical minerals is essential to meet our nation’s defense, manufacturing, and energy needs,” said Senator Cornyn. “By shoring up alliances with trusted allies and promoting geological mapping of critical mineral reserves, this legislation would ensure America has the resources needed to keep up with global demand and bolster both our mineral security and national security in the years ahead.”
“The United States has too often watched from the sidelines as our adversaries explored, invested in, and secured the world’s most promising mineral deposits,” said Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy. “This bill changes that. It positions the United States—our geological experts and industry—to help identify and potentially develop the next generation of great deposits. It ensures we show up in resource-rich nations, rather than leaving them to deepen their ties with China.”
“The American Critical Minerals Association welcomes the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Finding ORE Act by Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Representatives Wittman and Castor,” said Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of ACMA. “Expanding our knowledge base of global minerals resources and growing partnerships with our allies will ensure the United States is a leading force in resourcing critical minerals in a responsible way.”
“Colorado School of Mines commends Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Reps. Wittman and Castor for their bipartisan efforts to leverage U.S. expertise in mineral mapping to support safe, secure, and responsible mineral supply chains,” said Dr. John Bradford, Vice President for Global Initiatives at Colorado School of Mines. “When called upon to contribute, institutions with strong partnerships with USGS, like Colorado School of Mines, seek to support America’s government and industry partners to advance the technology, knowledge, and workforce required to responsibly identify, assess, and produce mineral resources in the U.S. and around the world.”
“BPC Action applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Finding ORE Act. The bill will strengthen U.S. supply chain security by enhancing coordination with allies on critical mineral development, helping secure new critical minerals sources free from adversary control,” said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).
“Terra AI celebrates this forward-thinking, bi-partisan critical minerals exploration legislation introduced by Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Reps. Wittman and Castor,” said John Mern, CEO of Terra AI. “The Finding ORE Act would empower America’s agencies and private firms to explore and claim the next major deposits of critical minerals which will supply our industries for decades to come; supporting manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and artificial intelligence. We support this act’s unique approach to winning the critical minerals race by leveraging America and Her Allies’ relative advantages — strong diplomatic relations, world-leading technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. This act is the essential early stage first step to establishing US global mineral dominance and winning this generational opportunity. As a mineral exploration AI company, we see huge value in collaboration between the private sector and our nation’s diplomatic, geologic and financial agencies abroad. It is a winning playbook, and we look forward to seeing more legislation in this area.”
The Finding ORE Act would authorize the Director of USGS to enter into memoranda of understanding (MOU) with foreign partner countries related to the mapping of critical minerals. The bill identifies four objectives for these MOUs:
Committing USGS to assist the partner country with a range of critical mineral mapping activities;
Committing the partner country to offer a right of first refusal to private companies based in the United States or an allied country in the further development of mapped critical minerals;
Facilitating investment in the development of critical minerals in the partner country, including by leveraging financing from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank;
Ensuring that mapping data created through a partnership with USGS is not disclosed to governmental or private entities in non-allied countries.
The bill requires USGS to collaborate with both the State Department and the private sector in identifying which countries to prioritize for the negotiation of an MOU, and would involve the State Department in the negotiation and implementation process.
Program Provides Energy Planning and Technical Support for Local Governments, Community Organizations, Utilities, and Other Groups Across the Country
Many coastal, remote, and island communities need more affordable, reliable, and secure energy systems but lack the resources to change the status quo. Aging infrastructure and harsh weather conditions can leave these relatively isolated places vulnerable to energy disruptions and the attendant restoration costs.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) connects these communities with energy experts who can deliver strategic energy analysis and planning support to improve the affordability, reliability, and security of their local energy systems. ETIPP is accepting applications now through July 27, 2025, for new communities to join the program.
ETIPP communities receive up to two years of technical support from researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and other national laboratories, along with input from regional partner organizations that have relevant expertise and connections in their specific geographic areas.
This program offers two tracks for technical assistance: strategic energy planning or technical deep dives. Communities in the early stages of planning energy system improvements will spend four to eight months in ETIPP developing a strategic energy plan that clearly defines their energy goals and objectives. Those joining ETIPP with an existing energy plan or well-defined energy project will embark on a 12- to 24-month process to explore the technical dimensions of specific energy solutions.
Now entering its fifth year, ETIPP has already partnered with 57 communities—including local governments, Tribes, community-based organizations, and utilities—to develop strategic plans and validate prospective technology investments for local energy projects.
Providing local leaders with information to address local energy challenges is the key driver of ETIPP’s services. Communities collaborate with national laboratory researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, NREL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories to advance their local goals and make decisions informed by world-class modeling and analysis.
Additionally, selected communities may have the opportunity to receive funds (up to $20,000 for communities selected for strategic energy planning and up to $50,000 for those engaging with deep-dive technical assistance) for services rendered to help implement the technical assistance.
ETIPP is currently accepting applications through July 27, 2025. Prospective applicants must first contact an ETIPP regional partner or program manager to discuss their eligibility. ETIPP’s regional partners include Groundswell for the Southeastern Seaboard region; Hawaii State Energy Office for the Pacific region; Hispanic Federation for communities in Caribbean territories; Island Institute for Northeast communities; Renewable Energy Alaska Project for Alaska; Slipstream for communities in the Great Lakes region; Spark Northwest for communities in the Pacific Northwest; and Southeast Sustainability Directors Network and STEM NOLA for communities along the Gulf Coast.
Visit the ETIPP page to learn more about the program, eligibility, and application process and to apply.
ETIPP is managed by NREL and funded and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
SEATTLE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Wilver Cota-Ortiz, 43, a citizen of El Salvador, to his home country where he is wanted by law enforcement authorities for human trafficking.
Cota entered the U.S. at an unknown date and location without inspection or admission by an immigration official. The Dallas Police Department arrested him Jan. 9, 2010 for assault with a deadly weapon and an immigration detainer was placed on Cota the next day. The 195th Judicial District Court in Dallas convicted Cota on two counts of assault April 1, 2010, sentencing him to 8 years probation. Custody was transferred to ICE in accordance with the immigration detainer, and Cota was removed to El Salvador as ordered by an immigration judge Dec. 17, 2010.
Cota reentered the U.S. at an unknown date and location, arrested by U.S. Border Patrol Aug. 6, 2013, in Otay Mesa, California where it was determined he had an active warrant for a probation violation in Dallas. The 195th Judicial District Court convicted Cota of probation violation, sentencing him to two years incarceration. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correction Facility Huntsville transferred custody to the United States Marshal Service, who then transferred custody to ICE in accordance with an immigration detainer. Cota was again removed to El Salvador Dec. 18, 2015.
Cota reentered the U.S. at an unknown date and location, and this time he was arrested by ICE for illegal reentry Feb. 15, 2023. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware convicted Cota Oct. 31, 2023, of illegal reentry, sentencing him to nine months incarceration. While in federal prison, it was discovered that Cota was wanted by authorities in El Salvador for human trafficking, and his removal was completed April 4 without incident.
“ICE will make every effort to arrest those that have fled to the U.S. to evade justice in their home country,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Interim Field Office Director Cammilla H. Wamsley. “The seriousness of these charges places a particular importance on that mission.”
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X at @EROSeattle.
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Gabriel Lopes Da Silva Santos, 27, of Brazil, has been charged by criminal complaint with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.
On April 16, 2025, Santos appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Santos be detained during the pendency of this matter.
According to court records, Santos illegally possessed an AR-15 style rifle on June 9, 2024, when law enforcement responded to an apartment complex in Ludlow, Vermont. A neighbor had reported that someone was shooting behind the complex. Law enforcement found Santos, who claimed ownership of the AR-15 style rifle and a shotgun that was also on scene. Law enforcement later discovered that Santos had overstayed his visa, which expired in September 2020.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Santos is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Santos faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Santos is represented by Federal Public Defender’s Office for the District of Vermont.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Luis Davis German Soriano, 32, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, who was convicted of transporting illegal aliens, was sentenced to time served (approximately 15 months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Soriano was then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that on January 3, 2024, Soriano aided co-defendant Silvestre German Andujar, an alien, in transporting three other individuals, who were not citizens or nationals of the United States. Soriano drove from New Jersey to an agreed upon location in Youngstown, NY, to pick-up Andujar and the others, who had traveled on a motorized raft vessel on the Niagara River from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. Andujar piloted the vessel across the United States-Canada border. U.S. Border Patrol Agents responded to the area as Andujar and the others got off the vessel, prompting them to flee. Simultaneously, law enforcement observed Soriano’s vehicle driving in the area near the vessel’s landing spot on the shoreline. Officers conducted a traffic stop. Soriano provided conflicting information as to the purpose of his travel but was released by officers. He then drove back to the pick-up location and picked up Andujar and the others inside the van.
Subsequently, on January 4, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol Agents parked on the Niagara Scenic Parkway in Youngstown, NY, observed Soriano driving his vehicle with Andujar and the others inside. Agents stopped the vehicle in Ransomville, NY, at which time Soriano and the others were arrested and official immigration records checks were conducted.
Silvestre German Andujar was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs, and the Lewiston Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frank Previte.
At a court appearance held on April 17, 2025, in Clarenville, 72-year-old Austin Deir of Mt. Pearl entered a guilty plea to two counts of dangerous operation causing death. These charges were laid by Clarenville RCMP in relation to a fatal collision that occurred on the Trans-Canada Highway on January 21, 2024. Two women, both aged 22 years, died as a result of the collision.
Sentencing for the convictions of dangerous operation causing death has been set for October 31, 2025.
Anti-government protestors use the American flag to draw attention to their cause at a protest on Aug. 8, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio.Paul Becker/Becker 1999 via Flickr, CC BY
Patriots’ Day, a commemoration of the battles of Lexington and Concord – the first confrontations of the American Revolution – holds historical value as a symbol of American resistance to British colonial rule. Over time, however, the holiday has been co-opted by extremist groups.
Not all states celebrate Patriots’ Day. Massachusetts and Maine observe it as a public holiday on the third Monday in April. Wisconsin observes Patriots’ Day as a state observance – not a public holiday – on April 19, with schools and businesses remaining open. Other states may also mark it informally or through educational activities.
As a scholar of extremism, I have become increasingly concerned by the appropriation of patriotic symbols such as the American flag and Patriots’ Day into narratives for far-right rhetoric, recruitment and radicalization. Patriotic events such as the Fourth of July can be marked by demonstrations, armed protests and calls for militant action by far-right extremist groups.
Just before the Fourth of July in 2019, the Southern Poverty Law Center demonstrated how extremist groups have long adopted symbols of U.S. history to promote white supremacy. A 2010 SPLC report documented extremist calls for “freedom,” including a call from such far-right groups for repeal of all social service spending.
The hijacking of patriotic symbols is part of an effort to create an atmosphere where participants believe they are engaging in a modern-day fight for freedom.
In interviews I conducted with extremists in March 2025, several members of the Patriot Front said they are planning to protest on April 19 in an effort to use the holiday to attract media and public attention to their efforts to create a white homeland.
Extremists are not the only Americans who are planning on using Patriots’ Day as a platform to attract attention to their causes. Mobilization of opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies and deportation efforts are also planned for April 19. Protesters raise concerns about the incorporation of American patriotic symbols by the right wing to support policies that they view as distinctively anti-American and unconstitutional.
The 250th anniversary on April 19 of the first battles of the American Revolution is a fitting time to reflect on the meaning and use of historical symbols.
White supremacy and Patriots’ Day
From a sociological perspective, national symbols and events such as the American flag and Patriots’ Day do not have fixed meanings. Rather, any symbol is defined by how people actually use it. Whether one raises an American flag or burns one, the use of the flag is a powerful symbol that is understood to mean different things to different people, depending on the context.
Extremists often take other symbols of American patriotism, such as the bald eagle, the Second Amendment and the phrase “America the beautiful” and try to use them to promote their message. For example, white supremacists believe that America can be beautiful only if white Americans are in positions of authority. The interpretations of these symbols become tools for extremist mobilization.
In the lead-up to Patriots’ Day in 2023, members of the Patriot Front, a white supremacist group, rallied near the Massachusetts State House in Boston. They displayed a banner reading “Reclaim America,” a slogan associated with their ideology.
The Patriot Front manifesto, written by group founder Thomas Rousseau, states: “A nation within a nation is our goal. Our people face complete annihilation as our culture and heritage are attacked from all sides.”
The role of extremist narratives
The extremist groups see Patriots’ Day not only as a commemoration of resistance against British colonialism but as a rallying point for a radical vision of American identity that attracts more attention from the public and the media because of the use of the recognized symbol.
Extremists frame their actions as a continuation of the American Revolution and draw upon the myth of an oppressed, virtuous “true American” standing against tyranny. In this view, traditional symbols of American patriotism represent resistance not against an overarching foreign power but against internal threats to their vision of America.
These include perceived threats posed by progressive movements, racial minorities, immigrants and the federal government. In the minds of those on the far right, what’s at stake are their traditional values, gun ownership and individual rights.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has highlighted the significance of April 19 in the anti-government “patriot” movement’s calendar, noting that it has been associated with increased activity from militias and other extremist groups.
A man belonging to the Boogaloo Boi far-right group at an anti-government rally on Aug. 29, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. Paul Becker/Becker 1999 via Flickr, CC BY
Some of those groups include the sovereign citizens movement, Boogaloo Bois and the Patriot Front. The sovereign citizen movement is a loosely organized group of individuals who believe that they are not subject to government laws, especially federal laws in the United States. The Boogaloo movement is an anti-government extremist group known for advocating for a second American civil war, which they often call the “boogaloo.”
Some American militia groups, such as the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, claim that only those willing to resist their idea of “tyranny” are true American patriots and that they should resist the government.
In 2014, the Oath Keepers participated in an armed standoff in Nevada to support rancher Cliven Bundy, who was in a dispute with the Bureau of Land Management over unpaid grazing fees. The group positioned themselves as defenders against federal authority. Two men with ties to the Three Percenters, Barry Croft and Adam Fox, were involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. The plot was foiled by law enforcement, and the individuals were arrested and charged with terrorism-related offenses. Both received lengthy prison sentences.
Anyone not aligned with their ideology is seen as a traitor or unwilling to confront systemic problems and are derisively labeled “sheep.”
The mobilization of violence
One of the most concerning ways in which American patriotic symbols are co-opted by extremists is the potential to justify violent action.
An example of how extremist flags incorporate the American flag into their design, as seen at a protest on July 21, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Paul Becker/Becker 1999 via Flickr, CC BY
The connection between historical acts of violence, such as the battles of Lexington and Concord, and contemporary calls for preparation for violent actions is deliberately emphasized. According to historian Darren Mulloy, extremists use well-known and accepted American symbols to create a sense that violence is a justified and necessary means of defense. Militia groups, in Mulloy’s research, exploit the need for violence in the American Revolution and the settling of the American West to legitimize their contemporary calls.
The Oath Keepers romanticize the role of armed militias in the founding of America as seen at Lexington and Concord. They use this day to promote the idea that their cause is just and that armed resistance is a legitimate form of political expression.
Groups such as The Base and the Oath Keepers have called for training in preparation for armed defense against the government. They recruit current and former military, police and first responders, urging them to uphold an oath to defend the Constitution – as the group interprets it – often against what they see as a tyrannical federal government.
This creates a dangerous feedback loop in which extremism and violence are normalized through the glorification of historical events that celebrate acts of rebellion while strengthening identities that radicalize individuals.
Understanding how patriotic symbols can be exploited offers important insights into how historical narratives may be manipulated, potentially leading to harmful consequences in American society.
Art Jipson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that work is beginning on a $4 million project to enhance safety and improve traffic flow at a key gateway to the City of Oneonta. The project will transform the intersection of James F. Lettis Highway (State Route 23) and Main Street (State Route 7) by constructing a modern roundabout that will reduce vehicle congestion and make it easier for pedestrians and motorists to reach the area’s popular destinations, including SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College and the shops and businesses of downtown Oneonta.
“The City of Oneonta is a true gem of the I-88 corridor, with a robust, walkable downtown, thriving businesses and thousands of college students making this Mohawk Valley community their home every year,” Governor Hochul said. “We want to make sure that everyone in Oneonta reaches their destinations as safely as possible, and that’s just what this new roundabout and other community enhancements will provide.”
The project will convert the current, signalized intersection of Lettis Highway and Main Street into a single-lane roundabout that will improve vehicle mobility and reduce idling. New sidewalks, lighting and signage – including flashing beacons – will also be installed to enhance safety for pedestrians. New drainage systems and landscaping will be added to improve resiliency and sustainability.
Roundabouts are engineered to maximize safety and minimize congestion. They are safer, more sustainable, and more efficient than traditional intersections. Crashes in roundabouts are less severe, resulting in fewer injuries and fatalities. Roundabouts also eliminate the need for electric-powered traffic signals. For tips on how to safely navigate a roundabout, check out this helpful instructional video.
Work on the project is getting underway this month with tree removal and other site preparation activities. Major construction will start in early to mid-July and will focus initially on the northern end of the intersection and the interior of the roundabout. During this phase, only the ramps to and from the Lettis Highway will be open to traffic traveling eastbound on Main Street. All other vehicular and pedestrian access will be closed. Detours for vehicles and pedestrians will be posted.
In early to mid-September, work will shift to the southern end of the intersection and the ramps to and from Lettis Highway. At this point, the ramp onto the Lettis Highway southbound will be closed. Traffic traveling eastbound on Main Street will also be detoured around the intersection. All detours for vehicles and pedestrians will be posted.
Additionally, a free, 24-hour shuttle service will be provided to further aid pedestrians during periods when access to the work zone will be restricted. There will be four designated pickup and drop-off locations, including two on Main Street and two on Lettis Highway. Signs will be installed to identify the designated drop-off/pick-up locations at least a week prior to closure of the roadway. Additional signs will be posted at the roadway closure limits informing pedestrians of the transportation service availability, pick-up and drop-off locations, and the contact information to call for the service.
New York State Department of TransportationCommissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “New York State, under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, is investing in our transportation infrastructure to create safer systems that reduce conflicts and minimize the likelihood of fatal crashes, with the goal getting to zero fatalities – because even one death on our highway system is too many. This new roundabout will benefit the entire Oneonta community, creating more efficient vehicle flow and enhancing safety for the many residents, visitors and students who travel to and from this beautiful city and its many attractions each day.”
The project is being funded with a mix of state and federal funding, with the bulk of it provided via the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. It’s also part of NYSDOT’s Safe System Approach toward Zero Deaths that involves designing and managing road infrastructure to keep the risk of a human error low and minimizing the likelihood of fatality or serious injury during crashes. Construction is tentatively scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2025.
This is the first of two projects that are being advanced to address congestion in the Oneonta area. The Southside Oneonta Safety and Mobility Improvements Project is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026 and will focus on improving the sidewalks and traffic flow along State Route 23 and State Route 28 near the southern end of the Lettis Highway.
Representative Josh Riley said, “Projects like the roundabout at Lettis Highway and Main Street are exactly the kind of common-sense solutions that will make a real difference for communities like Oneonta. It’s not just about traffic; it’s about safety for our students, residents, and visitors. I’m pushing hard to bring federal dollars back home for projects across NY-19, and I’m grateful for the Governor’s leadership in helping to deliver these crucial infrastructure improvements.”
Assemblymember Brian Miller said, “Investing in infrastructure that improves safety and mobility is critical to the growth and vitality of our communities. The intersection improvement project located at State Route 23 and State Route 7 in the City of Oneonta is a smart and forward-thinking investment that will not only reduce congestion and improve traffic flow but also enhance pedestrian and bicycle access to educational institutions and downtown businesses. Improving safety on our roadways is always a top priority, and this intersection upgrade in Oneonta is a great example of the kind of investment that makes a real difference.”
Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek said, “On behalf of the City of Oneonta I’d like to express my deep gratitude for the continuing support of our Governor and the State of New York in making our city increasingly safe, attractive, and conveniently accessible to residents and visitors.”
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overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved over $175 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The Board’s approval authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing and previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects. These investments help make projects more affordable, reducing the need for higher rate increases to fund improvements.
“An investment in our state’s water systems is an investment in New Yorkers’ quality of life – from safeguarding our drinking water to protecting the rivers and lakes we use for recreation,” Governor Hochul said. “By ensuring communities have the resources they need to complete crucial water infrastructure projects, we can create good-paying jobs and boost local economies while working toward a healthy environment for all New Yorkers.”
Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) Board approved grants and financing to local governments from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds – a mix of federal and state dollars dedicated to financing community water infrastructure projects. State Revolving Fund interest rates are below market rate, and with long repayment periods, communities may save significantly on debt service compared to traditional financing.
The Board also approved executing previously awarded grants from the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement program. EFC Board approval is a critical step in the funding process and will allow communities to access these funds for project implementation. Leveraging federal funding with state investments maximizes the impact of each dollar spent, empowering local communities to make critical system improvements they need to keep their residents safe and ensure cost is not a barrier for project implementation.
Environmental Facilities Corporation President & CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “The Environmental Facilities Corporation is proud to support communities across New York State that invest in clean, safe, and reliable water infrastructure. These approvals are symbolic of Governor Hochul’s commitment to affordability, public health, environmental protection, and economic resilience. By making these investments affordable, we’re helping municipalities tackle urgent infrastructure needs while minimizing the financial impact of these projects on local ratepayers.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York continues to make nation-leading investments in clean water and transformational infrastructure projects that protect water quality and maintain the health and safety of all New Yorkers. Communities of all sizes across New York, from Cheektowaga to Port Jervis, will benefit from these investments and the ability to undertake vital upgrades and projects to protect public health, quality of life, and the environment.”
New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Clean drinking water is the number one priority for healthy communities around New York State. Governor Hochul’s proactive investments, including over $175 million to provide support for critical water infrastructure improvements, will equitably help create environmentally sound cities by building groundwork projects that will lead to a better quality of life for millions of New Yorkers for generations to come.”
Senator Charles Schumer said, “Access to clean drinking water and modern water-sewer systems is fundamental. This major federal investment will ensure families from Sylvan Beach to Port Jervis have safe drinking water and our beautiful waterways stay clean, all while creating new good paying jobs. I am proud to deliver this major funding from our bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to help turn the tide on our state’s aging water infrastructure and keep our communities safe and healthy.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Access to clean water is a critical component of public health and a right for all New Yorkers. These projects will improve drinking water quality, protect the environment, and boost local economies across our state, and I am proud to see federal dollars being used to support these efforts.”
Representative Nick Langworthy said, “Helping our struggling municipalities upgrade their aging water and sewer infrastructure is vital to maintaining overall public health and economic viability, particularly in our rural communities. I’m pleased the Town of Erwin and the Village of Mayville will benefit from this announcement through grants for the construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements and the installation of new groundwater wells. These projects are critical to our region, and I look forward to working with the Governor to expand access so even more municipalities can benefit from this program.”
Representative John Mannion said, “Long-term, interest-free financing means that the Village of Waterville in NY-22 and communities across New York can make critical upgrades without placing a heavy burden on ratepayers. I commend Governor Hochul and EFC for making these smart forward-looking investments that ensure clean water and strong infrastructure to support future growth while protecting local taxpayers and the environment.”
Funding was approved for projects in the following regions:
Central New York
Town of Mexico – $2.5 million state grant for the installation of approximately 60,000 linear feet of water main and associated appurtenances to serve the new water service area no. 6.
Finger Lakes
Village of Naples – $22.2 million grant and interest-free financing package for the planning, design, and construction of new sanitary sewers and a wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Mid-Hudson
City of Port Jervis – $20 million grant and interest-free financing package for the planning, design, and construction of water meter replacements and sanitary sewer rehabilitation.
Town of Thompson – funding for two projects:
$3.2 million grant and low-cost financing package for the planning, design, and construction of pump stations and force main improvements in the Emerald Green/Rock Hill Sewer District.
$2.2 million grant and interest-free financing package for the planning, design, and construction of the Sackett Lake Sewer District collection system improvement project.
Mohawk Valley
Village of Sylvan Beach – $51.1 million grant and low-cost financing package for the planning, design, and construction of upgrades at the East Oneida Lake Water Pollution Control Plant.
North Country
Town of Chazy – $6.9 million grant and low-cost financing package for the planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements
Village of Clayton – $8.2 million grant and low-cost financing package for the replacement of the aged raw drinking water intake and approximately 25,000 linear feet of aged water main and associated appurtenances.
Town of Diana – $5.1 million grant and low-cost financing package for improvements at existing Well Nos. 1 and 3, installation of an approximately 350,000-gallon drinking water storage tank and new water mains.
Village of Lyons Falls – $1.6 million grant and interest-free financing package for the planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements.
Village of Malone – $14 million grant and low-cost financing package for the installation of a third production well and 5,300 linear feet of transmission main to connect the new well to the existing drinking water treatment building; construction of a 20′ x 16′ building around the new production well and a 20,000-gallon concrete storage tank to provide raw water storage; and installation of upgraded instrumentation, controls, and flow meters.
City of Plattsburgh – $3.6 million in grants for the second phase of drinking water system improvements including construction of a new groundwater source and associated electrical supply, upgrades to the water filtration plant electrical system, and replacement of an asbestos-cement water main.
Southern Tier
Town of Erwin – $10.8 million grant and low-cost financing package for the design and construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements and extension of sanitary sewers along Route 417.
Western New York
Village of Mayville – $7.5 million grant and interest-free financing package for the installation of a new groundwater well and/or installation of treatment for the existing well that is currently contaminated with PFOA.
Refinancing Completed Projects Will Achieve Long-Term Debt Service Savings
The Board also took action to help ensure continued, long-term affordability of existing projects. EFC provides short-term financing for design and construction of projects. Once project construction is completed, the short-term financing is typically refinanced to long-term financing for up to 30 years. Based on current market conditions, these long-term interest-free financings are projected to save local ratepayers an estimated $23 million in interest payments over the life of the financings.
The Board approved long-term financing for projects undertaken by communities in the following regions:
Mohawk Valley
Village of Waterville – $2.6 million long-term interest-free financing for the planning, design, and construction of system improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
Western New York
Town of Cheektowaga – $14 million long-term interest-free financing for the planning, design, and construction of sanitary sewer rehabilitation to reduce sanitary sewer overflows.
Project Impact Dashboard
New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard. The map can be filtered by funding type and shows a project’s stage of construction. Each project announced today will be included on the map once the community executes a funding agreement with EFC.
New York State’s Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2024 alone. With an additional $500 million proposed for clean water infrastructure in Governor Hochul’s FY26 Executive Budget, New York will have invested a record $6 billion in water infrastructure since 2017.
overnor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced it will increase bus service on 16 local routes across Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island beginning June 29, 2025. This is in addition to enhanced express bus service on eight lines that went into effect earlier this Spring. The service enhancement will decrease travel times, shorten commutes and reduce wait times at bus stops.
“Every New Yorker deserves access to safe, fast and reliable public transit, and I’m investing in our buses and subways so we can deliver better service in every corner of our city,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re taking action to strengthen our transportation infrastructure, bring stations and equipment up to par and create the best experience for every rider.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Buses connect New Yorkers to jobs, education, entertainment and everything else the city has to offer. By increasing service on some of the busiest routes in the outer boroughs, we can deliver opportunity and quality of life upgrades to literally thousands of New Yorkers.”
Proposed by Governor Hochul in November 2024 in connection with the launch of congestion pricing, the service enhancements are one of the many ways stakeholders are working to give commuters better alternatives to driving. The following is a list of local bus routes that will benefit from the enhanced service. These lines have high ridership and, thanks to the success of congestion relief, allow riders to have expanded access to fast, safe, reliable transit service — especially in areas underserved by the subway system.
The Bronx:
Bx10 (Riverdale-Norwood)
Bx17 (Port Morris-Fordham Plaza)
Bx23 (Co-op City-Pelham Bay Park Station)
Bx28/Bx38 (Co-op City-Fordham Center)
Brooklyn
B17 (Crown Heights-Canarsie)
B26 (Fulton St-Ridgewood)
B74 (Sea Gate-Stillwell Avenue Station)
B103 (Canarsie-Downtown Brooklyn)
Queens
Q13 (Flushing-Ft. Totten)
Q28 (Bayside-Flushing)
Q35 (Rockaway Park-Midwood)
Q43 (Jamaica-Floral Park)
Q66 (Flushing-Long Island City
Q69 (Long Island City-Astoria)
Staten Island
S46/S96 (Castleton Avenue)
S79 SBS (Staten Island Mall-Bay Ridge)
The following is a list of the express bus routes in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island that have already implemented expanded service:
QM15 (Lindenwood-Cross Bay Blvd-Woodhaven Blvd-Midtown)
SIM1C (Eltingville-Hylan Blvd-Midtown/Downtown)
SIM4C (Huguenot-Richmond Av-Midtown/Downtown)
SIM23 (Annadale-Arden Av-Midtown)
SIM24 (Prince’s Bay-Huguenot Av-Midtown)
NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “Frequent, reliable bus service is essential for so many New Yorkers, especially for those who don’t live near the subway. By enhancing bus service on 16 local routes starting this summer, we can improve trips along critical corridors, especially where we have seen increased ridership since the beginning of congestion relief.”
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, “Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus routes are of great importance for everyday New Yorkers, facilitating their commuting to and from various destinations, like work, especially in transportation deserts. Today’s announcement of service enhancements for 16 local bus routes across the city set to commence this summer, will ensure frequent and dependable services during a period when ridership tends to surge. I would like to thank the MTA for its commitment to the people of New York and its dedication to ensuring the accessibility of public transportation for all.”
State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “When we invest in public transit, we break down barriers to transportation and make it easier for passengers to get from Point A to Point B, and increasing bus service helps achieve this. I want to thank Governor Hochul and MTA Chair Lieber for their commitment to an efficient bus system that meets the needs of all New Yorkers.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Increasing bus services throughout Queens is crucial for ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to reliable and efficient transportation. These enhancements will reduce commute times and make connecting with essential services easier for our communities. I support this initiative, which reflects our commitment to improving public transit and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. I will continue to advocate for equitable investments in transportation, especially with the expansion of the Q43 route to better connect residents to vital locations.”
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “I’m so excited for more frequent and reliable bus service in our community. Thank you to the MTA for their work in expanding bus service across NYC, and to my colleagues in the legislature who voted to fund this project.”
State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “Brooklynites from across my district rely on buses to get to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go, and they deserve frequent, reliable service that works for them. That’s especially true for seniors, folks with disabilities and those who live far from the subway. These are some of the highest-ridership bus routes in the city, and this service increase is a boon to New Yorkers and to our economy. Thanks to the MTA for making smart investments like this in our transit system and our city.”
State Senator Robert Jackson said, “Transit justice begins with investment—and I commend the MTA for taking this step toward a fairer, faster New York. For my constituents in District 31 and working-class New Yorkers across the city, expanded service on the Bx10 and other local routes is more than a convenience—it’s a correction. It’s a recognition that access to reliable, efficient transit is not a luxury, but a right. Every added bus, every reduced wait, brings us closer to a system that serves all of us—equitably, urgently, and with the dignity our communities deserve.”
State Senator John Liu said, “These service enhancements are a welcome step forward for Queens riders who rely on our bus network to get to school, work, and other essential destinations every day. Increasing service on many of these routes will provide more options for riders in northeast Queens without direct subway access to connect to mass transit. This expansion is an important part of the MTA’s broader bus redesign and aligns with the goals of congestion pricing, which is to invest in faster, more reliable service and get more commuters out of their cars and into mass transit.”
State Senator Julia Salazar said, “Hundreds if not thousands of New Yorkers in our district depend on buses to get to work, see their loved ones, grab their groceries, and more. As a strong advocate for investing in our public transit systems, I’m thrilled the MTA is enhancing services on 16 local routes, making commutes faster, more reliable, and more convenient.”
Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “Thank you MTA for announcing increased bus service around the city, specifically in my district with the Bx10 bus line. The Bx10 runs throughout most of my district, including Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Van Cortlandt Village, and Norwood, and will now have additional buses in rotation all day, reducing wait times at bus stops and shortening travel times. Many of my constituents rely on the Bx10 for transportation and these new service enhancements will improve their daily commutes. Investing in our public transportation is one of the smartest choices we can make, and I am confident that these changes will benefit us all greatly.”
Assemblymember Charles D. Fall said, “I’ve long called for improvements to the S46 line, and I’m glad to see this critical investment finally being delivered for the West Shore and North Shore communities of our borough. These enhancements will help reduce wait times, ease overcrowding, and make daily commutes more reliable for working families who rely on this route. I remain committed to fighting for equitable, accessible transit across Staten Island and beyond.”
Assemblymember Larinda C. Hooks said, “We appreciate the additional service being added to key routes like the Q66 and Q69, which play an essential role in connecting neighborhoods across Queens. This is a positive step toward improving access for residents who often experience long and complex commutes. I look forward to continued efforts that build a more efficient and equitable transit system for all New Yorkers.”
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “The upgraded B103 bus service is a game-changer for our community. More frequent service means faster, more reliable commutes. Investing in our bus network is critical to making transit work better for everyone.”
Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “I’m grateful for the MTA’s leadership in creating reliable, efficient, and speedy bus service for New Yorkers. Like many New Yorkers throughout the city, I have several constituents who do not live near a train station, resulting in busses to be one of their only modes of transportation. The Q66, for example, is a vital bus service that connects my constituents in Jackson Heights and Woodside to neighborhoods all the way to Flushing and Long Island City. With the enhanced bus services taking effect, I’m excited for my constituents and all New Yorkers to experience faster commutes and experience shorter wait periods.”
Assemblymember George Alvarez said, “Investing in better bus service is investing in the everyday lives of Bronx residents. With enhanced service on key routes like the Bx10, Bx17, Bx23, and Bx28/Bx38, communities from Riverdale to Co-op City will benefit from shorter wait times, improved reliability, and greater access to opportunity. This is a meaningful step toward a more connected, equitable Bronx.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “I’m pleased to see the MTA expanding local bus service in the Bronx and across the city. Reliable and frequent public transit is essential to our communities — it connects people to jobs, school, healthcare, and opportunity. These service enhancements will help shorten commutes, reduce wait times, and make everyday travel more manageable for Bronxites who rely on our buses the most. Investments like this bring us one step closer to a more equitable and accessible transit system for all New Yorkers.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “More than 800,000 Queens residents rely on MTA bus service each day, and each one of them deserves a fast, reliable commute that gets them to work, school, home or elsewhere quickly. With these needed service enhancements — in tandem with the full Queens Bus Network Redesign coming this summer — that commute is exactly what families across the borough will finally be able to enjoy. I’m deeply grateful to our dedicated partners at the MTA for working hand-in-hand with our borough to deliver the kind of mass transit system all 2.4 million of us in Queens have long sought and advocated for.”
The increased service is being funded with $8 million from the Outer Borough Transportation Account, which was established by the New York State Legislature in 2018 to improve transportation service in the outer boroughs.
Abdullah Haji Zada, 18, a native and citizen of Afghanistan and U.S. lawful permanent resident, pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging him with knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive a firearm and ammunition to be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism.
According to court documents, Zada and a co-conspirator received two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, knowing that the firearms and ammunition would be used in connection with a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024 on behalf the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Zada was arrested with co-conspirator Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, also a citizen of Afghanistan, in October 2024.
Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. At sentencing, Zada faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
As part of the plea agreement, Zada stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Zada acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status. Zada also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum.
Tawhedi is currently awaiting trial for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and receiving, attempting to receive, or conspiring to receive a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if convicted. An indictment is merely an allegation and Tawhedi is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)
Headline: Carter puts forward bill to make permanent the National Energy Dominance Council
Carter puts forward bill to make permanent the National Energy Dominance Council
Washington, April 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today introduced a bill codifying President Trump’s executive order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council, granting permanency to this body charged with positioning American energy for the next century, lowering prices, strengthening American economic security, and restoring our nation’s energy dominance.
“Securing our nation’s energy dominance is an economic and national security priority. We must ensure that we are not reliant on hostile foreign nations to meet our needs. President Trump’s visionary leadership allowed for the creation of this council that, frankly, should have existed a while ago. By codifying the executive order into law, we will protect this critical council from future radical left administrations that want to see our nation energy dependent,” said Rep. Carter.
According to the White House, this council will:
Be established within the Executive Office of the President, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and vice-chaired by the Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and comprised of members of President Trump’s cabinet and key government agencies.
Advise President Trump on strategies to achieve energy dominance by improving the processes for permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation across all forms of American energy.
Recommend a National Energy Dominance Strategy to the President aimed at cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments, and advancing innovation.
Facilitate cooperation between the federal government and domestic energy partners, ensuring policy consistency.
Consult with various public and private sector stakeholders to expand energy production and address cost barriers.
When an ordinary beam of neutrons strikes the team’s silicon grating, the millions of scored lines on the grating convert the neutrons into an Airy beam, whose wavefront travels along a parabolic path. The triangular shapes on the detector match the predicted behavior of an Airy beam, offering evidence of the team’s success.
Credit: N. Hanacek/NIST
In a physics first, a team including scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created a way to make beams of neutrons travel in curves. These Airy beams (named for English scientist George Airy), which the team created using a custom-built device, could enhance neutrons’ ability to reveal useful information about materials ranging from pharmaceuticals to perfumes to pesticides — in part because the beams can bend around obstacles.
“We’ve known about these strange, self-steering wave patterns for a while, but until now, no one had ever made them with neutrons,” said NIST’s Michael Huber, one of the paper’s authors. “This opens up a whole new way to control neutron beams, which could help us see inside materials or explore some big questions in physics.”
A paper announcing the findings appears in today’s issue of Physical Review Letters. The team was led by the University of Buffalo’s Dusan Sarenac, and coauthors from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo in Canada built the custom device that helped create the Airy beam. The team also includes scientists from the University of Maryland, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institut, and Germany’s Jülich Center for Neutron Science at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum.
In addition to following parabola-shaped paths, Airy beams behave in other ways that can defy intuition. Unlike a typical flashlight beam, they do not spread out as they travel. They even have the capability of “self-healing,” meaning that if an obstacle blocks part of the beam, the rest of the beam regenerates its original shape after passing the obstacle.
While other research teams have created Airy beams out of other particles — such as photons or electrons — wrangling neutrons into Airy beams is more difficult. Lenses are powerless to bend them, and because neutrons have no charge, electric fields do not affect them. The team needed a new approach.
So the researchers custom-built a diffraction grating array — a square of silicon about the size of a pencil eraser’s head and scored with tiny lines. These lines, arranged into more than six million squares one micrometer across and separated at precise distances from one another, can split an ordinary beam of neutrons into an Airy beam.
While the idea of scratching up a piece of silicon is simple in principle, figuring out just how to arrange the scratches to produce the Airy beam was anything but.
“It took us years of work to figure out the correct dimensions for the array,” said coauthor Dmitry Pushin, IQC faculty and professor at the University of Waterloo. “We only needed about 48 hours to carve the grating at the University of Waterloo’s nanofabrication facility, but before that it took years of a postdoctoral fellow’s time to prepare.”
Neutron Airy beams could help neutron imaging facilities see better, Huber said. They would help increase the resolution of a scan or create different focal spots to look more closely at particular parts of objects, improving commonly used imaging techniques such as neutron scattering and neutron diffraction.
One of the most tantalizing possibilities, Huber said, would be to find ways to combine a neutron Airy beam with another type of neutron beam.
“We think combining neutron beams could expand the Airy beams’ usefulness,” said Sarenac. “If someone wants Airy beams tailored for some physics or material application, they can tweak our techniques and get them.”
For example, scientists might combine a neutron Airy beam with a helical wave of neutrons, which the team learned to create a decade ago. Superimposing the two beams would allow scientists to explore a material’s chirality — a characteristic often described as “handedness,” where a molecule has two mirror-image forms that can have dramatically different properties.
A better way to explore and characterize chirality could facilitate the development of chiral molecules with specific properties and functions, potentially revolutionizing industries such as pharmaceuticals, materials science and chemical manufacturing. The global market for chiral drugs, for example, exceeds $200 billion annually, and chiral catalysis techniques underpin the manufacture of many chemical products.
Chirality is also growing in importance for quantum computing and other cutting-edge electronic applications such as spintronics.
“A material’s chirality can influence how electrons spin, and we could use spin-polarized electrons for information storage and processing,” Huber said. “Controlling it could also help us manipulate the qubits that form the building blocks of quantum computers. Neutron Airy beams could help us explore materials with these capabilities far more effectively.”
Paper: D. Sarenac, O. Lailey, M.E. Henderson, H. Ekinci, C.W. Clark, D.G. Cory, L. DeBeer-Schmitt, M.G. Huber, J.S. White, K. Zhernenkov, and D.A. Pushin. Generation of Airy Neutron Beams. Physical Review Letters. Published online April 17, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.153401.
Headline: Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Secures Key Victories for Energy Infrastructure
Unleashing American Energy was one of President Donald J. Trump’s first actions, and it includes infrastructure like pipelines and oil and gas export facilities. Recently, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) secured four wins in court that underpin the intentions of the president’s executive order.
Englewood Middle School to receive funding as part of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program
ENGLEWOOD – Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera has announced that Englewood Middle School is an award recipient of the 2025 NLGA Lt. Governors STEM Scholarship Program. NLGA will award the school $1,000 as part of a national call for applications for funding STEM programming and curriculum in schools.
“It’s inspiring to see Colorado students engaging in hands-on STEM learning that promotes sustainability and creativity,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Projects like the one at Englewood Middle School empower students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and care for the planet. I’m proud to see our state represented in this national program, and I am excited to see the impact these young innovators will make.”
Englewood Middle School will use the STEM Scholarship to fund the equipment and supplies for a project on Sustainability and Upcycling for students in grades 6 to 8. Using the “engineering design process” and STEM principles, students will use mini-blinds to create an upcycled piece of artwork. By repurposing old materials, students are encouraged to develop resourcefulness, creativity, and mindful consumption to help reduce their ecological footprint and be more mindful of the environment.
NLGA opened the application period for the STEM Scholarship Program in January 2025. The application process was competitive, with NLGA receiving more than 125 requests for STEM funding from schools in 32 states and territories. Twelve schools in 12 states and territories were awarded $500 – $1,000 for STEM-related expenses.
“As the seconds-in-command in state and territorial government, lieutenant governors are uniquely poised to lead on STEM education,” said NLGA Executive Director Kellie Rittershausen. “By supporting STEM-related activities in schools across the country, we can encourage a long-term interest and passion in STEM education in America’s youth.”
The Scholarship Program is administered by NLGA, the nonpartisan, nonprofit association for the nation’s seconds-in-command, and sponsored by ACT, the education and career readiness nonprofit.
“ACT is proud to have been the sponsor of the NLGA STEM scholarship program since its inception and to see its growth and impact over the past 4 years,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said. “STEM education is crucial for our country’s future workforce, which will be increasingly reliant on the critical thinking and problem-solving skills it fosters, regardless of a student’s college or career pathway. ACT is uniquely poised to meet this moment, and working alongside NLGA, we are committed to ensuring that all students leave high school prepared to enter a world of evolving postsecondary and work opportunities, including those for which a high-quality STEM education is essential.”
Public, private, and Tribal schools serving pre–K–12th grade students in the 50 states and five U.S. territories were invited to apply for funding to support STEM-related activities, programming, curriculum, equipment, and other expenses. Funding will be provided to all winning schools in May.
Additional information on the STEM Scholarship Program can be found at https://nlga.us/strategies/nlga-state-strategies-in-stem/.
l robo electrónico de beneficios está aumentando. El Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon (Oregon Department of Human Services, ODHS por sus siglas en inglés) está motivando a las personas para que tomen medidas para proteger su tarjeta de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (Electronic Benefit Transfer, EBT por sus siglas en inglés) del robo electrónico. El robo electrónico incluye el skimming de las tarjetas, la clonación de las tarjetas, finge ser una empresa o persona confiable y otros métodos similares.
“Sabemos que muchas personas y familias en Oregon dependen de la asistencia de alimentos y en efectivo que reciben a través de sus tarjetas EBT para satisfacer sus necesidades básicas y para obtener suficientes alimentos saludables para sí mismos y sus familias,” dijo Claire Seguin, directora de los Programas de Autosuficiencia de ODHS. “Pedimos a todas las personas que tienen una tarjeta EBT que sigan estos pasos simples para proteger sus beneficios.”
Cómo proteger su tarjeta EBT
Siga estos tres consejos principales para proteger sus beneficios de comida y en efectivo:
Bloquee las compras en línea o fuera del estado de Oregon: Puede bloquear estas compras para proteger su tarjeta del uso no autorizado.
Visite el sitio web de ebtEDGE o utilice la aplicación móvil de ebtEDGE y busque “Protect My Account” (“proteja mi cuenta”) bajo “Account Services” (“servicios de cuenta”). Puede quitar estos bloqueos en cualquier momento.
Monitoree la actividad de su cuenta de EBT: Acostúmbrese a revisar su cuenta regularmente para ver si hay cargos inusuales.
Si ve un cargo que usted no hizo, repórtelo inmediatamente. Cancele su tarjeta y llame a la línea de reemplazo al 855-328-6715 o vaya a su oficina local de beneficios de ODHS.
Recuerde, el sitio web de ebtEDGE y la aplicación móvil de ebtEDGE son los únicos lugares seguros para manejar sus beneficios. Guarde la página de inicio de sesión de ebtEDGE (cardholder.ebtedge.com) en sus favoritos en su navegador para acceder a ella rápidamente. Descargue la aplicación móvil en la Apple App Store u obténgala en Google Play. No use ningún otro sitio web o aplicación móvil para revisar sus beneficios.
Y cuídese de las estafas. Únicamente confíe en las publicaciones en redes sociales de las cuentas oficiales de ODHS. Nunca comparta el número o el pin de su tarjeta EBT por teléfono o por texto. Nunca pediremos la información de su tarjeta de beneficios en redes sociales.
Visite www.oregon.gov/odhs y busque “protect your EBT card and benefits” (“proteja su tarjeta EBT y sus beneficios”) para obtener más consejos.
Si le roban sus beneficios
Cancele su tarjeta inmediatamente y pida que le reemplacen su tarjeta.
De Lunes a Viernes de 8 a.m hasta las 5 p.m. Llame al 855-328-6715.
Durante los fines de semana: Llame al 888-997-4447 para cancelar su tarjeta. Luego, durante los días de oficina, llame al 855-328-6715 para pedir una tarjeta de reemplazo.
Cómo solicitar beneficios de reemplazo
Los beneficios del Programa de Asistencia para Nutrición Suplementaria (SNAP por sus siglas en inglés) que se robaron a través del robo electrónico de beneficios después del 20 de diciembre de 2024 no se pueden reemplazar.
Los beneficios del Programa de Asistencia Temporal para Familias Necesitadas (TANF por sus siglas en inglés) que se robaron a través del robo electrónico de beneficios sí se pueden reemplazar. Puede pedir el reemplazo de los beneficios de TANF robados comunicándose con:
Recursos para ayudarle a satisfacer sus necesidades básicas
Encuentre una despensa de alimentos: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
Entérese sobre los programas del gobierno y los recursos de la comunidad para adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades: en la Conexión para Adultos Mayores y Personas con Discapacidades de Oregon llamando al 1-855-673-2372 o en www.adrcoforegon.org.
Marque 2-1-1, o envíe su código postal por mensaje de texto al 898-211, www.211info.org
Encuentre los recursos y apoyo locales comunicándose con su Agencia Comunitaria de Acción local: https://www.caporegon.org/
As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the harmful effects of illegal and dangerous drugs in communities, the USAO-MDFL partnered with the Florida Army National Guard Drug Demand Operations to deliver a dynamic presentation on drug awareness and prevention to students and staff at the PACE Center for Girls – Hillsborough. USAO Community Outreach Specialist Khalilah Escalera and Captain Mason successfully engaged more than 50 participants during the forum.
