NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Introduces Legislation to Protect the Public from Body-Gripping Traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    Today, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) reintroduced the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act. This legislation will help restore the original purpose of the National Wildlife Refuge System as a haven for wildlife by prohibiting the use of cruel body-gripping traps on these public, protected lands.

    “When Americans visit their local National Wildlife Refuges, most expect to enjoy nature without worrying that they—or their pets—will fall victim to a dangerous trap,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler. “However, trapping is still allowed in many of the more than 570 refuges across the country, putting people, pets, and endangered species in danger of serious injury. These cruel devices have no place on protected public lands, and my bill will make sure our refuges are safe from this inhumane practice.”

    “Why should anyone – people, companion animals, or wildlife – have to fear stepping into a bone-crushing trap while enjoying our nation’s beautiful wildlife refuge system?” said Susan Millward, AWI’s executive director and CEO. “Public lands belong to all of us — not just the select few who wish to set traps that smash limbs or agonizingly strangle airways. Thank you to Representative Nadler for your commitment to ending the use of cruel traps in our country’s refuges.”

    “Traps cause painful and frightening deaths to animals who should be protected in our National Wildlife Refuge System.  Some animals might be killed quickly, but many suffer for hours and even days. Animals who die by the trappers’ hands might be shot or bludgeoned to death. Those who escape – sometimes by gnawing off their own paws – might later succumb to injury from infection. Every element of trapping is cruel. It is time that we brought an end to this archaic practice once and for all.” said Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA. “

    Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Grace Meng (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Don Beyer (D-VA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL)

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan to RFK Jr.: “You Don’t Have a Grip on Your Department”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, pressed U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a congressional hearing on how Medicaid cuts proposed by Republicans in Congress and supported by President Donald Trump will cause hospital closures and service cuts.
    “People are going to die. These hospitals are going to close. Labor and delivery units are going to disappear. If mental health services are stripped away, that’s the consequence of your policies,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “And you’ve already shown that you don’t have a grip on your department. You don’t know basic things that are on your website or programs that are closing.”
    CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s line of questioning. A transcript is embedded below.
     
    According to an analysis issued by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the Republican reconciliation proposal backed by the Trump Administration will place more than 300 rural hospitals at risk of closure or severe service reductions. Specifically, steep cuts to Medicaid and provisions limiting states’ ability to invest in hospitals that serve predominantly lower-income and Medicaid-covered patient populations will undermine rural and community hospitals that already operate on the thinnest of margins. In Massachusetts, at least one rural hospital – Bay State Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield – will be at immediate risk of closing or cutting services.
    Other community hospitals, particularly those operating in Gateway Cities, will also be devastated. According to Third Way, Massachusetts hospitals will lose over $177 million in hospital revenue under the GOP legislation, including $19 million for Massachusetts General Hospital, $19 million for Boston Medical Center, $15 million for UMass Memorial Medical Center, $11.8 million for Brigham and Women’s Hospital, $4.3 million for Lowell General Hospital, $3.4 million for Lawrence General Hospital, and $2 million for Holy Family Hospital.
    Republicans’ reconciliation package, crafted behind closed doors with President Trump and voted on in the House just hours after the text was released, would strip health care away from 16 million Americans and cut billions in federal Medicaid and Affordable Care Act funding to states. According to the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will explode the deficit by $3.8 trillion due to its tax provisions that will increase incomes for the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans while decreasing take home pay for the poorest 10 percent. A separate analysis projects 5.4 million people will be forced into medical debt under the legislation, increasing the total medical debt held by Americans by $50 billion.
    —————————————
    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks as Delivered
    House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing: “The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Health and Human Services Budget”
    June 24, 2025
    Trahan: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, during your confirmation, you told Senator Barrasso that rural hospitals are “closing at an extraordinary rate.” You called them economic drivers – lifelines in our communities – and you gave your word to protect them.
    Republicans on this Committee also promised they wouldn’t support a bill that led to more closures. Yet here we are. The Republican tax bill slashes Medicaid and the ACA by over a trillion dollars, leaving 16 million more people uninsured and driving up uncompensated care.
    At the same time, it guts provider taxes and state-directed payments, the few tools that states have to keep hospitals afloat.
    Cutting coverage and cutting payments – well that’s a perfect storm for closures, Mr. Secretary. So yes or no, with Republicans in Congress set to cut more than a trillion dollars and counting from our health care system, will hospitals be forced to cut services or close altogether?
    Kennedy: We’re not cutting coverage for any American patient.
    Trahan: Well, it sounds like you don’t want to admit the reality that your department –
    Kennedy: I’m happy to explain if you want to give me a chance.
    Trahan: Well, that’s part of my next question. I want to hear what your funding mechanism looks like, because hospitals across the country have warned that this bill is what they referred to as a “death knell,” even before Republicans in the Senate doubled the cuts in provider taxes and state directed payments, bringing estimates of hospital uncompensated care alone to more than $443 billion.
    Hospitals are raising a huge warning flag that the Big Ugly Bill will result in closures and service reductions across the country, in all our communities. I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record several of their statements and analyses.
    Mr. Secretary, if you claim the hospitals in our districts that are already operating in the red and serving mostly Medicaid and Medicare patients are going to survive then where exactly is that money going to come from? What is your plan to keep them open and deliver the same level of service?
    Kennedy: Well the issue of state directed payments, I think as you understand, is a complicated one because the essential agreement under Medicare is that the states will pay a certain amount and the federal government will pay a certain amount. The states have learned to game that – some states – have learned to game that system so the federal government is paying a hundred percent.
    Trahan: If you could just get to the part where when that revenue stream is cut, how are you going to ensure that services aren’t cut and hospitals don’t close? I mean, many times there’s just no alternative on the table for a funding mechanism. So, what’s your plan?
    Kennedy: Well, that is a decision ultimately that’s got to come from Congress, so that’s going to be up to you. But what I would say to you is that I would like to work with you on this because it’s a complicated issue. It’s not that simple.
    Trahan: I’m happy to work with you on this, Mr. Secretary, but this is going to happen in the next couple of weeks. And if there isn’t a funding mechanism in place – if there isn’t an act of Congress to replace that revenue stream – hospitals are going to close. People are going to die.
    When hospitals are pushed to the brink, they cut maternity wards, they cut mental health, they cut emergency rooms. That’s who they cut first. This isn’t hypothetical – it’s already happening. From 2011 to ‘23, dozens of hospitals in states like Iowa and Texas eliminated obstetrics entirely. These are Medicaid-department services, and under Donald Trump’s bill, they’re the first to go.
    And it’s not just rural hospitals. We’re seeing it in my district, too. The only maternity ward in North Central Massachusetts shut down last year. Then the collapse of Steward forced two more hospitals to close, including one that served thousands of families. Boston Children’s, one of the best in the country, is also at risk.
    Your budget slashes Medicaid, which covers over 40 percent of kids, and eliminates programs that trains most pediatricians. Hospitals are already bracing – they’re pausing projects, they’re canceling expansions, they’re shelving cost-saving investments. The chaos that your budget creates, including decimating NIH, is driving up costs.
    Kennedy: We’re not cutting Medicaid. There’s no cuts to Medicaid. There’s simply restrictions to the growth of Medicaid over the next decade.
    Trahan: People are going to lose their coverage. Uncompensated care is going to rise. Hospitals are not prepared for that reality. Look, here’s the truth. People are going to die. These hospitals are going to close. Labor and delivery units are going to disappear. If mental health services are stripped away, that’s the consequence of your policies.
    And you’ve already shown that you don’t have a grip on your department. You don’t know basic things that are on your website or programs that are closing.
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NREL Publishes Method for Recycling All Components in Carbon Fiber Composites

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Technology Helps Overcome Affordability Barriers to Wider Use and Manufacturing of a High-Value Material Found in Aircraft, Bicycles, Cars, and More

    Ajinkya Pal (left), Sydney Reiber, Stephen Dempsey, and Ciaran Lahive are part of a team of researchers from the BOTTLE consortium at NREL that is developing a robust method to break down composite carbon fibers, keeping the waste out of landfills. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL

    Deconstructing epoxy resins with hot acetic acid has the potential to provide a scalable and affordable solution for recycling a material used in a range of high-value consumer products, according to new research from the Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) consortium.

    Carbon fiber composites (CFCs) are high-strength, low-weight materials made from epoxy-amine resins that encase long carbon fibers. CFCs enable lighter and more efficient bicycles, planes, and automobiles and are a critical component of the pressure vessels used for compressed natural gas shipping and storage. However, the cost and energy-intensive production of CFCs limits their application, and there is a near total lack of scalable and economically viable recycling methods for these important materials.

    CFCs are generally made with epoxy-amine resins, similar in chemistry to many epoxies commonly found in hardware stores. These composites form a stiff and resistant plastic, but also one that cannot be dissolved or melted. While the resins are relatively cheap, the fibers they surround are not, so the resulting composites are quite expensive—many CFCs can cost well over $50 per pound.

    “For a reasonable analogy, imagine a cake,” said Stephen Dempsey, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and one of the first authors of the study. “Once the egg, flour, and sugar are in the batter and that cake is baked, it’s basically impossible to get them back out. It is similar here: The resin is chemically interlocked, and the bonds are quite strong. We have to do something intense to get the fibers out, but we also must be careful not to degrade the chemicals in the resin beyond what’s necessary, as that would waste all the time, energy, and raw materials that went into making them in the first place.”

    But even then, there is a bit more complexity than in baking, because these resins are often made of highly complex mixtures of molecules. Some of these compounds are common, and shared across many industries that use CFCs, but others are not. In addition, it is currently challenging to identify exactly what the resin chemistry is before recycling. A recycling method for CFCs must therefore be extremely robust and capable of handling diverse resin formulations.

    The BOTTLE team’s solution ended up being surprisingly simple. Hot acetic acid, the same compound that is found in vinegar, can cleave all the key bonds within these resins. Former NREL postdoctoral researcher Ciaran Lahive (now at University of Manchester), and co-first author on this study, demonstrated this reaction during an intensive reaction screening effort for another project.

    The team learned something remarkable: Not only do the polymer networks in the resin solubilize rapidly, but the acetic acid also stabilizes their chemical components, enabling high yields of reusable chemical building blocks. Extensive optimization work from NREL interns Katie Stevenson (now at Columbia University) and Sydney Reiber (now at the University of Graz) led to a process effective on end-of-life waste from a variety of industries.

    Importantly, the researchers also determined there was no impact on the strength of the recycled carbon fibers (rCF), which is critical to ensuring they retain their value after being extracted from the composite. To demonstrate this, they took 80 grams of a scrap mountain-bike frame made of composite material and deconstructed it. Using the carbon fibers they had just extracted, they then made new composites that exhibited more than twice the strength-to-weight ratio of steel.

    Not only is the cost of rCF predicted to be quite low compared to virgin fiber, with a price of just $1.50 per kilogram, but the energy consumption is also practically zero when factoring in the recovered epoxy building blocks. The process is not limited to CFC only—glass fiber composites like those found in turbine blades, boat hulls, or automobile bumpers and hoods could also be treated.

    “Long-term, this technology could be used to create value from challenging composite waste streams that are currently piling up in landfills,” said BOTTLE CEO Gregg Beckham, the senior author of the study and a senior research fellow at NREL. “Current technologies are not yet able to make a dent in that waste stream, but we think that this process could be useful for this application as well.”

    The discovery holds the potential to energize the U.S. composite manufacturing industry.

    “If we can scale this process and deploy it in the real world, we see no reason that whole panels on cars or trains couldn’t be made of rCF composites instead of steel or aluminum,” Dempsey said.

    The paper, “Acetolysis of epoxy-amine resins for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer recycling,” appears in the journal Nature. The other coauthors from NREL are William Michener, Hannah Alt, Kelsey Ramirez, Erik Rognerud, Clarissa Lincoln, Ryan Clarke, Nicholas Rorrer, and Katrina Knauer.

    Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and Bioenergy Technologies Office, the work was performed as part of the BOTTLE consortium. Additional funding was provided as part of a BOTTLE funding opportunity announcement with the University of Delaware’s Center for Composite Materials.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST PENSACOLA MAN FOR SERIAL ARMED ROBBERY OFFENSES

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Deshawn I. Donson, 21, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on charges related to eighteen armed robberies of gas stations and convenience stores in Escambia County. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

    Donson is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida on June 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

    The Indictment charges Donson with Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence, Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon for eighteen armed robberies between 2022 – 2025.

    Court documents reflect that Donson was captured by law enforcement after an armed robbery on May 18, 2025, which resulted in a high-speed vehicle chase and a vehicle immobilization technique utilized by sheriff’s deputies to stop and apprehend Donson.

    If convicted, Donson faces up to life imprisonment.  

    The case is jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Pensacola Police Department; and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan.

    An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Albans, Vermont Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Unlawful Possession of Stolen Firearms

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 20, 2025, Shane Hardy, 46, originally of Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, but more recently residing in St. Albans, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 42 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 2-year term of supervised release.

    According to court records, Hardy has a serious criminal history that includes a conviction for manslaughter in New York State for which he was incarcerated for over a decade. Despite knowing that he was prohibited from possessing firearms, Hardy expressed interest in firearms and then accepted four stolen firearms as payment for a drug debt and a quantity of cocaine in October 2023. After receiving the stolen firearms, Hardy then facilitated transportation of the guns by carrying them into an SUV that had New Jersey license plates.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Hardy was represented by Emily Kenyon and Barclay Johnson of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Hampshire Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for 2024 Crime Spree

    Source: US FBI

    Burlington, Vermont – A New Hampshire couple pleaded guilty in federal court last week to robbery charges stemming from a crime spree in August of 2024.

    On June 10, 2025, Christopher Boisvert entered a plea of guilty to the charge of armed bank robbery during a plea hearing before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss.

    On June 12, 2025, Meghan Cox entered a plea of guilty to the charge of conspiring with her accomplice to interfere with commerce by robbery during a plea hearing before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss.

    At sentencing, if the District Court accepts the plea agreements Boisvert and Cox each face up to 20 years’imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, will be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. Both defendants are scheduled for sentencing in September of this year.

    According to court records, on August 26, 2024, around 2:06 PM, the Vermont State Police were notified of an attempted robbery at Rolling Twenties, a Cannabis Dispensary located at 440 Rockingham Road in the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. Investigation revealed that in the minutes before the robbery, exterior surveillance video captured a blue Chevrolet Silverado truck parked in front of the business, with its rear license plate obscured by a dark covering.

    Two subjects, a male and a female – later confirmed to be Boisvert and Cox – exited the Silverado truck and approached the business on foot. The male was white, with a medium build, and was wearing a grey long-sleeved “Henley” style shirt, gray sweatpants, brown leather boots, a black ball cap, a black face mask, sunglasses, and was carrying one or two dark colored backpacks or duffel bags.

    The female, also white, with a medium build, red hair, was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, tight-fitting blue jeans, brown leather boots, wearing a black ball cap, a black face mask, and dark “aviator” style sunglasses. She was also carrying a dark colored bag. Both subjects were wearing blue colored latex gloves. Once inside the business’s lobby, they attempted to enter the retail floor and demanded money and marijuana. An attendant denied entry and both subjects left the business in the blue Silverado truck, traveling south bound on VT Route 5/Rockingham Road towards Bellows Falls, Vermont.

    At approximately 2:47 PM, the Bellows Falls Police Department was called to a bank robbery at the TD Bank, 2 Church Street, Bellows Falls, Vermont. Officers determined the bank robbery suspect fit the description of the male subject from the Rolling Twenties attempted robbery minutes earlier. TD Bank surveillance video showed the male wearing the same clothing and disguise as described in the Rolling Twenties attempted robbery and was carrying a black and gray backpack. The male approached an employee and produced a note indicating he wanted 100s (one-hundred-dollar bills) and other large denominations placed into the bag. The male lifted his shirt revealing what appeared to be a wooden handle/grip of an object tucked into his pants. The teller placed money onto the counter and the male subject retrieved the money, placing it into his backpack. An image of the male, who turned out to be Christopher Boisvert, displaying the weapon in his waist band is below:

    Boisvert told the employees he had done research, and he knew where their families live – if they try anything, he was going to come back and hurt or kill them. He also said he had a gun inside his backpack and that his girlfriend or wife was waiting in the vehicle outside with a “45[.]” As he was leaving, Boisvert told the employees to wait two minutes before calling the police. In total, Boisvert received approximately $2,500 of U.S. Currency from TD Bank.

    About an hour after the Bellows Falls bank robbery, around 3:45 PM, the Brattleboro Police were called to a robbery of the Brattleboro Savings and Loan, located at 972 Putney Road, Brattleboro, Vermont (“Brattleboro Savings and Loan”). Law enforcement investigation revealed a blue Chevrolet Silverado truck with New Hampshire registration plates parked on Black Mountain Road, next to the Putney Road Plaza where the bank is located. Boisvert was wearing the same clothing, hat, mask, footwear, blue gloves, and was carrying a black and gray backpack.

    Inside the bank, he approached a teller and told her to put money into the bag. He stated to the teller that he knew the employee’s families and their addresses, and to give him all the money. He also said he had a gun. The teller observed that he possessed an orange handled knife. Several tellers provided him with U.S. Currency; in total the amount was approximately $5,000. Surveillance video  showed Boisvert return to the blue Silverado truck. Using a cellular phone, a teller captured photographs of the Silverado fleeing the area. The photographs revealed the rear license plate number of the truck. Law enforcement then confirmed the vehicle was registered to Christopher Boisvert of New Hampshire.

    At approximately 4:00 PM, the Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department located the blue Silverado on Route 9 near the Chesterfield/Keene, New Hampshire town line. Deputies attempted to stop the truck, but it fled, and a pursuit began. Sheriff Deputies and New Hampshire State Police, among other agencies, pursued the truck, ultimately ending the pursuit when the truck entered Massachusetts. The truck was later located abandoned in the parking lot of Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol, Massachusetts.

    Law enforcement examined a social media account associated with Boisvert and Cox, and compared known photos of the defendants to the surveillance footage obtained during the investigation. Investigators saw Boisvert was wearing an identical shirt to the one he wore during the robberies. In addition, Meghan Cox  had a distinctive tattoo on her neck. A close-up review of the surveillance footage from the Rolling Twenties dispensary shows an object covering the tattoo that appeared to be peeling off her neck.

    When they searched the Silverado truck, investigators recovered a 14-inch bowie knife with a wooden handle consistent in appearance with the weapon displayed in the TD Bank surveillance footage, black KN95-style facemasks consistent in appearance with what the defendants were wearing, a small spiral bound notebook containing a handwritten note that matched the same threats articulated to the various robbery victims, a grey “Henley” style shirt, and blue medical gloves. These clothing and disguise items were subsequently tested for DNA that matched Boisvert and Cox.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, Brattleboro Police Department, Bellows Falls Police Department, Keene, New Hampshire Police Department, Swanzey, New Hampshire Police Department, Cheshire County, New Hampshire Sheriff’s Department, New Hampshire State Police, Athol, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Winchendon, Massachusetts Police Department.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti. Federal Defender Michael Desautels represents Christopher Boisvert and Meghan Cox is represented by Richard C. Bothfeld, Esq.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Island Man Charged with Attempting to Damage Federal Property with Molotov Cocktail

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Eulisis P. Martin, 20, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was charged on June 16, 2025, by criminal complaint with one count of attempting malicious damage to federal property using explosive materials. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a special assessment of $100. Martin was arrested on June 16, 2025.

    Martin is alleged to have utilized a Molotov cocktail near a federal building housing Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Grand Island on June 9, 2025. Martin is also linked to a spray-painted sign on the federal building stating, “Kill ICE” on June 9.

    Aware of the vandalism at the HSI building, a Grand Island Police officer, while on patrol, observed an individual wearing dark clothing running along the fence of the HSI building on June 14. Upon further investigation, Grand Island Police officers located government vehicles with slashed tires.

    Law enforcement identified a vehicle belonging to Martin in the area of the building at the time of vandalisms and Molotov cocktail event. Law enforcement located Martin’s vehicle and observed in plain view inside the vehicle a dark brown coat, several gloves, a protest-style sign, a scarf, and two bags under the scarf resembling a tactical-style bag. Open-source information revealed a phone number assigned to Martin. Law enforcement was able to place Martin’s cellphone in the area of the HSI building on June 9 and June 14.  Surveillance of Martin’s vehicle and his residence revealed that Martin was showing signs that he was a target of an investigation and took measures to dispose of his vehicle by relocating it to a rural property.

    Martin appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca in Lincoln, Nebraska on June 18, 2025, for his initial appearance.

    “The FBI and our partners will aggressively pursue, identify, and apprehend anyone who maliciously attempts to damage federal property,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. He added, “Many members of our community work in federal buildings and serve the public, and they deserve to do so free from the threat of harm and violence. We respect and protect the right of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms but will not tolerate individuals inciting violence or engaging in criminal activity and violating federal law. We appreciate the support of the Nebraska State Patrol, Grand Island Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and Federal Protective Service in bringing Martin to justice.”

    United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods said, “The United States Attorney’s Office vows that violence, intimidation, and threats of violence against federal law enforcement officers, federal investigative agencies, other federal employees who are just doing their jobs and enforcing the laws will not be tolerated in Nebraska.  Federal law enforcement officers do not make the laws, but they are tasked with enforcing them, and they must be able to do so safely. Anyone who chooses to target law enforcement officers and agencies will be held accountable.”

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Protective Service, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Grand Island Police Department.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: A League of Their Own was always queer

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kate McNicholas Smith, Lecturer in Television Theory, University of Westminster

    Sports comedy drama film, A League of Their Own, directed by Penny Marshall, was released in 1992. In the same year, professor and film critic B Ruby Rich coined the term “new queer cinema” to describe a wave of independent films which represented LGBTQ+ people in new and unapologetic ways.

    Meanwhile on television, the decade saw some groundbreaking representations of LGBTQ+ characters. In 1997, US actor and TV presenter Ellen DeGeneres famously came out on and off screen.

    Yet, as a teenager coming of age (and coming out) in late 1990s Britain, Section 28 (a law prohibiting the “promotion” of homosexuality by local authorities and schools) was still firmly in place and representation felt scarce. So, I did what queer audiences have always done and found representation in interpretation, reimagining and reading the subtext.

    Queer viewers have long found pleasure and queer possibilities in popular culture. There are many examples of stars and screen characters who are not necessarily LGBTQ+ themselves but have come to be distinctly associated with queer culture. Take singer and actress Judy Garland, who is widely recognised as a gay icon (as depicted in the 2019 biographical film Judy).

    So big was her LGBTQ+ fandom that she likely inspired the historical code term “a friend of Dorothy”. This code references The Wizard of Oz, in which Garland plays Dorothy, and was used within the LGBTQ+ community to discreetly identify each other.

    This article is part of a series highlighting brilliant films that should be more widely known and firmly part of the canon of queer cinema .

    Film theorist Patricia White traces such viewing practices back to the introduction of the Motion Picture Production (or Hays) Code. The Code heavily restricted what could be shown on screen and prohibited LGBTQ+ representation, but in doing so encouraged audiences to engage in queer codes and subtexts.

    A League of Their Own tells the fictionalised true story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1988, Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) is attending a celebration of the women at the Baseball Hall of Fame. We quickly flash back to 1943 and the formation of the league.

    The second world war is in full thrust and the men are away fighting, which threatens the shut down of major league baseball. However, Chicago Cubs owner Walter Harvey persuades his fellow owners to bankroll a women’s league.

    Making up the newly formed Rockford Peaches, there’s Davis as Dottie and Lori Petty as Kit, Dottie’s frustrated younger sister. Also on the team are “tomboy” Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh), “all the way” Mae Mordabito, played by Madonna (who once declared “I think everybody has a bisexual nature”), and Doris Murphy, played by lesbian comic, actor and talk show host, Rosie O’Donnell (although O’Donnell didn’t come out publicly until 2002).



    Read more:
    Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: Saving Face is a complicated romcom that tenderly depicts the experiences of queer Asians

    While the film remains determinedly heterosexual, the possibilities for queer readings abound. Characters like Dottie and Mae offer glamorous high femme looks and personas, while Kit and Marla represent outsiders who don’t quite fit in. The close relationship, styling and characterisations of best friends Doris and Mae (and the extra connotations of the actors) evoke a coded butch/femme couple. No surprise then that I am not alone in my love for the film. A League of their Own became a cult queer classic.



    Read more:
    Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: celebrating the wonderful slippery queerness of Penda’s Fen

    There may be, as reluctant Rockford Peaches manager Jimmy (Tom Hanks) shouts in one of the film’s most quoted lines, “no crying in baseball” – but the film never fails to leave me in tears.

    Everytime I watch Dottie leaving the league to return to her husband Bob – a narrative resolve that firmly forecloses the queer possibilities of the character – my heart is broken. The melancholy of the ending perhaps reflects the seeming impossibility of a queer future – both in 1940s US and to me at school in 1990s Britain. Of course, queerness was far from impossible in either decade, although it was often, as in the film, hidden from those who did not know where to look for it.

    Rockford Peach Dorothy “Dottie” Kamenshek was one of the inspirations for the fictional Dottie – she was also a lesbian and later married fellow player Margaret Wenzell. Another player in the women’s league at the time, Peoria Redwings catcher Terry Donahue, kept her relationship with Pat Henschel a secret for almost 70 years. In 2020, Netflix documentary, A Secret Love, told their story.

    Maybelle Blair, who also played for a time with the Peoria Redwings, came out publicly at 95 years old in 2022. She reflected on the women of the league: “Out of 650, I bet you 400 was gay.”

    In 2022, Amazon Prime released a television adaptation of A League of Their Own, co-created by Will Graham and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City). Like queer fan fiction come to life, the television show rewrites the central characters as canonically queer.

    What’s more, unlike the film, the series offers a diverse take on the racism and homophobia, as well as the sexism, of the era. This time round, the central characters included Maxine Chapman (Chanté Adams) – a black lesbian player who is rejected from the racially segregated league – and her black transmasculine uncle Bertie (Lea Robinson).

    In one episode, the queer teammates visit a lesbian bar run by none other than Rosie O’Donnell, now a 1940s butch with a wife. To gain entry they are asked: “Are you a friend of Dorothy’s?”

    Thus, the queer subtext of A League of Their Own, which so captured my queer teen heart, emerged firmly into view in the television adaptation, which was sadly cancelled after only one series. Watching the series, however, was validating, as what secretly made the film mean so much to me was made visible. Queerness in the show, like in my own life, was no longer an impossibility.

    Kate McNicholas Smith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Hidden gems of LGBTQ+ cinema: A League of Their Own was always queer – https://theconversation.com/hidden-gems-of-lgbtq-cinema-a-league-of-their-own-was-always-queer-257061

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Neurodiverse kids at camp: How programs can become places where all children belong

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nicole Neil, Associate professor, Faculty of Education, Western University

    For many families, summer camp is a rite of passage representing friendship, fun and freedom. But for families of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, it can be a season of rejection, stress and exclusion.

    While other children pack their bags for campfires and canoeing, many children with disabilities are told there’s no space for them, not because they don’t belong, but because the camp isn’t prepared. This is a reality faced by families of children with disabilities.

    That’s why colleagues and I created the Inclusive Camp Hub (inclusivecamp.ca), a free, research-informed platform to help camps become places where every child can participate.

    Why we needed to act

    In Canada, about one in 11 children are diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability, such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disabilities. And yet, despite legal protections like the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, many camps report difficulties in creating inclusive environments.

    Our research into inclusion in community settings, such as camps and museums, revealed consistent barriers: staff lacked training, resources were scarce and families were left with few options. As a result, children with neurodevelopmental disabilities were excluded from the same joyful, formative experiences their peers enjoyed.

    These barriers have real consequences. Families often struggle to find respite during the summer, and children miss out on opportunities for social development, peer interaction and community belonging.

    Building the Hub

    Well-trained and supportive staff play a crucial role in fostering inclusion in camps. Interviews with families revealed the importance of staff who are kind, responsive and equipped to support a wide range of needs. It was clear that staff training needed to be a central focus of our work.

    We designed The Inclusive Camp Hub to feature practical tools grounded in research from inclusive education to focus on staff training modules, tip sheets and real-world strategies that are easy to implement.

    In studying and following a module about Universal Design for Learning, for example, camp directors or staff can consider strategies for providing multiple means of representation, engagement and expression — while ensuring physical spaces and materials are universally accessible.

    Less awareness of cognitive accessibility

    While many community settings have made strides in improving physical accessibility, adding ramps, accessible washrooms and mobility-friendly spaces, there has been far less attention paid to cognitive accessibility.

    This includes designing environments that support different ways to participate, such as by making routines predictable and by making activities flexible enough to accommodate different ways of learning.

    In developing the Inclusive Camp Hub, we drew on evidence-based practices identified in our research.

    These include staff training, peer-mediated interventions and behavioural supports such as reinforcement systems and prompting. Reinforcement systems are structured ways to encourage behaviour by offering rewards or positive outcomes when those behaviours happen. Prompting means giving a child cues, like pictures, words or gestures, to help them complete a task such as using a visual schedule to show what comes next.

    We also found that families with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities valued hands-on, multi-sensory learning experiences, clear signage, quiet spaces and staff who are kind and responsive. By incorporating these strategies into our training site, we aimed to make inclusion achievable and sustainable for camps of all types.

    A model camp

    To test and refine our approach to inclusion, we launched a model inclusive camp, called the S3 camp, at Western University.

    We welcomed children ages nine to 14 — with and without neurodevelopmental disabilities — and focused on STEM activities, disability awareness and, most importantly, a sense of belonging.

    The camp was staffed by students in a school psychology program, as well as education and STEM-field students who received specialized training and used inclusive design tools from the Hub. They learned how to create accessible activities, use behavioural supports, support communication differences and foster inclusive group dynamics.

    The results were promising. We saw campers who had difficulty at other camps fully engaged in activities. Staff reported feeling more confident and capable in supporting children with disabilities, and parents said their children came home happy, proud and excited to return the next year.

    Why camp inclusion matters

    At first glance, summer camps might seem like a luxury — a fun experience rather than a critical developmental one. But camps offer more than just fun: they are powerful spaces for growth, learning and connection.

    Research shows that children in inclusive settings experience improved social skills, stronger peer relationships and increased self-esteem. They learn through play, build friendships and develop a sense of belonging, all which are foundational for healthy development.

    These benefits extend to all campers. Neurotypical children gain empathy, communication skills and a broader understanding of diversity

    Looking forward

    Inclusive Camp Hub is now expanding its reach, with plans to partner with more camps and extend its impact while continuing to refine our tools based on feedback from families, staff and community organizations.

    Camp leaders can take the first step by exploring the free tools and training available through the Hub. Families and advocates can continue to ask questions, share their experiences and push for environments where all children are welcomed and supported.

    As a researcher, I’ve spent years studying inclusion. But nothing compares to seeing it in action, watching a child find joy, friendship and confidence at camp. Every child deserves a summer of belonging.

    Nicole Neil’s work is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

    – ref. Neurodiverse kids at camp: How programs can become places where all children belong – https://theconversation.com/neurodiverse-kids-at-camp-how-programs-can-become-places-where-all-children-belong-258793

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Opening Statement at SAC-D Hearing on FY 26 Budget Request for the Navy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, convened today’s hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Navy”. Prepared text of his opening statement follows:
    “I’ll begin by welcoming Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James Kilby, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith. I’m grateful to each of you for your willingness to lead at a pivotal moment for the Department, and to the sailors, Marines, and civilian personnel who advance Navy and Marine Corps missions and keep America safe every day.
    “I’m particularly grateful to the sailors who have stood watch in the Gulf and the Red Sea over the last 20 months helping to defend Israel, US interests, and freedom of navigation against Iranian-backed terrorists. And to the crews deployed there right now who launched Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of the joint operation to strike what I hope is a fatal blow to Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
    “I also want to recognize the Marine Corps, whose fallen comrades were among the earliest victims of Iran’s decades-long war against the United States and Israel — those taken hostage with U.S. Embassy personnel in Tehran and the hundreds killed in Beirut in 1983, before any of us on this dais showed up in Washington.
    “Generations of servicemembers carry the scars of Iran-backed attacks on American personnel in the region over the decades. Their sacrifices remind us that ‘Death to America’ is more than rhetoric.
    “For too long, Tehran itself faced negligible costs for the actions of their terrorist proxies. Thanks to Israel’s initiative in turning the tables – and the President’s decision to back them up – the Islamic Republic is finally paying a steep price.
    “This weekend’s events are yet a further reminder of the challenges facing the joint force today. And my colleagues and I hope to understand the extent to which you think the President’s budget request would provide the resources necessary to meet, deter, and defeat them.
    “Each of the Services is grappling in its own way with the reality of renewed major-power competition and with the increasing alignment of America’s adversaries. As you know, major transformations test assumptions and service culture. They test the capacity of the industrial base. And, importantly, they hinge on transparent working relations with Congress and on robust and consistent full-year investments in major priorities.
    “I’ll offer just a few observations in this vein. First, the good: Secretary Phelan, I’ve appreciated your recognition of Congress’ role in equipping the Navy and Marine Corps and the collaborative approach you’ve taken with this subcommittee. Your willingness to communicate transparently will continue to benefit our shared mission of restoring the Navy’s preeminence. I also appreciate your persistent engagement with the maritime industrial base. Your travels to see our shipbuilding challenges across the country, firsthand, have not gone unnoticed. We will not solve this problem without the private sector.
    “Likewise, General Smith – The Marine Corps spent years developing a clear rationale for major transformation, made tough and deliberate choices, and engaged Congress effectively along the way. Marine Corps Force Design 2030 continues to offer other services valuable lessons as they pursue transformation efforts of their own. I look forward to hearing how the Marine Corps’ own transformation to meet future threats is going: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But, to be quite frank, the decisions this Administration has made on resourcing the Department of Defense – a full-year CR that failed to address rising costs of operations and maintenance and major modernization requirements, a one-time reconciliation investment that risks new cliffs for sustainment, and a base request for FY26 even lower than the previous Administration’s FY25 request – make each of your jobs more difficult.
    “At the most basic level, an FY26 base defense topline that doesn’t keep pace with inflation – let alone with the ‘pacing’ threat of the PRC – does not show we’re serious about the tasks before us. Neither does pretending that one-time injections of funding are a substitute for consistent appropriations. For example, none of you needs me to point out the breadth of bipartisan support for accelerating procurement of Virginia-class submarines. If the Administration shares our interest in meaningfully expanding shipbuilding capacity, why are investments like this one not built into the base budget request? Why are we allocating funds under extraordinary parliamentary authorities for capabilities that would otherwise have been funded in an annual appropriation? Will the Navy even be able to complete two Virginia class subs with reconciliation money before the funding expires? 
    “Leaving aside the color of money, we’ll also want to hear your assessment of the impediments to delivering essential capabilities like submarines, destroyers, and amphibious vessels at the speed of relevance. This subcommittee has been consistently generous, but despite pouring billions more dollars into the effort, the timeline for producing a Virginia-class sub continues to stretch longer. Of course, we don’t just need to build platforms faster. We need to figure out how to make munitions more efficiently – especially the exquisite missile defense interceptors and long-range fires on which current operations are relying so heavily. How has the Navy handled the high operational tempo in the Red Sea? How does the FY26 request reflect the urgent need to deepen our magazines in a more cost-effective manner?
    “Finally, I’m curious about the lessons your services are taking from current conflicts. What has the Navy learned from the demands of long deployments and the costs of air wing accidents on the U.S.S. Truman? What lessons is the service taking from Ukraine’s decimation of Russia’s Black Sea fleet? How is the Navy approaching force protection itself? Is it hardening major assets, both in port and at sea? Does it have sufficient resources to do so?
    “What is the Marine Corps learning from Russia’s ground war in Ukraine? How does information-sharing at the cutting-edge of modern warfare inform the service’s ongoing transformation effort? To what extent is success in the face of unique Indo-Pacific circumstances dependent on things outside your control, like logistics and transportation provided by other services or commands?
    “I will be curious for each of your observations. I would just suggest that any honest accounting of the task at hand will have to reckon with the deficiencies of the defense topline. If our objective is to build a force capable of projecting power globally to deter, fight, and prevail against Chinese aggression, possibly while engaged in conflict in other theatres, I don’t see how this budget request gets us there. So we’ll look forward to your testimony in just a moment.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Slams RFK Jr. For “Reckless” Decision to Fire Vaccine Experts, Presses on New Appointees’ Conflicts of Interest, Anti-Vaccine Views

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 24, 2025
    New panel will meet for the first time tomorrow without ethics disclosures or conflict of interest guidelines in place
    “You have promised that, as HHS Secretary, you would root out conflicts of interest and promote ‘radical transparency,’ but you are failing miserably to meet this promise as you rush to impose your anti-vaccine agenda on the American public.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), on the eve of a key committee meeting,  slammed Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK Jr.) for his “reckless” and “shortsighted” decision to fire all 17 independent members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replace them with eight members who appear to be hand-picked to advance RFK Jr.’s own anti-vaccine agenda. With the new panel set to meet for the first time tomorrow, Senator Warren pressed RFK Jr. on his own conflicts of interests, and those of his appointees, raising concerns about their ability to make public health decisions to benefit Americans rather than line their own pockets.
    The letter follows Senator Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) push to delay the ACIP meeting, citing the appointees’ lack of relevant experience and apparent anti-vaccine bias.
    “As presently constituted, the committee lacks the qualifications and credibility to offer the nation credible advice on vaccines. You have promised that, as HHS Secretary, you would root out conflicts of interest and promote ‘radical transparency,’ but you are failing miserably to meet this promise as you rush to impose your anti-vaccine agenda on the American public,” wrote Senator Warren.
    As an expert panel of the CDC, ACIP is responsible for developing recommendations for the use of vaccines by the American public. Decisions made by the committee have significant implications, affecting parents’ confidence in vaccines, physicians’ recommendations on who should receive them, and insurers’ coverage decisions.
    RFK Jr. recently purged the entire nonpartisan panel, claiming — with no evidence — that all 17 members had conflicts of interest that prevented them from effectively serving on the committee. But RFK Jr.’s hand-picked replacements are known vaccine skeptics, appear to lack relevant training, and have their own financial conflicts that present serious conflicts.
    During RFK Jr.’s confirmation process, he specifically pledged that he would end conflicts of interest on ACIP and “create an honest, unbiased, science-driven HHS.” It remains unclear how — if at all — his new appointees have been vetted for conflicts of interest, and the short timeframe from their nomination to tomorrow’s meeting means it would have been impossible for them to go through the typically rigorous vetting process for committee members.
    “While you’ve declared that previous efforts to guard against conflicts of interest on the panel were insufficient, you appear to have made no effort to ensure that your hand-picked appointees even declare their conflicts of interest, let alone meet a heightened standard,” wrote Senator Warren.
    With the panel set to meet for the first time tomorrow, a financial disclosure for only one of the eight new members is publicly available on the CDC website, and it remains unclear how conflict of interest rules will be applied. The meeting agenda will be truncated because the new appointees are reportedly “not yet in a position to deal with all the agenda items.” Even so, the panel is set to discuss recommendations for multiple key vaccines, including RSV, COVID-19, Influenza, and MMR.
    RFK Jr. also has his own unresolved conflicts of interest. At his confirmation hearing, Senator Warren questioned him on his biggest conflict: a lucrative arrangement with the law firm Wisner Baum in vaccine-related cases. Senator Warren specifically raised concerns about RFK Jr. financially benefiting as HHS Secretary by strengthening anti-vaccine lawsuits — including by naming anti-vaccine members to ACIP.
    “Your decision to reconstitute ACIP with members that share your anti-vaccine views therefore raises questions about your and your family’s ability to cash in from the dangerous decisions the panel appears prepared to make,” wrote Senator Warren.
    To understand RFK Jr.’s “haphazard” decision to purge ACIP and replace its members with a hand-picked panel of “unqualified and unvetted vaccine skeptics with their own troubling conflicts,” Senator Warren pressed the Secretary for information on the termination of the previous 17 experts, the appointments of the new members, and processes for vetting and eliminating conflicts of interest.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawmakers Seek to Close VA Loophole That Funnels Billions to Private Medicare Insurers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 23, 2025
    A bipartisan group of lawmakers is aiming to close a loophole that allows large healthcare insurers to charge Medicare billions of dollars to cover veterans who get some or all of their treatment through the taxpayer-funded U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health system.
    The group introduced legislation Monday in the House and Senate that would permit the VA to charge private health insurers in the Medicare Advantage system for medical care that it provides for the insurers’ members.
    The bill was sparked by a December Wall Street Journal investigation, said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat and sponsor of the new House legislation. The investigation found the federal government paid insurers an estimated $44 billion from 2018 through 2021 to cover veterans in Medicare Advantage plans who were also getting healthcare through the VA.
    “These big health insurers found a nifty way to profit from veterans,” Doggett said. “They collect the payments and the taxpayers pay for the care.”
    The Journal’s investigation found that more than a million aging and disabled veterans were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, which charged the government for their care even though many use the VA for much of their healthcare.
    Under a decades-old law, the VA is prohibited from billing Medicare Advantage insurers for the care it provides their members, even though the VA can and does bill non-Medicare insurers. In Medicare Advantage, insurers get paid a lump sum by the federal government for each member, meaning they get paid even when their members don’t use any services.
    “It is essentially double dipping,” said Rep. Greg Murphy (R., N.C.), a co-sponsor of the bill. “This is one of those issues that crosses party lines.”
    The House bill was also co-sponsored by Rep. David Schweikert (R., Ariz) and California Rep. Mark Takano, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 
    Congress must not allow “Medicare Advantage insurers to bill for veteran care they didn’t provide,” said Schweikert, who also called for broader changes to Medicare Advantage. “There is more to uncover and much more to fix,” he said.
    The Senate version is backed by lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) and Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, according to congressional staffers.
    “It’s a mistake to let Medicare Advantage plans exploit a costly loophole and pocket taxpayer money at the expense of veteran care,” Warren said in a statement.
    The Journal, using figures provided by researchers at Brown University and the Providence VA, found that the VA spent about $17 billion caring for veterans who were Medicare Advantage members in 2021. That amounted to about 17% of the VA’s healthcare expenditures that year.
    Insurer Humana leads the industry in Medicare Advantage plans covering veterans, the Journal reported in December. The company, like others in the industry, offers veteran-branded plans under the name Humana Honor, including many that offer cash-like rebates to seniors who sign up. 
    Humana said in a statement that “given the aging population of veterans and increasing complexity of their healthcare needs, we strongly support increased coordination between [Medicare] and VA to better ensure beneficiaries have seamless access to healthcare coverage they have earned through the VA and Medicare.”
    The VA encourages veterans to sign up for some form of Medicare, even if they have access to VA health, in part because Medicare gives them the choice of going to a non-VA doctor or hospital. Medicare Advantage plans are attractive to many veterans because they offer perks that go beyond what Medicare requires, ranging from dental benefits to gym memberships.
    By:  Mark Maremont, Christopher WeaverSource: Wall Street Journal

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, Colleagues Call for Plan to Address Communist China’s Forced Labor Transfers of Uyghurs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and three other senators sent a bipartisan letter to the Chair of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) Christopher Pratt. The letter calls for the FLETF to take action to prevent Communist China’s circumvention of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFPLA) through forced labor transfers. The letter comes in response to a joint investigation, led by the New York Times, that found that the Communist Chinese government is forcing thousands of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to work in factories outside Xinjiang. Communist China’s deplorable actions have complicated enforcement of the UFPLA. These actions enable Communist China to skirt accountability for its human rights abuses, artificially lower the cost of producing goods, and undermine American workers.
    “On May 29, 2025, the New York Times, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, and Der Spiegel published a joint investigation detailing efforts by Communist China to ship tens of thousands of Uyghur workers out of the Xinjiang province—and into factories across China,” said Ricketts. “It is clear based off of the joint investigation referenced above that further measures are needed to drastically expand the UFPLA Entity List to address these forced labor transfer programs outside Xinjiang and crack down on Communist China’s evasion of U.S. law.” 
    In addition to Ricketts, other signatories include Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Curtis (R-UT), and Chris Coons (D-DE). All are members of the Foreign Relations Committee. 
    Read the full letter here or below: 
    Dear Under Secretary Pratt, 
    We write to raise concerns regarding increased efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to utilize State-directed labor transfer programs to circumvent the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFPLA). 
    Since the implementation of the UFPLA’s enforcement mechanism in June 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reviewed over 11,000 shipments covering billions of dollars of various products, including apparel, automotive parts, chemicals, electronics, flooring, and solar panels. These actions have incentivized companies to increase their supply chain due diligence and shift their supply chains away from suppliers that exploit Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China, particularly in Xinjiang. As a result of this enforcement, however, the PRC is now actively working to sidestep our forced labor prohibitions. 
    On May 29, 2025, the New York Times, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Der Spiegel published a joint investigation detailing efforts by the PRC to ship tens of thousands of Uyghur workers out of Xinjiang and into factories across China. Over 100 companies in at least five major industries appeared to receive Uyghur workers or parts or goods produced by them. According to a February International Labor Organization report, these labor transfer programs used measures “severely restricting the free choice of employment.” 
    The UFPLA requires the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) to produce and update an entity list, including “a list of entities working with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.” CBP is required to enforce the prohibition of imported goods from entities on the UFPLA Entity List. Currently, the entity list contains 144 entities, with 37 added just in January. However, it is clear based off of the joint investigation referenced above that further measures are needed to drastically expand the UFPLA Entity List to address these forced labor transfer programs outside Xinjiang and crack down on the PRC’s evasion of U.S. law. 
    We therefore request a briefing by July 18, 2025, on the actions FLETF intends to take to prevent the PRC’s circumvention of the UFPLA through forced labor transfers and the FLETF’s plan for engagement with the private sector to improve compliance with the UFPLA. We stand ready to work with FLETF to ensure it has both the resources and authorities necessary to tackle these grotesque human rights abuses that the PRC uses to artificially lower the costs of goods and undermine American workers. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Maxwell Frost Blasts Florida and Trump Administration for “Alligator Alcatraz,” Calls Detention Center a Cruel Spectacle

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

    June 24, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) issued a statement condemning President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, for announcing plans to redirect FEMA funds — meant for disaster response and recovery — toward building a tent-based immigrant detention center in the middle of an abandoned airfield in the Everglades. The site, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” would reportedly rely on surrounding alligators as a “cost-saving” security measure.

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Trump sycophant, proposed the idea, suggesting that the surrounding wildlife could help deter escape and reduce operational costs.

    In a statement, Rep. Frost says:

    “Donald Trump, his Administration, and his enablers have made one thing brutally clear: they intend to use the power of government to kidnap, brutalize, starve, and harm every single immigrant they can —because they have a deep disdain for immigrants and are using them to scapegoat the serious issues facing working people. 

    “They would rather us point fingers at immigrants for the housing crisis, violence, lack of healthcare, and high costs that plague our nation rather than blame the inaction of politicians and greedy corporations.

    “This was never about public safety. It was never about putting America first. 

    “They target migrants, rip families apart, and subject people to conditions that amount to physical and psychological torture in facilities that can only be described as hell on Earth. Now, they want to erect tents in the blazing Everglades sun and call it immigration enforcement. They don’t care if people live or die; they only care about cruelty and spectacle.

    “I’ve toured these facilities myself – real ones, not the makeshift tents they plan to put up – and even those detention centers contain conditions that are nothing short of human rights abuses. Places where people are forced to eat, sleep, shower, and defecate all in the same room. Places where medical attention is virtually non-existent. 

    “Anyone who supports this is a disgusting excuse for a human being, let alone a public servant.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fitzgerald Introduces Bill to Stop Proxy Advisors from Imposing ESG on U.S. Companies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) introduced the Stopping Proxy Advisor Racketeering Act, which restores transparency and accountability in corporate governance and protects shareholders from biased advice. Specifically, it prohibits proxy advisory firms from issuing voting recommendations when any conflict could reasonably be expected to affect the objectivity or reliability of proxy advice, including being a member of a group that supports proposals similar to the shareholder-sponsored proposal. A violation of this prohibition would result in civil penalties.

    “Proxy advisory firms have outsized influence over corporate governance but operate in the shadows,” said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald. “My bill will rein in these unaccountable firms and restore fairness and transparency for American investors.”

    BACKGROUND: The U.S. proxy advisory market is dominated by a foreign-owned duopoly, which collectively and individually hold sufficient market power to shape the corporate governance of U.S. companies. Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis have gained an unprecedented level of control–commanding 97% of the market. Despite their significant sway over trillions in shareholder assets, these firms operate with minimal transparency and are riddled with conflicts of interest.

    Read the bill text here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On 3rd Anniversary of Roe Being Overturned, Baldwin, Blumenthal, and Murray Lead Senate Dems in a Bill to Restore Abortion Access Nationwide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Patty Murray (D-WA) led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. The bill’s introduction comes as the Trump Administration further attacks a woman’s right to choose and Congressional Republicans barrel ahead with a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood. Put together, Trump and Congressional Republicans’ assault on Americans’ reproductive rights is a backdoor national abortion ban, ripping away millions of women’s access to abortion care and right to control their bodies.   

    “First, Donald Trump and Republicans overturned Roe v Wade. Now, they are continuing their crusade for a national abortion ban, stripping away a woman’s right to choose and control her body, healthcare, and future. Republicans continue to show that they will stop at nothing in their pursuit to stop a woman from having the right to choose,” said Senator Baldwin. “In Wisconsin, we’ve seen how these attacks on women’s reproductive rights and freedoms have hurt our neighbors, friends, and families – and we won’t stand for it. The Women’s Health Protection Act is a necessary step to restore Americans’ constitutional right to choose what’s best for their families, stop Congressional and state-level Republicans from further putting themselves between a doctor and a woman, and once and for all, give women their rights and freedoms back.”

    “This issue is about more than health care; it is about women’s rights, individual rights, and human rights. The foundation of the Women’s Health Protection Act is simply the right to make your own health care decisions. Three years after Dobbs, American women don’t have that right. Today, thanks to Republican lawmakers and conservative courts, a woman in America might walk into an ER and faint, bleeding, and be refused treatment. That woman might die,” said Senator Blumenthal. “By restoring abortion access and implementing basic protections against medically unnecessary restrictions on health care, the Women’s Health Protection Act overturns the death sentence handed down by Dobbs.”

    “Three years ago, Donald Trump and Republicans succeeded in overturning Roe, ripping away a Constitutional right for the first time in American history, and causing a full-blown health care crisis in our nation. Since then, we have seen with painful clarity how Republican abortion bans are putting women’s lives in danger, forcing providers to close their doors, decimating access to maternal health care, and forcing women to remain pregnant—no matter their circumstances,” said Senator Murray. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore the right to abortion and end the national nightmare Republicans created by overturning Roe. Democrats will never stop fighting to restore abortion access nationwide—nothing less.”

    President Trump appointed the Supreme Court Justices who ruled in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case to overturn Roe v. Wade and nearly 50 years of precedent. Since the Dobbs decision, 19 states have banned abortion or severely restricted women from being able to access the procedure, leaving one in three American women without access to safe, legal abortion care. Additionally, state legislatures across the country have introduced hundreds of bills to include medically unnecessary restrictions that limit access to abortion care.

    In his second term, President Trump has continued to relentlessly attack reproductive rights, including freezing Title X funding for clinics that offer reproductive care, cutting Biden-era emergency abortion protections, pardoning anti-abortion extremists, and fighting to defund Planned Parenthood. Additionally, the House-passed Republican budget bill kicks 16 million people off their health insurance and defunds Planned Parenthood – threatening the closure of 200 health centers across the country and putting access to vital reproductive care for millions of families at risk.

    The Women’s Health Protection Act creates federal rights for patients and providers to protect abortion access. Specifically, the Women’s Health Protection Act would:

    • Prohibit states from imposing restrictions that jeopardize access to abortion earlier in pregnancy, including many of the state-level restrictions in place prior to Dobbs, such as arbitrary waiting periods, medically unnecessary mandatory ultrasounds, or requirements to provide medically inaccurate information.
    • Ensure that later in pregnancy, states cannot limit access to abortion if it would jeopardize the life or health of the mother.
    • Protect the ability to travel out of state for an abortion, which has become increasingly common in recent years.

    The legislation is sponsored by the entire Democratic caucus, including Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D- DE) Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Full text of the bill is available here. A one-pager on the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kiltarlity youth leading the way in playpark design

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Children from Tomnacross Primary School in Kiltarlity have been congratulated for helping to develop their local play park as part of Highland Council’s investment in play areas across the Inverness region.

    The Kiltarlity Play Park has been upgraded with new equipment which was chosen by the children and includes a basket swing, a flat spinning disc to challenge balance and coordination, new swings and a climbing frame with a top perch for watching Shinty.

    Chair of Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee, Councillor Graham MacKenzie said: “I’m delighted that new equipment for all ages and abilities has been installed at Kiltarlity Play Park, thanks to the inspiration and creativity of the children from Tomnacross Primary School. The children played a central role in designing their newly upgraded play park and this project ensured that young people were at the heart of the design process to create a play space that’s inclusive and community focused.

    “By supporting young people to design their own play spaces, we not only encourage creative and collaborative thinking but also ensure that children have an opportunity to share their views on what play means to them in their own community. The young people of Tomnacross Primary School have shown true leadership and vision and have set an excellent example of how young voices can help shape the places in which they live. I would like to thank the children for their commitment to the project and look forward to the park’s official opening event.”

    An official opening of the new Kiltarlity Play Park will take place on Friday 27 June at 10.30am and all members of the community are warmly invited to attend.

    Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown, said: “This has been a fantastic community-driven project that reflects Highland Council’s wider commitment to supporting child-led initiatives and promoting every child’s right to play, choice, and inclusion. The success and popularity of Shinty in the area created the need for a new training pitch, which in turn created the opportunity to redevelop the play park. I am delighted to see how well used the new equipment is, and my thanks to everyone involved in this exciting project.”

    Funding for the project was allocated by the Inverness City Area Committee as part of the Scottish Government’s Play Park Renewal Fund. Additional funding was received from Kiltarlity Shinty Club.

    Communities across the Highlands who are interested in upgrading their local play areas can contact Highland Council’s Play Park Strategy Coordinator for more information: lynn.macgillivray@highland.gov.uk

    24 Jun 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to Strengthen Ties with Islamic Countries and OIC – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China will continue to work with Islamic countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to promote the continuous development of relations with them, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

    Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a question about the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, which was held from June 21 to 22 in Istanbul, Turkey.

    The official representative recalled that the participants of the event recognized China’s efforts to protect Muslim communities, highly appreciated the comprehensive development of relations between China and Islamic countries, and expressed hope for further strengthening of cooperation between the OIC and China.

    “This is the sixth time that the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ resolution has included language that is friendly to China. The Chinese side welcomes this,” Guo Jiakun said.

    Calling the OIC a symbol of unity and independence of Islamic countries and a bridge for developing their ties with China, Guo Jiakun noted that in recent years, China, Islamic countries and the OIC have continuously deepened mutual trust, expanded cooperation in various fields and strengthened inter-civilizational exchanges, which has yielded significant results.

    The Chinese diplomat also pointed out that representatives of the OIC and its member states have visited China on numerous occasions, including to Xinjiang. According to Guo Jiakun, this has allowed them to better understand China’s ethnic and religious policies and the development situation in Xinjiang, and to give a positive assessment of what they have seen. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mariam Kvrivishvili appointed Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Tbilisi, June 24 (Xinhua) — Mariam Kvrivishvili has been appointed Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. This was announced by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at a briefing at the government administration.

    The appointment follows the resignation of Levan Davitashvili, who previously held the post.

    Since May 2021, M. Kvrivishvili has held the position of Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development and oversaw key areas, including the development of tourism and aviation.

    In 2019-2020, she headed the Georgian National Tourism Administration.

    M. Kvrivishvili is also a member of the political council of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

    L. Davitashvili has been appointed to a new position — Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister on Economic Issues, as well as Secretary of the Economic Council. He has headed the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development since February 2022, while simultaneously serving as Deputy Prime Minister and then First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Opposes Resolving Disputes Through Force — Chinese Foreign Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China opposes the use of force to resolve disputes and always stands for peace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

    Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

    As the Chinese diplomat noted, Israel and the United States used force against Iran, citing “potential future threats,” thereby seriously violating international law and encroaching on the sovereignty of the Iranian state.

    Dialogue and negotiations are the only way out of the situation, Wang Yi said, stressing that all parties should resume dialogue on an equal basis and promote the return of the Iranian nuclear issue to the path of political settlement.

    The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry also drew attention to the fact that the Palestinian issue remains the core of the Middle East problems and in this regard it is necessary to facilitate the implementation of the two-state solution.

    H. Fidan, for his part, said that if Israel wants to protect its security, it should agree to a two-state solution and stop the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

    He added that Türkiye expects to strengthen communication and coordination with China in order to jointly achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province, Vancouver, PavCo provide updated costs for FIFA World Cup 26

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    With less than one year to go before Vancouver welcomes the FIFA World Cup 26, the Province, City of Vancouver and BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) have released updated estimates on costs and revenues.

    “Hosting FIFA World Cup 26 is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our province to the world, and we are determined to do it in a way that reflects who we are and what we value,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Working with Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh peoples helps us deliver an even better FIFA World Cup reflective of where we are, and who we are.”

    The economic benefits of hosting seven matches are estimated by the Province to include more than one million additional out-of-province visitors between 2026 and 2031, generating more than $1 billion in additional visitor spending. Over this same period, more than 18,000 jobs could be generated. Tourism is one of B.C.’s biggest industries and the FIFA World Cup 26 is a premier opportunity to promote B.C. on the world stage. Studies show that first-time visitors to B.C. are likely to return four times during their lifetime.

    “The City of Vancouver’s direct costs, including security, transportation, the FIFA Fan Festival and upcoming milestones remain on track, with no major changes from 2024’s budget projections,” said Ken Sim, mayor of Vancouver. “With less than a year to go until the world’s biggest sporting event arrives in Vancouver, we’re working hard to deliver a safe, memorable experience for residents, fans and visitors. We remain committed to managing costs responsibly while maximizing the long-term benefits for our community.”

    Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Industry Association of BC, said: “We’re gearing up to leverage the opportunities for B.C.’s tourism sector. “Welcoming fans and visitors from around the globe before, during and after the tournament means real benefits for local tourism businesses and the skilled professionals who power our vibrant industry. We’re looking forward to showcasing unforgettable B.C. experiences and inspiring visitors to keep returning.”

    FIFA’s own economic impact assessment covers the period June 2023 to August 2026 and estimates that preparing for and hosting the tournament could contribute $1.7 billion in economic benefits for B.C. That includes a $980-million increase to GDP and $610 million in labour income.

    “FIFA World Cup 26 is more than a series of matches. It’s a catalyst for economic activity, international visibility, and community pride. Hosting seven games will energize our downtown core, including hotels, restaurants, venues, and surrounding neighbourhoods, and will build on Vancouver’s growing $9.6 billion annual visitor economy, which currently supports more than 63,000 jobs,” said Royce Chwin, president and CEO, Destination Vancouver. “It’s a strong vote of confidence in our city’s ability to deliver world-class experiences with real, lasting benefits for local businesses and communities.”

    The Province is committed to maximizing the social and economic impacts of these matches and will work to ensure people throughout the province share the benefits.

    The FIFA World Cup highlights and accelerates provincial priorities, including building a sustainable, clean economy, strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and advancing reconciliation. Through collaboration among the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, the Province and the City of Vancouver, there is a shared commitment to work together to deliver these matches.

    “FIFA World Cup 26 provides an incredible opportunity for us at Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) to share our culture, our teachings, and our history with the world,” said Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, spokesperson, Squamish First Nation. “We are looking forward to welcoming guests to our Territory next year to enjoy the tournament, and to working with all our partners to make FIFA World Cup 26 the best the globe has ever seen!”

    Chief Jen Thomas, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), said: “Our səlilwətaɬ community (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) believes strongly in the power of sport and how it can inspire our people today and our next seven generations. We are proud to work hand-in-hand with our partners to co-create and deliver an incredible tournament with a lasting legacy that benefits everyone.”

    The Province estimates the updated net core provincial cost of hosting seven FIFA World Cup 26 matches to be within a planning range of $85 million to $145 million, which is similar to the range estimated last year. This does not consider potential additional provincial tax revenues as identified in the Province’s estimates of economic impact benefits.

    “Hosting the FIFA World Cup 26 in Vancouver is huge for British Columbia and Canada,” said Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), Government of Canada. “Sport brings us together like nothing else, and this world-class event will showcase British Columbia’s hospitality, culture and gorgeous landscapes. The FIFA World Cup 26 is about more than football: local businesses, workers, and communities across the province will all benefit from this exciting hosting opportunity. Canada is thrilled to welcome the world in 2026!”

    Renovations and upgrades at the Killarney Park training site are underway and the city is advancing its planning for the FIFA Fan Festival and other activities. Renovations and upgrades to BC Place also continue. These improvements will make the stadium more accessible and help it remain modern and competitive so it can continue to attract and host the world’s best sports, music and events.

    Learn More:

    For provincial cost, revenue, economic benefit estimates for FIFA World Cup 26, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Provincial_FIFA_Cost_Update_BG1.pdf

    For City of Vancouver cost and revenue estimates for FIFA World Cup 26, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Provincial_FIFA_Cost_Update_BG2.pdf

    To learn more about FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver, visit: https://www.vancouverfwc26.ca/

    Follow
    Instagram: https://list.vancouver.ca/t/605825/1215640/17772/31/  
    X: https://list.vancouver.ca/t/605825/1215640/17773/32/ and
    Facebook: https://list.vancouver.ca/t/605825/1215640/17774/33/ channels @FWC26Vancouver

    For the March 2024 Vancouver FIFA World Cup 26 Economic Impact Assessment, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/sports/fifa_2026_economic_impacts_and_long_tail_march_2024.pdf

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney meets with President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.

    Building on the two countries’ already strong ties, the Prime Minister and the President discussed deepening the Canada-Latvia partnership, with a focus on increasing trade and investment, including in defence and energy.

    They reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional security and underscored the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also discussed the need to increase pressure on Russia, including through sanctions.

    Prime Minister Carney reiterated Canada’s support for Euro-Atlantic security, as demonstrated by its leadership through the Canada-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. He thanked the President for Latvia’s exemplary role in hosting Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members serving under Operation REASSURANCE. The operation includes approximately 2,000 personnel, making it the largest deployment of CAF members overseas.

    The Prime Minister also outlined Canada’s plan to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the CAF – meeting the NATO 2 per cent target this year and accelerating defence investments in the years ahead.

    The leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney meets with Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, was received by Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands for an audience ahead of his participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.

    The Prime Minister thanked Their Majesties for the hospitality. The Prime Minister and Their Majesties reflected on the enduring friendship between Canada and the Netherlands – rooted in shared history, including during the Second World War, and deepened through decades of partnership.

    Prime Minister Carney and Their Majesties discussed deepening co-operation, free trade, and innovation between the two nations.

    Associated Link

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Fraser to join Atlantic Indigenous leaders at news conference on advancing economic reconciliation through Indigenous-led research 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia · June 24, 2025 · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

    The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), will attend and speak at a news conference organized by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat and the Atlantic Indigenous Economic Development Integrated Research Program.

    Date: June 25, 2025

    Time:  11:00 a.m.                      

    Location: Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre,
    65 Treaty Trail,
    Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1860, Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Bill Summary

    H.R. 1860 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate care coordinators for veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer. The bill also would extend a temporary limitation on certain pension payments through September 2032.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    The estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 1860 are shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget functions 550 (health) and 700 (veterans benefits and services).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1860
     

    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

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30
     

    Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation

    		    

    Estimated Authorization

    *

    2

    2

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    13

    28

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    2

    2

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    13

    28

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 1860 will be enacted in fiscal year 2025 and that outlays will follow historical spending patterns for similar VA programs.

    Provisions that Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending

    Section 2 would require VA to designate or hire a care coordinator for breast and gynecologic cancer in each of the department’s 18 Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) within one year of enactment. The coordinators would monitor and integrate care for those cancers that veterans receive from the department directly and through the VA-funded Community Care program. The coordinators also would collect and report information on the outcomes of veterans’ cancer treatment.

    Under section 2, VA would need one full-time employee in each VISN. CBO estimates that annual compensation and operating expenses would amount to $215,000 per person, on average. Implementing section 2 would therefore cost $38 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    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 IT modernization that benefit veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards.

    Additional spending from the TEF would occur 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 2 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 2 would increase spending subject to appropriation by $28 million and direct spending by $10 million.

    Direct Spending

    In addition to expanding benefits that would partly be covered by the TEF, enacting H.R. 1860 would affect direct spending by extending a statutory limitation on VA pension payments. In total, enacting the bill would decrease net direct spending by $30 million over the 2025-2035 period (see Table 2).

    Under current law, VA reduces pension payments to veterans and survivors who reside in Medicaid nursing homes to $90 per month. That required reduction expires November 30, 2031. Section 3 would extend that reduction for 10 months, through September 30, 2032. CBO estimates that extending that requirement would reduce VA benefits by $10 million per month. (Those benefits are paid from mandatory appropriations and are therefore considered direct spending.) As a result of that reduction in beneficiaries’ income, Medicaid would pay more of the cost of their care, increasing spending for that program by $6 million per month. Thus, enacting section 3 would reduce net direct spending by $40 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    Table 2.

    Estimated Changes in Direct Spending Under H.R. 1860
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035

    Cancer Care Coordinators

    		                      

    Estimated Budget Authority

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    5

    10

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    5

    10

    Pensions

    		                      

    Estimated Budget Authority

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    Total Changes

    		                        

    Estimated Budget Authority

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30

    Spending Subject to Appropriation

    The discussion above in “Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending” describes the costs of implementing the care coordination program for veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer. CBO estimates that establishing the program would increase spending subject to appropriation by $28 million over the 2025‑2035 period.

    Section 2 also would require VA to submit a report comparing health outcomes of veterans who receive care for breast and gynecologic cancer through VA facilities and community care providers. Based on the costs of similar reporting requirements, CBO estimates that preparing the report would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025‑2035 period. Any such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    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 1.

    Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1860 would not increase net direct spending by more than $2.5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1860 would not increase on‑budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    Mandates

    The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

    Mandates: Grace Watson

    Estimate Reviewed By

    David Newman
    Chief, Defense, International Affairs, and Veterans’ Affairs Cost Estimates Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald 
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    Christina Hawley Anthony
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Information Concerning Medicaid-Related Provisions in Title IV of H.R. 1

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    CBO responds to a request for information from the Honorable Jodey Arrington and the Honorable Brett Guthrie concerning Medicaid-related provisions in title IV, Energy and Commerce, of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as passed by the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: About one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    June 24, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, World Bank, and Global Energy Monitor, Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker
    Note: LNG=liquefied natural gas, FSRU=floating storage regasification unit

    • In 2024, about 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transited the Strait of Hormuz, primarily from Qatar. The strait is a critical route for oil and petroleum products as well.
    • Qatar exported about 9.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of LNG through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) exported about 0.7 Bcf/d, accounting for nearly all LNG flows from the Persian Gulf through Hormuz.
    • We estimate that 83% of the LNG that moved through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024 went from Persian Gulf countries to Asian markets. China, India, and South Korea were the top destinations for LNG moving through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for 52% of all Hormuz LNG flows in 2024. In 2024, disruptions to LNG flows through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, and more U.S. LNG exports to Europe pushed LNG exports from Qatar away from Europe to Asia.
    • Kuwait and the UAE imported LNG that originated outside of the Persian Gulf, including from the United States and West Africa. Bahrain began operating an LNG import terminal in April 2025 and also received cargoes that transited Hormuz from outside of the Persian Gulf, including recent cargoes in April and June that originated from the United States.
    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis based on Vortexa tanker tracking data
    Note: 1Q25=first quarter of 2025. figure data

    Principal contributors: Candace Dunn, Justine Barden

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jun 24, 2025 ATU International and ATU Local 689 Endorse Senator Stella Pekarsky for Special Election for Congress in Virginia’s 11th District

    Source: US Amalgamated Transit Union

    Centreville, VA – – Calling her a strong advocate for public transit, working families, and the state of the Virginia, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International and ATU Local 689, which represents transit workers and riders across the DC region, announced their endorsement of Stella Pekarsky’s campaign for Congress in VA-11.

    “Stella is a true friend for labor and working families across Northern Virginia,” said ATU Local 689 President/Business Agent Raymond Jackson. “In Congress she will be a staunch advocate for transit workers and riders and a bulwark against MAGA extremism. Transit workers are proud to stand in support of Stella.”

    The ATU is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in North America. In the DC area, it represents transit workers with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, DC Circulator, and more. 

    “The ATU is proud to endorse Stella Pekarsky in the Special Election for Congress in Virginia,” said ATU International President John Costa. “As a Virginia State Senator, Pekarsky has demonstrated an extraordinary track record of advocacy and public service. As a proven leader, Pekarsky has consistently fought for the rights of workers and their families and a more robust public. We look forward to helping send her Congress to represent our members and the people of Virgina.” 

    “ATU Local 689 is the backbone of our transit workforce in Fairfax County and the greater DC area. The fierce advocacy of ATU keeps our workers protected and keeps our region moving. The rights of our union workers have always been at the center of my work, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the local and national ATU in Congress” Stella said.

    Stella Pekarsky is proud to stand with union transit workers and honored to have their endorsement for Congress.

    For more information about Stella Pekarsky and her campaign, visit www.stellapekarsky.com.

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Software Company BuildOps Will Create 291 Jobs in Raleigh

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Software Company BuildOps Will Create 291 Jobs in Raleigh

    Governor Stein Announces Software Company BuildOps Will Create 291 Jobs in Raleigh
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein announced today that BuildOps, Inc., a company offering a software platform for commercial trade contractors will create 291 jobs in Raleigh. The company will invest $771,200 to establish an operations hub in Wake County. 

    “North Carolina offers companies like BuildOps a deep pool of tech talent,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolina’s education and workforce training programs deliver the skilled people companies rely on to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace. We welcome this veteran-owned business to North Carolina.”  

    Founded in 2018 with headquarters in Los Angeles, BuildOps has developed a software-as-a-service platform built specifically to serve commercial trade contractors, providing project management, service, dispatching, and invoicing solutions. The company’s customers include HVAC, plumbing, mechanical and electrical contractors, among others. The company’s project in Raleigh will establish the company’s third operations hub, joining hubs in Los Angeles and Toronto that serve the company’s rapidly growing customer base. 

    “We’re thrilled to establish our newest operations hub in Raleigh, a city known for its exceptional talent pool, innovation-driven ecosystem, and strong commitment to business growth,” said Alok Chanani, Co-Founder and CEO for BuildOps. “This expansion is an important step in our ongoing mission to revolutionize the commercial trade industry, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of the thriving Raleigh community.”   

    “North Carolina’s tech sector has grown by 25% since 2018, outpacing the national average,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “The state’s strong concentration of IT professionals has fostered an environment that attracts companies like BuildOps seeking the specialized, talented workforce North Carolina provides.”  

    Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new positions will be $110,997, compared with an average wage in Wake County of $76,643. The new positions will bring an annual payroll impact to the community of more than $30 million per year. 

    The company’s project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by more than $701.7 million. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,839,000, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation targets. 

    The project’s projected return on investment of public dollars is 78 percent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost, the state receives $1.78 in state revenue. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.  

    Because BuildOps chose a location in Wake County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 3, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving $613,000 into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 3 county such as Wake, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps more economically challenged communities elsewhere in the state. 
    “I’m pleased to see a fast-growing company like BuildOps plant their flag in Raleigh,” said Senator Jay Chaudhuri. “We know what it takes to help IT companies grow and our community will help them be successful in our region.”  

    “Congratulations to the many economic development organizations and allies that demonstrated great teamwork to win this project for Raleigh and the greater Research Triangle region,” said Representative Cynthia Ball. “We look forward to seeing BuildOps reach the next phase of their growth here in North Carolina, serving their customers and bringing well-paying new jobs to the area.”  

    Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, N.C. Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, N.C. State University, Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Wake Technical Community College, the City of Raleigh, and Raleigh Economic Development and Wake County Economic Development, programs of the Greater Raleigh Chamber.  

    Jun 24, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Top Trump Officials over Illegal Termination of Tens of Billions in Grant Funding

    Source: US State of California

    Since January, the Trump Administration has baselessly relied on a single subclause buried deep in federal regulations to slash tens of billions in previously awarded grant funding

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today sued the Trump Administration over its improper use of a single subclause buried in federal regulations promulgated by the Office of Management of Budget (OMB) to terminate tens of billions of dollars in grant funding to the states. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has engaged in a nationwide slash-and-burn campaign, unlawfully invoking 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(a)(4) (“the Clause”) to justify the termination of tens of billions of dollars in critical federal funding appropriated by Congress and awarded to the states. The Trump Administration has claimed that five words in the Clause — “no longer effectuates . . . agency priorities” — provide federal agencies with virtually unfettered authority to withhold funding any time they no longer wish to support the programs for which Congress has appropriated funding. In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and a multistate coalition argue that the Administration is misconstruing the Clause and that the Clause, properly read, does not allow for grant terminations based on agency priorities that were set or changed only after a grant was originally awarded. 

    “The Trump Administration has recklessly and chaotically slashed federal grant funding that is intended to prevent crime, rebuild our roads, develop technology for the future, and everything in between,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This hack job has been done under the flimsy premise of ‘changed agency priorities’ — even when this funding has been previously appropriated by Congress and awarded to the states. For federal funding to work, the states that receive that funding need to be able to plan ahead, make investments, and be confident that this funding will not be terminated on a whim. We’re asking the court to block the Trump Administration’s unlawful invocation of this clause as a sweeping justification for the termination of grant funding.”

    With the stroke of a pen, federal agencies ranging from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Labor have deprived California and other states of essential funding they rely on to combat violent crime, prevent terrorist attacks, educate students with special needs, respond to natural disasters, protect clean drinking water, conduct life-saving medical and scientific research, upgrade crumbling transportation infrastructure, and much more. Federal agencies have done all of this without advance notice, without explanation to the state recipients, and in direct contravention of the will of Congress.    

    In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that federal agencies’ invocation of the Clause to terminate grant funding runs counter to OMB’s own interpretation of its own regulations. When OMB first promulgated the Clause in 2020, it made clear that the language granted federal agencies only limited authority to terminate grants. Indeed, the coalition is not aware of a single instance prior to January 2025 in which a federal agency relied on the Clause to terminate a grant on the grounds that agency priorities had changed after the award of the grant. Since January 2025, however, federal agencies across the Trump Administration have asserted that the Clause provides them with a blank check to terminate grants already awarded to states based on newly identified agency priorities — even when those priorities conflict with the priorities identified by Congress or by the agency at the time of the grant award. Attorney General Bonta and the coalition today ask the District Court to declare that the Clause and the Trump Administration’s regulations implementing the Clause do not on their own provide sufficient grounds to terminate awards; vacate the Trump Administration’s decision to invoke the Clause as grounds for terminating grants based on a change in agency priorities; and permanently bar the Trump Administration from invoking the Clause in the future.   

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as the state of Pennsylvania, in filing the lawsuit. 

    A copy of the lawsuit is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –