Source: US GOIAM Union
May 16, 2025
Click Here to view this edition of IAM UNION on the Hill.
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Category: CTF
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MIL-OSI Security: Two arrested following the deaths of two kittens in Ruislip.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Met officers have carried out two arrests following the deaths of two kittens in Ruislip.
An appeal was published yesterday (Thursday, 15 May) in relation to the incident in Ickenham Road on Saturday, 3 May.
Following information provided to the Met, officers arrested two teenagers on Friday, 16 May on suspicion of animal cruelty. They remain in custody.
We recognise the distress this incident has caused in the area and we thank the community for sharing information with us.
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MIL-OSI Security: Luisa B Hernandez: From Radiation Protection to Nuclear Security
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Over the years, Luisa climbed the ranks in regulatory control. By 2002, she was appointed Director of the National Centre for Nuclear Safety, Cuba’s nuclear regulatory body. A year later, when Cuba signed the IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, she played a key role, including coordination with the IAEA about inspections and information exchange . Her leadership extended beyond Cuba, contributing to regional projects in Latin America aimed at developing regulatory frameworks for medical and industrial nuclear technology applications.
While Luisa had dedicated most of her career to nuclear and radiation safety, her transition into nuclear security came unexpectedly. In 2007, she was chosen to complete a master’s degree in national security and defense — an assignment she initially resisted. However, the programme broadened her understanding of security issues and, in hindsight, proved essential to her later career.
In 2014, she was appointed President of Cuba’s Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies Agency, overseeing all the country’s nuclear applications, from medicine to industrial use. Yet, life had another challenge in store. When her husband, a nuclear physicist, was offered a position at the IAEA, they decided to relocate to Vienna.
“I arrived in Vienna in 2016 without a job, which was hard for someone as active as me, but I wanted to keep our family together.”
However, this move ultimately led her in 2019 to a full-time position with the IAEA, working on the Regulatory Infrastructure Development Project with a focus on nuclear security.
“For me, regulation is in my blood,” she says. “Safety and security in nuclear applications are crucial, and I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring they are upheld.”
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MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Apprehends 7 Homicide Suspects in 10 Days in Austin Division
Source: US Marshals Service
Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force continued their work of removing violent criminals from the greater Austin area by apprehending seven murder suspects in a 10-day time span from May 6-15.
The Austin Police Department Homicide Unit requested assistance from the LSFTF to locate and apprehend six suspects sought on charges of murder and capital murder.
A juvenile suspect sought for capital murder was arrested May 6 in the 2500 block of South Congress Avenue for a homicide that occurred March 9 in the 2300 block of Douglas Street.
Jalen Hemphill, aka, “Jay”, 21, of Jarrell was arrested May 7 in the 10400 block of Burnet Road in Austin. Hemphill was wanted on a murder charge stemming from an October 2023 shooting in the 1700 block of Burnet Road.
Two juvenile suspects wanted on capital murder charges stemming from a homicide May 3 in the 5400 block of Ross Road in Austin were arrested May 8 in the 100 block of Chihuahua Drive in Del Valle.
Kent Outten, aka “K.O.,” 31, of Austin was arrested May 13 in the 6000 block of E. 7th Street following a foot-pursuit. Outten was wanted on a murder charge stemming from a March 31 shooting incident in the 400 block of North Interstate Highway 35 Northbound Service Road.
Darius Sebastain Hatcher, 26, of Manor was arrested May 14 in the 2000 block of South Interstate Highway 35 Frontage Road in Round Rock. Hatcher was charged with capital murder of multiple persons following the shooting deaths April 20 of two men outside an apartment complex in the 2600 block of Aldrich Street.
The Williamson County Sheriffs Office requested assistance from the LSFTF to apprehend Bradley Stone Puckett, 20, of Georgetown. Puckett was a suspect in a homicide that occurred April 25 in the 20100 block of McShepherd Road in Georgetown. LSFTF arrested Puckett May 15 in the 1100 block of West Dittmar Road.
The LSFTF’s apprehension of these violent fugitives was conducted with vital assistance from the Austin Police Department’s Air Support and K-9 Divisions and continued support from all members of the LSFTF combined intelligence.
All suspects have been transported and booked into Travis County and Williamson County jails where they await their judicial proceedings.
Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin:
Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit
Georgetown, Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Departments
Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Offices
Texas Attorney General’s Office
Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG
Texas Department of Public Safety
U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations -
MIL-OSI Security: 128th Air Refueling Wing Hosts Joint Tactical Training with U.S. Marshals and Milwaukee Police
Source: US Marshals Service
Milwaukee, WI – The 128th Air Refueling Wing partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Milwaukee Police Department to conduct a two-day combined training event, April 16–17, 2025, on base at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base.
The joint training brought together 128 ARW Security Forces personnel and local law enforcement agencies for a series of advanced tactical exercises designed to strengthen interagency coordination, improve tactical response, and enhance mission readiness across all organizations involved. The event was led by instructors from the U.S. Marshals Service and featured realistic, hands-on training scenarios.
Training events kicked off inside one of the Wing’s aircraft hangars with vehicle operations, where teams practiced high-risk vehicle approaches, tactical maneuvers, and suspect extraction techniques in confined spaces. The realistic environment allowed both military and civilian law enforcement personnel to work side by side, learning and refining techniques for use in operational settings.
The second portion of the training focused on vehicle ballistics using paint rounds. This exercise provided participants with a safe but realistic simulation of weapons engagement around vehicles, emphasizing the effectiveness of cover, angles of fire, and decision-making under pressure.
The final segment took place in an open-air environment and included instruction on coordinated movement, suspect pursuit and apprehension, and communication strategies between agencies. The training highlighted the importance of interoperability and real-time decision-making in complex, evolving situations.
“Joint training events like this one with the Wisconsin Air National Guard allows our agency to utilize additional training venues and strengthen inter-agency relationships that enhance community law enforcement initiatives,” said Anna Ruzinski, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “We are very grateful to the WI ANG for their support in providing an excellent training location and the opportunity to collaborate with their security forces personnel, as well as for support from the city of Cudahy Emergency Medical Services in conducting a realistic medical response scenario.”
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MIL-OSI Canada: Introducing the New North America Initiative
[. However, that relationship has shifted significantly in recent times and continues to evolve, demonstrating the need for more research and a greater understanding of the changing North American dynamic.
Currently, North America faces a significant gap in dedicated research activity specific to the study of Canada-U.S. relations and policy – and there is a particular shortage of this research from a western Canadian perspective.
Understanding and navigating the changing geopolitical landscape is crucial, and partnering with researchers abroad is becoming increasingly vital. That is why Alberta’s government is investing $6.5 million over three years in the New North America Initiative, led by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, to help Alberta navigate this new reality.
“A strong and collaborative relationship with the United States is essential to Alberta’s long-term success. This initiative will deepen academic and policy partnerships, and expand Alberta’s research capacity, to support and develop effective responses to shifts in Canada-U.S. relations.”
The New North America Initiative will help fill the significant gap in Canada-U.S. policy research and collaboration in North America and foster increased collaboration with the United States. By working with universities across North America, post-secondary institutions in Alberta can expand their research capacity and build key partnerships between institutions in both countries. Over the next three years, the initiative will bring key research and industry partners together to help Alberta better anticipate, manage and mitigate U.S. policy shifts.
“The New North America Initiative will help Alberta take strategic and thoughtful action as we navigate relations between Canada and the U.S. This initiative will open new research pathways and help establish strong new connections and partnerships, while also empowering and developing capacity for the next generation of students. There is very little dedicated research directed to the study of Canada-U.S. relations at Canadian universities, and increasing our knowledge on this topic right now is crucial.”
This initiative will also build upon the expertise of researchers at the University of Calgary and other post-secondary institutions, relevant think tanks and business associations in Alberta. The New North America Initiative will connect thought leaders, government officials, the private sector and think tanks in Alberta and across the continent to increase understanding and share new ideas on relations with the U.S. In addition to coursework and hands-on involvement in research, the initiative will help train students in specific skills and knowledge to work for government, private sector and civil society in a new era of relations with the U.S.
“The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy is taking the lead at a critical moment in Canada-U.S. relations by gathering the expertise of our researchers and partners to provide evidence-based public policy guidance to government.”
The University of Calgary School of Public Policy
Founded in 2008, the School of Public Policy advances public policy in Canada and works to improve policy capacity in government and enhance policy discourse outside of government. By conducting evidence-based research and fostering dialogue among policymakers, academics and the public, the School of Public Policy aims to inform and shape effective policy solutions for complex societal challenges while focusing on four key areas: social policy and health, energy and environmental policy, fiscal and economic policy, and international policy and trade.
“With the crisis in Canada-U.S. relations, it’s clear our traditional policies and the ways we engage the Americans, and their federal and state governments, have not been enough. We need new thinking and new ways of engaging, and we need the work behind this to come from new places and new voices on both sides of the border. That’s what the New North America Initiative will deliver.”
As part of the launch of the New North America Initiative, a roundtable discussion will be held with researchers from post-secondary institutions across Canada and the U.S. The discussion will explore opportunities for Alberta-based researchers to serve as a ready resource of information, intelligence and capacity to help inform policy. It will also allow these researchers to hear diverse perspectives from experts across the United States and Alberta and help build collaborative relationships.
Quick facts
- The New North America Initiative’s initial primary focus is on issues affecting Alberta/Canada-U.S. relations.
- The initiative will include researchers from Alberta and the United States, including from the:
- University of Alberta
- University of Lethbridge
- Mount Royal University
- University of Nebraska
- University of Colorado
- Arizona State University
- Rice University
Related information
- Overview | The School of Public Policy
Multimedia
- Watch the news conference
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MIL-OSI Canada: Contributions of Public Works Professionals Recognized May 18-24, 2025
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Released on May 16, 2025
The Government of Saskatchewan (GoS) is celebrating the contributions of public works professionals by recognizing May 18 – 24, 2025, as National Public Works Week in Saskatchewan.
Celebrated annually during the third week of May, National Public Works Week recognizes the contributions and efforts of public works professionals and seeks to inspire a new generation of young people to consider a career in this much-valued profession.
Public works professionals are engineers, managers and employees at all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving and protecting our nation’s transportation, water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens.
This year’s theme, “People, Purpose, Presence,” highlights the ability of these professionals to perform regular public works duties and be ready at a moment’s notice to react as first responders during natural disasters and overcome trials seen in the field.
This year’s celebration marks the 65th year that public works officials in Canada have raised awareness of their work and the commitment of their profession to building a better life for everyone across Canada.
“It is important to recognize the critical role of public works and how the profession has been a key contributor to our province’s success,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said. “We all depend on public works professionals to not only serve, but to make critical decisions and rise to challenges for Saskatchewan’s benefit.”
The Saskatchewan chapter of the Canadian Public Works Association is part of the professional network of members across North America. The association promotes public awareness through education and supports the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the profession.
“This year’s National Public Works Week celebrates how public works professionals keep our communities safe, vibrant and liveable. We are your neighbours, working behind the scenes to keep everything running,” Saskatchewan Public Works Association Presiden Stewart Schafer said. “You may not see us, but when things go wrong, we are there – clearing roads, restoring power, collecting waste and answering the call. As a friend once said, “When the public calls 911, and 911 needs help – they call public works.”
Public works professionals do more than maintain infrastructure – they help communities thrive.
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For more information, contact:
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MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Preliminary Injunction in Trump Administration Lawsuit over Unlawful Termination of $11 Billion in Critical Public Health Funding
Source: US State of California Department of Justice
Friday, May 16, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
Court order continues blocking termination of federal funds appropriated by Congress
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released a statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island’s decision to issue a preliminary injunction that continues blocking the unlawful termination of $11 billion in critical public health funding by the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Among its findings, the court concluded that the federal government had “clearly usurped Congress’s authority to spend and allocate funds.” The preliminary injunction is in effect with respect to the plaintiff states and the District of Columbia until further order by the court.
“Left unchallenged, California alone would lose more than $972 million from these illegal cancellations by HHS. We will not allow that to happen,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We are pleased that, after granting our motion for a temporary restraining order last month, the court has now issued a preliminary injunction that ensures this critical federal funding can continue flowing to our state and local public health agencies while our litigation proceeds. Critically, the court also noted that we are likely to succeed on the merits of our claims.”
On April 1, Attorney General Bonta announced co-leading a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s HHS and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over the unlawful termination of public health funding. Beginning on March 24, 2025, HHS abruptly, with no advance notice or warning, issued termination notices to state and local public health agencies across the country, purporting to end federal funding for grants that provide essential support for a wide range of urgent public health needs, including identifying, tracking, and addressing infectious diseases; ensuring access to immunizations; and modernizing critical public health infrastructure.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, the lawsuit alleges that the termination notices are unlawful in several ways under the Administrative Procedure Act. The federal funding was appropriated by Congress to ensure the United States is better prepared for future public health threats. According to the Trump Administration, funding for the grants is “no longer necessary” because the grants were appropriated through one or more COVID-19 related laws, and the COVID-19 pandemic is over. The coalition secured the temporary restraining order on April 3.
A copy of the court’s order can be found here.
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MIL-OSI: Embassy Bancorp, Inc. Announces Results of Operations as of and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
BETHLEHEM, Pa., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On May 14, 2025, Embassy Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: EMYB) (the “Company”) filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025, a copy of which can be found at https://investors.embassybank.com/sec-filings/documents/default.aspx.
Highlights of the filing, which includes consolidated financial information of the Company and Embassy Bank For the Lehigh Valley (the “Bank”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, include:
- Cash and cash equivalents on hand of $97.9 million at March 31, 2025, or 5.6% of total assets.
- Deposits of $1.61 billion at March 31, 2025, an increase of $59.0 million from $1.55 billion at December 31, 2024. The Company does not have any brokered deposits.
- Short term borrowings of $15.6 million at December 31, 2024 were repaid in full on January 2, 2025 and there were no new borrowings required during the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
- Bank net interest margin (FTE) increased to 2.34% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, up from 2.28% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 and up from 2.20% for the prior year quarter ended March 31, 2024
- Bank cost of funds of 1.80% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 1.91% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. This is compared to a Pennsylvania peer group (stock banks headquartered in Pennsylvania with assets between $100 million and $5 billion) cost of funds of 2.11% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
- Bank assets per employee of $15.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to the Pennsylvania peer group assets per employee of $8.0 million.
- Bank noncurrent loans to total loans of only 0.04% as of March 31, 2025, compared to the Pennsylvania peer group total of 0.46%.
- Net income of $2.9 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, up from $2.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the prior year three months ended March 31, 2024.
About Embassy Bancorp, Inc.
With over $1.7 billion in assets, Embassy Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, a full-service community bank operating ten branch locations throughout Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.
Embassy Bank was recently named “Best Bank & Mortgage Company” in the 2025 Who’s Who in Business survey, as featured in Lehigh Valley Style magazine—marking the fourth consecutive year it has earned this distinguished honor. The Bank was also voted the 2024 Morning Call Readers’ Choice “Best Bank,” underscoring its ongoing commitment to exceptional customer service and community-focused banking.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) Summary of Deposits as of June 30, 2024, Embassy Bank ranks fourth in total deposit market share across Lehigh and Northampton Counties combined—further solidifying its role as a leading financial institution in the region.
For more information, visit www.embassybank.com.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: ineffectiveness of the company’s business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; the effects of competition, and of changes in laws and regulations, including industry consolidation and development of competing financial products and services; interest rate movements; changes in credit quality; difficulties in integrating distinct business operations, including information technology difficulties; volatilities in the securities markets; and deteriorating economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Embassy Bancorp, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The statements are valid only as of the date hereof and Embassy Bancorp, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update this information.
Contact:
David M. Lobach, Jr.
Chairman, President and CEO
(610) 882-8800 -
CAQM implements Stage-I of GRAP in Delhi-NCR to curb worsening air quality
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas has invoked Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect on Friday, following a noticeable deterioration in air quality over the past two days. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Sub-Committee on GRAP held on May 16, after a sudden spike in the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded, primarily attributed to the long-range transport of dust and strong surface winds.Delhi’s average AQI stood at 278 on May 16, placing it in the ‘Poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marked a marginal increase from the previous day, despite forecasts predicting improvement. Based on current IMD and IITM forecasts, the air quality is expected to remain in the lower range of the ‘Poor’ category on May 17 as well.In response, CAQM has directed the immediate implementation of all measures outlined under Stage-I of the GRAP across the entire NCR. These actions aim to prevent any further degradation of air quality and will be enforced and monitored by all concerned agencies. The commission has urged the public to cooperate and strictly follow the Citizen Charter associated with Stage-I.Among the key advisories for citizens are maintaining properly tuned vehicles, ensuring up-to-date Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, avoiding vehicle idling at traffic lights, refraining from the use of old diesel or petrol vehicles beyond 10–15 years, and using eco-friendly alternatives during festivities. People are also encouraged to report polluting activities via mobile apps such as the 311 App, Green Delhi App, and SAMEER App.The 27-point action plan under Stage-I includes stringent dust mitigation at construction and demolition sites, regular lifting of municipal and hazardous waste, increased mechanized road sweeping, intensified use of anti-smog guns and water sprinkling, and strict enforcement of pollution norms across industries and vehicular traffic. Notably, all construction projects on plots of 500 square metres or more must be registered on the relevant state portals and comply with dust mitigation rules.Agencies have also been directed to stop illegal waste dumping, enforce emission standards in thermal power plants, prohibit the use of diesel generators as regular power sources, and ensure only clean fuels are used in eateries. Additional measures involve minimizing power cuts, managing traffic congestion, discouraging the use of firecrackers, and encouraging collective commuting among office-goers.Information dissemination will be stepped up through bulk SMS, social media, and mobile apps to keep citizens informed about pollution levels, complaint redressal mechanisms, and government actions.CAQM has assured that it will continue to closely monitor the air quality in the region and take further decisions based on upcoming forecasts and ground-level implementation of the prescribed measures. -
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Death of John Walker
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by North Antrim MP and TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Walker, a towering figure in Ballymena’s business community and a man whose entrepreneurial legacy will long outlive him.
“John was a man of drive and determination. From humble beginnings, he built remarkable business success.
“I offer my sincere condolences to the entire Walker family at this time of loss.”
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MIL-OSI USA: Nation’s largest public service unions launch national campaign to stop federal budget cuts to public services
Source: US National Education Union
WASHINGTON—The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are launching “Put Families First”—a new campaign aimed at fighting billionaires’ plans to gut public services and give massive tax breaks to the ultra-rich. With over 8.3 million members, including nurses, care providers, educators, school bus drivers, and sanitation workers, the unions’ campaign will center the stories of the workers who keep our communities running and know firsthand the devastating impact reckless cuts will have on working families.
Anti-union extremists are pushing a federal budget that would make devastating cuts to public services and vital programs like Medicaid—all to pay for billionaire tax cuts. On average, one-third of all states’ budgets rely on federal dollars. Without this funding, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and vital community centers could shutter, leaving millions of working families behind.
Public service workers across the country have spent the past four months sounding the alarm, talking to their co-workers, organizing town halls, and calling members of Congress to demand they put working families before billionaires. Now, they are turning up the heat, targeting 17 key congressional districts around the country with a $2 million media campaign and mobilization effort detailing the human impacts these cuts would have on our communities.
“Congress’ proposed budget plan will spell disaster for working families and hurt our economy,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “These budget cuts don’t just threaten Medicaid or food assistance; they put all of us at risk. From overcrowded hospitals to underfunded schools to short-staffed prisons, our communities will pay the price—all so billionaires can get richer. We’re fighting back to protect public services and the essential work we do. Congress must stop the cuts.”
“Our unions represent the people who make a difference in the lives of others—and the public services they provide are in grave danger because of the reckless and chaotic cuts of Elon Musk and the Trump administration,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “Their goal is the gutting of the schools and hospitals that help working Americans have a shot at a better life. And for what? To pay for tax cuts for billionaires. These ads send a message to Congress about the human toll of the administration’s attacks and make the convincing case that it’s time to put families, not ultra-wealthy donors, first.”
“Across the country, educators do everything in their power to support every student, ensuring each student feels safe, seen, and is prepared for the future. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their MAGA allies are working to cut Head Start for over 800,000 kids, closing local hospitals so rural families will have to travel long distances to get care, and ballooning class sizes in public schools across America—all so they can enrich themselves,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “We refuse to be silent. Over 8.3 million workers who have dedicated their lives to educating our students and building stronger communities are standing together to sound the alarm on these reckless cuts Trump is pushing so he can pay for tax giveaways to billionaires. Educators will continue organizing, mobilizing, and growing the movement to put families first.”
“Medicaid is a lifeline for working people,” said April Verrett, president of SEIU. “Congress is trying to rip that lifeline away to fund billions in tax breaks to the ultra-rich. Slashing Medicaid means seniors losing home care and kids missing out on the care they need. Let’s call this what it is: stealing from everyday people and giving handouts to billionaires. That’s why SEIU members and our allies are calling a Code Blue on Medicaid, because lives are on the line.”
Ads will feature front-line members of AFSCME, AFT, SEIU and NEA—educators, nurses, care providers and more—whose jobs will be directly impacted by federal funding cuts. The four unions will share their stories within targeted congressional districts via television, streaming, social media and more.
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AFSCME’s 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations—from nurses to corrections officers, childcare providers to sanitation workers—AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and freedom and opportunity for all working families.
The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org
The Service Workers International Union (SEIU) unites 2 million diverse members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. SEIU members working in the healthcare industry, public sector and property services believe in the power of joining together on the job to win higher wages and benefits and to create better communities while fighting for a more just society and an economy that works for all of us, not just corporations and the wealthy. Learn more at www.seiu.org.
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MIL-OSI USA: FDA to Host Inaugural, Independent, Scientific Expert Panel Open to Public
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
For Immediate Release:
May 16, 2025As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to transform American health care and rebuild trust in public health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H., will lead a roundtable discussion of an independent panel of scientific experts to discuss the safety and necessity of talc as an additive in food, drug, and cosmetic products. This public roundtable, taking place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 10 a.m. ET, will follow a transparent process grounded in gold standard science, setting precedents for future discussions.
The group, comprised of world-renowned experts in their respective fields, will review the latest scientific evidence, evaluate potential health risks, explore safer alternatives, and individual experts may offer their recommendations for regulatory action. Unlike under the previous administration, members of the media and public are welcome and encouraged to attend and listen to the discussion.
Talc, a naturally occurring mineral used in a variety of consumer products, has come under increased scrutiny due to concerns about potential health effects, especially when contaminated with asbestos or consumed over prolonged periods. The panel will review data related to talc exposure and evaluate its continued use within the context of public health needs and available alternatives.
“Despite the potential carcinogenic harm with topical talc, it continues to be ingested by children and adults through food and some medications. We are bringing together a group of leading independent experts to assess the available evidence around talc and consider whether its continued use is necessary given modern alternatives,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “This is a critical step toward ensuring that ingredients in products used every day by Americans meet the highest standards for safety.”
The decision to convene this panel follows a growing call from public health leaders for a systematic reevaluation of talc’s use in consumer products. In July 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that talc is “probably carcinogenic” with the second highest level of scientific certainty leading to European authorities announcing a ban of talc from cosmetics by 2027. A recent commentary, “Reviewing the Safety of Our Foods and Drugs: An Urgent Need For A Comprehensive Reevaluation by FDA of Talc in the American Food and Drug Supply”, collating the works of many of the global talc experts joining the panel, underscored this need specifically.
The expert panel discussion will take place at the FDA’s White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. The public and members of the media may attend the roundtable. Registration is required as seating is limited. The session will be livestreamed. Meeting and registration information can be found here: FDA Expert Panel on Talc.
This initiative is part of the FDA’s broader efforts to apply rigorous, evidence-based standards to ingredient safety and modernize regulatory oversight, thoroughly considering evolving science and consumer health. In the coming weeks, the agency will announce additional FDA Expert Panel roundtables on a variety of topics.Consumer:888-INFO-FDA
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Boilerplate
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.
Content current as of:
05/16/2025Follow FDA
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MIL-OSI USA: FDA Clears First Blood Test Used in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
For Immediate Release:
May 16, 2025The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared for marketing the first in vitro diagnostic device that tests blood to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. The Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio is for the early detection of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease in adult patients, aged 55 years and older, exhibiting signs and symptoms of the disease.
“Alzheimer’s disease impacts too many people, more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Knowing that 10% of people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s, and that by 2050 that number is expected to double, I am hopeful that new medical products such as this one will help patients.”
Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder known to slowly destroy memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks, is progressive, meaning that the disease gets worse over time. In most people with Alzheimer’s disease, clinical symptoms first appear later in life. Amyloid plaques in a patient’s brain are a hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s disease. While amyloid plaques can occur in other diseases, being able to detect the presence of plaque, along with other evaluations, helps the doctor determine the probable cause of the patient’s symptoms and findings. These plaques can be detected and visualized using amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans, often years before clinical symptom onset, to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. PET scans, however, are a costly and time-consuming option and expose patients to radiation.
The Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio measures two proteins, pTau217 and β-amyloid 1-42, found in human plasma, a component of blood, and calculates the numerical ratio of the levels of the two proteins. This ratio is correlated to the presence or absence of amyloid plaques in the patient’s brain, reducing the need for a PET scan. Similar FDA-authorized/cleared tests, one from the same company as this new test, are used with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, which are collected through an invasive lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. This new Lumipulse test only requires a simple blood draw, making it less invasive and much easier for patients to access.
“Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million,” said Center for Devices and Radiological Health Director Michelle Tarver, M.D., Ph.D. “Today’s clearance is an important step for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, making it easier and potentially more accessible for U.S. patients earlier in the disease.”
During review of the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, the FDA evaluated data from a multi-center clinical study of 499 individual plasma samples from adults who were cognitively impaired. The samples were tested by the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio and compared with amyloid PET scan or CSF test results.
In this clinical study, 91.7% of individuals with Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio positive results had the presence of amyloid plaques by PET scan or CSF test result, and 97.3 % of individuals with negative results had a negative amyloid PET scan or CSF test result. Less than 20% of the 499 patients tested received an indeterminate Lumipulse G pTau217/β-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio result.
These findings indicate that the new blood test can reliably predict the presence or absence of amyloid pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease at the time of the test in patients who are cognitively impaired. The test is intended for patients presenting at a specialized care setting with signs and symptoms of cognitive decline. The results must be interpreted in conjunction with other patient clinical information.
The risks associated with the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio are mainly the possibility of false positive and false negative test results.
False positive results, in conjunction with other clinical information, could lead to an inappropriate diagnosis of, and unnecessary treatment for, Alzheimer’s disease. This could lead to psychological distress, delay in receiving a correct diagnosis as well as expense and the risk for side effects from unnecessary treatment.
False negative results could result in additional unnecessary diagnostic tests and potential delay in effective treatment. Importantly, the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio is not intended as a screening or stand-alone diagnostic test and other clinical evaluations or additional tests should be used for determining treatment options.
The FDA reviewed the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio through the 510(k) premarket notification pathway. A 510(k) notification is a premarket submission made to the FDA to demonstrate that a new device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device. The FDA found that the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio is substantially equivalent to the Lumipulse G β-amyloid Ratio (1-42/1-40), which is the previously authorized test that uses CSF samples.
The Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio was granted Breakthrough Device designation, a process designed to expedite the development and review of devices that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions.
The FDA issued clearance of the Lumipulse G pTau217/ß-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio to Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc.Consumer:888-INFO-FDA
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Boilerplate
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.
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MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Addresses Bills to be Signed in Coming Week
Source: US State of Nebraska
. Pillen Addresses Bills to be Signed in Coming Week
LINCOLN, NE – A slate of bills – all priorities of Governor Jim Pillen – will be signed into law in the coming week. They include a group of measures aimed at protecting children from harm resulting from exposure to and the use of online services and social media.
LB140, introduced by Senator Rita Sanders, requires school boards to create rules and standards limiting when students can use cell phones. Exceptions are included for when such use would be allowed.
LB383 from Senator Tanya Storer was amended with LB172. LB383, the Parental Rights in Social Media Act, establishes various parental controls over social media accounts. LB172, introduced by Senator Brian Hardin, makes it a crime to create or distribute AI-generated child pornography.
“Our kids are our greatest investment and I’m excited that we will pass these protections into law this session. Experts have long known that repeated and relentless exposure to social media results in situations that can impact mental health, reduce attention spans, and interrupt learning while in school,” said Gov. Pillen. “These bills will provide schools, parents and law enforcement with the tools they need.”
A fourth related bill sponsored on behalf of the Governor – LB504 – has been advanced to the final round of debate. Introduced by Senator Carolyn Bosn, the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act requires that online services protect user data, implement design features that will reduce harm resulting from compulsive use, and enables parents to have access to privacy and account settings.
The Nebraska Legislature also gave final approval to two other pieces of legislation aimed at protecting two of the state’s most significant industries – public power and agriculture. LB526 was sponsored on the Governor’s behalf by Senator Mike Jacobson and cleared final reading on a unanimous vote. It helps to preserve electrical service to homes, businesses and other Nebraska customers, by establishing requirements for cryptocurrency mining operations. In addition to notifying power utilities in advance, the bill also provides for payment or a letter of credit covering costs associated with potential infrastructure upgrades.
Finally, LB246 brought by Senator Barry DeKay, will make changes to the Nebraska Pure Food Act by banning the production, distribution, promotion and sale of lab grown meat.
“Nebraska is an ag-dependent and economically driven state. We need to support the hard-working farmers and ranchers who raise their crops and animals to feed the world and save the planet,” said Gov. Pillen. “When people across the globe buy our products, they want the highest quality available. It’s important to support our home-grown industry and protect consumers from something that has not been tested and determined to be safe for consumption.”
Other bills championed by the Governor, which have advanced to the final round of debate include LB89 (Stand With Women Act), LB346 and LB644 (Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act).
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MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces 39 Appointments to Boards, Authorities and Commissions
Source: US State of Georgia
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced 39 appointments and reappointments to various state boards, authorities and commissions.
Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Donald Dowless currently serves as President of Shorter University in Rome, Georgia, a role he has held for over a decade. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to his presidency, Dowless teaches Christian studies and has instructed more than 10 different courses. His academic experience includes teaching at North Carolina State University, Campbell University, Southeastern Seminary, and Emmanuel University of Oradea. He has also completed missionary work in Romania and West Virginia. Dowless and his wife are active members of Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church in Silver Creek, Georgia.
Georgia Board of Athletic Trainers
Yusuf Jamal Ali was reappointed.
Jeffrey Hopp serves as Director of Sports Medicine at Marietta City Schools and has led the Blue Devils’ athletic training program for over 20 years. He oversees student athletic trainers and has organized international trips for them to countries including Costa Rica, Ireland, and France. Prior to this, Hopp provided athletic training to Cobb and Cherokee County schools through Resurgens Orthopedics and was head athletic trainer for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. He has worked with the Minnesota Vikings, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and the 2007 U.S. National Paralympic Track and Field Championships. He was a founding member and chairman of the Georgia Concussion Coalition, contributing to the passage of the GA Return to Play Act. Hopp holds a B.S. in athletic training from Minnesota State University and resides in Dallas, Georgia, with his wife, Julie.
Georgia Board of Landscape Architects
Chad Baker, Jon Calabria, and Rebecca Kirk were reappointed.
Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
Stan Stalnaker is a member of the Tift County Board of Commissioners, currently serving his third term. He is a certified county commissioner through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and holds a specialty track certification in public safety. Stalnaker is a 29-year veteran of the Georgia State Patrol, holds the rank of Captain, and currently serves as the Director of GSP’s Aviation Division. He holds a master’s in public administration from Columbus State University, is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, and a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #261, in Quantico, Virginia. Stalnaker and his wife Keisha reside in Tifton, where they attend Liberty Baptist Church. They have one son who attends Georgia Southern University.
Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Designers
Melissa Cantrell and Anne K. Smith were reappointed.
Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council
Mary McCartin Wearn is the President of Georgia Humanities. She formerly served as founding dean of the School of Arts and Letters at Middle Georgia State University, where she led regional partnerships and public-facing arts and culture programs. She holds a Ph.D. in english from UGA, a B.A. in english from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a B.S. in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
Georgia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ibrahim Dabo, Paula Harmon, Anne McQuade, and Allison Morrison were reappointed.
State Board of Workers Compensation
Benjamin Vinson was reappointed as Chairman.
Frank McKay was reappointed.
State Charter School Commission
Scott Sweeney is a Senior Business Advisor at InPrime Legal, a business law firm recognized as a 2019 Small Business ROCK STAR by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Economic Developers Association. He has served on numerous national, state, and local boards, including as past president of the Georgia Education Committee, a legislative affairs committee member for the Georgia School Boards Association, and a member of both the CTAE Business & Advisory Committee and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. Sweeney spent eight years on the Cobb County Board of Education, holding leadership roles including chair, vice-chair, budget liaison, and Facilities and Technology Committee liaison. He later served on the Georgia State Board of Education from 2019 to 2025, representing the 6th and later the 11th Congressional Districts. During his tenure, he served as chairman and chaired the District Flexibility and Charter Schools Committee. Sweeney holds a B.A. in economics from UCLA and resides in East Cobb with his wife, Sandy, and their two sons.
State Board of Certification of Librarians
Kathryn R. Epps was reappointed.
Catherine M. Lewis serves as Associate Vice Provost of Museums, Archives, and Rare Books at the University Libraries and as Professor of History at Kennesaw State University. She manages a multimillion-dollar budget and leads a staff of nearly 100 professionals. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in english and history from Emory University, as well as a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in american studies from the University of Iowa. She has curated more than 40 exhibits for institutions across the country, including the Atlanta History Center, the Brennan Museum, Delta Airlines, Augusta National Golf Club, and United Way. She has co-authored and co-edited over 15 books, regularly presents at national and international conferences, and has helped secure major grants for Kennesaw State from organizations such as the U.S. State Department, the American Association of Museums, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Bona Fide Coin Operated Amusement Machine Operator Advisory Board
Shawn Fellows, Mills Flemming, Natalie Jones and Chandra B. Yadav were reappointed.
Georgia Child Support Commission
Chuck Efstration, Houston Gaines, Emanuel Jones and Brian Strickland were reappointed.
Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board
Marlon L. Day is a Senior Director at Quest Valuation & Advisors, where he performs appraisals across a wide range of property types and markets. He is an accomplished research and financial analyst and a certified general appraiser with more than 22 years of experience in preparing and presenting valuation analyses. His project experience includes multi-family residential, office, retail, warehouse, industrial, mixed-use, infrastructure, special-use properties, expert witness testimony, and diminution in value. His practical business expertise is supported by a Master of Business Administration in finance. Day and his wife have three children.
Board of Natural Resources
Steven Hufstetler and Brent Layton were reappointed.
State Board of Registration for Foresters
James Harley Langdale was reappointed.
Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board
Robert Balkcom serves as the South Adjutant of the Georgia State Patrol, overseeing the operations of Troops F, G, H, I, J, and K, as well as the South Nighthawks DUI Task Force, the Recruiting Unit, the Implied Consent Unit (ICU), the Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU), the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT), the State of Georgia SWAT Team, and four Communication Centers. Prior to assuming this role in 2020, Balkcom served as Troop F Commander. He began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Savannah Police Department in 1992 and joined the Georgia State Patrol as a Trooper Cadet at Post 42 – Savannah in 1994. After graduating from the 71st Georgia State Patrol Trooper School in 1995, he was assigned to Post 42 – Savannah. Balkcom was promoted to Corporal at Post 45 – Statesboro in 2006. In 2009, he was selected as Commander of the newly formed Nighthawks South DUI Task Force and promoted to Sergeant in 2011. He advanced to Sergeant First Class at Post 11 – Hinesville in 2013, Lieutenant in Troop I in 2018, and Captain in Troop F in March 2020. Balkcom graduated from Reidsville High School in 1987 and earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Georgia Southern University in 1991. He is also a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and holds a master’s degree in public safety administration from Columbus State University. He and his wife, Nicole, have lived in Reidsville for the past 40 years.
North Georgia Mountains Authority
Jeff Andrews currently serves as the Fourth Congressional District Representative on the Board of Natural Resources. He began his career in the long-term care industry in 1981 as marketing director for a continuing care retirement community in Birmingham, Alabama. He was later promoted to executive director and then southeast regional vice president. In 1988, Andrews became senior vice president of corporate development, where he led the addition of 17 properties to the management portfolio, helping establish the company as the largest for-profit, third-party manager of retirement housing in the United States. By 1990, Andrews co-founded Retirement Management Corporation and served as its president until its acquisition by Sun Healthcare in 1998. In 1999, he founded Wellington HealthCare Services, LLC, which grew to 11 owned facilities before being sold in 2007. He retained a significant ownership stake and helped the company meet key operational goals. He continues to lead Wellington, which currently manages 17 facilities.
North Georgia Mountains Authority- Chair
Patrick Denney is a graduate of West Georgia College with a BBA in marketing and a lifelong resident of Carroll County. He owns and operates SLM Recycling, SLM Steel and Fabrication, and Heavy Equipment Repair. An avid outdoorsman, Denney manages farm, timber, and hunting land in both Carroll and Heard Counties. He was appointed to the Board of Natural Resources in 2020 and has served on the North Georgia Mountains Authority since 2021. He and his wife, Lynne, have four children and reside in Bowdon.
State Properties Commission
Yi Jeng “Jay” Lin was reappointed.
Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists
Gregory Keith Moffatt was reappointed.
State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists
Jack L. Kittle, Jr. is a retired water and environmental resource manager with Aqua Terra Consultants. With over 40 years of experience, Kittle worked with major clients such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Geological Survey. He earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1975. An active member of the Decatur community, Kittle helped charter and establish the Decatur Parks and Recreation Pedestrian Committee in 2013 and served on the committee for over 10 years.
Veterans Service Board
Darius “Pete” Peterson was reappointed.
Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies
Timothy Williams was reappointed.
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MIL-OSI USA: Communities Prepared for Disasters: Older Adults Webinar Part 2
Source: US State of Oregon
em>Salem, OR — Please join the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), in partnership with the Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office, AARP, Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, and the Oregon State University Extension Service for a two-part virtual educational series on how to help older adults prepare for the disasters we face every year in Oregon such as ice storms, wildfires, and extreme heat. This series is intended for organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations serving older adults, emergency management professionals, and anyone else interested in this topic.
Older adults often face unique challenges when it comes to disaster preparedness—such as living on fixed incomes, relying on mobility devices, or experiencing social isolation. This educational series will offer practical guidance for individuals and organizations working with older adults to strengthen emergency readiness across the state.
Part 2: May 21, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PST
Topics include:- Managing medications during disasters
- Avoiding scams and misinformation post-disaster
- Supporting mental health and reducing social isolation
Who Should Attend:
Organizations, faith groups, and individuals who support older adults, along with emergency management professionals and community preparedness advocates.
Missed Part 1 of our Older Adult Preparedness Series?
Watch the recording from April 23, 2025, click the link below to watch the recording on YouTube:Video Recording (English) (Spanish) (Russian) (Vietnamese) (Chinese)
Presentation Slides (English) (Spanish) (Russian) (Vietnamese) (Chinese)
Topics covered include:
• Building partnerships between emergency managers and aging service providers
• Planning for evacuation, sheltering, and medical equipment needs
• Signing up for emergency alert systemsThe series is free and open to the public. Sessions will be offered in English with interpretation in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, and American Sign Language (ASL). Recordings will be available on OEM’s YouTube channel.
Register here: Virtual Event Registration
For questions or accommodation requests, contact:
community.preparedness@oem.oregon.gov -
MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Defacing Religious Property in Vandalism of Synagogue Building
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy and defacing and damaging a religious building, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Talya A. Lubit, age 24, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Lubit and her codefendant, Mohamad Hamad, conspired from July 2024 to July 29, 2024, to damage and deface the Chabad of Squirrel Hill. The Chabad is a center for Jewish educational programming and occupies a building for Jewish religious services in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In the early morning hours of July 29, 2024, acting on their plan to cause damage to a Jewish institution, Lubit and Hamad spray-painted the words “Jews 4 Palestine” with an inverted triangle onto the exterior of the building with red paint. The inverted triangle first appeared in videos posted online by Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, of the current fighting in Gaza where it was used to mark an Israeli target about to be attacked by Hamas fighters. The act of vandalism was born from Hamad’s and Lubit’s shared growing animosity towards Israel since the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, and the war that ensued between Israel and Hamas.
In connection with the guilty plea, Lubit agreed to pay full restitution for the damage done to the Chabad property, as well as graffiti that she and Hamad spray-painted on an entry sign to the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh the same day.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court continued Lubit’s bond with special conditions including home detention.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn J. Bloch and Nicole Vasquez Schmitt are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Lubit.
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MIL-OSI Security: Former West Virginia Supervisory Correctional Officer Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Conspiracy and Obstruction Crimes
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, was sentenced today for his role in covering up an assault by correctional officers that resulted in the death of inmate Quantez Burks on March 1, 2022. Lester, 35, of Odd, West Virginia, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On January 27, 2025, a federal jury convicted defendant Lester on three felony obstruction of justice charges, including conspiracy to tamper with witnesses; witness tampering; and giving false statements. As part of these efforts to cover up the fatal assault other officers committed, the defendant threatened subordinate officers with violence and retaliation, added false statements to multiple officers’ reports, instructed officers to give a false cover story to investigators, and personally gave false statements to internal investigators. The evidence showed that the defendant also provided false information relating to the assault of Burks during a voluntary interview with FBI agents.
Seven correctional officers pleaded guilty in connection with the assault of Burks; several of those former officers testified against Lester during the trial. In November 2024, Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks, resulting in his death. Sentencing hearings for Holdren, Snyder, and Walters are scheduled before U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on June 16, 2025. On August 8, 2024, Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe each pleaded guilty to violating Burks’s civil rights by failing to intervene when other officers used unreasonable force. Sentencing hearings for Boothe and Toney are scheduled before U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on June 9, 2025.
Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks. Andrew Fleshman is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk on July 14, 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Wimmer to nine years in prison on May 8, 2025.
“This defendant wrongfully decided to obstruct an investigation into a fatal assault of an inmate,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “I am proud of the Criminal Section within the Civil Rights Division and their counterparts in the Southern District of West Virginia for their work on this case.”
“On the defendant’s watch, correctional officers killed an inmate, and the defendant conspired with them to cover up their crimes,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The defendant violated the public’s trust in the law enforcement system he had sworn to uphold.”
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, Charleston Resident Agency, investigated the case.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-188.
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MIL-OSI Security: CLINTON TOWNSHIP SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
DETROIT — Stephen Lewis Gentry, 35, of Clinton Township, Michigan, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for creating images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In addition to the 40-year sentence, United States District Court Judge Terrence G. Berg sentenced Gentry to a lifetime of supervised release upon his release from prison.
Gentry’s recent crimes came to light after the FBI learned that he was distributing images of child sexually abusive material that he created over a clandestine network. When the FBI searched Gentry’s house, they found evidence that Gentry had produced child sexually abusive material depicting numerous minor victims.
Gentry pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025, to sexual exploitation of children. At the time he was charged in this case, Gentry was already a registered sex offender, having three prior convictions relating to the sexual abuse or exploitation of children.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Alsaden, Tara Hindelang, and Christopher Rawsthorne.
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MIL-OSI: Valeura Announces Voting Results
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
CALGARY, Alberta, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE, OTCQX:VLERF) (the “Corporation” or “Valeura“), the upstream oil and gas company with assets in the Gulf of Thailand and the Thrace Basin of Türkiye, is pleased to provide the voting results from its annual general meeting of shareholders held on May 14, 2025.
Shareholders voted on and approved the following proposals: (1) the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP (Singapore) as the auditors of the Corporation; and (2) the election of the directors of the Corporation.
The voting results for the election of directors are as follows:
Total Votes % of Votes Cast Nominee For Withheld Total For Withheld Dr. W. Sean Guest 54,931,122 1,177 54,932,299 100.00 0.00 Dr. Timothy R. Marchant 54,415,326 516,973 54,932,299 99.06 0.94 James D. McFarland 39,288,880 15,643,419 54,932,299 71.52 28.48 Russell J. Hiscock 54,905,008 27,291 54,932,299 99.95 0.05 Timothy N. Chapman 54,931,127 1,172 54,932,299 100.00 0.00 Lina Lee 54,904,571 27,728 54,932,299 99.95 0.05 Anna Green 54,905,564 26,735 54,932,299 99.95 0.05 Chalermchai Mahagitsiri 43,040,694 11,891,605 54,932,299 78.35 21.65
About the CompanyValeura is a Canadian public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and in Türkiye. The Corporation is pursuing a growth-oriented strategy and intends to re-invest into its producing asset portfolio and to deploy resources toward further organic and inorganic growth in Southeast Asia. Valeura aspires toward value accretive growth for stakeholders while adhering to high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.
Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
For further information, please contact:
Valeura Energy Inc. (General Corporate Enquiries) +65 6373 6940
Sean Guest, President and CEO
Yacine Ben-Meriem, CFO
Contact@valeuraenergy.comValeura Energy Inc. (Investor and Media Enquiries) +1 403 975 6752 / +44 7392 940495
Robin James Martin, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
IR@valeuraenergy.comContact details for the Corporation’s advisors, covering research analysts and joint brokers, including Auctus Advisors LLP, Canaccord Genuity Ltd (UK), Cormark Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, are listed on the Corporation’s website at www.valeuraenergy.com/investor-information/analysts/.
This announcement does not contain inside information.
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This announcement is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
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MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Racks Up Corrupt Deals, Kaine & Colleagues File Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to Block $3.5 Billion in Arms Sales to Qatar and the UAE
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) filed four joint resolutions of disapproval (JRD) to block a $1.9 billion arms sale to Qatar and three arms sales—totaling $1.6 billion—to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as President Donald Trump racks up corrupt deals with those countries. The Senate is required to vote on JRDs.
The introductions come after Qatar offered to gift President Trump a $400 million luxury Boeing 747 jumbo jet; an investment firm backed by the Emiratis announced that it would use a stablecoin issued by a crypto company directly backed by the Trump family to facilitate a $2 billion investment in the Binance cryptocurrency exchange; and after the Trump Organization signed a $5.5 billion golf course and real estate deal with Dar Global and Qatari Diar, a firm established by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
“Everywhere I go in Virginia, I hear about how worried folks are about price hikes because of President Trump’s tariffs and the massive cuts he’s trying to implement on basic government services, including Medicaid. Meanwhile, he’s hatching secret plans with corrupt foreign governments to enrich himself with crypto deals, golf courses, and a luxury plane?” said Kaine. “I’m glad to be working with my colleagues to force votes on legislation challenging arms sales to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to make it clear that bribing an American president is one of the fastest ways to poison your relationship with the United States. Countries around the world should take notice.”
The JRDs would block the following sales:
A $1.9 billion arm sale to Qatar, which would include:
Eight MQ-9B Armed Drones and associated equipment, including 200 JDAM tail kits, 300 500-lb bombs, and 110 Hellfire II missiles.Three separate arms sales totaling $1.6 billion to the UAE, which would include the sales of:
Six CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters and associated equipment, valued at $1.32 billion;
F-16 aircraft components, accessories, and defense services, valued at $130 million;
Spare and repair parts to support the UAE’s fleet of AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, and CH-47 Chinook aircraft, and other logistics and program support, valued at $150 million.Full text of the Qatar JRD is available here.
Full text of the UAE JRDs are available here (Chinook helicopters), here (aircraft equipment), and here (helicopter equipment). -
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce Over $15.2 Million to Address Coastal Resilience in Virginia Beach and on Tangier Island
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $15,250,000 in federal funding to address sea level rise and expand flood resiliency in Virginia Beach and on Tangier Island.
“Coastal Virginia has long been identified as one of the most vulnerable regions of the country to flooding, but thanks to smart federal investments, we’re not just worrying about it anymore—we’re doing something about it,” said the senators. “We’re proud to announce this funding to advance a citywide plan for flood resilient infrastructure in Virginia Beach and to take a significant step forward in slowing erosion of Tangier Island and restoring it to its historical dimensions to preserve this unique part of Virginia. We will keep working to improve resiliency and combat climate change throughout the Commonwealth.”
The funding is broken down as follows:
$10,300,000 for Tangier Island for maintenance dredging and shoal removal within navigation channels in the Chesapeake Bay. The dredged material will be used to address persistent erosion and will be part of a plan to eventually restore the island.
$4,950,000 for the Virginia Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. The Coastal Storm Risk Management Study will develop and engineer large-scale flood resilience projects to reduce flood vulnerability for the City of Virginia Beach.
Warner and Kaine have long worked to secure significant federal funding to increase resiliency and protect Virginia’s coastal communities from the impacts of sea level rise. The senators previously secured $1.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill for the Virginia Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. Warner and Kaine secured $800,000 in the Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 government funding bills for studying and permitting the use of dredged material to be used to help Tangier address sea level rise and recurrent coastal flooding and storms. The senators have also secured nearly $399 million for the Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management project and $3 million for the Peninsula Regional Flood Risk Management feasibility study for the City of Hampton and the surrounding region. -
MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Counter China’s Strategic Placement of Military Bases Around the World
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in introducing the bipartisan Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience (COUNTER) Act to combat the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) attempts to strengthen its global reach by expanding its overseas basing efforts.
“China is rapidly expanding its global footprint, and we need to do more to address the threat this poses to our national security and the security of our allies,” said Senator Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation would help ensure that the U.S. government has a comprehensive strategy to counter China’s establishment of new military bases around the world.”
In recent years, the PRC has significantly increased its efforts to establish an overseas network of military and transportation bases, which would allow the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to project and expand its military power. The COUNTER Act would help to mitigate the threat this poses to the United States and our allies by requiring a comprehensive intelligence assessment of the PRC’s global basing activities, as well as a strategy from the State Department and the Department of Defense to address them. The legislation would also create an interagency task force to implement the strategy and identify proactive measures to counteract both current and future Chinese attempts to add military bases in strategic countries.
Specifically, the COUNTER Act would:
Require an assessment from the Director of National Intelligence analyzing the risk of PRC global basing to U.S and allied power projection and freedom of movement.
Require a strategy from the State Department and the Department of Defense identifying current or future PRC basing locations, including:a comprehensive list of U.S. government activity aimed at addressing PRC global basing in each location;
an identification of resource or personnel constraints limiting the U.S. response; and
an identification of the most effective practices to persuade foreign governments to terminate plans for hosting a PRC base in their territory.Establish an interagency task force to counter the PRC’s global basing expansion and prevent new locations.
Require a report every four years on updates to PRC basing intentions and subsequent updates to U.S. strategy.
Kaine has long supported efforts to counter aggression by the People’s Republic of China, including through the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, in which the U.S. will sell Australia Virginia-class submarines, a significant portion of which are built in Hampton Roads. Kaine has previously introduced legislation that aims to expand the U.S.’ toolkit to respond to China’s use of its maritime militia to exert excessive territorial claims, harass U.S. ships and those of our partners in the South China Sea. In April of last year, Kaine helped pass the national security supplemental funding package, which included military assistance funding and resources to replenish stocks given to Taiwan. He has also led the introduction of bipartisan legislation to safeguard internet freedom in Hong Kong from the PRC and to strengthen and modernize the U.S.-Philippines security partnership to counter Chinese military pressure in the South China Sea.
The COUNTER Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
A one-pager on the bill is available here.
The bill text is available here. -
MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Colleagues Urge Social Security Administration to Reverse Decision to Maliciously & Illegally List Immigrants as “Dead”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Colleagues Urge Social Security Administration to Reverse Decision to Maliciously & Illegally List Immigrants as “Dead”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined 15 of his Democratic Senate colleagues in condemning and demanding the reversal of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) recent decision to list certain immigrants as “dead” in the master files.
The Senators highlighted the departure from previous uses of SSA master files, noting that they normally share the files with federal agencies, banks, credit bureaus, or other financial institutions to prevent them from mistakenly paying deceased individuals or fraudsters trying to impersonate them. These files prevent over $50 million in improper payments per month. The death master files are now being weaponized against noncitizens, however, in a malicious attempt to keep them from participating in the U.S. economy.
“These arbitrary actions—intended to weaponize Social Security in the Administration’s attack on immigrants—are disgraceful and will erode the integrity of and trust in Social Security,” wrote the Senators.
“These noncitizens were lawfully present and granted work authorization by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), making them eligible for Social Security numbers (SSNs) to work and contribute to our nation. SSNs allow noncitizens to participate in the economy by obtaining housing, bank accounts, and insurance. Their work helps to boost the United States’ Gross Domestic Product by trillions of dollars,” continued the Senators. “But now, these noncitizens will no longer have access to their own financial resources because SSA has taken the unprecedented action of declaring them ‘dead’ in a cruel and Orwellian attempt to force them to leave the United States.”
The Senators continued by highlighting incorrect designations of living, legal immigrants as “dead” without a chance to appeal, calling out the Department of Homeland Security for labeling these noncitizens as “criminals” or “suspected criminals” without sufficient investigations, as demonstrated by the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Most of the more than 6,000 noncitizens who were declared “dead” had lawfully received their SSNs and had lawful authorization to be in the country. The Senators further emphasized that SSA lacks the authority to make these false categorizations for living noncitizens.
“Such use of the death master files raises the question of whether SSA may list other living legal immigrants—or even American citizens—as ‘dead’ in the death master files without justification,” added the Senators. “It should frighten every American that SSA could make the unilateral decision to ruin their financial lives without even a chance to appeal.”
The Senators concluded by denouncing misinformation spread by President Trump regarding Social Security, criticizing his baseless claim that people over 300 years old were receiving Social Security benefits. They urged SSA to immediately reverse their cruel, fraudulent mislabeling scheme.
The letter was led by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). In addition to Senator Padilla, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
Senator Padilla has fought against the Trump Administration’s weaponization of migrants’ personal information and files. Senator Padilla, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Senator Warren recently urged the acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate several reports that the Trump Administration is potentially violating strict taxpayer privacy laws by providing highly sensitive and legally protected taxpayer data to DHS and personnel affiliated with Elon Musk across various federal agencies. Padilla, Cortez Masto, and Wyden previously condemned the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) plan to provide sensitive taxpayer information to DHS to locate suspected undocumented immigrants and led a letter to IRS and DHS leadership raising the alarm on reports that DHS and the Department of Government Efficiency had illegally requested this information.
Full text of the letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano is available here and below:
Dear Commissioner Bisignano: We write to strongly object to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) apparent decision to list living noncitizens as “dead” in the agency’s master files. These arbitrary actions—intended to weaponize Social Security in the Administration’s attack on immigrants—are disgraceful and will erode the integrity of and trust in Social Security.
SSA collects death records from families, financial institutions, and government agencies and compiles them into death master files, which the agency then shares with certain federal agencies, banks, credit bureaus, and other financial institutions to prevent improper payments to people who have died or those fraudulently seeking to impersonate someone who is deceased. In fact, the death master files help to prevent more than $50 million in improper payments each month. However, it appears that SSA is now using the death master files for another purpose: a weapon against living noncitizens.
In April, the New York Times reported SSA maliciously has listed living noncitizens as “dead” in its death master files. These noncitizens were lawfully present and granted work authorization by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), making them eligible for Social Security numbers (SSNs) to work and contribute to our nation. SSNs allow noncitizens to participate in the economy by obtaining housing, bank accounts, and insurance. Their work helps to boost the United States’ Gross Domestic Product by trillions of dollars. But now, these noncitizens will no longer have access to their own financial resources because SSA has taken the unprecedented action of declaring them “dead” in a cruel and Orwellian attempt to force them to leave the United States.
According to an internal memo, DHS claims that these noncitizens are “criminals” and “suspected terrorists.” But the proper procedure if a noncitizen is a criminal or a suspected terrorist is to initiate proceedings against them in immigration court, not for the SSA to arbitrarily declare them “dead” without any proof. In addition, DHS, not the SSA, makes determinations as to whether or not a noncitizen is eligible to work and whether to terminate or revoke work authorization. Finally, SSA has procedures the agency follows when it is determined that an individual no longer has work authorization or has lost status, and they do not involve declaring an individual dead. For example, a noncitizen’s Social Security card may state “Valid for work only with DHS authorization” or “Not valid for employment.”
Yet, according to press reports, most of the more than 6,000 noncitizens declared “dead” were lawfully authorized by DHS to be in the United States and lawfully obtained SSNs. They were thoroughly vetted and underwent mandatory security checks before receiving authorization to travel to United States airports, where they then were individually screened by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers before being cleared to enter. The New York Times report indicated SSA has listed several minors, including a 13-year-old, as “dead” in the death master files, while the Washington Post reported that SSA workers “found no evidence of crimes or law enforcement interactions” for others. Further, SSA has no authority to erroneously categorize living noncitizens as “dead” in its death master files. Such use of the death master files raises the question of whether SSA may list other living legal immigrants—or even American citizens—as “dead” in the death master files without justification. It should frighten every American that SSA could make the unilateral decision to ruin their financial lives without even a chance to appeal.
In his Joint Address to Congress in March, President Trump claimed there were people over the age of 300 receiving Social Security benefits, simply because some of the death master files lacked a recorded death date. His assertion was not true, and SSA’s actions now are turning this tool to prevent fraud into one that instead facilitates it. We urge SSA not to use the death master files in this manner and to remove noncitizens falsely listed as “dead” from the files.
Sincerely, -
MIL-OSI Economics: The CEO’s guide to building a Frontier Firm
Source: Microsoft
Headline: The CEO’s guide to building a Frontier Firm
Illustration by Alex Robbins
Imagine stepping onto a steamship along the Hudson River in 1900, setting off on a transatlantic journey that will take a full week. You turn to a fellow passenger and say, “In just a few decades, this same trip will take seven hours—and we’ll do it in the sky.” You’d likely be met with polite disbelief, maybe even a chuckle. The idea would sound more like fantasy than foresight. And yet, that’s exactly what happened. What once seemed impossible quickly became the new normal.
And that’s about to happen with AI and business, but with once unimaginable progress compressed into a few years instead of decades. Many organizations are in the initial phase of AI transformation, with humans tapping AI as an assistant. Some have already reached the second phase, forming teams of humans and agents working together toward common goals.
But phase three, the Frontier Firm, where humans empower AI to become the operational engine of business—and agents become the primary producers of work—is harder to envision. It’s “imagining the impossible” territory. And the main barrier to getting there is not the limits of technology; it’s the challenge of imagining a totally new way to work and structure organizations, then figuring out how to execute that transformation.
The three phases of AI transformation
As we said last month in the 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report, we see organizations moving through three phases on their way to becoming entirely new businesses, powered by intelligence on demand. Knowledge workers will no longer handle all knowledge work, with agents executing more and more of it. Human roles will refocus around vision, strategy, relationship building, and managing agents.
At Microsoft, we’re not just talking about this transformation—we’re living it. Our sales organization is actively navigating all three phases at once. By testing and scaling new tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Sales Chat, and our autonomous Sales Agent, we’re learning what works, where the friction points are, and how to evolve both our technology and our ways of working. These internal experiences are helping us refine the path forward—not just for ourselves, but for every organization on this journey.
“The core of what makes a good seller hasn’t changed,” says Pam Maynard, our Chief AI Transformation Officer for Microsoft Commercial. “They deeply understand the customer’s context, priorities, and pain points, and then map our solutions to those needs.” Increasingly, that will come from hybrid teams of humans + agents.
Phase 1: Human with assistant
Every employee uses AI as a personal assistant to work better and faster—writing, analyzing data, generating code. This is about productivity on a personal level rather than team or organizational. At scale, the impact means organizations working in the same way, using the same processes but more efficiently. In phase one, humans still drive the work.For our sales organization, this step has focused on high-volume tasks: the administrative work that sellers often repeat dozens of times a day, like updating CRM records or taking meeting notes. “Copilot tackles the administrative minutiae so sellers can spend more time connecting with customers,” Maynard says.
The results? One sales team of nearly 700 people has already reported 9.4% higher revenue per person and 20% more deals closed compared to their peers with lower Copilot usage1—concrete gains that show how AI is driving real business outcomes.
Phase 2: Human-agent teams
Agents join the team as digital colleagues, taking on specific tasks at human direction—triaging support tickets, handling project management, facilitating meetings, contributing to brainstorming sessions. Agents boost efficiency and productivity at the team level, augment employees with new skills, and free them up to take on new, more valuable tasks.At Microsoft, this shift is embodied in Sales Chat, an extension of Copilot that brings rich CRM and sales context directly into the seller’s workflow. Instead of toggling between dozens of tools to prepare for a customer meeting, sellers can now get instant access to detailed account and opportunity information, including licensing details, renewal timelines, and key decision-makers. It also surfaces high-level account summaries and revenue breakdowns, gives real-time coaching, and provides predictive insights to forecast deal outcomes and suggest next steps. “Before Sales Chat, sellers had to swivel between 20 different tools just to get the full picture,” Maynard says. “Now they can simply ask, ‘What do I need to know before my meeting with this customer?’ and get everything in one place. It points them straight to the highest-value action they can take.”
Phase 3: Human-led, agent-operated
Humans define strategy and assign goals to agents. These agents work mostly with other agents to perform complex operations, escalating issues to humans for guidance when necessary. Agents will design workflows and even evaluate one another. Humans will monitor their progress through dashboards that summarize agentic activities, intervening only for critical decisions. We’ll see the emergence of a new career opportunity for humans in the AI age: agent manager, charged with building, delegating to, and supervising digital colleagues.Progress through these phases won’t necessarily be linear—many companies will find themselves in more than one at the same time—and there will be a “jagged frontier” of AI transformation as you roll out phase three approaches across projects and teams. That’s part of progress, after all—people crossed the Atlantic via steamship well beyond the dawn of the aviation age.
The phase 3 frontier
Letting go of a more hands-on human role in day-to-day operations will feel daunting—especially in these early days. And being the first mover will always feel risky, but granting machines such unprecedented autonomy requires a new level of trust in our tools, and an understanding of what they can and cannot do well.
But with a little imagination you can move forward boldly and with manageable risk by taking a step-by-step approach: experimenting on low-stakes projects, verifying that they’re working well, documenting your learnings, and then scaling them.
For example, many companies hire sales development representatives to do the necessary but repetitive work of prospecting potential customers. An agent can take on that entry-level job in a territory where you weren’t planning to hire a human anyway. It’s the difference between hiring a digital worker—and finding value in an otherwise uncovered market—or no worker at all.
Our sales team uses our new Sales Agent to handle exactly that type of work. It can research leads, set up meetings, and email customers. A human seller takes over when it’s time to close the deal, just like they would with any early-in-career sales development rep. (Eventually, the agent will be able to close the deal itself.)
We’ve started in our small-to-medium business segment, where the scale of opportunity far exceeds what human sellers can cover. “There is absolutely zero chance we could effectively cover that opportunity with humans,” Maynard says. “It’s not about replacing sellers—it’s about unlocking value that was previously out of reach.” Many of these customers are already using Microsoft products but haven’t had a direct relationship with a seller. Sales Agent changes that, proactively identifying needs, offering tailored solutions, and improving the customer experience in a way that’s both scalable and cost-effective. In just the past three months, the agent has reached out to 36,000 prospects to generate sales leads, converting 10.4% into sales opportunities.2
Phase three is still early days for us. Even so, the shift is already giving rise to a new concept: the AI territory. “In a traditional territory, you assign a seller. In an AI territory, you assign an agent that can operate independently and deliver value,” Maynard says. “It’s a new business model for scale.”
A new perspective on AI and trust
It’s well established that we readily accept the risks that come with human mistakes while holding machines to a much higher standard (self-driving cars, for example). In the context of business, we worry AI might say or do the wrong thing, though we tolerate these same flaws in people every day. This asymmetric risk tolerance deserves examination, especially since AI systems can already do much more than we let them.
Consider how OpenAI o3’s ability to reason has brought breathtaking progress on key intelligence benchmarks. With AI developing so rapidly, is it more of a risk to take a leap or to keep waiting? Remember: companies have countless systems in place to mitigate risk caused by humans, and they can and will develop them for AI as well.
What’s more, no company is traveling the path to becoming a Frontier Firm for its own sake. Phase three–style transformation won’t just impact organizational structures; it will also drive growth. As you progress through this journey, the cost of human labor will decrease while digital labor costs rise, albeit marginally. Over time, new revenue streams will emerge, leading to an overall increase in profit margins.
Phase three means moving from directing people to designing systems. Leadership, meanwhile, shifts beyond managing people to orchestrating performance. To get started, test a new approach: choose one process in an area of low risk and strong potential, and try making it agent-led.
Worrying about the unknown is understandable. But the real risk here is inaction. The groundbreaking Frontier Firms that will reimagine knowledge work and dominate their industries in the coming decade are already pulling ahead.
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MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $500,000 EPA Brownfields Grant to Pulaski
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Town of Pulaski, Virginia, a $500,000 Brownfield Assessment grant. The funding supports a community-wide assessment of local brownfields. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:
“The EPA’s Brownfields Program has the power to transform and revitalize communities, including those in Southwest Virginia.
“This EPA Brownfield Assessment grant for $500,000 helps the Town of Pulaski conduct an assessment of hazardous or polluted sites that can be potentially redeveloped for economic and social gain in Southwest Virginia.”
BACKGROUND
Congressman Griffith is chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment.
In March of 2025, Congressman Griffith chaired a hearing on the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Scott County Native and LENOWISCO Executive Director Duane Miller testified to the panel and discussed the Program’s importance to Southwest Virginia communities.
The Brownfields Program empowers states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse brownfields.
A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.
Brownfield Assessment grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach.
Congressman Griffith’s e-newsletter on the Program can be found here.
Chairman Griffith will hold a hearing next week with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to discuss the agency’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
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MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $1.2 Million EPA Brownfields Grant to LENOWISCO Planning District Commission, $276,563 Grant to Pennington Gap
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Brownfields grants to LENOWISCO Planning District Commission and the Town of Pennington Gap.
LENOWISCO Planning District Commission received a $1,200,000 Brownfield Assessment grant. The funding supports a community-wide assessment of local brownfields.
Further, the Town of Pennington Gap received a $276,563 Brownfield Cleanup grant. This funding supports brownfields cleanup activities.
U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:
“The EPA’s Brownfields Program has the power to transform and revitalize communities, including those in Southwest Virginia.
“This EPA Brownfield Assessment grant for $1.2 million helps LENOWISCO Planning District Commission conduct an assessment of hazardous or polluted sites that can be potentially redeveloped for economic and social gain in deep Southwest Virginia.
“Moreover, this EPA Brownfield Cleanup grant for $276,563 supports Pennington Gap in its activities cleaning local brownfield sites.”
BACKGROUND
Congressman Griffith is chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment.
In March of 2025, Congressman Griffith chaired a hearing on the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Scott County Native and LENOWISCO Planning District Commission Executive Director Duane Miller testified to the panel and discussed the Program’s importance to Southwest Virginia communities.
LENOWISCO Planning District Commission serves the Counties of Lee, Wise and Scott and the City of Norton.
The Brownfields Program empowers states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse brownfields.
A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.
Brownfield Assessment grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach.
Congressman Griffith’s e-newsletter on the Program can be found here.
Chairman Griffith will hold a hearing next week with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to discuss the agency’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
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MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1815, VA Home Loan Program Reform Act
Source: US Congressional Budget Office
Bill Summary
H.R. 1815 would temporarily increase the amounts authorized for the Grant and Per Diem Program through which The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards funding to organizations to provide transitional housing for veterans. The bill also would establish a Partial Claim Program through which VA would pay lenders amounts to prevent foreclosure on guaranteed loans that are delinquent or in default.
Estimated Federal Cost
The estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 1815 are shown in Table 1. The bill would decrease net direct spending by $147 million and increase spending subject to appropriation by $146 million over the 2025-2035 period. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 700 (veterans benefits and services).
Table 1.
Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1815
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2025-2030
2025-2035
Increases or Decreases (-) in Direct Spending
Estimated Budget Authority
11
-13
-34
-39
-41
-30
0
0
0
0
0
-146
-146
Estimated Outlays
10
-14
-33
-39
-41
-30
0
0
0
0
0
-147
-147
Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
Authorization
75
73
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
148
148
Estimated Outlays
66
71
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
146
146
Basis of Estimate
For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 1815 will be enacted in fiscal year 2025 and that provisions will take effect upon or soon after enactment. CBO also estimates that outlays will follow historical spending patterns for affected programs.
Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending
Section 5 would temporarily increase the amounts authorized for the Grant and Per Diem Program through which VA pays a daily rate to public and nonprofit entities that provide housing and supportive services to homeless veterans.
Current law limits the total amount that VA can award for those grants to $258 million each year; section 5 would raise that limit to $344 million for 2025 and 2026. Using information on past grant payments and historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that the amounts paid for grants would increase by a total of $169 million over the 2025-2035 period.
Some of the homeless veterans who would obtain services under section 5 would be veterans who have been exposed to environmental hazards; thus, CBO expects that some of the costs of implementing the bill would be paid from the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) established by Public Law 117-168, the Honoring our PACT Act. The TEF is a mandatory appropriation that VA uses to pay for health care, disability claims processing, medical research, and information technology modernization that benefit veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards. Additional spending from the TEF occurs if legislation increases the costs of similar activities that benefit veterans with such exposure. Thus, in addition to increasing spending subject to appropriation, enacting section 5 would increase amounts paid from the TEF, which are classified as direct spending.
CBO projects that the proportion of costs paid by the TEF will grow over time based on the amount of formerly discretionary appropriations that CBO expects will be provided through the mandatory appropriation as specified in the Honoring our PACT Act. CBO estimates that over the 2025-2035 period, implementing section 5 would increase outlays for spending subject to appropriation by $146 million and direct spending by $23 million.
Direct Spending
The discussion above in “Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending” describes the increased authorizations for the Grant and Per Diem Program that would increase direct spending from the TEF under section 5. Section 3 of the bill would establish a Partial Claim Program described below, which would decrease direct spending. In total, the bill would decrease net direct spending outlays by $147 million over the 2025‑2035 period (see Table 2).
Partial Claim Program.VA provides loan guarantees to lenders that allow eligible borrowers to obtain better loan terms—such as lower interest rates or smaller down payments—to purchase, construct, improve, or refinance a home. VA typically pays lenders up to 25 percent of the outstanding mortgage balance if a borrower’s home is foreclosed upon. Those payments, net of fees paid by borrowers and recoveries by lenders, constitute the subsidy cost for the loan guarantees.
Spending Subject to Appropriation
The discussion above in “Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending” describes the increased authorizations for the Grant and Per Diem Program that would increase spending subject to appropriation under section 5, totaling $146 million over the 2025-2035 period (see Table 3).
Table 3.
Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under H.R. 1815
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2025-2030
2025-2035
Grant & Per Diem
Authorization
75
73
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
148
148
Estimated Outlays
66
71
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
146
146
Pay-As-You-Go Considerations
The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 2.
Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1815 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.
Mandates
H.R. 1815 contains an intergovernmental and private-sector mandate, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). By not allowing judicial review of the Department of Veterans Affairs decision to obtain secured interest in a veteran’s defaulted home loan, the bill would eliminate an existing right of action for any public or private entity that would otherwise be able to seek judicial review. There is no cost associated with this mandate because judicial review does not result in monetary damages; the cost is therefore well below the thresholds established in UMRA for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates ($103 million and $206 million in 2025, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation).
Estimate Reviewed By
David Newman
Chief, Defense, International Affairs, and Veterans’ Affairs Cost Estimates UnitKathleen FitzGerald
Chief, Public and Private Mandates UnitChristina Hawley Anthony
Deputy Director of Budget AnalysisPhillip L. Swagel
Director, Congressional Budget Office
MIL-OSI USA: The Next Fueling Discovery Webinar Takes Place May 29
Source: US Geological Survey
May is Wildfire Awareness Month due to the increase in fire activity in late spring throughout the summer caused by warming temperatures, drying fuels, and increased ignitions from recreational activities. Wildfire Awareness Month helps communities and land, and emergency managers prepare for increased fire activity by increasing awareness of how to create defensible space around a home as well as learning how to minimize risk during fire weather. During Wildfire Awareness Month and throughout the year, the USGS provides essential information and tools to land managers, homeowners, federal and state agencies for investigating impacts before, during and after wildfires.
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area and USGS Wildland Fire Science program are hosting a Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Science talk on May 29th from 3-4 PM ET. The webinar is open to the public and provides information on the breadth of USGS fire science used by stakeholders to make decisions before, during, and after wildfires in ecosystems across the U.S.
Webinar Details
Title: Patterns of increasing building loss from wildfires in the conterminous U.S., 2000-2020
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 3:00 – 4:00pm ET / 12:00pm – 1:00pm PT
Speaker: Amanda Carlson, Physical Research Scientist, USGS Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
Summary: Wildfires are becoming more destructive as burned area increases and as more homes are built in the wildland-urban interface, but it is unclear how these patterns are affected by changing wildfire behavior in different fuel types. To better understand changing patterns of wildfire destruction, we mapped buildings exposed to and destroyed by wildfires in the conterminous U.S. from 2000-2020. From these maps, we determined that the probability of an exposed building being destroyed by wildfire has more than tripled over the past two decades, and that more wildfire destruction is occurring in forests relative to grass and shrublands. Understanding these changing patterns can help us design more effective strategies to mitigate risk.