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Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Wittman Introduce Bipartisan Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Reauthorization

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) introduced the bipartisan Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025, which would reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through 2030. Since its enactment in 1950, the Trust Fund, which is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, has provided more than $40 billion in funding for state-based conservation programs, recreational boating access and safety, aquatic resources education, and fisheries management and restoration.

     “For 75 years, the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund has provided essential resources to conserve critical fish populations, protect marine ecosystems, strengthen local boating safety programs, and more,” said Dingell. “The Trust Fund enables states and territories to make important investments in safeguarding our environmental heritage and improving access to the outdoors for all Americans. We look forward to renewing the Trust Fund as a bipartisan effort, and supporting necessary resources for recreational fishing and ecosystem conservation for years to come.”

    “Growing up in the Chesapeake Bay watershed gave me a deep appreciation for our waterways and a passion for conservation and fishing that still drives my work today,” said Wittman. “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill, which supports vital investments in sport fish species and habitat restoration, recreational fishing access, and boating infrastructure. This legislation helps ensure the long-term health of our coastal sport fisheries so that future generations can enjoy our public waters and the great American outdoors.”
     
    This bill would: 

    • Reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for another 5 years.
    • Update apportionment for Interstate Fisheries Commissions from a flat amount to a percentage to increase funding
    • Expand domestic fuel options for boaters by incentivizing the provision of alternative marine fuels
    • Reduce tax on aerated bait buckets from 10% to 3%, enabling more competitive pricing and reducing the competitive disadvantage faced by manufacturers of aerated bait buckets

    The legislation is endorsed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the American Sportfishing Association, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMAA), and Boat U.S.

    “For 75 years, the Sportfish Restoration Act has been providing funding for fishery conservation, boating access, and aquatic education,” said Judy Camuso, President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “This funding provides critical support to state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies, ensuring that sport fish populations and aquatic habitats are healthy, sustainable, and available for future generations.”

    “With 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, Michigan is home to great boating and fantastic fishing opportunities,” said Shannon Lott, Michigan DNR Natural Resources Deputy Director. “I thank Congresswoman Dingell and Congressman Wittman for introducing the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025, which will ensure that Michigan continues to receive critical funding generated from excise taxes paid on fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, and electric motors to support its efforts to restore and managing sportfish and provide public access for recreational boating.”

    “In Virginia, the apportionment we receive from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund provides critical funding for programs that conserve aquatic resources and support safe, accessible recreational boating,” said Ryan Brown, Director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Executive Committee. “These investments ensure that anglers and boaters can continue to enjoy our waterways for generations to come and sustain outdoor recreation and local economies across the Commonwealth.”

    “The Sport Fish Restoration Program is a model of collaborative conservation that is envied the world over,” said Glenn Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing Association. “The sportfishing equipment manufacturers we represent are proud to pay the federal excise tax on fishing equipment because they know it is being put to good use in support of aquatic resource conservation, access and fishing participation projects that benefit the future of the sport. As we celebrate the program’s 75thanniversary, we thank Reps. Dingell and Wittman for leading the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act so this program can continue well into the future.”
     
    “Thanks to the leadership of Representatives Dingell and Wittman, we are one step closer to reauthorizing the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and ensuring that the program begins addressing modern issues impacting the recreational boating community,“ said Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA Chief Executive Officer and President. “Paid for by recreational boaters, anglers, and manufacturers, the Trust Fund is the backbone of fisheries habitat restoration and boating infrastructure, providing critical funding for these efforts at the national and state levels, and we call on all members of Congress to swiftly approve this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill.”

    “With over 11 million registered boats in the United States, the reauthorization of the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund is critical to ensuring access to our shared waterways,” said David Kennedy, Manager of Boat U.S. Government Affairs. “This fund supports vital conservation efforts and infrastructure improvements that preserve aquatic ecosystems and enhance boating for everyone. On behalf of BoatUS members nationwide, we thank Representatives Dingell and Wittman for introducing this widely supported bill that will benefit all who enjoy the water.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – Te Aupōuri wins big at 2025 Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    After years of protecting and reinvigorating the vast and variable whenua of their beloved Te Aupōuri, Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao’s hard mahi has paid off, winning two top awards at this year’s Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards.
    Te Rūnanga Nui O Te Aupōuri’s kaitiaki arm, Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao, were the big winners of Thursday night’s biennial awards ceremony held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, taking out not only the Kaitiakitanga award, but the overall Te Tohu Matua- Supreme Award (subs: Thursday, June 26).
    Over the past several years, the team of 12 has installed 16,250 meters of fencing, restored 0.625 hectares of wetland, planted more than 120,000 native plants and captured 2288 invasive species.
    During that time, they also developed essential work skills and achieved significant conservation outcomes, like bringing back the critically endangered Ultriculis australis and declining long-fin tuna.
    Their ‘holistic approach to protecting te taiao’, award judges said, had resulted in significantly improving the wellbeing of their whenua.
    The judges were also impressed at how their kaupapa had strengthened connections between their iwi and their whenua, had fostered environmental awareness amongst local kura and engaged the community in sustainable land management practices.
    Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao lead Niki Conrad says the group is happy and humbled by the accolades.
    “A lot of people are doing some really good work out there and it’s great to be recognised, especially when we are from way up north and a lot of our work is behind the scenes.”
    “We’re sticking true to our kaupapa and all our kaimahi are invested in it.” 
    The awards – held for the sixth time – recognise individuals, groups and organisations making a difference for Northland’s environment.
    According to the judges, competition was fierce across all award categories this year thanks to the high calibre of applications.
    Council Deputy Chair Tui Shortland says she is excited to see the number of incredible projects protecting te taiao across Northland and that the awards are NRC’s way of recognising and celebrating that kaitiakitanga in action.
    Councillor Shortland also congratulated the Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao team and says she commended them for the important improvement to the wellbeing of their lands, which were of cultural, social, and environmental significance.
    “Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata have created employment opportunities for 12 local Te Aupouri iwi members, developing essential skills and achieving notable conservation outcomes,” Shortland says.
    “The project has also involved whānau, hapū, and iwi and enhanced self-confidence, pride, and well-being through activities that deepen understanding of whakapapa, tūpuna heritage, and historical sites.
    “They have also collaborated with Te Kura o Te Kao to carve and erect pou at significant sites, which further underscores their commitment to cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.”
    Other winners:
    Piroa Conservation Trust; Environmental action in water quality improvement.
    The Piroa Conservation Trust is a coalition of over 30 community-led conservation groups dedicated to restoring biodiversity in Bream Bay and surrounding areas.
    The group demonstrated lots of measurable outcomes, high levels of community involvement and an impressive scope of initiatives.
    These included riparian planting (with 10,000 plants already in the ground), water quality testing, wetland restoration and fencing were key to the success of the Wai Tuwhera project, with water quality data being consistently measured.
    The trust has strong relationships with iwi, hapū and community groups, working with Patuharakeke and in partnership with Whitebait Connection and NZ Landcare Trust, and has been thoughtful in seeking ways to engage directly with farmers.   
    A strong focus on educational outreach, including workshops and school programmes, has raised awareness and educated the community about the importance of water quality.
    The trust has also been active on social media, ensuring their activities gain recognition across Te Taitokerau and thought of innovations to develop their reach, for example distributing “riparian gift packs”.
    Trustee and group founder Ann Neill says winning the award is an amazing privilege.
    Highly commended in the water quality category was Tiaki Nga Wai O Hokianga.
    Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust; Environmental action in the community.
    The trust’s application demonstrates the depth of its engagement and success in drawing in the community to its mahi. Its range covers a very wide geographic area and it is tackling a huge weed control problem – this is a massive commitment and requires an enormous amount of work. 
     The trust has made great connections across the community and has a very good relationship with iwi/hapū, including with Aki Tai Here. They have a good set of well-recorded measurable outcomes.
    Trust ecological advisor Mike Urlich says the recognition had left him “a bit emotional and just really stoked”. “It’s an acknowledgement of all the hard work that goes on.”
    Highly commended in the environmental action in the community category were Tiaki Nga Wai O Hokianga, Bream Head Conservation Trust Reserve Revegetation and Ngā Kaitiaki o te Ahi.
    Project Island Song; Environmental action to protect native life.
    This project has had an undoubted impact over time, having achieved 15 years of pest-free status and 40,000 trees planted. Long-term commitment is evident and the group’s mahi has made a huge difference to Pewhairangi Bay of Islands. 
    The group works with school groups, individuals, families and businesses and in partnership with hapū and the governing committee. The school involvement was especially inspirational, particularly with the small, isolated schools. 
    The group is working on pest control, returning lost species and clearly making good progress on tackling weeds too. 
    Project Island Song chair William Fuller says the group enjoys good community support and puts the group’s success down to the hard work of hundreds of volunteers over many years. “Everyone has a passion for restoring the bird song.”
    Highly commended in the environmental action to protect native life category were Piroa Conservation Trust, Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust and Jill Mortensen. 
    Bay of Islands International Academy; Environmental action in education.
    This entry demonstrated an outstanding holistic approach, involving all levels and curriculum areas across the school and throughout their local community and hapū. The academy has successfully woven te ao Māori and sustainability throughout its mahi. 
    It was impressive to note the impact on students, who have been empowered to take ownership of environmental change. The academy has also ensured a multi-generational approach by enabling older students to teach younger students and enabling kaumatua as expert helpers. Its trapping programme is extensive.
    Spokesperson Lucy Miller says winning the award was a surprise but felt it was well-deserved.
    “All the kids have been taught to be kaitiaki of their land, the ocean that’s near them and to look after Purerua Peninsula.”
    Highly commended in the environmental action in education category were Whangārei Girls’ High School, Hurupaki School and Te Kura O Hato Hohepa Te Kamura.
    Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust; environmental leadership.
    Mountains to Sea has a broad focus on freshwater and marine ecosystems and the connection between them. Its application stood out for its very strong community partnerships, commitment to education and the cross-community development it fosters throughout its mahi. 
    The freshwater habitat restoration undertaken through its īnanga spawning program has had a huge impact – on protecting biodiversity across Te Taitokerau and enabling a widespread and consistent community engagement programme that upskills and inspires. The trust has active partnerships with iwi, hapū and schools and facilitate high levels of community volunteering.
    Spokesperson Kim Jones says people are doing some amazing work around Te Taitokerau and for the trust to be recognised with the award was awesome, amazing and humbling.
    Highly commended in this category was The Love Bittern Project.
    Earth Buddies; Youth Environmental Leader.
    Earth Buddies is an inspiring youth-led education programme designed and delivered by 25 students from Whangārei Girls’ High School’s kaiarahi (prefect) team and Environmental Committee. 
    The students have formed a partnership with Whangārei Primary School to provide bi-weekly environmental lessons to more than 150 students in Years 3 and 4. The lessons cover topics such as composting, climate change, and pest management.  
    Through these engaging sessions, the secondary students are not only helping to develop critical thinking in the younger generation but are also strengthening their own environmental knowledge. This initiative goes beyond the classroom by encouraging families to adopt eco-friendly practices and inviting parents/caregivers to take part in activities. 
    In helping to educate the next generation, Earth Buddies is contributing to long-term conservation and climate mitigation efforts in Whangārei and is a programme that could be replicated in other communities. 
    Group leader Stella Moreton says the group is very honoured and excited to be recognised.
    Highly commended in this category were Roman Makara – Taiao Club and India Clarke.
    Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri – Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao Team; Kaitiakitanga.
    Highly commended in this category were Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust – Te Pou Taiao, Ngā Kaitiaki o te Ahi and Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Wai Māori.
    Tū Mai Rā Energy Northland; environmental action in business.
    Tū Mai Rā offers solar power solutions, aiming to harness the energy of the sun – Tū Mai Rā means to ‘Stand before the sun’. 
    This entry demonstrated commitment to the community – Tū Mai Rā is not subject to a regulatory requirement to provide electricity, it is doing it to benefit the community. This will have a positive impact on many people by improving climate resilience, and community resilience during natural hazards. A greater uptake of renewable energy will reduce greenhouse gases and resilience will be improved in remote areas. 
    Tū Mai Rā Energy is also providing employment and upskilling opportunities for locals, bringing more benefits to the community. Tū Mai Rā is an excellent application, which is portrayed by its achievement as the winners of the Tai Tokerau Māori Business Merit Award and receiving highly commended in the climate change category as well.
    Company director Ella Te Huia says keeping true to yourselves and what you believe in is the right thing to do.
    Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust – Te Pou Taiao; environmental action to address climate change.
    Te Pou Taiao o Patuharakake (TPT) is preparing and supporting its people to adapt to a changing climate by equipping them with the tools and strategies to do so. 
    TPT has harnessed technology to begin to address the climate crisis and has developed a climate change risk assessment tool to visually illustrate the risks to Patuharekeke rohe. The toolbox features sea level rise modelling and identifies coastal flood hazard zones and erosion prone land. 
    The toolbox will be used to inform the Patuharakeke Hapū Environmental Management Plan (which is currently in its draft phase), incorporating both mātauranga Māori and western science within mitigation, adaptation and resilience strategies. 
    The levels of community engagement are excellent and its passion shines through in the application. Its approach to developing climate resilience through holistic thinking is impressive.
    Trust pou hautu Juliane Chetham says the trust has a fantastic team and sees a lot of young rangatahi taking a leadership role which is appropriate in the climate change arena.
    Highly commended in this category was Tū Mai Rā Energy Northland. 
    Piroa Conservation Trust; winner Kiwi Coast Special Award.
    Piroa Conservation Trust is a collaborative, forward thinking group which incorporates hapū, schools, community, DOC, businesses and a team of volunteers.
    A strong governance has helped guide direction to become a broad conservation group at the southern area of Northland. The vision for expansion of pest control and kiwi habitat will help the long-term survival of kiwi in Te Tai Tokerau, Northland.
    Project Island Song was highly commended in this category. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Kākāpō breeding season raises stakes for Predator Free Rakiura

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    With a bumper breeding season forecast for kākāpō in 2026, we explain why eradicating introduced predators from Rakiura/Stewart Island is critical, so this iconic parrot has space to grow along with other threatened species.

    Kākāpō used to thrive here on Rakiura. We want to make it safe for them to return. Photo by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

    Predator Free Rakiura (PFR) is preparing for its first large-scale attempt to eradicate introduced predators in a trial at the southern tip of the island next year.

    The project has been in development for nearly 30 years, and the aim is to remove rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs from the island and prevent them from reinvading.

    The stakes just got higher with the announcement that next year could be the biggest kākāpō breeding season on record. These rare parrots desperately need more space to breed and grow, and Rakiura contains the ideal habitat for them, however, predators need to be eradicated first to ensure their safety.

    Huge ambition behind PFR partnership

    PFR is being led by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), with input from the Rakiura community.

    ZIP is planning and delivering the project, building off its successful predator elimination project in South Westland. Priorities this year include ongoing engagement with the Rakiura and Bluff communities and research on the effectiveness of tools and techniques that will be used in the eradication trial.

    Solstice was the last kākāpō to be found on Rakiura in 1997. She currently lives on Whenua Hou. Photo by DOC.

    Te Puka Rakiura Trust is developing a biosecurity system to prevent predators from returning to Rakiura after they are eradicated.

    It’s the largest, most complex predator eradication ever attempted, and there are important conservation, social and economic outcomes at stake:

    • Protecting vulnerable native species on the island, returning threatened wildlife and improving forest health.
    • Developing tools and techniques to eradicate predators on the mainland.
    • On-the-ground results to help generate further funding and public support to make New Zealand Predator Free by 2050.  
    • Social and economic benefits for Rakiura and Southland communities and industries.

    Imagining a predator-free future

    The forecast for a bumper kākāpō breeding season next year is a huge deal because there are less than 250 kākāpō remaining and they only breed every few years when rimu trees have mass fruiting.

    See this blog for more information about the breeding season ahead.

    Tāne Davis, Ngāi Tahu, with tīeke.

    The problem is there’s not enough habitat to safely home these chicks in the long run, with predator free islands including nearby Whenua Hou/Codfish Island close to maximum capacity.

    Tāne Davis, who is a Ngāi Tahu representative on the Kākāpō Recovery Group and a long-time advocate for PFR, says kākāpō need to return home.

    “Rakiura is the original hou kainga for these birds, as many of them or their parents came from here. The pressure is on for us to make it possible for them to return.”

    Imagine a future where Rakiura is free of predators and kākāpō become so abundant again that children can hear their booming calls on bush walks. 

    “The lifeforce of kākāpō and our people will be enhanced through this connection,” Tāne says.

    Rakiura can save kākāpō again

    In 1977, a small population of kākāpō were discovered on Southern Rakiura. Before this, people thought that kākāpō would become extinct because female kākāpō had not been found for decades. It was quickly discovered that kākāpō were not safe on Rakiura due to predation by feral cats.

    Over the next few decades, kākāpō were transferred to predator-free islands, and with a founding population of 50 birds, the Kākāpō Recovery Programme was established. The Operations Manager for the programme, Deidre Vercoe, says Rakiura can save kākāpō again.

    “With the population growing, our biggest challenge is finding safe habitat for kākāpō to thrive in. By creating new predator free sites, we can continue to restore this taonga. Rakiura saved the kākāpō in the past, and a predator-free Rakiura is key for the future of the species.”

    Deidre Vercoe, DOC Operations Manager, Kākāpō Recovery Programme, with Sinbad.

    Extinction prevention part of our DNA

    In 1997, Rakiura DOC Ranger Phred Dobbins helped find the last kākāpō, named Solstice. Phred has spent much of his 40-year conservation career removing predators from smaller offshore islands, including about 3,000 possums from Whenua Hou with traps.

    We can’t afford not to try and make Rakiura predator free, Phred says.

    “The longer predators are here, the poorer the environment and we are becoming. We have the ability, motivation, and duty to make change, and we need to take calculated risks.”

    Rakiura DOC Ranger, Phred Dobbins in Oban. Photo by DOC.

    This vision of a healthier, more harmonious ecosystem holds huge potential for many other native species, including those that still exist on the island like pukunui/southern New Zealand dotterel and other endangered species that could return like mohua/yellowhead and tīeke/South Island saddleback.

    Find out more about the species that belong on Rakiura

    Recent flock counts show pukunui is one of the most critically endangered native birds in New Zealand. There are only 105 left largely because of predation by feral cats, down from 173 in 2020.

    Pukunui were once widespread in the lower part of Te Waipounamu, but now only breed on Rakiura mountain tops. We’re aiming to increase the population to at least 300 birds by 2035 by increasing predator control. However, if we can get rid of predators permanently, the population could expand well beyond this target.

    “Extinction prevention is part of our DNA here at DOC. Imagine if we still had huia and moa and then let them disappear,” Phred says.

    The anchor stone for Predator Free 2050

    Predator Free Rakiura is the anchor-stone for Predator Free 2050. Photo by Greg Lind.

    The vision for PFR expands further when we consider how critical this project is for New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 goal.

    Rakiura is the missing link in the chain of islands south of Bluff that have already been made predator-free including Codfish Island/Whenua Hou, Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara, Bench Island/Waitaua and most of the Tītī/Muttonbird Islands and the Sub-Antarctic Islands.

    In Māori tradition, Māui fished up Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island), Te Waipounamu (the South Island) was his waka, and Rakiura was the anchor stone.

    Metaphorically, Predator Free Rakiura is the anchor stone project for Predator Free 2050, says Brent Beaven, Predator Free 2050 Manager.

    “Rakiura will help to expand our foundation of knowledge so other eradication projects can be implemented across the country. For example, we are learning more about how to work across large, complex environments that are inhabited and utilised by people and a diverse array of native and introduced species.

    “It’s a vital test of our capabilities. It’s the anchor stone project right now in the bid to make New Zealand predator-free.” 

    Find out more

    Learn more about the critical role DOC has in this project alongside Ngāi Tahu, Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), and Te Puka Rakiura Trust.

    Predator Free Rakiura: Our work

    Learn more about the PFR elimination trial and the research being done this year.

    Community Updates – Predator Free Rakiura

    Donate today to help eradicate predators from Rakiura/Stewart Island.

    Visit New Zealand Nature Fund to donate

    See frequently asked questions about Predator Free Rakiura.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Kākāpō Breeding Season 2026

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    3…2…1, Boom!

    Counting down to the kākāpō breeding season

    Image credit: DOC.

    After a four-year wait, the Kākāpō Recovery team is thrilled that breeding will return in 2026. Together with our Treaty Partner Ngāi Tahu and National Partner Meridian Energy, we’re preparing for what could be the biggest boom in kākāpō chicks yet!

    Kākāpō advocacy lead Andie Gentle breaks down the excitement, the science, the challenges, and how the measures of success for the recovery of this taonga species are changing.

    Kākāpō chicks | DOC.

    Why all the hype?

    Admittedly, we always get super excited about breeding seasons – and for good reason.

    Kākāpō are a taonga species to Ngāi Tahu, the principal Māori iwi of southern New Zealand. The world’s only, flightless, nocturnal parrot is critically endangered with just 242 alive today. The breeding populations are only found on three very remote, rugged predator-free islands in the deep south of Aotearoa New Zealand; Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, Pukenui/Anchor Island and Te Kāhaku/Chalky Island.

    We estimate kākāpō can live between 60-90 years. Most don’t successfully breed until their teens (males) or tweens (females). Even then, they only breed when rimu trees mast (mass fruit) once every 2-4 years. Female kākāpō, who feed their chicks rimu fruit, lay between 1-5 eggs but will usually fledge one chick per season.

    Alice and chick Rupi | Jake Osborne/DOC.

    Once widespread across the country, kākāpō populations plummeted after humans arrived due to hunting, habitat loss, and introduced predators. Since 1995, we’ve worked to rebuild the population from just 51 birds – 31 males, 20 females; and we’ve supported them through 12 breeding seasons, reaching a top population in 2022 of 252. 

    Many of the earlier seasons produced fewer than a handful of chicks, but as the population has slowly grown, breeding seasons have grown too! In terms of numbers, 2019 has been our biggest breeding season yet, with management initiatives helping produce a record 73 fledglings. 

    So yes, we do get hyped – because the mahi is intensive and every chick is so precious! 

    The art of prediction

    Using summer temperature patterns, we can predict rimu mast events (and therefore breeding seasons) up to two years in advance. Closer to the season, we collect sample rimu branches from the islands and count the tips to estimate fruiting levels. 

    Image 1: Kākāpō Recovery’s Technical Advisor Daryl Eason counting rimu tips | DOC.
    Images 2 & 3: rimu fruit | DOC. 

    We know some kākāpō will breed if more than 10 percent of rimu tips bear fruit and that a greater number of kākāpō breed as the percentage of fruit increases. 

    The latest data for 2026 shows record-high predictions of around 50–60 percent fruiting across all three breeding islands. If this happens there could be potential for nearly all of the 87 breeding-age females to nest in 2026. 

    What the lek?

    Kākāpō are the only lek-breeding parrot in the world. A lek is a mating system where males gather in a communal area, called a lek, to display to females. Male kākāpō spend months preparing ‘track and bowl’ systems (networks of cleared paths and depressions that help resonate sound) where they perform booming and chinging courtship calls. These nightly displays to attract females from across the island can last for weeks or even months on end. Once mating is done, the female takes on all parenting duties – nesting, incubating, and raising the chick’s solo. 

    Our mahi behind the scenes

    Just like male kākāpō preparing for breeding season, we’ve been busy getting ready. 

    From recruiting and training staff, to ensuring island infrastructure and data networks are running smoothly, it’s all hands-on deck.  

    Our National Partner, Meridian Energy, plays a vital role in maintaining generators and power systems on the remote breeding islands to support the seasonal influx of people and power critical equipment like chick incubators. 

    testing machine – 1

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    Meridian Energy engineers Mark (left) and Joe (right), at work maintaining the power systems on the kākāpō breeding islands.

    Ahead of each season, we strategically transferred some birds between islands, based on their history and genetics, to give them all the best chance of success. Around October we start providing supplementary food to help some birds reach optimal breeding condition.

    Each kākāpō wears a radio transmitter that tracks their activity and location year-round. These allow us to learn remotely when matings occur (Dec-Jan), who mated with who, and when females are nesting. 

    During nesting and hatching (Jan–March), we locate nests, ensure their safety, and set up nearby camps to keep an eye on things. Vulnerable eggs or chicks may need incubators, hand-rearing or taken to the mainland for specialist care. 

    Through April and May, we continue to monitor chick growth and ensure they fledge safely. 

    Every breeding season is a chance to grow the kākāpō population, however success goes beyond numbers alone.  

    Image 1: Kākāpō Recovery Technical Advisor Daryl Eason weighing chick.
    Image 2: Operations Manager Deidre Vercoe assess fertility and development of kākāpō egg.
    Image 3: Kākāpō eating from feeding hopper | Jake Osborne/DOC

    Redefining the measures of success

    Kākāpō are among the most intensively managed species on Earth but as the population grows, the same level of on the ground management isn’t sustainable. 

    After 30 years of managing each bird individually, breeding season success is now less about fledging numbers, and more about working towards establishing self-sustaining populations. 

    When the population numbered less than 200 birds, it was essential that every single chick made it through. In recent seasons we’ve been stepping back, phasing out nightly nest checks by using genetic ranking to prioritise eggs and chicks, and trialling low-intervention on Te Kākahu / Chalky Island. 

    The population is still critically endangered, so we’ll keep working hard to increase numbers, but as the population grows, we need to shift the balance towards understanding and supporting a more natural level of survival. 

    This season, we’ll step back further with: 

    • Fewer egg and chick checks 
    • More eggs hatching in nests rather than the safety of incubators 
    • Allowing mothers to raise multiple chicks 
    • Reduced supplementary feeding in some areas 
    • Expanding the low-management trial to parts of Pukenui / Anchor Island 

    Inevitably, this reduced management approach could result in a higher, more natural number of egg and chick deaths however this move toward minimal intervention is key to a more natural, efficient, and sustainable future for kākāpō recovery.    

    Mother Makorea and chick Willans together in a nest cavity | Jake Osborne/DOC.

    The habitat challenge

    While the potential of a record-breaking season is great news, kākāpō still face big challenges. Ongoing research on genetics and disease are helping us learn as much as possible to support a healthy population, but the most pressing challenge is finding more suitable habitat. We are trialling new small islands and a fenced sanctuary site, but what this species really needs is large scale habitat. As a former natural home to kākāpō, Rakiura/Stewart Island is the perfect contender, but introduced predators need to be removed to make it safer for kākāpō to return. You can learn more about why Predator Free Rakiura could be a game changer for kākāpō in this new blog post.

    Solstice in nest | DOC.

    Let’s make history, together

    The 2026 breeding season could mark a significant turning point for kākāpō, not just in numbers, but in how we support the future of this taonga species.  

    You can support the mahi, and follow along as we bring kākāpō stories from the remote islands of Southern New Zealand to the world.  
    • Donate or Adopt a kākāpō to support Kākāpō Recovery via the Mauri Ora Kākāpō Trust  

    Our mahi is achieved with our Treaty Partner Ngāi Tahu and National Partner Meridian Energy which provides funding as well as electrical infrastructure, technology and volunteering support to the programme.  

    Kākāpō receiving medical care at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital (left) and Auckland Zoo (right) | DOC.

    Invaluable to the programme too, is the expertise from vet supporters Auckland Zoo and Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, and the transportation of threatened species through the DOC and Air New Zealand national partnership. 

    With 100 percent of our operational costs covered externally, work to help restore the mauri (lifeforce) of kākāpō is also made possible thanks to the generosity of hundreds of volunteers, supporters and donors. 

    The kākāpō are ready. We’re ready. Let’s make history, together! 

    Image credit: DOC.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Senators Urge Trump Admin to Protect Workers, Expand Access to Overtime Pay

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 26, 2025
    Biden-era rule would have made 4.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay
    “Repealing this rule would be a huge blow to working families across the country and is another way in which Republicans continue to run on working-class values but govern according to billionaires’ wishes.” 
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in writing to the Secretary of the Department of Labor (DoL), Lori Chavez-DeRemer, urging the department to preserve President Biden’s expansion of the overtime threshold. 
    Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) joined in signing the letter. 
    Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, certain hourly, non-salaried workers who work more than 40 hours a week get paid 1.5 times their regular pay rate for the extra hours they work. But these overtime protections do not cover “bona fide executive, administrative or professional employees,” as “defined and delimited” by regulations promulgated by DOL. Under the current regulation, only those workers making a salary less than $35,568 automatically qualify for overtime. Above that salary, workers are subject to the opaque and very employer-friendly duties test to determine if their work qualifies for exemption.
    In 2024, President Biden’s DoL updated the rule, which would have raised the salary cap to $43,888 and again in January 2025 to $58,656, instituted an automatic increase every three years, and provided clearer guidance and definitions to prevent employers from misclassifying employees. 
    The changes would have made 4.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay and put $1.5 billion into workers’ pockets annually. 
    Unfortunately, in November 2024, a Trump-appointed District Court judge in the Fifth Circuit blocked this rule from going into effect. The Biden Administration immediately appealed this ruling. But on April 24, 2025, the Trump administration indicated it would abandon its efforts to appeal the ruling and revive the 2024 rule, robbing millions of Americans of overtime protections and the thousands of dollars the rule would have earned them.
    “This refusal to defend the overtime rule in court flies in the face of President Trump’s campaign promises to help workers. It is particularly cruel as President Trump and Congressional Republicans work to force through their ‘big beautiful bill,’ which would be the biggest wealth transfer in a single bill from working class Americans to billionaires this country has ever seen,” wrote the senators. 
    Senator Warren urged Secretary DeRemer to continue fighting to preserve the rule and provide an analysis or justification for why the Department decided to stop the appeals process to defend the rule by July 5, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Climate Report – Global Drought Hotspots Report Catalogs Severe Suffering, Economic Damage

    Source: United Nations – Convention to Combat Desertification

    Food, water, energy crises, human tragedies in 2023-2025 detailed in sweeping analysis by U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

    Fuelled by climate change and relentless pressure on land and water resources, some of the most widespread and damaging drought events in recorded history have taken place since 2023, according to a UN-backed report launched today.

    Prepared by the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with support from the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the report “Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023-2025” provides a comprehensive account of how droughts compound poverty, hunger, energy insecurity, and ecosystem collapse.

    Says UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw: “Drought is a silent killer. It creeps in, drains resources, and devastates lives in slow motion. Its scars run deep.”

    “Drought is no longer a distant threat,” he adds. “It is here, escalating, and demands urgent global cooperation. When energy, food, and water all go at once, societies start to unravel. That’s the new normal we need to be ready for.”

    “This is not a dry spell,” says Dr. Mark Svoboda, report co-author and NDMC Founding Director. “This is a slow-moving global catastrophe, the worst I’ve ever seen. This report underscores the need for systematic monitoring of how drought affects lives, livelihoods, and the health of the ecosystems that we all depend on.”

    “The Mediterranean countries represent canaries in the coal mine for all modern economies,” he adds. “The struggles experienced by Spain, Morocco and Türkiye to secure water, food, and energy under persistent drought offer a preview of water futures under unchecked global warming. No country, regardless of wealth or capacity, can afford to be complacent.”

    A wide-ranging crisis

    The new report synthesizes information from hundreds of government, scientific and media sources to highlight impacts within the most acute drought hotspots in Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia), the Mediterranean (Spain, Morocco, Türkiye), Latin America (Panama, Amazon Basin), Southeast Asia, and beyond.

    Africa: 

    • Over 90 million people across Eastern and Southern Africa face acute hunger. Some areas have been enduring their worst ever recorded drought.
    • Southern Africa, already drought-prone, was devastated with roughly 1/6th of the population (68 million) needing food aid in August 2024. 
    • In Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, maize and wheat crops have failed repeatedly. In Zimbabwe alone, the 2024 corn crop was down 70% year on year, and maize prices doubled while 9,000 cattle died of thirst and starvation. 
    • In Somalia, the government estimated 43,000 people died in 2022 alone due to drought-linked hunger. As of early 2025, 4.4 million people – a quarter of the population – face crisis-level food insecurity, including 784,000 expected to reach emergency levels.
    • Zambia suffered one of the world’s worst energy crises as the Zambezi River in April 2024 plummeted to 20% of its long-term average. The country’s largest hydroelectric plant, the Kariba Dam, fell to 7% generation capacity, causing blackouts of up to 21 hours per day and shuttering hospitals, bakeries, and factories.

    Mediterranean:

    • Spain: Water shortages hit agriculture, tourism, and domestic supply. By September 2023, two years of drought and record heat caused a 50% drop in Spain’s olive crop, causing its olive oil prices to double across the country. 
    • Morocco: The sheep population was 38% smaller in 2025 relative to 2016, prompting a royal plea to cancel traditional Eid sacrifices.
    • Türkiye: Drought accelerated groundwater depletion, triggering sinkholes that present hazards to communities and their infrastructure while permanently reducing aquifer storage capacity.

    Latin America:

    • Amazon Basin: Record-low river levels in 2023 and 2024 led to mass deaths of fish and endangered dolphins, and disrupted drinking water and transport for hundreds of thousands. As deforestation and fires intensify, the Amazon risks transitioning from a carbon sink to a carbon source.
    • Panama Canal: Water levels dropped so low that transits were slashed by over one-third (from 38 to 24 ships daily between October 2023 and January 2024), causing major global trade disruptions. Facing multi-week delays, many ships were rerouted to longer, costlier paths via the Suez Canal or South Africa’s infamous Cape of Good Hope. Among the knock-on effects, U.S. soybean exports slowed, and UK grocery stores reported shortages and rising prices of fruits and vegetables.

    Southeast Asia:

    • Drought disrupted production and supply chains of key crops such as rice, coffee, and sugar. In 2023-2024, dry conditions in Thailand and India, for example, triggered shortages leading to a 8.9% increase in the price of sugar in the US.

    “A Perfect Storm” of El Niño and climate change

    The 2023–2024 El Niño event amplified already harsh climate change impacts, triggering dry conditions across major agricultural and ecological zones. Drought’s impacts hit hardest in climate hotspots, regions already suffering from warming tr

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pingree Amendment to Protect Seasonal Work Visas Gets Unanimous Support in Appropriations Committee, Approved in Homeland Funding Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

    Maine First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s bipartisan effort to safeguard H-2B visas was unanimously approved in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026. During today’s full Appropriations Committee markup of the bill, Pingree urged her colleagues to support her amendment, which she introduced with Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Md.), explaining how vital these seasonal work visas are to Maine businesses and tourism industry. 
    [embedded content]

    “We are going to have endless debate today, and it is all related to the fact that we don’t straighten out the situation that goes on in our country: the need for workers, the need to make sure that we have legal processes for people, and the need to make sure that farmers and hospitality industry and everyone else has all the people they need to do the job,” Pingree said. 

    Under the amendment, employers that have demonstrated a history of compliance with the H-2B program would have access to the highest number of visas issued to them over the past five years. 

    “I have examples of a family here, who had a family-owned seafood restaurant for 17 years,” Pingree continued. “They’ve been able to run their business [and] support local fishermen because they have H-2B workers. Motels, when they don’t have enough people, they close down a wing. They can’t be open for the season that they want because they don’t have enough people.”

    A transcript of Pingree’s remarks is available below.

    +++

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to thank my colleagues who have been working on some of these H-2B related issues, and make a few remarks about how they impact Maine. 

    First, I just want to say this is the Homeland Appropriations Committee, and we all have a lot of debate today related to immigration issues. And in my opinion, most of them go back to the fact that this Congress has been unwilling—during the period of time I’ve been here—to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Let’s just get that done. 

    We are going to have endless debate today, and it is all related to the fact that we don’t straighten out the situation that goes on in our country: the need for workers, the need to make sure that we have legal processes for people, and the need to make sure that farmers and hospitality industry and everyone else has all the people they need to do the job.

    I also want to concur, we shouldn’t be authorizing [this] on an appropriation committee, but we do, and we all use it when we can, because things like this are so vital. And this amendment comes up every year. And I’m always pleased to work with my colleague Mr. Harris and so many others, Mr. Cuellar who also have these concerns. Dutch [Ruppersberger], who used to be on the committee.

    If you have any kind of a seasonal industry, you know what we’re talking about. And this one also includes some agriculture, which is very much the same. So, I remind you all that I represent Maine. This is our summer season. I hope you’re all planning your August vacations, your opportunity to eat some lobster, have some wild blueberries, spend a little time on the ocean, and see our wonderful state.

    If you want, you can come in the winter, where we also have a seasonal industry of skiing and winter sports. So we’d love to have you either time. Tourism is our largest industry, and while we’re very proud of our agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and the other things we do, we depend on tourism.

    And like so many other states, we don’t have enough people to do the jobs now. It’s a common summer job for kids. All my kids worked in the seasonal industry. I’ve worked in the seasonal industry. We’ve owned businesses in the seasonal industry. And the challenge is, while people say, ‘Oh, what a great summer job for kids,’ by the time it gets to August, they’re back to school, they’re back to sports. You can’t finish out the season.

    And we are thrilled that our tourists stay through October or come in even early November now, but we don’t have enough people to do the work. And I can list countless employers who come to visit me every year and say, what’s going to be the situation? How many workers? Will I be able to get the number of people that I need?

    I have examples of a family here, who had a family-owned seafood restaurant for 17 years. They’ve been able to run their business [and] support local fishermen because they have H-2B workers. Motels, when they don’t have enough people, they close down a wing. They can’t be open for the season that they want because they don’t have enough people.

    So without these visas that are so necessary, without these kinds of amendments that we have to sponsor, usually every year, because we’re always at odds with the system, we can’t do it. So I just want to support all the people who work on this. But I want to encourage us all to find an ultimate solution so that we’re not here every year authorizing on this committee—and also dealing with a hodgepodge solution to immigration reform.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The drought in southern Australia is not over – it just looks that way

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew B. Watkins, Associate research scientist, School of Earth, Atmopshere & Environment, Monash University

    Andrew Watkins

    How often do you mow your lawn in winter? That may seem like an odd way to start a conversation about drought. But the answer helps explain why our current drought has not broken, despite recent rain – and why spring lamb may be more expensive this year.

    Southern Australia has been short of rain for 16 months. Western Victoria, the agricultural regions of South Australia (including Adelaide) and even parts of western Tasmania are suffering record dry conditions. Those rainfall measurements began in 1900 (126 years ago).

    Large parts of southeastern Australia have experienced the lowest rainfall on record over the past 16 months. Serious deficiency means among the driest 10% of such periods on record, Severe deficiency means among the driest 5%.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Fewer and less intense rain-bearing weather systems have been crossing the southern coastline since February 2024, compared to normal. Put simply, the land has not received enough big dumps of rain.

    But June has finally brought rain to some drought-affected regions. There’s even an emerald green tinge to the fields in certain agricultural areas. But it’s now too cold for plants to really grow fast, meaning farmers will be carting hay and buying extra feed for livestock until the weather warms in spring.

    Lambs in the Adelaide Hills have little to eat without extra feed.
    Saskia Jones

    Too little, too late

    This month, some areas received good rainfall – including places near Melbourne and, to a lesser degree, Adelaide. City people may be forgiven for thinking the drought has broken and farmers are rejoicing. But drought is not that simple.

    Unfortunately, the rainfall was inconsistent, especially further inland. The coastal deluge in parts of southern Australia in early June didn’t extend far north. Traditionally, the start of the winter crop-growing season is marked by 25mm of rain over three days – a so-called “autumn break”. But many areas didn’t receive the break this year.

    The lack of rain (meteorological drought) compounded the lack of water in the soil for crops and pasture (agricultural drought). Parts of Western Australia, SA, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales had little moisture left in their soils. So some rain is quickly soaked up as it drains into deeper soils.

    To make matters worse, autumn was the warmest on record for southern Australia, following its second-warmest summer on record. This can increase the “thirst” of the atmosphere, meaning any water on the surface is more likely to evaporate. Recent thirsty droughts, such as the 2017–19 Tinderbox Drought in NSW, were particularly hard-hitting.

    Some areas may have experienced “flash drought”, which is when the landscape and vegetation dry up far quicker than you would expect from the lack of rain alone. By May, areas of significantly elevated evaporative stress were present in southeastern SA, Victoria, southern NSW and northern Tasmania.

    In late May and early June, and again this week, there have been winter dust storms in SA. Such dust storms are a bad sign of how dry the ground has become.

    Some regions no longer have enough water to fill rivers and dams (hydrological drought). Water restrictions have been introduced in parts of southwest Victoria and Tasmania. The bureau’s streamflow forecast does not look promising.

    The landscape near Mortlake in western Victoria was still dry in late May. Typically the autumn break (first post-summer rain event of more than 25 mm) occurs here by early May.
    Andrew Watkins

    A green drought

    Remember that lawn mowing analogy? The winter chill has already set in across the south. This means it’s simply too cold for any vigorous new grass growth, and why you are not mowing your lawn very often at the moment.

    Cool temperatures, rather than just low rainfall, also limit pasture growth. While from a distance the rain has added an emerald sheen to some of the landscape, it’s often just a green tinge. Up close, it’s clear there is very limited new growth.

    Rather than abundant and vigorous new shoots, there’s just a little bit of green returning to surviving grasses. This means there’s very limited feed for livestock. To make matters worse, sometimes the green comes from better-adapted winter weeds.

    There will be a lot of hay carting, regardless of rainfall, until spring when the soils start to warm up once again and new growth returns. This all adds up to fewer stock kept in paddocks or a big extra cost in time and money for farmers – and ultimately, a more expensive spring lamb barbecue.

    Is this climate change?

    Southern Australia (southern WA, SA, Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW) used to experience almost weekly rain events in autumn and early winter. Cold fronts and deep low-pressure systems rolling in from the west brought the bulk of the rainfall.

    Now there is a far more sporadic pattern in these regions. Rainfall in the April to October crop and pasture growing season has declined by around 10–20% since the middle of last century. The strongest drying trend is evident during the crucial months between April and July.

    Further reductions in southern growing season rainfall are expected by the end of this century, especially in southwestern Australia. Southeastern regions, including southern Victoria, parts of SA and northern Tasmania, also show a consistent drying trend, with a greater time spent in drought every decade.

    Drought is complex. Just because it’s raining doesn’t always mean it has rained enough, or at the right time, or in the right place. To make matters worse, a green drought can even deceive us into thinking everything is fine.

    Breaking the meteorological drought will require consistent rainfall over several months. Breaking the agricultural drought will also require more warmth in the soils. Outlooks suggest we may have to wait for spring.

    This article includes scientific contributions from David Jones and Pandora Hope from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.



    Read more:
    Why is southern Australia in drought – and when will it end?

    Ailie Gallant receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub.

    Pallavi Goswami works at Monash University. She receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program, Climate Systems Hub.

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

    – ref. The drought in southern Australia is not over – it just looks that way – https://theconversation.com/the-drought-in-southern-australia-is-not-over-it-just-looks-that-way-259543

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Investigating Potential Seabed Minerals in the Aleutian Arc

    Source: US Geological Survey

    A USGS-led expedition in the Aleutian Arc off Alaska will provide critical information on energy resources, underwater earthquakes and other hazards, seafloor habitats, and biological resources, including key fisheries, as well as potential seabed minerals. Scientists are investigating potential hydrothermal mineral specimens on the seafloor. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: A burning warning following hundreds of kitchen fires 

    Source:

    Between 17 May 2024 and 31 March 2025, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) attended 750 residential fires that started in the kitchen, accounting for nearly half (39.8%) of all residential fires within its jurisdiction during that period.   

    During the same period, CFA responded to 219 structure fires originating in the kitchen, representing 28.3% of all house fires in CFA serviced areas.   

    The combined total equates to an average of just over three kitchen fires per day in Victoria.   

    Among those who’ve been affected by a kitchen fire is Melbourne woman Jen Vuk, who suffered serious burns in September 2024 after her flowing top caught alight while she was making tea on a gas stovetop.  

    “Before I’d even had the chance to realise what was happening, the flames had already devoured my top and was spreading fast across my chest, up my neck and under my arm. It felt like it wanted more with every second,” Jen said.   

    “I tried to put the fire out by sprinkling water from the tap onto myself. It didn’t help. In fact, it only helped to fan the flames.”  

    Jen believes that if it weren’t for the quick actions of her family, including her then 17-year-old son who came to her aid and removed most of her burning clothes, and standing under a cold shower for 20 minutes before being taken to The Alfred, her injuries would have been much worse.  

    She spent two weeks in the Alfred burns unit and underwent multiple surgeries. She’d suffered mid to deep dermal burns to her chest, neck, right arm and back, and superficial burns to her face.   

    Now months into recovery, Jen hopes that by sharing her experience she can help others understand how quickly life changing incidents can unfold.    

    “If this helps even one person remember to stop, drop and roll when their clothes catch fire, then job done,” she said.   

    Unfortunately, stories such as Jen’s are on the rise.   

    Acting Deputy Director, Victorian Adult Burns Service at The Alfred, Dr Tam Quinn said, “we’ve already seen a 21% increase in patients presenting with burns sustained in the home this year, and many of these patients require surgery and skin grafting.”  

    “Any burn injury requiring grafting can be life changing, because while lifesaving, they can leave scarring and result in some functional impairment.   

    “Depending on the severity of the burn, patients may require prolonged stays in the intensive care unit, weeks in hospital and potentially a rehabilitation facility. In the long-term patients may require months to years of scar management, not to mention the psychological impact that such an injury can have.”  

    Victoria’s fire agencies encourage all Victorians to take the following steps to remain safe while in the kitchen:  

    • Pay attention in the kitchen and never leave cooking unattended.    
    • Take extra care around open flames if wearing flowing or loose-fitting clothing.   
    • Always supervise children, keep them away from the stove top and oven.    

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murkowski Presses OMB Director Vought on Importance of Public Broadcasting for Alaska

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.26.25
    Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), senior member of the Appropriations Committee, spoke with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russell Vought. The Director appeared before the committee that was tasked with considering the rescissions package championed by President Trump, which rescinds $9.4 billion in funding previously appropriated by Congress. Senator Murkowski pressed Vought on the importance of public broadcasting in rural Alaska.
    Watch the Senator’s full remarks here.
    The full transcript of the interaction is below.
    TRANSCRIPT
    Murkowski: Thank you for appearing today to answer our questions, whether it’s on the specifics of this rescission package, to where this all might be headed with the Impoundment Control Act.
    I think probably to a number, every one of us is supportive of PEPFAR and the intent of that program. I think we all recognize that most of everything we do around here isn’t entirely perfect, and we try to do as good as we can and improve it every single opportunity that we have.
    I’m going to ask you some questions with regards to Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but just kind of from a more general perspective, it is absolutely the administration’s right to send us rescissions. It’s our right as a Congress to then figure out whether or not we’re going to support them.
    But, I am going to strongly, strongly push back against my colleague here on this side of the aisle, Senator Kennedy in his comments, basically saying that all we have anymore when it comes to appropriations are CRs (Continuing Resolutions), which are a miserable option, and rescissions. I refuse that. I reject that. And I think that not only we as appropriators on this committee should reject that, but we as members of the Senate, members of the Congress, should reject that.
    It’s pretty clear in Article One (of the U.S. Constitution) what it is that we’re supposed to be doing when it comes to the power of the purse, appropriations. We have a responsibility. And administrator, you have aptly pointed out that maybe in some of these areas, we have failed, because I think many of the initiatives that you have specifically cited to our constituents would probably say that’s not what was intended. But, this is our role here in the Congress and as appropriators, to again, assert our role and our responsibility.
    I don’t object to the fact that you have come to this hearing today to present your review. That’s absolutely fair and legitimate. But I want us as senators, I want us as members of the Legislative Branch to make sure that we are being faithful and have fidelity to our requirements under the Constitution as well.
    So, I want to ask about public broadcasting in the time that I have here. You have said that, and it’s more specific to NPR, I think, but you said that basically it’s all political. I am going to give you a little bit of a bird’s eye view of what I consider to be not political when it comes to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the role that they play in my state. I’ve got kind of a memo here from CoastAlaska, which is our Alaska Public Media, outlining the various public media stations around the state of Alaska. I would like for permission that they be included as part of the record.
    Chair Collins: Without objection.
    Murkowski: But there’s 22 different stations that are listed here, and they’re everywhere from 24% of their annual budget to 70% in Sand Point, in communities that are relatively small but have extraordinary reach. In Barrow, the station up there covers some 95,000 miles when the fiber optic cable was severed by ice about six or seven months ago. That has still not been repaired. It’s public broadcasting that is beaming out to the communities out there to keep those people connected. Right now, we’ve got wildfires that are raging in the Interior part of the state, and so at Fort Yukon and McGrath, it is just our public radio stations that are providing the updates to get people into safe areas.
    Senator Rounds mentioned the very important role that we see with regards to our Tribes. We have more than 60 Tribal stations that [are] served out of KNBA that would be disproportionately impacted, where they offer emergency alerts, vital community connections.
    So I’m going through their concerns because, almost to a number, they’re saying that they will go under if [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting funds are no longer available to them. And you’ve indicated that, well, they’re going to have time to readjust their budget, because it’s not going to be this fiscal year, that’s going to be impacted. When you have a community like Sand Point out in the Aleutian Islands, where 70% of their budget comes from [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting, or in, let’s just say, Wrangell, because I’m going to be going there in a few days, 50% of their budget comes from [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting. There’s no way to recalibrate, there is no safety valve for them.
    So, Administrator, I’ve run out of time to ask my question, but I hope you feel the urgency that I’m trying to express on the on behalf of the people in rural Alaska, and I think in many parts of rural America, where this is their lifeline. This is where they get the updates on that landslide, this is where they get the updates on the wildfires that are coming their way. And so, how they will be able to not only get the emergency alerts that they need, but also the weather reporting to make sure that that fisherman out in Unalaska can go out safely, so that these communities can be connected when the deadly landslide has come through.
    I know Senator Rounds has asked for specific help with regards to the Tribes, but mine is much bigger, and I think we’re not necessarily alone, we’re just a little more extreme in the ask.
    Vought: Senator, thanks for the comment, and we’ll definitely work with you throughout the process if it’s not in Fiscal Year [20]26. I think we’re to the point for decades we’ve had concerns with the extent to which [Corporation of] Public Broadcasting was funding content that was run contrary to the American people, and we’ve got to get to the point where we can finally deal with that. And we believe we put forward a proposal that gives a run rate to be able to deal with that. But I certainly want to work with you throughout the various opportunities that we have moving forward.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening land stewardship, cultural site protection in Squamish Nation territory

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the Province have signed an agreement to guide forest stewardship in Squamish Nation territory at a ceremony held at the top of the Sea-to-Sky gondola overlooking Átl’ḵa7tsem (Howe Sound).

    “This agreement is a major step forward in asserting our Nation’s role as stewards of our lands,” said Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, Councillor and elected spokesperson, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). “This will ensure our cultural sites and key environmental areas are protected for future generations. These have been our lands for thousands of years, and the fact they are now back under our direct control provides a greater sense of security for our people, and a strong optimism for our future.”

    The Land Use Planning Agreement establishes 33 Siiyamin ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh cultural sites that will recognize areas of historical and cultural importance to prevent harvesting, new roads and tenures. On top of this, there are six Special Cultural Management Areas (SCMAs), which will be guided by enhanced forest stewardship and cultural management, bringing economic opportunities and increased predictability on the land base for the forestry sector, while protecting important cultural values.

    “Forestry is about people and the lands they call home, and by prioritizing these in our vision for forestry, we can build a future rooted in respect and reconciliation,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “This agreement reflects years of meaningful work between the Province and Squamish Nation. By honouring Squamish Nation’s connection to the land and applying their values to forest management, we are charting a path forward that supports economic opportunity and environmental stewardship for our province.”

    The agreement will increase protection for riparian and wetland ecosystems, areas of old cedar forests and culturally modified trees. A riparian area is land adjacent to rivers, streams and lakes that support plant and animal life important to ecological balance. By incorporating enhanced riparian management practices, the agreement aims to address the growing impacts of climate change, while protecting fish streams, culturally important plants and food supply.

    “Successful land-use planning includes building positive, lasting relationships and trust between First Nations and the B.C. government, communities, stakeholders and the public,” said Randene Niell, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “This agreement, which provides increased protections for riparian and wetland ecosystems, demonstrates what can be done when people work together in good faith to achieve mutually beneficial goals.”

    The next step will be to complete a ministerial order, which will include consultation with First Nations, and engagement with the public. It aims to establish objectives for the forestry sector to follow in alignment with the agreement and provide the Squamish Nation certainty in sites of high value.

    B.C. is continuing commitments to work alongside rights and title holders to conserve the province’s oldest and rarest trees, while supporting sustainable forestry that adds more local jobs for every tree harvested. The agreement outlines 5,081 hectares of old growth that will not be harvested, 925 hectares within the Siiyamin ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh cultural sites and 4,155 hectares within the SCMAs, while enabling harvest opportunity to approximately 9,800 hectares of the Timber Harvesting Land Base that was temporarily deferred during negotiations.

    Approaching forestry and land-use management in this way secures a more sustainable future for First Nations that benefit from local forests for their economic strength, while ensuring a sustainable land base for harvesting.

    Quick Facts:

    • This agreement builds on a previous Land Use Planning Agreement signed in 2007 between the Government of B.C. and the Squamish Nation.
    • In 2019, B.C. committed to Squamish Nation to negotiate an agreement regarding areas of interest throughout Squamish Nation territory.
    • Negotiations began in 2020 and, with this agreement, have completed.
    • The Timber Harvesting Land Base is used to determine the Annual Allowable Cut.

    Learn More:

    To view a copy of the agreement (a signed version will be added Friday, June 27, 2025), visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Squamish_Nation_AOI_Agreement.pdf

    To learn more about Squamish Nation, visit: https://www.squamish.net/

    To read about Forest Landscape Planning, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest-landscape-plans

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Toxic algae blooms are lasting longer than before in Lake Erie − why that’s a worry for people and pets

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory J. Dick, Professor of Biology, University of Michigan

    A satellite image from Aug. 13, 2024, shows an algal bloom covering approximately 320 square miles (830 square km) of Lake Erie. By Aug. 22, it had nearly doubled in size. NASA Earth Observatory

    Federal scientists released their annual forecast for Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms on June 26, 2025, and they expect a mild to moderate season. However, anyone who comes in contact with toxic algae can face health risks. And 2014, when toxins from algae blooms contaminated the water supply in Toledo, Ohio, was a moderate year, too.

    We asked Gregory J. Dick, who leads the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, a federally funded center at the University of Michigan that studies harmful algal blooms among other Great Lakes issues, why they’re such a concern.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s prediction for harmful algal bloom severity in Lake Erie compared with past years.
    NOAA

    1. What causes harmful algal blooms?

    Harmful algal blooms are dense patches of excessive algae growth that can occur in any type of water body, including ponds, reservoirs, rivers, lakes and oceans. When you see them in freshwater, you’re typically seeing cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

    These photosynthetic bacteria have inhabited our planet for billions of years. In fact, they were responsible for oxygenating Earth’s atmosphere, which enabled plant and animal life as we know it.

    The leading source of harmful algal blooms today is nutrient runoff from fertilized farm fields.
    Michigan Sea Grant

    Algae are natural components of ecosystems, but they cause trouble when they proliferate to high densities, creating what we call blooms.

    Harmful algal blooms form scums at the water surface and produce toxins that can harm ecosystems, water quality and human health. They have been reported in all 50 U.S. states, all five Great Lakes and nearly every country around the world. Blue-green algae blooms are becoming more common in inland waters.

    The main sources of harmful algal blooms are excess nutrients in the water, typically phosphorus and nitrogen.

    Historically, these excess nutrients mainly came from sewage and phosphorus-based detergents used in laundry machines and dishwashers that ended up in waterways. U.S. environmental laws in the early 1970s addressed this by requiring sewage treatment and banning phosphorus detergents, with spectacular success.

    How pollution affected Lake Erie in the 1960s, before clean water regulations.

    Today, agriculture is the main source of excess nutrients from chemical fertilizer or manure applied to farm fields to grow crops. Rainstorms wash these nutrients into streams and rivers that deliver them to lakes and coastal areas, where they fertilize algal blooms. In the U.S., most of these nutrients come from industrial-scale corn production, which is largely used as animal feed or to produce ethanol for gasoline.

    Climate change also exacerbates the problem in two ways. First, cyanobacteria grow faster at higher temperatures. Second, climate-driven increases in precipitation, especially large storms, cause more nutrient runoff that has led to record-setting blooms.

    2. What does your team’s DNA testing tell us about Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms?

    Harmful algal blooms contain a mixture of cyanobacterial species that can produce an array of different toxins, many of which are still being discovered.

    When my colleagues and I recently sequenced DNA from Lake Erie water, we found new types of microcystins, the notorious toxins that were responsible for contaminating Toledo’s drinking water supply in 2014.

    These novel molecules cannot be detected with traditional methods and show some signs of causing toxicity, though further studies are needed to confirm their human health effects.

    Blue-green algae blooms in freshwater, like this one near Toledo in 2014, can be harmful to humans, causing gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, fever and skin irritation. They can be lethal for pets.
    Ty Wright for The Washington Post via Getty Images

    We also found organisms responsible for producing saxitoxin, a potent neurotoxin that is well known for causing paralytic shellfish poisoning on the Pacific Coast of North America and elsewhere.

    Saxitoxins have been detected at low concentrations in the Great Lakes for some time, but the recent discovery of hot spots of genes that make the toxin makes them an emerging concern.

    Our research suggests warmer water temperatures could boost its production, which raises concerns that saxitoxin will become more prevalent with climate change. However, the controls on toxin production are complex, and more research is needed to test this hypothesis. Federal monitoring programs are essential for tracking and understanding emerging threats.

    3. Should people worry about these blooms?

    Harmful algal blooms are unsightly and smelly, making them a concern for recreation, property values and businesses. They can disrupt food webs and harm aquatic life, though a recent study suggested that their effects on the Lake Erie food web so far are not substantial.

    But the biggest impact is from the toxins these algae produce that are harmful to humans and lethal to pets.

    The toxins can cause acute health problems such as gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, fever and skin irritation. Dogs can die from ingesting lake water with harmful algal blooms. Emerging science suggests that long-term exposure to harmful algal blooms, for example over months or years, can cause or exacerbate chronic respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems and may be linked to liver cancers, kidney disease and neurological issues.

    The water intake system for the city of Toledo, Ohio, is surrounded by an algae bloom in 2014. Toxic algae got into the water system, resulting in residents being warned not to touch or drink their tap water for three days.
    AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

    In addition to exposure through direct ingestion or skin contact, recent research also indicates that inhaling toxins that get into the air may harm health, raising concerns for coastal residents and boaters, but more research is needed to understand the risks.

    The Toledo drinking water crisis of 2014 illustrated the vast potential for algal blooms to cause harm in the Great Lakes. Toxins infiltrated the drinking water system and were detected in processed municipal water, resulting in a three-day “do not drink” advisory. The episode affected residents, hospitals and businesses, and it ultimately cost the city an estimated US$65 million.

    4. Blooms seem to be starting earlier in the year and lasting longer – why is that happening?

    Warmer waters are extending the duration of the blooms.

    In 2025, NOAA detected these toxins in Lake Erie on April 28, earlier than ever before. The 2022 bloom in Lake Erie persisted into November, which is rare if not unprecedented.

    Scientific studies of western Lake Erie show that the potential cyanobacterial growth rate has increased by up to 30% and the length of the bloom season has expanded by up to a month from 1995 to 2022, especially in warmer, shallow waters. These results are consistent with our understanding of cyanobacterial physiology: Blooms like it hot – cyanobacteria grow faster at higher temperatures.

    5. What can be done to reduce the likelihood of algal blooms in the future?

    The best and perhaps only hope of reducing the size and occurrence of harmful algal blooms is to reduce the amount of nutrients reaching the Great Lakes.

    In Lake Erie, where nutrients come primarily from agriculture, that means improving agricultural practices and restoring wetlands to reduce the amount of nutrients flowing off of farm fields and into the lake. Early indications suggest that Ohio’s H2Ohio program, which works with farmers to reduce runoff, is making some gains in this regard, but future funding for H2Ohio is uncertain.

    In places like Lake Superior, where harmful algal blooms appear to be driven by climate change, the solution likely requires halting and reversing the rapid human-driven increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

    Gregory J. Dick receives funding for harmful algal bloom research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Institutes for Health. He serves on the Science Advisory Council for the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

    – ref. Toxic algae blooms are lasting longer than before in Lake Erie − why that’s a worry for people and pets – https://theconversation.com/toxic-algae-blooms-are-lasting-longer-than-before-in-lake-erie-why-thats-a-worry-for-people-and-pets-259954

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman, Cohen, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Families and Pets from Dangerous Devices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    June 26, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Steve Cohen (TN-09), along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), re-introduced legislation that would ban hazardous cyanide bombs from public lands. Their bill, Canyon’s Law, would protect families, pets, and wildlife from dangerous M-44 ejectors – spring-loaded devices made up of sodium cyanide used to kill predatory animals and pest species.

    “Cyanide bombs have proven to be deadly for families, pets, and wildlife – regardless of their intended target – and have no business being on our public lands,” said Rep. Huffman. “People and their pets should not be threatened by cruel and indiscriminate devices when they are trying to enjoy the outdoors, especially when there are far safer, proven methods to protect livestock. Our bill will help ensure this unnecessary use of hazardous devices comes to an end.”

    “The use of M-44 cyanide bombs to control wildlife is inhumane and unjustifiable. I am pleased to join Congressman Huffman and my other colleagues in ending this barbaric practice. With the passage of Canyon’s Law, hikers, campers and their pets will be able to traverse federal lands without the fear of harm or death from these inconspicuous devices,” said Rep. Cohen.

    “Cyanide bombs do not belong on public lands, and we must permanently ban these dangerous devices that threaten our ability to safely enjoy our natural treasures,” said Sen. Merkley. “These bombs have no safeguards to protect you, your family, your pets, or unintended wildlife from the dangers they pose. More effective, safe, and humane options exist for predator control—their intended purpose—and those should be the only options used on public lands given the harms cyanide bombs can cause to humans and animals alike.”

    M-44s are small traps driven into the ground and loaded with the powdered poison, sodium cyanide. Once set, M-44s resemble sprinkler heads, and when triggered, these traps eject a cloud of cyanide intended to kill coyotes, wild dogs, or foxes. As a byproduct, these devices sometimes harm humans and their pets around public lands.

    Canyon’s Law is named after Canyon Mansfield, an Idaho boy whose dog came into contact with an M-44 while walking along public lands in 2017. His dog accidentally activated a M-44 device, and Canyon watched helplessly as his beloved companion suffered a cruel and painful death. Fortunately for Canyon, the wind pushed much of the cyanide away from him, yet he still suffers health effects to this day.

    “No one should have to experience what my family and I went through with the death of our dog and the near death of our son,” said Dr. Mark Mansfield, Canyon’s father. “Cyanide has no place being used anywhere in the U.S. as a pesticide or ‘lethal control’ weapon, such as an M-44 ‘cyanide bomb.’ All Americans can and should get behind this simple, common-sense law, ‘Canyon’s Law’.”

    The Agriculture Department acknowledges that there are hundreds of unintended wildlife deaths every year as a result of these devices. These cyanide bombs also cause severe, irreparable harm to people who have been exposed, either inadvertently or while trying to save their pets.

    The legislation was originally introduced in the House by now-retired Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04). Last Congress, Rep. Huffman oversaw the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife hearing on this legislation. View his line of questioning with Dr. Mark Mansfield, Canyon’s father here.

    This bill is endorsed by Predator Defense, Animal Welfare Institute, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Western Watersheds Project, Center for Biological Diversity, and Animal Legal Defense Fund, Humane World Action Fund, Humane World for Animals.

    “Working side by side with the Mansfield family since their tragedy, as well as with other M-44 victims for over 30 years, I have witnessed the pain and loss these indiscriminate devices inflict,” said Brooks Fahy, Executive Director of Predator Defense. “Since M-44s can never be used safely, they must be banned. This is not a partisan issue. It’s a public safety issue.”

    “Wildlife Services’ refusal to end the use of M-44 sodium cyanide devices shows both an unwillingness to transition away from archaic lethal methods, as well as a cruel indifference to the threats posed to people, pets, and wildlife,” said Susan Millward, Executive Director and CEO of the Animal Welfare Institute. “These dangerous devices have no place on America’s public lands. We urge Congress to stand up to Wildlife Services and end the use of this inhumane method.”

    “Targeting native wildlife with cyanide bombs is a barbaric and unacceptable practice,” said Erik Molvar, Executive Director for Western Watersheds Project. “These chemical weapons need to be outlawed before the next child, pet, or unsuspecting creature is poisoned.”

    “It’s horrifying to think that cyanide bombs are still being used today when we know they indiscriminately kill and injure children, pets and endangered species,” said Rachel Rilee, Policy Specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We should be allowed to hike and enjoy our public lands in peace. It’s time to ban these cruel wildlife-killing traps once and for all.”

    “M-44 sodium ‘cyanide bombs’ are indiscriminate devices that pose deadly risks for people, pets, and wildlife,” said Allison Ludtke, Legislative Affairs Manager at Animal Legal Defense Fund. “These poisons — which have injured people, taken the lives of pets, and decimated wildlife — do not belong on public lands, and their use is unjustifiable at a time when countless humane, non-lethal alternatives exist.”

    Original co-sponsors of the legislation in the House include Representatives Suzan K. DelBene, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jan Schakowsky, and Dave Min. In the Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chris Van Hollan, Martin Heinrich, Adam Schiff, and Angela Alsobrooks.

    Text of the House legislation can be found here.

    Text of the Senate legislation can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Huffman Blasts Trump Administration’s Reckless Withdrawal from Historic Columbia Basin Agreement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    June 12, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released the following statement:

    “Trump’s decision to abandon the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement is yet another reckless, shortsighted move that makes one thing clear: this administration has no respect for the trust and treaty rights of Tribal Nations. It’s a betrayal that erases decades of hard work to resolve long-standing conflicts in the region and blows up a historic agreement that supported salmon recovery, reliable clean energy, and water and food security across the Pacific Northwest.
     
    “This was a rare win forged between the federal government and Tribal Leaders from the Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and the states of Washington and Oregon. It was grounded in science, built on consensus, and designed to protect salmon from extinction while preparing the region for a clean energy future. Trump threw all that away to score cheap political points – and it’s Tribes, working families, and our environment who will pay the price.
     
    “Let’s be clear: this fight isn’t over. Democrats will stand with Tribal leaders in the fight to honor treaty rights, restore fisheries, and build the resilient future this region deserves.”

    ###

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: By Air and by Sea: Validating NASA’s PACE Ocean Color Instrument

    Source: NASA

    In autumn 2024, California’s Monterey Bay experienced an outsized phytoplankton bloom that attracted fish, dolphins, whales, seabirds, and – for a few weeks in October – scientists. A team from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, with partners at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and the Naval Postgraduate School, spent two weeks on the California coast gathering data on the atmosphere and the ocean to verify what satellites see from above. In spring 2025, the team returned to gather data under different environmental conditions.
    Scientists call this process validation.

    The PACE mission, which stands for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, was launched in February  2024 and designed to transform our understanding of ocean and atmospheric environments. Specifically, the satellite will give scientists a finely detailed look at life near the ocean surface and the composition and abundance of aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
    Whenever NASA launches a new satellite, it sends validation science teams around the world to confirm that the data from instruments in space match what traditional instruments can see at the surface. AirSHARP (Airborne aSsessment of Hyperspectral Aerosol optical depth and water-leaving Reflectance Product Performance for PACE) is one of these teams, specifically deployed to validate products from the satellite’s Ocean Color Instrument (OCI).
    The OCI spectrometer works by measuring reflected sunlight. As sunlight bounces off of the ocean’s surface, it creates specific shades of color that researchers use to determine what is in the water column below. To validate the OCI data, research teams need to confirm that measurements directly at the surface match those from the satellite. They also need to understand how the atmosphere is changing the color of the ocean as the reflected light is traveling back to the satellite.
    In October 2024 and May 2025, the AirSHARP team ran simultaneous airborne and seaborne campaigns. Going into the field during different seasons allows the team to collect data under different environmental conditions, validating as much of the instrument’s range as possible.
    Over 13 days of flights on a Twin Otter aircraft, the NASA-led team used instruments called 4STAR-B (Spectrometer for sky-scanning sun Tracking Atmospheric Research B), and the C-AIR (Coastal Airborne In-situ Radiometer) to gather data from the air. At the same time, partners from UCSC used a host of matching instruments onboard the research vessel R/V Shana Rae to gather data from the water’s surface.

    The Ocean Color Instrument measures something called water leaving reflectance, which provides information on the microscopic composition of the water column, including water molecules, phytoplankton, and particulates like sand, inorganic materials, and even bubbles. Ocean color varies based on how these materials absorb and scatter sunlight. This is especially useful for determining the abundance and types of phytoplankton.

    The AirSHARP team used radiometers with matching technology – C-AIR from the air and C-OPS (Compact Optical Profiling System) from the water – to gather water leaving reflectance data.
    “The C-AIR instrument is modified from an instrument that goes on research vessels and takes measurements of the water’s surface from very close range,” said NASA Ames research scientist Samuel LeBlanc. “The issue there is that you’re very local to one area at a time. What our team has done successfully is put it on an aircraft, which enables us to span the entire Monterey Bay.”
    The larger PACE validation team will compare OCI measurements with observations made by the sensors much closer to the ocean to ensure that they match, and make adjustments when they don’t. 

    One factor that can impact OCI data is the presence of manmade and natural aerosols, which interact with sunlight as it moves through the atmosphere. An aerosol refers to any solid or liquid suspended in the air, such as smoke from fires, salt from sea spray, particulates from fossil fuel emissions, desert dust, and pollen.
    Imagine a 420 mile-long tube, with the PACE satellite at one end and the ocean at the other. Everything inside the tube is what scientists refer to as the atmospheric column, and it is full of tiny particulates that interact with sunlight. Scientists quantify this aerosol interaction with a measurement called aerosol optical depth.
    “During AirSHARP, we were essentially measuring, at different wavelengths, how light is changed by the particles present in the atmosphere,” said NASA Ames research scientist Kristina Pistone. “The aerosol optical depth is a measure of light extinction, or how much light is either scattered away or absorbed by aerosol particulates.” 
    The team measured aerosol optical depth using the 4STAR-B spectrometer, which was engineered at NASA Ames and  enables scientists to identify which aerosols are present and how they interact with sunlight.

    Flying these instruments required use of a Twin Otter plane, operated by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). The Twin Otter is unique for its ability to perform extremely low-altitude flights, making passes down to 100 feet above the water in clear conditions.
    “It’s an intense way to fly. At that low height, the pilots continually watch for and avoid birds, tall ships, and even wildlife like breaching whales,” said Anthony Bucholtz, director of the Airborne Research Facility at NPS.
    With the phytoplankton bloom attracting so much wildlife in a bay already full of ships, this is no small feat. “The pilots keep a close eye on the radar, and fly by hand,” Bucholtz said, “all while following careful flight plans crisscrossing Monterey Bay and performing tight spirals over the Research Vessel Shana Rae.”

    Data gathered from the 2024 phase of this campaign is available on two data archive systems. Data from the 4STAR instrument is available in the PACE data archive  and data from C-AIR is housed in the SeaBASS data archive.
    Other data from the NASA PACE Validation Science Team is available through the PACE website: https://pace.oceansciences.org/pvstdoi.htm#
    Samuel LeBlanc and Kristina Pistone are funded via the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute (BAERI), which  is a scientist-founded nonprofit focused on supporting Earth and space sciences.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Zealand contributes NZ$ 150,000 to WTO Fish Fund

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand said: “New Zealand is delighted to be able to support the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism with this recent contribution.  It is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting sustainable fisheries, ocean health, fishers and their communities. Through this contribution, we aim to assist developing and least-developed countries in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, ensuring that they have the tools and capacity to join global efforts to protect marine ecosystems.”

    Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am grateful for the contribution from New Zealand, a leader in global efforts to rein in harmful fisheries subsidies. As I highlighted at the UN Ocean Conference 2025, the Agreement, once it enters into force, will provide developing and least-developed countries with technical and financial support to build the capacity needed to upgrade fisheries management and integrate sustainability considerations into their fisheries policies.

    New Zealand’s contribution to the WTO Fish Fund will help ensure we get off to a running start in providing this essential support.”

    The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will enter into force upon its acceptance by two-thirds of WTO members. One hundred and two WTO members have formally accepted the Agreement. Nine more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect.

    Because the new Agreement will involve adjustments and enhancements to WTO members’ legislative and administrative frameworks, their transparency and notification obligations, and their fisheries management policies and practices, Article 7 of the Agreement provides for the creation of a voluntary funding mechanism to finance targeted technical assistance and capacity building to help developing and LDC members with implementation.

    On 6 June, the WTO Fish Fund opened a Call for Proposals, inviting developing and LDC members that have ratified the Agreement to submit requests for project grants aimed at helping them implement the Agreement. WTO members can access the application portal here.

    The Fund is operated by the WTO, with the support of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank Group. These core partners bring together relevant expertise to support members seeking assistance to implement the Agreement.

    More information on the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism is available here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Bill Would Prevent Key Aviation Safety Technology from Being Improperly Used to Charge, Punish Pilots

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
    Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act limits the use of ADS-B data
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), joined by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Representative Bob Onder (R-Mo.-3), recently introduced the bicameral Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act to limit the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and require greater transparency in how airports impose fees on general aviation aircraft.
    “ADS-B is a critical safety technology mandated by the FAA and is more accurate than radar. Abusing this technology to levy unfair, sometimes duplicative fees and threatening pilots with legal action will keep some general aviation pilots grounded, which is a loss for America’s economy, emergency response, and the aviation community at large,”said Senator Budd.
    “Misusing vital safety technology like ADS-B for non-safety purposes, such as generating unwarranted fees or initiating inappropriate actions, jeopardizes pilot privacy and undermines the very foundation of this critical airspace system. Prioritizing the trust and participation of pilots is essential by ensuring ADS-B remains dedicated solely to its intended safety function,” said Senator Sullivan.
    “Flight safety technologies like ADS-B are vital for pilots to ensure safety on the ground and in the skies, but penalizing pilots for using this technology with arbitrary fees jeopardizes both pilot privacy and flight safety by incentivizing operators to avoid using this critical technology. As we enact reforms to keep American aviation the safest in the world, I’m proud to join my colleagues on this commonsense legislation to increase transparency and make certain pilots across the country can focus solely on the safety of their aircraft and their passengers,” said Senator Sheehy.
    “As a pilot with years of experience using ADS-B technology, I understand the game-changing impact it has had on aviation safety. By communicating an aircraft’s identification, airspeed, heading and altitude, ADS-B has dramatically improved situational awareness for pilots, as well as the real-time data air traffic controllers need to keep pilots and passengers safe. Unfortunately, some third parties have taken advantage of this data to impose and collect exorbitant third-party landing fees and frivolous lawsuits targeted at general aviation pilots and travelers. These uses of data for purposes other than air traffic safety act as a deterrent for pilots to equip their aircraft with this potentially life-saving technology,” said Representative Onder.
    Background:
    While ADS-B is designed to be used as a safety technology, some airports have begun improperly using these systems to track aircraft for the purposes of assessing landing fees and collecting revenue from pilots. To avoid duplicative and unfairly assessed fees, aircraft owners, operators, and pilots may feel compelled to fly without ADS-B installed or active on their aircraft, increasing the risk of close calls and collisions. In addition, these fees are often assessed without justification or transparency, placing unreasonable financial burdens on pilots, flight students, charitable organizations, and small aviation businesses that rely on access to the national airspace.
    General aviation plays a critical role in U.S. transportation, economic development, and emergency response. The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act protects the privacy and economic viability of the aviation community, ensuring the freedom to fly without undue surveillance or cost.
    Specifically, this bill:
    Prohibits government agencies and private actors from using ADS-B data to identify aircraft for the purpose of imposing fees or charges.
    Clarifies that ADS-B data may only be used by air traffic controllers for air traffic safety, efficiency, or for other purposes approved by the Secretary of Transportation following public comment.
    Ensures that investigations cannot be initiated on the basis of ADS-B data.
    Requires public-use airports to disclose financial information and the projected impact before imposing new fees on general aviation, and requires that any such fees must be used exclusively for airside safety improvements.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Op-Ed: “Big, Beautiful Bill” Bolsters Electric Grid, Helps Protect Americans from Blackout Threats

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    As the U.S. Congress continues to deliberate on a reconciliation package to deliver to President Trump’s desk ahead of July 4, Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) penned an op-ed on the package’s benefits for America’s electric grid. 

    Read his full op-ed in the Washington Examiner here or below.

    The intense heat wave battering the United States pushes America’s electric grid to the brink and threatens potential power outages. But House Republicans offer a policy change that bolsters our grid and helps protect Americans from blackout threats.

    Communities across much of the country face scorching temperatures, prompting power companies to take notice and act accordingly.

    In my part of Virginia, local power companies affiliated with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) are encouraging their customers to reduce electricity use. This request appears to be based on an announcement from the TVA.

    Alerts of potential breaking points in America’s electric grid are not unique to the TVA and are unfortunately becoming more and more frequent. 

    The Friday before Memorial Day, Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order directing the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the Midwest grid operator, to keep a coal-fired power plant in Michigan in operation. These emergency actions are authorized for up to 90 days at a time under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act.

    Wright issued the order to minimize the risk of blackouts ahead of the high electricity demand expected this summer.

    MISO runs North to South from Manitoba and Michigan down to Louisiana and a portion of East Texas. 

    Notwithstanding keeping the plant in Michigan open, the New Orleans metro area suffered a large and unexpected power outage during Memorial Day weekend. At the blackout’s peak, more than 100,000 customers lost electricity.

    According to news website Axios, utilities knew high demand was likely that weekend. However, they had no extra power capacity. When one plant went down, their customers were plunged into darkness.

    Reports confirmed that two of the region’s nuclear power plants lost connection to the grid. One was due to expected maintenance, while the other was unexpected. Constrained by a lack of energy supply, grid operators cut power to customers in New Orleans.

    Entergy, an electric utility company in the region, said that the forced outages directed by MISO were done to prevent a larger scale and more prolonged power outage from impacting the electric grid.

    This blackout was not the only major power outage in recent memory.

    On April 28, Portugal and Spain witnessed the worst blackout in their history, affecting 55 million people, per British newspaper The Guardian.

    Airports shut down, cars drove on streets without traffic lights, hospitals resorted to backup generators and some people were stuck in elevators!

    The Iberian Peninsula blackout continues to be investigated. Lots of finger-pointing is going on between Spain’s grid operator, the government and plant operators. But it is interesting to note that on April 16, Spain reported its first weekday where its national power grid was 100% reliant on renewable power.

    A coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

    Coincidentally, in a recent Virginia Tech press release, professor and Power and Energy Center director Dr. Ali Mehrizi-Sani highlighted how the systems that control these clean energy sources are more susceptible to blackouts.

    As parts of the world transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, the lack of seamless grid adaptation to the use of these sources, as illustrated by the blackout in Spain and Portugal and by experts like Dr. Mehrizi-Sani, threatens destabilization of electric grids and more blackouts.

    Leftist policies that attempted to gut our grid’s reliance on fossil fuels and convert to renewables have pushed America’s electric grid to the brink.

    Federal policies, like the Obama-era “War on Coal” and the Biden Administration’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), shunning reliable baseload forms of energy like coal and natural gas have made our electric grid more vulnerable to failure.  

    But House Republicans offer a potential policy change that levels the playing field and openly welcomes baseload power.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act curtails some IRA tax credits which disincentivize coal and natural gas power plants. We maintain the incentives for nuclear because of its significant potential for baseload power.

    Republicans also create an energy project insurance pool to help protect energy investors from permits being revoked for coal, oil, critical minerals, natural gas or nuclear installations.

    This de-risking compensation fund will make it harder for federal policies to discourage and phase out these reliable energy sources.

    As extreme summer heat continues to threaten potential power outages, we must secure and equip our electric grid with reliable energy solutions.

    We do not need to follow in Spain’s footsteps and make Iberian Peninsula-style blackouts the norm.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act helps Americans avoid blackout threats by instituting reliable forms of baseload power. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Castor, Sen. Luján Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Affordable, Clean Solar Energy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced legislation to expand a Department of Energy initiative that encourages community solar projects nationwide and increase accessibility to energy produced by lower-cost solar power. The Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025 will increase access to solar energy throughout the Tampa Bay area for all residents, regardless of their income. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (NM) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

    “Clean, affordable energy should be within reach for everyone—especially in Florida, the Sunshine State. Unfortunately, nearly half of all households and businesses can’t install rooftop solar because they rent, share buildings or can’t afford the upfront costs.

    “That’s where community solar comes in. It allows neighbors to share the benefits of nearby solar projects—saving them money on their electric bills without needing solar panels on their own roof.

    “This bill helps expand these initiatives, especially for working families. It supports states and local governments, creates jobs, and helps cut harmful pollution. By boosting access to shared solar energy and investing in storage, each community solar project creates $14 million in local economic investment and over 90 jobs.

    “I’m proud to stand with my Congressional partners and dedicated advocates in fighting for a cleaner, healthier and more affordable energy future for all,” said Rep. Castor.

    “As the climate crisis intensifies and Republican lawmakers push to cut clean energy funding, fighting for practical solutions like community solar is more critical than ever,” said Sen. Luján. “I’m proud to reintroduce the Community Solar Consumer Choice Act to expand access to solar power through community solar projects for all Americans and create more good-paying, clean energy jobs. This bill is a step forward in combating the climate crisis, and I look forward to working with Representative Castor to get this bill passed.”

    A full list of supporting quotes can be found here.

    House Cosponsors: Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Paul Tonko (NY-21).

    Supporting Organizations: Coalition for Community Solar Access, Evergreen Action, GreenLatinos, League of Conservation Voters, Moms Clean Air Force, Natural Resources Defense Council, New Mexico Climate Investment Center, Sierra Club, Solar Energy Industries Association, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

    View the legislative text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Emergency Loans for Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval | Same Day Emergency Loans and No Credit Check Options Now Offered by Payday Loans Experts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, CA, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Payday Loans Experts launches nationwide access to emergency loans for bad credit with guaranteed approval and same-day funding.  In a major effort to expand financial access for consumers across the United States, Payday Loans Experts is proud to announce the official launch of its new platform that connects borrowers with emergency loans for bad credit guaranteed approval. The program features real-time approval decisions, fast disbursement, and a wide range of emergency loans with no traditional credit checks.

    ⇒ Apply for emergency same day loans and receive funds today!

    This powerful new tool is especially valuable for individuals facing unexpected expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, utility disconnections, or rent shortages. With a streamlined process and borrower-first design, the platform helps applicants secure same day emergency loans even with a poor credit history or no credit score at all.

    “Access to emergency funding shouldn’t be limited to those with perfect credit scores,” said a spokesperson for Payday Loans Experts. “Our platform is designed to offer emergency loans no credit check and provide emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval solutions when people need them most.”

    ⇒ Apply for an emergency loan with no credit check – Fast and secure!

    If you urgently need financial help and have been turned away by traditional lenders, there’s a better way. Secure an emergency loan with bad credit guaranteed approval and take control of your finances today.

    ⇒ Get emergency loans for bad credit with same-day funding!

    What Are Emergency Loans?

    Emergency loans are fast-access personal loans designed to help borrowers address urgent, short-term financial needs. These loans are typically unsecured, meaning they don’t require collateral like a car or house. The funds are often deposited into a borrower’s account within 24 hours — sometimes even the same day.

    The new platform from Payday Loans Experts makes it easy to apply for emergency loans bad credit or emergency loans for bad credit online, eliminating long waits, credit checks, and the stress that often accompanies borrowing money.

    ⇒ Get Emergency loans online – Bad credit OK, no hard checks

    Who Needs Emergency Loans for Bad Credit?

    Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and a single unplanned expense can lead to financial turmoil. Common scenarios that prompt the need for emergency loans include:

    • Sudden car repairs or breakdowns
    • Emergency dental or medical procedures
    • Missed rent or mortgage payments
    • Unexpected travel (e.g., funerals, family care)
    • Utility disconnection notices

    For individuals with subprime or no credit, emergency loans bad credit options offer a critical lifeline. These products allow consumers to bridge gaps without facing rejection from traditional banks.

    ⇒ Apply Now for emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval!

    Key Features of the New Emergency Loan Platform

    The Payday Loans Experts network delivers on its promise of fast, inclusive financing by offering:

    • Emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval for qualifying users
    • Loan amounts ranging from $100 to $50,000
    • Instant pre-approval in many cases
    • No hard credit checks or minimum credit score required
    • Flexible repayment terms (weekly, biweekly, or monthly)
    • Paperless applications from desktop or mobile

    Unlike traditional lenders, which often require credit bureau reviews, employment verification, or in-person interviews, this system simplifies the process and prioritizes speed, making it one of the most accessible emergency loans no credit check platforms in 2025.

    ⇒ Secure your emergency loan with no credit check today!

    Why Emergency Same Day Loans Are More Relevant Than Ever in 2025

    With inflation, job instability, and rising healthcare costs, even financially responsible individuals can experience temporary hardship. Unfortunately, banks and credit unions continue to deny loans to applicants with scores below 600.

    That’s where same day emergency loans come in. They offer rapid access to cash without burdensome red tape. According to a 2024 consumer survey:

    • 72% of emergency loan borrowers had credit scores below 580
    • 89% needed funds within 24 hours of applying
    • 64% cited their application experience as “fast and stress-free”

    The demand for emergency loan bad credit solutions is on the rise, and platforms like Payday Loans Experts are stepping in to fill the gap with trusted, secure, and transparent options.

    ⇒ Same day emergency loans – Apply now and get funds fast!

    How to Qualify for an Emergency Loan with Bad Credit

    Most lenders in the Payday Loans Experts network have minimal eligibility criteria. Applicants typically need to:

    • Be 18 years or older
    • Reside in a U.S. state that allows short-term lending
    • Provide proof of income (paystub, benefits statement, freelance earnings)
    • Have a valid government-issued ID
    • Own a checking account in their name

    The best part? There is no minimum credit score required. That’s what makes these products the top choice for people searching for emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval solutions.

    ⇒ Trusted emergency loans bad credit – No credit check needed!

    Types of Emergency Loans Available

    Depending on your financial needs and timeline, you may be matched with one of the following products:

    Emergency Payday Loans

    These are short-term loans due on your next payday. Great for small, urgent expenses. Fast approval and same-day funding are common.

    Emergency Installment Loans

    Repay over weeks or months with structured, manageable payments. Ideal for larger expenses like medical bills or major car repairs.

    ⇒ Secure emergency loan with same day approval!

    Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    Specifically designed for individuals with low or no credit scores. These loans rely on your income, not your FICO score.

    Emergency Loans No Credit Check

    Your credit history isn’t pulled. Lenders look at real-time affordability instead. Great for avoiding negative credit inquiries.

    Emergency Same Day Loans

    Need funds today? Apply early and get funds deposited within hours, depending on lender and bank processing times.

    ⇒ Get emergency loan bad credit approval in minutes!

    Pros and Cons of Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    Pros:

    • Fast approval and funding
    • Minimal documentation
    • Accessible with bad credit or no credit
    • No impact on your credit score
    • Flexible loan types

    Cons:

    • Higher interest rates than traditional loans
    • Shorter repayment windows (for payday options)
    • Limited to borrowers in states that allow emergency lending

    Still, for many, the benefits outweigh the costs, especially when faced with urgent financial emergencies.

    ⇒ Same-day payouts on emergency loans for bad credit

    How to Apply for an Emergency Loan Online

    Step-by-step:

    1. Visit Payday Loans Experts
    2. Click on “Apply Now”
    3. Enter your details: income, location, loan amount
    4. Review available loan offers
    5. Accept terms and submit
    6. Get your money via direct deposit — often within hours

    It’s free to apply, and there’s no obligation to accept any offer. Plus, the entire process is encrypted and secure.

    Why Choose Payday Loans Experts for Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval?

    • 24/7 online access to lenders
    • Fastest emergency same day loans in the industry
    • Trusted by thousands across the U.S.
    • 100% secure and encrypted application
    • Dedicated support and education resources

    ⇒ Emergency loan for bad credit guaranteed approval – Start here

    Tips for Using Emergency Loans Responsibly

    • Only borrow what you need
    • Use the loan for essential expenses
    • Read all loan terms before accepting
    • Repay on time to avoid fees
    • Consider installment loans for better repayment flexibility

    FAQs About Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    What are emergency loans, and how do they work?

    Emergency loans are fast, short-term loans designed to help individuals cover urgent expenses such as medical bills, car repairs, or overdue rent. These loans are typically unsecured and processed quickly, often offering same-day or next-day funding. The application process is simple and available online through platforms like Payday Loans Experts.

    Can I get an emergency loan with bad credit?

    Yes, you can. Emergency loans for bad credit are specifically tailored to individuals with poor or limited credit histories. Approval is typically based on your income and ability to repay, not your credit score. Many lenders offer emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval with flexible repayment options.

    Are there emergency loans with no credit check?

    Absolutely. Many lenders offer emergency loans no credit check, meaning they do not perform a hard inquiry on your credit report. These loans are ideal for borrowers who want to protect their credit score or those who have previously been denied by traditional lenders.

    How fast can I get funding from an emergency loan?

    With emergency same day loans or same day emergency loans, you can often receive funds in your bank account within hours of approval. Applying early in the day and ensuring your information is complete can speed up the process.

    What do I need to qualify for emergency loans for bad credit?

    To qualify for emergency loans bad credit, you typically need to be at least 18 years old, have a steady income, possess a valid government-issued ID, and own a U.S.-based bank account. Credit checks are not always required, especially for emergency loans no credit check options.

    What are the most common uses for emergency loan bad credit options?

    Borrowers often use emergency loans for urgent needs such as medical emergencies, auto repairs, utility disconnection notices, rent shortages, or unexpected travel. These loans help bridge financial gaps when time is critical.

    Will applying for emergency loans hurt my credit score?

    In most cases, no. Since many emergency loans are offered with no credit check, your credit score won’t be affected during the application process. However, if a lender does report repayment activity, missing payments could impact your score.

    Are emergency loans bad credit options available in all U.S. states?

    Emergency loans with bad credit options are widely available, but lending laws vary by state. Payday Loans Experts only partners with lenders legally authorized to operate in your state, ensuring compliance and borrower protection.

    How much can I borrow through an emergency loan for bad credit?

    Loan amounts for emergency loans for bad credit typically range from $100 to $50,000, depending on your income, state laws, and the specific lender. Larger loans may be available through installment options.

    Where can I apply for emergency loans with bad credit and guaranteed approval?

    You can apply online through trusted platforms like Payday Loans Experts. The process is secure, fast, and designed to match you with lenders offering emergency loans bad credit guaranteed approval, even without a credit check.

    About Payday Loans Experts

    Payday Loans Experts is a trusted digital marketplace that connects U.S. consumers with vetted lenders offering emergency loans bad credit, emergency same day loans, and other flexible short-term financial solutions. With a mission to provide fast, fair, and accessible lending options, the platform is redefining what it means to get emergency cash quickly and responsibly.

    Media Contact

    Media Contact

    Company: Payday Loans Experts

    Contact Person: Shirley E. Ruano

    Email: support@payday-loans-experts.com

    Address: 4001 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89103, USA

    URL: https://payday-loans-experts.com/

    Phone: +1 302-593-1369

    Disclaimer & Affiliate Disclosure
    This article is intended for informational and commercial purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, legal counsel, or an endorsement of any particular loan provider. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information presented, neither the author nor any affiliated third parties guarantee its completeness, accuracy, or timeliness. Readers are strongly advised to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor, legal professional, or other appropriate expert before making any financial decisions.
    Please note that the products and services referenced herein—including personal loans and payday lending platforms—may not be suitable for everyone. Loan terms, eligibility criteria, and interest rates differ by lender and jurisdiction. Loan approval is not guaranteed, and is subject to each lender’s verification process, which may include evaluation of location, identity, income, creditworthiness, and regulatory compliance.
    This content may include affiliate links. If you press on one of these links and proceed to apply for or purchase a product or service, the publisher and its partners may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This has no impact on editorial content, integrity, or recommendations provided. All opinions expressed are general in nature and do not necessarily reflect the views of any specific lender unless otherwise stated.
    By accessing or interacting with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the publisher, content creators, affiliates, distribution partners, and third-party networks bear no responsibility for inaccuracies, omissions, outdated information, or any losses—financial or otherwise—arising from your use of the information provided. This includes but is not limited to declined applications, financial disputes, or loan contract issues with lenders.
    References to companies such as “Payday Loans Experts” are made for informational comparison only and do not imply endorsement, affiliation, or legal partnership. For questions or concerns regarding a particular product or service, please contact the respective provider directly using their official contact information.
    All trademarks, service marks, and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Emergency Loans for Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval | Same Day Emergency Loans and No Credit Check Options Now Offered by Payday Loans Experts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, CA, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Payday Loans Experts launches nationwide access to emergency loans for bad credit with guaranteed approval and same-day funding.  In a major effort to expand financial access for consumers across the United States, Payday Loans Experts is proud to announce the official launch of its new platform that connects borrowers with emergency loans for bad credit guaranteed approval. The program features real-time approval decisions, fast disbursement, and a wide range of emergency loans with no traditional credit checks.

    ⇒ Apply for emergency same day loans and receive funds today!

    This powerful new tool is especially valuable for individuals facing unexpected expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, utility disconnections, or rent shortages. With a streamlined process and borrower-first design, the platform helps applicants secure same day emergency loans even with a poor credit history or no credit score at all.

    “Access to emergency funding shouldn’t be limited to those with perfect credit scores,” said a spokesperson for Payday Loans Experts. “Our platform is designed to offer emergency loans no credit check and provide emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval solutions when people need them most.”

    ⇒ Apply for an emergency loan with no credit check – Fast and secure!

    If you urgently need financial help and have been turned away by traditional lenders, there’s a better way. Secure an emergency loan with bad credit guaranteed approval and take control of your finances today.

    ⇒ Get emergency loans for bad credit with same-day funding!

    What Are Emergency Loans?

    Emergency loans are fast-access personal loans designed to help borrowers address urgent, short-term financial needs. These loans are typically unsecured, meaning they don’t require collateral like a car or house. The funds are often deposited into a borrower’s account within 24 hours — sometimes even the same day.

    The new platform from Payday Loans Experts makes it easy to apply for emergency loans bad credit or emergency loans for bad credit online, eliminating long waits, credit checks, and the stress that often accompanies borrowing money.

    ⇒ Get Emergency loans online – Bad credit OK, no hard checks

    Who Needs Emergency Loans for Bad Credit?

    Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and a single unplanned expense can lead to financial turmoil. Common scenarios that prompt the need for emergency loans include:

    • Sudden car repairs or breakdowns
    • Emergency dental or medical procedures
    • Missed rent or mortgage payments
    • Unexpected travel (e.g., funerals, family care)
    • Utility disconnection notices

    For individuals with subprime or no credit, emergency loans bad credit options offer a critical lifeline. These products allow consumers to bridge gaps without facing rejection from traditional banks.

    ⇒ Apply Now for emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval!

    Key Features of the New Emergency Loan Platform

    The Payday Loans Experts network delivers on its promise of fast, inclusive financing by offering:

    • Emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval for qualifying users
    • Loan amounts ranging from $100 to $50,000
    • Instant pre-approval in many cases
    • No hard credit checks or minimum credit score required
    • Flexible repayment terms (weekly, biweekly, or monthly)
    • Paperless applications from desktop or mobile

    Unlike traditional lenders, which often require credit bureau reviews, employment verification, or in-person interviews, this system simplifies the process and prioritizes speed, making it one of the most accessible emergency loans no credit check platforms in 2025.

    ⇒ Secure your emergency loan with no credit check today!

    Why Emergency Same Day Loans Are More Relevant Than Ever in 2025

    With inflation, job instability, and rising healthcare costs, even financially responsible individuals can experience temporary hardship. Unfortunately, banks and credit unions continue to deny loans to applicants with scores below 600.

    That’s where same day emergency loans come in. They offer rapid access to cash without burdensome red tape. According to a 2024 consumer survey:

    • 72% of emergency loan borrowers had credit scores below 580
    • 89% needed funds within 24 hours of applying
    • 64% cited their application experience as “fast and stress-free”

    The demand for emergency loan bad credit solutions is on the rise, and platforms like Payday Loans Experts are stepping in to fill the gap with trusted, secure, and transparent options.

    ⇒ Same day emergency loans – Apply now and get funds fast!

    How to Qualify for an Emergency Loan with Bad Credit

    Most lenders in the Payday Loans Experts network have minimal eligibility criteria. Applicants typically need to:

    • Be 18 years or older
    • Reside in a U.S. state that allows short-term lending
    • Provide proof of income (paystub, benefits statement, freelance earnings)
    • Have a valid government-issued ID
    • Own a checking account in their name

    The best part? There is no minimum credit score required. That’s what makes these products the top choice for people searching for emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval solutions.

    ⇒ Trusted emergency loans bad credit – No credit check needed!

    Types of Emergency Loans Available

    Depending on your financial needs and timeline, you may be matched with one of the following products:

    Emergency Payday Loans

    These are short-term loans due on your next payday. Great for small, urgent expenses. Fast approval and same-day funding are common.

    Emergency Installment Loans

    Repay over weeks or months with structured, manageable payments. Ideal for larger expenses like medical bills or major car repairs.

    ⇒ Secure emergency loan with same day approval!

    Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    Specifically designed for individuals with low or no credit scores. These loans rely on your income, not your FICO score.

    Emergency Loans No Credit Check

    Your credit history isn’t pulled. Lenders look at real-time affordability instead. Great for avoiding negative credit inquiries.

    Emergency Same Day Loans

    Need funds today? Apply early and get funds deposited within hours, depending on lender and bank processing times.

    ⇒ Get emergency loan bad credit approval in minutes!

    Pros and Cons of Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    Pros:

    • Fast approval and funding
    • Minimal documentation
    • Accessible with bad credit or no credit
    • No impact on your credit score
    • Flexible loan types

    Cons:

    • Higher interest rates than traditional loans
    • Shorter repayment windows (for payday options)
    • Limited to borrowers in states that allow emergency lending

    Still, for many, the benefits outweigh the costs, especially when faced with urgent financial emergencies.

    ⇒ Same-day payouts on emergency loans for bad credit

    How to Apply for an Emergency Loan Online

    Step-by-step:

    1. Visit Payday Loans Experts
    2. Click on “Apply Now”
    3. Enter your details: income, location, loan amount
    4. Review available loan offers
    5. Accept terms and submit
    6. Get your money via direct deposit — often within hours

    It’s free to apply, and there’s no obligation to accept any offer. Plus, the entire process is encrypted and secure.

    Why Choose Payday Loans Experts for Emergency Loan Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval?

    • 24/7 online access to lenders
    • Fastest emergency same day loans in the industry
    • Trusted by thousands across the U.S.
    • 100% secure and encrypted application
    • Dedicated support and education resources

    ⇒ Emergency loan for bad credit guaranteed approval – Start here

    Tips for Using Emergency Loans Responsibly

    • Only borrow what you need
    • Use the loan for essential expenses
    • Read all loan terms before accepting
    • Repay on time to avoid fees
    • Consider installment loans for better repayment flexibility

    FAQs About Emergency Loans for Bad Credit

    What are emergency loans, and how do they work?

    Emergency loans are fast, short-term loans designed to help individuals cover urgent expenses such as medical bills, car repairs, or overdue rent. These loans are typically unsecured and processed quickly, often offering same-day or next-day funding. The application process is simple and available online through platforms like Payday Loans Experts.

    Can I get an emergency loan with bad credit?

    Yes, you can. Emergency loans for bad credit are specifically tailored to individuals with poor or limited credit histories. Approval is typically based on your income and ability to repay, not your credit score. Many lenders offer emergency loan bad credit guaranteed approval with flexible repayment options.

    Are there emergency loans with no credit check?

    Absolutely. Many lenders offer emergency loans no credit check, meaning they do not perform a hard inquiry on your credit report. These loans are ideal for borrowers who want to protect their credit score or those who have previously been denied by traditional lenders.

    How fast can I get funding from an emergency loan?

    With emergency same day loans or same day emergency loans, you can often receive funds in your bank account within hours of approval. Applying early in the day and ensuring your information is complete can speed up the process.

    What do I need to qualify for emergency loans for bad credit?

    To qualify for emergency loans bad credit, you typically need to be at least 18 years old, have a steady income, possess a valid government-issued ID, and own a U.S.-based bank account. Credit checks are not always required, especially for emergency loans no credit check options.

    What are the most common uses for emergency loan bad credit options?

    Borrowers often use emergency loans for urgent needs such as medical emergencies, auto repairs, utility disconnection notices, rent shortages, or unexpected travel. These loans help bridge financial gaps when time is critical.

    Will applying for emergency loans hurt my credit score?

    In most cases, no. Since many emergency loans are offered with no credit check, your credit score won’t be affected during the application process. However, if a lender does report repayment activity, missing payments could impact your score.

    Are emergency loans bad credit options available in all U.S. states?

    Emergency loans with bad credit options are widely available, but lending laws vary by state. Payday Loans Experts only partners with lenders legally authorized to operate in your state, ensuring compliance and borrower protection.

    How much can I borrow through an emergency loan for bad credit?

    Loan amounts for emergency loans for bad credit typically range from $100 to $50,000, depending on your income, state laws, and the specific lender. Larger loans may be available through installment options.

    Where can I apply for emergency loans with bad credit and guaranteed approval?

    You can apply online through trusted platforms like Payday Loans Experts. The process is secure, fast, and designed to match you with lenders offering emergency loans bad credit guaranteed approval, even without a credit check.

    About Payday Loans Experts

    Payday Loans Experts is a trusted digital marketplace that connects U.S. consumers with vetted lenders offering emergency loans bad credit, emergency same day loans, and other flexible short-term financial solutions. With a mission to provide fast, fair, and accessible lending options, the platform is redefining what it means to get emergency cash quickly and responsibly.

    Media Contact

    Media Contact

    Company: Payday Loans Experts

    Contact Person: Shirley E. Ruano

    Email: support@payday-loans-experts.com

    Address: 4001 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89103, USA

    URL: https://payday-loans-experts.com/

    Phone: +1 302-593-1369

    Disclaimer & Affiliate Disclosure
    This article is intended for informational and commercial purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, legal counsel, or an endorsement of any particular loan provider. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information presented, neither the author nor any affiliated third parties guarantee its completeness, accuracy, or timeliness. Readers are strongly advised to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor, legal professional, or other appropriate expert before making any financial decisions.
    Please note that the products and services referenced herein—including personal loans and payday lending platforms—may not be suitable for everyone. Loan terms, eligibility criteria, and interest rates differ by lender and jurisdiction. Loan approval is not guaranteed, and is subject to each lender’s verification process, which may include evaluation of location, identity, income, creditworthiness, and regulatory compliance.
    This content may include affiliate links. If you press on one of these links and proceed to apply for or purchase a product or service, the publisher and its partners may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This has no impact on editorial content, integrity, or recommendations provided. All opinions expressed are general in nature and do not necessarily reflect the views of any specific lender unless otherwise stated.
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  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Opening Statement at SAC-D Hearing on FY 26 Budget Request for the Air Force and Space Force

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, convened today’s hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Air Force and Space Force”. Prepared text of his opening statement follows: 
    “I’ll begin by welcoming Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin, and Chief of Space Operations, General Chance Saltzman. Thanks to each of you for your decades of service to our nation, and our thanks as well to the airmen and guardians you lead. 
    “This weekend’s successful operations over Iran served as a reminder of the immense skill and professionalism of America’s men and women in uniform: Pilots operating coolly in enemy airspace…Dozens of aircraft and thousands of personnel helping to get them safely over their targets…Massively powerful ordnance delivered with the utmost precision…And all flights returning home safely.
    “The way I see it, there are two key takeaways, here: The first one is the value of allies and partners. Israel’s magnificent military and intelligence operations created the strategic opportunity. In degrading Iran’s air defenses, the Israelis demonstrated how highly competent allies act as force multipliers in the face of common threats. We ought to keep this in mind when we look at Europe and the Indo-Pacific, too. Allies and partners are going to be essential to any big fight, and we should not underestimate their value.
    “Of course, at the end of the day, nobody in the world but the U.S. Air Force can do what you did this weekend. America’s ability to project power globally is unparalleled. And that brings me to the second takeaway: military primacy doesn’t happen overnight. The most sophisticated military in world history is the product of trillions of dollars over decades.
    “Sustaining this military force isn’t cheap. Modernizing it to preserve our military edge is even more expensive. But if we value the lives of our servicemembers…The unprecedented peace we have experienced since World War II…And the fruits of the American-led international order…Then it’s worth every penny and then some.
    “America’s most determined adversaries have studied the capabilities and tactics of our military closely, and have developed advanced radars, sensors, and long-range air defenses to counter precisely the strength we showed last weekend
    “The PRC has been playing a long game to challenge American primacy. By contrast, in crucial ways, we’ve been taking our edge for granted. Chronic underfunding of the national defense has become a habit of consecutive administrations. Unfortunately, the budget we’re here to discuss today is no exception. In fact, the President’s request for FY26 falls well short of meeting the requirements imposed by today’s threat landscape. We simply will not keep pace with the pacing threat of China if we’re not willing to keep pace with inflation.
    “The Air Force needs to modernize its bomber and fighter fleets. It needs new tankers and command and control aircraft. It also needs longer-range and more sophisticated munitions.  And it needs a lot of them.
    “The Space Force needs advanced satellite technologies, resilient communications systems, and enhanced surveillance capabilities, to deter aggression, ensure freedom of maneuver, and maintain uninterrupted space-based support to joint and allied forces back on planet earth. And you can’t do any of it with anemic base budgets. You just can’t.
    “Preserving our military edge and the peace will require sustained and significant increases in defense spending. Not just a one-time infusion. But it’s not just the size of the FY26 request many of us are concerned about. It’s also the structure. The Administration has asked Congress to split the funds for massive procurement efforts like B-21 and Sentinel between the base budget and a one-time reconciliation bill.
    “I struggle to understand how putting programs with broad bipartisan support in a simple-majority reconciliation bill won’t function like a shell game for avoiding making the sort of annual, base-budget investments we begged the last Administration to make. 
    “The need for stable production of aircraft seems to argue for year-on-year funding baked into a base budget. The constrained topline, of course, is forcing services to make artificially tough choices. In your case, let me just say this: We all want to go to space. But let’s be honest about the risks and trade-offs this request is forcing you to make. If the choice you’re facing is between an available, advanced airborne system with onboard battle management and a nascent space capability, you’re going to have to resist the urge to turn proven capabilities like the E-7 into billpayers.
    “There’s value in redundancy. We should be making investments in both airborne and space-based command and control. They say that in space, no one can hear you scream. But squandering our advantage in this critical domain because we can’t find the political will to maintain it? That would mean plenty of screaming here on Earth, with devastating consequences for U.S. military operations on land, air, and sea.
    “I hope we’ll also hear from you about how the Air Force is addressing munitions shortfalls – not just in the massive ordnance penetrators deployed this weekend to great effect, but across the entire spectrum of both offensive and defensive capabilities on which Air Force operations are built. I’ve been hoping to hear from each service how production challenges are being addressed, and the Air Force will be no exception.
    “Speaking of the MOP, I need to address the manufactured controversy over the extent to which the strikes damaged Iran’s nuclear program. We haven’t been briefed on the intelligence, but the political hand-wringing misses an important point: We’ve demonstrated our military superiority. If we want, we can own the skies over Iran. If the Iranians don’t abandon their nuclear program, we can keep bombing them. And Iran’s remaining leaders should take the off-ramp the President has offered them.     
    “Finally, I’ll ask you to explain for us the lessons you’re taking from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. How is the rapid evolution of unmanned systems informing the decisions you make about drone operations, force protection, and interception? And what information are you getting today that you’d lose if America neglected its relationships with force-multiplying allies and partners?
    “I’ll look forward to your testimony on each of these fronts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RIDOH and DEM Lift Advisory at Worden Pond and Recommend Avoiding Contact with Wilson Reservoir

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have lifted the advisory recommendation for recreational activities at Worden Pond in South Kingstown. The harmful algae bloom (HAB) caused by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) has cleared. Recent testing shows algae levels are low and no toxins were detected, meeting safety guidelines.

    RIDOH and DEM are also advising people to avoid contact with Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville due to harmful algae blooms (HABs). HABs are caused by blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which are naturally present in bodies of water. HABs can produce toxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by DEM at this location.

    Use caution in all areas of Wilson Reservoir as HABs can move locations in ponds and lakes. All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk to health and recommended to be avoided at this location. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from affected waterbodies. Pet owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in this water. This advisory recommendation remains in effect until further notice.

    Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and throat. Symptoms can include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Less common symptoms can include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at higher risk for health effects associated with HABs because they are more likely to swallow water when they are in or around bodies of water. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

    To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700 Press 6 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom. For more information and the Cyanobacteria Tracker Dashboard that lists current advisories and data, visit: www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Journal Feature: Flying High

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    This article was featured in the Summer 2025 IAM Journal and was written by IAM Communications Representative John Lett.

    For decades, the IAM Air Transport Territory has been the backbone of the IAM. It weathered the airline bankruptcies of the 2000s resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. IAM Air Transport fought for its members and preserved contracts, pensions and a quality way of life for thousands of working-class families across the United States.

    But about a decade ago, labor in general was stagnant, with mini­ mal growth and an uncertain future.

    “There was a time when people thought unions would go extinct, but J think we are changing that,” said Richie Johnsen, who has ser­ ved as IAM Air Transport Terri­ tory General Vice President for the past three years.

    IAM Air Transport Territory and District leadership gather at a conference in March. From left: 1AM Air Transport Territory Airline Coordinator Tom Regan, District
    141 President and Directing General Chair Mike Klemm, Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen, Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser, District
    142 President and Directing General Chair John Coveny Jr., and Air Transport Territory Coordinator James Carlson.

    Under Johnsen’s leadership, IAM Air Trans­ port has experienced a resurgence. The territory has become the largest airline labor conglomerate in the AFL-CIO, representing more than 65,000 active members and 40,000 retirees at airlines across the country, including Puerto Rico and Guam. The territory, which represents mechanics, customer service agents, ramp workers and more, is divided into two large groups-District 141 with 42,000 members, from United, American, Spirit and other carriers and District 142, with 25,000 members, who pri­marily work for Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian and American.

    “My exposure to the union came as far back as I can remem­ber. My father was a Machinist member. He was a shop steward. His father was an officer with the Longshoremen,” said Johnsen, who joined the IAM in I988 as an airline mechanic with United Air­ lines in San Francisco. “When J talk to my father, and he sees how the union has evolved, I think he’s fired up by seeing how we continue to grow.”

    Johnsen credits his territory’s ascension with an influx of new leadership from top to bottom, nego­tiating industry leading contracts, a fresh approach to labor activism, and a renewed hunger for organizing workers.

    “It’s very personal to me. What they’ve done is incredible. It has set the standard for what I believe union representation should look like,” said Johnsen. “In recent years, their wages have increased almost $8 an hour. For someone that was making $32 an hour, they’re making $40 now. Those are massive increases that we haven’t seen in decades.”

    Assisting General Vice Pre­sident Johnsen is Air Transport Chief of Staff Edison Fraser, a member since 2002, who originally hired on at Southwest Airli­nes in Baltimore. Fraser says he’s excited about the direction of the territory.

    “As a leader in the Air Transport Territory I am extremely proud of the work that Districts 141 and 142 have done,” said Fraser. ‘The leaders of those districts have embraced the growth of the districts and put the members first. With our help, from Headquarters, we’ve been able to support them 100%.”

    Qantas Airways aircraft maintenance engineers organized by the 1AM in 2024.

    Recent union victories include organizing wins at Qantas Airlines, PSA Airlines, multiple Swissport locations, Atlantic Aviation and Unifi Aviation, wins that have uplifted the lives of hundreds of workers. A large-scale victory of note took place in 2020 when the IAM negotiated a new contract for I0,000 union members at American Airlines, including Kenny Geis, a member and grievance committee chair at Local 1903M at Charlotte International Airport in North Carolina. Geis, who helped negotiate the contract, has been in the airline industry for 40 years, raised a family with three kids and says !AM Air Transport is enhancing lives across the country.

    “It was an industry-leading contract in pay, but more importantly in benefits. By far, the IAM gave us the best contract for work rules and scope of lan­ guage. Just recently, the company did a percentage rate increase to bring us back to the top of the industry as far as pay, and we keep all of our bene­ fits. That was huge,” said Geis, who works at American as a line aircraft inspector, testing for cra­ cks and corrosion in planes. “Not only are we the highest paid in the industry, we have the best benefits. That helps me and my family on a daily basis. As far as our medical, dental and eye coverage, I believe it’s the best in the industry and it’s all because of the IAM and the negotiating it did.”

    DISTRICT 141: A POWERHOUSE FOR AIRLINE WORKERS

    A decade ago, IAM District 141 had 23,000 members. Now, under the guidance of President and Directing Chairman Mike Klemm, it has increased in size to 41,000 members, 14 con­ tracts, and a budget that has tripled over IO years. Klemm, who became an IAM member in 1992, while working on the ramp for United Airlines at JFK Airport in New York, credits the district’s success to organizing, building relationships with members, rolling out an award-winning website, increasing safety standards on the shop floor, and updated training for members and shop stewards.

    “I feel very lucky. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the incredible members, especially at JFK Airport where 1 got my start, and the Executive Board,” said Klemm, who says his IAM membership has helped him provide a good life for his wife and two daughters. “If I didn’t have a strong team, I wouldn’t be able to be here. I never forget that, and I always make sure I keep in touch with my membership. I always work on improving their lives through the collective bar­ gaining agreements that I negotiate.”

    Growth at District 141 is also contributing to the communities it serves by supporting non-profit organizations at the local and national level.

    “We raised and donated at least $250,000 to the IAM Disaster Relief Fund. We felt like we were in a good monetary situation where we could contribute to the IAM and its members in need. We are certainly proud of that,” said Klemm. “We also give to Guide Dogs of America I Tender Loving Canines and even schools with kids that are less fortunate who have trouble finding school supplies. We also do Santa Clause gift runs during Christmas.”

    Members on a local level have high praises for the leadership and direction within IAM District 141. Marcello Serrao, IAM Local 1322 Commit­ tee Chair, who’s worked as a ramp serviceman at busy New York area airports for decades, says it’s refreshing to see top district representatives rou­tinely communicate with members and listen to their concerns.

    “It ‘s a great experience. It ‘s so necessary to have that relationship with the members,” said Serrao, a resident of Long Island. “There’s been such a change, more transparency, and what an improvement. It’s really good to see. In the past, you felt like you didn’t get a lot of information. It was very stagnant. But now there ‘s more updates on the website, more emails and people can keep track of what’s going on.”

    DISTRICT 142: RISING RAPIDLY TO SERVE IAM MEMBERS

    IAM District 142 has also experienced a rapid rise, increasing its membership in recent years from 16,000 to 20,000, with 36 contracts at 20 companies. District President and Directing Chairman John Coveny took over in 2022, after rising through the union ranks for years, with stops in Upstate New York, Pittsburgh and now Arizona.

    “The union is where I truly belong. Once I got involved with the union, that became my passion, and my desire,” said Coveny. “It’s a 24/7, 365 job. I love what I do. I live, eat and sleep this union because I believe in it that much.”

    After his installation, Coveny immediately moved district headquarters from Kansas City to Phoenix, where more IAM members resided. He and his staff also utilized social media with Facebook, X (For­mally known as Twitter), lnstagram and TikTok. Coveny and his staff reenergized organizing cam­paigns, streamlined technology and promoted diver­sity within the ranks.

    “We’ve established an organizing committee, a women’s committee, a young workers committee,” said Coveny. “We also put in place new dues processing software.”

    Coveny, who joined the union in 1988 as a mechanic at US Airways in Buffalo, N.Y., is passio­nate about the TAM because it has given him and his family a better quality of life. Strong union contracts and salaries over the years gave Coveny the ability to pay college tuition for his three children, and also hike, bike and enjoy time off with his wife of 37 years.

    “The purpose of the union is to provide a reaso­nable living for the members. I truly stand by every contract that we’ve negotiated,” said Coveny. “We lead the industry in almost every contract we’ve negotiated.”

    Coveny is also committed to mentoring a new generation of IAM leaders at the district. Nearing retirement, Coveny says he’s excited about a new generation of District 142 representatives who can build on the foundation, he and his staff, have laid.

    “It’s very important to me, that people who are younger and help push them forward, so when folks who are in office today leave, somebody is ready to fill that role,” said Coveny.

    Steve Oheme is a member of IAM Local 1976 in Pittsburgh who joined the union in 1986 as a mechanic at United Airlines. He says new district leadership has boosted communication with mem­bership, fought for lucrative collective bargaining agreements and pressured airlines to protect IAM mechanics by maintaining stricter safety standards in aircraft hangers.

    ‘They’re doing a fantastic job. They keep us up to date. We are better than we were. It’s amazing. And it’s a great deal,” said Oheme, who works as a crew chief and supervisor of 16 mechanics. ‘There is a big push for safety that wasn’t there before. They make sure we get all the tools, supplies and anything we need, like eyewear and hearing protection. The district pushes the company to supply that stuff. It’s good knowing that they fought for us. I feel secure. It’s awesome.”

    Industry-leading IAM contracts, negotiated by District 142, have helped members like Oheme to thrive. As his four-decade career winds down, he’s proud of raising two children with his wife of 40 years, and enjoys hobbies like pickleball, skiing, mountain biking and golfing, a way of life that embo­dies the success and mission of the district, and the IAM Air Transport Territory as a whole.

    “I want us to continue to grow and I want these Districts to be larger and stronger,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser.

    IAM Air Transport has set ambitious goals for 2025 and beyond. The union is gaining ground in two large organizing campaigns, 20,000 ramp and cargo workers at Delta Air Lines, and 3,000 ramp workers at JetBlue Airways, and is aggressively organizing the ground handling sector across the United Sta­tes. Leadership believes it will win those campaigns, grow the territory and continue to boost the quality of life for aviation workers, and their families, across the country.

    “I feel like we set the standard. No one does what we do. I feel like we lead the way and it’s our job to lead the way. Were big, we’re progressive and we’re diverse,” said General Vice President Johnsen. “We move people and cargo. Without air transportation, the economy stops. It shuts down. There is no eco­nomy without us taking care of the passengers and the cargo This 1s an exciting time “

    The post IAM Journal Feature: Flying High appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PDAAG Roger P. Alford Delivers Remarks to the International Association of Privacy Professionals

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Good afternoon. I am pleased to be here today. It is an honor to represent the United States and work with the Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater and the amazing attorneys, economists, and staff and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. I also want to thank the IAPP for inviting me to participate in this 2025 Digital Policy Leadership Retreat and Jonathan Zittrain and David Sanger for joining this discussion on such an important and timely topic.

    The world today has indeed become a digital world. Almost every company has some digital presence and almost every product sector is touched by digital platforms. Every day, platforms are connecting users and consumers in new and exciting ways. They are introducing novel commercial relationships with ever sophisticated algorithms. While we welcome these changes, we also recognize that these innovations introduce a range of competition issues. At the Department of Justice, we are watching these developments closely, scrutinizing the competitive implications of digital conduct.

    The topic for my speech today is where we go from here in applying antitrust law and policy in the digital world. I won’t bury the lede. We are heading towards a better future for the American people that maximizes their consumer welfare in digital markets through the vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws. In fact, thanks to recent enforcement efforts, we are already beginning to see that world unfold.

    Many doubted that would ever be possible. When digital markets first emerged, enforcers had for decades been accustomed mostly to smokestack industries. Products rolled off assembly lines with similar features and prices year after year. These things could be measured and scrutinized quantitatively. We came to think that’s all antitrust enforcers should do.

    In contrast, digital markets offered zero price goods, with consumers trading their time and data for services. They were often defined by innovation and dynamism. Those looked like square pegs that didn’t fit the round holes of traditional antitrust analysis.

    We had become so used to smokestack industries that many assumed consumer welfare should always be measured in the prices and outputs of the goods that rolled off the assembly line. Privacy, attention, choice, and innovation were afterthoughts. And so some suggested that there could be no antitrust enforcement in many digital markets because traditional measures of consumer welfare were difficult to apply.

    Others accepted that premise, but pushed for a divorce between antitrust enforcement and the consumer welfare standard. They thought that to adequately protect competition in digital markets, antitrust needed to abandon its core focus on consumer welfare and have an essentially unlimited lens on its mission to include citizen welfare or a nebulous public interest standard.

    We now know that there is a third way. Consumers’ welfare is not merely about the price they pay. Consumers benefit when their privacy is better protected. They pay for digital services in time, attention, and data. Consumer welfare rises when companies innovate, and new technologies disrupt incumbent technologies.

    The answer was not to abandon antitrust in digital markets, or to abandon consumer welfare. The answer was to recognize the many dimensions of the competitive process that maximizes consumer welfare online.

    I’d like to spend my time today talking about how that principle has played out in recent cases and will continue to inform our work in digital markets in the years to come.

    First, our recent successes in protecting consumers from monopoly abuse in digital markets unequivocally demonstrate the continued vitality of the consumer welfare frame in protecting the American people online.

    As many of you are aware, the Department of Justice has been vigorously enforcing the antitrust laws against the exclusionary and unlawful conduct of Big Tech for some time now, going back to the first Trump Administration. The DOJ currently has two large, ongoing litigations against Google in particular.

    These are historic monopolization cases in which the DOJ earned landmark wins in federal district courts in Washington D.C. and Virginia, finding that Google is a serial monopolist — in general search, in search text advertising, and in multiple segments of the ad-tech stack. These rulings recognize that Google has abused its monopoly status by controlling how digital advertisements are placed on the free and open internet.

    The DOJ has proven that Google repeatedly broke the law against monopolization. In response, we have proposed remedies tailored to restore competition and address the competitive harms of Google’s monopoly abuses.[1] In the Google Search case, a decision is expected by the end of the summer, following a three-week remedy hearing this spring. In Google Ad Tech, a remedies hearing is scheduled for early fall. We are hopeful that the federal courts in both cases will issue strong rulings that adopt structural and behavioral remedies to restore competition. Historic monopolization cases call for historic remedies, and our digital freedoms deserve nothing less.

    The Google cases represent a bipartisan consensus in favor of vigorous antitrust enforcement. Beginning in the first Trump Administration, these cases reflect an historic commitment by both Republican and Democratic Administrations and almost every State Attorney General to protect consumers from monopoly abuse.

    Both of these cases were won with evidence presented within a consumer welfare frame, expanded to account for the unique properties of digital markets. We defined consumer welfare broadly to include not only price, but also quality, output, innovation and anything else that impacts consumers. And we recognized that consumer welfare impacts do not always need to involve the kind of quantitative evidence available in a price-focused case, but that qualitative non-price evidence can be equally valuable.

    Judge Mehta’s opinion in Google Search is a great example of the modern approach to addressing all of the determinants of consumer welfare. It mentions privacy 55 times. For example, when assessing the relevant market, it notes how Google compares its privacy to Duck Duck Go.[2] And its overall market definition approach appropriately takes account for the full range of qualitative evidence that bears on defining competition in search. Meanwhile, the Google Ad Tech opinion reminds its readers that the antitrust laws are a “consumer welfare prescription,” and then goes on to examine the many unique attributes of consumer welfare, beyond price and output, in the ad tech markets Google monopolized there.[3]

    While we assess the full range of determinants of consumer welfare, that does not mean our analysis is unlimited. The ultimate question for antitrust law remains economic competition in a relevant market. The law does not permit an untethered overall public interest analysis that asks courts to weigh effects across markets or to include non-competition values.

    For that reason, we consistently reject arguments that we should excuse harm to competition in order to protect a national champion firm on the theory that this will somehow benefit national security. We don’t accept the premise that shielding our businesses from competition somehow makes us stronger. That’s the Chinese and Russian way. The American way of winning the global economic competition is with strong competition in our domestic firms that makes our companies stronger to compete abroad. That premise has served us well for centuries, and we do not intend to abandon it now.

    Let me offer a word of thanks to those who prosecuted these cases. The incredible attorneys, economists, and staff at the Antitrust Division that prosecuted the Google Search case deserve particular mention. Following a ten-week liability trial in 2023 and then a three-week remedies trial in 2025, they outlawyered the other side by presenting strong legal theories in support of critical remedies designed to ensure that our digital spaces will be free and open. No matter what the federal court orders in the remedies phase, the leadership at the Division is incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of the public servants who have litigated that case.

    As Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater has said, “The Google Search case matters because nothing less than the future of the internet is at stake here. Are we going to give Americans choices and allow innovation and competition to thrive online? Or will we maintain the status quo that favors Big Tech monopolies? If Google’s conduct is not remedied, it will control much of the internet for the next decade and not just in internet search, but in new technologies like artificial intelligence.”[4]

    As for the Google Ad Tech case, the extraordinary attorneys have won a landmark liability ruling and we anticipate that they will present a strong case for robust remedies in the digital ad tech space. As Attorney General Pam Bondi has said, the ruling in the Antitrust Division’s favor in April in that case was “a landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square.”  I could not agree more. We are fortunate to have such quality attorneys working to protect the American public.

    Let me now turn to some of our thinking about how we will protect consumer welfare in digital markets in the future. Digital technologies have significant implications for virtually all the monopoly conduct and cartels that the DOJ analyzes today. The DOJ has an obligation to husband our resources to enforce the laws where it matters most, to protect markets that most directly impact the average American, markets such as healthcare, housing, agriculture, education, and insurance. Let me focus on just a few of those digital markets.

    In healthcare, in particular, we have a mandate to use our resources to ensure American markets in health sectors are more competitive, innovative, affordable, and provide higher quality to patients and consumers. For years, we have witnessed consolidation across healthcare leading to higher prices and lower wages for healthcare workers. We see pharmacy benefit managers and brand name monopolies driving up prescription drug prices. Consolidation and roll-ups of physician practices and hospitals often increase health care costs, raising prices for services, and deteriorating patient outcomes. And algorithms and data increase complexity by playing an ever-larger role in health care markets and practices. We are even seeing algorithmic management technologies gaining a foothold in the health care labor sector, one of the largest labor sectors in the country.[5]

    Our recent Las Vegas nursing case is an example of the Department of Justice protecting Americans’ pocketbooks in the health sector. In that case, the Division successfully prosecuted a three-year conspiracy to fix the wages of nurses — capping their wages. As AAG Slater has stated: “Wage-fixing agreements are nakedly unlawful attempts at unjustly profiting off American workers…. The nurses here deserved better, and under President Trump’s leadership, they will be protected.”[6]

    The DOJ is committed to combatting monopoly abuse and collusion in the health care sector. This includes collusion that is accomplished by digital algorithms. Our recent statement of interest in the In re Multiplan Health Insurance Provider Litigation is an example.[7] In that case, competitors used a common pricing algorithm to share confidential information to set prices. Such algorithmic sharing of confidential information on digital platforms should be challenged as a violation of the antitrust laws.

    The DOJ is focused on algorithmic collusion in housing markets as well. The Division is litigating an ongoing case against RealPage and large landlords for algorithmic collusion affecting the rental prices for millions of Americans.[8] In this case, RealPage has introduced a digital platform that made it easier for landlords to coordinate to dramatically increase rental prices for the average American. RealPage and large landlords actively participated in the illegal pricing scheme, setting their rents by using each other’s competitively sensitive information via common pricing algorithms.[9]

    These cases are examples of a growing trend. If we do not take a strong stand now against algorithmic collusion, we will see this new form of price fixing destroying effective competition across a whole range of digital markets.

    And still there is more. Algorithmic collusion is only a subset of the issues that algorithms raise for antitrust enforcement. We can see on the horizon new concerns that will be extremely difficult for enforcers to address using traditional antitrust law. Academic work is already exploring how artificial intelligence can be instructed to profit maximize and learn to set prices in a manner consistent with collusion. We are on the verge of autonomous algorithmic collusion.

    Regardless of the digital sector, we at the DOJ will follow the facts and apply the law in connection with algorithmic pricing and potential collusion. These issues provide an opportunity for our enforcers to engage critically with the practical realities of how complex technologies are affecting Americans’ lives today and in the future. Artificial intelligence holds so much promise, but it also presents unique challenges. Will these technologies empower anticompetitive behavior targeted at unsuspecting digital citizens?  The DOJ must meet this moment and fulfill its mandate to protect competition for the American people.

    Let me conclude with a few thoughts about the Antitrust Division’s agenda with respect to mergers in the digital space.

    When President Trump announced that Gail Slater would lead the Antitrust Division, he reiterated that Big Tech has stifled Little Tech innovation and competition. We are pro Little Tech and welcome Little Tech innovation. We will bring the antitrust laws to bear on Big Tech to answer for their abuses, but we are open and receptive to procompetitive mergers, especially in Little Tech. We want innovative start-ups to see exit opportunities other than acquisitions by the largest, most dominant players, whose acquisition strategies are often driven as much by their desire to entrench their existing power as they are to drive innovation. The enforcers at the DOJ work tirelessly to promote a competitive landscape to ensure that new ideas get funding, so that startups can compete on the merits and disrupt incumbents.

    An embrace of Little Tech recognizes the benefits of venture capital and digital mergers. We want to see venture capital funds flowing to support innovative companies. In healthy, competitive markets, venture capital funds should flow freely.

    During AAG Slater’s tenure at the Division, we will challenge anticompetitive mergers. That is already evident in these early months. But the vast majority of mergers do not raise competition concerns, and those that do often can be resolved through negotiation, settlements, and consent decrees. We are committed to providing clear guidance to merging parties on their proposed transactions, welcoming most mergers and only challenging the problematic ones.

    In conclusion, let me state what an honor it is for me to return to the Antitrust Division and serve as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General to AAG Slater. As part of the Republican realignment, President Trump and Assistant Attorney General Slater have a clear vision for robust antitrust enforcement over the next four years. Our paramount focus will be to put consumer welfare first, accounting for the wide range of harms and benefits to consumers and workers that can arise in modern markets.

    Yes, competition brings lower prices. But it also brings better quality, improved privacy options, lower advertising loads, greater data portability, more choice, and increased innovations. Competition maximizes consumer welfare by driving businesses to deliver everything consumers want. That makes it the critical tool to protect consumers in our free market system, even in a changing world.

    Thank you. 

    [2] See United States v. Google LLC, 747 F. Supp. 3d 1, 54-55 (D.D.C. 2024).

    [3] See United States v. Google LLC, 23-cv-108, 2025 WL 1132012 (E.D. Va. Apr. 17, 2025) (“Google AdTech”).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Labour is divided over disability cuts – here’s what the public thinks

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Curtice, Professor of Politics, University of Strathclyde and Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Social Research

    Keir Starmer’s MPs are rebelling en masse against cuts to the benefits system. Flickr/UK Parliament, CC BY-NC-ND

    Keir Starmer has been dealing with his most serious parliamentary challenge since he became prime minister. More than a hundred Labour MPs backed a motion to stop in its tracks the government’s attempt to reduce the welfare bill, including by raising the threshold at which someone can claim disability benefit.

    This issue has divided the parliamentary Labour party. But what does the public think?

    Although there are signs people recognise that spending on disability benefits is now relatively high, the latest annual British Social Attitudes (BSA) report reveals that it is far from clear that they are supportive of cutbacks. And, unfortunately for the government this is especially true of those who voted Labour last year.

    Ever since the late 1990s, BSA has regularly asked its respondents whether they would like “to see more or less government spending than now on benefits for disabled people who cannot work”. In 1998, 78% indicated they would like to see more spending. By 2011, that figure had fallen to 53%, and it was still no more than 56% in 2021.

    Attitudes to spending on disability benefits, 1998-2024.
    British Social Attitudes, CC BY-ND

    Now, though, only 45% would like to see more money spent on disability benefits. For the first time, less than half the country backs giving those with a disability more help.

    However, that does not mean most voters would like to see actual cutbacks. Only 11% say the government should spend less on disability benefits. The rest are content with the status quo.

    Meanwhile, just 5% of those who voted Labour last year back less spending. Over half (53%) are in favour of an increase.

    The government’s central argument is that it has become too easy to claim disability benefits and that this is discouraging people from getting back into employment.

    Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall first announced the cuts in March 2025.
    Flickr/UK Parliament, CC BY-NC-ND

    There is some support for this view. Among the public in general, 29% say it is “too easy” to claim disability benefit. The trouble is, just as many, 29%, take the opposite view and say it is “too difficult”. The most popular response, given by 35%, is that it is “neither too easy nor too difficult”.

    Meanwhile, among Labour voters, the balance of opinion is clearly tilted towards the view that claiming disability benefit is “too difficult”. As many as 39% say so, while only 20% feel it is “too easy”.

    Similarly, most voters (62%) feel the requirement for people on disability benefits to take “active measures to find appropriate work” is “about right”. Just 11% feel it is “too weak”, while more than twice as many (23%) believe it is “too tough”. Only 6% of Labour voters believe it is “too weak”.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    These figures help explain why the government has seemingly been struggling to head off the rebellion. Already burned by voters’ reaction to last year’s cutback to the winter fuel allowance, and with their party trailing Reform in the polls, Labour MPs now find themselves presented with another cut that threatens to be unpopular with many of those who put them into Westminster. Little wonder there are now signs the government is having to bend to their view.

    .

    John Curtice is currently in receipt of funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. Labour is divided over disability cuts – here’s what the public thinks – https://theconversation.com/labour-is-divided-over-disability-cuts-heres-what-the-public-thinks-259840

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two I-5 fish passage projects in Snohomish and Whatcom counties switch traffic to bypass lanes beginning in late June

    Source: Washington State News 2

    STANWOOD – Is this the Fellowship of the Two Streams? Either way, people traveling through northern Snohomish and southern Whatcom counties, “You shall bypass!” for two Interstate 5 fish barrier removal projects. Just remember, “Not all of those who wander are lost.”

    Beginning early Friday, June 27, people traveling on northbound I-5 near Stanwood will need to follow bypass lanes to allow work to continue into the next phase of the I-5 Secret Creek Fish Passage project. Southbound I-5 traffic in the area shifted to a bypass earlier this year. 

    A similar journey will begin just south of Bellingham for travelers along southbound I-5 starting late Sunday, June 29, for another I-5 fish barrier removal project at Lake Creek.

    I-5 Secret Creek bypass

    Starting at 5 a.m. Friday, June 27, people traveling on northbound I-5 (between milepost 211 and 212) will shift onto a temporary two-lane bypass. This bypass was built in the median between northbound and southbound I-5.

    • Traffic switch: To support the move to the bypass lanes, lane closures and rolling slowdowns will occur from 6 p.m. Thursday, June 26, until 5 a.m. Friday, June 27.
    • Reduced speed limit in I-5 work zone: While traffic uses the bypass lanes, the speed limit temporarily will be reduced to 60 mph within the work zone. Washington State Patrol will enforce the new temporary speed limit. Fines for traffic violations will double in the work zone.
    • Community engagement opportunity: WSDOT staff and contractor crewswill be at the Stanwood Farmers Market from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 27, to provide an opportunity for people to meet the team, ask questions and receive updates on construction. 

    Northbound and southbound I-5 traffic will use the bypass lanes through early 2026. The project will dig more than 60 feet beneath northbound I-5 to remove an outdated culvert that currently blocks fish passage and install a 35-foot-tall, steel-arch structure that improves wildlife habitat connectivity. Crews are already building a similar fish passable structure on southbound I-5.

    I-5 Lake Creek bypass

    Beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, June 30, near the North Lake Samish exit, southbound I-5 traffic will shift to a temporary two-lane bypass in the median.

    • Traffic switch: Starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 29, travelers can expect southbound I-5 lane and ramp closures and rolling slowdowns until 5 a.m. Monday, June 30, to allow for the shift to the bypass.
    • Reduced speed limit: The advisory speed limit will temporarily be reduced to 50 mph on the median bypass. 

    The bypass lanes will allow contractor crews to begin excavating and removing the old culvert, which is a barrier to fish. Once the removal is complete, crews will install a larger, fish-passable culvert. Upon installation of the new culvert in July, southbound I-5 traffic will return to its original alignment.

    This work is part of a three-year project to remove 17 barriers to fish passage along a 6-mile stretch of I-5 in Skagit and Whatcom counties.

    What to expect

    People should be prepared for delays, follow signs and watch for crews in the work zone. 

    The shifts to the temporary bypasses will allow contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to update aging infrastructure, remove culverts that block fish movement, replace them with new, larger fish-passable structures beneath I-5 and restore habitat for marine life.

    People can find real-time updates by visiting the WSDOT Travel Map.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On President Trump’s Decision To Bomb Iranian Nuclear Sites Without Congressional Authority

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 26, 2025

    Durbin also highlighted his support for Senator Kaine’s war powers resolution

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor regarding President Trump’s decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran without Congressional authority. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers Act in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon.

    “We are here today to ensure the Senate fulfills its constitutional duties regarding the sole power to involve our nation in war,” said Durbin. “Under the [War Powers Act], the President has the authority to approve military attacks as a response to an imminent threat or with the expressed authorization of Congress. Neither of these was the case with President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran over the weekend.”

    “The Iranian regime sponsors terrorism, wants to destroy Israel and undermine U.S. interests, and represses its own people. And it is interested in building a nuclear weapon. But those are not justifications to ignore the Constitution. If the U.S. is to start a war with Iran over these or any other issues—the Constitution itself requires it must be with the consent of Congress,” said Durbin.

    During his first term, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal which required mandatory inspections that were working at the time. The rash decision ultimately contributed to the dangerous situation with Iran today in which its leadership was moving closer to nuclear weapon capability. 

    During his speech, Durbin expressed his support for Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) war powers resolution, which would require a prompt debate and vote prior to using additional U.S. military force against Iran.

    “When I reflect on the time that I’ve served in the Senate, one of the most memorable votes was on the question of the invasion of Iraq… There were 23 who voted against the war in Iraq. I believe it was the best vote I ever cast as a Senator. There were no weapons of mass destruction. We were invading a country under a false premise, we were going to wage a war there and unfortunately did at the expense of American lives for a long period of time,” said Durbin.

    “The Senate should not be led into another war in the Middle East without the consent of the American people through Congress. Our founders knew this point. One should never send our sons and daughters into war without the consent of the American people—an argument I’ve made regardless of who the president is of either party… We’ve already ceded too much [congressional] power on appropriations and other key items—let’s not do that when it comes to war.” 

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Frontex hosts the Annual European Coast Guard Event 2025 in Gdańsk

    Source: Frontex

    Gdańsk, 24–26 June 2025 – Over 100 coast guard experts and decision-makers from across Europe gathered in Gdańsk for the 8th Annual European Coast Guard Event, hosted by Frontex in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Held under the Tripartite Working Arrangement, the event provided a space for open dialogue, fresh ideas, and closer cooperation between EU agencies and national maritime authorities.

    This year’s edition focused on strengthening interagency services and building more effective partnerships to respond to shared challenges at sea.

    Deep dive into Multipurpose Maritime Operations

    AECGE 2025 was fully dedicated to Multipurpose Maritime Operations (MMOs) – the flagship operational model for joint EU agencies–Member States coast guard cooperation. Since 2019, a total of 16 such operations have taken place in key European maritime basins. Just days before the event, MMO Baltic Sea 2025 operation was launched, bringing together seven Member States and showing how far tripartite cooperation has come, in both scale and ambition.

    MMOs are increasingly recognised by the Member States as valuable operational instruments, particularly in the current dynamic geopolitical landscape and in light of emerging maritime risks. They support joint situational awareness, cross-sector response capabilities, and operational solidarity across borders. The European Union Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) identifies the MMO model as a reliable tool for fostering interoperability – especially relevant in addressing complex, evolving threats.

    Participants took part in hands-on breakout sessions aimed at shaping the future of multipurpose operations. Together, they explored how to: 

    •  Bring more countries and authorities into the fold

    •  Improve planning and coordination between agencies

    •  Boost participation in joint trainings and exercises

    •  Tailor the length and scope of future operations to real-world needs

    MME BRACE 2025: Joint exercise in the Bay of Gdańsk

    On the second day of the event, theory met practice with the execution of MME BRACE 2025, a Multipurpose Maritime Exercise held in the Bay of Gdańsk. The exercise was developed and coordinated by Frontex and the Kashubian Border Guard Squadron of the Polish Maritime Border Guard, with participation from EFCA, EMSA, and other national maritime authorities.

    Under the leadership of Frontex, MME BRACE 2025 brought together Poland’s Border Guard, search and rescue, fisheries, and maritime security communities, along with operational experts from EU agencies. The drill tested real-time coordination in complex scenarios involving several coast guard functions.

    It demonstrated the MMO concept’s potential to strengthen joint response capabilities, interoperability, and cross-sectoral trust between EU and national actors.

    Celebrating cooperation, shaping the future

    AECGE 2025 also marked the 20th anniversaries of Frontex and EFCA, highlighting two decades of service in support of Europe’s coast guard authorities.

    An official handover of the TWA chairmanship from Frontex to EMSA took place at the historical Ziółkowski Pier, underscoring the agencies’ shared commitment to continuity and operational excellence.

    MMOs remain a cornerstone of EU-level support for the Member States in the maritime domain. Under the Tripartite Working Arrangement, Frontex, EFCA, and EMSA reaffirmed their joint commitment to a more safe, secure, and sustainable maritime environment.

    In a world of fast-moving changes and growing complexity, unity remains our greatest strength. In line with the event’s motto – Together we navigate tomorrow – it is the spirit of cooperation that allows us to anticipate challenges, act with confidence, and navigate safely, whatever the future may hold.   

    MIL OSI Europe News –