PHOENIX, Ariz. – Tyree Eugene Rideaux, 31, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced, Feb. 25, to 132 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, and subject to registering as lifetime sex offender due to an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations with significant assistance provided by the Mesa Police Department.
Rideaux pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor on Sept. 16, 2024.
“As law enforcement officers, we are used to handling difficult encounters, but few can prepare us for working on human trafficking investigations involving vulnerable children,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola.
Rideaux met the 16-year-old minor, Jane Doe, at a party in Phoenix a short time before Aug. 15, 2021. Jane Doe traveled with Rideaux and two other females to Inglewood, California. Rideaux told Jane Doe to pretend that she was 18 years old. Once in California, Rideaux placed Jane Doe on the “blade,” an area in a city known for high rates of prostitution. Rideaux assigned a fictitious name to Jane Doe and posted commercial sex advertisements of her online for sex buyers. Jane Doe gave the money she earned to Rideaux, as he directed her to do. On August 15, 2021, Jane Doe convinced a sex buyer to take her to a hospital where she could notify police and family, who returned her home.
“Predators who traffic in teenagers and force them into prostitution to support the trafficker’s own lifestyle are deserving of the harshest sentences,” stated Rachel C. Hernandez, Acting United States Attorney. “I’m pleased with the excellent results in this case that came about through the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and our prosecutors.”
“HSI is committed to ensuring sex traffickers face the fullest extent of the law by putting them behind bars for years – significant prison time rightly awaits this trafficker,” Burrola concluded.
ICE HSI conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecutions.
Report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE Tip Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423).
Headline: Estill, Johnson, Simpson Counties Now Eligible for FEMA Assistance
Estill, Johnson, Simpson Counties Now Eligible for FEMA Assistance
FRANKFORT, Ky — Additional counties in the commonwealth of Kentucky have been added to the major disaster declaration for Kentucky’s severe storms and flooding that took place from Feb. 14, 2025, and continuing. Homeowners and renters in Estill, Johnson and Simpson counties are eligible to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. FEMA may provide grants to help pay for temporary housing and essential home repairs as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses. In addition to Estill, Johnson and Simpson counties, other counties eligible for IA include Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry and Pike. The first step to receive FEMA assistance is to apply. There are four ways to apply: visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or visit a Disaster Recovery Center or call the toll-free FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, The phone line is open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight ET, and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.The deadline to apply for assistance for flooding is April 25, 2025. For an accessible video on how to apply for FEMA assistance, go to youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.For the latest information about Kentucky’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4860. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema. sarah.cleary Thu, 03/06/2025 – 17:16
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Mikal Davis, 47, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Counts One, Three, and Four of the Superseding Indictment.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Davis conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture of heroin, five kilograms or more of a mixture of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and 28 grams or more of crack. Davis, who led the drug trafficking organization’s activity in Philadelphia and Johnstown, was one of the targets of a federal wiretap and was intercepted obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Accompanied by distributors below him, Davis frequently traveled between Philadelphia and Johnstown with drug shipments which were then stored and processed at “stash houses” throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania for distribution. During a meeting with a drug source in California for a resupply, Davis arranged for the drug parcels to be mailed to Johnstown for distribution. In the Philadelphia area, Davis met with drug sources and purchased over 2,000 grams of heroin and fentanyl and over 5,000 grams of cocaine from a source in New Jersey.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Davis. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), introduced the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, and it passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bipartisan measure was agreed to at the end of last year by leaders of both the Senate Commerce Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, but the session ended before final passage could occur. The bill authorizes funding to strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to protect our borders, facilitate maritime commerce, unleash American energy, bolster deterrence efforts, and improve support for Coast Guard personnel and their families.
Sen. Cruz delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025:
“The United States Coast Guard is essential to protecting our Nation’s maritime borders from threats like illegal drugs, illegal immigration, and transnational crime. The Coast Guard saves American lives and ensures that commerce flows smoothly at our ports.
“The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 is bipartisan legislation that Senator Cantwell and I negotiated and agreed to with House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen. It authorizes funding to bolster the Coast Guard’s critical missions of border security, facilitating maritime commerce, and enforcing the rule of law in domestic and international waters.
“I want to draw attention to several key provisions in this bill.
“Last year, the Coast Guard seized over 106 metric tons of cocaine. Unfortunately, cartels are now using technology like miniature, remote-controlled drone ships to smuggle drugs across our maritime border. Without this legislation, the Coast Guard would remain unable to prosecute criminals using these remote-controlled, autonomous vessels.
“The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 expands the Coast Guard’s and Customs and Border Protection’s use of cutting-edge tools like Tactical Maritime Surveillance Systems, which are blimp-based radar systems—to find and interdict drug runners, poachers, and human traffickers at the Texas-Mexico border in the Gulf of America, in San Diego, Key West, and San Juan Puerto Rico.
“I ask my colleagues to stand with me and support President Trump’s vision of protecting our borders from drugs and illegal immigrants and of building ships to revitalize the Coast Guard’s fleet. I urge my colleagues to support the Coast Guard Authorization Act.”
Read the bill text here.
BACKGROUND
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 makes several enhancements to the Coast Guard’s operations by:
Expanding efforts to interdict and prosecute illicit drug trafficking. The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act will now ensure the United States can prosecute drug traffickers who utilize remote-controlled or autonomous vessels to smuggle illegal narcotics.
Protecting personnel from illicit drug exposure. All Coast Guard installations will be required to maintain a supply of medication to treat opioid overdoses, including fentanyl.
Upgrading icebreaker fleet. The bill directs the Coast Guard to establish a replacement plan for aging icebreaking tug fleets and expedite the delivery of new icebreakers.
Addressing grossly negligent operations of vessels. With the steady rise of vessel traffic on U.S. waterways, individuals who operate a vessel in a grossly negligent manner and cause serious bodily injury will be held accountable with appropriate criminal penalties.
Mapping Arctic maritime routes. The Arctic Circle has strategic economic and military significance for the United States. This provision would promote American interests in the region and improve emergency response capabilities and infrastructure needed to support vessel traffic.
Increasing the Coast Guard’s deterrence capabilities. With increased instances of illegal fishing operations and illicit drug trafficking in the South China Sea, it is critical that the United States Coast Guard and Taiwan Coast Guard Administration conduct joint and integrated maritime operational and leadership training to combat violations of maritime law and threats to our national security.
Improving the livelihoods of Coast Guard families. The Coast Guard will grant a cash allowance to pregnant officers to purchase maternity-related uniform items, allow the Coast Guard to acquire more housing, and identify Coast Guard duty locations in which there is a misalignment between the basic allowance for housing and prevailing housing costs.
Refining procedures to prevent and respond to sexual assaults. The Coast Guard will establish confidential reporting for sexual harassment, strengthen protective orders for victims, and provide access to the Department of Defense’s Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database. The bill also overhauls the transfer process for victims and allows victims of sex-related offenses to request temporary separation.
Requiring the Coast Guard Academy to study its safety infrastructure. The Coast Guard Academy will be required to modify policy related to sexual assault matters, install electronic locking mechanisms to secure cadet rooms and common spaces, and update the Academy’s Board of Visitors to ensure better Congressional oversight and engagement.
Adding units to the Coast Guard’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. The bill will increase the number of units from 14 to 20 to better recruit and retain a robust and well-qualified Coast Guard officer corps.
With about 2,000 Coast Guard personnel stationed in Texas, the Service’s men and women have contributed significantly to Texas’s border security and economy. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 will specifically help Texans by:
Allowing the Coast Guard to use a proven, performance-driven approach for inspecting foreign flag tank vessels.An overwhelming majority of the Coast Guard’s gas carrier compliance exams are conducted in Texas. Performance-driven examinations will allow the Coast Guard to work more efficiently and advance President Trump’s direction to ‘Unleash American Energy.’
Establishing safety zones for space activities and offshore energy development activities. Texas is home to a robust commercial space and energy industry, and this authority allows the Coast Guard to establish safety zones in support of space launches and recovery, as well as offshore energy development activities, ensuring more job growth and greater energy security.
Streamlining the process of data sharing between the Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.Tactical maritime surveillance systems (TMSS) at the Coast Guard Station on South Padre Island will be used for the purposes of data integration and information sharing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to aid in the detection and interdiction of illegal aliens and fish poachers.
Upgrading Coast Guard facilities to support border security operations and future aviation missions. The bill specifically requires studies on improving Texas-based Coast Guard Stations on South Padre Island, Port Aransas, and Port O’Connor, as well as the Coast Guard Air Station in Corpus Christi.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Schiff Lead Entire California Delegation in Urging FEMA to Extend LA Fire Victims Assistance Deadline
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with the Chairs of the Republican and Democratic Congressional Delegations — Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) — led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend the application deadline for federal disaster assistance for victims of the Los Angeles fires to May 9, 2025. Currently, the application deadline for most federal disaster assistance programs is March 10, 2025.
“Due to the massive scale of destruction caused by the January wildfires, many victims will not know the total sum of their losses or whether these losses exceed their insurance coverage before the end of the 60-day application period. The widespread damage to infrastructure has made access to many homes in the affected areas difficult or impossible,” wrote the lawmakers. “Additionally, many fire victims have lost computers, cell phones, and other technological devices, limiting their ability to submit applications and to receive messages transmitted by FEMA and other authorities pertaining to relief.”
“We urge you to swiftly extend the application deadlines so that Southern Californians impacted by the fires can evaluate their losses with ample time and apply for relief. Thank you for your attention to this matter and your commitment to delivering relief to those who lost their homes, businesses, and loved ones in this disaster,” continued the lawmakers.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst fires destroyed over 11,600 homes, displaced 22,600 households, and took at least 29 lives. These fires devastated homes, schools, businesses, places of worship, and entire neighborhoods. Initial estimates show that the economic losses resulting from these fires could make this one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to secure and protect Southern Californians’ access to desperately needed disaster relief aid. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Senator Schiff led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Padilla also delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging his Republican colleagues and President Trump to provide essential disaster recovery aid to California without conditioning it on the passage of partisan legislation.
Last month, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Wildfire Emergency Act, the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. In January, Padilla introduced another suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect firefighter pay.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Acting Administrator Hamilton,
As members of the California delegation, we write to express our appreciation for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) assistance and support in response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles this past January. We also write to respectfully urge FEMA to approve Cal OES’s request to extend the application deadline for Individual Assistance (IA) to May 9, 2025, for victims under the January 8, 2025, California Wildfires and Straight-line Winds Major Disaster Declaration.
As you know, FEMA has the authority to extend these deadlines in extraordinary circumstances, such as this disaster. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst fires destroyed over 11,600 homes, displaced 22,600 households, and took 29 lives. These fires devastated homes, schools, businesses, places of worship, and entire neighborhoods. Initial estimates find that the economic losses resulting from these fires could make this one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
Currently, the application deadline for Individual Assistance through FEMA is March 10, 2025, in line with the standard 60-day application period for most disaster declarations. Due to the massive scale of destruction caused by the January wildfires, many victims will not know the total sum of their losses or whether these losses exceed their insurance coverage before the end of the 60-day application period. The widespread damage to infrastructure has made access to many homes in the affected areas difficult or impossible. Additionally, many fire victims have lost computers, cell phones, and other technological devices, limiting their ability to submit applications and to receive messages transmitted by FEMA and other authorities pertaining to relief. For these reasons, it is imperative that FEMA grant California’s request to extend the IA application deadline to May 9, 2025.
We urge you to swiftly extend the application deadlines so that Southern Californians impacted by the fires can evaluate their losses with ample time and apply for relief. Thank you for your attention to this matter and your commitment to delivering relief to those who lost their homes, businesses, and loved ones in this disaster.
The Commission recognises the significant challenge posed by disinformation and the manipulative use of bots in the digital landscape.
Under the Digital Services Act[1] (DSA), providers of designated very large online platforms and search engines are required to assess and mitigate systemic risks.
Such risks may stem inter alia from the inauthentic use of their service, such as the creation of fake accounts, or the use of bots. The Commission has already launched formal proceedings under the DSA against X, Meta and TikTok connected to this.
On 13 February 2025, the Commission and the European Board for Digital Services[2] endorsed the official integration of the voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation[3] into the framework of the DSA making it a Code of Conduct under Article 45.
The Code of Conduct foresees specific measures that signatories commit to take to address notably the malicious use of automated systems like bots[4].
This integration will make the Code a benchmark for determining platforms’ compliance with the DSA. For providers of very large online platforms and search engines who are signatories to the Code, their commitments will be subject to annual independent audits.
Through the Horizon Europe programme[5], the Commission is also funding several research projects to help detection and countering of bot networks.
For example, among other functionalities, the VERA.AI[6] project aims to develop tools to identify patterns of synchronised activity where accounts share identical or similar content to amplify disinformation campaigns.
Finally, the Commission will propose a European Democracy Shield, as a horizontal strategic framework to better protect and promote democracy in the EU.
It will notably address foreign informational manipulation and interference and disinformation.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses Republic Plenary Summit 2025 India’s achievements and successes have sparked a new wave of hope across the globe: PM
India is driving global growth today: PM
Today’s India thinks big, sets ambitious targets and delivers remarkable results: PM
We launched the SVAMITVA Scheme to grant property rights to rural households in India: PM
Youth is the X-Factor of today’s India, where X stands for Experimentation, Excellence, and Expansion: PM
In the past decade, we have transformed impact-less administration into impactful governance: PM
Earlier, construction of houses was government-driven, but we have transformed it into an owner-driven approach: PM
Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 10:08PM by PIB Delhi
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Republic Plenary Summit 2025 in the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering, he congratulated Republic TV for its innovative approach for involving youth at the grassroots level and organizing a significant hackathon competition. He remarked that when the nation’s youth get involved in the national discourse, it brings novelty to ideas and fills the entire environment with their energy. He emphasized that this energy was being felt at the summit. He further stated that the involvement of youth helps break all barriers and go beyond boundaries, making every goal achievable and every destination reachable. He appreciated Republic TV for working on a new concept for this summit and extended his best wishes for its success. Shri Modi reiterated his idea of bringing one lakh youth without any political background to the politics of India
“World is now recognizing this century as India’s century and India’s achievements and successes have sparked new hope globally”, highlighted Shri Modi. He stated that India, once perceived as a nation that would sink itself and others, is now driving global growth. He added that the direction of India’s future is evident from the work and accomplishments of today, pointing out that even 65 years after independence, India was the world’s eleventh-largest economy. However, in the past decade, India has become the fifth-largest economy and is now rapidly moving towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world.
Recalling the situation 18 years ago, in 2007, when India’s annual GDP reached US $1 trillion, the Prime Minister highlighted that back then, the economic activity in India for an entire year was US $1 trillion. He added that today, the same amount of economic activity is happening in just one quarter, which demonstrates the rapid pace at which India is progressing. He provided examples to show the significant changes and results achieved in the past decade, highlighting that in the last 10 years, India has successfully lifted 25 crore people out of poverty, a number greater than the population of many countries. Shri Modi also reminded the audience of the time when only 15 paise out of one rupee sent by the government reached the poor, with 85 paise lost to corruption. In contrast, over the past decade, more than ₹42 lakh crore have been transferred directly to the accounts of the poor through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring that the entire amount reaches the beneficiaries.
Underlining that 10 years ago, India lagged behind in solar energy, the Prime Minister remarked, “today, India is among the top 5 countries in solar energy capacity, having increased it 30 times, while solar module manufacturing has also seen a 30-fold increase”. He also stated that 10 years ago, even children’s toys like Holi water guns were imported, while today, India’s toy exports have tripled. He also pointed out that 10 years ago, India imported rifles for its army, but in the past decade, India’s defense exports have increased 20 times.
Prime Minister further highlighted that in the past 10 years, India has become the world’s second-largest steel producer, the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, and the third-largest startup ecosystem. He remarked that in the same period, India’s capital expenditure on infrastructure has increased fivefold and the number of airports in the country has doubled, and the number of operational AIIMS has tripled. He further emphasized that in the past decade, the number of medical colleges and medical seats has nearly doubled.
“Today’s India thinks big, sets ambitious targets, and achieves significant results”, emphasised the Prime Minister, remarking that this is happening because the nation’s mindset has changed, and India is moving forward with great aspirations. He highlighted that previously, the mindset was to accept the status quo, but now, people know who can deliver results. He cited examples of how the aspirations of the people have evolved, from requesting drought relief work to demanding Vande Bharat connectivity and international airports. He pointed out that the previous dispensations had crushed the aspirations of the people, leading them to lower their expectations. However, today, the situation and mindset have changed rapidly, and people are now driven by the goal of a Viksit Bharat.
Underscoring that the strength of any society or nation increases when barriers and obstacles are removed for its citizens, Shri Modi said that this enhances the capabilities of the citizens, making even the sky seem small. He pointed out that the Government is continuously removing the obstacles placed by previous administrations and cited the example of the space sector, where earlier everything was under ISRO’s purview. While ISRO did commendable work, the potential of space science and entrepreneurship in the country was not fully utilized. He remarked that the space sector has now been opened up for young innovators, resulting in the creation of over 250 space startups in the country. These startups are now developing rockets like Vikram-S and Agnibaan, he added. The Prime Minister also mentioned the mapping sector, where previously government permission was required to create maps in India. This restriction has been removed, and today, geospatial mapping data is paving the way for new startups. Pointing out that the nuclear energy sector was previously under government control with various restrictions, the Prime Minister said that this year’s budget has announced the opening of this sector to the private sector, paving the way for adding 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047.
Prime Minister emphasized that there was over ₹100 lakh crore of untapped economic potential in India’s villages and that this potential was present in the form of houses in villages, which lacked legal documents and proper mapping, preventing villagers from availing bank loans. He pointed out that this issue is not unique to India, as many large countries also lack property rights for their citizens. International organizations state that countries providing property rights to their citizens see a significant boost in GDP, he added. “The Swamitva Scheme has been launched to provide property rights for village houses in India and drones are being used to survey and map each house in villages”, remarked the Prime Minister, emphasising that property cards are being distributed across the country, with over 2 crore property cards already issued. He pointed out that the lack of property cards previously led to numerous disputes and court cases in villages, which have now been resolved. He further stated that villagers are now able to obtain bank loans using these property cards, enabling them to start businesses and pursue self-employment.
Adding that the biggest beneficiaries of the examples he provided were the youth of the country, Shri Modi said, “youth are the largest stakeholders in a Viksit Bharat and the X-Factor of today’s India, where X stands for Experimentation, Excellence, and Expansion”. He explained that the youth have created new paths by moving beyond old methods, set global benchmarks, and scaled up innovations for 140 crore Indians. He pointed out that the youth could provide solutions to the country’s major problems, but this potential was not utilized earlier. The Prime Minister mentioned that the government now organizes the Smart India Hackathon every year, with 10 lakh youth participating so far. He remarked that various ministries and departments have presented numerous problem statements related to governance to these young participants, who have developed around 2,500 solutions. He expressed his happiness that the hackathon culture was being promoted further by Republic TV too.
“In the past decade, the country has experienced new-age governance, transforming impact-less administration into impactful governance”, stated the Prime Minister. He added that people often say they are benefiting from government schemes for the first time, even though these schemes existed before. The difference now is the ensured last-mile delivery, he said. Emphasising that previously, houses for the poor were sanctioned on paper, but now, houses are being built on the ground, Shri Modi remarked that the entire process of house construction was government-driven, deciding the design and materials. However, the government has now made it owner-driven, transferring money to the beneficiary’s account, allowing them to decide the house’s design, he mentioned. The Prime Minister said that competitions were held across the country for house designs, involving public participation, which improved the quality and speed of house construction. He highlighted that earlier, incomplete houses were handed over, but now, the government is providing dream homes for the poor, complete with water connections, gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, and electricity connections under the Saubhagya scheme. “We have not just built four walls but have brought life to these homes”, he added.
Stressing the importance of national security for a country’s development, the Prime Minister underlined the significant work done in the past decade to enhance security. He recalled that earlier, serial bomb blast breaking news and special programs on sleeper cell networks were common on TV, but today, such incidents are absent from both TV screens and Indian soil. He remarked that Naxalism is now on its last breath, with the number of affected districts reduced from over a hundred to less than two dozen. This was achieved by working with a “nation first” spirit and bringing governance to the grassroots level in these areas, he added. Shri Modi highlighted the construction of thousands of kilometers of roads, schools, hospitals, and the reach of 4G mobile networks in these districts and the results are evident for all to see.
Shri Modi highlighted that decisive government actions have cleared Naxalism from the jungles, but it is now spreading to urban centers. He remarked that Urban Naxals have rapidly infiltrated political parties that were once opposed to them and inspired by Gandhian ideology, rooted in India’s heritage. He said that the voices and language of Urban Naxals are now heard within these political parties, indicating their deep-rooted presence, and warned that Urban Naxals are staunch opponents of India’s development and heritage. He acknowledged Shri Arnab Goswami’s efforts in exposing Urban Naxals and stressed that both development and strengthening heritage are essential for a developed India, urging caution against Urban Naxals.
“Today’s India is reaching new heights by facing every challenge”, said Shri Modi, expressing confidence that the Republic TV network will continue to elevate journalism with a “nation first” spirit. He concluded by saying that Republic TV’s journalism will continue to catalyze the aspirations of a developed India.
National Debate Needed To Address The Shift From Democracy To ‘Emocracy’—Emotion-Driven Policies Threaten Good Governance, Says VP Excessive Spending On Electoral Promises Reduces The State’s Ability To Invest In Infrastructure, Says VP
Election Is Important In Democracy But Not The End Of It, Cautions VP
Good Governance Demands Fiscal Prudence, Not Short-Term Populism, Says VP
Historically, Populism Is Bad Economics; Once A Leader Gets Attached To Populism, It Is Difficult To Get Out Of The Crisis, Warns VP
Leadership Is Not A Pedestal But A Pilgrimage Of Service, Says VP
True Leadership Empowers People To Empower Themselves, Not Just Momentarily, Says VP
Vice-President Delivers Inaugural Address At The First ‘Murli Deora Memorial Dialogues’ On The Theme ‘Leadership And Governance’ In Mumbai
Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 10:08PM by PIB Delhi
The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today called for a national debate on the shift from democracy to ‘Emocracy, saying, “National debate is required so that we take note of shift from Democracy to Emocracy. Emotion-driven policies, emotion-driven debates, discourses threaten good governance. Historically, populism is bad economics. And once a leader gets attached to populism it is difficult to get out of the crisis. The central factor must be the good of the people, the largest good of the people, the lasting good of the people. Empower people to empower themselves rather than empower them momentarily because that affects their productivity.”
Across the political spectrum, there is emergence of a new strategy: that of appeasement, or being placatory.
Election is important in Democracy, but not the end of it. If there is excessive spending on electoral promises, then the state’s ability to invest in infrastructure is… pic.twitter.com/isR1TMPkDZ
Delivering the inaugural address at the first ‘Murli Deora Memorial Dialogues’ on the theme ‘Leadership and Governance’ in Mumbai, Maharashtra today, Shri Dhankhar expressed deep concern over the emergence of appeasement politics and placatory strategies across the political spectrum, saying, ” There is emergence of a new strategy, and the strategy is of appeasement or being placatory. If there is excessive spending on electoral promises, then the state’s ability to invest in infrastructure is correspondingly reduced. This is detrimental to the growth scenario. Election is important in democracy but not the end of it. I would call upon the leadership of all political parties in the interest of democratic values to generate a consensus that engaging in such electoral promises, which can be performed only at the cost of CAPEX expenditure of the state, must be reviewed. Some governments that took recourse to this appeasement and placatory mechanisms are finding it very difficult to sustain in power.”
The nation houses millions of illegal migrants, causing a demographic upheaval.
They have alarmingly secured electoral relevance in some areas, sapping the essence of our democracy.
Emerging dangers can be evaluated through historical reference where nations were swept of… pic.twitter.com/WHLawmn7wR
He clarified that affirmative action for marginalized communities is distinct from appeasement politics, stating, “I should not be misunderstood, ladies and gentlemen, because while the Indian Constitution has given us the right of equality, it does provide in Article 14, 15, and 16 an acceptable category of affirmative governance—affirmative action, the reservation for SC, ST, for those who are in the economically weaker section. That is sanctified. There are exceptional situations for rural India, for the farmer, where affirmative steps are required to be taken. But this is very distinct from the other aspects I was talking about. This is not placatory or appeasing. It is justifiable economic policy. And therefore, it is good leadership that can take a call on where to draw the line in the fiscal sense in the matter of political foresight and leadership spine.”
Highlighting demographic challenges and illegal migration, Shri Dhankhar said, “The Nation houses millions of illegal migrants causing a demographic upheaval. Millions of illegal migrants are in this country making a huge demand on our health services, education services. They are depriving our people of employment opportunities. Such elements have alarmingly secured electoral relevance in some areas and their securing electoral relevance is shaping the essence of our democracy. Emerging dangers can be evaluated through historical reference where nations were swept of their ethnic identity by similar demographic invasions.” Expressing deep concern over mass conversions through allurements, the Vice-President remarked, “This malaise, far more severe than COVID, is aggravatingly intersected with conversions through allurements, with vulnerable sections trying to be trapped. The marginalized, the tribal, the weaker become easy prey to these temptations and allurements. Faith is your own. Faith is dictated by conscience. The Indian Constitution gives freedom of faith. But if this faith is held hostage by temptations, it is, according to me, defacing freedom of faith.”
Shri Murli Deora will always be remembered for his proactive efforts to save the country from the hazards of smoking. He approached the highest Court of the land and sought affirmative intervention to secure a ban on smoking at public places.
Shri Dhankhar asserted that the sovereignty of ‘We the People’ must not be diluted, “Bharat, home to one-sixth of humanity, is the oldest, largest, most vibrant, and functional democracy. Bharat is the only nation in the world that has constitutionally structured democratic institutions from the village to the national level. Our Constitution’s Preamble indicates ‘We the People’ as the foundational source and premise of governance. Preamble of the Constitution also reveals the purpose of governance as Justice, Equality, and Fraternity for all. We must appreciate the contours of ‘We the People’—the ultimate repository of sovereignty. A sovereignty that we cannot afford to dilute or to be taken away.”
Our Constitution’s Preamble indicates “We The People” as the foundational source and premise of Governance. #Preamble of the #Constitution also reveals purpose of governance being Justice, Equality, Fraternity for all.
Honoring the late Murli Deora, the Vice-President described him as one of the finest public figures in politics, “Murli Deora was one of the finest public figures in politics, who nurtured all his life friendships. He bridged the differences and was loved by all. In his life, he missed one thing—he had no adversaries. That was his stature. Murali bhai, as fondly reminisced by his peers, exemplified public spirit and dedication to worthy societal causes.”
The Vice-President praised Murli Deora’s pioneering role in securing a ban on smoking in public places, stating, “Murli Deora will always be remembered for his proactive efforts to save the country from the hazards of smoking. He approached the highest court of the land and sought affirmative intervention to secure a ban on smoking in public places.”
It’s an absolute honour to deliver the Murli Deora Memorial Lecture, dedicated to one of the finest public figures in politics, who nurtured friendships all his life.
He bridged the differences and was loved by all. Murli bhai, as fondly reminisced by his peers, exemplified… pic.twitter.com/ROTG4OtHeh
Concluding his address, Shri Dhankhar described Murli Deora’s life as a testament to leadership as a journey of service, “Life of Murli Deora Ji was a testament to the idea of leadership—that this idea is not a pedestal but a pilgrimage, a journey of service to the last, the least, and the lonely.”
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Milind Deora, MP Rajya Sabha & Senior Kotak Representative, Shri Raghavendra Singh, President, Kotak Mahindra Bank and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
The new office of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) at World Trade Center, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi, was inaugurated today by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the presence of Shri. Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, PNGRB’s Board, Senior officials and industry stakeholders.
The new office will house multiple meeting rooms and a large Conference Room to facilitate interaction between the Board and the stakeholders. It is notable that the older office was hired when the Board was constituted in the year 2007 and had become insufficient to meet the requirement. The new office will also house the National Hydro-carbon Infrastructure Management System (NHIMS). This Centre will receive real time information of petroleum and natural gas transport across the country as well as real time progress of the pipeline authorized by the PNGRB.
The Minister commended PNGRB for its initiative in developing the National Hydrocarbons Infrastructure Monitoring System (NHIMS). It is a fusion of software technologies which consume real-time data from Petroleum & Natural Gas companies and integrate roads, railways, and forest water bodies thereby enabling more strategic planning and efficient monitoring. Furthermore, the Hon’ble Minister underscored the importance of ensuring the autonomy of regulatory bodies to enhance coordination and optimize governance in the sector.
On this occasion, the Dr. Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson, PNGRB, reaffirmed PNGRB’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for ensuring a fair regulatory framework and promoting sustainable growth in the Petroleum and Natural Gas sector.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Office Complex of Zonal Office Telangana and Regional Office, Banjara Hills in Hyderabad Union Minister Virtually Inaugurates Regional Office, Naroda, Gujarat and Laid Foundation Stone of Staff Quarters, Gurugram, Haryana
“This Building is Not Just a Structure, But a ‘Temple’ for the Workforce,” Says Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
“EPFO 3.0 Will Make the System as Accessible as a Bank,” Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Announces Future Plans
Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 9:59PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the Office Complex of the Zonal Office Telangana and Regional Office in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad today. In addition, he virtually inaugurated the Regional Office in Naroda, Gujarat, and laid the foundation stone for staff quarters in Gurugram, Haryana. Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy, senior officials from the Ministry, State Government representatives, and distinguished guests were also present on the occasion.
These initiatives marked a significant step towards enhancing infrastructure and operational capacity to better serve workers and stakeholders across the country, underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening labour welfare and administrative efficiency.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, while addressing the gathering, emphasized that this building is not just a physical structure but a “temple” for the workforce, where workers will find their needs met, and they can be assured of the government’s unwavering support for their well-being and satisfaction.
Union Minister highlighted that these new office buildings are being inaugurated to better serve the people of India, with EPFO offices dedicated to fulfilling their needs. He further praised the ongoing reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in managing EPFO funds prudently, ensuring an interest rate of 8.5%—an offer unmatched by any bank. He also highlighted the convenience brought by digital platforms, allowing workers to manage their EPFO accounts, withdraw pensions, and make claims without the need for physical visits or signatures.
Dr. Mandaviya also spoke of the upcoming EPFO 3.0, which will make the EPFO system as accessible as a bank, including future plans for withdrawing money via ATMs. He reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is undergoing a transformation where workers—both formal and informal—are at the heart of building a new Bharat. Dr. Mandaviya assured that the government is committed to enhancing EPFO services and infrastructure to better serve workers and promised that the office will always be there for the service of the people.
Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy, during the event, highlighted the significant role of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) in society, acknowledging the many important reforms introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also extended his gratitude to Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for his tireless efforts in ensuring the welfare of the people, commending his dedication and leadership in improving the infrastructure and services of EPFO.
The inauguration of offices is part of EPFO’s broader strategy of outreach to members and to rationalize the bigger offices for effective workload management. The newly inaugurated Regional Office, Banjara Hills will serve approximately 5.5 lakh members and more than 11,000 establishments. The Regional Office at Naroda services 5 lakh members and 8,000 establishments.The new building at Begumpet, Hyderabad will also house the Additional Data Centre of EPFO which will help augment the technological improvements in service delivery.
EPFO’s Staff Quarters near Dwarka Expressway at Gurugram spread in a total area of 10,534 sq. mt. will provide for residential facilities including a community hall to 155 families of EPFO Officials. These state-of-the-art facilities, equipped with modern digital infrastructure, represents EPFO’s commitment to enhancing service delivery through office rationalization and technological integration and at the same time fulfilling the aspiration of the staff of EPFO to have quality residential facilities.
“The vision of Investment in People stands on three pillars – Education, Skill and Healthcare” – Shri Narendra Modi “The government is committed to equip youth with future-ready digital skills” – Shri Jayant Chaudhary
Industries should collaborate, connect and leverage global expertise: Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari
Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 6:31PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organized aBreakout session, on “National Centres of Excellence for Skilling”,announced in the Union Budget 2025-26. The session brought together representatives from state governments, industry, international organizations and academia to discuss the roadmap for effective implementation of the budget announcements.
The Breakout Session on the “National Centres of Excellence for Skilling” was moderated by Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE and convened by Ms. Archana Mayaram, Economic Adviser, MSDE. The Panellists included Ms. Rashmita Panda, CEO, World Skills Centre, Odisha, Ms. Ragapriya, CITE and MD, KSDC, Government of Karnataka, Dr. Vinod Rao, Secretary, Labour, Skill Development & Employment, Government of Gujarat, Ms. Xiaoyan Liang, Lead Education Specialist, World Bank, Shri N Varaprasad, Founder & Partner, Singapore Education Consulting Group, Mr. Suresh Natarajan, CEO, ITE Education Services, Singapore, Shri Amit Kapoor, Chair, Institute of Competitiveness, Shri Sabyasachi Das, CEO, Tata Indian Institute of Skills, Shri Sudarshan, Head-Skilling, Reliance Foundation, and Shri Ashish Singh, Head – Vocational Education & Skill, J&K Cements Ltd.
Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE while steering the discussions emphasized on the importance of industry collaboration and connect and leveraging global expertise by engaging with the international stakeholders. He also highlighted the need for forging strong partnerships with the state governments and academia and that all stakeholders must come together for effective implementation of the budget announcement.
The breakout session was one of the eleven such sessions which were held in the follow up to the Post-budget webinar on “Investing in People”, which was conducted on March 5 for which Department of Higher Education was the Lead Department along with MSDE. During the webinar, Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi said, that the vision of investment in people stands on three pillars – education, skill and healthcare. Since 2014, we have provided skill training to over 3 crore youth, announced plans to upgrade 1000 ITIs, and are establishing five Centres of Excellence with global partnership to ensure that our youth can compete at the global level. The Hon’ble Prime Minister also stated that the PM Internship Scheme is providing fresh opportunities and practical skills to the youth by collaborating with industries. In his closing remarks, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Govt of India highlighted the government’s commitment to equipping India’s youth with future-ready digital competencies. He said that the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship is developing Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) Program, aimed at integrating AI literacy with vocational training from as early as Class 6. The Minister emphasized that SOAR aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of skill-based education and aims to foster computational thinking, problem-solving, and industry-aligned AI skills. Moreover through stackable micro-credentials, digital platforms, and partnerships with global tech leaders, students will be able to seamlessly transition from foundational AI learning to advanced careers, strengthening India’s position as an AI powerhouse. He further noted that as technology evolves rapidly, India is not just preparing its workforce for AI-driven industries but shaping the next generation of AI innovators and leaders, ensuring inclusive growth and global competitiveness. As we approach closer to the International Women’s Day, the Minister also reaffirmed government’s commitment to provide greater opportunities for women in education, skill development, and entrepreneurship. The webinar concluded with several key recommendations, such as, enhancing quality of trainers, bringing about greater autonomy and accountability within the CoEs, stronger industry connect, global partnerships, increased focus on PPP, making curriculum industry-aligned, and focus on new-age courses. All the panellists appreciated and welcomed this budget announcement which would contribute towards India’s skilling journey to prepare its youth for future ready jobs and compete at global level.
OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha released the following statement in response to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s character attacks on prosecutors and illegal threats to fire them for their political beliefs. Brown and Neronha are both former U.S. Attorneys who worked for the U.S. Department of Justice that Bondi now oversees.
“Not only is firing someone for their political beliefs blatantly illegal, it is deeply un-American. As former DOJ attorneys, we both worked with qualified individuals of integrity, honesty and transparency, some of whom held political beliefs different from our own. An ideological purge of the Justice Department directly undermines the diversity of opinion and expertise that helps promote justice consistently across presidential administrations.
“President Trump spent his campaign openly threatening to weaponize the Justice Department; an institution that we were proud to work for. Attorney General Bondi’s intent to ‘find’ and ‘root out’ DOJ employees whose personal views don’t align with the president’s make plain that she is willing to dismantle American principles of justice to satisfy a lawless president. Those of us who still believe in the rule of law, at every leadership level, must come together to protect the Constitution, because it is abundantly clear that this administration seeks to disregard it.”
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In our feminist classics series we revisit influential works.
Shere Hite’s The Hite Report was quickly dubbed a “sexual revolution in 600 pages”. It did something nobody had considered worth doing: investigating women’s sexuality by asking them to share their thoughts and feelings, then relaying those reflections to readers in women’s own words.
This might not sound unusual today. But in 1976, it was incendiary.
Based on a survey of 3,000 women distributed by the New York Chapter of the National Organisation for Women (the feminist group co-founded by Betty Friedan), more than 75% of the book comprises narrative responses to open ended survey questions.
It includes a plethora of startlingly frank – for its time – and explicitly detailed opinions, anecdotes, complaints and criticisms about sex, masturbation and orgasm. The book is an extraordinarily rich cultural artefact in the archive of human intimacy.
Unsurprisingly, the women who responded to Hite’s survey thoroughly enjoyed sex. “Orgasm is the ultimate pleasure – which women often deny themselves, but men never do,” claimed one. “Orgasms are a marvellous happiness”, added another. “Orgasm cancels out rage and longing for at least 48 hours,” said yet another.
But it was the manner in which Hite’s respondents got their orgasms that made the book a scandal. “I think masturbation is essential to one’s health,” said one respondent. “[A]s I learned in my marriage – a partner is not always good sexually, though he may be wonderful in other ways.”
Masturbation is better than “bad sex with an incompatible partner”, explained another respondent. “The only way I can have an orgasm is by masturbating,” said another.
‘A complex nature’
The Hite Report did not attempt to define a sexual norm, or produce a representative survey sample, or pretend its data could be generalised to an entire population. But it did contain some statistical findings.
The most significant of these – the source of the book’s notoriety – was that only 30% of women surveyed reported being able to regularly or reliably reach orgasm through heterosexual intercourse. And yet, 80% reported they could easily and regularly reach orgasm through clitoral stimulation, which was frequently obtained through masturbation, either alone, or with their partner.
In her preface Hite argued that the canonical sexological works of the past 100 years – including the works of Sigmund Freud, Alfred Kinsey, and William Masters and Virginia Johnson – had constructed female sexuality “as essentially a response to male sexuality and intercourse”. She set out to demonstrate that “female sexuality might have a complex nature of its own”.
Hite argued sex was a cultural institution, not a biological one. Historically, men had defined sex in terms of their own needs and preferences, then mandated their preferences as biological.
Freud, for example, knew female orgasm could be reliably obtained through clitoral stimulation, but defined clitoral orgasm as an “immature orgasm” and orgasm arising from heterosexual intercourse as a “mature orgasm”. He then labelled women who could not achieve orgasm in the required way “frigid” and “hysterical”.
The Hite Report is organised into eight chapters or themes, starting with “Masturbation”, followed by “Orgasm”, “Intercourse”, “Clitoral Stimulation”, “Lesbianism”, “Sexual Slavery”, “The Sexual Revolution” and “Older Women”. In a concluding chapter, Hite reflects on the issues raised by survey participants.
In the chapter “Lesbianism”, a significant number of heterosexual-identified women confess same sex attraction, or else identify as bisexual. They also describe lesbian sexuality as “more variable”, and the “physical actions more mutual”.
“The basic difference with a woman is that there’s no end,” claimed one respondent, “[…] it’s like a circle, it goes on and on.”
“Lesbianism” sits in stark contrast to the chapter on “Sexual Slavery”, where Hite seeks to investigate why women pursue unequal sexual relationships, especially where respondents claim to receive little or no sexual pleasure.
“Having a man love me and want to have sex with me is necessary to my happiness,” claimed one respondent. “Sex makes me feel I am a woman to my husband instead of just a live-in maid,” added another.
“I’ve never heard a word of praise from my husband in 21 years except while having intercourse,” claimed yet another. “While I resent this, I still love him […] ”
Wildly successful
Many women applauded the book. Author Erica Jong, writing in The New York Times, called it a “revelation”. Others warned of a possible male backlash. “It seems that women are finally reporting the facts of their own sex,” wrote journalist Ellen Willis in the Washington Post, “and men are putting on the earmuffs of fear and retreating to deeper fantasies.”
This backlash was not long in coming. Playboy apocryphally dubbed it “The Hate Report”, a label regularly recycled in media outlets around the world, including by female journalists. One male journalist, writing in the Miami Herald, argued women could not be regarded as truthful or reliable witnesses to their own lives. “What annoys me about The Hite Report,” he wrote, “is its smug assumption that just because women made these comments, they’re true”.
Despite – or perhaps because of – this controversy, the book was wildly successful. It was translated into ten different languages – including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Hebrew and Japanese – and sold over 2 million copies within the first 12 months.
It remains the 30th bestselling book of all time, with 50 million copies sold in 45 countries, including two recently translated editions in China, where it sparked conversations among intellectuals interested in formerly taboo western culture.
Faking orgasms
Born in smalltown Missouri, Hite gained a masters degree in social history and in 1967 moved to New York to enrol in a PhD program at Columbia University. She left when conservative faculty members refused to allow her to complete her dissertation on female sexuality. Hite worked as a model to pay her tuition fees. She joined the National Organisation for Women when they protested the sexism of the Olivetti advertising campaigns, after Hite was cast as an “Olivetti girl” for the typewriter company.
Increasingly tagged as a “man-basher” after the publication of her book, Hite’s public persona was conventionally, almost theatrically feminine. She revelled in a contemporary Baroque aesthetic; a mirage of red lipstick, froufrou dresses, pancake-style makeup and tousled orange or platinum curls. And she spoke about sex in explicit detail, in a voice that was earnest, articulate and unembarrassed.
Hite did not “discover” the clitoral orgasm. Instead, by centring women’s experiences, and taking their reflections seriously, her work threw into question centuries of sexological studies. These studies had either pathologised normal female sexual functioning or else insisted any pleasure women derived from sex had to be a by-product of conventional heterosexual intercourse.
Even Masters and Johnson, who, in their reports from 1966 onwards, clinically proved all female orgasms were the result of clitoral stimulation, had insisted on the centrality of coitus.
As Hite told television show host Geraldo in 1977,
Masters and Johnson made a tremendous step forward in that they studied, and showed clinically, for the first time, that all orgasms are caused by clitoral stimulation, and we really have them to thank for that. However, when they described how it’s done – the thrusting of the penis causes the vaginal lips to move, which causes the skin that’s connected to the clitoris to move, which causes the glands to move over the clitoris, which supposedly gives you orgasm. But that doesn’t work for most women.
And yet, although the participants in Hite’s study were overwhelmingly educated and politically progressive, many confessed they felt compelled to fake an orgasm during intercourse to please a man.
“I ‘perform’ and boost his ego and confidence,” claimed one. “I do not like to think of myself as a performer but I feel judged and also judge myself when I don’t have an orgasm.” “[M]en do expect it, so I often force myself […],” said another.
Participants also claimed how a woman was seen to orgasm mattered. “I don’t show the signs you’re supposed to,” worried one. “They think because I don’t pant, scream and claw I haven’t had one,” said another. “I used to go out of my way to offer all the mythical Hollywood signs,” revealed another.
One participant even suggested the whole issue of sex was so politically fraught that, “Maybe sex would be better if we’d never heard of orgasm”.
Respondents also told Hite the “sexual revolution” of the 1960s and 1970s had intensified, rather than reduced, gender prejudices and double standards.
Sexual violence
Another breathtaking aspect of the book is the way participants’ answers are shot through with sexual violence. On the issue of sexual coercion, for example, one participant replied, “I’m not supposed to say ‘no’ since I’m legally married”.
On a question about the use of force in sex, another replied, “Only with my husband.” (In 1976, marital rape was legal and “acceptable” in most western nations.)
Rape myths are also common. “I define as rape someone you don’t know who attacks you,” said one respondent. “I never defined it as […] someone you know. If you define rape that way, every woman has been raped over and over.”
Another suggested rape wasn’t rape if a victim gave up fighting. “He really raped me, but not in the legal way. I couldn’t prevent him, in other words.”
Hite identified toxic gender stereotypes as the major driver of sexual violence, especially the belief that “a man’s need for ‘sex’ is a strong and urgent ‘drive’” which women were obligated to satisfy. “Women aren’t always free to not have sex,” explained one respondent.
Archival insights
The Hite archive is housed in the Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University. It comprises over 250 filing boxes and folios, occupying more than 30 metres of shelf space. Most of the material relates to Hite’s public career as a sex researcher, with a small scattering of personal papers.
I was at Harvard doing research for a book on Hite’s contemporary Andrea Dworkin. Although the two feminists exist as polar opposites in the public imagination, they thoroughly agreed with one another, and enjoyed a supportive working relationship. And so I wanted to take a look.
Among the publishing agreements, speaking invitations, publicity material and the copies of the edited and revised questionnaires that formed the basis of the 1976 report – which are printed in vermillion – an occasional note flips out.
One, a seemingly unpublished open letter titled “Dear Women”, bears the traces of the intense, frequently misogynistic and overtly hostile media scrutiny that marked Hite’s wild catapult to fame.
“Sometimes I feel I am dying here in the midst of all this,” she writes, “without the support of anyone”.
Another, scrawled in a flamboyant purple felt tip pen in the midst of her 1977 book tour of France, reads, “I know that I have done something good – but somehow I feel evil […] When did that start?”
There are also letters from readers. One, sent from Milan in the wake of the controversy that accompanied the Italian edition of the book, bears the typewritten subject line “Personal”. It reads:
Dear Ms Hite,
I am 43 years old and have never written a fan letter in my life until today. But I feel a moral obligation to tell you that your ‘Report’ has rehabilitated me in my own eyes. After years of thinking there was something wrong with me, your book has shown me I’m normal.
Hite’s “Dear Women” letter describes the extraordinary challenges, including the financial challenges, she faced both before and after the book was published.
Macmillan, after purchasing the rights to the book, went cold on the project when the commissioning editor resigned or, as Hite phrases it, “quit/was fired depending on your point of view”. The publisher made no plan to promote the book and assigned a 22-year-old man to answer any media queries.
Hite decided to step in, when, working in the publisher’s offices late one evening, she found a letter from her male publicist declining an invitation to discuss The Hite Report on TV as “he thought my book/subject might be too ‘ticklish’ for television”.
Hite’s contract with Macmillan gave her little or no control over international editions of the book (and severely limited the income she could take from royalties, before it was ruled unconscionable by a court). In 1978, she “flew around the world twice” attempting to stop the book from being sensationalised.
In France, the publisher had promised Hite a plain print cover, but was overruled by an all-male advertising department who “printed a cover with a nude woman”. In the second printing, the publisher agreed to revert to plain text.
In Israel, entire sections of the first edition text were censored. Protests by local journalists led to the publisher engaging an Israeli feminist to re-translate the work.
In Japan, the male translator produced a translation that was “so embarrassed and vague that it made absolutely no sense”. But on this occasion, a sympathetic female editor stepped in to rewrite entire sections of the manuscript.
Hite’s Australian reception ranked among the most hostile. Her research assistant described the trip as “hideous”, alleging Hite had “never before encountered” such “vicious attitudes” as those exhibited by male journalists.
Hite’s research assistant revealed in a separate letter that Hite’s doctors had “absolutely forbid her to do anything but rest for the next few months” after the Australian trip.
Later life
In her preface, Hite writes that she hoped to start a conversation through which men and women might “begin to devise more kind, generous, and personal ways of relating”.
Sadly, this was not what happened. Hite went on to release four major reports on human sexuality, including a report on male sexuality, one on women and love, and one on the family. Then in 1996, she revoked her US citizenship and moved to Germany, saying the media’s hostility towards her made it impossible to continue working.
Living in Germany, and later in Paris and London, she published her autobiography, The Hite Report on Shere Hite, and The Hite Reader, containing a selection of her published work. She died in 2020, aged 77.
What marks the Hite Report as an artefact from another era is less the peculiar patois of the “Age of Aquarius”, than the way in which Hite’s respondents so often defined their identities through their husband’s, whether as a wife, former wife, or woman destined to be a wife. “Wifedom” is the default state.
Equally, what makes the book disturbing, is the reality of sexual violence and coercion that lurks in so many answers, even when respondents are not being questioned about violence or coercion directly.
With shocked recognition, the reader realises society has not changed nearly as much as some would like to think. The fact it has changed at all is partly due to the second sexual revolution ignited by Hite’s work.
Camilla Nelson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–Since 1991, the U.S. Air Force fighter fleet has been severely reduced. U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) reintroduced the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act, S. 873, to preserve U.S. Air Force (USAF) fighter force structure and prioritize the recapitalization of the 39 service-retained, combat-coded fighter squadrons available to the U.S. Secretary of Defense to respond globally to world events.
“Highly-trained, experienced and prepared forces are a key component of our country’s national defense,” said Crapo. “Closures of fighter squadrons within the U.S. Air Force’s Reserve component mean a permanent loss of these experienced pilot and maintainers. We must preserve and protect National Guard fighter squadrons, like the Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron, from force reductions that could harm our national security. This is a critical priority as we continue to face threats from foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.”
“A strategy for the future of our Air National Guard fighter fleets strengthens our national security,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill directs the Air Force to update all National Guard fighter squadrons, including the Buckley-based 140th Wing, in order to preserve their flying missions and retain their experienced pilots.”
“Passage of the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 is crucial to ensuring our Air Force remains ready and lethal,” said Major General Tim Donnellan, Adjutant General of Idaho and Commander of the Idaho National Guard. “The Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron has a long history of operational excellence, and sustaining its capabilities and the expertise of its pilots is vital to protecting and defending America and its interests. As threats continue to evolve, maintaining a modernized and fully equipped fighter fleet is critical to preventing conflict and winning wars. We appreciate the continued support of our leaders in Congress who recognize the indispensable role the Air National Guard plays in delivering security around the globe.”
“Air National Guard fighter wings operate at 1/3rd the cost of their active-duty counterparts but still provide the same ‘fight-tonight’ capability,” said Major General Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado. “By acting as a retention net for talent exiting active duty and serving as a cost-effective model to both develop and retain fighter pilots, the Air National Guard presents the nation with an unrivaled value proposition. Throw in the secondary uses of Air Guardsman domestically such as wildfire mitigation, homeland airspace defense, and manpower for civil support all for a fraction of the cost of an active-duty Wing; the Air Guard’s value proposition truly is unparallelled. By providing 30% of the fighter force, for 1/3rd the cost, Air National Guard fighter wings operate as a shining example of efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars. It’s simple, we provide more for less, without sacrificing capability.”
“Our ability to fight and win the wars of the future will require robust combat air power,” said Major General Francis McGinn (Ret.), National Guard Association of the United States President. “The Air National Guard is a critical part of that equation, making up 30 percent of USAF combat air power with only 7 percent of the total Air Force budget. The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act will ensure the Air National Guard, the USAF reserve, and the active component have the modernized fleet they need to deter and deny our enemies. I thank Sen. Crapo, Sen. Hickenlooper, and their colleagues for their continued support of our the National Guard community.”
Idaho’s 190th Fighter Squadron has deployed frequently, supporting combat operations across Southwest Asia. Notable missions include its largest deployments, which occurred in 2020 in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and in 2016 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, as well as past support for Operations Enduring Freedom (2008), Iraqi Freedom (2007, 2003) and Southern Watch (2003). The unit is set to deploy again in 2025.
Crapo and Hickenlooper led introduction of the bill in the 118th Congress. The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act contained a portion of the previous version of the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act that requires the U.S. Air Force to develop a plan to sustain and recapitalize fighter fleets for the Air National Guard.
Of the 25 ANG Fighter Squadrons in existence today, 15 do not have a recapitalization or modernization plan to replace retiring legacy fighters. The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act would:
Raise the minimum number of fighters in the Air Force inventory, requiring nearly two-thirds of aircraft to be combat capable;
Establish a robust reporter requirement to track Air Force Fighter force structure, giving Congress oversight authority of force structure modifications;
Prioritize recapitalization of Active Duty, Reserve and ANG units that are “service-retained” (i.e. not assigned to combatant commander) to maximize fighter assets; and
Require a report on recapitalization of ANG fighter squadrons.
Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Alex Padilla (D-California), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) and Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) joined as original co-sponsors.
Representatives Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) and Jason Crow (D-Colorado) are leading identical companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act is supported by the National Guard Association of the Untied States (NGAUS) and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS).
Bill text available HERE.
Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
30% of federal workforce pre-Trump admin were veterans
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with 20 of his Senate colleagues, called on President Donald Trump to reinstate veterans that the administration illegally fired. More than 640,000 veterans work for federal agencies, approximately 30% of the federal workforce. The Trump administration has fired an estimated 5,800 veterans so far.
“Your Administration’s actions are damaging the economic security and morale of our military and veteran families, the federal government’s ability to recruit and retain high-quality talent, and ultimately, our national security,” wrote the senators. “We demand that you cease your attacks on our nation’s heroes, who have already given so much in defense of our country, and immediately reinstate those who have been illegally fired with their full back pay and benefits.”
Veterans perform crucial work for American people, our national security, and our way of life. Specifically, veterans make up 50% of the Department of Defense (DOD) workforce and 30% of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce. Colorado is home to over 400,000 veterans.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Trump administration has plans to fire over 80,000 employees, including veterans, from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The senators continued: “Among those fired are veterans, military spouses, caregivers, survivors, and Guard and Reserve members with exemplary performance reviews – including 2,400 employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and thousands of employees at the Department of Defense (DOD). These men and women have dedicated their careers to serving veterans and their nation.”
Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear President Trump,
We are increasingly concerned by the real-life negative impacts your Administration’s directives are having on our nation’s military and veteran community. This includes the abrupt and indiscriminate termination of more than 30,000 employees across the federal government. Among those fired are veterans, military spouses, caregivers, survivors, and Guard and Reserve members with exemplary performance reviews – including 2,400 employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and thousands of employees at the Department of Defense (DOD). These men and women have dedicated their careers to serving veterans and their nation. In return, your Administration has upended their lives and casually discarded their service without any notice or justification – all for a statistic on a press release.
Federal civil service has long been a preferred path for military-affiliated populations, allowing them to continue serving our country while offering competitive wages, benefits, and much-needed stability. In return, every single agency in our government and every single taxpayer benefits from these experienced, talented, and dedicated employees. Across the federal government, veterans make up approximately 30 percent of the workforce – more than 640,000 veterans. At DOD, where you have announced the imminent firing of 5,400 employees, with plans to cut anywhere from 35,000 to 56,000 in the near future – the percentage of veterans is nearly 50 percent. And at VA, where veterans are able to do work directly impacting their fellow veterans, the percentage of veteran employees is nearly 30 percent. Each and every day, these veterans perform duties vital to the American people, our national security and our way of life.
Rather than leading these employees and utilizing their talents to better serve veterans and taxpayers, you have chosen to fire them in an abrupt, inconsistent, unjustified, and unlawful way with no consultation with Congress and absolutely no transparency or accountability to the American people. Your Administration’s actions are damaging the economic security and morale of our military and veteran families, the federal government’s ability to recruit and retain high-quality talent, and ultimately, our national security. We demand that you cease your attacks on our nation’s heroes, who have already given so much in defense of our country, and immediately reinstate those who have been illegally fired with their full back pay and benefits.
Sincerely,
The Highland Council has agreed a budget which will see over £4.5 million of revenue investments for 2025 – 2026, over £17 million additional reserves investment for major developments and the creation of over 100 jobs across the Highlands.
Members agreed a 7% increase in Council Tax, one of the lowest increases in Scotland, with 2% of this allocated to create capital investment fund for schools and roads as part of the Highland Investment Plan.
A package of an additional £14 million savings, efficiencies and income generation was agreed, without the need for use of Reserves to balance the budget. This will add to existing saving plans, resulting in a total of £36.7m to be delivered over 3 years. These new savings are described under the themes of improvements to our operating model, efficiencies and mechanisms to generate additional income for the council.
Leader of the Council Raymond Bremner said: “I am delighted that Members have today supported the creation of a Poverty and Equality Commission for the Highland area, underpinned by £870k, to focus on tackling poverty and inequality across Highland communities. This in addition to our planned investment programme will help to sustain our Highland communities, with affordable homes, better access to renewable energy, job opportunities and economic prosperity.”
Convener of the Council Bill Lobban said: “Long term financial planning has enabled us to be in the position today of being able to invest rather than cut. Our savings and income generation plans will mean we can focus a large proportion of our Reserves on investing in huge projects such as an £8m energy investment fund and a £6m transport expansion fund, which will benefit Highland people for many years to come.”
The full budget report can be found on the Council’s website.
From Public Safety Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2025/03/minister-sajjan-announces-funding-to-british-columbia-for-2024-wildfires.html
French version: https://www.canada.ca/fr/securite-publique-canada/nouvelles/2025/03/le-ministre-sajjan-annonce-loctroi-dun-financement-a-la-colombiebritannique-pour-les-feux-de-foret-survenus-en-2024.html
In 2024, British Columbia saw over 1,600 wildfires burn approximately one million hectares of land. Between April 21 and October 7, 2024, over seven thousand residents were evacuated from their homes. Multiple residences, provincial infrastructure, provincial recreation sites and trails, and range fencing were destroyed.
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced payments of over $35 million to British Columbia through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program, to assist with response and recovery costs resulting from the wildfires in 2024.
When a large-scale natural disaster happens, the Government of Canada can provide financial assistance to provinces and territories through the DFAA program. Through this support, the Government of Canada covers eligible disaster response and recovery expenses that have been submitted by the province or territory and that exceed what they could reasonably be expected to bear on their own.
Extreme weather events and natural disasters are a growing threat to the safety and economic stability of Canadian communities. The Government of Canada has and will continue to work closely with the Government of British Columbia to respond to and recover from disastrous events such as the recent wildfires.
Quotes:
“In the last few years, we have seen the effects of climate change increase the frequency of disasters. This funding will help support British Columbia with their recovery and rebuilding efforts, as we work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Prioritizing our resiliency towards recurring disasters will help strengthen our adaptability and our ability to better recover.”
– The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
“Wildfires last summer impacted many people and communities throughout British Columbia. This funding from the Government of Canada for damage to uninsurable infrastructure from large-scale climate emergencies is critical to helping support B.C.’s response and recovery and our ongoing work to build more resilient communities.”
– The Honourable Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness for British Columbia
Quick Facts:
In Canada, emergencies are managed first at the municipal level and if assistance is needed, the municipality requests it from the province or territory. If the emergency escalates further, provinces or territories can get help from the federal government.
Eligible expenses under the DFAA include, but are not limited to, evacuation operations, restoring public works and infrastructure to their pre-disaster condition, as well as restoration or replacement of individuals’ uninsurable principal dwellings, restoration of small businesses, and farmsteads and mitigation measures to reduce the future vulnerability of repaired or replaced infrastructure.
Federal government payments are calculated on a per capita basis and cost-shared with the province or territory. Under the current DFAA program, the amount cost-shared is determined by an established formula and ranges from 50 to 90 percent of the costs of eligible expenses.
Under the DFAA, provinces and territories have six months following the end of a disaster event to request financial assistance from the federal government. Once an event has been designated under the DFAA, provinces and territories have up to five years to submit their final claim.
A request for payment under the DFAA is processed immediately following receipt of the required documentation of provincial and territorial expenditures and a review by federal auditors. Advance payments or interim payments, up to 50 or 60 percent of the projected federal share, can also be requested within the five-year timeframe.
On January 29, 2025, Minister Sajjan announced additional details on the upcoming modernization of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program, which is anticipated to come into effect on April 1, 2025.
For eligible disasters occurring on or after April 1, 2025, the modernized DFAA program ensures that in the face of increasing disaster costs and impacts to Canadians and all levels of government, financial assistance to provinces and territories will not only be delivered quickly and efficiently in the aftermath of a disaster, but also provide:
Increased investments in strategic disaster mitigation and building back better to minimize disaster impacts on communities and the risk of future disasters;
Incentives for risk reduction, pre-disaster planning, and improved hazard awareness to reduce the risks and impacts of disasters;
Expanded support for people hardest hit by the impacts of significant disasters.
The DFAA Guidelines for the modernized program are now posted, along with the DFAA Guidelines for eligible disasters occurring before April 1, 2025 (the former program). Since it can take a number of years after a disaster for final payments under the DFAA to be processed, the former program Guidelines will remain active until those events are fully closed and finalized. The DFAA Guidelines for the modernized program will be finalized when they come into effect on April 1, 2025.
Since the inception of the program in 1970, the DFAA has been a reliable source of support for provinces and territories. As of November 2024, the Government of Canada has provided over $9 billion in post disaster assistance to help provinces and territories with the costs of response and returning infrastructure and property to pre-disaster condition.
Modernizing the DFAA: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/mrgnc-mngmnt/rcvr-dsstrs/dsstr-fnncl-ssstnc-rrngmnts/dfaa-mdrnzng-en.aspx
Contacts:
Emily Heffernan Director of Communications Office of the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada Emily.Heffernan@kpc-cpr.gc.ca
Public Safety Canada Media Relations media@ps-sp.gc.ca 613 991-0657
B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Media Relations Ashley.1.Taylor@gov.bc.ca 250 880-6430
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas) introduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act. This legislation would place the permitting process in the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and eliminate the U.S. Department of Energy’s authority on LNG exports.
During the Biden-era energy crisis, the administration made an ill-advised decision to halt the approval process for liquified natural gas exports, halting America’s then-booming natural gas exports.
“Unlocking American energy production not only plays a vital role in safeguarding our national security, but is the path to lowering energy costs for families across the nation,” said Senator Scott. “Relying on bad actors undoubtedly puts America last, not first. With President Trump back in office, we will be energy independent and dominate once again.”
“President Biden spent four years pandering to progressive climate extremists and restricted future energy exports instead of unleashing American energy production to provide our allies with a secure, affordable energy source. We finally have a President back in office who understands that having efficient, reliable, and affordable energy is the key to U.S. national security,” said Rep. Pfluger. “This legislation cuts the red tape by removing the Department of Energy’s export authorization requirement and streamlining the permitting process. Energy security is national security, and I thank Senator Scott for leading this bill in the Senate and look forward to pushing for its passage in both chambers.”
Senator Scott and Congressman Pfluger were joined by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R- Fla.), and Representatives John Joyce (R-Pa.), Julia Letlow (R-La.), Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Craig Goldman (R-Texas), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), and Brian Babin (R-Texas).
Find the legislation text here.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Insurers were billed for more full client sessions than could be provided in a 24-hour day
PROVIDENCE, RI – A clinical social worker nicknamed by her co-workers as the “Five Minute Queen” who, at times, substituted a one or two sentence conversation for a billed 45-minute therapy session for her addicted patients has been sentenced to three years of supervised release, the first three months to be served in home detention with electronic monitoring, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
In pleading guilty in November 2023 to a charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, Mi Ok Song Bruining, 64, admitted that, while employed as a supervisor at Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc. (RCCA) in Providence, she helped devise and execute a scheme that shortchanged Rhode Island and Massachusetts substance abuse disorder patients out of counseling and treatment services while, at the same time, defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurers out of more than $3.5 million dollars.
Bruining, and others working at her direction, routinely submitted false and fraudulent claims for psychotherapy and counseling services that did not occur for the length of time billed, consistently billing for far more patients than was possible for RCCA staff to have seen during office hours. Bruining, known at RCCA as the “Five Minute Queen” for her speed in seeing patients for so-called counseling sessions, billed for 45-minute sessions when she actually saw patients for no more than 5-10 minutes, at times asking patients only one question before she ended a session.
According to information presented to the court, to facilitate this fraud, Ms. Bruining directed counselors and others at RCCA to record in their notes that they were providing counseling in 45-minute intervals, but without listing AM or PM for the start time. Ms. Bruining gave this instruction so that it was not clear that they were seeing more patients than possible within a single hour. She also instructed other counselors to copy and paste the last visit’s note into each entry to make the bill look complete. As a result, many of the patient notes for patients billed by RCCA were simply identical cut-and paste copies of the same note.
Bruining was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Mary S. McElroy to three years of supervised release, the first three months to be served in home detention with electronic monitoring, 100 hours of community service, and to pay restitution in the amount of $100,000.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Kevin Love Hubbard.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. United States Attorney Cunha thanks the IRS, Customs and Border Protection, and the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General for their assistance in the investigation.
The 2025 AFL season is just around the corner and fans are pondering the big questions: who will play finals? Who will finish in the top four? Who’s getting the wooden spoon?
The start of a new season brings with it many unknowns, hopes, and in some cases, trepidation.
Collingwood enters 2025 with the oldest and most experienced list – will that be the key to another deep finals run? Or are they over the hill?
Can Carlton finally break its premiership drought? Can West Coast, North Melbourne, or Richmond get back on track? What can Fremantle do with its young list and high expectations?
With so many unknowns, we turned to data.
Simulations and predictions
In La Trobe University’s Master of Sport Analytics, students need to build their own footy tipping algorithms and use them to simulate future matches.
We’ve seen lots of different approaches to this problem. Each comes with its own set of assumptions and blind spots.
One straightforward way to try to forecast what will happen in the upcoming season is to just look at history: how often does a team that finishes first on the ladder stay on top the next?
That’s happened seven times since 1990, so about 20% of the time.
We can model probabilities like this for every ladder position to get a gauge on how rankings typically shift from season to season, and apply this to the end-of-season 2024 ladder to predict the 2025 standings.
This approach does not take into account last year’s finals results, the different age profiles of teams, the 2025 fixture, or other team changes such as trades, retirements, or injuries.
Taking age into account
How about if we consider player ages as well? This should give us a better sense of a team’s expected change between seasons.
Research has suggested AFL players reach their peak performance levels at around 24-25.
A quick look at team median ages since 1990 agrees: teams with a median player age over 25 typically have a worse winning percentage the following year, and teams younger than 24 usually improve (with plenty of exceptions).
Combining last year’s ladder with age profiles gives a different view of the upcoming season.
There is more shuffling, with older teams like Collingwood and Melbourne expected to fall, while the younger Fremantle, Gold Coast and Adelaide lists are given higher probabilities of finishing near the top.
We’re still left with some important blind spots though: information from last year’s finals (Brisbane performed far better than a typical fifth-place finisher), and the difficulty of the upcoming fixture, have not been considered.
The Elo rating system
To take the full 2025 fixture into account, we need to simulate the entire season game by game.
That can be done if we use the Elo rating system to get a “strength” rating for each team.
Elo ratings track team strength over time: ratings go up with a win and down with a loss. The amount it changes depends on the opponent – beating a strong team boosts the rating more than beating a weak one, and the ratings update after every game played.
We’ll use the Elo ratings that each team ended up on at the end of last year (including finals) as a baseline for 2025.
With these ratings, we can calculate the probability of one team beating another in any given matchup. The method also considers home ground advantage by giving the home team a small rating boost.
Once we have probabilities for each match outcome, we can simulate the entire season. Here’s how it works:
Each game needs a winner. To decide, we use a computer function that picks a winner based on probability, kind of like flipping a weighted coin. If a team has a 70% probability of winning, it’s more likely to be chosen, but there’s still a 30% chance they lose
This is done for every game in the season
We then repeat this 10,000 times – simulating 10,000 different versions of the season
In each version, we create an end-of-season ladder, based on the simulated games results
After all the simulations, we can see how often each team finishes in each ladder position. This gives us a prediction for their chances of finishing first, second, third and so on.
The Elo approach favours Brisbane much more and is less kind to West Coast (35% chance of finishing last).
It does not predict the decline of Collingwood and Melbourne because, although it takes into account the finals and fixture, it doesn’t have an age component.
The ‘wisdom of the crowd’
If each approach comes with its own set of limitations, then we might expect to get a better forecast by combining lots of predictions from different sources because of the “wisdom of the crowd”.
The idea is that you get more accurate predictions if you combine multiple independent sources.
Luckily for us, each season, several AFL stats experts build models to estimate the probability of each match outcome and generously post them online.
What goes into each model is not always known, but they consider a mixture of different factors such as attacking and defending strengths, in-game statistics, home ground advantage, player lists and trades, last season’s performance and more.
For our analysis, we’ll combine the Elo model with the average of all these expert tips to get a “wisdom of the crowd” prediction for each game’s probability. The ladder can then be simulated using the same method as above.
Four groups emerge from the wisdom of the crowd:
Brisbane, Hawthorn, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs are predicted to lead the pack, surpassing last year’s top three
Sydney, Port Adelaide, GWS, Carlton, Fremantle, Collingwood and Adelaide have a wide spread of predicted finishes, skewed more towards finishing in the top eight – but there won’t be enough room for all of them
Essendon, Melbourne, St Kilda and Gold Coast might challenge for a spot in the finals, but the models are less confident in their chances
West Coast, North Melbourne and Richmond are hard to separate from each other, a cut below the rest.
Uncertainty and excitement
Each table tells a potentially different story but the most universal theme is uncertainty.
Team sports are hard to predict, especially before we’ve had a chance to observe any games, and even the most confident predictions are under 40% (meaning they are more likely not to happen).
Uncertainty leads to excitement, and this data only makes us more excited to see what will play out this season.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Realized capital gains were historically high in 2021 and increased income inequality that year. In general, capital gains are more unequally distributed and more variable over time than other major sources of income.
To demonstrate the sensitivity of the distribution of household income to capital gains, CBO examined several measures of income with and without realized capital gains. The comparisons highlight the significance of capital gains in different segments of the income distribution and how those gains have contributed to income inequality over time.
This document supplements two of CBO’s publications: The Distribution of Household Income in 2021 and Trends in the Distribution of Household Income From 1979 to 2021.
Headline: New Data Shows Black Infants Are Dying at Rates Three Times Higher Than White Infants
New Data Shows Black Infants Are Dying at Rates Three Times Higher Than White Infants jwerner
The 2023 Infant and Child Mortality Data from the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force Report shows non-Hispanic Black and American Indian children have higher mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. In 2023, the disparity worsened, with Black infants dying at rates three times higher than white infants. When compared to other states, North Carolina had the 10th highest infant mortality rate in the country, highlighting the critical need for the Department of Health and Human Services efforts to ensure the health and well-being of children and families.
“All babies born in North Carolina deserve a healthy start to life,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We are committed to ensuring women and families have the care and support they need prior to, during and after pregnancy, no matter where they live or how much money they make.”
NCDHHS recently released an updated NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan that details efforts currently underway to improve maternal health and birth outcomes as well as recent accomplishments, including paid parental leave for state employees, Medicaid reimbursement for group prenatal care and increased postpartum health care coverage for NC Medicaid beneficiaries. North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunity Pilots have also been critical to address non-medical drivers of health like housing, food and transportation to improve the health of women and children in our state.
Additionally, Medicaid Expansion is improving health outcomes for children and families in North Carolina. In just over one year since North Carolina became the 41st state to expand Medicaid, more than 640,000 people have gained health care coverage, giving more people access to necessary and critical care, ultimately leading to healthier pregnancies. Studies show states that have expanded Medicaid have better maternal and infant outcomes than states that have not.
Other key points of the 2023 Infant and Child Mortality Data include:
The 2023 overall infant mortality rate in North Carolina rose slightly in 2023 from 2022 to 6.9 deaths per 1,000 births. There have only been slight fluctuations in this number since 2010.
The youth suicide rate has increased over the past 20 years, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death for youth ages 10-18.
The child homicide rate remains high due to the substantial increase in firearm-related homicides.
NCDHHS is working closely with NCDPS and the state’s Office of Violence Prevention to address the alarming trend of increased firearm related injuries and deaths in North Carolina. Together with partners, the state launched a safe storage campaign that includes the distribution of gun locks and safes to community organizations and local health departments. The Office of Violence Prevention has invested in the expansion of community and hospital-based violence prevention programs.
“By working together to address and prevent violence as a public health issue, we can create safer communities where our most vulnerable populations – especially infants and children – can thrive,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. “By offering proven, evidence-based solutions like safe gun storage that meet children and families where they are in North Carolina’s communities, we’re working to reverse the trends in preventable child fatalities related to violence and injury.”
NCDHHS remains steadfast in its commitment to create a healthier North Carolina for all and ensuring every person in North Carolina has access to the right care, when and where they need it.
Los datos de mortalidad infantil y de niños de 2023 del Informe del Grupo de Trabajo de Fatalidad Infantil de Carolina del Nortemuestran que los niños negros no hispanos e indios americanos tienen tasas de mortalidad más altas en comparación con otros grupos raciales y étnicos. En 2023, la disparidad empeoró, y los bebés negros murieron a tasas tres veces más altas que los bebés blancos. En comparación con otros estados, Carolina del Norte tuvo la décimatasa de mortalidad infantil más alta del país, lo que destaca la necesidad crítica de los esfuerzos del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) para garantizar la salud y el bienestar de los niños y las familias.
“Todos los bebés nacidos en Carolina del Norte merecen un comienzo de vida saludable”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Estamos comprometidos a garantizar que las mujeres y las familias tengan la atención y el apoyo que necesitan antes, durante y después del embarazo, sin importar dónde vivan o cuánto dinero ganen”.
NCDHHS publicó recientemente un Plan Estratégico de Salud Perinatal de Carolina del Norteactualizado que detalla los esfuerzos actualmente en curso para mejorar los resultados de la salud materna y nacimientos, así como los logros más recientes, entre ellos la licencia parental remunerada para empleados estatales, el reembolso de Medicaid para la atención prenatal grupal y el aumento de la cobertura de atención médica posparto para los beneficiarios de Medicaid de Carolina del Norte. Los programas Pilotos de Oportunidades Saludablesde Carolina del Norte también han sido fundamentales para abordar los factores no médicos de la salud, como la vivienda, la alimentación y el transporte, para mejorar la salud de las mujeres y los niños en nuestro estado.
Además, la expansión de Medicaidestá mejorando los resultados de salud para los niños y las familias en Carolina del Norte. En poco más de un año desde que Carolina del Norte se convirtió en el estado número 41 en expandir Medicaid, más de 640,000 personas han obtenido cobertura de atención médica, lo que brinda a más personas acceso a la atención necesaria y crítica, lo que en última instancia conduce a embarazos más saludables. Los estudios muestranquelos estados que han expandido Medicaid tienen mejores resultados para las madres y bebés que los estados que no lo han hecho.
Otros puntos clave de los datos de mortalidad infantil y de niños de 2023 incluyen:
La tasa general de mortalidad de bebés de 2023 en Carolina del Norte aumentó ligeramente en 2023 de 2022 a 6.9 muertes por cada 1.000 nacimientos. Solo ha habido fluctuaciones leves en este número desde 2010.
La tasa de suicidio juvenil ha aumentado en los últimos 20 años, siendo el suicidio una de las principales causas de muerte entre los jóvenes de 10 a 18 años.
La tasa de homicidios de niños sigue siendo alta debido al aumento cuantioso de los homicidios relacionados con armas de fuego.
NCDHHS está trabajando en estrecha colaboración con el Departamento de Seguridad Pública (NCDPS, por sus siglas en inglés) de Carolina del Norte y la Oficina de Prevención de la Violencia del estado para abordar la alarmante tendencia de aumento de lesiones y muertes relacionadas con armas de fuego en Carolina del Norte. Junto con sus colaboradores, el estado lanzó una campaña de almacenamiento seguro que incluye la distribución de cerraduras y cajas fuertes para armas a organizaciones comunitarias y departamentos de salud locales. La Oficina de Prevención de la Violencia ha invertido en la expansión de programas de prevención de la violencia basados en la comunidad y hospitales.
“Al trabajar juntos para abordar y prevenir la violencia como tema de salud pública, podemos crear comunidades más seguras donde nuestras poblaciones más vulnerables, especialmente los bebés y los niños, puedan prosperar”, dijo la Dra. Kelly Kimple, directora de Salud Estatal Interina y directora Médica de NCDHHS. “Al ofrecer soluciones basadas en evidencia de datos empíricos, como el almacenamiento seguro de armas, que responden a las necesidades de las familias y niños allí en las comunidades de Carolina del Norte, estamos trabajando para revertir las tendencias en las muertes infantiles evitables relacionadas con la violencia y las lesiones”.
NCDHHS se mantiene firme en su compromiso de crear una Carolina del Norte más saludable para todos y garantizar que todas las personas en Carolina del Norte tengan acceso a la atención adecuada, cuando y donde la necesiten.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Eight people have been charged in federal court for a series of bribery, kickback, extortion, and money laundering schemes following a public corruption investigation in North Charleston. Three of the individuals charged are elected members of the North Charleston City Council.
Four individuals have been charged by Information and have agreed to plead guilty:
Jerome Sydney Heyward, 61, North Charleston City Councilmember;
Sandino Savalas Moses, 50, North Charleston City Councilmember;
Donavan Laval Moten, 46, founder of Core4Success Foundation; and
Aaron Charles-Lee Hicks, 37, resident of North Charleston.
A federal grand jury returned indictments against four others:
Mike A. Brown, 46, North Charleston City Council Member;
Hason Tatorian (“Tory”) Fields, 51, a Goose Creek resident;
Rose Emily Lorenzo, 65, a North Carolina resident; and
Michelle Stent-Hilton, 56, a North Charleston resident.
Heyward is charged in three separate schemes with corruptly using his position as a North Charleston City Councilman to personally enrich himself through bribes, kickbacks, and extortion and to deprive the citizens and the government of North Charleston of their intangible right to the honest and faithful services of the North Charleston City Council. In the first scheme, Heyward extorted a businessman by soliciting payments in exchange for his official action as a City Councilman. In the second scheme, Heyward conspired with Mike A. Brown and Aaron Hicks to solicit and accept bribes from Aaron Hicks—working on behalf of a company with business before North Charleston City Council—in exchange for his support of the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site. In the third scheme, Heyward conspired with Donavan Moten, Rose Lorenzo, and Michelle Stent-Hilton to embezzle funds belonging to North Charleston by soliciting and accepting kickbacks from non-profit organizations run by Moten and Stent-Hilton that received violence reduction grant funds from the City.
Heyward has agreed to plead guilty to: extortion under color of official right and using fear of economic harm; multiple counts of conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud; multiple counts of bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud; theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds; and multiple counts of money laundering. Heyward faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. Heyward has agreed to cooperate with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Mike A. Brown is charged with conspiring with Heyward and Hicks to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Mike A. Brown, while serving as a North Charleston City Councilmember, solicited and accepted bribes from Hicks—working on behalf of a company requesting the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site—in exchange for his support of the rezoning application. Mike A. Brown faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. He will be arraigned on these charges in March.
Aaron Hicks is charged with a conspiracy to pay bribes to Mike A. Brown and Jerome Heyward and a separate conspiracy with Hason Tatorian Fields to bribe Sandino Moses in exchange for their influence on North Charleston City Council and their support of the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site. Hicks has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud; bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, and honest services wire fraud. Hicks has agreed to cooperate fully with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Hicks faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.
Hason Tatorian (“Tory”) Fields is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, and honest services wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Fields conspired with Hicks to pay bribes to Sandino Moses. Thereafter, Fields paid Moses two bribes in an attempt to influence him in connection with his official action regarding the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site. Fields faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of three years.
Sandino Moses is charged with misprision of a felony. The Information alleges that Moses knew that Fields and others attempted to bribe him and paid him bribes but he failed to disclose that criminal conduct and instead took steps to conceal the bribes by returning the money to Fields. Moses has agreed to plead guilty and to cooperate fully with federal state and local law enforcement agencies. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years, a fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of one year.
Donavan Laval Moten has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. The information alleges that Moten conspired with Jerome Heyward and Rose Lorenzo to kick back a portion of funds that Moten’s nonprofit received from North Charleston to Heyward, who at the time was on North Charleston’s City Council. The indictment further alleges that after receiving the money from North Charleston, Moten laundered Heyward’s portion through Lorenzo. Moten has agreed to cooperate fully with federal, state, and local enforcement officials. Moten faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $500,000 and a term of supervised release of three years.
Michelle Stent-Hilton is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. The indictment alleges that Stent-Hilton, who is affiliated with a non-profit and served as Jerome Heyward’s personal assistant, promised to pay Heyward a portion of money the non-profit received from the city of North Charleston. At the time, Heyward was serving on North Charleston City Council and voted on the grant proposal to distribute funds to non-profits, including Stent-Hilton’s. The indictment further alleges that after receiving money from North Charleston, Stent-Hilton laundered Heyward’s kick back through Rose Lorenzo. Stent-Hilton faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $500,000 and a term of supervised release of three years.
Rose Emily Lorenzo is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. The indictment alleges that Lorenzo conspired with Jerome Heyward and others to kick back a portion of City of North Charleston grant funds that were awarded to non-profits affiliated with Donavan Moten and Michelle Stent-Hilton to Heyward. The indictment further alleges that Lorenzo agreed to launder the funds by acting as an intermediary who received the funds from Moten and Stent-Hilton, and then wired them to Heyward for the purpose of concealing the true purpose of the transaction. Lorenzo faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $500,000 and a term of supervised release of three years.
Heyward, Moten, Hicks, and Moses are scheduled to plead guilty before the Honorable Richard M. Gergel on Friday, Feb. 28.
“When elected officials take their oath of office, they make a sacred promise to the people they serve. They pledge to uphold the law, to act with integrity, and to place the public interest above their own,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “Public service should never merely be a job – it is a public trust. The allegations in this case describe a profound betrayal of that trust.”
“Public corruption at any level of government cannot be tolerated,” said Steve Jensen Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “Citizens have a right to expect honesty, fairness, and integrity from their leaders. The FBI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, is dedicated to aggressively investigating corruption and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.”
“SLED Agents worked hand-in-hand with our federal partners to ensure that justice will be served,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “No matter who you are, or what position you hold, you will be held accountable for breaking the law. Elected officials and citizens should be working together to better their community, not exploiting others.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging Honduran nationals with distributing fentanyl in the District of Utah, and with other drug and immigration crimes.
Jerez Navarro-Zuniga aka “Jeren Navarro” 27, a Honduran national and U.S. citizen living in West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint on February 18, 2025. Helen Coello-Turcios, 20, of West Valley City, Jose Amilcar Zuniga-Acosta, 25, of West Valley City, and Naaman Navarro-Hernandez, 35, of Taylorsville, Utah, were charged by complaint on February 20, 2025.
According to court documents, beginning in December 2024, agents with the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) began investigating a drug trafficking organization. A controlled drug purchase was arranged, and law enforcement officers observed Navarro-Zuniga provide fentanyl to a middleman to deliver to a customer. The fentanyl was later seized and tested positive for fentanyl.
On January 7, 2025, law enforcement watched a female later identified as Coello-Turcios, conduct an alleged drug transaction. A traffic stop was conducted on the suspected customer and law enforcement seized approximately 10 fentanyl pills.
During the investigation, on February 12, 2025, SBI agents observed Navarro-Zuniga make a short term stop at a storage unit registered under his name, and conduct an alleged drug transaction with the driver of a Nissan Sentra. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver of the Nissan consented to search the vehicle. Agents seized approximately 4,500 fentanyl pills in the vehicle. On February 13, 2025, surveillance footage showed Navarro-Zuniga entering and exiting his storage unit with a backpack. A traffic stop was conducted on a Chrysler 200 registered to, and driven by Navarro-Zuniga. Coello-Turcios was at passenger. Law enforcement seized $34,199.00 from the vehicle. During the investigation, agents also seized approximately 10 pounds of pills that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl at Navarro’s and Coello-Turcios’ residence.
On February 13, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Altima driven by Navarro-Hernandez and seized 2,500 fentanyl pills that were separated into approximately sale-ready 100 pill baggies. On the same day, a search warrant was executed at Navarro-Hernandez’s residence in Taylorsville and 11,000 fentanyl pills were seized.
According to court documents, Zuniga-Acosta and Navarro Hernandez are in the United States illegally. They were both previously deported and reentered the United States illegally.
Navarro-Zuniga, Coello-Turcios, Zuniga-Acosta and Naaman Navarro-Hernandez are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and other charges. Zuniga-Acosta and Navarro-Hernandez are also charged with reentry of a previously removed alien. All defendants’ initial appearances on the indictment are scheduled for March 10, 2025 at 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. in courtroom 7.1 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Narcotics Squad, and the Utah County Major Crimes (UCMC) Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Utah Highway Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maria Clementina Sobieski is one of only three women buried in the famous St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, alongside an estimated 100 or so popes. She lived a life of extraordinary defiance and determination.
Born in 1701 in Oława, Poland, Maria Clementina was the granddaughter of King John III Sobieski of Poland, who was famous for his victory in the 1683 Battle of Vienna against the forces of the Ottoman Empire.
While this ancestry provided Maria Clementina her status as a princess, it also came with significant challenges, by placing her at the centre of 18th century European dynastic politics.
At just 17 years old, she was betrothed to James Stuart, the Jacobite claimant to the British throne. This match, which held immense political and religious significance, was agreed to by her father, Jakub, after negotiations with Stuart.
But her journey to marriage wouldn’t simple. It required a daring escape from imprisonment in Innsbruck, where she was held by Emperor Charles VI in a bid to prevent her union with Stuart.
Francesco Bertosi’s painting, ‘Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska, 1701–1735. Wife of Prince James Francis Edward Stuart’, 1719. National Galleries of Scotland
A high-stakes abduction
The marriage between Maria Clementina and James Stuart was a direct challenge to the Protestant king George I of Great Britain.
James Stuart, also known as the Old Pretender, was living in exile and sought to reclaim the British throne that was his by birthright. His marriage to Maria Clementina, which was endorsed by Pope Clement XI, would symbolise Catholic unity against growing Protestant dominance.
Recognising this political threat, George I asked Emperor Charles VI, his ally, to order Maria Clementina’s detention in Innsbruck while she was en route to her wedding.
Her confinement was intended to coerce her family into annulling the engagement. However, Maria Clementina, bolstered by her unwavering faith and determination, refused to capitulate.
Anton Raphael Mengs’s painting, ‘Prince James Francis Edward Stuart’, circa 1740s. Wikimedia
The perilous escape
Maria Clementina’s imprisonment at the hands of Charles VI lasted six months. During this time, she kept her spirits high through correspondence with James Stuart and her father, Jakub. Meanwhile, plans for her escape were set in motion by Charles Wogan, an Irish Jacobite loyal to Stuart.
The princess disguised herself by switching clothes with the servant of one of her rescuers, Eleanor Misset. She then slipped past imperial guards with a small group posing as a travelling family.
The escape involved avoiding imperial agents and enduring significant physical hardship, including traversing the harsh and mountainous Brenner Pass in the Alps.
In one instance, after a carriage axle broke, Maria Clementina and Eleanor Misset were forced to walk a considerable distance to find shelter. Despite the gruelling journey, Maria Clementina demonstrated remarkable resolve, earning the admiration of her companions.
Reaching safety and marriage
After crossing into Italy, the group arrived in Bologna, where Maria Clementina rested and prepared for her new role as James Stuart’s wife. Her wedding took place on May 9 1719 in a modest ceremony.
Although James Stuart was absent (not unusual for high-profile dynastic alliances at the time), the marriage formalised their union and reinforced the Jacobite claim to the British throne.
Maria Clementina wore a white dress to symbolise mourning for James Stuart’s late mother, Maria Beatrice d’Este. The ceremony was attended by Jacobite activist Charles Wogan and other members of the escape team, including Eleanor Misset.
And so Maria Clementina became the titular Catholic queen of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Agostino Masucci’s ‘The Solemnisation of the Marriage of James III and Maria Clementina Sobieska’, circa 1735. National Galleries of Scotland
Motherhood and family challenges
Maria Clementina’s bold actions ensured the continuity of the Jacobite line. On December 31 1720 she gave birth to her first son, Charles Edward Stuart, later known as Bonnie Prince Charlie.
He was baptised within the hour by Father Lawrence Mayes, the same bishop who officiated his parents’ wedding, and his birth was widely celebrated by Jacobite supporters.
Maria Clementina’s second son, Henry Benedict Stuart, was born on March 6 1725 and was later made Duke of York.
A monument in St Peter’s Basilica dedicated to the royal Stuarts, James and his sons, Charles and Henry. Wikimedia, CC BY-SA
While the birth of her sons brought joy and hope to the Jacobite cause, Maria Clementina’s relationship with James Stuart grew strained.
their tempers are so very different that though in the greatest trifles they are never of the same opinion, the one won’t yield an inch to the other.
James neglected Maria Clementina. The pair also clashed over their sons’ education, further straining the marriage.
The later years
By the end of 1725, Maria Clementina’s frustrations with her marriage reached a breaking point. She left James and took up residence at the convent of St Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome, leaving her young sons behind.
For two years she embraced a devout lifestyle, focusing on her own welfare. Her return to James in 1728 was marked by a withdrawal from court life, and she spent much of her time in seclusion at Rome’s Palazzo Muti.
John Pettie (1834-93), ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie Entering the Ballroom at Holyroodhouse’, before April 1892. Royal Collection Trust, CC BY-NC-SA
Despite her struggles, Maria Clementina’s legacy as a mother was significant. Charles Edward Stuart and Henry Benedict Stuart carried the Jacobite cause forward, their lives shaped by the resilience and determination demonstrated by their mother. Her commitment to their futures ensured the Jacobite line endured, even as political realities shifted.
Maria Clementina died on January 18 1735 at the age of 32. She was given a royal funeral in St Peter’s Basilica, where she was interred with honours befitting her status as queen. Her heart was enshrined separately in the church of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
During the federal election campaign we can expect to hear candidates talk passionately about school funding. This is one of the most contentious areas of education policy – and one many families and voters care deeply about.
You may hear some parties talking about how they are “fully funding” schools and other commentary about schools being under or overfunded.
How does school funding work in Australia?
Where does the money come from?
All schools in Australia receive both public and private funding. Public funding is taxpayer funding and it comes from both state and federal governments.
Private funding comes from parents and households, as well as churches and other associations, which are mostly charitable. These charitable organisations receive tax breaks.
How does government funding work?
All schools in Australia receive funding from federal and state governments.
Extra loadings are then provided for schools and students with special needs, for example students with disabilities, from low socioeconomic backgrounds or in remote areas.
The latest federal school funding policy, the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement sets out how public schools will receive 25% of the schooling resource standard from the federal government and rest from their respective state government.
Up to 80% of a non-government school’s schooling resource standard funding can be provided by the federal government. But the actual amount is adjusted by something called a school’s “capacity to contribute”.
This measures a non-government school community’s capacity to contribute to the ongoing costs of running their school. In practice, it sees lower-fee non-government schools receive more public funding than higher-fee non-government schools.
State governments also provide public funding to non-government schools. This is because school funding agreements require state governments to contribute some level of funding to non-government schools.
All schools in Australia receive private funding from parents and households.
Public schools receive private funding in the form of fees and contributions from parents. These fees and contributions can vary from a few hundred dollars at some public primary schools to thousands of dollars at some public secondary schools.
This funding is used to support building and facilities, excursions, as well as subsidise curriculum subjects, especially in secondary schools.
In media and policy debates about schools we frequently hear talk of public schools being “underfunded” or still not “fully funded”. We also hear about some independent schools being “overfunded”.
This relates to whether they are receiving what they are entitled to under the schooling resources standard.
To date approximately 2% of public schools, receive the amount they are entitled to based on the schooling resources standard. This is largely because state and territory governments, other than the ACT, have not contributed their full share.
This means the vast majority of public schools are “underfunded”.
The most recent national school funding agreement has set out a timeline to make sure all schools are eventually fully funded. In some cases, this may not be until the 2030s.
Non-government schools that charge fees in excess of the schooling resource standard will be “overfunded”. Even moderate-fee schools may be “overfunded” because of the public funding they receive on top of the private funding paid by parents.
As noted earlier, school funding agreements require federal and state governments to contribute to the schooling resource standard of all non-government schools. Even high-fee non-government schools receive substantial amounts of public funding.
For example, my 2024 research suggests high-fee non-government schools (those charging $25,000 per year or more) receive approximately $5,000 per pupil in public funding.
Are some non-government schools at risk of losing funds?
Most non-government schools will continue to receive increases in public funding due to indexation.
But there are headlines about “private school funding cuts”.
This is because some non-government schools will see less public funding if the federal government has been paying more than 80% of the schooling resource standard (due to outdated funding methods). Schools have until 2029 to transition to the current funding system.
This will only impact a small proportion of non-government schools. For example, in January, The Sydney Morning Herald reported 30 schools were projected to lose funding.
Laura Perry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Beth Presley presents Sen. John Boozman with the Boys & Girls Club of America 2025 Champion of Youth Award.
WASHINGTON—The Boys & Girls Club of America has recognized U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) as a recipient of its 2025 Champion of Youth Award for his work advocating legislation to combat childhood hunger and championing programs that provide meals to eligible American children at no cost to kids or their families.
There are 5,400 Clubs across the nation, offering a second home to over 400,000 American children each day. Boozman, a product of the Jeffrey’s Boys Club in Fort Smith, reflected on its lasting impact through community involvement, nurturing good habits and friendships, and the opportunity to be connected to mentors.
“As a former participant myself, I know firsthand how the organization can positively change lives by providing a safe, supportive and fun environment for kids and teens to grow and reach their full potential,” said Boozman. “The Boys & Girls Club also plays an important role in providing access to nutritious meals for children during the summer months, an initiative I have championed, and we are grateful for its partnership to address food insecurity. Being recognized for supporting its mission is truly a full-circle moment and an honor I deeply appreciate.”
Beth Presley, Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs CEO, alongside other Arkansan participants and leaders representing clubs in Fort Smith, Van Buren, El Dorado and statewide leadership, presented the award to Boozman at the organization’s 11th annual National Days of Advocacy event on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Boozman with Arkansas Boys & Girls Club leaders upon receiving the 2025 Champion of Youth Award.
“It was an incredible honor to present Senator John Boozman with the Boys & Girls Club Champion of Youth Award. As a distinguished alumnus of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club, Senator Boozman has never forgotten the impact of the Club on his own life, and he continues to be a tireless advocate for young people across Arkansas and the nation. His dedication to ensuring that all children have access to the opportunities, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed is truly inspiring. We are grateful for his unwavering support and proud to recognize him for his lifelong commitment to empowering the next generation,” said Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Beth Presley.
“As an alumnus of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs Club, Senator Boozman is a testament to the impact of Boys & Girls Clubs. Since entering public office, Senator Boozman has remained a strong supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs in Arkansas and the youth they serve. We are especially grateful for his work to prevent childhood hunger which has enabled Clubs in Arkansas and around the country to provide more meals and snacks to youth at no charge to their families. It is an honor to provide Senator Boozman with our 2025 Champion of Youth Award,” said Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Boys & Girls Clubs of America Missy Dugan.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Boozman has long advocated for increasing access to school and summer feeding programs. In recent years, Boozman successfully led passage of legislation modernizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) summer meals program and permanently allowing states flexibilities to reach more food-insecure children when school is out.
Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
March 06, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee held a hearing examining the negative impacts of the Republican Budget’s cut to Medicaid.
CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Madam Chair, I want to thank you and the Steering and Policy Co-Chairs for organizing this event. Thank you to Ranking Member Pallone, as well.
As we just saw, Medicaid ensures that our friends and neighbors in every corner of the country have access to affordable health care. Cuts to this program would have a ripple effect that impacts the entire health care system, driving up costs and preventing people from getting the health care that they need. The Republican budget takes an ax to Medicaid, with nearly $1 trillion in cuts. And despite what Republicans claim, there is no way to make those cuts without hurting kids, parents and seniors who count on Medicaid.
Today, our first witness is Kody Kinsley. Mr. Kinsley served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the state of North Carolina. In that capacity, Secretary Kinsley oversaw North Carolina’s Medicaid program, which covers more than 2 million people, including more than 40 percent of North Carolina’s kids. Under Secretary Kinsley’s leadership, and alongside a Democratic Governor and a Republican legislature, North Carolina expanded Medicaid to give health care to more than 600,000 people. Secretary Kinsley is a Senior Advisor currently with the Milken Institute, a fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Civil Society Fellowship and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Before serving in state government in his home state of North Carolina, Secretary Kinsley served as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Secretary Kinsley, you are recognized. Thank you for being here.
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez released the following statements in response to the City of La Cañada Flintridge’s request to dismiss its appeal concerning a mixed-use affordable housing project that would bring 80 mixed-income residential dwelling units, 14 hotel units, and 7,791 square feet of office space to the community.
“Subject to court approval, our legal battle against La Cañada Flintridge has come to an end for now. It should not have taken them this long to follow the law,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “California desperately needs more affordable housing, and every city and county must be part of the solution — no exceptions. If La Cañada Flintridge tries to illegally delay this project any further, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable once again.”
“We are pleased to hear that La Cañada Flintridge leaders made the right choice to end these costly legal delays,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “In the end, we were able to hold the city accountable to state housing law and to its constituents at a time when the region needs new housing more than ever to help so many neighbors displaced by fire.”
On December 12, 2023, Attorney General Bonta, Governor Gavin Newsom, and HCD Director Velasquez requested that the court allow them to intervene in the case originally brought by California Housing Defense Fund to uphold California’s housing laws and reverse La Cañada Flintridge’s illegal denial of the mixed-use affordable housing project. On March 4, 2024, the Los Angeles County Superior Court held that La Cañada Flintridge unlawfully denied the project. The city decided to appeal the decision. On June 17, 2024, Attorney General Bonta filed a brief in support of the right of project applicants under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) to secure a bond pending appeal, writing that “[l]engthy litigation, even if it is meritless, can result in the cancelation of a housing development due to inflation, changing interest rates, carrying costs, and expiring affordability funding.” On February 28, 2025, the Los Angeles County Superior Court ordered La Cañada Flintridge to “post a bond of $14 million within thirty (30) days or to dismiss its appeal” and the La Cañada Flintridge City Council voted to dismiss its appeal.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Following Wednesday’s announcement of eight people charged in a public corruption scheme, four have pleaded guilty. The four men, including two former city council members, were each granted release pending sentencing on unsecured bonds.
These four defendants entered guilty pleas in federal court today:
Jerome Sydney Heyward, 61, Former North Charleston City Councilmember;
Sandino Savalas Moses, 50, Former North Charleston City Councilmember;
Donavan Laval Moten, 46, founder of Core4Success Foundation; and
Aaron Charles-Lee Hicks, 37, resident of North Charleston.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence Heyward, Moses, Moten, and Hicks after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Heyward and Moten each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. Hicks faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. Moses faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years, a fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of one year.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case.
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