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  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen in Push to Overturn Citizens United Ruling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 28, 2025

    Legislation would rid American elections of dark money & excessive corporate campaign spending

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and 37 Democratic and Independent Senators to reintroduce a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, which removed campaign finance restrictions and opened the door for foreign and domestic entities to spend unlimited money to influence elections. The Democracy for All Amendment would also overturn other far-reaching decisions around campaign finance that wrongfully equated money with free speech and unfairly determined that big, wealthy corporations have the same First Amendment rights as people. 

    “It is past time that we get the corrosive influence of big money out of our politics to stop billionaires and massive corporations from boxing out the voices of middle-class families,” said Duckworth. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting legislation that would overturn the disastrous Citizens United ruling and restore power to the people.”

    “The Citizens United ruling opened the floodgates for dark money to directly impact our political system for the benefit of corporations and special interests,” said Durbin. “But our government was intended to be a democracy of the people, by the people, for the people. We must mend the broken campaign finance system that elevates the voices of a few wealthy donors over millions of Americans. It’s time we enshrined the Democracy for All Amendment in our Constitution.”

    The Democracy for All Amendment would empower Congress and states to set reasonable campaign finance rules and limit corporate spending. The amendment would enshrine in the Constitution the right of the American people to regulate the raising and spending of funds in public elections and curb the concentration of political influence held by the wealthiest Americans.     

    Along with Duckworth, Durbin and Shaheen, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are also cosponsors of the Democracy for All Amendment. 

    Both Durbin and Duckworth were strong supporters of the For the People Act—a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption of our politics and make government work for the people. The landmark legislation passed the House of Representatives in 2021 when it was under a Democratic majority, but failed to receive the 60 votes necessary in the Senate in June 2021 due to Republican opposition.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Booker to Introduce Honor Farmer Contracts Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 28, 2025

    The legislation would require the release of illegally withheld funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by USDA

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, legislation to release illegally withheld funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). President Trump’s USDA has refused to make reimbursement payments to fulfill signed contracts, without any indication of when or whether farmers and other rural- or agricultural-related groups and companies will be paid or reimbursed for the money they invested or are owed. The federal government signed a contractual agreement and many participants have been left waiting for weeks and months without funding. This legislation would require USDA to pay all past due payments as quickly as possible.

    “Donald Trump—a failed businessman—is trying to skip out on paying our hardworking farmers what they are rightfully owed, jeopardizing critical contracts and local jobs that support families across Illinois,” Duckworth said. “Trump might say he loves our farmers, but his actions speak louder than words. Our Honor Farmer Contracts Act would put a stop to this chaos and ensure every penny that is being illegally withheld by this Administration is paid to our farmers as promised.”

    “These contracts are a big part of job creation and business development for farmers, rural residents, downstate towns, and even urban agriculture.  But Elon Musk and President Trump have decided these folks, like Trump’s former real estate subcontractors, who also waited for reimbursement for work performed, are just not worth it, and should go away.  Meanwhile, China is pursuing major rural investments to improve the lives of their rural citizens, like rural housing, health care, water, and technology infrastructure,” said Durbin.  “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would ensure that USDA does the right thing by ensuring the U.S government keeps its word and pays these individuals what they are owed.”

    The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:

    • Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
    • Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
    • Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
    • Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.

    U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) will introduce companion legislation in the House.

    In addition to Duckworth, Durbin and Booker, the Honor Farmer Contracts is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). 

    To see the full list of organizations endorsing the Honor Farmer Contracts, click here.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Red Cross sends emergency aid to Myanmar following earthquake

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, March 29 — The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has sent emergency humanitarian aid to Myanmar following a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday, the RCSC said on Saturday.

    Emergency relief supplies, to be distributed through the Myanmar Red Cross Society, include 300 tents, 2,000 blankets, 600 folding beds and relief kits for 2,000 affected households. The supplies have been dispatched from a disaster relief center in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, the RCSC said in a press release.

    An international RCSC rescue team has also departed for Myanmar with necessary equipment to carry out humanitarian relief operations. The RCSC has said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide further assistance as needed.

    The information team of Myanmar’s State Administration Council on Saturday said that at least 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 have been injured, and 30 are missing as a result of the earthquake.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How is classified information typically shared and can officials declassify secrets whenever they want? A national security expert explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Dakota Rudesill, Associate Professor of Law, The Ohio State University

    Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on March 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

    U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on March 27, 2025, ordered top Trump administration officials to preserve records of their messages sent on the messaging app Signal from March 11 to March 15 following a transparency watchdog group’s lawsuit alleging that the officials have violated the Federal Records Act.

    This marked the latest development since The Atlantic on March 24 published a Signal chat among Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other national security officials discussing specific plans to attack Houthi militants in Yemen. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief at The Atlantic, was mistakenly included in the chat and wrote about what he saw.

    Trump administration officials have shared contrasting accounts about whether they were discussing sensitive war information on Signal – but maintain that they did not share classified information.

    Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Arms Services committee, and Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat chairing the committee, on March 27 requested an investigation into how the Trump officials used Signal to discuss military strikes.

    Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor, spoke with national security scholar Dakota Rudesill to better understand what constitutes classified information and how the government typically handles its most closely kept secrets.

    Democratic representatives share text messages on March 26, 2025, sent by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to other top Trump administration officials.
    Kayla Bartowski/Getty Images

    How are government officials supposed to communicate about classified information?

    The first way someone with the proper clearance can communicate about classified information is in person. They can talk about secret things in what is called a sensitive compartmented information facility, or SCIF. This means a secure place, often with a big, heavy door and a lock on it, where security officials have swept the area for bugs and no one can easily eavesdrop. People who are in SCIFs usually have to leave their cell phones outside of the room, and then they can talk freely about secret information. A SCIF can be a particular room, or a floor of a building, or even an entire building.

    Second, there is print communication: written documents with classification markings, which have to be handled in really particular ways, like in a safe location, and can be transported between SCIFs in secure containers.

    Third, intelligence agencies, the White House and the Department of Defense also all have secure electronic systems. These include visual teleconferences, which are similar to a Zoom call and are secure for discussing highly classified information, as well as secure email systems and secure phones.

    Many people with clearances have what is called “high side” email, which is shorthand lingo for classified email and messaging. Many people with security clearance would have two work hard drives and two computers. One of them is “low side,” where there is access to unclassified official email, documents and the internet.

    All of these methods of secure communication can be clunky and take more time than people in our smartphone age are used to. That is the cost of protecting the nation’s secrets. My sense is the Trump administration officials wanted to move fast and turned to Signal, a commercial app that promises encryption. Signal is generally considered secure but is not perfect. There is abundant public evidence that Signal is not totally secure and indeed has been penetrated by Russian intelligence.

    Can something be declassified after the information has been shared?

    Yes. The president can classify and declassify at will via oral or written instruction.

    The president’s constitutional powers include removing classification controls after information has been released or leaked. Trump could at any point declassify the information shared on Signal. Several of the Cabinet-level officials on that Signal chat also have expansive delegated powers over classification.

    Even so, Trump’s national security Cabinet would have presumably still violated the law. For example, by putting national defense information inappropriately on an insecure app and not checking to verify the clearances of everyone on the chat and thereby allowing a reporter to be present, one could reasonably conclude that the team was showing “gross negligence,” running afoul of the Espionage Act.

    The Espionage Act, enacted in 1917, criminalizes unauthorized retention and dissemination of sensitive information that could undermine the national security of the U.S. or help a foreign country.

    Was the information shared on Signal likely classified?

    Looking at the Signal message transcript that The Atlantic shared, it seems like at least four things were all but surely classified.

    The most obvious was the details that Secretary of Defense Hegseth provided on the strike plans. These include the precise times that planes were taking off, what kind and when the bombs would fall. Recent reports have quoted defense officials confirming that this information at the time was classified.

    Second, the chat revealed that the president gave a green light for secret strikes at a Situation Room meeting.

    Third, there is the mere fact of these top officials deciding whether and when to execute attacks authorized by the president.

    And fourth, according to media reports, the chat included the name of an intelligence officer whose position may have been secret.

    The Trump administration says that there was no classified information in the chat. But several analysts have noted that defies belief. The exception would be a prior decision to declassify, but we have no evidence of that.

    FBI Director Kash Patel, left, Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe testify during a House Select Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2025.
    Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

    What other issues does this bring to mind?

    First, we don’t know whether the Trump officials carefully thought about it before they set up this chat on Signal, which the Pentagon has warned government officials against using because of hacking concerns.

    Second, even if the officials did make a focused decision to use Signal, what is the wisdom of that? I find it really, really hard to imagine that was a prudent decision when we think about how insecure this app is. There is also the fact that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and the Middle East, was party to the chat while he was in Russia. We do not know for sure if he had a device running Signal on him personally while he was in Russia, but in any event he would have been under intense Russian surveillance.

    A broader issue is how the Trump administration is enforcing the law is a giant question mark. Usually, the law both authorizes the U.S. government to do things, and also says it cannot do things. Law enables and limits everyone, including the president. However, Trump wrongly claims that he is the final authority on the law, and so far the Justice Department only seems to be enforcing the law against people outside of the administration.

    So does the law limit the Trump administration in any practical sense? Right now it is not clear – and there is abundant reason to be concerned about that from a rule of law standpoint.

    Dakota Rudesill 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. How is classified information typically shared and can officials declassify secrets whenever they want? A national security expert explains – https://theconversation.com/how-is-classified-information-typically-shared-and-can-officials-declassify-secrets-whenever-they-want-a-national-security-expert-explains-253207

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ protesters honour killed Gaza journalists – ‘targeted’ say press freedom groups

    Pacific Media Watch

    Global press freedom organisations have condemned the killing of two journalists in Gaza this week, who died in separate targeted airstrikes by the Israeli armed forces.

    And protesters in Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated their week 77 rally and march in the heart of Auckland to their memory, declaring “Journalism is not a crime”.

    Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old correspondent for the Al Jazeera Mubasher channel, was killed by an Israeli airstrike on his car in the eastern part of Beit Lahiya, media reports said.

    Video, reportedly from minutes after the airstrike, shows people gathering around the shattered and smoking car and pulling a body out of the wreckage.

    Mohammed Mansour, a correspondent for Palestine Today television was killed earlier on Monday, reportedly along with his wife and son, in an Israeli airstrike on his home in south Khan Younis.

    One Palestinian woman read out a message from Shabat’s family: “He dreamed of becoming a journalist and to tell the world the truth.

    “But war doesn’t wait for dreams. He was only 23, and when the war began he left classes to give a voice to those who had none.”

    Global media condemnation
    In the hours after the deaths, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Palestinian press freedom organisations released statements condemning the attacks.

    “CPJ is appalled that we are once again seeing Palestinians weeping over the bodies of dead journalists in Gaza,” said Carlos Martínez de la Serna, CPJ’s programme director.

    “This nightmare in Gaza has to end. The international community must act fast to ensure that journalists are kept safe and hold Israel to account for the deaths of Hossam Shabat and Mohammed Mansour.

    “Journalists are civilians and it is illegal to attack them in a war zone.”

    Honouring the life of Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat – killed by Israeli forces at 23 and shattering his dreams. Image: Del Abcede/APR

    In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it had targeted and killed Shabat and Mansour and labelled them as “terrorists” — without any evidence to back their claim.

    The IDF also said that it had struck Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance fighters in Khan Younis, where Mohammed Mansour was killed.

    In October 2024, the IDF had accused Shabat and five other Palestinian journalists working for Al Jazeera in Gaza of being members of the militant arm of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

    Al Jazeera and Shabat denied Israel’s claims, with Shabat stating in an interview with the CPJ that “we are civilians … Our only crime is that we convey the image and the truth.”

    In its statement condemning the deaths of Shabat and Mansour, the CPJ again called on Israel to “stop making unsubstantiated allegations to justify its killing and mistreatment of members of the press”.

    The CPJ estimates that more than 170 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, making it the deadliest period for journalists since the organisation began gathering data in 1992.

    However, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate says it believes the number is higher and, with the deaths of Shabat and Mansour, 208 journalists and other members of the press have been killed over the course of the conflict.

    Under international law, journalists are protected civilians who must not be targeted by warring parties.

    Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in its genocide in the blockaded enclave since October 7, 2023.

    The Israeli carnage has reduced most of the Gaza to ruins and displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population, while causing a massive shortage of basic necessities.

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

    Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the enclave.

    New Zealand protesters wearing mock “Press” vests in solidarity with Gazan journalists documenting the Israeli genocide. Image: Del Abcede/APR

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Signal-gate: a national security blunder ‘almost without parallel’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    Depending on what you think of Donald Trump, his administration could fit either of the following two descriptions. Chaotic, vindictive and accident-prone, marked by mendacity, driven by impulse and bent on securing the will of the leader, rather than – as in the US constitution – the will of the people. Or it could be a government masterminded by a man playing 4D chess while all around him are playing chequers. A president whose deal-making skills and focus on outcomes ensure the security and prosperity of America and its allies.

    If you base your assessment on the people Trump has chosen as his key national security advisers then, after the recent Signal chat group intelligence debacle, you’d almost certainly opt for chaotic and accident-prone, at the very least.

    Looking around the Signal chatroom, who do we have? National security advisor Mike Waltz, Vice-President J.D. Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA director John Ratcliffe and a supporting cast of other senior Trump staffers. And, unwittingly, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg.

    Heads must roll, say Trump’s critics. But who from this hydra-headed beast should take the fall? Should it be Waltz, who invited Goldberg to the chat group? Or Hegseth, who posted operational details of a US attack, including the when, where and how, hours before it was due to take place? Should it be Vance, whose swipe at America’s freeloading European allies has caused considerable angst across the Atlantic?

    Or perhaps one or another of Gabbard and Ratcliffe, who sat in front of the Senate select committee on intelligence on Tuesday and maintained that no classified material or “war plans” had been revealed to the group – sworn evidence now revealed to be unreliable at best?

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    At present it seems as if none of them are going to pay for their dangerous incompetence. Instead their ire is turned on Goldberg, who has variously been called a “sleazebag” by Trump himself, “loser” and the “bottom scum of journalists” by Waltz and a “deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who’s made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again” by Hegseth.

    Robert Dover of the University of Hull, whose research centres on intelligence and national security, believes this is a “national security blunder almost without parallel”. He points to the hypocrisy of people like Hegseth who savaged Hillary Clinton for using a private email server to conduct official business when she was secretary of state under Barack Obama.

    Dover also notes the damage the episode will have done to America’s already shaky relations with its allies in Europe. Being disparaged by the vice-president as freeloaders and dismissed by the defense secretary as “pathetic”, he believes, will be “difficult to unsee”.



    Read more:
    Signal chat group affair: unprecedented security breach will seriously damage US international relations

    But credit where it’s due, it appears that US diplomacy may at least be bearing some – limited – fruit. At least, that is, if the two partial ceasefires recently negotiated between Russia and Ukraine actually materialise. That’s a fairly big if, of course. Despite a pledge by both sides that they could support a deal to avoid targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, there’s no sign yet of a cessation of attacks.

    And there has been a degree of scepticism over the recently announced plan for a maritime ceasefire to allow the free passage of shipping on the Black Sea. Critics say this favours Russia far more than Ukraine. Over the course of the war, Ukraine has successfully driven Russia’s Black Sea fleet away from its base in Crimea, giving it the upper hand in the maritime war. But maritime strategy expert, Basil Germond, says the situation is more nuanced, and the deal represents considerable upside for Ukraine as well.



    Read more:
    Russia has most to gain from Black Sea ceasefire – but it’s marginal, and Ukraine benefits too

    Setting aside America’s eventful recent forays into foreign relations, there’s a major domestic fix brewing which many US legal scholars believe could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.

    Anne Richardson Oakes, an expert in US constitutional law at Birmingham City University, anticipates a potential clash between between the executive and the judiciary which could threaten the separation of powers that lies at the heart of American democracy.

    Oakes observes there are more than 130 legal challenges to Trump administration policies presently before the courts, some of which will end up in front of America’s highest legal authority, the Supreme Court, which is tasked with assessing the constitutionality of those policies. She warns that we’ve already seen evidence that Trump and his senior officials resent what they consider to be interference from the judiciary into the legitimate executive power of the elected president.

    Will there be a stand-off where the Trump administration simply ignores the Supreme Court’s ruling? It’s happened before, says Oakes. In the mid-20th century, in Little Rock, Arkansas, when the governor used the state’s national guard to prevent the court-ordered desegregation of public schools. On that occasion the then president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, sent in federal troops to enforce the court’s ruling and a constitutional crisis was averted.



    Read more:
    US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system

    But what if it’s the serving president who chooses to ignore a Supreme Court ruling? This was the case in the 1830s when greedy cotton farmers in Georgia were bent on forcing the Native American peoples off their lands. The Cherokee actually took the state of Georgia to the Supreme Court, which ruled that as a “dependent nation” within the United States they were entitled to the protection of the federal government and that the state of Georgia had no right to order their removal.

    As historian Sean Lang of Anglia Ruskin University recounts, Georgia ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling and sent in troops to expel the Cherokee who were then forced to move to new lands in a journey known as the “Train of Tears”. Lang writes that then US president, Andrew Jackson, a populist advocate of states’ rights and former “Indian fighter”, ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling, “sneering that [Chief Justice John] Marshall had no means of enforcing it”.

    Lang concludes: “It’s a history lesson Greenlanders, Mexicans and Canadians – and indeed many Americans who may fall foul of this administration and seek recourse to the law – would do well to study.”



    Read more:
    Trump’s America is facing an Andrew Jackson moment – and it’s bad news for the constitution

    Trump’s chilling effect

    The Trump administration’s antipathy towards judges who have opposed its policies have extended towards those law firms who have in some way crossed the US president. But the legal system is not the only sector to feel the chilling effect of Trump’s displeasure, writes Dafydd Townley.

    The world of higher education in the US is also apprehensive after the administration went after Columbia University, home to some of the most outspoken protest over US policies towards Israel and Gaza. Columbia has recently had to agree to allow the administration to “review” some of its academic programmes, starting with its Middle Eastern studies, after the administration threatened to cancel US$400 million (£310 million) of government contracts with the university.

    The news media is also under heavy pressure. The administration has taken control of the White House press pool from the non-partisan White House Correspondents’ Association and has blackballed Associated Press for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. We’ve also seen Trump himself bring lawsuits against media organisations he judges to have crossed him. And now the president has called for the defunding of America’s two biggest public broadcasters, NPR and PBL, for what he perceives as their liberal bias.

    Townley, an expert in US politics at the University of Portsmouth is concerned that this all adds up to a deliberate attempt to cripple institutions which underwrite American democracy.



    Read more:
    Donald Trump’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech and dissent is threatening US democracy

    Popularity falls as prices rise

    Trump’s leadership continues to be very polarising, writes Paul Whiteley, a political scientist and polling specialist at the University of Essex, who has spent years studying political trends in the US. Looking at the most recent numbers, Whiteley finds that while Trump’s approval ratings are fairly steady at 48% approval and 49% disapproval, when you dig down you find that only 6% of registered Democrats approve of his performance, while 93% disapprove. For registered Republicans it’s almost exactly the opposite.

    Whiteley takes his analysis further, looking at measures such as consumer sentiment, which has fallen sharply since January, with talk of tariffs and the return of inflation affecting people’s confidence in the economy. He points out there tends to be a fairly strong historical correlation between confidence in the economy and popular approval of a president’s performance.



    Read more:
    Three graphs that show what’s happening with Donald Trump’s popularity

    Another factor which will surely affect people’s confidence in the government are the job losses flowing from Elon Musk’s work as “efficiency tsar”. Thomas Gift, the director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London, believes that federal job losses as a result of Musk’s cuts are spread indiscriminately among Democrat and Republican states. As a result there may be some Republican voters who are experiencing what he calls “buyer’s remorse”.

    At the same time, rising inflation is flowing into the cost of living, something many people voted for Trump to punish the Democrats for. As Gift points out, both parties are experiencing a dip in support at present as people reject politics for having a generally negative effect on their lives. But from now, it’ll be the Republicans who will feel the sting of popular disapproval more keenly.



    Read more:
    Trump’s job cuts are causing Republican angst as all parties face backlash

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Signal-gate: a national security blunder ‘almost without parallel’ – https://theconversation.com/signal-gate-a-national-security-blunder-almost-without-parallel-253245

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Greenland announces new autonomous govt

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Greenland announced the formation of a new autonomous government on Friday amid heightened tensions with the United States.

    Just hours before the arrival of U.S. Vice President JD Vance on the Arctic island, a ceremony was held at the Katuaq Cultural Center in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk, where four political parties representing 23 of the 31 seats in the parliament signed a coalition agreement to form the new government.

    Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chairman of the Demokraatit (Democratic Party), will serve as the new prime minister.

    Following the announcement, Nielsen emphasized national unity in the face of international pressure. “By now forming a broad coalition, we will ensure that no one in the world should have any doubt that Greenland stands united,” he told journalists.

    He reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and has no desire to become part of the United States.

    The new cabinet includes former Prime Minister Mute Egede, who will now take on the role of minister of finance and taxation. Speaking to the media, Egede said: “We are obliged to lead our country forward with the pressure that is from the outside world right now, and the interest that is in our country.”

    Vivian Motzfeldt, incoming foreign minister of Greenland’s government, told Xinhua that mutual respect must be the basis for any diplomatic engagement. “I believe it’s also crucial for us to return to a more normal way of life, especially considering the recent developments in the United States,” she said.

    “A healthy dialogue requires mutual respect. If we want a meaningful conversation, we must also show respect for the other country. So, for me, it’s essential that we establish common ground based on mutual respect,” she added.

    Aqqalu Jerimiassen, chairman of the Atassut party, underscored the need for national unity in the light of recent provocations. “Right now, I believe the priority is unity – taking care of each other and building cooperation, rather than reacting to provocations, especially those coming from the United States, and particularly from that orange-haired man (U.S. President Donald Trump) who keeps trying to provoke us,” he told Xinhua.

    In Copenhagen, when Denmark’s King Frederik X was asked by local media TV2 to comment on the growing tensions between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland, he confirmed his love for Greenland, saying that “my connection to the Greenlandic people is intact.” He also stressed that “we live in a changed reality.”

    The announcement of the new coalition drew applause from local residents at the Katuaq center. “I hope the new government can speak out on behalf of the people of Greenland,” Aviaja Martinsen, a citizen of Nuuk, told Xinhua.

    Later that day, Vance and his wife Usha, together with U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, arrived in Greenland. Vance delivered a speech at a U.S. military base and received a security briefing on the Arctic situation from U.S. military officials at the Pituffik Space Base.

    The timing of Vance’s visit has raised eyebrows, following repeated assertions by Donald Trump that the United States wants to take over Greenland. Officials in both Nuuk and Copenhagen view the visit as provocative.

    At a Friday press briefing at the White House, Trump reiterated: “We are not talking about peace for the United States. We are talking about world peace. We are talking about international security. And if Denmark and the EU do not understand it, we must explain it to them.”

    Greenland, once a Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, though Denmark retains control over foreign affairs and defense.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Over 800 houses in Yunnan damaged in Myanmar quake

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The homes of 847 households in Ruili City, southwest China’s Yunnan province that borders Myanmar, were damaged in a massive earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday.
    As of Saturday noon, a total of 2,840 people in the city, which is about 300 km from the epicenter, have been affected, according to sources from the Ruili municipal government.
    Following the quake, local governments have deployed task forces for disaster relief, monitoring geological hazards, inspecting water conservancy projects, repairing electrical facilities, and carrying out emergency road maintenance.
    Two people sustained minor injuries in the quake and have received medical treatment. The city government is currently assessing the extent of the losses suffered by local residents.
    Water, electricity, transportation and communication in Ruili have returned to normal.
    So far, the devastating quake has killed 1,002 people, injured 2,376 and left 30 missing in Myanmar.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Devastating temblor hits Myanmar, Thailand, killing over 1,000

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    At least 1,002 people were killed, 2,376 injured and 30 missing as of Saturday morning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, the Information Team of Myanmar’s State Administration Council reported.

    Myanmar’s State Administration Council Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Mandalay Province by helicopter on Saturday morning to inspect the severely affected area, according to Myanmar Radio and Television.

    The devastation has been widespread, with Mandalay, Bago, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw among the hardest-hit regions. The Myanmar government has declared a national emergency.

    Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said Saturday morning that 12 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5, occurred on Friday following an earthquake at 12:51 p.m. local time.

    The only highway linking Myanmar’s Yangon in the south and central Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay was severely damaged, Xinhua reporters witnessed when heading to the most affected areas.

    People have resorted to using the older Yangon-Mandalay road to arrive at the quake-hit areas and facilitate rescue efforts. Additionally, the collapse of buildings in Mandalay Airport and sections of the highway has further disrupted travel between Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar’s two largest cities.

    The devastating temblor also affected Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Friday announced a state of emergency in Bangkok.

    As of Saturday morning, the quake has left nine people dead, nine injured and 101 others remain missing in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Fourteen provinces have reported damage following the earthquake, said the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

    Tremors were felt in Thailand’s 57 provinces, particularly in Bangkok, prompting mass evacuations from office buildings, residential complexes, and convention centers as people gathered on the streets and in parks as temporary shelters.

    Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said during a meeting for earthquake disaster updates and relief measures on Saturday that the earthquake situation has stabilized, with aftershock intensity gradually weakening.

    In Laos and Vietnam, buildings above three stories experienced noticeable shaking, with residents in high-rise buildings feeling swaying indoors.

    The United Nations on Friday allocated an emergency 5 million U.S. dollars for earthquake aid to Myanmar, where nearly 20 million people need assistance, including more than 3.5 million people displaced from their homes.

    A 37-member rescue team from southwestern China’s Yunnan province arrived early this morning at Yangon, Myanmar, to provide assistance in disaster relief and rescue efforts.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China strengthens IP protection framework

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    To promote the high-quality development of the private sector, China will continue its strong intellectual property protection of private enterprises at home and abroad, the country’s top IP regulator said.

    “We’ve enhanced the protection and incentives for the original innovation of private companies, providing them with quick channels and comprehensive services in safeguarding their IP rights and interests,” Guo Wen, an official from the National Intellectual Property Administration, told a news conference on Friday.

    She cited an IP center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, as an example, explaining that it has established a timely response mechanism to support local private startups with services such as patent analysis and trademark early warning, thereby advancing their innovation and development.

    Meanwhile, the administration has also focused more on patent infringements in the private sector and explored different ways to address relevant problems, she added.

    Last year, IP regulators nationwide handled 72,000 patent infringement disputes, of which more than 51 percent involved private enterprises, according to data released by the administration.

    Mediation organizations also helped tackle nearly 140,000 IP-related cases in 2024, serving 157,000 private companies, the data said.

    Additionally, the administration has established 71 guidance centers and four IP industrial institutes across the country to optimize services and provide aid for private entities going global in the prevention of IP risks and handling IP disputes overseas, Guo added.

    The data show that these centers and institutes served various enterprises 886 times last year, helping them recover economic losses of 14.15 billion yuan ($1.95 billion).

    Guo also called for implementing a regulation on resolving IP disputes related to foreign matters, which was issued by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, last week and will come into force on May 1.

    She noted that the administration will work with other authorities to provide better IP services and stronger support for private and other entities to go global.

    Wang Peizhang, another official from the administration, said that the quality of patents in China has also been further improved, with many patents transformed into actual benefits to serve high-quality economic growth.

    He revealed that the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 in the country reached 14 by the end of last year, achieving the expected target of the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) ahead of schedule.

    The number of valid invention patents in strategic emerging industries exceeded 1.34 million as of December 2024, a year-on-year increase of 15.7 percent, according to the data.

    Among the new patent applications by universities and research institutions, the proportion of invention patents rose to 70.4 percent last year, the data show.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi extends condolences to Myanmar leader over earthquake

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday extended condolences to Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing over the massive earthquake that hit the country on Friday.

    In a message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the strong earthquake in Myanmar, which caused heavy casualties and property losses.

    On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned the deaths and extended sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the injured and the people affected by the disaster.

    China and Myanmar are a community of shared future sharing weal and woe, and the two peoples enjoy a profound fraternal friendship, said Xi.

    China is ready to provide assistance, and support efforts to overcome the disaster and rebuild homes at an early date, he said.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday also extended condolences to Min Aung Hlaing over the earthquake.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Oklahoma Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by November Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Oklahoma businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring Nov. 2‑3, 2024. The SBA issued an administrative disaster declaration on March 27, 2025.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie.

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

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

    Beginning Tuesday, April 1, customer service representatives will be on hand at a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to answer questions about the SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”

    The DLOC hours of operations are listed below.

    OKLAHOMA COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Harrah Church
    101 Dobbs Rd.
    Harrah, OK  73045

    Opens 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 1

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits and 2.563% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    The deadline to apply for property damage is May 27. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Dec. 29.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Business Recovery Center in Santa Monica to Relocate

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the relocation of its Santa Monica Business Recovery Center (BRC) from the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce to the Santa Monica Public Library, beginning Tuesday, April 1, at 10 a.m.

    SBA opened the BRC to provide personalized assistance to Santa Monica businesses affected by the wildfires beginning Jan. 7.

    “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

    Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce BRC will close Monday, March 31. The Santa Monica Public Library BRC will open Tuesday, April 1, with locations and hours of operation as indicated below.

    LOS ANGELES COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
    2525 Main St., Ste. 103
    Santa Monica, CA  90405

    Closes 5 p.m. Monday, March 31
    Monday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    LOS ANGELES COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    Santa Monica Public Library
    Courtyard Café
    601 Santa Monica Blvd.
    Santa Monica, CA  90401

    Opens 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 1
    Mondays – Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Businesses and PNPs are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

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

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.563% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Mar. 31. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 8.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Advocates Slam Trump and DOGE Attempts to Gut Social Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Watch: Senator Markey, Advocates Demand: No Cuts to Social Security
    Boston (March 28, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, held a press conference today to discuss how the Trump administration’s ongoing attempts to gut Social Security impact Massachusetts residents. The press conference comes as the Trump administration, including the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), wages an all-out assault on the Social Security Administration (SSA), firing staff, closing SSA field offices, cutting customer experience systems and SSA phone service, and requiring in-person identity checks, among other drastic changes. Senator Markey was joined by Reverend Lorraine Anderson, Betsy Connell of the Massachusetts Councils on Aging, Rosa Bentley of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and Camillie Piñeiro and Rich Couture of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
    “For the millions of seniors that rely almost entirely upon Social Security for their income, a missed check means missed meals, medications, or rent payments,” said Senator Markey. “By cutting staff, closing offices, and requiring people to wait in long lines for an in-person identity check, the Trump administration is forcing Social Security recipients to travel long distances and making it more difficult to receive the funds they are entitled to. We will not let Trump and DOGE pillage Americans’ rightfully earned benefits to pay for a tax break for billionaires without a fight.”
    “My husband and I chose to live among the people we serve and during that time we were trusting the government to hold onto our money,” said Reverend Lorraine Andersen, Massachusetts resident and retired American Baptist Minister from International Community Church in Allston, Massachusetts. “We cannot afford to have our social security checks to be canceled, reduced or even delayed. If we lose those checks, we will have to go back to work in our eighties. I want to thank Senator Markey and others who are fighting to preserve and protect social security.”
    “Today, tomorrow, and every day this year 11,400 people will turn 65, which means that the social security administration needs to be able to have the capacity to serve an additional 4.1 million older adults this year,” said Betsy Connell, Executive Director of Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA). “We are talking about the people that built our homes, our communities, our local businesses, they are our neighbors, our parents, and our grandparents. With so many older adults facing these daily challenges with these hard economic times, rising costs for everything, making it more difficult for them to access their social security benefits is indefensible. Our older adults deserve better.”
    “More than one million people in Massachusetts rely on social security with an average monthly income of $3,000 a month. Payment delays of social security quickly become a crisis of missed rent or no groceries,” said Rosa Bentley, Statewide President for Massachusetts Senior Action Council. “There is no widespread fraud in the social security system. The only fraud I see is from Donald Trump and his friends. We will not accept any cuts to our benefits. We will not accept cuts to social security. Together we demand hands off our social security.”
    “Social Security is under attack by half hazard pointless new policies that produce only chaos and uncertainty. This new policy exposes seniors to greater threats from scammers that take advantage of their confusion. Social security is the line in the sand. Please help us hold the line and protect the benefits we all have paid for, from the first day of our first job,” said Camillie Piñeiro, President of AFGE Local 1164.
    “Social security is a promise our country made to itself to support us at the end of our work lives or when we are unable to work, and that promise is under attack. Folks are waiting a long time to get through and waiting a long time to get any answers because offices are being closed and staff fired,” said Rich Couture, President of AFGE Council 215 and Spokesperson for the AFGE Social Security General Committee. “Every American has paid into this system and are entitled to the benefits promised. These are your benefits. You are entitled to these benefits, and they must be saved.”
    In February, Senator Markey led his colleagues in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) urging them to provide no less than $15.402 billion for the Social Security Administration in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, allowing for full and timely implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, while improving customer service. Senator Markey is an original cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by President Biden in January 2025. The Social Security Fairness Act repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which had reduced benefits for 3.2 million public servants. As a member of the House of Representatives in 1983, Markey was one of a handful of Democrats to vote against the Social Security Reform Act, which created WEP/GPO. Senator Markey is an original cosponsor of the Social Security Expansion Act to protect and expand Social Security benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Arkansas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Fall Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Arkansas who sustained economic losses due to the drought beginning Nov. 1, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the counties of Ashley, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Crawford, Dallas, Franklin, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Little River, Logan, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Pike, Polk, Pope, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sevier, Union, Washington and Yell in Arkansas, as well as the parishes of Claiborne, Morehouse, Union and Webster in Louisiana; Barry, McDonald, Stone and Taney counties in Missouri, and Adair, Delaware, Le Flore and McCurtain counties in Oklahoma.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

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

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months after the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Nov. 25.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Governor Hochul is a Guest on ‘Politics Unusual’

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on WNYW-TV’s “Politics Unusual.”

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

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

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: We are just days away from when the New York State Budget is due, but negotiations hit their first major roadblock on Thursday. Most lawmakers went home for the weekend and won’t be back in Albany until Tuesday. But not everyone went home and negotiations are continuing up in Albany, which is why my first guest, Governor Kathy Hochul, is joining us remotely today from Albany.

    Governor, thank you so much for being here. I knew you’d wanted to be here in person but thank you for finding the time for this interview.

    Governor Hochul: Thanks, Morgan, and congratulations on your new show. I think it’s going to provide an important public service so you can help them dissect the issues of the day, so thank you.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Thank you so much, Governor. So, for our viewers, how Budget negotiations work: The Governor, Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker, you’re all locked in a room for the most part, negotiating, hashing out that Budget. And it used to be called three men in a room, but now it’s two women and one man in a room. So the big question, will there be a Budget by April 1, or are you guys going to need to pass a Budget extender?

    Governor Hochul: Morgan, at this point, we’re still in deep conversations. There is a rhythm. You’re a real veteran of Albany, you know that it starts out with a flurry. We have a lot of intense meetings with leaders. We have a chance to share our top priorities, as I have done.

    We know public safety is number one. Getting these discovery law changes so cases aren’t thrown out is an important part of my agenda. Also, making sure that we deal with people who have severe mental illness, who can’t take care of themselves, who are on the streets of New York or in the subway. And also my affordability agenda and cell phones.

    So I have a chance early on to present my vision, and then the legislators have to take it back to their conferences. So when there’s a lull, which is very much part of the rhythm, it’s usually because they have to go back and maybe fine-tune some language or they have to talk to their conferences. So this is not unusual. This is my fourth Budget and we may or may not make April 1.

    But the truth is, I’ve been successful in achieving the goals I set out to do, and that’s what I’m focusing on right now, delivering for the people of this great state.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Exactly. And one of these sayings up in Albany is, a deal has to come together and fall apart at least three times before you guys make a final Budget deal.

    But I’m hearing that one of the sticking points in this Budget is that involuntary removal language. Now, where do you guys stand exactly on this issue and getting those struggling with mental illness off the streets and into long-term care? I’m hearing some of the concerns are that they’re going to be back out onto the streets. How do you stop that revolving door?

    Governor Hochul: Well, that’s what’s happening right now, Morgan. They are being — sometimes off the streets because they’re in the throes of a severe mental health crisis. They could do harm to other people or themselves. But we’re also saying, in a case where someone clearly cannot take care of themselves, they’re not being fed properly, their clothes are not clean and they’re just unfortunately sliding into this place which is really inhumane.

    And when we see that, it is heartbreaking. These are God’s children as well. They deserve better than that. And if they don’t have the mental capacity to make decisions, then we have a moral responsibility to get them help.

    What that means is go to a hospital, be seen by two psychiatric experts and make a decision, should they be confined to the hospital. Not a jail. Not a jail. We’re talking about confined to a hospital in a nurturing, supportive environment and getting them on a path to recovery. And why that is so complicated, I’m not sure, because it’s common sense. It recognizes the dignity of every human life, but also takes away the anxiety that people have when they see these individuals because there have been cases where there have been violent acts and it’s unsettling for people on the subway in the streets.

    So we’re trying to get to language that is in place in 43 other states. So I don’t know why this is so challenging, but I’m very committed to getting this done.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Now, Governor, earlier this year, you proposed guardrails on Mayor Eric Adams after there were allegations that he was cooperating with the federal government to get his criminal charges dropped. Do you think those guardrails will be in the budget?

    Governor Hochul: No. They have to go to the City Council first. We knew there was a process that said they have to make the changes and ask for a home rule change from the Legislature.

    So again, I was creating options for people in the city who were very concerned about that dynamic that was unfolding; is there undue pressure on the Mayor or not? I thought that we put in some guardrails related to legal decisions and investigations and the budget. Just some ways that we can keep an eye on the situation and give people that sense of confidence, which I thought would be helpful to the Mayor and the city getting stabilized. And if the City Council doesn’t want to do it, then they must be fine with the status quo. I was just reaching out a hand to help out and it’s up to the people in the City Council to decide whether to send it to the Legislature.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Yeah, and Adams just recently appointed as First Deputy Mayor, Randy Mastro. He was leading a lawsuit against New York with New Jersey against congestion pricing, and he did back away from representing New Jersey in his lawsuits after he became First Deputy Mayor, but he is still representing Madison Square Garden and James Dolan, what’s your take on this?

    Governor Hochul: Well, I’ll tell you, we won rather handily against him in the congestion pricing lawsuit because they had nothing to stand on. And they actually ended up in a worse place than we were willing to do for them. So I’ll just put that as the aside.

    We are going to continue fighting for congestion pricing because it is working and many naysayers and people who said, “Never, never, never,” are saying, “Eh, it’s actually working.”

    It’s up to the Mayor who he selects to have around him. I hope he’ll pick people that inspire confidence. But again, my job is to work with the Mayor because I also represent 8.3 million New York City residents.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy this week has been threatening to cut off federal funding to the MTA if there’s not some sort of subway safety plan.

    In fact he said, and we’re going to play this sound by, I know you can’t see it Governor, but we’re going to play it here. And then we’re going to give you a chance to respond. Go ahead.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy: If you want people to take the train, take transit, then make it safe. Make it clean, make it beautiful, make it wonderful.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Now they’re saying that if the State doesn’t give them a subway safety plan that they’re going to cut this funding. What’s your response?

    Governor Hochul: We have given them a subway safety plan. Something I unveiled three years ago. Which as you can see with the crime rates being 50 percent lower than they were back when Rudy Giuliani was the Mayor, “Mr. Tough on Crime,” 50 percent lower than that time, 25 percent lower than last year.

    I’m never going to be satisfied with the rate of subway crimes on the subway in our city. No one is ever satisfied as long as there’s even one. But you cannot argue with the fact that my cops plan, I’m funding — State is paying for overtime for police officers, two on every train starting at nine o’clock at night. That has calmed the situation down dramatically. I wanted to make that investment. That’s important. We now have cameras on every single train. I focused on this intently and got it done. We’re also putting up barriers in the subways so people are nervous about being pushed into the tracks. We’ve had some horrific cases.

    They will feel safer behind these barriers as well as continue to collect fares. Fair evasion is down 25 percent, but I’m not done. So I’m happy to work with the Secretary and show him what we’re doing and if he has other ideas on how to do that, we’ll be happy to take assistance from the federal government because they have a vested interest in the success of our subway system as well, because as goes New York City’s economy, so goes the nation.

    And I’ll work with him. He can call it anything he wants, but I know that people in the city rely on the subway and it is safer. It’s not where we want it to go yet, but it is safer than it was. But also he says people won’t take the subway. It’s up 10 percent since January, so people are taking the subway.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Thank you so much, Governor, and we have one last question for you here. We reached out to our TikTok viewers and asked them if they wanted to ask you a question, which we’re going to put up here. And this is from Joey Lorenza – with opening day being yesterday, who is the Governor rooting for this baseball season?

    Governor Hochul: All right, here’s how I have to do this. I was raised as a Yankee fan, okay? In Western New York, the closest team of the Toronto Blue Jays, clearly we’re not going for a Canadian team. So there’s a lot of love for the Yankees. I watched them closely when I was in college. I knew all the players, watched them intensely, but I’m also from Buffalo and I have this affinity for the underdog, which the Mets historically had been.

    So I love when an underdog that’s trying to — really scrappy and trying hard. So I say, I want to see the Mets do it because the Yankees got really far last year and I’d like to see the Mets go that far this year. So there you have it. It’ll get me in trouble with half the population, but I will always be willing to take a position on something that’s as important as baseball.

    Morgan McKay, WNYW-TV: Thank you again so much, Governor, for taking the time. I also have my split allegiance between the two teams. Thank you for being here, even if it is virtually. I really appreciate it.

    Governor Hochul: Alright, thanks Morgan. Good luck with the show.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Nadler, Scott, Stansbury, and Leger Fernandez Condemn Unlawful Dismissal of EEOC Commissioners, Demand Immediate Reinstatement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Committee on Education & Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) in leading 236 Senate and House colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump in response to his unprecedented and unlawful dismissal of Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels.
    “We write to express our outrage at your unprecedented dismissal of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels of the bipartisan U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” the Members wrote. “This unlawful abuse of presidential power undermines the EEOC’s historic independence, harms U.S. workers, and unduly politicizes the Commission’s work. It also impedes the Commission’s ability to fully carry out its critical mission on behalf of the American people. We urge you to swiftly reinstate Commissioners Burrows and Samuels.”
    The EEOC was established in 1964 with strong bipartisan support to serve as an independent, multi-member body tasked with preventing and addressing employment discrimination. It is the primary federal law enforcement agency responsible for ensuring that workers are protected against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Workers rely on the EEOC to be a fair and independent body—not one subject to the shifting political whims of the executive branch.
    Both Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels had been confirmed by bipartisan votes of the Senate prior to the start of their terms, with Commissioner Burrows’ term not set to expire until July 2028 and Commissioner Samuels term not set to expire until July 2026.
    The Members highlighted the massive return on investment the EEOC delivers for the American people, writing: “From 2014-2024, the EEOC recovered $5.6 billion for workers who were discriminated against under these laws, significantly more than the agency’s appropriations during that time period. For FY 2024, the EEOC secured a record $700 million for workers who experienced discrimination. The EEOC’s role in enforcing these protections is essential to ensuring that all workers have a fair chance to obtain employment, provide for their families, and contribute to our economy.”
    The Members made clear the illegal firing by President Trump is an intrusion into Congress’ constitutional authority, stating, “The Administration’s firing of Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels is unprecedented and an intrusion into Congress’ Article I constitutional authority. The appointment of EEOC Commissioners is governed by statute and is designed to ensure the agency’s independence from the executive.  The President appoints Commissioners and the Senate confirms them. That is the beginning and end of the executive’s role in determining who can sit on the Commission and for how long. The law not only expressly requires the Commission to be bipartisan, but it also sets out five-year terms, a design that ensures that Commissioners’ terms run between presidential terms, another purposeful action by Congress to ensure the Commission’s independence.”
    “Longstanding Supreme Court precedent also confirms that multi-member independent commissions such as the EEOC enjoy protection from ‘coercive influence’ of the executive. In Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935), the Supreme Court made clear that members of independent commissions like the EEOC cannot be removed at will by the President. Prior Presidents have agreed; no Commissioner of the EEOC has ever been removed prior to the expiration of their term in the Commission’s 60-year history.”
    “Workers deserve to earn a living free from discrimination and feel confident that when they are harmed, they can count on an independent EEOC, not a politicized body, to protect their rights,” the Members concluded. “We urge you to reinstate Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels, and we look forward to your urgent response.”
    The full letter can be read HERE and the list of signatories is HERE.
    The letter is endorsed by: A Better Balance, American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Employment Law Project, National Partnership for Women & Families, and the National Women’s Law Center.
    WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:  
    “Since its establishment 60 years ago as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC has protected the rights of workers to earn a living free from discrimination. President Trump’s illegal and unprecedented dismissal of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels critically impairs the EEOC’s ability to ensure that individuals aren’t denied jobs and opportunities because of who they are.  We condemn the administration’s flagrant politicization of an independent, nonpartisan civil rights agency and join members of Congress calling for the reinstatement of the commissioners without delay,” said Mike Zamore, National Director of Policy and Government Affairs of the American Civil Liberties Union.
    “People rely on the EEOC to be an independent, fair body that will protect their right to be free from discrimination in their workplace,” said Gaylynn Burroughs, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice at the National Women’s Law Center. “President Trump’s removal of EEOC Commissioners Burrows and Samuels is just another extension of his authoritarian power grab that will ultimately harm workers. His actions are a clear abuse of power intended to bend the Commission to his will, but the Commission works for all working people, not for President Trump. The EEOC was born out of the civil rights movement to help ensure equal employment opportunity for all workers. We will continue to fight to preserve the integrity of the Commission, for equal opportunity, and for the right of all workers to be free from discrimination.”
    “We condemn the administration’s unlawful attempt to fire sitting EEOC commissioners. This reckless decision is already having devastating consequences for workers waiting for the agency to take legal action against employers engaged in discrimination and severe ramifications for the agency’s ability to function effectively and enforce labor and civil rights protections,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Workers who are depending on the EEOC to do its job should not have to endure discrimination because of political stunts intended to undermine civil rights enforcement. By making it virtually impossible for the Commission to take important actions, because it lacks a quorum, the administration is effectively circumventing robust enforcement of statutory anti-discrimination protections that workers depend on every day. President Trump must reinstate the commissioners he fired to rectify this situation. We commend Congressman Jerry Nadler and Senator Patty Murray, and all the members of Congress who join us in this fight, for standing up to safeguard the rights and the freedoms of all workers so that they are treated fairly in workplaces that are free of discrimination.”
    “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s role in ensuring equitable workplaces and enforcing our nation’s laws against discrimination is vital. It is an outrage that the Trump Administration has gutted the agency by illegally firing key EEOC Commissioners who have tirelessly championed robust enforcement of important workplace laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VII of the Civil Right Act. This is an overstep of the President’s authority that will hamstring the agency’s ability to carry out its mission. We thank Congressman Nadler, Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, Congresswoman Stansbury, and Congresswoman Leger Fernández for their leadership in defending the EEOC,” said Inimai Chettiar, President of A Better Balance. 
    “President Trump’s removal of Commissioners Burrows and Samuels was an outrageous attack on civil rights and the rule of law – one of many actions taken by the president in pursuit of his goal to further entrench inequality and occupational segregation. The EEOC’s independence and bipartisan structure was established by Congress in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is essential to its mission to promote equal opportunity in the workplace. This lawlessness and disregard for our Constitution cannot stand,” said Josh Boxerman, Government Affairs Manager, National Employment Law Project.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray on Trump Blocking Disaster Relief for Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, issued the following statement on the Trump administration blocking billions of dollars in disaster relief owed to victims and communities struck by disasters for unacceptable, political reasons.
    “When hurricanes or floods or fires destroy Americans’ homes and bring life to a screeching halt for entire communities, the federal government has a serious responsibility to help ensure families have somewhere to stay and communities can not only recover, but rebuild. Every day that promised relief is held up takes a real toll on communities just looking to get back on their feet. No one on the frontlines helping survivors rebuild their lives should be forced to take on new debt, lay off staff, and even halt their urgent work altogether because Trump and Musk have decided to choke off disaster aid. But that is exactly what is happening right now.
    “Blocking relief for disaster victims in order to scrutinize whether potential recipients of that aid align with any administration’s political views is reprehensible—and it is hurting real people in red states and blue states and everywhere in between. There should be no politics involved in helping Americans devastated by disaster. This disaster relief funding isn’t a piggy bank for Elon Musk—President Trump needs to get these taxpayer dollars to the communities that need them immediately.”
    The Trump administration is blocking $10 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund Public Assistance for communities struck by disasters to respond and recover. This includes:
    $8.5 billion for disaster relief efforts provided to non-governmental organizations performing essential community services for emergency work to ensure public safety and for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of an eligible facility damaged or destroyed by a major disaster.
    $1.3 billion for short-term, emergency shelter for disaster survivors. This funding goes to state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments to cover costs associated with providing emergency shelter for survivors of disasters across the country.
    Nationwide, there are currently thousands of Public Assistance disaster awards being held up and under review by the Trump administration.
    As the Trump administration blocks disaster relief for Americans, it is also weighing plans to eliminate FEMA altogether.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK firm to land Europe’s first rover on Mars

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK firm to land Europe’s first rover on Mars

    A UK aerospace company is set to land the first European rover on the red planet, as it wins £150 million to complete the touchdown system delivering the rover safely to Mars.

    Airbus wins contract to land Europe’s first rover on Mars.

    • Airbus UK wins European contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver rover on Mars.   
    • First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.  
    • Contract set to support around 200 high-skilled jobs and boost growth, supercharging Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

    The new contract, awarded by the European Space Agency and funded by the government through the UK Space Agency, will support a cutting-edge system that will land the Rosalind Franklin rover on the surface of Mars and support its deployment onto the planet.  It will also sustain around 200 high-skilled jobs in the UK space sector and attract international investment, leading to wider growth in the UK economy as part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

    The first UK-built rover’s mission is to explore the red planet and drill 2 metres down into the surface to hunt for signs of ancient life, such as fossilised microbes, in an effort to find out how our solar system came to be. Exploring Mars is crucial to further our knowledge in climate shifts and may help answer whether life exists beyond our home planet. 

    The mission is made possible by advanced UK robotics and autonomous navigation technologies, which can also be deployed in challenging environments on Earth, such as nuclear power plants and the deep ocean.   

    Named Rosalind Franklin after the British scientist whose work was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, the rover will be the first European made rover to land on Mars.  

    Britian’s growing space sector is helping to bring jobs and growth to communities and organisations across the UK, with 50,000 people already employed in the sector. It will be a top priority in the government’s Industrial Strategy, which has identified advanced manufacturing and digital and technologies as key growth-driving sectors.

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:  

    This inspiring example of world-class British science will bring us one step closer to answering long-asked questions on potential life on Mars.

    Landing the first ever home-grown rover on Mars, Airbus will not only help Britain make history and lead the European space race but also bring hundreds of highly skilled jobs and investment as we secure Britain’s future through our Plan for Change.

    The rover, entirely built in Stevenage by engineers from Airbus UK, is due to launch in 2028 with the support of NASA and land on Mars in 2030. It was ready to launch in 2022, until the European Space Agency (ESA) cancelled its cooperation with Russia following the illegal invasion of Ukraine.   

    The rover, entirely built in Stevenage by engineers from Airbus UK, is due to launch in 2028 with the support of NASA and land on Mars in 2030. It was ready to launch in 2022, until the European Space Agency cancelled its cooperation with Russia following the illegal invasion of Ukraine.   

    The UK Space Agency and international partners stepped up to replace Russian components in the mission, including the lander platform now under development in Stevenage and a key science instrument now led by Aberystwyth University.  

    Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock DBE said:

    The British built Rosalind Franklin rover will give us vital insight into the history of Mars. This type of information from other planets can give us a better understanding of our own place in space and our planetary evolution.

    With its unique design that enables it to acquire samples at depth of up to 2 metres, we may get answers to some of the fundamental questions we ask about Mars. Drilling to this depth allow us to look for life away from the hostile Martian surface where radiation is likely to kill life as we know it.

    Samples gathered by the Rosalind Franklin rover may help us answer the age old question “Are we alone in the Universe?

    Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: 

    This is humanity defining science, and the best opportunity to find if past life once existed on Mars.

    We’re proud to have funded this world leading technology. The ripple effects of space exploration discoveries extend far beyond the realm of space exploration, driving progress and prosperity across multiple sectors in the UK, and inspiring technological advances to benefit us all.

    Our journeys into space continue to improve our lives here on Earth.

    Dr Louisa J Preston, a Co-Investigator on PanCam and Enfys who is based at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said:

    The Rosalind Franklin Rover mission will be a unique ground-breaking mission; the first sent to drill 2 metres into the crust of Mars, collecting and analysing samples that are up to 4 billion years old, with the goal of discovering evidence of past or even present life hidden beneath the surface.

    Rosalind is a truly international collaboration and the UK has taken a pivotal role in this through the development of the PanCam and Enfys instruments, building the rover, and now excitingly providing the landing platform. It is a privilege to be a part of this mission and we cannot wait to finally ‘open our eyes’ at Oxia Planum, the Martian plain where the rover will land, and begin this incredible adventure.

    Under contract from aerospace company Thales Alenia Space (TAS), which is leading the overall ExoMars mission, Airbus teams in Stevenage will design the mechanical, thermal and propulsion systems necessary for the landing platform to ensure a safe touchdown  for the rover in 2030.  

    This will include the landing structure, the large propulsion system used to provide the final braking thrust, and the landing gear to ensure the lander is stable on touchdown. The lander will feature 2 ramps that will be deployed on opposite sides to enable the rover to be driven onto the Martian surface using the least risky route.

    Kata Escott, Managing Director Airbus Defence and Space UK said:

    Getting the Rosalind Franklin rover onto the surface of Mars is a huge international challenge and the culmination of more than 20 years’ work. We are proud to have built the rover in our state-of-the-art Stevenage cleanroom and delighted now to develop the project to ensure its safe delivery to Mars. Rosalind Franklin will be the first Martian rover able to analyse samples from 2 metres below the surface in its search for past or present life. The mission will supercharge our space know-how in the UK, and will advance our collective understanding of our solar system.

    The mission is a collaborative effort from science communities not just across Europe but also the UK, with a range of UK universities involved in the development and launch of the rover. For example, the panoramic camera (PanCam) system on the rover is led by scientists from University College London’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory working with the University of Aberystwyth, Birkbeck College and the University of Leicester. The University of Aberystwyth is also building an infrared spectrometer for the rover, which will identify the most promising rocks to drill and test for evidence of ancient biology.  

    The UK Space Agency also launched the National Space Innovation Programme’s Call 2 funding competition on 27 March. £17 million of grant funding will be made available, supporting businesses, universities, and other space organisations across the UK to develop and commercialise the technologies of the future that will deliver benefits to the UK economy and its citizens.

    Notes to editors

    The contract returns the £150 million invested by the UK into the European Space Agency Exploration Programme to enable the Rosalind Franklin programme to continue. European Space Agency contracts delivered to the UK Space Agency provide an average return of £9.80 for every £1 spent.  

    The US was the last nation to send a rover to Mars in 2021, when NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover collected samples on the red planet.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Family to be reunited with Nazi-looted artwork after eight decades

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Family to be reunited with Nazi-looted artwork after eight decades

    The heirs and great-grandchildren of Jewish Belgian art collector Samuel Hartveld are set to receive a painting by Henry Gibbs currently in the collection of the Tate

    • Hartveld and his wife fled Belgium prior to the German occupation during the Second World War, leaving behind their most treasured possessions

    The heirs and great-grandchildren of Jewish Belgian art collector Samuel Hartveld are set to be reunited with a painting that was looted by the Nazis when he fled his home city of Antwerp during the Second World War in May 1940.

    When Hartveld and his wife left the city, the couple were forced to leave behind their most treasured possessions including a painting by Henry Gibbs, titled ‘Aeneas and his Family Fleeing Burning Troy’. The painting is said to have been one of 66 paintings in a gallery owned by Hartveld in Antwerp.

    The narrative painting is believed to be a commentary on the English Civil War, which resulted in exile for many. The painting depicts scenes from ‘The Aeneid’ which is a Latin poem that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who fled the fall of Troy and travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. The painting depicts the Trojan hero, Aeneas, trying to rescue his family from the burning city.

    After surviving the war, Hartveld was never reunited with his collection of paintings, as a majority of the works were looted and sold by the German authorities with Hartveld and his family receiving none of the proceeds. Some of his artworks may have changed hands several times since 1940 and are believed to be in galleries across Europe. The painting by Henry Gibbs was eventually purchased from Galerie Jan de Maere in Brussels in 1994 by the Tate collection.

    The independent Spoliation Advisory Panel was established by the government in 2000 to consider claims from anyone, or their heirs, who lost cultural property during the Nazi era, where such an object is now in a UK public collection. Over the last 25 years, the panel has received 23 claims, with 14 works being returned to the heirs of their former owners.

    Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

    The case of Samuel Hartveld is the perfect example of the Spoliation Advisory Panel doing the work it was designed to do – helping to reunite families with their most treasured possessions that were looted by the Nazis.

    The decision to return the painting to the heirs of Samuel Hartveld and his wife is absolutely the right decision, which I welcome wholeheartedly.

    Director of Tate Maria Balshaw said:

    It is a profound privilege to help reunite this work with its rightful heirs, and I am delighted to see the spoliation process working successfully to make this happen. Although the artwork’s provenance was extensively investigated when it was acquired in 1994, crucial facts concerning previous ownership of the painting were not known.

    I would like to thank the Sonia Klein Trust and the Spoliation Advisory panel for their collaboration over the last year. We now look forward to welcoming the family to Tate in the coming months and presenting the painting to them.

    The trustees of the Sonia Klein Trust said:

    The trustees acting for the Sonia Klein Trust and their counsel, Dr. Hannes Hartung, based in Munich, are deeply grateful to the Spoliation Advisory Panel for their recommendation that Tate Britain restitute the narrative painting of Henry Gibbs’ ‘Aeneas and his family fleeing from burning Troy’ and parliament’s ratification of that recommendation.

    This decision clearly acknowledges the awful Nazi persecution of Samuel Hartveld and that the ‘clearly looted’ painting belonged to Mr. Hartveld, a Jewish Belgian art collector and dealer.

    The trustees acting for the Sonia Klein Trust further thank the staff at Tate Britain for working with the trustees and their legal representative Dr. Hannes Hartung, to realise the return of this important painting by a highly regarded British painter. The staff at Tate Britain were open minded and prompt in their approval of the Spoliation Advisory Panel’s recommendation.

    Further, the trustees wish to acknowledge the scholarly efforts of Geert Sels, author of ‘Kunst voor das Reich’, in identifying the plight of Samuel Hartveld and his family because of Nazi persecution in Belgium during World War II. With this restitution, the trustees acting for the Sonia Klein Trust honour and remember the life of Samuel Hartveld and his family.

    The Spoliation Advisory Panel received a claim from trustees acting for the Sonia Klein Trust, established for Mr. Hartveld’s heirs, requesting the return of a painting by Henry Gibbs in May 2024. Following extensive research by the Trust’s legal representatives and others into how the family had come to lose the painting, it was identified as being in the Tate’s collection.

    The Spoliation Advisory Panel then considered all the evidence and decided that the legal and moral claims to the restitution of the painting were sufficiently compelling for them to advise the Secretary of State that the Sonia Klein Trust is entitled to its return.

    The Government welcomes Tate’s full cooperation with this process throughout and its prompt agreement to accept the Panel’s recommendation in full.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    The Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Act 2009 allows national museums to return cultural objects, where the Spoliation Advisory Panel recommends and the Arts Minister agrees.

    The Spoliation Advisory Panel, together with the equivalent committees in France, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands is a member of the Network of European Restitution Committees on Nazi-Looted Art. The Network promotes international collaboration and information sharing on these issues.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on Dismissal of Lawsuit Seeking o Shut Down Dakota Access Pipeline

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    03.28.25

    BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe seeking to shut down operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline while the court-ordered environmental impact statement (EIS) process is ongoing.

    “The Dakota Access Pipeline is vital infrastructure for our state and nation, supporting North Dakota’s role as an energy powerhouse and strengthening U.S. energy security,” said Senator Hoeven. “Considering DAPL has been operating for years without incident and the layers of environmental review that this pipeline has already gone through, this decision is clearly overdue but the right call. We will continue our efforts to advance the Army Corps’ final EIS to provide certainty both for this important project and our state’s energy industry.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Meets With General Bussiere to Accelerate Sentinel ICBM Program, Ensure Minot has Upgrades Needed to Operate New Cruise Missile

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    03.28.25

    ***Click for video and audio.***

    MINOT, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today met with Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, at Minot Air Force Base as part of his efforts to keep the base’s nuclear modernizations on track. Hoeven stressed the need to ensure Minot has the facilities necessary to house and operate the new weapon systems, including the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) missile, as soon as they are fully developed. Accordingly, Hoeven urged Bussiere to work with him on:

    • Concurrently constructing facilities at all three missile bases to accelerate the Sentinel program and reduce costs.
      • This follows Hoeven’s efforts pressing the Department of Defense (DoD) to maintain the full ICBM fleet during the recent Nunn-McCurdy review.
    • Investing in upgrades to the base’s Weapons Storage Area and mission planning facilities, which are needed to support the new LRSO cruise missile.
      • The Air Force expects to operate the new missile in the early 2030s.

    “There are real, concrete steps we can take to accelerate our nuclear modernization programs, reduce the costs of the Sentinel program and ensure Minot is ready to field these missions as soon as the weapons systems are ready to deploy. Doing so is vital in ensuring our nation can continue to effectively deter the aggressions of our adversaries,” said Hoeven “Today’s meeting with General Bussiere is making sure key officials are on the same page and working with us on building the new missile facilities at the three ICBM bases and getting a plan in place to upgrade Minot’s facilities for the new cruise missile. We had a productive discussion, and I will continue working to move the ball forward on these important priorities.”

    As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has been working to:

    • Accelerate the schedule for deploying the Sentinel by:
      • Identifying additional cost savings to address increased construction costs.
      • Pushing for concurrent construction of facilities at all three missile bases with officials at the DoD and Northrop Grumman.
    • Secure the Air Force’s commitment to budget and begin work on facilities for the LRSO carried on the B-52.
      • Hoeven authored a provision in the Senate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Military Construction bill to help ensure Minot has the facilities needed to operate and maintain the new LRSO missile, which will be carried on the B-52, as soon as the weapon is ready to enter service.
      • The senator will continue working as the appropriations process proceeds in the 119th Congress to ensure the upgrades for Minot’s facilities move forward.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Calls Out Trump’s Cuts To USDA While At Nourishing Hope Food Pantry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 28, 2025

    CHICAGO — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined leaders at Nourishing Hope’s Chicago headquarters to discuss the impact of the Trump Administration’s cuts to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on food pantries and their ability to serve their communities.

    USDA halted $1 billion from the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which reimburses states for purchasing fresh produce from local farmers, which is then distributed to food pantries like Nourishing Hope. Without funding, the IL-EATS program, which is funded through USDA’s LFPA program, has been suspended, causing more than 175 small Illinois farmers and hundreds of food banks throughout the state to be left in the lurch.

    “The Trump Administration has already cut $1.5 billion from several crucial USDA programs that help food pantries like Nourishing Hope,” said Durbin. “Now, House Republicans want to cut SNAP and Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars in order to give billionaires a tax break. This is bad for Illinois and bad for America. I’ll continue fighting to protect families who are just trying to put food on their tables.”

    “Food pantries on their own cannot provide enough food for a family without the benefits of SNAP. Current SNAP benefits are already incredibly tight for families and seniors, with an average of $6.40/day in benefits. Cutting that already small allotment harms people who are already struggling to stretch that amount. Folks may need to make decisions about not paying for medication or utilities just to be able to buy groceries. When farmers, food banks, and food pantries who rely on USDA funding start struggling, it’s our food insecure neighbors who suffer. We need legislators to protect support networks like SNAP and to prevent cuts to USDA funding. 1 in 5 Chicago households are experiencing hunger today. The neighbors who come to Nourishing Hope for support can’t afford cuts to already vulnerable support systems like SNAP,” said Jennie Hull, Interim CEO of Nourishing Hope.

    Durbin joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and 29 Senators in a letter demanding a reversal of USDA’s cancellation of food purchase programs across the United States, warning of the harmful impacts this move will have on both families and American farmers. Durbin and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also led a letter to press USDA for more information about the cancellation of previously-approved funding through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for food banks and other emergency food providers. 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Defendants Charged After Warrant Served in El Cajon

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – John Washburn, general manager of San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings in El Cajon, and three employees, made their first appearances in federal court today to face immigration charges stemming from a search warrant that was served by federal agents at the property yesterday.

    Washburn, along with employees Gilver Martinez-Juanta, Miguel Angel Leal-Sanchez and Fernando Casas-Gamboa, were arrested yesterday. Washburn was charged with Conspiracy to Harbor Aliens; the employees were charged with using false documents to work in the United States.

    According to the complaint, Washburn employed undocumented workers and allowed them to live in the company’s warehouse. The three charged employees allegedly provided a false attestation regarding their immigration status to secure employment at the business.

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major set bond for Washburn at $5,000 and ordered him and the other defendants to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on April 8, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

    The Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego Office is investigating these cases with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; United States Border Patrol; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; Drug Enforcement Administration, San Diego Field Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.   

    These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry F.B. Beshar and Michael A. Deshong.

    DEFENDANTS                                            

    Case Number 25mj1458-BLM

    John Washburn                                                         Age: 57             

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Conspiracy to Harbor Aliens, in violation of Title 8, U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) and (v)(I); Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine.

    Case Number 25mj1459-BLM

    Gilver Martinez-Juanta                                                        Age: 39

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    False Attestation (Felony), in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 1546(b)(3); Maximum Penalty: 10 years in prison; $250,000 fine.

    Case Number 25mj1460-BLM

    Miguel Angel Leal-Sanchez                                                 Age:39                         

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    False Attestation (Felony), in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 1546(b)(3); Maximum Penalty: 10 years in prison; $250,000 fine.

    Case Number 25mj1461-BLM

    Fernando Casas-Gamboa                                                      Age: 21                        

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    False Attestation (Felony), in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 1546(b)(3); Maximum Penalty: 10 years in prison; $250,000 fine.

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    Homeland Security Investigations

    Naval Criminal Investigative Service

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General

    General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General

    Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations

    Drug Enforcement Administration

    Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm,s and Explosives

    U.S. Border Patrol

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection

    *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    This investigation 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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan and Peters Introduce Resolution to Preserve Independent USPS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    03.28.25

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced a bipartisan resolution to support the independence and critical public service mission of the United States Postal Service, emphasizing the essential role the Postal Service has played in connecting and serving Americans, especially in rural communities. Sens. Sullivan and Peters were joined in introducing the resolution by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

    “In a state as vast as ours, with many remote communities only accessible by air or water, the USPS serves as an essential government agency that keeps postal services affordable for Alaskans,” Senator Sullivan said. “The Bypass Mail program—a lifeline for Rural Alaska that I have fought for since becoming a senator—allows the USPS to fulfill its universal service obligation to deliver goods and services to even the most remote parts of our state. I will forcefully oppose any action that threatens that program. I am glad to work with my colleagues from other rural states on this resolution to oppose the privatization of the Postal Service and ensure that this critical agency remains focused on its statutory requirement to reliably deliver mail to every household, no matter how remote.”  

    “Federal statute has long recognized that the Postal Service’s core purpose is ‘to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people.’ In Alaska, where most communities are unconnected by road and where internet connectivity—when available—is often unreliable or prohibitively expensive, we rely on the USPS to deliver vital basic necessities, whether that is food, medicine, election ballots, spare parts, store inventory, or subsistence supplies,” said Senator Murkowski. “I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution again to reaffirm the significance of the United States Postal Service as an independent establishment of the Federal Government and to reject its privatization.”

    “For more than 250 years, the Postal Service has been a cornerstone of our nation, connecting every household and business across the country,” said Senator Peters. “Any efforts to undermine the Postal Service’s independence or privatize it would jeopardize affordable, universal mail service and harm the millions of Americans—especially veterans, small business owners, and rural communities—who rely on the Postal Service every day. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to keeping the Postal Service independent and self-sustaining, ensuring it continues to serve as a vital lifeline for all Americans.”

    “The privatization of the United States Postal Service would be devastating to Alaskans not only in remote communities, but throughout the state. The Postal Service currently serves all Alaskans, regardless of where they live. It serves many areas of the state that are not profitable for other shippers. If the Postal Service is privatized, it will significantly increase shipping costs throughout the state and be devastating to Alaska’s economy. All Alaska letter carriers of the National Association of Letter Carriers stands by Senator Sullivan in his efforts to keep the Postal Service a public service to all Alaskans,” said Chris Crutchfield, Alaska State Chair for the National Association of Letter Carriers.

    The full text of the resolution can be found here.

    BACKGROUND

    Since 1775, the United States Postal Service and its dedicated postal workforce have performed the essential government function of “providing postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people” and “rendering postal services to all communities” (39 USC 101). Across the nation today, 630,000 postal employees deliver the mail to more than 168 million residential and business customers, six days a week. The Postal Service is consistently the highest-rated government agency in nonpartisan opinion polls. It also plays a crucial role in our national security, protecting us from mail-borne threats.

    In support of the Postal Service, this bipartisan resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure the Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization. The resolution also recognizes:

    • The Postal Service is at the center of the $1.9 trillion mailing industry, which employs 7.9 million people in the United States.
    • The Postal Service is a self-sustaining, independent establishment that relies on revenue derived from the sale of postal services and products, not on taxpayer funds.
    • The Postal Service maintains an affordable and universal network, connecting rural, suburban, and urban communities.
    • Postal Service employees, including over 73,000 military veterans, are dedicated public servants who serve as the eyes and ears of our communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Summit State Bank Reports Revised Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA ROSA, Calif., March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Summit State Bank (the “Bank”) (Nasdaq: SSBI) today reported that it has revised its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results from those announced in the press release dated January 28, 2025. In connection with the preparation and review of its 2024 financial statements, the Bank has concluded it is necessary to record a $693,000 other real estate owned valuation adjustment, a $146,000 increase in reserve for unfunded loans, and a $76,000 credit loss provision reversal for the fourth quarter 2024. The need for the valuation adjustment results from an updated appraisal report obtained in the first quarter of 2025. The additional reserve for unfunded loans and provision reversal results from the Bank’s adoption of a new CECL model as of December 31, 2024. The valuation adjustment was expensed against noninterest income and also reduced the Bank’s other real estate owned asset. The additional reserve for undisbursed loans and the reversal of the credit losses on loans resulted in a net expense against the provision for credit losses. The income tax provision was adjusted accordingly for all changes noted above.

    After the impact adjustments as outlined above, the Bank’s preliminary, unaudited fourth quarter earnings estimate is revised to a net loss of $7,142,000, or $1.06 loss per diluted share, and full-year 2024 net loss of $4,193,000, or $0.62 loss per diluted share. The Bank previously reported preliminary, unaudited results for fourth quarter 2024 including net loss of $6,605,000 or $0.98 loss per diluted share, and full-year 2024 net loss of $3,656,000, or $0.54 loss per diluted share.

    Material Updates to Income Statement
    The Bank originally reported noninterest income of $1,373,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $4,152,000 for full-year 2024. After the adjustment, noninterest income was reduced to $680,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $3,459,000 for full-year 2024.

    The Bank originally reported total provision for credit losses of $6,652,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $7,845,000 for full-year 2024. After the adjustment, total provision increased to $6,722,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $7,915,000 for full-year 2024.

    Impact to Income Taxes
    The Bank’s revised effective tax rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was 4.4% compared to the previously reported effective tax rate of -0.8%.

    Updated Previously Furnished Earnings Materials
    For completeness, the Bank has included all previously announced financial results disclosures and related tables with this press release as revised. These results supersede the results previously disclosed in the January 28, 2025 press release.

    Revised Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    The Bank has a net loss of $7,142,000, or $1.06 loss per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income of $1,901,000, or $0.28 per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023. The current quarter’s results were impacted by expenses including a $6,570,000 provision for credit losses on loans and a $4,119,000 one-time non-cash impairment charge to write off the remaining balance of goodwill. The Bank has taken significant charge offs and provisions for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2024 as a proactive step towards resolving its problem loans. The goodwill impairment was a result of the Bank’s stock price trading below book value and is a non-cash charge that does not impact the Bank’s cash flows, liquidity, or regulatory capital. The Bank ended the year with improved regulatory capital ratios and is focused on expanding net interest margin in 2025.

    For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Bank reported a net loss of $4,193,000, or $0.62 loss per diluted share compared to net income of $10,822,000, or $1.62 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2023. The 2024 net income loss was primarily attributable to annual provision for credit losses on loans totaling $7,882,000 and a one-time non-cash goodwill impairment expense of $4,119,000.

    Pre-tax, pre-provision net income before goodwill1 was $2,301,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $2,122,000, $1,267,000, $1,955,000 and $2,643,000 for the quarters ended September 30, 2024, June 30, 2024, March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively. “At the beginning of 2024, the Bank was negatively impacted by the ongoing strains that the high-interest rate environment put on our funding costs,” said Brian Reed, President and CEO. “By the fourth quarter of 2024, the Bank’s core operating results improved due to a lower cost of funds and improved noninterest income.”

    “The Bank continues to focus on maintaining strong capital levels and did that effectively in 2024 by strategically managing the balance sheet and suspending cash dividends. As such, the Board determined it will also suspend cash dividends in the first quarter of 2025 so that we can build capital, increase liquidity, and position the Bank to create long-term value for our shareholders.”

    “The largest negative impact on the Bank’s performance in 2024 was a result of the heightened level of non-performing assets,” said Reed. “We have been aggressively pursuing solutions to these problem loans and have reduced our non performing loans by $9,160,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024. We anticipate non performing loans will be further reduced by $18,187,000 in the first half of 2025 as a result of loan payoffs from the sale of collateral that is currently under contract to be sold.”

    “We are headed into 2025 feeling positive about our prospects subsequent to our significant progress in resolving problem loans. We continue to maintain our well capitalized status and sufficient liquidity after having realized successive quarters of improved net operating income results,” concluded Reed.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights (at or for the three months ended December 31, 2024)

    • The Bank’s Tier 1 Leverage ratio increased to 8.87% at December 31, 2024 compared to 8.85% at December 31, 2023. This ratio remains above the minimum of 5% required to be considered “well-capitalized” for regulatory capital purposes.
    • The Bank has implemented numerous operating cost saving initiatives including an 8% reduction in force.
    • The Bank’s annualized loss on average assets and annualized loss on average equity for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 2.59% and 28.05%, respectively. The pre-tax, pre-provision return on average assets before goodwill1 and pre-tax, pre-provision return on average equity before goodwill1 in the fourth quarter would have been 0.83% and 9.04%, respectively.
    • Net income was a loss of $7,142,000 for the fourth quarter of 2024. Pre-tax, pre-provision net income before goodwill1 was $2,301,000 for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $2,122,000, $1,267,000, $1,955,000 and $2,643,000 for the quarters ended September 30, 2024, June 30, 2024, March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.
    • Collateral relating to two of the non performing loans is in contract to sell in the first half of 2025 and the expected proceeds represent 65% or $18,010,000 of the remaining $27,754,000 of non performing loans.
    • The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.49% after charging off $8,343,000 and recording a $6,570,000 provision for credit losses on loans to replenish reserves on December 31, 2024.
    • The Bank maintained strong total liquidity of $435,409,000, or 40.8% of total assets as of December 31, 2024. This includes on balance sheet liquidity (cash and equivalents and unpledged available-for-sale securities) of $111,471,000 or 10.4% of total assets, plus available borrowing capacity of $323,938,000 or 30.4% of total assets.
    • The Bank has been strategically managing its loan and deposit portfolios to reduce risk in the balance sheet and improve capital ratios. The Bank has been successful in reducing the size of its balance sheet as noted below:
      • Net loans decreased $33,551,000 to $905,075,000 at December 31, 2024, compared to $938,626,000 one year earlier and decreased $12,292,000 compared to $917,367,000 three months earlier.
      • Total deposits decreased 5% to $962,562,000 at December 31, 2024, compared to $1,009,693,000 at December 31, 2023, and decreased 4% when compared to the prior quarter end of $1,002,770,000.
    • Book value was $13.53 per share, compared to $14.40 per share a year ago and $14.85 in the preceding quarter.

    Operating Results

    For the fourth quarter of 2024, the annualized loss on average assets was 2.59% and the annualized loss on average equity was 28.05%. This compared to an annualized return on average assets of 0.67% and an annualized return on average equity of 8.02%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2023. These ratios were negatively impacted during the fourth quarter of 2024 by a credit loss provision and one-time goodwill impairment. Without the impact from these items, the pre-tax, pre-provision return on average assets before goodwill1 and the pre-tax, pre-provision return on average equity before goodwill1 would have been 0.83% and 9.04%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

    For the year ended 2024, the loss on average assets was 0.38% and the loss on average equity was 4.23%. This compares to the return on average assets of 0.95% and return on average equity of 11.56%, respectively, for the year ended 2023.

    The Bank’s net interest margin was 2.88% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to its lowest quarterly net interest margin this year of 2.71% which occurred in the second and third quarters of 2024. The current net interest margin is also higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 of 2.85%. This was primarily attributable to the cost of deposits decreasing in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 2.87% compared to 3.05% during the preceding quarter. “We are starting to see an improvement in cost of funds in response to the Federal Reserve rate decreases. As CDs mature, we expect to see continued improvement in deposit pricing in the near future,” said Reed. “In addition, loan yields have started to improve as our existing loans have started to reprice.”

    Interest and dividend income decreased 1.0% to $14,935,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $15,036,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in interest income is attributable to a $182,000 decrease in interest on investment securities and a $137,000 decrease in interest on deposits with banks offset by an increase of $214,000 in interest and fees on loans.

    Noninterest income increased in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $680,000 compared to $297,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase is primarily attributed to the Bank recognizing $857,000 in gains on sales of SBA guaranteed loan balances offset by the valuation adjustment on other real estate owned of $693,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to no gains on sales of SBA guaranteed loan balances in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Operating expenses increased in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $10,200,000 compared to $5,483,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase is primarily due to a one-time non-cash impairment charge of $4,119,000 to write off the remaining balance of goodwill. In addition, the Bank recorded a $443,000 loss related to an external check fraud event during the fourth quarter of 2024. The Bank has filed an insurance claim related to this fraud loss and may be partially reimbursed by insurance at a later date.

    “We remain focused on enhancing revenue generation and driving significant cost efficiencies to improving our operational effectiveness. To date we have leveraged existing staff and technologies to reduce third-party expenses, eliminated raises and bonuses, reduced employee benefits Bank-wide, and reduced director fees.”

    Balance Sheet Review

    During 2024, the Bank strategically managed its loan and deposit portfolios to reduce risk in the balance sheet and improve capital ratios. As a result of the efforts, net loans decreased 4% to $905,075,000 and total deposits also decreased 5% to $962,562,000 as of December 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023.

    Net loans were $905,075,000 at December 31, 2024 compared to $938,626,000 at December 31, 2023, and decreased 1% compared to September 30, 2024. The Bank’s largest loan types are commercial real estate loans which make up 78% of the portfolio, “secured by farmland” totaling 9% of the portfolio, and 7% in commercial and industrial loans. Of the commercial real estate total, approximately 34% or $231,000,000 is owner occupied and the remaining 66% or $451,000,000 is non-owner occupied. The Bank’s entire loan portfolio is well diversified between industries including office space which totals $116,400,000.

    Total deposits were $962,562,000 at December 31, 2024 compared to $1,009,693,000 at December 31, 2023, and decreased 4% compared to the prior quarter end. At December 31, 2024, noninterest bearing demand deposit accounts decreased 8% compared to a year ago and represented 19% of total deposits; savings, NOW and money market accounts decreased 9% compared to a year ago and represented 49% of total deposits, and CDs increased 4% compared to a year ago and comprised 32% of total deposits.

    Shareholders’ equity was $91,723,000 at December 31, 2024, compared to $100,662,000 three months earlier and $97,678,000 a year earlier. The decrease in shareholders’ equity compared to a year ago was due to a reduction in retained earnings. At December 31, 2024 book value was $13.53 per share, compared to $14.85 three months earlier, and $14.40 at December 31, 2023.

    The Bank’s Tier 1 Leverage ratio continues to exceed the minimum of 5% necessary to be categorized as “well-capitalized” for regulatory capital purposes. The Tier-1 leverage ratio at the end of 2024 was 8.87%, an increase compared to 8.85% at the end of 2023.

    Credit Quality

    “Our primary focus remains on managing asset quality and reducing portfolio risk,” said Reed. “To that end we charged off loans of $8,343,000 and recorded a $6,570,000 provision for credit losses to replenish reserves during the fourth quarter of 2024. Three credits represent 94% or $26,040,000 of our non performing loans and are “secured by farmland” which have been hit hard by the current environment. The Bank holds a small portion of its total loans in this industry and actively monitors the performance of these loans. Collateral relating to two of these three non performing loans is in contract to sell in the first half of 2025 and represents 65% or $18,010,000 of the non performing loan portfolio. The remaining non performing loans are being reserved at current appraisal value less selling cost.”

    Non performing assets were $32,191,000, or 3.02% of total assets, at December 31, 2024. This compared to $41,971,000 in non performing assets at September 30, 2024, and $44,206,000 in non performing assets at December 31, 2023. Non performing assets include $4,437,000 for one other real estate owned loan at December 31, 2024 and $5,130,000 at September 30, 2024, compared to no other real estate owned at December 31, 2023.

    There were $8,343,000 in net charge-offs during the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to no charge-offs during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and net recoveries of $9,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2023.

    For the fourth quarter of 2024, consistent with factors within the allowance for credit losses model, the Bank recorded a $6,570,000 provision for credit loss expense for loans, a $154,000 provision for credit losses for unfunded loan commitments and a $2,000 reversal of credit losses on investments. This compared to a $31,000 reversal of credit loss expense on loans, a $65,000 reversal of credit losses on unfunded loan commitments and a $31,000 provision for credit losses on investments in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.49% on December 31, 2024, and 1.60% on December 31, 2023. The decrease is due to $9,690,000 in loan charge-offs offset with a provision for credit losses on loans of $7,882,000 and $55,000 provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments recorded during the year ended December 31, 2024.

    About Summit State Bank

    Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Sonoma County, Summit State Bank is an award-winning community bank serving the North Bay. The Bank serves small businesses, nonprofits and the community, with total assets of $1.1 billion and total equity of $92 million as of December 31, 2024. The Bank has built its reputation over the past 40 years by specializing in providing exceptional customer service and customized financial solutions to aid in the success of its customers.

    Summit State Bank is committed to embracing the diverse backgrounds, cultures and talents of its employees to create high performance and support the evolving needs of its customers and community it serves. Through the engagement of its team, Summit State Bank has received many esteemed awards including: Top Performing Community Bank by American Banker, Best Places to Work in the North Bay and Diversity in Business by North Bay Business Journal, Corporate Philanthropy Award by the San Francisco Business Times, and Hall of Fame by North Bay Biz Magazine. Summit State Bank’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol SSBI. Further information can be found at www.summitstatebank.com.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Preliminary Financial Results and Forward-looking Statements

    The financial results in this release are preliminary and unaudited. Final audited financial results and other disclosures will be reported in Summit State Bank’s annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2024 and may differ materially from the results and disclosures in this release due to, among other things, the completion of final review procedures, the occurrence of subsequent events or the discovery of additional information.

    Except for historical information, the statements contained in this release, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are non-historical statements regarding management’s expectations and beliefs about the Bank’s future financial performance and financial condition and trends in its business and markets. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding future operating results, operating improvements, loans sales and resolutions, cost savings, insurance recoveries and dividends. The forward-looking statements in this release are based on current information and on assumptions about future events and circumstances that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond the Bank’s control. As a result of those risks and uncertainties, the Bank’s actual future results and outcomes could differ, possibly materially, from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of incurring credit losses; the quality and quantity of deposits; the market for deposits, adverse developments in the financial services industry and any related impact on depositor behavior or investor sentiment; risks related to the sufficiency of the Bank’s liquidity; fluctuations in interest rates; governmental regulation and supervision; the risk that the Bank will not maintain growth at historic rates or at all; general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in the areas in which the Bank conducts its business; risks associated with changes in interest rates, which could adversely affect future operating results; the risk that customers or counterparties may not performance in accordance with the terms of credit documents or other agreements due a decline in credit worthiness, business conditions or other reasons;; adverse conditions in real estate markets; and the inherent uncertainty of expectations regarding litigation, insurance claims and the performance or resolution of loans. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties to which the Bank’s business and future financial performance are subject is contained in the Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and other documents the Bank files with the FDIC from time to time. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date of this release. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    1Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This release contains non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures in addition to the results presented in accordance with GAAP. These Non-GAAP financial measures include pre-tax, pre-provision net operating income before goodwill, pre-tax, pre-provision return on average assets before goodwill (“ROAA”), and pre-tax, pre-provision return on average equity (“ROAE”) before goodwill. We believe the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, provides useful information to assess our consolidated financial condition and consolidated results of operations and to assist investors in evaluating our financial results relative to our history results and those of our peers.

    Not all companies use identical calculations or the same definitions of pre-tax, pre-provision net operating income before goodwill, pre-tax, pre-provision ROAA before goodwill and pre-tax, pre-provision ROAE before goodwill, so the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not audited. These non-GAAP financial measures should be taken together with the corresponding GAAP measure and should not be considered a substitute for the GAAP measure. Reconciliations of the most directly comparable GAAP measures to these non-GAAP financial measurements are presented below.

    Contact: Brian Reed, President and CEO, Summit State Bank (707) 568-4908

                             
            Three Months Ended
                             
            December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
            (In thousands)
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP pre-tax, pre-provision income net of goodwill
                             
    Net (loss) income       $ (7,142 )   $ 626     $ 928     $ 1,395     $ 1,901  
    Excluding provision for (reversal of) credit losses   6,722       1,294       (16 )     (85 )     (65 )
    Excluding (reversal of) provision for income taxes   (1,398 )     202       355       645       807  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income (non-GAAP) $ (1,818 )   $ 2,122     $ 1,267     $ 1,955     $ 2,643  
                             
    Excluding goodwill impairment         4,119       –       –       –       –  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income net of goodwill (non-GAAP) $ 2,301     $ 2,122     $ 1,267     $ 1,955     $ 2,643  
                       
       
                             
                             
            Three Months Ended
                             
            December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
            (In thousands)
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP return on average assets
                             
    Average assets       $ 1,098,885     $ 1,098,469     $ 1,078,700     $ 1,087,960     $ 1,123,057  
    (Loss) return on average assets (1)         -2.59 %     0.23 %     0.35 %     0.51 %     0.67 %
                             
    Net (loss) income       $ (7,142 )   $ 626     $ 928     $ 1,395     $ 1,901  
    Excluding provision for (reversal of) credit losses   6,722       1,294       (16 )     (85 )     (65 )
    Excluding (reversal of) provision for income taxes   (1,398 )     202       355       645       807  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income (non-GAAP) $ (1,818 )   $ 2,122     $ 1,267     $ 1,955     $ 2,643  
                             
    Excluding goodwill impairment         4,119       –       –       –       –  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income net of goodwill (non-GAAP) $ 2,301     $ 2,122     $ 1,267       $ 1,955       $ 2,643  
                             
    Adjusted return on average assets (non-GAAP) (1)   0.83 %     0.77 %     0.47 %     0.72 %     0.93 %
                             
    (1) Annualized.                
                             
            Three Months Ended
                             
            December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
            (In thousands)
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP return on average shareholders’ equity
                             
    Average shareholders’ equity       $ 101,307     $ 99,962     $ 97,548     $ 97,471     $ 94,096  
    (Loss) return on average shareholders’ equity (1)   -28.05 %     2.48 %     3.82 %     5.74 %     8.02 %
                             
    Net (loss) income       $ (7,142 )   $ 626     $ 928     $ 1,395     $ 1,901  
    Excluding provision for (reversal of) credit losses   6,722       1,294       (16 )     (85 )     (65 )
    Excluding (reversal of) provision for income taxes   (1,398 )     202       355       645       807  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income (non-GAAP) $ (1,818 )   $ 2,122     $ 1,267     $ 1,955     $ 2,643  
                             
    Excluding goodwill impairment         4,119       –       –       –       –  
    Pre-tax, pre-provision income net of goodwill (non-GAAP) $ 2,301     $ 2,122     $ 1,267     $ 1,955     $ 2,643  
                             
    Adjusted return on average shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP) (1)   9.04 %     8.42 %     5.21 %     8.04 %     11.14 %
                             
    (1) Annualized.                
                     
                           
    SUMMIT STATE BANK
    STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (In thousands except earnings per share data)
                           
                           
              Three Months Ended   Year Ended
              December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
              (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                           
    Interest and dividend income:              
      Interest and fees on loans $ 13,623     $ 13,409     $ 53,574     $ 52,560  
      Interest on deposits with banks   655       792       2,060       4,410  
      Interest on investment securities   530       712       2,614       2,855  
      Dividends on FHLB stock   127       123       514       416  
          Total interest and dividend income   14,935       15,036       58,762       60,241  
    Interest expense:              
      Deposits     7,099       7,113       28,495       24,227  
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances   6       –       337       177  
      Junior subordinated debt   128       94       454       375  
          Total interest expense   7,233       7,207       29,286       24,779  
          Net interest income before provision for credit losses   7,702       7,829       29,476       35,462  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on loans   6,570       (31 )     7,882       342  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   154       (65 )     55       (68 )
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments   (2 )     31       (22 )     58  
          Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit              
            losses, unfunded loan commitments and investments   980       7,894       21,561       35,130  
    Non-interest income:              
      Service charges on deposit accounts   225       219       926       872  
      Rental income   61       54       241       193  
      Net gain on loan sales   857       –       2,114       2,481  
      Net gain on securities   6       –       6       –  
      Net loss on other real estate owned   (693 )     –       (693 )     –  
      FHLB prepayment fee   –       –       –       1,024  
      Other income   224       24       865       631  
          Total non-interest income   680       297       3,459       5,201  
    Non-interest expense:              
      Salaries and employee benefits   3,429       3,044       15,639       15,399  
      Occupancy and equipment   413       386       1,761       1,713  
      Goodwill impairment   4,119       –       4,119       –  
      Other expenses   2,239       2,053       7,889       7,938  
          Total non-interest expense   10,200       5,483       29,408       25,050  
          (Loss) income before provision for income taxes   (8,540 )     2,708       (4,388 )     15,281  
    (Reversal of) provision for income taxes   (1,398 )     807       (195 )     4,459  
          Net (loss) income $ (7,142 )   $ 1,901     $ (4,193 )   $ 10,822  
                           
    Basic (loss) earnings per common share $ (1.06 )   $ 0.28     $ (0.62 )   $ 1.62  
    Diluted (loss) earnings per common share $ (1.06 )   $ 0.28     $ (0.62 )   $ 1.62  
                           
    Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   6,719       6,698       6,714       6,695  
    Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   6,719       6,698       6,714       6,698  
                                   
       
    SUMMIT STATE BANK  
    BALANCE SHEETS  
    (In thousands except share data)  
                   
            December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023  
            (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)  
                   
    ASSETS        
                   
    Cash and due from banks $ 51,403   $ 57,789  
          Total cash and cash equivalents   51,403     57,789  
                   
    Investment securities:        
      Available-for-sale, less allowance for credit losses of $36 and $58        
        (at fair value; amortized cost of $80,887 in 2024 and $97,034 in 2023)   68,228     84,546  
                   
    Loans, less allowance for credit losses of $13,693 in 2024 and $15,221 in 2023   905,075     938,626  
    Bank premises and equipment, net   5,155     5,316  
    Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock, at cost   5,889     5,541  
    Goodwill     –     4,119  
    Other real estate owned   4,437     –  
    Affordable housing tax credit investments   7,413     8,405  
    Accrued interest receivable and other assets   19,494     18,166  
                   
          Total assets $ 1,067,094   $ 1,122,508  
                   
    LIABILITIES AND        
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
                   
    Deposits:          
      Demand – non interest-bearing $ 185,756   $ 201,909  
      Demand – interest-bearing   193,355     244,748  
      Savings   47,235     54,352  
      Money market   226,879     212,278  
      Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC insurance limit   70,717     63,159  
      Other time deposits   238,620     233,247  
          Total deposits   962,562     1,009,693  
                   
    FHLB advances   –     –  
    Junior subordinated debt, net   5,935     5,920  
    Affordable housing commitment   511     4,094  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   6,363     5,123  
                   
          Total liabilities   975,371     1,024,830  
                   
          Total shareholders’ equity   91,723     97,678  
                   
          Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,067,094   $ 1,122,508  
                   
     
    Financial Summary
    (In thousands except per share data)
                     
        As of and for the   As of and for the
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Statement of Income Data:                
    Net interest income   $ 7,702     $ 7,829     $ 29,476     $ 35,462  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on loans     6,570       (31 )     7,882       342  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   154       (65 )     55       (68 )
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments     (2 )     31       (22 )     58  
    Non-interest income     680       297       3,459       5,201  
    Non-interest expense     10,200       5,483       29,408       25,050  
    (Reversal of) provision for income taxes     (1,398 )     807       (195 )     4,459  
    Net (loss) income   $ (7,142 )   $ 1,901     $ (4,193 )   $ 10,822  
                     
    Selected per Common Share Data:                
    Basic (loss) earnings per common share   $ (1.06 )   $ 0.28     $ (0.62 )   $ 1.62  
    Diluted (loss) earnings per common share   $ (1.06 )   $ 0.28     $ (0.62 )   $ 1.62  
    Dividend per share   $ –     $ 0.12     $ 0.28     $ 0.48  
    Book value per common share (1)   $ 13.53     $ 14.40     $ 13.53     $ 14.40  
                     
    Selected Balance Sheet Data:                
    Assets   $ 1,067,094     $ 1,122,508     $ 1,067,094     $ 1,122,508  
    Loans, net     905,075       938,626       905,075       938,626  
    Deposits     962,562       1,009,693       962,562       1,009,693  
    Average assets     1,098,885       1,123,057       1,091,045       1,142,790  
    Average earning assets     1,064,872       1,089,808       1,058,766       1,110,801  
    Average shareholders’ equity     101,307       94,096       99,080       93,621  
    Nonperforming loans     27,754       44,206       27,754       44,206  
    Other real estate owned     4,437       –       –       –  
    Total nonperforming assets     32,191       44,206       32,191       44,206  
                     
    Selected Ratios:                
    (Loss) return on average assets (2)     -2.59 %     0.67 %     -0.38 %     0.95 %
    (Loss) return on average shareholders’ equity (2)     -28.05 %     8.02 %     -4.23 %     11.56 %
    Efficiency ratio (3)     121.78 %     67.47 %     89.31 %     61.60 %
    Net interest margin (2)     2.88 %     2.85 %     2.78 %     3.19 %
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio     10.14 %     9.90 %     10.14 %     9.90 %
    Tier 1 capital ratio     10.14 %     9.90 %     10.14 %     9.90 %
    Total capital ratio     11.89 %     11.75 %     11.89 %     11.75 %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     8.87 %     8.85 %     8.87 %     8.85 %
    Common dividend payout ratio (4)     0.00 %     42.63 %     -45.20 %     30.05 %
    Average shareholders’ equity to average assets     9.22 %     8.38 %     9.08 %     8.19 %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     3.02 %     4.63 %     3.02 %     4.63 %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     3.02 %     3.94 %     3.02 %     3.94 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans     1.49 %     1.60 %     1.49 %     1.60 %
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans     49.34 %     34.43 %     49.34 %     34.43 %
             
    (1) Total shareholders’ equity divided by total common shares outstanding.        
    (2) Annualized.        
    (3) Non-interest expenses to net interest and non-interest income, net of securities gains.            
    (4) Common dividends divided by net (loss) income available for common shareholders.        
             

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cramer Introduce Legislation to Enhance Patient Advocacy for Rural Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Strengthening VA Patient Advocacy for Rural Veterans Act to enhance the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) patient advocate program to better support veterans receiving care in rural communities outside of the medical center setting – such as community outpatient clinics and other providers. The patient advocate serves as a bridge, working directly with VA staff to facilitate resolutions on behalf of all veterans. The measure also contains reporting provisions to enhance accountability and Congressional awareness of the issues veterans face when seeking care. 
    “Far too many veterans in rural parts of Nevada face barriers to receiving the VA medical care and support they deserve,” said Senator Rosen. “Our bipartisan legislation would help improve access to care and resources by establishing VA patient advocates specifically for rural veterans, helping to make sure that they can fully benefit from the VA and get any issues resolved no matter where they live.”
    “Patient advocates really play an important role in helping our veterans navigate the incredible VA red tape, it’s just outlandish, as it is with most bureaucracies,” said Senator Cramer. “What our bill does is it recognizes the unique challenges that are faced by particularly rural veterans, and then it provides targeted support through dedicated patient advocates to ensure they are able to access the healthcare they’ve earned, both in and from their more rural homes.”
    The Strengthening VA Patient Advocacy for Rural Veterans Act is supported by several organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and America’s Warrior Partnership. 
    Senator Rosen has been working to deliver for Nevada’s veterans. She has sent letters demanding that the VA reverse harmful plans to reduce its workforce, calling on the VA to permanently reverse layoffs, and pushing for answers regarding mass employee terminations at the VA. Earlier this month, Senator Rosen helped introduce legislation to reinstate veterans wrongfully fired by President Trump and Elon Musk. She also took to the Senate floor to oppose the actions of the Trump Administration and Musk to mass fire employees working at the VA. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Demands for USDA to Not Take Food Away from Food Banks and Hungry Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of her colleagues are demanding answers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) about the cancellation of previously approved funding through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for food banks and other emergency food providers. This cancellation would take food away from hungry Wisconsinites already facing high grocery prices and further hurt Wisconsin farmers who are being squeezed by tariffs and other cuts to domestic markets.

    “A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy,” wrote Baldwin and the lawmakers in a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

    “These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets,” Baldwin and the Senators continued.

    TEFAP provides Wisconsinites with three to five days of free food assistance, and in 2024 alone, Wisconsin distributed over 21 million pounds of food through the program, serving over 618,000 households across 353 distribution sites statewide. The loss of this program would impact Wisconsinites across the state, and particularly those in rural, tribal, and low-income communities who are facing food insecurity and rely on this critical funding. 

    The letter was led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and co-signed by 24 other Senate colleagues.

    A full version of this letter is available here and below.

    Dear Secretary Rollins:

    We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previously approved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy. If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance.

    In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when America’s growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges.

    According to recent statistics, nearly one in every seven Americans have faced food insecurity. Many of these households turn to community and emergency relief organizations such as food banks and food pantries to help them obtain sufficient nutrition. In 2023 alone, 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers, according to a report from Feeding America, America’s largest network of food banks. While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans. 

    Due to this reported change, a number of us have heard that trucks delivering American-grown foods may not arrive. These trucks represent hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals containing poultry, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. If confirmed, the cancellation of this previously announced funding also comes on top of the cancellation of Local Food for School Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program funding, which also helps farmers deliver nutritious foods to schools and food banks. These cuts will deprive Americans of food assistance, emergency food providers of necessary support to carry out their work, and American farmers of vital domestic markets.

    To help us understand USDA’s actions and their impact on communities around the country, we ask that you answer the following questions.

    1. Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases?
    2. Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP?
    3. Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds? 
    4. Please provide information on what types of funding, by commodity, have been cancelled and the financial impact of those cancellations on producers such as pork, chicken, turkey and dairy farmers.
    5. Is the funding announced on October 1, 2024 and detailed in the implementation memo that the Food and Nutrition Service sent to state agencies on December 2 rescinded?
    6. Does USDA intend to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds in Fiscal Year 2025 for future purchases that will be distributed through TEFAP? 

    We ask for a prompt response to these questions by the end of the week.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Prison Nurse Indicted for Abusive Sexual Conduct with an Inmate

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – An Iowa woman has been indicted for abusive sexual contact with an inmate and making false statements to federal law enforcement about the interaction, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, Jessica Lynn Larson, 37, was employed as a nurse by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) assigned to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Rochester, Minnesota.  Larson entered into a romantic relationship with an incarcerated inmate, Victim A, at FMC Rochester.  Over the course of their relationship, Larson exchanged sexually explicit letters with Victim A. On April 3, 2024, Larson and Victim A had a sexual encounter in a shower room. Shortly afterwards, other nursing staff reported Larson’s inappropriate relationship with Victim A, prompting a search Victim A’s cell, where they discovered hidden letters from Larson.  Board of Prison (BOP) officials then found letters from Victim A inside Larson’s backpack.  After being confronted about her relationship with Victim A, Larson submitted a BOP indicate report in which she falsely accused Victim A of sexual assault and claimed that he had threatened to hurt her children if she refused his sexual advances or reported his assault.  Two months later, after being placed on administrative leave, Larson drove more than 600 miles from her home in Iowa to Cincinnati, Ohio, to mail a love letter to Victim A who had been transferred to another BOP facility.

    “In Minnesota, we take sexual abuse—particularly when committed by those in positions of authority—very seriously,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Likewise, lying to the United States is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute defendants who commit these crimes.”   

    Larson will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on April 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General and the Bureau of Prisons.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tigard Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault for Shooting a U.S. Postal Service Employee

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal judge in Portland found a Tigard, Oregon man guilty Wednesday for shooting a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier.

    Kevin Eugene Irvine, 34, was convicted of one count each of attempted murder of a federal employee, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Irvine raised an insanity defense in the bench trial held before a U.S. District Judge. The District Judge found that Irvine had failed to establish legal insanity and was guilty of all three counts in the indictment.

    According to court documents, on December 24, 2022, while driving a white van through a Milwaukie, Oregon neighborhood, Irvine made eye contact with a letter carrier delivering mail on foot dressed in a USPS uniform. Irvine threw his arms in the air, which the letter carrier mistook as waving, and waved back.  

    A short time later, on an adjacent street, the letter carrier noticed the same van and again made eye contact with driver, later identified as Irvine, as he drove past. Irvine stopped the van several houses away, got out of the van with a rifle, knelt on the street and fired three rounds, striking the letter carrier once as the letter carrier ran for cover. After the shooting, Irvine picked up his shell casings and drove off.

    On December 28, 2022, officers spotted the van in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they stopped the vehicle and arrested Irvine. Later, investigators sought and obtained a search warrant for Irvine’s van and found three rifles, ammunition, spent shell casings, a knife, shooting targets and ballistic gear.

    On February 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Irvine with aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, attempted murder of a federal employee, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

    Irvine faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for each count of attempted murder of a federal employee and aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and a mandatory minimum of ten years of imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He will be sentenced on July 17, 2025.

    The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Milwaukie Police Department and the Lake Oswego Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gary Y. Sussman and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

    MIL Security OSI –