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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Gomez and Waters, Local Leaders Rally to Protect Job Corps Program at LA Center

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

    Los Angeles, CA – Today, Representatives Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Maxine Waters (CA-43), as well as LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, labor leaders, and Job Corps graduates rallied outside the LA Job Corps Center to demand that the Trump administration reverse its harmful decision to shut down all contractor-operated Job Corps centers by June 30. The Job Corps program provides free vocational training, housing, and GED programs for young people ages 16-24, especially those from underserved communities.

    “Job Corps isn’t just about teaching basic skills—it creates real opportunity and has launched tens of thousands of young people into successful careers,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Shutting down job corps doesn’t just hurt these students — it hurts our economy. This program has saved taxpayers millions by helping at-risk youth become self-sufficient. We can’t let the administration take that away.”

    “[Congress] included funding to enroll students in Job Corps centers for the new program year starting in 2025, and the administration must faithfully implement Job Corps with the resources Congress appropriated,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43). “Ending it now without congressional approval would be yet another example of this administration’s disregard for Congress and our constitutional role in federal spending.”

    “Many of these students will be the first in their families to earn a high school diploma or GED, an apprenticeship certificate, or go on to college,” said Hilda Solis, LA County Supervisor and former Department of Labor Secretary. “I’ve seen Job Corps graduates thrive in the healthcare industry and culinary arts, and many more.”

    “Since coming to Job Corps, I had to teach myself basic math. I’ve earned my BLS certification and CNA certification, and now, my classmates and I are just four months away from getting our LDN licenses. Job Corps gave me the chance to build a better future,” said Emily, an LA Job Corps graduate and a constituent of Rep. Gomez.

    Job Corps, established in 1964 under the Economic Opportunity Act, has long had broad bipartisan support, serving more than 2 million people. It equips young people with real job skills, helping them earn diplomas and certifications to secure good-paying jobs in high-demand trades. But under Trump’s Project 2025 — an extremist conservative blueprint to dismantle federal social programs — his administration is cutting off these vital supports.

    Rep. Gomez has been fighting back against the Trump administration’s attacks on working families, including efforts to stop illegal funding freezes and extremist cuts. Earlier this year, he visited Echo Park CDC Head Start to hear from parents about the harm these actions could cause. He and his colleagues also rallied at the U.S. Treasury Department to demand answers about Elon Musk’s unprecedented access to Americans’ sensitive financial data, including Social Security numbers, as well as bank and routing account information. Trump is still pushing cuts even after public pressure and some injunctions from lower courts forced the White House to reverse its blanket funding freeze — and with Project 2025 architect Russell Vought now leading the Office of Management and Budget, Rep. Gomez is holding the line in Congress to protect these essential programs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fire Safety – Kiwis return from assisting with the New South Wales floods

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand has welcomed back its specialist team from their deployment to New South Wales.
    The contingent of four Community Liaison Officers and two Jurisdiction Liaison have been operating mainly in the flood-hit areas of Taree and Port Macquarie.
    Deputy National Commander Brendan Nally says he is proud of the efforts of the team who were faced with significant devastation caused by the floods.
    “At the request of the New South Wales State Emergency Service, our people were tasked with supporting Australian emergency services and communities affected by the flooding,” he says.
    “This involved going from door to door in the affected communities, speaking with homeowners, answering their questions, addressing their concerns about the damages from the flooding, and ensuring they knew how to access help.
    “The willingness of our people to lend their skills to our close neighbours in their time of need is greatly appreciated.
    “They bring home with them new experiences and knowledge that will benefit the communities of Aotearoa New Zealand when we’re faced with our own severe weather events.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Banking – Kiwibank first New Zealand bank to partner with Kiwi tech company Wych to provide open banking – and draws line with zero fees

    Source: Kiwibank

     

    • Local tech company, Wych, will assist Kiwibank in implementing open banking.
    • Kiwibank will not be charging accredited third parties to make standard API requests. 
    • Open banking will deliver more value, choice and flexibility for customers.

     

    Kiwibank is the first New Zealand bank to partner with Wych, a New Zealand based financial technology company specialising in providing open data services and capabilities to data holders and data recipients.

     

    Wych will provide the integration capability to connect accredited third parties with Kiwibank as it delivers open banking.

     

    Steve Jurkovich, Kiwibank’s Chief Executive, says, “As a modern integration provider, Wych’s solution is cloud hosted and provided as a complete end-to-end SaaS solution. It’s also scalable and will enable Kiwibank to easily adapt as the open banking ecosystem develops.

     

    “This next step in our open banking journey will set us up to collaborate with even more innovative partners to offer services and experiences that provide our customers greater value and choice. As a smaller player compared to the larger banks, Kiwibank is excited to partner with fintechs to drive more competition to make Kiwi better off.”

     

    Dermot Butterfield, Wych’s Chief Executive Officer, says, “We are excited to be partnering with Kiwibank to build on the opportunity that open banking represents for their customers, including more innovation and customer-centric solutions as the market matures.”

     

    Kiwibank is proud to be supporting a Kiwi technology company and leveraging the expertise we have right here in New Zealand.

     

    Kiwibank takes competitive stand on open banking fees

    Kiwibank exists to challenge the status quo and to create a future where banking in New Zealand is stronger and fairer than ever before. 

     

    “We see the significant value open banking can deliver for our customers and we want to enable that,” says Jurkovich. “That’s why we won’t be charging accredited third parties to make standard API requests.”

     

    This sets Kiwibank apart. While some banks are offering temporary waivers on fees charged to accredited third parties, in the longer term those costs could be passed on to customers.


    “At Kiwibank, we’re committed to shaping an open banking environment that delivers real benefits for New Zealanders,” says Jurkovich. “By removing cost barriers we’re helping to unlock innovation that puts customers first – enabling more tailored, transparent, and empowering financial experiences.” 

     

    Kiwibank is committed to delivering payment initiation API services by 30 May 2026 and account information API services by 30 November 2026.

     

    About Kiwibank

    Kiwibank is a Purpose-led organisation that has modern, Kiwi values at heart and keeps Kiwi money where it belongs – right here in New Zealand. As a Kiwi bank, with more than a million customers, our trusted experts are focused on supporting Kiwi with their home ownership aspirations and backing local business ambitions, so together we can thrive here in Aotearoa and on the world stage. Kiwibank is the #1 bank in Kantar’s 2024 Corporate Reputation Index and the only bank in the top 20. To find out more about Kiwibank visit www.kiwibank.co.nz.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Farmer satisfaction with banks better – but fragile

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Farmers are feeling more satisfied with their banks, pointing to improved communication and less ‘undue pressure’, Federated Farmers’ latest Banking Survey shows.
    “It’s good to see things are improving but farmers’ trust in their banks is still fragile,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says.
    “Where farmers have given positive feedback in the survey, it’s usually about their individual managers, not bank policy.
    “When those individual staff leave, that trust can erode quickly.”
    Nearly 700 farmers responded to the May survey, with 60% of them ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their bank.
    That’s up from 53% in Federated Farmers’ November 2024 survey but well shy of the 80% peak rating recorded in 2017.
    “It’s helped that over the last year banks have been grilled by the select committee inquiry on banking competition that Federated Farmers pushed for,” McIntyre says.
    “There has been a lot of scrutiny and banks have definitely been feeling the pressure, so it’s good to see them start to lift their game as a result.”
    In the survey, 61% of farmers rated their bank’s communication as good or very good – the best result since 2020.
    Just on 18% of farmers said they were feeling undue bank pressure, down from 24% six months earlier and the lowest rating recorded since 2018.
    “Many farmers said bank pressure has eased over the past six to 12 months, with some noting their bank had become more understanding or backed off earlier demands,” McIntyre says.
    “However, for those still under pressure, the situation remains serious.
    “A few farmers shared difficult stories with us, including being forced out of farming altogether.”
    One farmer said: “We’ve sold the farm. If the bank had been more understanding, things might have been different.”
    The survey shows interest rates on farm mortgages have also eased by about 1% since late 2024 to an average of 6.52%.
    “Even so, we’re still very concerned that, compared with average residential mortgage interest rates, farm mortgage interest rates are around 0.92% higher – and were about 1.12% higher late last year,” McIntyre says.
    From 2016 until 2021, the margin of difference hovered between about 0.6% and 0.35%.
    “These don’t seem like big differences, but when total agricultural lending is around $61 billion, a 1% margin difference puts $600 million of extra interest costs on the sector each year.
    “It’s crazy how much more money farmers are having to shell out to the banks in interest payments.
    “Part of the problem is the unnecessarily conservative Reserve Bank capital requirements, and the recent decision to review those settings is very welcome,” McIntyre says.
    “What we desperately need as well is stronger competition among banks in the rural sector. That would really help lower costs for farmers and drive better bank performance.”
    In the open comment section of the May survey, many farmers said they were still paying far too much in interest.
    Several expressed frustration that banks were quick to hike rates, but slow to pass on savings when the OCR falls.
    “OCR drops come through like a feather. Increases hit like a brick,” one said.
    The May survey also found that just under 20% of farmers said their bank has inquired about their farm’s emissions profile or environmental footprint as part of loan requirements.
    Westpac and ASB were much more likely to ask such questions, at 32% and 40% respectively.
    “Federated Farmers’ view is that our democratically elected Government is the correct body to be setting emissions and environmental policy, not banks,” McIntyre says.
    “Farmers are closely watching what’s happening with Bills passing through Parliament, promoted by MPs Andy Foster and Mark Cameron, that would rein in banks’ ability to make lending decisions on non-commercial grounds.”
    Foster’s proposed law would prohibit banks from refusing loans or services purely for environmental or emissions reasons. May survey responses show 70% of farmers support such a law (18% oppose, 12% unsure).
    Other key findings from the survey:
    Farm Debt Levels: 84% of farmers surveyed have a mortgage. The average mortgage in the survey was $4.7 million, compared to $4.4 million six months ago.
    Overdraft Use Declining: Only 76% of farms now have an overdraft facility, down from 88% a decade ago.
    Overdraft Limits: Average overdraft limits have risen to $349,000. Arable farms saw the largest increase (from $500k to $718k).
    Overdraft Interest Rates: Rates have dropped. The average is now 9.0%, down from 10.0%. Rabobank offers the lowest (7.3%), while BNZ remains highest (9.7%).
    Efficiency Concerns: 19% of farmers feel their bank isn’t allowing them to structure debt as efficiently as possible – down slightly from 23% in November. Rabobank and ANZ performed best; Westpac performed worst.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Update on the Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 2, 2025

    Protecting Jewish Californians, strengthening campus safety, and ensuring California’s universities remain places of learning — not hate

    To the People of California,

    Recent years have seen a troubling spike in reported hate crimes and manifestations of bigotry. In response, California launched a robust anti-hate agenda that includes significant investments and actions to support and protect all the state’s communities from hate-motivated violence, to build mutual understanding and tolerance to prevent acts of hate and bigotry, and to redouble the state’s efforts to advance equity and fight discrimination. 

    Last year, as part of that agenda, my administration published the Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism, a roadmap for addressing hate and discrimination against the Jewish community in our state, and a call to remain vigilant amid new and evolving threats. Since the plan was released, California has taken bold action to ensure this vital California community feels safe and respected on their college campuses and schools, secure at their houses of worship, and supported and included in their communities.

    I would like to update the state on our progress since the plan was released last spring. Since then, we’ve doubled down on our efforts, requiring California’s higher education institutions to take concrete steps to prevent discrimination, protect student safety, and ensure civil discourse. We’ve also made new investments in nonprofit security and expanded resources to promote robust Holocaust and genocide education in California schools.

    Here’s what we’ve done together:

    • In partnership with the Jewish Caucus, enacted key legislation to protect student safety:
      • SB 1287 (Glazer) requires the CSU Trustees and requests the UC Regents to: adopt rules and procedures in the student codes of conduct that prohibit violent, harassing, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct that creates a hostile environment on campus; prohibit conduct that limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the free exchange of ideas or the educational mission of the segment; and develop mandatory training programs for students; and require each student to acknowledge the code of conduct. 
      • AB 2925 (Friedman) establishes requirements for anti-discrimination training offered at California college and university campuses that receive state financial assistance.
      • SB 153 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) expressly prohibits the adoption of any curriculum that would subject a pupil to unlawful discrimination if used in a classroom. The new law also empowers individuals to seek enforcement of this prohibition through a complaint process and authorizes a fiscal penalty for violations.  
      • The 2024-25 Budget Act requires every CSU and UC campus to prepare a campus climate action notification annually, with campus plans for fostering healthy and safe discourse, bringing together campus community members with different viewpoints, and promoting the exchange of ideas in a safe and peaceful manner. 
    • Added funding to bolster security for faith communities: 
      • The 2024-25 Budget includes an additional $160 million for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program, $80 million each year in 2024-25 and 2025-26, bolstering safety and security for faith communities. 
      • In July 2024, announced California was expediting the deployment of funds and accepting applications for $76 million in grant funding available to bolster safety and security for nonprofits  — including synagogues — that are at higher risk of hate-based crimes. 
      • In March 2025, in partnership with the Legislature, announced this funding was being awarded to 347 community groups and nonprofit organizations to protect them from hate-motivated violence.
    • Added new resources to strengthen Holocaust and Genocide education across the state:
      • Signed SB 1277 (Stern), which established the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education (Collaborative) in statute. The collaborative is creating a statewide professional development program on genocide for school district, county office of education, and charter school teachers.
      • In 2021, created the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education. In January 2025, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Council released “Holocaust and Genocide Education in California: A Study of Statewide Context and Local Implementation.” The Council assessed and made recommendations for how to improve Holocaust and genocide education in our schools. The Council  is now working to promote best practices for educators, schools and organizations and sponsor Holocaust and genocide remembrance.
    • Expanded efforts to counter discrimination and address hate. 
      • In 2024, the California Civil Rights Department collaborated with community groups and other organizations at nearly 200 events across 66 cities to support community-based anti-discrimination outreach and training sessions.
      • The Commission on the State of Hate, supported by the CA Civil Rights Department, is partnering with UCLA researchers on a first state-sponsored survey to estimate the prevalence of hate across California.

    Last year, I signed Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel’s legislation to help California residents recover art and personal property stolen from their families during the Holocaust. That small step toward resolving a historic wrong from 80 years ago was a vivid reminder that we cannot forget our history, and that the fight against hate is far from over. 

    Today, we face a tide of hate and violence, one that is not easily stemmed. California remains committed to protecting its people from hatred and abuse, providing individuals with the tools they need to stand up for their neighbors, and creating a better future where no one is afraid because of who they are. 

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Press releases

    Recent news

    Jun 1, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued the following statement regarding the death of Baldwin Park Police Department Officer Samuel Riveros:“We mourn the tragic loss of one of California’s brave law enforcement officers,…

    May 31, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Mental Health Awareness Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONDuring Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize the…

    May 30, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Connie Nakano, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Assistant Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Equity at the California Department of Aging. Nakano has been Assistant…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Beaumont Convenience Store Robbers Sentenced for Killing Clerk with Firearm

    Source: US FBI

    BEAUMONT, Texas – Two men who robbed a Beaumont convenience store and killed the clerk have been sentenced to over 30 years in federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Keandre Marquis Robinson, 20, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death and was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on May 30, 2025.  Larry Nathaniel Hagan, 28, of Houston, also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison by Judge Crone.

    According to information presented in court, on December 29, 2023, Robinson and Hagan were wearing masks and brandishing semi-automatic pistols when they entered the Kris Food Mart located on Gulf Street in Beaumont. Robinson quickly forced the clerk behind the counter and demanded cash while Hagan guarded the front door. Seconds later, Robinson shot the clerk two times in the chest, killing him. Robinson grabbed cigarettes from behind the counter and fled with Hagan. No cash was taken.

    Later that night, the Beaumont Police Department posted images from the robbery to social media and a tip identified Robinson. Police detained Robinson about three hours after the robbery as he was leaving his residence just a few blocks from the store. Robinson later confessed to his role in the robbery and killing but would not identify Hagan.

    Detectives searched Robinson’s phone and discovered text messages with Hagan related to the robbery.  The texts began on December 28 at 10:15 a.m. and ended a few minutes after the robbery. During the conversation, Robinson and Hagan planned to rob the store to “[g]et some money.” In one text, Robinson told Hagan that he would “knock [the clerk’s] top” [to eliminate any] “lose [sic] ends…”.  The conversation ended on December 29 at 10:07 p.m. (approximately 4 minutes after the shooting). In that text, Hagan told Robinson to “[s]tay in the house for some days”.

    “The despicable killing committed by Robinson and Hagan has caused unimaginable pain and loss to the victim’s loved ones and damaged the fabric of our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “We can never undue the pain that the victim’s loved ones have endured, but we hope this outcome provides them with some measure of closure. The lengthy sentences that were meted out today reflect the gravity of the brazen and senseless crime committed by Robinson and Hagan.”

    “This case shows the importance of collaboration between our officers, our federal partners, and the community that helped us identify the suspect so quickly,” said Beaumont Police Chief Tim Ocnaschek.  “The shooter had already committed an aggravated robbery a year before and was back on the streets just weeks before this murder. The second suspect came to our city with a violent past. While no sentence can bring back the innocent life that was lost, taking these dangerous criminals off the streets for decades makes our community safer and sends a strong message about consequences.”

    “Keandre Robinson’s text messages with Larry Hagan, plotting the slaughter of an unsuspecting store clerk, leave no doubt their only ‘plan’ was to kill,” said Douglas Williams, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Houston. “This was not a robbery gone wrong; it was a cold-blooded, premeditated execution. Thanks to the exceptional partnership between FBI Beaumont and the Beaumont Police Department, these savage criminals will now endure the full consequences of murdering an innocent man.”

    Robinson was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 7, 2024.  Hagan, who was at large until April 24, 2024 when he was arrested in New Orleans by the U.S. Marshals Service, was added to the indictment by the grand jury on May 1, 2024. 

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

    This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: West Columbia, South Carolina, Man Indicted for Directing the Sex Abuse of Children in Brazil by Livestream, Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: US FBI

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence has returned a 13-count indictment charging Stephen Todd Greene, 55, of West Columbia, with conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material, two counts of production of child sexual abuse material, four counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, three counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material, and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual conduct.

    The indictment alleges that from June 2023 through September 2024, Greene worked with a woman in Brazil, referred to in the indictment as C0-Conspirator 1, to sexually exploit her nieces, who are 3 years old and 9 years old as of the date of the indictment. Co-Conspirator 1 abused the children in person and Greene abused the children virtually, including by livestreaming their sex abuse to his home in West Columbia and by directing Co-Conspirator 1 to engage in certain abuse over livestream, according to the indictment.

    Greene and Co-Conspirator 1 used Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and FaceTime to facilitate the scheme, as well as a series of cameras installed in Greene’s home and in Co-Conspirator 1’s home in Brazil, which allowed a livestream from both locations.  According to the indictment, Greene produced, received, distributed, and possessed child sexual abuse material, and he engaged in sexually explicit conduct on video and caused the minor victims to watch.  During the scheme, Greene travelled twice to Brazil, where he gained direct access to the children, and he transferred money during the scheme to Co-Conspirator 1 through a wire service, according to the indictment.

    Agents with the FBI Columbia field office arrested Greene and he was arraigned in federal court earlier this afternoon. He was ordered detained pending a bond hearing.

    Greene faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.  He also faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years on the conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material and the production of child sexual abuse material charges, a mandatory minimum of 10 years on the coercion and enticement charges, and a mandatory minimum of five years on the receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material charges. Greene also faces up to a $250,000 fine, restitution payable to the minor victims for damages incurred as a result of the conduct, a special assessment of $5,000, lifetime supervision by the U.S. Probation Office following any term of incarceration, and potential sex offender registry requirements.

    The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia field office and the Brazilian Federal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.

    The FBI’s Columbia field office is seeking any information regarding additional potential victims in this investigation. Tips can be provided at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

    U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    ###

    * The term “pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Pressley, Advocates, Families Tell ICE: Hands Off Our Immigrant Neighbors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Convening Comes Amid Disturbing Uptick in ICE Activity Across Massachusetts 7th

    Press Conference (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)

    EAST BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) convened a roundtable and press conference in East Boston with immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, and impacted families to tell Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Hands off our immigrant neighbors. The convening came amid an uptick in ICE activity across the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District and the Commonwealth, including a series of harrowing incidents in East Boston, Chelsea, Everett, and other communities.

    “Donald Trump wants a citizenry that is inactive and indifferent to the suffering of their neighbors, including our immigrant families in the Massachusetts 7th. But we will not stand idly by while he and ICE carry out their cruel, unlawful, and inhumane mass deportation agenda,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “We stand with our immigrant neighbors. Children should not live in fear of their parents disappearing. Elders should not live in fear of going to the grocery store or their faith house. I was proud to convene an urgent and timely discussion about how we can push back against this harmful agenda, uplift impacted families, and share resources. I’m grateful to our advocates, families, and local partners for joining us.”

    Congresswoman Pressley was joined at the convening by State Senator Lydia Edwards, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, State Representative Adrian Madaro, Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta-Zapata, Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez, Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal of Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, Nicole Eigbrett of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), Caitlyn Burgess of MacMurray and Associates, Mercedes Pineda, an East Boston resident, Yolanda, a Randolph resident, Kenia Guerrero, a Chelsea resident, as well as impacted families, local elected officials, and community members.

    “East Boston is a proud, resilient, and diverse community — and our immigrant neighbors are the heart of it. The recent escalation in ICE activity is not only cruel, it’s dangerous,” said Senator Lydia Edwards, State Senator for Third Suffolk. “No one should live in fear for simply existing in their own neighborhood. I stand with Congresswoman Pressley, local advocates, and the families impacted in calling for humanity, accountability, and the end of these terrorizing practices. Our communities deserve safety, dignity, and the freedom to thrive.”

    “The cities I represent are vibrant and resilient because we welcome people from all parts of the world with open arms and lift each other up,” said State Senator Sal DiDomenico. “The Trump administration is tearing families apart and stoking fear, hoping that we will all sit back and not respond. I am proud to speak up against this abhorrent assault on our freedoms and our communities alongside my colleagues at all levels of government, impacted loved ones, and advocates on the ground fighting to protect our neighbors and keep families together. I want to thank Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for convening this roundtable and continuing to sound the alarm about this crisis.”

    ”Our immigrant neighbors help form the backbone of our communities,” said State Representative Adrian Madaro. “They are caring parents, dedicated workers, and courageous dreamers who came here seeking a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Entire sectors of our economy that are essential to our collective wellbeing depend on their labor. Yet ICE has been harassing and targeting them in East Boston and surrounding communities for weeks, going as far as taking individuals with legal status and no criminal histories. Their desperation to fill jails with immigrants has torn families apart and inflicted deep emotional trauma. It has left many facing staggering legal costs. ICE is operating with alarming disregard for both the law and human dignity. They’ve sent ripple effects through several of our school communities, waiting outside during drop off, tearing parents from their children for all to see. These actions do not make us safer — they fracture the trust that holds our communities together. This is cruelty, not justice. Our neighbors deserve protection, not persecution.”

    “East Boston is home to vibrant, resilient immigrant communities who deserve to live without fear. We stand in solidarity with our neighbors and with leaders like Congresswoman Pressley in calling for dignity, safety, and justice. No one should be targeted for simply trying to build a better life. When they come for our neighbors, they come for all of us,” said Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata.

    “The recent actions by federal immigration agents have inflicted fear and trauma in our community. This is not just about immigration enforcement—this is about the violent persecution of our residents and the destruction of trust between government and the people we serve. Chelsea is a city of immigrants. We will not stand by while our neighbors are racially profiled, ripped from their homes and families, and treated with cruelty and inhumanity. We stand united in defense of every resident’s dignity and right to live without fear,” said Fidel Maltez, Chelsea City Manager.

    “Today, I stood in full support of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s powerful call to action in East Boston, where she convened a roundtable and press conference with immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, and families impacted by increased ICE activity,” said Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén. “The message was clear: Hands off our immigrant neighbors. Here in the City of Boston, we are unwavering in our commitment to protect and uplift our immigrant communities. Immigrants are an integral part of our city’s fabric—they are our neighbors, colleagues, caregivers, and small business owners. They are not only welcome here; they are essential to the strength, diversity, and vibrancy of Boston. We reject the fear tactics and inhumane practices that target our immigrant families. As leaders, we must stand up to any efforts that seek to divide or dehumanize our communities. I will continue to advocate on behalf of our immigrant neighbors and proudly support Congresswoman Pressley’s efforts to demand dignity, safety, and justice for all.”

    “Federal agents say that they target people with terrorist ties, but they are the ones terrorizing the people of Chelsea,” said Chelsea City Councilor Roberto Jiménez-Rivera. “They kidnap bread winners, hard working people with legal status, and children. Chelsea and other immigrant communities are getting punched in the face every day, and we need other communities to stand up with us and defend Massachusetts. Congresswoman Pressley is doing everything she can, and it would be a dereliction of duty for every other level of government to ignore this call to action. We must do as much as possible to pass legislation that protects our immigrant neighbors everywhere.”

    “The Trump administration has chosen to deliberately attack and break my community in the city of Chelsea,” said Chelsea City Councilor Manuel Teshe. “Now is when we come together and fight because we’re the last line of defense against this tyranny. I stand strong next to Congresswoman Pressley who courageously represents each and every one of us in D.C.”

    “The federal government’s unlawful targeting of our immigrant residents makes our communities less safe. The people of Cambridge stand with our immigrant neighbors to demand due process for everyone because none of us are safe unless we all are,” said Cambridge City Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler.

    ““As an immigrant from Cameroon and a public official in Somerville, I know firsthand the fear and uncertainty that many in our communities face. Today, I stand not only as a policymaker but as someone who understands what it means to seek safety, dignity, and belonging in a new land. The recent ICE raids are a cruel reminder of how fragile that sense of safety can be. I’m deeply grateful to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for organizing this moment of solidarity. Her leadership reminds us that our communities are strongest when we stand together to defend the rights and humanity of every resident—no exceptions,” said Somerville City Councilor Wilfred Mbah.

    “Lawyers for Civil Rights applauds elected officials for standing with the community. We demand that the federal government uphold the Constitution and respect the rule of law. We will safeguard civil rights to prevent their erosion under the guise of immigration enforcement,” said Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director of Lawyers for Civil Rights.

    “At MacMurray and Associates, LLC, our mission is to empower the immigrant community by providing strong legal representation in both immigration court and before USCIS. In the wake of the recent ICE raids in our district, we have stood on the front lines—defending the rights of those detained, working tirelessly to reunify families, and ensuring that due process is not abandoned. Our partnership with the community and Congresswoman Pressley has been essential in responding rapidly and effectively to these injustices, giving voice and strength to those most vulnerable. Together, we continue to fight for a system where dignity and justice are not denied to immigrants seeking safety and opportunity, “ said Attorney Caitlyn Burgess.

    “The Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) thanks Congresswoman Pressley for her partnership in this struggle for immigrant justice since the first Trump administration, during the height of raids and deportations in the Cambodian community,” said Nicole Eigbrett, Co-Executive Director of AARW. “Now, in his second term, we are experiencing Asian immigrants targeted on multiple fronts, including undocumented Asian workers, Chinese and Muslim international students, Southeast Asians with past criminal records, and TPS holders from Nepal. AARW will continue organizing to stop ICE raids, detentions, deportations within our community — but also across race and nationalities for solidarity with all immigrant communities in Massachusetts.”

    Video of the press conference is available here and photos are available here.

    Rep. Pressley has been a vocal advocate for our immigrant neighbors and everyone harmed by Donald Trump’s unlawful, anti-immigrant, and anti-free speech agenda. Congresswoman Pressley, who serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country, has also been an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration’s ending of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, Venezuela, El Salvador, and other countries grappling with humanitarian crises.

    Rep. Pressley has also been an outspoken critic against the unlawful detention of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts PhD student, Somerville resident, and constituent of the Congresswoman’s who was unlawfully detained for weeks in retaliation for her protected speech. After weeks of advocacy and Congressional oversight, including a visit to detention centers in Louisiana, Rep. Pressley and Senator Ed Markey welcomed Ms. Öztürk to Massachusetts following her arrival from ICE detention in Louisiana.

    Rep. Pressley has also spoken out against reports of ICE activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.

    In January 2025, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in reintroducing the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, legislation that would repeal the antiquated Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been used to target innocent immigrants based on nothing more than national origin without affording due process rights, and which Donald Trump has used in his plans for mass deportations.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Charged with Hate Crime in Attack on Boulder Gathering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mohammed Sabry Soliman, age 45, of Colorado Springs, has been charged with one count of a hate crime involving actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin.

    According to the criminal complaint, on June 1, 2025, at approximately 2pm, Soliman threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in a gathering near the Boulder Courthouse of members of “Run for Their Lives,” which organizes weekly walks to call attention to the Israeli hostages in Gaza.  When he threw the Molotov cocktails, Soliman yelled “Free Palestine!”  The Molotov cocktails ignited in the crowd of people, causing burn injuries to eight individuals.

    The complaint also alleges that when Soliman was detained by local law enforcement, at least fourteen unlit Molotov cocktails and a backpack weed sprayer, potentially containing a flammable substance, were found nearby.  A car registered to Soliman, parked a block away, contained a red gas container, red material consistent with rags used in the Molotov cocktails, and paperwork with the words, “Israel,” “Palestine,” and “USAID.”

    The complaint further alleges that, during an interview with local and federal law enforcement, Soliman stated that he had researched on YouTube how to make Molotov cocktails, purchased the ingredients to do so, and constructed them.  He traveled to Boulder in his vehicle with the Molotov cocktails and threw two of them at individuals participating in the gathering.  He stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.  He stated that he would do it (conduct an attack) again.  Throughout the interview, Soliman stated that he hated the “Zionist group” and did this because he needed to stop them from taking over “our land,” i.e., Palestine.  He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year.

    The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Denver Field Office and the Boulder Police Department.  The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, the Civil Rights Division and the National Security Division, both of the Department of Justice, and in coordination with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office (Twentieth Judicial District).

    Case Number:  25-mj-000108-NRN

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first

    More than £4 billion drive towards autonomous systems to shape UK military future and boost export potential, supporting the Plan for Change

    UK troops and warships will be protected by drone and laser weapon technology through a major £5 billion investment, as the UK seeks to become the leading edge of innovation in NATO under the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and driven by lessons from Ukraine. 

    The major funding package includes more than £4 billion for autonomous systems and a further investment of nearly £1 billion for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) this Parliament – including the iconic DragonFire laser – boosting frontline capabilities while creating 300 skilled jobs across the country. 

    DragonFire is set to be the first high power laser capability entering service from a European nation, with the first Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer due to be fitted in 2027.  

    The SDR recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy. To help achieve this, it says Defence must incorporate uncrewed and autonomous systems in high numbers over the next five years and make targeted investment in the development of novel directed energy weapons.  

    Today’s autonomous systems investment – of which more than £2 billion is new funding following the Government‘s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027– will see autonomous systems, including drones improve accuracy and lethality for our Armed Forces, and boost UK export potential. 

    It comes after major announcements ahead of the SDR publication, including: the building of up to a dozen new attack submarines for the Royal Navy; up to 7,000 new UK-built long-range weapons to procured; at least six new munitions and energetics factories in the UK; more than £1.5 billion to improve the state of military housing; and more than £1 billion for pioneering technology to spearhead battlefield engagements.

    The new DEW capabilities will give the UK an edge, creating low cost and sustainable alternatives to missiles to shoot down targets, such as drones, at the speed of light, reduce collateral damage and have a low-cost per shot, reducing reliance on expensive ammunition.   

    The systems will be tailored to the conditions in which they will operate – whether at sea, on land, or in the air – and will work alongside crewed assets, such as current and future fighter jets.  

    Both investments reflect the SDR’s vision for UK innovation to be driven by the lessons from Ukraine – harnessing drones, data and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. 

    The SDR sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It ends the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and will also drive innovation, jobs and growth across the country, allowing the UK to lead in a stronger NATO as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.  

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    These investments will mean the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades. We will ensure our Armed Forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

    We are delivering the Strategic Defence Review’s vision to put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, by backing British industry and fast-tracking the kit of the future into the hands of frontline troops.

    This Government’s Plan for Change will harness the benefits of technology, create hundreds of new jobs and make defence a powerful engine for economic growth.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:  

    A strong economy needs a strong national defence. That’s why we are delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War—putting innovation and industrial strength at the centre of our national security strategy.

    Additional funding for autonomous systems maximises the defence industry’s potential to drive long term economic growth and productivity – helping us deliver our Plan for Change while keeping the UK safe.

    A new DEW will be created for the British Army this decade, alongside DragonFire being integrated on four Royal Navy warships, with the first ship due to be fitted in 2027, forming part of a layered air defence system to better protect UK forces while reducing collateral damage and reducing reliance on expensive ammunition. 

    DEW technology already supports 200 high-skilled UK jobs, with a further 300 positions to be created across the Ministry of Defence and industry partners. It’s another example of defence as an engine for UK economic growth, delivering on the Plan for Change.  

    In addition, a new Drone Centre will be established to accelerate exploitation of small, uncrewed air systems across all three military services, helping to deliver them to the front line faster.   

    The Centre will provide a central knowledge base to tackle any emerging legislative changes, develop best practice and better manage the interaction with industry. Crucially, it will apply battlefield lessons from Ukraine where drones now kill more people than traditional artillery. Detailed organisational arrangements will be developed over the coming months. 

    During the SDR process, 1,700 individuals, political parties, and organisations submitted more than 8,000 responses. 200 companies provided written contributions, more than 120 senior experts took part in the review and challenge panels, and nearly 50 meetings took place between the Reviewers and our senior military figures.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Calls on Department of Labor to Keep Doors Open at Pinellas Job Corps Center

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

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) urged the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-Remer to reverse DOL’s decision to close the Pinellas County Job Corps Center. 

    The abrupt decision to pause Job Corps operations nationwide is creating deep concerns for the more than 250 students affected by the order.

    “This harsh and arbitrary decision casts students into an uncertain future, disrupts job training, and creates housing insecurity for hundreds of young people across Florida,” said Rep. Castor. “This move will upend more than 60 years of progress and take away a vital resource that helps young people succeed. I urge the Department to reverse this order and work with our community to ensure these students are not left behind.”

    The Pinellas County Job Corps Center provides job training, education and housing for at-risk youth from across the state. DOL’s directive to pause operations at all contractor-run centers by June 30 follows the release of a report that purportedly relied on narrow and incomplete data. Castor is demanding transparency from DOL regarding this hasty decision – which has a significant impact on at-risk youth – including the reliability of student performance numbers and how pandemic-related challenges were factored into the report.

    U.S. Rep. Castor is calling on the Department to delay the pause, revisit the data and commit to keeping opportunities alive for Florida students.

    Read the full letter here:

    Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer: 

    Thank you for the opportunity to relay my deep concern for the Department of Labor’s (DOL) decision to suddenly and arbitrarily close the Pinellas County, Florida Job Corps Center and cast 300 students into an uncertain future. I respectfully urge you to reverse the decision and answer the questions posed below. 

    For decades, Job Corps has provided a vital pathway to education, job training and self-sufficiency for young people who deserve a second chance. I am concerned, however, that DOL has proposed dismantling Job Corps, contrary to the direction of Congress. I have heard from local teachers and students how the sudden and arbitrary closure will undercut the mission and leave students in the lurch. The Pinellas County Job Corps Center serves 300 students who hail from across the state of Florida, 285 of whom receive housing, and employs 124 staff members. This order will displace students in the midst of their training, create housing insecurity, lay off dedicated staff and leave communities scrambling to fill the gap. 

    Staff and students have raised concerns about the cancellation of national contracts that provide critical services such as Wi-Fi access on-site, the halt of background checks for applicants, thus stopping the enrollment process, and now the pause of operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers scheduled to occur by June 30, 2025. This comes after the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) released the first-ever Job Corps Transparency Report. This report analyzed the financial performance and operational costs of the most recently available metrics of program year 2023. Coming to such a swift decision is both alarming and hasty. 

    Please answer the following questions by June 15, 2025:

    • The Job Corps Transparency Report claims there are less than 25,000 students participating in Job Corps nationally. What data was used to determine this number? 
    • How many students receive housing through this initiative? 
    • The report claims that the graduation rate is less than 38.6 percent. Why was the analysis not performed on a date range larger than July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024? 
    • How are the impacts of COVID-19 taken into consideration? 
    • The analysis weighs incident occurrences against outcomes. What criteria are used to determine what an “incident” is? 
    • The report claims that the initiative is no longer meeting set outcomes. How have graduates’ wages compared to wage goals set by DOL for the last 10 years? 
    • Are there efficient structural changes that can be made prior to stopping operations? 

    The report suggests the initiative has become expensive, yet Job Corps has not received a funding increase in 8 years. This move will upend more than 60 years of progress, leaving current and future at-risk young people with one less pipeline to personal and professional development. Halting Job Corps contracts will deepen inequality and rob young people in need of critical tools to thrive. DOL should be investing in our communities and resources with effective tools like Job Corps to break the cycle of poverty and help young people succeed. I trust that we share the same goal of serving all Americans and bolstering our workforce. I respectfully urge you to delay the pause in operations, review this Transparency Report and include a longer dataset for analysis, and take actions to ensure the success of Job Corps.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Reducing American antisemitism requires more than condemning opposition to Israel and targeting elite universities

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David Mednicoff, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass Amherst

    Law enforcement officials dress in protective gear to investigate after an attack on a march in Boulder, Colo., on June 1, 2025, calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

    Violent antisemitism in the U.S. isn’t limited to the far right wing of the political spectrum. This was tragically obvious in two recent events – the June 1, 2025, attack using Molotov cocktails to burn participants in a Boulder, Colorado, march supporting Israeli hostages in Gaza, and the murders of two Israeli embassy staffers, an American Jew and an Israeli, on May 21, 2025, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

    As an expert on the Middle East, including Israel, my research and administrative work have included contributing to a global effort to define antisemitism and addressing antisemitism on my own campus.

    Antisemitism can be defined simply as “discrimination, prejudice, hostility or violence against Jews as Jews (or Jewish institutions as Jewish).” What actually constitutes it is more contested, especially with respect to links between Jews and the state of Israel.

    President Donald Trump claims he is taking “unprecedented” steps to combat antisemitism.

    American Jews perceive antisemitism as rising since 2016, largely because, as one study put it, “people who hold anti-Semitic views now feel more free to express them.” But the current federal fight against antisemitism in the U.S. may have more to do with the agendas of members of the American and Israeli governments than with the concerns of most American Jews.

    First, the Trump administration’s attacks on antisemitism center on elite universities, where the president claims antisemitism runs rampant. Second, the current Israeli government tries to blur the lines between pro-Palestinian activism and antisemitism.

    These factors polarize and complicate the landscape for combating antisemitism effectively.

    GOP nominee for president Donald Trump speaks to prominent Jewish donors at an event called Fighting Anti-Semitism in America on Sept. 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    Targeting speech at universities by charging ‘antisemitism’

    Trump’s administration has taken dramatic actions in the name of curbing antisemitism. Yet, his policies are notable for what they ignore as well as what they target.

    Right-wing antisemitism was responsible for the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in U.S. history in Pittsburgh in 2018. Yet the administration’s model for fighting antisemitism is not based in fighting white supremacist hatred toward Jews, which relates back to the Nazis in Germany.

    In fact, members of Trump’s administration, including senior adviser Stephen Miller and former Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk, have supported white supremacist ideas or groups. Trump’s own words have evoked right-wing antisemitic tropes, such as assuming American Jews are loyal to Israel or adept at making money.

    Trump administration policies on antisemitism are most vocal around punishing leading American universities as unsafe for Jews. As the leading target of the president’s ire, Harvard University has acknowledged that some activism against Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza has contributed to antisemitism on campuses.

    However, federal actions targeting Harvard ostensibly seek to punish antisemitism by demanding sweeping federal oversight of Harvard’s curriculum and self-governance. Billions of dollars in research funds have been cut. Neither action connects clearly to Harvard’s patterns or policies around antisemitism.

    Given this, Harvard sued the government in April.

    Many American Jews believe that Trump’s true purpose is to use the antisemitism issue as one means to curb free expression at universities.

    Defending Israeli policy by charging ‘antisemitism’

    National governments naturally seek political and material support from powerful allies. Israel’s efforts to encourage Americans to champion that support fit this pattern.

    Israel receives more U.S. aid than any other country. Thus, its government has an interest in enlisting diverse people and organizations in a sustained way to support its policies.

    The Israeli intervention has grown because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government is unpopular in both Israel and the U.S. Its war in Gaza, provoked by Hamas, is highly destructive and globally unpopular.

    Most experts and policymakers now argue that Israel, along with Hamas, has committed international war crimes.

    The Israeli government recently increased its funding to US$150 million for global public relations efforts. This is a major acceleration of policies that Israeli has pursued for decades known in Hebrew as “hasbara,” which translates to “explanation.”

    Documenting specific links between Israel’s government and groups promoting its agenda in the U.S. can be difficult. This may be a deliberate strategy by Israeli leaders to conceal their efforts.

    Yet, mainstream Israeli-run organizations such as the Jewish Agency have played up links between pro-Palestinian activism and antisemitism since Hamas triggered the war in Gaza. Groups whose funding and leadership are hard to trace maintain public blacklists labeling vocal pro-Palestine activists as antisemites. Those lists have been used by Israeli government bureaucrats to bar visitors to the country.

    U.S.-based groups aligned with Israeli government messaging engage in persistent strategies to discredit opposition voices. Some attack publicly vocal activists, including some American Jews. Others press organizations, political bodies and institutions to adopt a definition of antisemitism that makes it easy to conflate criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism.

    Anti-Israel behavior in the U.S. can be antisemitic, such as asserting that American Jews, because they are Jews, are responsible for Israeli state actions. And some American Jews support crackdowns on pro-Palestinian activists.

    However, characterizing antisemitism in the U.S. mostly in terms of speech and activism against the Israeli government augments the Trump administration’s neglect of dangerous right-wing antisemitism.

    Presidential adviser Elon Musk interviews via video the German right-wing party AfD leader Alice Weidel at AfD’s election campaign launch on Feb. 23, 2025.
    Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images

    Polarization and antisemitism in the US

    Taken together, the politics pursued by Trump and the Netanyahu government combine to target legally protected speech in the U.S. more than they deter antisemitism.

    By contributing to polarization, the conflation of antisemitism with a wide range of speech critical of Israel could add to threats faced by Jews and other religious minorities. Those who wish to undermine work toward Palestinian-Israeli coexistence benefit from the charge that most pro-Palestinian activists are antisemitic. This worsens already visible divides among American Jews over how Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians squares with their Jewish identities.

    Supported by the most aggressive pro-Netanyahu groups, the Trump administration links concerns against antisemitism to efforts to deport immigrants who have expressed pro-Palestine views, such as Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk. Deporting people in the name of policing speech critical of Israel also runs a risk that Jews will be blamed for government actions many Americans find objectionable.

    Let’s be clear. Some pro-Palestinian activism embraces Jew-hatred, as the attacks in Washington and Boulder highlight. But lumping together as antisemitic most pro-Palestinian speech, as current American and Israeli leaders do, complicates seeing antisemitism clearly and countering it.

    In addition, most Americans – and Israelis – seek an end to the war, mounting deaths and humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Any potential to blur this with antisemitism augments the few, loud American voices that support one side in the conflict by dehumanizing the other side.

    Americans believe other minority groups face greater discrimination than Jews. Yet, antisemitism from diverse directions is the worst I have seen in my lifetime.

    As with any policy problem, the way to deal with this issue is to focus on all facets of the problem, including right-wing racism and Christian nationalism.

    Current national politics around antisemitism may serve many purposes. Yet most American Jews doubt that these policies actually protect them.

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

    – ref. Reducing American antisemitism requires more than condemning opposition to Israel and targeting elite universities – https://theconversation.com/reducing-american-antisemitism-requires-more-than-condemning-opposition-to-israel-and-targeting-elite-universities-257290

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Building consent system productivity on the rise

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Processing delays for building consents and code compliance certificates have dropped since the Government began publicly releasing council performance data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.   “One of the most common frustrations I’ve heard from tradies and aspiring homeowners since becoming Minister is how long it takes to get the paperwork sorted before building can begin. “Just over a year ago, I directed MBIE to start publishing quarterly performance data so the Government could dig into the problem and show how well Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) are handling consent applications.  “The decision to put performance in the spotlight is paying off, and I wish to acknowledge councils who have moved quickly to expedite consenting processes.  “Latest data shows 92.7 percent of building consent applications and 96.8 percent of code compliance certificates were processed within the statutory timeframe in the first quarter of 2025.   “That’s up from 88 percent and 93.6 percent respectively when reporting began last year.  “More work is getting done. In the first three months of 2025, 31,845 building consent applications, amendments and code compliance certificates were processed – almost 1,000 more than in the same period last year.  “These improvements reveal the impact of driving accountability, and we’re just getting started.  “The Government is working hard to bring in practical reforms which will streamline the consent system and make building in New Zealand easier and more affordable.  “This includes new legislation empowering trusted building professionals to sign off their own work – slashing thousands of applications to ease system pressure, and requiring BCAs to conduct 80 percent of building inspections within three working days.  “This mandatory target will help councils prioritise their workloads more effectively. I expect the requirement to come into effect later this year.  “By setting clear standards and creating a regulatory system that drives building productivity, we will see more Kiwi families move into homes faster.”Note to editors:    

    Building Consent System Performance Monitoring Data for the first quarter of 2025 is published on the MBIE website:  https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/building/building-system-insights-programme/building-consent-system-performance-monitoring
    Legislation to enable the self-certification scheme will be introduced by the end of 2025. Further information can be found on the Beehive website: Accelerating building projects with self-certification and inspection targets | Beehive.govt.nz 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OPINION: Relief, Retention, and Responsibility—Why This Special Session Matters

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 2, 2025

    By Governor Mike Kehoe

    This special session is about showing up for our communities—from the families across our state picking up the pieces after devastating storms, to the employees and small businesses whose livelihoods depend on the jobs and economic activity provided by the sports franchise businesses on the western side of our state. It’s about proving that we can act swiftly to help those in crisis, while also making smart decisions that secure opportunity for the future.

    The General Assembly achieved so much for our state this spring, so I am both thankful for their efforts and optimistic that we can work together to use this rare opportunity to benefit the future of our state. Because helping Missourians today—and building the kind of future they deserve tomorrow—isn’t just possible; it’s the kind of leadership Missourians expect from us.

    Disaster Relief

    Every storm reveals what matters most and who we are here for. We’ve seen firsthand how Missourians weather hardships and show up for their neighbors with courage and compassion. Now, it’s our turn to meet that same standard. We have the chance to pull together – not as rivals, but as public servants united by purpose.

    In this special session, we are asking legislators to take direct action to provide financial relief and housing assistance to those affected by natural disasters across our state. One key provision is a new income tax deduction—capped at $5,000 per household per disaster—for insurance deductibles paid by homeowners and renters in disaster-affected areas.

    We’re also strengthening support for those in need by expanding eligibility for emergency grants and rental assistance through the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC). If passed by the General Assembly, the income eligibility threshold for these grants would be expanded from 50% to 75% of the regional Area Median Income. MHDC would also receive an additional $25 million appropriation to support the expanded disaster relief grands.

    Business Retention

    Sports teams have tremendous value beyond any financial measure. Our efforts are about retaining jobs, protecting local businesses, and preserving major economic drivers that benefit not just Kansas City, but the entire state.

    The Show Me Sports Investment Act is a step in the right direction for economic stability and job retention through tax credits and bonds that are performance-based and capped to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals right here in Missouri where they belong.

    Let me be clear: We are not handing out blank checks to billionaires.

    The legislation allows teams to independently bond money from the state based on the taxes they already contribute. Only money generated by the sports teams can be used to repay the bond and any new or existing revenue above the bond payment will go to the state as it currently stands. Finally, this legislation gives each team a one-time $50 million tax credit if they first spend $500 million of their own dollars on renovating their stadium.

    If we fail to act, Missouri stands to lose thousands of jobs and millions in annual revenue. This isn’t a giveaway—it’s a strategy to ensure Missouri remains competitive with other states that would gladly take this opportunity for themselves.

    Budgetary Responsibility

    This special session call also contains critical appropriations that didn’t make it across the finish line in the regular session, including $25 million in General Revenue funds for the Radioisotope Science Center at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR). The MURR has developed life-saving medicines for patients around the world, and Missouri is proud to be home to this incredible nuclear resource.

    We are also asking the General Assembly to appropriate funding from funds other than the General Revenue for various projects such as a new 200-bed mental health hospital in Kansas City, a new crime lab in Highway Patrol Troop E, new livestock and stalling barns at the Missouri State Fairgrounds, and various projects at parks and Missouri National Guard facilities across the state.

    We are not asking the General Assembly to forgive and forget the actions taken by members of an opposing party or chamber. Instead, we are asking them to set those feelings aside to get to work on issues that matter to the people we serve.

    We understand that tension doesn’t vanish with the gavels that close one session and open another. It lingers – in priorities left unresolved and personal strains that follow difficult debates. As a former legislator, I know it can be tough to move on from these moments. The echoes of disagreements still ripple beneath the surface. But we must turn the page.

    A special session is not just a procedural tool – it’s an invitation to rise above all the noise. It’s a chance to demonstrate that principled public servants can come together with resolve to do what’s right. Leadership isn’t proven by how loudly we defend our corners, but by how we willingly find solutions that work. Missourians are watching, and they’re ready for us to meet the moment.

    This special session isn’t just another item on the legislative calendar to check off – it’s a moment Missouri simply cannot afford to coast through. There are families still waiting for relief, jobs hanging in the balance, and communities counting on us to make wise, forward-thinking investments that won’t just fix short-term, hot-button problems – but shape a stronger future.

    It’s time to rise above the noise and govern with the people in mind. Because Missourians didn’t send us here to work for ourselves. We’re here to serve them.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Over 175 Students, Dozens of Staff at Exeter Job Corps in Limbo After Trump Halts Job Corps Operations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    EXETER, RI — Once again, President Donald Trump is trying to eliminate the federal Job Corps program, which offers free vocational and career-training for underserved youth to help produce skilled workers.  Job Corps serves low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who face barriers to education and employment.

    A week after U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) called out the Trump Administration for effectively ‘pausing’ Job Corps enrollment by preventing new students from getting background checks, the Trump Administration formally announced a “phased pause in operations” for all Job Corps centers nationwide, including the center in Exeter. 

    Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, denounced Trump’s Job Corps suspension as counterproductive and pledged to work on a bipartisan basis to reopen, improve, and continue to fund the centers, which teach eligible youth the skills they need to become employable and independent.

    Reed stated: “Job Corps helps expand economic opportunity and prepare young people for good-paying jobs in in-demand fields.  It literally helps people turn their lives around and we shouldn’t turn our back on this program, we should strengthen it to improve outcomes for more young people.  The Exeter Job Corps Center is a high performing center that helps produce skilled workers in some of the trades we need most, like submarine manufacturing.  I strongly oppose President Trump’s attempt to dismantle vital resources for young people seeking education and opportunity and I will work to prevent the elimination of Job Corps.”

    “The Trump Administration’s Job Corps pause is putting the economic futures of young people across the country on hold.  Students trying to enroll are stuck in limbo.  Job Corps offers young people a second chance to complete their high school education, receive technical training, and prepare for a career.  The Trump Administration is attempting to take that away, but we will work hard to reverse it, because it would be a real blow to these young people and our regional economy,” Reed continued.

    At a May 22 hearing of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H), Senator Reed questioned U.S. Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer about the Trump Administrations efforts to terminate Job Corps.

    During the hearing, Reed noted: “And it’s not only critical to these young men and women to develop their talents and be productive members of our society, but also it’s a key aspect of our submarine production with their relationships to electric boat at Quonset Point Rhode Island. If we don’t have these trained and skilled workers, we will fall behind further and further in terms of submarine production, which will be a detrimental — is an understatement to our national security.”

    Earlier this week, Reed joined Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) in sending a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer requesting detailed information on Job Corps — including contracts, background check processing, and evaluation plans.  The bipartisan letter noted: “We would be pleased to work with you to improve Job Corps and make needed changes to the program, such as some of those that were included in the bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, but we expect you to faithfully implement the program with the resources we have appropriated.”

    Since 1964, Job Corps has served more than three million low-income youth and young adults in all parts of the country.

    This is not the first time President Trump has tried to terminate Job Corps. In 2019, during Trump’s first term, his Administration announced it would be closing Job Corp centers. But thanks to public outcry and bipartisan efforts from Reed, Collins, and other members of Congress, the federal government reversed those decisions.

    Exeter Job Corps Center, which opened in 2004, provides free job training in a variety of fields, including: computers, culinary arts, construction, hospitality, health fields, manufacturing, and other career paths, as well as transportation and dormitory-style housing for those who need it. The programs are aligned with industry credentials and include work-based learning.

    Enrollment at Exeter Job Corps Center, located at the site of the former Ladd Center off Route 2 in Exeter, with a capacity for 185 students, with rolling admissions throughout the year.  Exeter Job Corps Center employs a staff of about 85 and offers vocational training in 6 trades, a GED program, and two high school diploma programs. Most participants are from Rhode Island or neighboring states.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Delivers $29.6 Million for RI Economic Development & Housing Initiatives

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to help strengthen local neighborhoods and support economic development and affordable housing programs throughout the state, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that Rhode Island will receive $29,614,503 in new federal aid from several federal housing and community development programs.

    Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, who helped secure the funds in the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution (CR) appropriations bill, noted this year’s funding levels are based on the Biden Administration’s final budget, which was untouched by cuts from the Trump Administration when Congress passed the full-year CR in March.  

    As a result, Rhode Island’s allocations include:

    • $16,616,289 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds
    • $5,825,296 from the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) program
    • $3,001,259 from the Housing Trust Fund
    • $1,469,265 from the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program
    • $1,484,128 from the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)
    • $1,218,265 through the Recovery Housing Program (RHP)

    The federal investments are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which Senator Reed oversees as both an authorizer on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and as an appropriator on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD).

    “This federal funding will help strengthen neighborhoods, advance opportunities for local economic development, and ensure more Rhode Islanders have a healthy and safe place to live.  These programs help cities and towns expand housing options and move forward with capital improvement projects that can spur economic growth and development.  Unlike President Trump, whose Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal calls for the elimination of many of these essential government programs. I’m committed to improving public infrastructure, boosting housing supply, and upgrading community assets.  From increasing affordable housing opportunities, to repairing roads and extending sidewalks, to enhancing parks and clean water infrastructure, these funds help revitalize neighborhoods and enhance economic development.  With Rhode Island experiencing an alarming affordable housing supply shortage, this critical funding will also bring millions to our state to help preserve and build more affordable housing,” said Senator Reed.

    President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 preliminary budget request to Congress would eliminate the CDBG and HOME programs and devastate HUD with a 43 percent cut in funding. Furthermore, it would place a massive burden on state and local budgets by cutting HUD rental assistance programs by nearly half and shrinking federal homeless assistance programs.

    CDBG provides local communities with a flexible source of federal funding to address a wide range of neighborhood development needs.  The funds may be used for capital-improvement projects or distributed to non-profit organizations to increase housing, supportive service, and job opportunities.  Eligible communities may also apply to the state, which annually allocates federal CDBG funds through a competitive process.  CDBG funds may also be used to address a variety of needs from revitalizing distressed areas by removing blight and assisting with infrastructure projects.

    Several Rhode Island cities will split over $16.6 million from this round of CDBG funding, including allocations for:

    1. Cranston: $1,085,975
    2. East Providence: $772,761
    3. Pawtucket: $1,776,064
    4. Providence: $5,227,138
    5. Warwick: $948,131
    6. Woonsocket: $1,050,583
    7. Rhode Island statewide: $5,755,637
    8. TOTAL: $16,616,289

    HOME is a major federal block grant program providing funding to state and local governments to expand and preserve the supply of quality, affordable housing for working families.  Providence will receive $1,414,533 in HOME funds, while Pawtucket will receive $520,010, Woonsocket will receive $333,115, and a pot of funds for communities across the state will total $3,557,637.

    Senator Reed created the national Housing Trust Fund (HTF) in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.  The HTF is an affordable housing production and preservation program.  Under the law, government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required to contribute annually to the HTF.

    ESG provides annual grants to state and local governments to upgrade and expand emergency homeless shelters.  In this round of funding, Providence will receive $476,119 in ESG funds, Pawtucket will receive $155,836, Woonsocket will receive $93,908, and communities across the state will share an additional $743,402.

    Providence will also receive $1,484,128 in HOPWA funds, which help communities and nonprofit organizations offer housing assistance and related supportive services to low-income individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

    To help more effectively combat the opioid crisis and ensure people with substance abuse disorders can access safe housing, Rhode Island will also receive $1,218,265 in Recovery Housing Program (RHP) funds.  Senator Reed backed this program as part of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act.  This federal funding will help Rhode Island provide stable, temporary housing to individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 2nd, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Urge FEMA to Implement Reforms to Better Address Disasters in New Mexico, Western States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    “FEMA was originally structured to respond to large-scale hurricanes and disasters on the East Coast, and its current – and outdated – model reflects that legacy.”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to implement practical reforms to better address the unique and growing disaster risks faced by Western U.S. communities, particularly in the aftermath of catastrophic wildfires.

    The letter requests FEMA modernize its outdated response model, improve infrastructure reimbursement policies to facilitate smarter rebuilding, and expand individual and community assistance to reflect actual recovery costs. The letter also calls for FEMA to address gaps in support for high-risk areas where insurance is no longer accessible.

    “Western states face a distinct and growing threat: namely, catastrophic wildfires followed by cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding, and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery. These cascading events – which can happen years after an initial fire – are devastating, and FEMA has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “As New Mexicans learned in the wake of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire and Californians in the wake of the Palisades fire, and Hawaii residents after the Maui wind-driven fires, FEMA’s protocols and funding mechanisms aren’t built to address the rapid domino effect that occurs after major wildfires. Events that are interconnected are treated as isolated occurrences, leaving affected communities without the timely, comprehensive support they deserve,” the lawmakers continued.

    Heinrich, Luján, and the New Mexico Delegation have secured $5.45 billion for recovery efforts following the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. The fire, which was started by the U.S. Forest Service, caused widespread damage and uprooted the lives of many New Mexicans.

    The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson:

    Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comments on FEMA’s disaster response and recovery operations. We are writing to ask you to consider practical reforms to improve the organization and administration of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA was originally structured to respond to large-scale hurricanes and disasters on the East Coast, and its current – and outdated – model reflects that legacy. Practical reforms are warranted to better serve communities in the Western United States.

    We want to emphasize that serious, targeted reform is the answer to these pressing problems – not dismantling FEMA altogether. The federal government has an important role to play in assisting state and local governments in the wake of natural disasters. Weakening or eliminating federal disaster assistance when state and local resources across the West are overwhelmed and depleted would be a dangerous step backwards. FEMA’s mission is simply too important to abandon.

    Western states face a distinct and growing threat: namely, catastrophic wildfires followed by cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding, and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery. These cascading events – which can happen years after an initial fire – are devastating, and FEMA has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively. As New Mexicans learned in the wake of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire and Californians in the wake of the Palisades fire, and Hawaii residents after the Maui wind-driven fires, FEMA’s protocols and funding mechanisms aren’t built to address the rapid domino effect that occurs after major wildfires. Events that are interconnected are treated as isolated occurrences, leaving affected communities without the timely, comprehensive support they deserve.

    FEMA’s reimbursement formulas and policies currently require that public infrastructure be rebuilt to its pre-disaster condition in order to qualify for full reimbursement. While we understand the intent behind these rules—to restore essential infrastructure equitably—they do not adequately address the unique and escalating risks associated with post-wildfire environments, especially with regard to flood-related infrastructure such as culverts, bridges, and drainage systems.

    After a wildfire, watersheds are severely destabilized. Vegetation loss, soil degradation, and hydrophobic soils result in dramatically altered runoff patterns, increasing both the speed and volume of post-fire flooding. The City of Las Vegas, New Mexico lived this harsh reality during the Fiestas last year, when floods paralyzed the city over a year after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire. As a result of these floods, the business community lost out on their largest income-generating event of the year. These harsh post-fire flooding conditions mean that infrastructure like culverts, which may have been appropriately sized before a fire, are no longer adequate or safe in the changed landscape. Rebuilding these structures “as they were” effectively ensures that they will be overwhelmed during the next major rain event. FEMA’s reimbursement formula should be revised to allow and encourage local governments and agencies to rebuild smarter and stronger, particularly in high-risk post-wildfire areas. If infrastructure is likely to fail under new, foreseeable conditions like post-wildfire floods, federal policy should not prohibit communities from adapting their designs accordingly.

    In addition, individual assistance offered by FEMA is insufficient to help families and small businesses get back on their feet. Many disaster survivors are shocked to learn that reimbursements for personal property loss, home repairs, or temporary housing fall far short of the actual costs. This disparity leaves middle- and low-income families and businesses facing a steep financial cliff, even after receiving federal aid. While Congress has stepped in to fully reimburse New Mexico families for losses from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire after the Federal government started the largest fire in the state’s history, comprehensive financial reimbursement is not the norm. In Maui, recovery is estimated to exceed $12 billion, a total of four times what the federal government is anticipated to contribute. The property and economic damage in California is as high as $275 billion. We need to revisit how individual assistance is calculated and ensure it reflects real-world rebuilding and living expenses.

    Last but not least, a growing number of Western disaster survivors lack insurance altogether. In high-risk areas like wildfire zones, insurance has become prohibitively expensive—or unavailable entirely. This leaves many households completely dependent on FEMA for recovery support. Yet FEMA’s systems and standards often assume a baseline level of private insurance coverage that no longer exists for a significant portion of affected residents. FEMA must adapt its policies and funding levels and work with other Federal agencies to meet the needs of those who fall into this widening gap and ensure that recovery is possible for those who, through no fault of their own, can’t obtain insurance.

    Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute to this critical dialogue. We hope FEMA will take this input seriously and act swiftly to adapt to the changing landscape of disaster response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Heinrich Urge FEMA to Implement Reforms to Better Address Disasters in New Mexico, Western States

    US Senate News:

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

    “FEMA was originally structured to respond to large-scale hurricanes and disasters on the East Coast, and its current – and outdated – model reflects that legacy.”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to implement practical reforms to better address the unique and growing disaster risks faced by Western U.S. communities, particularly in the aftermath of catastrophic wildfires.

    The letter requests FEMA modernize its outdated response model, improve infrastructure reimbursement policies to facilitate smarter rebuilding, and expand individual and community assistance to reflect actual recovery costs. The letter also calls for FEMA to address gaps in support for high-risk areas where insurance is no longer accessible.

    “Western states face a distinct and growing threat: namely, catastrophic wildfires followed by cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding, and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery. These cascading events – which can happen years after an initial fire – are devastating, and FEMA has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “As New Mexicans learned in the wake of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire and Californians in the wake of the Palisades fire, and Hawaii residents after the Maui wind-driven fires, FEMA’s protocols and funding mechanisms aren’t built to address the rapid domino effect that occurs after major wildfires. Events that are interconnected are treated as isolated occurrences, leaving affected communities without the timely, comprehensive support they deserve,” the lawmakers continued.

    Senators Luján and Heinrich and the New Mexico Delegation have secured $5.45 billion for recovery efforts following the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. The fire, which was started by the U.S. Forest Service, caused widespread damage and uprooted the lives of many New Mexicans.

    The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

    Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson:

    Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comments on FEMA’s disaster response and recovery operations. We are writing to ask you to consider practical reforms to improve the organization and administration of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA was originally structured to respond to large-scale hurricanes and disasters on the East Coast, and its current – and outdated – model reflects that legacy. Practical reforms are warranted to better serve communities in the Western United States.

    We want to emphasize that serious, targeted reform is the answer to these pressing problems – not dismantling FEMA altogether. The federal government has an important role to play in assisting state and local governments in the wake of natural disasters. Weakening or eliminating federal disaster assistance when state and local resources across the West are overwhelmed and depleted would be a dangerous step backwards. FEMA’s mission is simply too important to abandon.

    Western states face a distinct and growing threat: namely, catastrophic wildfires followed by cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding, and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery. These cascading events – which can happen years after an initial fire – are devastating, and FEMA has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively. As New Mexicans learned in the wake of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire and Californians in the wake of the Palisades fire, and Hawaii residents after the Maui wind-driven fires, FEMA’s protocols and funding mechanisms aren’t built to address the rapid domino effect that occurs after major wildfires. Events that are interconnected are treated as isolated occurrences, leaving affected communities without the timely, comprehensive support they deserve.

    FEMA’s reimbursement formulas and policies currently require that public infrastructure be rebuilt to its pre-disaster condition in order to qualify for full reimbursement. While we understand the intent behind these rules—to restore essential infrastructure equitably—they do not adequately address the unique and escalating risks associated with post-wildfire environments, especially with regard to flood-related infrastructure such as culverts, bridges, and drainage systems.

    After a wildfire, watersheds are severely destabilized. Vegetation loss, soil degradation, and hydrophobic soils result in dramatically altered runoff patterns, increasing both the speed and volume of post-fire flooding. The City of Las Vegas, New Mexico lived this harsh reality during the Fiestas last year, when floods paralyzed the city over a year after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire. As a result of these floods, the business community lost out on their largest income-generating event of the year. These harsh post-fire flooding conditions mean that infrastructure like culverts, which may have been appropriately sized before a fire, are no longer adequate or safe in the changed landscape. Rebuilding these structures “as they were” effectively ensures that they will be overwhelmed during the next major rain event. FEMA’s reimbursement formula should be revised to allow and encourage local governments and agencies to rebuild smarter and stronger, particularly in high-risk post-wildfire areas. If infrastructure is likely to fail under new, foreseeable conditions like post-wildfire floods, federal policy should not prohibit communities from adapting their designs accordingly.

    In addition, individual assistance offered by FEMA is insufficient to help families and small businesses get back on their feet. Many disaster survivors are shocked to learn that reimbursements for personal property loss, home repairs, or temporary housing fall far short of the actual costs. This disparity leaves middle- and low-income families and businesses facing a steep financial cliff, even after receiving federal aid. While Congress has stepped in to fully reimburse New Mexico families for losses from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire after the Federal government started the largest fire in the state’s history, comprehensive financial reimbursement is not the norm. In Maui, recovery is estimated to exceed $12 billion, a total of four times what the federal government is anticipated to contribute. The property and economic damage in California is as high as $275 billion. We need to revisit how individual assistance is calculated and ensure it reflects real-world rebuilding and living expenses.

    Last but not least, a growing number of Western disaster survivors lack insurance altogether. In high-risk areas like wildfire zones, insurance has become prohibitively expensive—or unavailable entirely. This leaves many households completely dependent on FEMA for recovery support. Yet FEMA’s systems and standards often assume a baseline level of private insurance coverage that no longer exists for a significant portion of affected residents. FEMA must adapt its policies and funding levels and work with other Federal agencies to meet the needs of those who fall into this widening gap and ensure that recovery is possible for those who, through no fault of their own, can’t obtain insurance.

    Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute to this critical dialogue. We hope FEMA will take this input seriously and act swiftly to adapt to the changing landscape of disaster response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to 12 Months and One Day for Federal Cares Act Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that NIPUN DESAI (“DESAI”), formerly of Hammond, La., but now a California resident, age 56, was sentenced to 12 months plus one day by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter for making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

    On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the CARES Act, which provided emergency assistance, administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), to small business owners affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  The two primary sources of funding for small businesses were the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program.

    According to court records, on or about January 25, 2021, DESAI made false statements to an approved lender in order to obtain an SBA backed PPP loan in the amount of $146,947.50 for a hotel in Metairie, LA.  At the time of the loan application, DESAI’s hotel was permanently closed and had no employees or payroll.

    In addition to incarceration, which is to be divided between time in the Bureau of Prisons and home incarceration, DESAI was sentenced to 2 years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to repay the SBA approximately $234,000 and the Louisiana Workforce Commission $26,000.  He also paid a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 and a fine of $25,000.

    For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.  The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.  This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee’s Office (Region 5) in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit was in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 195 Months in Prison (DOJ)

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

    ORT WAYNE–Yesterday, Jamic C. Johnson, 50 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after his guilty plea to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Johnson was sentenced to a total of 195 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, Johnson had been selling methamphetamine in 2020, and law enforcement located multiple ounces of methamphetamine in his Fort Wayne residence during the service of a search warrant in October of 2020.  Officers also found firearms in Johnson’s home that Johnson was using to facilitate and protect his drug trafficking activity.  Johnson was previously convicted of dealing in cocaine or narcotic drug and carrying a handgun without a license, meaning that he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Also assisting in this investigation was the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.

    This case was also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four-Hundred-Thirteen New Immigration Cases This Week in the Western District of Texas

    Source: US FBI

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 413 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 23 through May 29.

    Among the new cases, Salvadoran national Jaqueline Del Carmen Aleman-Aguilar was charged with one count of illegal re-entry in San Antonio. According to a criminal complaint, Aleman-Aguilar was convicted for transportation of aliens in June 2015 and sentenced to six months in federal prison. She was then removed from the United States to Mexico in July 2015.

    Christian Ruben Corea-Benavides, a Nicaraguan national, was charged in El Paso with attempting to transport illegal aliens. U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed Corea-Benavides pick up five illegal aliens just over four miles west of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that during a traffic stop, the investigating USBP agent observed a female passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, and four additional passengers lying on top of one another in the backseat—all appearing to be wet and muddy.

    Mexican national Sabino Renteria-Alvarado was arrested May 28 at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry after he attempted to enter through the pedestrian entrance and allegedly presented the Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) with a false claim that he had been a Legal Permanent Resident, but that police in Nevada possessed his LPR card. The CBPO referred Renteria-Alvarado to Passport Control Secondary, where records revealed he had been previously removed in January 2024 through Nogales, Arizona. His criminal record includes a 15-year prison sentence for a sexual assault of a minor conviction in 2017. Renteria-Alvarado is currently charged with one count of illegal re-entry.

    Two U.S. citizens were arrested in the Del Rio area as the result of separate human smuggling attempts, as alleged in criminal complaints. Nancy Anna Gwyn, of Houston, was encountered during a May 22 traffic stop near Carrizo Springs. USBP agents allegedly uncovered three passengers in her vehicle who were identified to be citizens of foreign countries and illegally present in the U.S. On May 24, an immigration checkpoint inspection near Eagle Pass allegedly revealed that Anastasia Lee Daneill Godfrey, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was attempting to transport two illegal aliens to San Antonio in the trunk of a sedan.

    Honduran national Walter Alonso Martinez-Chandias is charged with illegal re-entry. He has one prior removal—in June 2013 through Alexandria, Louisiana—and a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions in Birmingham, Alabama for drug trafficking and homicide, for which he was sentenced in 2018 to five years and 20 years in prison, respectively. In 2017, he was convicted in Birmingham for unlawful transport of firearms and sentenced to 81 months in prison. A criminal complaint alleges that when he was arrested on May 25, Martinez-Chandias refused to comply with Border Patrol agents’ commands and resisted attempts to be placed in custody and handcuffs by running and kicking.

    Luis Alberto Olivarez-Hernandez, of Mexico, was arrested May 27 near Eagle Pass for illegal re-entry. He has two prior removals, the last one being Feb. 25 through Laredo, five days after a felony conviction for unlawfully carrying a weapon in prohibited places. Additionally, Olivarez-Hernandez was convicted in 2010 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

    Armando Vazquez-Ruiz, also a Mexican national, is charged with illegal re-entry after being found near Eagle Pass less than two weeks after his most recent removal. Vazquez-Ruiz had been convicted in Georgetown May 7 for assault causing bodily injury and was deported May 8 through Laredo.

    In Austin, Mexican national Basilio Luna-Luna was encountered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Travis County Jail May 24, where he was detained for what would be his seventh DWI, if convicted. Luna-Luna was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2014 and voluntarily returned to Mexico twice—once in 1998 and once in 2009.

    Juan Alberto Zarate-Salgado, also of Mexico, was encountered at the Travis County Jail as well and is charged with illegal re-entry. Zarate-Salgado has two prior removals and multiple convictions for assault of a family/household member and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

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

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Father and Son Indicted for Providing Material Support to Mexican Cartel Engaged in Terrorism

    Source: US FBI

    Defendants are alleged to have illegally imported tens of millions of dollars in crude oil

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two family members with ties to South Texas have been charged with allegedly conspiring to materially support a Mexican cartel previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit money laundering and related smuggling charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

    The superseding indictment, returned May 22, alleges Maxwell Sterling Jensen, 25, Draper, Utah, and James Lael Jensen, 68, Sandy, Utah, conspired to provide material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) in the form of U.S. currency. The Secretary of State designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization Feb. 20. 

    “This case underscores the more aggressive and innovative approach the Southern District of Texas is taking towards combatting the scourge of drug cartels,” said Ganjei. “This strategy focuses not just on the traffickers and trigger-pullers directly employed by the cartels, but also targeting their confederates and enablers. Whether you are handing the cartel a gun, providing a car or safehouse for smugglers, or putting money in the cartel’s pocket, you will be held to account.”

    The Jensens allegedly operated Arroyo Terminals, an enterprise based in Rio Hondo.

    Both are also charged with allegedly conspiring to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of illegally smuggled goods, crude oil. They also aided and abetted the fraudulent entry of approximately 2,881 shipments of the oil in violation of the Tariff Act, according to the charges.  

    “Cases like this highlight the often-dangerous relationships between alleged unscrupulous U.S. businesses and terrorist organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio. “Through strong collaborations and relentless investigative work, we and our partners exposed a possible large-scale operation that allegedly attempted to move millions in illicit crude oil and launder the proceeds. HSI remains committed to protecting our economy and holding offenders accountable.”

    “What began as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) drug trafficking investigation evolved into a multifaceted case involving an alleged complex criminal operation generating millions of dollars from crude oil – the largest funding source for Mexican drug cartels,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of DEA – Houston. “Given the charges have profound implications for both the United States and Mexico, we will continue to explore all leads and identify any believed to be involved. The collaboration with federal law enforcement, prosecutors, and state agencies proved critical to unraveling these alleged crimes and will continue until such operations are destroyed.”

    “It is a top priority of the FBI to eliminate foreign terrorist organizations by depriving them of the funding they need to operate and by seizing their most valued assets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the San Antonio Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will use every resource and capability at our disposal to ensure violent cartels and anyone who corruptly facilitates their operations are held accountable to the American people and unable to establish a foothold in our communities.”

    “Our commitment to taking down drug cartels and organized crime leverages IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) specialty in forensic accounting that identifies the alleged money trail and shuts down the flow of cash, just like we did in this case,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Some of our best special agents are using their law enforcement expertise to build unshakeable cases to ensure criminals are taken off the streets and their ill-gotten gains are returned to the American people.”

    At the time of the initial arrests, authorities seized four tank barges containing crude oil, three commercial tanker trucks, an Arroyo Terminal pickup truck and one personal vehicle. The Arroyo Terminal property in Rio Hondo, crude oil contained Arroyo Terminal storage tanks and additional real properties are also sought for forfeiture. The superseding indictment also contains notice that the United States will seek a $300 million money judgment upon conviction. 

    The conspiracies to provide material support and to commit money laundering both carry a possible prison term of up to 20 years. If convicted of aiding and abetting the smuggling of goods into the United States and doing so by means of false statements, both men could also face up to 10 and five years, respectively. James Jensen also faces one count of money laundering spending which carries an additional 10 years in prison, upon conviction.  

    With the exception of the money laundering charge which has the possibility of up to a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved, the remaining counts carry a maximum $250,000 potential fine. 

    The investigation was a joint effort among many law enforcement partners to include FBI, ICE-HSI and DEA with substantial assistance of IRS CI along with Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Department of Public Safety.

    Operation Liquid Death involved the combined efforts of DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI and IRS CI and others and is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) James Sturgis and Laura Garcia are prosecuting the case. AUSAs Mary Ellen Smyth and Tyler Foster are handling seizure and forfeiture matters.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: TC Energy provides conversion right and dividend rate notice for Series 3 and 4 preferred shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — News Release – TC Energy Corporation (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) (TC Energy) today announced that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem its Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 3 (Series 3 Shares) and Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 4 (Series 4 Shares) on June 30, 2025. As a result, subject to certain conditions:

    (a) the holders of Series 3 Shares have the right to choose one of the following options with regard to their shares:

    1. to retain any or all of their Series 3 Shares and continue to receive a fixed rate quarterly dividend; or
    2. to convert, on a one-for-one basis, any or all of their Series 3 Shares into Series 4 Shares and receive a floating rate quarterly dividend, and

    (b) the holders of Series 4 Shares have the right to choose one of the following options with regard to their shares:

    1. to retain any or all of their Series 4 Shares and continue to receive a floating rate quarterly dividend; or
    2. to convert, on a one-for-one basis, any or all of their Series 4 Shares into Series 3 Shares and receive a fixed rate quarterly dividend.

    Should a holder of Series 3 Shares choose to retain their shares, such shareholders will receive the new annual fixed dividend rate applicable to Series 3 Shares of 4.102 per cent for the five-year period commencing June 30, 2025 to, but excluding, July 2, 2030. Should a holder of Series 3 Shares choose to convert their shares to Series 4 Shares, holders of Series 4 Shares will receive the floating quarterly dividend rate applicable to the Series 4 Shares of 3.924 per cent for the three-month period commencing June 30, 2025 to, but excluding, Sept. 29, 2025. The floating dividend rate will be reset every quarter.

    Should a holder of Series 4 Shares choose to retain their shares, such shareholders will receive the floating quarterly dividend rate applicable to Series 4 Shares of 3.924 per cent for the three-month period commencing June 30, 2025 to, but excluding, Sept. 29, 2025. The floating dividend rate will be reset every quarter. Should a holder of Series 4 Shares choose to convert their shares to Series 3 Shares, holders of Series 3 Shares will receive the new fixed quarterly dividend rate applicable to the Series 3 Shares of 4.102 per cent for the five-year period commencing June 30, 2025 to, but excluding, July 2, 2030.

    Beneficial owners of Series 3 Shares and Series 4 Shares who want to exercise their right of conversion should communicate as soon as possible with their broker or other nominee and ensure that they follow their instructions in order to meet the deadline to exercise such right, which is 5 p.m. (EST) on June 16, 2025. Any notices received after this deadline will not be valid. As such, it is recommended that this be done well in advance of the deadline in order to provide the broker or other nominee with time to complete the necessary steps.

    Beneficial owners of Series 3 or Series 4 Shares who do not provide notice or communicate with their broker or other nominee by the deadline will retain their respective Series 3 Shares or Series 4 Shares, as applicable, and receive the new dividend rate applicable to such shares, subject to the conditions stated below.

    The foregoing conversions are subject to the conditions that: (i) if TC Energy determines that there would be less than one million Series 3 Shares outstanding after June 30, 2025, then all remaining Series 3 Shares will automatically be converted into Series 4 Shares on a one-for-one basis on June 30, 2025, and (ii) if TC Energy determines that there would be less than one million Series 4 Shares outstanding after June 30, 2025, then all of the remaining outstanding Series 4 Shares will automatically be converted into Series 3 Shares on a one-for-one basis on June 30, 2025. In either case, TC Energy will issue a news release to that effect no later than June 23, 2025.

    Holders of Series 3 Shares and Series 4 Shares will have the opportunity to convert their shares again on July 2, 2030 (adjusted from June 30, 2030 to account for applicable business days) and on June 30 in every fifth year thereafter as long as the shares remain outstanding. For more information on the terms of, and risks associated with an investment in the Series 3 Shares and the Series 4 Shares, please see the prospectus supplement dated March 4, 2010 which is available on sedarplus.ca or on our website.

    About TC Energy
    We’re a team of 6,500+ energy problem solvers connecting the world to the energy it needs. Our extensive network of natural gas infrastructure assets is one-of-a-kind. We seamlessly move, generate and store energy and deliver it to where it is needed most, to homes and businesses in North America and across the globe through LNG exports. Our natural gas assets are complemented by our strategic ownership and low-risk investments in power generation.

    TC Energy’s common shares trade on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. To learn more, visit us at TCEnergy.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
    This release contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “estimate”, “intend” or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TC Energy security holders and potential investors with information regarding TC Energy and its subsidiaries, including management’s assessment of TC Energy’s and its subsidiaries’ future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TC Energy’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. As actual results could vary significantly from the forward-looking information, you should not put undue reliance on forward-looking information and should not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. We do not update our forward-looking information due to new information or future events, unless we are required to by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the most recent Quarterly Report to Shareholders and Annual Report filed under TC Energy’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

    -30-

    Media Inquiries:
    Media Relations
    media@tcenergy.com
    403-920-7859 or 800-608-7859

    Investor & Analyst Inquiries:
    Gavin Wylie / Hunter Mau
    investor_relations@tcenergy.com
    403-920-7911 or 800-361-6522

    PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/55e8d9aa-7d04-46ae-9653-a4cbb657df40

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The surprising power of photography in ageing well

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tricia King, Senior Lecturer in Photography, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Marcia Grimm

    Older adults are often faced with lifestyle changes that can disrupt their sense of place and purpose. It may be the loss of a partner, downsizing their home, or moving to residential aged care. And these changes can come with loss of identity, uncertainty, disconnect and isolation.

    But what if I told you a simple camera could help alleviate some of these pains? I’ve been working with older adults for the past decade, using photography as a way of connecting with place, and the results have been transformational.

    The value of creative ageing

    Research has shown arts engagement can significantly enhance the mental wellbeing and overall health of older adults.

    Australia has responded by developing Creative Ageing Frameworks and the National Arts Health Framework, which position creative activity as valuable components of productive and healthy ageing.

    But while creative ageing programs are expanding, there are still many barriers to participation, including cost, accessibility, participants’ self-doubt, and a lack of skilled facilitators.

    This highlights a need for more inclusive approaches that use familiar tools – and that’s where photography comes in. Photography is a multi-sensory embodied practice. It allows us to be mindful, slow down, and look for beauty in everyday life. It can also prompt us to see the world differently.

    Recent research by my colleagues and I documents how taking photographs can increase older adults’ connection to place, creativity and overall wellbeing.

    Specifically, we explored the impact of photography as not so much a structured “art activity”, but as a practice of connecting to place and other people through group photo walks.

    Over the past 18 months we’ve been working with several groups of older adults who live in aged care and community settings. We found that framing the world through a lens can powerfully transform a photographer’s relationship to the environment, and their sense of agency within it.

    This practice of intentional “seeing” creates opportunities for discovery in even the most familiar surroundings.

    As one aged care resident, Kathleen, put it:

    It’s given me a new sense of enjoyment and purpose and changed how I look at both life and seeing places in here that I’ve never seen before.

    An image by Kathleen shows some colourful flowers in a window.

    Easy, meaningful and social

    So what makes photography particularly suited to older adults? Our research highlights some key factors.

    It’s accessible and familiar

    Photography has become one of the most democratic of creative pursuits. Most people carry a camera via their phone or tablet and know how to operate it. Older adults are no exception.

    This familiarity removes common barriers, such as the need to learn a new skill, and instead builds on existing knowledge. This makes photography an ideal creative expression; it requires no special training or equipment, and there is little room for doubt one’s capability.

    It’s meaningful

    Unlike many other creative activities offered to pass time, photography constitutes a meaningful activity for older adults. According to research, “meaningful” activities for older adults are those that are enjoyable, engaging, suited to individual skills, related to personal goals, and connected to identity.

    Photography can be exploratory, fun, and deeply personal. The outcomes can be shared with others, discussed, displayed and privately revisited, allowing connection to one’s self and the surrounding world.

    Seeing the familiar differently

    Photography honours a photographer’s life experience and perspectives. Each photograph becomes both a creative expression, and validation, of their unique viewpoint – and allows them to see the world through new eyes.

    During group photo walk sessions held for my research, participants expressed delight in sharing the same experience of visiting a familiar place, while capturing their own distinct vision of it.

    When we returned to discuss the sessions, the group formed collective narratives, with each person adding their own unique contribution. Photography offers social and community connection while celebrating individual creativity and perspective.

    The different versions of Russell Anderson’s “iDIDIT!” sculpture on a walk on the Sunshine Coast.

    Different images of Russell Anderson’s ‘iDIDIT!’ sculpture, taken on a walk on the Sunshine Coast.

    Being outside in the world

    While photography can be done anywhere, most people will head outside when exploring with a camera. This was particularly important for people living in aged care, who often didn’t venture out into the gardens.

    One participant, Margaret, was relearning how to walk after a stroke, and enjoyed our creative walks together.

    Margaret’s photograph of the mystery resident knitter’s work in the gardens.

    She grew more confident with each walk, her purpose being to see parts of the residential aged care facility that she’d never accessed and photographed before. Going outside with a camera allowed her to connect to her new home.

    Putting it into practice

    The beautiful thing about photography is that anyone can do it, and there is no right or wrong. You can simply start by slowing down and looking for interesting shadows, textures, or details.

    For those working with older adults, photography is an adaptable, low-cost activity that works across various settings and abilities. You can do it indoors, from a wheelchair, sitting on a wheelie walker, or while getting some exercise.

    Photo walks, in particular, are a great way for photographers to share experiences and connect.

    Focusing on various shadows can be a fun activity to do while on photo walks.
    Tricia King

    The author would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Daniel Wadsworth and Dr Leah Barclay for work which has supported some of the research in this article.

    – ref. The surprising power of photography in ageing well – https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-power-of-photography-in-ageing-well-257344

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump’s steel tariffs are unlikely to have a big impact on Australia. But we could be hurt by what happens globally

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney

    Shestakov Dymytro/Shutterstock

    Just one day after the US Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated the Trump Administration’s Liberation Day tariffs of between 10% and 50% on nearly every country in the world, Trump announced tariffs on all US imports of steel and aluminium will increase from 25% to 50%.

    He told the rally of steel workers in Pennsylvania the increase would come into effect Wednesday US time.

    Trump said the increase “will even further secure the steel industry in the United States.” But Australia’s trade and tourism minister, Don Farrell, called them “unjustified and not the act of a friend” and “an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade.”

    There was hope Australia would obtain an exemption from the original tariffs introduced in February. But it now seems clear Trump is intent on applying the tariffs across the board. And, unlike the Liberation Day tariffs, these are unlikely to face significant legal challenges.

    So, how will the steel tariffs affect Australians? To understand this, it is important to understand how it will affect the US and its other trading partners.

    The direct effect will be small

    As with the original 25% tariffs, the direct effect on Australian steel and aluminium producers will not be profound.

    Only about 10% of Australia’s steel and aluminium exports, and less than 1% of its overall production, goes to the US. Australia’s own BlueScope Steel’s North Star mill in Ohio is actually set to benefit from the tariffs.

    But most Australians will feel the effects of the tariffs through the indirect effects on US manufacturing and America’s trading partners.

    Impact on the US

    We know a lot about how US manufacturing will be affected because this has all happened before. In 2002, George W. Bush imposed tariffs of 8%-30% on steel products, before withdrawing them less than two years later. And Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium in his first term.

    Research has shown the tariffs did slightly increase US metal production but at great cost. In addition to increasing prices for US consumers, as tariffs typically do, the Bush steel tariffs reduced overall employment, as manufacturers that use steel as an input laid off workers or went out of business.

    Further, while these tariffs were only in place for a short time, the affected US industries took years to recover, and many never have.

    The same thing happened with the tariffs from Trump’s first term, where any gains in steel and aluminium production were more than offset by losses in metal-consuming industries.

    For Australians, this means many products we buy from the US are going to get more expensive. This includes vehicles and aircraft as well as machinery and medical equipment used by Australian producers. And if the past is a guide, many products will simply become unavailable.

    Effects on trading partners

    While Australia does not export large amounts of steel and aluminium to US, other countries do. The higher tariffs will further depress the Canadian and Mexican metals industries, which can affect Australian industry in several ways.

    First, if North American consumers are buying less of everything, that reduces demand for Australia’s exports, both directly and indirectly as the reduced spending makes is way down the supply chain.

    Australia exports very little steel to the US so is less likely to be hurt by the direct impact of the tariffs.
    IndustryViews/Shutterstock

    Second, the affected metals manufacturers will look for other markets for their products. Canada is not likely to flood Australia with cheap aluminium, but it may, for example, displace some of our exports to South Korea. And this is happening as the OECD is warning of excess steel capacity, driven in part by China’s outsized steel subsidies.

    But this is not all bad news for Australians. While local steel and aluminium producers will suffer from the diversion of supply from the US, a temporary fall in prices would offer some relief after the post-pandemic rise in building and infrastructure costs.

    Retaliatory tariffs

    On top of all these effects are the effects of retaliatory tariffs by other countries, as the EU has already threatened. Like the US tariffs, these tariffs will make consumers on both sides poorer, reducing demand for Australian exports. But they will open new markets as well. For example, China’s retaliatory tariffs on US almonds have caused a boom in Australian exports.

    The big question for Australia is how this will affect the price of iron ore, by far our largest export. So far, we have not seen major price swings. But if the latest salvo in Trump’s trade war causes the global economy to slow significantly, or if China backs off its steel subsidies, this could change.

    State of uncertainty

    And perhaps the most significant impact of the latest change in US tariff policy is the effect of ongoing uncertainty over US and global trade policy. Trade policy uncertainty reduces international trade flows and chills business investment.

    Whether a business is considering a venture dependent on an input that will be affected by tariffs or, like BlueScope’s Ohio steel mill, might stand to benefit from US tariffs, the uncertainty over what the policy will be tomorrow, let alone five years from now, will make any company hesitant to commit major funds.

    A case in point is Whyalla Steelworks, which has received a $2.4 billion rescue package and is currently in administration and seeking a buyer.

    With Donald Trump able to upend the global steel industry again at any moment, buyers will be thinking twice before investing billions of dollars, which is bad news for nearly everyone, not least of which the residents of Whyalla, who await the fate of a major local employer.

    Scott French 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. Trump’s steel tariffs are unlikely to have a big impact on Australia. But we could be hurt by what happens globally – https://theconversation.com/trumps-steel-tariffs-are-unlikely-to-have-a-big-impact-on-australia-but-we-could-be-hurt-by-what-happens-globally-257959

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Astronomers thought the Milky Way was doomed to crash into Andromeda. Now they’re not so sure

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruby Wright, Forrest Fellow in Astrophysics, The University of Western Australia

    Luc Viatour / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    For years, astronomers have predicted a dramatic fate for our galaxy: a head-on collision with Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbour. This merger – expected in about 5 billion years – has become a staple of astronomy documentaries, textbooks and popular science writing.

    But in our new study published in Nature Astronomy, led by Till Sawala from the University of Helsinki, we find the Milky Way’s future might not be as certain previously assumed.

    By carefully accounting for uncertainties in existing measurements, and including the gravitational influence of other nearby galaxies, we found there is only about a 50% chance the Milky Way and Andromeda will merge in the next 10 billion years.

    Why did we think a collision was inevitable?

    The idea that the Milky Way and Andromeda are on a collision course goes back more than a century. Astronomers discovered Andromeda is moving toward us by measuring its radial velocity – its motion along our line of sight – using a slight change in the colour of its light called the Doppler shift.

    But galaxies also drift sideways across the sky, a movement known as proper motion or transverse velocity. This sideways motion is incredibly difficult to detect, especially for galaxies millions of light years away.

    Earlier studies often assumed Andromeda’s transverse motion was small, making a future head-on collision seem almost certain.

    What’s different in this study?

    Our study did not have any new data. Instead, we took a fresh look at existing observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Gaia mission.

    Unlike earlier studies, our work incorporates the uncertainty in these measurements, rather than assuming their most likely values.

    We simulated thousands of possible trajectories for the Milky Way and Andromeda trajectories, slightly varying the assumed initial conditions – things such as the speed and position of the two galaxies – each time.

    When we started from the same assumptions the earlier studies made, we recovered the same results. However, we were also able to explore a larger range or possibilities.

    We also included two additional galaxies that influence the future paths of the Milky Way and Andromeda: the Large Magellanic Cloud, a massive satellite galaxy currently falling into the Milky Way, and M33, also known as the Triangulum Galaxy, which orbits Andromeda.

    The new study took into account the gravitational effect of the Triangulum Galaxy, which orbits Andromeda.
    ESO, CC BY

    These companion galaxies exert gravitational tugs that change the motions of their hosts.

    M33 nudges Andromeda slightly toward the Milky Way, increasing the chance of a merger. Meanwhile, the Large Magellanic Cloud shifts the Milky Way’s motion away from Andromeda, reducing the likelihood of a collision.

    Taking all of this into account, we found that in about half of the simulated scenarios, the Milky Way and Andromeda do not merge at all within the next 10 billion years.

    What happens if they do – or don’t – collide?

    Even if a merger does happen, it’s unlikely to be catastrophic for Earth. Stars in galaxies are separated by enormous distances, so direct collisions are rare.

    But over time, the galaxies would coalesce under gravity, forming a single, larger galaxy – probably an elliptical one, rather than the spirals we see today.

    If the galaxies don’t merge, they may settle into a long, slow orbit around each other – close companions that never quite collide. It’s a gentler outcome, but it still reshapes our understanding of the Milky Way’s distant future.

    Other galaxies show examples of three future scenarios for the Milky Way and Andromeda: galaxies passing in the night, a close encounter, a full collision and merger.
    NASA / ESA

    What comes next?

    The biggest remaining uncertainty is the transverse velocity of Andromeda. Even small changes in this sideways motion can make the difference between a merger and a near miss. Future measurements will help refine this value and bring us closer to a clearer answer.

    We don’t yet have a definitive answer about our own galaxy’s future. But exploring these possibilities shows just how much we’re still learning about the universe – even close to home.

    Ruby Wright receives funding from the Forrest Research Foundation.

    Alexander Rawlings receives funding from the University of Helsinki Research Foundation and the European Research Council.

    – ref. Astronomers thought the Milky Way was doomed to crash into Andromeda. Now they’re not so sure – https://theconversation.com/astronomers-thought-the-milky-way-was-doomed-to-crash-into-andromeda-now-theyre-not-so-sure-257825

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Demands Accountability in Regional EPA Office

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Newhouse Demands Accountability in Regional EPA Office

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin requesting an investigation into communications between anti-agriculture activist organizations and federal civil service employees. 

    “I am writing today to request you investigate collaboration between environmental activist groups and career staff that has appeared to permeate throughout the Region 10 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office in Seattle, Washington,” Rep. Newhouse wrote. 

    “The purpose of the federal government is to provide Americans with essential services, including navigating the complex regulatory burden placed on farmers. This coordination is appalling and should be investigated; if career staff did in fact coordinate with activists to target farmers, then those staff are not worthy of a taxpayer-funded salary.” 

    Earlier this year, the Cow Palace dairy in Yakima County, Washington, closed its doors after years of litigation from the EPA. This follows the closure of Liberty Dairy, also in Yakima County, in the fall of 2024. 

    Dan Wood, Executive Director, Washington State Dairy Federation, said “We appreciate efforts by Rep. Newhouse to bring appropriate review of years-long suspect behavior by certain EPA staff. Activists, their attorneys, EPA staff, and DOJ staff have been coordinating together to drive animal agriculture out of business.  They have changed science reports, coordinated legal strategies, and hidden public documents. This sort of waste, fraud, and abuse needs to be brought to light and ended. Government at all levels must act with integrity, work within the bounds of laws for accountability, and refrain from carrying activist agendas.” 

    Ben Tindall, Executive Director, Save Family Farming, said “Washington state’s farmers have waited far too long for accountability from the EPA. While rogue officials in Region 10 have run unchecked, family farms and rural communities—especially in Central Washington—have suffered real and lasting harm. We are grateful to Congressman Newhouse for raising this issue directly to the top leadership in Washington DC. His efforts are an important step toward exposing and ending the abuse of power that has gone on for years behind closed doors.” 

    Read the full letter here. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reschenthaler Announces June Mobile Office Hours

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14)

    June 02, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) announced his staff will hold mobile office hours at various locations throughout Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District this month to offer increased assistance to constituents experiencing problems with a federal agency.

    During these mobile office sessions, constituents can receive help with Social Security and Medicare issues, federal grant funding, passports and visas, immigration and naturalization services, veterans’ benefits, and the IRS.

    The upcoming schedule is outlined below:

    What: Fayette County – Uniontown Mobile Office Hours

    Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Fayette County Courthouse, 61 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401

    What: Greene County Mobile Office Hours

    Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Greene County Office Building, 93 East High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370

    What: Indiana County Mobile Office Hours

    Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Indiana County Courthouse Annex, 827 Water Street, Indiana, PA 15701

    What: Somerset County Mobile Office Hours

    Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Somerset County Commissioner Office, 300 North Center Avenue, Suite 540, Somerset, PA 15501

    What: Fayette County – Connellsville Mobile Office Hours

    Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Connellsville Municipal Building, 110 North Arch Street, Connellsville, PA 15425

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Calls for Transparency on Big Corporate Landlords Buying Up Nevada Homes and Jacking Up Prices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) sent a letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte calling for transparency on out-of-state big corporations and landlords buying up foreclosed Nevada homes, outbidding working families, and jacking up prices for homebuyers. 

    It’s estimated that 15% of the single-family homes in Las Vegas are owned by corporate investors and these massive corporations are trading homes like stocks. Recent local reporting has uncovered that New York-based hedge fund Pretium Partners is most likely the single largest homeowner in Clark County. Pretium-owned Progress Residential, a homes-for-rent management company, owns at least 3,190 homes in the county as of the end of February.  

    Lee is a cosponsor of the HOME Act to make it illegal to rent or sell a unit at an unreasonable price during a crisis. It also directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate price manipulation and price gouging by these cash-rich investors. The funds collected from fining these bad actors will go toward the National Housing Trust Fund to increase affordable housing nationwide. 

    Nevada is estimated to be over 78,000 units short of affordable units, with the Las Vegas area accounting for over 60,000 units. Las Vegas only has about 14 units for every 100 homes needed. 

    “I request further details regarding the processing of these foreclosures, including participation of out-of-state corporate entities in post foreclosure dispositions of properties sold to third parties or real estate owned (REO) properties executed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and steps taken by the Federal Housing Finance Agency to protect local homeowners,” wrote Congresswoman Lee. 

    Lee continued, “In addressing this issue, it is critical that processes relating to the foreclosure and sale of homes in Nevada remain transparent and subject to necessary oversight.” 

    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:  

     

    June 2, 2025

    The Honorable William J. Pulte 

    Director 

    Federal Housing Finance Agency 

    400 7th Street SW  

    Washington, D.C. 20219  

     

    Dear Director Pulte, 

    I am writing to seek information about recent foreclosure activities and post-foreclosure dispositions in Nevada. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how many properties have been foreclosed upon in Nevada in the past 24 months. I request further details regarding the processing of these foreclosures, including participation of out-of-state corporate entities in post foreclosure dispositions of properties sold to third parties or real estate owned (REO) properties executed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and steps taken by the Federal Housing Finance Agency to protect local homeowners.  

    As you know, Nevada faces a housing crisis which has made homeownership increasingly unattainable for many in our communities. As the supply of available homes and units continues to lag behind demand, corporate landlords and cash rich investors, many of which are based outside of Nevada, outbid working families for available homes and further jack up prices. Currently, as many as 15% of single-family homes in Las Vegas are owned by these investors and studies suggest that corporate entities could own up to 40% of homes nationwide by 2030.  

    In addressing this issue, it is critical that processes relating to the foreclosure and sale of homes in Nevada remain transparent and subject to necessary oversight. As such, I request further detail regarding the disposition process following foreclosure, and ask you to provide answers to the following questions:  

    1. For properties that have been foreclosed in the last 24 months, does FHFA have information regarding properties that are being auctioned or sold “at the courthouse steps” to third party buyers in their respective jurisdictions, as well as how many REO properties have been processed?
    2. Does FHFA have a means of tracking in-state and out-of-state third parties that participate in this process?
    3. As it pertains to the established First Look period, can you share additional details regarding properties that are excluded from this period, including how often properties are not subject to the First Look period and who buys those properties? 
    4. What additional protections does FHFA enforce, either for REO properties or otherwise, to protect local homebuyers in this process?  

     

    This information is crucial to helping better understand current housing trends in Nevada and to address any potential impacts on local housing availability and affordability. Ensuring as many homes as possible are available for Nevada homeowners is a top priority and I appreciate your partnership in promoting transparency in this process.  

    Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving any data or insights you can share, as well as any relevant procedures or policies that might guide the disposition of foreclosed properties. If you have any questions, please reach out to my office.  

     

    Sincerely, 

    Susie Lee 

    Member of Congress 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra’s best burgers, as voted by you

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Here are the results:

    There’s a new food van on the block, and it’s serving up delicious American-style burgers.

    The ‘Oklahoma smash’ beef burger and fried chicken burger have our mouths watering.

    The burger van is popping up at various locations and markets around Canberra, so keep an eye out on their social media channels for their next stop.

    Made with fresh local ingredients, this burger joint is a Canberra favourite.

    The menu has plenty of variety. Pick from their signature beef or chicken burgers or upgrade both to a deluxe with bacon. Plant-based eaters can enjoy the ‘BrodVeg’ made with a house-made veggie patty.

    Brodburgers are decent in size, so arrive hungry!

    This burger spot caters for villains of all sizes.

    If you’re after a regular size burger, go for their traditional chicken and beef options, or one of the vegetarian options including halloumi or veggie patties.

    If you’re feeling hungrier (or more evil) than usual, they have ‘super villain’ burger options. They also have a ‘small villain’ option for the kids.

    Northsiders are loving BZ Burger’s menu.

    From traditional beef and chicken burgers to wild turkey-maple glazed fried chicken, halloumi and prawn burgers – they’ve got something for all burger-lovers.

    With it’s vibing beer garden and American style-menu, Greasy’s is a local favourite.

    You can’t go past their classic ‘Greasy’ beef burger or the southern-fried chicken burger. They also have a vegan-burger option.

    Hot tip: on Tuesdays, you can get a free drink with any burger.

    You can find Grill’d venues on northside and southside.

    They have a range of burger fillings, buns and sauces to choose from including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

    This burger spot in Dickson has an extensive burger menu.

    Pick from traditional beef and chicken burgers to pulled meat or vegetarian options like their mushroom burger.

    They also have snack sized burgers as a lighter option, or for those feeling hungrier – a 1kg burger!

    Awesome chips and awesome burgers.

    Kingsley’s offer single and double fillet chicken burgers, as well as schnitzel and tender burgers.

    Seasonings include tandoori, Cajun and southern fry.

    This old school takeaway shop is so good, it’s been listed in the Good Food Guide.

    They have many burgers to choose from. Some menu highlights include their ‘Cheesy McCheese Face’ beef burger, chilli fish burger and the halloumi burger with pesto.

    Plus, they have a video game machine and pinball machine to keep you entertained while you wait for your food.

    Milky Lane’s burger menu is packed full of deliciousness and hip-hop flair.

    Burgers include ‘Big Poppa’, a towering stack of wagyu beef, maple-smoked bacon, American cheese, and truffle aioli, and ‘Lil Weezy’, which features southern fried chicken, mac & cheese patties, and creamy ranch dressing.

    Patty Smith’s menu is a celebration of bold flavours and Australian produce.

    Highlights include the ‘Kickin’ Chicken burger’ made with a chicken fillet, slaw, tomato, and their OG hot sauce, and the ‘Mac Daddy’ beef burger with gooey mac & cheese on top.

    Torrens Takeaway, Torrens

    This beloved takeaway shop in Torrens has an extensive burger menu.

    Pick from many variations of beef and chicken burgers or upgrade to a scotch fillet steak burger – yum.

    They also have veggie burgers and egg and bacon burgers.

    Located at Kingston shops, this retro-style burger joint is serving up deliciously stacked burgers.

    Take your pick of spiced, smashed or fried meats, loaded with brie or American cheese, or if you’re after a vego option check out their crumbed portobello burger.

    Read more like this:

    MIL OSI News –