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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul Visits Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at the Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral of New York.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page will post photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    To God be the praise and the glory. Amen. Amen. It is so incredible to be back here today for a number of reasons: One is I’ll never forget when I first became Governor, unexpectedly, this is one of the first churches — maybe the very first church — I came to, to pray. And I asked you all for one thing: to keep me in your prayers. And I got down on my knees when I first heard that I had been chosen now to be the governor.

    I dropped down to my knees instantly and I said, “God, just give me two things: Give me strength and wisdom.” And you have prayed for that, and I am the beneficiary. And I thank all of you for being part of this journey.

    I’m also here for another reason. Your great pastor was in my office on Monday. He presented to me the First Lady, First Lady Braea. I want to acknowledge them. They came all the way to Albany, and we talked about his vision for this amazing church that’s so steeped in history for over 200 years of power. Two hundred years. And over 48 years with Reverend Floyd Flake — Congressman Floyd Flake. And Reverend Elaine Flake at the helm. The two of them embraced me, and I looked to them for guidance.

    But now it’s time for new leadership. And your new leader was in my office and he had one ask: “Governor, any chance you could come visit our church during Women’s History Month?” And I said, “Well, let me see if I can come this Sunday, the very first Sunday of Women’s History Month.” So the answer was yes. The answer was yes.

    Now, before I celebrate Women’s History with all of you, there are some pretty good men out there, too. You have an incredible congressman, Gregory Meeks, who I served in Congress with. What a national leader he is; Greg Meeks. You also have one of the coolest Borough Presidents that ever walked the earth, Donovan Richards. I love this guy. We always have a great time together.

    And as I acknowledge the first lady of this church, you also — because you never had a woman governor before — you never had a first gentleman. You now have a first gentleman, my husband, Bill Hochul, for over 41 years.

    But back to the women. I have to start with Hazel Dukes. I met her in 2014 when I first started running for Lieutenant Governor and my mother had just passed. I treasured my mother, she was everything to me, and she succumbed to ALS, a horrible, horrible disease. And I talked about this with Hazel. And she said, “Darling, I’ll be your mama. I’ll be your mama.” So Mama Dukes was like a mother. She told me when she thought I was good, and when she didn’t agree with me, she always told me that as well.” In fact, I had her swear me in at my inauguration to hold the Bible for the first woman ever to be sworn into office. I wanted to give her that honor because she has honored me.

    And I also was a brand new grandmother. Any grandmothers out there? Any moms, grandmothers? So we had this tiny little baby, Sofia, up on the big stage to see her grandma get sworn in. And when Hazel Dukes came out with her loud, strong voice and shouted something, the baby just lost it. She just freaked out. She’s crying. So all my pictures have a screaming baby. My son had to take her away, but that’s part of the story, right? It’s just, it’s so Hazel.

    And I will say this: I was with her just Thursday. I went to her apartment at her bedside, and I held her hand. And she looked up at me and she said, “I love you, daughter. You’re my daughter. I love you, but be strong. Carry on the fight.” And I said, “Hazel, I will do that in your name. We have just begun the fight.” And I’m inspired we’ve had women like her who carry on the work of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisholm, and so many others. Brave trailblazers who made it easier for the rest of us. That’s the women’s history I’m talking about.

    Here’s what I challenge all of us with, though: When we think about women of history, someday, we will be history. People in the future will look to us and say, “Did we pick up that torch for justice and women’s rights and social justice and civil rights? Did we pick up the torch and make it glow brighter and march forward? Or did we ignore our moral responsibility to lift up others during our limited time on Earth?” I know all of you are with me as we march together.

    And what we must do at this moment in history, is to help those who are struggling. We’ve heard the cries for help. There are so many people that just can’t keep up with inflation. How do you pay the bills? The electric costs are going up. The cost of groceries for young moms, your grandkids. Diapers and formula and everything’s so expensive. My Budget this year has a plan. If you’ve got little kids, we have a way to put over $5,000 back in your pocket to make life easier for you, reducing middle class taxes, more money, $1,000 for kids under the age of four, because I know as a mom and a grandma, that’s the most expensive time.

    And we’re going to make sure that people have an opportunity for an education: Free community college for people aged 25 to 55 going into skills, because let me tell you what I know about education: Education is the reason my parents could get out of a trailer park. They struggled. They struggled. My grandparents were migrant farm workers. They were domestic servants. And my grandpa worked at the steel plant with his hands. It was hot. It was dirty work. And my father worked there as well. But when my dad got a college degree, with a little baby and me on the way and they lived in a trailer, it opened up the doors for everything so the next generation — I could be standing here. I want that opportunity for everyone. Everybody should have that dream within grasp of them. The same thing with housing. Why is it so expensive to live here? We have to build more housing, get smarter and more apartments.

    We have to just take care of our people. Everybody deserves the dignity of a safe roof over their heads. And we’re going to make sure that our subways continue to be safe because I’m paying for the overtime of NYPD in the overnight trains every single night. And the crime is dropping down to numbers we’ve not seen in a long time.

    But I’m not done. I’m going to keep working to lift up God’s people because that is why I feel I’m in this position today. And I call on all of you to keep me in your prayers, but also to be out there as we’re fighting.

    And I’ll wrap with this: We’re not just fighting within New York. We know our challenges are bigger in Washington. And when you look at what they’re talking about, cutting Medicaid as if it’s something that doesn’t matter, it’s disposable, just get rid of it — I’m sorry, those are our parents and grandparents in nursing homes. Those are our little kids who need health care. Keep your hands off our Medicaid, our Medicare, and our social security, or you’re going to have a Class A fight on your hands. We will stand up to you, because we are there on the side of the people. And we’ve just begun to fight.

    Thank you, everybody. God bless you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Soaring U.S. egg prices and millions of dead chickens signal the deep problems and risks in modern poultry production

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tony Weis, Professor of Geography and Environment, Western University

    The recent volatility of egg prices in the United States has been a hot topic. Media coverage has consistently made the connection between supply problems and virulent strains of avian flu that has been afflicting poultry birds since 2022.

    Many articles have indicated that, in addition to millions of birds dying from avian flu, infected flocks have widely been killed en masse in an attempt to contain its spread. The livestock industry euphemistically calls this killing of infected animals “depopulation,” and around 150 million birds have been depopulated since the current crisis began.

    I have studied industrial livestock production for many years and have seen its myriad problems flash in and out of the media — such as greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, food-borne illnesses, labour exploitation, and animal suffering. But it’s rare for the sector to stay in the media for long.

    The unusually heavy media coverage of expensive eggs, depopulated chickens and avian flu has highlighted some of the deep problems and risks of modern poultry production. Unfortunately, however, important context and dynamics have been regularly omitted.

    Unpacking key omissions helps to better understand both the nature of these chronic risks of infectious disease and the perilous response of the Trump administration.

    The spotlight on avian flu

    Multiple strains of avian flu chronically circulate within populations of both wild and domesticated birds. Avian flu is prone to frequent mutations, and occasionally some strains become more virulent and spillover across species.

    In addition to the problems avian flu in poultry production, recent media coverage has also highlighted the virus’s broader dangers.

    Avian flu is currently ravaging many wild animal species around the world, reaching into extremely remote places and even zoos.

    In the U.S., avian flu recently spilled over into cattle — causing widespread illness after a mutation enabled intra-species transmission.

    Avian flu has also caused a small number of severe human illnesses in the U.S. (primarily workers in poultry operations). Although no human-to-human transmission is evident — a necessary condition for a pandemic — this potential remains a grave threat.

    Key issues underplayed

    Although the media coverage of egg prices, depopulated chickens and avian flu has cast a valuable spotlight on many aspects of modern poultry production, it has also tended to leave out some important elements.

    Mentions in the media of many millions of chickens being killed to contain the spread of avian flu will surely sound jarring to some. But such figures pale in comparison to the 9.5 billion chickens slaughtered annually in the U.S. and the 76 billion slaughtered annually worldwide.

    Poultry birds now comprise 70 per cent of the total biomass of all birds on earth. Most are produced in densely-packed operations where reproduction, life and death have been greatly accelerated.

    Modern chickens have been selectively bred to either put on weight (broilers) or produce eggs (layers) very quickly. Broilers reach slaughter weight in a mere six weeks. Layer hens produce nearly an egg a day for about a year or two, before being slaughtered. These short life-cycles are rarely mentioned in coverage of depopulations.

    The growing risk of avian flu mutations relate to both enormity of poultry bird populations — by far the biggest habitat for the virus — and the unhealthy conditions of life in large enclosures.

    According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, over 97 per cent of layers live in operations with at least 10,000 birds. Over 99 per cent of broilers are grown in operations with annual sales of at least 100,000 birds.

    This scale also relates to a question that has, with a few notable exceptions, received scant coverage: since infected populations cannot simply be shipped to the slaughterhouse, how are the birds actually killed?

    A leading approach to depopulation is ventilation shutdown. This involves turning off the powerful fans needed to make the ambient conditions in large enclosures bearable, and results in agonizing deaths.

    Researchers are investigating ways to augment ventilation shutdown as part of a broader research agenda seeking to develop systematic ways to depopulate large operations. This agenda clearly illustrates that the livestock industry is acutely aware of the great risks of infectious disease evolution within these spaces.

    Undermining infectious disease surveillance

    In the 2024 election campaign, Republicans regularly pointed to high egg prices in efforts to highlight rising inflation. In early 2025, the continuing rise of egg prices has cast a glare on U.S. President Donald Trump’s failed promise to immediately solve inflation.

    In response to scrutiny, the Trump administration initially tried to blame Biden for the depopulation of chickens. While such deflection might work for a time, Trump and his advisors realize they need a strategy to increase egg supplies.

    This emerging strategy must be viewed in relation to Trump’s sweeping assault on state institutions and regulations — which includes undermining crucial capacity for infectious disease surveillance. Trump made immediate cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and forced it to disengage with the World Health Organization. He has also promised big cuts to the National Institutes of Health.

    In this context, it’s unsurprising that Trump is laying out a simple plan to increase the egg supply: rebuilding layer populations, reducing depopulations and trusting the livestock and pharmaceutical industries to find ways of containing avian flu — likely through vaccines and strengthened biosecurity.

    It’s profoundly irrational to be weakening infectious disease surveillance in the midst of the current avian flu crisis (and amid mounting infectious disease risks more generally).
    It’s also hard to fathom how further empowering the leading actors in poultry production can be expected to resolve the risks of avian flu that are so bound up in the nature of modern production.

    Pursuing this course might temporarily bring egg prices down, but it also inevitably means passing untold risks into the future.

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

    – ref. Soaring U.S. egg prices and millions of dead chickens signal the deep problems and risks in modern poultry production – https://theconversation.com/soaring-u-s-egg-prices-and-millions-of-dead-chickens-signal-the-deep-problems-and-risks-in-modern-poultry-production-249679

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Canada Carbon Rebate is still widely misunderstood — here’s why

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ruolz Ariste, Adjunct Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University

    As Canada’s federal parties gear up for the upcoming federal election, one of the key issues on the campaign trail will be how Canada will meet its climate policy targets.

    Several strategies exist to meet these targets, including: a border charge on imports, a border rebate for exports, a domestic output-based subsidy or a consumer-based carbon rebate like the Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR).

    The CCR, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration to curb carbon emissions, is designed to offset the costs of carbon pricing by providing rebates to households.



    Read more:
    The upcoming election is a critical juncture for Canada’s carbon tax and climate policies

    However, both leading candidates for Liberal Party leadership, Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland, have said they will drop the CCR if elected. Carney has proposed replacing it with a green incentive program, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been a vocal opponent of the CCR altogether.

    The debate surrounding the CCR is crucial, as carbon pricing is the most effective measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when paired with accompanying measures. Yet, despite its effectiveness, Canada’s major political parties are willing to scrap it because it’s not politically rewarding.

    CCR is widely misunderstood

    The CCR is widely misunderstood in Canada, leading to misleading narratives about its economic and environmental impacts.

    A recent report from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) argues that industries facing pollution charges could become less competitive because of the CCR, potentially increasing Canada’s federal budget deficit by $4 billion by 2030, and making Canadians worse off.

    Similarly, a Fraser Institute report argues Canada’s global emission footprint is too small for the CCR to make a difference, even if environmental benefits are accounted for.

    However, these reports fail to fully assess the impacts of carbon pricing and risk distorting the debate and influencing policy in ways that could weaken Canada’s climate strategy.

    Yet an overlooked crucial fact in the debate on the CCR is that 80 per cent of Canadian families received more in rebates than they paid in pollution pricing in 2024 because major polluters bear the highest costs under the system.

    The missing perspective in assessments

    While the PBO’s report may be valid from a business standpoint, the report didn’t run a full cost-benefit analysis, which would have weighed both the economic costs and the social benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    In climate policy, the social perspective is much more important than the business one. Without this context, reports like the PBO’s risk being misinterpreted, particularly by politicians opposed to climate action. This could have significant negative consequences for environmental policy in Canada.



    Read more:
    The carbon tax needs fixing, not axing — Canada needs a progressive carbon tax

    A major issue in economic assessments is that the benefits of greenhouse gas reduction are typically excluded because they extend beyond national borders. As a result, emissions reduction can appear to be a poor investment, when in reality, its global and long-term benefits far outweigh the initial expenses.

    The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s cost-benefit guide acknowledges this issue. Under normal circumstances, global benefits should be excluded in cost-benefit analysis. However, given the nature of climate change, the guide states that the costs and benefits of greenhouse gas reductions — calculated using the social cost of greenhouse gas — are appropriate to include in cost-benefit analysis.

    A recent UN report supports this approach, estimating that while global carbon policy measures could cost more than US$1 trillion annually, the economic benefits will be far greater. Shifting to a green economy could yield US$26 trillion by 2030, compared to maintaining business as usual.

    Carbon leakage challenge

    A major challenge for Canada’s carbon pricing strategy is that many of its key trading partners don’t impose similar emissions pricing on consumers.

    For example, the United States and China don’t, even though they are the world’s two biggest polluters. While some jurisdictions, like California’s Cap-and-Trade Program and China’s national emissions trading system, have introduced emissions regulations, these programs are not as widespread as Canada’s.

    This imbalance puts Canadian producers at a competitive disadvantage. In response, some businesses may choose to move their production operations to countries with weaker environmental regulations to avoid higher carbon pricing in Canada — a phenomenon known as “carbon leakage.”

    Instead of reducing emissions, this carbon leakage simply shifts emissions elsewhere, undermining global efforts to address climate change. To counter this, there has been a growing interest in policies designed to prevent this from happening, such as border carbon adjustments.

    This issue is critical to Canada’s ability to meet its climate policy targets. Without effective measures to prevent carbon leakage, the country could face higher costs and less impact on global emissions reduction efforts.

    Can Canada still compete?

    Given the U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord, one might wonder whether Canada should continue pursuing the CCR program.

    Ideally, Canada would not have to choose between strong climate policy and economic competitiveness. However, without a co-ordinated global approach to carbon policy, Canada faces difficult trade-offs.

    International organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) could step up by actively promoting carbon tariffs similar to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

    At the heart of this debate is the “polluter-pays principle,” which holds that those who pollute must bear the costs of their actions. This principle is central to climate justice.



    Read more:
    Carbon pricing works: the largest-ever study puts it beyond doubt

    Carbon pricing is the only abatement instrument that can implement the polluter-pays principle, but additional policies — such as border charges on imports, border rebates for exports or domestic output-based subsidies — are required to make it more efficient and politically viable.

    Currently, 75 carbon taxes and emissions trading systems are in operation worldwide, covering approximately 24 per cent of global emissions.

    Canada is considering its own CBAM, but challenges remain. Implementing such a policy could lead to heightened trade tensions with the U.S. or even provoke retaliatory actions.

    Need for international co-operation

    To make carbon pricing and border adjustments work, international organizations must help close the knowledge and information gaps. One way to do this is by providing more accurate data on embedded carbon prices to improve the calculation of carbon prices down the road.

    Further research is also needed to understand how domestic climate policies impact other nations and how to ensure CBAM’s interoperability with other climate measures. Such work will contribute to the optimization of climate policies for the benefit of all.

    In the meantime, Canada’s climate policy must strive to integrate CBAM in a way that aligns with global trade systems like the WTO. Some trade law experts have expressed concerns that CBAM may not be compatible with the WTO General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and this must be addressed.

    If Canada were to keep the CCR, this integration would be especially important as Canada navigates future trade relations with the U.S. under Trump’s unpredictable administration. Canada doesn’t want to fall behind in its climate action efforts.

    Canadians would like the country to lead on climate action while staying competitive. A public consultation on this matter would be a good move from any elected political leader.

    Ruolz Ariste is currently affiliated with Carleton University and Université du Québec en Outaouais.

    – ref. The Canada Carbon Rebate is still widely misunderstood — here’s why – https://theconversation.com/the-canada-carbon-rebate-is-still-widely-misunderstood-heres-why-249097

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The urgent mental health needs of young people: Lessons for Canada from a global commission

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tovah Cowan, Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychiatry, McGill University

    Since 2015, youth mental health has noticeably declined. Currently, 1.25 million young people in Canada require mental health support. (Shutterstock)

    Canada urgently needs to take action to support the well-being of young people and secure a healthier and more prosperous future for generations to come.

    Since 2015, well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, self-reported mental health has notably declined among young people. Currently, 1.25 million young people require mental health support. According to Mental Health Research Canada, in 2024, 19 per cent of Canadians between 16 and 34 years old accessed mental health services in the previous year while another 12 per cent felt they needed services but did not receive them.

    Megatrends

    The recently published Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Youth Mental Health shows that this problem is global, and in part driven by megatrends — major and long-lasting societal changes such as climate change, insecure employment and growing intergenerational inequality. These issues are situated within decades of colonial and neoliberal political, social and economic policies.



    Read more:
    What exactly is neoliberalism?

    In Canada, the effects of historic and ongoing colonialism on First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth are heartbreakingly clear in rates of suicide, which are six times higher in First Nations youth than non-Indigenous youth, and 33 times higher in young Inuit women than non-Indigenous young women. Additionally, there are gaps in services and barriers to access for Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomer, Black and racialized young people, leading to disparities in care and support.

    To support youth mental health, Canada must work towards reversing these megatrends while also investing in youth mental health services.

    The youth mental health problem is global, and in part driven by ‘megatrends’ — major and long-lasting societal changes such as climate change, insecure employment and growing intergenerational inequality.
    (Shutterstock)

    As a team of mental health researchers and professionals, we are deeply committed to improving youth mental health. Without timely support, mental health challenges can disrupt education, relationships and career development, creating long-term effects for young people, their families and their communities. Unaddressed mental health issues can persist into adulthood, becoming more difficult to treat, adding preventable strain to health-care systems and hindering economic growth due to lost productivity.

    We were inspired by The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Youth Mental Health, which calls for global action to address this urgent mental health crisis affecting young people. This global initiative involved researchers from diverse fields, service providers and young people, and was co-led by Srividya Iyer (a co-author on this piece and Canada Research Chair in Youth, Mental Health, and Learning Health Systems). It advances a framework for improving youth mental health care, integrating all sectors providing services relevant to mental health (for example, community centres, stand-alone clinics, hospitals) and all types of interventions, ranging from prevention to specialized services for youth with long-term mental health problems.

    The situation in Canada

    Canada is a global leader in creating new mental health services for youth, which began with the creation of a network of programs for youth with psychosis. Lessons learned have inspired transformation in broader youth mental health services, called “Integrated Youth Services” (IYS).

    Designed with input from youth and their families, IYS do not require transition from pediatric to adult care at age 18, which prevents youth from slipping through the cracks between the two systems. IYS integrate mental health, medical health and other social services; and create primary mental health care services.

    Today, there are almost 80 IYS hubs in most jurisdictions across Canada, with approximately 50 more in development. In the 2024 federal budget, a $500 million investment in community-based youth mental health services was the most positively received item by the public.

    These services and investments represent Canada’s critical commitment to youth mental health. However, there have been relatively fewer efforts to address other elements responding to factors contributing to worse youth mental health, such as the ongoing harms of colonization and the climate crisis.

    To truly address the youth mental health crisis, we must move beyond just creating services and into creating a world that supports young people to thrive. In these areas, young people themselves have shown us the way through initiatives like the Indigenous Climate Action Youth Leadership, the Anti-Racist Youth Lab and EveryChildNow, which takes action on youth poverty.

    What can we do

    Society must embrace a strong cultural shift that prioritizes a duty to young people.
    (Shutterstock)

    To support young people, the Lancet report highlights that society must embrace a strong cultural shift that prioritizes a duty to young people, future generations and intergenerational equity, ensuring that present-day policies consider their long-term impacts. The influence of megatrends suggests that activism on any of these societal issues can benefit youth mental health.

    For those who want to take action directly, advocating for increasing mental health and social service funding, supporting local organizations dedicated to young people, involving youth in decision-making processes, and fostering nurturing social communities are all important steps.

    In light of the upcoming federal election, Canadians should demand that all political parties have a clear plan for youth mental health. Policymaking should prioritize youth, family and community needs. Policies should be evidence-based, especially since intuitively helpful but untested ideas may have unintended consequences (for example, negative effects of universal prevention efforts) or can be complicated (such as the relationship between social media use and youth mental health).

    Continuous funding for mental health research can generate knowledge that can inform practice and policy, anticipate and respond to future priorities, test innovative interventions (like nature-based, social prescribing and intergenerational connection) and improve existing systems and interventions.

    Young people are tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and contributors. Ignoring their mental health problems undermines their potential and jeopardizes Canada’s ability to build a prosperous, inclusive society. Prioritizing youth mental health is not just a strategic investment for the country’s resilience — it is an ethical imperative.

    Tovah Cowan receives funding from CIHR for a Planning and Dissemination grant supporting a project related to improving learning health systems for youth mental health services. Her current salary is paid through a CIHR grant previously awarded to Dr. Iyer.

    Camila Velez receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through a Doctoral Scholarship and a Planning and Dissemination grant for an International Symposium on arts-based research in youth mental health. Her current research assistant salary is paid through a CIHR grant previously awarded to Dr. Iyer.

    Nora Morrison’s current salary is paid through a CIHR grant previously awarded to Dr. Srividya Iyer.

    Rubén Valle receives his salary from a CIHR grant previously awarded to Dr. Iyer.

    Srividya N. Iyer is supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program (Tier 1) and has received peer-reviewed grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé and the International Development Research Centre.

    – ref. The urgent mental health needs of young people: Lessons for Canada from a global commission – https://theconversation.com/the-urgent-mental-health-needs-of-young-people-lessons-for-canada-from-a-global-commission-245039

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why bike lanes should remain on Ontario’s roads

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mahtot Gebresselassie, Assistant Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

    In late 2024, the Ontario legislature passed Bill 212 giving the provincial government significant control over municipal bike lanes. The law requires municipalities to ask the province for its approval to install bike lanes if they would remove a lane for other vehicular traffic. The legislation also allows for the removal of three major bike lanes in Toronto.

    Supporters of such moves argue that bike lanes worsen traffic congestion, negatively impact local businesses and delay emergency vehicles from getting where they need to go. However, research shows that bike lanes improve transportation infrastructure, including preventing injuries.

    One of the main values of bike lanes is that they promote safety for all road users. Many cities around the world install bike lanes to wholly or partially separate cyclists from larger vehicles. This separation limits the interaction with cars and makes cycling safer.

    Bike lanes can also be more efficient at moving more people per unit width of the road compared to car lanes. They are also much more inexpensive to build than roads for cars. Protected bike lanes cost an average of a few hundred thousand per mile compared to vehicular roads in millions of dollars per lane mile.

    Reduced injuries

    Bicycles are classified as vehicles under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, and cyclists are rightful users of all roads except controlled access highways.

    When people cycle on infrastructure that supports biking (bike lanes, cycle tracks, low-speed zones, etc.), the risk of injury is reduced significantly. Bike lanes increase the visibility of cyclists to motorists and reduce interaction between cars and bikes.

    A 2016 paper that looked at data on bike networks and injuries in 10 Canadian and U.S. cities between 2000 and 2015 showed that an increase in bike networks led to a decrease in fatal and serious injuries.

    The safety associated with bike lanes can also encourage more people to take up cycling. A 2020 poll from the Canadian Automobile Association indicates that 40 per cent of Canadians reported they would feel encouraged to cycle on bike lanes physically separated from other vehicles.

    More inclusive roads

    Bike lanes can make cycling more inclusive for women, children, older adults, people with disabilities and those with limited transportation options.

    For them, bike lanes can bridge the equity gap and affirm cycling as something “inherently democratic, inclusive, and affordable.”

    Fewer women bike compared to men. A 2014 study that surveyed cyclists in five U.S. cities found that more women than men strongly agreed that protected bike lanes made them feel safe and new ones increased how often they cycled.

    Child cyclists benefit a great deal from bike lanes. They are often smaller and less visible to people driving cars. They are also less able to assess risk and navigate shared roads, so a separate lane can reduce those risks.

    Older adults and people with disabilities also benefit from bike lanes, as they provide a more suitable cycling environment for riding with limited physical acuity and slower speeds.

    Low-income and racialized people are significant bike users and are more likely to rely on biking to get around due to their limited access to transportation options. Yet, without bike lanes, they may have no choice but to risk cycling in a dangerous environment. For them, bike lanes are crucial infrastructure.

    Cycling is also much cheaper than having a car. Cycling costs about $0.06/km and driving a car $0.58/km, and switching from driving to cycling can reduce transportation spending from 30 per cent to 10 per cent of household income.

    Consumer spending and congestion

    Some argue that bike lanes reduce street parking, which can lead to lower economic activity. However, a 2012 study showed that people who cycle, walk and use transit frequent local businesses more and spend the same or more than those who use private cars.

    In Toronto, when bike lanes were installed on Bloor Street West, there was an average increase in monthly consumer spending from $186 to $245. A similar trend was observed in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bern, Dublin and Copenhagen.

    When it comes to congestion, a 2018 study on the impact of installing bike lanes on arterial roads in Toronto found that the most affected street segments would only result in an estimated one-minute delay.

    A 2022 study from Melbourne showed a minor effect on traffic when bike lanes were added to residential streets with low speed limits. It also found the “selective inclusion” of safe cycling lanes, in the worst cases, leads to a delay of less than 10 seconds per kilometre for drivers.

    In New York, a 2016 study found that adding bike lanes reduced the average time for car travel on major thoroughfares from an average of 4.5 minutes to 3 minutes.

    Examples from elsewhere indicate that removing bike lanes would not bode well for Toronto. A well-used bike lane in London, England was removed in December 2020 following residents’ complaints that they caused traffic congestion. A study found that the removal resulted in longer travel time on the street compounded by cars illegally parking in the space previously reserved for the bike lane.

    Emergency response

    Immediately after the bike lanes were installed on Toronto’s Bloor Street West, paramedics response time within 500 metres of the bike lane corridor rose by 42 seconds compared to 45 seconds city-wide.

    Toronto Fire Services (TFS) response time increased by 30 seconds within the same corridor compared to a two-second increase for the entire city. However, these evaluations were for two months in 2023. In October 2024, TFS Chief Jim Jessop said the Bloor Street West bike lanes did not lead to an increase in response time.

    If these bike lanes are removed and replaced with others elsewhere, it could create a poorly connected bike network. The safety and convenience associated with connected bike networks will be lost as a result.

    Based on what research tells us, Toronto’s bike lanes should stay. Bike lanes provide various benefits, including making our streets more inclusive of more people.

    Bike lanes offer safety on the roads by reducing the risk of fatal or non-life-threatening injuries on roads, and are a tremendous gain for transportation infrastructure.

    Even in cases where a bike lane causes a few seconds of delay, politicians and city planners must consider the trade-off — especially if it means saving a person’s life.

    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.

    – ref. Why bike lanes should remain on Ontario’s roads – https://theconversation.com/why-bike-lanes-should-remain-on-ontarios-roads-249150

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Wildfire season is changing in Canada — posing even greater risks to the nation’s communities and ecosystems

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Hossein Bonakdari, Associate professor, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    Wildfire season in Canada has historically spanned from late April to August — with the most damaging of these fires typically burning in June and July. But in recent years, we’ve seen a significant change in when wildfires burning; they are no longer a seasonal phenomenon.

    For example, in 2024, Alberta’s wildfire season started in February due to the province’s warm and dry conditions. Québec recorded its forth earliest wildfire since 1973 in mid-march of the same year. British Columbia then reported their first wildfires of the season shortly after.

    In 2023, Canada had one of its most catastrophic wildfire years — with over 18.4 hectares of forest burned. These wildfires caused approximately 232,000 people to be evacuated from their homes in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Québec.

    The huge number of wildfires that burned in 2023 released more than three times the total CO2 emissions of Canada’s entire transportation sector produces in a year. This catastrophic wildfire season also started burning far earlier than normal.

    Changing wildfire patterns represent a growing danger to Canadians and our nation’s communities, ecosystems and air quality.

    Recipe for a wildfire

    The recipe for wildfire is simple and needs only three ingredients: fuel (combustible vegetation), ignition (either from human or natural causes — such as lightning) and favourable weather conditions (hot, dry and windy weather).

    But drought can act as a key accelerating factor. As a professor who specializes in sustainable land and water management, I have spent over 15 years researching the impacts of climate change on natural disasters. My most recent research has highlighted the role that droughts play in wildfire vulnerability in Canada.

    Droughts not only dry vegetation — which gives wildfires more fuel — they also prolong hot, dry and windy weather. This further creates a high-risk environment for wildfires to ignite and spread.

    Canada may appear to be a water-rich country, with vast networks of lakes, rivers and considerable amounts of annual precipitation. But these rich resources suffer from significant seasonal and regional variations.

    For example, even British Columbia, where many towns average more than a 1,000mm of precipitation a year, experiences severe drought conditions — particularly during the summer months.

    At the end of 2024, 43 per cent of Canada was classified as abnormally dry or in moderate to extreme drought. Around 35 per cent of the country’s agricultural land was directly impacted. These conditions highlight the growing vulnerability of even water-rich regions to long, dry seasons.

    During 2023, there was a strong link between soil moisture levels measured between May and October and wildfire activity. Areas with the lowest soil moisture levels experienced heightened wildfire activity. This underscores the critical role of drought conditions in amplifying wildfire risks.

    Wildland and urban development

    In January 2025, California experienced one of the most catastrophic wildfire crises in the state’s history.

    At least 29 people tragically lost their lives. Over 16,000 structures have been destroyed or severely damaged, and approximately 200,000 residents were forced to evacuate from their own homes.

    The total economic damage and losses are estimated to be more than $250 billion. This catastrophic crisis has clearly highlighted the growing impacts of climate change on densely populated areas at the interface of wildland and urban zones.

    Drought was a major factor that exacerbated these wildfires.

    But another important factor that significantly contributed to the damage caused by these wildfires in California was the wildland-urban interface (WUI). These are areas where natural, undeveloped vegetation meets human development. This creates a high-risk zone where flammable plants and structures combine — increasing the chance of wildfires spreading from wildlands to communities.

    In Canada, the WUI is rapidly expanding as large cities contend with population growth. But this is putting even more Canadians at risk from potentially detrimental wildfires. The recent, severe wildfires in California’s WUI areas offer a clear warning for Canada, highlighting an urgent need to address the risks associated with these rapidly growing zones.

    Safeguarding strategies

    One way of safeguarding Canada’s expanding WUI zones is by using the leaf area index (LAI). This is a measure of vegetation density.

    The more dense the vegetation in a particular region (which means it has a higher LAI value), the greater that area’s risk of wildfire. This is because densely wooded areas contain significant fuel sources for wildfires, making them capable of sustaining and intensifying fire spread.

    British Columbia’s coastline, Eastern Canada, Southern Ontario and parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (including Halifax and Saint John) are all densely vegetated, highly populated areas that are highly susceptible to wildfire threats — especially during periods of drought and high temperatures.

    By pinpointing Canada’s most vulnerable regions, targeted wildfire prevention strategies can be carried out to mitigate risks and enhance community resilience in the face of escalating wildfire threats. This might include reducing the amount of dry vegetation, carrying out controlled burns and building fire-resistant infrastructure.

    Canada announced a new goal to build nearly 3.9 million houses by 2031. For these houses to be built, parts of WUI zones will need to be used. It will be important for planning and development policies to ensure resilience against wildfires.

    Canada stands at a pivotal moment in wildfire risk management because of expanding WUI zones, prolonged drought conditions and intensifying fire weather converge. Without a multi-pronged strategy, wildfires will only continue to be a growing threat to ecosystems, infrastructure and public safety.

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

    – ref. Wildfire season is changing in Canada — posing even greater risks to the nation’s communities and ecosystems – https://theconversation.com/wildfire-season-is-changing-in-canada-posing-even-greater-risks-to-the-nations-communities-and-ecosystems-248323

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Hamas accuses Israel of ‘blackmail’ over aid, demands end of US support for Netanyahu

    Asia Pacific Report

    The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has accused Israel of “blackmail” over aid and urged the US government to act more like a neutral mediator in the ceasefire process.

    “We call on the US administration to stop its bias and alignment with the fascist plans of the war criminal Netanyahu, which target our people and their existence on their land,” Hamas said in a statement.

    “We affirm that all projects and plans that bypass our people and their established rights on their land, self-determination, and liberation from occupation are destined for failure and defeat.

    “We reaffirm our commitment to implementing the signed agreement in its three stages, and we have repeatedly announced our readiness to start negotiations on the second stage of the agreement,” it said.

    Al Jazeera Arabic reports that Israel sought a dramatic change to the terms of the ceasefire agreement with a demand that Hamas release five living captives and 10 bodies of dead captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and increased aid to the Gaza Strip.

    It also sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire by a week.

    Hamas informed the mediators that it rejected the Israeli proposal and considered it a violation of what was agreed upon in the ceasefire.

    Israel suspends humanitarian aid
    In response, Israel suspended the entry of humanitarian aid until further notice and Hamas claimed Tel Aviv “bears responsibility” for the fate of the 59 Israelis still held in the Gaza Strip.

    Reports said Israeli attacks in Gaza on Sunday have killed at least four people and injured five people, according to medical sources.

    “The occupation [Israel] bears responsibility for the consequences of its decision on the population of the Strip and for the fate of its prisoners,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement.

    Hamas denounces blackmail headline on Al Jazeera news. Image: AJ screenshot APR

    Under the agreed ceasefire, the second phase of the truce was intended to see the release of the remaining captives, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a final end to the war.

    However, the talks on how to carry out the second phase never began, and Israel said all its captives must be returned for fighting to stop.

    In an interview with Al Jazeera, an analyst said that although the fragile ceasefire seemed on the brink of collapse, it was unlikely that US President Donald Trump would allow it to fail.

    “I think the larger picture here is Trump is not interested in the resumption of war,” said Sami al-Arian, professor of public affairs at Istanbul Zaim University.

    “He has a very long agenda domestically and internationally and if it is going to be dragged by Netanyahu and his fascist partners into another war of genocide with no strategic end, he knows this is going to be a no-win for him.

    “And for one thing, Trump hates to lose.”

    No game plan
    In another interview, Israeli political commentator Ori Goldberg told Al Jazeera that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was caught between seeing the Gaza ceasefire through and resorting to a costly all-out war that may prove unpopular at home.

    “I’m not sure Netanyahu has a game plan,” Goldberg said.

    “The reason he hasn’t made a decision is because . . . Israel is not equipped to go to war right now. Resilience is at an all-time low. Resources are at an all-time low.”

    War crimes . . . a poster at a New Zealand pro-Palestinian rally in Auckland on Saturday. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    In December, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported that more than 19,000 children had been hospitalised for acute malnutrition in four months.

    In the first full year of the war — ending in October 2024 — 37 children died from malnutrition or dehydration.

    Last September 21, The International Criminal Court (ICC) said there was reason to believe Israel was using “starvation as a method of warfare” when it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said all efforts must be made to prevent a return to hostilities, which would be catastrophic.

    He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and find a way forward on the next phase.

    Guterres also called for an urgent de-escalation of the violence in the occupied West Bank.

    Almost 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli war on Gaza since 7 October 2023.

    New Zealand protesters warn against a “nuclear winter” in a pro-Palestinian rally in Auckland on Saturday. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Security chief leads study tour

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today led members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum on a Greater Bay Area study tour in Macau, in completion of a three-day, two-night exploration of national history, culture and development.

    Mr Tang led members in visiting the Macao Light Rapid Transit East Line South Section. They learned about the project’s development and toured the campus of the Academy of Public Security Forces.

    The youngsters also visited the Macao Customs Fleet and were briefed on customs duties and maritime rescue operations. They also explored various sites of historic and architectural interest.

    Mr Tang listened to the participants’ interim reports on their thematic projects. He said that the participation of students from Shenzhen University in the forum’s last term and of youths from Macau in the current term has given young people in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau the opportunity to collaborate closely.

    He praised the potential of members from the three places, highlighting that three members from Shenzhen University were recently awarded the Good Citizen Award by the Hong Kong Police Force for their bravery in saving a life in Hong Kong. He also mentioned that seven members from Hong Kong were awarded stars given to Chinese college students for self-improvement.

    The group of 72 – comprising the leaders forum and its partners from Shenzhen University and the youth groups of Macau’s public security forces – began its study tour in Foshan on Friday and continued to Macau yesterday.

    During their stay in Foshan, the group visited the Shunde drone command and dispatch centre to learn about how the district has optimised urban management through the introduction of drones and the consolidation of collected data.

    They also visited an intelligent manufacturing technology park, an innovation and research and development centre, and a manufacturing enterprise to learn about the development of high-tech industries on the Mainland and how various industries apply technology to improve production processes.

    The young people also explored the Foshan Ancestral Temple to sample the local traditional culture.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: It was risky for Ontario Premier Doug Ford to call an early election — but it paid off

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sam Routley, PhD Candidate, Political Science, Western University

    Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s election gamble has paid off. As a consequence of last night’s election results, the Progressive Conservatives are now set to form their third consecutive majority government.

    By and large, last night’s election results were dull and uninspiring, looking very similar to the outcome of the province’s election in 2022. The Progressive Conservatives return (going from 79 to 80) with only one additional member of caucus, receiving a noticeable but modest two per cent bump in support.

    And, while the Liberals saw even more of a recovery from 2018, the generally widespread distribution of that vote means that they were only able to gain five seats. Although tarnished, the New Democrats return as the official opposition party.

    Unprepared rivals

    These lacklustre results flow directly from lacklustre campaigns. The fact is that, regardless of Premier Ford’s legitimate calls for a renewed mandate amidst an aggressive American administration, the party had been looking for an excuse to call a premature election for quite some time. In doing so, they were able to — quite intentionally — catch their rivals unprepared, complete with incomplete candidate slates, unknown leaders and undercooked policy platforms.

    It meant that, while Ford was able to run a safe and constrained front-runner’s campaign, his main opponents struggled to find the momentum necessary to move the dial and exploit enough backlash. This is alongside real policy vulnerabilities in health care and education, with enough voters expressing discontent with what they felt to be an unnecessary and self-serving election call.

    Chaotic news cycle

    There are good reasons to believe that voters were mostly apathetic towards the parties and their candidates. Alongside the reasons already stated, the dense, chaotic and ever-shifting news cycle of the last few months may have entailed that this election was able to slip by quietly.

    But this does not seem to be the full story, as this year’s turnout — while still low — is slightly higher than that of 2022. Instead, voters also seemed to have wanted to maintain the status quo.

    On the local level, siting members of the provincial legislature from all three parties generally performed quite well. Of the 111 ridings with party-nominated incumbents, for example, only four lost. So while many voters may have been unhappy with the election call, the unpredictable environment may have also had the reverse effect of leading them to support, if not fully endorse, the leaders they already have.

    Regardless of the more limited dynamics of this election, however, we cannot overlook the fact that this has been a very real accomplishment for Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives. In a period of high executive turnover and anti-incumbent backlash, Doug Ford has, as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, brought about a track record of secure, consecutive majorities — a feat that was last attained by Leslie Frost and John Robarts.

    In many ways, it brings to mind the years of the traditional “big blue machine,” when the party controlled the government of Ontario for 40 consecutive years.

    Durable persona

    Here, Ford’s success is much deeper than a matter of suave electoral maneuvering, and it is more long-standing than the recent confrontation with the Trump administration. Instead, these results attest to the fact that, while the Premier is not without his detractors, he has nevertheless managed to secure a stable, solid and sufficient base of support through the combination of both a carefully balanced policy agenda and a durable leadership persona.

    As with his successful conservative predecessors, Ford practices a form of the pragmatic and moderate governance that characterizes Ontario. A large part of what makes this successful is the fact that while it makes policy decisions flexible, it does not make them arbitrary.

    Ford continues to emphasize a government oriented around continual economic growth and innovation as a means to accomplish raising living standards, fund the province’s social programs and — more recently — rival the United States. Combined with Ford’s aptitude in retail politics this has created a clear and accessible political project supported by big developers, small business owners and private-sector workers’ unions.

    In a political environment shaped by personality, Ford continues to suck up the majority of the political oxygen in Ontario. Even while a good portion of Ontarians may dislike Ford — he is far from the most popular of Canada’s premiers — they have not experienced an overriding need to get rid of the incumbent, nor pursue another course of change.

    While politics is impossible to predict, it suggests that this state of continuity will persist in Ontario, even amid a chaotic global environment.

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

    – ref. It was risky for Ontario Premier Doug Ford to call an early election — but it paid off – https://theconversation.com/it-was-risky-for-ontario-premier-doug-ford-to-call-an-early-election-but-it-paid-off-251142

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: CPC Party school holds opening ceremony for spring semester

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) on Saturday held the opening ceremony for its 2025 spring semester.
    Chen Xi, president of the school and the academy, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.
    In his speech, Chen underlined the significant responsibilities of officials on the new journey of comprehensively advancing Chinese modernization.
    He urged them to enhance their political capabilities to match their duties, and to earnestly fulfill the political responsibilities entrusted to them by the Party and the people.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Letter to Makary, Sens. Murray, Baldwin, Alsobrooks Raise Alarm over Decision to Cancel Critical FDA Flu Shot Meeting Amid Worst Flu Season in 15 Years

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Senators: “We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision making.”
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chairof the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) sent a letter to Dr. Marty Makary, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), expressing extreme concern with the FDA’s unprecedented decision to abruptly cancel the March 13th planned meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which is the annual opportunity for FDA to hear expert advice and make recommendations on the selection of influenza strains to be included in the flu vaccines this coming fall. The cancellation of the VRBPAC’s meeting to consider flu shot characteristics for the upcoming flu season comes while the U.S. is experiencing the worst flu season in 15 years. As of February 15, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there have been at least 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
    Dr. Makary is set to appear before the HELP Committee on Thursday, March 6th, for a hearing on his nomination to lead FDA. “We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision making,” Murray, Baldwin, and Alsobrooks—all members of the HELP Committee—wrote.
    “The cancellation of next week’s VRBPAC meeting is unprecedented. This Committee has met every year for the past 30 years to discuss the influenza virus vaccines for the upcoming flu season and make recommendations to the FDA. It is essential for this meeting to occur, and its expert recommendations to be issued, in a timely, routine manner,” the senators continued. “Any delay in the Committee meeting and issuing recommendations may impact flu vaccine availability and effectiveness, if manufacturers do not have sufficient time to prepare the correct vaccines.”
    “While we acknowledge you are not yet at the agency, we expect you to answer questions about whether you will adopt a position of responsible public health leadership or continue the Trump Administration’s current, troubling trajectory into vaccine skepticism should you be confirmed to lead FDA,” Murray and her colleagues wrote, asking that Dr. Makary be prepared to address the following questions:
    Will you reschedule FDA VRBPAC meeting to consider influenza virus vaccines for the 2025-2026 flu season? If not, why not?
    Are you planning to remove or otherwise change the membership of the FDA VRBPAC?
    Will FDA accept the expert, independent recommendations of the FDA VRBPAC, for influenza virus vaccines and all other vaccine types?
    Do you commit to convening the FDA VRBPAC on its established annual basis to discuss and issue recommendations on flu shot characteristics?
    The full text of the letter is below and HERE:
    Dear Dr. Makary:
    Next week, you are scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee for your nomination to serve as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We write today to express our extreme concern with the decision to abruptly cancel the planned meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which is the annual opportunity for FDA to hear expert advice and make recommendations on the selection of strains to be included in the influenza virus vaccines for the 2025 to 2026 influenza season. We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision making. 
    The cancellation of the VRBPAC’s meeting to consider flu shot characteristics for the upcoming flu season comes while the U.S. is experiencing the worst flu season in 15 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the United States’ 2024-2025 influenza season as “high severity” overall and for all age groups. As of February 15, 2025, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths from flu so far this season. The flu vaccine is one essential tool for prevention of flu illness, complications, hospitalizations, and untimely deaths.
    The VRBPAC is comprised of independent experts and is critical for ensuring that public health decisions, including the development and approval of vaccines, are based on the best available science and expert, independent review. VRBPAC members are experts in vaccines, infectious diseases, and epidemiology, among other relevant areas, and are essential to conducting these independent reviews and evaluating the data concerning the safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use of vaccines. The Committee typically meets in March to make recommendations for which strains should be included in the flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season.
    The cancellation of next week’s VRBPAC meeting is unprecedented. This Committee has met every year for the past 30 years to discuss the influenza virus vaccines for the upcoming flu season and make recommendations to the FDA. It is essential for this meeting to occur, and its expert recommendations to be issued, in a timely, routine manner. This is integral to give vaccine manufacturers this information to start production on flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season. Any delay in the Committee meeting and issuing recommendations may impact flu vaccine availability and effectiveness, if manufacturers do not have sufficient time to prepare the correct vaccines.
    In FDA’s response concerning the cancellation of the March 13 VRBPAC meeting, FDA stated that the agency “will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season.” This suggests FDA plans to forgo any independent expertise from the Committee when making its determinations for flu shot strains, and it remains unclear who will be making this critical public health decision.
    The options are not inspiring. The newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has stated “there is no vaccine that is safe and effective” and called vaccines “sham science.” He refuses to believe the definitive science showing vaccines are not linked to autism. You have promoted natural immunity as “at least as effective as vaccinated immunity, and probably better” and stated, “The greatest perpetrator of misinformation during the pandemic has been the United States government.” President Trump’s nominee to lead CDC has a long history of championing the false connection between vaccines and autism.
    While we acknowledge you are not yet at the agency, we expect you to answer questions about whether you will adopt a position of responsible public health leadership or continue the Trump Administration’s current, troubling trajectory into vaccine skepticism should you be confirmed to lead FDA. Please be prepared to address the following questions:
    Will you reschedule FDA VRBPAC meeting to consider influenza virus vaccines for the 2025-2026 flu season? If not, why not?
    Are you planning to remove or otherwise change the membership of the FDA VRBPAC?
    Will FDA accept the expert, independent recommendations of the FDA VRBPAC, for influenza virus vaccines and all other vaccine types?
    Do you commit to convening the FDA VRBPAC on its established annual basis to discuss and issue recommendations on flu shot characteristics?
    Whether it’s influenza, COVID-19, measles, or other threats facing our nation’s public health, I call on you to recognize the immense responsibility placed on you if confirmed as one of the nation’s public health leaders. It will be incumbent upon you to maintain FDA’s credibility as the nation’s leading agency for ensuring the safety of our vaccines, diagnostics, medicines, foods, and more.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Announces Sparks Elementary School Principal as Guest to Presidential Address to Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Jason Shipman is the Principal at Florence Drake Elementary, the highest-performing Title I school in the region 

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced Jason Shipman, Principal at Florence Drake Elementary School in Sparks, as her guest to President Donald Trump’s 2025 Presidential Address to Congress on March 4, 2025. Under his leadership, Florence Drake Elementary has become one of the highest performing Title I schools in Nevada, receiving the 2024 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Schools award. Florence Drake Elementary was also recognized as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School.

    Following reports that Elon Musk and the “Department of Government Efficiency” plan to eliminate or dramatically cut the Department of Education, students, teachers, and parents at Florence Drake Elementary School and at schools across Nevada face uncertainty. Dissolving the Department of Education would have devastating impacts on public schools, including the potential disruption of the Title I funds that support low-income students. Principal Shipman’s school relies on Title I to pay teachers, keep kids safe, fund classroom equipment, and support special education.

    “I’m the product of Nevada public schools – from kindergarten all the way to my time at UNR – and I know the difference a good education can make in a child’s life,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “As schools across the country face the potential cuts to critical federal funding, I won’t abandon our educators. I’m proud to work with Nevada leaders like Principal Shipman to ensure our students have everything they need to thrive.”

    “I am incredibly proud of the continued success of the students and staff members at Florence Drake Elementary School,” said Jason Shipman, Principal at Florence Drake Elementary School. “We are a Title I school, and the federal funding we receive provides crucial resources and supports to children living in poverty. I can relate to the struggles of our students, as my own family lived in poverty when I was in elementary school. I encountered barriers to my education, as Title I funding had not been established yet, and I saw how those barriers adversely affected many of my friends whose educations and lives were negatively impacted by their lack of access to education. Title I funding is the federal government’s promise to help reduce these barriers so all students have the right to access a free and appropriate education, and I am proud to play a part in helping each of our students find success in our school.”

    Senator Cortez Masto has delivered critical support to students and schools across Nevada. Cortez Masto’s legislation to increase the number of mental health professionals in schools was included in the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law. In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included three of Cortez Masto’s bipartisan bills to boost transportation safety for students, expand internet access for both rural and urban schools, and update old school infrastructure. The Senator has also championed bipartisan Reaching English Learners Act to create a competitive grant program to fund partnerships between institutions of higher education and high-need school districts to provide training for new English-language teachers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Bahrain’s pearling legacy: Reviving a millennia-old culture

    Source: United Nations 2

    Culture and Education

    Bahrain, with its shallow waters and rich oyster beds, has long been synonymous with pearls, which formed the backbone of the island nation’s economy for thousands of years. Diving for pearls, otherwise known as pearling, remains part of the country’s cultural DNA.

    “I always say that all Bahrainis have pearl diving in their blood,” Mohamed Alslaise, a pearl diver and field researcher for the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT) tells UN News. “Almost all the families that moved from the Arabian Gulf or Iranian coast to Bahrain were divers.”

    Mr. Alslaise is passionate about preserving and reviving this age-old tradition, notes that many families in the Gulf nation have a member who was either a pearl diver or contributed in some way to the pearl diving industry.

    Pearling in the Persian Gulf shaped Bahrain’s economy for thousands of years but, following a peak around the turn of the 20th century, the perfection of cultured pearls by Japan in the 1930s caused a sharp and devastating decline in the industry.

    Khaled Salman, a diver since the 1970s, explains that while diving continues, it’s no longer done in the old way.

    UN Video/Hisae Kawamori

    Bahraini diver, Mohamed Alslaise extracting pearls from oysters.

    “Nowadays, larger quantities are extracted due to advancements in technology, allowing divers to stay underwater for longer periods. In the past, a diver would stay underwater for four minutes, but now scuba divers can remain underwater for an hour or more.”

    Due to lower pearl prices, Salman notes, “Many people don’t sell the pearls they extract; they store them until prices rise and then sell them to traders in Bahrain.”

    Some pearls are used in local industries, while others are marketed outside Bahrain. He also highlights three types of pearls: synthetic, cultured, and natural, adding that “distinguishing between these types requires experience and modern equipment.”

    The decline in pearling also affected Bahrain’s shipbuilding industry. Abdulla, a designer of wooden ships and boats for over 35 years, shares his perspective: “Bahrain is famous for its shipbuilding industry, which was integral to pearling. There are several types of ships, varying by design, but now smaller ships are used for pearling due to decreased demand.”

    The wood for shipbuilding is imported from Africa and Singapore, and, says Abdulla, the lifespan of a ship can extends beyond 100 years.

    UN Video/Hisae Kawamori

    Abdulla, a designer of wooden ships and boats for over 35 years.

    Folklore, songs and tradition

    “Most Bahraini traditions are connected to the pearl diving industry. For instance, the pearl diving songs,” says Mr. Alslaise. “The folklore of pearl diving has been passed down for generations. We still sing the same songs, which were originally sung to boost morale on the boats.”

    Bahrain’s historic pearling site, known as the Pearling Path, has been inscribed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The site testifies to the pearling tradition and the wealth it generated in the Gulf region for millennia.

    According to UNESCO, the area consists of 17 buildings in Murharraq city, three offshore oyster beds, part of the seashore and the Qal’at Bu Mahir fortress on the southern tip of Muharraq Island, from where boats used to set off for the oyster beds.

    There are shops, storehouses, a mosque, and the homes of wealthy merchants in the area. According to UNESCO, the location is the only complete example of the pearling cultural tradition and the wealth it produced during the period when the Gulf economy was dominated by trade from the second century until Japan developed cultured pearls.

    It also constitutes an outstanding example of traditional utilization of the sea’s resources and human interaction with the environment, which shaped both the economy and cultural identity of the island’s society.

    UN News/ Abdelmonem Makki

    A band performing a pearl diving song in Bahrain. The folklore of pearl diving has been passed down for generations.

    Pearling is back 

    “I am one of the people who fell in love with pearl diving without any guidance from my parents or family,” Mr. Alslaise. “The generation before us was not allowed to dive when they were young because, after oil was discovered, all the jobs shifted to the oil industry.”

    According to Mr. Alslaise, since 2017, when Bahraini authorities introduced pearl diving licenses, many people who signed up had no prior knowledge of pearl diving.

    “Now, seven years down the line, many Bahrainis have reconnected with this heritage. Over 1,000 divers are now registered and dive regularly to create an income for themselves.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Low-altitude economy boosts smart agriculture

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    As dawn breaks over the vast wheat fields, a fleet of drones hums to life, rising like a swarm of mechanical bees. Guided by skilled pilots, the drones glide over the expanse, spraying the crops with precisely measured doses of pesticide.

    In just three days, more than 80,000 mu (approximately 5,333.33 hectares) of wheat fields will be treated. This level of efficiency is unimaginable in traditional farming.

    In a display of agricultural modernization, this annual operation in Zhaoqiao Township, in Bozhou City, east China’s Anhui Province, highlights the increasing role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in China’s agricultural sector.

    To ensure optimal pest control, nearly 40 skilled drone pilots operate UAVs weighing between 50 and 70 kilograms, swiftly maneuvering over vast wheat fields to apply pesticides efficiently and precisely.

    “Traditional manual pesticide spraying could only cover 10 to 15 mu per day. Now, a single agricultural drone can handle about 1,000 mu daily, ensuring even coverage without gaps or overlaps,” said Jiao Rui, a 33-year-old drone team leader.

    Bozhou alone has nearly 3,000 agricultural drones in operation, contributing to a nationwide total of 251,000 UAVs dedicated to agricultural services in 2024.

    These drones collectively covered 2.67 billion mu of farmland, marking a nearly 25 percent year-on-year increase. Beyond pest control, they are also used for fertilization, seeding, pollination, and field monitoring, significantly enhancing agricultural productivity.

    The recently released “No. 1 Central Document” for 2025 outlines priorities to deepen rural reforms further and solid steps to advance all-around rural revitalization. It emphasizes the importance of developing new quality productive forces in agriculture in light of local conditions.

    Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, emphasized at a recent press conference that smart technologies, including UAVs, mechanized farming, AI-driven agriculture, and low-altitude economy applications, hold vast potential for rural development.

    According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the country’s low-altitude economy is expected to reach a market size of 1.5 trillion yuan (about 209.09 billion U.S. dollars) by 2025 and could grow to 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035.

    This sector is rapidly integrating into various rural applications, from agricultural protection to forest fire prevention, water resource inspection, rural logistics, and tourism.

    In the mountainous Hongqi Village of Yuexi County, Anhui, a small white drone takes off daily from its automated docking station, ready to carry out its tasks.

    Equipped with high-definition and infrared cameras, as well as a loudspeaker, the drone patrols a 15-square-kilometer forest area for 40 minutes before returning to recharge.

    Later, it flies to check on elderly residents living alone, enabling local staff to communicate with them remotely. During flood season, the drone’s tasks expand to include river inspections.

    Since the launch of the pilot program in August 2024, drones in Hongqi Village have covered a total of 1,422.95 kilometers and detected over 30 safety hazards, all of which were promptly addressed.

    “Previously, forest patrols required two workers on motorcycles for an entire day, and visiting elderly residents in the mountains took about 90 minutes round-trip. With UAVs, we significantly enhance efficiency and service delivery,” said Shi Yongshi, the first secretary of Hongqi Village.

    Anhui’s local practices epitomize a broader national trend. By 2027, east China’s Zhejiang Province plans to have over 10,000 agricultural drones in operation, covering more than 65 million mu of farmland. Drone-based rural inspections are also set to reach over 30 percent of villages.

    Low-altitude logistics are expanding across cities and rural areas in Guangdong Province, focusing on high-value seafood transport, maritime supply deliveries, rapid medical shipments, and agricultural product transport from mountainous regions.

    “Beyond agriculture, the low-altitude economy is becoming a new engine for rural revitalization and industrial upgrading,” said Zhang Jian, a professor at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Wildfire Mitigation and Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Wildfire Mitigation and Research

    As wildfires have devastated California and the West, bipartisan bill would create career pathways to tackle growing wildfire threats

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined his colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act, legislation that would establish regional research centers at institutions of higher education across the country to boost wildfire mitigation and research. These regional centers would be tasked with developing next-generation fire and vegetation models and technologies to support wildland fire management and address the specific needs of the region in which they are situated. Additionally, this bill would establish a National Center Coordination Board to manage the work of regional centers and establish Regional Advisory Boards from wildfire management agencies, state and tribal governments, and other stakeholders to provide input and assistance.

    According to the U.S. Fire Administration, current wildfire models are failing to adequately predict fire behavior under extreme conditions and in more complex environments, like last month’s Southern California fires, which occurred under severe winds. These models also struggle to reproduce recent catastrophic wildfires, making them more likely to fail at predicting future wildfires or determining when and where it is safe to conduct prescribed burns. That’s why next-generation fire and vegetation models are essential to supporting effective wildland fire management and preparing firefighters against evolving risks.

    Senator Padilla joined Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) in introducing the legislation.

    “Californians are all too familiar with the devastating toll catastrophic wildfires can take on their communities, burning down homes and businesses, and uprooting families’ livelihoods,” said Senator Padilla. “As the climate crisis makes wildfires more dangerous and harder to predict, expanding our wildland fire research would help us better prepare for wildfires and safely conduct prescribed burns ahead of peak fire season. California universities are already the nation’s leading hub for wildfire research and technology, and this bipartisan effort is a critical step forward in expanding next-generation fire mitigation efforts.”

    “Far too many communities in New Mexico and in states across the country know that wildfire season can cost you everything. We must do everything possible to understand the root causes of these wildfires and how local communities can improve wildfire mitigation efforts and save lives and livelihoods,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Sullivan to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to establish regional research centers tasked with developing next-generation fire and vegetation models and technologies to boost wildfire mitigation. Each of these regional centers will help boost wildland fire management across the country while creating more opportunities for a good-paying job through career training for wildfire research. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”

    “Wildfires burn millions of acres in Alaska every year—sometimes as much or more than the combined acreage burned in the rest of the country,” said Senator Sullivan. “To better protect lives, homes and critical infrastructure, we need to invest in research that will produce more accurate models and empower our wildland firefighters to better predict and extinguish fires before they become full-scale natural disasters. I’m glad to reintroduce legislation with Senator Luján to establish wildland fire research centers at our universities with specialized expertise in this space—like UAF in Interior Alaska—and develop more effective firefighting strategies that respond to the unique circumstances of each of our states.”

    “If we’ve learned anything from recent wildfire tragedies across the country, it’s that the threat of catastrophic wildfires isn’t seasonal, nor is it isolated to one region; it’s a year-round, nationwide threat. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort with my colleagues to invest in better anticipating wildland fires, streamlining our response, and ensuring we are fighting these fires faster and more effectively to keep communities safe,” said Senator Sheehy.

    Each regional research center would:

    • Conduct research to improve our understanding of wildland fire, including causes and associated risks for fires, rehabilitation of affected ecosystems, mitigation strategies that improve firefighter safety, and more;
    • Develop, maintain, and operate next-generation fire and vegetation models and technologies to support wildland fire management; and
    • Develop a career pathway training program to help carry out wildland fire research.

    The bill is supported by the Federation of American Scientists, Megafire Action, National Association of State Foresters, National Federation of Federal Employees, the Nature Conservancy, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

    “We spend billions on improving our understanding of disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes — that hasn’t happened yet with megafire. The Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act recognizes and invests in our research community to produce region specific scientific research and solutions to catastrophic wildfires, allowing innovators and wildland firefighters to use this information to directly leverage technology to predict, detect, and prevent megafire,” said Matt Weiner, CEO of Megafire Action.

    Senator Padilla has long been a leader in strengthening the federal and state response to wildfires. Earlier this month, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Wildfire Emergency Act, the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. Last month, Padilla introduced another suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience. Additionally, Padilla’s legislation to strengthen FEMA’s wildfire preparedness and response efforts, the FIRE Act, became law in 2022.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $1.82 million upgrade for TAFE NSW beauty training facility in time for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: $1.82 million upgrade for TAFE NSW beauty training facility in time for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

    Published: 28 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

    Beauty students at TAFE NSW Ultimo now have access to the latest industry-aligned training equipment and fit-for-purpose teaching spaces, thanks to a $1.82 million upgrade to the beauty training facilities funded by the NSW Government.

    Including dedicated nail and beauty therapy rooms, the modernised facilities will ensure students develop the practical skills and knowledge to start or continue a career in the booming beauty industry.

    The teaching space is also equipped with the latest industry-standard tools and resources, including spa chairs, beauty beds, professional lighting, and advanced equipment for specialised skin treatments.

    As the beauty services industry continues to grow, enrolments in TAFE NSW beauty courses have increased by 26 per cent over the past five years. The updated training facility will be used to train the future beauty therapists and nail technicians to meet demand.

    The investment is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening vocational education and ensuring students have access to modern, industry-standard training environments.

    Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan visited TAFE NSW Ultimo to observe students and teachers performing creative Mardi Gras makeovers in the lead-up to the famous Sydney Mardi Gras Parade happening this weekend.

    Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said:

    “The NSW Government’s investment to upgrade the beauty training facility at TAFE NSW Ultimo demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality, hands-on training to meet industry and consumer demand.

    “It’s important the learning spaces and equipment students are using to develop and practice their skills are industry-standard so when they graduate, they’re familiar with the tools and equipment they’ll be using in the workplace.

    “The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a major annual event attracting thousands of locals and visitors to Sydney, and thousands more tuning in to watch the famous parade on TV. It was amazing to see the creativity and skill that goes into some truly glamorous Mardi Gras makeovers.”

    TAFE NSW Specialist Makeup Services Teacher, Emma Court said:

    “It’s exciting to see students learn in our upgraded beauty facilities here at TAFE NSW Ultimo. These spaces offer hands-on training in a modern environment and provide our students with the skills they need to work in the beauty industry.

    “The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is an incredibly busy time for makeup artists and beauty therapists across the city. Everyone wants to look their best and demand skyrockets for beauty services including makeup, spray tanning, waxing and acrylic nails.

    “In the classroom, we channel the students’ passion for artistry into a fun, practical, and skill-diverse course, setting our students on the best pathway to succeed in the industry. It’s wonderful to see the students nurture their talent and gain more creative confidence – it’s my favourite part of teaching.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cobra Gold 25 | Royal Thai Army, U.S. Special Operations Forces subject matter expert exchange

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    Facilitated by Joint Special Operations University, the bilateral exchange for Royal Thai Army Special Forces and U.S. Special Operations participants focused on knowledge of best practices through candid dialogue and iterative demonstrations of processes through hands-on exercises.

    CG25 has three primary events: a command and control exercise, humanitarian civic assistance projects, and a field training exercise to enhance readiness and foster responses to security challenges and natural disasters. Approximately 30 nations participate, with 3,200 U.S. personnel directly involved, underscoring the importance of cooperation and goodwill.

    JSOU’s focus is joint special operations education and has the mandate to support U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific. SOCPAC serves as the operational component command for all SOF missions throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

    The JSOU JPP academic SMEE prepared participants for aspects of special operations forces’ integration during the Cobra Gold command and control event. JPP is a method to determine the use of military capabilities in time and space to achieve objectives within an acceptable level of risk.

    “Having this academic SMEE as part of Cobra Gold 2025 demonstrates the importance both Thai and U.S. leadership place on cognitive warfare,” said JSOU senior mentor retired U.S. Army Col. Scott Malone. “As part of its Joint SOF charter, the university is uniquely positioned to facilitate operational collaboration and the exchange of strategic thought amongst Special Operations partner forces.”

    JSOU’s academic engagements enhance operational collaboration and strategic thinking among partner forces, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptive thinking. Class discussion and group exercises were the primary means for the intellectual exchange.

    “The special operations professionals from Royal Thai Army 1st Special Forces Division and SOD-P collaboration nurtures a culture of continuous improvement and highlights adaptive thinking where knowledge transference and removing barriers to learning is paramount.” said Malone. “This SMEE on day one placing Thai and U.S. participants together in working groups heightens learning and promotes intellectual exchange. This immediate placement allows for each individual to gain a sense of ownership as the combined team is built and fosters unbiased exchanges of best practices as the week progressed.”

    SOD-P provides trained, prepared, and equipped augmentation to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and SOCPAC.

    “This is an unparalleled opportunity for us to share our expertise with each other,” said U.S. Army Col. David Coughran, commanding officer of SOD-P. “Our focus is on strengthening our combined operational proficiency and leadership acumen, ensuring we are all prepared to handle any eventuality.”

    CG25 is a visible symbol of the U.S.-Thai defense alliance, demonstrating the U.S.’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the conditions for peace and prosperity. Enhancing critical capabilities and readiness enables each force to jointly address regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

    The 44th iteration of this exercise exemplifies the longstanding alliance with Thailand and reflects the shared commitment to preserving a peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oakland Man Who Worked As A Substitute Teacher Charged With Mailing Threatening Letters To East Bay Elementary School

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OAKLAND – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Lester Dale Lee, 69, of Oakland, with mailing threatening communications to Dayton Elementary School in San Leandro.  Lee made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning.  

    According to the criminal complaint and court documents, Lee allegedly mailed threatening letters to Dayton Elementary School on three occasions in May 2023.  All three letters were sent in similar envelopes bearing the same typewritten address label.  On May 3, 2023, the school received a letter addressed to one of its teachers.  In the letter, Lee, posing as the parent of a student in the teacher’s classroom, allegedly used a racial slur to describe some students and threatened to shoot the students and teacher if the school did not remove the African American students from the class.  On May 18, 2023, the school received a second mailing that was addressed to the principal and contained an unidentified white powder.  On May 19, 2023, the school received a third letter that addressed to the same teacher as the May 3 mailing.  Lee again allegedly posed as the parent of a student in the class, used a racial slur to refer to students in the class, and threatened to shoot the African American students and the teachers if they were not removed from the school because he wanted “them all dead.”  

    Lee had worked through a staffing agency as a substitute teacher at numerous school sites within the San Lorenzo Unified School District during the 2022 to 2023 school year, including at Dayton Elementary School.  According to the complaint, Lee was terminated from his substitute teaching position in April 2023, following reports of conflicts between Lee and students at the elementary school.  

    Lee is next scheduled to appear in federal court on March 28, 2025 for a status hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore.      

    Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin made the announcement.

    A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $100 fine for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 1038(a)(1)(A).  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.  

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Mateer is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the San Leandro Police Department.

    Lester Dale Lee Complaint
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Kim, Conaway Jr., MD, Pocan, Lead Bicameral Letter to Department of Labor Concerning Musk’s Access to Internal Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (February 28, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Herb Conaway Jr., MD (NJ-03), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) today led 137 of their Democratic colleagues in a bicameral letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Vince Miccone, expressing serious concerns regarding reports that Elon Musk and DOGE are being granted access to the Department of Labor’s internal systems and data.
    “The reported involvement of unelected billionaire Elon Musk and DOGE in these functions raises urgent questions about potential conflicts of interest and the safeguarding of sensitive worker data,” wrote the lawmakers. “Elon Musk’s past statements and actions raise serious concerns about the potential for his personal interests to take precedent over the interests of the American public in labor-related matters.”
    The letter includes an extensive list of questions that lawmakers demand answers to by March 7, 2025. The topics covered in these questions include:
    • Data Access and Confidentiality
    • Worker Protections and Regulatory Oversight
    • Security and Oversight
    • Personnel and Employment Protections
    In addition to Senators Markey and Kim, the letter was also signed by Senators: Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    In addition to Representatives Conaway Jr., MD and Pocan, the letter was also signed by Representatives: Adams, Amo, Ansari, Balint, Barragán, Beyer, Bishop, Bonamici, Boyle, Brownley, Budzinski, Bynum, Carbajal, Carson, Casar, Casten, Castro, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Cohen, Connolly, Crockett, Crow, Davis (IL), Dean, DeGette, DeLauro, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Dexter, Dingell, Escobar, Espaillat, Evans, Fields, Friedman, Garamendi, Garcia (CA), Garcia (TX), Goldman, Gottheimer, Green, Grijalva, Hayes, Houlahan, Huffman, Ivey, Jackson (IL), Jayapal, Johnson, Kamlager-Dove, Kaptur, Kelly, Kennedy (NY), Khanna, Landsman, Latimer, Lee, Lynch, Magaziner, Mannion, McClain Delaney, McClellan, McCollum, McGarvey, McIver, Meeks, Menendez, Meng, Mfume, Min, Moore, Mullin, Norcross, Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pallone, Panetta, Pettersen, Ramirez, Ross, Salinas, Sánchez, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Schneider, Scholten, Schrier, Sewell, Sherman, Sherrill, Smith, Soto, Stansbury, Stanton, Stevens, Strickland, Subramanyam, Takano, Thanedar, Thompson, Titus, Tlaib, Tokuda, Tonko, Torres (NY), Turner, Underwood, Vargas, Velázquez, Williams, and Wilson.
    A copy of the letter can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Sound the Alarm Over EPA Clean School Bus Program Funds Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    February 28, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined their colleagues in demanding an update from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on the distribution of funding for the Clean School Bus program to recipients with signed agreements and urging the EPA to immediately release any withheld funding.

    In the letter, the lawmakers write, “To provide these health and cost savings benefits to our children and continue supporting the boom in electric bus manufacturing that is creating good-paying jobs across the country, the EPA must implement the Clean School Bus program as Congress directed. Following your confirmation hearing, you committed to the continued implementation of this program when you responded: ‘I commit to following the law. I cannot prejudge the outcome of any particular policy review.’ Recognizing that Congress authorizes and appropriates federal funding—and explicitly established the Clean School Bus program through a bipartisan vote— it is your duty to implement the program and ensure program awardees have confidence in working with the EPA and are receiving funding.” 

    Merkley and Wyden joined the letter led by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). It was also signed by Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). 

    The lawmakers request the following information by March 6, 2025:  

    1. For both rebates and grants under the Clean School Bus program, what is the status of the disbursement of already obligated funds to recipients? 
    2. On what legal basis did the EPA end its disbursement of already obligated funds for the program? Please identify the authority under which the EPA cut off funding. 
    3. If the disbursement of any obligated Clean School Bus Program grants and rebates currently remains frozen for any awardees, when will it resume? If you cannot provide a date, please explain why, including the legal basis for not resuming disbursements and an explanation of the EPA’s grant and rebate-review process. 
    4. Will you commit to following the law by obligating the remaining Clean School Bus program grants and rebates that have yet to be awarded, or that have been awarded but not yet disbursed, through FY2026? 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged following Takanini incident

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A man is before the courts following an incident on Kutukutu Street in Takanini last night.

    Police responded to the residential address around 7:50pm following an altercation between people known to eachother.

    Three people have been transported to hospital with serious injuries consistent with stab wounds, where they remain in a stable condition.

    A 34-year-old man was arrested on Takanini School Road with the assistance of the Eagle Helicopter, a short time after they left the scene in a car.

    He is due to appear before the Manukau District Court today on three charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deputy Labor Secretary Nominee Declines to Answer Sen. Murray on Whether Basic Workforce Training Laws are “DEI”; Pressed on Trump Dismantling OFCCP And Enabling Illegal Discrimination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Attempt to Dismantle Longstanding Labor Agency Combating Illegal Employment Discrimination 

    *** VIDEO of Senator Murray’s FULL questioning HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, questioned Keith Sonderling, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Deputy Secretary at the Department of Labor (DOL), at a HELP committee hearing on his nomination. Murray pressed Mr. Sonderling on whether the Trump administration thinks foundational workforce training laws like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act qualify as “DEI.” Murray also questioned Mr. Sonderling about the Trump administration’s unprecedented dismantling of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which has its origins in a 1965 executive order and plays a unique and vital role in combating unlawful employment discrimination for federal contract workers, who make up about one-fifth of the entire U.S. labor force.

    Murray began by pressing Mr. Sonderling on the consequences of the Trump administration’s dismantling of OFCCP, which Murray forcefully condemned in January. “In 2024, following an OFCCP evaluation, one of the largest global financial services companies agreed to allocate $4.2 million in payments to resolve alleged sex discrimination and undergo an outside pay equity analysis. In his first week in office, President Trump rescinded the Executive Order from 1965 that authorized OFCCP to conduct that investigation. Commissioner Sonderling, do you believe that taxpayer dollars should go to companies that discriminate?”

    Sonderling dodged the question and Murray pressed again: “Do you think that taxpayer dollars should go to companies that discriminate?”

    “That is not a determination that the Deputy Secretary of Labor or the Department of Labor deals with,” Sonderling responded.

    “You don’t want to answer the question,” Murray observed. “I will say, I don’t think the taxpayer dollars should go to companies that discriminate. I can easily say that.”

    Murray continued her line of questioning: “In our meeting, you suggested that the Department of Labor is looking at eliminating OFCCP entirely even though it has recovered now more than $260 million dollars for more than 250,000 employees and job applicants who were discriminated against by federal contractors over the last decade. And OFCCP just, today, announced plans to cut 90 percent of its staff and local offices. So let me ask you this: do you think DOL has any role to play in addressing illegal discrimination?”

    Mr. Sonderling said he was not aware of those reports, and declined to answer the question again.

    Murray asked again: “I’m just asking you from your own philosophical personal position. Do you think that DOL, which you want to go to work for, has any role to play in addressing discrimination in this country?”

    Mr. Sonderling responded that addressing discrimination is under the jurisdiction of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), to which Senator Murray replied: “It’s interesting that you say that, because Trump fired two of the EEOC commissioners—in an unprecedented move, I would add. So, it really has undermined our government’s ability to go after anti-discrimination. So I am, and everyone should, be deeply concerned about that.” Senator Murray vocally condemned Trump’s illegal firing of EEOC Commissioners and NLRB members last month.

    Next, Senator Murray pressed Mr. Sonderling on the Trump administration’s definition of “DEI” and their weaponization of the ill-defined term to target all manner of programs and policies. “We’re hearing a lot about DEI, it’s thrown out there everywhere. So, I’m going to ask about some bipartisan laws passed by Congress that were passed to make sure that underserved Americans can receive workforce training and find good employment opportunities. And I want to know if the policies in these laws that I’m going to present to you amount to DEI,” Murray said.

    “The Office of Disability Employment Policy has been statutorily authorized with, ‘Eliminating barriers to the training and employment of people with disabilities.’ Is that DEI? Yes or no?”

    “It is important to protect all rights of disabled workers… and under my leadership, the Office of Disability Employment will continue to do that,” Sonderling relied, without answering the question directly.

    “So that is not DEI?” Murray pressed.


    “That is a civil rights statute that the department enforces to make sure disabled people can prosper in the workforce,”     Sonderling replied.

    “I know you know what it is, but I’m asking if it’s DEI, because, you know, it’s very confusing,” Murray responded.

    Murray continued: “How about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WIOA? It specifically says ‘individuals with a barrier to employment’ and requires grantees to expand training to those individuals. Is that DEI?

    “WIOA is a very important law…,” Sonderling replied. “But do you consider that to be DEI?” Murray pressed.

    “I consider that to be a very important part of the department’s mission to make sure that American workers can get… the training they need,” Sonderling said.

    “The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 requires federal contractors to take affirmative action to hire, retain, and promote veterans? Is that DEI?” Murray asked.

    Sonderling declined to answer the question, saying instead: “It is important to protect all of our veterans. It’s important to protect everybody in the workplace.”

    “Well—Mr. Chairman, I know you’re pounding your gavel—but I just think it’s pretty clear that there is no standard definition of DEI across our federal government,” Murray concluded.

    Throughout her career, Senator Murray has championed workers’ rights and fought to combat employment discrimination, including as the top Democrat on the Senate labor committee from 2015-2022—among other things, Senator Murray fought back against a proposed DOL rule by the Trump administration that would allow federal contractors and subcontractors to justify discrimination against women, LGBTQ+ people, and members of certain religious groups on ideological grounds. Senator Murray first introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act—comprehensive labor legislation to protect workers’ right to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces—in the 116th Congress. Murray also leads the Paycheck Fairness Act to combat wage discrimination and help close the wage gap, and has helped lead the fight for paid family and medical leave since she first joined Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USSTRATCOM JEC Director Emphasizes Importance of Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    WASHINGTON, D.C.   –  

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. AnnMarie Anthony, director of United States Strategic Command’s Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center, attended the Future Operating Environment workshop at National Defense University on Fort McNair, Washington D.C., Feb. 26, 2025.

    Anthony participated in a fireside chat and hosted an international leadership panel of U.S. and allied flag officers during the event.  The workshop focused on incorporating Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations into professional military education across the Joint Force and infusing a better understanding of critical warfighting capabilities into the curricula.

    During the fireside chat with Dr. Ling Yung, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for Force Education and Training, Anthony shared her insights on the importance of advancing the military’s EMSO capabilities and improving military leaders’ awareness of those capabilities.

    “The electromagnetic spectrum is not simply a supporting element of military operations, it is the very arena where future conflicts will be won or lost,” said Anthony. “The EMS is not a separate domain itself, but rather an inseparable component of air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace operations. We must continue to advance our capabilities and empower our forces to showcase lethality within the EMS environment to deter aggression and maintain our competitive edge.”

    Dr. Yung emphasized the significance of Anthony’s contribution to the workshop.

    “Maj. Gen. Anthony’s expertise on this topic is why we were so excited to have her join us for this workshop. She has a passion for educating our force and strengthening our EMSO capabilities that is so motivating,” said Dr. Yung. “Add to that her ability to take incredibly complex subject matter and make it easy to understand for all audiences and you have a powerhouse in the EMSO space. She has a lot to say, and we should be listening.”

    United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a global warfighting command, deters strategic attack through a safe, secure, effective, and credible global combat capability and, when directed, is ready to prevail in conflict.

    Learn more about USSTRATCOM:

    United States Strategic Command: Peace is our Profession…(YouTube.com)

    About (stratcom.mil)

    Mission, Vision & Intent (stratcom.mil)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: El Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon da fondos a organizaciones comunitarias, como universidades, para ayudar a las personas a declarar sus impuestos gratis

    Source: US State of Oregon

    racias a un programa del Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon (Oregon Department of Human Services, ODHS), dos universidades de Oregon están ayudando de forma gratuita a muchas personas a presentar su declaración de impuestos. El Programa de Subvenciones para Infraestructura Tributaria del ODHS (ODHS Tax Infrastructure Grant Program) hace posible esta ayuda gratuita para personas y familias con ingresos inferiores a $84,000 al año.

    En 2024, el programa fue responsable de la presentación de 14,246 declaraciones de impuestos actuales y de años anteriores, más del triple de las declaraciones presentadas hace dos años, antes de que comenzara el programa de subvenciones. Oregon State University (OSU) y Western Oregon University son dos de los muchos beneficiarios de las subvenciones que ofrecen ayuda gratuita para la presentación de declaraciones de impuestos, con más de 100 estudiantes contratados que ayudan a las personas a presentar sus impuestos, de forma gratuita.

    Emily Plant, que está trabajando en su licenciatura en Ciencias en OSU, es una de esas estudiantes contratadas. Este es su segundo año en esta tarea.

    Contó que todo tipo de personas se acercan para recibir el servicio gratuito. Aproximadamente un tercio son estudiantes de OSU, y también hay miembros de la comunidad, algunos empleados de OSU, e incluso algunos que conducen una hora o más para obtener ayuda con los impuestos.

    “Es un trabajo realmente importante, realmente significativo. Ayuda a las personas que tienen bajos ingresos, con discapacidades, personas mayores de 65 años y personas para quienes el inglés es un segundo idioma. Simplemente no saben que pueden recibir un reembolso. Vienen y reciben varios miles de dólares de reembolso. Para algunos, esto es un cambio de vida”, agregó.

    Otra estudiante contratada es Kelleen Green, una estudiante de maestría en educación en Western Oregon University. Ella reconoce que muchas personas se sienten ansiosas y asustadas de tener que presentar sus impuestos.

    “Cuando recibimos a los contribuyentes, es asombroso. Los vemos tan ansiosos y abrumados. Piensan que sucederá lo peor. Estamos aquí para ayudarlos. Vemos que reciben reembolsos casi todo el tiempo. Esto los hace sentir empoderados”, dijo.

    Camila Martínez, otra estudiante contratada de Western Oregon University, dijo que: “Ninguna situación es demasiado difícil de manejar. Utilizamos todos nuestros recursos para ayudarlos”. Además, es gratuito.

    “El sábado pasado, presenté una declaración de impuestos para alguien que fue a un contador de impuestos privado el año pasado. Le cobraron $350 por la declaración de impuestos; el mismo monto que recibió este año del estado. En total, recibió un reembolso considerable este año, ¡más de $1,000! Dijo que estaba muy agradecido por nuestros servicios y lo accesible que es nuestro programa”, agregó Martínez, una estudiante de último año que se especializa en contabilidad.

    Lo que le gustaría decirles a las personas es que, “es gratuito y está disponible para cualquiera que sea elegible. Puede ser intimidante hacer una declaración de impuestos, pero estamos aquí para ayudar, responder preguntas y guiarlo en la dirección correcta”.

    Estos programas gratuitos utilizan el Programa de Ayuda Voluntaria para la Declaración de Impuestos (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) o VITA del IRS. Los voluntarios de VITA que preparan las declaraciones deben realizar y aprobar una capacitación sobre la ley impositiva que cumpla o supere los estándares del IRS.

    El Programa de Infraestructura Tributaria financia organizaciones culturalmente relevantes o específicas, gobiernos tribales y organizaciones comunitarias rurales para ayudar a educar y proporcionar ayuda gratuita en la presentación de impuestos a personas que tienen bajos ingresos. La ayuda se encuentra disponible en varios idiomas. El dinero de la subvención también se utiliza para aumentar la cantidad de preparadores de impuestos certificados en Oregon.

    Obtenga más información en el sitio web del ODHS sobre el Programa de Subvenciones para Infraestructura Tributaria.

    Dónde obtener ayuda gratuita para presentar impuestos

    • 211Info: Llame al 2-1-1 o envíe un correo electrónico a help@211info.org para obtener ayuda gratuita para presentar su declaración de impuestos.
    • Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO); TAX@irco.org; 971-427-3993; Portland, Ontario

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 649, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    H.R. 649 would allow schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program to serve whole, reduced-fat, or low-fat milk that is flavored or unflavored to students. Under current law, schools must offer milk that is fat-free or low-fat and may only offer flavored milk if it is fat-free or low-fat. The bill would exclude the saturated fat in milk from calculations of the amount of such fat that is allowed under the program for an average meal.

    The bill also would prohibit participating schools from purchasing or offering milk produced by China state-owned enterprises.

    CBO expects that enacting the bill would not affect reimbursement rates or participation in the program, so there would be no effect on the cost of benefits. CBO estimates that the administrative costs to update the dietary regulations would be insignificant; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Susan Beyer. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Congratulates Caribou High School’s Jamie Selfridge on Being Named Maine’s Principal of the Year

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: February 28, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement congratulating Jamie Selfridge, Principal of Caribou High School, on being named Maine’s Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals:
    “Principal Jamie Selfridge’s dedication to Caribou High School has made a meaningful difference in the lives of students, teachers, and the local community. In addition to her previous work as a middle school teacher, she has been a strong advocate for rural schools through her role as a co-facilitator of the National Association of Secondary School Principals Rural Schools Network.
    “As a graduate of Caribou High School, I am especially proud to join the community in celebrating this well-earned recognition. The City of Caribou has halted its six-decade population decline in recent years, due in no small part to the efforts of dedicated educators and administrators who make local schools a place where students can thrive.
    “Congratulations, Principal Selfridge, on this great achievement.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter – School Choice in Idaho

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Dear Friends,
    After several years and several attempts, Idaho finally has a law supporting real school choice.  As with most all legislation, it’s not perfect, but it’s a good start for something that plays an outsized role in our state – meeting the educational needs of our kids.  Education has never been effective as a one-size-fits-all approach, and our test scores reflect that, despite almost $2.5 billion dollars of taxpayer money every year sent to public schools.  HB93 – now signed into law – is a step forward.  This bill even received the unexpected endorsement of President Trump who said the bill had his, “complete and total support.”
    To no one’s surprise, there are those who oppose the idea of school choice, claiming that any public money spent on private education weakens a dismally under-performing system, and only by increasing the flow of money into the failing system can the outcomes be improved.  Anyone watching the ever-growing education budgets overlaid with declining performance knows this argument is intellectually flawed.
    The weakest argument levied against Idaho’s new school choice law is that it violates Idaho’s Constitution, which prohibits public monies from being used to support religious education.  This is known as the Blaine Amendment, and you will see this cited by school choice opponents regularly.  Idaho is one of 37 states to have a Blaine Amendment.
    The Idaho Constitution says:
    “Neither the legislature nor any county, city, town, township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation, or pay from any public fund or moneys whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian or religious society, or for any sectarian or religious purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church, sectarian or religious denomination whatsoever…”However, in the 2020 Supreme Court case of Espinoza v. Montana, the Supreme Court determined that applying the Blaine Amendment in cases where the state is giving funds to non-sectarian institutions while excluding religious institutions violates the Free Exercise Clause of the United States Constitution, which reserves the right of citizens to practice any religious belief of their choice without discrimination.In Espinoza, the Montana legislature had established a program to provide tax credits for people who donated to organizations that award scholarships for private school tuition. To reconcile this statute with Montana’s Blaine Amendment, their Department of Revenue established a rule prohibiting families from using the scholarships at religious schools. Parents of students attending a private Christian school filed a lawsuit that made its way to the United States Supreme Court. The reasoning for the SCOTUS decision is that while a state may prohibit private schools from receiving public funds, religious schools can’t be excluded if public funds are made available to private, non-religious schools.
    The Supreme Court said in Espinoza v. Montana:
    “The Supremacy Clause provides that “the Judges in every State shall be bound” by the Federal Constitution, “any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.” “[T]his Clause creates a rule of decision” directing state courts that they “must not give effect to state laws that conflict with federal law[ ].” That “supreme law of the land” condemns discrimination against religious schools and the families whose children attend them. They are “member[s] of the community too,” and their exclusion from the scholarship program here is “odious to our Constitution” and “cannot stand.”If Idaho’s new school choice law discriminates against children attending religious schools by refusing to provide tax credits to those families, Idaho parents could bring a lawsuit like the Espinoza case against the state.  For Idaho’s Blaine Amendment to survive such a lawsuit, a federal court would have to find that application of the Idaho Blaine Amendment advanced a narrowly tailored, compelling government interest, known as “strict scrutiny.”  Montana’s Blaine Amendment was not able to satisfy that requirement in Espinoza.  It would likewise be very challenging for Idaho’s Blaine Amendment to pass this “strict scrutiny” hurdle.
    The trend in the courts disfavors any laws that prohibit generally available funds from being used at or for religious schools. Last year, in Loffman v. California Department of Education, Orthodox Jewish schools and families sued California’s law that prohibited the state from contracting with religious schools to provide education for students with disabilities, claiming it violated their rights under the Free Exercise Clause.  California’s law provided funding for special education and related services and allowed non-religious private schools to be certified to receive the funds and to provide the services needed to students. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that California’s requirement that a private school be non-religious failed strict scrutiny and therefore violated the Free Exercise Clause.
    Idaho’s new law will probably be challenged in court by those who oppose school choice based on the misapplication of the Blaine Amendment.  However, as your Attorney General, I will be there to vigorously defend our school choice law every step of the way.  As the Supreme Court justices wrote, the families and children who attend religious schools are members of our community too, and their exclusion is “odious to our Constitution.”
    Best regards,

    Not yet subscribed to the Labrador Letter?  Click HERE to get our weekly newsletter and updates.  Miss an issue?  Labrador Letters are archived on the Attorney General website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Oak Valley Community Bank Announces Commercial Credit Officer Hiring

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OAKDALE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oak Valley Community Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY), announced that Jean Turpen has joined the bank as Vice President, Commercial Credit Officer. She is based out of the Roseville Office located at 1478 Stone Point Drive.

    Turpen has 21 years of banking experience and a distinguished career in the banking industry, having held various leadership positions in commercial credit and lending. Her understanding of commercial lending, credit risk management, and financial analysis makes her an invaluable addition to the bank. In her new role, she will be responsible for client relationship management, portfolio management, and credit analysis. She will work closely with the Greater Sacramento Region team to drive sustainable growth and maintain our commitment to excellence in service and performance.

    “We’re excited to welcome Jean to our team. Her experience and proven track record in the banking sector will be instrumental in driving our commercial credit strategies and supporting our growth objectives,” said Gary Stephens, EVP Commercial Banking Group.

    Turpen earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from University of Alaska Anchorage. She is a member of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA). Turpen resides in Orangevale with her husband and two sons. In her free time, she enjoys fitness, gardening, orchestral music, and reading.

    Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank & their Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, through which it offers a variety of loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. They currently operate through 18 conveniently located branches: Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, Sacramento, Roseville, two branches in Sonora, three branches in Modesto, and three branches in their Eastern Sierra division, which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop. The company will open its 19th branch location in Lodi later this year. For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.

    Date: February 28, 2025
    Contact: Chris Courtney/Rick McCarty
    Phone: (209) 848-BANK (2265) 
      Toll Free (866) 844–7500
      www.ovcb.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CalAmp Welcomes Thomas Polan as Product Director for Student Safety Business Unit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CalAmp, a leading provider of telematics and connected intelligence solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Polan as Product Director for its Student Safety Business Unit. Polan, a co-founder of the Synovia K-12 solution acquired by CalAmp in 2019, brings extensive expertise in student transportation technology and a proven dedication to innovation.

    Polan’s leadership in developing Synovia’s industry-leading solutions transformed school transportation by improving safety, efficiency, and transparency for school districts, contractors, and transportation consortiums. In his new role, he will spearhead product strategy, focusing on customer-centric solutions that enhance operational effectiveness and student safety.

    “Thomas Polan is a recognized leader in student transportation technology, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to drive our Student Safety product strategy,” said Mark Gaydos, General Manager of Student Safety at CalAmp. “His deep industry insight and passion for innovation align perfectly with our mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions to school districts, contractors, and consortiums.”

    Polan’s appointment reflects CalAmp’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its education offerings through advanced telematics, fleet management, and safety technologies. His expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of student transportation solutions and solidifying CalAmp’s market leadership.

    “I’m excited to rejoin CalAmp and continue advancing solutions that matter to the student transportation industry,” said Polan. “School districts rely on dependable, innovative technology to ensure student safety and operational efficiency. I look forward to collaborating with CalAmp’s talented team to deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

    About CalAmp

    CalAmp provides flexible solutions to help organizations worldwide monitor, track, and protect their vital assets. Our unique device-enabled software and cloud platform enables commercial and government organizations worldwide to improve efficiency, safety, visibility, and compliance while accommodating the unique ways they do business. With over 10 million active edge devices and 220+ approved or pending patents, CalAmp is the telematics leader organizations turn to for innovation and dependability. For more information, visit calamp.com, or LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or CalAmp Blog.

    CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER, Here Comes The Bus, Bus Guardian, CalAmp Vision, CrashBoxx and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Spireon acquired the LoJack® U.S. Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) business from CalAmp and holds an exclusive license to the LoJack mark in the United States and Canada. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BERKS COUNTY – Lt. Gov. Austin Davis to Highlight 2025-26 Proposed Budget Investments in Safer Communities

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    March 03, 2025 – Reading, PA

    ADVISORY – BERKS COUNTY – Lt. Gov. Austin Davis to Highlight 2025-26 Proposed Budget Investments in Safer Communities

    Lt. Gov. Austin Davis will discuss the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed 2025-26 budget and its investments to make Pennsylvania communities safer on Monday, March 3, at 1 p.m. at Reading Hospital, 420 S. Fifth Ave., West Reading.

    The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which Davis leads, recently approved $45 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants. This program supports a wide range of models focused on reducing community violence and relies on community groups that are most in tune with specific local needs. Reading Hospital is receiving more than $600,000 to expand and enhance its Violence Recovery Program.

    The proposed 2025-26 budget includes a $10 million increase for the VIP program, as well as $10 million more for the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time program, which provides funding for afterschool programs that help keep kids safe and give them enrichment opportunities.

    WHO:
    Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, state Sen. Judy Schwank, state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams, representatives from Reading Hospital and Safe Berks

    WHAT:
    Roundtable conversation about gun violence prevention and the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed state budget

    WHEN:
    Monday, March 3, at 1 p.m.

    WHERE:
    Reading Hospital, 420 S. Fifth Ave., West Reading

    RSVP:
    Members of the news media who are interested in attending must RSVP to Kirstin Alvanitakis at kirstinalv@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –