Category: Finance

MIL-OSI Security: Fraud Conspiracy Leader Sentenced

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PROVIDENCE – A Johnston man, identified in court documents as the leader of a conspiracy that used stolen personal identifications of unsuspecting individuals to gain financing for the purchase of Land Rovers from dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, has been sentenced to two-and-one-half years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Dennis Odoom, 27, previously admitted to a federal judge that he enlisted others to join the conspiracy. Odoom admitted that he provided a co-conspirator with a fraudulent ID and that he drove that person to a dealership in New Hampshire to pick up a Land Rover valued at $96,256 purchased with fraudulently obtained credit. The person accompanying him was expecting to be paid $2,000 by Odoom.

Additionally, court documents allege that fraudulently obtained financing was used by co-conspirators to purchase a Land Rover from a Rhode Island dealership. The final sales price for the vehicle and financing was $111,183.

Odoom was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. Dubose to a term of 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000. Restitution will be determined by the court at a later date. Odoom pleaded guilty on December 12, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

A co-defendant in this matter, Roy Sweets, 27, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2025.

A third defendant, Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 28, of Providence, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

The matter was investigated by Warwick, RI, and Bedford, NH, Police Departments, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Eric Peter Weschke of AdvancedFolio Capital Management Rings NYSE Closing Bell
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SETAUKET, N.Y., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eric Peter Weschke, president and CEO of AdvancedFolio Capital Management, joined an elite group of financial leaders by ringing the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Closing Bell. The event, broadcast live on CNBC, marked a significant achievement for Weschke, a 29-year veteran of the financial services industry and a prominent New York financial educator.

Image by AdvancedFolio Capital Management

For Weschke, this milestone represents a full-circle moment, as his journey in finance began decades ago, inspired by his mother, a pioneer who worked on the NYSE floor in the late 1960s. “Being on the NYSE trading floor and ringing the closing bell was truly surreal,” Weschke says. “As a child, I remember visiting the exchange with my mother, who was among the first women to work there. To now be here, participating in a historic tradition, is an incredible honor both personally and professionally.”

Eric Peter Weschke Celebrates Financial Leadership at NYSE

The NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony is a symbolic tradition that marks the end of the trading day, often reserved for industry leaders, top executives, and companies making significant contributions to the financial world. Weschke’s participation reflects his longstanding influence in financial education, asset management, and wealth preservation strategies.

The invitation to ring the closing bell places Weschke among distinguished financial figures who have shaped the industry. This honor acknowledges his contributions to advancing investor education and developing innovative wealth management approaches throughout his career. The ceremony, witnessed by traders, executives, and millions of viewers, showcases AdvancedFolio’s growing influence in the financial services sector.

“This isn’t just a personal achievement; it’s a reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the strength of the brand we’ve built at AdvancedFolio Capital Management,” Weschke says.

AdvancedFolio Capital Management Showcases Success on National Stage

Founded by Eric Peter Weschke, AdvancedFolio Capital Management has established itself as a premier financial firm, offering personalized investment strategies and financial planning solutions. The firm prioritizes a client-first approach, crafting customized solutions while balancing asset protection with effective risk management.

“At AdvancedFolio, our mission is simple: to provide our clients with strategic, tax-efficient investment plans that ensure long-term financial security,” Weschke says. “We’re not just managing wealth—we’re building financial confidence.”

This commitment extends to education, with hundreds of free seminars and workshops offered to boost financial literacy among clients and the broader community. The firm’s expertise has earned national recognition, from appearances on CNBC to features in financial publications and high-profile industry events.

“The success of AdvancedFolio Capital Management isn’t just about numbers; it’s about helping people build sustainable financial futures,” Weschke says. “The recognition we’ve received, from Nasdaq’s National Board in Times Square in 2021 to the NYSE Closing Bell in 2025, reflects our dedication to excellence.”

Reflecting on the NYSE Immersion Moment

“The excitement inside the exchange was electric,” he says. “The anticipation of ringing the bell, knowing it was being broadcast nationwide, was an unforgettable experience. It’s moments like these that remind me why I chose this career: to be part of something bigger than myself and contribute to the financial well-being of others.”

During his visit, Weschke engaged in discussions with NYSE executives, traders, and financial analysts, gaining valuable insights into the current state of the markets and future trends.

“It was fascinating to hear firsthand perspectives from professionals who operate at the heart of the financial world,” Weschke says. “From market analysts to on-air CNBC personalities, the exchange is a hub of financial expertise.”

Beyond the ceremony, Weschke took a behind-the-scenes tour of the NYSE, where he gained a new appreciation for the technology and operations driving global financial markets.

“Seeing the trading floor up close, rather than just on TV, gave me a whole new perspective,” Weschke says. “The floor is smaller than it appears on screen, but the energy, the technology, and the precision with which everything runs is remarkable.”

A Career of Achievement

Throughout his career, Eric Peter Weschke has been recognized for his expertise in institutional investment theory, risk management, and tax-efficient retirement income strategies. As a nationally published financial expert and speaker, he has guided countless individuals, families, and businesses toward achieving their financial goals.

Among his professional accomplishments:
- Former National Speaker on financial strategies for corporations across the U.S.
- Chief Technical Analyst for the Swing-Trader Market Newsletter.
- Senior Executive Syndicate Underwriting Team Member for a $20M Initial Public Bond Offering.
- Senior VP and Northeast Regional Planner for First National Bank of Arizona.
- Advisor of the Year (2003) for outstanding financial planning performance.
- #1 Nationally Ranked Representative for Northwestern Mutual (1993) based on volume.
Weschke is also a licensed investment advisor and 1031 Exchange Specialist, ensuring that his clients receive comprehensive, well-informed financial guidance.

“Success in finance isn’t just about numbers; it’s about trust, relationships, and delivering long-term results,” Weschke says. “At AdvancedFolio Capital Management, we’re committed to making a real impact in people’s lives.”

Eric Peter Weschke’s Message to Clients and the Industry

As Weschke reflects on his participation in the NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony, he hopes the event sends a powerful message to his clients and professional network.

“This moment reinforces our firm’s relevance and credibility in today’s financial world,” Weschke says. “It’s proof that AdvancedFolio Capital Management is being recognized at the highest levels for the work we do. Our exposure through CNBC, the NYSE, and Nasdaq has only strengthened our brand and mission.”

With the future in focus, Weschke remains committed to expanding AdvancedFolio Capital Management, enhancing client services, and continuing to shape the financial landscape through education, innovation, and trust.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s just the beginning,” Weschke says. “We’re building something that will last, something that will help generations achieve financial stability and success.”

About AdvancedFolio Capital Management

AdvancedFolio Capital Management is a Setauket-based financial advisory firm committed to delivering personalized investment strategies and proactive wealth management solutions. By focusing on client education and disciplined financial planning, the firm helps individuals and families achieve their financial goals with confidence and clarity.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors are advised to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Investment advisory services are offered through Coppell Advisory Solutions, LLC dba Fusion Capital Management, an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration is not an endorsement of the firm by the commission and does not mean that the advisor has attained a specific level of skill or ability. See full disclosures on FusionCM.com/compliance. Insurance and annuity products are not sold through Fusion Capital Management. Fusion does not endorse any annuity or insurance product, nor does it guarantee any insurance or annuity performance. Annuity and life insurance guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. If you withdraw money from or surrender your contract within a certain time after investing, the insurance company may assess a surrender charge. Withdrawals may be subject to tax penalties and income taxes. Persons selling annuities and other insurance products receive compensation for these transactions. These commissions are separate and distinct from Fusion’s investment advisory fees.

Media Contact:

Eric Peter Weschke
AdvancedFolio Capital Management
Phone: 631-675-1885
Email: eric@advancedfolio.com
Website: https://www.advancedfolio.com/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/687a81d7-e1d7-4935-99ab-6e5f9f487014

The MIL Network –
March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1702, JUDGES Act

Source: US Congressional Budget Office

Bill Summary

H.R. 1702 would permanently authorize 65 new district court judgeships and authorize 1 judgeship for a five-year appointment. The bill would add new judgeships every two years from 2025 through 2035.

The bill also would authorize appropriations for the administrative costs of the affected district courts. Finally, H.R. 1702 would reorganize certain judicial districts in California, Texas, and Utah and would require the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress.

Estimated Federal Cost

The estimated budgetary effect of H.R. 1702 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 750 (administration of justice).

Table 1. Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1702
	By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031	2032	2033	2034	2035	2025-2030	2025-2035
	Increases in Direct Spending
Estimated Budget Authority	*	3	4	7	8	10	12	14	15	18	20	32	111
Estimated Outlays	*	3	4	7	8	10	12	14	15	18	20	32	111
	Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
Estimated Authorization	13	14	24	24	33	33	44	44	53	53	62	141	397
Estimated Outlays	*	5	12	16	20	26	30	36	40	47	51	79	283
* = between zero and $500,000.

Basis of Estimate

For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted in fiscal year 2025 and that the authorized and estimated amounts will be provided in each year beginning in 2025. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for the affected activities.

Direct Spending

The compensation (that is, salary and benefits) of judges in federal district courts is classified as direct spending in the federal budget. In 2024, the average compensation for each judge was $270,000. Using information from the AOUSC about past and projected pay increases, CBO estimates that compensation costs for each new judge would be $280,000 in 2025 and would rise to $335,000 in 2035. Based on the time required for Congressional confirmations of judges in recent years and the schedule specified in the bill, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1702 would increase direct spending by $111 million over the 2025-2035 period.

Spending Subject to Appropriation

CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1702 would cost $79 million over the 2025-2030 period and $283 million over the 2025-2035 period for administrative expenses and other costs. Any related spending would be subject to the appropriation of the necessary funds.

Administrative expenses. The bill would authorize the appropriation of specific amounts each year through 2035 for administrative expenses, including compensation for staff and overhead for facilities, security, and technology. The bill would further authorize those amounts to increase each year by the percentage increase in inflation in the previous year. Using the inflation projections that underlie CBO’s baseline, we estimate that the bill would authorize appropriations totaling $397 million over the 2025-2035 period. Based on the expected costs for staff and other administrative expenses, CBO expects that the courts will not need the full amounts that would be authorized in the bill.

Using information from the AOUSC about district courts’ typical administrative costs, CBO estimates that the cost of the first year of operation for a new court would average $760,000, and that, once fully established, each new court would operate at an average annual cost of about $700,000 over the 2025-2030 period. CBO expects that the costs of operating the new courts would rise over time as more judgeships are authorized and staffed and to accommodate pay increases and inflation. In total, CBO estimates that operating the new courts would cost $282 million over the 2025-2035 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.

Other costs. Additionally, H.R. 1702 would require GAO to report to the Congress on judiciary caseloads and federal agencies’ need for detention space. Using information about the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates that the report would cost $1 million over the 2025-2030 period.

Finally, H.R. 1702 also would reorganize certain districts in California and Texas by adding localities to their jurisdictions. The AOUSC would be required to report every two years detailing the recommendations and methodology used by the Judicial Conference of the United States for judicial nominations. Using information from the AOUSC, CBO estimates that the costs of implementing those provisions would not be significant.

Any spending related to the reports would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 1.

Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1702 would not increase net direct spending by more than $2.5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1702 would not increase on‑budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

Mandates

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

Federal Costs: Jon Sperl

Mandates: Grace Watson

Estimate Reviewed By

Justin Humphrey
Chief, Finance, Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit

Kathleen FitzGerald
Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

H. Samuel Papenfuss
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: Oregon Man Indicted, Arrested for Transporting a Minor for Sexual Purposes

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

The FBI is seeking additional information.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Oregon man was arrested by the FBI yesterday in Portland after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment this week charging him with transporting a minor with the intent to have the child engage in criminal sexual activity.

According to court documents, in 2019, Steven Fox, 59, moved from Pendleton, Oregon, to Anchorage, Alaska. At some point that year, Fox allegedly presented himself as a long-lost “uncle” to a family with two minor daughters and began caring for the minors.

Court documents further allege that in January 2020, Fox transported the minors from Alaska to Oregon. Fox started sexually abusing one of the minors, who was 9 years old, almost immediately after leaving Alaska.

Fox is charged with one count of transportation of minors. The defendant is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today at 1:30 p.m. PDT before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. If convicted, he faces between 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Pendleton Police Department and FBI Portland Field Office. If anyone has information concerning Fox’s alleged actions, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ten Indicted in Alleged Scheme Orchestrated by Street Gang Members to Smuggle Narcotics Into a Riverside County Jail

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

RIVERSIDE, California – Three people were arrested today pursuant to a federal grand jury indictment alleging a scheme to smuggle narcotics into a Riverside County jail by concealing drugs inside of individuals who would purposely get arrested to deliver the contraband.

The three arrested today are among 10 defendants named in the indictment that alleges a scheme to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin into the detention facility. The other defendants charged in the case were already in custody.

“Drug smuggling endangers the lives of inmates and the sheriff’s deputies who are sworn to guard them,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “I thank and commend our partners at the FBI and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for the time and attention they have paid to this urgent and important matter.”

“This investigation highlights the importance of the cooperation and working relationship with our federal partner law enforcement agencies when it comes to public safety,” said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. “The smuggling of drugs into our jails, particularly with the emergence of fentanyl, has dramatically increased inmate deaths and medical emergencies within our corrections division. I commend the sheriff’s investigators and FBI agents who worked tirelessly on this case to ensure those responsible were identified and brought to justice. We will continue to partner with federal agents in our ongoing efforts to keep Riverside County safe.”

The conspiracy allegedly was led by Andrew Jesus Ayala, 46, of Riverside, and members of a Riverside-based street gang who worked with three in-custody defendants who wanted to obtain narcotics, a group of facilitators on the street and an at least one drug mule who concealed narcotics in a body cavity, the indictment alleges.

The indictment outlines a scheme that began at an unknown date and continued into late 2022, when intercepted phone calls revealed efforts to smuggle narcotics into a Riverside County custody facility. Members of the drug trafficking ring obtain narcotics and recruited individuals who were willing to smuggle drugs hidden inside their bodies, according to the indictment.

Leaders of the scheme arranged temporary housing for the drug mules before and after they went into custody and delivered narcotics, according to the indictment, which details steps taken by the smugglers to avoid having the drugs detected by X-ray scanners.

In one incident in late 2022, a defendant attempted to smuggle 1¾ ounces of methamphetamine concealed inside his body, but that shipment was intercepted when the contraband was seen on an X-ray machine when the defendant was brought into custody, the indictment alleges.

Members of the conspiracy allegedly discussed smuggling fentanyl-laced pills that could be sold inside the jail for 10 times the street price.

The indictment unsealed today charges all 10 defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. Nine of the defendants are additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Peter Dahlquist and Erin C. Kiss of the Riverside Branch Office are prosecuting this case.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Ramsey County Carjacker Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

MINNEAPOLIS – A Ramsey County man has been sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a string of carjackings and illegal possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to court documents, on June 30, 2022, Ricardo Rydell Walker, Jr., 22, approached the owner of a black 2021 Toyota Highlander as they exited the car, demanded everything in the driver’s pockets, and hit them on the left side of the head with a handgun. Walker also participated in three additional armed carjackings between February 2021 and June 2022, one in Minneapolis and two in Saint Paul. In each case, Walker and others used the threat of violence and intimidated the victims with firearms.

On July 6, 2022, Walker was arrested in Maplewood, MN, in a stolen car, while in possession of a Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol.

On November 26, 2024, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of receipt of a firearm while under felony indictment. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Katherine M. Menendez.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Paul Police Department, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Mattessich and Mary Riverso prosecuted the case.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Citing Potential Tsunami of Medicaid Cuts, Cantwell to Vote Against Advancing Dr. Oz: “I Cannot Support This Nomination”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
03.25.25
Citing Potential Tsunami of Medicaid Cuts, Cantwell to Vote Against Advancing Dr. Oz: “I Cannot Support This Nomination”
Trump nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to oversee Medicare and Medicaid as GOP pushes spending bill that would necessitate slashing Medicaid; Cantwell: “My colleagues who are trying to play down this threat […] it’s either bad math or bad faith.”; In tour across WA last week, Cantwell heard from patients & providers who would be devastated by Medicaid cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said she’ll vote against advancing Dr. Mehmet Oz – Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.
During a markup today of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Cantwell cited Dr. Oz’s refusal to stick up for Medicaid during his hearing earlier this month, especially in the face of a draconian GOP budget bill that would necessitate massive cuts. The committee vote is scheduled for later today at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT.
“He wouldn’t commit. He would not say no, and certainly not no to President Trump, or Elon Musk, or to the House of Representatives. The House committee that oversees Medicaid and Medicare is responsible for finding $880 billion from these cuts,” Sen. Cantwell said. “The only real place to get this is, particularly if Medicare is off the table, is from Medicaid. Even if the Committee completely eliminated every single other program in the E&C account, it still gives them one-sixth of what they need.
“So make no mistake, there is no other way to meet this mandate [than] to impact Medicaid. My colleagues who are trying to play down this threat, or act like there’s some other way around it –it’s just not so. It’s either bad math or bad faith.”
Last week, Sen. Cantwell heard from voices across Washington state about the dangers of President Trump and the GOP’s proposed cuts to Medicaid. Doctors, patients, and health care providers in Seattle, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities warned that such cuts would devastate Washington state’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care.
          WATCH:
          FOX 13 Seattle: WA health leaders join Sen. Cantwell against proposed Medicaid cuts
          KREM 2 Spokane: Spokane doctors, patients speak at Medicaid roundtable hosted by Sen. Cantwell
          KAPP 35 Tri-Cities: MARIA CANTWELL: How proposed cuts to Medicaid could impact South Central Washington
Sen. Cantwell concluded her remarks today by calling on her colleagues to join her in defending Medicaid.
“So, with this tsunami of cuts that we’re looking at, I cannot support this nomination. I hope my colleagues will turn it down as well,” Sen. Cantwell said.
Last month, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state’s health care system — especially in Central and Eastern Washington. Sen. Cantwell released a second snapshot report highlighting impacts on the Seattle-area health care delivery system.
READ MORE:
The Seattle Times: Cuts to Medicaid would hurt WA’s children, poor
The Spokesman Review: Medicaid could be on chopping block after Northwest Republicans help pass House budget measure
The Tri-City Herald: Newhouse backs House GOP budget plan that could lead to cuts for Tri-Cities Medicaid users
Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to. The program also ensures that hospitals — which are required to treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay — receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. Over 1.9 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Apple Health.
Late last month, the House of Representatives passed a funding bill that would necessitate $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid. Supporters of the bill claim that the text includes no mention of Medicaid — however, the extent of the cuts required by the legislation would mean that the committee has essentially no other options other than to hack away at Medicaid.
Video of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks today are available HERE, audio HERE, and a full transcript is HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Urge Administration to Maintain Focus on Election Security

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), is joining a number of his colleagues to push for the continuation of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Election Threats Task Force. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the senators stressed the importance of the Task Force, which is charged with identifying efforts to protect election officials amid the rising threats and acts of violence.

“Given the recent disturbing personnel and policy decisions at the Department and the lack of transparency about the future of the Task Force, we request an immediate update on the status and activities of the Task Force, as well as what resources will be provided to ensure its important work continues so that election officials of both parties can safely administer our elections,” wrote the Senators.

“Recent surveys have found that one in three election officials reported facing threats, harassment, and abuse. Similarly, 48 percent of local election officials know of someone who has left their job because of fear for their safety—a troubling loss of institutional knowledge needed for the smooth running of elections. Election workers continue to fear for their safety, so it is critical that the work of the Task Force continues to deter and counter these threats. In this challenging environment for election officials, it is essential to our democracy that they can continue to rely on the Department to uphold the law,” continued the Senators.

The senators’ letter comes as the Trump Administration has significantly rolled back the federal government’s capacity to fight against foreign and domestic election security threats. On Attorney General Bondi’s first day in office, she disbanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Foreign Influence Task Force, hindering efforts to address secret influence campaigns waged by China, Russia and other foreign adversaries. Additionally, the Administration has fired or put on leave dozens of officials responsible for combating foreign election interference at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and has reportedly frozen all of CISA’s ongoing election security work. The Administration has also defunded CISA’s nationwide program to train local officials and monitor threats through the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

In addition to King, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ.), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

In addition to serving on the Intelligence Committee, King is the Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC). He is recognized as one of Congress’ leading experts on cyber defense and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyber strategy that emphasizes layered cyber deterrence. Previously, King has cosponsored legislation to shield American elections from threats by improving election cybersecurity and combatting foreign interference in U.S. democracy. He also urged the Biden Administration ahead of the 2022 midterm elections to fund selection security efforts by allocating federal funds to modernize voting equipment and strengthen cybersecurity for election systems.

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

+++

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write to strongly urge you to continue the critical law enforcement work of the Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force, which protects election officials from ongoing threats and acts of violence. Given the recent disturbing personnel and policy decisions at the Department and the lack of transparency about the future of the Task Force, we request an immediate update on the status and activities of the Task Force, as well as what resources will be provided to ensure its important work continues so that election officials of both parties can safely administer our elections.

The Task Force was established in the wake of the 2020 election cycle when election officials across the political spectrum began facing unprecedented threats of violence intended to thwart the peaceful transfer of power that is the hallmark of our democracy. In close collaboration with state and local law enforcement, the Task Force has assessed thousands of complaints of suspected threats of violence and investigated and prosecuted violent offenders. Over the years, these threats have not only continued but escalated. The Task Force has investigated fentanyl-laced letters, bomb threats, and swatting incidents—serving as a legacy of the 2020 election and impacting the ways election officials interact with voters in their communities.

Recent surveys have found that one in three election officials reported facing threats, harassment, and abuse. Similarly, 48 percent of local election officials know of someone who has left their job because of fear for their safety—a troubling loss of institutional knowledge needed for the smooth running of elections. Election workers continue to fear for their safety, so it is critical that the work of the Task Force continues to deter and counter these threats. In this challenging environment for election officials, it is essential to our democracy that they can continue to rely on the Department to uphold the law.

Moreover, the federal government’s ability to fight election interference has been greatly hampered in the early weeks of this Administration. Dozens of officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who are responsible for combatting foreign election interference, have been fired or put on leave. CISA has also reportedly frozen all of its ongoing election security work, including defunding its nationwide program to train local officials and monitor threats through the “Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center.” Additionally, on your first day in office, you signed a directive disbanding the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, which was aimed at responding to secret influence campaigns waged by China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries.

We request a response on the status and future plans of the Election Threats Task Force, the extent of resources and personnel dedicated to its work, and how it plans to incorporate related work previously led by CISA and the Foreign Influence Task Force by March 31, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: CoGTA convenes landmark Eastern Seaboard Development Traditional Leaders’ Summit

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe and Dr Namane Dickson Masemola have successfully convened the inaugural Eastern Seaboard Development (ESD) Traditional Leaders’ Summit in the Eastern Seaboard region.

The ESD includes the coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

The Deputy Ministers were joined by the House of Traditional and Khoisan leaders (NHTKL), Chairperson Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo, as well as the Eastern Cape CoGTA MEC Zolile Williams.

The summit, which took place from 23 to 24 March 2025, also brought together traditional leaders, municipal representatives, and key stakeholders from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The aim of the summit was to strengthen the participation of traditional leadership in the planning and implementation of the ESD programme.

The gathering forms part of ongoing engagements under the ESD initiative, which seeks to harness the region’s economic potential through strategic infrastructure development, enhanced governance, and the active participation of all stakeholders, including traditional leadership, in local economic growth.

Over two days, the summit provided a robust platform to:

• Review the participation of traditional leaders in the ESD planning phase and respond to key concerns raised during prior consultations.

• Define the role of traditional leadership in the implementation of ESD projects, including participation in planning and governance structures.

• Discuss land acquisition, land use rights, and partnerships with investors to ensure secure tenure and meaningful engagement.

• Align the ESD with the broader Invest Rural Masterplan and rural development initiatives.

• Address traditional leadership concerns related to Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).

• Identify empowerment initiatives to capacitate traditional leaders in economic development matters.
Since its inception, the ESD initiative has made significant strides in its planning phase.

The Eastern Seaboard was officially declared a region under the SPLUMA in June 2022, paving the way for the development of a Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF).

This framework, which has undergone extensive public consultation, is set to provide a clear roadmap for government and private sector investment in the region.

As the ESD initiative moves into its implementation phase, the focus will be on further consultations, consolidating projects, mobilising resources, and building the necessary capacity to ensure successful execution. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Rodgers announces strategic initiatives to drive KZN economic growth, job creation

Source: South Africa News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, has announced a number of strategic initiatives aimed at boosting the province’s economic growth, creating jobs, and stabilising the cost of living.

Rodgers highlighted some of the initiatives, when he was tabling the province’s R158.478 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, on Tuesday.

In his address, Rodgers highlighted the positive signs of economic recovery, pointing to key indicators, including an increase in the province’s equitable share and additional allocations in conditional grants.

He also noted the progress being made through the Provincial Financial Recovery Plan.

“What is required now is discipline with a sharp focus on the end objective, growth in our economy, job creation, and stabilising and reducing the cost of living,” Rodgers said.

Initiatives to strengthen financial discipline

The MEC said the provincial Treasury is committed to perform financial oversight and monitor provincial expenditure, with a view to prevent non-essential government activities.

He added that efforts are underway to identify new streams of revenue for the provincial fiscus.

Another key initiative is the adoption of a cost-containment instruction by the Executive Council, which aims to sustain KZN’s ability to meet its needs, “while protecting its future.”

“Cutting the nice to haves to protect the must haves. One such example is [council] agreement to do away with rental vehicles, with procurement for vehicles, in line with National Treasury guidelines.

“When the GPU (Government of Provincial Unity) took office, the province was projecting to over-spend in the region of R10 billion, [but] with strict control measures and compliance, we have now reduced this to R4.9 billion,” Rodgers highlighted.

E-procurement tool

To further improve financial efficiency, Rodgers announced that Treasury is awaiting approval for the acquisition and implementation of an e-procurement tool, a system designed to eliminate overcharging of goods and services during the Supply Chain Management (SCM) and tender processes.

“This system will yield enormous savings for the province and reduce irregularities in the procurement process,” Rodgers said.

The MEC said the provincial government is making great strides in achieving a balanced budget, noting that “it’s a painful process, but a process that needs to be sustained and supported.”

Rodgers further announced that starting in April 2025, the provincial government will introduce departmental financial dashboards, which will reflect departments financial metrics, such as creditors, debtors, cash balances, and projected expenditure.

He said these dashboards will assist members of the Executive Council and oversight committees with a clearer picture of the province’s financial health.

Additionally, the provincial Treasury is exploring the establishment of an information centre, which will focus on “Operation Pay on Time” and assist with tender processes and supplying information on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

“Going forward, I will continue, in my capacity as MEC, to regularly engage the Premier and the provincial executive on good financial practices. We will be consistent in our advocacy for efficient expenditure and the prioritisation of programmes aimed at alleviating poverty, inequality, unemployment, effective service delivery and building a sustainable economy,” the MEC said.

Provincial budget highlights

A large portion of the 2025/2026 provincial budged (79.9%), has been allocated to the three key social services departments, including Education, Health, and Social Development.

The Education Department received the largest share of the budget, with R66 690 206 allocated, followed by Health with R56 211 801.

Other allocations include:
•    Transport allocated R13 827 066.
•    Office of the Premier R817 875.
•    Provincial Legislature R850 796.
•    Agriculture and Rural Development R2 757 443.
•    Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs R3 606 998.
•    Provincial Treasury R710 190.
•    Human Settlements R3 549 877.
•    Community Safety and Liaison R275 716.
•    Sport, Arts and Culture R1 598 141.
•    Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs R1 931 153.
•    Social Development R3 613 297.
•    Public Works and Infrastructure R2 037 490. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Home Affairs Minister issues stern warning to crooked officials

Source: South Africa News Agency

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has warned crooked officials that the department will leave no stone unturned to rid its ranks of corruption.

Schreiber said officials involved in corrupt activities will face the full might of the law.

“Our message also makes it clear that we apply the rule of law without fear or favour,” Schreiber said.

Speaking at the launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) in Pretoria on Tuesday, Schreiber said cooperation amongst the relevant authorities is making an impact on efforts to restore the image of the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority (BMA).

“We are also committed to the kind of systems reform that will close the space for discretion, which enables fraud and corruption in the first place,” Schreiber said.

One of the fundamental pillars of digital transformation, the Minister said, is the use of technology to help prevent and detect corruption, and uproot corrupt networks altogether.

“But the reality is that, for as long as we have paper-based visa documents, for as long as we use manual, paper-based processes, and for as long as decisions are wide-open to human discretion and interference, the space for corruption will continue to exist.

“Paper visas are being replaced by an Electronic Travel Authorisation featuring Artificial Intelligence and machine learning-based adjudication. Paper documents are being replaced by secure digital documents, including the digital ID system announced by the President during the State of the Nation Address.

“The green ID book will be phased out and replaced by the far more secure smart ID and digital ID, and we are automating entry-and-exit at all South African ports-of-entry,” the Minister said.

Schreiber is confident that the systems reforms will deliver a “systems revolution” in the border management and immigration environment.

“No more papers that can go missing or be manipulated. No more photo-swopping on green ID books. No more bribing an immigration officer to manipulate an outcome, or to gain entry into the country illegally because you cannot bribe a computer and an electronic gate,” Schreiber said.

Schreiber said the Department of Home Affairs is concluding the appointment of a permanent Deputy Director-General for Human Resources.

“It is my expectation that this person will further intensify our quest to rid Home Affairs of the bad apples,” he said.

Speaking at the launch of the BMIACF, the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Shamila Batohi, said officials must urgently bring an end to the phenomenon of South Africa being used as a transit route for criminal activities.

“We need law enforcement agencies that serve the public and put an end to these criminal activities.”

Batohi said a lot has been done over the period of five years and that more is still to be done to deal with crime and corruption.

Advocate Andy Mothibi, the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), said the launch of Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum is a strategic intervention in the fight against crime and corruption.

“The launch of Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum is a strategic intervention to foster collaboration between various stakeholders, who bring with them their respective mandates and expertise, which will speed up investigations of corruption allegations.”

Mothibi expressed the SUI’s support for the BMIACF.

The BMIACF focuses on immigration and border management, which is vulnerable to fraud and corruption.

The BMIACF has a steering committee coordinating all the work and managing stakeholders’ progress. It is supported by subcommittees that focus on specialist areas such as prevention, detection, investigation and implementation of consequence management. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Two to appear in court in connection with Marry Me attack

Source: South Africa News Agency

Two suspects are expected to appear before the Pretoria North Magistrates Court on Wednesday in connection with the attack of community-based patrollers at the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said the pair, aged 27 and 50, will appear on charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

“The firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain whether they had been involved in other serious crimes in Gauteng,” said the Hawks.

The two were arrested on Monday by members of the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS) in Pretoria, together with the Tshwane K9 Unit, Akasia Crime Prevention, Tshwane Akasia Crime Intelligence, Public Order Policing (POP) Pretoria, Tshwane district Serious Violent Crime (SVC) and the Pretoria North Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC).

READ | Attack on community-based patrollers condemned

“On 24 March 2025, information was received by members of TOMS regarding a group of suspects that have allegedly committed multiple murders and attempted murder in Soshanguve (Marry Me), which occurred on 22 March 2025. The police followed up on the information and traced the first suspect to Soshanguve Extension 20,” said the Hawks.

Upon arrival, police recovered one firearm, a 9MM Girsan with ammunition. The serial number had been filed off the firearm.

The police proceed to the second address in Soshanguve Extension 6, where the second suspect was arrested.

During the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a 9MM CZ with ammunition, and its serial number was also filed off.

“… The suspects are allegedly linked to murders and house robberies that occurred on 21 February 2025,” said the Hawks. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider CMS Administrator Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Consider CMS Administrator

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to consider the nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
As prepared for delivery:
“We meet today to consider favorably reporting the nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“As we have done with other nominees, the meeting this morning will provide members with the opportunity to make remarks on Dr. Oz’s nomination. We will notify members of a time and location later today to conduct the vote.
“Dr. Oz has years of experience as an acclaimed physician and public health advocate. His background makes him uniquely qualified to manage the intricacies of CMS.
“At his hearing, Dr. Oz discussed his vision to ensure CMS provides Americans with access to superb care, especially our most vulnerable patients. I look forward to working with him, if confirmed, to accomplish this goal.
“I was also encouraged to hear that he will focus on modernizing federal health care programs, work to fix our broken clinician payment system and will partner with Congress to achieve pharmaceutical benefit manager reform.
“There is no doubt that Dr. Oz will work tirelessly to deliver much needed change at CMS. I will be voting in favor of his nomination, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.”

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at SSA Commissioner Nomination Hearing

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA).
As prepared for delivery:
“Today, we will consider the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
“Mr. Bisignano, congratulations on your nomination, and welcome to you and your family. Thank you for your willingness to serve and for your cooperation with this Committee throughout our rigorous vetting process.
“Both sides have generally agreed the Social Security Administration needs a confirmed Commissioner to address the ongoing challenges at the agency. I commend President Trump for putting forward a Commissioner nominee so early in his Administration.
“Mr. Bisignano has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience at leading financial institutions. He has brought a focus on innovation and operational excellence to his current role as Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv, a leader in payments and financial technology that is responsible for processing more than $2.5 trillion in payments daily.
“Mr. Bisignano, if confirmed, you will be responsible for leading an agency with a critical mission, and numerous operational and customer service challenges, as you will hear this morning. Based on your background, I am confident you are up to the task.
“It is hard to overstate the importance of Social Security, which provides monthly benefits to millions of seniors, individuals with disabilities and their families. The Social Security Administration has the responsibility of overseeing this important program, as well as the Supplemental Security Income program, assigning Social Security numbers and issuing Social Security cards, among other workloads.
“In carrying out these significant responsibilities, the Social Security Administration interacts with millions of customers each year, whether in-person, by phone or online. The public expects the agency to provide responsive service and timely decisions on their claims. However, the SSA faces many challenges in meeting these expectations.
“After years of implementation delays and the ultimate failure of its Next Generation Telephony Project, SSA has made some progress with its National 800 Number, including introducing a call back option. However, much more is needed. Callers to the National 800 Number who want to wait for a representative are still spending too long on hold and many still struggle to actually get through to a representative when they call.
“Americans also continue to wait too long for an initial disability decision, particularly in certain parts of the country. SSA’s shift to an appointment-focused approach for field office visits underscores the need for SSA to make it easier for customers to schedule appointments online.
“The Trump Administration has been clear that it is focused on addressing waste, fraud and abuse across government agencies, and I applaud its efforts to maximize government productivity. A Senate-confirmed Commissioner should be leading these efficiency efforts.
“Mr. Bisignano, if confirmed to serve as the next Commissioner of Social Security, this responsibility will fall to you. I urge you take a thoughtful, measured and data-driven approach to evaluating policy and operational changes aimed at improving SSA’s efficiency and productivity. If you need additional tools that require statutory changes, I urge you to bring those changes to this Committee and our House counterparts.
“Today’s hearing will provide an opportunity to hear more about your vision for the Social Security Administration and how we can work together to help ensure the SSA fulfills its critical mission.
“Thank you for your willingness to serve and congratulations again on your nomination, which I intend to support.”

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Indictment Charges Ellington Woman with Fraud and Tax Offenses

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a 12-count indictment charging HEATHER MURDOCK, 57, of Ellington, with fraud and tax offenses stemming from an embezzlement scheme.

The indictment was returned on March 19, 2025. On March 20, Murdock appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $40,000 bond.

As alleged in the indictment, Murdock was employed as the bookkeeper and office manager at a Hartford law firm, identified in court documents as “Firm A.” Between approximately 2010 and 2022, using Firm A’s bookkeeping software, Murdock generated hundreds of false checks made payable to herself and on which she forged the signature of Firm A’s owner. To conceal her embezzlement, Murdock doctored the bookkeeping system entries to make it appear that the checks had been issued to legitimate vendors. Murdock deposited the forged checks into her own bank account. Murdock stole approximately $583,953 through this scheme.

The indictment also alleges that Murdock stole cash rental payment made by tenants of properties owned by Firm A’s owner. To conceal her theft, Murdock generated false checks from Firm A’s bank account payable to the account in which Firm A’s owner received rental income, making it appear that the expected deposits of rental income had been made, and doctored references in the firm’s bookkeeping system. Murdock stole approximately $251,314 through this scheme.

The indictment further alleges that Murdock failed to pay federal income taxes on the embezzled funds and her wages from Firm A for the 2013 through 2022 tax years, and that she substantially underreported her income in 2011 and 2012. Murdock’s underreported tax obligations total $248,294.

The indictment charges Murdock with five counts of bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count; two counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; and five counts of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Decisions Adopted by eQ Plc’s Annual General Meeting

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

eQ Plc Stock Exchange Release
25 March 2025, at 7.30 p.m.

eQ Plc’s Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday 25 March 2025 as a hybrid meeting in accordance with chapter 5, section 16, subsection 2 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act (“AGM”), decided upon the following:

Confirmation of the financial statements

eQ Plc’s AGM confirmed the financial statement of the company, which included the group financial statements, the report by the Board of Directors and the auditor’s report for the financial year 2024.

Decision in respect of the result shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend

The AGM confirmed the proposal by the Board of Directors that a dividend of 0.66 euros per share be paid out. The dividend will be paid out in two separate installments. The first installment, EUR 0.33 per share shall be paid to those shareholders who are registered as shareholders in eQ Plc’s shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the dividend payment on 27 March 2025. The first installment of the dividend shall be paid on 3 April 2025. The second installment, EUR 0.33 per share shall be paid in October 2025 to those shareholders who are registered as shareholders in eQ Plc’s shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the divided payment. The Board shall decide the record date and the payment date of the second installment of the divided in its meeting in September 2025. It is contemplated that the record date of the second installment will be 7 October 2025 and that the payment date will be 14 October 2025.

Discharge from liability to the Board of Directors and the CEOs

The AGM decided to grant discharge from liability to the Board of Directors and the CEOs for the financial year 1 January – 31 December 2024.

Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies and Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies

The Annual General Meeting decided to adopt the Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies and the Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies.

The remuneration of the members of the Board, the number of Board members and appointment of Board members

The AGM decided that the members of the Board would receive remuneration as follows: the Chair of the Board will receive 5,000 euros, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors will receive 4,000 euros and the Board members will receive 3,000 euros per month. In addition, a compensation of 750 euros per meeting will be paid for all the Board members for each attended Board meeting and travel and lodging costs will be compensated in accordance with the company’s expense policy.

According to the decision of the AGM, the Board consists of six members. Päivi Arminen, Nicolas Berner, Georg Ehrnrooth, Janne Larma and Tomas von Rettig were re-elected as members to the Board of Directors and Caroline Bertlin was elected as a new member to the Board. The term of office of the Board members ends at the close of the next Annual General Meeting. The Board appointed Georg Ehrnrooth as Chair of the Board in its meeting held immediately after the AGM.

Auditor and sustainability auditor and their remuneration

The AGM decided to elect Authorized Public Accountants KPMG Oy Ab as auditor and as sustainability auditor of the company. The auditor and sustainability auditor with main responsibility, named by KPMG Oy Ab is Tuomas Ilveskoski, APA, Authorized Sustainability Auditor. It was decided to compensate the auditor and the sustainability auditor according to their invoices approved by eQ Plc.

Establishment of a Shareholders’ Nomination Board

The AGM decided to establish a Shareholders’ Nomination Board whose task is to prepare proposals concerning the number of members of the Board of Directors and the Board’s composition and remuneration to the General Meeting. The Shareholders’ Nomination Board comprises of four members and four largest shareholders of the Company may each appoint a member.

The AGM decided to adopt the Charter for the Shareholders’ Nomination Board.

Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of special rights entitling to shares

The AGM authorised the Board of Directors to decide on a share issue or share issues and/or the issuance of special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act, comprising a maximum total of 3,500,000 new shares. The amount of the authorisation corresponds to approximately 8.45 per cent of all shares in the Company at the date of the notice of the AGM.

The authorisation is to be used in order to finance or carry out potential acquisitions or other business transactions, to strengthen the balance sheet and the financial position of the Company, to fulfill Company’s incentive schemes or to any other purposes decided by the Board. 50 per cent of the shares or special rights entitling to shares issued on the basis of the authorisation may be used to implement incentive schemes or otherwise for remuneration. Based on the authorisation, the Board decides on all other matters related to the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act, including the recipients of the shares or the special rights entitling to shares and the amount of the consideration to be paid. Therefore, based on the authorisation, shares or special rights entitling to shares may also be issued directed i.e. in deviation of the shareholders pre-emptive rights as described in the Companies Act. A share issue may also be executed without payment in accordance with the preconditions set out in the Companies Act.
The authorisation cancels all previous authorisations to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of special rights entitling to shares and is effective until the next Annual General Meeting, however no more than 18 months.

Helsinki, 25 March 2025

eQ Plc

Board of Directors

Additional information: Juha Surve, Group General Counsel, tel. +358 9 6817 8733

Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki, www.eQ.fi

eQ Group is a Finnish group of companies specialising in asset management and corporate finance business. eQ Asset Management offers a wide range of asset management services (including private equity funds and real estate asset management) for institutions and individuals. The assets managed by the Group total approximately EUR 13.4 billion. Advium Corporate Finance, which is part of the Group, offers services related to mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and equity capital markets.

More information about the Group is available on our website at www.eQ.fi.

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests Brazilian national for selling fake Social Security cards and green cards

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

BOSTON – An illegally present Brazilian national, residing in Woburn, was arrested March 18 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly selling fraudulent Social Security cards and Legal Permanent Resident cards, often referred to as “green cards.”

Liene Tavares De Barros, Jr., 39, is charged with one count of unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature.

According to the charging documents, Tavares De Barros sold a Social Security card and a green card to an undercover officer in October 2024 in exchange for $250. In December 2024, Tavares De Barros allegedly sold two more Social Security cards and green cards to the undercover officer in exchange for $500.

The charge of unlawful transfer of document or authentication feature and unlawful production of document or authentication feature provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Tavares De Barros will also be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Tavares De Barros was previously removed by ICE in 2010 and 2022.

The investigation was conducted by the ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. DBFTFs target and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations and individuals that threaten U.S. national security and public safety – and address vulnerabilities that exist in the immigration system. Through collaboration and partnership, the DBFTFs maximize resources, eliminate duplication of effort, promote the information sharing, and produce a strong law enforcement presence. DBFTFs safeguard against fraudulent activities related to documents and benefits in the United States.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Driver of second human smuggling vehicle involved in 2021 Southwest Texas incident sentenced to 10 years in federal prison following ICE Del Rio and federal partner investigation

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

DEL RIO, Texas – A illegal Salvadoran alien, identified as Juan Alonso Barrientos-Quintanilla, 23, was sentenced March 25 by a federal judge to serve 120 months in prison for his role in a deadly 2021 human smuggling operation. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“The tragic loss of life in human smuggling operations is a harsh reminder of the dangerous nature of these criminal activities. ICE HSI will continue to work relentlessly to dismantle these networks and prevent further violence, ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee.

According to court documents, Barrientos-Quintanilla was apprehended and identified as one of 12 illegal aliens who fled from one of two vehicles involved in a failed human smuggling operation on Highway 277 on March 15, 2021. The other vehicle, driven by Sebastian Tovar, crashed, killing eight of its nine illegal alien passengers. Following the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the second smuggling vehicle, leading to an attempted traffic stop and, subsequently, Barrientos-Quintanilla and the other illegal aliens were fleeing on foot. All 12 illegal aliens were apprehended. Barrientos-Quintanilla initially claimed to be one of the aliens being smuggled; however, he later admitted to being the load driver of the vehicle. He pleaded guilty on July 23, 2023, to one count of aiding and abetting illegal alien transportation resulting in death.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister from the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: The FBI and the Portland Police Department Announce a $10,000 Reward for Information Leading to the Location of Miguel Oliveras

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force and the Portland Police Department are investigating the suspicious disappearance of Miguel Oliveras and are asking for the public’s assistance in locating him or his remains.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone with information leading to Oliveras’ whereabouts.

Oliveras, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, was last seen around 1:00 a.m. on September 2, 2006, at the Platinum Plus Club on Riverside Street in Portland, Maine. He was wearing a grey camouflage long-sleeve shirt with a white t-shirt over it, green cargo shorts, and white sneakers.

Oliveras is a Hispanic man with black hair and brown eyes. At the time he went missing, he was 24 years old, approximately 5’11” tall, and weighed approximately 170 pounds. He has tattoos on his neck, back, shoulder, and hand.

There have been no reported sightings or contacts by Oliveras since his suspicious disappearance, which is why the FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information.

The public is being asked to play an active role in locating Miguel by reviewing his missing person poster and sharing it on social media.

“Despite exhaustive investigative efforts by law enforcement over the last two decades, we are unable to locate Miguel Oliveras,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Our goal with this $10,000 reward is to incentivize anyone with information about Miguel’s whereabouts to come forward so we can find him and provide his family with some much-needed closure.”

“We are hopeful someone will come forward with additional information to help bring this case to a close,” added Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois. “This has been a priority for us and we certainly know it is to the family as well.”

“Nothing has changed,” Miguel’s mother, Myrna Oliveras, said. “More frustration, more anger, it has been a long time. I just want to find him and bring him home. I need people to come forward.”

Anyone with information regarding Miguel Oliveras’s location should call the Portland Police Department at 207-814-8584 or FBI Boston at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Hollywood Hills Man Sentenced to Nearly Three and One Half Years in Federal Prison for Paying Nearly $2.9 Million in Kickbacks for Drug Addiction Patient Referrals

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

LOS ANGELES – A Hollywood Hills man was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for paying illegal kickbacks for patient referrals to his addiction treatment facilities located in Orange County.

Casey Mahoney, 48, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who also fined him $240,000.

At the conclusion of a nine-day trial in September 2024, a jury found Mahoney guilty of one count of conspiracy to solicit, receive, pay, or offer illegal remunerations for patient referrals and seven counts of receiving illegal kickbacks for patient referrals.

“This defendant illegally profited millions of dollars off of addicts who desperately needed help,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “Bribes and kickbacks compromise the integrity of substance abuse treatment facilities and undermine patient care. As the sentence imposed today demonstrates, those that engage in body brokering will go to federal prison.”

The charges relate to Mahoney’s operation of two addiction treatment facilities: the Huntington Beach-based Healing Path Detox LLC, and the San Juan Capistrano-based Get Real Recovery Inc.

From at least October 2018 to December 2020, Mahoney paid nearly $2.9 million in illegal kickbacks to so-called “body brokers” who referred patients to Mahoney’s addiction treatment facilities. Those body brokers in turn paid thousands of dollars in cash to patients. Brokered patients sometimes were dropped off at motels in Orange County and introduced to drug dealers. Some of these patients later overdosed and died.

Brokers also arranged for patients to receive drugs to make them eligible for more lucrative levels of care at Mahoney’s facilities. Mahoney paid one broker $140,000 per month for additional patients despite knowing that brokers offered to get some patients high. Mahoney also requested that his employees send brokers to track down former patients with lucrative insurance policies, which he called his “most wanted list.”

Throughout the scheme, Mahoney concealed the illegal kickbacks by entering into sham contracts with the body brokers which purportedly required fixed payments and prohibited payments based off of the volume or value of the patient referrals.

In reality, Mahoney and the brokers negotiated payments based on the patients’ insurance reimbursements and the number of days Mahoney was able to bill for treatment.

The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The California Department of Insurance provided valuable assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Nandor F.R. Kiss of the Orange County Office and Justice Department Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted this case.

Mahoney’s conviction arose out of violations of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA). EKRA was enacted in October 2018 as part of comprehensive legislation designed to address the opioid crisis and to target the rise in body brokering and substance abuse facility profiteering.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24.7 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Baltimore, Maryland – Steven Christopher Kelban, age 50, of Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Kelban was identified as a suspect in the trafficking of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), also called child pornography, during Baltimore County Police Department’s online investigation of the BitTorrent network.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes, along with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to his guilty plea, Kelban has two prior convictions for child pornography. In 2015, Kelban was convicted of possession of obscene matter of persons under 17 in Shelby County, Alabama, and in 2016, he was convicted of distribution of child pornography in Baltimore County, Maryland.

As detailed in the plea agreement, on November 20, 2023, Kelban was released from imprisonment in Alabama and returned to Maryland. He registered as a sex offender in Maryland on November 21, 2023, listing an address in Baltimore County, Maryland.

On November 28, 2023, the Baltimore County Police Department conducted an online investigation of the BitTorrent network to find offenders sharing child pornography. His IP address was associated with a torrent that contained over 2000 files, including at least one file of suspected child pornography. Between 12:33 am and 1:38 am on November 28, 2023, investigators directly connected to the device and downloaded the torrent, and therefore each file was downloaded directly from the IP address. The IP address for the device was connected to Kelban’s residence in Baltimore County, the same address that Kelban used when he registered as a sex offender a week prior.

Kelban faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025, at 11 a.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended FBI and the BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Reema Sood, who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Illegal alien cartel member sent to prison for possessing nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

LAREDO, Texas – A 20-year-old Mexican national affiliated with Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) unlawfully residing in Laredo has been sentenced for illegally possessing ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Charbel Garza Macias pleaded guilty Oct. 8, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Macias to serve 63 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Macias as member of the CDN. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Macias was providing tools of war to a brutal criminal organization.

“This defendant’s goal was to get this ammunition to Mexico and, if he had succeeded, would have contributed to the cartels’ ongoing campaign of brutality,” said Ganjei. “Those who work to arm, supply, fund, or otherwise aid these organizations take notice; you are going to be found and prosecuted.”

“The conviction and sentence of this individual highlights the serious consequences of smuggling ammunition across international borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI). ICE-HSI remains committed to disrupting cross-border criminal operations and ensuring that individuals who engage in these illegal activities face the full weight of the law.”

Macias had made several bulk purchases of ammunition in Laredo with the intention of transporting them to Mexico for profit.

On July 16, 2024, authorities were conducting surveillance when they observed a vehicle previously suspected of transporting large amounts of high caliber ammunition. Macias was driving and had loaded ammunition into the trunk of the vehicle.

Macias attempted to elude law enforcement as they followed him after departing the parking lot.

Following a traffic stop, a search resulted in the discovery of approximately 4,800 rounds of .223/5.56 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Macias admitted he was hired to purchase approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Mexico. He claimed the ammunition was for the CDN operating in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Macias did not have a license to export ammunition or firearms and knew it was illegal to smuggle ammunition into Mexico.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

ICE-HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan L. Oliver prosecuted the case.

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

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bectran Introduces Enhanced Fraud Security & Applicant Verification Capabilities with Latest Integration

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bectran, Inc., the industry leader in credit, collections and accounts receivable management technology, has introduced a new integration with a leading global data and technology firm, delivering advanced identity verification, fraud detection and risk-based authentication right to your credit application process.

“With this latest integration, our clients gain access to a powerful baseline report that will reshape credit application workflows,” comments Louis Ifeguni, Bectran CEO. “This report simplifies verification processes, enhances fraud security and reduces the need—and cost—associated with pulling multiple reports on each credit application.”

Identity Verification and Fraud Detection

Credit managers are at constant risk of falling victim to identity and lending fraud when reviewing credit applications. Bectran’s newest integration relieves the complexity and costs associated with navigating identity verification by utilizing an enormous network of live identity databases.

Credit managers can now access a one-stop shop for fraud prevention and general applicant verification reporting directly through Bectran. Combining aspects of both personal and commercial reporting, an applicant’s person, business, personal guarantor and officers can all be verified by this integration and evaluated through Bectran. Utilizing a configurable confidence-based risk score, the new reports compare business name, corporate registration status, address (state, street, etc.), commercial score risk and much more with an extensive array of third-party databases, providing cross-referencing layers of verification. With this report, credit managers can be confident that an applicant is who they say they are and that their business is registered, trustworthy and active.

For added fraud protection, specific attributes in the reports that do not coincide with received applicant data are flagged, providing immediate notice to credit managers without the need to leave their workflow on Bectran’s platform.

About Bectran

Bectran is the premier SaaS platform for Finance Departments, akin to CRM for Sales. Trusted by diverse organizations, from SMEs to Fortune 500 companies, we streamline credit processing by over 98%, reducing credit defaults and collection costs. Many businesses rely on Bectran for efficient Accounts Receivable and Collections management, achieving up to 95% cost savings. With rapid onboarding in days, our platform is hailed by credit professionals as the future of credit management. Visit Bectran.com to learn more about financial solutions for your industry.

Aidan Starkes
Content & Copywriter
Bectran Inc
(888) 791-6620
PR@Bectran.com

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Valley National Bancorp to Announce First Quarter 2025 Earnings

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, announced that it will release its first quarter 2025 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Valley’s CEO, Ira Robbins will host a conference call on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM (ET) to discuss Valley’s first quarter 2025 earnings. Interested parties should pre-register using this link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI95ef56d0bd28482f8f4df37ca7eeb99d to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

The teleconference will also be webcast live: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ka3n3dn3 and archived on Valley’s website through Monday, May 26, 2025.

Investor presentation materials will be made available prior to the conference call at www.valley.com.

About Valley

As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with $62 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations and commercial banking offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California, and Illinois, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to www.valley.com or call our Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

Contact: Travis Lan
Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
973-686-5007

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: VERB Publishes Management’s Prepared Remarks During Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with MARKET.live; VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024 and held an earnings conference call at 1 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Prepared remarks during the conference call of Rory J. Cutaia, the Company’s Chairman & CEO, are provided below.

Company Participant
Rory J. Cutaia, CEO

Operator:
Good afternoon and welcome to the full-year and fourth quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call for Verb Technology Company, Inc. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Please be advised, the call is being recorded at the Company’s request.

On our call today is Rory J. Cutaia, Verb’s Founder, Chairman and CEO

Before we begin, I’d like to remind everyone that statements made during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, except as required by law, as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Verb Technology Company disclaims any obligations to update these forward-looking statements, as well as those contained in the Company’s current and subsequent filings with the SEC.

I would now like to turn the call over to Rory J. Cutaia, CEO. Rory?

Rory:
Thank you moderator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for our fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results and business update conference call.

Well it sure feels good being back before you, speaking directly to you about our company, our business, our performance, and sharing our direct, transparent, honest thoughts and strategies for how we intend to drive shareholder value in this business now and into the future.

I’d like to begin with a brief discussion about our history and the challenging market conditions that influenced the formulation of the strategies we undertook to insulate ourselves from those conditions. I’m referring to insulating ourselves from those market conditions that became impediments to value creation in our former direct sales Software as a Service line of business, as well as those market conditions, particularly capital markets conditions, that affected, and are affecting many, many small and micro-cap exchange-listed companies even today.

Then I’d like to discuss the strategies that we employed and the changes we’ve made that underlie the impressive results we’re now seeing in the business. I’ll also touch on the strategies we employed that resulted in what I’m proud to state is a well cash-infused, extremely healthy debt-free balance sheet and a super clean cap table, the combination of which provide the all-important foundation for the impressive revenue growth we’re now enjoying.

Ok – let’s jump in. Historically, we were an R&D driven technology business, built around a SaaS platform, with a customer base that was comprised of, for the most part, direct sales companies, or as they are sometimes referred to: multi-level marketing companies. When we entered the market with our interactive video-based sales software, we set out to become the dominant player in this sector. What we saw at that time was the opportunity to address a market that included the large-scale sales teams, including tens of thousands of independent sales reps that these companies managed, all of whom needed a simple and effective, mobile-based sales tool.

Over time we learned valuable lessons. First, while we onboarded large numbers of new sales reps every month, the attrition rate among sales reps at these companies was extraordinarily high, making it difficult and costly to generate meaningful revenue growth. In addition, while we developed what we believe were extremely effective tools to help sales reps, even inexperienced sales reps generate and convert sales leads, outdated internal communications policies at these companies prohibited us from communicating these tools and how to use them directly to the fields of sales reps which may have curtailed much of the sales rep attrition, as the companies that managed these reps were often ineffective at doing so themselves. Finally, the ever-changing nature of the customer base we served, as well as the give-it-away below cost pricing models adopted by competitors who found themselves marginalized by our superior product offering, required continued, costly R&D expenditures, and continued returns to the capital markets.

These factors, coupled with what we perceived to be declining market multiples for SaaS businesses generally, drove our decision to sell that business unit and focus instead on our new, though not yet revenue-generating – Market.live, livestream shopping business. A bold move indeed, but one that has certainly proven now to have been in the best interests of our shareholders. This was the first prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

The next prong of our strategy was to insulate ourselves from the predatory financing terms imposed universally on companies like ours who relied on access to the capital markets to fund continued R&D and other growth capital requirements. Almost every financing initiative we undertook was fraught with last minute re-trading of material deal terms, ridiculous warrant coverage terms and conditions, post-deal financing exclusivity arrangements, tying the Company to bad financings into the future when additional capital was needed – all of which made us – and so many other companies in the same situation – perfect targets for short-selling – and for companies with any kind of trading volume, greed-driven illegal naked short-selling.

It wasn’t hard to target companies that announced an upcoming financing as short-sellers could be confident that deal terms and corresponding share prices would be below whatever the then current trading price was. This capital markets environment eroded share prices across the board resulting in reverse splits required to maintain exchange listing requirements, and destroyed cap tables and balance sheets causing an unprecedented level of exchange de-listings. Ultimately, it was the individual retail investors, left without sufficiently aggressive regulatory intervention, who bore the brunt of this market activity and still do.

To avoid this awful outcome, we developed a unique strategy to utilize Reg A to structure our capitalize raise initiatives and avoid the predatory hedge-fund investors, allowing us to issue straight common shares, priced at-the-market, with no warrant coverage, and no investment banking fees. This financing vehicle, unique for publicly-traded companies, among other financing strategies, allowed us to pay-off all of our debt, redeem all of the previously issued preferred shares, completely restructure our balance sheet, padding it with cash, taking shareholder equity from almost $2 million negative in June 2023 to more than $16 million positive in December 2024, and giving us a cash runway, conservatively assuming zero revenue growth, well into 2028 and beyond.

The shareholder approved reverse split we did last year resulted in an extremely tight – less than 1 million share float – and essentially eliminated all of the warrant overhang from years-ago predatory financings. We’re very proud of how well that series of initiatives was executed, completing that important second prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB.

The next prong of our strategy was to diversify our revenue streams to insulate ourselves from changes in the market, including economic and regulatory changes, as well as changes within our own customer base and demand for our products and services. The challenge was to identify and develop independent, yet complementary revenue producing business units that could leverage the cost savings produced by a unified internal finance, sales, marketing, and technology department structure utilized by and across all business units.

Recognizing that the core of our business was our interactive social video commerce technology and know-how, our strategy was to exploit those capabilities by entering the exploding telehealth industry, leading to the development and launch of VANITY Prescribed, followed by GoodGirlRX in partnership with TV and social media celebrity Savannah Chrisley, and then the development and launch of GO FUND YOURSELF, our very exciting, fast-growing crowd funding marketing platform. To give a sense of the revenue potential for Go Fund Yourself, we launched it in Q3 with little to no marketing and recognized $25 thousand in revenue – and then in Q4 we recognized $233 thousand in revenue. And if any of the more recent developments come to fruition for the Show – 2025 may be an extraordinary year for Go Fund Yourself and VERB stockholders.

VANITY Prescribed was in development during Q3 and Q4, identifying suppliers, onboarding suppliers, then replacing suppliers, developing our online patient screening and prescription approval process, and shoring up our supply chain in anticipation of participating in the extraordinary growth of the telehealth space following the introduction and rapid adoption of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Revenue, though now growing, was modest through that period and we’re excited for a broad-based launch and marketing campaign that is about to get under way.

As to MARKET.live, at the end of Q3, we changed our focus and product offering by providing what we believe is an industry-leading end-to-end solution for brands seeking to adopt a social commerce strategy that they cannot manage in-house on a cost effective basis. That strategy has proven to be enormously successful producing exponential revenue growth. As reflected in our 2024 Form 10-K filed today, in Q1 we generated revenue of $7 thousand, in Q2 we generated revenue of $37 thousand, in Q3 we generated revenue of $103 thousand, and in Q4 we generated revenue of $490 thousand. An impressive and most welcomed trend by anyone’s standards.

Combined 2024 revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand over 2023, representing revenue growth of 1,321% over that period. This performance is the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company’s direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023.

Looking at Q4 alone, we generated $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand over the same period last year, representing revenue growth of almost 2,400% over that period. And as compared to Q3 2024, revenue in Q4 increased by $595 thousand, representing growth of almost 465% quarter-over-quarter.

While we historically do not provide going-forward guidance, we are comfortable sharing our expectation that Q1 2025 will surpass Q4 2024.

Finally, as to the last prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB, we recognized that any business that fails to identify and develop an artificial intelligence strategy will be marginalized. With that in mind, we explored a number of different strategies, including developing our own A.I. capabilities in-house, which we smartly rejected. Instead, we scoured the market for a company with a developed, tested, proprietary A.I. solution uniquely tailored to video-based social commerce. Upon testing the A.I. and social commerce capabilities of LyveCom, a bleeding-edge, video-based social commerce start-up, we entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate their technology into our MARKET.live platform.

To our great surprise, we found that the integration of LyveCom’s tech resulted in a massive operational cost reduction. In fact, we anticipate a direct operational cost reduction of approximately $1 million per year. However, perhaps more importantly, we also recognized that the addition of LyveCom’s technology created an entirely new, updated platform, feature rich with capabilities far beyond our current platform and certainly beyond that of many other social commerce platforms. So rather than simply license the technology and risk LyveCom being acquired by a competitor, limiting our access to the technology and future iterations of it, we decided to acquire it ourselves. It is our expectation that the acquisition will be highly accretive and produce meaningful value for VERB stockholders.

With the closing of the LyveCom acquisition, which remains on track and is expected to occur in the coming weeks, we will have effectively completed the transition of VERB from an unprofitable, cash-hungry business in a challenging market, to an extremely well-capitalized, well diversified business, with proven, strong, fast-growing revenue generation capabilities, A.I.-ready, with a tight float, clean cap table and debt-free balance sheet, poised for meaningful continued growth.

In closing, I refer you to our Form 10-K filed today for greater details concerning our 2024 financial results as well as the press release distributed today summarizing those results for additional information I’ve not covered in my conference call today. I’ve chosen instead to use this time to provide context for those results and share our strategies and ongoing initiatives for continued growth and value-creation for VERB stockholders.

Finally, and as anyone who can read a balance can see, with under 1 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and debt-free with more than $13 million in cash and highly liquid securities – and assuming ZERO value given for our three revenue generating business units – I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our net cash value per common share is at least $13.50, which we believe represents a very compelling opportunity, very compelling indeed.

I thank you for allowing me to address you all today and share with you our excitement and optimism for VERB shareholders now and into the future.

Operator: This concludes the conference call. You may now disconnect.

About VERB
Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with MARKET.live’s back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show’s panel of “Titans”. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. VANITYPrescribed.com and GoodGirlRx.com are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. GoodGirlRx.com, a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry’s traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping.

The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California.

For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech

Follow VERB and MARKET.live here:
VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo
VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech
VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ

Sign up for E-mail Alerts here: https://ir.verb.tech/news-events/email-alerts

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact: investors@verb.tech

Media Contact: info@verb.tech

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: WithSecure Corporation: SHARE REPURCHASE 25.3.2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WithSecure Corporation, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 25 March 2025 at 6.30 PM (EET)


WithSecure Corporation: SHARE REPURCHASE 25.3.2025

In the Helsinki Stock Exchange

Trade date	25.3.2025
Bourse trade	Buy
Share	WITH
Amount	15 000	Shares
Average price/ share	0,9588	EUR
Total cost	14 382,00	EUR


WithSecure Corporation now holds a total of 256 890 shares
including the shares repurchased on 25.3.2025

The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation
No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.


On behalf of Withsecure Corporation

Nordea Bank Oyj

Janne Sarvikivi	Sami Huttunen


Contact information:
Laura Viita
Vice President Controlling, Investor relations and Sustainability
WithSecure Corporation
Tel. +358 50 4871044
Investor-relations@withsecure.com

Attachment

WithSecure 25.3.2025

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: SA: Disclosure of trading in own shares (excluding the liquidity agreement) made on March 17, 2025 to March 21, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

COFACE SA: Disclosure of trading in own shares (excluding the liquidity agreement) made on March 17, 2025 to March 21, 2025

Paris, 25 March 2025 – 17.45

Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of 16 April 2014 on market abuse¹

The main features of the 2024-2025 Share Buyback Program have been published on the Company’s website (http://www.coface.com/Investors/Disclosure-requirements, under “Own share transactions”) and are also described in the 2023 Universal Registration Document.

Trading session of (Date)	Number of shares	Weighted average price	Gross amount	MIC Code	Purpose of buyback
17/03/2025	9,000	16.9793 €	152,813 €	XPAR	LTIP
18/03/2025	9,000	17.2133 €	154,920 €	XPAR	LTIP
19/03/2025	9,000	17.4057 €	156,651 €	XPAR	LTIP
20/03/2025	9,000	17.4598 €	157,138 €	XPAR	LTIP
21/03/2025	9,000	17.5953 €	158,357 €	XPAR	LTIP
Total 17/03/2025 – 21/03/2025	45,000	17.3307 €	779,880 €		LTIP

CONTACTS

ANALYSTS / INVESTORS
Thomas JACQUET: +33 1 49 02 12 58 – thomas.jacquet@coface.com
Rina ANDRIAMIADANTSOA: +33 1 49 02 15 85 – rina.andriamiadantsoa@coface.com

FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2025
(subject to change)

Q1-2025 results: 5 May 2025 (after market close)
Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting: 14 May 2025
H1-2025 results: 31 July 2025 (after market close)
9M-2025 results: 3 November 2025 (after market close)

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This press release, as well as COFACE SA’s integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group’s website: http://www.coface.com/Investors

For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim Financial Report for H1-2024 and our 2023 Universal Registration Document (see part 3.7 “Key financial performance indicators”).

Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust.
You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.

COFACE: FOR TRADE
As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for more than 75 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment.
Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets. with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring.
Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets.
In 2024, Coface employed ~5,236 people and registered a turnover of €1.84 billion.

www.coface.com

COFACE SA is listed in Compartment A of Euronext Paris
ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

1 Also in pursuant to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016 (and updates); Article L.225-209 and seq. of the French Commercial Code; Article L.221-3, Article L.241-1 and seq. of the General Regulation of the French Market Authority (AMF); AMF Recommendation DOC-2017-04 Guide for issuers on their own shares transactions and for stabilization measures.

Attachment

2025 03 25 – Declaration – Own shares transaction

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New world-leading nature finance standards launched to encourage green investment

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

New world-leading nature finance standards launched to encourage green investment

New standards will set the bar for nature investments, prevent greenwashing and helping business invest in restoring nature

Aerial shot of river

The Overarching Principles Standard is the first of its kind, supporting investment in high-quality projects which restore rich habitats.
The move marks the UK out as a world leader in the development of nature markets and will drive economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

New government-backed pioneering green finance standards have been introduced today (Tuesday 25 March) to boost investment into nature and support economic growth, as well as helping to clamp down on “greenwashing”.

This landmark standard – launched by British Standards Institution (BSI) – will help nature-friendly investments across the UK to grow, by building confidence among businesses that these investments are making a real difference for our natural environment.

These new standards will bring a variety of benefits for the environment. Projects that could be supported include restoring wetlands, improving water quality, building flood resilience, and creating new habitats.

Through the Plan for Change this Government is working to deliver economic growth across the country, and to support this, we will make the UK the green finance capital of the world.

A healthy natural environment is crucial to economic growth. Without a healthy environment, there is no food, no business, and no economy. The Green Finance Institute found that nature-related risks including water shortages and soil health reduction could lead to a 6% reduction to GDP in the years ahead. That is why economic growth and nature restoration must go hand in hand.

This is the first standard for collective nature markets of its kind in the UK, and one of the first in the world, marking the UK out as a global leader and marks our ambition to pioneer nature markets which guard against greenwashing and lead to lasting environmental change.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

“We need urgent action from across society to address the nature crisis, and businesses have a crucial role to play in that effort. By having clear standards, we can strike a blow to greenwashing and give businesses confidence that their investment is truly helping our natural world recover.

“Through the Plan for Change, this Government is working relentlessly to grow the economy and this move gets us one step closer to fulfilling our ambition to make the UK the green finance capital of the world.”

Scott Steedman, Director – General, Standards at BSI said:

“Today marks a key milestone for the Nature Investment Standards (NIS) Programme with the launch of updated overarching principles ready for adoption across the UK.

“The principles are designed to provide consistency and rigour for high-integrity UK nature markets that trade in real, measurable environmental benefits. This supports the goal of increasing investment into nature, helping to create new revenue streams for farmers, land managers and other suppliers of nature-based solutions.

“BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, looks forward to working closely with Defra to enable the take up of the revised standard and its implementation in the market.”

The new Overarching Principles Standard was created following an established BSI market led process for standards development which included extensive consultation with businesses and land managers.

BSI is also launching a consultation on a first version of a Natural Carbon Standard, as part of a wider framework of standards. This will gather market views specifically on high integrity principles for projects selling nature-based carbon credits in UK markets. These credits will consist of habitats which store carbon, such as woodlands or peatlands, helping us to reach Net Zero while providing benefits for landscapes and wildlife.

The Overarching Principles Standard (BSI Flex 701) is immediately available for use by market participants and will support investment in high quality nature and sustainable farming projects in the UK.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

More information on the Overarching Principles Standard can be found here: [BSI Flex 701 v2.0 Nature Markets – Overarching Principles

BSI](https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bsigroup.com%2Fen-GB%2Finsights-and-media%2Finsights%2Fbrochures%2Fbsi-flex-701-nature-markets-overarching-principles-and-framework%2F&data=05%7C02%7CAlex.Walsh%40defra.gov.uk%7C36f86aa99f89489ac9a808dd6b9546c8%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638785011065753774%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3zYbDOEaWTOIbHmYRo41Re%2BKFETlrYC%2F0YiDLaRJdVo%3D&reserved=0)

The Overarching Principles and Natural Carbon standards are part of a family of standards which will apply to nature markets. Other standards are in development and will cover Biodiversity markets, Nutrients projects and schemes and guidance on how projects should engage with local communities. There is a new BSI navigation tool available on the BSI Nature Markets online Hub – to help stakeholders navigate the suite of BSI nature investment standards.
Further details of a formal assurance framework to verify compliance will be set out in due course.
The BSI have published research on assurance which sets out options for Government to ensure compliance with the new standards.

Published 25 March 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Highlights Significant Investments in Towns and Cities
Source: US State of Connecticut

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the FY 2026/2027 biennial state budget proposal that he presented to the Connecticut General Assembly last month continues recent trends under his administration of increasing state funding for Connecticut’s town and city governments to support the administration and delivery of municipal services, even while the state has made challenging funding decisions and streamlined costs across state government.

Municipal aid is the largest category of state spending within the entire general fund. Since taking office since 2019, every state budget Governor Lamont has enacted has not only held municipal funding harmless, but it has also increased that funding each year.

“My budgets prioritized significant municipal aid investments because that funding is about more than ensuring our unique towns and cities are incredible places to live, but because that funding supports our children’s education and gives them the best opportunity at the starting line in life,” Governor Lamont said. “Over the last several years, our budgets have doubled municipal aid and PILOT funding, and in my next biennium proposal we kept with those investments by proposing more special education funding, community economic development grants, and school and local capital improvement projects.”

Over the last five years:
- The Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant to municipalities, which supports the operations of K-12 public schools, has increased 17%. The state’s per pupil spending of $22,000 is among the highest in the country (top five) and nearly $5,000 above the national per pupil average of $16,665.
- PILOT funding to municipalities has doubled.
- General government aid to municipalities has doubled.
- More than $400 million in state grants have been provided to the state’s most distressed municipalities through the Community Investment Fund, which Governor Lamont and the General Assembly established in 2022 to support capital improvement projects in towns and cities.
- More than $3.3 billion has been provided to municipalities to fund school construction projects.
The FY 2026/2027 budget that Governor Lamont proposed and is currently being considered by the state legislature contains several areas of increases for municipal services, including:
- An $85 million increase in the ECS grant to municipalities in FY 2026. This increase will bring ECS aid to municipalities a full two-years ahead of the schedule planned in the state’s current ten-year phase-in timeline.
- A $40 million increase in the Excess Cost Grant in FY 2027 to support special education services.
- The creation of a new state grant to municipalities called the High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant, which will support the ability of school districts to provide high-quality special education programming in-district and regionally, reducing reliance on out-of-district placements and meeting students’ needs as identified by their individualized education program in the least restrictive environment. The budget proposal invests $10 million from the general fund and $4 million in bond funds in this grant program for FY 2027.
- The largest expansion of preschool access in Connecticut history through the creation of the Universal Preschool Endowment, which will be seeded by $300 million from the FY 2025 surplus and in the following years will receive funding from any unappropriated surpluses in the general fund.
- An investment of $9.9 million in FY 2027 to continue the Learner Education and Engagement Program (LEAP), which Governor Lamont established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help address chronic student absenteeism and engagement.
- An investment of $700,000 in FY 2026 to eliminate reduced price lunch and breakfast fees for students statewide.
- An additional investment of $12.4 million in FY 2027 to provide universal free school breakfast.
- An investment of $5 million in FY 2027 to support a High Dosage Tutoring Grant program, which will serve nearly 12,000 students to provide tutoring support.
- An investment of $350 million in FY 2026 and 2027 combined to continue grants through the Community Investment Fund.
The General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee are currently reviewing the governor’s budget proposal and are anticipated to act on it in the coming weeks.

MIL OSI USA News –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Lehigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Crimes

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that George “Travis” Woodfield, 41, of Macungie, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., to one count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography.

Woodfield was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 5, 2024.

As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Woodfield drove an 11-year-old child across state lines for an overnight trip to New York City in November 2018 in order to engage in sexual activity with the child. During the trip, Woodfield sexually abused the child in their hotel room. Further, between September 2015 and July 2024, Woodfield accessed numerous depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent children being sexually abused.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency and FBI Richmond with assistance from the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section’s High-Tech Investigations Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca J. Kulik, CEOS Senior Trial Attorney Jennifer T. Leonardo, and CEOS Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban.

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025

Contact:		Travis Lan Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 973-686-5007

Category: Finance

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New world-leading nature finance standards launched to encourage green investment

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

Scott Steedman, Director – General, Standards at BSI said:

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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