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  • MIL-OSI Security: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty in Connection With Murder-For-Hire Plot

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Baltimore woman killed in a case of mistaken identity.

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Matthew Hightower, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime resulting in the death Latrina Ashburne on May 27, 2016.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

    According to the plea agreement, Hightower solicited others and conspired to kill Ashburne’s neighbor — a female federal witness — in retaliation for providing information to a law enforcement officer and to prevent her from testifying against him at an official proceeding. Hightower learned that the federal witness provided law enforcement with information about his involvement in a health care fraud scheme and the murder of David Wutoh. At the time, Hightower was under federal indictment for both matters.  While incarcerated pre-trial, Hightower used jail calls and letters to communicate with others to conspire to kill the federal witness.

    Ashburne, who was the next-door neighbor of the federal witness and was similar in age and appearance, was shot and killed as she entered her car outside of her home.  Davon Carter, the shooter, and Clifton Mosley, the accomplice, were previously tried and convicted for their roles in the murder plot.

    Hightower faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  Pursuant to his plea agreement, the parties agree that if the court accepts the plea agreement, the government will recommend that the court impose a sentence of 60 years in prison to run consecutive to the sentence Hightower is currently serving for Wutoh’s murder.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG, FBI, ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting this case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Reliance Global Submits Request for Withdrawal of Form S-1 Registration Statement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAKEWOOD, N.J., June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reliance Global Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: RELI) (“we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”), today announced that it has filed a request for withdrawal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-284218), originally filed January 10, 2025 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), as the Company no longer intends to pursue a public offering under the Registration Statement at this time. The Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, and no securities have been sold in connection with the offering described in the Registration Statement.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Company’s common stock or any securities, and there shall not be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities mentioned in the press release in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of such any state or jurisdiction.

    About Reliance Global Group, Inc.

    Reliance Global Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RELI) is an InsurTech pioneer, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based technologies, to transform and improve efficiencies in the insurance agency/brokerage industry. The Company’s business-to-business InsurTech platform, RELI Exchange, provides independent insurance agencies an entire suite of business development tools, enabling them to effectively compete with large-scale national insurance agencies, whilst reducing back-office cost and burden. The Company’s business-to-consumer platform, 5minuteinsure.com, utilizes AI and data mining, to provide competitive online insurance quotes within minutes to everyday consumers seeking to purchase auto, home, and life insurance.  In addition, the Company operates its own portfolio of select retail “brick and mortar” insurance agencies which are leaders and pioneers in their respective regions throughout the United States, offering a wide variety of insurance products. Further information about the Company can be found at https://www.relianceglobalgroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding:

    • Our future financial condition and operating results;
    • Our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services;
    • Our ability to execute the planned withdrawal of the Registration Statement on Form S-1;
    • The development and growth of our RELI Exchange and 5minuteinsure.com platforms;
    • The expansion and performance of our portfolio of retail “brick-and-mortar” insurance agencies;
    • Our ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; and
    • Other statements identified by the words noted above;

    These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including the assumptions that: we will complete the withdrawal process without unexpected delay; our AI-driven underwriting and cloud-based systems will perform as anticipated; demand for our InsurTech solutions will continue to grow; we will remain in compliance with applicable insurance regulations and Nasdaq listing rules; and there will be no material adverse changes in our relationships with agency partners or service providers. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove correct. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. These include, among others: delays or failure to complete the withdrawal; inability to execute our growth plans for RELI Exchange or 5minuteinsure.com; competitive and regulatory challenges faced by our retail agency operations; fluctuations in our stock price or failure to maintain Nasdaq compliance; and the other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Registration Statement and in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully review our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as amended, and the other reports we have filed or will file with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties. Except as required by law, Reliance Global Group, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

    Contact:

    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020
    Email: RELI@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Lu, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

    Rawpixel/ Getty Images

    About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect.

    This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop proficiency in what we call standard Australian English.

    This group of students includes immigrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, children of migrant heritage where English is not spoken at home and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

    But the level and duration of support they receive varies across schools. This is an issue because these students risk underachieving or being labelled as having learning difficulties without adequate help.

    Until now, little was known about how long these students take to learn English.

    Our new research published today by the Australian Education Research Organisation, found it can take many years for students to develop the English language skills they need. This suggests students need ongoing and targeted support to learn English as an additional language.

    Our study

    We looked at more than 110,000 primary and high school students in New South Wales public schools over a nine-year period.

    The students were learning English as an additional language from 2014 to 2022. Our research used two methods.

    First, we analysed how long it took these students to achieve the same scores in their NAPLAN reading and writing tests as their English-speaking peers with the same background characteristics. That is, students were matched for characteristics such as gender, student socio-educational advantage and school location.

    Second, we analysed how long it took students learning English as an additional language to reach certain phases of language proficiency. There is a national learning progression resource for schools supporting students learning English as an additional language. It has four phases: beginning, emerging, developing and consolidating.


    Source: The EAL/D Learning Progression: Foundation to Year 10, ACARA, 2015., CC BY

    It can take many years to learn English

    Combining both methods, we found students need considerable time to learn English as an additional language.

    For students who were assessed as “beginning” when they started school, it takes an average of six years to reach the final “consolidating” phase.

    This means those students starting in kindergarten (the first year of school in NSW) are likely to need English language support throughout primary school.

    For “beginning” students who start in later years, they may need continued English language support in high school.

    Students who started school at the “emerging” and “developing” phases take, on average, four and three years, respectively to have English skills on par with their peers.

    Learning English takes longer as you go along

    We also found as students learned English, each phase in their progression took longer to achieve than the one before:

    • the average time from beginning to emerging was one year and one month

    • from emerging to developing was one year and eight months

    • from developing to consolidating was two years and seven months.

    What can impact learning?

    But learning English is complex and can be impacted by many factors.

    We found students with socio-educational disadvantage progressed 22% slower than advantaged students, students with refugee experiences progressed 14% slower than those without. Male students took 6% longer than their female peers.

    We also found students starting school in kindergarten progressed about 9% slower, compared to starting school in Australia in later primary year levels.

    But we found students who started school already at the final, “consolidating” phase of English outperformed monolingual peers in NAPLAN. This suggests these students, who are arguably bilingual, were at an educational advantage.

    Average NAPLAN reading performance of students learning English as an additional language and their matched peers.
    Source: NSW Department of Education National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2014 to 2022, CC BY

    Targeted support is needed

    Our findings have a number of implications.

    Firstly, they help us understand the nature and length of support needed for students learning English students in schools.

    Secondly, they highlight the importance of ongoing, targeted support for students.

    This also suggests we need to make effective professional support available for teachers working with students who are learning English as an additional language.

    The academic advantage of bilingual students also points to a need to encourage and support students using and developing their first and other languages, alongside English.

    Lucy Lu is the Senior Manager, Analytics and Strategic Projects in the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). AERO is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

    Jennifer Hammond has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council and the NSW Department of Education. All projects funded from these sources were completed more than six years ago.

    – ref. Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better? – https://theconversation.com/some-students-learning-english-can-take-at-least-6-years-to-catch-up-to-their-peers-how-can-we-support-them-better-258819

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Lu, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

    Rawpixel/ Getty Images

    About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect.

    This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop proficiency in what we call standard Australian English.

    This group of students includes immigrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, children of migrant heritage where English is not spoken at home and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

    But the level and duration of support they receive varies across schools. This is an issue because these students risk underachieving or being labelled as having learning difficulties without adequate help.

    Until now, little was known about how long these students take to learn English.

    Our new research published today by the Australian Education Research Organisation, found it can take many years for students to develop the English language skills they need. This suggests students need ongoing and targeted support to learn English as an additional language.

    Our study

    We looked at more than 110,000 primary and high school students in New South Wales public schools over a nine-year period.

    The students were learning English as an additional language from 2014 to 2022. Our research used two methods.

    First, we analysed how long it took these students to achieve the same scores in their NAPLAN reading and writing tests as their English-speaking peers with the same background characteristics. That is, students were matched for characteristics such as gender, student socio-educational advantage and school location.

    Second, we analysed how long it took students learning English as an additional language to reach certain phases of language proficiency. There is a national learning progression resource for schools supporting students learning English as an additional language. It has four phases: beginning, emerging, developing and consolidating.


    Source: The EAL/D Learning Progression: Foundation to Year 10, ACARA, 2015., CC BY

    It can take many years to learn English

    Combining both methods, we found students need considerable time to learn English as an additional language.

    For students who were assessed as “beginning” when they started school, it takes an average of six years to reach the final “consolidating” phase.

    This means those students starting in kindergarten (the first year of school in NSW) are likely to need English language support throughout primary school.

    For “beginning” students who start in later years, they may need continued English language support in high school.

    Students who started school at the “emerging” and “developing” phases take, on average, four and three years, respectively to have English skills on par with their peers.

    Learning English takes longer as you go along

    We also found as students learned English, each phase in their progression took longer to achieve than the one before:

    • the average time from beginning to emerging was one year and one month

    • from emerging to developing was one year and eight months

    • from developing to consolidating was two years and seven months.

    What can impact learning?

    But learning English is complex and can be impacted by many factors.

    We found students with socio-educational disadvantage progressed 22% slower than advantaged students, students with refugee experiences progressed 14% slower than those without. Male students took 6% longer than their female peers.

    We also found students starting school in kindergarten progressed about 9% slower, compared to starting school in Australia in later primary year levels.

    But we found students who started school already at the final, “consolidating” phase of English outperformed monolingual peers in NAPLAN. This suggests these students, who are arguably bilingual, were at an educational advantage.

    Average NAPLAN reading performance of students learning English as an additional language and their matched peers.
    Source: NSW Department of Education National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2014 to 2022, CC BY

    Targeted support is needed

    Our findings have a number of implications.

    Firstly, they help us understand the nature and length of support needed for students learning English students in schools.

    Secondly, they highlight the importance of ongoing, targeted support for students.

    This also suggests we need to make effective professional support available for teachers working with students who are learning English as an additional language.

    The academic advantage of bilingual students also points to a need to encourage and support students using and developing their first and other languages, alongside English.

    Lucy Lu is the Senior Manager, Analytics and Strategic Projects in the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). AERO is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.

    Jennifer Hammond has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council and the NSW Department of Education. All projects funded from these sources were completed more than six years ago.

    – ref. Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better? – https://theconversation.com/some-students-learning-english-can-take-at-least-6-years-to-catch-up-to-their-peers-how-can-we-support-them-better-258819

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ancient termite poo reveals 120 million-year-old secrets of Australia’s polar forests

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alistair Evans, Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University

    Witsawat.S/Shutterstock

    Imagine a lush forest with tree-ferns, their trunks capped by ribbon-like fronds. Conifers tower overhead, bearing triangular leaves almost sharp enough to pierce skin. Flowering plants are both small and rare.

    You’re standing in what is now Victoria, Australia, about 127 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period. Slightly to your south, a massive river – more than a kilometre wide – separates you from Tasmania. This river flows along the valley forming between Australia and Antarctica as the two continents begin to split apart.

    During the Early Cretaceous, southeastern Australia was some of the closest land to the South Pole. Here, the night lasted for three months in winter, contrasting with three months of daytime in summer. Despite this extreme day-night cycle, various kinds of dinosaurs still thrived here, as did flies, wasps and dragonflies.

    And, as our recently published research in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology reveals, termites also chewed through the decaying wood of fallen trees. This is the first record of termites living in a polar region – and their presence provides key insights into what these ancient forests were like.

    Home makers, not homewreckers

    Termites might have a public reputation as homewreckers.

    But these wood-eating bugs are a key part of many environments, freeing up nutrients contained in dead plants. They are one of the best organisms at breaking down large amounts of wood, and significantly speed up the decay of fallen wood in forests.

    Ancient polar forests roughly 120 million years ago in southeastern Australia were dominated by conifer trees.
    Bob Nicholls

    The breakdown of wood by termites makes it easier for further consumption by other animals and fungi.

    Their role in ancient Victoria’s polar forests would have been just as important, as the natural decay of wood is very slow in cold conditions.

    Although the cold winters would have slowed termites too, they may have thrived during long periods of darkness, just as modern termites are more active during the night.

    The oldest termite nest in Australia

    Our new paper, led by Monash University palaeontology research associate Jonathan Edwards, reports the discovery of an ancient termite nest near the coastal town of Inverloch in southeastern Victoria. Preserved in a 80-centimetre-long piece of fossilised log, the nest tunnels carved out by termites were first spotted by local fossil-hunter extraordinaire Melissa Lowery.

    Without its discoverers knowing what it was then, the log was brought into the lab and we began investigating the origins of its structures.

    Understanding the nest was challenging at first: the tunnels exposed on the surface were filled with what looked like tiny grains of rice, each around 2 millimetres long. We suspected they were most likely the coprolites (fossilised poo) of the nest-makers. Once we took a look under the microscope we noticed something very interesting: this poo was hexagonal.

    Termite poo has a distinct hexagonal shape, as seen in these thin sections of the fossilised log we examined.
    Jonathan Edwards & William Parker

    How did this shape point to termites as the “poopetrators”?

    Modern termites have a gut with three sets of muscle bands. Just before excretion, their waste is squeezed to save as much water as possible, giving an almost perfect hexagonal shape to the pellets.

    The size, shape, distribution and quantity of coprolites meant we had just discovered the oldest termite nest in Australia – and perhaps the largest termite wood nest from dinosaur times.

    A global distribution

    We continued to investigate the nest with more specific methods.

    For example, we scanned parts of it with the Australian Synchrotron – a research facility that uses X-rays and infrared radiation to see the structure and composition of materials. This showed us what the unweathered coprolites inside the log looked like.

    MicroCT imagery of termite coprolites within the nest.
    Jonathan Edwards

    We also made very thin slices of the nest and looked at these slices with high-powered microscopes. And we analysed the chemistry of the log, which further supported our original theory of the nest’s identity.

    The oldest fossilised termites have been found in the northern hemisphere about 150 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic Period.

    What is exciting is that our trace fossils show they had reached the southernmost landmasses by 127 million years ago. This presence means they had likely spread all over Earth by this point.

    The termites weren’t alone

    Surprisingly, these termites also had smaller wood-eating companions.

    During our investigation, we also noticed coprolites more than ten times smaller than those made by termites. These pellets likely belonged to wood-eating oribatid mites – minuscule arachnids with fossils dating back almost 400 million years. Many of their tunnels ring those left by the termites, telling us they inhabited this nest after the termites abandoned it.

    CT reconstructions of termite and mite coprolites show the huge difference in size between them.
    Jonathan Edwards

    Termite tunnels may have acted as mite highways, taking them deeper into the log. Moreover, because both groups ate the toughest parts of wood, these two invertebrates might have directly competed at the time. Modern oribatid mites only eat wood affected by fungi.

    Regardless, our study documents the first known interaction of wood-nesting termites and oribatid mites in the fossil record.

    This nest also provides important support for the idea that Australia’s polar forests weren’t dominated by ice, as modern termites can’t tolerate prolonged freezing.

    This is the first record of termites living in a polar region, and their presence suggests relatively mild polar winters — something like 6°C on average. Termites would’ve been key players in these ecosystems, kickstarting wood breakdown and nutrient cycling in an otherwise slow environment.

    So maybe next time you spot a termite nest, you’ll see a builder, not a bulldozer.

    The authors would like to acknowledge the work of Jonathan Edwards who led the research and helped prepare this article.

    Alistair Evans receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Monash University, and is an Honorary Research Affiliate with Museums Victoria.

    Anthony J. Martin 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. Ancient termite poo reveals 120 million-year-old secrets of Australia’s polar forests – https://theconversation.com/ancient-termite-poo-reveals-120-million-year-old-secrets-of-australias-polar-forests-258399

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Zeo Energy Corp. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zeo Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: ZEO) (“Zeo”, “Zeo Energy”, or the “Company”), a Florida-based provider of residential solar and energy efficiency solutions, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Recent Operational Highlights

    • Entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Heliogen, a provider of on-demand clean energy technology solutions, allowing the company to establish a division focused on long-duration energy generation and storage for commercial and industrial-scale facilities, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing data centers.
    • Recruited and retained adequate staff ahead of the peak summer sales season.

    Management Commentary
    “In the first quarter of 2025, we continued to navigate the challenging solar market and successfully generated $8.8 million of revenue,” said Zeo Energy Corp. CEO Tim Bridgewater. “As announced last month, we were able to take advantage of the softer sector conditions by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Heliogen. We believe that this proposed acquisition positions us to expand beyond traditional residential solar and into adjacent clean energy verticals with long-term upside. This move will also enhance our balance sheet and diversify our revenue base going forward.”

    “As anticipated, in Q1 we experienced a slowdown due to the seasonality of our intensive summer sales model. This slowdown was exacerbated by the current high-interest rate environment. We’ve maintained our strategic focus during this period, streamlining operations and strengthening our sales team ahead of the critical summer season that is now underway. Looking ahead, we remain confident in our full-year outlook. We expect meaningful improvement in the latter half of the year as market activity increases.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Results compare the 2025 first quarter ended March 31, 2025 to the 2024 first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

    • Total revenue was $8.8 million in Q1 2025, a 56.4% decrease from $20.1 million in the comparable 2024 period. The decrease was primarily due to higher interest rates creating a challenging environment for residential solar direct sales.
    • Gross profit decreased to $3.8 million (43.0% of total revenue) in Q1 2025 from $6.0 million (29.9% of total revenue) in the comparable 2024 period. The decrease was driven in part by the decrease in sales compared to the prior period. The improvement in gross profit as a percentage of revenue was the result of improved operational efficiencies in labor and a reduction in materials costs.
    • Net loss for Q1 2025 was $13.3 million compared to $4.1 million in the comparable 2024 period. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in overall sales for the period.
    • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measurement of operating performance reconciled below, decreased to $(6.4) million (72.3% of total revenue) in Q1 2024 from approximately $(0.5) million (2.3% of total revenue) in the comparable 2024 period. The change was primarily related to the change in net loss.

    For more information, please visit the Zeo Energy Corp. investor relations website at investors.zeoenergy.com.

    About Zeo Energy Corp.

    Zeo Energy Corp. is a Florida-based provider of residential solar, distributed energy, and energy efficiency solutions. Zeo focuses on high-growth markets with limited competitive saturation. With its differentiated sales approach and vertically integrated offerings, Zeo, through its Sunergy Solar business unit, serves customers who desire to reduce high energy bills and contribute to a more sustainable future. For more information on Zeo Energy Corp., please visit www.zeoenergy.com.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA
    Zeo Energy defines Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income (loss) before interest and other expenses, net, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation. Zeo utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as an internal performance measure in the management of the Company’s operations because the Company believes the exclusion of these non-cash and non-recurring charges allows for a more relevant comparison of Zeo’s results of operations to other companies in the industry. Adjusted EBITDA should not be viewed as a substitute for net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define Adjusted EBITDA differently.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented:

           
      Three months Ended March 31,  
        2025       2024    
    Net income (loss)   $ (13,319,363 )     $ (4,107,102 )  
    Adjustment:                
    Other income, net     (82,363 )       0    
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     (663,449 )       138,000.00    
    Interest expense     30,277         35,222    
    Income tax benefit     523,500         (114,668.00 )  
    Stock compensation     2,257,139         3,118,584.00    
    Depreciation and amortization     4,900,729         459,529    
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA     (6,353,530 )       (470,435 )  
                     
    Net income (loss) margin     (151.6 ) %     (20.4 ) %
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA margin     (72.3 ) %     (2.3 ) %
                     

    Adjusted EBITDA Margin

    Zeo Energy defines Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, expressed as a percentage, as the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to revenue, net. Adjusted EBITDA margin measures net income (loss) before interest and other expenses, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation and is expressed as a percentage of revenue. In the table above, Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure, net income (loss). Zeo utilizes Adjusted EBITDA margin as an internal performance measure in the management of the Company’s operations because the Company believes the exclusion of these non-cash and non-recurring charges allows for a more relevant comparison of the Company’s results of operations to other companies in Zeo’s industry.

    The following table sets forth Zeo’s calculations of Adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods presented:

           
      Three months Ended March 31,  
        2025       2024    
    Total Revenue   $ 8,783,695       $ 20,142,156    
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA     (6,353,530 )       (470,435 )  
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA margin     (72.3 ) %     (2.3 ) %
                     

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and similar references to future periods may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the future financial performance of the Company; the ability to effectively consolidate the assets of Lumio and produce the expected results; changes in the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, the ability to raise additional funds, and plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: (i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company or others; (ii) the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; (iii) the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on Nasdaq; (iv) limited liquidity and trading of the Company’s securities; (v) geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including tariffs or trade restrictions; (vi) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vii) operational risk; (viii) litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on the Company’s resources; (ix) the Company’s ability to effectively consolidate the assets of Lumio and produce the expected results; and (x) other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in its subsequent periodic reports and other filings with the SEC.

    In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company, its respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this news release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this news release. Subsequent events and developments may cause that view to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company as of any date subsequent to the date of this news release.

    Zeo Energy Corp. Contacts

    For Investors:
    Tom Colton and Greg Bradbury
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    For Media:
    Zach Kadletz
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    -Financial Tables to Follow-

    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)    		  
        As of March 31,   As of December 31,  
          2025       2024    
    Assets              
    Current assets              
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,894,103     $ 5,634,115    
    Accounts receivable, including $286,103 and $191,662 from related parties, net of allowance for credit losses of $4,703,905 and $1,165,336, as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     4,999,508       10,186,543    
    Inventories     847,395       872,470    
    Contract assets     577,398       64,202    
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     936,673       2,131,345    
    Total current assets     10,255,077       18,888,675    
    Other assets     113,591       314,426    
    Property, equipment and other fixed assets, net     2,629,283       2,475,963    
    Right of use operating lease assets     1,087,496       1,268,139    
    Right of use financing lease assets     412,893       447,012    
    Intangibles, net     2,938,804       7,571,156    
    Note receivable – related party     3,000,000       3,000,000    
    Goodwill     27,010,745       27,010,745    
    Total assets   $ 47,447,889     $ 60,976,116    
                   
    Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ (deficit) equity        
    Current liabilities              
    Accounts payable   $ 3,569,632     $ 2,780,885    
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including $2,320,129 and $3,359,101 with related parties at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     6,581,799       8,540,188    
    Current portion of long-term debt     301,091       291,036    
    Current portion of obligations under operating leases     555,672       583,429    
    Current portion of obligations under financing leases     133,408       130,464    
    Convertible promissory note     2,455,000       2,440,000    
    Contract liabilities, including $0 and $2,000 with related parties as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     119,417       203,607    
    Total current liabilities     13,716,019       14,969,609    
    Obligations under operating leases, non-current     662,291       799,385    
    Obligations under financing leases, non-current     314,167       348,807    
    Warrant liabilities     785,551       1,449,000    
    Long-term debt     414,268       496,623    
    Total liabilities     15,892,296       18,063,424    
                   
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)              
                   
    Redeemable noncontrolling interests              
    Convertible preferred units, 1,500,000 units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     16,536,108       16,130,871    
    Class B Units     38,097,300       115,693,900    
                   
    Stockholders’ equity              
    Class V common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 authorized shares; 26,730,000 and 35,230,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively     2,673       3,523    
    Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 300,000,000 authorized shares; 21,796,464 and 13,252,964 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2023, respectively     2,180       1,326    
    Additional paid in capital     16,486,224       14,523,963    
    Accumulated deficit     (39,568,892 )     (103,440,891 )  
    Total stockholders’ deficit     (23,077,815 )     (88,912,079 )  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ (deficit) equity   $ 47,447,889     $ 60,976,116    
                   
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
        Three months ended March 31,
        2025     2024  
    Revenue, net   $ 6,216,391     $ 11,329,387  
    Related party revenue, net     2,567,304       8,812,769  
    Total revenue     8,783,695       20,142,156  
    Operating costs and expenses:            
    Cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown below)     4,789,679       13,957,966  
    Depreciation and amortization     4,900,729       459,529  
    Sales and marketing     2,137,092       6,553,787  
    General and administrative     10,467,593       3,219,422  
    Total operating expenses     22,295,093       24,190,704  
    (Loss) income from operations     (13,511,398 )     (4,048,548 )
    Other (expenses) income, net:            
    Other income, net     82,363       –  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     663,449       (138,000 )
    Interest expense     (30,277 )     (35,222 )
    Total other expense, net     715,535       (173,222 )
    Net (loss) income before taxes     (12,795,863 )     (4,221,770 )
    Income tax (expense) benefit     (523,500 )     114,668  
    Net (loss) income     (13,319,363 )     (4,107,102 )
    Net (loss) attributable to Sunergy Renewables LLC prior to the Business Combination     –       (523,681 )
    Net (loss) income subsequent to the Business Combination     (13,319,363 )     (3,583,421 )
    Net (loss) income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests     (6,958,098 )     (2,051,930 )
    Net (loss) income attributable to Class A common stock   $ (6,361,265 )   $ (1,531,491 )
                 
    Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common unit   $ (0.48 )   $ (1.54 )
    Weighted average units outstanding, basic and diluted     13,252,964       994,345  
                 
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
      2025     2024  
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities          
    Net (loss) income $ (13,319,363 )   $ (4,107,102 )
    Adjustment to reconcile net (loss) income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities          
    Depreciation and amortization   4,900,729       459,529  
    Interest income   –       –  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   (663,449 )     138,000  
    Provision for credit losses   3,538,569       150,000  
    Noncash operating lease expense   180,643       152,717  
    Stock based compensation expense   2,257,139       3,118,584  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
    Accounts receivable   1,742,907       (2,297,517 )
    Accounts receivable due from related parties   (94,441 )     (2,692,841 )
    Inventories   25,075       (28,968 )
    Prepaid installation costs   (513,196 )     4,448,953  
    Prepaids and other current assets   1,138,288       (1,420,528 )
    Other assets   (37,656 )     (109,443 )
    Accounts payable   788,747       (400,861 )
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   (919,417 )     (691,316 )
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities due to related parties   (1,038,972 )     (2,148,960 )
    Contract liabilities   (82,190 )     (3,508,323 )
    Contract liabilities due to related parties   (2,000 )     (1,054,263 )
    Operating lease payments   (164,851 )     (159,650 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (2,263,438 )     (10,151,989 )
               
    Cash flows from Investing Activities          
    Purchases of property, equipment and other assets   (372,578 )     (226,076 )
    Net cash used in investing activities   (372,578 )     (226,076 )
               
    Cash flows from Financing Activities          
    Principal payment of finance lease liabilities   (31,696 )     (28,537 )
    Proceeds from the issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of transaction costs   –       10,277,275  
    Repayments of debt   (72,300 )     (71,855 )
    Distributions to members   –       (90,000 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (103,996 )     10,086,883  
               
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (2,740,012 )     (291,182 )
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   5,634,115       8,022,306  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 2,894,103     $ 7,731,124  
               
    Supplemental Cash Flow Information          
    Cash paid for interest $ 25,785     $ 34,060  
    Cash paid for income taxes $ –     $ –  
    Noncash finance lease expense $ 34,119     $ 34,118  
               
    Non-cash transactions          
    Deferred equity issuance costs $ –     $ 3,269,039  
    Issuance of Class A common stock to vendors $ –     $ 891,035  
    Issuance of Class A common stock to backstop investors $ –     $ 1,569,463  
    Preferred dividends $ 405,237     $ 8,224,091  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Zeo Energy Corp. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zeo Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: ZEO) (“Zeo”, “Zeo Energy”, or the “Company”), a Florida-based provider of residential solar and energy efficiency solutions, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Recent Operational Highlights

    • Entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Heliogen, a provider of on-demand clean energy technology solutions, allowing the company to establish a division focused on long-duration energy generation and storage for commercial and industrial-scale facilities, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing data centers.
    • Recruited and retained adequate staff ahead of the peak summer sales season.

    Management Commentary
    “In the first quarter of 2025, we continued to navigate the challenging solar market and successfully generated $8.8 million of revenue,” said Zeo Energy Corp. CEO Tim Bridgewater. “As announced last month, we were able to take advantage of the softer sector conditions by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Heliogen. We believe that this proposed acquisition positions us to expand beyond traditional residential solar and into adjacent clean energy verticals with long-term upside. This move will also enhance our balance sheet and diversify our revenue base going forward.”

    “As anticipated, in Q1 we experienced a slowdown due to the seasonality of our intensive summer sales model. This slowdown was exacerbated by the current high-interest rate environment. We’ve maintained our strategic focus during this period, streamlining operations and strengthening our sales team ahead of the critical summer season that is now underway. Looking ahead, we remain confident in our full-year outlook. We expect meaningful improvement in the latter half of the year as market activity increases.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Results compare the 2025 first quarter ended March 31, 2025 to the 2024 first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

    • Total revenue was $8.8 million in Q1 2025, a 56.4% decrease from $20.1 million in the comparable 2024 period. The decrease was primarily due to higher interest rates creating a challenging environment for residential solar direct sales.
    • Gross profit decreased to $3.8 million (43.0% of total revenue) in Q1 2025 from $6.0 million (29.9% of total revenue) in the comparable 2024 period. The decrease was driven in part by the decrease in sales compared to the prior period. The improvement in gross profit as a percentage of revenue was the result of improved operational efficiencies in labor and a reduction in materials costs.
    • Net loss for Q1 2025 was $13.3 million compared to $4.1 million in the comparable 2024 period. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in overall sales for the period.
    • Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measurement of operating performance reconciled below, decreased to $(6.4) million (72.3% of total revenue) in Q1 2024 from approximately $(0.5) million (2.3% of total revenue) in the comparable 2024 period. The change was primarily related to the change in net loss.

    For more information, please visit the Zeo Energy Corp. investor relations website at investors.zeoenergy.com.

    About Zeo Energy Corp.

    Zeo Energy Corp. is a Florida-based provider of residential solar, distributed energy, and energy efficiency solutions. Zeo focuses on high-growth markets with limited competitive saturation. With its differentiated sales approach and vertically integrated offerings, Zeo, through its Sunergy Solar business unit, serves customers who desire to reduce high energy bills and contribute to a more sustainable future. For more information on Zeo Energy Corp., please visit www.zeoenergy.com.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA
    Zeo Energy defines Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income (loss) before interest and other expenses, net, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation. Zeo utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as an internal performance measure in the management of the Company’s operations because the Company believes the exclusion of these non-cash and non-recurring charges allows for a more relevant comparison of Zeo’s results of operations to other companies in the industry. Adjusted EBITDA should not be viewed as a substitute for net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP, and other companies may define Adjusted EBITDA differently.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented:

           
      Three months Ended March 31,  
        2025       2024    
    Net income (loss)   $ (13,319,363 )     $ (4,107,102 )  
    Adjustment:                
    Other income, net     (82,363 )       0    
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     (663,449 )       138,000.00    
    Interest expense     30,277         35,222    
    Income tax benefit     523,500         (114,668.00 )  
    Stock compensation     2,257,139         3,118,584.00    
    Depreciation and amortization     4,900,729         459,529    
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA     (6,353,530 )       (470,435 )  
                     
    Net income (loss) margin     (151.6 ) %     (20.4 ) %
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA margin     (72.3 ) %     (2.3 ) %
                     

    Adjusted EBITDA Margin

    Zeo Energy defines Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, expressed as a percentage, as the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to revenue, net. Adjusted EBITDA margin measures net income (loss) before interest and other expenses, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation and is expressed as a percentage of revenue. In the table above, Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure, net income (loss). Zeo utilizes Adjusted EBITDA margin as an internal performance measure in the management of the Company’s operations because the Company believes the exclusion of these non-cash and non-recurring charges allows for a more relevant comparison of the Company’s results of operations to other companies in Zeo’s industry.

    The following table sets forth Zeo’s calculations of Adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods presented:

           
      Three months Ended March 31,  
        2025       2024    
    Total Revenue   $ 8,783,695       $ 20,142,156    
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA     (6,353,530 )       (470,435 )  
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA margin     (72.3 ) %     (2.3 ) %
                     

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and similar references to future periods may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the future financial performance of the Company; the ability to effectively consolidate the assets of Lumio and produce the expected results; changes in the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, the ability to raise additional funds, and plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks, and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: (i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company or others; (ii) the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees, or directors; (iii) the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on Nasdaq; (iv) limited liquidity and trading of the Company’s securities; (v) geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including tariffs or trade restrictions; (vi) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vii) operational risk; (viii) litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of management time and attention and the additional costs and demands on the Company’s resources; (ix) the Company’s ability to effectively consolidate the assets of Lumio and produce the expected results; and (x) other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in its subsequent periodic reports and other filings with the SEC.

    In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company, its respective directors, officers or employees or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this news release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this news release. Subsequent events and developments may cause that view to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company as of any date subsequent to the date of this news release.

    Zeo Energy Corp. Contacts

    For Investors:
    Tom Colton and Greg Bradbury
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    For Media:
    Zach Kadletz
    Gateway Group
    ZEO@gateway-grp.com

    -Financial Tables to Follow-

    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)    		  
        As of March 31,   As of December 31,  
          2025       2024    
    Assets              
    Current assets              
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,894,103     $ 5,634,115    
    Accounts receivable, including $286,103 and $191,662 from related parties, net of allowance for credit losses of $4,703,905 and $1,165,336, as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     4,999,508       10,186,543    
    Inventories     847,395       872,470    
    Contract assets     577,398       64,202    
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     936,673       2,131,345    
    Total current assets     10,255,077       18,888,675    
    Other assets     113,591       314,426    
    Property, equipment and other fixed assets, net     2,629,283       2,475,963    
    Right of use operating lease assets     1,087,496       1,268,139    
    Right of use financing lease assets     412,893       447,012    
    Intangibles, net     2,938,804       7,571,156    
    Note receivable – related party     3,000,000       3,000,000    
    Goodwill     27,010,745       27,010,745    
    Total assets   $ 47,447,889     $ 60,976,116    
                   
    Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ (deficit) equity        
    Current liabilities              
    Accounts payable   $ 3,569,632     $ 2,780,885    
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including $2,320,129 and $3,359,101 with related parties at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     6,581,799       8,540,188    
    Current portion of long-term debt     301,091       291,036    
    Current portion of obligations under operating leases     555,672       583,429    
    Current portion of obligations under financing leases     133,408       130,464    
    Convertible promissory note     2,455,000       2,440,000    
    Contract liabilities, including $0 and $2,000 with related parties as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     119,417       203,607    
    Total current liabilities     13,716,019       14,969,609    
    Obligations under operating leases, non-current     662,291       799,385    
    Obligations under financing leases, non-current     314,167       348,807    
    Warrant liabilities     785,551       1,449,000    
    Long-term debt     414,268       496,623    
    Total liabilities     15,892,296       18,063,424    
                   
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)              
                   
    Redeemable noncontrolling interests              
    Convertible preferred units, 1,500,000 units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     16,536,108       16,130,871    
    Class B Units     38,097,300       115,693,900    
                   
    Stockholders’ equity              
    Class V common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 authorized shares; 26,730,000 and 35,230,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively     2,673       3,523    
    Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 300,000,000 authorized shares; 21,796,464 and 13,252,964 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2023, respectively     2,180       1,326    
    Additional paid in capital     16,486,224       14,523,963    
    Accumulated deficit     (39,568,892 )     (103,440,891 )  
    Total stockholders’ deficit     (23,077,815 )     (88,912,079 )  
    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ (deficit) equity   $ 47,447,889     $ 60,976,116    
                   
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
        Three months ended March 31,
        2025     2024  
    Revenue, net   $ 6,216,391     $ 11,329,387  
    Related party revenue, net     2,567,304       8,812,769  
    Total revenue     8,783,695       20,142,156  
    Operating costs and expenses:            
    Cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown below)     4,789,679       13,957,966  
    Depreciation and amortization     4,900,729       459,529  
    Sales and marketing     2,137,092       6,553,787  
    General and administrative     10,467,593       3,219,422  
    Total operating expenses     22,295,093       24,190,704  
    (Loss) income from operations     (13,511,398 )     (4,048,548 )
    Other (expenses) income, net:            
    Other income, net     82,363       –  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     663,449       (138,000 )
    Interest expense     (30,277 )     (35,222 )
    Total other expense, net     715,535       (173,222 )
    Net (loss) income before taxes     (12,795,863 )     (4,221,770 )
    Income tax (expense) benefit     (523,500 )     114,668  
    Net (loss) income     (13,319,363 )     (4,107,102 )
    Net (loss) attributable to Sunergy Renewables LLC prior to the Business Combination     –       (523,681 )
    Net (loss) income subsequent to the Business Combination     (13,319,363 )     (3,583,421 )
    Net (loss) income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests     (6,958,098 )     (2,051,930 )
    Net (loss) income attributable to Class A common stock   $ (6,361,265 )   $ (1,531,491 )
                 
    Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common unit   $ (0.48 )   $ (1.54 )
    Weighted average units outstanding, basic and diluted     13,252,964       994,345  
                 
    ZEO ENERGY CORP.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
      2025     2024  
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities          
    Net (loss) income $ (13,319,363 )   $ (4,107,102 )
    Adjustment to reconcile net (loss) income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities          
    Depreciation and amortization   4,900,729       459,529  
    Interest income   –       –  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities   (663,449 )     138,000  
    Provision for credit losses   3,538,569       150,000  
    Noncash operating lease expense   180,643       152,717  
    Stock based compensation expense   2,257,139       3,118,584  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
    Accounts receivable   1,742,907       (2,297,517 )
    Accounts receivable due from related parties   (94,441 )     (2,692,841 )
    Inventories   25,075       (28,968 )
    Prepaid installation costs   (513,196 )     4,448,953  
    Prepaids and other current assets   1,138,288       (1,420,528 )
    Other assets   (37,656 )     (109,443 )
    Accounts payable   788,747       (400,861 )
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   (919,417 )     (691,316 )
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities due to related parties   (1,038,972 )     (2,148,960 )
    Contract liabilities   (82,190 )     (3,508,323 )
    Contract liabilities due to related parties   (2,000 )     (1,054,263 )
    Operating lease payments   (164,851 )     (159,650 )
    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (2,263,438 )     (10,151,989 )
               
    Cash flows from Investing Activities          
    Purchases of property, equipment and other assets   (372,578 )     (226,076 )
    Net cash used in investing activities   (372,578 )     (226,076 )
               
    Cash flows from Financing Activities          
    Principal payment of finance lease liabilities   (31,696 )     (28,537 )
    Proceeds from the issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of transaction costs   –       10,277,275  
    Repayments of debt   (72,300 )     (71,855 )
    Distributions to members   –       (90,000 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (103,996 )     10,086,883  
               
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (2,740,012 )     (291,182 )
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   5,634,115       8,022,306  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 2,894,103     $ 7,731,124  
               
    Supplemental Cash Flow Information          
    Cash paid for interest $ 25,785     $ 34,060  
    Cash paid for income taxes $ –     $ –  
    Noncash finance lease expense $ 34,119     $ 34,118  
               
    Non-cash transactions          
    Deferred equity issuance costs $ –     $ 3,269,039  
    Issuance of Class A common stock to vendors $ –     $ 891,035  
    Issuance of Class A common stock to backstop investors $ –     $ 1,569,463  
    Preferred dividends $ 405,237     $ 8,224,091  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capitol Hill Touts Benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    Across Capitol Hill, members of Congress have been sharing with their constituents the benefits of President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — which include the largest tax cut in history, higher wages and take-home pay, unprecedented spending cuts, border security, protecting Medicaid, modernizing air traffic control, and much more.
    Here are what some members of Congress are saying around the country:
    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on FoxNews.com: How Senate Republicans are restoring rule of law and securing border for years to come
    “While Democrat allies riot in the streets, Republicans are standing up for what’s right. Today, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I released legislative text for my committee’s section of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ The Judiciary Committee’s provisions provide historic investments to strengthen our nation’s border security and immigration system, support local law enforcement and protect American families from violence like we’ve seen in Los Angeles. The costs of the judiciary section are offset by immigration application fees, which inject accountability into the immigration system.”
    Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) in Cowboy State Daily: Trump’s Border Triumph — Making America Secure Again
    “The Senate is currently developing President Trump’s comprehensive legislative package, known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, with the goal of passage by July 4th. This legislation contains several immigration measures that I believe are essential. The bill provides funding to help finish President Trump’s border wall, and gives Border Patrol and ICE agents the resources, technology, and personnel they need to carry out the mission … The American people were clear last November when they voted and told Washington, D.C. that it is time to fully secure our border and deport illegal aliens. These provisions give President Trump and his administration the resources they need to continue delivering on this mandate.”
    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) on FoxNews.com: Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill will keep our border the most secure it’s been in history
    “Our country stands at a crossroads. Thanks to President Donald Trump’s and Homeland Security Secretary Noem’s leadership, our border is secure. We can either capitalize on this success and give law enforcement the resources it needs to keep it secure by passing the One Big, Beautiful Bill, or we can let the sacrifice of our men and women on the ground be in vain.”
    Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) in The Hill: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers for America. Now the Senate Must Deliver Too.
    “The House of Representatives has delivered on the American people’s mandate by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in our nation’s history. This transformative package includes record levels of tax cuts, spending reduction, and border and national security investment. The ball is now in the Senate’s court and their mission is simple: move the One Big Beautiful Bill to the president’s desk as soon as possible.”
    Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) in the Ritzville Adams County Journal: One ‘Big, Beautiful, Bill Act’ is good for us
    “This legislation delivers on the promises made to the American people: to secure the border, cut taxes, unleash American energy and restore fairness to our economy. It reflects what voters demanded and what I pledged to deliver.”
    Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) in the Lexington Herald-Leader: Senate must pass Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
    “Last month, I voted to pass President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill. It was an easy vote. The president’s leadership produced a transformational legislative win that will deliver an across-the-board tax cut for families, small businesses, farmers and seniors. On top of tax relief for Kentuckians still rebounding from four years of runaway inflation under Joe Biden, we surge resources to help law enforcement seal the Southern border and provide $1.6 trillion in deficit reduction, all while strengthening Medicaid for Kentuckians who need it. That’s why my message to U.S. senators, especially from Kentucky, is very simple: pass the Big, Beautiful Bill, and send it to the president’s desk. Kentuckians can’t afford to wait, literally.”
    Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) in The Detroit News: One Big Beautiful Bill corrects nation’s course
    “After the last four years of chaos in America under the Biden-Harris administration — from our overwhelmed southern border to reckless binge spending driving up our national debt — we are one bad decision, or one failure to act, away from catastrophe. That’s why I supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will deliver middle-class tax relief, secure our borders, bolster our defense, and restore the kind of fiscal responsibility that northern Michigan families have practiced for generations. This bill will turn the tide against out-of-control spending and help rescue our economy.”
    Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Floridians benefit from Trump’s tax cuts. We can’t let Democrats take them away.
    “As Floridians begin to recover from the disastrous Biden administration, the last thing they need is a massive tax hike – but that’s exactly what will happen if Congress doesn’t act. That’s why Republicans are working to extend President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and ensure all Americans get the relief they deserve.”
    Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Sens. Ossoff, Warnock should support Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
    “Georgia’s Democratic U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock should not oppose President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ Act (OBBBA) … the most consequential piece of legislation of our generation. It is a legacy defining bill that I was proud to support when it passed the House of Representatives, advancing President Trump’s full domestic agenda that more than 77 million Americans overwhelmingly voted for back in November. That’s exactly why Ossoff and Warnock are going to fight this bill at every turn.”
    Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on Indianz.com: Promises Made, Promises Kept
    “Last November, the American people gave their Representatives a mandate when they overwhelmingly voted for change. 77 million Americans made it very clear to us that they wanted a secure border, the resurgence of American energy dominance, lower taxes, a lethal military focused on warfighting instead of woke initiatives, and a more efficient federal government that roots out fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars — essentially the platform that President Trump ran on. Now, less than six months into the new Trump Administration, the United States House of Representatives has already delivered on these promises by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
    Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) on RealClearPolitics.com: A Big, Beautiful Win for America
    “The American Dream is back in reach and our nation is back on the path to prosperity, security, and sanity, thanks to the actions of the House of Representatives last week. With the House’s passage of President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ we’ve shown that it is possible to return common sense to our government, protect taxpayers, secure our borders, and chart a course for national Golden Age – all in one package.”
    Rep. Troy Downing (R-WY) in the Billings Gazette: We are staring down the barrel of a 26% tax increase
    “We are staring down the barrel of a 26% tax increase. If Congress does not take action to extend the President Donald Trump’s tax cuts by Jan. 1 of next year, the average Montana family of four will be out more than $1,400 per year … Put plainly, a vote opposing an extension of the TCJA is a vote to raise taxes — on the rich, on the poor, on you, on your neighbor, on family farms, on the coffee shop down the street. Republicans will prevent Democrats from walking America off a fiscal cliff and avoid this catastrophic tax hike that threatens the financial security of countless Montanans.”
    Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) in the Tallahassee Democrat: Floridians: Don’t let Washington raise your taxes while you’re not looking
    “Across Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, families have already been stretched thin by rising costs – at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and on their utility bills. The last thing they need is a tax hike. But unless Congress acts soon, that’s exactly what nightmare is coming … Preventing this tax hike should be a bipartisan priority. We owe it to the people we serve to protect and build on the progress our nation has made. Congress must act to make the TCJA permanent – to protect prosperity, promote growth, and preserve the American Dream for the next generation.”
    Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) in Newsweek: House Republicans Are Keeping Our Promises on Border Security
    “Americans are desperate to feel safe in our own neighborhoods, but time and time again dangerous illegal immigrants stole from, raped, assaulted, and killed innocent Americans. It is an honor to sit on the House Homeland Security Committee and help lead the charge to secure our borders and follow through on our public safety promises to our constituents. As a part of Congress’ reconciliation package, Homeland Republicans recently advanced recommendations for border security funding to protect Americans, including over $46 billion to complete the border wall system. This money will provide an additional 701 miles of primary wall, construction of 900 miles of river barriers, and even technology like sensors. A physical border is key to keeping the bad guys out.”
    Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) in the Times-Republican: Iowa families will benefit from President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’
    “The other week, my Republican colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives and I passed President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill.’ This legislation contains numerous provisions to put more money back in the pockets of Iowa families … President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ will finally give our families room to breathe again. Estimates suggest that families could see up to $13,300 more in take-home pay, with workers potentially gaining up to $11,600 in higher wages over four years. With provisions that end taxes on tips, overtime, and auto loan interest for American-made cars, working parents can be certain that the extra effort they’re putting in for their families will pay off.”
    Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) in the Park Rapids Enterprise: One Big Beautiful Bill Act helps families and small businesses
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act protects Medicaid for those who need and deserve it … It makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, which have been so beneficial for families and small businesses to grow and thrive, even during the uncertain economic times we experienced over the last several years. This bill permanently doubles the guaranteed standard deduction and expands it by $2,000 for every American family. It creates new tax relief for seniors by adding an additional $4,000 deduction for those aged 65 and over. It makes the 199A small business deduction permanent and expands it to 23% for the over 60,000 small businesses in CD7. It makes the doubled death tax exemption permanent and expands it for the nearly 30,000 farms in CD7, helping families pass down their life’s work to the next generation. It prevents the child tax credit from being cut in half and expands the credit to $2,500 to support 74,460 families in CD7. It eliminates tax on tips and overtime pay. And, it expands 529 education plans so families can make the right choices for them, including using 529s for K-12 education materials, universities or trade schools.”
    Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) in The Washington Times: One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides a flight path for a modern air traffic control system
    “This has been a difficult year for U.S. aviation, with a string of tragic crashes that have killed passengers and crew. Additionally, we have seen reports about failing technology that has caused repeated air traffic control outages and flight delays. Meanwhile, a shortage of certified air traffic controllers has put additional strain on our aviation system. President Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and House Republicans are saying ‘enough is enough,’ and we are doing something about it.”
    Rep. Mark Green (R-NC) on RealClearPolitics.com: ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Give Americans a Secure Border
    “The only way for us to make good on our promises to the American people is to codify President Trump’s agenda. Funding common-sense and effective border security measures through reconciliation is the first step.”
    Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) in The Hill: Investing in border security is a win for every American
    “Since President Trump entered office in January of 2025, our border security has increased, the flow of illegal drugs has dropped dramatically, and illegal border crossings have plummeted to levels not seen in modern history. The success of the Trump administration’s leadership at our borders cannot be underestimated. Now, Congress must do its job to enshrine into law the work of President Trump.”
    Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) on FoxNews.com: GOP fights to protect Medicaid for America’s most vulnerable while Democrats fearmonger
    “It is a top priority of House Republicans to eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse in the programs and safeguard expectant mothers, their children, low-income seniors and especially individuals living with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid coverage. Regrettably, Democrats continue to fuel the falsehood that 13 million individuals will lose healthcare coverage under OBBBA.”
    Rep. Mike Haridopolous (R-FL) in Florida Today: “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a win for Florida families, workers
    “America voted for change last November, and now we’re delivering it. Over the past four years, families have been hit with rising prices, shrinking paychecks, and a government that grew too big and too careless with your tax dollars. People are working harder than ever, but they’re falling behind. That’s not right, and that’s why my Republican colleagues and I in Congress are fighting hard to pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ This bill is about getting back to basics: Rewarding work, cutting waste, and putting American families first.”
    Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) in Newsweek: The Truth About the One Big Beautiful Bill—and What Democrats Don’t Want You to Know
    “Democrats have spent weeks fearmongering about so-called cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Let’s be clear: those talking points are false, and they know it. What this bill actually does is protect and preserve these critical safety net programs for the people they were designed to serve—pregnant women, children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. It does so by taking on the real problem: waste, fraud, and abuse that have run rampant in our federal health programs for decades.”
    Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) in the Washington Examiner: The ‘big, beautiful bill’ protects Medicaid for those who need it
    “When I came to Congress, I promised the people of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District that I would pursue practical solutions to improve the lives of working families — without the drama, the headlines, or the politics. That commitment is reflected in the House’s recently passed “big, beautiful bill,” a practical, solutions-oriented piece of legislation that restores accountability to our safety net programs. Unfortunately, misinformation has clouded the bill’s intent, particularly when it comes to Medicaid. Let me set the record straight: This legislation does not cut Medicaid for those who truly need it. Instead, it strengthens the program for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities while rooting out waste and holding bad actors accountable.”
    Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) in the Washington Examiner: The ‘one big, beautiful bill’ will restore the American dream
    “Unfortunately, if Congress does not act, many of the provisions in TCJA will expire at the end of the year. If that happens, the average family in my district of West Tennessee will face a nearly 26% tax hike. A child inheriting the family farm could pay such steep estate taxes that he is forced to sell it. And a small business owner competing with larger corporations could see her taxes nearly double. These are not just numbers on a chart in Washington. These provisions affect each and every one of us. If they expire, the American dream could be unachievable for many of our citizens.”
    Rep. Tracey Mann (R-MO) in the Kansas City Star: Kansas deserves the gift of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill
    “I recently voted in the U.S. House of Representatives to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would provide working- and middle-class Americans with the largest tax cuts in history and make long overdue investments into our nation’s border security by funding the completion of the border wall. The legislation would equip Customs and Border Patrol with modern technology to assist with intercepting drug and human smuggling while increasing detention capacity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as it works to deport violent criminals and gang members who are in the country illegally.”
    Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) in the Pawnee Republican: Building Certainty for Small Businesses
    “For workers and entrepreneurs, few places are as ripe with economic opportunity as the United States of America. Our world-leading workforce, natural resources, educational institutions, rule of law committed to protecting capital investment, and unique features such as deepwater ports providing access to export goods and services to consumers across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans provide opportunities for American families with few rivals elsewhere around the globe. Despite these economic strengths, there is much we can improve. The federal government remains inefficient, and we must address issues such as our spending-driven budget deficit. Likewise, too many work-capable Americans remain on the sidelines despite millions of good jobs available in our economy. Efforts to address the waste, fraud, and abuse in federally funded programs are vitally important for the fiscal health of our country, as are expanded efforts to help sidelined Americans connect with good jobs. For this reason, the reconciliation bill passed by the House enhances accountability for state administration of federal benefit programs and improves incentives for beneficiaries to find meaningful work.”
    Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) on FoxNews.com: It’s time for Congress to deliver President Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ to his desk
    “Republicans have a historic opportunity to deliver America First tax reforms that reward hard work, bring jobs back home, expand opportunity, and most importantly, rebuild the American economy for hardworking families across our nation. President Donald Trump has been crystal clear about what he wanted Congress to deliver – 77 million Americans raced to the ballot box in support of his vision of lower taxes for those whose sweat moves our economy forward. Now, The One, Big, Beautiful Bill passed by the Ways and Means Committee delivers for those workers. It makes permanent the expiring provisions of the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts, provides additional tax relief to American families, and rewards those who manufacture more at home and hire more American workers. The additional tax relief includes eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay, and auto loan interest, and delivering tax relief for seniors. Now, Congress must not fail the American people.”
    Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) in Leader Publications: Empowering Hardworking Americans through one big beautiful bill
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the culmination of each instructed committee’s plan to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington and make vital investments in our communities. In total, the bill would provide over $1.6 billion in savings, allowing the federal government to be better stewards of American tax dollars and put us back on the path to fiscal prosperity.  The cornerstone of the package is the permanent expansion of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which revitalized our economy, unleashing unprecedented job growth and higher wages for working families. Two years after being signed into law, real median household income increased by $5,000 and real wages rose by 4.9%, allowing families to pocket more of their hard-earned money. The reforms also incentivized businesses to invest more in the U.S., ending the decades-long trend of U.S. companies shipping operations overseas.”
    Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) in The Virginian-Pilot: Voting for spending bill kept my word to Virginians
    “Let me set the record straight: I kept my word. I fought for Virginians, and I voted to protect working families, strengthen our safety net, and invest in national security and economic opportunity. Before this bill even came to a vote, I raised my voice publicly to demand protections for the vulnerable. In April, I wrote to House leadership making clear that balancing the budget must not come at the expense of pregnant women, children, seniors or individuals with disabilities. I demanded reforms that would support patients, help new mothers and expand savings for working-class families. This bill delivers on that promise.”
    Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) in Goshen News: The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Explained
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill isn’t some bloated spending package. It doesn’t give any money to the Department of Education, HUD, or the EPA. What it does is straightforward: cut taxes, rein in federal spending, permanently secure the border, and reform welfare. When I’m meeting with Hoosier manufacturers and small business owners or chatting with friends at the grocery store, they’re clear about one thing: They’re taxed enough. And I agree. That’s why it makes the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent. That means bigger paychecks, more investment in America, and strong incentives for companies to stay in the U.S. rather than send jobs overseas.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Kicks Off Paris Air Show at SENEDIA Breakfast, Underscoring New England Businesses’ Importance to National Security and Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Paris, France) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees and the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed Granite State and other New England businesses to the Paris Air Show at the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA)’s New England Breakfast. A primary focus of Senator Shaheen’s bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Paris Air Show is to connect smaller, regional businesses with leaders in the aerospace and defense industries. Aerospace represents New Hampshire’s largest export sector, including over $30 million in exports in aerospace products to France last year. Click here to view photos of the event.

    “The Paris Air Show is the world’s largest, so it’s a great opportunity for American businesses to showcase their capabilities, connect with key players in the industry and strengthen relationships with partners,” said Senator Shaheen. “SENEDIA’s breakfast reception brought together a number of companies with business in New England to encourage additional engagement – supporting jobs back home and bolstering our national defense and security.” 

    First held in 1909, the Paris Air Show is the largest air show and aerospace-industry exhibition event in the world. Last year, Shaheen co-led the bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Farnborough Air Show with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Dingell Announce Legislation to Strengthen Home and Community-Based Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) announced the introduction of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act, legislation to provide dedicated Medicaid funds for home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults, children, and youth and adults with disabilities for two years. The HCBS Relief Act would decrease the need to move people into congregate settings and allow them to receive the services and support they need from their own homes. The bill is also designed to support service provider agencies and direct care workers who provide services in homes.

    Millions of Americans rely on HCBS for daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation, taking medication, employment support, mobility assistance, and more. Chronic underfunding of Medicaid services has led to an impending crisis, forcing millions of people with disabilities and older adults into institutions.

    “Right now, millions rely on HCBS for basic everyday needs – help getting dressed, taking medications, preparing meals, and so much more,” said Senator Luján. “To support Americans who depend on home and community-based care, I’m proud to introduce my HCBS Relief Act. My bill would address chronic underfunding that has pushed families into crisis and forced many into institutions simply because they can’t access support at home.”

    “We know that the majority of individuals who require long-term care would prefer to receive it in their own homes and communities. No one should have to wait years to get the care they deserve, and no care worker should have to live below the poverty line to give this care,” said Representative Dingell. “Medicaid is the single largest payer of long-term care in our country. At a time when Medicaid is facing unprecedented, historic cuts, it’s more important than ever that we prioritize home and community-based services. This legislation will provide much-needed investment in our care workforce, making it easier for those who need care to get it, and supporting the caregivers doing this crucial work.”

    Last week, Senator Luján joined Senate Finance Committee Democrats at a press conference to announce the HCBS Relief Act and a series of additional proposals to strengthen the Medicaid program and empower federal watchdogs to take on fraud in the federal health care system. The press conference came as congressional Republicans continue to jam their reconciliation bill that rips away affordable health care from millions of Americans through the House and Senate behind closed doors.

    In the Senate, the HCBS Relief Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Full bill text of the HCBS Relief Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whatcom County Man Sentenced to Four Plus Years in Prison for Brutal and Lengthy Assault of Intimate Partner

    Source: US FBI

    Member of Lummi Nation committed assault on tribal land; obstructed justice following tribal charges

    Seattle – A 50-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.  Jason Sieber Sr. was charged federally in February 2024, for the October 20, 2023, assault of his then intimate partner. Sieber has been detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in February 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This was a horrific attack over a long period of time – it could have ended her life.”

    According to records filed in the case, Sieber became angry with the victim over the amount of time it was taking her to cook dinner. He struck her repeatedly in the face and head and kept her from leaving the home to get help. The blows with his closed fist caused the victim to suffer facial fractures, extreme pain, and disfigurement.

    Prosecutors described the assault in their sentencing memo: “Sieber’s assault of Victim 1 on October 20, 2023, was brutal and prolonged. Over the course of multiple hours, Sieber repeatedly beat his intimate partner, breaking her nose and fracturing bones in her face. As Sieber himself admitted, his actions ‘caused her to suffer extreme physical pain, as well as protracted and obvious disfigurement.’ In addition to punching and slapping Victim 1, Sieber tied Victim 1’s feet to hooks in his bedroom ceiling, leaving her suspended and trapped for 45 minutes. He burned her using a cigarette and strangled her, while telling her how easily he could end her life.” In court today, Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein recounted those threats Sieber made to the victim. “He said ‘I could kill you right now and stuff you in a crab pot and no one would ever find you.’”

    The victim reported the assault to Lummi Nation Police ten days after the assault. Sieber was originally charged in tribal court. The case was ultimately referred to federal prosecutors.

    Even after Sieber was charged with the assault he attempted to have the victim change her account of what happened. For that conduct the judge determined that he had tried to obstruct justice.

    Sieber will be on three years of supervised release following prison.

    The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI as part of the Safe Trails Taskforce.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein and former Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Whatcom County Man Sentenced to Four Plus Years in Prison for Brutal and Lengthy Assault of Intimate Partner

    Source: US FBI

    Member of Lummi Nation committed assault on tribal land; obstructed justice following tribal charges

    Seattle – A 50-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.  Jason Sieber Sr. was charged federally in February 2024, for the October 20, 2023, assault of his then intimate partner. Sieber has been detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in February 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “This was a horrific attack over a long period of time – it could have ended her life.”

    According to records filed in the case, Sieber became angry with the victim over the amount of time it was taking her to cook dinner. He struck her repeatedly in the face and head and kept her from leaving the home to get help. The blows with his closed fist caused the victim to suffer facial fractures, extreme pain, and disfigurement.

    Prosecutors described the assault in their sentencing memo: “Sieber’s assault of Victim 1 on October 20, 2023, was brutal and prolonged. Over the course of multiple hours, Sieber repeatedly beat his intimate partner, breaking her nose and fracturing bones in her face. As Sieber himself admitted, his actions ‘caused her to suffer extreme physical pain, as well as protracted and obvious disfigurement.’ In addition to punching and slapping Victim 1, Sieber tied Victim 1’s feet to hooks in his bedroom ceiling, leaving her suspended and trapped for 45 minutes. He burned her using a cigarette and strangled her, while telling her how easily he could end her life.” In court today, Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein recounted those threats Sieber made to the victim. “He said ‘I could kill you right now and stuff you in a crab pot and no one would ever find you.’”

    The victim reported the assault to Lummi Nation Police ten days after the assault. Sieber was originally charged in tribal court. The case was ultimately referred to federal prosecutors.

    Even after Sieber was charged with the assault he attempted to have the victim change her account of what happened. For that conduct the judge determined that he had tried to obstruct justice.

    Sieber will be on three years of supervised release following prison.

    The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI as part of the Safe Trails Taskforce.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein and former Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Dedicated to the first Russian theater (06/16/2025).

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    On June 17, 2025, the Bank of Russia will issue a commemorative silver coin of 3 rubles “The First Russian Professional Theater” (catalog No. 5111-0521).

    The history of this theater began in July 1750 in the city of Yaroslavl with the first theatrical production of a young troupe headed by Fyodor Volkov, the son of a Kostroma merchant. Before that, there were many theater troupes in Russia – palace, home, school. But it was Volkov’s theater that became the first to have a separate building, a permanent repertoire, was publicly accessible, and its actors received a salary.

    The silver coin with a face value of 3 rubles (pure precious metal weight – 31.1 g, alloy fineness – 925) has the shape of a circle with a diameter of 39.0 mm.

    There is a raised edge around the circumference of both the front and back sides of the coin.

    On the obverse of the coin there is a relief image of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, the inscriptions “RUSSIAN FEDERATION”, “BANK OF RUSSIA”, the coin denomination “3 RUBLES”, the date “2025”, the designation of the metal according to the Periodic Table of Elements of D.I. Mendeleyev, the alloy fineness, the trademark of the St. Petersburg Mint and the pure mass of the precious metal.

    On the reverse side of the coin there are relief images of the building of the Russian State Academic Drama Theatre named after Fyodor Volkov and an allegorical sculptural group decorating its façade; at the top along the circumference there is a relief inscription “THE FIRST RUSSIAN PROFESSIONAL THEATRE”, at the bottom left in three lines there is an inscription “FOUNDED IN 1750 IN YAROSLAVL BY F.G. VOLKOV”, made using the laser matting technique.

    The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

    The coin is made in proof quality.

    The mintage of the coin is 3.0 thousand pieces.

    The issued coin is a legal tender in the territory of the Russian Federation and must be accepted at face value for all types of payments without restrictions.

    When using the material, a link to the Press Service of the Bank of Russia is required.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/PR/? File = 638856906491165770KOins. CHTM

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kravtsov awarded Artek employees on its 100th anniversary

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov awarded the staff of the International Children’s Center “Artek” on its 100th anniversary. The event took place in the Suuk-Su Palace in Gurzuf.

    The Deputy Prime Minister also read out a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, which, in particular, noted: “Today, Artek is a flagship in the field of children’s recreation and health improvement, its popularity is constantly growing. Every year, thousands of children from different regions of Russia and foreign countries strive to get here. A modern educational environment has been formed here, combining the best pedagogical traditions with innovative methods and technologies. Unique conditions and an atmosphere have been created where each child feels like part of a large and friendly family, can reveal their talents, master advanced knowledge, develop abilities in science, creativity and sports. Children learn to respect the history and cultural heritage of our multinational country, understand each other, find friends, sometimes for life. Following the motto – “An Artek student today is an Artek student forever.”

    Sergei Kravtsov also congratulated the employees of the International Children’s Center “Artek”.

    “Dear staff of the International Children’s Center “Artek”! I congratulate everyone on the anniversary and want to sincerely thank you for your work, professionalism and service to children. “Artek” is one of the best children’s centers of the international level. Today, there is a part of it in almost every school, in every college. Advisors to directors on education are trained in “Artek” and work using its unique technologies. “Artek” began with several canvas tents and today has been transformed into a unique international children’s center, which continues to develop,” the Minister of Education noted.

    The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister also assessed the space of the “City of Childhood” master classes. Artek teachers and thematic partners of the center presented 80 sites of various focuses in three blocks: past, present and future. The festival of creativity, sports and knowledge brought together more than 3 thousand participants of the sixth anniversary shift from all regions of Russia, as well as 29 foreign countries.

    At the “City of Childhood” site, Artek children were able to do pyrography, beadwork, scrapbooking, painting, embroidery, create a digital drawing, an Artek souvenir, play the guitar, play gorodki, write a retro letter and much more. The historical direction was widely represented: the children’s center children walked Artek routes, studied the literary map of “Artek”. A separate direction was the marine theme – for example, those who wished were able to master the technique of tying knots. The children were also interested in the sites of thematic partners of “Artek”. Representatives of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps held master classes dedicated to safety.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kravtsov left memorable notes in the book of honored guests.

    In addition, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister and Director of the International Children’s Center “Artek” Konstantin Fedorenko assessed the exhibition of the IT festival “From Dream to Progress”. The exhibition is held in the children’s camps “Lesnoy” and “Polevoy” and includes branded zones of the companies participating in the festival, where master classes on the development of mobile applications, programming, working with artificial intelligence are presented, as well as information on the latest Russian IT technologies in various industries – construction, agriculture, space industry, medicine and others.

    “Today we celebrate 100 years of Artek – an entire era of friendship, discoveries and inspiration. Here, in this amazing place, children from all over the world learn to understand each other, preserving traditions. Artek is not just a children’s center, but, as children say, a home where faith in goodness, justice and one’s own strength is born. Thank you to everyone who created and continues this history: veterans, teachers, children. Your hearts make Artek a symbol of childhood, joy and unity. Let our anniversary be the beginning of new victories, and the fire of friendship never go out. Happy holiday, Artek! Forward – to new heights! ” – Konstantin Fedorenko congratulated those gathered.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Seven NFB shorts celebrating GGPAA laureates launching June 14 at 9 p.m. EDT on NFB platforms, CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV. NFB’s GGPAA film collection reaches 125 films.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 14, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Seven National Film Board of Canada (NFB) short films celebrating Canadian performing arts excellence will premiere online Saturday, June 14, at 9 p.m. EDT, immediately following the 2025 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) celebration at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre.

    Canadians will be able to watch these cinematic tributes to this year’s laureates on NFB platforms as well as CBC Gem (in English) and ICI TOU.TV (in French).

    Each year, the NFB works to find the right combination of director, concept and laureate—producing portraits of distinguished Canadians that also stand on their own as innovative short works of cinema. This year’s films are directed by accomplished Canadian filmmakers Tara Johns and Monique Leblanc.

    The NFB’s GGPAA film collection now totals 125 shorts, created over a 17-year partnership with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation that began back in 2008.

    Laureates and their films

    • Directed by Tara Johns and produced by Robert Vroom
      • Legendary Toronto-born music producer and Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award laureate Bob Ezrin struggles to write his memoir in That Damn Book. Daunted by the pressure of doing justice to a life filled with rock legends, career milestones and family memories, he turns to Alice Cooper—and his own children—for guidance. It turns out the true story he has to tell isn’t just about star-studded accomplishments, but the family and love that gives meaning to it all.
      • In I’m Just Me, a struggling actor—sporting the literal head of a wolf—seeks guidance from a five-star-rated, fox-headed psychiatrist. As their therapy session spirals into a comically surreal commentary on the anxieties of artistic ambition and self-worth, the mask slips to reveal none other than Graham Greene, the southwestern Ontario-bornlegendary actor and Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award.
      • Time Flies features revered Montreal-based contemporary composer and Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award laureate Denis Gougeon balancing the roles of pilot and air traffic controller. Evoking both the flights of imagination and precision required to create his music, Gougeon recounts a musical journey of self-discovery that’s led to his compositions being performed all over the world, while he remains grounded in Quebec.
      • In The ’Hood in Me, veteran Montreal comic actor and Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award laureate Patrick Huard (as Pops) guides young Nathan on a whimsical journey of life lessons in a backstreet curiosities shop. Through his own stories of resilience, creativity and responsibility, Pops tests Nathan’s qualifications as apprentice. At first, it does not go well.
      • A Sonic Rematriation is a hybrid music video and spoken-word film honouring National Arts Centre Award recipient Jeremy Dutcher, Wolastoqiyik member of the Tobique First Nation in northwest New Brunswick, and his reclamation of ancestral songs and the mother tongue of the Wolastoqiyik. Featuring intimate Wolastoqey language performances, archival voices and dreamlike visuals, the film traces Dutcher’s liberation from smoke-bound silence to fiery, unbound song.
    • Directed by Monique Leblanc and produced by Christine Aubé
      • The founder of Red Sky Performance, Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award laureate Sandra Laronde has revolutionized Indigenous storytelling. Embodied Stories captures her artistic journey through dance productions and her AI film Land Dances Us, as well as stunning imagery of the Temagami region in Ontario—her childhood home and creative wellspring.
      • The recipient of this year’s Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, April Hubbard is a Halifax-based performance artist, arts administrator and Mad Disability advocate. Leading by Example follows her trajectory from excluded performer to revolutionary force in Nova Scotia’s arts scene as she transforms artistic spaces. Hubbard shatters perceptions through captivating performances while creating accessible opportunities for all artists—embodying a creative liberation that transcends physical limitations and a vision that knows no boundaries.

    About the directors

    Tara Johns

    Tara Johns is an Alberta-born writer-director who’s built her cinematic career in Montreal. Tara’s debut short film, Killing Time, was awarded Best Canadian Short at the 2001 Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival and named one of the Top 10 Best Québécois Shorts of the Decade at the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois. Tara was most recently tapped by MarVista Entertainment to direct Our Christmas Mural for Hallmark and is currently in development on her new original feature project, Good Bones, with Palomar Films.

    Monique Leblanc

    Director, actress, screenwriter, writer and producer Monique LeBlanc is a prominent figure in Eastern Canada’s film industry, working in both documentary and fiction. Acclaimed recent credits include her 2020 adaptation of Louise Dupré’s book of poetry, Higher Than Flames Will Go (2020), and The Geographies of DAR (2023), her fourth feature documentary and fifth collaboration with the NFB. 

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Sherrill Slams Hegseth for Operational, Managerial, and Budgetary Incompetence at the Department of Defense

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — In a high-profile House Armed Services Committee hearing today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over what she called “months of dangerous dysfunction and incompetence” at the Department of Defense. 

    Just five months into Hegseth’s tenure, Sherrill laid out a searing case against his operational, managerial, and budgetary failures that are undermining national security and putting our service members at risk. And Hegseth failed to substantively answer any of Rep. Sherrill’s questions.

    Click here to listen to Sherrill’s full remarks. 

    Full remarks, as delivered:

    Rep. Sherrill:
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Hegseth, Chairman Caine, thank you both for being here today. Mr. Secretary. Your testimony over the last several days before Congress, I’ve heard you speak about all of your supposed accomplishments from your time at the Pentagon. I have to say, your training at Fox News has let you spin months of dangerous dysfunction and incompetence into catchy phrases like restoring the warrior ethos and increasing lethality.

    But the truth is, it’s really been chaos at the Pentagon under your leadership. You’ve clearly shown you’re unable to manage the Department of Defense. But what I’m most concerned about are three specific areas: Your operational incompetence, your managerial incompetence, and your budgetary incompetence. So let’s start with operational. According to news reports, in your first week on the job, you got confused in a National Security Council meeting and thought President Trump wanted you to stop all aid to Ukraine.

    In a well-functioning administration, you would have asked for clarification before making that seismic policy shift, but instead you ordered vital military aid heading to the frontlines turned around, costing the U.S. millions of dollars and depriving Ukrainian soldiers of equipment they needed to fight Russia. So, Mr. Secretary, can you explain how exactly you misunderstood such a monumental presidential order?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    One of many fake news headlines we’ve dealt with.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    So President Trump told you to halt military aid to Ukraine on January 30th.

    Secretary Hegseth:
    As is often the case, highly ideological and very ill informed reporters love to speculate about things they know nothing about, in order to spear President Trump and myself.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    So it sounds like actually the reporting is correct, because I will say if it wasn’t, why if it wasn’t a mistake, why did aid restart only a few days later?

    Secretary Hegseth
    Again, we would take complete issue with what would some call reporting and others call a hatchet job.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    So why did aid start just a couple days later?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    I’m saying the reporting is inaccurate, ma’am.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    I don’t think that’s correct. So let’s move on to your managerial incompetence. I think we can see why you misunderstood the president because you’re obviously misunderstanding my questions. Less than a month into the job, you fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, CQ Brown, and the Chief of Naval Operations, Lisa Franchetti, without cause. And to this day, you still have not provided an adequate explanation for removing them.

    As far as I can tell, you fired CQ Brown because he was Black and Lisa Franchetti because she is a woman. So nearly four months later, we still don’t have a new nominee for Chief of Naval Operations. News reports, and you can contest it, but I’d love to hear your answer, say that you haven’t nominated someone because qualified admirals keep turning the position down.

    So tell me, Mr. Secretary, when will Congress receive your nomination for the next Chief of Naval Operations?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    Ma’am, with all due respect, I would suggest not believing every headline you read.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    With all due respect, I’d like your nomination. When will we see it?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    There is not a single admiral or any military official has turned down a position that’s been–

    Rep. Sherrill:
    So when will we see your nominee for the Chief of Naval Operations?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    In due time, for all the right reasons.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    Again, I think we’ve seen the managerial incompetence. Okay, let’s move on to budgetary incompetence. You missed the deadline to submit a draft defense budget to Congress, which makes it impossible for us to complete our work on the NDAA or appropriations. It makes it more likely you’ll receive delays in funding you need for new acquisitions programs, and other priorities.

    Additionally, you’re blowing money on poorly conceived operations and vanity projects. For President Trump, retrofitting the Qatari jet to serve as Air Force One will cost about $400 million. The parade in DC this weekend will cost upwards of $40 million. Your bombing campaign in Yemen cost about 1 billion, and a week later they were having missile strikes in Israel.

    Your operations in LA will cost tens of millions of dollars, and you claim to be cutting costs at the Pentagon. But all I see are wasted dollars better spent addressing our most pressing threats like China. So, Mr. Secretary, what priorities have you cut funding for to pay for these projects?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    Ma’am, I would just say your list, left off securing the southern border.

    Rep. Sherrill:
    So, Mr. Secretary, what priorities have you cut funding for to pay for these projects?

    Secretary Hegseth:
    We make trade offs every day, and I would imagine what we want to spend on is quite different than what the previous administration did. Changes quickly and they’re reflected in this budget. And we’re very proud of them.

    Rep. Sherrill : 
    I think the American people can see why I’m so concerned about this incompetence. Thank you. And I yield back.
     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NAB home lending jumps as first home buyers return

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    Charlotte Dru Ziegeler wasn’t expecting her home ownership journey to move so quickly. Within two weeks of receiving pre-approval for a home loan from NAB, she’d found a home, made an offer and started packing.

    Charlotte is one of the growing number of first home buyers re-entering the market as conditions continue to improve.

    NAB customer Charlotte Dru Ziegeler

    Lending to first home buyers has jumped 16% since February, while lending to all owner occupiers is up 32% over the same period, new NAB data shows.

    Victoria is leading the way, with first home buyer activity climbing 28%, closely followed by Western Australia (+22%) and Queensland (+21%).

    The 33-year-old children’s librarian, who works in Geelong, had been watching the market for a while but wasn’t sure if buying was something she could yet do with the deposit she had saved.

    “Back in February I saw NAB had lowered their variable home loan rate, so I decided it was time to take another look at my options.

    “I spoke to a banker, got pre-approved in less than an hour and then not long after, the right house came up,” Charlotte said.

    That house was in St Leonards, a quiet coastal town just out of Geelong, and close to where Charlotte grew up. She recruited both her mother and brother to help with the move which happened only six weeks after talking to her NAB banker.

    “It all happened so fast. It was really exciting, and a huge ‘pinch me’ moment,” Charlotte said.

    “I grew up around here, so that made the whole process a little less daunting, and I’m the first of my siblings to buy a home so I’ve had a lot of support from my family.”

    NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh, said with NAB making cuts to both its fixed and variable home lending rate, the bank is seeing more first home buyers, and home buyers more broadly re-enter the market.

    “We’re seeing momentum return, especially with people like Charlotte who’ve been saving or waiting for the right time to take that jump into home ownership,” said Mr Pugh.

    NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh

    “And that momentum could carry through winter, which is usually a quieter time with less sellers listing over the cooler months.

    “Despite recent rate cuts, borrowing costs remain relatively high, limiting property value increases. Slower price increases benefit first home buyers by reducing the pressure of rapidly rising house prices.

    “Lower rates are helping first home buyers, as are initiatives such as the government’s Home Guarantee Scheme, but housing affordability and supply aren’t problems we can solve quickly.

    “There’s no silver bullet when it comes to housing – it will take business, government and communities all working together.”

    Notes to editors:

    • NAB proprietary home lending data between February – April 2025 vs the year prior.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Bolsters America’s Supply Chains, Critical Infrastructure, and Domestic Industry Through Arctic ICE Pact

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) met with Canadian and Finnish counterparts as part of a two-day summit for the ongoing Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), a trilateral agreement to strengthen United States supply chains, increase domestic jobs, and improve U.S. shipbuilding capabilities to defend the American people.

    “ICE Pact is a key component of America’s economic future. President Donald Trump and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem understand that economic security is national security,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “By revitalizing U.S. shipyards, creating jobs, strengthening industrial capabilities, and opening up the Arctic’s vast potential to American businesses, the Trump administration is putting America’s prosperity and security first.” 

    During the two-day event, government leaders discussed with public and private stakeholders plans to advance four key areas: technical expertise and information exchange; workforce development; relations with allies and industry; and research and development.

    The three partner countries concluded this successful meeting with a commitment to reconvene in person by the end of the year for a meeting hosted by the U.S. government.

    Icebreakers are vital for America’s presence in the Arctic, a region increasingly contested by Russia and China due to its growing potential for oil and gas exploration, critical minerals, trade route traffic, fishing, and tourism. Russia maintains the largest icebreaker fleet in the world with 40-plus icebreakers and has made the Arctic its top naval priority; China is rapidly expanding its presence in this field as well and is collaborating with Russia on Arctic expansion efforts.

    In contrast, until last month, the United States Coast Guard operated just two icebreakers. In late May, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis began its maiden voyage to the Arctic. ICE Pact will steer more investment into U.S. industry to boost our icebreaker fleet.

    Plans developed during ICE Pact meetings will allow the U.S., Canada, and Finland to build American-made Arctic and polar icebreakers.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Debunks Fake News Demonizing ICE Officers, Sets the Record Straight on L.A. Operations

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    These disgusting smears are designed to demonize and villainize our brave ICE law enforcement and have led to a more than 400 percent increase of assaults on our officers

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement to set the record straight on media reports demonizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as they work to remove criminal illegal aliens from American streets in Los Angeles (LA), California.

    Below are just a handful of FALSE headlines about recent DHS operations in Los Angeles that attempt to villainize federal law enforcement.

    To set the record straight, the Department’s responses to the false claims are below.

    THE FACTS: “DHS targets have nothing to do with an individuals’ skin color. What makes someone a target is if they are in the United States illegally. These types of disgusting smears are designed to demonize and villainize our brave ICE law enforcement. This kind of garbage has led to a more than 400 percent increase in the assaults on ICE officers. Politicians and activists must turn the temperature down and tone down their rhetoric.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    THE FACTS: “The facts are a U.S. citizen was arrested because he ASSAULTED U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents. Secretary Noem has been clear: if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    THE FACTS: “This is blatantly FALSE. ICE is NOT in homeless shelters, ERs and schools. This rhetoric from the Mayor of LA and California politicians demonizes the brave men and women of law enforcement.” – Senior DHS Official

    THE FACTS: “Claims that ICE has conducted operations at Douglas Park to target and arrest nannies and caregivers are unequivocally FALSE. These are the type of lies being spread to demonize our brave ICE law enforcement who risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens including suspected terrorists, gang members, murderers, and rapists from American communities. The facts are that ICE, and our federal partners, are targeting the worst of the worst.” – Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: AlayaCare Announces the Launch of Layla in Canada, an AI-Powered Assistant Designed for Home Care

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AlayaCare, a leading provider of cloud-based home and community care solutions, is proud to announce the Canadian launch of Layla, an AI-powered conversational assistant designed to transform how care is delivered across the country.

    Now available to AlayaCare customers nationwide, Layla provides real-time, secure access to vital information through a conversational chat interface, supporting both caregivers and administrators in delivering higher-quality care with greater efficiency. Seamlessly integrated into the AlayaCare platform, Layla is purpose-built for the realities of home-based care — helping providers stay connected, informed, and empowered.

    “With the launch of Layla in Canada, we’re excited to bring the power of AI directly to frontline staff, simplifying access to information and improving how care is coordinated and delivered,” said Adrian Schauer, CEO of AlayaCare. “This marks a major step forward in our commitment to supporting the Canadian home care sector through innovation.”

    As home care organizations across Canada face increasing pressures — including workforce shortages and growing service demand — Layla offers a transformative solution. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 80% of healthcare data is unstructured, and staff lose up to 30 minutes per shift searching for scattered information.

    Layla addresses this challenge head-on by delivering:

    • Comprehensive Data Access: Instant access to hundreds of data points across care plans, client records, visit notes, schedules, and more.
    • Integration with AlayaCare Cloud (ACC): Leverages real-time, structured data from existing systems for immediate utility.
    • Mobile-First, On-the-Go Support: Enables caregivers to find information quickly, wherever they are, ensuring faster, safer decisions.
    • Secure, Compliant Infrastructure: Designed with robust data security, including HIPAA compliance and Canadian privacy standards.
    • Trusted Clinical Knowledge: Provides accurate, easy-to-understand definitions for medical terms and conditions.

    Layla supports care teams across Canada in making informed decisions faster, improving documentation, and reducing administrative burden — ultimately enhancing client experiences and health outcomes.

    “Canadian care providers deserve technology built for their realities. Layla helps ensure they have the right information at the right time,” added Schauer. “It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about better outcomes and better support for the people delivering care every day.”

    For more information about Layla, visit alayacare.com/layla/.

    AlayaCare Press Contact:
    Steph Davidson
    steph.davidson@alayacare.com

    About AlayaCare

    AlayaCare is an end-to-end software platform for public, private, non-profit, and community home-based care organizations that manages the entire client lifecycle, including needs assessments, care plans, scheduling, visit and route optimization, and visit verification. Founded in 2014 and now with over 600 employees, AlayaCare combines traditional in-home and virtual care solutions that enable care providers to lower the cost of care and achieve better outcomes for their clients. For more information, visit: AlayaCare.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38002137-5b0d-4ec4-9eb6-4856e4eaca1f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Padilla, Entire Senate Democratic Caucus Demand Trump Remove Military Forces from Los Angeles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 16, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined the entire U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty servicemembers to American cities.

    The letter comes after Trump’s unprecedented move to federalize and deploy the California National Guard without the consent of the California Governor and mobilize U.S. Marine Corps elements, deploying approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles amid unrest created by the President’s indiscriminate and intentionally inflammatory immigration enforcement raids across the region. The first 200 Marines arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building yesterday, marking the first time in over 30 years that the Marines have been deployed in the United States.

    Trump deployed these military personnel without the request or support of California Governor Gavin Newsom, manufacturing a crisis and repeatedly escalating the conflict in order to create a spectacle. The federalizing of California’s National Guard marked the first time the Guard had been deployed without a Governor’s consent since 1965.

    “We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders,” wrote the Senators. “This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.”

    The Senators slammed the deployment of military personnel as an abuse of power that undermines state and local leadership, interferes with critical law enforcement operations, and wastes military resources and taxpayer dollars. They also expressed concern for the dangerous precedent Trump’s misguided deployment of military forces could set for mobilizing military personnel to other cities across the country.

    “For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order,” continued the Senators. “Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

    “We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor,” concluded the Senators. “Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.”

    The Trump Administration has consistently utilized excessive force and aggressive tactics in its immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and across the country. This pattern of unnecessary violence was evident on Thursday when U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s press conference, thrown to the ground and handcuffed after simply trying to ask a question.

    In addition to Senators Murphy and Padilla, the letter to President Trump was signed by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear President Trump,

    We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders. This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.

    For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order. Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

    We are particularly concerned by the precedent that this ill-conceived deployment of military personnel to Los Angeles sets for other cities and states. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guards when operating within state borders. As Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said last year when serving as Governor of South Dakota, “If Joe Biden federalizes the National Guard, that would be a direct attack on states’ rights.”

    We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor. Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Russia will be strong, sovereign and prosperous in the next 100 years

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    “Russia will be strong, sovereign, prosperous, and peaceful in the next 100 years,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko as he greeted the participants of the ceremonial assembly dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Artek. A capsule containing wishes for future generations was laid there. It is expected to be opened in 100 years, in 2125.

    The event itself took place in the children’s camp “Morskoy” – where 100 years ago the history of the legendary “Artek” began with four canvas tents. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, the director of the International Children’s Center “Artek” Konstantin Fedorenko and the Artek children themselves.

    The flags of the Russian Federation, the International Children’s Center and the Morskoy children’s camp were ceremoniously raised on the bonfire square. Young Artek children – Yaroslav Lutsenko from St. Petersburg and Rostislav Fomenko from Voronezh – together with Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kravtsov closed and laid a capsule with a message to the future.

    The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated Artek on its 100th anniversary and thanked the staff for creating unique conditions and technologies for recreation, education and upbringing.

    “We are now looking to the future. We are confident that Russia will be strong, sovereign, prosperous, and peaceful in the next 100 years. To achieve this, we must work hard. Here, in Artek, all the conditions have been created for this. Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has set a national goal of creating conditions for the development of your talents and abilities. You must take full advantage of the unique opportunity that has been given to you so that you grow up kind, patriotic, hardworking, exactly the way your homeland, your family, and your country need you to be,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov joined in congratulating Artek.

    “Today we celebrate 100 years of our International Children’s Center “Artek”. On June 16, 1925, the first assembly took place here and children from all over the country, just like you, were there. Today, with your work and talent, you have earned a ticket to “Artek”. Our country does everything to make you happy, successful and confidently move forward. Dear children, counselors, all employees of “Artek”, I want to congratulate you on the holiday. “Artek” is developing, branches are operating in Berdyansk and Sevastopol. I am sure that in 100 years it will also be the best international children’s center, a real city of childhood”, – Sergey Kravtsov addressed the participants of the ceremony.

    Congratulating the young participants of the holiday, the director of the International Children’s Center “Artek” Konstantin Fedorenko noted that over the century-long history of the camp, his family has become not just large, but huge – more than 1.8 million Artek children. He emphasized that the birthday of “Artek” is also a holiday of love and respect for the Motherland:

    “The present and future of Russia depend on all of us, on our common achievements! I am sure that you will leave Artek with the confidence that you can make this world a better place. It is you, purposeful, focused on achievements, who will set and solve the tasks that will lead Russia to a successful future. Let your talents, creativity, and initiatives make our country even better!”

    In total, more than 3 thousand children from all regions of Russia and 29 foreign countries gathered at the 9 campfire sites of the International Children’s Center “Artek”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Participants of the anniversary shift should take with them in their hearts love for our country and for Artek

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On June 16, 2025, a special commemorative postage stamp cancellation ceremony dedicated to the centenary of the center was held at the Artek International Children’s Center. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov, and Director of the Artek International Children’s Center Konstantin Fedorenko.

    They greeted the Artek children and took part in the special cancellation procedure – a special postmark that is valid for only one day. This postmark with the date and place of the ceremony turns the postal products that have undergone the cancellation into real philatelic rarities.

    “Being a participant in the anniversary shift is a great honor and privilege. You should carry in your hearts the love for our country, for Artek, meet the children with whom you will go through life, who will forever remain Artekites and will be with you. Here you learn to be friends, work and be useful to our country and your families. This is the main thing you should learn here. Artek has been around for over 100 years, and now we can say so, it is an international standard for the best children’s recreation. Happy anniversary, Artek! Happy holiday, guys!” Dmitry Chernyshenko addressed the participants.

    “On this festive day, I want to thank the counselors, the organizers, who do everything to ensure that each of you realizes your talents. Guys, I think that you will also join these words. Today is a significant event for the international children’s center “Artek” and for other children’s centers. We laid a capsule in 2125, the ceremony of cancellation of the anniversary postage stamp took place. I am sure that in 100 years, the children will also strive to get to “Artek” and rejoice at the opportunity to be here,” said Sergey Kravtsov at the ceremony of cancellation of the stamp.

    During the celebration, Artek member Ruslan Minyaylenko from the Luhansk People’s Republic, the author of the drawing that won the competition to create a sketch for a postage stamp, spoke about the creation of the sketch. His work reflects the spirit and long-standing traditions of Artek, uniting the past and the present.

    The camp counselors and educators prepared a creative exhibition where they presented postage stamps, envelopes and postcards issued in different years on significant dates in the history of Artek. Among them: a postage stamp from 1938 from the Children of the Land of Soviets series; a stamp from 1948 dedicated to the All-Union Pioneer Organization; a stamp from 1958 for International Children’s Day with an image of a bugler from a pioneer camp; postage envelopes from 1963, 1965, 1971 issued by the USSR Ministry of Communications; a postcard from 1975 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the camp; stamps from 1985 and 2015 dedicated to the 60th and 90th anniversaries of Artek, respectively. This exhibition allowed guests and Artek residents to see how the images and symbols of Artek on postal items changed and to feel the connection between generations.

    The release of the anniversary postage stamp is accompanied by the publication of first day covers, maximum cards, artistic covers and vignettes. All these collectibles can be purchased at post offices throughout Russia. Particular attention is paid to the special cancellation stamps, which were made not only for Moscow and Gurzuf (Republic of Crimea), but also for Ulyanovsk and Chelyabinsk.

    The festive mood was created by the theatrical composition “Native Artek” with the participation of the famous song theater “Neposedy”. Artek residents had the opportunity to personally sign envelopes and receive unique impressions of a special stamp in the post house “Artek Post”.

    In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sergey Kravtsov and Konstantin Fedorenko, together with Artek children, unveiled a memorial bas-relief dedicated to the sculptor Ernst Neizvestny at the entrance to the educational space for artistic creativity.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: PCM Encore Surpasses $1.2 Billion in Client Assets, Expands Nationwide in First Six Months Serving External Families

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Built over five years as a single family office, PCM Encore opened to other families six months ago and now manages over $1.2 billion. With 57 families onboard, the firm continues expanding its advisor network and direct investment capabilities across the country.

    Photo Credit PCM Encore

    BELLEVUE, Wash., June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PCM Encore today announced that it has exceeded $1.2 billion in assets under management, just six months after opening its platform to outside families. Originally founded as a single family office, PCM Encore has spent the past five years building a robust, institutional-grade wealth management platform. The firm now serves 57 families across the United States.

    PCM Encore provides a comprehensive suite of investment, tax, estate, and family office services tailored to the needs of sophisticated families. The platform emphasizes long-term partnership, after-tax return optimization, and access to high-quality private and public investment opportunities.

    Key Milestones Achieved in the First Six Months:

    PCM Encore’s early growth reflects rising demand among wealthy families for a more personalized alternative to traditional wirehouse and RIA offerings. With over $1.2 billion in client AUM, the firm is focused on sustainable, relationship-driven expansion.

    • Built out a team of registered advisors based in: Aspen, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, and Seattle
    • Developed a direct investment team based in Menlo Park
    • Opened an additional office in Miami
    • Onboarded 57 families to the PCM Encore platform
    • Expanded team to more than 15 professionals, including experts in investment management, technology, compliance, and client advisory
    • Delivered comprehensive services, including tax and estate planning, family office solutions, and portfolio optimization
    • Facilitated client access to a broad array of leading fund managers and investment strategies, including: Direct Indexing, Private Credit, Private Real Estate, Private Infrastructure, Private Equity, Venture Capital

    Tax Alpha In a Volatile Market

    PCM Encore’s tax-aware investing approach has helped clients outperform even in a stagnant market. During the volatility following April’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements, the firm’s investment team deployed aggressive tax loss harvesting strategies. While major indices like the S&P 500 were flat year-to-date through May, PCM Encore clients ended the period meaningfully ahead on an after-tax basis.

    “Especially in environments like this, after-tax returns are what separate smart portfolios from the rest,” said Bradford Lin, Principal at PCM Encore and former KKR private equity executive. “By capturing losses tactically and reinvesting, we’ve delivered tax alpha that compounds over time—even when the market goes nowhere.”

    The firm reported over 1% in tax alpha in Q1, with early Q2 data pointing to even stronger results. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Tax alpha results may vary based on individual circumstances and market conditions.

    Institutional Investment Platform with a Proven Track Record

    PCM Encore offers families access to a carefully curated suite of private and public investment opportunities, along with proprietary diligence, ongoing monitoring, and operational support.

    Notable recent outcomes include:

    • A successful exit from Vector, a trucking and logistics software company, at a nine-figure valuation, where PCM Encore was a seed investor and board member
    • In partnership with ACG and Prudential, breaking ground on the first major multifamily development project of 2025 in the Seattle metro area

    These results highlight the firm’s ability to originate and execute investments across various asset classes while aligning with client portfolios.

    Building a Team for Long-Term Success

    PCM Encore was founded by Michael Paulus, a seasoned growth investor and entrepreneur with a track record of building companies at scale. The firm’s team has grown to include professionals with backgrounds in investment management, technology, compliance, and client service. PCM Encore’s leadership includes:

    • Bradford Lin, Direct Investments Principal and former KKR private equity executive
    • John Shepard, Chief Technology Officer and former Microsoft executive
    • Sam Rice, Chief Compliance Officer
    • Andrew Weiss, Chief Marketing Officer

    The firm remains focused on expanding its platform and deepening relationships with families nationwide.

    “We’ve spent years building PCM Encore for our own family,” Paulus added. “Now, we’re honored to be a trusted partner to other families who share our long-term mindset and value the same high standards that we do.”

    Visit PCM Encore website to learn more about PCM Encore’s services and locations.

    About PCM Encore

    PCM Encore is a technology-forward, independent fiduciary financial advisor serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and family offices. The firm combines a personalized, client-first approach with institutional investment access, proprietary strategies, and deep expertise in tax and estate planning. PCM Encore is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, with advisors and investment professionals based in Aspen, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, and Menlo Park.

    Contact Information:

    Contact Person’s Name: Michael Paulus
    Organization / Company: PCM Encore
    Company website: https://encoreinvestment.com/
    Contact Email Address: hello@encoreinvestment.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8268d15a-8f5f-4987-862a-1a16eb873dde

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available for Florida Private Nonprofits Affected by Hurricane Milton

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Florida area of the July 16 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Hurricane Milton on        Oct. 5-Nov. 2, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and Volusia.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature with financial losses directly related to the disaster. Example of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 16, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Verizon’s Total Wireless Supports Working Students with First-Ever Social Impact Program, “Total Spark”

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon’s Total Wireless Supports Working Students with First-Ever Social Impact Program, “Total Spark”

    NEW YORK — Total Wireless, a leading provider of premium, affordable and flexible wireless plans covered by the Verizon 5G network, today announces the launch of Total Spark, the latest social impact program from the Verizon Value portfolio.

    Designed to support working students, Total Spark is tailor-made to meet the Total Wireless community where they are – whether they’re working full-time and going to school at night, balancing family obligations with school, part-time students pursuing additional training and more.

    To help Total Spark truly meet the needs of working students everywhere, the brand commissioned a custom survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adult students[1] to uncover insights on the true needs of working students across the country and found:

    • A third (32%) of working students have a job to support their families. Additionally, one-third (32%) of working students rely on government subsidy programs to get by, and a large majority (89%) working students have student loans.
    • Nearly three quarters (73%) of working students wish they had additional support to help them with pursuing a career. Career mentorship was indicated as the most useful support service for all students.
    • Only 1 in 10 working students strongly agree that they have adequate free time. Time is short for many, as unaided, general time management is the number one obstacle among working students.
    • Mobile phones are seen as an essential tool for staying connected by a large majority of working students (90%). This is especially true for students who work full-time, who indicate they rely on mobile phones to stay connected for work and for job searching.

    That’s why Total Wireless partnered with Empower Work, a national nonprofit on a mission to build healthier workplaces, to support programs that addressed each of these pain points. Together, Total Wireless and Empower Work identified five nonprofit organizations in Chicago, Dallas, and Detroit to receive grants between $50,000 – $150,000. The grants will fund existing community-oriented programs supporting working students – from job training and skill development to job placement and career advancement. Additionally, Total Spark will enable each grant recipient to host in-person events for working students at predetermined, independently operated Total Wireless retail locations in each city later this year. With many working students indicating the need for career support, Total Spark events will focus programming in this area and on other pressing needs of working students today.

    “Our Total Wireless customers are the ultimate go-getters – and we know nobody hustles harder than working students,” Nancy Clark, President of the Verizon Value segment said. “Whether our customers are returning to school or celebrating a recent graduation, connections on-line and off are crucial – our Total Spark program is just a reminder that we are ‘in your corner’ no matter the stage of that journey. We’re proud to support our communities when and where they need it most.”  

    In its first year, Total Spark will support the following nonprofits in three cities, with additional expansions planned for the coming years.

    Chicago, IL

    • The Jane Addams Resource Corporation promotes strong communities, businesses, and households to ensure that people who work do not live in poverty. Throughout the year, JARC offers free manufacturing training in Welding and CNC (Computer Numerical Control), along with wraparound support services to help adults build skills and secure steady, living-wage jobs that bring financial stability to themselves and their families.
    • LIFT-Chicago programs invest in families with children ages 0-8 through integrated financial coaching and direct cash support. Additionally, they offer educational and employment coaching for adults, empowering parents to set and achieve goals that put families on the path toward economic mobility through support for going back to school, improving credit, eliminating debt, or securing a living wage.

    Dallas, TX

    • The Wilkinson Center – whose mission is to transform the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect – serves approximately 24,000 individuals annually through a wide range of programming, including financial coaching, emergency support services, as well as adult education and workforce training.

    Detroit, MI

    • NPower Michigan is rooted in community and dedicated to empowering young adults and military-connected individuals from low-income communities to thrive in the digital economy. Through transformative, no-cost IT training, industry-recognized credentialing, job placement assistance, and comprehensive social support services, NPower creates clear career pathways to economic mobility and sustainability.
    • TechTown Detroit’s mission is to drive economic growth by supporting entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, particularly those in tech and innovation. For working students, TechTown provides access to resources, networking, and career development opportunities to help them balance work, education, and entrepreneurial goals.

    To mark the Total Spark debut, Total is hosting a one-of-a-kind “Career Spark” Fair in Chicago on Friday, June 27 near Wicker Park. Total’s “Career Spark” fair will provide working students in the area with the tools they need to achieve success. Stations are focused on student well-being and career growth and include tips and resources to manage work/life balance, short and long term career opportunities, community resources from our nonprofit partners & Total Spark grant recipients, a headshot station, plenty of Total swag, and more.

    On Thursday, June 26, the brand will also take coffee, career and community to new heights at its takeover of the buzzy Oro Coffee & Chocolate coffee shop pop-up, where working students in Chicago can grab a midweek pick-me-up on us, enjoy a quiet place to study and work and get connected to personal and professional development resources.

    The Total Spark launch is the latest social impact program under the new Value Cares platform, which reinforces the Verizon Value segment’s focus of empowering communities with the reliable connectivity they need to thrive. Total Spark launched following the success of Visible and its award-winning impact program, Connection Protection, where individuals who experience job loss can receive three months of service with costs covered by Visible and get connected to additional career services support, also provided by Empower Work’s text-line.

    “We’re thrilled to build on the success of the Visible Connection Protection program by launching Total Spark,” Jaime-Alexis Fowler, Founder and Executive Director at Empower Work said. “Empower Work exists to help address these very gaps and concerns of today’s diverse workforce – students included. Now through Total Spark, we’re helping to scale support for this population in a moment where it is most needed.”

    For more information on Total Spark and forthcoming programs with its partners, go to https://www.totalwireless.com/total-spark. Interested attendees may reserve a spot for the Total Career Spark Fair in Chicago on Friday, June 27 by signing up here: https://partiful.com/e/pqHAgV3DAi2etV67PFRG.

    [1]Total Wireless commissioned KRC Research to conduct a survey among U.S. adult students (n=1,004), including non-working students (n=200) and working students (n=804).​ The study was fielded between May 9-15, 2025.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Cleaver, Davids Demand Answers on Lack of Funding for Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    The federal funding for National Heritage Areas was signed into law by President Trump in March but has not been delivered, with no explanation

    (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) have called on the Trump Administration to immediately release long-overdue funding for National Heritage Areas (NHAs), which preserve local history, create jobs, and drive tourism across the country.

    Despite being signed into law in March, federal funding for NHAs — including the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) in western Missouri and eastern Kansas — still hasn’t been delivered. As a result, local sites are struggling to keep staff employed, preserve historic landmarks, and continue educational programs that serve thousands of visitors and students each year.

    “NHAs contribute billions to the U.S. economy annually and support hundreds of thousands of jobs, leveraging each dollar of federal funding into more than $5 of nonfederal resources,” the lawmakers wrote. “For example, FFNHA provided 61 percent of its FY24 income from nonfederal sources. Our nation’s 62 NHAs provide an excellent and sustainable model of economic development at little cost to the federal government. This delay in funding is causing significant strain on our NHAs – many of which rely on small staffs and robust volunteer networks; annual NPS appropriations are critical to attracting private donations, planning grants and historic preservation efforts, and executing educational opportunities.”

    “We respectfully request that you quickly provide us with a timeline as to when FY25 appropriations for NHAs will be processed and work to execute these funding awards as soon as possible,” the lawmakers concluded.

    NHAs are public-private partnerships that highlight culturally significant regions across the U.S., from Civil War battlefields to Indigenous heritage sites. Each federal dollar invested generates over $5 in private and local support. Without this timely funding, programs grind to a halt and community-driven preservation work suffers.

    Established in 2006, the FFNHA is one of 55 National Heritage Areas throughout the United States. FFNHA tells the stories and builds awareness of western Missouri and eastern Kansas’ past, present, and future, including stories of American settlement of the western frontier, Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War, Brown v. Board of Education, and significant figures in our nation’s history such as President Harry Truman, Amelia Earhart, and the Native tribes of the Great Plains. 

    The FFNHA supports and promotes roughly 323 partners, including historic sites, museums, historical societies, libraries, and other cultural-heritage tourism destinations in 41 counties across the Missouri-Kansas border.

    Some notable FFNHA partners in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Truman Presidential Library, American Jazz Museum, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and more.

    Some notable FFNHA partners in the Third Congressional District of Kansas include Old Quindaro Museum, John Brown Museum, Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, Kaw Point Park, Louisburg Historical Society, and more.

    The official letter from Reps. Cleaver and Davids is available here.

     

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South Texas

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South Texas

    Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South Texas

    Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South TexasAUSTIN – In coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), FEMA and U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) have been staffing Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to offer face-to-face help to residents of the four South Texas counties affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred March 26-28, 2025

    Starting Saturday, June 21, new weekend hours of operation for all seven DRCs are:Saturdays: Open 8 a

    m

    to 5 p

    m

    Sundays: ClosedWeekday hours remain the same: Monday – Friday, 8 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    All DRCs will be closed for the Juneteenth Holiday (Thursday, June 19); and reopen on Friday, June 20, at 8 a

    m

    Homeowners and renters in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    FEMA and SBA support state-led recovery efforts at the recovery centers

    Staff can help survivors apply for federal assistance

    They can also identify potential needs and connect survivors with local, state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits and community groups

     The list of DRCs by county is as follows:Cameron CountySan Benito Parks and Recreation Building705 N Bowie St

    San Benito, TX Harlingen Convention Center701 Harlingen HeightsHarlingen, TX 78552 Hidalgo CountyLas Palmas Community Center1921 N

    25th St

      McAllen, TX   Pharr Development & Research Center  850 W

    Dicker Rd  Pharr, TX Weslaco EDC275 S

    Kansas Ave

    Weslaco, TX 78596 Starr CountyStarr County Courthouse Annex100 N FM 3167Rio Grande City, TX 78582 Willacy CountySebastian Community Center434 West 8th St

    Sebastian, TX 78594 For information and to apply online visit SBA

    gov/disaster

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services

    Survivors can apply to FEMA in several ways including going online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Calls are accepted every day from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For more information, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4871

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    toan

    nguyen
    Mon, 06/16/2025 – 16:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Seeks Commercial Feedback on Space Communication Solutions

    Source: NASA

    NASA is seeking information from U.S. and international companies about Earth proximity relay communication and navigation capabilities as the agency aims to use private industry satellite communications services for emerging agency science missions.
    “As part of NASA’s Communications Services Project, the agency is working with private industry to solve challenges for future exploration,” said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s SCaN Program. “Through this effort, NASA missions will have a greater ability to command spacecraft, resolve issues in flight, and bring home more data and scientific discoveries collected across the solar system.”
    In November 2024, NASA announced the TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite) system, the agency’s network of satellites relaying communications from the International Space Station, ground controls on Earth, and spacecraft, will support only existing missions.
    NASA, as one of many customers, will obtain commercial satellite services rather than owning and operating a replacement for the existing satellite system. As NASA transitions to commercial relay services, the agency will leverage commercial capabilities to ensure support for future missions and stimulate private investment into the Earth proximity region. Commercial service offerings could become available to NASA missions as early as 2028 and will continue to be demonstrated and validated through 2031.
    NASA’s SCaN issued a Request for Information on May 30. Responses are due by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 11.NASA’s SCaN Program serves as the management office for the agency’s space communications and navigation. More than 100 NASA and non-NASA missions rely on SCaN’s two networks, the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network, to support astronauts aboard the International Space Station and future Artemis missions, monitor Earth’s weather, support lunar exploration, and uncover the solar system and beyond.
    Learn more about NASA’s SCaN Program at:
    https://www.nasa.gov/scan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Possible link between COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and aggressive cancers (‘turbo cancer’) in the context of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan – E-002078/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002078/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gerald Hauser (PfE)

    Although ‘turbo cancer’ is not a medically or scientifically defined term, it is currently being used by doctors to describe the distinctive signs of certain cancer trajectories. Renowned oncologists at home and abroad have recently alerted us to a significant uptick in extremely aggressive, rapidly progressing cancers, particularly in people who have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.[1] Among other things, they point to the presence of SV40 sequences in certain vaccines – a potentially oncogenic virus fragment.[2]

    • 1.What scientific evidence does the Commission currently have of a possible link between COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the increased incidence of particularly aggressive forms of cancer (‘turbo cancer’)?
    • 2.Has the Commission – as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan for instance – commissioned any independent studies on these indications or is it planning any such initiatives?
    • 3.Is the potential presence of SV40 fragments in vaccines currently being investigated or monitored by the Commission, its institutions, bodies, offices or agencies?

    Submitted: 22.5.2025

    • [1] https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/open-source/corona-impfstoffe-pathologin-warnt-diese-mrna-technik-ist-nicht-ausreichend-getestet-li.2259438
    • [2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386414408_BioNTech_RNA-Based_COVID-19_Injections_Contain_Large_Amounts_Of_Residual_DNA_Including_An_SV40_PromoterEnhancer_Sequence
    Last updated: 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –