A new planning formula to optimise the lifecycle value of Australia’s warships in an era of geopolitical instability has been proposed by researchers at the University of South Australia.
Based on an existing model used in financial decision making – the Real Options Approach (ROA) – but with modifications to address the unique nature of warship planning, the formula has the potential to transform the way the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) manages its fleet.
“Due to diminishing budgets, rapid advances in technology, and emerging threats, it is more important than ever to build a naval framework that is more flexible and cost effective,” according to lead researcher Ben Petersen, a recent UniSA graduate who undertook this research as part of his university degree.
“Military assets such as warships and other naval vessels must maintain high levels of readiness and capability despite constrained financial resources,” Mr Petersen says.
“Warships typically undergo major upgrades every seven to 10 years, with a service life of approximately 30 years, unlike other industries that have much shorter product lifecycles. These upgrades are substantial in scale and complexity, and they often go way over projected budgets.
“Traditional lifecycle planning models for warships are rigid and do not account for uncertainties in long-term naval investments, such as technological advancements, geopolitical shifts or budget constraints.”
Using an adaptation of the ROA model, naval forces will be able to assess multiple future scenarios, reducing the risk of overinvestment or premature commissioning, according to the researchers in a new paper.
The research identified key benefits to adopting a Real Options Approach:
Operational readiness – ensuring that naval assets remain technologically advanced and mission-capable over time
Cost Efficiency – more efficient budgeting, prioritising upgrades and maintenance that deliver the best value
Risk Mitigation – reducing the financial and strategic risks associated with overinvestment in outdated technologies
Sovereign Defence Capability – supporting Australia’s goal of strengthening its defence industry by improving long-term planning for sustainable ship building.
With Australia investing heavily in maritime defence capabilities – including the Hunter-class frigates, nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement, and upgrades to existing vessels – Dr Efatmaneshnik says the research is highly relevant.
“By applying financial risk management principles to warship design, acquisition, and maintenance, our study offers a new model for sustaining naval superiority in an era of geopolitical uncertainty,” he says.
“Australia’s defence environment is evolving rapidly. Our research provides a clear pathway for defence planners to ensure that our warships remain at peak capability while maximising taxpayer investment in national security.”
Mr Petersen says the next steps involve improving the model to capture additional nuances in naval warship designs, and to avoid oversimplification.
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act. This legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code to make expenses for education at FAA-certified flight andaviation maintenance programs eligible for 529 plan funds. 529 plans are valuable tools for saving for education, offering tax-free growth and allowing withdrawals for qualified expenses like tuition, room and board, and school supplies. The Aviation Workforce Development Act allows students pursuing FAA-certified flight and aviation maintenance programs to now use their 529 plan funds to cover these educational costs. As record numbers of air travelers visit South Carolina each year, this legislation will open doors for aspiring pilots and aviation maintenance technicians by ensuring they can play a vital role in the state’s aviation workforce.
In addition to Senators Scott and Cantwell, this bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (R-Ga.). Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“This bill provides a commonsense solution to tackling workforce shortages in the aviation industry and offering more flexibility for parents investing in 529 accounts,” said Senator Scott. “By streamlining workforce development in aviation and expanding the use of 529 funds, it strengthens the aviation sector and provides parents greater freedom to invest in their children’s future.”
“Families use 529 plans to save for their children’s future education. But we know that our next generation of workers need options beyond traditional four-year college degrees, such as apprenticeships, trade schools, and more,” Senator Cantwell said. “By allowing 529 plans to cover FAA-certified commercial pilot and aviation maintenance courses, this bill helps remove cost barriers for students considering a career path in Washington state’s thriving aviation industry.”
“I’ve worked tirelessly in the Senate to secure federal investments for aviation workforce programs. The Aviation Workforce Development Act builds on my efforts to create educational pipelines that welcome Georgians from every zip code into this critical industry,” said Senator Warnock. “This is a bipartisan and bicameral bill for a reason—these are commonsense solutions to address needs throughout our aviation industry, and I’m proud to work alongside Senators Scott and Cantwell in this effort.”
The Aviation Workforce Development Act is endorsed by Airlines for America, Air Line Pilots Association, Delta Air Lines, Aerospace Industries Association, Atlas Air Worldwide, National Air Carrier Association, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Aviation Technician Education Council, and National Business Aviation Association.
Background:
According to a recent Pilot and Technician Outlook report from Boeing, the 20-year outlook for aviation personnel includes 602,000 new pilots and 610,000 new maintenance technicians.
According to ATP, that nation’s largest flight school, it costs just over $96,000 a year to become a pilot with no previous experience and just over $75,000 if you start with a private pilot certificate.
According to BLS, the median annual wage for commercial pilots was $99,640 in 2021 and the median wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $65,380.
Meanwhile, 529 plans generally do not include coverage of commercial pilot or aviation maintenance programs unless they are part of an “eligible educational institution.”
Eligible institutions are colleges, universities, trade schools, or other post-secondary educational institutions that are eligible to participate in a student aid program run by ED.
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Heinrich and Luján: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statement onPresident Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Preliminary Budget Request, which proposes slashing critical investments that benefit New Mexico families to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires like Elon Musk:
“Donald Trump’s budget doesn’t put New Mexico families first — it jeopardizes Medicaid and slashes nutrition programs and services hardworking people rely on, all to fund massive tax handouts to Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire donors.
“This proposal would drive up the cost of health care, groceries, housing, and utilities; gut public school and pre-K funding; defund cancer research; weaken law enforcement’s ability to fight drug trafficking; and strip resources from wildland firefighters, farmers, Tribes, and rural communities. It also threatens our public lands — paving the way for Republicans’ massive sell-off.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back — to protect Medicaid and Social Security, defend every dollar we’ve secured for our communities, and keep putting New Mexico families first.”
Among all of his proposed cuts, President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Preliminary Budget Request:
HEALTH:
Slashes funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by $33 billion (-26%).
Slashes funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million. CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
Cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion or more than 40% — decimating funding for lifesaving medical treatments and cures.
Decimates funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by cutting $3.6 billion — hollowing out the agency’s ability to save lives and protect Americans from health threats.
Guts funding for substance use prevention and treatment and mental health services by $1 billion (roughly –15%) and eliminates the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — the agency with expertise in tackling the substance use and mental health crises.
Eliminates the Title X program, which helps nearly 3 million patients get preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more in every state.
EDUCATION:
Guts funding for the U.S. Department of Education by $12 billion (-15%).
Eliminates all funding for Preschool Development Grants, which help states strengthen their early childhood education system and get parents the child care and pre-K they need.
Eliminates and cuts dozens of elementary and secondary education programs (the vast majority of which are not specified), underscoring that President Trump’s vision for returning education to the states means state and local taxpayers will pay more to support students and educators at their local schools as a result of major cuts in federal funding.
Eliminates several higher education programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and more, which help Americans pursue a postsecondary education and further their careers.
Slashes funding for the U.S. Department of Labor by $4.6 billion (-35%).
Proposes to “Make America Skilled Again” by cutting workforce training programs that help Americans develop skills and secure good-paying jobs by roughly a third.
Eliminates Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
Eliminates AmeriCorps, which enables over 200,000 Americans to help serve communities across the country, including by responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans, fighting the opioid epidemic, helping older Americans age with dignity, and working in our schools, educating and supporting students.
HOUSING:
Eviscerates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a 43.6% cut.
Slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.
Eliminates or cuts federal programs most targeted to build more affordable housing and address this country’s housing supply shortage, including in Tribal country.
Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant that cities and towns across the country use to improve the quality of life for their citizens every day.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Slashes the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget by at least $3.7 billion (-10%).
Guts funding for grants to help keep communities safe by over $1 billion (-26%).
Cuts funding for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) salaries and expenses by $545 million (-5%), endangering Americans’ safety.
Cuts funding for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) salaries and expenses by $212 million (-7%), weakening the agency’s capacity to crack down on drug trafficking. Also proposes shuttering major DEA offices in countries around the world, noting that those countries “are equipped to counter drug trafficking on their own.”
Cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) salaries and expenses by $468 million (-29%) as part of the administration’s ongoing attempt to dismantle the agency in charge of enforcing our country’s gun laws.
Cuts $1.386 billion (-22%) from the U.S. Forest Service, gutting grant funding for state and Tribal wildfire risk reduction, volunteer fire departments, and much more. The proposal would cut at least 2,000 National Forest System staff positions, which will severely harm the administration’s stated goals of improving forest management.
Cuts funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account by $1.3 billion (-91%) which helps prevent human trafficking, stop drug trafficking, and much more, with direct implications for American communities.
Proposes a reckless $209 million cut for NOAA’s weather satellites, which play a critical role in ensuring Americans have accurate weather forecasting and will result in a gap in observations when the current satellites retire early in the next decade.
NUTRITION:
Eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals 60 years of age and older to supplement diets and addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. The preliminary budget request does not mention any of the other 16 Nutrition Programs, including WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the National School Lunch Program.
PUBLIC LANDS:
Cuts $900 million (- 30%) from National Park Service operations, abandoning national parks the administration says should now be transferred to the states, while providing no funding for states to manage massive new obligations that such a dramatic move would entail. This would incentivize states to sell off public lands to the highest bidder, threatening valued open space and areas of natural and historical value to local communities.
AGRICULTURE:
Guts funding for agricultural research, which is critical to ensuring American agriculture is competitive with the rest of the world and provides key resources to help farmers and ranchers prepare and adapt in an uncertain environment. Zeroes out foreign food aid that supports American farmers and is a lifeline for people living in extreme poverty across the world.
TRIBES:
Slashes $911 million (-24%) for core Tribal programs that uphold the federal government’s legally-obligated and court-ordered trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations.
Decimates core Tribal programs, including road maintenance, housing, and programs for children and families.
Nearly eliminates funding for construction of Tribal schools, which are already too often dilapidated, and cuts Tribal law enforcement funding by 20%.
RURAL COMMUNITIES:
Slashes investments in core Rural Development programs by $721 million, including investments in safe drinking water, affordable housing, and resources to bolster the rural economy.
Cuts funding for the U.S. Department of Commerce by $1.9 billion (-18%). Outright eliminates the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps economically distressed communities across America get ahead.
Eliminates all Community Services Block Grant funding ($770 million) for community-based anti-poverty programs that help individuals and families access services to alleviate the causes of poverty.
Eliminates funding to 27 states by zeroing out funding for 6 of 7 regional commissions, which provide grants in economically distressed communities for disaster mitigation, opioid crisis support programming, workforce training, and much more. This includes eliminating the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC).
The Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) is one of eight authorized federal regional commissions and authorities, which are congressionally-chartered, federal-state partnerships created to promote economic development in their respective regions. Congress first authorized the establishment of the SBRC in 2008 to promote economic development in the southern border regions of New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas.
Last year, Heinrich secured an expansion of the SBRC’s jurisdiction to include the following counties in New Mexico: Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, Torrance, Lea, and Valencia. These are in addition to Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra, Socorro, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy, Doña Ana, and Chaves Counties in New Mexico, which are already included within the SBRC’s jurisdiction.
In 2023, Heinrich led the introduction of the Southwest Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize and fully fund the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC). The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and former-U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.).
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Cuts funding for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation by $600 million (-34%), gutting investments in key restoration projects.
Cuts funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by $2 billion (-23%), slashing funding used to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors.
Cuts funding for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) non-disaster grants that help communities prepare for disasters, support efforts to prevent violence and terrorism, prepare emergency responders, and more.
Eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, ending support for more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations.
Eliminates funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the support provided to libraries and museums throughout the United States.
Cuts funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than half by abandoning state and Tribal programs that build and maintain drinking water and sewer systems, starving states of longstanding federal funding provided to pay for states’ work enforcing federal laws, and decimating funding for cleaning up toxic Superfund sites. The request would also effectively eliminate research funding used to better understand the impacts on human health from polluted air and water and from toxic chemicals.
ENERGY:
Slashes funding for the Department of Energy overall by $4.7 billion (-9.4%).
Guts funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by $2.572 billion (-74%) and proposes to rescind $15.25 billion from Infrastructure Law energy programs, which will raise energy costs for American consumers by halting vital innovation and energy projects.
Eliminates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Slashes funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Programs by $167 million, proposing the elimination of nearly all programs, including programs that support veterans as they work to start and grow a small business.
Eliminates $291 million in funding for all current Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) financial assistance awards, which help leverage private capital to support the development of child care centers, housing, health care facilities, and small businesses. Since 2010, CDFIs have financed over 1.3 million businesses and 557,000 affordable homes.
Completely eliminates the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide funding for every state and every congressional district for cultural economic development and the creative economy.
Guts funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $1.5 billion, which would eliminate all manner of programs that create good jobs, help local economies, and support ocean research, health, and coastal resilience.
More than halves funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a $5.2 billion (-57%) cut. Cuts funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.148 billion (-14%). Together, these proposed cuts would decimate America’s edge in essential scientific research that would otherwise drive future economic growth.
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE:
Guts funding for the U.S. Department of State and America’s international security, economic, and humanitarian assistance programs by $31.2 billion (-48%).
Cuts funding for lifesaving and other humanitarian assistance by $4.7 billion (-54%), which will lead to preventable deaths and suffering across the globe, and threaten Americans’ safety and well-being by undercutting our efforts to stop disease outbreaks and prevent conflict. A cut of this magnitude will also lead to more migration of people fleeing poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
Slashes economic growth and development funding across multiple agencies and accounts by $6 billion (67%) and proposes the final dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Guts funding for global health initiatives by $6.2 billion (-62%).
Reneges on our treaty dues for the United Nations (U.N.), U.N. Peacekeeping operations, and a majority of other international organizations.
SPACE EXPLORATION:
Cuts National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding by $6 billion (-24%), the largest single-year cut to NASA in U.S. history, which would mark an incredible retreat for American leadership and ambition in space. Terminates the Artemis Campaign to establish a human presence on the Moon after the Artemis III mission. Slashes funding for the Science Mission Directorate by $3.43 billion (-47%), which would cancel numerous current and planned missions to better understand our universe, solar system, and Earth.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
As Elon Musk and the Trump Administration expand their chaotic assault on the federal government and the workers and contractors who deliver its essential services to the American people, Northern Virginia Congressman Don Beyer continues to fight for civil servants who devote their careers to making this country stronger.
On Thursday, Beyer announced the introduction of two bills to rehire federal workers fired by Trump and Musk, and to protect them from future civil service purges. On Saturday, Beyer hosted a jobs fair for federal workers with 40 companies, organizations, and other employers; attendance dwarfed expectations, with over 2,400 people ultimately participating in the event.
Additional coverage from local news outlets:
Government Executive: “Federal Employees Removed By Trump Would Have Easier Pathway Back To Government Service Under Democratic Bill”
“Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who represents more than 72,000 federal workers, is introducing legislation to make it easier for government employees removed under the Trump administration to rejoin agencies and to deter a future president from undertaking a mass firing of the workforce.
“The Restoring Employment and Hiring Incentives for Removed Employees (REHIRE) Act would deem any federal employee who was involuntarily removed during the period between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2027, as preference eligible for competitive service appointments, a special candidate consideration in the federal hiring process normally afforded to veterans or their family members.”
WUSA9: ‘I’m Ready To Work Seven Days A Week, Ten-Hour Days’ | Fired Federal Workers Flock To Alexandria Job Fair
“Fired federal workers arrived at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria on Saturday, looking for their next career. A job fair hosted by Virginia Congressman Don Beyer featured more than 40 employers ready to hire now.
…
“I think it tells you just how many people have been impacted by cuts already, or how many people are fearful that cuts may be coming to their positions,” said City of Alexandria Mayor Aliya Gaskins. “That’s huge for Alexandria, where we have over 16,000 residents who are federal workers.”
“Everyone at the job fair, like Marianne Carliez, wished they didn’t have to be.
“I’m this far away from cleaning houses so I can pay my mortgage,” said Carliez, whose career in foreign aid was cut short in January when federal cuts began. “It’s been 25 years of working hard, and I miss working. That’s just, that’s all I want. I want to work.”
“Beyer organized the job fair for Carliez and the thousands of people in a similar situation.”
Black Virginia News: Congressman Beyer’s job fair to assist federal workers and contractors will easily hit over 2,000 people
WJLA7: New Bill Would Rehire Fired Federal Workers And Reform Probationary Period Rules
“A group of House Democrats led by Northern Virginia Rep. Don Beyer has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at rehiring and protecting federal workers.
…
“The second bill, the PREP Act, aims to reform the probationary process for federal employees, impacting both new hires and those with new jobs or recent promotions.”
ALXnow: City Of Alexandria Teams Up With Congressman Beyer For Federal Worker Job Fair On May 3
“The event aims to connect job seekers with more than 40 companies and organizations looking to hire. Recruiters and hiring managers from various fields, including healthcare, IT, local government, military, consumer electronics, accounting and finance, and federal government professional services, will be there.”
The Zebra: Beyer Sponsoring Job Fair for Federal Workers, Contractors
“This fair is specifically for federal workers and contractors who have lost their jobs in recent months. “Every day, I’m hearing from so many of my constituents who have been laid off – or are afraid that they may be the next to lose their jobs,” said Beyer in an email announcement.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) today pressed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reevaluate its detention of his constituent, Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri. In a letter, Beyer urged ICE to consider Dr. Khan Suri’s eligibility for release and to reevaluate his custody classification.
Dr. Khan Suri is a legally admitted visiting scholar with no prior criminal record, he has not been charged with a crime, and the obscure immigration provision with which he has been charged is not a ground for mandatory detention. However, he is currently held in ICE custody at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas where he has been deemed a high-risk custody detainee requiring maximum security control and supervision. Dr. Khan Suri was detained by masked agents outside of his home in Rosslyn and charged with removability under a seldom used, Cold War-era immigration provision allowing the for the deportation of individuals deemed potential foreign policy risks. The Trump Administration is abusing this provision to instill fear and silence dissent on college campuses.
Rep. Beyer wrote
“I write about the alarming arrest and detention of Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a J-1 visa holder and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University. Dr. Khan Suri is currently held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, where he has been deemed a high-risk custody detainee requiring maximum security control and supervision. However, Dr. Khan Suri has not been charged with a crime and is a legally admitted visiting scholar with no prior criminal record. The obscure immigration provision with which he has been charged does not subject him to mandatory detention. I urge you to reconsider his eligibility for release and at minimum, the reevaluation of his custody classification.
“Dr. Khan Suri was, within days, transferred to a far-away immigration detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana and is now being held at the Prairieland Detention Center, 1,300 miles away from his home. Once at the Prairieland Detention Center, Dr. Khan Suri was informed of his classification as a high-risk custody detainee. This classification is typically reserved for serious and violent criminal offenses, institutional disciplinary history, or affiliations to criminal organizations. As a result of the security protocols applied to this high-risk classification, Dr. Khan Suri is only permitted two hours per week of recreation, and he is not permitted to work or spend more time outside his cell. According to legal counsel, Dr. Khan Suri was also initially denied religious accommodations, including Halal food, Ramadan fasting accommodations, a Quran, and a prayer mat.
“He has not been charged with a crime and has no prior criminal record. The invocation of his removability under 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(4)(C) does not subject him to mandatory detention, and more importantly, are a violation of his protected speech, viewpoint, religion, national origin, and protected associations. The circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention raise serious concerns about civil liberties and academic freedom. For these reasons, we urge you to reconsider Dr. Badar Khan Suri’s eligibility for release. At minimum, his custody classification should be immediately reevaluated. Additionally, I request any documentation and materials in ICE’s possession related to Badar Khan Suri’s classification decision.”
Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.
***
Dear Acting Director Lyons:
I write about the alarming arrest and detention of Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a J-1 visa holder and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University. Dr. Khan Suri is currently held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, where he has been deemed a high-risk custody detainee requiring maximum security control and supervision. However, Dr. Khan Suri has not been charged with a crime and is a legally admitted visiting scholar with no prior criminal record. The obscure immigration provision with which he has been charged does not subject him to mandatory detention. I urge you to reconsider his eligibility for release and at minimum, the reevaluation of his custody classification.
On the evening of March 17, 2025, Dr. Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national with valid J-1 visa status as a visiting scholar, was arrested and detained by masked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents outside of his Arlington, Virginia home. Dr. Khan Suri was charged with removability under 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(4)(C), a rarely invoked immigration provision allowing the government to seek the deportation of individuals deemed potential foreign policy risks by the Secretary of State.
Dr. Khan Suri is one of many visa-holders across the country, like Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and others, who have been targeted amid President Donald Trump’s pursual of policies to instill fear and silence dissent on college campuses. Such policies are an assault on freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Dr. Khan Suri was, within days, transferred to a far-away immigration detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana and is now being held at the Prairieland Detention Center, 1,300 miles away from his home. Once at the Prairieland Detention Center, Dr. Khan Suri was informed of his classification as a high-risk custody detainee. This classification is typically reserved for serious and violent criminal offenses, institutional disciplinary history, or affiliations to criminal organizations. As a result of the security protocols applied to this high-risk classification, Dr. Khan Suri is only permitted two hours per week of recreation, and he is not permitted to work or spend more time outside his cell. According to legal counsel, Dr. Khan Suri was also initially denied religious accommodations, including Halal food, Ramadan fasting accommodations, a Quran, and a prayer mat.
At the time of his arrest, Dr. Khan Suri was a postdoctoral fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he was teaching a course on Majoritarianism & Minority Rights in South Asia. He is married to a U.S. citizen of Palestinian descent, with whom he has three children: a nine-year-old son and five-year-old twins – a boy and a girl.
He has not been charged with a crime and has no prior criminal record. The invocation of his removability under 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(4)(C) does not subject him to mandatory detention, and more importantly, are a violation of his protected speech, viewpoint, religion, national origin, and protected associations. The circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention raise serious concerns about civil liberties and academic freedom. For these reasons, we urge you to reconsider Dr. Badar Khan Suri’s eligibility for release. At minimum, his custody classification should be immediately reevaluated. Additionally, I request any documentation and materials in ICE’s possession related to Badar Khan Suri’s classification decision.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your response regarding his release and documents pertaining to his classification decision. Please respond no later than May 12, 2025.
DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed bills into law to expand access to speech pathology services for all Coloradans, and increase safety in Colorado school sports with proper guidelines for using life-saving devices.
HB25-1075 – Regulate Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, sponsored by Representatives Lori Garcia Sander and Jacque Phillips, and Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Kyle Mullica.
“Everyone in Colorado deserves the opportunity to access needed services like speech pathology so more Coloradans can reach their full potential,” said Governor Polis.
SB25-191 – Cardiac Emergency Plans for School Sports, sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts and Iman Jodeh, and Representatives Meghan Lukens and Lindsay Gilchrist
“Safety in sports is a top priority, and no athlete or parent should have to wonder about the safety standards and resources that are available when there is an emergency. Thank you to the sponsors for addressing the importance of having clear safety standards for life-saving devices across all Colorado school sports to keep our student-athletes safe,” said Governor Polis.
Governor Polis signed the following bills into law administratively:
SB25-164 – Opioid Antagonist Availability & State Board of Health, sponsored by Senators Faith Winter and Janice Marchman, and Representatives Jamie Jackson and Jenny Willford
SB25-166 – Health-Care Workplace Violence Incentive Payments, sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, and Representative Lisa Feret
SB25-125 – Rule Review Bill, sponsored by Senators Mike Weissman and Lisa Frizell, and Representatives Matt Soper and Javier Mabrey
SB25-177 – Sunset Continue Early Childhood Leadership Commission, sponsored by Senators Cathy Kipp and Scott Bright, and Representatives Emily Sirota and Mary Bradfield
SB25-009 – Recognition of Tribal Court Orders, sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts and Jessie Danielson, and Representatives Ron Weinberg and Junie Joseph.
SB25-194 – Sunset Dental Practice Act, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kyle Mullica, and Representatives Monica Duran and Anthony Hartsook. Read the Governor’s signing statement here.
SB25-152 – Health-Care Practitioner Identification Requirements, sponsored by Senators Lisa Frizell and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, and Representatives Lori Garcia Sander and Lisa Feret. Read the Governor’s signing statement here.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis announced he would step down as president effective June 30th:
“President Dennis Assanis is a scientific leader himself, a patent holder and innovator, and a transformational leader for the University of Delaware. Since 2016, he has brought a focus to the university on steady investment and improvement in the quality of campus research facilities, on the competitiveness of student admissions, on the quality of research—both federally and privately funded—and on the general future of the University of Delaware.
“Dennis and his beloved wife Eleni have been a constant presence not just on UD’s campus, but throughout Delaware. As someone whose aspirations and vision for the future of the University of Delaware and its role in our state have been to constantly press for more, for greater, for better, his particular focus on the STAR campus and NIIMBL—the National Institute for Innovation in the Manufacturing of Biopharmaceuticals—and in collaborative research has elevated UD dramatically and has resulted in lasting and positive change for the better.
“My entire family and I express our deep gratitude to President Assanis for his tireless, energetic, effective, and innovative leadership of the University of Delaware. He has been one of the most important presidents in the history of the university, and I wish him well in his next chapter.”
Ever tried to explain why a sausage would be referred to as a “snag” while overseas, or why the toilet is the “dunny”? If you found this challenging, spare a thought for large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, which have to contend with slang terms from all over the world.
Is it possible for AI to decipher the strange “code” that is Australian slang, given all the nuance and cultural references loaded into it?
Cracking the code
LLMs don’t “understand” language like we do. Rather, they are trained on massive quantities of online text data (including websites, news articles and books) to learn patterns between words. They can then mimic these patterns to produce human-like responses.
So it follows that unless AI systems can mingle with people in informal real-world settings – or can access TV shows such as Kath and Kim – they’re unlikely to grasp the finer points of our real-world conversations.
Take words such as “cooked” and “random”, which can have different meanings in different contexts. Or consider the phrase “flat out like a lizard drinking”. What could it mean? Is the speaker comparing themselves to a thirsty reptile sprawled out under a dripping tap?
The phrase actually refers to being very busy, by using the visual metaphor of a lizard’s fast-moving tongue. While an AI may not make this connection, many people living in Australia will have a lifetime of experience that helps them understand the message being conveyed.
To further complicate matters, Aussie slang continues to evolve, and doesn’t always follow the rules of grammar and structure.
Slang phrases tend to follow a looser sentence structure and are often filled with idioms, metaphors, abbreviations and culturally-specific humour. Australian language expert Roland Sussex estimates we use more than 5,000 abbreviations and diminutives.
Slang also changes from one generation to the next. For instance, one 2010 study suggests older Australians are more likely to shorten words with an “ie” or “o” sound, such as “truckie” instead of “truck driver” and “ambo” instead of ambulance. Young Australians, meanwhile, are more likely to clip words or add an “s”, such as “mobes” for mobile phone.
Are we there yet?
Can AI chatbots learn Aussie slang? There is evidence many are already developing a broad understanding of the most frequently used terms and their current interpretations.
For example, “give it a crack” and “mozzie” are both understood by Amazon’s Alexa.
In 2021, Alexa partnered with local celebrity Sophie Monk and comedy duo The Inspired Unemployed to incorporate a large collection of Aussie slang into its vocabulary. The personal AI assistant even comes with an Aussie accent feature.
Keeping up-to-date with changing Aussie slang terms, interpretations and regional dialects is a resource-intensive undertaking. Nonetheless, ChatGPT and other LLMs have made progress on this front, as this example shows:
ChatGPT/screenshot
Some chatbots, such as Perplexity AI, can scour the internet in real-time to try and find the best possible response to an input.
Trying to peek inside
LLMs continue to advance in their sophistication and capabilities. The most recent models such as GPT 4o, DeepSeek and Claude 3.7 even incorporate “thinking” to tackle more complex tasks by displaying an internal “thought process” before revealing their answer.
However, research has shown many AI models, when prompted, won’t always reveal the full “chain-of-thought” they followed to arrive at a particular answer.
This makes it harder for us to understand the models’ intentions and reasoning processes. So while they may be learning to adapt and respond to our niche slang and cultural references, in many ways they remain a black box.
Beyond that, AI models can only regurgitate our own slang back to us. They can’t grasp why it is meaningful. Nor do they understand the important role slang plays in our society.
Aussie slang is born out of millions of interactions and conversations – and LLMs can only ever respond to our use of it. To create it remains an entirely human endeavour.
Ross Yates 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.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celeste Rodriguez Louro, Associate professor, Chair of Linguistics and Director of Language Lab, The University of Western Australia
So whose English is today’s technology based on? The answer is primarily the English of mainstream America.
This is no accident. Mainstream American English is entrenched in the digital infrastructure of the internet, in Silicon Valley’s corporate priorities, and in the data sets that fuel everything from autocorrect to AI-generated synthetic text.
The proliferation of American English online is a result of historical, economic and technological factors. The United States has been a dominant force in the development of the internet, content creation, and the rise of tech giants such as Google, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI.
Unsurprisingly, the linguistic norms embedded in products by these companies are overwhelmingly mainstream American.
A recent study found that speakers of non-mainstream English were frustrated with the “homogeneity of AI accents” in voice-cloning and speech-generation technologies. One participant noted the predominant mainstream American accents in the voices available, stating the technologies had been built “with some other people in mind”.
Mainstream varieties of English have long reigned as the “standard” against which other varieties are weighed.
To take a single example from the US, linguistics research by John Baugh found that using different accents can determine people’s access to goods and services. When Baugh called different landlords about housing advertised in the local newspaper, using a mainstream accent procured him several housing inspections while using African-American and Latino accents did not.
The prestige of mainstream English also underpins algorithmic decisions. The models behind tools such as autocorrect, voice-to-text, or even AI writing assistants are most often trained on mainstream American-centric data. This is often scraped from the web, where US-based media, forums and platforms dominate.
This means variations in grammar, syntax and vocabulary from other varieties of English are systematically ignored, misinterpreted or outright “corrected”.
Whose English is perceived as adding value?
The stakes of this linguistic bias in favour of mainstream English become even higher when AI systems are deployed around the world.
If an AI tutor fails to understand a Nigerian English construction, who bears the cost? If a job application written in Indian English is marked down by an AI-powered resume scanner, what are the consequences? If an Australian First Nations elder’s oral history is transcribed by voice recognition software and the system fails to capture culturally significant terms, what knowledge is lost or misrepresented?
These questions are unfolding in real time as governments, educational institutions and corporations adopt AI technologies at scale.
Englishes, not English
The idea that there is one “good” or “correct” English is a myth. English is spoken in diverse forms across regions, shaped by local societies, cultures, histories and identities.
As Noongar writer and educator Glenys Collard and I have written, Aboriginal English has “its own structure, rules and the same potential as any other linguistic variety” and the same is true of other forms of English.
Indian English, for example, has lexical innovations such as “prepone” (the opposite of postpone). Singapore English (Singlish) integrates particles and syntactic features from Malay, Hokkien and Tamil.
These are not “broken” forms of English. Each community where English was imposed has gone on to make English its own.
English, and language more generally, is never static. It adapts to meet the needs of an ever-changing society and its speakers.
This results in an AI ecosystem that is multilingual in theory, but monolingual in practice.
Toward linguistic justice in AI
So, what would it look like to build AI systems that recognise and respect a range of different forms of English?
A shift in mindset is required, from prescribing “correct” language to including many varieties of language. What we need are systems that accommodate linguistic variation.
This may involve supporting community-led efforts to document and digitise linguistic varieties on their own terms, bearing in mind not all linguistic varieties should be digitised or documented.
Collaboration across disciplines is also important. It requires linguists, technologists, educators and community leaders working together to ensure AI development is grounded in principles of linguistic justice.
The goal is not to “fix” language but to create technology that produces just outcomes. The focus should be on changing the technology, not the speaker.
Embracing Englishes
English has been a powerful vehicle of empire, but it has also been a tool of resistance, creativity and solidarity. Around the world, speakers have taken the language and made it their own. AI-enabled systems should be built to be as inclusive of this variability as possible.
So next time your phone tells you to “correct” your spelling, or an AI chatbot misunderstands your phrasing, ask yourself: whose English is it trying to model? And whose English is being left out?
Celeste Rodriguez Louro has received funding from the Australian Research Council. She is also working with Google on a project seeking to make voice-operated technologies inclusive for First Nations people in Australia.
PHOENIX, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fold Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLD) (“Fold” or the “Company”), the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, announces the appointment of Matthew McManus as Chief Operating Officer, effective April 21, 2025.
In his new role, Mr. McManus will spearhead Fold’s operational strategy, partnering closely with senior leadership to accelerate growth, optimize performance, and solidify the Company’s leadership position at the forefront of the bitcoin financial revolution.
Matthew brings extensive experience to Fold, having previously served as Chief Product Officer at Unchained Capital, Inc., where he led product strategy, development, and execution. Prior to his tenure at Unchained Capital, Mr. McManus held key roles helping globally recognized brands including Twitter, Capital One, PBS & PBS KIDS, National Geographic, and Marriott. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Science, Systems, and Technology from Cornell University’s College of Engineering. His technical foundation, deep domain expertise and proven experience scaling high-performing teams, aligns strongly with Fold’s strategic vision for 2025 and beyond.
“We are excited to welcome Matthew to Fold as our new Chief Operating Officer,” said Will Reeves, CEO of Fold. “He brings exactly the kind of leadership Fold needs. His experience driving operational excellence and innovation within fintech will be instrumental as we continue to expand our footprint and empower consumers through accessible bitcoin solutions.”
For more information about Fold and its innovative bitcoin financial services, please visit FoldApp.com.
About Fold Fold (NASDAQ: FLD) is the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, making it easy for individuals and businesses to earn, save, and use bitcoin. With over 1,485 BTC in its treasury, Fold is at the forefront of integrating bitcoin into everyday financial experiences. Through innovative products like the Fold App and Fold Card, the company is building the bridge between traditional finance and the bitcoin-powered future.
For investor inquiries, please contact: Orange Group Samir Jain, CFA FoldIR@orangegroupadvisors.com
For media inquiries, please contact: Elev8 New Media Jessica Starman, MBA media@foldapp.com
With a convincing win for a second term of government, the pressure is now on the new Labor government to deliver the economic policies central to its win.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is wary of breaking promises and now has the opportunity to back this up. So, what are the key economic policies affecting everyday Australians that Labor is now set to deliver?
In his victory speech, Albanese said Labor would govern for every Australian “who deserves the security of a roof over their head or dreams of owning their own home”.
First home buyers
Labor has budgeted A$10 billion to help more Australians buy their first home. This involves providing an extra 100,000 new homes. The government plans to work with the states from July to identify where they should be located.
Building these homes is expected to take eight years – so the scheme will not be completed during the government’s second term. It will need to work quickly to ensure many of these homes are built while Labor is still in office.
Helping this is Labor’s policy to increase subsidies to housing apprentices and free TAFE education.
Also assisting first home buyers is the expansion of the 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme. This will allow more first home buyers to buy a home with only a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
The expansion will remove income thresholds and increase eligible property price caps to better reflect the market. Further, more people will be able to apply for the scheme.
The government plans to extend existing and introduce several new policies to help more people buy a home. Fizkes/Shutterstock
In addition, the government is expanding its Help to Buy Scheme by increasing income and property price caps. This enables those on lower incomes to buy a home with a deposit as small as 2%. The government will pay for up to 40% of the cost on their behalf which will ultimately be paid back over time or when the house is sold.
Both the Help to Buy Scheme and Home Guarantee Scheme are extensions of Labor’s existing policies, so the government should be able to deliver this relatively quickly.
Increasing supply for all
Labor’s housing policies are not limited to first home buyers. To further increase housing supply, Labor plans to invest $54 million to speed up the construction of prefabricated and modular homes covered by a new national certification system.
In addition, a $1.5 billion infrastructure program to speed up the building of roads, sewage and water connections should also help increase supply.
Labor is on track to build 55,000 social and affordable homes through the Housing Australia Future Fund and the Social Housing Accelerator. Labor is also offering Build to Rent tax incentives to increase affordable housing rental supply by up to 80,000 new rental properties.
The government has also promised to work with states and territories to strengthen renters’ rights.
Crisis housing
Labor has also made promises for those needing crisis housing.
For women and children fleeing family and domestic violence and for people experiencing homelessness, there is a $1 billion program to provide more crisis and transitional accommodation. There is also $6.2 million of grants for homelessness support.
Workers’ pay rise
Labor has advocated to the Fair Work Commission for a wage increase above inflation for workers in low-paid jobs, such as cleaners, retail workers and early childhood educators.
With inflation currently at 2.4%, we can expect the minimum wage to rise to at least $24.68 an hour. The Fair Work Commission’s next Annual Wage Review should take place before the end of the financial year, with any changes likely to be effective from July.
Labor has backed an above-inflation wage increase for workers in low paid industries. Dejan Dunjerski/Shutterstock
These wage increases are in addition to the substantial pay increase for aged care nurses as part of the Fair Work Commission’s Aged Care Work Value Case decision.
Tax cuts
The much-discussed tax cuts, costing $17 billion, will reduce the 16% tax rate to 15% (for income between $18,201 and $45,000) in the 2026–27 financial year, and to 14% in 2027–28 – just in time for the next election.
This will save taxpayers $268 and $536, respectively. These tax cuts will be welcomed by many and are likely to increase the labour participation rate. However, more tax reform may be needed to address bracket creep and improve equity in the tax system.
This will take effect from the 2026–27 financial year to reduce the burden of record-keeping on taxpayers. It was also promoted as a way of “helping Australians keep more of what they earn”.
This should bring immediate relief to those on lower incomes who will be exempt from paying the Medicare levy or pay a reduced levy when lodging their returns for the 2024–25 financial year.
So, what’s next?
Many of these policy announcements are a step in the right direction – the question lies around their ability to be implemented.
Albanese admitted in his victory speech that he is an optimist and his aim is to ensure nobody is left behind.
Once the election hype settles, Labor will need to prove it is delivering on its promises. And, of course, these policies will ultimately have to be paid for. How Labor approaches this in the longer term will become a talking point for the next election.
Michelle Cull is a member of CPA Australia, the Financial Advice Association Australia and President Elect of the Academy of Financial Services in the United States. Michelle is an academic member of UniSuper’s Consultative Committee. Michelle Cull co-founded the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic which has received funding from the Australian Taxation Office as part of the National Tax Clinic Program. Michelle has previously volunteered as Chair of the Macarthur Advisory Council for the Salvation Army Australia.
The knee is the most commonly affected joint, but osteoarthritis can also affect other joints including the hips and hands. The condition causes painful and stiff joints.
For someone with knee osteoarthritis, simple activities that many people take for granted such as walking, going up and down stairs or squatting can be very challenging.
There’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis. Most available treatments, such as exercise, walking aids and medicines (including paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), focus on managing symptoms. But it’s important to consider how we can prevent knee osteoarthritis in the first place.
With this in mind, we undertook a systematic review to summarise the risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis. Our findings, published today in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, can help us better understand how to lower the risk of this condition.
What we found
We gathered data from studies which followed people over time, to see which risk factors were associated with developing knee osteoarthritis. We included a total of 131 studies, involving more than 5 million people.
We identified more than 150 factors that influenced the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
Some key factors which increased the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis included being overweight or obese, past knee injury and occupational physical activity such as lifting heavy objects and shift work.
We also found several other possible risk factors, including:
eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods (which include “junk foods”, sugary drinks and processed meats)
poor sleep quality (for example, sleeping less than six hours a day or having 1–2 restless nights per week)
feeling depressed.
Being overweight or obese and past knee injury together accounted for 14% of the overall risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
In other words, if we were able to completely remove these two risk factors, we could potentially reduce the incidence of knee osteoarthritis in the population by 14%.
Females had almost double the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, and older age was slightly related to developing knee osteoarthritis.
On the other hand, we found some factors may lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. These included following a Mediterranean diet (which includes plenty of vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fruit and healthy fats found in fish), and following a diet higher in fibre.
Avoiding the things which increase the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis such as a diet high in ultra-processed foods, knee injury, weight gain and heavy lifting can also help a person reduce their risk of developing the condition.
Exercise is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. It can reduce pain and improve function.
There was not enough information in our study to determine what types of physical activity (for example, walking, running, swimming) and how much time spent doing these activities could lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, so this is an important area for future research.
How can we explain these links?
The studies we included did not generally explore the possible mechanisms linking key risk factors with the development of knee osteoarthritis.
However other research may provide some helpful insights. Knee injury can lead to instability of the knee joint and additional wear on the knee which can lead to knee osteoarthritis. Similarly, occupational physical activity such as kneeling, squatting, climbing or heavy lifting can increase the risk of wear and tear on the knee.
Shift work can lead to bad food choices and lack of sleep, which in turn can increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
So it seems that while the risk factors we found may be contributing individually to the development of knee osteoarthritis, they may also be interacting together to increase the risk.
It’s not clear why women are at greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. However this is likely to be due to a combination of factors, including lifestyle, biological and hormonal factors.
There were some limitations with the available evidence. Most studies were based on populations from the United States, or did not report on ethnicity. We know little about the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in certain groups such as people from Hispanic, African and Southeast Asian backgrounds. We need more studies exploring risk factors in other countries and populations.
Nonetheless, a review like this allows us to better understand what can be done to lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
We found most risk factors associated with developing knee osteoarthritis are modifiable, which means they can be changed or better managed with healthy diet and lifestyle choices. Eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight and taking proactive steps to prevent injuries in the workplace and sporting communities can potentially lower a person’s risk of developing the condition.
Public health strategies aimed at encouraging healthy eating and weight loss (for example, subsidised nutrition programs and education programs starting from a young age to promote optimal diet and physical activity) could reduce the burden of knee osteoarthritis and have broader health benefits as well.
Programs like these, as well as reducing heavy lifting in the workplace where possible, should be the focus of government strategies to address the burden of this painful condition globally.
Christina Abdel Shaheed holds grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.
David Hunter receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.
Lyn March is on the executive committee of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health (a pro-bono role). This alliance advocates to the World Health Organization for a global strategy for addressing musculoskeletal health that includes promoting osteoarthritis prevention.
Vicky Duong receives funding from Lenity Australia and the Medical Research Future Fund.
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: How Wildfires Reshape Landscapes
Exploring USGS’s Role in Understanding Postfire Changes
Background
Wildfires have long played a crucial role in reshaping and rejuvenating landscapes. They can clear out dead vegetation, return nutrients to the soil, and promote the growth of diverse plant species. However, the aftermath of wildfires also brings significant changes to the environment, some of which pose challenges to ecosystems and dangers to local communities. The USGS conducts extensive research to understand these changes and to develop strategies for hazard mitigation and recovery in fire-prone communities.
The Good: The Beneficial Role of Fire in Landscapes
First, let’s discuss “the good” and why wildfires are a natural part of forest and rangeland habitats. While wildfires can have destructive effects, they play a beneficial role in many ecosystems:
Nutrient Cycling. Fires consume dead and decaying matter, returning nutrients to the soil, which promotes new plant growth.
Habitat Diversity. By clearing dense vegetation, fires create a mosaic of different habitats, supporting a variety of plant and animal species.
Pest and Disease Control. Fires can reduce populations of pests and pathogens, contributing to the overall health of forests and grasslands.
The Bad: How Wildfires Alter Landscapes
Next, let’s discuss “the bad” and how wildfires potentially negatively alter the landscape:
Soil Becomes Water-Repellent. Intense heat from wildfires can cause soils to become hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. This occurs when organic materials in the soil are vaporized by the heat, and upon cooling, these vapors condense and form a waxy coating around soil particles. As a result, rainwater cannot easily penetrate the soil, leading to increased surface runoff and a higher risk of flash flooding.
Streams Become Polluted. After a wildfire, ash and debris can be washed into nearby rivers and streams during rainfall. This runoff may contain elevated levels of nutrients, sediments, and heavy metals, which can degrade water quality and pose risks to aquatic life and human health. For instance, following Colorado’s 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, water supplies experienced significant contamination, highlighting the long-term impacts wildfires can have on water resources.
Slopes Become Unstable. Vegetation plays a vital role in stabilizing soil on slopes. When wildfires destroy this vegetation, the roots that bind the soil together decay, increasing the likelihood of landslides and debris flows, especially during subsequent rainstorms. The USGS has developed models to assess and predict these post-wildfire debris-flow hazards, aiding in the development of early warning systems and mitigation strategies.
Invasive Plants Can Spread. Wildfires can create opportunities for invasive plant species to establish themselves in burned areas. These species often outcompete native vegetation, leading to reduced biodiversity and altered ecosystem functions. The USGS collaborates with land managers to monitor these changes and develop strategies to promote the recovery of native plant communities.
The Ugly: The Future Impacts of Wildfires on Society
Lastly, “the ugly.” Wildfires are not going away. In fact, wildfires in the United States are becoming more frequent, intense, and destructive. Several factors contribute to this trend, including prolonged droughts and increasing urban development in fire-prone areas. Scientists predict that future wildfire seasons will last longer, burn larger areas, and pose even greater challenges for communities, ecosystems, and emergency responders. The increasing severity of wildfires will have profound effects on public safety, public health, and the economy. For example, some ways wildfires will continue to be problematic include:
More Frequent Disruptions. Longer fire seasons will lead to more evacuations, power outages, and damage to infrastructure. Areas that were once considered safe may now face a growing threat of wildfire.
Air Quality and Health Concerns. Wildfire smoke contains harmful pollutants that can worsen respiratory illnesses, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting health conditions. Regions far from active fires can still experience dangerous air quality levels due to drifting smoke.
Economic Costs. Wildfires already cost billions of dollars annually for firefighting efforts, property damage, and lost economic productivity. As fires become more extreme, these costs are expected to rise, placing strain on local, state, and federal budgets.
Water and Food Security. Wildfires can damage watersheds, leading to long-term impacts on water supply and quality. Agricultural areas near fire zones may also suffer losses, reducing food production and increasing prices.
The USGS plays a vital role in helping communities recover from wildfires and prepare for future events. By partnering with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and state Geological Surveys, the USGS is driving innovation in fire science and management. These partnerships ensure that responders and decision-makers have the best available information to protect lives, property, and natural resources.
The USGS employs more than 100 scientists whose research focuses on fire-related topics, including using high-resolution remote sensing to characterize vegetative fuel loads; applying the latest satellite technology to detect fires and map wildfire perimeters; evaluating best practices to reduce wildfire risks; and assessing post-wildfire flooding and debris-flow hazards. This work also includes creating and sharing best practices to support recovery across landscapes. Together, USGS expertise and monitoring capabilities are greatly improving the safety of first responders and the public-at-large.
Researchers across the USGS are working with the interagency fire community to expand the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other rapid-computing capabilities. For example, the USGS uses artificial intelligence with satellite imagery to detect fire boundaries and develop burn severity maps, and to identify distribution and abundance of fire-adapted invasive species like cheatgrass in the Great Basin.
The USGS Wildland Fire Science Strategy aligns with national initiatives as defined in the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Developed by a broad swath of stakeholders at all levels, the Cohesive Strategy calls for science and management that promote resilient landscapes and fire-adapted communities for safe and effective wildfire responses.
Preparing for the Future
While wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems, things are changing and society must take proactive steps to protect lives, property, and the environment from the growing wildfire threat. Given the increasing risks, wildfire management strategies must evolve. Investments in forest management, improved building codes, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure will be crucial in reducing wildfire impacts. The USGS and other agencies will continue to play a key role in researching fire behavior, mapping high-risk areas, and providing vital information to help communities adapt.
Understanding both the positive and negative impacts of wildfires is essential for effective land management. The USGS’s comprehensive research and collaboration with other agencies enhance public safety, inform policy decisions, and promote resilient ecosystems in the face of wildfire events.
As part of the wildfire community, USGS is deeply connected to the people and landscapes we serve. Wildfires often affect our colleagues, friends, and neighbors, underscoring the importance of our mission to provide critical fire science. Each new fire reminds us of our shared responsibility to understand, adapt to, and mitigate wildfire risks in the face of future challenges.
Case Study: The January 2025 Los Angeles Fires
In January 2025, Southern California faced an unprecedented wildfire crisis as extreme Santa Ana winds fueled four large wildfires (the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth Fires) and dozens of smaller blazes that scorched the region. The fires burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed 12,000 structures, and led to at least 30 fatalities. Amid this devastation, the USGS delivered essential science and information that supported fire response efforts, assessed postfire hazards, and aided recovery in impacted communities.
The USGS worked alongside federal and state agencies, providing critical tools and information for every stage of the fire management.
Real-Time Fire Mapping.The USGS National Civil Applications Center generated wildfire boundary maps for the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires. Using satellite imagery, these maps were delivered to Incident Commanders each morning to inform daily firefighting strategies and evacuation plans.
Ecological Research and Recovery. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center advised land managers on fire behavior and postfire recovery strategies. This included addressing erosion risks, invasive species management, and advising how to use native vegetation to restore burned areas. The Suppression and Planning Actions for Restoring Communities and Species (SPARCS) team collaborated directly with resource managers to assess their needs and provide support.
Postfire Hazard Assessments. The USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center led assessments of postfire debris flow risks in the steep terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains. Working with the California Geological Survey and other partners, USGS scientists mapped soil burn severity and modelled the likelihood and volume of debris flows during future storms. This data will help the National Weather Service issue warnings and guide local recovery efforts.
On April 28, students in a Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship classcapped off their academic year-long entrepreneurial journey by pitching their technology-based startup ventures at the course’s final pitch day.
The event, held at the Innovation Partnership Building, featured eight student teams presenting to an audience of guest judges, peers, and visiting international students. A networking hour with light refreshments followed, offering time for further discussion and connection.
The course, co-taught by Dr. Leila Daneshmandi from the College of Engineering and Sam Nanayakkara from the School of Business, is an interdisciplinary, project-based class that brings together students from across campus to form teams and tackle real-world problems with innovative technology solutions.
This year’s cohort included students from five UConn schools and colleges: Engineering; Business; Nursing; Fine Arts; and Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. Participants ranged from first-year undergraduates to graduate students.
The Flexapy team presenting their mobile app pitch idea to a panel of judges. (UConn Photo/Sarah Redmond)
“The students have to work across disciplines, build communication skills, and collaborate as a team. That’s part of their learning journey,” said Nanayakkara. “They’re not just learning how to start a company, they’re learning how to work with people who think differently from them, how to adapt, and how to lead. These are skills that apply far beyond entrepreneurship, whether they go into startups, industry, or any field where innovation and collaboration matter.”
Many of the 26 students began developing their ventures in the fall semester’sTechnology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Icourse. That course introduces ideation, design thinking, and business models.
The spring sequel focuses on startup strategy, product-market fit, prototyping, and financials. Together, the courses form a year-long, hands-on sequence designed to help students build viable, scalable technology ventures. No prior experience is required to enroll in the Fall course.
This spring, Joseph Luciani from the College of Engineering’sInnovation Shopjoined the instructional team, providing students with support in prototyping and technical development, further strengthening the course’s emphasis on building real, working solutions.
The student teams focused on solutions across a wide range of areas, including charging infrastructure, AI regulations, energy trading, healthcare, elderly care, mobility assistance, physical therapy, and agriculture. The ventures pitched were OptiEnerX, Safety Assurance Index, SoleShift, Transferable, PowerBid, Goldilocks, SmarThyCheck, and Flexapy.
The audience also included 24 visiting students from the U.S. Department of State’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), who were on campus for a five- week entrepreneurship program hosted by UConn’s Global Training and Development Institute. The YSEALI students observed the final presentations, asked thoughtful questions, and joined the networking session following the pitches.
“The event was a perfect reflection of UConn’s entrepreneurial spirit and culture of innovation,” said Dr.TolgaTurker, Director of Global Entrepreneurial Programs at UConn’s Global Development and Training Institute.“Thestudent pitchesshowcasedbold imagination and real-world problem-solving, inspiring the YSEALI fellows to pursue their own ideas.”
A panel of guest judges provided constructive feedback and insights, helping teams refine their ideas and build confidence in presenting to external stakeholders.
The event also welcomed course alum Sage Bhagwansingh, founder of Sage Scenes, who returned to support the event and contributed videography, demonstrating the strong and growing community around UConn’s innovation programming.
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“It is incredibly rewarding for us to see how far these students have come, not just in developing their ventures but in how they think, communicate, and lead. We challenge them to step outside their comfort zones and take ownership of the process, from problem discovery to real-world prototyping and startup strategy,” saidDaneshmandi, who is also the director of the College of Engineering’s Entrepreneurship Hub.“What they gain is not just entrepreneurial knowledge. It is confidence, adaptability, and an innovative mindset that will stay with them no matter where they go next.”
Students interested in exploring technology entrepreneurship are encouraged to reach out to Daneshmandi. Both courses are offered jointly through the College of Engineering and the School of Business and are open to students of all majors and designed to support innovators at every stage.
For more information about support for technology innovation and entrepreneurship, please visit the eHub.
The Reading Room in William F. Starr Hall is considered the heart of the UConn Law campus, a place where the school community often gathers. So, it is fitting that the room is now named after Stuart F. Smith ’80, in honor of his extraordinary generosity and enduring impact on the law school.
“Today’s special event demonstrates our deep appreciation for Stuart’s exceptional generosity, through which he has shared his time, his talent, and his treasure to help build upon a legacy of excellence here at the Law School,” said UConn Law Dean Eboni S. Nelson during a dedication ceremony on April 21. “Stuart’s remarkable support has had and will continue to have a profound impact on our law school community for years to come.”
Stuart F. Smith ’80
Smith established the Stuart Smith 1980 Dean’s Discretionary Fund in 2024 to support the ambitious goals of faculty, staff, and students. The previous year, he made a gift to create the Stuart F. Smith 1980 Teaching Fellowship, a two-year program that prepares aspiring law professors to enter the legal academy.
“The Fellowship has given me the chance to be part of the intellectually vibrant, collegial, and supportive UConn Law faculty, where I’ve received valuable mentorship and feedback on my research and writing,” says Visiting Assistant Professor Gaurav Mukherjee, the inaugural Stuart F. Smith Teaching Fellow. “I’ve had the opportunity to teach courses on the intersections of human rights, education law, and constitutional change — topics that are especially urgent today. I’m deeply grateful to Mr. Smith for his principled vision, steadfast support, and commitment to excellence in legal education.”
Stuart F. Smith ’80 and UConn School of Law Dean Eboni S. Nelson
In addition to his philanthropic support, Smith has shared his expertise and his personal and professional journeys with students, such as members of the Business and Transactional Law Society, to help them achieve their career goals.
Smith attended the dedication and was surrounded by family and friends there to celebrate with him.
“When it comes to the Law School, I’ve gotten a lot more than I’ve given,” he said. “My most important ‘grade’ was my first year of law school because of the friendships I built and what I learned. And it’s such a privilege to be part of the community. So, I say, thank you, I’m really humbled by this. It’s very moving.”
PEMBROKE, Bermuda, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (“James River” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: JRVR) announced today its plans for Todd Sutherland, current Senior Vice President, Management Liability within the Company’s Excess and Surplus Lines (“E&S”) segment, to succeed Richard Schmitzer as President of the E&S segment effective May 5, 2025. Mr. Schmitzer announced that he will step down as Chief Executive Officer of the E&S segment effective July 31, 2025, a position he has held since 2010, and retire during the fourth quarter of 2025 after more than 45 years in the insurance industry.
“Richard Schmitzer has chosen to retire after a long and highly successful insurance career spanning over four decades,” said Frank D’Orazio, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Under Richard’s leadership, we have built a meaningfully relevant and resilient E&S business. We are grateful for his many contributions to the organization and wish him well in his retirement.”
“It has been an honor to serve as President and CEO of James River’s E&S segment, and I am very proud of our team, our relationship with the market and the franchise we have built,” said Mr. Schmitzer. “I am committed to working with Todd and the leadership team to achieve a seamless transition as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities and plans.”
In his new role, Mr. Sutherland will report directly to Mr. D’Orazio and will remain based in Richmond, Virginia, the headquarters of the Company’s E&S segment. Concurrent with the succession plan, the title of E&S segment Chief Executive Officer will be retired in lieu of segment President.
Mr. Sutherland joined James River in 2023 to establish the Management Liability division of the Company, aligned with efforts to drive diversified profitable growth across the E&S product portfolio. With over thirty years of industry experience, Mr. Sutherland previously served as Head of the US Central Zone at AXA XL (“AXA”) with oversight of a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of diversified property and casualty lines. Prior to AXA, Mr. Sutherland spent 13 years at Allied World Assurance Company, where he led the development and build out of the US Central Region across all commercial lines. Mr. Sutherland has also held underwriting management roles at Axis Capital and American International Group earlier in his career. He is a graduate of Miami University.
“On behalf of our entire organization, I am very excited to announce our plan for Todd to become our next E&S segment President,” said Mr. D’Orazio. “Todd is a proven leader with a track record of building and leading substantial, profitable businesses at several specialty insurance organizations. Our history together, and his most recent assignment at James River, give me great confidence in his ability to lead and inspire our organization to achieve continued success and reach new heights in the years to come.”
“Richard and his team have built a powerful franchise in the E&S marketplace, and I am thrilled to be in a position to lead the business as we continue to execute on our strategic plan of profitable growth,” said Mr. Sutherland. “I look forward to working with my colleagues across the Company as we deliver exceptional products and best in class service.”
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, such forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as believe, expect, seek, may, will, should, intend, project, anticipate, plan, estimate, guidance or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and uncertainties, they include, among others, the following: the inherent uncertainty of estimating reserves and the possibility that incurred losses may be greater than our estimate used to compute loss and loss adjustment expense reserves; inaccurate estimates and judgments in our risk management may expose us to greater risks than intended; downgrades in the financial strength rating or outlook of our regulated insurance subsidiaries impacting our competitive position and ability to attract and retain insurance business that our subsidiaries write and ultimately our financial condition; the potential loss of key members of our management team or key employees, and our ability to attract and retain personnel; adverse economic and competitive factors resulting in the sale of fewer policies than expected or an increase in the frequency or severity of claims, or both; the impact of a higher than expected inflationary environment on our reserves, loss adjustment expenses, the values of our investments and investment returns, and our compensation expenses; exposure to credit risk, interest rate risk and other market risk in our investment portfolio and our reinsurers; reliance on a select group of brokers and agents for a significant portion of our business and the impact of our potential failure to maintain such relationships; reliance on a select group of customers for a significant portion of our business and the impact of our potential failure to maintain, or decision to terminate, such relationships; our ability to obtain insurance and reinsurance coverage at prices and on terms that allow us to transfer risk, adequately protect our Company against financial loss and that supports our growth plans; losses resulting from reinsurance counterparties failing to pay us on reinsurance claims, insurance companies with whom we have a fronting arrangement failing to pay us for claims, or a former customer with whom we have an indemnification arrangement failing to perform its reimbursement obligations, and our potential inability to demand or maintain adequate collateral to mitigate such risks; the inherent uncertainty of estimating reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and the possibility that reinsurance may be less than our estimate of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses; inadequacy of premiums we charge to compensate us for our losses incurred; changes in laws or government regulation, including tax or insurance laws and regulations; changes in U.S. tax laws (including associated regulations) and the interpretation of certain provisions applicable to insurance/reinsurance businesses with U.S. and non-U.S. operations, which may be retroactive and could have a significant effect on us including, among other things, by potentially increasing our tax rate, as well as on our shareholders; in the event we did not qualify for the insurance company exception to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules and were therefore considered a PFIC, there could be material adverse tax consequences to an investor that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation; the Company or its foreign subsidiary becoming subject to U.S. federal income taxation; a failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions we utilize to shield us from unanticipated financial losses or legal exposures, or other liabilities; losses from catastrophic events, such as natural disasters and terrorist acts, which substantially exceed our expectations and/or exceed the amount of reinsurance we have purchased to protect us from such events; potential effects on our business of emerging claim and coverage issues; the potential impact of internal or external fraud, operational errors, systems malfunctions or cyber security incidents; our ability to manage our growth effectively; failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended; changes in our financial condition, regulations or other factors that may restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to pay us dividends; and an adverse result in any litigation or legal proceedings we are or may become subject to. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties, as well as others that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.
About James River Group Holdings, Ltd.
James River Group Holdings, Ltd. is a Bermuda-based insurance holding company that owns and operates a group of specialty insurance companies. The Company operates in two specialty property-casualty insurance segments: Excess and Surplus Lines and Specialty Admitted Insurance. Each of the Company’s regulated insurance subsidiaries are rated “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Visit James River Group Holdings, Ltd. on the web at www.jrvrgroup.com.
Labor’s historic election victory means the Albanese government has a rare opportunity to pursue a big, bold reform agenda. The scale of the victory all but guarantees a third term in office after the next election in 2028, and entrenches Anthony Albanese’s authority as prime minister.
The government may opt to play it safe and limit its legislative agenda to the policies it took to the election. But if it was to chance its arm, which substantial changes should it pursue that could make a real difference to Australia’s long-term future?
We asked three experts to nominate the top policy priorities for a second Albanese government. Here are their responses.
Yee-Fui Ng
Associate Professor of Law, Monash University
Advancing Voice and Truth with Indigenous Australians should be a priority. This would build on the comprehensive rejection of the politics of division by the Australian people.
After the defeat of the Voice referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition, the Coalition reignited the culture wars by criticising “woke” schools and Peter Dutton’s attack on Indigenous welcome to country at Anzac Day ceremonies.
But that negative message did not resonate with modern multicultural Australia, with its diverse population and identities. Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong’s victory speeches on Saturday night emphasised a kinder and more inclusive politics, where all Australians are recognised and no one is left behind.
The Labor government now has a strong mandate to take more significant action on Indigenous issues. Aboriginal people experience higher rates of incarceration, and significant disparities in health, education and employment compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Reform measures could be introduced through legislation, rather than by trying to change the constitution.
Closing the gap and revisiting Voice and Truth should be a priority for the second Albanese government. ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock
Another pressing reform is bolder action on climate change. There is a growing urgency to tackle the effects of global warming, with an increase in environmental degradation and natural disasters globally.
Peter Dutton’s proposal to build seven nuclear reactors on Australian soil was comprehensively repudiated at the election.
European countries have harnessed the potential of regenerative energies, with the proliferation of wind farms and electric cars. Australia needs to lift its game and be on the same path towards a more sustainable future.
We are custodians of the Earth for future generations. It is incumbent on the Labor government to put forward a stronger agenda for a cleaner, more liveable planet.
Helen Hodgson
Professor at Curtin Law School and Curtin Business School, Curtin University
Second terms are often regarded as the best time strategically for governments to legislate difficult, but necessary reforms. It will be no different for the re-elected Albanese government, which will command a large majority in the new parliament.
While many people consider negative gearing to be the main concern in relation to investment in housing, reforming the CGT discount would be a more effective way to address increases in housing prices.
Negative gearing is only effective as a wealth-building strategy if there is a payoff at the end through the concessional taxation on the capital gain. Reducing the CGT discount would limit the appeal of negative gearing.
It would also flow through to other forms of investment that might not be delivering productivity gains, including some investments within family trusts.
Reforming CGT would revisit a contentious Labor policy that was roundly rejected at the 2019 election. But the housing crisis has deepened since then and many voters would now see an overhaul as necessary and timely.
The second recommendation I would make would be to address the inequalities that arise from tax exempt superannuation. Prior to 2007, withdrawals from super funds were taxed concessionally, but were not fully exempt.
In the retirement phase, members are required to withdraw a minimum amount from their superannuation accounts. But these days they do it totally tax-free.
The government should consider taxing these withdrawals, subject to a tax credit that reflects the tax paid by the fund prior to retirement phase. It would also be subject to the existing Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset, which can reduce the amount of tax paid.
The rates of these credits could be tweaked to ensure that only those in the wealthiest 20% are affected. This would level the playing field so the tax payable by most retirees with modest superannuation balances would fall within these two concessions.
These two reforms would help reduce wealth inequality in Australia and raise funds for social spending, including increases in the JobSeeker payment.
Intifar Chowdhury
Lecturer in Government, Flinders University
Despite being one of the most pressing concerns for young Australians, mental health did not get much airtime during the election campaign.
This is striking given the evidence. According to the 2024 Australian Youth Barometer, 98% of young people aged 18–24 report feelings of anxiety or depression, and nearly 40% experience a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. These aren’t fringe numbers, they are endemic.
Labor has pledged $1 billion to expand access to free public mental health care, with a welcome focus on young people. But funding more services is only part of the solution.
Experts argue that simply increasing the number of people given access to treatment and support won’t go far enough if those people only receive short term or fragmented care. A more meaningful step would be to double the number of free sessions available to people suffering complex mental health needs. Good care takes time, trust and continuity.
More fundamentally, the current policy focus remains too clinical. By contrast, the most effective models for youth care are more holistic. Many young people grappling with mental illness are also dealing with unstable housing, drug use, educational disruption, or loneliness.
Psychosocial supports such as social workers, peer mentors and housing liaisons, are essential to wraparound care. Yet, they remain underfunded.
The new Medicare Mental Health Centres and Youth Specialist Care Centres, which were promised by Labor during the campaign, should not just offer more of the same. Policymakers must rethink the model entirely: multidisciplinary, community-driven, culturally safe, and youth-informed.
They must also address why young men, who make up a majority of suicide deaths, are the least likely to seek help.
Mental health policy should be local, flexible, and expansive. Right now, it still feels centralised, cautious, and underdone.
Improving the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians, especially young people, would be a valuable way of ensuring the government doesn’t squander the time and space its been given by voters to do something truly valuable and reformative.
The authors 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.
Joseph Nocella, Jr. has begun serving as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York as per the authority of United States Attorney Pamela Bondi. Judge Nocella was sworn in on Monday, May 5, 2025 by United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. He will serve as Interim United States Attorney for a period of 120 days or until a Presidential nominee has been confirmed by the Senate.
Judge Nocella stated: “I am deeply honored that President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi have appointed me United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. It is especially gratifying to return to the very District where I began my prosecutorial career. Together with the exemplary staff that has made the Eastern District renown for its excellence, and the dedicated law enforcement agencies that work with the District, I look forward to prosecuting zealously the narcotics-traffickers, gang members, terrorists, human-traffickers and other criminals who have plagued the people of Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Queens and Richmond Counties. I would also like to thank Acting United States Attorney John J. Durham for his service and leadership.”
Immediately before his appointment, Judge Nocella, 60, was serving as a Nassau County Family Court Judge, following several years of service as a Nassau County District Judge. Judge Nocella began his career in public service as the first law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence M. McKenna, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Judge Nocella continued his career in public service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Eastern District of New York, where he served from 1991 to 1995, prosecuting cases involving narcotics-trafficking, organized crime, money laundering and fraud, among others. Judge Nocella was in private practice in New York and Los Angeles from 1989 to 1990, and from 1995 to 2010. He also held various public service roles in government on Long Island, including Hempstead Town Attorney, Oyster Bay Town Attorney, Managing Attorney of the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and Counsel to the Nassau County Executive and Legislative Offices. Judge Nocella graduated from Chaminade High School in 1982, received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in 1986 and graduated from Columbia University School of Law in 1989.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)
Janesville, WI – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) announced Joshua Utley as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District.
WINNER: Cow in the Way by Joshua Utley
Joshua Utley and his graphite piece, Cow in the Way, is the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Joshua is a Junior at the Prairie School in Racine, where he is taught by Ms. Vicki Schmitz.
“Congratulations, Joshua, on winning the 2025 Congressional Art Competition! Each year, I’m impressed by the talent and creativity of students throughout the First Congressional District. Cow in the Way reflects the talent of Wisconsin’s next generation and the impact our art teachers have on students across our state,” said Steil. “I look forward to seeing your piece hang in the U.S. Capitol.”
NOTE: The Congressional Art Competition is an annual competition open to high school students from across the United States. Each Congressional office selects one winner to display in the tunnel connecting the Cannon House Office Building to the U.S. Capitol traveled daily by members of Congress, staff, and visitors to Washington, D.C.
A new report from New Zealand’s Classification Office has revealed how young people are being exposed to harmful content online and what it is doing to their mental health.
The Classification Office spoke with ten different groups of young people aged between 12 and 25 from a diverse range of backgrounds.
They found that encountering extremely harmful – and sometime illegal – content is part of the online experience for young people. And they are often trying to deal with this without adequate support or guidance.
Unintentional consumption
The types of content young people talked about most involved graphic depictions of real-world violence – including executions, mass shootings, suicide and extreme cruelty towards animals.
Seeing extremely harmful content was mostly – but not always – described as unintentional or unwanted. Participants described encountering this content in much the same way they engaged with other types of content.
Participants talked about coming across this content in their social media feeds, in chat groups, or having content shared directly by others either online or in person. One male high school student said:
You can just be in like a server that’s for, like, a game that you like, or a YouTuber or something, and someone can just send something that’s crazy.
Another male high school student commented:
Yeah, I got sent something of people shooting themselves.
Even if young people did not actively look for this content, some engaged with it when it was shared or showed up unexpectedly in their social media feeds. Curiosity – or a desire to test their boundaries – lead to some young people looking at content even if they were aware this could be harmful or disturbing.
One male from a community group said:
I’ve seen gore […] Just out of curiosity, me and my friend […] well, someone actually posted it on their WhatsApp status. We asked the guy, “Where did you get this video from?” He said it was from a website, so we went there […] but there was some bad stuff. So […] we decided not to watch it again.
Content depicting real-world graphic violence, injury or death was mentioned in every group the Classifications Office spoke to. Participants also talked about young people sharing sexual images or videos of themselves or others online.
Many young people say they are coming across harmful content online unintentionally. Motortion Films/Shutterstock
Lingering impacts
Participants described a range of impacts young people may experience when exposed to extremely harmful content, or harmful content more broadly. This includes emotional or psychological impacts, ranging from short-term shock or disgust to a longer-term impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
Young people also discussed the harmful impacts of content on individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours. They used words such as “horrified”, “petrified” “traumatised” or “embarrassed”.
Others talked about not being able to “unsee” content.
In a written response, one high school student said:
harm can be something that gets on your mind and doesn’t leave it and keeps coming back again and again at times that you don’t want that thought to come into your head.
Seeking guidance
For many parents, the immediate reaction to finding their teen has watched harmful content might be to take away a young person’s device or attempt to ban them from access to the internet.
But young people involved in this research stressed the importance of being able to talk without fear of criticism or punishment. They felt that judgement or punitive actions – such as taking away devices – tend to hurt rather than help.
Some reported that strong emotional reactions or assumptions can complicate the situation and lead them to avoid reaching out altogether.
A former female Youth Advisory Panel member said:
it’s recognising how unhelpful it is ‘cause it’s just like, “Well, if you weren’t on that damned phone, then you wouldn’t have seen this stuff.” So I imagine if someone was to find objectional content then they wouldn’t feel like they could go to their parents, and then what do you do then? So I guess trying to build that understanding and bridge for communication.
Participants consistently emphasised the need for supportive and understanding responses when seeking help with difficult content or online experiences. They wanted adults to remain calm and allow them to fully share their experiences before reacting.
What they are seeking is practical guidance that acknowledges their efforts and agency in managing challenging situations.
One female high school student said:
[If my parents are] worried about something that’s happened, we’ll sort it out first, and then we’ll talk about their worries afterwards. And so like, if there’s something gone wrong, I will talk to them first because I know that they’ll have my back and they’ll sort it out for me. And then, if there are some worries, we’ll talk about it after things are sorted out.
There are several things parents can do to help young people cope with what they have seen online.
Reassuring young people that it’s not their fault can reduce any feelings of guilt or shame. Helping them to process what they’ve seen by acknowledging the upsetting nature of it and allowing space to discuss it can help process any intense emotions that may arise.
Finally, parents need to be encouraging young people to think critically about how viewing this material might affect them in the long term and any steps they can take to reduce their exposure to it. This will help young people build their own long-term solutions and competence in managing their online experiences.
Dr Dougal Sutherland is principal psychologist at Umbrella Wellbeing.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the need for collective action to drive inclusive economic growth and job creation, while safeguarding the rights and gains of South African workers.
“At a time when our singular focus is on inclusive economic growth and job creation, we must continue to work together to improve the lives of every South African worker. Let us use the hard-won gains of workers to create new opportunities for all,” President Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter.
The President’s newsletter comes as the nation has just observed Workers’ Day on 1 May, which is commemorated across the world in honour of the struggles of workers for fair labour standards and conditions of work.
The President noted that over the past 31 years, the country has made considerable progress in improving its labour laws and protecting the rights of workers.
He highlighted that the country emerged from a past where black workers were deliberately denied their rights.
For many years, he said, black workers could not be organised into unions. Through job reservation, they were denied access to certain occupations and they often worked in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.
“Today, the rights of workers in South Africa are protected and enforced. The Constitution enshrines the rights of workers as it does the rights of every person who lives in South Africa. Since 1994, we have passed progressive laws to give effect to the rights of workers,” the President said.
Following extensive consultation with business, labour and civil society, government introduced a National Minimum Wage in 2019, setting a wage below which no worker may be paid.
Studies have found that since its introduction, the National Minimum Wage has led to a significant increase in hourly wages for workers and has also played a role in reducing the gap between the highest and lowest paid workers.
“We have sought to break from our apartheid past, where workers laboured under oppressive conditions to swell the profits of companies without receiving even the most basic benefits. This includes measures to advance worker ownership in companies. An increasing number of workers are part of worker share ownership programmes,” he said.
The President emphasised that government has been deliberate in its efforts to protect the rights of women workers.
He highlighted that the Employment Equity Act prohibits unfair discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, pregnancy and marital status.
“Female workers are guaranteed specific entitlements such as maternity and family responsibility leave, and we have laws that safeguard against sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the workplace,” he said.
At a time of constrained economic growth and high unemployment, the President said there have been calls from some people, including political parties, for the country’s labour laws to be ‘relaxed’ in response to the prevailing economic climate.
“Stimulating economic growth and job creation and retaining worker protections are not mutually exclusive. In fact, worker rights have been found to improve productivity and thereby enhance the growth of companies and the economy. They also help to distribute the benefits of growth more equally and improve economic stability.
“In addition, South Africa’s labour laws are part of our effort to overcome the structural inequality of apartheid,” he said.
President Ramaphosa noted that the latest report from the Employment Equity Commission has revealed how far the country still have to go in ending the race-based disparities that exist in the economy.
Despite Africans constituting the majority of the economically active population, he said the majority of top management positions in the private sector are still held by white males.
This trend is observed at senior management level in nearly every economic category. Black South Africans are predominantly in the semi-skilled and unskilled categories.
While President Ramaphosa acknowledged progress made since the introduction of employment equity legislation, he said the findings showed that much more needs to be done to transform the racial composition of economic ownership, control, and management.
“Employment equity is not the only area where challenges remain. The International Labour Organisation has highlighted problems of compliance with labour laws in South Africa, as well as inadequate safeguards for workers in the burgeoning informal sector.
“That is why part of our G20 Presidency involves engagements with labour over the consolidation of worker rights. We have held fruitful discussions in this regard with the International Trade Union Confederation and others.
“Despite these challenges, as a country we will continue to use our progressive labour laws to correct the imbalances of the past, and to ensure that these protections translate into tangible benefits for workers,” President Ramaphosa said.
He also called on business in particular to take the necessary measures to ensure that their workplaces reflect both the letter and spirit of laws such as the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“Companies should go beyond compliance by actively fostering diversity and inclusion as envisaged in our Constitution by addressing historical inequalities and create opportunities for under-represented groups among their workers, such as women, the youth and persons with disabilities.
“They should also ensure that their workplaces are spaces where dignity, respect and human rights are upheld in daily practice and not just in policies,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
Headline: Unlock what’s next: Microsoft at May 19-22 Red Hat Summit 2025
Learn more about the solutions that Microsoft and Red Hat have to offer that drive technological advancements and empower organizations.
As the tech world eagerly anticipates Red Hat Summit 2025, Microsoft is proud to announce its role as a platinum sponsor at the event. Red Hat Summit is a premier enterprise open source event for IT professionals to learn, collaborate, and innovate on technologies from the datacenter and public cloud to edge and beyond. This year, Microsoft’s collaboration with Red Hat promises to be a highlight, showcasing the power of partnership and the innovative solutions that arise from it.
Over the years, this partnership has achieved significant milestones, transforming the way businesses operate and deliver value to their customers. By combining Microsoft’s cloud expertise with Red Hat’s open-source leadership, we have created a synergy that drives technological advancements and empowers organizations to achieve more.
One of the key benefits of this partnership is the seamless integration of Red Hat technologies with Microsoft Azure. This integration provides customers with a robust and flexible platform to build, deploy, and manage their applications. Whether it’s modernizing legacy systems or developing new cloud-native applications, the combination of Azure and Red Hat offers a plethora of capabilities and support. For instance, Red Hat OpenShift on Azure enables organizations to run containerized applications with ease, leveraging the scalability and security of Azure. Additionally, Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure provides a reliable and secure operating system for mission-critical workloads.
Build your next great app with free Azure services today >
At Red Hat Summit 2025, attendees will have the opportunity to explore these technologies in depth. Microsoft and Red Hat will showcase new features and integrations that enhance the capabilities of Azure and Red Hat solutions. From improved performance to enhanced security, these advancements are designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses in today’s digital landscape.
RHEL for WSL: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is now available for use with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL is a feature of Microsoft Windows that allows developers to run Linux distributions. With RHEL for WSL, developers can run a RHEL development environment on Windows without having to spin up a traditional virtual machine (VM). With a no-cost Red Hat Developer subscription, developers can download the latest release of RHEL as a WSL image during their install and easily run both Windows and RHEL at the same time on their Windows machine.
Azure Red Hat OpenShift: Microsoft and Red Hat are enhancing security with Confidential Containers on Azure Red Hat OpenShift, now in public preview. This feature offers hardware-level protection for workloads via memory encryption and secure execution environments, addressing compliance needs in sectors like healthcare and financial services. Managed identity for Azure Red Hat OpenShift is also in public preview, transitioning organizations from static service principals to dynamic, token-based credentials. This reduces operational complexity and security risks, facilitating container platform adoption in regulated environments. Azure Red Hat OpenShift has expanded to the Spain Central region with plans for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Central and Microsoft Azure Government (MAG) regions by Q2 2025. Enhancements include OpenShift 4.16 support, enterprise-grade cluster-wide proxy, and Ddsv5 instance performance optimization. Additionally, OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift is entering public preview, enabling customers to accelerate VM migration to Azure without refactoring while unifying management of VMs and containers on a single platform.
RHEL landing zone: The Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on Azure Landing Zone guide provides everything needed to deploy, manage, and scale RHEL instances using Azure-specific system images. Software lifecycle automation is simplified with Red Hat Satellite and Red Hat Satellite Capsule, ensuring timely updates and patches. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) are enhanced through Azure’s on-demand capacity reservations, guaranteeing reliable availability in Azure regions. Optimized identity management infrastructure deployment minimizes latencies and eliminates replication failures.
Application awareness and wave planning in Azure Migrate: The new application-aware method sets the stage for grouping dependent resources into waves and provides technical and business insights for the entire application to help you decide on Azure targets and tooling. Migrate applications with dependent workloads, as one to collocate in Azure for optimal performance and cost.
JBoss EAP on App Service: JBoss EAP on App Service is a jointly developed and supported managed solution from Red Hat and Microsoft for running enterprise Java applications with maximum productivity. We have recently made important changes to make JBoss EAP on App Service as cost-effective as possible. This includes a 60% plus license fee price reduction for Pay-As-You-Go plans, memory optimized SKUs, a free tier for a lower barrier to entry, the availability of JBoss EAP 8, as well as a soon-to-be-released ability to Bring-Your-Own-Subscription to App Service.
JBoss EAP on Azure Virtual Machines: Robust solutions to run JBoss EAP on Azure Virtual Machines are now generally available (GA). The solutions are developed and supported by Red Hat and Microsoft. The solutions include templates available in the Azure Portal to automate most boilerplate resource provisioning tasks. The solutions also include JBoss EAP VM images published in the Azure Marketplace.
Customer success stories
The success of the Microsoft and Red Hat partnership is best demonstrated through the experiences of our customers. Organizations across various industries have leveraged Azure and Red Hat solutions to achieve remarkable results. For example, Teranet utilized Azure Red Hat OpenShift for a digital transformation, migrating mission-critical systems from on-premises to Azure. Outcomes included improved automation, enhanced customer confidence, and significant cost savings to the tune of CA5.6 million.
Western Sydney University adopted Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure to enhance the security and reliability of its critical systems.
By providing innovative solutions and exceptional support, we empower our customers to overcome challenges and drive business growth.
What to expect at Red Hat Summit 2025
Red Hat Summit 2025 promises to be an exciting event, with a wide range of sessions, workshops, and presentations. Microsoft will be actively involved, sharing insights and expertise on various topics. Attendees can look forward to exclusive announcements and product launches that will shape the future of technology.
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A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 27, 2025.AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman
In the first 100 days of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has shown a willingness to lean on airpower when his administration decides that military force is necessary abroad.
This turn to airpower for Trump makes sense to me. Airpower is cheap when compared with ground wars, and it usually comes with fewer casualties for those conducting the strikes. This helps explain why U.S. leaders, including Trump as a self-proclaimed “anti-war president,” typically find it attractive.
But if the Trump administration is not careful, it could fall into what military strategists informally call the “airpower trap.” This happens when the stated objectives of military force are too big for airpower alone to achieve, potentially leading to a face-saving escalation of conflict that could – if history is a guide – draw in ground forces from the U.S. or their local allies.
U.S. presidents such as Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all fell into this trap. In Vietnam, the Balkans and Syria, respectively, all ended up with far bigger wars than they bargained for, with consequences for civilian casualties, international peace and damage to America’s reputation abroad.
As an expert on U.S. national security policy and the Middle East region, I believe the Trump administration is in danger of falling into the airpower trap in Yemen and could potentially do the same in Iran should it elect to use direct force against Tehran. Recognizing this military and historical risk, and opting for some kind of off ramp from continued airstrikes, might be the best hope the U.S. government has to avoid a further escalation into full-scale war.
The limits of air bombardment
Research shows airpower is most effective when it’s used for limited objectives – things like taking out leaders of terrorist groups or degrading rival capabilities – or in support of ground operations for more ambitious ends, like bolstering or overturning governments.
Given the sophistication of U.S. airpower, a common fallacy among American strategists in particular is to think big strategic gains can be achieved solely by dropping bombs from above.
But when airpower alone fails, leaders can feel the pressure to expand the scope of conflict and end up with bigger military commitments than expected.
Johnson’s initial airpower-only strategy for attempting to stop communism in South Vietnam failed miserably, leading to his decision to commit half a million U.S. troops into war. That expanded conflict presaged years of war, with massive humanitarian and political consequences for people in Southeast Asia and America, as well as lasting reputational damage to the U.S.
Yemenis carry the coffins of civilians killed in U.S. airstrikes while participating in their funeral procession on May 1, 2025, in Sanaa, Yemen. Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images
Worried about U.S. and NATO credibility, Clinton escalated airstrikes – nearly to the point of introducing ground troops – for the ambitious end of stopping genocide in the Balkans during the early 1990s. Likewise, Obama’s initial airpower-only strategy to “degrade and destroy” the Islamic State group quickly faltered, leading Obama, under intense pressure at home and abroad, to introduce thousands of ground troops to combat the group’s territorial gains across Syria and Iraq.
In each case, relying on airpower alone ultimately failed to meet their objectives.
The airpower trap in Yemen
There are reasons to believe that conditions in Yemen mean that Trump, too, could be falling into a similar trap.
The humanitarian crisis from the brutal bombing campaign by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in the late 2010s had a similar effect.
Airpower played a big part then, too. The Saudi coalition, supported by the U.S., engaged in some 25,000 air raids against the Houthis, killing or maiming approximately 19,000 civilians. Yet despite such overwhelming force, the Houthis kept seizing territory and eventually won the civil war, according to experts.
They have been the country’s de facto rulers ever since.
Now, Trump is exploring options to further escalate to defeat the Houthis. Reports indicate his administration is considering arming, training and enabling anti-Houthi resistance fighters who are loosely affiliated with Yemen’s government in exile to launch ground operations.
Often, U.S. proxies fail on both strategic and humanitarian terms, leading to further escalation, strategic quagmires for the U.S., and loss of life and political sovereignty for the people under attack. South Vietnam was an instructive example.
Riven by corruption, poor governance, weakness and political infighting, the South Vietnamese army and government proved so ineffective at fighting the North Vietnamese that Johnson decided to launch a ground war once U.S. airpower failed.
Today, the anti-Houthi resistance in Yemen looks a lot more like the South Vietnamese government than the Kurdish YPG. According to a 2025 report from the Soufan Center, a security think tank, the anti-Houthi forces are poorly trained and considered incapable of pulling off victories over the Houthis without major U.S. support.
Meanwhile, the anti-Houthi resistance consists of an estimated 85,000 fighters, compared with some 350,000 for the Houthis.
Absent continuing the air war or escalating it into a more all-encompassing conflict, U.S. officials can still pursue diplomacy in order to try to find a political solution to the Yemen conflict.
Despite the Trump’s administration public threats, the U.S. is already negotiating with the Houthis’ main sponsor, Iran.
For their part, the Houthis continue to insist that they will stop attacking ships in the Red Sea if the U.S.-backed Israeli war in Gaza halts, something that happened during the recent Gaza ceasefire.
The Trump administration might consider seeking alternatives, such as direct or indirect talks, if it wants to avoid getting stuck in a widening conflict in Yemen. History is full of examples of what happens when airpower takes on a logic of its own.
Charles Walldorf is a Senior Fellow at the think tank Defense Priorities.
[. The Alberta Recovery Model is focused on ensuring Albertans have access to evidence-based mental health and addiction care to pursue recovery and personal wellness. This approach has included significant capital investments for new infrastructure, to build more capacity and open more beds within the mental health and addiction system.
To continue development of the Alberta Recovery Model, government is putting forward more than $141 million of capital funding for site improvements and new infrastructure at the Alberta Hospital Edmonton (AHE) campus. AHE has been delivering mental health services for more than 100 years, first opening its doors in 1923. With little capital investment for several decades for AHE, it is time to bring new life to the facilities and expand services delivered.
“Alberta Hospital Edmonton has provided psychiatric care to Albertans for more than 100 years. Adding new addiction treatment facilities to the campus is a step forward in building mental health and addiction system capacity. This investment will ensure Alberta Hospital Edmonton is helping Albertans pursue recovery for years to come.”
The capital funding will support upgrades for campus infrastructure, unit renovations and demolition of vacated buildings at Alberta Hospital Edmonton. This investment will also support building the Edmonton Recovery Community and the Northern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre on the AHE campus. Overall, the capital investment will help maintain important hospital infrastructure for the existing 460 treatment beds and outpatient psychiatric services while also increasing addiction treatment capacity within Edmonton by 225 beds.
Construction of both the Edmonton Recovery Community and the Northern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre is expected to begin in 2026.
“For many years, the Alberta Hospital Edmonton has played an important role supporting Albertans with complex mental health issues. We are proud to support a modernization project that will not only enhance this facility but also ensure that the most advanced and effective care is available for those in need.”
“Our commitment to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care goes hand in hand with our responsibility to provide safe, modern environments for both patients and staff. This investment in new infrastructure allows us to better support Albertans on their recovery journey while ensuring Recovery Alberta’s clinicians and teams have the facilities they need to do their vital work safely and effectively.”
Edmonton Recovery Community
A capital investment of $38 million will go towards building the Edmonton Recovery Community, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2027. The 75-bed facility will provide residents with holistic, long-term addiction treatment for up to one year.
Recovery communities focus on mental health and well-being, individual and group therapy, development of healthy habits and social skills, employment training and other supports that put residents on a pathway to success. The goal is for every participant to leave the program not only drug free, but as healthy members of society with strong connections to the community.
Northern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre
More than $90 million in capital funding will go towards building the Northern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre, which is expected to be completed in 2029. This new 150-bed centre will provide patients with access to a full spectrum of mental health and addiction supports to address their complex health needs. The centre will include spaces for intake assessments, medically supported detox, counselling, individual and group therapy and more for those receiving care under the proposed Compassionate Intervention Act.
As part of the public health care system in Alberta, the Northern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre will be operated by Recovery Alberta and provide intensive treatment to patients under a secure compassionate intervention care plan. The goal is to provide stabilization, assessment and treatment so Albertans can successfully transition to community supports, such as a recovery community or psychiatric treatment, to continue their recovery journey.
Alberta Hospital Edmonton revitalization
More than $13 million in capital maintenance and renewal funding will go towards updating the AHE campus infrastructure, including various mechanical upgrades, water main repairs, boiler repairs, roof replacements and unit renovations (building 8). Two vacant buildings, building 1 and building 11, will be demolished along with the water tower. Planning for the demolition of three more vacant buildings (buildings 2, 5 and 7) is also underway.
Since 1923, AHE has played an important role in caring for those with complex mental health needs. Today, the hospital continues to provide both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care to Albertans. This includes 460 treatment beds for forensic psychiatric care, adult psychiatric care and the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs program. Treatment beds for youth under mandatory treatment orders will eventually move to the Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre upon completion, which will create more treatment space for adult care at AHE.
Patient care at AHE will not be impacted by the construction of the new buildings or the demolition of the vacant buildings.
Key Facts
Alberta Hospital Edmonton opened in 1923 following the First World War, and was primarily focused on treating veterans with what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder.
AHE has a strong history of mental health care with a focus on recovery-oriented care and addressing substance use challenges.
In the 1970s and 80s, Alberta Hospital Edmonton was the province’s largest psychiatric treatment facility with about 650 treatment beds.
Building 1 was the first dormitory on the hospital campus and contained the Highwood School until closing in 2006; building 11 was known as the Cottonwood building.
Related information
Compassionate Intervention
Recovery Communities
Alberta Recovery Model
Related news
Delivering on compassionate intervention (April 15, 2025)
Laying the foundation for compassionate intervention (Feb. 24, 2025)
Province more than doubling youth treatment beds (Nov. 26, 2024)
Alberta opens another world-class recovery community (Aug. 15, 2024)
“School bus drivers play an integral role in our education system, safely and efficiently transporting more than 335,000 Alberta students to and from school every day. In recognition of these everyday heroes, I am pleased to proclaim the first Monday of May as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in Alberta, every year.
“Alberta’s school bus drivers are responsible for more than just transportation – they are the first friendly face a student sees each morning and the steady hand that brings them home each afternoon.
“School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is an opportunity for all Albertans to recognize the hard work, professionalism and care with which drivers do their job.
“Thank you to Alberta’s school bus drivers for everything you do.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)
WASHINGTON – On Saturday, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) hosted his congressional district’s eleventh-annual reception for the Congressional Art Competition at the Otis College of Art and Design. Students from 19 different high schools submitted 185 pieces of art for this year’s competition. These submissions included 45 photographs, 65 paintings, 38 drawings, 19 mixed-media pieces, and 18 other pieces that included computer-generated art. The winner, Alyssa Kim from Palisades Charter High School, submitted a piece called “Your Honor, Bananas!”
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students who either reside in or attend school in California’s 36th District. The first-place winner’s art will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol along with winners from Congressional districts across the country. The winner will receive a trip to Washington D.C. in June to be recognized at an awards ceremony. The second and third place winners will have their art displayed for one year in the Congressman’s D.C. and District offices. First, second, and third place winners, as well as honorable mentions, received scholarships. All student participants received certificates and a swag bag.
“I am grateful to get to represent such a talented and creative district,” Rep. Lieu said. “Our annual Art Competition is a fantastic showcase of just how talented our students are in the 36th District. There were so many fantastic pieces submitted that are a testament to the skill and unique point of view of the young people in our community. I want to congratulate all the winners and honorable mention recipients, and I look forward to seeing the artwork of our winner, Alyssa, hanging in the Capitol.”
Below are the results of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition:
Overall Winners:
1st Place: Alyssa Kim, “Your Honor, Bananas!” | Grade 10, Palisades Charter High School
2nd Place: Daniel Arredondo, “Home is Here” | Grade 12, Redondo Union High School
3rd Place: Axel Bolanos Garcia, “After the Fires” | Grade 11, Palos Verdes High School
Honorable Mentions:
Photography: Zoe Peyton Carlson, “Urban Flight” | Grade 9, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Painting: Audrey Cox, “Bloom” | Grade 11, Rolling Hills Preparatory School
Drawing: Azul Ramirez, “Need, Want, Reality” | Grade 12, New West Charter High School
Mixed Media: Rowena Lee, “Strings of Reminiscence” | Grade 11, Chadwick School
Other: Victoria Higareda, “Where did you go?” | Grade 11, Da Vinci Design
Member’s Choice: Sooyoon Jeong, “Clothing the Rift” | Grade 10, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Thomas Klassen, Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, York University, Canada
Prime Minister Mark Carney is headed to Washington, D.C., for a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump as the American president continues his trade war and annexation threats against Canada.
“We are meeting as heads of our government,” Carney said at a news conference late last week. “I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.”
It was a result that, at first blush, allowed each party to claim that it won, or at least that it did not totally lose. That sets up a Parliamentary session that will feature several interesting dynamics.
The NDP under an outgoing Jagmeet Singh managed to hold onto the balance of power in the upcoming minority Parliament for a third consecutive time. Elizabeth May continues to represent the Green Party in the House of Commons. Yves-François Blanchet kept the Bloc Québécois relevant for voters in Québec.
Even Justin Trudeau, no longer in politics, won — his legacy is not in the gutter due to a predicted Conservative majority win that never materialized once Carney replaced him.
But in the coming weeks and months, the leaders and their parties face difficult circumstances that could turn them into losers — most importantly, how Carney manages the relationship with Trump.
The role of Trump
Carney and the Liberals capitalized on exceptional
circumstances driven by Donald Trump’s trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state. Winning four consecutive elections is a rare feat for any political party in Canada.
But Carney cannot count on fortune continuing to smile upon him. He must now manage a party within which he has little history and few favours to call in — a party that he has dragged from centre-left under Trudeau to centre-right.
The new prime minister will have to rely on aides and advisers to a much greater extent than all former office-holders who had years or decades of experience in the political area, including the House of Commons. At the same time, he will have to demonstrate to Canadians that he is in charge and makes the final decisions.
Invariably, there will be Liberal missteps in the weeks ahead: ethical lapses for some MPs, ministerial appointments that go awry and disappointment among those not appointed to cabinet. Because Carney has been prime minister for less than two months, the upcoming Speech from the Throne on May 27 — to be delivered by King Charles — that sets the government’s goals is shrouded in mystery.
Beyond Ottawa, premiers from several different political parties — each with their own agenda — await Carney. South of the border, the unpredictable Trump, with his infuriating rhetoric and disruptive actions, is in office for another three-and-half-years.
As a newcomer to politics elected on his first attempt to the country’s highest political office, Carney could have at least have one topic of conversation in common with Trump when they meet on Tuesday. Trump too was a political outsider who catapulted into office on his first attempt. The two may find some bond in their shared experience.
The greatest danger for Carney is not from Trump’s rhetoric but from broader economic conditions. He ran for office on the promise of being able to manage economic turmoil. But politicians of any stripe have little control in a global economic slump or an all-out tariff war. If unemployment, inflation or the cost-of-living tick upward, Carney will quickly lose his lustre among many Canadians.
The new Parliament
For the Conservatives, Poilievre’s leadership will continue to weigh on the party in the weeks and months ahead. Losing his Ottawa seat weakens his claim to stay on as leader. He now needs to win a byelection in Alberta triggered by the resignation of Conservative MP Damien Kurek.
The worst outcome for the party is years of infighting between those who support giving Poilievre one more chance and those who believe that 2025 is the best the party can do under his leadership.
The best outcome is for Poilievre to become a bridge-builder within the party and to Conservatives across Canada, and to rebrand himself to be more palatable to Canadian voters. This will not be easy and he hasn’t shown much inclination to do so.
The NDP’s Singh has already announced his resignation and accepted responsibility for the party electing only seven MPs. A period of soul-searching leading to a leadership contest has already started. The loss of seats, and returning to Ottawa with an interim leader, lessens the voice of the party in political discourse. If a new leader is elected who is not an MP, the party will be further hampered.
Blanchet returns to Ottawa with fewer Bloc MPs and a murky mission. He had hoped that the Bloc would hold the balance of power once the votes were counted, but was foiled by the NDP. He has already faced criticism from his own supporters when he promised to collaborate with other parties in Ottawa to secure Canada’s economic future.
Beginning with Carney’s handling of Trump this week, how skilfully each party, and leader, performs its distinct high-wire act in the next months will determine the ultimate winners and losers. The show is about to start.
Thomas Klassen 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.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)
WAUSAU, WI – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) announced the winners of Wisconsin’s Seventh District 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Created in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity for young artists to have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. This year’s theme was:A day in the life of Wisconsin.
“Each year, I become more impressed by the young talent in Wisconsin’s Seventh District. Thank you to all the artists who participated in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, and congratulations to this year’s winners,”said Congressman Tiffany.
First Place Winner
Name: Aubrey Cronce
School: Wausau East High School
Title: Midsummer Spark
Second Place Winner
Name: Anna Rose Czarnecki
School: Wolfpack Academy (Greenwood)
Title: Down the Road
Third Place Winner
Name: Francesca Germano
School: Northwestern High School
Title: I Went Golfing Yesterday
Honorable Mention
Name: Sona Ovezmyradova
School: Hayward High School
Title: Dairyland Memories
The first-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The Cannon Tunnel is the most highly traveled walkway between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Southwest Airlines also offers each first-place winner two round-trip tickets to attend the Winners’ Celebration in Washington, DC. The second-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in my Washington, DC office, and the third-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in my Wausau office.
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Joel Thomas Biermann, 46, of University Park, Maryland, for multiple child exploitation offenses. Biermann is charged with two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the indictment, between approximately October 26, 2012, and October 28, 2024, Biermann employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced one or more victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Biermann also produced and possessed visual depictions of the exploitation. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Biermann distributed child sexual abuse material on March 13, 2016.
If convicted, Biermann faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for the production of child sexual abuse material; a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years for the distribution of child sexual abuse material; and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child sexual abuse material. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills, Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)
WASHINGTON—Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) and Sharice Davids (KS-03) have introduced the Student Loan Tax Elimination Act. The legislation would eliminate a hidden tax on federal student loans, which adds unnecessary debt to student loan borrowers.
“Students and parents should fully understand the terms and costs associated with borrowing for their education. Unfortunately, federal loan programs have hidden fees which negatively impact students. Loan origination fees are a hidden tax which ultimately inflate costs for students. Eliminating this fee would be a step in the direction of lowering the cost of higher education for students across the nation.” said Representative Smucker (PA-11).
“Students working hard to invest in their future through education shouldn’t be weighed down by hidden administrative fees. With the rising cost of higher education already making it harder for graduates to buy a home, launch a business, or contribute fully to our economy, this bill takes a meaningful step toward reducing that burden. By eliminating certain unnecessary and costly fees, we’re helping ensure that a college degree leads to opportunity — not obstacles.” – Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03)
Background:
As a result of legislation passed in 2010, all federal student loans issued through the U.S. Department of Education were taken out of the hands of private lenders and issued directly by the Department. Despite the elimination of private lenders in the federal loan process, students are still being charged administration fees on student loans. This hidden tax adds billions of dollars to student debt every year.
The Student Loan Tax Elimination Act would eliminate origination fees for federal student loans, which cost nearly $6.5 billion over a four year period, according to a report from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
