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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 arrives on July 11 with new skaters, parks, music and more

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 arrives on July 11 with new skaters, parks, music and more

    Multiple new skaters are joining the original line-up, and you’ll also be able to create your own skater, not only customizing their appearance, but their hometown, skating style, and more. And of course, no Tony Hawk game would be complete without music, and you’ll be skating along to tracks from the original soundtrack, as well as new tracks.

    THPS 3+4 builds on the work started by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, bringing the easy-to-learn, hard-to-master controls and handling you’d expect – and for those taking on the series for the first time, an in-depth tutorial from Tony Hawk himself will walk you through exactly how to play.

    Welcome to Waterpark

    You may have caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar location in today’s reveal trailer – this is Waterpark, a new level added to THPS 3+4. Introduced as part of the revamped THPS 4 Tour, this is a broken-down, dried-out park in the heart of the Mojave desert – perfect for budding skaters.

    The rides might not be functional any more, but they’re more than open for finding lines and trick opportunities. Six rides are open for you to try and trick off of – Down the Drain, Peak Cyclone, Twisted Vipers and more offer challenging trips down to ground level. Just skate to the entrance of each one, and you’ll be transported to the top to try your luck.

    If you’re looking for something a little more chill, take a trip down the Lazy River, which snakes around the entire map, head to the Marquee for a ramp-filled area perfect for combos, or find a way to open up the Castle Slide for even more opportunities to earn points.

    Pre-Order Now for Early Access and More

    Pre-orders for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 open today, and will give you access to the Foundry Demo (not available on Nintendo Switch). Kicking off in June, this demo will include two skaters and two parks to try out – and your pre-order will also net you an extra in-game shader for Tony Hawk at full game launch.

    Pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe Edition will give you three days of Early Access to the full game – as well as some far more unexpected bonuses. Play as both the Doom Slayer (with two outfits, two unique tricks, and a hoverboard) or a Revenant (with its own two unique tricks), not to mention themed skate decks, Create-a-Skater items and bonus soundtracks.

    And if you want to go all-out, the Collector’s Edition of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will come complete with a limited-edition, full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck (deck-only, other skateboard components not included) featuring a reissued version of the iconic Wings graphic and a printed Tony Hawk autograph. The Collector’s Edition includes a physical copy of the game, and all the Digital Deluxe Edition benefits.

    Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on July 11. Pre-orders open today. Learn more on tonyhawkthegame.com.

    Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Digital Deluxe Edition

    Activision Publishing Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $69.99

    Pre-purchase and receive: – Early Access – get the game 3 days early* – Access to the Foundry Demo** – Wireframe Tony Shader Purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition to skate as the Doom Slayer and rip and tear through a ton of additional content. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes: – Cross-Gen Bundle of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 — Includes Xbox One, Xbox X|S and PC (Microsoft Store) versions of the game – The Doom Slayer and The Revenant playable skaters, each includes 2 secret moves. The Doom Slayer includes 2 unique outfits and the Unmaykr Hoverboard skate deck. – Additional songs included with the in-game soundtrack – Exclusive Doom Slayer, Revenant, and Create-a-Skater skate decks – Exclusive themed Create-a-Skater Items Get hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum shattering music, plus a whole lot more. – Reunite the crew with cross-platform online Multiplayer*** for up to 8 skaters in new and returning game modes. – Drop in to new parks or tear it up across the timeless parks from both Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, authentically remade in jaw dropping 4K**** resolution with streamlined goals and the epic 2-minute format. – Hit ‘em with some drip in the expanded Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes, including the ability to create custom goals to share with friends for the first time ever. – Shred harder than ever with more challenging goals and an enhanced New Game+ mode. – Whether you’re a total casual or a grungy pro, the same smooth handling and simple-to-learn controls from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 will have you shredding like a Pro. Alert the neighborhood watch and grab your skate buddies because the shred’s not dead. It’s back and better than ever. *Actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences. **Foundry Demo availability and launch date(s) subject to change. Internet connection required. This pre-purchase will grant you access to that demo, when released. See www.tonyhawkthegame.com for details. ***Activision account and internet required for online Multiplayer and other features. A Game Pass subscription may be required for Multiplayer and other features (sold separately). Activision may modify or discontinue online services in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued to to factors including number of players. ****The Xbox Series X version of the game will run native 4K at 60FPS in Fidelity Mode. The Xbox Series S version will render at 1440P and upscale to 4K. 4K output requires a 4K compatible device or display. For more information, please see www.tonyhawkthegame.com. © 2025 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION and PRO SKATER are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. TONY HAWK is a registered trademark of Tony Hawk, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

    Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

    Activision Publishing Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Get hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum shattering music, plus a whole lot more. – Reunite the crew with cross-platform online Multiplayer* for up to 8 skaters in new and returning game modes. – Drop in to new parks or tear it up across the timeless parks from both Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, authentically remade in jaw dropping 4K** resolution with streamlined goals and the epic 2-minute format. – Hit ‘em with some drip in the expanded Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes, including the ability to create custom goals to share with friends for the first time ever. – Shred harder than ever with more challenging goals and an enhanced New Game+ mode. – Whether you’re a total casual or a grungy pro, the same smooth handling and simple-to-learn controls from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 will have you shredding like a Pro. Alert the neighborhood watch and grab your skate buddies because the shred’s not dead. It’s back and better than ever. *Activision account and internet required for online Multiplayer and other features. A Game Pass subscription may be required for Multiplayer and other features (sold separately). Activision may modify or discontinue online services in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued to to factors including number of players. **The Xbox Series X version of the game will run native 4K at 60FPS in Fidelity Mode. The Xbox Series S version will render at 1440P and upscale to 4K. 4K output requires a 4K compatible device or display. For more information, please see www.tonyhawkthegame.com. © 2025 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION and PRO SKATER are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. TONY HAWK is a registered trademark of Tony Hawk, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Shares Recovery Progress, Launches Public Dashboard

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Shares Recovery Progress, Launches Public Dashboard

    Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina Shares Recovery Progress, Launches Public Dashboard
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) shared progress on Helene recovery and launched a public dashboard at WNCRecovery.nc.gov. The newly released website features updates, resources, and information detailing progress of Helene recovery efforts, including rebuilding safe housing, restoring infrastructure, and revitalizing the economy.  

    “My commitment to the people of North Carolina is this: I will bring urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability to everything my administration does as we work to rebuild,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This new resource will allow us to provide regular updates on our progress along with information and resources for our neighbors in western North Carolina.”  

    Since January, GROW NC has worked across state agencies and with local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners to accelerate recovery in western North Carolina. Much more is left to be done but below is an overview of recovery progress.   

    • Temporary housing programs are serving 5,720 households, ensuring they have safe, warm shelter.
    • 4,753,466 cubic yards of right-of-way debris has been removed from WNC roadways.
    • 84% of impacted public roads in western North Carolina are fully reopened. Nearly 1,300 roads have been reopened since the beginning of the storm.
    • Interstate 40 reopened to traffic on Saturday, March 1st for the first time since Hurricane Helene swelled the Pigeon River and scoured large swaths of eastbound lanes last September. The N.C. Department of Transportation and contract crews have stabilized the remaining westbound lanes and prepared them to provide one lane of traffic in each direction. 
    • The WNC Small Business Initiative has funded 989 loans for small business owners impacted by Helene to bolster economic recovery. The program is expected to award more than 600 additional grants to small business owners across western North Carolina in the coming weeks.
    • Half of all state parks and cultural sites impacted by the storm have fully reopened, and all but three are open for visitors in some capacity.

    “There is still so much work to do to help western North Carolina recover,” said Matt Calabria, Director of GROW NC. “Our team is committed to working quickly to ensure a robust recovery for the region, while providing complete transparency along the way.” 

    Governor Stein continues to advocate for additional resources from the state and federal government to support recovery efforts. In February, Governor Stein requested an additional $19 billion in federal funds to support home rebuilding, restore critical infrastructure, keep businesses open, shore up local governments, and reduce impacts from future natural disasters. He continues to work with the legislature to secure state funding to address immediate needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, following his request for $1.07 billion.  

    Mar 4, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Issues Preparedness Tips Ahead of Potential Severe Weather Across the State Wednesday

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Issues Preparedness Tips Ahead of Potential Severe Weather Across the State Wednesday

    Governor Stein Issues Preparedness Tips Ahead of Potential Severe Weather Across the State Wednesday
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Stein and emergency officials are urging all North Carolinians to prepare for the possibility of severe weather on Wednesday as well as the continued high fire danger conditions today statewide. Tomorrow, the state faces the potential of severe storms, strong winds, potential flooding, and isolated tornadoes. North Carolinians should prepare today to be ready for what may come through tomorrow.

    “As our state from the mountains to the coast faces a severe storm, strong winds, and potential flooding late tonight and all day tomorrow, we urge all North Carolinians to stay tuned to their local weather forecast and stay safe,” said Governor Josh Stein. “If a severe weather warning for isolated tornadoes is issued for your area, please have a plan to take immediate cover.”

    A Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) for severe storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall has been introduced to portions of the mountains overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. 

    On Wednesday, a line of storms ahead of a strong cold front will move into western North Carolina before sunrise and continue moving eastward while strengthening, reaching western portions of central North Carolina by late Wednesday morning. The line of storms will reach eastern North Carolina by early afternoon eventually moving offshore by Wednesday evening. This line of storms has the potential for wind gusts in excess of 70 mph. The current forecast places much of central and eastern North Carolina at a level 3 of 5 (enhanced risk) for severe weather on Wednesday. In the enhanced risk area, there is the potential for a few isolated tornadoes. Risk levels vary across the state; North Carolinians should pay attention to local forecasts and make plans that are appropriate for the risk level in their area.

    Ahead of tomorrow’s severe weather, dry conditions, gusty winds, and low relative humidity will increase the threat for wildfires. Outdoor burning is discouraged today.

    Preparedness Tips:

    • During periods of severe weather, it is important to go inside a sturdy structure and to the middle of the building, away from windows.
    • You should secure all outdoor items at your house that could become airborne in gusty winds.
    • Make sure your cell phone is charged and that you have enabled emergency alerts so you can be informed by local emergency management and by the National Weather Service.
    • Have a plan to take cover if a severe weather warning is issued for your area.
    • As a reminder, a watch is a reminder that weather conditions may support severe weather conditions. A warning means that hazardous weather conditions are expected and imminent.
    • Visit www.readync.gov for more information on how you and your family can be prepared.  
    Mar 4, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ governments enjoy an ‘executive paradise’ – a longer parliamentary term won’t change that

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    Getty Images

    Extending the length of the parliamentary term is one of those recurring issues in New Zealand politics, emerging from the constitutional shadows every 30 years or so and quickly retreating from the bright light of scrutiny.

    The pending introduction of the Term of Parliament (Enabling 4-year Term) Legislation Amendment Bill – a coalition initiative of the ACT Party but which enjoys qualified cross-party support – sees the question once again enjoying a moment in the sun.

    Because of the constitutional protection of the parliamentary term, and if the bill becomes law, an extension would require a public referendum with the 2026 general election (or the support of 75% of all MPs, a route the government will not take).

    The standard maximum term of parliament would remain three years. But a prime minister would have the option at the start of a new parliamentary term of advising the governor-general it would be extended to four years.

    This could only happen if the allocation of places on select committees reflected the distribution of non-executive MPs across all parliamentary parties. Theoretically, this would be a check on executive power.

    But while the coming debate will be framed as one about parliament, the real issue is whether voters wish to extend the length of time governments spend in office. This is a crucial distinction.

    Lack of checks and balances

    New Zealand voters do not directly elect the executive branch. Rather, the government is formed by the party or parties able to command a majority of MPs following each election.

    In short, we elect parliaments, which then provide governments. The length of one is connected to that of the other – meaning elections are one of the few ways New Zealanders can hold their governments to account.

    Perhaps for this reason, voters have consistently supported a three-year term, despite historical attempts by earlier governments to extend it. Two previous referendums, in 1967 and 1990, maintained the status quo.

    This does make New Zealand something of an outlier internationally. Of 190 lower houses and unicameral national legislatures around the world, only nine have terms of three years or less. The vast majority have terms of four or five years.

    But New Zealand also lacks the checks and balances found in many of those other countries: a codified constitution, a Supreme Court responsible for policing it, and an upper legislative chamber.

    Consequently, the frequency with which governments are held accountable to the people really does matter.

    An ‘executive paradise’

    This absence of the sorts of constitutional guardrails common elsewhere is what led former prime minister and constitutional lawyer Geoffrey Palmer to call New Zealand an “executive paradise”.

    Former prime minister Geoffrey Palmer.
    Getty Images

    The introduction of a four-year parliamentary term would do little to alter that, despite the argument it would improve the quality of parliamentary law and the standard of public policy-making.

    A three-year cycle, it is often claimed, forces governments to spend their first year in office removing as many traces of the previous administration as possible, the second consolidating its own policy agenda, and the third campaigning for the next election.

    A four-year term, the logic goes, would give ministers more time to learn the intricacies of their portfolios and develop policy expertise. It would allow for longer parliamentary deliberation on complex legislation, and ensure parliament properly scrutinises government policies, budgets and performance.

    All things being equal, a longer parliamentary term could improve governance and create a more stable, durable policy mix. But, of course, all things are rarely equal.

    Missing provisions

    In and of itself, a longer parliamentary term is unlikely to produce the benefits its proponents promise. Improved policy-making requires resources as well as more time, including policy and procedural expertise, judgement and institutional wisdom.

    These things reside in the professional bureaucracy. Without also addressing the systemic crisis in the public service, an extra year won’t improve matters.

    It would be especially important to ensure a longer term went hand in hand with more effective parliamentary scrutiny of government activity, both its forecasts and actual results.

    As a 2019 report from the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies suggested, investment in MPs’ policy expertise, systematic work plans for select committees and changes to parliament’s Standing Orders are also needed to improve the legislative process.

    But these do not feature in the draft legislation. And without them, an extended parliamentary term would simply tip the balance even further towards the executive branch and away from the legislature.

    Democratic accountability

    There are other important issues the draft legislation doesn’t address, including the implications of making a four-year term discretionary, and what might prevent a government from ignoring irksome select committee recommendations (as can and does presently occur).

    Worryingly, too, advice from the Ministry of Justice to the justice minister points out that parts of the proposed legislation are “constitutionally and practically problematic”.

    The inevitable uncertainty at the start of every new parliament would “undermine democratic accountability” and “risks undermining the legitimacy of parliament and its exercise of public decision-making powers”.

    The advice also says the legislation is “out of step with other long-standing legal and constitutional principles, including that it appears to encroach on the House of Representatives’ right to control its own operations”. In our constitutional tradition it is not for the executive to determine how parliament functions. A king’s head once rolled over this issue.

    The proposed legislation starkly illustrates the tensions that can emerge when constitutional arrangements blur the boundaries between the executive and legislative branches, enabling the former to dictate terms to the latter.

    Without other changes – an increase in the size of the House relative to the executive, say, or restrictions on the power of the prime minister to call early elections – the variable parliamentary term promised by the bill will inject more uncertainty into public life, not less.

    And it will not improve the quality of our laws. It will simply extend the length of time government ministers get to spend in paradise.

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

    – ref. NZ governments enjoy an ‘executive paradise’ – a longer parliamentary term won’t change that – https://theconversation.com/nz-governments-enjoy-an-executive-paradise-a-longer-parliamentary-term-wont-change-that-251139

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Solar farms can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields – new research

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Catherine Waite, Research Associate, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

    A stonechat on the edge of a solar farm. Joshua Copping

    The UK’s installed capacity of solar power expanded rapidly over the past decade to reach 17.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2024 – enough electricity to power roughly 4 million homes. The government aims to raise solar generation capacity to 70 GW by 2035. And by 2050, the government’s advisers estimate that as much as 90 GW of solar power may be needed to achieve net zero emissions.

    Building solar farms – large-scale installations of solar panels on agricultural land – will have to be done carefully, to avoid exacerbating another environmental crisis: the dwindling variety of wildlife, or biodiversity.

    However, surprisingly few studies have examined the impact of solar farms on biodiversity. Our new research is one of the first to study the impact of solar farms on birds in the UK. And, hectare-for-hectare, we found that solar farms in the farm-rich East Anglian countryside that were managed with biodiversity in mind contained a greater number of bird species, and more birds overall, than surrounding cropland.

    Farmland is frequently disturbed and can be a fraught habitat for wildlife.
    David Calvert/Shutterstock

    During spring 2023, we used the breeding bird survey method to survey solar farms in the East Anglian fens that were under different management styles.

    These sites ranged from intensively managed solar farms, in which the grass surrounding panels is cut or grazed short throughout the year, with no hedgerows or small trees, to mixed-habitat solar farms where infrequent cutting or grazing has allowed wildflowers, trees and hedgerows to grow along boundary fences. For comparison, we also surveyed the surrounding farmland.

    Good habitats for birds

    We found that the number of birds on the mixed-habitat solar farms was typically twice that of the intensively managed sites, and three times higher than adjacent high-yielding cropland. The number of species on mixed-habitat solar farms was 2.5 times higher than both of the alternatives.

    Our study also showed that solar farms offer important habitat for a number of threatened bird species. In fact, birds such as yellowhammer, linnet, greenfinch and corn bunting, which are of particular concern to conservationists due to their declining national populations, were considerably more abundant on mixed-habitat solar farms.

    Perhaps our results aren’t that surprising. After all, the mixed-habitat solar farms we surveyed contained many of the features birds prefer (similar to nature-friendly farms in less intensively farmed areas). These features include hedgerows, which can offer berries to eat and crevices to shelter in, particularly for birds adapted to woodland habitats. The tall and diverse vegetation around the solar panels contains a variety of habitats, with insect prey or seeds for food. The intensively managed cropland and solar farms had none of these features.

    By providing the right habitat, birds have been naturally drawn to these solar farms in an area that sorely lacks it.

    A golden opportunity

    So, solar farms can benefit biodiversity in rural landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture in the UK. Especially when they are designed to allow plants to grow around the panels, and have hedgerows or trees in the margins. Prioritising the needs of wildlife when planning solar farms could help the UK meet its climate commitments while helping nature.

    When grass was allowed to grow long on solar farms, it appeared to encourage birds.
    Joshua Copping

    What’s more, our previous research has shown that the UK has enough land to deploy 90 GW of solar power – enough to meet suggested capacity by 2050 – without damaging bird populations at a national scale or affecting food production. Our new findings should allay public concerns about some of the risks of renewable energy to wildlife.

    We have a golden opportunity for finding multiple functions for land: generating clean energy while restoring biodiversity at the same time.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Catherine Waite receives funding from The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

    Joshua Copping receives funding from The Natural Environment Resource Council (NERC) and is employed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

    – ref. Solar farms can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields – new research – https://theconversation.com/solar-farms-can-host-up-to-three-times-as-many-birds-as-crop-fields-new-research-249551

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Castor, Tonko Unveil Legislation to Rescind Trump’s Day-One Executive Orders on Energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    March 04, 2025
    Legislation would protect American jobs, keep energy security competitive against China, and support record investments in rural communities
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., along with U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor, D-Fla., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., today introduced legislation to nullify Donald Trump’s day-one executive orders on energy. The Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act would reassert America’s clean energy leadership, keep energy costs for families as low as possible, and unfreeze critical Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to protect jobs and support rural economies.
    “Since day-one, Trump has been laser focused on giving handouts to the oil and gas industry at the expense of American jobs,” Wyden said. “As the nation braces itself for more spin from Trump during tonight’s State of the Union, here are the facts: crippling clean energy production at home will only lead to clean energy manufacturing packing up and moving to China. Rural communities, which are the American epicenter of clean energy jobs and investments, will suffer the consequences of Trump’s ignorance. America needs a leading clean energy response to continue to be a dominant energy force against China.”
    “President Trump’s reckless energy agenda will hike electric bills, raise costs for families, and give China the upper hand in advancing clean energy solutions,” Castor said. “By reversing progress in clean energy initiatives and thumbing his nose at allies, Trump is forcing American families to pay the price of unchecked climate change while other nations reap the economic benefits of innovation. Floridians know the costs of extreme weather and pollution firsthand, and we must stand firm against policies that harm our economy and environment. That’s why I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in introducing this important legislation, which will protect our significant progress in expanding cleaner, cheaper energy for American families.”
    “Donald Trump’s Day One executive orders were nothing more than a massive giveaway to his Big Oil donors — gutting climate action and stalling clean energy investments while American families were left holding the bag,“ Tonko said. “Trump promised that his actions would lower energy costs for consumers, but instead, energy prices have only gone up. That’s why I’m joining Senator Wyden and Congresswoman Castor to introduce this legislation to repeal these reckless orders, restore American leadership on fighting the climate crisis, and put working families’ pocketbooks over oil industry profits.” 
    The Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act would nullify the “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, the executive order declaring a National Energy Emergency, the executive order behind the U.S. departure from the Paris Climate Agreement, and the executive order that pauses offshore wind leases in the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Cosponsors in the Senate include Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., as well as Senators Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Chris Coons, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Jack Reed, D-R.I.
    Wyden is a longtime champion of keeping energy costs low for consumers while electrifying the grid. In 2019, Wyden and his colleagues introduced legislation to overhaul the federal energy tax code, create jobs and combat climate change. In 2022, Wyden’s Clean Energy For America Act was enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act – significantly lowering carbon emissions while reducing energy costs.
    The text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Teton County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    POCATELLO – Jesus M. Beltran-Zazusta, a/k/a Jesus Zazueta-Beltran, 26, a Mexican national unlawfully in the United States and living in Victor, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.

    According to court records, law enforcement officers identified Beltran-Zazusta as the source of supply of methamphetamine for multiple local distributors in Teton and Bonneville Counties.  In November 2023, law enforcement tracked Beltran-Zazusta as he returned to Idaho from a short trip to California.  They followed him to an Idaho Falls residence that belonged to co-defendant Ana Costilla-Delgado.  Officers seized a pound of methamphetamine from co-defendant Jorge Hernandez Venegas as he left the house.  The Idaho Falls Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence where they located nine pounds of methamphetamine in Costilla-Delgado’s bedroom.  Officers had previously identified Beltran-Zazusta as the source of methamphetamine for Fredy Munoz-Morales, of Victor, in a related investigation that occurred in April 2023.

    In January 2024, a federal grand jury in Pocatello indicted Beltran-Zazusta.  The Honorable Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced him to nine years in federal prison on March 3, 2025.  He also ordered Beltran-Zazusta to complete four years of supervised release after he serves his prison sentence.  However, Beltran-Zazusta will likely be deported to Mexico after serving his prison sentence.

    Chief Judge Nye also sentenced Costilla-Delgado to twelve and a half years in federal prison on January 6, 2025, Venegas to nine years in federal prison on December 2, 2024, and Munoz-Morales to twelve and a half years in federal prison on June 28, 2024.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration which led to the charges.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Warren Warns Trump, Republicans Could Cut Health Care for Millions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 04, 2025
    “Should the government work for billionaires and giant corporations? Or should it work for working people, helping our friends, families, and neighbors get access to the medicine and doctors they need when they’re sick?”
    “Republicans may think they have the votes in Congress to cut health care, but if Americans ring the alarm bells and fight back, we can again save health care coverage for millions.” 
    Op-Ed in the Boston Globe
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, published an op-ed warning of the dangers of massive cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and giant corporations. Senator Warren called for working people to fight back and participate in the tax fight by voicing their opposition to these cuts. 
    Read the full op-ed here and below: 
    Boston Globe – Senator Warren: Trump is targeting Medicaid. Don’t let him win.March 3, 2025 
    President Trump and Elon Musk have unleashed a sandstorm of chaos in the past six weeks — on purpose. From starting a trade war with Canada to renaming the Gulf of Mexico, Trump is trying to distract from his real agenda: more tax giveaways for billionaires and billionaire corporations, paid for on the backs of hard-working Americans. One of their top targets? Medicaid.
    Life carries lots of risk. No one knows if their grandmother will outlive her savings. No one knows if their baby will run up a million dollars in medical bills. No one knows if their sister will be in a catastrophic accident and need full-time caregivers.
    And that’s where Medicaid steps up. Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government and covers more than 79 million people, including almost 2 million people in Massachusetts. If the program is cut, the harm will echo through nearly every home in America.
    About half of all births are covered by Medicaid. Over a third of all children have health care thanks to Medicaid. More than half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid. Many people are counting on Medicaid to pay for medicine that treats their cancer, the hip replacement they need to walk, the prescription for their child’s inhaler, or the nursing home that takes care of their uncle with dementia.
    Cuts to health care programs would be devastating. In Massachusetts, nearly 2 in 3 seniors in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid. If that funding is cut, some of those nursing homes will be forced to cut back or close entirely, which could leave elderly people kicked to the curb.
    Around 92 percent of working-age adults receiving Medicaid coverage are either working — often two or even three low-wage or part-time jobs — or not working because they’re caregivers, have an illness or disability, or are in school. Cuts to Medicaid could mean they have to decide which medicines they will have to skip or whether they will need to cancel a trip to the doctor to have a cough checked out. Failing to treat medical conditions early will cost more money, both in higher long-term medical bills and in knocking more low-wage workers out of their jobs and jeopardizing their ability to support their families.
    For pregnant women, decisions about skipping visits to the doctor or forgoing prenatal vitamins can leave them and their babies at risk — again triggering greater costs in the long run for them and their babies. Denying health care to pregnant women could mean that their babies develop preventable conditions that could alter their entire lives.
    The consequences of cutting Medicaid will be felt in nearly every community. Massachusetts is rightly proud of its community health centers and network of local and regional hospitals. Without Medicaid, their business models simply wouldn’t work. About half of all revenues at our community health centers come from Medicaid. Significant cuts in funding will probably mean health centers will have to cut care — and may have to close pediatric wings, cancer treatment centers, and mental health services.
    All this misery so that a handful of billionaires and billionaire corporations can get another tax break.
    The legislative process is not glamorous, but it tells us a lot about our values as a country. Should the government work for billionaires and giant corporations? Or should it work for working people, helping our friends, families, and neighbors get access to the medicine and doctors they need when they’re sick?
    Trump, Musk, and Republicans in Congress have made it clear whose side they’re on: giant corporations and billionaires — the very people who don’t seem to understand what one bad medical diagnosis can cost a family. But they do understand that cutting health care for millions of people is unpopular everywhere, which is why they are probably hoping people will pay more attention to Trump’s bluster about buying Greenland than to the tax fight unfolding in Congress. Now is not the time to tune out — now is the time to fight back to save the health care program that helps millions of people in this country get health care.
    In 2017, Trump paired up with Republicans in Congress to slash Medicaid by $800 billion and gut health insurance protections. Democrats were in the minority in the House and Senate back then, just as they are today, but thanks to people raising their voices and shaking the ground under the feet of these Republican politicians, their efforts failed, and we managed to save health care for millions.
    Republicans may think they have the votes in Congress to cut health care, but if Americans ring the alarm bells and fight back, we can again save health care coverage for millions. We can win, but only if we fight back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Oversight Effort Demanding Answers from Defense Department on Servicemember Food Access, Quality to Promote Military Readiness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Oversight Effort Demanding Answers from Defense Department on Servicemember Food Access, Quality to Promote Military Readiness

    Senator Reverend Warnock led a bipartisan, bicameral oversight effort demanding answers from Department of Defense Leadership regarding a lack of nutrient-dense food, food shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy
    A lack of nutrient-dense food, shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy negatively affects junior enlisted servicemembers, impacting military readiness and retention rates
    A champion for Georgia’s military communities, Senator Reverend Warnock expects transparency from military leadership on servicemembers’ access to quality, healthy food options
    Senator Reverend Warnock, lawmakers to Secretary Hegseth: “Through your experience as a junior officer, you can empathize with the importance of a reliable, nutritious dining facility, and its importance to morale. You are now ultimately responsible for the welfare of these servicemembers”
    ICYMI from Military.com: Army’s Use of Soldier Food Allowances Spurs Bipartisan Inquiry from Congress
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led a bipartisan, bicameral oversight effort demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding issues in providing servicemembers adequate and healthy food on military bases. The new oversight effort follows recent reporting on issues with food quality and access at several Army installations’ dining facilities. Senator Warnock and the lawmakers are expressing their concerns over underinvestment in food options for members of the military, which has a direct relation to military readiness and retention rates.
    Poor-quality meals and food shortages force servicemembers to perform grueling physical and mental training exercises without the proper energy, which negatively impacts military readiness and serves as a poor testament to the federal government’s obligation to protect and serve those who put their lives on the line for our nation’s freedoms.
    “The article also found that a lack of nutrient-dense food, shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy negatively affects junior enlisted servicemembers specifically because they often live in unaccompanied housing on installations.”
    Congress provides servicemembers with the food allowances to help them afford meals. Senator Warnock and the lawmakers wrote that if this funding is not given to servicemembers for meals because the government provides them instead, then that funding should be used to cover the costs and investments needed to serve those meals.
    “Our servicemembers are the best among us and expect fair compensation from their government. If a servicemember is losing money from their paycheck because they are being given a meal, it is reasonable for them to expect that funding will be used only to cover the costs of providing it and to ensure it is of the highest possible quality. We trust you will move expeditiously to answer our inquiries. Thank you for your earnest attention to this matter.”
    The oversight letter closes with a series of questions for Secretary Hegseth, seeking clarity on how investment decisions are made for on-post food service operations, answers on how DOD will improve quality and nutrition of food, and more.
    Senator Warnock is leading the charge in demanding answers on this issue. Additional senators signing onto the effort include U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO). The bicameral effort is being championed in the House of Representatives by Congressmembers Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), as well as Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), John McGuire (R-VA-05), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Don Davis (D-NC-01), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24).
    A copy of the letter can be found HERE and full text is below:
    Dear Secretary Hegseth,
    We write to express our concern about the Department of Defense’s (DOD) apparent underinvestment in food options for members of the military. Recent public reporting in military.com highlighted that DOD spends far less on food for servicemembers who are afforded subsistence-in-kind than would be given directly to those servicemembers in Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) if they were not eligible for government-provided meals. Previous reporting also highlighted DOD’s challenges in providing healthy food for servicemembers. This reporting underscores the ongoing challenges the military services have in ensuring our servicemembers have access to high-quality and nutritious meals. 
    Current law states that most servicemembers who receive basic pay are entitled to receive BAS to help them afford the cost of food. It also gives the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Service Secretaries, the ability to prescribe policies regarding the use of dining facilities. Current DOD policy requires most servicemembers who receive government-provided meals to pay for their meals, including through BAS deductions managed by Defense Financial Accounting Service. The current policy delegates the use of those collected funds to the military services.
    The report noted that many installations’ current spending on DFAC operations represented only a small percentage of the BAS collected from servicemembers serving on those installations. The findings, which include 2024 financial records from eleven of the largest Army installations, show that more than $151 million of the $225 million in BAS collected from servicemembers on these installations was not spent on food costs. That figure does not include the additional garrisons under the Army’s control, nor does it include spending at installations managed by the other military services suggesting the issue may be much more widespread.  
    Congress provides servicemembers with BAS to help them afford meals. If BAS is taken from servicemembers for meals the government gives them, then that funding should be used to cover the costs and investments needed to serve those meals. Additionally, for Congress to effectively conduct its oversight responsibilities, it must be fully apprised of how the funding provided is appropriated and must ensure open transparency on behalf of the services. 
    The article also found that a lack of nutrient-dense food, shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy negatively affects junior enlisted servicemembers specifically because they often live in unaccompanied housing on installations. These junior enlisted servicemembers are also disproportionately affected by the loss of their BAS as it represents a significant portion of their overall compensation.
    Through your experience as a junior officer, you can empathize with the importance of a reliable, nutritious dining facility, and its importance to morale. You are now ultimately responsible for the welfare of these servicemembers, and we request your prompt response to the following questions by April 31, 2025:
    1.     What elements of DOD funding are used to provide meals to servicemembers?
    a.     How do the military services program through the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) fund food service operations?
    2.     How do the military services make decisions regarding investments in their on-post food service operations?
    a.     How do you consider including nutritious options on their menus?
    3.     Are there barriers to the military services providing healthy and nutritious meals to servicemembers living in unaccompanied housing on military installations?
    a.     If so, what are they?
    b.     Does the Department or the military services require additional resources or authorities to provide healthy and affordable food options to these servicemembers? If so, what are they?
    4.     How do you plan to improve the quality and nutrition of food at dining facilities and other food service providers across the Joint Force to meet the needs of the modern warfighter?
    Our servicemembers are the best among us and expect fair compensation from their government. If a servicemember is losing money from their paycheck because they are being given a meal, it is reasonable for them to expect that funding will be used only to cover the costs of providing it and to ensure it is of the highest possible quality. We trust you will move expeditiously to answer our inquiries. Thank you for your earnest attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta is ready for the 2025 wildfire season

    [. With increased wildfire activity in recent years, it is crucial that Alberta’s wildland firefighting teams and communities at risk are prepared for any challenge that may arise this season.

    If Budget 2025 is passed, the province will invest a new historic high of $160 million in base funding for wildfire personnel, equipment, training and contracts for aircraft, an additional night vision equipped helicopter, and heavy equipment. This investment is vital to ensure Alberta’s wildland firefighting teams have the equipment, training, and personnel needed to respond to wildfire threats and mitigate the impacts of catastrophic wildfires on Alberta’s communities.

    “There is nothing more critical than protecting Albertans, our homes and our communities from the effects of wildfires. Alberta is home to some of the best firefighting personnel in the world and through Budget 2025, we are making a major investment in our wildfire teams and communities, giving them the tools, training and support they need to prevent, mitigate and respond quickly to any challenge that may come up this wildfire season.”

    Todd Loewen, Minister Forestry and Parks

    “We thank our Alberta Wildfire team and first responders for their ongoing dedication to keeping people safe. The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) aims to strengthen the province’s emergency preparedness and recovery efforts, collaborating with communities to enhance resilience and public safety. With a 2025-26 budget increase of $10 million for a total of $118 million, the AEMA will empower communities to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and safety.”

    Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

    The Community Fireguard and FireSmart programs are critical to ensuring vulnerable communities in the Forest Protection Area have the tools needed to successfully mitigate the risks of wildfires. In addition to ongoing work on Fireguard projects across the province – including in the Bow Valley near Canmore, as well as Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Hinton, Whitecourt and Slave Lake, Budget 2025 would allocate an additional $15 million over three years to continue supporting projects being administered by the Forest Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA.)

    Alberta’s government would also allocate $10.8 million to ensure Albertans can easily access FireSmart resources to better protect their homes and properties.

    “FRIAA is pleased to help support Alberta Forestry and Parks as the province enters the 2025 wildfire season. We continue to strongly encourage all communities in Alberta that are exposed to risks of wildfire to participate in the Community Fireguard and FireSmart programs by developing plans and proposals to access funding. Wildfires pose a significant risk to Alberta’s communities, and it’s great to see the province is making wildfire management a priority.”

    Todd Nash, manager, Forest Improvement Association of Alberta

    “Alberta’s wildfire team remains fully prepared and is ready for the 2025 wildfire season. Each year we improve our ability to meet the challenge ahead and the investments we make in people, resources and new technology prove critical in our response efforts.”

    Trevor Lamabe, executive director, Wildfire Management Branch

    A key part of prevention efforts is stopping wildfires before they start. It is essential that every Albertan understands their role in wildfire prevention – every action counts in protecting our communities and natural resources. Last year, the province saw a significant decrease in human-caused wildfires. In 2024, there were 282 wildfires caused by residential and recreational fires, down from 385 in 2020, 395 in 2021, 399 in 2022, and 303 in 2023. This represents a nearly 30 per cent drop from the highest numbers Alberta saw in 2022. It is more important than ever to continue building on that progress to further reduce the risk of future wildfires. As part of these efforts, Alberta’s government is renewing its commitment to public awareness and education campaigns on safe practices, while also enforcing fire bans when necessary.

    “Wildfire is the hazard which poses the greatest risk to communities like Canmore. We are more prepared than we have ever been with work on the Bow Valley Community Fireguard ongoing, years of FireSmart work in the community and ongoing efforts to ensure we have the emergency resources we need in place. The support from the Government of Alberta has been instrumental in helping us advance these initiatives.”

    Sean Krausert, mayor, Town of Canmore

    “As a community surrounded by forests, fire hazard reduction and protection is a priority for the ongoing safety and security of our community.  With the ongoing support of the province, we are nearing completion of our internal community fireguard which will help break the path of a wildfire and keep it away from populated areas and vital infrastructure.”

    Tom Pickard, mayor, Town of Whitecourt

    In 2025, Alberta Wildfire is also launching a pilot project using hoist-equipped helicopters. These helicopters will enable rapid deployment of crews to remote, hard-to-reach areas and provide critical support for emergency evacuations if needed. One new helicopter is under contract and two specialized crews have been hired for this wildfire season. The results of this pilot will determine whether the program will be expanded and continue into 2026.

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on supporting the economy.

    Quick facts

    • Budget 2025 allocates more than $1.4 million over three years in additional capital investment to expand and enhance response capacity during the wildfire season.
    • Additional funding of $900,000 over three years for Alberta’s Fire Weather Network, ensures enhanced fire weather monitoring to support the wildfire response throughout the province.  
    • About 51 per cent of wildfires in 2024 were caused by people, down from the five-year average of 67 per cent.
    • In 2024, Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 wildfires with just over 705,000 hectares burned.
    • In 2023, there were 1,080 wildfires and more than 2.2 million hectares burned.
    • So far in 2025, there have been 21 wildfires, and 78 hectares burned, a dramatic reduction from the same time last year where there were 34 wildfires, and 306 hectares already burned.

    Related information

    • Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta
    • Bow Valley Community Fireguard

    Related news

    • Protecting the Bow Valley from wildfires (Jan. 13, 2025)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS Library Celebrates 50th Anniversary of National Center with Special Exhibition

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Library in Reston, VA celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the National Center with a special exhibition held in the Art Hallway in December. This commemorative display showcases various facets of the USGS Library’s collection that delve into the rich history of the National Center.

    The exhibition features a remarkable assortment of original photographs, blueprints, and documents that collectively narrate the story of the planning, development, and completion of the National Center, which officially opened in 1974. Attendees were treated to an engaging panel discussion during the opening celebration, featuring USGS staff members who transitioned to the National Center upon its completion in the seventies.

    In addition to the visual displays, visitors had the opportunity to relax in comfy armchairs within the Reading Room, which featured a curated selection of books and documents that highlight the history of the USGS, the National Center, and its namesake, John Wesley Powell. Guests were encouraged to take their time exploring these materials, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for learning.

    One of the most captivating sections of the exhibition was the wall of images showcasing the National Center from its opening in the 1970s to the present day. This nostalgic display culminated in a special photo opportunity for former and current USGS staff members on the roof of the National Center that occurred in October 2024.

    For those interested in learning more about the National Center, check out this Status Report digitized by the USGS Publications Warehouse: National Center Status Report. If you are considering a visit to the National Center, also known as the John Wesley Powell Federal Building, please refer to the visitor information available on the USGS website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Superseding Indictment Charges Two Brothers and a City Mayor’s Assistant with Tax Fraud, Public Corruption, and Money Laundering

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury returned a 32-count superseding indictment charging Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq Al Zubair, 42, recently of Bratenahl, Ohio, his brother Muzzammil Muhammad Al Zubair, 31, recently of Pepper Pike, Ohio, and their associate Michael Leon Smedley, 56, of Cleveland, with multiple fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, and public corruption schemes. The initial 22-count indictment was issued Jan. 24, 2024.

    All three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act conspiracy. The Al Zubair brothers were both charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, four counts of money laundering, theft of government funds, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Zubair Al Zubair was also charged with harboring a fugitive and willful failure to file a tax return.

    According to court documents, from June 2020 through August 2023, the Al Zubair brothers allegedly employed several deceptive strategies to obtain money and property from victims. Their schemes involved investment fraud, a Small Business Administration COVID-19 relief Emergency Income Disaster Loan, cryptocurrency mining, and commercial and residential real estate transactions.

    One scheme was international in scope and involved military munitions. After the Al Zubair brothers found a buyer who was looking to purchase military-grade weapons, they made contact with individuals in Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and New York about finding sources to supply the munitions their buyer was seeking. The true intent was not the actual sale of the munitions, but rather to convince the purchaser to transfer a commission to the brothers for arranging the transaction.

    The Al Zubair brothers’ ill-gotten proceeds allowed them to acquire a trove of jewelry, luxury timepieces and vehicles, as well as more than 80 firearms. Zubair Al Zubair also leased a high-end residential property in Bratenahl, Ohio, before being evicted in August 2023.

    The superseding indictment alleges that the two made exorbitant claims about their extraordinary wealth and government connections. Zubair Al Zubair said he was a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates through his marriage to a princess. His brother, Muzzammil, claimed to be a hedge fund manager. According to the superseding indictment, he was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or as a broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and his only education on hedge funds came from watching YouTube videos. Using the illusion of being extremely educated, successful, and well-connected, the brothers befriended a public official employed with the city of East Cleveland to help them to carry out their elaborate and deceptive plots.

    As the chief of staff and executive assistant to the mayor of East Cleveland, Smedley allegedly used his position to help navigate red-tape bureaucracy and obtain specific outcomes for the Al Zubair brothers in return for things of value including checks, food and meals at high-end restaurants, and offers of future employment. For example, Smedley secured official letters on city letterhead to sway administrative and judicial proceedings, helped obtain appointment of Zubair Al Zubair as an International Economic Advisor to the city, obtained city business cards in Zubair Al Zubair’s name, and even provided the brothers with City of East Cleveland Police Badges.

    An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of actors unique to this case. These include each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

    This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the IRS−Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Om Kakani for the Northern District of Ohio. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Pacific General Forms Strategic Partnership with Lenwich

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific General, a New York-based private investment firm, announced today that it has acquired a majority stake in Lenwich, the iconic premium sandwich brand that has been a staple in New York City since 1989. Lenwich’s Founder, Lenny Chu, will retain a significant equity interest in the company and continue to lead Lenwich as CEO. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    The partnership between Pacific General and Lenwich aims to accelerate Lenwich’s expansion beyond its home market in New York City, extending across the East Coast and the broader United States. This growth will be driven by investments in technology, digital transformation, professional leadership, and franchise development. This strategic approach builds on Pacific General’s proven track record of scaling restaurant brands, as demonstrated by its successful investment and recent exit of Playa Bowls, the largest açai bowl franchise in the country. During its investment in Playa Bowls, Pacific General added over 170 locations nationwide in three years, investing in systems, processes and further professionalizing the leadership team while working closely with the company’s founders.

    Founded in 1989 by Lenny Chu, an immigrant from South Korea, Lenwich began as a single deli on the Upper West Side of New York City and has since grown into an iconic sandwich brand, serving New Yorkers for over 30 years. Today, Lenwich operates 14 company-owned locations across the city and is widely recognized for its commitment to fresh, high-quality sandwiches, distinguished by meticulous attention to detail and made-to-order service.

    “As a New York-based brand, Lenwich has received numerous unsolicited investment offers over the years. The Pacific General team stood out for their deep appreciation of our brand’s value and for their strategic vision around our company’s growth. I am confident Pacific General is the ideal partner to elevate Lenwich to the next level, and I look forward to collaborating with the Pacific General team in this exciting new chapter,” said Lenny Chu, Founder and CEO of Lenwich.

    “Over the years of building our relationship with Lenny, my team and I continue to be impressed by Lenwich’s journey and strong market presence. With a loyal customer base, Lenwich has become a hallmark of New York’s sandwich scene, highlighted by its commitment to quality and taste. We are excited to support Lenwich in expanding into a nationwide brand, addressing the underserved customer demand for high-quality sandwiches and salads,” said Matthew Yoon, Managing Partner of Pacific General.

    “With its strong foundation and decades of excellence proven in New York City, one of the country’s most competitive restaurant markets, Lenwich has significant untapped potential for growth. We look forward to bringing our network and expertise to unlock the company’s full potential,” said Dajeong Lee, Partner of Pacific General.

    Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP served as legal counsel to Pacific General and Pryor Cashman LLP acted as legal counsel to Lenwich. RSM provided financial and tax due diligence in connection with the transaction.

    About Lenwich

    Founded in 1989, Lenwich is a highly reputable, premium, New York-inspired sandwich concept with 14 corporate-owned stores across Manhattan. Lenwich serves fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, wraps and salads; best known for its Chicken Caesar Wrap and Lenwich sandwich (hot pastrami, corn beef and coleslaw).

    About Pacific General

    Pacific General is an investment firm focusing on private equity and alternative investments. The firm specializes in originating, structuring, and investing in businesses with growth potential in the consumer, industrials and business services sectors, and leverages its cross-border expertise and global network to create value. The firm operates through offices in New York and Seoul, South Korea and with a presence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Three Appointments to Various Boards, Fills Two County Office Vacancies 

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MARCH 4, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced three appointments to various boards and filled two county office vacancies.

    Scott Albers, of Country Club, was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

    Mr. Albers is the president of Public Refrigerated Warehousing at Nor-Am Cold Storage and has served in leadership roles at the company since 2009. Active in the community, he serves on the board of the Global Cold Chain Alliance and previously held roles with the Greater St. Joseph United Way and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Albers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Business.

    Kathy Lambertz, of Harrisonville, was appointed as the Cass County Clerk.

    Ms. Lambertz currently serves as the chief deputy clerk in the Cass County Clerk’s Office, a position she has held since 2019. She previously served as Cass County clerk from 1999 to 2012 and worked as a senior appraiser in the assessor’s office from 2012 to 2019. With more than 30 years of experience in county government, she is also active in civic organizations, serving on the University of Missouri Extension Board and as an active member of the Harrisonville Kiwanis Club.

    William “Blaine” Luetkemeyer, of St. Elizabeth, was appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

    A retired U.S. Congressman, Mr. Luetkemeyer represented Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District from 2013 to 2025 and the 9th Congressional District from 2009 to 2013. During his tenure in Congress, he played a key role on the House Financial Services Committee, chaired multiple subcommittees, and helped secure $20 million for the NextGen MU Research Reactor at the University of Missouri. Before serving in Congress, Luetkemeyer was a Missouri State Representative, and as the Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism. Mr. Luetkemeyer has decades of experience as a small businessman, having worked as a community banker and bank examiner. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from Lincoln University. In recognition of his contributions to higher education, Mr. Luetkemeyer received the Henry S. Geyer Award from the Mizzou Alumni Association in 2023.

    Todd Michalski, of St. Joseph, was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

    Mr. Michalski is the senior vice president of sales and marketing at Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc. He serves as a board member for the Missouri Western State University Foundation and the Automotive Lift Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and minor in Marketing and Management from Missouri Western State University.

    Dave Schatz, of Sullivan, was appointed as the Franklin County Presiding Commissioner.

    Mr. Schatz is the vice president of Schatz Underground and the former president of Schatz Construction. He previously served as Missouri Senate President Pro Tem and was a State Senator from 2015 to 2022 and a State Representative from 2011 to 2014. A longtime business owner and community leader, Schatz remains active in local government, education initiatives, and community service throughout Franklin County.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Speaks Out Against Republicans’ So-Called “Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 03, 2025

    The bill could potentially subject women and girls to physical inspection by an adult if someone from an opposing team accused them of being transgender

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor against the so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act—a Republican bill that would revoke federal funding from schools with athletic programs that allow trans girls to participate on sports teams for women or girls. The bill—which lacks a clear enforcement mechanism—could subject women and girls to physical inspection by an adult if someone from an opposing team accused them of being transgender. It infringes on the privacy of girls and women and is a dangerous use of the powers of government to target student athletes of all ages.

    Durbin said, “Put yourself in the shoes of these families for just a moment.  Imagine being the parent of a trans kid and telling your child they are not allowed to play on the same sports team as their friends at school because a politician said they couldn’t.”

    During his remarks, Durbin spoke about Harleigh Walker, a transgender teenage girl from Alabama, who, at 16 years old, spoke with an unwavering voice in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about what it is like to be one of the children who are affected by these laws targeting transgender kids. Her home state of Alabama had enacted a law threatening her ability to access the care she needs to be happy and healthy. Harleigh told the Senate Judiciary Committee, “I want all of you to look at me, here and now, and hear my words. I am a very happy 16-year-old. I have wonderful friends who accept me for who I am. I’m active in my school’s debate team and other extracurricular[s]. I’m just trying to be a teenager in America. Same as any other teen, but I keep having to jump through hoops that other people my age don’t have to. I’m here in front of this Committee instead of enjoying summer vacation, just to try and ensure that my right to exist isn’t taken away.”

    “It’s that personal, it’s that important, and [because of Republicans,] we’re going to vote to give someone unspecified the right to physically inspect a girl or a young woman if the other opposing team accuses them of being transgender. My goodness,” Durbin concluded.

    During his remarks, Durbin recalled a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where he asked NCAA President Charlie Baker how many transgender collegiate athletes there are. Mr. Baker responded that there are less than 10 transgender athletes out of more than 500,000 total NCAA athletes.

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

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

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

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Job Assistance Available for Displaced Federal Workers

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has brought together several programs and services to assist Connecticut residents who have been fired or put on unpaid administrative leave from their jobs with the federal government.

    “The federal government may have decided that they don’t want these skilled workers, but we want them to know that we value their public service and that Connecticut employers can use their skills,” Governor Lamont said. “Right now, Connecticut has more than 70,000 jobs available, and the Connecticut Department of Labor can help connect jobseekers to new employment, or even help them begin an entirely new career if that’s what they want to do.”

    Information specifically designed for federal workers and contractors is available on the CTDOL homepage at portal.ct.gov/dol. It covers the steps federal workers need to take to file for unemployment benefits, how to get answers to unemployment questions, and how to find career services. At the most recent count, there were approximately 18,800 federal employees working in Connecticut.

    “This continues to be a very difficult time for federal workers, and CTDOL staff and partners are here to help,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “Filing for unemployment benefits is complex – it’s a federal system that requires workers to have specific separation documentation in order to file. In some cases, workers may have been notified of their dismissal in a non-standard way and need assistance. In other cases, workers may have severance and need career counseling and job search assistance. No matter the circumstance, CTDOL resources are available.”

    CTDOL departments – including the Rapid Response team, Business Engagement Unit, and Consumer Contact Center – have been engaged in initiatives to help laid-off workers get back into the job market quickly. In the coming months, the agency is expecting to host a job fair specifically geared towards federal workers and has five general job fairs taking place in March. Job fairs are always free for all jobseekers. All employers and jobs are vetted by CTDOL.

    Job placement and career services are also provided to all Connecticut residents at no cost through the American Job Centers. Services include resume writing, career workshops, job search assistance, and help for veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce. In person and virtual appointments are available.

    Unemployment is an eligibility program. Each unemployment application is verified and will be approved depending upon the filer’s work and salary history, place of residence, and other factors. Workers who accepted severance packages or other salary continuation payments are advised not to file until those payments end.

    CTDOL reminds jobseekers to be fraud aware. The agency does not use text, nor will it reach out by phone or email unprompted or ask for unemployment account details. Everyone is strongly advised to not give personal or unemployment account information out unless certain they are speaking to a CTDOL representative. The Consumer Contact Center can verify if the agency is trying to connect to someone. Additionally, jobseekers are advised to be wary of any employer attempting to charge them to submit a job application or for other employment services.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pi Day, the Texas Way

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    Every March, many Texans take the chance to celebrate Pi—both the mathematical constant celebrated on March 14th and, more importantly, the beloved dessert. For food lovers across the country, it’s a perfect excuse to head to their favorite cafe and enjoy a slice of pie. Whether it’s blueberry, apple, or pecan, there is nothing more tempting than a fresh, right-out-of-the-oven pie—and in Texas, we’re all in on the fun!
    Since 1929, the Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls has earned an esteemed reputation for serving up smiles and their world-famous pies, which have been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Southern Living.  What you might not know is that the cafe’s name comes from the vintage cotton bonnet hat, not the state flower. Even so, one thing is for sure: After dining at this fine establishment myself, I can tell you there’s nothing that beats Pie Happy Hour and a slice of lemon meringue pie!

    Another Texas favorite, Royers Cafe, sits in the tiny town of Round Top, where around a hundred Texans reside. The cafe has certainly earned its title of “Big Taste. Tiny Town.” Along with these two popular spots, there are plenty of other hidden gems scattered throughout the state, like Oxbow Bakery in Old Town Palestine, named one of Texas Highways’ “Best Places for Pie in Texas,” and Love Creek Orchards in Medina, which earned a spot on Texas Monthly’s list of “Best 40 Small Town Cafes in Texas.”
    Texas is no stranger to serving up a good slice of pie!
    Now, I’ve talked before about the importance of pecans to the Lone Star State, but let’s dig a little deeper into how this nut became central to Texas’ most iconic dessert. The pecan is not only responsible for Texas’ state tree—it also holds the honor of being the official state pie. But how did this delicious dessert come to be?
    Historians believe that Native Americans have likely been using pecans for centuries, but the first recorded recipes didn’t appear until the late 19th century. By the 1870s, these recipes began to appear in Texas cookbooks, though pie wasn’t yet a focus. It wasn’t until the 1920s, with the rise of Karo Syrup’s commercial success, that the pecan pie became a staple in Texas kitchens. And with pecans being an inexpensive ingredient at the time, the pie became an easy, affordable, and go-to treat for many Texans.  
    As its popularity grew, pecan pie was frequently advertised in local newspapers. In 1926, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times ran an ad promoting homemade pecan pies for just ten cents at a local “five-and-dime” store. The Comanche Chief reported on August 8, 1913, that “any family in Texas can purchase a bushel of pecans from some pecan grower in the fall and… make many… delicious dishes.” In 1921, the San Saba Pecan Company offered to send customers a recipe for Mrs. Bell’s famous pecan pie, claiming it was “the best pie your hubby or sweetheart ever ate.”
    It’s clear that the pecan pie holds a special place in the heart—and stomach—of many Texans. So don’t forget to treat yourself to a slice of something sweet this Pi Day because in Texas, it’s not just a pie, it’s a tradition.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW VIDEO: Sh*t That Ain’t True? President Trump’s Vow to Lower Prices “On Day One”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Joint Address to Congress tonight, Senate Democrats are launching a new social media video push highlighting President Trump’s broken promise to lower prices.
    In August 2024 and numerous times on the campaign trail, President Trump promised to “immediately bring prices down, starting on day one” of his presidency. Instead, prices are up and American families are facing more rapidly rising costs: January’s Consumer Price Index report showed inflation accelerating to 3 percent on an annualized basis. Costs of everything are going up — food, fuel, housing, and other essentials. Egg prices have skyrocketed, if they’re even available. 
    “Every day, Americans are feeling the consequences of Trump’s empty promises to lower costs, because they feel the consequences of his inaction every day. Families know all too well that the prices of essentials like gas, groceries, and housing are going up, not down, and the problem is getting worse, not better,” said Senator Cory Booker, Chair of the Senate Democrats’ Strategic Communications Committee, which organized the action on social media. 
    “Donald Trump promised to ‘immediately bring prices down, starting on day one’ of his presidency. But he’s failed to do so, and has also failed to take meaningful action. Instead, he pardoned January 6th rioters, has let Elon Musk take a chainsaw to essential government programs and threaten Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and more, and is now working with Republicans in Congress to pave the way for tax cuts for billionaires. Trump is set to address Congress tonight, but Americans want actions that bring them relief, not more empty words.”
    This morning, dozens of Senate Democrats simultaneously posted a video fact-checking Trump’s broken promise to lower prices “on day one” across their social media platforms. The video begins with footage of Trump at a press conference last year promising to “immediately bring prices down, starting on day one” of his presidency — a promise he echoed numerous times leading up to the November election. The video then cuts to Democratic Senators setting the record straight. 
    One example of the video can be viewed at the link below; followed by a transcript. 
    LINK TO BOOKER VIDEO
    TRANSCRIPT OF BOOKER VIDEO:
    Donald Trump: When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One.
    Sen. Cory Booker: Shit that ain’t true, that’s what you just saw.
    Since Day One of Donald Trump’s presidency, prices are up, not down. 
    Inflation is getting worse, not better. 
    Prices of groceries, gas, housing, rent, eggs– they’re all getting more expensive.
    Meanwhile, Donald Trump has done nothing to lower costs for you.
    Instead, he’s done things like pardon violent criminals who beat police officers on January 6th.
    He’s letting Elon Musk take a chainsaw to vital government programs for Americans and giving him access to Americans’ most sensitive data– social security numbers, tax returns, health care records and more. 
    In the most ham-handed fashion, he’s fired thousands of essential government workers. People literally who are working to make government more efficient and more accountable.
    He’s frozen federal funding for vital programs, like cancer research, veteran services, education programs, payments to family farmers, and so much more.
    Why?
    Because Trump and Musk are cutting critical services for you in order to make room for more tax cuts for billionaires like them, while still leaving you to deal with rising costs, a housing crisis, and healthcare that’s getting more expensive and not less.
    The Republican plan is simple: you lose, and billionaires win.
    And that’s the truth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW STUDY: Nearly $80 Trillion Redistributed from the Bottom 90% to the Top 1% Since 1975

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, March 4 – As Republicans prepare legislation to provide more tax breaks to billionaires with massive cuts to programs working families need, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today highlighted a new report from the nonpartisan RAND Corporation, which found that nearly $80 trillion in wealth in the United States has been redistributed from the bottom 90 percent of Americans to the top 1% over the past 50 years.
    “Over and over again, my Republican colleagues have expressed their deep concern about the redistribution of wealth in America, and they are right,” said Sanders. “The problem is that it has gone in precisely the wrong direction. Since 1975, nearly $80 trillion in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% of Americans to the top 1%. The massive income and wealth inequality in America today is not only morally unjust, it is profoundly damaging to our democracy. Given this reality, we cannot provide another $1.1 trillion tax break to the top 1% by making massive cuts to healthcare, housing, education and nutrition assistance as President Trump and Republicans in Congress want to do. We must do the exact opposite.” 
    Here are the key highlights from the RAND Corporation report:
    Since 1975, $79 trillion in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% to the top 1% in the United States. This represents the cumulative cost of lost wages to workers below the 90th percentile due to rising inequality from 1975 through 2023. Average real income in the top 1% grewby 321.6 percent from 1975 through 2018, nearly three times the 118 percent growth of real per capita GDP over the same period.
    In 2023 alone, $3.9 trillion in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90% to the top 1%. This represents the difference between what the bottom 90% of workers earned in 2023 compared to what they would have earned had income distributions remained at the more equitable 1975 levels.
    $3.9 trillion would be enough to give every full-time worker in the bottom 90% a raise of $32,000 a year raise. For perspective, $3.9 trillion is equivalent to 14% of the entire US economy.
    Working Americans have seen their share of taxable income steadily fall for 50 years. In 1975, the bottom 90% of workers received 67% all taxable income. By 2019, their share had fallen below 47% — a three point drop since just 2015.
    Median household income would be double what it is today if income inequality had remained the same as it was in 1975.
    Read the full report here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Seven Defendants in Armed Transnational Cocaine and Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracies

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Four Defendants Arrested in Three U.S. States, Along With the Seizure of More Than 350 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 100 Kilograms of Cocaine, and Four Firearms

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Francis J. Russo, the Director of Field Operations for the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging seven defendants with narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.

    Since at least in or about October 2023, SHEHNAZ SINGH, a/k/a “SHAWN,” along with his co-conspirators, AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “AMRIT,” a/k/a “Bal,” AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “CHEEMA,” TAKDIR SINGH, a/k/a “ROMY,” SARBSIT SINGH, a/k/a “SABI,” and GURLAL SINGH (“GURLAL”), operated a transnational conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia and distribute the drug in cities across the U.S. and into Canada.  Beginning in or about April 2024, a subset of these conspirators—led by ROMY and SABI, and joined by co-conspirators including FERNANDO VALLADARES, a/k/a “FRANCO”—stole a cache of cocaine from their original co-conspirators and agreed to distribute it out of, among other places, hotels in New York City.  Members of the two armed drug trafficking conspiracies hunted each other down, brandished a firearm, and threatened the lives of each other and innocent family members. 

    Four defendants are in custody after arrests made on the morning of February 26, 2025.  Searches of various of the defendants’ residences and vehicles conducted at the time of arrest resulted in the seizure of four firearms, approximately 391 kilograms of methamphetamine, and approximately 109 kilograms of cocaine. CHEEMA was arrested in the Eastern District of California and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker and detained; ROMY and SABI were arrested in the Northern District of Ohio and were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes Jr. and detained; and FRANCO was arrested in the Eastern District of New York, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo, and released on certain conditions.  AMRIT and GURLAL are in custody in Pennsylvania after prior arrests.  SHAWN remains at large. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “For more than a year, Shehnaz Singh and his associates not only imported dangerous drugs to sell across the United States but also armed themselves with deadly weapons and endangered communities here in New York City and around the country.  This week, we and our law enforcement partners halted that dangerous activity and took drugs and guns off the street.  I commend the career prosecutors of the Southern District of New York, and our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for their tireless efforts to disrupt this dangerous distribution network and to keep communities safe for our country and our neighbors, too.  We hope that today’s charges bring accountability to those who push drugs and use violence to protect their criminal organizations.”

    CBP Director of Field Operations Francis J. Russo said: “Every day our CBP officers and law enforcement partners relentlessly pursue the most vicious and brutal criminal drug organizations in the world who do business globally and right here in our local communities and neighborhoods. We will not stop until networks such as this one and their criminal facilitators are off the street and brought to justice. CBP will continue its unwavering commitment to keeping Americans safe from the dangers of drugs and the violence they often bring.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictments, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:[1]

    Since at least in or about October 2023, a group of conspirators led by SHAWN—a Canada-based drug trafficker who holds himself out as a corrupt police officer—operated a drug trafficking organization that imported cocaine into the U.S., transported it to stash houses and other distribution sites using networks of trucking companies and drivers, and sold it in communities across the U.S. and into Canada (the “Original Cocaine Conspiracy”). AMRIT and CHEEMA, served as, among other things, SHAWN’s enforcers, and helped operated the drug trafficking organization by safekeeping and distributing cocaine while armed with guns.

    Members of the Original Cocaine Conspiracy imported cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia and delivered the drug to coconspirators in the midwestern U.S., including a vacant home used by AMRIT and others in Indiana. From there, the cocaine was distributed across the U.S. and to Canada, including through and to California, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.  This cross-border trade, from Colombia to the U.S. and Canada, was lucrative. As AMRIT described it: “It costs roughly about two, four, or five thousand dollars per [kilo in Colombia]. When it reaches America, it’s worth twelve to thirteen thousand. When it reaches Canada, it’s thirty thousand.”  In total, this organization was moving more than 600 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine a week.

    Beginning in or about April 2024, a subset of the Original Cocaine Conspiracy’s members—ROMY and SABI—stole a large cache of cocaine from their co-conspirators in the Original Cocaine Conspiracy and worked with others, including FRANCO—to distribute the stolen cocaine from, among other places, two hotels in New York City (the “Stolen Cocaine Conspiracy”).  After a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) crashed a truck carrying approximately 10 kilograms of the group’s cocaine and abandoned his cargo, members of the Original Cocaine Conspiracy announced plans to travel to New York with weapons to reclaim their stolen drugs and serve vengeance on members of the Stolen Cocaine Conspiracy and their families.  As AMRIT put it: “We need our stuff.  We aren’t letting anyone go.  We are going to kill them all.”  The day before arriving in New York City, AMRIT and CHEEMA, took photos of themselves displaying weapons over a large cache of stacked cocaine.

    Once in New York, AMRIT and CHEEMA threatened members of the Stolen Cocaine Conspiracy and their family members with violence.  In just one such incident, at a meeting in front of a home on suburban Long Island, AMRIT thrust a handgun into CC-1’s teenage brother’s neck while demanding to know the location of the stolen cocaine.

    While executing arrests of certain of the defendants and searches of various residences and vehicles, law enforcement agents seized four firearms, approximately 391 kilograms of methamphetamine, and approximately 109 kilograms of cocaine.  CHEEMA was stopped while fleeing a residence in Bakersfield, California, and arrested in possession of a loaded handgun.  Three additional firearms were seized from residences or vehicles belonging to or controlled by ROMY and SABI in Cleveland, Ohio, where agents also seized approximately 391 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 109 kilograms of cocaine.  The seized firearms and narcotics are shown below.

    Cocaine intercepted en route to ROMY and SABI

    Methamphetamine seized from SABI’s residence

    *                *                *

    A chart containing the charges and minimum and maximum penalties each defendant faces is attached. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and CBP. Mr. Podolsky further thanked the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) Strike Force, the Cleveland Division of Police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office and Bakersfield Resident Agency, the FBI’s Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, & Laundering Task Force, the Cleveland Division of Police Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Bakersfield (Calif.) Police Department, for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

    This prosecution is part of an OCDETF operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Kinder and Justin Horton are in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Defendant

    Age

    Charges

    Minimum and Maximum Sentences
    SHEHNAZ SINGH, a/k/a “Shawn”

    34

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
    AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “Amrit,” a/k/a “Bal”

    30

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy; brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of seven consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
    AMRITPAL SINGH, a/k/a “Cheema”

    26

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
    TAKDIR SINGH, a/k/a “Romy”

    33

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
    SARBSIT SINGH, a/k/a “Sabi”

    32

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
    GURLAL SINGH

    29

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy; using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to, or in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison (cocaine distribution conspiracy); minimum of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum of life (firearms offense)
    FERNANDO VALLADARES, a/k/a “Franco”

    36

    		 Cocaine distribution conspiracy Minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the description of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bite back and help stop loan sharks

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Residents are urged to join the Bite Back Week fight against loan sharks and to find out more on staying safe from illegal money lenders.

    The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is working with a host of partners, including the City Council, to stage Bite Back Week from Monday 10 March to Friday 14 March.

    It includes visits to venues across the city to raise awareness about the dangers of loan sharks and ways that people can borrow safely. There’s also advice and support to anyone who thinks they may have borrowed from a loan shark already.

    • Monday 10 March, the team will be at the Gentoo offices in City Hall, Plater Way, from 9.30am to noon and then at the Bread and Butter Thing at Chance, Rickerby Street, East End, from 1pm
    • Tuesday 11 March, they will be at the Beacon of Light School in Stadium Park
    • Wednesday 12 March,  from 10am to 1pm, the team, along with mascot Sid the Shark, will be at The Galleries Shopping Centre, Washington
    • Thursday 13 March, they will be visiting Sunderland College – Bede Campus from 9.30am to noon and City Campus from 1 to 3pm
    • Friday 14 March, they will be at the Bread and Butter Thing at Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project, in Southwick Road, from 11am.

    The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Beth Jones said: “There is no place in our city for loan sharks who take advantage of people who are struggling with their household finances. Residents concerned about their bills and outgoings can always speak to commissioned advice providers (Get help and advice – Sunderland City Council) such as Citizens Advice Sunderland, ShARP and Sunderland West Advice Project or take up opportunities like these visits from the national team.

    “There are many and far more better ways of borrowing safely and managing money than going to a loan shark. Working together and with local information we can all help put a stop to the illegal lenders who prey on people. Borrowing money from a loan shark might seem easy, convenient or even tempting, but it can make financial problems much, much worse.”

    The Illegal Money Lending Team was created in 2004 to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders and support borrowers.

    Dave Benbow, head of the IMLT which is also known as Stop Loan Sharks, said: “Illegal lenders are often well known in communities and this Bite Back Week aims to reach anyone who might be vulnerable, or who might have been targeted already.”

    The IMLT is a national team that was created in 2004 to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders and support borrowers.

    Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call its 24/7 confidential helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rubio meets with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó at the Department of State, on March 4, 2025.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbIUBWW7WJQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act to Strengthen National Guard Units

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 03, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen National Guard units in Illinois and across America by helping to ensure our servicemembers have access to the funds needed for maintenance and readiness activities that keep us all safe. Specifically, the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act would provide a critical exemption from the Miscellaneous Receipts Act for State Active Duty (SAD) reimbursement payments, ensuring that these funds are directed back to the National Guard units that incurred the expenses and ultimately bolster readiness and operational efficiency.

    “The men and women of the National Guard are committed to the motto of ‘always ready, always there’—which is why it’s important our Guardsmen have the resources they need to stay mission-ready,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act would better ensure the Guard has access to the funds needed for the maintenance and readiness activities that help them keep our country safe.”

    “The National Guard is essential to our national defense and emergency response system,” said Senator Lee. “Our legislation eliminates unnecessary hurdles, ensuring that the funds used by states to reimburse the National Guard go directly to maintaining and preparing our equipment for future missions.”

    Along with Duckworth and Lee, the bipartisan legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), James Risch (R-ID), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jim Justice (R-WV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

    The Guarding Readiness Resources Act would address a longstanding challenge for the National Guard. While federal law allows the use of federal assets for state-directed missions, reimbursements for those expenses have been diverted to the U.S. Treasury instead of the appropriate Guard units, creating significant funding gaps. The legislation is endorsed by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) and the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS).

    “Our National Guard members serve side by side with their active-duty counterparts, answering the call at home and abroad,” said CMSgt. Josh J. Baker, Vice President of EANGUS. “Yet, they continue to face inequities in pay, health care, and benefits that undermine their service and sacrifice. This legislation is a significant step toward correcting these imbalances and ensuring our Guardsmen are properly equipped, trained, and supported—whether they are responding to domestic emergencies or deploying overseas. EANGUS stands ready to work alongside Senator Lee and other congressional leaders to advance this bill. Our members, the backbone of the National Guard, deserve nothing less than full recognition and fair treatment for their dedication to our nation.”

    “The National Guard continuously responds to the dynamic domestic challenges this nation faces,” said retired Maj Gen. Francis M. McGinn, President of NGAUS. “Immediate response often requires significant unforeseen state expenditures. While the law allows for federal reimbursement, it is executed in such a way that states never see those much-needed funds.  This creates substantial budget gaps that threaten the readiness of the force. The Guarding Readiness Resources Act corrects this oversight and ensures the National Guard has the necessary resources to effectively fulfill their mission. We are grateful for the work of Senators Lee and Duckworth and ask for full congressional support for inclusion in the FY26 NDAA.”

    By adding a Miscellaneous Receipts exemption to section 710 of title 32, Congress would help ensure that: 

    • The U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) can direct reimbursement money back to National Guard units.
    • National Guard units can have available funding for maintenance, repair and replacement costs of federal equipment when needed.
    • National Guard equipment, property and training funds remain ready for National Guard federal missions.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan: Children as young as one raped during conflict, UNICEF warns

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    As conflict rages across Sudan, armed men are raping and sexually assaulting children, including some infants as young as one, according to the UN children’s agency (UNICEF).

    Data from gender-based violence service providers in Sudan reveals the scale of the horror: more than 220 reported cases of child rape since the start of 2024.

    “Children as young as one being raped by armed men should shock anyone to their core and compel immediate action,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

    But these figures only scratch the surface, as survivors and their families often remain silent due to stigma, lack of services and fear of retribution from armed groups.

    A war crime unfolding

    Sexual violence is being weaponised in Sudan’s conflict, putting millions of children at risk.

    The brutal reality of this violence, and the fear of falling victim to it, is pushing women and girls to leave their homes and families, only to face further dangers.

    UNICEF reports that girls often end up in informal displacement sites with scarce resources, where the risk of sexual violence is high. Of the reported child rape survivors, 66 per cent are girls.

    Meanwhile, boys face their own difficulties. With deep-seated stigma, reporting sexual assault presents its challenges, making it harder to seek help and access services.

    Shockingly, 16 of the survivors were under five years old, including four one-year-olds.

    “This is an abhorrent violation of international law and could constitute a war crime,” Ms. Russell underscored. “It must stop.”

    Efforts on the ground

    UNICEF is working with partners to establish safe spaces that provide gender-based violence services for survivors.

    The agency is training frontline workers, including social workers and psychologists to provide community-based services across Sudan as well as address harmful social norms and practices.

    A call to action

    UNICEF is calling on all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international law, protect civilians – especially children – and ensure humanitarian workers can safely deliver aid.

    Stronger data systems are deemed critical, both to improve the humanitarian response and to hold perpetrators accountable.

    “Widespread sexual violence in Sudan has instilled terror in people, especially children,” Ms. Russell warned. “These scars of war are immeasurable and long-lasting.”

    Without urgent action, Sudan’s sexual violence crisis will only deepen, leaving a lasting and devastating legacy.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Foreign Exchange and Liquidity and Monthly Balance Sheet, February 2025

    Source: Danmarks Nationalbank

    THE FOREIGN-EXCHANGE RESERVE

    In February 2025, the foreign-exchange reserve increased by kr. 3.4 billion to kr. 657.0 billion. The increase reflects Danmarks Nationalbank’s net purchase of foreign exchange for kr. 3.3 billion, and the central government’s net borrowing of foreign debt for kr. 0.1 billion, cf. table 1.

    For settlement in February, Danmarks Nationalbank has not intervened in the foreign exchange market.

    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net foreign-exchange purchases and the change in the foreign-exchange reserve – table 1

    Kr. billion February 2025 January 2025 – February 2025
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s interventions* to purchase foreign exchange, net 0.0 0.0
    Other** 3.3 0.4
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net foreign-exchange purchases 3.3 0.4
    The central government’s net foreign borrowing*** 0.1 2.2
    Change in the foreign-exchange reserve 3.4 2.6

    Note: Details may not add because of rounding and previously published figure may have been revised. All transactions as per settlement date.

    * Intervention takes place when Danmarks Nationalbank purchases and sells foreign exchange for Danish kroner in the foreign-exchange market in order to stabilise the exchange rate.

    ** Comprises e.g. interest accrued on the foreign-exchange reserve, the central government’s net payments in foreign exchange, and changes in the banks’ deposits in euro-denominated accounts at Danmarks Nationalbank.

    *** Including net payments to the central government in foreign exchange as a result of currency swaps.

    DEVELOPMENT IN LIQUIDITY

    In February, the central government’s net financing requirement amounted to kr. -22.7 billion. Since the turn of the year, the central government’s net financing requirement has been kr. -22.3 billion, cf. table 2.

    The net position of the banks and mortgage-credit institutes vis-à-vis Danmarks Nationalbank decreased by kr. 19.5 billion in February, to an outstanding amount of kr. 237.1 billion. In February, the central government’s liquidity impact decreased the net position by kr. 22.8 billion.

    Impact of various factors on the net position of the banks and mortgage-credit institutes via-a-vis Danmarks Nationalbank – table 2

    Kr. billion February 2025 January 2025 – February 2025
    The central government’s net financing -22.7 -22.3
    Redemption on domestic central-government debt* 7.0 13.4
    Net bond purchases by the government funds and own portfolio and financing of social housing 1.1 -1.3
    Other** -0.2 0.1
    The central government’s gross domestic financing requirement -14.9 -10.0
    The central government’s gross domestic borrowing*** 7.9 15.4
    The central government’s liquidity impact -22.8 -25.4
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net foreign-exchange purchases 3.3 0.4
    Danmarks Nationalbank’s net bond purchases 0.0 -0.2
    Other factors**** 0.0 1.8
    Change in net position -19.5 -23.4

    Note: Details may not add because of rounding and previously published figure may have been revised. All transactions as per settlement date.

    * Including krone-denominated payments by the central government in currency swaps.

    ** Comprises foreign net financing requirement and changes in net collateral for the government’s swap portfolio.

    *** Gross long-term borrowing, net short-term borrowing and krone-denominated payments to the central government in currency swaps.

    **** Comprises e.g. changes in banknotes and coins in circulation.

    DANMARKS NATIONALBANK’S INTEREST RATES

    Since 31 January 2025 the discount rate has been 2.35 pct. p.a., since 31 January 2025 the current-account interest rate has been 2.35 pct. p.a., since 31 January 2025 the lending rate has been 2.5 pct. p.a. and since 31 January 2025 the rate of interest on certificates of deposit has been 2.35 pct. p.a.

    Enquiries can be directed to press advisor Teis Hald Jensen on tel. +45 3363 6066.

    BALANCE SHEET OF DANMARKS NATIONALBANK 28 FEBRUARY 2025

    Assets 2025 2025
    1000 kr. 28/02 31/01
    Stock of gold 40,309,044 40,309,044
    Foreign assets 563,349,604 558,010,180
    Claims on the International Monetary Fund 58,683,071 58,714,478
    Claims related to banks’ and mortgage credit institutes’ TARGET accounts in ECB 32,772 30,579
    Monetary-policy lending – –
    Other lending 1,037,197 1,114,997
    – Banks’1) 1,037,197 1,114,997
    – Miscellaneous loans – –
    Domestic bonds 33,648,312 33,648,312
    Financial fixed assets, etc. 131,550 131,550
    Tangible and intangible fixed assets 715,190 716,825
    Other assets 4,872,019 5,138,110
    702,778,759 697,814,075

    1) Other lending to banks include loans for cash deposits.

    Liabilities 2025 2025
    1000 kr. 28/02 31/01
    Banknotes 46,880,067 46,956,721
    Coins 6,101,100 6,117,406
    Monetary-policy deposits 237,050,144 256,550,805
    – Current accounts 237,050,144 256,550,805
    – Certificates of deposit – –
    Other deposits 15,191,388 15,546,285
    – Deposits related to banks’ and mortgage credit institutes’ TARGET accounts in ECB 32,772 30,579
    – Other deposits from banks’ and mortgage credit institutes’ 1,407,732 1,437,503
    – Miscellaneous deposits 13,750,884 14,078,203
    Central government 239,437,163 216,526,715
    Foreign liabilities 5,300,892 3,382,533
    Counterpart of Special Drawing Rights allocated by the IMF (SDR) 45,039,776 45,039,776
    Other liabilities 24,071,249 23,986,854
    Capital and reserves 83,706,980 83,706,980
    702,778,759 697,814,075

    Note: The monthly balance sheet is calculated at beginning of year values +/- accumulated transaction values. The monthly balance does not include value adjustments and accruals, as these are only calculated at year-end, cf. Danmarks Nationalbank’s accounting principles.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Illegal alien who threatened ICE agent’s life arrested in connection with human smuggling ring, deaths of 7

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES — An illegal alien from Guatemala was arrested on a four-count indictment alleging he led one of the largest human smuggling organizations in the United States. The ring allegedly smuggled approximately 20,000 illegal immigrants from Guatemala to destinations nationwide over a five-year span. The defendant held some victims in stash houses as hostages and is responsible for the deaths of seven illegal immigrants — including a 4-year-old child — who were killed in a November 2023 car accident in Oklahoma. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Inglewood Police Department are investigating the matter.

    “These arrests illuminate the dangers and victimization associated with aliens attempting to unlawfully enter our country,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of safety in these reckless and illegal endeavors. ICE Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations so no further lives are lost and our borders are secure.”

    Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul aka Turko, 51, of the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, was arrested Feb. 28 with his alleged right-hand man, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, 49, also of the Westlake neighborhood. The defendants were arraigned the same day and ordered to stand trial April 22. A federal magistrate judge also ordered them jailed without bond.

    Renoj-Matul allegedly led one of the largest human smuggling organizations in the United States, moving approximately 20,000 illegal immigrants from 2019 through July 2024.

    Also charged in the indictment are Helmer Obispo-Hernandez aka Xavi, 41, a lieutenant in the criminal organization who is a fugitive, and Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, 44, a driver for the smuggling organization who is incarcerated in Oklahoma in connection with the fatal November 2023 car accident.

    All the defendants are Guatemalan nationals who are or were illegally living in the United States at the time of the alleged offenses.

    All four defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, transporting aliens in the United States, and harboring aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death.

    Additionally, Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj are charged with two counts of hostage-taking. Obispo-Hernandez and Paxtor-Oxlaj also are charged with one count of transporting aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death.

    A separate federal criminal complaint filed March 2 charges Obispo-Hernandez with threatening to cut off the heads of an ICE task force officer and members of his family. The threats were allegedly made to the federal law enforcement office Feb. 28 in the wake of search warrants being executed at Obispo-Hernandez’s residence.

    “These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Their members pose a danger to the public and law enforcement. We must vigorously enforce our immigration laws so that these organizations cannot operate. The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country’s largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences.”

    According to the indictment returned Feb. 25 and unsealed Feb. 28, the Renoj-Matul transnational criminal organization operated for at least a dozen years and specialized in smuggling illegal immigrants from Guatemala to the United States, the transportation and movement of those illegal immigrants within the United States — especially between Phoenix and Los Angeles — and harboring, concealing and shielding of illegal immigrants within the United States.

    Renoj-Matual was assisted by associates in Guatemala who solicited illegal immigrants to come to the United States, accepted payment of between $15,000 and $18,000 for each illegal immigrant smuggled into the United States, and coordinated the illegal immigrants’ journeys from Guatemala to the United States.

    Mexican smuggling organizations transported the aliens through Mexico and across the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, where they were held in stash houses and eventually picked up by Renoj-Matul’s lieutenants. The illegal immigrants then — for an additional fee — were transported and moved to various destinations in the United States, including Los Angeles. The immigrants who had not paid their fees were held hostage in a stash house in the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles.

    Renoj-Matul directed that the transportation of proceeds from human smuggling be transported from Los Angeles to Phoenix, where they were given to the Mexican smuggling organization to pay the expenses incurred by Renoj-Matul’s transnational criminal organization.

    In November 2023, Paxtor-Oxlaj caused a car accident in Elk City, Oklahoma, while he was smuggling illegal immigrants from New York to Los Angeles. That car accident resulted in the deaths of seven passengers in the vehicle he drove. Of the seven people killed, three were minors, including a 4-year-old child.

    Paxtor-Oxlaj was arrested in connection with the accident and was charged in the Western District of Oklahoma with being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal. He previously had been removed from the U.S. to Guatemala in 2010 and did not have legal permission to reenter the United States.

    The indictment further alleges that, from April 2024 to July 2024, Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj held hostage two Guatemalan nationals smuggled into the United States who had not paid smuggling fees. The defendants allegedly threatened to kill the victims until third parties paid for their release.

    An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

    If convicted of all charges, the defendants each face a statutory maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment.

    Also arrested Feb. 28 was Rolando Gomez-Gomez aka Chaka, 39, of South Los Angeles, who is charged with one count of being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal, and Juan Lopez Garcia aka Boxer, 41, of Downtown Los Angeles, who was arrested on a civil removal matter. Both defendants are alleged lieutenants in the Renoj-Matul transnational criminal organization.

    Assistant U.S. attorneys Shawn J. Nelson and Elia Herrera of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. attorney Tara B. Vavere of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the asset forfeiture portion of this case.

    Anyone with information related to human smuggling are encouraged to call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423).

    Learn more about ICE HSI’s mission to protect the U.S. economy in your community on X at @HSILosAngeles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Richmond felon sentenced to over four years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to four years and two months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents, on April 25, 2024, officers from the Richmond Police Department engaged in conversation with a group of individuals standing and sitting together outside a row of apartment homes in the Creighton Court neighborhood. One of the officers observed a clear plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance drop to the ground from the jacket pocket of Marcellus Cheatham, 26. The officer retrieved the baggie and, while attempting to detain Cheatham, discovered a loaded firearm in Cheatham’s waistband. Cheatham also possessed a razor, 21.77 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, and 5.73 grams of crystalline material containing cocaine.

    Cheatham was convicted previously of robbery, attempted robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. As a previously convicted felon, Cheatham cannot possess firearms or ammunition.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Joseph McGorman prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-128.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Somalia faces worsening hunger as drought, conflict and high food prices risk pushing 1 million more people into food insecurity

    Source: World Food Programme

    This a summary of what was said by WFP’s Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, Jean-Martin Bauer at the Geneva Palais Briefing.

    Alarming new data from Somalia shows that one million more people could be pushed into crisis levels of food insecurity in the coming months as drought conditions, conflict and high food prices threaten to disrupt farming, restrict market access and increase humanitarian needs.

    The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows that 3.4 million people are already experiencing crisis-levels of hunger or worse (IPC3+). This number is projected to rise to 4.4 million (almost one in every four people in Somalia) between April and June 2025, when below-average rains are forecast, potentially creating drought conditions. 

    Just three years ago – in late 2022 – Somalia was brought to the brink of famine by the longest drought in recorded history as back-to-back failed rainy seasons devasted the country. A massive scale up of humanitarian assistance from WFP and partners averted famine in late 2022. Now hunger is rising again as another drought looms.

    The IPC findings confirm that the erratic rainy season from October to December 2024 led to low crop yields, rapid depletion of pasture and water sources. Meanwhile earlier in the year flooding damaged crops and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Food production in 2024 was 45 per cent below the long-term average. These are all factors that have contributed towards families’ rising vulnerability and add to WFP’s concern about what the coming months will bring for Somalia.

    Around 1.7 million children under the age of five are expected to face acute malnutrition through December 2025. Of those, 466,000 face severe acute malnutrition. Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of the total malnutrition burden is concentrated in southern Somalia, where drought conditions and insecurity are the worst. 

    The hardest-hit households include those with low agricultural yields who have depleted their food stocks, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pastoralists with limited livestock and below-average earnings from livestock sales.

    As humanitarian needs grow, limited funding is resulting in life-saving programmes being reduced or cut altogether. From April, WFP will support 820,000 vulnerable people per month with food and cash assistance – down from a peak of 2.2 million reached monthly in 2024. 

    Funding shortfalls have also forced WFP to halve the number of students it supports with school meals. In Southwest State, Banadir and Somaliland, school meals have been entirely suspended. 

    Today, the 2025 Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calling for $1.42 billion is only 12.4 per cent funded. WFP alone has a funding gap of $297 million for the next six months and without additional funding, critical WFP operations in Somalia will face pipeline breaks by mid-year.

    Early action is critical to avert a crisis in Somalia. Funding is urgently required to scale up food assistance, nutrition support, water and sanitation services, as well as livelihood initiatives to mitigate the impacts of the expected drought in Somalia. 

    Without this, Somalia could once again face deepening hunger. 

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Student wellbeing probed on biggest campus in Aotearoa New Zealand – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    One of the country’s biggest investigations into student wellbeing is being carried out by psychology students and their teachers at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

    In-depth interviews with more than 100 undergraduate students from minority and marginalised groups such as Māori, Pasifika, Chinese, South Asian, and LGBTQIA+ will inform student support on the nation’s biggest campus, which has 47,000 students. Most of the research is being carried out by nine postgraduate students.

    Professor Kerry Gibson, who’s Pākeha, and Dr Sarah Kapeli, of Tongan descent, lead the project, which is backed by University leadership including the Vice-Chancellor and the Māori and Pacific Pro-Vice Chancellors. Recommendations on how to better support students are likely to come later this year and facilitating connection will be key.

    “When students come to university it is for more than just a degree. It’s a time when young people are working out who they want to be and how they fit in the world,” said Gibson. “This is more important than ever after Covid had such a disruptive effect on young people’s learning and socialising.”

    Rates of mental health problems are increasing among university students, according to international studies.

    “Changing the environment so that it supports students better will help their academic success and also help prevent the development of mental health problems in this age group and into adulthood,” Gibson said.

    Stresses reported by students in the Auckland study include:

    academic pressure
    academic competition
    financial insecurity
    balancing paid work and university work
    balancing home and family commitments with university
    feeling disconnected and isolated in a large institution
    wider worries such as a competitive job market and climate change

     
    “Finding a sense of belonging is central to young people’s success at university and later in life,” said Kapeli. “Feeling comfortable at university is important for all students but can be particularly challenging for marginalised groups of students.”

    Challenges for Sāmoan and Tongan students include juggling family-comes-first commitments with university life and working out where self-care fits within collectivist values, say masters students Seulele Vine and Malia Vaka’uta. Pasifika students value Pasifika spaces on campus and highlight the role of religiosity or spirituality in wellbeing.
     
    In the study, interviews, talanoa and kōrero have mostly been conducted by researchers from the same minority or marginalised groups as the interviewees.

    Jemma Dixon, Shelby Symons, and Jack Dobson are researching Māori students’ experiences; Skyler Hsieh, Rainbow students; Senuri Panditharatne, South Asian students; and Kahn Tasker, Chinese students. Emma Johnston is studying the impact of existential threats such as climate change.

    The first theses based on the research, which began in 2022, were submitted last month.

    “For some students, it’s been cathartic,” says Kapeli. “They’ve never been asked questions like this before. We know that some are struggling – they don’t know where to get help or don’t think they can ask for help.”

    Also contributing to the project are Kaiwhakaako Mātai Hinengaro Hineatua Parkinson and Dr Roshini Peiris-John, co-director of the University’s Centre for Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Research and Evaluation.  The Spencer Foundation, a US organisation funding education research, contributed US$50,000 toward Māori and Pasifika aspects of the study.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Key Member of Drug Distribution Ring Linked to Aryan Prison Gangs Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Defendant served as transporter, pill maker, and muscle for the leader of drug distribution cell

    Tacoma – A key member of a drug distribution ring selling fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and heroin throughout the Puget Sound region was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 14 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy and for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Michael Slocumb, 46, attempted to evade law enforcement and helped move the drug ring activities to Arizona after the Shelton, Washington, stash house he and his partners operated was raided in December 2022. When law enforcement moved in on the multi-faceted drug conspiracy in March 2023, Slocumb was arrested in his new home in Arizona.

    At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said about fentanyl pills, “People become addicted to these drugs . . . they end up taking a bad dose and that ends their time on this Earth.” Remarking on Slocumb’s guns, Judge Estudillo said, “The firearms involved here are extremely serious and the types of firearms make me wonder what they may have been used for.”

    According to records filed in the case, in the fall of 2022, Slocumb made multiple trips to Arizona to pick up and transport narcotics to the Shelton stash house. Slocumb used the stash house to manufacture fentanyl pills using two different pill presses. When the stash house property was searched on December 9, 2022, law enforcement

     seized more than 640,000 pills containing fentanyl, as well as a kilogram of fentanyl powder and 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with more than $81,000 in cash proceeds from drug trafficking. Slocumb was a key partner for the leader of the drug conspiracy.

    The stash house property also contained 23 firearms, including a shotgun kept where the drugs were stored, and the pills manufactured. In his car, Slocumb kept several firearms including a loaded .40 caliber pistol behind the front seat. In a suitcase in the trunk were a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine and an AR-15 type rifle with a folding shoulder stock and a loaded 115-round drum magazine. Also in the suitcase was a 9mm firearm silencer.

    During this conspiracy, law enforcement intercepted Slocumb and the ringleader Bryson Gill discussing kidnapping a rival drug dealer. Slocumb was surveilling the target’s apartment when law enforcement made a show of being in the vicinity to get Slocumb to leave and ward off any violence.

    Following the stash house raid, Slocumb was heard on the wiretap discussing his plan to move drug operations to Arizona. Slocumb and Gill continued their drug trafficking in Arizona until they were arrested in March 2023. When law enforcement searched the Arizona property, they seized approximately 70 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

    Slocumb pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    In asking for a 15-year sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “Slocumb’s conduct in the drug conspiracy involved massive numbers of firearms, as well as ammunition, firearms accessories, large capacity magazines, and a firearm silencer. It is clear that he played a trusted role in partnership with Gill in not just distributing drugs but acting as an enforcer—he took direction from Gill in picking up guns following a trip to get drugs from the stash house, and on another occasion, he conspired with Gill to kidnap a co-conspirator who was a drug redistributor.”

    Bryson Gill entered a guilty plea February 7, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and is scheduled for sentencing on May 9, 2025.

    Law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges on March 22, 2023. The coordinated takedown involved ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms.

    The top-level leader of the drug trafficking ring, Jesse Bailey, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2025, and his wife and co-conspirator Candace Bailey, is scheduled for sentencing on June 13, 2025.

    This case 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.

    This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.

    MIL Security OSI –