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Category: Education

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is retinol? And will it make my acne flare? 3 experts unpack this trendy skincare ingredient

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurence Orlando, Senior Lecturer, Product Formulation and Development, Analytical Methods, Monash University

    Irina Kvyatkovskaya/Shutterstock

    Retinol skincare products suddenly seem to be everywhere, promising clear, radiant and “youthful” skin.

    But what’s the science behind these claims? And are there any risks?

    You may have also heard retinol can increase your risk of sunburn and even make acne worse.

    For some people, retinol may help reduce the appearance of fine lines. But it won’t be suitable for everyone. Here’s what you need to know.

    What is retinol?

    Retinol is part of a family of chemical compounds called retinoids. These are derived from or related to Vitamin A, a nutrient essential for healthy skin, vision and immune function.

    All retinoids work because enzymes in our skin convert them into their “active” form, retinoic acid.

    You can buy retinol in creams and other topical products over the counter.

    These are often promoted as “anti-ageing” because retinol can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and even out skin tone (for example, sun spots or acne scars).

    It also has an exfoliating effect, meaning it can help unclog pores.

    Stronger retinoid treatments that target acne will require a prescription because they contain retinoic acid, which is regulated as a drug in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Australia.

    How is retinol used in skincare?

    One of the most common claims about retinol is that it helps to reduce visible signs of ageing.

    How does this work?

    With age, the skin’s barrier becomes weaker, making it more prone to dryness, injury and irritation.

    Retinol can help counteract this natural thinning by stimulating the proliferation of keratinocytes – cells that form the outer skin layer and protect against damage and water loss.

    Retinol also stimulates the production of collagen (a key protein that creates a scaffolding that keeps skin firm and elastic) and fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen and support skin structure).

    It also increases how fast the skin sheds old cells and replaces them with new ones.

    Over time, these processes help reduce fine lines, fade dark spots and even out skin tone. It can also make skin appear clearer.

    While effective, this doesn’t happen overnight.

    You may have also heard about a “retinol purge” – a temporary flare of acne when you first start using topical retinoids.

    Studies have found the skin may become irritated and acne temporarily worsen in some cases. But more research needs to be done to understand this link.

    The idea of a retinol purge is popular on social media.
    TikTok, CC BY-NC-ND

    So, is retinol safe?

    At typical skincare concentrations (0.1–0.3%), side effects tend to be mild.

    Most people who experience irritation (such as redness, dryness, or peeling) when starting retinol are able to build tolerance over time. This process is often called “retinisation”.

    However, retinol increases the skin’s sensitivity to UV radiation (known as photosensitivity). This heightened reactivity can lead to sunburn, irritation and an increased risk of hyperpigmentation (spots or patches of darker colour).

    For this reason, daily use of broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF30 or higher) is strongly recommended while using retinol products.

    Who should avoid retinol?

    Teenagers and children generally don’t need retinol unless specifically prescribed by a doctor, for example, for acne treatment.

    People with sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema (dry, itchy and inflamed skin) and rosacea (chronic redness and sensitivity) may find retinol too irritating.

    Using retinol products alongside other skincare treatments, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, can over-exfoliate your skin and damage it.

    Importantly, the active form of retinol, retinoic acid, is teratogenic (meaning it can cause birth defects). Over-the-counter retinol products are also not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

    Choose and store retinol products wisely

    Since retinol is classified as a cosmetic ingredient, companies are not required to disclose its concentration in their products.

    The European Union is expected to introduce new regulations that will cap the concentration of retinol in cosmetic facial products to 0.3%.

    These are precautionary measures aimed to limit exposure for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, given the risk of birth defects.

    It’s therefore recommended to use products that clearly state the retinol concentration is between 0.1% and 0.3%.

    Retinol is also a notoriously unstable molecule that degrades with exposure to air, light or heat.

    Choosing a product with airtight, light-protective packaging will help with potential degradation problems that could lead to inactivity or harm.

    What’s the safest way to try retinol?

    The key is to go low and slow: a pea-sized amount of a low-concentration product (0.1%) once or twice a week, preferably at night (to avoid UV exposure), and then the frequency and concentration can be increased (to a maximum of 0.3%) as the skin adjusts.

    Using a moisturiser after retinol helps to reduce dryness and irritation.

    Wearing sunscreen every day is a must when using retinol to avoid the photosensitivity.

    If you experience persistent redness, burning, or peeling, it’s better to stop using the product and consult your doctor or a dermatologist for personalised advice.

    Laurence Orlando is affiliated with the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

    Professor Ademi currently serves as a member of the Economics Sub Committee of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee within the Department of Health, Australia which assesses clinical and economic evaluations of medicines submitted for listing on the PBS. She leads the global economics initiative for the Lp(a) International Task Force and Member of Professional Advisory Board of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Australia. Zanfina Ademi receives funding from FH Europe Foundation to understand the population screening for LP(a), globally. Received funding from National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund not in relation to to this work, but work that relates to health economics of prevention and cost-effectiveness.

    Zoe Porter 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. What is retinol? And will it make my acne flare? 3 experts unpack this trendy skincare ingredient – https://theconversation.com/what-is-retinol-and-will-it-make-my-acne-flare-3-experts-unpack-this-trendy-skincare-ingredient-256074

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Decades of searching and a chance discovery: why finding Leadbeater’s possum in NSW is such big news

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University

    Until now, Victorians believed their state was the sole home for Leadbeater’s possum, their critically endangered state faunal emblem. This tiny marsupial is clinging to life in a few pockets of mountain ash and snow gum habitat in the Central Highlands of Victoria.

    But a few days ago, seven grainy photos taken by a trail camera in New South Wales revealed something very unexpected: a Leadbeater’s possum hundreds of kilometres away in the wet forests of Kosciuszko National Park.

    For decades, we and other researchers have sought proof this possum existed in these forests. Now we have it. This is a moment of celebration. But it also signals the importance of well-resourced biodiversity surveys in uncovering our most threatened species and large national parks for conserving them.

    While this newly discovered population reduces the risk of extinction, it doesn’t change the decline and risk of extinction of its Victorian relatives – or the steps needed to safeguard them.

    These photos from Kosciuszko National Park are the first proof that Leadbeater’s possum has a NSW population.
    NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, CC BY-NC-ND

    Detected entirely by chance

    In 2024, New South Wales threatened species ecologists Fred Ford and Martin Schulz set about looking for an entirely different species, the endangered smoky mouse. To find it, they set up a wide array of camera traps throughout wet forest areas of Kosciuszko National Park. A year later, they collected them and trawled through millions of photos.

    Among all these images (including of smoky mice), there were seven which stunned them. A camera deployed near Yarrangobilly Caves captured a tiny possum scampering through leaf litter, holding its distinctive club-shaped tail erect. The possum looks around the monitoring site, showing its back and face stripes and heart-shaped face.

    Experts at The Australian National University and Zoos Victoria verified the photos, setting the ecology world abuzz.

    A trail camera near Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park captured the sighting.
    Destinations Journey/Shutterstock

    A hunch confirmed

    While we are delighted at this remarkable discovery, the detection is not a complete surprise.

    Over three decades ago, this article’s lead author searched for Leadbeater’s possum around Yarrangobilly and many other parts of Kosciuszko National Park, guided by a bioclimatic model suggesting the cool wet forests in Kosciuszko National Park should suit the possum.

    But detection cameras were not available then, and this possum is notoriously hard to spot. It’s tiny, nocturnal and spends its waking hours dashing through the dense understory of some of the world’s tallest forests looking for nectar, sap and insects.

    Species experts from Zoos Victoria and Deakin University have also scouted parts of Kosciuszko National Park over the past decade, identifying potentially promising habitat.

    In 2010 we got confirmation the possum had once occurred in the area, when jaw bones were identified among bones regurgitated by owls on the floor of a nearby cave.

    But other bones from the cave floor date back an estimated 140–200 years. The bones were far from proof of a living population.

    The possum’s existence remained an open question until these photos.

    What does this mean for this possum?

    We don’t know anything about this newly discovered Leadbeater’s possum population in NSW, other than the fact that it exists. Given the distance from the Victorian populations, we suspect that they may be genetically distinct.

    In theory, the existence of a separate population 250 km away from the Victorian populations cuts the risk a single megafire or other catastrophe could push the species to extinction.

    But while welcome, the discovery doesn’t reduce the need to urgently protect surviving Victorian populations, which remain highly threatened by bushfire, climate change, predation by cats, and the legacy of logging and land clearing.

    In Victoria, some populations have dwindled as low as 40 animals and inbreeding is now a concern.

    The possum typically relies on large old trees with hollows where it can breed and den. But these trees have substantially declined in Victoria over the past 150 years. Leadbeater’s possum also needs smaller trees for feeding and movement.

    Surveys across the historical range of the species in Victoria since 2017 have failed to find any other hidden populations. Most surveys have found the habitat highly degraded from logging and fire.

    The discovery won’t alter the possum’s critically endangered status at this stage, nor the ongoing work to support it.

    In welcome news, the NSW Environment Minister announced the possum’s state conservation listing will be fast-tracked.

    Of surveys and parks

    Why did it take so long to find the possum? The main reason: a lack of resources preventing targeted investigations.

    Even basic inventories of species have not been done across many of Australia’s important conservation areas.

    Without well conducted surveys and monitoring, we are left overly reliant on chance detections for critical information. There could be other populations of imperilled species waiting to be rediscovered.

    Properly managing our growing number of threatened species shouldn’t be based on luck. It should be enabled by adequate resources for threatened species recovery teams to discover, map, protect and manage threatened species and their habitat.

    Increasing federal spending on the care of nature to 1% of the budget would go a very long way to closing these gaps.

    Trail cameras, call playback and environmental DNA sampling mean we can now survey large and remote natural areas with relatively little effort for long periods of time.

    Big parks are essential

    Kosciuszko National Park supports much more than Australia’s highest mountains. The huge park spans 690,000 hectares, much of it forest.

    Many of our most imperilled species are hard to detect. Protecting extensive areas of good-quality habitat boosts the survival chances for these species, even if we don’t yet have proof of life.

    With so little high-quality habitat left in Australia, proper protection through new national parks (including in Victoria) is vitally important for the possum and many other species.

    Passive protection isn’t enough either – adequate funding is critical to stop the environmental condition of parks from declining, due to threats like invasive species and extreme fires.

    The world still contains wonder

    These seven photos have given ecologists and nature lovers a real boost to their spirits. As detection techniques improve, what else is out there waiting to be found?

    The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Leadbeater’s possum experts Dan Harley, Arabella Eyre, John Woinarski and Brendan Wintle to this article.

    David Lindenmayer receives funding from the Australian Government and the Victorian Government. He is a Councillor with the Biodiversity Council and a Member of Birds Australia.

    Darcy Watchorn works for Zoos Victoria, a not-for-profit zoo-based conservation organisation. He is a member of the Ecological Society of Australia, the Australian Mammal Society, the Society for Conservation Biology, and the Royal Society of Victoria.

    Jaana Dielenberg was employed by the now-ended Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, which conducted research on the Leadbeater’s possum in Victoria. She is a Charles Darwin University Fellow and is employed by the University of Melbourne and the Biodiversity Council.

    – ref. Decades of searching and a chance discovery: why finding Leadbeater’s possum in NSW is such big news – https://theconversation.com/decades-of-searching-and-a-chance-discovery-why-finding-leadbeaters-possum-in-nsw-is-such-big-news-257957

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Man attacks Colorado crowd with firebombs, 6 people injured

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Six people were injured on Sunday when a 45-year-old man yelled “Free Palestine” and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in Boulder, Colorado where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza was taking place, authorities said.

    Six victims aged between 67 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said. At least one of them was in a critical condition, authorities said.

    “As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” Michalek said.

    Michalek named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, who was hospitalized shortly after the attack. 

    FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a “targeted terror attack,” and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be “a hate crime given the group that was targeted.” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved.

    “We’re fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody,” he said.

    The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organized by Run for Their Lives, an organization devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.

    In a statement, the group said the walks have been held every week since then for the hostages, “without any violent incidents until today.”

    The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel’s war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to brand pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic. His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite U.S. universities that have permitted such demonstrations.

    In a post to X, a social network, Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa and been allowed to work by the previous administration. He said it was further evidence of the need to “fully reverse” what he described as “suicidal migration.”

    When asked about Soliman, the Department of Homeland Security said more information would be provided as it became available.

    VICTIMS BURNED

    Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said.

    She described seeing a man whom she presumed to be the attacker standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting.

    “Everybody is yelling, ‘get water, get water,’” Coffman said.

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an antisemitic attack.

    “This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism,” he said on X.

    The attack follows last month’s arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.

    The shooting fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

    Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on social media that it was “unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The most interesting astronomical phenomena of the summer of 2025, visible in Novosibirsk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Summertime for astronomy at the latitude of Novosibirsk, especially the month before and after the summer solstice on June 21, is a period of calm, since the nights are too light and short, so the opportunities for observing interesting astronomical phenomena are reduced. And only in August, with the return of dark and longer nights, astronomical observations come alive again.

    However, it is during the brightest nights that there is a good opportunity to observe noctilucent clouds. This is not a completely astronomical phenomenon, since it occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere, but bright noctilucent clouds are a good object for summer night observations and filming. They appear differently on different nights, sometimes they are practically invisible, and sometimes very large and bright fields of “silver” are visible. It is impossible to say in advance when they will be clearly visible, but it is definitely worth observing such a phenomenon, especially for those who have not seen them before.

    August 10. Moon occultation of the star Deneb Algedi (Delta Capricornus). This is a fairly bright star (magnitude 2.9), so its occultation should be quite visible in binoculars or a telescope. It is interesting that for Novosibirsk this occultation is tangential, i.e. the Moon will cover the star with the very edge of its disk. Since the lunar disk is not perfectly flat due to the presence of mountains on the Moon, then during tangential occultations multiple occultations and emergences of the star from behind the lunar disk at the beginning and end of the occultation can be observed. For Novosibirsk, the occultation parameters are as follows: beginning at 04:07:52, altitude 14°, end at 04:25:43, altitude 13°.

    August 12-13. Perseid meteor shower peak. One of the so-called “big three” showers, that is, one of the three most active annual meteor showers, the peak of which occurs on August 12-13. At this time, its activity reaches approximately 100 meteors per hour, if you observe them outside the city, under a dark sky. However, this year during the Perseid maximum, the bright Moon will be shining in the sky, so even outside the city, the sky will be heavily illuminated by it, which will significantly worsen the ability to observe the shower and reduce the number of meteors observed. Nevertheless, the activity of the Perseids is such that their observation can be recommended even with lunar illumination, especially since they can produce very bright meteors and even fireballs.

    The Perseid radiant is located in the constellation Perseus, which is where the shower gets its name. The radiant is the point in the sky from which the shower’s meteors fly out. To simplify, we can say that the Perseid meteors fly out of the constellation Perseus. The shower’s radiant is located quite high above the horizon throughout the dark time of day. During the maximum, this is approximately from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. However, the height of the radiant during this time increases from approximately 30 to 60 degrees, so as the night progresses, the conditions for observing the Perseids and the number of their meteors increase.

    At the same time, in the pre-dawn hours before sunrise, around 4 a.m., you will be able to see two bright “stars” low above the northeastern horizon – this is what the conjunction of the two brightest planets in the earth’s sky – Jupiter and Venus – will look like.

    August 16-17. Occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon. The series of occultations of the Pleiades star cluster by the Earth’s satellite, which occurs once every 18 years, continues. The period of 18 years is equal to the duration of the lunar saros (draconic period), which is caused by the precession of the lunar orbit. In other words, this is the period of precession of the Moon’s orbit. The Pleiades cluster is located in the sky slightly above the ecliptic, however, due to the precession and the tilt of the lunar orbit of about 5 degrees, the Moon in its visible movement across the sky periodically (every 18 years) “reaches” the Pleiades and causes a series of occultations of the cluster.

    At the latitude of Novosibirsk, the current series of occultations began in mid-2024 and will end in March 2028. Occultations occur approximately once a month (more precisely, every 29 days, which corresponds to the sidereal period of the Moon). However, not every occultation is visible in Novosibirsk. For example, in the summer of 2025, of the three occultations of the Pleiades, only one will be visible – on August 16-17.

    To observe this occultation (or rather, a group of occultations), you need to use binoculars or a telescope. In its orbit around the Earth, the Moon will pass in front of the Pleiades stars and will cover them from an observer on Earth for some time. Through binoculars or a telescope, you will be able to see the Moon gradually approaching various stars of the cluster, then at some point they will disappear behind the lunar disk, and after some time they will reappear on the other side. Unfortunately, in this case, the Moon’s actual occultations of the Pleiades stars will occur at a very low altitude above the horizon, approximately from 23 to 00 hours, but later, when the altitude of the Moon and the cluster becomes higher, approximately from 1 to 2 hours, the Moon will not have time to move far from the cluster, which will look good in binoculars or a telescope next to the Moon.

    Here are the parameters of coverage of the brightest stars of the Pleiades for Novosibirsk:

    Alcyone. Beginning before sunrise, ending at 23:33:43, altitude 4°.

    Merope. Beginning before sunrise, ending at 23:07:28, altitude 1°.

    Atlas. Start at 23:20:07, altitude 2°, end at 00:02:38, altitude 7°)

     

    Explanation: Usually, various astronomical phenomena can be observed over a more or less large area, and depending on what kind of event we are talking about, they can be visible, for example, in different regions of Siberia or Russia as a whole, or in the entire northern or eastern hemisphere, or even around the world. This review provides information about what remarkable, unusual and interesting astronomical phenomena can be observed in Novosibirsk and its environs in the summer of 2025.

    It may well turn out that Novosibirsk will not be the optimal place for observing any of the phenomena indicated in the review, and in other points on our planet this phenomenon will be better visible, however, the circumstances of visibility are given specifically for Novosibirsk.

     

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams on the House Passage of the Republican Reconciliation Budget

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Senior Member of the House Agriculture Committee and House Education & Workforce Committee, released a statement on the House passage of the Republican reconciliation budget.

    “Republicans have shown today that billionaires are their top priority, not the millions of people who will be harmed by the reckless GOP reconciliation budget,” said Congresswoman Adams. “This bill does nothing to combat waste, fraud, and abuse like they claim. Instead, it will cause average Americans across the country to suffer. More children will go to bed hungry. More working Americans will lose their healthcare. More families will face eviction and homelessness. More veterans and seniors will lose access to lifesaving basic needs programs. Americans will die because Republicans are choosing to place greed over our country.”

    “In North Carolina, this bill would mean putting the food security of 1.4 million SNAP recipients in jeopardy,” Adams continued. “656,000 North Carolinians covered under Medicaid expansion could lose their lifesaving healthcare. Our farmers and small business owners, the backbone of North Carolina’s economy, will find it even harder to make ends meet. My constituents will suffer so Republicans can make people like Elon Musk even richer.”

    “My office will continue working closely with state and local governments, non-profits, community and civic groups, and local leaders to support our community when Republicans in Congress won’t. I also encourage every North Carolinian to contact all members of Congress—Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate—to voice their concern and disapproval over this budget. This bill will hurt a lot of beautiful people. Now, more than ever, we need to fight to protect our basic needs programs and our futures,” Adams concluded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Congratulates 2025 OK-04 Congressional Art Competition Winners

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Oklahoma – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Oklahoma’s Fourth District:

    Lillian Dai of Norman, Oklahoma has been named the first-place winner. Dai attends Norman North High School and studies art under her teacher, Sheila Hunter. For the Congressional Art Competition, Dai submitted a piece titled “Outside World,” which is a colored pencil drawing of a girl troubled by her mundane responsibilities and reminded of her own exhaustion merely by the things in her room. The drawing will be brought to Washington, D.C. and hang in the United States Capitol Building for an entire year.

    “I am thrilled to congratulate Lillian on being selected as the Fourth District’s overall winner for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition,” said Congressman Cole. “Her colored pencil drawing is unique, intriguing, and very colorful. It is clear that Lillian is very talented, and I am sure she has a bright future in the arts ahead of her.”

    When asked about her artwork, Dai said, “My artwork for the Congressional Art Competition is inspired by the common emotions and feelings that both I and my peers at high school typically feel as we take on harder classes and have increased responsibilities. It is not uncommon for us to spend late nights working. Exhaustion mingles with imagination, as we dream of a new environment or situation that will allow us a break. The indigo shadows envelop her form, reminding her of the work she needs to put in to accomplish her dreams, but for a moment the illumination of the fantastical scenery in her cup gives her the chance to daydream the world outside her room.”

    “Lillian has made significant strides in the art world during her high school career. This year, she garnered notable recognition by winning two silver keys, a gold key, and a gold medal for her exceptional drawings in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. In addition to her recent achievements, Lillian secured second place in last year’s Congressional Art competition and is proud to represent Oklahoma’s 4th district this year. As her mentor, I have thoroughly enjoyed assisting Lillian in preparing for various art competitions and exhibitions. She shows a remarkable understanding of composition and color; her colored pencil pieces take many dedicated hours to complete. I eagerly anticipate her continued growth as an artist in her upcoming senior year,” said Hunter, Norman North High School Art Teacher.

    In addition to naming Lillian the winner, two runner-up winners were named through a “People’s Choice” contest online, which was conducted through Congressman Cole’s social media channels and website with votes collected over the course of a week. Out of the 1,112 votes cast, artwork by Katelyn Estes and Emily Shields received the most. Both students’ artwork will be displayed in Congressman Cole’s Oklahoma office for the next year.

    “Every year, so many accomplished high school students from across the Fourth District submit beautiful pieces of artwork to my office for consideration for the Congressional Art Competition. While only one piece can make its way to D.C., I think it is only right to recognize the other gifted artists by holding the People’s Choice competition. Congratulations to Katelyn and Emily for being selected as this year’s second and third-place winners. I am excited to have their beautiful art hanging in my Oklahoma office for the next year,” said Congressman Cole.

    Katelyn Estes, the second-place winner, resides in Stratford, Oklahoma and attends Stratford High School, where she studies art under her teacher, Shea Meyer. For the contest, she submitted a piece titled “All Sass, All Heart,” which is a pencil drawing of a barrel horse turning around barrel with the rider partly visible.

    “This drawing was inspired by my barrel horse, Jaz. She gives everything she has every time we race, and I wanted to reflect that in this piece – along with the bold, sassy personality that makes her who she is. That’s why I titled it All Sass, All Heart – Jaz,” said Estes.

    “Katelyn is a great student. She works hard and takes any advice that I give to her and applies it to her work. She not only works in class, but she works on projects at home, especially when she is trying to get something done for a show or contest. I wish I had a class full of students like her. I am very proud of all she has accomplished so far, and I look forward to what she will do in the future,” said Meyer, Stratford High School Art Teacher.

    Emily Shields of Purcell, Oklahoma is the third-place winner. She attends Purcell High School, where she studies art under her teacher, Jon Corea. For the Congressional Art Competition, Shields submitted artwork titled “Before the Storm,” which is an acrylic painting of a wild stallion observing the “calm before the storm” sunset in the Wichita Mountains while standing in a valley of Indian Paintbrushes.

    When asked about her artwork, Shields said, “I was inspired by all of the incredible western paintings I see with the massive, golden storm clouds on the horizon. Those paintings always invoke such a sense of foreboding in me while also being breathtaking. I also wanted to include a homage to Oklahoma and my mother who loves Indian Paintbrushes. Overall, this painting was one of the first I have encouraged myself to see through to the end, and I am pleasantly satisfied with the results.”

    “Emily is a remarkably talented and driven young artist. Her dedication to her craft is evident in the intense focus she brings to each piece she creates. Whether she’s working with bold colors, intricate details, or exploring new techniques, Emily consistently produces work that is thoughtful, expressive, and technically strong. Her creativity and commitment to improvement have always impressed me, and I continue to be amazed by the quality and originality of her artwork,” said Corea, Purcell High School Art Teacher.

    For information on the Congressional Art Competition, click here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Applauds Litigation Task Force Win for the Department of Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force created to address Trump Administration power grabs through intervention in the federal courts, today applauded a Boston federal judge’s ruling preventing the dismantling of the Department of Education. Congressman Cohen signed on to the task force’s amicus curiae brief in State of New York v. Linda McMahon.

    Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

    “I am pleased to see that our litigation task force has chalked up another big win in our efforts to prevent the Trump Administration from illegally usurping powers from Congress. We have had much success across the country in courts where judges have been appointed by the last six presidents, Republican and Democratic. This is a victory for the Department of Education but also for the American people and the rule of law.”

    In late April, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force filed an amicus brief challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to close the Department of Education in the matter of the State of New York v. Linda McMahon. Thursday’s ruling cited the Members of Congress’s argument multiple times, with the judge noting President Donald Trump cannot make solitary decisions regarding the agency’s organization or function without congressional approval.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Houlahan Announces Bipartisan Legislation Supporting Public Servants at Roundtable of Law Enforcement, First Responders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) hosted a roundtable discussion with local law enforcement officers and first responders focused on recruitment, retention, and public service. At the event, Rep. Houlahan announced the reintroduction of her Public Service Student Loan Payment Completion Fairness Act to make a long-overdue modernization to the PSLF Program and simplify the loan forgiveness process for public servants. This legislation, co-led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police.  

    At present, the law requires applicants to be employed in a public service job at the time of student loan forgiveness. That means public servants who have dutifully completed their 120 payments and spent 10 years in public service may become ineligible for forgiveness if they change employers. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick’s legislation would simplify the process, improve applicant success rate, and incent more Americans to become public servants by removing the provision requiring individuals to be employed in public service at the time of forgiveness.  

    “When Pennsylvanians and Americans dedicate a decade or more of their lives to serving our communities, they deserve our support to cut through bureaucratic delays and receive the student loan forgiveness we have promised,” said Representative Houlahan. “Our community, Commonwealth, and country are made stronger because of dedicated public servants, and as a former AmeriCorps teacher, I’m proud to introduce this commonsense reform to help our nation’s teachers, law enforcement officers, first responders, nurses, and others.”  

    “Those who choose public service—whether in a classroom, a squad car, or a hospital ward—do so out of a sense of duty, not personal gain. They sacrifice, they serve, and many take on student debt to do it. Our bill ensures they’re not denied loan forgiveness because of a technicality. If we want to recruit and retain the best in public service, we must show service is respected, and commitments made will be commitments kept,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. 

    In a letter written to Representatives Houlahan and Fitzpatrick, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police Patrick Yoes endorsed the bill, adding, “An officer’s route for advancement is highly dependent on education, which can be a large hurdle for entry level officers who may not be able to afford higher education. Correcting the statute in this way would enable our nation’s public servants, who serve and protect their communities, to receive a better education and, in turn, will help them to be better law enforcement officers, first responders, and teachers.” 

    Reps. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick hope their bipartisan, commonsense legislation will improve applicant success. Data from the Department of Education demonstrates how the many ancillary requirements of the PSLF program significantly impede the applicant success rate. Out of the 442,277 individuals who met employment certification and Direct Loan requirements and submitted program forms through September 2021, 98% did not immediately qualify because they did not meet other PSLF requirements, such as the onerous provision addressed in this legislation.  

    Read bill text here. 

    Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and nonprofit leader. She is serving her fourth consecutive term representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. Houlahan is the first female veteran to be named as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Houlahan is also chair of the Economic Growth and Cost of Living Task Force on the New Democrat Coalition. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Dems Host Care Economy Roundtable in Wilmington, DE on Third Stop of “New Dems on the Road” Tour

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

    Wilmington, DE – Today, the New Democrat Coalition made the third stop on its New Dems on the Road Tour, an initiative spearheaded by Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to get New Dem Members out of DC to hear from American workers, businesses, industry experts, nongovernmental organizations and local leaders about how to improve policy in Washington. 
    New Dem Care Economy Task Force Chair Sarah McBride (DE-AL) hosted House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) in her district for a care economy roundtable discussion with medical professionals, advocates, non-profit leaders, labor representatives, and care providers.
    Attendees talked through some of the biggest challenges facing the care economy, and discussed strategies for building the bipartisan support needed to advance nationwide Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) reforms and expand access to high-quality and affordable childcare and elder care.
    “Every family, in every zip code, deserves access to affordable child care, elder care, and paid leave—and today’s conversation made clear that the need is urgent, the solutions are real, and the time to act is now,” said Task Force Chair Sarah McBride. “These investments don’t just support families—they strengthen our economy and stabilize our communities. As Chair of the New Dem Care Economy Task Force, I’m committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to build on Delaware’s leadership and advance comprehensive, nationwide policies that uplift caregivers and working families. I’m grateful to Whip Clark and Rep. Houlahan for joining me for this important conversation.”
    “America runs on child care — it enables kids to thrive, parents to work, and our economy to grow. But the reality is that too many families struggle to find and afford care. We can solve this crisis by investing in our child care system, providing paid family leave, and putting the needs of working families ahead of the billionaire class,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join Reps. McBride and Houlahan for this important community conversation. House Democrats stand together in the fight to lower the costs for families and ensure everyone has the resources they need to get ahead.”
    “I am thrilled to join my friend Rep. McBride in discussing a topic near and dear to me and so many Americans: access to child care and paid leave,” said Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan. “Neighboring Delaware has led the charge in innovative solutions, and I hope Pennsylvania follows soon. Thanks to New Dems for highlighting the importance of the care economy and bringing us together to find solutions for working families here and across the country.”
    Full list of roundtable attendees:

    Democratic Whip Katherine Clark
    Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06)
    Rep. Sarah McBride (DE-AL)
    Delaware Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay
    First Lady of Delaware Lauren Meyer
    Pennsylvania State Senator Maria Collett (12th District)
    Jan White, Small Business Owner, New Castle County Chamber of Commerce 

    Chris Otto, Executive Director, Delaware Nurses Association
    Joe Diagle, CEO, Mallard Financial Partners, Inc.
    Shawn Colleran, Vice President, Delaware Association of Letter Carriers
    Dr. Margaret Chou, Obstetrician, Nemours & ChristianaCare
    Liz Richards, Executive Director, Delaware Cares                
    Dr. Melanie Thomas Price, CEO, A Leap of Faith Child Development Center, Inc
    Kirsten Olson, CEO, Children & Families First
    Dr. Dannae Orisomolade, Early Childhood Academic Initiatives Officer, Delaware State University
    Julie Bieber, Director of Operations, Kingswood Community Center
    Jamie Schneider, Owner, Educational Enrichment Center DE
    Alisa Morkides, Owner, Brew Haha
    Dab O’Brien, Children’s First PA

    Background
    Through New Dems on the Road, New Dem Members will hold conversations across the country to hear from the American people, with each meeting organized under the policy goals of one of the Coalition’s nine Working Groups. New Dems will meet with local leaders, stakeholders, small business owners, industry experts, and more to hear about the cost of President Trump’s chaos and what New Dems can do to fight back and make progress on the issues that really matter to the American people.
    The first New Dems on the Road event was held on April 23rd in Phoenix, AZ, where New Dem Immigration and Border Security Working Group Members Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Lou Correa (CA-46) held an immigration roundtable discussion with industry and union representatives, members of the Arizona business community, and DACA recipients.
    The second New Dems on the Road event was held on May 9th in Metro East, IL, where Vice Chair Nikki Budzinski hosted Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50) and Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01) for a clean energy roundtable discussion with business owners, industry and union representatives, academic researchers, and utility service providers.
    ###
    The New Democrat Coalition is comprised of 115 center-left House Democrats committed to breaking through gridlock to deliver results for Americans. Please click here to update your subscription preferences. 
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Rose Views Covenant School Shooting Documents, Credits Trump Admin for Restoring Transparency in Government

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)

    WASHINGTON, DC—On Thursday, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) was granted access to more than 2,000 pages of documents relating to the Covenant School shooting that took place March 27, 2023 when three children and three adults were murdered in a planned and calculated attack. The access follows a multi-year call for transparency by Rep. Rose, which began with a 2023 letter sent weeks after the attack to then-FBI Director Christopher Wray and Metropolitan Nashville Police (MNPD) Chief John Drake, calling for the documents to be released.

    Rep. Rose stated in the letter, “More than four weeks have passed since the heinous shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, yet countless mothers and fathers I represent are still awaiting answers.” He argued in the letter that “transparency is essential for those still grieving” and that “discussions of changing state or federal policy are futile without having an accurate account of the shooter’s state of mind, motives, preparation, and planning.”

    The Biden FBI responded to the letter five months later, referring Rep. Rose to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). MNPD never responded or fulfilled the request. After years of effort, the Trump Administration and FBI Director Kash Patel approved Rep. Rose’s request and allowed him to view the documents.
    Rep. Rose released a video statement after viewing the documents. You can view it here. 

    The verbatim reads:

    I was just granted access to many documents relating to the Covenant School shooting tragedy investigation by the FBI. 

     

    What I saw would disturb anyone, especially a parent. The documents are a painful reminder of the devastation that victims, including their families and friends, endure every day. Their lives are no doubt forever changed.

     

    Today, as difficult as it was to view this material, it was also important for transparency in government. We must never accept the kind of censorship we saw surrounding this shooter. In no other mass tragedy do we see every piece of evidence shielded from the public.

     

    While we certainly don’t want to enable copycat attempts or glorify mass killers, we also need the full scope of facts in situations such as this to prevent them in the future. 

     

    Like many of you, I have long suspected some of this information was shielded from public view because this shooter considered herself to be transgender.  

     

    After having read through the evidence, I remain convinced that there is no good justification for keeping most of the evidence from the public square. No reasonable person would object to certain redactions, just as no reasonable person who believes in the First Amendment would condone the widespread censorship we saw from the Biden FBI and frankly Metro Nashville Police. Weeks after this tragedy, I sent two letters calling on then-FBI Director Christopher Wray and Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake to release the documents or provide a written reason as to why not and a timeline on when it would be released.

     

    At the time, there were a lot of discussions surrounding state and federal gun policy. I argued those discussions were premature without first knowing what happened. Countless Tennesseans still want to know about the mental state of the shooter and many other factors that contributed to this tragedy. The report from Metro Nashville, released about a month ago, calls the killer sane. I just read through about 2,000 pages of reasons why that is false.

     

    Less than 100 days after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate, FBI Director Kash Patel is well on his way to fulfilling his goal of restoring confidence in the bureau. As our nation’s top law enforcement agency, trust and transparency are essential. I want to thank him for his leadership on behalf of each and every Tennessee family I represent and beyond.

     

    And I want to thank President Trump for following through on his promise to end woke policies in government and restore trust in our institutions. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE CELEBRATES NATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25)

    Introduces resolution to reaffirm America’s commitment to continued investment in science and innovation in the fields of Optics and Photonics

    (Rochester, N.Y.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle—Founder and Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Optics and Photonics Caucus—introduced a resolution officially marking May 16 as National Day of Light in the United States.

    “I founded the Congressional Optics and Photonics Caucus nearly four years ago because I believe light-based technologies hold limitless potential—especially for communities like mine in Rochester, New York,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “At a time when science and evidence-based research are under threat, it’s more important than ever that we invest in emerging technologies to drive innovation, improve lives, and secure America’s leadership on the global stage.”

    International Day of Light is celebrated every year on May 16 and is designed to serve as an appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. Congressman Morelle’s resolution would extend this celebration to the United States as well as create our own recognition: the National Day of Light.

    This year, we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of chirped-pulse amplification (CPA), a Nobel Prize winning technique developed at the University of Rochester by Gérard Mourou, a former engineer and senior scientist at the University’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and Donna Strickland ’89 (PhD). CPA creates ultrashort, high-power laser pulses, and this technology has helped pave the way for numerous applications in science, engineering, and medicine. Congressman Morelle has been a vocal supporter of this technology, and he believes it has been a critical piece of securing our country’s leadership in light-based technologies.

    Congressman Morelle is also a long-standing leader in advancing investments in science and light-based technology research. From his leadership on the NY SMART-I Corridor Regional Technology Hub application to his ongoing work to secure funding for science-based initiatives as Vice Ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, he is always advancing discovery and innovation on regional, national, and global scales.

    Read the full text of the resolution here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Balderson, Dunn, Murphy Reintroduce Bill to Expand Telehealth Access for Seniors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH)

    WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (OH-12), Neal Dunn, M.D., (FL-2), and Greg Murphy, M.D., (NC-3) reintroduced the Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act, legislation that would ease restrictions on health care providers and allow more seniors to benefit from remote monitoring services. The remote monitoring program has shown to reduce long-term health care costs, improve health outcomes, and increase options for seniors. 

    Remote monitoring devices and technology enable health care providers to observe and treat patients from the comfort of their own homes. With remote monitoring, providers are able to catch adverse health events earlier and keep their patients out of the hospital. 

    “Improving access to quality health care for seniors must be a top priority,” said Balderson. “Remote monitoring is a powerful tool for health care providers to look after a patient’s well-being—especially for patients in rural Ohio, where health care options can be limited. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act, which will help reduce costs and deliver better care where it’s needed most.”

    “Remote monitoring is an effective digital technology that helps patients and their doctors to better manage one’s health, particularly for chronic conditions,” said Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. “Expanding access to this technology will improve health outcomes for patients, reduce hospital readmissions, and extend physicians’ ability to take on a greater caseload. I’m grateful for my colleague Rep. Troy Balderson’s leadership on this issue and I’m proud to support this legislation.” 

    “OhioHealth aims to keep care local for all of our patients, across our growing footprint,” said Jeff Kasler, a spokesperson for OhioHealth. “Remote patient monitoring is one tool that proves especially valuable for our seniors and rural patients. We support Congressman Balderson’s foresight and leadership in fostering access to care via remote patient monitoring for some of our most vulnerable patients.” 

    “I commend Rep. Balderson for furthering Medicare coverage of this important methodology of care and studying its benefits,” said Dr. Arick Forrest, President of OSU Physicians at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs at the College of Medicine. “The future of improved health care lies in leveraging technology. The ability to consistently monitor a patient’s condition at home leads to improved outcomes. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has evolved to integrate with electronic medical records for enhanced surveillance by health care providers. These RPM devices have the most impact on managing chronic conditions, which account for 80% of health care spending. This will be foundational for value-based care, leading to improved disease control, fewer complications, and lower costs by avoiding emergency room utilization and hospitalization. We have demonstrated improved management of patients with hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, and high-risk pregnancies.” 

    “We know that for many people, the best place to receive the care they need is in their own homes,” said Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D., F.C.C.M., Chief Quality & Clinical Transformation Officer at University Hospital. “This is particularly true for seniors and those who might struggle with getting to a hospital. Prior to remote patient monitoring, patients needed to be in the hospital to be safely monitored.  Remote patient monitoring changed this paradigm. Remote patient monitoring is now an integral part of our care-delivery model. Now is not the time to go back.” “Our analysis during Covid demonstrated the use of remote monitoring reduced hospitalization by 87%, mortality by 77% and cost the average patient $11,500 less than admission,” Pronovost continued. “Most importantly, patients loved it because they slept in their own bed, ate their own food, wore their own clothes and were surrounded by the love of their loved ones.” 

    “The use of care management services continues to be a great opportunity for Rural Health Clinics in providing care to rural patients outside of the traditional office visit,” said Sarah Hohman, Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. “We thank Representative Balderson and Representative Porter for their leadership on these issues – ensuring that the full potential of RPM/RTM services can be experienced by RHCs and the patients they serve.” 

    “Now more than ever, clinicians are leveraging digital health technologies to empower individuals living with chronic conditions,” said Kevin Harper, Vice President & Head of Government Affairs at Teladoc Health. “We are pleased to support legislation from Representatives Balderson and Porter that would ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access critical remote monitoring technologies and better address the chronic disease crisis in the U.S.” 

    “The ATA and ATA Action commend Congressman Balderson and Congresswoman Porter for their leadership in introducing this important legislation,” said Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the American Telemedicine Association and Executive Director at ATA Action. “Increasing access to both remote physiologic monitoring and remote therapeutic monitoring devices covered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows for greater choices for clinically appropriate care for Medicare beneficiaries. We proudly endorse this legislation and urge other advocates of telehealth to do the same.” “Virtual care and remote monitoring are key to creating a more convenient, efficient, and modern health care delivery system,” said Brett Meeks, Executive Director of the Health Innovation Alliance. “The Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act will allow for the expanded use of current and future technologies, leading to better patient outcomes at reduced costs.” 

    BACKGROUND: 

    Providers currently bill Medicare if they monitor a patient for at least 16 days within a 30-day period. During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) lowered the duration required to bill for remote monitoring services to only two days of data collection. 

    In addition to implementing the two-day CMS billing threshold for two years, the legislation would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report to Congress within one year, analyzing a proper long-term CMS billing threshold and providing a savings estimate from earlier interventions and fewer days of hospitalizations. The report provides flexibility to the HHS Secretary to recommend multiple billing thresholds and any new remote monitoring code durations. It also requires the Secretary to consult with providers, patient groups, technology and device manufacturers, and others to understand the remote monitoring experience from all perspectives. 

    These services have shown to be an effective alternative to in-person clinical observation for acute and chronic medical conditions. In 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs found that patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, who were enrolled in remote monitoring programs saw a 53 percent decrease in bed days and a 33 percent reduction in hospital admissions. Furthermore, a 2022 JAMA analysis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who received pulmonary rehabilitation resulted in a net cost savings per patient of $5,721.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Balderson, Pfluger Reintroduce Legislation to Protect American Energy Investments from Woke Mandates

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH)

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12), Chairman of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), and August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), reintroduced legislation to nullify a Biden-era final interagency guidance from the Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation titled, Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions. 

    This guidance encourages banks and other financial institutions to manage “climate-related financial risks” associated with their investments and loans, potentially serving as a backdoor to restrict funding and resources for the American energy industry. This includes Ohio’s growing oil and gas sector, which supports more than 351,000 jobs and contributes $55 billion to the state’s economy.

    The vague language in this guidance could allow for potential punitive actions against banks doing business with the oil and gas industry, effectively pressuring financial institutions to support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies over sound financial decisions. 

    “This Biden-era guidance was nothing more than a back-door effort to push a woke ESG agenda,” said Balderson. “Under this framework, federal regulators could target banks who want to work with, and invest in, industries crucial to Ohio. This puts climate activism ahead of sound investment strategies, costing everyday Americans.” 

    “I’m pleased to join the RSC’s HEAT Chair Troy Balderson in introducing this bill to end the Biden administration’s radical ‘climate’ guidance,” said RSC Chairman Pfluger. “The previous administration weaponized the government to wage a politically-driven attack on American energy through ‘net-zero’ and ‘environmental, social, and governance’ mandates.  Since President Trump returned to office, financial institutions and markets have retreated from a woke ESG agenda, and this bill will help ensure that investments can flow to energy projects that power our homes, businesses, and economy without radical bureaucrats picking winners and losers.”

    Electric grid experts have warned that one of the largest threats to our nation’s energy security is misguided federal and state policies. Federal climate rules, such as the Clean Power Plan 2.0, would force the United States’ most reliable power plants to shut down, even as electricity demand grows at historic levels. With this new ESG guidance, banks could face regulatory backlash for providing regular financial services to the oil and gas industry–further imperiling American energy security.

    In September, Balderson joined his House colleagues in passing H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act, which cuts back on the Biden-Harris Administration’s burdensome ESG policies for American businesses and enhances Congressional oversight of federal financial regulatory agencies.

    Balderson’s bill nullifies the final interagency guidance and prevents the Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from issuing any substantially similar guidance in the future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Palmer Congratulates 2025 Sixth District Congressional Art Competition Winner

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL)

    For Immediate Release

    Media Contact: Hope Dawson (202) 225-4921

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representative Gary Palmer (AL-06) announced Meg Goodsell from Evangel Classical Christian School as the winner of the Sixth District’s Congressional Art Competition. 

    “We had a very talented group of students from all across the district participate in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. I’m impressed by each student’s hard work and dedication to their craft,” said Rep. Palmer. “Congratulations to Meg on winning the competition this year. I hope she continues to use her talent to create more art in the future.” 

    Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and a panel of artists in the sixth district select the winning entry. The winners’ works will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. This year, a virtual gallery of all entries from the Sixth District can be viewed on Rep. Palmer’s website and Facebook page. The winning artwork, “Answered Prayer” by Meg Goodsell is featured at the top of the online gallery. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rep. Rogers Joins McCrary Institute ‘Cyber Focus’ Podcast

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL)

     WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, joined the McCrary Institute’s “Cyber Focus” Podcast to discuss the future of national security and Alabama’s role in our nation’s defense.

    The McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University was founded in 2015 with the mission of making America safer from cyber-attacks through a team of national cyber experts in policy, applied research and services, and education. Since then, the McCrary Institute has emerged as a leader in the cybersecurity space and has further cemented Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering as a preeminent engineering program.

    Rep. Rogers works closely with the McCrary Institute and recently helped secure funding for the Southeast Region Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (SERC3) project.

    Watch or listen to the full episode here.

    Key Moments:

    We are at the lowest level of defense spending as a percentage of GDP since before World War II. It is dangerously low, 2.9% of GDP. We really should be closer to 5%.

    You can put a multi-million warehouse stockpile of drones together and we can upgrade them every week or every month without touching them. And those are the kind of changes that we need to make sure that we can move with the speed of relevance.

    Guam has a big target on it. Number one target by China. If we get into a conflict… it will be target number one.

    We’re going to be doing swarms [of underwater drones] just like we’re doing swarms in the air. You’re going to find the use of unmanned fighter jets is going to be very commonplace. We’re already doing some of that now, but it’s going to be a lot.

    I really think scholarships are the best way to get younger people to think about [working in cyber] early when they’re looking at career choices.

    [The Golden Dome] would create a significant space-based, low earth orbit sensor capacity that is much more sophisticated than what we have now. Along with some additional interceptors, and obviously this would be exactly in the wheelhouse of Huntsville.

    I expect sometime in the month of April that Space Command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville… I’ve already talked with the contractor, and he is ready to turn dirt on the day they announce.

    There will be a lot of battles fought where there’s not a gun fired. It’s going to be through cyber and through space.

    We all, in our daily private lives, use space every day.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, THOMPSON, LOCAL EXPERTS SOUND THE ALARM ON DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS’ BUDGET BILL

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) held a forum featuring testimony from local public safety experts, tax law experts, and health care providers to discuss how Congressional Republicans’ latest budget bill will impact Sacramento metro region residents.

    Congressional Republicans’ bill, which passed the House of Representatives this month, will slash health care coverage for nearly 14 million people, cut nutrition benefits for nearly 11 million people, and raise energy costs for families by $110 per year in order to hand a tax break to the ultra-wealthy. 

    “Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a disaster – targeting the most vulnerable among us to give tax breaks to the richest Americans,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This bill rips away health care and nutrition assistance from millions of Americans and will have devastating consequences here in our region. That’s why we gathered a panel of local experts to explain exactly what is at stake for our communities. Programs like Medicaid and SNAP are lifelines – they allow our loved ones, friends, and neighbors to live healthy and fulfilling lives with dignity and independence. With the health and future of our constituents at risk, we will not back down. This battle is far from over.” 

    “Simply put, this bill is a bad deal for the American people,” said Congressman Thompson. “My Republican colleagues are paying for these huge tax breaks for the wealthy by stripping health care away from nearly 14 million Americans, taking food assistance from 11 million people, and cutting green energy investments responsible for our manufacturing boom. This will add $5 trillion to our national debt and will impact everyone in our community. Hospitals and clinics will be forced to reduce services or shut down altogether, local food banks will have fewer resources, and families will pay more for their energy bills. This is unacceptable.” 

    Representatives Thompson and Matsui were joined by local experts testifying to the negative impacts of this bill. Panelists included Dr. Darien Shanske, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law, UC Davis; Chief Chris Costamagna of the Sacramento Fire Department; Dr. Erika Roshanravan, Medical Director for CommuniCare+OLE; Kate Laddish, Medicaid beneficiary and Chair of Yolo County In-Home Supportive Services’ Advisory Committee; Diana Flores, Executive of Director Nutrition Services, Central Kitchen and Distribution Services for Sacramento City Unified School District; and Jessica Bartholow, Director of Government Relations for SEIU California.

    BACKGROUND

    H.R. 1 passed the House of Representatives 215-214 in May. Every Democrat and two Republicans voted “No.” Now, it is under consideration in the Senate. Watch a recording of today’s forum here.

                                                    

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, BUDZINSKI LEAD LETTER TO PROTECT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUTS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led 15 lawmakers in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy urging him to protect funding for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grant Program. CCBHCs provide lifesaving care to millions of Americans; however, a leaked draft of President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget called for the elimination of their funding. 

    The members write, “Eliminating the CCBHC program would immediately disrupt these critical services, potentially leading to increased, more costly hospitalization rates and exacerbating homelessness. Such cuts would reverse the significant progress that has been made in ameliorating the opioid crisis and in building a more efficient and comprehensive mental health and substance use care system. These cuts would also put our most vulnerable populations, such as veterans and those in rural communities, at risk. 

    “From the start, CCBHCs have been a bipartisan effort. The clear evidence of CCBHCs’ effectiveness and related cost savings makes this a wise investment for our country.”

     CCBHCs offer a broad range of critical mental health and substance use care services to meet individuals’ needs in their community and include requirements to provide tailored community-based services for our veterans. 

    Today, more than 500 CCBHCs operate across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These centers provide comprehensive behavioral health care to over 3 million Americans annually. In the past year alone, CCBHCs hired 11,000 new staff positions, strengthening our country’s workforce.

     The letter is also signed by Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Danny Davis (IL-07), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), John Mannion (NY-22), and Nanette Barragán (CA-44). It is endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA). 

    The full text of the letter is HERE and below: 

    Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We write to express our strong opposition to the reported elimination of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grant program in President Trump’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget proposal. While the President’s recent “skinny budget” does not explicitly mention Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), it proposes severe cuts to behavioral health programs. Moreover, a leaked early draft of the budget from April reportedly called for eliminating the program entirely. Such an elimination would severely worsen the nation’s ongoing mental health and substance use crisis at a crucial moment when demand for these critical and lifesaving services is increasing. 

    Since FY 2018, the CCBHC Expansion Grant program has helped make the CCBHC model of care available to Americans by providing comprehensive and integrated behavioral health services to millions of children, families, and adults across our country. These centers offer a broad range of critical mental health and substance use care services to meet individuals’ needs in their community and include requirements to provide tailored community-based services for our veterans. CCBHCs offer comprehensive behavioral health services all at one location, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while adhering to rigorous federal criteria and utilizing evidence-based practices for high-quality care.

    Today, more than 500 CCBHCs operate across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and provide comprehensive behavioral health care to over 3 million Americans annually. In the past year alone, CCBHCs hired 11,000 new staff positions, strengthening our country’s workforce. 

    CCBHCs are also key to ameliorating chronic disease in our country. People with serious mental illness and substance use conditions experience disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease, and CCBHCs are designed to support improved coordination with and access to primary care. CCBHCs screen for weight/BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and other chronic disease indicators.

    Providing effective care in local communities has also helped to decrease the use of more costly levels of care. Studies have shown that people who receive care at a CCBHC experience a 55 percent reduction in hospitalization, a 31 percent reduction in homelessness, and a 60 percent reduction in time in jails. In fact, CCBHCs have been shown to provide savings for law enforcement due to their collaborative work with law enforcement agencies.

    Additionally, 87 percent of CCBHCs provide Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) directly, with the remainder of centers making this care available through partnerships with MOUD providers, which has been a significant tool in addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic and providing treatment that leads to long-term recovery. 

    Eliminating the CCBHC program would immediately disrupt these critical services, potentially leading to increased, more costly hospitalization rates and exacerbating homelessness. Such cuts would reverse the significant progress that has been made in ameliorating the opioid crisis and in building a more efficient and comprehensive mental health and substance use care system. These cuts would also put our most vulnerable populations, such as veterans and those in rural communities, at risk. 

    From the start, CCBHCs have been a bipartisan effort. The clear evidence of CCBHCs’ effectiveness and related cost savings makes this a wise investment for our country. We therefore urge the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure funding for CCBHCs is protected and can continue to provide critical and lifesaving care to millions of Americans.

    ## #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: THOMPSON HOSTS TOWN HALL AND HONORS 2025 STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL GRADUATES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

    Davis, CA – Saturday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry recognized the 2025 Student Leadership Council graduates at an end-of-year town hall and graduation ceremony hosted at the University of California, Davis. The event featured special guest speakers and a town hall hosted by Rep. Thompson. Graduates were able to ask questions and discuss any issues of importance to them and our community. Rep. Thompson then presented graduating students with certificates marking their achievement serving on the Council. Among the graduates were seven outstanding students from Lake County, sixteen from Napa County, eight from Solano County, five from Sonoma County and ten from Yolo County.

    “I’m inspired by the passion and drive of the students graduating from Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry’s and my 2024–2025 Student Leadership Council,” said Rep. Thompson. “This year’s students brought incredible energy and ideas to the table—from tackling the climate crisis to gun violence prevention to protecting our democracy. It was an honor to host a town hall with them and hear their thoughtful perspectives firsthand. To our 2025 graduating student leaders: Congratulations! I can’t wait to see all you accomplish for our community and our country.” 

    “I am incredibly proud of the collaboration with Congressman Thompson to give our future leaders an opportunity to experience the inner workings of government and learn how to become successful community members. Congratulations to all the students who are completing this program. I hope it has broadened their horizons and sparked their curiosity, inspiring them to dedicate their lives to improving their communities,” said Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry.

    Rep. Thompson and Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry’s Student Leadership Council is an exciting program that allows local students to work directly with their elected officials and staff to develop leadership skills, learn how government works, and engage with our community. The Council is open to all high school students who live in California’s Fourth Congressional District or California’s Fourth Assembly District. Selected students meet several times a month over the course of a semester. 

    Learn more about the Student Leadership Council here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: THOMPSON ANNOUNCES 2025 SERVICE ACADEMY APPOINTEES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA

    Rutherford, CA – Friday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced he nominated five local students who have since accepted offers to our nation’s military service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy. These prestigious appointments follow a highly competitive, months-long process led by Rep. Thompson’s office, which includes a comprehensive application, academic and personal evaluations, panel interviews, and final selection by the academies themselves.

    “Each year, it’s a privilege to support the remarkable young individuals from our district who are selected to attend our nation’s prestigious military service academies,” said Rep. Thompson. “These appointments are reserved for those who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, a strong commitment to community service, and excellence beyond the classroom. This year’s appointees have earned this honor through their hard work and dedication, and I extend my sincere congratulations to them on behalf of our entire district.”

    Each year, local candidates are interviewed for a nomination to our nation’s service academies. Those nominated then must be offered an appointment by the academies. Appointees from the Fourth Congressional District were honored at a ceremony at St. Supery Winery in Rutherford. Biographies for each student are included below.

    For the U.S. Military Academy at West Point:

    Christopher Palchak

    Davis, CA

    Christopher attends Jesuit High School in Sacramento and has been on honor roll for all semesters of high school. He holds a GPA of 4.5. He is on the Track and Field Throws Team and was both Junior Varsity and Varsity captain. He has volunteered with Davis Community Meals since 2021. He is a member of 4H, raised goats and swine, and is a member of the Yolo Sportsman’s Association rifle team. He is inspired by his siblings; his sister is a 2024 graduate and has 3 siblings currently at the United States Military Academy (USMA).

    Elliott Black-Holcroft

    Davis, CA

    Elliott currently attends Los Rios Community College and attended Davis Senior High School and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. He is enrolled in ROTC through CSU Sacramento. He was on the Varsity water polo team, and on the swimming team. He participated in the Davis Teen Leadership Council in 2023. He is inspired by his grandfather, a Vietnam Veteran and a professor at WestPoint.  

    For the U.S. Air Force Academy:

    John Paul Baker

    Woodland, CA

    John attends Davis Senior High School. He has been on the Varsity Track (2022 and 2023) and Football (2024) teams, as well as Junior Varsity Basketball team (2023). He holds a GPA of 4.0 and was a recipient of the National African American Recognition Award in August of 2023, and was accepted into the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and United States Military Academy (USMA) Summer Leadership Camp. He spends his time volunteering at his local soup kitchen, and volunteering with his church. His brother also graduated from the United States Naval Academy.

    Soren De Young 

    Napa, CA

    Soren attends Vintage High School. He is ranked 24th in his class of 400. He is inspired by a long history of family service dating to his great-grandfather who served in World War II. He is a triple-sport athlete, playing on his high school Baseball, Wrestling, and Cross-Country teams. He is involved with Boy Scouts of America, including community service through this organization. He has his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) student pilot license and is certified in CPR and First Aid.

    Blake Fuchslin

    Dixon, CA

    Blake attends Davis Senior High School. He holds a GPA of 4.6 and ranks in the Top 30 of 650 students. He played Varsity Water Polo and Swim and lettered all three years. He was awarded the President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence award and USA Water Polo’s Outstanding Academic All-American in 2022. He is involved with Davis Community Club and Davis Empower Youth, including community service through both.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aderholt Hosts Education Secretary McMahon, Calls for Return to Core Learning and End to Classroom Indoctrination

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, welcomed newly appointed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to testify on the Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.

    In his opening remarks, Congressman Aderholt commended Secretary McMahon for swiftly implementing President Trump’s bold education agenda, noting her strong start in reshaping federal education policy and reaffirming the Department’s commitment to restoring education to state and local control.

    “Secretary McMahon has wasted no time getting to work,” said Aderholt. “She understands that despite record levels of federal spending, student outcomes have declined, and it’s time to reassess our approach to education. I applaud her for hitting the ground running.”

    Aderholt addressed the alarming decline in student performance, citing data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicating that one-third of eighth graders read below the basic level. He emphasized the failure of increased federal spending to yield academic gains and reiterated his call for focusing on foundational skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics.

    “Students deserve better. More spending has only led to worse results,” Aderholt said. “It’s time we return the focus of our classrooms to core subjects rather than divisive social advocacy.”

    A key topic of the hearing was school choice, particularly the expansion of public charter schools. Aderholt pointed to Department data showing that charter school enrollment has more than doubled in the past decade while traditional public school enrollment has declined.

    He also discussed the Department’s efforts to address the ongoing crisis in the federal student loan system, which has left millions of borrowers in default or at risk of default.

    “The student loan program is in disarray, and Secretary McMahon has inherited a broken system,” said Aderholt. “I am hopeful that she can bring clarity and responsibility back to this vital area of higher education.”

    Congressman Aderholt also praised Secretary McMahon and the Department for reaffirming protections for students on college campuses and restoring the original intent of Title IX, ensuring equal opportunities for women and girls in sports.

    “Thank you to Secretary McMahon and President Trump for defending the rights of female athletes and ensuring our campuses are safe and welcoming environments for all students,” Aderholt added.

    The hearing marked Secretary McMahon’s first appearance before the Subcommittee since her confirmation and provided a forum for Congressional oversight of the Department’s spending and priorities under the new administration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Scanlon Announces Winners of 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

    Chester, PA – Congresswoman Scanlon (PA-05) today announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition following a reception on Sunday, April 27 to honor PA-05 high school art students. 

    Photos from this event are available here for media use.

    The Congressional Art Competition is an annual art competition open to students in grades 9 to 12 who reside in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. Participating students are offered the opportunity to showcase their talent by submitting original artwork for a district-wide competition. The winning artwork hangs in the U.S. Capitol complex for a full year.

    “Art is a powerful platform for self-expression and can be a moving source of hope and inspiration,” said Rep. Scanlon. “It reflects our personal, cultural and social perspectives as well as its impact on our well-being. This is why each year I look forward to having this opportunity to view our community through the eyes of our student constituents.”

    A team of volunteer judges comprised of local artists and art educators scored submissions for originality, craftsmanship, use of elements of art, and use of principles of design in 9 categories: painting, black and white drawings, color drawings, collages, printmaking, mixed media, computer-generated art, black and white photography, and color photography.

    This year’s best in show was awarded to Jayasri Prasad from Garnet Valley High School for her black and white drawing titled “Air Dry”.

    Additional category winners are as follows:

    Painting:

    • First place: Ziman Zou, Strath Haven High School
    • Second place (tie): Coco Conner, Radnor High School and Devon Ferkler, Springfield High School
    • Third place (tie): Eva Kahlert, Upper Darby High School and Ava Emery, Garnet Valley High School

    Drawings, Black and White:

    • First place: Jayasri Prasad, Garnet Valley High School
    • Second place (tie): Dayton German, Sun Valley High School and Carolin Chen, Springfield High School
    • Third place: Chloe Lau, Radnor High School

    Drawings, Color:

    • First place: Juliana Dreyer, Garnet Valley High School
    • Second place: Cindy Yang, Radnor High School
    • Third place: Abigail Kotch, Garnet Valley High School

    Collages:

    • First place: Aashritha Sama, Garnet Valley High School
    • Second place: Grant Wessel, Sun Valley High School
    • Third place: Zakiyah Sanyeneh, Sun Valley High School

    Prints:

    • First place: Theo Tempesta, Garnet Valley High School
    • Second place: Amvi Vyas, Garnet Valley High School
    • Third: Ella Barry, Garnet Valley High School

    Mixed Media:

    • First place: Madeson Gilbert, Springfield High School
    • Second place: Ella DiBonaventura, Strath Haven High School
    • Third place: MacKenzie Cameron, Springfield High School

    Computer Generated Art:

    • First place: Evan Brooks, Garnet Valley High School
    • Second place: Sarah Bagonis, Strath Haven High School
    • Third place: Mira Caplan, Radnor High School

    Color Photography:

    • First place: Laila Roe, Strath Haven High School
    • Second place (tie): Ming Cerdan, Strath Haven High School and Mikayla Leary, Sun Valley High School
    • Third Place: Emma Ross, Strath Haven High School

    Black and White Photography:

    • First place: Alyssa Iorio, Springfield High School
    • Second place: Dalina Thach, Sun Valley High School
    • Third place (tie): Orli Schoff, Strath Haven High School; Nolan Spivey, Springfield High School; and Isaac “Cheetah” Lothrop, Strath Haven High School

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scanlon Leads House Colleagues In Condemning Diversion of Postal Police Resources to Support DHS Deportation Efforts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

    Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) today led 43 House colleagues in condemning the diversion of U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) resources to assist aggressive deportation efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    The USPIS is the federal law enforcement arm of the USPS, tasked with supporting and protecting the USPS, its employees, infrastructure, and customers by enforcing the laws that defend the United States’ mail system from illegal or dangerous use. The USPIS’ core functions include fighting mail fraud, assaults on postal workers, and the use of the mail system for drug distribution. Reallocation of USPIS’ time and resources to supplement DHS’s operations will severely impact the primary responsibilities of the USPIS.

    The USPIS came to the public’s attention during the first Trump administration when it arrested Trump advisor Steve Bannon for mail fraud. A few months later, that administration restricted USPIS’ law enforcement powers. 

    “In recent years, chronic underfunding and politicization of USPS functions have seriously restricted the activities of the Inspection Service. The USPIS has cut back on staff and jurisdiction, even as crime against mail carriers is on the rise – having the USPIS take on additional tasks at this time drastically limits their ability to protect their own employees,” the members wrote.

    “Using the U.S. Postal Service requires people to share address data, credit card numbers, IP addresses, and other critical financial information that could result in real harm if made public. Millions of Americans depend on the reliability and privacy of the USPS to receive personal items such as tax documents, medication, and mail-in ballots. It is deeply concerning that immigration enforcement agencies have access to the USPS’s sensitive data systems, and the use of the USPS to facilitate deportations raises serious constitutional and civil liberties concerns. The U.S. Postal Service should not be operating as a surveillance arm of federal immigration enforcement,” the members continued.

    Amidst ongoing threats to disband the USPS Board of Governors, fire thousands of USPS employees, and fold the USPS into the Department of Commerce, this reportedly placed pressure on the Inspection Service to abandon its primary responsibilities in favor of assisting the administration’s mass deportation agenda. Despite their objections, the Inspection Service is being forced to participate in order to avoid the same fate as other critical agencies, such as the Department of Education or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

    “As Members of Congress, we demand that you terminate any general access by the Department of Homeland Security or any immigration enforcement agency to USPS’s broad data systems. We also ask for a commitment from your administration to refrain from any further actions to undermine the Postal Service’s critical role as an independent, depoliticized agency of the federal government. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your swift response,” the members concluded.

    Find the full letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 2, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 2, 2025.

    Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael L. Brown, Director of the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University vchal/shutterstock, The Conversation Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity’s companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking

    As the NRL edges into Darwin, does the AFL need to be more proactive in the NT?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney The Northern Territory government recently announced the Dolphins, the NRL’s newest team that entered the league in 2023, would play a home game at TIO Stadium in Darwin every year from 2026 to 2028. The Dolphins

    What is populism?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Moffitt, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Monash University In 2017, in the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump’s first election win, populism was named the “word of the year” by Cambridge University Press. Almost a decade later, we might have thought the term’s popularity

    Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna-Karina Hermkens, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Anthropology, Macquarie University Bougainville, an autonomous archipelago currently part of Papua New Guinea, is determined to become the world’s newest country. To support this process, it’s offering foreign investors access to a long-shuttered copper and gold mine. Formerly owned by the

    Australia’s plan to protect its trade in war is flawed. We can’t do it with nuclear submarines
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Palazzo, Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney If war breaks out someday between the United States and China, one of the major concerns for Australia is the impact on its trade. Our trade routes are long and

    Three years after the Jenkins report, there is still work to be done on improving parliament culture
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Maley, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University Three and a half years ago, then-sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins’ Set the Standard report was handed to federal parliament, commissioned after Brittany Higgins’ allegations of sexual assault in Parliament House, which

    Police aren’t properly trained for mental health crises – but they’re often the first responders. Here’s what works better
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panos Karanikolas, Research officer, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, The University of Melbourne Rosie Marinelli/Shutterstock In an emergency, police are often the first called to the scene. But they are rarely equipped to deal with complex mental health crises. Following recent parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions there has

    These 5 roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaime Comber, Senior Research Consultant in Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney Westend61, GettyImages We all want homes that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer, without breaking the bank. However, Australian homes built before 2003 have a low average energy rating of 1.8 stars

    With interest rates on the way down, could house prices boom? Here’s what research suggests
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Jenny Evans/Stringer/Getty With the Reserve Bank of Australia easing monetary policy, interest rates are on the way down. Already this year, mortgage pre-approvals had begun to rise, suggesting many aspiring home buyers are excited by the prospect of

    Scandalous mormons, dystopian Buenos Aires and Nicolas Cage down under: what to watch in June
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudia Sandberg, Senior Lecturer, Technology in Culture and Society, The University of Melbourne As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you. This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos

    How Israel manufactured a looting crisis to cover up its Gaza famine
    By Muhammad Shehada Since the onset of its genocide, Israel has persistently pushed a narrative that the famine devastating Gaza is not of its own making, but the result of “Hamas looting aid”. This claim, repeated across mainstream media and parroted by officials, has been used to deflect responsibility for what many human rights experts

    PNG faces deadline for fixing issues with money laundering and terrorist financing
    ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea has five months remaining to fix its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) systems or face the severe repercussions of being placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list”. The FATF has imposed an October 2025 deadline, and the government is scrambling

    Phil Goff: Israel doesn’t care how many innocent people, children it’s killing
    COMMENTARY: By Phil Goff “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy — knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.” This statement was made not by a foreign or liberal critic of Israel but by the former Prime Minister

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is there a right way to talk to your baby? A baby brain expert explains ‘parentese’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Herbert, Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology, University of Wollongong

    2p2play/Shutterstock

    You might have seen those heartwarming and often funny viral videos where parents or carers engage in long “talks” with young babies about this and that – usually just fun chit chat of no great consequence.

    They’re often very sweet, and it’s lovely to see the babies’ faces lighting up at the sound of their mother or carer’s voice, or seeming to talk back. In one, the baby appears to reply in an accent strikingly similar to their carer’s:

    So, what’s going on when we chat like this to babies? And is it better to chat to them in the tone and pace we’d use when talking to other adults, or is it OK to talk in a slower, higher pitched, sing-song voice?

    Here’s what the research shows so far.

    Talking to your baby matters

    When you speak with your baby, they are exposed to a rich tapestry of sounds and movements. Can babies make sense of all this input?

    Well, by the time they’re born babies are already highly experienced with their mother’s voice as well as other language sounds they’ve heard while in utero.

    In fact, research shows newborns prefer listening to the language they heard in utero rather than an unfamiliar language.

    They also prefer to hear the story their mother read aloud regularly in the final weeks of pregnancy, compared to a different story – regardless of who is reading it.

    So, although newborns are yet to understand the meaning of these words, they are already tuned in to the importance of language.

    Given the vast exposure that most young babies have with their parent’s voice, passively listening to mum or dad talking is likely to be comforting.

    Time spent together in close physical contact with a highly familiar person producing familiar sounds creates a safe, secure space rich in learning opportunities.

    Babies can learn a lot about conversational style from just listening to and watching the way their parent communicates.

    In fact, babies mimic their parents’ gestures, which can help build their vocabulary over time. The social context influences language skills.

    Time spent in close physical contact with a familiar person producing familiar sounds creates a safe learning space for baby.
    Photo by Josh Willink/Pexels

    What if I run out of things to say?

    If you’re not a fan of monologuing to your baby, don’t worry. They’re not missing out.

    In fact, constant exposure to long monologues by a parent is unlikely to provide the baby with a particularly supportive language environment for developing their understanding or production of words.

    Adult language is extremely complex. It takes a lot of experience with language before a string of sounds like “Yourdadlikeschocolatemoltenlavacake” can be interpreted as individual words linked to people, objects, or concepts.

    One of the most effective ways to support early word recognition and promote attention to the structure of language is for the adult to use a simplified way of speaking to the baby.

    “Parentese” is characterised by the use of higher pitch sounds, elongated vowels, and a slower pace of speaking. Real words are presented in a sing-song, happy voice.

    Parentese draws the baby’s attention to words, and highlights how information in speech chunks together. Babies have been found to prefer to listen to this style of speaking compared to standard speech.

    Time spent talking together in face-to-face interactions best supports language development.
    Tomsickova Tatyana/Shutterstock

    Speaking ‘parentese’

    Parentese is not the same thing as “baby talk”. Baby talk involves the use of nonsense words, and the modelling of incorrect speech sounds and grammar. A baby is not being supported to learn the word “water” if they are repeatedly presented with a nonsense label like “waa waa” for their drink.

    One US study found that when parents were trained to use parentese with their infants at six and ten months, the infants showed an increase in babbling and said more words at 14 months, compared to infants of parents who did not receive this training.

    Other research has shown consistent use of parentese in the early years can help build the complexity of children’s language skills at five years of age.

    Learning to talk is not simply the product of hearing lots of words. In the first weeks of life, infants are already beginning to produce coos and murmurs that both parents and outside observers judge to be intentional vocalisations.

    Try responding to these sounds by imitating them and then interpreting what your baby might be trying to say. This enables them to take a turn as a social partner in the conservation.

    When even very young babies take turns in conversations with an adult, the quality of their vocalisations increases.

    At the youngest ages, time spent talking together in face-to-face interactions best supports language development.

    With age, babies become increasingly interested in the objects in their environment.

    Try responding to your baby’s sounds by imitating them and interpreting what they might be trying to say.
    Halfpoint/Shutterstock

    So, what should I do?

    An effective way to boost language learning from about nine months of age is to notice what’s captured your baby’s attention and talk about that.

    Try labelling and describing what your baby is looking at, playing with, pointing at, or babbling towards.

    Research by colleagues and I found encouraging parents to engage in 15 minutes of this kind of talk a day with their 11-month-olds for a month was effective in promoting vocabulary growth at 15 and 18 months.

    Overall, a rich language environment is created by engaging with your baby in a wide range of activities – via games, songs, and reading aloud – not just having focused conversations.

    Jane Herbert has received funding for these projects: 2012-15: Does promoting parents’ engagement with their infants benefit language development?” Nuffield Foundation (approx. £200,000). D Matthews (PI, University of Sheffield), JS Herbert (University of Sheffield), and J Pine (University of Liverpool). 2011-12: Does promoting parents’ engagement with their infants benefit language development? British Academy Small Research Grant (£7,500). Co-PIs: D Matthews (University of Sheffield), JS Herbert (University of Sheffield), and J Pine (University of Liverpool).

    – ref. Is there a right way to talk to your baby? A baby brain expert explains ‘parentese’ – https://theconversation.com/is-there-a-right-way-to-talk-to-your-baby-a-baby-brain-expert-explains-parentese-257007

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Bradfield, the election is not yet over. What happens when a seat count is ultra close?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Orr, Professor of Law, The University of Queensland

    Election day was over four weeks ago. Yet the outcome in one House of Representatives remains unclear. That is the formerly Liberal Sydney electorate of Bradfield.

    In real time, you can watch the lead tilt between Liberal hopeful, Gisele Kapterian and her teal independent rival, Nicolette Boele. The difference between them has been as small as one vote. As of Monday, that had shifted to 12 votes in the Teal’s favour. Still too close even for Antony Green to call.

    What are the processes for resolving ultra-marginal results? And, more broadly, what accountability is there for problems in campaigning or the running of the election, such as the allegation that voters in one NSW town were misled about how to vote?

    First, to the Bradfield saga. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has until July 9 to declare the result. It then certifies a list of successful candidates, which it “returns”, attached to the original writ the governor-general used to formally begin the election.

    Electoral challenges

    Within 40 days of the writ being returned, any candidate or elector from the seat can “petition” its result. That’s not a petition calling for parliament to handle the matter. It means a formal pleading to the Court of Disputed Returns. For national elections, that means the High Court.

    Remarkably few seats are challenged in Australia. On the happy side, this is because our election agencies are very professional. It’s also a matter of legal principle, arithmetic and resources.

    To succeed in a challenge, you must show the outcome was likely to have been affected, by errors or breaches of the electoral act. With more than 100,000 voting in House of Representatives electorates, even a 0.5% margin means convincing a judge that a 500-vote lead was uncertain.

    The last successful petition nationally was 12 years ago. The AEC admitted some lost ballots meant that the last couple of Western Australian Senate seats could have been different. The whole race had to be re-run.

    In Bradfield, there’s no suggestion of impropriety. So it’s not like the last unsuccessful petition, from 2019, where the Liberals survived claims that misleading how-to-vote posters, directed at Chinese language speakers, might have affected the result.

    Instead, the Bradfield loser would focus on disputed ballots. That would mean, for example, votes where their scrutineers noted some uncertainty. Such as whether a “1” was a “7”. A judge can then give a binding ruling on the intent of the ballot.

    The loser might also try to find evidence of people being wrongly denied a ballot or wrongly issued one. The 40-day period to marshal evidence is strict.

    Besides time limits, a challenger needs lawyers and risks paying the other side’s (and perhaps the AEC’s) legal costs if they lose the hearing.

    Counts and recounts

    Australian election counts are very thorough. This is in contrast to the United Kingdom, where local officials literally rush to be the first to declare, in the wee hours of Friday morning after voting closes at 10pm on a Thursday.

    The figures we see on election night are “indicative” only, drawing on counts in thousands of polling places. Every ballot is transferred to a more central location, for official tallying. Ballots for weaker candidates are reviewed multiple times, as they pass on according to each elector’s preferences.

    When a seat is ultra-close, the law permits a complete recount. AEC policy is to conduct one whenever the result is within 100 votes: in Bradfield, the initial result was a mere eight votes.

    A losing candidate can also request a recount. Teal independent Zoe Daniel did that in her Melbourne seat of Goldstein, where Liberal Tim Wilson finished 260 votes ahead.

    Recounts are resource intensive. So the AEC agreed to review all “1” votes for those candidates, and ballots put in the “informal” or invalid pile. Wilson finally won by 175 votes. A challenge to a margin of that size seems very unlikely.

    Bad form or protest? Informal votes

    What of votes that couldn’t be counted? We call these “informal”. Given turning-out to vote is compulsory – and the requirement to give preferences – Australia has long had a lot of informal ballots.

    Upwards of half tend to be accidental, caused by people misnumbering the ballot or not understanding the rules. The highest rates are in seats with many new citizens from overseas, especially as long ballots of many of candidates is becoming common.

    Votes that cannot be counted are called ‘informal’, and can be a source of dispute in a seat count.
    Shutterstock

    Maybe more than half, however, are deliberate, intended as protests against the system or parties. These include blanks and those scribbled with (sometimes obscene) comments. As faith in parties has declined, informals have risen. Also, due to “automatic enrolment”, more people are enrolled than ever, including some who’d rather not be. Informal ballots this year reached 5.6% of turnout. For perspective, that’s up just 0.4%.

    Voters in the small town of Missabotti in the New South wales seat of Cowper, however, were miffed to find their polling booth had a 45% informal rate. That’s quite an outlier, even for a seat where electors had to rank a dizzying 11 candidates.

    There are allegations a polling official misled some electors, by telling them they only had to number “6” candidates for the House. That is the rule for the Senate, not the House.

    As preferences are not mandatory at NSW state elections, it’s understandable voters may have heeded such advice rather than the actual rule on the ballot. Such an error would be embarrassing for the AEC. But it could hardly ground an election challenge: the Nationals held Cowper by almost 5,500 votes.

    Does that mean there’s no accountability? Anyone affected does not get to vote again. But the AEC is investigating. And after every election, it is grilled by a parliamentary inquiry that the public can contribute to.

    In the end, every vote should be sacred. In reality, elections are huge logistical events and nothing is perfect. But there are courts and inquiries to offer remedies and improve things for the future.

    Graeme Orr 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. In Bradfield, the election is not yet over. What happens when a seat count is ultra close? – https://theconversation.com/in-bradfield-the-election-is-not-yet-over-what-happens-when-a-seat-count-is-ultra-close-257956

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Scandalous mormons, dystopian Buenos Aires and Nicolas Cage down under: what to watch in June

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Claudia Sandberg, Senior Lecturer, Technology in Culture and Society, The University of Melbourne

    As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you.

    This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos Aires, to a witty, awkward cyborg hero. Reality TV also gets a scandalous twist with the return of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And Deaf President Now! delivers a powerful documentary on a historical milestone for Deaf rights.

    There’s something for every kind of viewer — and every kind of mood.

    The Eternaut

    Netflix

    Argentine sci-fi The Eternaut opens with a group of old friends in Buenos Aires meeting to play the card game truco on a hot summer night – when things suddenly get eerie.

    The power goes out and a poisonous snowfall starts to blanket the city, killing thousands of people instantly. The survivors must get answers, quickly, as they start to grasp the true strength of their invisible enemy.

    Based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s 1950s comic of the same name, The Eternaut portrays apocalypse through a deeply local and political lens – and in doing so has struck a chord in Argentina.

    Directed by Bruno Stagnaro and led by Argentine film icon Ricardo Darín, as protagonist Juan Salvo, the series emphasises the power of collective heroism, and subtly critiques the current government’s uncompromising neoliberal approach.

    It also pulses with national pride. Buenos Aires is not glamorized; real neighbourhoods are shown as classic Argentine tango, rock and folk plays in the background. Most importantly, Argentine identity is celebrated through themes of community spirit, grassroots resistance, and ingenuity in times of crisis.

    The Eternaut feels both timely and timeless. Its slogan, “no one survives alone,” resonates for a country that has been long marked by both trauma and resistance efforts.

    Its emotional weight is further deepened by Oesterheld’s legacy, including the tragic disappearance of him and his family members under the military rule of the 1970s.

    With a second season on the way, this series is a powerful ode to Argentina.

    – Claudia Sandberg



    Read more:
    Why Netflix’s The Eternaut is one of the most important shows to come out of Argentina in recent years

    Murderbot

    Apple TV+

    Murderbot, Apple’s adaptation of Martha Wells’ science-fiction novella, All Systems Red (2017) is a satisfying combination of action, sci-fi and comedy. The show centres on a security unit (SecUnit) – an indentured private security cyborg – who secretly cracks the programming of its governing chip, granting itself autonomy.

    Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård), as it dubs itself, is both horrified and fascinated by humans. It’s far more afraid of eye contact, emotions and direct conversation than any physical danger. It’s also obsessed with mainlining media, particularly the ridiculous soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.

    Murderbot is hired, reluctantly, by some hippy scientists from a group of “freehold” planets – ones that exist outside the Corporation Rim – to act as protection on a scientific expedition. It goes quickly awry.

    Wells’ award-winning novella, the first in an equally good series, limits us to the first-person perspective of the sarcastic cyborg. The series expands this frame beautifully, building on the source material’s dry humour to create a world that is both goofy and grounded.

    And while there are serious themes at play, such as the way SecUnits are effectively enslaved, and the violent capitalist dominance of the Corporation Rim, the show is not heavy. Skarsgård offers a pitch-perfect performance of the awkward, anxious robot – its eyes flickering in horror as the scientists try to befriend it.

    The opening minutes of the first episode are clumsy and on-the-nose, but ignore them. This otherwise well-designed and well-directed show cracks along with brisk, highly-entertaining 22-minute episodes.

    – Erin Harrington

    The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, season two

    Disney+

    Season one of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had us hooked at the end of 2024. Now, the women have returned for an explosive 10-episode second season.

    The reality series follows a group of Mormon women living in Utah. While the title may have you anticipating stories of faith and motherhood, the show is more focused on the personal lives of Mormon mothers who rose to TikTok fame due to scandal and infamy.

    Season one saw the women grapple with balancing traditional Mormon values with their online lives and subsequent businesses (along with the fallout from a “soft-swinging scandal”). Season two further highlights infidelity, jealously and money.

    Old characters are brought back, with finger-pointing ex-husbands and former alienated friends adding to the fray. Police are called, insults are thrown and many of the women delve deeper into their pasts.

    The show flips flops between difficult moments such as processing the death of loved ones and difficult pregnancies, with parties and poorly executed party games. At one point the women play pregnancy roulette (a game no one should recommend), and take pregnancy tests which are anonymously read out to the group. Chaos ensues.

    And after watching, you can search for the TikTok accounts of the stars and watch new drama unfold in real-time – or watch them “correct” and expand on past situations based on their own perspectives – far removed from show’s editors.

    – Edith Jennifer Hill

    Deaf President Now!

    Apple TV+

    Deaf President Now! is a stirring documentary about an iconic student uprising at Gallaudet University, the world’s only Deaf university, in 1988. The film chronicles how Deaf students – tired of being led by hearing leadership – decided to take things in their own hands come the 1988 Gallaudet presidential election.

    With two of the three candidates being Deaf, the appointment of Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing candidate unfamiliar with Deaf culture, sparked outrage. Fuelled by decades of marginalisation, the students barricaded campus gates, burned effigies of Zinser and marched to the Capitol, calling for Deaf leadership in Deaf spaces.

    It worked. The protest forced Zinser’s resignation and ushered in Irving King Jordan, Gallaudet’s first Deaf president.

    The film juxtaposes historic footage with present-day interviews with key leaders of the movement, allowing them to tell their stories their own way. These reflections, delivered in American Sign Language (ASL), underscore how storytelling itself can become an act of resistance for Deaf people.

    At the same time, the documentary wrestles with a paradox. Co-directed by Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco and hearing filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, the film exemplifies how Deaf storytelling still often has hearing involvement, especially when the story is packaged for a mainstream audience.

    Nevertheless, the release of Deaf President Now! couldn’t have been more timely. With disability rights in the United States threatened under Trump, the film is a call to action. It reminds us Deaf culture isn’t just about language: it’s about Pride, self-determination and visibility.

    – Gemma King, Samuel Martin and Sofya Gollan



    Read more:
    Deaf President Now! traces the powerful uprising that led to Deaf rights in the US – now again under threat

    The Surfer

    Stan, from June 15

    In Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer, our unnamed protagonist (Nicolas Cage) is returning to his former Australian home from the United States. He is newly divorced, and trying to buy a beachside property to win back his family.

    He takes his teenage son (Finn Little) for a surf near the property, but they are run off by an unfriendly pack of locals.

    Returning alone to the beachside car park to make some calls, he is besieged there by the same gang, and this continues over the next several days. The gang is led by a terrifying middle-aged Andrew Tate-esque influencer, Scally (Julian McMahon), who runs the beach like a combination of a frat bro party and wellness retreat.

    It is impossible to think of an actor other than Cage who could make a character like this so enjoyable to watch. Cage’s distinctively American confidence has no resistance to the terrifying switches of Australian masculinity from friendly to teasing to violent.

    The Surfer is an absolute blast. A lot of the fun is in anticipating each dreadful humiliation – and it somehow turning out worse than you could have expected.

    The Surfer beautifully captures the natural surroundings, stunning views and shimmering heat of Australian coastal summer. At the same time, a confined, semi-urban feature like a beachside car park feels bleak and uninviting.

    As a film setting, it is both a spectacular wide-open vista and stiflingly claustrophobic – a perfect mechanism for The Surfer’s psychological horror.

    – Grace Russell



    Read more:
    Dishevelled, dehydrated delirium: new Aussie film The Surfer, starring Nicolas Cage, is an absolute blast

    Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story

    Netflix

    The story of serial killers, Fred and Rose West, has been highly narrativised since their shocking crimes were discovered in Gloucester in 1994. The horror of the Wests lies in the juxtaposition of their seemingly ordinary suburban family and what was hidden beneath the foundations of their home.

    Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story takes us back to the moment of that revelation via previously unheard interview tapes and recordings of the property search – and of Rose while she was kept in a safe house. Family home videos add to the disturbing sense of the couple’s duplicity.

    Interviews with the family of some of the victims emphasise the ongoing pain caused by the Wests, who preyed on vulnerable young women. Meanwhile, Fred’s interviews reinforce his determination to protect his wife: “I trained Rose to do what I wanted. That is why our marriage worked out so well.”

    Many details of the Wests’ true horror, however, are absent: the incredible torture suffered by the victims; Fred and Rose’s own childhoods of abuse and Fred’s earlier assault of young girls, including his own sister; and any reference to the couple’s surviving children and the extraordinary abuse they suffered.

    The horror of this new documentary is present in the couple’s habitual lies, their casual attitude to violence and murder, and their refusal to take responsibility for their many crimes. Yet it only scratches the surface of the Wests’ true horror story.

    – Jessica Gildersleeve

    The Four Seasons

    Netflix

    The Four Seasons follows three 50-something affluent couples as they holiday together over the course of a year.

    Friends since college, the group’s easy camaraderie is upended by Nick’s (Steve Carroll) bombshell decision to leave his seemingly unsuspecting wife, Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), after 25 years of marriage. The announcement sends shockwaves through the other couples, testing their own relationships.

    Adapted from Alan Alda’s bittersweet 1981 comedy of the same name, the series preserves the film’s narrative conceit, unfolding over four seasonal mini trips. Episode one opens in full spring at Nick and Anne’s bucolic lake house.

    Given the luxury on display, you’d be forgiven for mistaking The Four Seasons as another entry in the “rich-people-behaving-badly” genre. But while there’s plenty of quips and snarky humour, what unfolds is ultimately much kinder – less a scathing indictment of wealth and more a gentle exploration of the banalities of love and middle age.

    The show’s creators make the most of the expanded running time to humanise the sextet. The open marriage between gregarious Italian Claude (Marco Calvini) and husband Danny (a marvellous Colman Domingo) updates the source material without sliding into tokenism or homonormativity.

    The prickly Type-A Kate (Tina Fey) and peacekeeper Jack (Will Forte) provide the series’ beating heart, in a relationship that feels lived-in and familiar.

    Despite its focus on ageing, loss, mortality and grief, The Four Seasons offers comfort viewing at its finest, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a loved one who’s known you for decades.

    – Rachel Williamson

    Gemma King receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Claudia Sandberg, Edith Jennifer Hill, Erin Harrington, Grace Russell, Jessica Gildersleeve, Rachel Williamson, Samuel Martin, and Sofya Gollan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Scandalous mormons, dystopian Buenos Aires and Nicolas Cage down under: what to watch in June – https://theconversation.com/scandalous-mormons-dystopian-buenos-aires-and-nicolas-cage-down-under-what-to-watch-in-june-257549

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rachael L. Brown, Director of the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University

    vchal/shutterstock, The Conversation

    Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity’s companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking invertebrate. It is sleek, glass-fronted and addictive by design. Its host? Every human on Earth with a wifi signal.

    Far from being benign tools, smartphones parasitise our time, our attention and our personal information, all in the interests of technology companies and their advertisers.

    In a new article in the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, we argue smartphones pose unique societal risks, which come into sharp focus when viewed through the lens of parasitism.

    What, exactly, is a parasite?

    Evolutionary biologists define a parasite as a species that benefits from a close relationship with another species – its host – while the host bears a cost.

    The head louse, for example, is entirely dependent on our own species for its survival. They only eat human blood, and if they become dislodged from their host, they survive only briefly unless they are fortunate enough to fall onto another human scalp. In return for our blood, head lice give us nothing but a nasty itch; that’s the cost.

    Smartphones have radically changed our lives. From navigating cities to managing chronic health diseases such as diabetes, these pocket-sized bits of tech make our lives easier. So much so that most of us are rarely without them.

    Yet, despite their benefits, many of us are hostage to our phones and slaves to the endless scroll, unable to fully disconnect. Phone users are paying the price with a lack of sleep, weaker offline relationships and mood disorders.

    From mutualism to parasitism

    Not all close species relationships are parasitic. Many organisms that live on or inside us are beneficial.

    Consider the bacteria in the digestive tracts of animals. They can only survive and reproduce in the gut of their host species, feeding on nutrients passing through. But they provide benefits to the host, including improved immunity and better digestion. These win-win associations are called mutualisms.

    The human-smartphone association began as a mutualism. The technology proved useful to humans for staying in touch, navigating via maps and finding useful information.

    Philosophers have spoken of this not in terms of mutualism, but rather as phones being an extension of the human mind, like notebooks, maps and other tools.

    From these benign origins, however, we argue the relationship has become parasitic. Such a change is not uncommon in nature; a mutualist can evolve to become a parasite, or vice versa.

    Smartphones as parasites

    As smartphones have become near-indispensible, some of the most popular apps they offer have come to serve the interests of the app-making companies and their advertisers more faithfully than those of their human users.

    These apps are designed to nudge our behaviour to keep us scrolling, clicking on advertising and simmering in perpetual outrage.

    The data on our scrolling behaviour is used to further that exploitation. Your phone only cares about your personal fitness goals or desire to spend more quality time with your kids to the extent that it uses this information to tailor itself to better capture your attention.

    So, it can be useful to think of users and their phones as akin to hosts and their parasites – at least some of the time.

    While this realisation is interesting in and of itself, the benefit of viewing smartphones through the evolutionary lens of parasitism comes into its own when considering where the relationship might head next – and how we could thwart these high-tech parasites.

    A bluestreak cleaner wrasse at work cleaning the mouth of a goatfish.
    Wayne and Pam Osborn/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC

    Where policing comes in

    On the Great Barrier Reef, bluestreak cleaner wrasse establish “cleaning stations” where larger fish allow the wrasse to feed on dead skin, loose scales and invertebrate parasites living in their gills. This relationship is a classic mutualism – the larger fish lose costly parasites and the cleaner wrasse get fed.

    Sometimes the cleaner wrasse “cheat” and nip their hosts, tipping the scale from mutualism to parasitism. The fish being cleaned may punish offenders by chasing them away or withholding further visits. In this, the reef fish exhibit something evolutionary biologists see as important to keeping mutualisms in balance: policing.

    Could we adequately police our exploitation by smartphones and restore a net-beneficial relationship?

    Evolution shows that two things are key: an ability to detect exploitation when it occurs, and the capacity to respond (typically by withdrawing service to the parasite).

    A difficult battle

    In the case of the smartphone, we can’t easily detect the exploitation. Tech companies that design the various features and algorithms to keep you picking up your phone aren’t advertising this behaviour.

    But even if you’re aware of the exploitative nature of smartphone apps, responding is also more difficult than simply putting the phone down.

    Many of us have become reliant on smartphones for everyday tasks. Rather than remembering facts, we offload the task to digital devices – for some people, this can change their cognition and memory.

    We depend on having a camera for capturing life events or even just recording where we parked the car. This both enhances and limits our memory of events.

    Governments and companies have only further cemented our dependence on our phones, by moving their service delivery online via mobile apps. Once we pick up the phone to access our bank accounts or access government services, we’ve lost the battle.

    How then can users redress the imbalanced relationship with their phones, turning the parasitic relationship back to a mutualistic one?

    Our analysis suggests individual choice can’t reliably get users there. We are individually outgunned by the massive information advantage tech companies hold in the host-parasite arms race.

    The Australian government’s under-age social media ban is an example of the kind of collective action required to limit what these parasites can legally do. To win the battle, we will also need restrictions on app features known to be addictive, and on the collection and sale of our personal data.

    Rob Brooks receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Rachael L. Brown 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. Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution – https://theconversation.com/your-smartphone-is-a-parasite-according-to-evolution-256795

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Anna-Karina Hermkens, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Anthropology, Macquarie University

    Bougainville, an autonomous archipelago currently part of Papua New Guinea, is determined to become the world’s newest country.

    To support this process, it’s offering foreign investors access to a long-shuttered copper and gold mine. Formerly owned by the Australian company Rio Tinto, the Panguna mine caused displacement and severe environmental damage when it operated between 1972 and 1989.

    It also sparked a decade-long civil war from 1988 to 1998 that killed an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 civilians and caused enduring traumas and divisions.

    Industry players believe 5.3 million tonnes of copper and 547 tonnes of gold remain at the site. This is attracting foreign interest, including from China.

    Australia views Bougainville as strategically important to “inner security arc”. The main island is about 1,500 kilometres from Queensland’s Port Douglas.

    Given this, the possibility of China’s increasing presence in Bougainville raises concerns about shifting allegiances and the potential for Beijing to exert greater influence over the region.

    Australia’s tangled history in Bougainville

    Bougainville is a small island group in the South Pacific with a population of about 300,000. It consists of two main islands: Buka in the north and Bougainville Island in the south.

    Bougainville has a long history of unwanted interference from outsiders, including missionaries, plantation owners and colonial administrations (German, British, Japanese and Australian).

    Two weeks before Papua New Guinea received its independence from Australia in 1975, Bougainvilleans sought to split away, unilaterally declaring their own independence. This declaration was ignored in both Canberra and Port Moresby, but Bougainville was given a certain degree of autonomy to remain within the new nation of PNG.

    The opening of the Panguna mine in the 1970s further fractured relations between Australia and Bougainville. Landowners opposed the environmental degradation and limited revenues they received from the mine. The influx of foreign workers from Australia, PNG and China also led to resentment. Violent resistance grew, eventually halting mining operations and expelling almost all foreigners.

    Under the leadership of Francis Ona, the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) fought a long civil war to restore Bougainville to Me’ekamui, or the “Holy Land” it once was.

    Australia supported the PNG government’s efforts to quell the uprising with military equipment, including weapons and helicopters.

    After the war ended, Australia helped broker the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001. Although aid programs have since begun to heal the rift between Australia and Bougainville, many Bougainvilleans feel Canberra continues to favour PNG’s territorial integrity.

    In 2019, Bougainvilleans voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum. Australia’s response, however, was ambiguous.

    Despite a slow and frustrating ratification process, Bougainvilleans remain adamant they will become independent by 2027.

    As Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama, a former BRA commander, told me in 2024:

    We are moving forward. And it’s the people’s vision: independence. I’m saying, no earlier than 2025, no later than 2027. My benchmark is 2026, the first of September. I will declare. No matter what happens. I will declare independence on our republican constitution.

    Major issues to overcome

    Bougainville leaders see the reopening of Panguna mine as key to financing independence. Bougainville Copper Limited, the Rio Tinto subsidiary that once operated the mine, backs this assessment.

    The Bougainville Autonomous Government has built its own gold refinery and hopes to create its own sovereign wealth fund to support independence. The mine would generate much-needed revenue, infrastructure and jobs for the new nation.

    But reopening the mine would also require addressing the ongoing environmental and social issues it has caused. These include polluted rivers and water sources, landslides, flooding, chemical waste hazards, the loss of food security, displacement, and damage to sacred sites.

    Many of these issues have been exacerbated by years of small-scale alluvial mining by Bougainvilleans themselves, eroding the main road into Panguna.

    Some also worry reopening the mine could reignite conflict, as landowners are divided about the project. Mismanagement of royalties could also stoke social tensions.

    Violence related to competition over alluvial mining has already been increasing at the mine.

    More broadly, Bougainville is faced with widespread corruption and poor governance.

    The Bougainville government cannot deal with these complex issues on its own. Nor can it finance the infrastructure and development needed to reopen the mine. This is why it’s seeking foreign investors.

    Open for business

    Historically, China has a strong interest in the region. According to Pacific researcher Anna Powles, Chinese efforts to build relationships with Bougainville’s political elite have increased over the years.

    Chinese investors have offered development packages contingent on long-term mining revenues and Bougainville’s independence. Bougainville is showing interest.

    Patrick Nisira, the minister for commerce, trade, industry and economic development, said last year the proposed Chinese infrastructure investment is “aligning perfectly with Bougainville’s nationhood aspirations”.

    The government has also reportedly made overtures to the United States, offering a military base in Bougainville in return for support reopening the mine.

    Given American demand for minerals, Bougainville could very well end up in the middle of a battle between China and the US over influence in the new nation, and thus in our region.

    Which path will Bougainville and Australia take?

    There is support in Bougainville for a future without large-scale mining. One minister, Geraldine Paul, has been promoting the islands’ booming cocoa industry and fisheries to support an independent Bougainville.

    The new nation will also need new laws to hold the government accountable and protect the people and culture of Bougainville. As Paul told me in 2024:

    […]the most important thing is we need to make sure that we invest in our foundation and that’s building our family and culture. Everything starts from there.

    What happens in Bougainville affects Australia and the broader security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. With September 1 2026 just around the corner, it is time for Australia to intensify its diplomatic and economic relationships with Bougainville to maintain regional stability.

    Anna-Karina Hermkens receives funding from the Australian Research Council to follow and analyse Bougainville’s journey towards independence.

    – ref. Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way – https://theconversation.com/bougainville-wants-independence-chinas-support-for-a-controversial-mine-could-pave-the-way-254320

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Timmons Op-ed Opposing Paris Mountain Development Project

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman William Timmons (SC-04)

    In a new op-ed in The Post and Courier, Congressman William Timmons (SC-04) makes the case against a proposed luxury hotel development on Paris Mountain, which has stirred strong public reaction across the Upstate. Residents and local officials have voiced serious concerns over traffic, safety, environmental impact, and preservation of Paris Mountain. With over 13,000 signatures opposing the project, the debate underscores a critical moment for the future of one of Upstate’s most cherished natural landmarks.

    In case you missed it…

    Paris Mountain is a jewel of the Upstate. We must protect it.
    The Post and Courier
    Rep. William Timmons (SC-04)
    April 23, 2025

    As a conservative congressman representing the Upstate, I feel compelled to address the troubling proposal for a 153-room hotel development on Paris Mountain. My family has proudly resided at the foot of this iconic landmark for over 60 years, and I never imagined that we would be facing a situation where the integrity of Paris Mountain could be compromised. This beautiful mountain has always been regarded as a jewel of our region, and it has historically been protected as such.

    The land proposed for this hotel has been designated as an Environmentally Sensitive District by Greenville County Council since the 1980s. This zoning was put in place to safeguard the unique natural resources of the area, and it reflects the community’s longstanding commitment to protecting our environment. Yet now, a developer with minimal experience who has acquired a narrow strip of land adjacent to Furman University is looking to sidestep these essential protections through annexation into the city of Travelers Rest.

    In 2013, Furman University annexed into Travelers Rest using a narrow strip of land. As a result, the city now arguably has the authority to annex and develop Paris Mountain. However, this move threatens to undermine our community’s commitment to environmental stewardship. If Travelers Rest annexes the property, the city would rezone it, and the developer has applied for Flexible Review District zoning for the purpose of building a hotel and effectively discarding decades of preservation efforts.

    The hotel proposed by the Divine Group features plans for 153 rooms, an event space for over 750 guests, a convention center, office space and dining facilities, with the capacity to accommodate over 1,000 people. This level of development raises several serious concerns.

    First and foremost is safety. The proposed entrance on Altamont Road, a narrow and precarious route that crosses Paris Mountain, is already known for accidents involving both vehicles and cyclists. Our first responders are challenged by the difficult terrain when responding to emergencies, the fact that Altamont Road is the only way in and out of Paris Mountain, and an evacuation could quickly become hazardous if Altamont Road were to be blocked. A serious fire could even force the fire department to shut down Poinsett Highway to access water from Furman’s Lake.

    Moreover, the Environmentally Sensitive District designation is in place to protect land deemed environmentally sensitive. This area features steep ravines that lead to the headwaters of the Reedy River, making it nearly impossible to avoid significant erosion and damage to the local ecosystems. Allowing commercial development in such an area is simply inappropriate and conflicts with the principles of good governance and responsible development we hold dear.

    It is shocking to see the proposed annexation get this far. If the city were to approve this hotel development, we would open the floodgates to further urban encroachment on Paris Mountain, jeopardizing its natural beauty and environmental integrity. We should not allow urban sprawl to tarnish the character of our region — Paris Mountain deserves better.

    Public sentiment against this development has also been overwhelmingly clear. The Greenville County Council — representing over 580,000 residents in the Upstate — unanimously passed a resolution opposing both the hotel and the removal of Environmentally Sensitive District protections, marking an exceptional show of solidarity in protecting our natural resources. Furthermore, more than 65% of adjacent property owners have voiced their objections, and over 13,000 signatures have been collected on a petition requesting that the city reject this proposal.

    Finally, I must express my concerns regarding the qualifications of the developers. Their budget for this project is 40% less than what was required to construct the Grand Bohemian Hotel in downtown Greenville, and their experience primarily consists of developing gas stations and laundromats, not complex hotels in challenging environmentally sensitive locations. Entrusting our beloved landscape to developers without significant experience in similar projects is irresponsible.

    I urge the Travelers Rest City Council to heed the voices of their constituents and recognize the extensive issues presented by this proposed development. Additionally, I encourage members of the Legislature to enact measures that protect environmentally sensitive lands throughout South Carolina, including Paris Mountain, from urban sprawl. Together, we should fight to ensure that Paris Mountain remains a cherished part of our Upstate identity for future generations.

    Congressman William Timmons represents South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Roy Congratulates Exceptional High School Seniors in TX-21

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)

    Hays County, Texas — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) offered his congratulations today to thirty-six stellar high school students across Texas’ 21st congressional district who achieved the Exceptional Senior Award (ESA). This award is in its sixth year of existence. 

    ESA winners have consistently displayed high levels of character, leadership, integrity, and diligence. These virtues are evident through their philanthropic activities, academic success, and reputations among peers and teachers.  

    Congressman Roy said: “I am proud of all that the incredible young men and women of Texas’ 21st Congressional District have achieved. Texans have reason to be optimistic about our great state’s destiny with them as our future leaders.”

    Rep. Roy is deeply grateful to the families of these exceptional seniors for their love and support throughout their educational journeys. He would also like to thank the faculty of schools across his district who recommended these individuals for the ESA.

    The Exceptional Senior Award winners, Class of 2025:

    Ms. Victoria Allen, Geneva School of Boerne

    Ms. Sophia Arreguin, Memorial Early College High School (New Braunfels) 

    Ms. Anneliese Bacon, Harper High School

    Mr. Keegan Ballard, Dripping Springs High School

    Ms. Kaitlyn Best, New Braunfels High School

    Ms. Taylor Bloom, Our Lady of the Hills Catholic School (Kerrville)

    Ms. Sienna Carter, Medina Secondary School

    Mr. Stephen “Finn” Cone, Kerrville Christian Homeschoolers

    Mr. Corey Cook, Boerne Champion High School

    Mr. Jonathon Davenport, Wimberley High School

    Ms. Perry Faught, Blanco High School

    Ms. Evelyn Garrett, Tivy High School (Kerrville)

    Ms. Jalyn Lamb, Bandera High School

    Ms. Jillian Land, Bracken Christian School (Bulverde)

    Mr. Cole Leidy, New Braunfels Christian Academy

    Ms. Casey Loewer, LBJ High School (Johnson City)

    Ms. Madeline McAdams, Regents School of Austin

    Ms. Audrey McFarlane, Heritage School of Fredericksburg

    Ms. Schreiner Meredith, Nueces Canyon High School

    Mr. Aidan Nolen, San Marcos Academy

    Ms. Kaylin O’Rourke, Boerne Area Christian Homeschoolers

    Ms. Aven Ottmers, Fredericksburg High School

    Ms. Katelynn Salazar, Leakey School

    Ms. Kinsley Sawyer, Boerne High School

    Ms. Abbigail Shultz, Hill Country Preparatory High School (New Braunfels) 

    Ms. Athena Sorenson, Davenport High School (Garden Ridge)

    Ms. Hailey Turner, Hill Country Christian Homeschool Association (Kerrville)

    Mr. Brody Vanacker, Ingram Tom Moore High School

    Ms. Hope Van Geffen, Comfort High School

    Ms. Donna Verkamp, St. Anthony Catholic High School (San Antonio)

    Mr. Aidan Williams, Gloria Deo Academy (Bulverde)

    Ms. Peyton Wilson, Canyon High School (New Braunfels) 

    Ms. Rachel Wood, Jack C.Hays High School (Buda)

    Ms. Rylee Wunderlich, Canyon Lake High School

    Ms. Eliana Wyche, Saint Mary’s Hall (San Antonio)

    Mr. Elijah Yun, Alamo Heights High School

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    MIL OSI USA News –