Category: Business

MIL-OSI: Glacier Bancorp, Inc. to Expand Southwest Presence and Enter Texas by Acquisition of Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

KALISPELL, Mont. and MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (“Glacier” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GBCI) and Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. (“Guaranty”) (NYSE: GNTY), the bank holding company for Guaranty Bank & Trust, N.A., a leading community bank headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Texas, today jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement, pursuant to which Glacier will acquire Guaranty in an all-stock transaction. The acquisition marks Glacier’s 27^th bank acquisition since 2000 and its 13^th announced transaction in the past 10 years. As of March 31, 2025, Guaranty had total assets of $3.2 billion, total gross loans of $2.1 billion and total deposits of $2.7 billion.

The boards of Glacier and Guaranty unanimously approved the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, Guaranty shareholder approval, and other customary conditions of closing. The definitive agreement provides that upon closing of the transaction, Guaranty shareholders are to receive 1.0000 share of Glacier stock for each Guaranty share (subject to adjustment under certain circumstances). Based on the closing price of $41.58 for Glacier shares on June 23, 2025, the transaction would result in aggregate consideration of $476.2 million (inclusive of the value to Guaranty stock options) and value of $41.58 per Guaranty share. Upon closing of the transaction, which is anticipated to take place in the fourth quarter of 2025, Guaranty Bank & Trust will operate as a new banking division under the name “Guaranty Bank & Trust, Division of Glacier Bank,” representing Glacier’s 18^th separate bank division.

“We are thrilled to add Guaranty Bank & Trust to the Glacier family of banks as a new banking Division,” said Randy Chesler, Glacier’s President and CEO. “This is a compelling opportunity to further expand our presence in the Southwest. Guaranty fits strategically and culturally within the unique Glacier business model and will allow us to enter a complementary state with an exceptional demographic profile, strong growth prospects, and a business-friendly operating environment. The Texas economy is estimated to be worth $2.7 trillion, and if Texas were an independent country, its economy would be the 8^th largest in the world.” Chesler also noted that “This acquisition continues our long history of consistently adding high quality community banks to our proven banking model and we are very enthusiastic about the future opportunities this partnership will provide.”

“Guaranty Bank & Trust has a 100+ year history of doing business in the State of Texas, and we are pleased to find a partner that emphasizes the relationship banking model that has been core to our success over many decades and through many business cycles,” said Ty Abston, Guaranty’s Chairman and CEO. “The opportunity to join Glacier Bancorp, which is a family of community banks that collectively share our banking philosophy, culture and character, was a perfect opportunity to position Guaranty Bank & Trust for the future. We will continue to grow and invest in our communities and our customers will be dealing with the same familiar faces, led by the same management team, in each of our markets. This partnership gives Guaranty added strength, with the support of a larger balance sheet and the resources to invest in the latest technologies and products to serve our existing and future customers. We are excited to join the Glacier family of banks and look forward to the opportunities and benefits this combination will bring to our clients, employees, communities and shareholders.”

Glacier management will review additional information regarding the transaction on a conference call beginning at 7:00 a.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

Investors who would like to join the call may now register by following this link to obtain dial-in instructions: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIdfefa202793d4cf9b9b8d5068cef9318

To participate via the webcast, log on to: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/n3vugmow

If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on our website, www.glacierbancorp.com.

A slide presentation to accompany management’s commentary may be accessed from Glacier’s June 24, 2025, Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or at https://www.glacierbancorp.com/news-market-information/annual-reports-presentations.

Glacier was advised in the transaction by Stephens Inc. as financial advisor and Miller Nash LLP as legal counsel. Guaranty was advised by Keefe Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company as financial advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP as legal counsel.

About Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company for Glacier Bank and its bank divisions: Altabank (American Fork, UT), Bank of the San Juans (Durango, CO), Citizens Community Bank (Pocatello, ID), Collegiate Peaks Bank (Buena Vista, CO), First Bank of Montana (Lewistown, MT), First Bank of Wyoming (Powell, WY), First Community Bank Utah (Layton, UT), First Security Bank (Bozeman, MT), First Security Bank of Missoula (Missoula, MT), First State Bank (Wheatland, WY), Glacier Bank (Kalispell, MT), Heritage Bank of Nevada (Reno, NV), Mountain West Bank (Coeur d’Alene, ID), The Foothills Bank (Yuma, AZ), Valley Bank (Helena, MT), Western Security Bank (Billings, MT), and Wheatland Bank (Spokane, WA).
Visit Glacier’s website at www.glacierbancorp.com.

About Guaranty Bancshares

Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company for Guaranty Bank & Trust, N.A. and has 33 banking locations across 26 Texas communities located within the East Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Central Texas regions of the state. As of March 31, 2025, Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. had total assets of $3.2 billion, total loans of $2.1 billion and total deposits of $2.7 billion.

Visit Guaranty’s website at www.gnty.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “estimate,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “will,” and similar references to future periods. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the expected closing of the transaction and its timing and the potential benefits of the business combination transaction involving Glacier and Guaranty, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts regarding either company or the proposed combination of the companies. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected, including but not limited to the following: risks that the proposed merger transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals or conditions to closing are delayed or not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; risks that the benefits from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Glacier and Guaranty operate; uncertainties regarding the ability of Glacier Bank and Guaranty Bank & Trust to promptly and effectively integrate their businesses, including into Glacier Bank’s existing division structure; changes in business and operational strategies that may occur between signing and closing; uncertainties regarding the reaction to the proposed transaction of the companies’ respective customers, employees, and contractual counterparties; and risks relating to the diversion of management time on merger-related issues. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management’s current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. Glacier undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this report. For more information, see the risk factors described in Glacier’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC.

Important Information and Where You Can Find It

This communication relates to the proposed merger transaction involving Glacier and Guaranty. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval.

In connection with the proposed merger transaction, Glacier expects to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) that will include a Preliminary Proxy Statement of Guaranty and a Preliminary Prospectus of Glacier, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, Guaranty will mail a Definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its shareholders. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement or for any other document that Glacier or Guaranty may file with the SEC and send to Guaranty’s shareholders in connection with the proposed merger transaction. Shareholders of Guaranty are urged to read carefully the Registration Statement and accompanying Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed merger transaction when it becomes available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.

Free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as well as other filings containing information about Glacier, Guaranty, and the proposed transaction, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from Glacier at www.glacierbancorp.com under the tab “SEC Filings” and in the “Investors” section of GNTY’s website, www.gnty.com, under the heading “Financial Information – SEC Filings” or by requesting them in writing or by telephone from Glacier at: Glacier Bancorp, Inc., 49 Commons Loop, Kalispell, Montana 59901, ATTN: Corporate Secretary; Telephone (406) 751-7706 or by requesting them in writing or by telephone from Guaranty at: Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., 16475 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600, Addison, Texas 75001 ATTN: Corporate Secretary; Telephone (888) 572,9881.

Participants in the Solicitation

GBCI and GNTY and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of GNTY in connection with the proposed merger transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of GBCI is set forth in the proxy statement for GBCI’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 12, 2025. Information about the directors and executive officers of GNTY is set forth in the proxy statement for Guaranty’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 31, 2025. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus included in the Registration Statement and other relevant documents regarding the proposed merger transaction filed with the SEC when they become available. Copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge from the sources described above.

CONTACT: Randall M. Chesler
(406) 751-4722

Ron J. Copher
(406) 751-7706

The MIL Network –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: 3D Systems Announces Significant Strengthening of Balance Sheet
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- Transactions permanently retire approximately $88 million of debt, 41% of prior balance, at a meaningful discount to par
- Refinancing extends maturity with issuance of $92 million Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2030
- Repurchase of 8 million shares, representing approximately 6% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, in connection with the transaction reduces dilution for equity holders
- Strong remaining cash reserves support completion of restructuring efforts while maintaining continuity in key growth initiatives
ROCK HILL, S.C., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced the closing of a series of strategic transactions to retire/refinance its outstanding 2026 convertible notes and repurchase shares of its common stock. The Company completed separate, privately negotiated agreements with a limited number of qualified institutional buyers to:
- Repurchase approximately $180 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 0% Convertible Senior Notes due November 15, 2026 (the “Existing Notes”) at a price of 94.6% of par, and
- Issue $92 million aggregate principal amount of new 5.875% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “New Notes”).
In connection with these transactions, the Company has repurchased approximately 8 million shares of its common stock concurrently with the closing of the New Notes issuance. The repurchase represents approximately 6% of 3D Systems’ 136.4 million shares outstanding as of May 2, 2025.

Following closing of these transactions, the Company’s balance sheet will reflect:
- Approximately $35 million principal amount of the Existing Notes, due in November, 2026;
- Approximately $92 million principal amount of the New Notes due in 2030; and
- Approximately $140 million of cash to support debt obligations, restructuring activities and ongoing investment in key growth initiatives.
The New Notes will mature on June 15, 2030, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased, and will bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum, payable semi-annually. The New Notes are convertible into shares of 3D Systems common stock at an initial conversion price reflecting a 20% premium to the Company’s last reported closing price on the New York Stock Exchange as of June 17, 2025.

In connection with the repurchase of the Existing Notes at a discount to par, the Company expects to recognize a gain of approximately $10 million in its financial statements for the second quarter.

Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems said, “We are pleased to announce the successful completion of these refinancing transactions, which mark an important step in the continued strengthening of our capital structure. Aided by our strong cash position, the transactions immediately reduce our overall outstanding debt at an attractive discount, significantly extending our debt maturity profile, while managing potential dilution through a simultaneous share repurchase. These transactions follow those of prior periods that have reduced our total debt by over 72% since 2021, with all of the transactions executed at opportunistic periods that have offered meaningful discounts to par value. We believe the transactions position 3D Systems with enhanced financial flexibility and a stronger foundation to continue executing our strategic initiatives and driving long-term value for our shareholders.”

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities (including the shares of common stock, if any, into which the notes are convertible in certain circumstances), nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable securities laws.

The offer and sale of the notes and any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or qualified under any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration or qualification requirements.

Advisors

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. acted as Financial Advisor and Sole Placement Agent of the New Notes to 3D Systems.

Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel to Cantor Fitzgerald.

McGuireWoods LLP served as legal counsel to 3D Systems.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the Company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

About 3D Systems
Nearly 40 years ago, Chuck Hull’s curiosity and desire to improve the way products were designed and manufactured gave birth to 3D printing, 3D Systems, and the additive manufacturing industry. Since then, that same spark continues to ignite the 3D Systems team as we work side-by-side with our customers to change the way industries innovate. As a full-service solutions partner, we deliver industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental; aerospace, space and defense; transportation and motorsports; AI infrastructure; and durable goods. Each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise and passion of our employees who endeavor to achieve our shared goal of Transforming Manufacturing for a Better Future. More information on the Company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

Investor Contact: investor.relations@3dsystems.com
Media Contact: press@3dsystems.com

The MIL Network –
June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Anterix Inc. Reports Full Fiscal Year 2025 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WOODLAND PARK, N.J., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anterix (NASDAQ: ATEX) today announced fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full fiscal year financial results and filed its 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2025. The Company also issued an update on its Demonstrated Intent metric which can be found on Anterix’s website at https://investors.anterix.com/events-presentations.

Full Year FY2025 Financial and Operational Highlights

Appointed Scott Lang as President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 8, 2024
Appointed Thomas Kuhn as Executive Chairman of the Board in January 2025
Executed new spectrum sale agreements with Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (“Oncor”) for $102.5 million in June 2024 and Lower Colorado River Authority (“LCRA”) for $13.5 million in January 2025
Received milestone payments of $8.5 million from Ameren Corporation (“Ameren”) and $44.0 million from Oncor
Approximately $147 million of contracted proceeds outstanding with approximately $80 million to be received in fiscal 2026
Exchanged narrowband for broadband licenses in 67 counties and recorded a $22.8 million gain
Invested $18.1 million in spectrum clearing costs
Secured FCC approval of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to expand the current paired 3 x 3 MHz broadband segment to a paired 5 x 5 MHz broadband segment within the 900 MHz band in January 2025
Initiated a strategic review process after receiving inbound interest in the Company in February 2025 which remains ongoing
Launched the AnterixAccelerator™ industry engagement initiative in March 2025 to speed up utility adoption of private broadband networks; the program is now oversubscribed with utilities actively engaged in discussions and negotiations for $250 million in 900 MHz spectrum incentives
Approximately $3 billion pipeline of prospective contract opportunities across 60+ potential customers

Fourth Quarter FY2025 Financial Highlights

Exchanged narrowband for broadband licenses in 47 counties and recorded a $2.0 million gain
Transferred four broadband licenses to Oncor and recorded an $18.3 million gain on the sale of intangible assets
Invested $5.5 million in spectrum clearing costs
Successfully identified and executed on several measures to reduce operating expenses, mainly through cuts in consulting fees and headcount costs

Liquidity and Balance Sheet

At March 31, 2025, the Company had no debt and cash and cash equivalents of $47.4 million. In addition, the Company had a restricted cash balance of $7.7 million in escrow deposits.

The Company has an authorized share repurchase program for up to $250.0 million of the Company’s common stock on or before September 21, 2026. In the fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full fiscal, Anterix had share repurchase activity of $2.0 million and $8.4 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2025, $227.7 million is remaining under the share repurchase program.

Conference Call Information

Anterix senior management will hold an analyst and investor conference call to provide a business update at 9:00 A.M. ET on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Participants interested in joining the call’s live question and answer session are required to pre-register by clicking on the following link https://investors.anterix.com/events/event-details/q4-fy2025-anterix-earnings-conference-call to obtain a dial-in number and unique PIN. It is recommended that you join the call at least 10 minutes before the conference call begins. The call is also being webcast live and will be accessible on the Investor Relations section of Anterix’s website at https://investors.anterix.com/events-presentations. Following the event, a replay of the call will also be available on the Anterix website.

About Anterix Inc.

At Anterix, we work with leading utilities and technology companies to harness the power of 900 MHz broadband for modernized grid solutions. Leading an ecosystem of more than 125 members, we offer utility-first solutions to modernize the grid and solve the challenges that utilities are facing today. As the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) throughout the contiguous United States, plus Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, we are uniquely positioned to enable private wireless broadband solutions that support cutting-edge advanced communications capabilities for a cleaner, safer, and more secure energy future. To learn more and join the 900 MHz movement, please visit www.anterix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events or achievements such as statements in this press release related to Anterix’s business, financial results, outlook, or opportunities. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements, as they are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause Anterix’s actual future results to differ materially from results indicated in the forward-looking statement. Such statements are based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including: (i) the timing of payments under customer agreements; (ii) Anterix’s ability to clear the 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum on a timely basis and on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) Anterix’s ability to timely secure broadband licenses; (iv) Anterix’s ability to successfully commercialize its spectrum assets to its targeted utility customers in accordance with its plans and expectations; (v) Anterix’s ability to execute on its customer engagement initiatives; (vi) the timing and outcome of Anterix’s strategic review process; (vii) whether Anterix will be able to identify, develop or execute on any actions as a result of its strategic review process and (viii) competition in the market for spectrum and spectrum solutions offered by Anterix. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Anterix’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect the Company’s financial outlook, business, results of operations and financial condition. Anterix undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Shareholder Contact

Natasha Vecchiarelli
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Anterix
973-531-4397
nvecchiarelli@anterix.com



Anterix Inc.
Earnings Release Tables
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

	March 31, 2025			March 31, 2024
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	47,374		$	60,578
Non-trade receivable		2,926			—
Spectrum receivable		7,107			8,521
Escrow deposits		547			—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,801			3,912
Total current assets		60,755			73,011
Escrow deposits		7,103			7,546
Property and equipment, net		1,302			2,062
Right of use assets, net		4,829			4,432
Intangible assets		228,983			216,743
Deferred broadband costs		28,944			19,772
Other assets		1,188			1,328
Total assets	$	333,104		$	324,894
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses	$	9,075		$	8,631
Accrued severance and other related charges		2,265			—
Due to related parties		30			—
Operating lease liabilities		1,643			1,850
Contingent liability		8,093			1,000
Deferred revenue		6,095			6,470
Total current liabilities		27,201			17,951
Operating lease liabilities		3,747			3,446
Contingent liability		15,336			15,000
Deferred revenue		118,577			115,742
Deferred gain on sale of intangible assets		4,911			4,911
Deferred income tax		6,606			6,281
Other liabilities		125			531
Total liabilities		176,503			163,862
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares outstanding at March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024		—			—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 18,612,804 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and 18,452,892 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024		2			2
Additional paid-in capital		548,542			533,203
Accumulated deficit		(391,943	)		(372,173	)
Total stockholders’ equity		156,601			161,032
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	333,104		$	324,894

Anterix Inc.
Earnings Release Tables
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Year Ended March 31,
		2025			2024			2025			2024
Spectrum revenue	$	1,389		$	1,260		$	6,031		$	4,191

Operating expenses
General and administrative		9,220			9,593			42,671			44,423
Sales and support		1,594			1,728			6,110			5,693
Product development		1,089			2,243			5,735			5,697
Severance and other related charges		258			—			3,771			—
Depreciation and amortization		76			191			548			844
Operating expenses		12,237			13,755			58,835			56,657
Gain on exchange of intangible assets, net		(1,953	)		(1,989	)		(22,799	)		(35,024	)
Gain on sale of intangible assets, net		(18,294	)		—			(18,294	)		(7,364	)
Loss from disposal of long-lived assets, net		3			5			3			44
Income (loss) from operations		9,396			(10,511	)		(11,714	)		(10,122	)
Interest income		446			926			2,159			2,374
Other income		40			44			75			233
Income (loss) before income taxes		9,882			(9,541	)		(9,480	)		(7,515	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		674			(130	)		1,892			1,613
Net income (loss)	$	9,208		$	(9,411	)	$	(11,372	)	$	(9,128	)
Net income (loss) per common share basic	$	0.50		$	(0.51	)	$	(0.61	)	$	(0.49	)
Net income (loss) per common share diluted	$	0.49		$	(0.51	)	$	(0.61	)	$	(0.49	)
Weighted-average common shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share		18,577,700			18,483,292			18,562,446			18,765,190
Weighted-average common shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share		18,709,205			18,483,292			18,562,446			18,765,190

Anterix Inc.
Earnings Release Tables
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Year Ended March 31,
		2025			2024			2025			2024
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$	9,208		$	(9,411	)	$	(11,372	)	$	(9,128	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization		76			191			548			844
Stock compensation expense		2,912			3,483			13,531			15,507
Deferred income taxes		(130	)		(51	)		325			841
Rights of use assets		431			2,770			1,657			1,512
Gain on exchange of intangible assets, net		(1,953	)		(1,989	)		(22,799	)		(35,024	)
Gain on sale of intangible assets, net		(18,294	)		—			(18,294	)		(7,364	)
Loss from disposal of long-lived assets, net		3			5			3			44
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Non-trade receivable		(2,926	)		—			(2,926	)		—
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(139	)		(1,493	)		1,126			(1,171	)
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses		167			348			550			1,936
Accrued severance and other related charges		(25	)		—			2,265			—
Due to related parties		30			—			30			(533	)
Operating lease liabilities		(507	)		(2,865	)		(1,960	)		(1,924	)
Contingent liability		(4,001	)		—			5,999			15,000
Deferred revenue		(1,389	)		15,152			2,460			61,453
Other liabilities		(18	)		—			(406	)		—
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(16,555	)		6,140			(29,263	)		41,993
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of intangible assets, including refundable deposits, retuning costs and swaps		(5,474	)		(2,222	)		(18,095	)		(17,031	)
Proceeds from sale of spectrum		40,935			—			40,935			25,427
Purchases of equipment		(46	)		(40	)		(87	)		(307	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		35,415			(2,262	)		22,753			8,089
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from stock option exercises		1,691			770			3,651			777
Repurchase of common stock		(1,955	)		(5,970	)		(8,398	)		(24,676	)
Payments of withholding tax on net issuance of restricted stock		—			(104	)		(1,843	)		(1,241	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(264	)		(5,304	)		(6,590	)		(25,140	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		18,596			(1,426	)		(13,100	)		24,942
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the year		36,428			69,550			68,124			43,182
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the year	$	55,024		$	68,124		$	55,024		$	68,124

The following tables provide a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

	March 31, 2025		March 31, 2024		March 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	47,374	$	60,578	$	43,182
Escrow deposits		7,650		7,546		—
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	55,024	$	68,124	$	43,182

			December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents			$	28,797	$	62,033
Escrow deposits				7,631		7,517
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash			$	36,428	$	69,550

Anterix Inc.
Earnings Release Tables
Other Financial Information
(in thousands except per share data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Year Ended March 31,
		2025		2024		2025		2024
Number of shares repurchased and retired		50		173		245		736
Average price paid per share*	$	38.63	$	33.80	$	33.71	$	33.72
Total cost to repurchase	$	1,955	$	5,970	$	8,398	$	24,676

*	Average price paid per share includes costs associated with the repurchases, excluding excise taxes associated with the share repurchases.

As of March 31, 2025, $227.7 million is remaining under the share repurchase program.

The MIL Network –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Declares 2025 Second-Quarter Cash Dividend

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ARCHBOLD, Ohio, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: FMAO) the holding company of F&M Bank, with total assets of $3.39 billion at March 31, 2025, today announced that it has approved the Company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.22125 per share. The second-quarter dividend is payable on July 20, 2025, to shareholders of record as of July 7, 2025.

For over 50 years, F&M has paid a quarterly dividend and has increased its annual dividend for 30 consecutive years reflecting the Company’s long-standing commitment to return capital to shareholders.

About Farmers & Merchants State Bank:
F&M Bank is a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in Troy, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.

Safe Harbor statement
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

Company Contact:	Investor and Media Contact:
Lars B. Eller President and Chief Executive Officer Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (419) 446-2501 leller@fm.bank	Andrew M. Berger Managing Director SM Berger & Company, Inc. (216) 464-6400 andrew@smberger.com

The MIL Network –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Declares 2025 Second-Quarter Cash Dividend

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company Contact:	Investor and Media Contact:
Lars B. Eller President and Chief Executive Officer Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (419) 446-2501 leller@fm.bank	Andrew M. Berger Managing Director SM Berger & Company, Inc. (216) 464-6400 andrew@smberger.com

The MIL Network –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Delegation, Governor Scott Celebrate New Funding for Northern Border Regional Commission Awards

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
BURLINGTON, VT – Today, the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large), along with Governor Phil Scott and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) announced NBRC’s Spring 2025 Catalyst Program awardees. Eleven projects in Vermont will receive a cumulative $13.7 million in funding to support initiatives that will increase market access for Vermont food producers, renovate historic and community gathering sites, and upgrade aging infrastructure and municipal drinking water systems.
Established in 2008, the NBRC is a Federal-State partnership in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire collaboration to improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region.
“The Northern Border Regional Commission plays a crucial role in supporting rural economies and communities in Vermont. These funds will be a catalyst for economic growth in rural communities across our state–from renewing vital drinking water infrastructure to renovating historic buildings and community gathering spaces,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “We’re pleased to see these projects receive funding to help communities in every corner of the Green Mountain State grow and thrive.”
“Investing in our communities and fixing aging infrastructure, is key to addressing many of the housing and affordability challenges we’re facing in the state,” said Governor Scott. “I want to thank the congressional delegation for their advocacy for this funding as well as the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and NBRC for their work to support these important projects.”
“The slate of awards approved by the Commission represent a generational investment in local economies across Northern New England and New York. This public investment in infrastructure will directly lead to the creation of new jobs and businesses, housing construction and improved economic opportunity and vitality in rural communities,” said NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders.
“This grant will have a huge impact on our community, and we are so grateful that this resource exists to make these improvements possible. With these funds, the Bolton Valley community will be able to move forward with a much-needed wastewater plant upgrade and set the stage for new residential development. These funds will move the needle on these projects. We truly cannot overstate the impact,” said Lindsay Deslauriers, President, CEO of Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Co.
When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature. Awarded projects in the 2025 Catalyst Spring Competition will support essential transportation and water and wastewater infrastructure, expand access to child care, and restore vital economic and social hubs for the rural communities, and more.
The 2025 Catalyst Spring Competition Awardees include:
Bennington County Industrial Corporation (Bennington County) – $3,000,000:
Develop essential transportation and water/wastewater infrastructure, supporting long-term economic revitalization in the Putnam Block of downtown Bennington.
Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Co. (Chittenden County) – $3,000,000:
Upgrade the community wastewater plant and construct a new road to support housing and economic growth.
Rutland City (Rutland County) – $3,000,000:
Modernize Downtown Rutland’s infrastructure, enhancing economic growth and resilience.
Town of Highgate (Franklin County) – $1,000,000:
Construct a community wastewater system, enhancing infrastructure for residents, businesses, and public spaces in Highgate Center.
Town of Rochester (Windsor County) – $1,000,000:
Re-purpose the former Rochester High School into a multi-use community hub.
Town of Woodstock (Windsor County) – $868,858.52:
Upgrade its municipal drinking water system, increasing pressure and capacity to support new housing and business development.
Benson Village Trust, Inc. (Rutland County) – $500,000:
Rebuild the Benson Village Store, restoring a vital economic and social hub for the rural community of Benson, Vermont.
Food Connects (Windham County) – $499,385.50:
Expand its storage and distribution infrastructure, increasing market access for Vermont food producers and supporting rural economic development.
Canaan Naturally Connected, Inc. (Essex County) – $449,044.00:
Renovate a historic Episcopal Church into the Canaan Community Center, a vital hub for economic and social engagement in rural Essex County, Vermont.
Southeast Vermont Transit, Inc. (Windham County) – $282,078.00:
Convert Springfield, Vermont’s fixed-route bus system, into a free, on-demand micro transit service.
Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary (Orange County) – $100,000:
Conduct a feasibility study for expanding childcare facilities and outdoor recreation infrastructure, addressing critical service gaps in rural Vermont.
Read more from NBRC here. The NBRC’s grants management system will open for Fall Round pre-applications in August 2025. Learn more about how to apply here.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Ruiz Slams Secretary Robert F. Kennedy for False Citations in the MAHA Report

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

Washington, DC – During today’s House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) directly challenged Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his role in leading the Make American Health Again (MAHA) Commission and the commission’s release of a report riddled with inaccuracies and misinformation.

Congressman Ruiz pressed Kennedy on whether he had reviewed and fact-checked the report’s sources prior to publication:

Congressman Ruiz: “Mr. Secretary Kennedy, you’re listed as the chair of the [MAHA] Commission. Did you read the report and fact check its sources prior to publication?”

Secretary Kennedy: “All of the factual studies…”

Congressman Ruiz: “Did you read the reports and did you yourself fact check them, sir?”

Secretary Kennedy: “I did not fact check.”

Video and Photos can be found here.

Congressman Ruiz, an emergency medicine physician and longtime advocate for public health and science-based policy, condemned the MAHA report for misleading the public and undermining trust in medical science.

“While public health leaders work around the clock to protect families and children, this kind of dishonesty from the Secretary of Health and Human Services is unacceptable,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz. “Secretary Kennedy’s entire agenda is built on misrepresentations and falsehoods, citing studies that don’t exist to push dangerous personal beliefs and vendettas. This violates basic scientific rigor, honesty, and trust in his agenda. Kennedy must be held to a higher standard when lives are at stake.”

The hearing comes as Kennedy continues to spread dangerous misinformation about vaccines and public health, claims that have been widely discredited by the medical community.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Global rankings fuel hype, but students have more to consider when choosing a uni

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Message, Professor of Public Humanities and Director of the ANU Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University

At this time of year, many year 12 students are seriously turning their minds to the future. Should they go to university next year? If so, which one?

June is also the start of the global ranking season. Last week saw the release of the QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2026 world university rankings, amid reports of a “wake-up call” for Australian universities. About 70% of Australian universities fell in the rankings albeit only by small margins.

Should students be worried about this? What should they – and the rest of us – understand about global rankings?

What are rankings?

Global university rankings aim to evaluate all universities in the world through a a single comparative framework.

Apart from QS, other high-profile global rankings include those by Shanghai Ranking and the Times Higher Education.

Each ranking system has a slightly different focus and methodology.

QS looks at student-to-staff ratios, student employability, the reputation of the university as an employer, sustainability, global engagement and academic citations. It also ranks specific subjects across universities, which can be helpful if you want to know about the quality of teaching in a particular discipline or field.

It is comprehensive. QS included 36 of Australia’s 43 universities in their latest assessment. These universities were also compared to more than 1,400 other institutions across 105 other countries.

What impact do rankings have?

These rankings are promoted as objective indicators and markers of prestige. They can be very influential in terms of attracting potential donors and students.

One analysis suggests academic rankings are more influential than are research results for attracting philanthropic investment in Australian universities.

The rankings can also directly affect the resources available for students.

We know rankings can influence where international students (and the resources that accompany them) go. Australian universities have long relied on fees from international students to support funding shortfalls.

Rankings are not everything

But global rankings have many critics. They may include a lot of information but this is not necessarily what students in diverse situations and locations need.

The rankings also do not reflect how much time and how many resources some universities put into the information that goes back to the ranking process.

In November 2023, an independent expert group, convened by the United Nations issued a statement criticising the rankings system.

It said “the very idea of global university rankings is fundamentally flawed”.

It is simply not possible to produce a fair and credible global league table of universities given their multiple missions and their diverse social, economic and political contexts around the world.

It also noted the rankings advantaged “historically privileged institutions”.

The statement also said there was a bias towards the English language, certain types of research, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. “This undermines the importance of teaching and of the humanities and social sciences,” it said.

A bias against regional unis?

The rankings also do not favour regional universities, which is particularly relevant for Australian students.

The QS 2026 survey shows four regional Australian universities slipped in rank and all are positioned outside the global top 400.

This shows how global rankings are a blunt instrument and don’t account for the broader place of universities in regional areas. Here they play a vital role in their communities, driving economic growth and providing essential services.

What should prospective students consider?

Although universities within countries are ranked as better or worse than each other in a global league table, it is important to recognise specific national factors are not considered in the rankings. And individual student experience is rarely taken into account.

Student experience includes the quality of teaching and the types of support individuals have access to, as well as the facilities and the culture on and around campus. We also know student experience continues to be affected by loneliness in the post-Covid era.

So prospective students should be careful when it comes to making a decision about where to go to university. Rankings are a useful tool but so is talking to friends and family and going to open days.

More than anything else, Year 12 students should know this is not the most important decision of their lives. They can take a gap year or change degrees. In fact many students do one or both of these things.

Kylie Message 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.

– ref. Global rankings fuel hype, but students have more to consider when choosing a uni – https://theconversation.com/global-rankings-fuel-hype-but-students-have-more-to-consider-when-choosing-a-uni-259443

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: How old are you really? Are the latest ‘biological age’ tests all they’re cracked up to be?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University

We all like to imagine we’re ageing well. Now a simple blood or saliva test promises to tell us by measuring our “biological age”. And then, as many have done, we can share how “young” we really are on social media, along with our secrets to success.

While chronological age is how long you have been alive, measures of biological age aim to indicate how old your body actually is, purporting to measure “wear and tear” at a molecular level.

The appeal of these tests is undeniable. Health-conscious consumers may see their results as reinforcing their anti-ageing efforts, or a way to show their journey to better health is paying off.

But how good are these tests? Do they actually offer useful insights? Or are they just clever marketing dressed up to look like science?

How do these tests work?

Over time, the chemical processes that allow our body to function, known as our “metabolic activity”, lead to damage and a decline in the activity of our cells, tissues and organs.

Biological age tests aim to capture some of these changes, offering a snapshot of how well, or how poorly, we are ageing on a cellular level.

Our DNA is also affected by the ageing process. In particular, chemical tags (methyl groups) attach to our DNA and affect gene expression. These changes occur in predictable ways with age and environmental exposures, in a process called methylation.

Research studies have used “epigenetic clocks”, which measure the methylation of our genes, to estimate biological age. By analysing methylation levels at specific sites in the genome from participant samples, researchers apply predictive models to estimate the cumulative wear and tear on the body.

What does the research say about their use?

Although the science is rapidly evolving, the evidence underpinning the use of epigenetic clocks to measure biological ageing in research studies is strong.

Studies have shown epigenetic biological age estimation is a better predictor of the risk of death and ageing-related diseases than chronological age.

Epigenetic clocks also have been found to correlate strongly with lifestyle and environmental exposures, such as smoking status and diet quality.

In addition, they have been found to be able to predict the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Taken together, a growing body of research indicates that at a population level, epigenetic clocks are robust measures of biological ageing and are strongly linked to the risk of disease and death

But how good are these tests for individuals?

While these tests are valuable when studying populations in research settings, using epigenetic clocks to measure the biological age of individuals is a different matter and requires scrutiny.

For testing at an individual level, perhaps the most important consideration is the “signal to noise ratio” (or precision) of these tests. This is the question of whether a single sample from an individual may yield widely differing results.

A study from 2022 found samples deviated by up to nine years. So an identical sample from a 40-year-old may indicate a biological age of as low as 35 years (a cause for celebration) or as high as 44 years (a cause of anxiety).

While there have been significant improvements in these tests over the years, there is considerable variability in the precision of these tests between commercial providers. So depending on who you send your sample to, your estimated biological age may vary considerably.

Another limitation is there is currently no standardisation of methods for this testing. Commercial providers perform these tests in different ways and have different algorithms for estimating biological age from the data.

As you would expect for commercial operators, providers don’t disclose their methods. So it’s difficult to compare companies and determine who provides the most accurate results – and what you’re getting for your money.

A third limitation is that while epigenetic clocks correlate well with ageing, they are simply a “proxy” and are not a diagnostic tool.

In other words, they may provide a general indication of ageing at a cellular level. But they don’t offer any specific insights about what the issue may be if someone is found to be “ageing faster” than they would like, or what they’re doing right if they are “ageing well”.

So regardless of the result of your test, all you’re likely to get from the commercial provider of an epigenetic test is generic advice about what the science says is healthy behaviour.

Are they worth it? Or what should I do instead?

While companies offering these tests may have good intentions, remember their ultimate goal is to sell you these tests and make a profit. And at a cost of around A$500, they’re not cheap.

While the idea of using these tests as a personalised health tool has potential, it is clear that we are not there yet.

For this to become a reality, tests will need to become more reproducible, standardised across providers, and validated through long-term studies that link changes in biological age to specific behaviours.

So while one-off tests of biological age make for impressive social media posts, for most people they represent a significant cost and offer limited real value.

The good news is we already know what we need to do to increase our chances of living longer and healthier lives. These include:
- improving our diet
- increasing physical activity
- getting enough sleep
- quitting smoking
- reducing stress
- prioritising social connection.
We don’t need to know our biological age in order to implement changes in our lives right now to improve our health.

Hassan Vally 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.

– ref. How old are you really? Are the latest ‘biological age’ tests all they’re cracked up to be? – https://theconversation.com/how-old-are-you-really-are-the-latest-biological-age-tests-all-theyre-cracked-up-to-be-257710
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Urges the Senate to Protect Medicaid

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani and 15 colleagues are urging Senate and House leaders to protect Medicaid, firmly opposing legislation that limits access to Medicaid coverage for vulnerable individuals or jeopardizes the ability for hospitals to provide care.

“Throughout the budget process, we have consistently affirmed our commitment to ensuring that reductions in federal spending do not come at the expense of our most vulnerable constituents,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson. “We write to reiterate that commitment to those we represent here in Washington… The proposal released by the Senate Finance Committee on June 16 includes provisions that go beyond H.R. 1. The House’s approach reflects a more pragmatic and compassionate standard, and we urge that it be retained in the final bill.”

The lawmakers continued: “Protecting Medicaid is essential for the vulnerable constituents we were elected to represent. Therefore, we cannot support a final bill that threatens access to coverage or jeopardizes the stability of our hospitals and providers.”

In April, Ciscomani joined a letter to House Republican leadership making it clear that they would not support a reconciliation package that reduces Medicaid coverage for those who need it and who have limited options for health coverage, such as single mothers, those with disabilities, the working poor, and the elderly.

Following this letter, Ciscomani met with the White House, Republican leadership, and the Energy and Commerce Committee to prevent changes to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), a decrease in Arizona’s provider tax, and per capita caps from being included in the final House reconciliation package. Those provisions were not included in the bill that Ciscomani voted for.

In February, Congressman Ciscomani was among members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference who sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, saying that cutting Medicaid “would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities where hospitals and nursing homes are already struggling to keep their doors open.”

The most recent letter was written by Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) and includes Reps. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Young Kim (R-CA), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Jeff Hurd (R-CO).

Find the full letter here or below:

Dear Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Thune,

As Members of Congress who helped secure a Republican majority, we believe it is essential that the final reconciliation bill reflects the priorities of our constituents—most importantly, the critical need to protect Medicaid and the hospitals that serve our communities. Throughout the budget process, we have consistently affirmed our commitment to ensuring that reductions in federal spending do not come at the expense of our most vulnerable constituents. We write to reiterate that commitment to those we represent here in Washington.

We support the Medicaid reforms in H.R. 1, which strengthen the program’s ability to serve children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. The proposal released by the Senate Finance Committee on June 16 includes provisions that go beyond H.R. 1. The House’s approach reflects a more pragmatic and compassionate standard, and we urge that it be retained in the final bill.

The Senate proposal also undermines the balanced approach taken to craft the Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1—particularly regarding provider taxes and state directed payments. The Senate version treats expansion and non-expansion states unfairly, fails to preserve existing state programs, and imposes stricter limits that do not give hospitals sufficient time to adjust to new budgetary constraints or to identify alternative funding sources.

We are also concerned about rushed implementation timelines, penalties for expansion states, changes to the community engagement requirements for adults with dependents, and cuts to emergency Medicaid funding. These changes would place additional burdens on hospitals already stretched thin by legal and moral obligations to provide care.

Protecting Medicaid is essential for the vulnerable constituents we were elected to represent. Therefore, we cannot support a final bill that threatens access to coverage or jeopardizes the stability of our hospitals and providers.

We appreciate your ongoing leadership in advocating for our members’ priorities as you engage in negotiations with the Senate. We look forward to discussing these issues further and working together toward a solution that reflects our conference’s goals.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty, Tim Scott, Lummis, Tillis Release Principles for Market Structure Legislation
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in releasing a set of principles for the development of comprehensive market structure legislation. These principles will guide discussions and negotiations as the senators engage with industry participants, legal and academic experts, and government stakeholders on the bill text.

“For too long, a lack of clear regulatory authority has forced digital asset innovation beyond our borders and subjected issuers, exchanges, and developers to crippling uncertainty,” said Senator Hagerty. “By working towards a reasonable, light-touch market structure framework, we can help bolster our nation’s economy and protect American consumers.”

“Since taking over as Chairman, I’ve led a new approach to digital assets regulation, and we’ve delivered results for the industry and the American people,” said Chairman Scott. “We have more work to do, and I look forward to building on the success of the GENIUS Act and advancing market structure legislation here in the Senate. These principles will serve as an important baseline for negotiations on this bill, and I’m hopeful my colleagues will put politics aside and provide long-overdue clarity for digital asset regulation.”

“America desperately needs digital asset legislation that promotes responsible innovation and protects consumers,” said Senator Lummis. “While the European Union and Singapore have established clear regulations, the U.S. continues to sit on the sidelines while the digital asset industry seeks greener pastures. That changes today. I am partnering with Chairman Scott to provide principles for market structure legislation to finally draw the line between a security and a commodity and ensure the U.S. remains at the helm of global financial advancement.”

“As Congress considers a regulatory framework for digital assets, our top priority must be providing legal clarity and certainty without stifling innovation,” said Senator Tillis. “These principles strike the right balance by protecting consumers, promoting innovation, and clearly defining the roles of regulators in a rapidly evolving market.”

The market structure principles state:

Legislation Should Clearly Define the Legal Status of Digital Assets
- A clear, economically rational line distinguishing digital asset securities from digital asset commodities should be fixed in statute, contemplating existing law and providing predictability, enhanced legal precision, and much-needed regulatory certainty.
Jurisdiction Should Be Clearly Allocated Among Regulators
- Regulatory authority should be clearly allocated in statute, preventing an all-encompassing regulator from emerging.
- Legislation should acknowledge that not all distributed ledger technology should be regulated equally.
  
  Legislation should recognize the different risks and benefits between centralized firms, decentralized finance protocols, and non-custodial software platforms.
  
  For similar reasons, self-custody of digital assets should be explicitly preserved.
  
  Likewise, the use of distributed ledger technology and smart contracts for other, non-financial purposes, such as to manage health data, should not be regulated like financial products.
Regulation Should be Modernized to Foster Innovation
- Regulations should be modernized to account for the unique nature of digital assets and distributed ledger technology.
  
  A new SEC exemption for certain digital asset fundraising should be included in legislation.
  
  The SEC should revisit its burdensome registration requirements for digital asset issuers, and instead provide a clear, appropriately tailored pathway to compliance for good faith, innovative actors.
  
  Clear, pro-innovation principles regarding the trading of digital assets on the secondary market should be established.
- Legislation should not apply principles designed for centralized firms to decentralized protocols.
  
  Tokenization should be recognized as an evolution of financial infrastructure that enhances efficiency, transparency, and liquidity, rather than a fundamental change to the nature of the underlying asset.
Regulation Should Protect Those Who Purchase or Trade Digital Assets
- Centralized digital asset intermediaries should be subject to innovation-friendly registration and risk management requirements similar to that of other centralized intermediaries today.
  
  Requirements could include illicit finance compliance, clear and right-sized capital, custody and segregation requirements, and appropriate enforcement authority.
- Legislation should also ensure that customer funds are protected during bankruptcy.
Illicit Finance Measures Should Be Targeted and Pro-Innovation
- A small, common-sense package of measures directed at preventing money laundering and sanctions evasion with digital assets should be included.
- Potential provisions can and should be targeted and pro-innovation. This could include requiring the adoption of examination standards and clarifying that the Bank Secrecy Act and International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) extends to entities abroad with U.S. touchpoints.
- Reforms should also consider the ways digital assets and distributed ledger technology can improve transparency, efficiency, and the detection of illicit activity, including money laundering.
Federal Financial Regulators Should Welcome Responsible Innovation
- Federal financial regulators should take common-sense steps to respond to responsible innovation, including potentially through increased use of no-action guidance, sandboxes, safe harbors, coordination, and appropriate application requirements.
- Federal financial regulators should provide clear guidance affirming that many crypto-related activities are permissible for banks and other financial institutions, provided they do not threaten the safety and soundness of the institution.
- Clear guidance will also improve and better enforcement by establishing well-defined rules and expectations, fostering accountability, and enabling consistent application of regulations, leading to better understanding and compliance.
MIL OSI USA News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: So Alberta, what’s next?
[.

Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the Alberta Next panel will bring together a broad mix of leaders, experts, and community voices to gather input, discuss solutions, and provide feedback to government on how Alberta can better protect its interests, defend its economy, and assert its place in Confederation.

The panel will consult across the province over the summer and early fall to ensure that those living, working, doing business and raising families are the ones to drive Alberta’s future forward. The work will include identifying solutions advanced by Albertans on how to make Alberta stronger and more sovereign within a united Canada that respects and empowers the province to achieve its full potential. It will also include making recommendations to the government on potential referendum questions for Albertans to vote on in 2026.

It will consider and hear from Albertans on the risks and benefits of ideas like a establishing an Alberta Pension Plan, using an Alberta Provincial Police Service rather than the RCMP for community policing, whether Albertans should consider pursuing constitutional changes, which (if any) changes to federal transfer payments and equalization Albertans should demand of the federal government, potential immigration reform that would give the provincial government more oversight into who comes to the province, and changes to how Alberta collects personal income tax. Albertans will also have the opportunity to put forward their own ideas for discussion.

“This isn’t just about talk. It’s about action. The Alberta Next Panel is giving everyday Albertans a direct say in the direction of our province. It’s time to stand up to Ottawa’s overreach and make sure decisions about Alberta’s future are made here, by the people who live and work here.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

“Right now, there is a need to restore fairness and functionality in the country. Years of problematic policy and decisions from Ottawa have hurt Albertan and Canadian prosperity. I am honoured to be asked by Premier Smith to participate in the Alberta Next Panel. This panel is about listening to Albertans on how we build a stronger Alberta within a united Canada, to which I, and the Business Council of Alberta, are firmly committed.”

Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta

Chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, the panel includes 13 additional members, including elected officials, academics, business leaders and community advocates:
- Honourable Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas of Alberta
- Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont
- Glenn van Dijken, MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock
- Tara Sawyer, MLA-elect for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
- Bruce McDonald, former justice, Court of Appeal of Alberta
- Trevor Tombe, director of fiscal and economic policy, the University of Calgary School of Public Policy
- Adam Legge, president, Business Council of Alberta
- Andrew Judson, vice chairman (prairies), Fraser Institute
- Sumita Anand, vice president, Above and Beyond Care Services
- Melody Garner-Skiba, business and agricultural advocate
- Grant Fagerheim, president and CEO, Whitecap Resources Inc.
- Dr. Akin Osakuade, physician and section chief, Didsbury Hospital
- Dr. Benny Xu, community health expert
- Michael Binnion, president, Questerre Energy
Albertans have a choice: let Ottawa continue calling the shots—or come together to chart our own course. What’s next? You decide.

Key facts:
- Town hall dates and sites, along with other opportunities to participate in this engagement, are available online at Alberta.ca/Next. Exact locations will be posted in the weeks ahead of the event, and Albertans will be asked to RSVP online.
- The panel’s recommendations will be submitted to government by Dec. 31, 2025.
- It is anticipated that the panel will add additional members in the coming weeks.
Related information
- Alberta.ca/Next
- Panel member biographies
Related news
- Alberta Next: Albertans to choose path forward (May 5, 2025)
Multimedia
- Watch the news conference
MIL OSI Canada News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: The One Big Beautiful Bill Advances President Trump’s Commitment to Peace through Strength
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — The world is being reminded that peace is only possible when America leads from a position of strength. And that’s why the One Big, Beautiful Bill advances President Trump’s bold Peace through Strength agenda and charts America’s path to strength, security, and sovereignty.

“While Congressional Democrats feign concern about the safety and wellbeing of U.S. service members, House Republicans are working to deliver legislation that actually accomplishes that and supports them. Amid this global threat landscape, there’s never been a better time for a piece of legislation, a once in a generation opportunity like the One Big Beautiful Bill,” Speaker Johnson said. “The One Big Beautiful Bill is a generational investment in American military might, and we need to get it to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible.”

Historic Investment for President Trump’s Golden Dome
- $25 billion to develop this cutting-edge missile defense system. This system will defend Americans against hypersonic missiles, ballistic threats, and next-generation aerial attacks from our adversaries like China and Iran.
Puts American Troops First
- $8.5 billion to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers. This includes funds to improve military barracks and housing; enhance healthcare services; expand educational opportunities and professional assistance programs for military spouses; childcare assistance; among other programs to support servicemembers.
A Down Payment on the Future of America’s National Security
- $34 billion to expand the size and capabilities of our naval fleet
- $21 billion to restock America’s arsenal of munitions and ramp up domestic production of rare earth and critical minerals
- $13 billion to modernize the nuclear deterrence and readiness of nuclear forces
- $11 billion to expand military exercises and improve the readiness of Indo-Pacific forces
- $7 billion to accelerate delivery of next-generation aircraft and autonomous systems
BOTTOM LINE: The One Big Beautiful Bill is critically important and urgent to guarantee America’s ready, capable, and lethal fighting force.

###

MIL OSI USA News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Wright Issues Emergency Order to Secure Southeast Power Grid Amid Heat Wave

Source: US Department of Energy

WASHINGTON—The Department of Energy (DOE) today issued an emergency order authorized by Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to address potential grid shortfall issues in the Southeast U.S. The order, issued amid surging power demand, will help mitigate the risk of blackouts brought on by high temperatures across the Southeast region.

“As electricity demand reaches its peak, Americans should not be forced to wonder if their power grid can support their homes and businesses. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy will use all tools available to maintain a reliable, affordable, and secure energy system for the American people,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “This order ensures Duke Energy Carolinas can supply its customers with consistent and reliable power throughout peak summer demand.”

The Order authorizes Duke Energy Carolina to utilize specific electric generating units located within the Duke Energy Carolina area to operate at their maximum generation output levels due to ongoing extreme weather conditions and to preserve the reliability of bulk electric power system.

Orders such as this, issued by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), are in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order: Declaring a National Energy Emergency and will ensure the availability of generation needed to meet high electricity demand and minimize the risk of blackouts. The order is in effect from June 24 – June 25, 2025.

Background:

FPA Section 202(c) gives DOE the ability to support energy companies to serve their customers during times of emergencies when they would otherwise not be capable of supplying Americans with reliable, consistent power by providing a waiver of federal, state, or local environmental laws and regulations. The waivers have limitations to ensure public safety and interest are prioritized.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces $26.5M for Local Transportation Projects

Source: US State of Georgia

ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp and the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) Board of Directors today announced the approval of a record $26.5 million in Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) loans and grants that will help fund 13 transportation infrastructure projects across the state. This round of GTIB awards is possible thanks to a $46 million budget enhancement allocated in the AFY 2025 state budget. These investments also mark two additional records for the bank that include the largest combined rural award, totaling $13.3 million, and the largest amount of loans, totaling $15.5 million.

“Thanks to conservative budgeting and strategic funding of our priorities, Georgia is not only the No. 1 state for business we’re also the best state for reliable infrastructure,” said Governor Brian Kemp, Chairman of the SRTA Board. “With this year’s historic rural investment, we’re preserving our competitive edge and reaffirming our commitment to creating opportunity in all parts of our state, especially rural Georgia. I want to thank the General Assembly and the SRTA team for making these awards possible and I look forward to the generational impact they will have on our communities.”

The Mount Vernon Roadway Connectivity project, one of the major rural investments included in this round of awards, will receive a $1.4 million GTIB grant for improvements and repairs to several local roads damaged by Hurricane Helene. Funds will also go toward the paving of a dirt road. This GTIB grant enables critical roadwork to advance more quickly, enhancing safety for this rural community.

The largest GTIB investment for this round is a $4.9 million loan to the Cumberland CID for the Cumberland Sweep Segment C buildout – a 3+ mile path around the core of the Cumberland District. The project will enhance transportation for more than 80,000 office workers, residents and visitors in the Improvement District by constructing the first portion of the Cumberland Sweep, a 0.4-mile shared-use path that connects to the existing pedestrian bridge over I-285 and includes traffic signal upgrades at Galleria Drive and Galleria Parkway.

Another significant loan of $2.4 million along with a $1 million grant was awarded to Barrow County for a new roundabout at State Route 53 (SR 53) at Mulberry Road. This portion of SR 53 connects the cities of Winder, Hoschton, and Braselton, with a combined population of over 40,000. The project will reduce vehicle collisions and improve freight movement. This GTIB investment also accelerates project delivery by three years, resulting in lower overall project costs.

“SRTA is honored and excited to continue investing in Georgia’s transportation network, this year by infusing more state funds than ever into local projects,” said Jannine Miller, Executive Director of the State Road and Tollway Authority. “Rural communities made up 38% of GTIB applications this year, indicating transportation is important in every corner of our state. With the support of Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, GTIB is helping local governments accelerate project delivery and lower long-term costs for Georgia taxpayers.”

Since its inception in 2010, GTIB has awarded $242 million in transformative grants and loans, investing in projects with a combined project value exceeding $1.2 billion, demonstrating the impact of the state’s investment and outstanding partnerships with local governments and community improvement districts over the past 15 years.

From the very first award granted, GTIB has provided strategic state investments in critical transportation projects that enhance mobility in local communities throughout Georgia. Applications are evaluated on a competitive basis, and criteria include transportation, engineering, economic value, matching funds, and project specifics like project phase and feasibility.

Loan applications are also evaluated for creditworthiness and overall project merits. An advisory committee comprised of representatives from state agencies and statewide associations evaluate SRTA staff recommendations and make final recommendations to the SRTA Board. Funds distributed by GTIB are used to support capital improvements.

SRTA began accepting GTIB applications mid-November 2024 and closed the application window on January 14, 2025. Fiscal Year 2025 awardees, project descriptions, and funding amounts are as follows:

Athens-Clarke County
Roadway Reconfiguration

This project will improve the intersection of Hawthorne and Oglethorpe Avenue by realigning it, reconfiguring lanes and adding multimodal options. The improvements will improve safety at the intersection and enhance the City’s sidewalk and bike network.

GTIB Grant Award: $1,700,000

Barrow County
State Route 53 at Mulberry Roundabout

This project will construct a single lane roundabout at the intersection of State Route 53 and Mulberry Road and realign the intersection. The new intersection is expected to improve road safety and freight movement. GTIB investments accelerate this project by three years.

GTIB Loan Award: $2,468,241

GTIB Grant Award: $1,000,000

Cherokee County
Airport Road Spur and Technology Ridge Parkway Project

This project is the second phase of the Technology Ridge Parkway Project to receive funding from GTIB. This phase of the project will construct a new, two-lane roadway connecting the airport to the existing I-575 interchange. The new spur road will allow the County to move forward with plans to extend the runway to 6,000 feet, allowing aircraft to carry more fuel and make longer trips. The project also includes a segment of Technology Ridge Parkway Phase III which provides access to 86 acres owned by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development and adds a roundabout at the intersection of Wes Welker and Airport Drive.

GTIB Loan Award: $2,000,000

City of LaGrange
Project Eagle

This project will construct a new two-lane road, Callaway South Parkway, from the intersection of Pegasus Parkway ending in a roundabout. This improvement provides access to undeveloped parcels in the Callaway South Industrial Park, enabling even greater private investment in the area. Funding for the project will come from GTIB, the City of LaGrange, Troup County, and the Calloway Foundation.

GTIB Grant Award: $1,000,000

City of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon Roadway Connectivity

This project will pave Carver Street, which is currently a dirt road, and make drainage improvements and repairs on Broad Street, South Railroad Avenue, North Washington Street, and McKinnon Street. The dirt road paving will improve road safety and provide the opportunity to attract industry while the drainage improvements and road repairs will address significant damage caused by Hurricane Helene re-opening roads currently closed to traffic. This City of Mount Vernon is approximately four (4) square miles and home to 1,800 residents.

GTIB Grant Award: $1,406,242

City of Mount Zion
2025 Street Repairs

This project will repave several roads for approximately five miles and realign the intersection of Beaver Pond Road and Bowdon Junction Road to improve safety. This intersection is near the West Georgia Regional Airport which supports economic development providing air transportation to companies including SMI Inc., Honda Lock, and Southwire. The GTIB investment will accelerate the project by four (4) years reducing project costs.

GTIB Loan Award: $487,500

GTIB Grant Award: $162,500

City of Twin City
Paving Improvements

This project will resurface 16 roads for a distance of approximately seven miles. The GTIB investment accelerates the project by several years reducing project costs. Located in Emanual County, City of Twin City is approximately four (4) sq miles and is home to 1,700 residents and George L. Smith, II State Park.

GTIB Grant Award: $700,000

Colquitt County
Resurfacing Improvements

This project will resurface ten roads for a distance of 11 miles in South Georgia’s Colquitt County. Full depth reclamation and replacement of existing culverts will occur where necessary. GTIB investment accelerates project delivery by three (3) years.

GTIB Loan Award: $2,567,430

GTIB Grant Award: $2,000,000

Cumberland CID
Cumberland Sweep Segment C – Galleria Parkway Improvements

This project will build the first section of the Cumberland Sweep project including a shared use path along Galleria Drive from Akers Mill Road to the existing bike/pedestrian bridge over I-285, a distance of just under half-a-mile. Pedestrian lighting will be included along the path and the traffic signal at Galleria Drive and Galleria Parkway will be upgraded. The project improves multimodal travel in one of Atlanta’s biggest activity centers and is funded in partnership with the Cumberland CID, an organization of over 190 commercial property owners fund key infrastructure projects throughout the Improvement District.

GTIB Loan Award: $4,858,435

Dodge County
Dodge County Road Improvement Program

This project will pave Bill Mullis Road from Roddy Highway to SR 87 (3.7 miles), perform full-depth reclamation on Milan Eastman Road from SR 117 to SR 280 (8.2 miles) to repair damage from increased freight traffic and resurface Zion Hill Church from Antioch Church Rd to Coody Road (4.5 miles). By combining these three segments into one project and obtaining GTIB funds, the project will reduce unit costs and accelerate the project timeline by approximately ten years providing substantial project savings.

GTIB Loan Award: $2,429,108

GTIB Grant Award: $2,000,000

Dougherty County
Road and Bridge Infrastructure Improvements

This project will provide design funds to widen and increase the weight capacity of two bridges on Gravel Hill Road to better accommodate truck and agricultural equipment traffic as well as pave and widen four (4) dirt roads which are heavily affected by adverse weather.

GTIB Loan Award: $667,758

GTIB Grant Award: $580,659

Stewart County
Moores Store Road Box Culvert Replacement

This project will replace a double cell box culvert on Moores Store Road at Bussey Creek, resurface the area and improve roadway shoulders and slopes by the creek. These improvements will allow both lanes of the bridge to re-open to traffic and will help minimize damage from future large rain events.

GTIB Grant Award: $250,000

Town of Iron City
Dunham and Broad

This project is consistent with the Seminole County and Cities Comprehensive Plan and will jumpstart downtown revitalization efforts by repaving streets in downtown Iron City – Broad Street from Church Street to Williams Street and Dunham Street. Located in Seminole County, the Town of Iron City is farming community of approximately one (1) sq mile and home to 300 residents.

GTIB Grant Award: $260,325

For more information about the GTIB program, visit www.srta.ga.gov/gtib.

About the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA)

SRTA is a state-level authority created to operate tolled transportation facilities within Georgia and act as the transportation financing arm for the state. SRTA manages the collection of tolls on Georgia’s Express Lanes System through the use of Peach Pass. Since 2010, the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) – a grant and low-interest loan program administered by SRTA – has provided funding for eligible local transportation projects across the state. In 2017, SRTA combined with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) to jointly provide the services of both state authorities. The GRTA board continues to oversee developments of regional impact, air quality reporting and regional transportation plan approval.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: Ethereum (ETH) Whale Allocates $250K to Little Pepe (LILPEPE) Presale as Stage 3 Gains Momentum

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On-chain activity has revealed that a major Ethereum holder has allocated approximately $250,000 into the ongoing presale of Little Pepe ($LILPEPE), a Layer 2 meme-chain currently in its third fundraising stage. This strategic purchase follows the whale’s recent divestment of ETH into Shiba Inu (SHIB), further signaling renewed interest in Ethereum-native meme ecosystems.

The wallet, known to hold over $17 million in ETH-based assets, moved 1,400 ETH to a centralized exchange earlier this month. Shortly after, a portion of the funds was directed into SHIB, while a separate tranche was allocated directly into Little Pepe’s presale wallet, according to blockchain explorers.

The transaction coincides with a strong presale performance by Little Pepe, which has already raised over $1.7 million across its funding rounds and sold more than 1.5 billion tokens. The current token price stands at $0.0012, with the next increase scheduled for the upcoming stage. The investment by a high-value ETH holder has drawn attention to the project’s growing momentum ahead of its initial exchange listings.

What Is Little Pepe?

Little Pepe is building a dedicated Layer 2 blockchain optimized for meme coin creation, deployment, and trading. The network is designed to offer ultra-low transaction fees, EVM compatibility, bot-resistant mechanics, and an in-house launchpad called Pepe’s Pump Pad. These features aim to provide a seamless and secure environment for meme-based crypto innovation.

According to the project’s roadmap, a testnet release is expected in Q3 2025, followed by validator onboarding and integrations with key decentralized applications. The $LILPEPE token will serve as the gas currency and governance asset of the chain.

$777,000 Giveaway and Community Campaign

To boost user engagement and support adoption, Little Pepe is also running a $777,000 giveaway campaign. Participants who contribute at least $100 to the presale and complete a set of simple social media tasks—such as following the project on X (formerly Twitter), joining the Telegram group, and tagging friends—will become eligible for prize pool entries. Ten winners will be awarded $77,000 worth of LILPEPE each.

The campaign has been widely shared across crypto communities, helping drive awareness and attracting both retail investors and larger holders.

A Strategic Shift Toward Infrastructure-Driven Meme Projects

While meme coins have traditionally risen on the back of viral narratives, the emergence of Layer 2 chains like Little Pepe suggests a shift toward utility-backed meme ecosystems. With early adoption from notable Ethereum holders and continued presale growth, Little Pepe is positioning itself not just as a token, but as an infrastructure layer for meme finance.

Learn More:

Contact Details:
James Stephen
media@littlepepe.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by Little Pepe. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3c68bf30-414e-4de7-acc6-54dd4496a1eb

The MIL Network –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pennsylvania gas plant to bring hundreds of jobs for Boilermakers

Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

When the hiring process starts, we’ll be ready to go. We want to give them qualified men and women.

Shawn Steffee, L-154 Business Agent

On April 2, Homer City Redevelopment and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. announced plans to redevelop the former Homer City Generating Station site. Once the largest coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania, the 3,200-acre property will be transformed into a natural-gas-powered data center campus.

The new facility will meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Top technology companies are hungry for more computing power and this project aims to deliver.

Construction will generate hundreds of new jobs for the Boilermakers, according to L-154 (Pittsburgh) Business Agent and Homer City native Shawn Steffee. In addition to Boilermakers, the project will employ thousands of unionized skilled trade workers during the build.

The closure of the coal plant in 2022 was a major blow to Homer City and the local workforce.

“The shutting of coal-fired plants and refineries caused a noticeable drop in our membership and the loss of many skilled Boilermakers to other trades,” said L-154 Business Manager Michael Stanton. “However, we are encouraged by the natural gas industry and excited about signs of a coal resurgence in America.”

Steffee remembers how damaging it was for friends when Homer City closed the coal plant.

“I knew the people who worked here, and the closure was devastating,” said Steffee, who’s thrilled at the prospect of work for Boilermakers in his local. “The Homer City Energy Campus will be a series of natural-gas plants that will power a massive data center campus. What’s really interesting is that this is going to be 4.5 gigawatt, the largest in North America, when it’s done.”

The power block build itself is a $10 billion investment. Another $10 to $15 billion is planned for investment in data centers.

The build can’t be done with renewables. According to Steffee, it would take 75 million solar panels across 230 sq. miles to generate the kind of output the new power block will provide. For wind, the numbers are 5,000 wind turbines across 1,875 sq. miles of land. He said the American people need to understand where reliable power comes from when they switch on a light. And renewables aren’t reliable.

The Homer City project brings security to the grid and eliminates reliability issues.

“Natural gas, coal and nuclear, these are reliable power,” he said. “What’s really great for the state of Pennsylvania is using the Marcellus and Utica formation. The plant will take 530 million cubic feet of gas per day.”

The local is up for the task of recruiting and training the needed number of Boilermakers for this job. Stanton said they indentured a new apprentice class in May and are actively recruiting through job fairs, school visits and community outreach.

“To strengthen our recruitment efforts, we utilized the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund to partner with a media team to enhance our social media presence and outreach, showcasing the benefits of a Boilermaker career.”

The local will need more Boilermakers because Steffee sees even more work coming. So, he’s keen on being the best craft on the project and fully manning it.

“When the hiring process starts, we’ll be ready to go. We want to give them qualified men and women. We want to build more. We want to build our numbers back up. This project is just the beginning,” he said. “This is just the beginning for us. I couldn’t be happier for our local. We needed the good news.”

To strengthen our recruitment efforts, we utilized the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund to partner with a media team to enhance our social media presence and outreach, showcasing the benefits of a Boilermaker career.

Michael Stanton, L-154 Business Manager

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, McCormick Push for Stronger Oversight to Prevent Currency Manipulation by Communist China

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dave McCormick (R-Penn.) introduced the China Exchange Rate Transparency (CERT) Act, which would direct the U.S. Executive Director at the IMF to advocate for enhanced transparency in China’s exchange rate arrangements at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The bill also calls for stricter oversight of China’s compliance with its commitments under the IMF’s Articles of Agreement which prohibit countries from manipulating currencies.
“As we work and trade with countries all around the world, it’s critical that every nation follows the same rules that make our global system fair,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I will continue to push for Communist China to be held accountable for unfair trade practices, like currency manipulation, which take advantage of the rest of the world.”
“China’s currency manipulation and secrecy are further examples of the CCP putting American businesses at a disadvantage in the global economy,” said Senator McCormick. “We need more transparency and stricter oversight of China’s economic commitments. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Senator Cortez Masto and fellow Pennsylvanian Rep. Dan Meuser on this legislation to stand up to China’s economic malpractice.”
Under Article IV of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has committed to orderly exchange rate arrangements, the avoidance of exchange rate manipulation, and cooperation with the Fund to ensure ‘‘firm surveillance’’ of PRC exchange rate policies. However, according to the Department of the Treasury’s most recent report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States, “China stands out among our major trading partners in its lack of transparency around its exchange rate policies and practices.” When any country artificially lowers the value of their currency, it allows them to sell to more countries than other nations who are trying follow the rules, gaining an unfair trade advantage.
Read the full bill here. The House companion bill, H.R. 692, was introduced by Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Penn.-09) and passed the House of Representatives on February 10.
Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party’s influence and protect the American national and economic security. She introduced the PASS Act to ban individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses located near U.S. military installations or sensitive sites and the Strengthening Exports Against China Act, which would incentivize economic growth by eliminating barriers for American businesses competing directly with China in emerging industries like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. She’s also introduced the Pacific Partnership Act to strengthen the United States’ strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations, support sustainable development, and combat the increasing Chinese aggression in the region.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DeGette Statement Following RFK Jr. Testimony Before Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Health Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 HHS budget request.

“Today’s testimony from Secretary Kennedy showed either an effort to obfuscate his agenda for the department or a complete lack of knowledge of the cuts that are happening under his leadership. He didn’t know what vaccine guidance is on his own website and didn’t know the impact of the HIV and Alzheimer’s studies he is cutting.

“Since Secretary Kennedy entered office, he has caused nothing but chaos and destruction. The Department of Health and Human Services is vital to our country, helping to keep Americans healthy while pioneering new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. The United States has long been the gold standard for medical research — RFK Jr. has tarnished that reputation.

“He failed to aggressively respond to the measles outbreak while hawking unproven treatments like cod liver oil, he released an error-ridden report with fabricated sources, he replaced experts on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with anti-vaxxers, he fired some of the leading medical researchers in the world, he failed to respond to outreach from Democrats on the Energy & Commerce Committee, and he is setting American biomedical research back a generation.

“Now, his proposed budget would only further hamper our ability to pursue lifesaving cures and groundbreaking treatments. The FY26 budget request cuts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by nearly 54 percent, National Institutes of Health by nearly 40 percent, Food and Drug Administration by 11 percent, among other cuts to mental and behavioral health and primary care. This is an unacceptable reduction in funding for agencies that are carrying out lifesaving work.

“His budget request is a blueprint to make American sicker and poorer, and his stewardship of HHS is having devastating consequences to our public health. Today’s hearing showcased his ineptitude, inexperience, and inability to string together coherent and cogent responses on the issues that fall under his department’s jurisdiction.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Playful or harmful? David Seymour’s posts raise questions about what’s OK to say online

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Veale, Senior Lecturer in Media Studies, part of the Digital Cultures Laboratory in the School of Humanities, Media, and Creative Communication, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour says he is being “playful” and having “fun” with his “Victim of the Day” social media posts, targeting opponents of his Regulatory Standards Bill.

But the posts – which have singled out academics and MPs who have criticised or made select committee submissions against the bill, accusing them of suffering from “Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome” – have now led to at least two official complaints to Cabinet.

Wellington City mayor Tory Whanau has alleged they amounted to “online harassment and intimidation” against academics and were in breach of the Cabinet Manual rules for ministers. According to the manual, ministers should

behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical and behavioural standards. This includes exercising a professional approach and good judgement in their interactions with the public, staff, and officials, and in all their communications, personal and professional.

Academic Anne Salmond, one of those targeted by the posts, has also alleged Seymour breached the behaviour standards set out by the manual. According to Salmond:

This “Victim of the Day” campaign does not match this description. It is unethical, unprofessional and potentially dangerous to those targeted. Debate is fine, online incitements are not.

When is a joke not a joke?

Seymour’s claim he was being “playful” while using his platform to criticise individuals follows a pattern of targeting critics while deflecting criticism of his own behaviour.

For example, in 2022 Seymour demanded an apology from Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, after Waititi earlier joked about poisoning Seymour with karaka berries. At the time, Seymour said:

I’m genuinely concerned that the next step is that some slightly more radical person doesn’t think it’s a joke.

But the same year, Seymour defended Tauranga by-election candidate Cameron Luxton’s joke that the city’s commission chair Anne Tolley was like Marie Antoinette and should be beheaded.

In 2023, Seymour joked about abolishing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples:

In my fantasy, we’d send a guy called Guy Fawkes in there and it’d be all over, but we’ll probably have to have a more formal approach than that.

Māori researcher and advocate Tina Ngata criticised Seymour’s argument that he was joking:

Calling it a joke does not make it any less white-supremacist. What it does is point to the fact that in David Seymour’s mind, violence against Pacific peoples is so normalised, that he can make a joke out of it […] but he’s not any person is he? He is a politician, a leader of a political party, with a significant platform and the means and opportunities to advance that normalised violence into policy and legislation.

Designed to silence

An analysis of Seymour’s recent social media posts by researcher Sanjana Hattotuwa at the Disinformation Project has argued they have the potential to lead to online harassment, saying they are:

designed to silence opposition to the controversial Regulatory Standards Bill whilst maintaining plausible deniability about the resulting harassment, harms and hate.

The “Victims of the Day” posts about Anne Salmond and former Green leader Metiria Turei were textbook examples of “technology-facilitated gender-based violence and online misogyny”, Hattotuwa argued. And the use of the term “derangement” framed academic criticism as a mental disorder – undermining expertise.

As my own research shows, online harassment and violent rhetoric can raise the chances of real-world violence.

Since the early 2000s, researchers have used the term “stochastic terrorism” to describe a way of indirectly threatening people. Nobody is specifically told “harm these people”, so the person putting them at risk has plausible deniability.

Seymour is already aware of these dynamics, as shown by his demand for an apology from Waititi over the karaka berry poisoning “joke”.

Free speech for who?

Seymour and ACT have long presented themselves as champions of free speech:

Freedom of expression is one of the most important values our society has. We can only solve our most pressing problems in an open society in which free thought and open enquiry are encouraged.

By going after critics of the Regulatory Standards Bill, Seymour may only be ridiculing speech he does not like. But he has taken things further in the past.

In 2023, he criticised poet Tusiata Avia for her poem “Savage Coloniser Pantoum”, which Seymour said was racist and would incite racially motivated violence. He made demands that the government withdraw NZ$107,280 in taxpayer money from the 2023 Auckland Arts Festival in response.

ACT list MP Todd Stephenson also threatened to remove Creative NZ funding after Avia received a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement. Avia said she received death threats after ACT’s criticism of her work.

The more serious purpose of saying something contentious is “just a joke” is to portray those who disagree as humourless and not deserving to be taken seriously.

ACT’s “Victim of the Day” campaign does something similar in attempting to discredit serious critics of the Regulatory Standards Bill by mocking them.

But in the end, we have to be alert to the potential political double standard: harmless jokes for me, but not for you. Dangerous threats from you, but not from me.

Kevin Veale 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.

– ref. Playful or harmful? David Seymour’s posts raise questions about what’s OK to say online – https://theconversation.com/playful-or-harmful-david-seymours-posts-raise-questions-about-whats-ok-to-say-online-259658

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chile Can Grow Faster – But it Won’t Be Like the 1990s Again

Source: IMF – News in Russian

Faster investment approvals, greater labor force participation, public-private R&D collaboration and steps to harness critical minerals and renewable energy can support higher growth

Many of Chile’s current socioeconomic debates—such as those related to fiscal sustainability, pension adequacy and college loans—can be attributed to the country’s growth slowdown over the past two decades. Back in the 1990s, Chile grew 6.2 percent per year on average and was Latin America’s posterchild success story. Over time, this robust growth trend steadily waned, and by the 2020s, growth barely went above 2 percent. The IMF’s recent annual economic health check of the country (Article IV consultation) addresses how Chile can reverse this trend.

Comparing Chile to its peers, there is scope to grow faster. Higher-income countries that were once at a comparable income level to Chile grew at a rate of around 2.9 percent per year. However, Chile faces challenges that most of those economies did not encounter at the same stage of development: such as an aging population and a global slowdown, both of which will make it more difficult for Chile to reach this pace.

Historical patterns

As countries get richer, sustaining rapid growth simply becomes harder because of diminishing gains from investment and less scope for technology catch-up. To evaluate Chile’s growth potential, we compared its trajectory with other countries when they reached similar income levels, such as Australia in the late 1980s and Korea in the 2000s. According to the Penn World Table and our calculations, Chile’s GDP per person tripled from US$8,200 in 1990 to around US$26,000 in 2025, in constant 2017 U.S. dollars after purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustment.

Among 28 economies that crossed the US$26,000 real GDP per capita threshold between 1950 and 2010, median annual GDP growth over the subsequent decade was 2.9 percent. This benchmark is well below Chile’s 1990s boom, but still above its current trend.

Demographic and external drags

While the comparison is useful and offers some optimism, Chile faces an aging population and a less favorable global growth environment – impediments that many of these other higher-income economies did not face during their development stage.

Though still relatively young, Chile’s population is aging. According to the UN’s median population projection, Chile’s working-age population (15-64) will grow by just 0.15 percent per year during 2025-35. With modest gains in labor participation, employment will likely grow by 0.2-0.3 percent annually – below the 0.8 percent seen in the comparison group. This demographic drag alone saps ¼ percentage point from Chile’s potential growth.

Global technological trends could also weigh on Chile’s outlook. In the 1990s, information technology boosted productivity across countries. Our comparison group of countries benefitted from a U.S. GDP growth rate – taken as a proxy for global technological trends – of 3.1 percent per year on average. In contrast, economists now expect more modest U.S. growth of 2.1 percent for the next decade. We estimate that a one-percentage point reduction in 10-year U.S. annual growth translates to a further 0.8 percentage point restraint on Chile’s potential growth.

Transformational reforms

While these are rough estimates, and outcomes could vary widely, the exercise suggests a long-term growth trend of around 1.9 percent, if Chile were to perform in line with the median country and the demographic and external headwinds persisted.

So, how can Chile increase its potential and defy these drags on growth? Short-run macroeconomic stimulus is not the answer, and Chile’s economy is already balanced. The solution lies in deepening supply-side structural measures, consistent with the policy messages in our latest annual review of Chile’s economy (the Article IV consultation).

First, it is critical to make regulatory requirements more efficient. As an extreme example, it can take up to 10 years to sort out permits and navigate bureaucracy to get a large mining project off the ground. Streamlining this lengthy process would help reduce barriers to investment and support technology adoption. Similarly, modernizing regulations related to maritime transport could lower trade costs and improve Chile’s competitiveness.

To address demographic challenges, Chile could stimulate labor participation, for example by improving the access to quality childcare that would enable more women to enter the labor force.

Chile’s R&D spending is also substantially below the OECD average. Greater public-private collaboration here is essential, given limited budgetary resources. The proposed technology transfer bill, enabling university researchers to create tech companies and commercialize their work, could help narrow this gap.

Finally, as the world’s largest copper producer, second largest lithium producer, and as a nation richly endowed with solar and wind resources, Chile can benefit from the high global demand for these critical minerals and through use of low-cost renewable energy.

While there is no silver bullet for growth, together these reforms improve the chances of a better outcome. Lifting Chile’s growth potential is critical for improving living standards and addressing social and fiscal pressures. Chile has an established track record of prudent macroeconomic management. Building on this solid foundation, the country can achieve stronger growth in a challenging global environment.

*****

Si Guo is a senior economist and Andrea Schaechter is an assistant director in the Western Hemisphere Department.

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/24/cf-chile-can-grow-faster-but-it-wont-be-like-its-the-1990s-again

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: One Big Beautiful Bill Will Protect American Jobs, Unleash Economic Growth
Source: US Whitehouse
President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a generational opportunity to restore America’s economic strength and reward our hardworking citizens. With provisions designed to support the backbone of our nation — families, farmers, job creators, and law enforcement — the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver meaningful results for Americans across the country.

Everyday Americans joined top lawmakers to detail how the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect their livelihoods:
- Toni McAllister, executive director of the Louisiana Loggers Association, says the One Big Beautiful Bill will give small logging businesses a chance to thrive: “It will finally give small businesses like ours a better opportunity to not just survive, but to grow and succeed … This legislation will lower the effective tax rate for producing in America, increase and make permanent the small business deduction, double immediate small business expensing, and reduce reporting burdens for small businesses.”
- Paul Danos, CEO of his family-owned offshore energy service company, says the One Big Beautiful Bill is key for American energy dominance: “This bill is a lifeline for American energy and restores the kind of predictably that businesses like ours need to invest and grow.”
- Sam Palmeter, an executive at one of the last remaining laser technology companies fully owned and operated in America, says the tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill will give them a chance to expand: “This will immediately allow us to double our manufacturing space … This bill incentivizes us to create new jobs in the U.S. and we are incentivized to manufacture in the USA.”
- Sheriff (Ret.) James Stuart, CEO of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, says the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver needed support for law enforcement: “No Tax on Overtime pay would benefit our protectors all across the country in tremendous ways. The increase in take home pay for these deputies and officers rewards the extra hours and the extra efforts that they devote to protecting their communities, impacting their own lives in significant ways. That is more money in their pockets to save, to invest, and to grow.”
Agricultural leaders outlined how the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.
- Michael Hunt, fifth-generation Wisconsin farmer: “The single biggest threat to family farm operations in the United States right now is the Estate Tax limitations. There’s no possible way, with the rising real estate values that are occurring in rural America, for production agriculture to shoulder the cost burden of estate tax when the first generation passes on.”
- Ethan Lane of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “That big chunk of the farm bill that’s in this reconciliation bill, including those animal health provisions that we have worked on for so long in the cattle industry, that is a huge win for cattle producers.”
- National Pork Producers Council: “These investments and policy extensions offer critical support to agriculture, ensuring stability and long-term growth for farmers, ranchers, and the rural economy.”
The National Association of Manufacturers launched a new ad campaign to highlight what’s at stake if the Trump Tax Cuts aren’t extended in the One Big Beautiful Bill: “If Congress doesn’t act, manufacturers will be hit with the largest tax increase in U.S. history. Six million jobs could be lost — that’s our neighbors, our communities, our futures.”

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright discussed how the One Big Beautiful Bill ENDS the Biden-era Green New Scam: “It’s going to get rid of these subsidies and distortions that have hurt not just our electricity market, but our broader energy markets … The One Big Beautiful Bill — it is big. There are a lot of things in it, but a lot of them are just cleaning out underbrush and nonsense so it’s easier to build things in our country again, remove the distortions from the energy markets, unleash American businesses to build energy productions of all different kinds — but kinds that work, without subsidies.”

Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, says extending the Trump Tax Cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill is a top priority for preventing American jobs from being exported to foreign countries: “These tax rates were meant to get the U.S. competitive on taxes on corporations … Remember back to people were exporting business outside the United States for lower tax rate reasons … All that’s been gone for the last seven or eight years, and so we need to make sure these extend or that will start up again.”
MIL OSI USA News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Shelton Man Admits Defrauding Pandemic Relief Program

Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that TONY STERLIN CANTAVE, 45, of Shelton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven for defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program.

In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the distribution of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”), through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which provided working capital to eligible small businesses to meet operating expenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2020, Cantave applied for EIDL funding through the SBA. The application contained a number of materially false statements, including that the business for which Cantave sought the loan, Arbitrage 1 Media, was an ongoing, legitimate business involved in the limousine and transportation business, and that he was not more than 60 days delinquent in his child support obligations. After the SBA reviewed and approved the fraudulent EIDL application, Cantave received $96,200. He then used the proceeds from the loan to pay for personal and non-business expenses, including $16,607.26 to pay off an automobile loan.

Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Cantave has agreed to pay $104,176.21 in restitution.

Cantave is released pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

Cantave has two prior federal convictions. In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme.

This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

MIL Security OSI –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: CIRI Announces 2025 Annual General Meeting Voting Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI) is pleased to report that, at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 19, 2025, 15 nominees were elected as Directors. Scott Parsons, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Alamos Gold Inc., was appointed Chair for a two-year term, and Adam Borgatti, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Aecon Group Inc., was appointed Past Chair for a one-year term.

“Scott’s blend of capital markets, investor relations and corporate development experience will be beneficial as CIRI responds to the evolving needs of investor relations professionals. His expertise, coupled with his strong leadership skills, will serve CIRI well as we continue to advance the stature of the profession,” commented Adam Borgatti, Past Chair, CIRI Board of Directors.

Scott Parsons, Chair, CIRI Board of Directors, commented: “I am very excited to be taking on the role of Chair. With the support of Nathalie and the rest of this talented and diverse Board, I look forward to contributing to CIRI’s strategic direction, continuing to raise the awareness of investor relations in Canada and further promoting CIRI’s mandate to contribute to the transparency and integrity of the Canadian capital market.”

Scott Parsons is joined by four new Directors: Annemarie Brissenden, Director, Investor Relations, Refined Substance.; Brenda Dayton, Vice President, Investor Relations, Bunker Hill Mining Corporation; Stacey Pavlova, Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications, Faraday Copper Corp.; and Sarah Zapotichny, Vice President, Western Canada, Peterson Capital.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that four accomplished individuals – Brenda, Annemarie, Stacey and Sarah – will be joining the CIRI Board. They bring extensive investor relations and capital markets expertise that will be an asset to the organization as we work together to advance the investor relations profession,” commented Scott Parsons, Chair, CIRI Board.

Annemarie Brissenden is an experienced investor relations professional and accomplished communicator who is passionate about empowering shareholders to make educated investment decisions. Over the past 25 years as an investor relations professional, she has played lead roles in several financings, an initial public offering and a spin-out. She has advised on shareholder activism, rebranded several public companies and worked on a transformative corporate merger. Annemarie is currently a member of CIRI’s Issues Committee, contributes to CIRI’s IR leader publication, and has served on two not-for-profit boards. She is a Certified Professional in Investor Relations (CPIR) and has a degree in English Literature (with Distinction) from McGill University.

Brenda Dayton is an accomplished executive with experience in corporate governance, communications and investor relations within the mining sector. Currently, Brenda serves as Vice President, Investor Relations at Bunker Hill Mining Corp., where she develops and executes marketing strategies to enhance the company’s visibility and market recognition, and manages direct communications with shareholders, stakeholders and media organizations. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary, where she received the Charles S. Noble Leadership Award and the Outstanding Graduate Award. She has completed advanced studies in negotiation, mining, capital markets and corporate governance, including the Canadian Securities Course and the Women Get on Board – Getting Board Ready Program.

Stacey Pavlova is a finance professional with 15 years of experience in the mining industry, specializing in investor relations, corporate communications, finance, and metal sales. She is currently Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications at Faraday Copper Corp., a TSX-listed exploration company advancing its flagship Copper Creek Project in the United States. In this role, Stacey leads the company’s strategic communications and investor engagement, supporting capital markets initiatives and corporate growth. Stacey serves on the Board of Directors of NiCAN Ltd., a TSX-V listed nickel exploration company, and has held several leadership roles with the Canadian Investor Relations Institute, including Board Member, Audit Committee Member, and Chair of the British Columbia Chapter. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and earned her Master’s in Finance from the University of Denver.

Sarah Zapotichny has over 20 years of experience in investor relations and corporate communications. In her current role as VP of Western Canada at Peterson Capital, she provides capital markets retail advisory to public companies across a diverse range of industries. Sarah holds a BA (Hons) in Criminology and Psychology from Simon Fraser University and has specialized training in Mediation and Third-Party Intervention from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. She has also completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and the Certified Professional in Investor Relations (CPIR) program from the Rotman School of Management. Sarah serves as Chair of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI), Alberta Chapter, where she champions excellence in investor relations and is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of business leaders.

The following 15 individuals will serve as Directors of CIRI:

Adam Borgatti, CFA, CPIR, ICD.D	Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Aecon Group Inc.
Annemarie Brissenden, CPIR	Director, Investor Relations, Refined Substance
Brenda Dayton	Vice President, Investor Relations, Bunker Hill Mining Corporation
Bruno Di Genova, MBA	Vice President, Sales, Digicast
David Frost, LLB	Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Kevin Hallahan, CPA, CMA	Vice President, Marketing & Investor Relations, Linamar Corporation
Claire Mahaney, CFA	Vice President, Investor Relations & ESG, Primaris Real Estate Income Trust
Jennifer McCaughey, F.CIRI	Director, Investor Relations, Calian Group Ltd.
Nathalie Megann, CPIR, ICD.D	President & CEO, CIRI
Scott Parsons, CFA	Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, Alamos Gold Inc.
Stacey Pavlova, CFA	Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications, Faraday Copper Corp.
Mahsa Rejali, MBA	Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Cineplex Inc.
Quentin Weber, CPIR	Senior Advisor, Investor Relations, WSP Global Inc.
Ann Wilkinson	Vice President, Investor Relations, Mineros SA
Sarah Zapotichny	Vice President, Western Canada, Peterson Capital

The Board looks forward to engaging with fellow members and continuing to deliver value through professional development events, resources, networking opportunities and issues education and advocacy.

Curtis Pelletier, Director, Investor Relations, Graham Corporation, is retiring from the Board. Curtis has dedicated his time volunteering for the organization and has made a tremendous contribution.

“I want to thank our outgoing Board member – Curtis Pelletier – for his active involvement on the CIRI Board. He has been instrumental in advancing CIRI’s mandate, and his counsel will be missed,” said Scott Parsons, Chair, CIRI Board of Directors.

About CIRI
CIRI is a professional, not-for-profit association of executives responsible for communication between public corporations, investors and the financial community. CIRI contributes to the transparency and integrity of the Canadian capital markets by advancing the practice of investor relations, the professional competency of its members and the stature of the profession. With over 300 members and four Chapters across the country, CIRI is the voice of IR in Canada. For further information, please visit CIRI.org.

For further information, please contact:
Nathalie Megann, CPIR, ICD.D
President & CEO
Canadian Investor Relations Institute
(416) 364-8200 ext. 101
nmegann@ciri.org

The MIL Network –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Canada: Samuel De Champlain Bridge: Special Illumination for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

Source: Government of Canada News

Media advisory

Tonight, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will be lit up in blue and white from sunset to 1 a.m. to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Montreal, Quebec, June 24, 2025 — Tonight, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge will be lit up in blue and white from sunset to 1 a.m. to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Sofia Ouslis
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Sofia.Ouslis@infc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

MIL OSI Canada News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Grindr United-CWA Launches Fundraising Campaign to Support Workers Amid Ongoing Legal Fight
Source: Communications Workers of America

West Hollywood, Calif. – Grindr United-CWA, a union organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) that is composed of current and former Grindr workers who were pushed out shortly after organizing, has launched a public fundraising campaign to raise critical funds to support union members who are continuing to struggle with hardships from being out of work for extended amounts of time.

The union includes a diverse coalition of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies who joined Grindr to build a product grounded in queer connection, joy, and safety. However, in August 2023, after announcing their intent to unionize and advocate for equitable treatment of employees and users, nearly the entire union was laid off in what Grindr United-CWA asserts was a retaliatory act by the company.

“For many of us, this wasn’t just a job—it was a calling,” said a Grindr United-CWA representative. “We believed in creating something beautiful by the queer community, for the queer community. But when we asked for fair treatment, we were shown the door.”

Over the past 18 months, many displaced workers—disproportionately queer and people of color—have faced unemployment, underemployment, and financial hardship. The union is now fighting a protracted legal battle to secure recognition, reclaim their positions, and win the back pay owed to them.

The fundraising campaign will directly support these efforts, providing financial relief for affected members and sustaining the union’s work toward a more just and inclusive tech industry. Their goals include:
- Inclusive hiring practices and meaningful representation across LGBTQIA+ identities
- A user-focused product roadmap featuring essential features like verification tools, unlimited blocks, and stronger data privacy
- Comprehensive healthcare, including gender-affirming care
- Transparent and equitable pay practices
“These demands aren’t extravagant—they’re the bare minimum. Grindr made over $300 million in revenue in 2024 while denying dignity and justice to the workers who helped build it. This is about more than Grindr. It’s about showing that queer workers cannot be silenced. That solidarity is stronger than retaliation. That we all deserve better,” said Grindr United-CWA.

This campaign is a call to the broader community—to anyone who has found love, safety, or belonging through Grindr—to stand with the people who made that possible.

To donate or learn more, visit: https://ww.gofundme.com/f/support-the-grindr-workers-union.

Follow Grindr United-CWA on X, Instagram, and Bluesky at @grindrunited for more updates.

###

About CODE-CWA

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

MIL OSI USA News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Statement on Jury’s Verdict in Trial of Thomas F. Casey

Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

Today, after a five-day trial and less than two hours of deliberation, a jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California found Thomas F. Casey liable for securities fraud.

Statement of SEC Division of Enforcement Acting Director Sam Waldon:

“We are pleased with the jury verdict holding the defendant liable for orchestrating a fraudulent securities offering, which targeted retirees’ retirement accounts with false promises of safety and security. The defendant induced more than 200 people to invest a total of over $10 million into Golden Genesis, a venture to supposedly create blood banks for selling human plasma from young donors for anti-aging treatments, based on false claims including that the investments would generate guaranteed high returns and be secured by the company’s assets. In reality, the funds were not secured and the defendant used investor funds to compensate himself and to prop up the scheme by paying back other investors, causing approximately $8 million in losses to the victims. As this trial demonstrates, the SEC is committed to protecting retirees’ hard-earned savings and holding the perpetrators of frauds involving retirement funds accountable.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Announces Appointments to the Homeland Security Advisory Council

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: President Trump Announces Appointments to the Homeland Security Advisory Council

resident Donald J

Trump and Secretary Noem appointed new members to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) and announced the date of the council’s first meeting

Formed on March 19, 2002, the HSAC leverages the experience, expertise, and national and global connections of its membership to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with real-time, real-world and independent advice on homeland security operations

This new-look, America First HSAC will draw upon a deep well of public and private sector experience from homeland security experts committed to fulfilling President Trump’s agenda

The Homeland Security Advisory Council will hold its first meeting at DHS headquarters in Washington, D

C

on July 2nd, 2025

Appointed Members:

Henry McMaster, Governor, South Carolina, Chair
Joseph Gruters, State Senator, Florida, Vice Chair
Marc Andreessen, Co-Founder and General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
David Chesnoff, Attorney, Chesnoff and Schonfeld

Christopher “Chris” Cox, Founder, Bikers for Trump
Mark Dannels, Cochise County Sheriff, Arizona
Richard “Bo” Dietl, CEO and Founder, Beau Dietl & Associates
Matthew Flynn, Attorney, Steptoe

Former Deputy Assistant to the President

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

Rudolph W

Giuliani, Former Mayor, New York City
Harvey C

Jewett IV, Retired President of Super 8 Motels Inc

, Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, Rivett Group LLC

, President Great Plains Education Foundation, Inc

Steve Kirby, Founding Partner, Bluestem Capital Company
Mark Levin, Broadcast News Analyst, The Mark Levin Show
Corey Lewandowski, Chief Advisor to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
Nicholas Luna, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Implementation, The White House
George Lund, CEO and Chairman, Torch Hill Investment Partners
Edward McMullen Jr, Senior Policy Advisor, Adams and Reese LLP

Former Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein,
Georgette Mosbacher, Co-Chair, Three Seas Programming, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, Former Ambassador to Poland
James “Jim” Pallotta, Managing Partner and Founder, The Raptor Group

Omar Qudrat, CEO, Maden, Founder, Muslim Coalition for America, Major, U

S

Army Reserve
Stephen Sloan, Global Head of Private Market Secondaries, Portfolio Advisors and Co-Founder, Cogent Partners
Robert “Bob” Smith, Former U

S

Senator, New Hampshire
Alexei Woltornist, Co-Founder and President, ATHOS

Former Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security

To learn more about the Homeland Security Advisory Council, including its previous taskings, reports, and recommendations, visit DHS

gov/Homeland-Security-Advisory-Council

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Ripley County

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Ripley County

A Disaster Recovery Center with FEMA Individual Assistance staff is opening in Ripley County for three days to help people affected by the March 14-15 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and wildfires.The Disaster Recovery Center opens Thursday, June 26.FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will help survivors with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents.Opening Thursday, June 26LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONRipley CountyRipley County Caring Community209 W. Hwy St.Doniphan, MO 63935June 26: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.June 27-28: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you. You may visit any location, no matter where you are staying now.If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed.
sara.zuckerman
Tue, 06/24/2025 – 13:05

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Tennessee After Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Tennessee After Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance in Tennessee After Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

Tennessee homeowners and renters in nine counties who had uninsured damage or loss caused by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred April 2-24 may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance

The designated counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson

FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, rental assistance, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs

There are several ways to apply for FEMA disaster assistance

Go to DisasterAssistance

gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

Lines are open from 6 a

m

to 10 p

m

CT seven days a week and specialists speak many languages

To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

FEMA’s disaster assistance offers benefits that provide flexible funding directly to survivors

In addition, simplified processes and expanded eligibility allows Tennesseans access to a wider range of assistance and funds for serious needs

What You’ll Need When You ApplyA current phone number where you can be contacted

Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

Your Social Security number

A general list of damage and losses

Banking information if you choose direct deposit

If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

If you have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible

FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance

If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance

kwei

nwaogu
Tue, 06/24/2025 – 14:23

MIL OSI USA News –

June 25, 2025

Category: Business

What are rankings?

What impact do rankings have?

Rankings are not everything

A bias against regional unis?

What should prospective students consider?

How do these tests work?

What does the research say about their use?

But how good are these tests for individuals?

Are they worth it? Or what should I do instead?

Key facts:

Related information

Related news

Multimedia

When is a joke not a joke?

Designed to silence

Free speech for who?

Media advisory

Contacts