Source: United States Small Business Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, private nonprofits, and residents in Oregon of the Aug. 25, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring March 13-20.
The disaster declaration covers the Oregon counties of Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane.
Small businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug. 25.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County man admitted to armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on July 22, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey armed with a loaded handgun, approached a bank teller, and demanded cash from the teller. After demanding the money, Kniffin removed the handgun from his pocket and displayed it towards the teller. During his interaction with the teller, Kniffin instructed multiple times, “Don’t do anything stupid.” Kniffin received approximately $27,072 in cash from the teller and then fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded firearm and more than $25,000 in cash.
The count of armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited task force officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
HAMMOND – Yesterday, Kareim J. Coverson, 37 years old, of Calumet City, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Phillip P. Simon after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Coverson was sentenced to 41 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $614,597.50 in restitution to the victims of the offense.
According to documents in the case, between approximately May 2019 and June 2020, Coverson participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $3.3 million from the proceeds of large business checks stolen out of the mail. Coverson and his co-conspirators registered fictitious corporations with the Indiana and Illinois Secretaries of State, opened fraudulent corporate bank accounts, and deposited the stolen checks into the fraudulent accounts. The actions of Coverson and his associates resulted in an unrecovered loss of over $1 million to the affected businesses and financial institutions.
Coverson is the last of 10 defendants to be convicted and sentenced in this case and a related prosecution arising from the same scheme. In April 2024, Coverson’s brother, Oliver Coverson, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for his role as the organizer of the scheme. Earlier this year, Defendant Scott Vue received a prison sentence of 51 months for his role in the offense, which included opening fraudulent bank accounts, depositing stolen checks, and recruiting additional participants to the conspiracy.
“The Coverson brothers and their associates assembled a large criminal conspiracy that caused millions of dollars of harm to businesses and banks throughout the United States. These defendants stole from small and large businesses alike, disrupting the flow of commerce, and compromising the mail and financial systems on which everyday Americans rely to conduct their business,” said Proctor. “As the court’s sentences in this case demonstrate, such conduct is not tolerated in the Northern District of Indiana and will be met with serious consequences.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater.
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Evan Strauss, 27, of Moneta, Virginia, pled guilty to conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosives.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to the guilty plea, Strauss helped create and operate an online group known as “Purgatory.” The group used multiple online social-media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, to coordinate and plan swatting and doxxing activities and to announce and brag about swats that they conducted.
“Swatting” is a term used to describe a criminal incident in which an individual contacts emergency services and falsely reports an emergency, often involving an act of violence that reportedly has or will occur at a particular location to elicit an armed law enforcement response to that location. “Doxxing” is a term used to describe the practice of — searching for and publishing on the Internet — personal, private, or identifying information about an individual with malicious intent, such as providing the information for the purpose of facilitating the swatting of the individual.
From December 10, 2023, through January 18, 2024, Strauss and his co-conspirators, including a co-conspirator who resided in Hagerstown, Maryland, and made calls from Maryland, placed swatting calls to police and other emergency response departments. One or more of the conspirators, acting with the intent to threaten, intimidate, and harass individuals and entities, falsely reported emergencies in the form of violent acts at particular locations to cause armed law enforcement responses.
Strauss and his co-conspirators often used shared scripts to plan and coordinate their conduct. They then called police departments using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services to obscure their phone numbers and identities.
As part of the scheme, Strauss called the Newark Delaware Police Department and falsely claimed that he heard a man firing shots in a school hallway. Moments later, the Maryland co-conspirator called the department again, threatening to shoot a specific Newark High School teacher and kill students. As a result of these calls, which occurred in the middle of the school day, authorities placed the school on lockdown as police officers rushed to respond. Later the same day, Strauss and other conspirators bragged about the incident and posted images from the resulting news coverage onto their group’s social media accounts.
Strauss encouraged a Purgatory conspirator to “shut down” an airport. Following Strauss’ urging, the conspirator used a VOIP number to call the Albany Police Department in Albany, New York, stating he was going to the Albany International Airport to “shoot everybody up” and that his “friend” was going to set off bombs in the airport. Police units then rushed to respond to these threats.
Additionally, as part of this scheme, the Maryland co-conspirator called the Houston County Sheriff’s Office in Dothan, Alabama, and threatened to burn down part of a residential trailer park and kill any law enforcement officers who arrived to respond to the threat.
Strauss faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count of threatening to damage or destroy by fire or explosive and a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threats. Co-conspirators Brayden Grace, 19, of Columbus, Ohio, and Owen Jarboe, 19, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty earlier this year and are awaiting sentencing.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at 10 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Additionally, Ms. Hayes praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Columbus; Ohio Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Lenoir City, Tennessee Police Department; Albany, New York Police Department; Albany County, New York Sheriff’s Office; Fairburn City, Georgia Police Department; Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Police Department; Giles County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office; Blue Springs, Missouri Police Department; Tarboro, North Carolina Police Department; Boston, Massachusetts Police Department; Dodge County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; Houston County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI’s Mobile, Richmond, Boston, Charlotte, and Cincinnati Field Offices for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert I. Goldaris and Patricia C. McLane who are prosecuting the case.
PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Richard Alan Kucera, age 67, of Winner, South Dakota, was found guilty of two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child and two counts of Production of Child Pornography following a four-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 18, 2025.
Each count of Sex Trafficking of a Child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Each count of Production of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Kucera and co-defendant Ivy Heron, age 37, also of Winner, South Dakota, were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023.
At trial, the evidence established that between 2019 and 2021, Kucera and Heron entered into an agreement to recruit local girls to engage in sexual activity with Kucera in exchange for payment. Heron received a fee for each girl she recruited whom Kucera selected. Between 2020 and 2021, Heron recruited two sixteen-year-old girls, each of whom Kucera paid to engage in sexual activity. Kucera also created child pornography images and videos of both minor victims, which he uploaded to Facebook. The arrangement between Kucera and Heron was discovered in June 2022, when the minor victims were interviewed by law enforcement.
Heron pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025, to Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child. She is in custody awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Kucera was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
BURLINGTON, Vt., July 25 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) reintroduced the End Polluter Welfare Act, legislation to eliminate President Trump’s enormous new handouts to the fossil fuel industry contained in the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” along with existing polluter welfare for the fossil fuel industry. First introduced by Sanders in 2012, the bill eliminates more than $190 billion in tax loopholes and federal subsidies for the fossil fuel industry over the next 10 years. That total includes approximately $20 billion in new subsidies for coal, oil drilling, methane emissions, pipelines and other false climate solutions. The bill would also prevent the Trump administration from handing out hundreds of millions of acres of public lands and waters for drilling.
In addition to Sanders and Omar, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with 20 members of the House of Representatives, have cosponsored the bill. More than 170 organizations have endorsed the legislation.
“Donald Trump has sold out the young people of America and future generations,” Sanders said. “Big Oil spent $450 million to elected Donald Trump and Republicans during the last election cycle. In return, the president has directed the full regulatory, legal and financial weight of the federal government toward helping his fossil fuel executive friends get rich at the expense of a healthy and habitable planet for our kids and grandkids. The fossil fuel industry, with the support of Trump, is more concerned about their short-term profits than the wellbeing of the planet. No more polluter welfare for an industry that is making billions every year destroying the planet.”
“We are done letting fossil fuel executives write the rules while our communities pay the price,” Omar said. “For decades, Big Oil has raked in billions in taxpayer handouts while destabilizing our climate. The End Polluter Welfare Act will finally hold polluters accountable and eliminate these harmful subsidies once and for all. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Senator Sanders because our planet can’t wait, and neither can we.”
Just four private fossil fuel corporations — ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron and Shell — have accounted for about 10% of global fossil fuel emissions since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Over the past three decades, these four companies have made more than $2 trillion in profit off the backs of people all around the world have borne the brunt of climate disasters. Last year alone, these companies made $84 billion in profit, and their CEOs made more than $95 million.
As if these obscene profits weren’t enough, the Republican reconciliation bill passed earlier this month by a single vote in the Senate includes enormous new subsidies to the fossil fuel industry:
More than $1.48 billion in tax cuts for metallurgical coal;
More than $14 billion in tax cuts for carbon capture and enhanced oil recovery;
Up to $3 billion in tax cuts for owners of power plants and pipelines that transport carbon and dirty hydrogen;
Up to $447 million in tax cuts that help oil and gas drillers avoid the 15 percent corporate minimum tax;
$1.5 billion in tax cuts for fossil fuel producers who emit methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide;
A “pay-to-play” scheme that will allow polluters to buy environmental reviews; and
Opening up hundreds of millions of acres of our public lands and waters for drilling.
Instead of handing out new taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil, Congress must take on the greed of the tremendously profitable fossil fuel industry by passing the End Polluter Welfare Act, which would:
Eliminate all giveaways, tax preferences and loopholes to the fossil fuel industry;
Prohibit taxpayer-funded fossil fuel research and development;
Update below-market royalty rates for oil and gas production on federal lands;
Recoup royalties from offshore drilling in public waters;
Ensure competitive bidding and leasing practices for coal developments on federal lands; and
End support for international oil, gas and coal projects to help the international community move away from dirty fossil fuels to clean sources of power.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently asked: “If an energy source needs subsidies to stay afloat, how truly reliable, or affordable is it?” The secretary is right: The American people can no longer afford to rely on the most subsidized form of energy in American history. Failure to address the climate crisis by taking on the fossil fuel industry puts the planet and future generations at risk.
Read the bill text here.
Read a summary here.
Read the section-by-section here.
Read a letter of support from endorsing organizations here.
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Tracking Hostile Industry Networks and Kit while Thwarting Weapons Imports from Chinese Entities (THINK TWICE) Act of 2025. The THINK TWICE Act would require an assessment of arms sales by Communist China and a strategy to dissuade countries from buying Chinese weapons systems and defense equipment. The legislation was also sponsored by Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).
“Communist China has emerged as a major weapons supplier. This is particularly true in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia,” said Ricketts. “This development has major implications for American defense companies, our military operations, and our global security partnerships. The recent Pakistan-India clash saw significant use of Chinese-made weapons. This should be a major wake-up call that we must do more to combat these arms sales. That’s why I’ve introduced the THINK TWICE Act. This act requires a coordinated strategy to dissuade new purchases of Chinese-made weapons. It will also ensure our defense industrial base is better equipped to provide alternatives to prospective buyers.”
“As China wields arms sales to reshape the international system in Beijing’s image, the United States must reassert its role as a security partner of choice,” said Bennet. “This legislation is an essential step toward countering China’s expanding military footprint and geopolitical influence.”
The THINK TWICE Act would:
Requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to report on arms sales facilitated by entities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The report requires inclusion of:
The specific weapons systems, technical aspects, and capabilities of those weapons;
The countries mostly likely to procure weapons systems;
The weapons that present the greatest security risks regarding the potential to collect intelligence on or compromise U.S. platforms;
The factors that incentivize countries to procure Chinese weapons;
And the PRC’s strategy regarding arms sales.
Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to develop a strategy to dissuade purchases of new weapons systems and defense equipment from the PRC. The strategy would include:
An information campaign to warn countries interested in procuring weapons systems and defense equipment originating from China about risks;
A description of actions the U.S. can take, including FMS reforms, commercial sales, and foreign military financing;
An analysis of whether sanctions or economic restrictions targeting potential buyers could be used as an effective deterrent;
A plan to ensure sufficient representation of defense firms of the U.S. or trusted allies at defense trade shows;
And a plan to combat Chinese disinformation campaigns targeting the performance of Western weapons.
BACKGROUND:
Communist China is now the fourth largest arms exporter behind the U.S., Russia, and France. In recent years, Chinese-made drones, missiles, and fighter jets have been exported to 44 countries. All around the world, Communist China uses arms sales to promote strategic interests, improve its military’s image and reputation, acquire performance data of Chinese-made weapons in contested environments, exacerbate tensions between the U.S. and traditional security partners, and gain a foothold for further defense and security cooperation. With Russia unable to facilitate arms sales given its war of aggression in Ukraine, an opportunity has arisen for Communist China to fill the void.
Bill text can be found here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu at the President’s Office in Male on Friday, marking a diplomatic milestone during his visit to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Maldives’ independence and six decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Reflecting on the partnership, the two leaders reviewed progress on the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a ‘Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership’ that was adopted during President Muizzu’s state visit to India in October 2024. Modi reiterated India’s commitment to deepening engagement with Maldives in line with the “Neighbourhood First” and “Vision MAHASAGAR” doctrines.
President Muizzu, in turn, acknowledged India’s consistent support as the “first responder” in times of crisis, and both leaders discussed avenues for enhanced cooperation across infrastructure development, capacity building, health, climate action, and disaster preparedness. They also reviewed maritime security collaboration under the Colombo Security Conclave framework.
On the economic front, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of concluding a proposed Free Trade Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Treaty to unlock new trade and investment opportunities. He also welcomed recent steps toward digital integration, including agreements for the use of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RuPay card acceptance, and local currency trade mechanisms, with a view to boosting tourism and digital commerce.
Six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged across key areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, meteorology, digital public infrastructure, pharmacopoeia, and a concessional Line of Credit. A new Line of Credit, amounting to approximately ₹4,850 crore (about USD 550 million), was announced for infrastructure and other developmental activities in Maldives. An amended agreement on existing lines of credit was also signed, bringing down Maldives’s annual debt repayment by 40%, from USD 51 million to USD 29 million.
The leaders jointly inaugurated a roads and drainage project in Addu City and six High Impact Community Development Projects across various cities. Modi also handed over 3,300 social housing units and 72 vehicles intended for the Maldives National Defence Force and immigration authorities.
In a gesture of medical diplomacy, India gifted two units of Aarogya Maitri Health Cubes (BHISHM) to the Maldives. These mobile health units, equipped with modern medical devices, can support 200 casualties and sustain six personnel for up to 72 hours.
Further underlining shared environmental goals, Modi and Muizzu planted mango saplings, symbolising India’s “Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam” campaign and the Maldives’ “Pledge of 5 Million Trees” initiative.
Prime Minister Modi also thanked President Muizzu for his condemnation of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and for expressing solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism.
Two teenagers, who brutally stabbed a 14-year-old boy, have been jailed after detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service conducted a thorough investigation. Following the sentencing hearing, the victim’s mother made a heart-rendering plea for young teenagers to stop carrying knives as she spoke of her immense grief.
Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed by the pair as he was sat on a bus in Woolwich in January of this year. Despite the best efforts from officers and paramedics at the scene, Kelyan tragically lost his young life.
Two 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were both sentenced at the Old Bailey to a minimum of 15 years, 10 months for murder. They received an additional 12-month sentence for possession of a knife which will run concurrent.
The teenagers previously pleaded guilty to Keyan’s murder at the same court on Friday, 23 May.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, whose team led the Met investigation, said: “This case has been deeply troubling for all involved and our thoughts remain with Kelyan’s family and loved ones.
“The harsh reality in London is that violence disproportionately affects young black men and boys. The fact we’re seeing so many teenagers like Kelyan die should be at the forefront of the minds of every politician, every policy maker and everyone who wants better for children growing up in London. Without this collective effort, we won’t be able to tackle knife crime in its entirety.
“And while I am pleased that Keylan’s mother, Marie, has been spared the emotional turmoil of a trial, I know that she still desperately seeks to understand why three young lives could be considered so disposable.
“Finally, I would like to recognise the members of the public that comforted Kelyan in his final moments and the witnesses who entrusted my investigation team with their testimonies. It was your bravery that helped us secure justice. Thank you.”
Marie Bokassa, Kelyan’s mother, said: “My child had a name, it was Kelyan, a future, a heartbeat full of hope. That life was not theirs to take. That moment of violence may have lasted seconds, but the consequences are eternal. They didn’t just take a life; they shattered an entire world. They broke a family, they buried a future, and they left me, a mother dead inside with wounds no justice can ever heal.
“To the young people who carry knives, I beg you to stop, before you raise that blade, think of your own mother, think of the mothers who will cry every night like I do, who will scream into her pillow, who will walk past her child’s empty room and collapse with grief. Don’t let a moment of anger steal your future. Don’t let the streets raise you in a way your mother never would.
“Knife crime is not just statistics to us, its caskets, flowers, funerals. Our children being buried before their parents.”
On the afternoon of Tuesday, 7 January, passengers flagged down passing police officers after Kelyan was stabbed on bus travelling on Woolwich Church Street. These officers began performing emergency first-aid on Kelyan, before the arrival of paramedics. He sadly died a short while later.
An investigation commenced and detectives quickly recovered bus CCTV and witnessed the two teenagers board the bus, making their way to the top deck.
One of the 16-year-old boys could be seen smiling as he recognised Kelyan. Only seconds later both boys produced machetes and launched into a violent ambush.
Kelyan has been stabbed more than eight times, although CCTV showed that they had made more than 27 attempts to wound him.
Audio from the bus highlighted the terror of the incident as screams from members of the public could be heard, as many attempted to flea the frenzied attack.
The pair then fled the scene. Officers traced their movements, with CCTV showing them discard the murder weapon into the river.
Following a manhunt, both were arrested an address in Eltham during the early hours of Wednesday, 15 January.
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday announced the appointment of Deborah Denise Tillman as Mobile County District Judge.
“Deborah Tillman possesses a tremendous background in the law spanning 35 years, beginning with her service as a Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force to subsequent decades of experience in the Mobile County District Attorney’s office,” said Governor Ivey. “As a former state, federal and military prosecutor, her legal knowledge will serve the Court and the people of Mobile County well.”
“I am extremely honored, humbled and grateful to Governor Ivey for appointing me to be the next District Court Judge in Mobile County,” said Tillman. “While my role will change in the courtroom, my commitment to the rule of law and to serve the great people of Mobile County with honor and integrity will not. I look forward to joining the distinguished group of Judges who comprise the 13th Judicial Circuit of Mobile County.”
Tillman will fill the vacancy on the Court left after the resignation of District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis.
Tillman began her legal career in the U.S. Air Force rising to the rank of Captain and was Honorably Discharged in 1995. Afterward, she devoted several decades as Assistant District Attorney and Chief District Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Mobile County. She also held the position of Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Florida. Over her extensive career, she prosecuted thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases in state and federal courts. Additionally, she taught criminal law, contracts and civil procedure as an adjunct professor in the paralegal studies division at the University of South Alabama.
A Mobile native, Tillman is a 1985 graduate of Spring Hill College. She received her Juris Doctorate from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, Georgia in 1989.
Tillman’s appointment is effective immediately.
Tillman’s official photo is attached.
Governor Ivey made 36 other appointments. A list of those appointments is attached.
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July 25, 2025
Albany, NY
Flags To Be Flown at Half-Staff Across New York State on Saturday, July 26
Governor Kathy Hochul today directed flags on all State government buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of East Branch Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jason McGlone, who passed away on July 17 in the line of duty while responding to a motor vehicle accident. Flags will be at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, July 26.
“Chief McGlone served his community with courage and selflessness for 25 years — a true representation of New York’s hardest working public servants,” Governor Hochul said. “His loss will be felt deeply by his East Branch Fire Department crew, his community, and his friends and loved ones. As Governor of New York, I extend my deepest sympathy to those affected during this difficult time.”
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Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal jury in Salt Lake City returned a guilty verdict today against a Texas man after he grabbed and groped a female passenger multiple times without her consent while onboard a late-night flight from Chicago to Salt Lake City.
Robert Sutherland MacLean, aka “Bobby,” 59, of Frisco, Texas, was charged by indictment on April 18, 2023, with abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft of the United States.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 1, 2022, while in flight, MacLean made calculated and sexually laced statements to a stranger seated next to him while he sexually assaulted her multiple times in the first-class cabin.
“Mr. MacLean unlawfully and illegally imposed his will upon another person— sexually assaulting her over and over again on that late night flight,” said prosecuting attorney Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, during the trial.
MacLean’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Kimball at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and assisted by the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Kennedy and Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
A serving Met police officer has been dismissed without notice after he touched a colleague in a sexual manner.
Detective Sergeant Christopher Arnold, attached to Met Operations, appeared before a three-day hearing, which concluded on Wednesday, 23 July.
It was found that DS Arnold had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct.
These breaches amounted to gross misconduct.
The panel heard that on 22 July 2021 an allegation was made that DS Arnold had intentionally touched a female officer on her buttock.
Commander Lou Pudefoot, who leads Met Operations said: “The actions of DS Arnold were completely inappropriate and his behaviour fell well below the standards expected of a Metropolitan Police officer. He has rightly been dismissed.”
DS Christopher Arnold will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies, the Independent Office for Police Conduct or His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), assisted by the Memphis Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Team and TACT Unit, captured Dakarin Arnett, 23, who was wanted for First-Degree Murder.
On September 23, 2018, Jerald Holiday, Jr., was found shot to death at the intersection of Kaye Road and White Station in Memphis, TN. After an investigation by MPD Detectives, on March 16, 2022, a First-Degree Murder warrant was issued for Arnett’s arrest, who was then 16 years old.
Arnett also had outstanding warrants for Aggravated Assault and Domestic Assault. The fugitive case was adopted for investigation by the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis.
On July 24, 2025, the TRVFTF developed information that Arnett was at a residence in the 1800 block of Wessex in Memphis. Deputy marshals, task force officers, MPD’s Fugitive and TACT Unit went to the residence and took Arnett into custody without incident.
The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) reintroduced the Freights First Act, legislation to reduce rail congestion near critical supply-chain hubs by prioritizing freight movement over passenger service within key logistics corridors.
Currently, under federal law (49 U.S.C. § 24308(c)), Amtrak enjoys statutory preference over freight railroads on shared tracks. This rule often creates unnecessary bottlenecks near ports and major rail yards.
“The backbone of America’s economy is a strong and reliable supply chain,” said Congressman Burlison. “When freight rail is forced to wait for passenger trains near critical infrastructure, our entire economy suffers. My Freights First Act removes this barrier and ensures goods arrive on time and without costly delays.”
Specifically, the Freights First Act:
Eliminates Amtrak’s track preference within 50 miles of a port or rail yard to prevent congestion and keep freight moving efficiently.
Improves supply chain resilience by prioritizing freight over passenger service in the areas where the movement of goods is most critical.
The Freights First Act puts America’s economy first by clearing bottlenecks, strengthening the supply chain, and ensuring goods move at the speed of commerce.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37)and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) reintroduced the End Solitary Confinement Act, legislation that would end solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails, and detention centers, with limited exceptions. This bill would create minimum standards for incarceration, including by requiring that facilities give detainees access to out-of-cell interaction and recreation and by capping the length of solitary confinement at four hours.
Individuals held in solitary confinement can be isolated in a small, concrete, windowless cell for 22 hours or longer. Placement in solitary for any length of time, whether days or even hours, can cause severe, long-term harm. Individuals held in solitary confinement may suffer serious adverse effects on their mental and physical health, including an increased risk of suicide, heart disease, anxiety, and depression. Solitary confinement is also disproportionately inflicted on Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as on vulnerable populations, including persons with preexisting mental health illnesses.
“Solitary confinement is torture, period,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “This outdated practice, dating back to the 1800s, does nothing to promote rehabilitation. Research consistently shows it causes severe mental health issues, intensifies existing barriers to recovery, and disproportionately harms incarcerated Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We must abolish solitary confinement entirely—and I’m proud to lead the charge with this bill that will finally end its use in the United States.”
“Solitary confinement is a cruel and unnecessary practice that has no place in our country. This practice isn’t rehabilitation, it’s torture,” said Senator Markey. “Forcing people, including those from vulnerable groups, into small, cramped, concrete prison cells without human interaction for hours, days, weeks, and even months on end is inhumane. I am proud to introduce this legislation, alongside Representative Kamlager-Dove, to move us closer to ending solitary confinement, once and for all.”
“Solitary confinement is torture and should never be used,” said Congresswoman Tlaib.“It takes a devastating toll on mental health, heightens the risk of self-harm and suicide, increases recidivism, and can lead to severe psychological trauma. It is disproportionately inflicted on Black and brown people and other marginalized communities. We need to lead with restorative justice and recognize the human dignity of incarcerated people by abolishing this inhumane practice once and for all.”
“Solitary confinement causes irreversible harm to individuals, yet we continue to use this form of torture across the American criminal justice system,” said Congressman Espaillat. “These harms, while well documented, have been shown to lead to increased mental health risks and heightened rates of suicide. Solitary confinement is inhumane and a form of torture that should never be used, period. I am proud to join my colleagues to reintroduce the End Solitary Confinement Act during the 119th Congress to ban this practice across our justice system in its entirety.”
“Most Americans agree that the extensive use of solitary confinement is morally indefensible,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. The use of solitary confinement has been shown to significantly harm to the incarcerated individual’s mental health leading to self-mutilation, anxiety, depression, psychosis, mental deterioration, and suicide. The United States is currently going through a significant mental health crisis to which the Federal government should not be contributing through its extensive use of solitary confinement. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove’s bill to end the extended use of solitary confinement is a step in the right direction towards our goal of rehabilitation and mental health.”
“Solitary confinement is a cruel, inhumane punishment that is detrimental to a person’s mental health and does nothing to promote rehabilitation,” said Congresswoman Lee.“This legislation is about protecting human rights, upholding accountability, and ending a practice rooted in systemic racism and trauma. I fully support Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove’s End Solitary Confinement Act. We must choose care and compassion over punishment and isolation.”
Specifically, the End Solitary Confinement Act would:
End solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails and other detention settings with limited exceptions, including a 4-hour maximum for emergency de-escalation;
Protect vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals and pregnant persons, from placement in solitary confinement;
Ensure detainees have meaningful access to out-of-cell time, group programming, and basic needs and services;
Impose strict due process protections, including access to representation and neutral decision-makers;
Create oversight and enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory reporting, a private cause of action, oversight by a community monitoring body, and enhanced media access; and
Incentivize states and municipalities to adopt similar bans on solitary confinement.
In the House, the End Solitary Confinement Act was co-led by Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Summer Lee (PA-12). Cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore).
This legislation is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Constitutional Rights, Vera Institute of Justice, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Unlock the Box Campaign, the #HALTsolitary Campaign, and Zealous.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)
Donalds Announces Scam Awareness Workshop In Bonita Springs
Washington, July 25, 2025
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has released the following information announcingan in-person, scam awareness workshop in collaboration with regional F.B.I. partners. Congressman Donalds is co-hosting this free, scam awareness workshop, to offer constituents of Florida’s 19thCongressional District an opportunity to stay informed regarding common scams and elder fraud.
WHO:
Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL)
Constituents of Florida’s 19th Congressional District
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)
The CAP Act Seeks Fairness in Visa Program, Encourages Universities to Hire American Professors
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Andrew Clyde (GA-09) introduced the Colleges for the American People Act, also known as the CAP Act. This legislation would remove the H-1B visa cap exemption for institutions of higher education.
Under today’s Immigration and Nationality Act, the Department of State may issue 65,000 H-1B specialty-occupation visas each year. However, employees of higher-education institutions are exempt from that limit, which allows universities to hire unlimited foreign workers. The CAP Act would require all prospective university hires—from administrative staff to professors—to compete for an H-1B visa under the standard 65,000-visa cap.
“American students spend years earning degrees, only to watch universities hand good-paying jobs to foreign workers on special visas,”said Congressman Tiffany.“The CAP Act ensures our institutions invest in the people they are meant to serve and ends the backdoor hiring practices that undercut American workers.”
Background:
This legislation follows a report by Wisconsin Right Now, which revealed that the University of Wisconsin System is currently employing 495 foreign nationals on H-1B visas, with total salaries approaching $43 million annually. At the same time, the UW System has raised tuition for students, citing increased operational costs.
The CAP Act eliminates the current exemption that allows colleges and universities to bypass the H-1B visa cap. Under this legislation, nonimmigrants seeking employment at higher education institutions would be required to go through the standard H-1B visa application process, just like applicants in other industries.
The bill does not retroactively affect current visa holders. Extensions for existing H-1B employees at universities will not count against the cap and may continue until the normal six-year limit, after which the standard rules would apply. This commonsense reform ensures schools prioritize training and hiring Americans first.
The text of theCAP Actcan befound here.Click herefor the Fox News exclusive.
I have spent the past two years examining the living conditions in informal refugee camps along the northern coast of France as part of an ongoing research project on borders. These sites are where people gather before attempting to cross the Channel to the UK.
The UK government recently announced a returns agreement to discourage people from making the crossing and economic sanctions
against people smugglers, following an increase in funding for border control and a decision to use counter-terrorism tactics in an effort to “smash the gangs”.
But from what I have observed, such policies appear to do little to stop people from making the journey. Quite the opposite – the more police crack down, the more the smuggling networks take risks to get around difficulties.
My fieldwork has been primarily conducted through volunteer work with Salam, a grassroots organisation that provides hot meals and clothing to the main informal camps in Calais and Dunkirk. I have also collaborated with other groups such as Alors on Aide and Opal Exil.
In the past few years, smuggling networks have adjusted their tactics to evade police. While smugglers used to inflate boats on the beaches between Calais and Dunkirk, they are now mostly using “taxi boats”. These leave further north or south on the coast, as far as Le Touquet. They then pick up groups of refugees waiting in the water along the coast, avoiding police intervention.
A microcamp in Ecault Forest. Sophie Watt
In response, and in order to intensify the crossings, “microcamps” have emerged – smaller temporary settlements closer to the beach, along the coast between Hardelot and Calais. These microcamps act as connecting points between the larger camps and the coastal departure locations where taxi boats pick them up. They allow for people to make several attempts at crossing without having to return to the large camps, where living conditions are more difficult.
The larger camps (such as Loon Plage and Calais) are the epicentre of the smuggling operations. The camps are evicted at least once a week (every 24 hours in Calais) due to France’s official “zero fixation point” policy. This policy, which bars people from forming long-term settlements, was implemented after the dismantling of the Calais “Jungle” refugee camp in October 2016.
Camp conditions
Police efforts to uphold the zero fixation point policy entail frequent evacuations, restrictions of humanitarian aid and physical site disruption. At Loon Plage, I saw that the sole access to water is a livestock trough.
Official guidance from the UN’s refugee agency states that, irrespective of the informality of these camps, their residents should have access to water, sanitation and shelter.
Access to water is limited to troughs. Sophie Watt
The non-profit watchdog group Human Rights Observers has documented instances of police violence and seizures of people’s belongings and tents at the camps.
In addition to regular evictions of the larger camps, the microcamps have recently seen more brutal police action. There have been reports of police using teargas, puncturing life jackets and tents, contributing to untenable living conditions. Violence and shootings between smuggling groups have also been reported in Loon Plage camp.
While working with Alors On Aide and photographer Laurent Prum we met around 50 people, including seven children (ages one-17), in a microcamp on the edge of the Ecault forest near Boulogne-sur-Mer. We immediately noted a tension between the group and the gendarmes who were standing watch.
Most of this group had spent a few years in Germany before being refused asylum. They told me they felt they had been forced to come back to France, because of the deportation measures currently being implemented by the German government.
A few confided that this was their fifth and final try at crossing the Channel. This is a new tactic the smuggling organisations use to make more money more rapidly: while refugees used to be able to try as many times as they needed, they now have to pay again after five failed attempts.
The previous day, this group told us they had been chased out of another part of the forest. There, we had found several empty canisters of tear gas – consistent with reports that French police have deployed tear gas in operations against informal camps.
This group had wanted to stay there because they could use a dilapidated shed to shelter themselves and their children from the rain. Eventually, the gendarmes evicted them, forcing them to spend the night in the rain – the field in question was privately owned. Following the eviction, we witnessed that the landowner had covered the area with manure to stop them returning.
A young Sudanese man showed us videos of the altercation. The exchange, during which five people were arrested, was violent. The children were terrified and the video showed the gendarmes using teargas against the group. A Palestinian mother was arrested and taken into custody, forced to leave her two young daughters. Her husband asked me: “Why did they arrest her when they could see she had two children with her?”
Alors on Aide mobilised several of its members to bring clothes, blankets and food for the group, and got the Palestinian woman released from custody, as she had not been charged with any offence.
While living conditions in camps and the capacity of the French asylum system make staying in France difficult, police are also taking firmer action against boats attempting the crossing.
As part of a coastal patrol (helping refugees after a failed crossing attempt), we arrived on the beach in Équihen at around 7am on July 4 to find that French police had just punctured a boat in the water.
The UK government praised French police for this action, performed in front of international media. The UK and France have also discussed allowing coastguards to intercept taxi boats up to 300 metres off the coast.
This would be a marked change from current regulations, which prohibit French police from intervening offshore except when responding to passengers in distress. Even the border police have doubts about the legal basis for this measure and its practical implications at sea, particularly given the heightened risk of accident.
Trapped between hounding by police on the beaches and constant evacuations from the informal settlements, the refugees have no choice but to try to cross the Channel at any cost. A record number of 89 refugees died at the Franco-British border in 2024. Thirteen deaths at sea have already been recorded in 2025.
In my view, the recently announced French-British measures to intensify policing and border enforcement are unlikely to deter people from attempting dangerous crossings. Instead, they will create an incentive for more dangerous tactics by smugglers, putting more lives at risk and violating human rights. Any agreement to return asylum seekers, restrict their access to asylum or force people back across borders will exacerbate the dangers already experienced by those seeking refuge.
Sophie Watt receives funding from the University of Sheffield and the British Academy / Leverhulme Small Research Grants.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Ian Murray: Year of Progress at the Scotland Office
The Scotland Office has taken huge steps forward in delivering for people in Scotland, the Scottish Secretary has said.
Speaking as he published his department’s annual report, Ian Murray set out how the department has been reshaped and given more powers to help make life better for people in Scotland as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
In Ian Murray’s first year at the Scotland Office he has:
Restructured the department to deliver his four key priorities – green energy, economic growth, tackling poverty and delivering Brand Scotland.
Ensured the department received cash and spending powers to deliver its Brand Scotland campaign to sell the best of Scotland around the world.
Taken a key role in directing new funding for local growth projects.
Reset relationships with the Scottish Government.
Speaking after the report was laid in Parliament, Ian Murray said:
“Over the past year I have reformed and restructured the Scotland Office, so it can deliver the UK Government’s Plan for Change in Scotland, focusing on my priorities of economic growth, clean energy, Brand Scotland and tackling poverty.
“This work has started in earnest, with £3 million for Brand Scotland. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote all that is great about Scotland around the world, and show investors the opportunities of Scotland.
“We are also taking a key role in delivering local growth funding in Scotland, with the UK Government delivering £1.7 billion in local growth projects across Scotland. Our industrial strategy will make sure we can take advantage of the jobs of the future and GB Energy, headquartered here in Scotland, will drive our clean energy transition.”
On Brand Scotland, Mr Murray has already invested some of the funding to sign deals with the Royal Edinburgh Royal Tattoo and the Scottish Chambers of commerce.
On Sunday afternoon, 6 July, after being welcomed by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, the Secretary-General addressed an outreach session on “Strengthening multilateralism, economic-financial affairs and artificial intelligence”. He highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping economies and societies, and that the fundamental test is how wisely we guide this transformation.
The Secretary-General also emphasized that AI cannot be a club of the few, but must benefit all, and in particular developing countries, which must have a real voice in the governance of artificial intelligence.
In the evening, the Secretary-General attended an official cocktail on the occasion of the BRICS Leader’s Summit, hosted by the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Janja Lula da Silva.
On Monday morning, 7 July, soon after his arrival at the 17th Summit of the BRICS venue, the Secretary-General took part in the family photo. He then addressed an outreach session on “Environment, COP30 [Thirtieth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] and global health”, warning that our environment is being attacked on all fronts. Mr. Guterres pointed out that across the world, lives and livelihoods are being ripped apart, and sustainable development gains left in tatters as disasters accelerate.
The Secretary-General noted that the most vulnerable and the poorer pay the highest price and stressed that we need to tackle the point where climate and health meet. He also emphasized that we need Governments to build on the progress of last year’s biodiversity COP, particularly reaching an ambitious agreement on finance, adding that we need to make COP30 a success.
In the afternoon, in a bilateral meeting on the margins of the BRICS Summit, the Secretary-General and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, discussed the situation in the Middle East. The Secretary-General noted the importance of the consolidation of the ceasefire to lay the groundwork for the resumption of negotiations.
Immediately after, the Secretary-General held a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan. The Secretary-General and the Minister discussed the strong partnership between the United Nations and Türkiye. They also exchanged views on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the next round of meetings on Cyprus.
Also in the afternoon, the Secretary-General met Sergio Diaz-Granados, the Executive President of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
On Tuesday morning, 8 July, the Secretary-General met with the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Qiang. They discussed cooperation between the United Nations and China, sustainable development, climate change and financing.
The Secretary-General commended China for its commitment to multilateralism and thanked China for its valuable contribution to the United Nations and its activities.
The Secretary-General departed Rio de Janeiro in the afternoon of Tuesday, 8 July.
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Juan Manuel Aguirre pleaded guilty Feb. 6.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered Aguirre’s history of smuggling aliens on multiple occasions and the danger he posed by transporting them in a sealed, locked, dark and unventilated trailer that required authorities to open with a bolt cutter.
“Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise, and it requires the trafficker to care absolutely nothing about the lives and safety of those they transport,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but the underlying facts indicate that several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life. The Southern District of Texas will make sure that all human smugglers pay a serious price for their callousness.”
On Dec. 2, 2024, law enforcement observed several individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre was the driver of the truck hauling it. After he departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the discovery of 101 aliens locked inside the trailer, 13 of whom were children as young as 13 years old.
Multiple illegal aliens reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Honduras.
Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Juan Manuel Aguirre pleaded guilty Feb. 6.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered Aguirre’s history of smuggling aliens on multiple occasions and the danger he posed by transporting them in a sealed, locked, dark and unventilated trailer that required authorities to open with a bolt cutter.
“Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise, and it requires the trafficker to care absolutely nothing about the lives and safety of those they transport,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but the underlying facts indicate that several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life. The Southern District of Texas will make sure that all human smugglers pay a serious price for their callousness.”
On Dec. 2, 2024, law enforcement observed several individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre was the driver of the truck hauling it. After he departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the discovery of 101 aliens locked inside the trailer, 13 of whom were children as young as 13 years old.
Multiple illegal aliens reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Honduras.
Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
LAREDO, Texas – Four gang members have been sentenced for their roles in an assault at the Rio Grande Detention Center, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Mexican national Jose Regalado-Solis, 47; and Ruben Salazar, 52, Javier Contreras, 48, and Jesus Guadalupe Ortega, 31, all of Laredo, pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2024, to conspiracy to commit assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Regalado-Solis also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon.
Senior U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Regalado-Solis to serve a total of 144 months in federal prison. Salazar and Contreras each received a 60-month sentence, while Ortega was sentenced to 72 months. At the hearing, the court considered written victim statements as well as in-court testimony from one of the victims. All detailed the extensive injuries and ongoing medical issues resulting from the assault. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison noted that he had been on the bench for 26 years called it the “most serious case of prison gang violence I have seen.” He also added that the case justified a maximum sentence, noting the serious nature of the injuries, the unprovoked assault and the gang motivation on the part of the defendants that fueled it.
“Ensuring that criminals refrain from violent conduct while in custody is just as important as ensuring they refrain from violence outside prison walls,” said Ganjei. “Hopefully the defendants in this case are enjoying their time behind bars, because they just earned themselves many more years in the federal pen.”
On Aug. 18, 2023, authorities were processing nine new inmates at the facility.
Ortega approached the newly arrived inmates and asked their gang affiliation. Upon hearing their responses, he ordered them to line up along the back wall of the housing unit. Other inmates then ran back to their bunks and began putting on their shoes. Regalado-Solis obtained a “shank” from his bunk and walked back towards the new inmates. Salazar lined up behind Regalado-Solis, while Javier Contreras stood in a nearby row of bunk beds.
As the lights went off in the unit, Regalado-Solis and others to assault eight of the new inmates who indicated alternative gang affiliations. He kicked, stomped and made stabbing gestures. While Salazar did not join the initial assault, he was later seen striking and kicking the new inmates on the ground. Contreras immediately rushed into the assault and was observed striking and kicking several as well.
Authorities were able to quickly disperse the assault, but not before the eight victims sustained significant injuries, including puncture wounds. Two required emergency transportation to Laredo Medical Center.
One new inmate who did not claim gang membership was unharmed.
All have been and will remain in custody.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation with the cooperation of The Geo Group. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Homero Ramirez and Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)
“The Tijuana River sewage crisis has not only plagued our region for generations, it has also proved resistant to reform and grown worse over time.
“Now a breakthrough has occurred. The Trump Administration and its Environmental Protection Agency took immediate steps upon taking office and worked with my office and regional partners to launch reform initiatives and engage the Mexican government. Most of all, they refused to accept the failed status quo and have turned decades of inaction into a durable solution that is built to last.
“I congratulate my friend and longtime colleague Administrator Zeldin and his team for insisting this could be done and delivering lasting change in record time.”
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
July 25, 2025
At Sen. Warren’s request, Bisignano agreed to independent audit of data collection, reporting during recent meeting
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. — After U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) secured a commitment from Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano to fully cooperate with an Inspector General audit in their recent meeting, Senator Warren sent a letter formally requesting the SSA’s Inspector General investigate wait times for Social Security services, specifically whether those wait times have worsened in the last six months, how caller wait time data is collected, and whether the Trump administration is providing the public with accurate information about those wait times.
Since President Trump took office, his administration and Commissioner Bisignano have eliminated thousands of workers at the agency, closed regional offices, made the agency’s website less reliable, and implemented burdensome new requirements to access services.
As a result of these changes, phone wait times have skyrocketed. A June investigation conducted by Senator Warren’s office found that wait times averaged nearly an hour and 45 minutes, with maximum wait times exceeding three hours. The Joint Economic Committee Minority Staff’s review found a similar increase in busy rates on the SSA phone hotline. Nonetheless, Commissioner Bisignano’s SSA reported that wait times had dropped dramatically to under 20 minutes — a number fully incompatible with SSA’s own public data, the results of Senator Warren’s investigation, and other independent reporting.
“The challenges facing Social Security recipients are compounded by the evidently misleading information that SSA reports about wait times for basic services or the lack of any information at all,” wrote Senator Warren.
During Senator Warren’s July 23rd meeting with Commissioner Bisignano, he agreed that an independent Inspector General investigation was necessary, and committed to fully cooperate with the audit.
“Because of the critical importance of Social Security benefits for millions of Americans, I ask that you conduct this review and make your findings public as rapidly as possible,” concluded Senator Warren.
Senator Warren requested the investigation cover: the change in wait times since January 20, 2025; an explanation of how the agency calculates key metrics; and how staffing decisions, including reassigning and cutting staff, at the agency have impacted its ability to deliver services; and any other factors that may be impacting the agency’s ability to deliver services.
Senate Dems’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
July 25, 2025
Admiral Caudle on right to repair: “It is so ridiculous that sailors cannot actually enter a piece of equipment because of a contractual reason, a warranty violation…It is not sustainable, it’s dangerous.”
Admiral Caudle: “There should be nothing on board a ship that a sailor cannot repair…That’s how we make sure we are ready to fight.”
Video of Exchange (YouTube)
Washington, D.C. — At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked Admiral Daryl L. Caudle, nominee for Chief of Naval Operations, about the importance of the military’s right to repair its own equipment. Senator Warren also raised concerns about the removal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who was removed without explanation, which led to the nomination of Admiral Caudle to the post.
Admiral Caudle explained that contractor repair restrictions, even in peacetime, are “not sustainable” and “dangerous” because service members do not get the opportunity to familiarize themselves with equipment or learn how it works.
“It is so ridiculous that sailors cannot actually enter a piece of equipment because of a contractual reason, a warranty violation. It goes right to the heart of what we call self-sufficiency,” said Admiral Caudle.
Asked by Senator Warren about the impact of the Navy not having the right to repair its equipment, Admiral Caudle said, “It is dangerous even where we operate now, even in peace…we’re actually acting as a deterrent [to conflict]…So, when a piece of equipment is down and our readiness is not 100 percent and it’s because I can’t repair it, then that’s unacceptable in my mind.”
Admiral Caudle also expressed support for legislation to guarantee the right to repair for all of the services, saying “the idea of what you’re describing I’m fully committed to, Senator.”
“In peace time, [repair restrictions are] expensive and inconvenient. In the middle of a conflict, that actually puts our security at risk…[Right to repair] makes us more resilient, enhances competition, grows the industrial base, helps with the training of our people,” said Senator Warren.
During a hearing of the Armed Services Committee last month, Navy Secretary John Phelan shared his experiences with repair restrictions, saying sailors on the Gerald R. Ford carrier were not allowed to fix ovens or elevators themselves because defense contractors limited repair information.
This month, Senator Warren introduced the bipartisan Warrior Right to Repair Act with Senator Tim Sheehy to guarantee all branches of the military the right to repair their equipment and require contractors to provide any information needed to repair the equipment. Both the House and Senate versions of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act advance the military’s right to repair.
Senator Warren also shared her concerns with the removal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, which led to the vacancy Admiral Caudle was nominated to fill. Admiral Franchetti was removed by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without explanation.
“[W]e need the best and brightest in this country to serve in the military, and we aren’t going to be able to compete with China or anyone else if women know that their talents and hard work are going to be tossed aside,” said Senator Warren. “Everyone in this room needs to take a hard look at what is happening at the Pentagon right now. Firing good people who do their jobs does not make us safer.”
Transcript: Hearing to consider the nomination of Admiral Daryl L. Caudle, USN for reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Chief of Naval OperationsSenate Armed Services CommitteeJuly 24, 2025
Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations, Admiral Caudle, on your nomination.
So, for years, defense contractors have slipped fine print into contracts that limit the Department of Defense’s ability to fix its own ships and fighter jets, MRI machines, radar systems. Last month, Secretary Phelan told this committee he saw firsthand that sailors on the Gerald R. Ford carrier couldn’t fix ovens or elevators themselves because they had to wait for contractors to come and do it.
Now, the Government Accountability Office estimated that repair restrictions are costing the Navy billions of dollars – and also costing the Navy opportunities to train sailors to repair their own equipment in the field. In peace time, this is expensive and inconvenient. In the middle of a conflict, that actually puts our security at risk.
So, Admiral Caudle, you have commanded sailors in the Pacific. If their equipment breaks in a warzone, is it a problem if contractors are not able or not willing to come to the front lines to be able to fix it?
Admiral Daryl L. Caudle, nominee for Chief of Naval Operations: Senator Warren, let me say thank you for championing this right to repair initiative. It is so vital. It is so ridiculous that sailors cannot actually enter a piece of equipment because of a contractual reason, a warranty violation. It goes right to the heart of what we call self-sufficiency. So, I don’t like it in peacetime, and I certainly do not want it in war time. It is not sustainable, it’s dangerous. So, I’m 100% committed to understanding and more fully — I guess the language of the right to repair piece, but the idea of what you’re describing I’m fully committed to, Senator.
Senator Warren: That’s right. And you know, I really do want to hit the point as well: that if sailors aren’t getting a chance to repair this equipment in peace time, you can’t just say, “Okay, if war comes, you go ahead and repair it now, because they don’t get the opportunities to learn it and know how all the pieces work. Is that a fair statement?
Admiral Caudle: Senator, it’s 100 percent fair. It ties to how we build our schoolhouses. So the curriculum will change when I have the right to repair equipment that I’m not currently repairing. So it has these second and third order effects as well.
Senator Warren: Well, I really appreciate your enthusiasm for making a change in this area. The Army has said that it will require contractors to provide the technical data and diagnostic tools necessary for the Army to be able to maintain weapon systems itself. It makes us more resilient, enhances competition, grows the industrial base, helps with the training of our people.
I worked with Senator Sheehy and the members of this committee to secure a provision in the NDAA that you just referred to that will provide a right to repair for all of the services, and the House bill now includes similar language. Why are we still talking about this? Well, because the lobbyists for the defense industry are now pushing back. They like being able to get restrictions on your ability to repair because it means that they can not only charge you the initial price to sell you the piece of equipment, but they also can charge pretty much whatever they want if they have a monopoly on this to charge you for all the repairs and maintenance down the line.
So, Admiral Caudle, as a Commander, what difference will it make to the war fighter for the Navy to have broad authority to secure the rights necessary to keep our fighter jets flying and our ships sailing wherever we need to keep Americans safe?
Admiral Caudle: Well, Senator, it’s vital. There should be nothing on board a ship that a sailor cannot repair. That’s to say that simply. That’s how we make sure we are ready to fight. Things break all the time on our ships to keep them going sustained. That’s why this is not just a wartime — we need this equipment — it is dangerous even where we operate now, even in peace. They are not there just sailing
around, we’re actually acting as a deterrent. We’re a vital part of that at the ready. So, when a piece of equipment is down and our readiness is not 100 percent and it’s because I can’t repair it, then that’s unacceptable in my mind.
Senator Warren: Well, I very much appreciate that. Thank you and appreciate your statements here and look forward to working with you on this.
I also want to say, I appreciate the qualifications you bring to this role, but we have to acknowledge the circumstances surrounding your nomination. Admiral Franchetti, the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations was removed by the President without any explanation. That’s not on you. But we need the best and brightest in this country to serve in the military, and we aren’t going to be able to compete with China or anyone else if women know that their talents and hard work are going to be tossed aside.
Everyone in this room needs to take a hard look at what is happening at the Pentagon right now. Firing good people who do their jobs does not make us safer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
July 24, 2025
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is asking the Social Security Administration’s inspector general to audit the agency’s customer service amid concerns that the Trump administration-spurred reorganization has hurt the agency’s ability to assist the public.
Warren wants to know whether telephone and in-person wait times and other key metrics have worsened and how Commissioner Frank Bisignano is calculating the data, according to a letter the Democratic senator sent to the inspector general today and obtained exclusively by CNN. Also, Warren is asking whether the agency is providing accurate information to the public about its customer service metrics.
The request from Warren, who met with Bisignano yesterday, comes at a time when the agency has shed roughly 7,000 employees and implemented a new AI tool on its national 800 number.
Bisignano has promised to quickly improve customer service. However, he has greatly reduced the performance metrics that were previously posted online. A survey conducted by Warren’s staff last month found that telephone wait times averaged nearly an hour and 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, the agency has touted its customer service achievements.
Social Security handled nearly 70% more calls on its 800 number last week than the same period a year ago, while cutting its average speed of answer to six minutes, from 30 minutes last year, according to a press release posted yesterday.
Warren has requested detailed data about customers’ ability to access phone services and have their issues resolved. She has also asked how staffing decisions have affected phone and in-person services.
By: Tami LuhbySource: CNN
Previous Article
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), have introduced legislation to better ensure access to U.S. Intelligence Community property is only available to authorized personnel. The bipartisan Intelligence Community Property Security Act would strengthen the penalty for trespassing on sensitive property under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Community.
Currently, Title 18 of United States Code — which outlines laws pertaining to crimes and criminal procedures — does not express address criminal incursions onto U.S. intelligence sites. The bill would revise criminal penalties to address the severity of the crime, and the pointed threat repeat offenders pose to U.S. national security interests.
“The 21st century threat landscape is complicated, but there are some simple and straightforward steps we can take to protect our security and operations — like make sure that our Intelligence Community facilities are not compromised by unauthorized trespassers,” said King. “The bipartisan Intelligence Community Property Security Act would take action to strengthen the penalties for bad actors and offenders attempting to intrude on intelligence sites. It’s commonsense legislation that will help better protect American people and interests.”
“Having unauthorized personnel trespassing onto some of our nation’s most sensitive sites presents a grave national security risk. We can’t take these offenses lightly,” said Rounds. “Our legislation would strengthen the punishment for repeated offenses and, in turn, better deter those bad actors who may try to infringe on these properties. Now more than ever, it’s critical to protect our intelligence sites from foreign adversaries.”
A member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues. In addition to his committee work, Senator King serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and is co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission — which has had dozens of recommendations become law. Earlier this year, he joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Speech
Ukraine continues to show its commitment to peace. But President Putin prefers war: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
Colleagues, the world has rallied around President Trump’s call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed. And we echo that call once again today.
Yet week after week, night after night, we see the number of Russian assaults grow.
June was the deadliest month yet, and July is on track to be even deadlier.
This makes a mockery of the diplomacy that Russia claims to support.
And the consequences are ever more devastating for the people of Ukraine.
Across five nights from the 18 to 23 July, Russia launched over 940 drones and 59 missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing 20 civilians and injuring a further 216.
Just days before, a record-breaking 728 long-range drones were launched on Ukraine in a single day.
Since the start of the invasion, over 13,500 civilians have been killed and more than 34,000 injured. This includes more than 200 children killed or injured since March alone.
We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitised to these figures. Behind each Russian strike there is a person, a family, a community whose lives have been torn apart by Russia’s brutal military invasion.
The Shygyds are one such family. On 5 June, as a Ukrainian firefighter arrived at the scene of a Russian attack on Chernihiv, he discovered that his wife, his daughter, and his grandson had all been killed.
His grandson was only a year old. Three generations lost to cold-blooded Russian brutality in just one night.
This is not an isolated incident. Families like The Shygyds are being torn apart across Ukraine and have been since February 2022.
Russia has a clear and unqualified obligation to uphold the UN Charter.
Russia also has an obligation to respect the Geneva Conventions and to the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law. There is simply no justification for brutal aggression like this.
The reality is clear: Ukraine, a country illegally invaded by Russia, continues to show its commitment to peace. But President Putin prefers war.
He is shunning diplomatic efforts made in good faith to bring an end to this horror, a horror of his own making.
There is no ambiguity about what needs to come next.
It is time for Russia to stop prevaricating and agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as the first step towards a just and lasting peace.
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