NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Security: Virginia Man Found Guilty of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

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

                WASHINGTON – A Virginia man was found guilty today of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

                Robert William DeGregoris, 33, of Aldie, Virginia, was found guilty of civil disorder, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or building.

                DeGregoris was convicted following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Judge Contreras will sentence DeGregoris on Feb. 7, 2025.

                According to evidence presented during the trial, DeGregoris was identified in publicly available images and open-source video on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol building near an area known as the “Tunnel.” The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. There, DeGregoris can be seen in video footage climbing on the side of the entrance to the Tunnel and later near a line of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers at about 4:01 p.m.

                DeGregoris then attempted to forcibly enter the Tunnel and can be seen on Capitol building closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reaching toward the nearest MPD officer. At approximately 4:01 p.m., CCTV footage depicts DeGregoris possibly striking the helmet of the nearby officer.  A few seconds later, DeGregoris was sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum spray by a nearby officer. However, despite being sprayed, DeGregoris continued to push with other rioters against the MPD front line for several more minutes.

                Evidence showed that at approximately 4:07 p.m., DeGregoris was turned with his back toward the front line of MPD officers as he pushed against the MPD line and a rioter next to him sprayed officers with pepper spray. Approximately 20 seconds later, DeGregoris can be seen assisting other rioters by helping to push a ladder toward the MPD officers.

                After being sprayed with Oleoresin Capsicum and prior to departing the restricted area of the Capitol building grounds, DeGregoris posted a photograph of himself on social media accounts with the captioned statement “Took some pepper spray & tear gas breaching the front doors….Worth it.”

                The FBI arrested DeGregoris on Jan. 25, 2023, in Virginia.

                This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

                The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

                In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Texas Men Face Federal Charges for Robbing an ATM Repairman at Truist Bank in Murfreesboro

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

    NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert Bailey, Jr., 24, Demond Johnson, Jr., 19, and Ryan Smith, Jr., 26, all of Houston, Texas, with one count of bank larceny, announced Thomas J. Jaworski, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

    According to the indictment and publicly available information, on November 14, 2023, the defendants stole over $50,000 from an ATM outside of Truist Bank on Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro while it was being repaired. Smith was arrested on Interstate 24 while riding in an Uber. Johnson was arrested at the Nashville International Airport. Bailey was able to catch a flight to Houston and was arrested on a later date. Law enforcement officers in Houston seized the bag containing the stolen money when it arrived at the Houston Hobby Airport.

    If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a minimum fine of $250,000.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office and Houston Field Office, the Murfreesboro Police Department, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Child Sexual Abuser Sentenced to 52 and One Half Years in Prison

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

                WASHINGTON – Matthew Stitt Johnson, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 52.5 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for abusing three minor children.

                The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Johnson pleaded guilty on August 29, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb. In addition to the 52.5-year prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Johnson to register as a sex offender.

                According to the government’s evidence, Johnson sexually abused three children, an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and an eight-month-old infant, between 2015 and 2020. Johnson took videos of his sexual abuse of the five-year-old child and the eight-month-old infant. While the five-year-old and her sister reported the abuse to their mother, the abuse was not reported to law enforcement.

                In May 2021, law enforcement received a tip that Johnson downloaded child pornography from a cloud-based service and subsequently executed a search warrant on his home. Videos depicting the sexual abuse of the five-year-old and eight-month-old victims were discovered in Johnson’s cell phones along with 13,000 images of child pornography. Johnson distributed the images of his sexual abuse of children in internet forums dedicated to trading child pornography, particularly trading images of the rape and torture of infants and toddlers, and actively sought out and distributed other child pornography images over a two-year period.

                This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. The investigation received valuable assistance from the MPD’s Narcotics and Special Investigation Division, Human Trafficking Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Platt and Janani Iyengar with the valuable assistance of Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.

                This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    22cr129

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Possession of Sex Abuse Videos of Toddler and Prepubescent Boys

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

           WASHINGTON – Matthew Norman Ballek, 32, of Saskatchewan, Canada, pleaded guilty today to a federal child pornography charge stemming from his distribution of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement agent in January 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Ballek pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possession of child pornography. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 21, 2025.

               According to plea documents, in January 2024, a member of the FBI–MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force was monitoring an online dating application in an undercover capacity. Law enforcement has learned that the application is sometimes used by individuals who have a sexual interest in children. Ballek contacted the undercover agent and, believing he was communicating with a pedophile, expressed an interest in child pornography. Ballek later sent the undercover agent three video files via an encrypted messaging application. Those video files depicted adult men raping toddler and prepubescent boys. Ballek was arrested in the District of Columbia on February 7, 2024. The FBI seized and forensically examined Ballek’s phone, which contained 10 unique videos and at least 21 unique still images that constitute child pornography.

               Ballek has remained in custody since his February 7, 2024, arrest.

               Ballek faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Ballek must pay mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 to any identified victim. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

               In addition, Ballek will be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to deportation proceedings and other adverse immigration consequences following any prison term.

               This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

               This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.  

               The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Karen L. Shinskie.

    24cr61

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Madison Man Convicted of Sexual Exploitation

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

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A jury has convicted a Madison man of child exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

    The jury returned a guilty verdict against Anthony Ray Lawrence, 37, of Madison, after 3 days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. Lawrence was convicted of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

    According to evidence presented at trial, between April and May 2023, Lawrence used a social media application to engage with someone he thought to be a 14-year-old female but who actually was an undercover law enforcement officer. He told the undercover officer that he used the application to meet younger girls. On May 1, 2023, Lawrence traveled from Madison, Alabama, to Homewood, Alabama, to engage in a sexual act with a minor. At the time of his arrest, Lawrence possessed condoms and sexual lubricant. He had rented a hotel room nearby.

    If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at http://www.cybertipline.org.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    The FBI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel S. McBrayer and R. Leann White are prosecuting the case. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Commission on Crime and Delinquency Joins Victim Service Agencies in York to Highlight Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and 2024-25 Shapiro-Davis Budget Investment for Victims Compensation

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    October 07, 2024 – York, PA

    Commission on Crime and Delinquency Joins Victim Service Agencies in York to Highlight Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and 2024-25 Shapiro-Davis Budget Investment for Victims Compensation

    In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) visited the York County Victim/Witness Unit today to highlight the support and services offered to survivors of domestic violence and the importance of the $5 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the Shapiro-Davis 2024-25 state budget.

    “During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it is essential to recognize the critical support available through PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services and Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program,” said Kathy Buckley, Director of Victims’ Services for PCCD. “VCAP not only provides financial assistance to crime survivors during a difficult time of their lives, but also empowers them to reclaim their independence after experiencing trauma. This financial support also plays a key role in ensuring safety and recovery for domestic violence survivors. By raising awareness, we can help ensure that every survivor knows they are not alone and that resources are available to support their healing journey.”

    VCAP serves as a critical financial lifeline for people who have experienced crime victimization by covering costs for medical bills and counseling, loss of earnings, loss of support, stolen cash, relocation, funeral, crime scene cleanup, and more. Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 76,000 VCAP claims totaling $65 million in eligible expenses for Commonwealth residents. In York County alone during that time period, VCAP has paid 2,822 claims totaling more than $2 million to support individuals in York County who have experienced crime victimization.

    List of Speakers:
    Faith Uhler-Myers, Deputy Administrator of York County DA’s Office Victim/Witness Unit
    Kathy Buckley, Director of Victims’ Services, PCCD
    Angie Cardona, Amber Fullwood, & Megan Pace, Domestic Violence Coordinators York Victim/Witness Unit
    Paula Copeland, Chief Services Officer of YWCA York
    Sarah Harvey, Director of YWCA Hanover Safe Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dartmouth — RCMP charges three drivers with stunting

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged three drivers with stunting.

    On September 26, at approximately 2 a.m., an officer from RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment was doing radar on Portland St., in Dartmouth, and saw a Dodge Charger travelling at 116 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. The vehicle was pulled over and the driver, a 20-year-old Halifax man, was charged with Stunting. The vehicle was towed.

    On October 4, at approximately 10:25 a.m., RCMP Southwest Traffic Services was conducting traffic enforcement on Hwy. 1, in Weymouth, when a Ford Mustang was seen on radar travelling at 109 km/h in a 30 km/h school zone. A traffic stop was completed and the driver, a 28-year-old New Germany woman, was charged with Stunting and her vehicle was towed.

    Later that day, at approximately 8:40 p.m., an officer from RCMP Southeast Traffic Services (Metro) completed a traffic stop on a Honda Civic that was observed on radar travelling at 109 km/h in a 50 km/h zone of St Margarets Bay Rd., in Timberlea. The driver, a 19-year-old Hubley man, was charged with Stunting and his vehicle was towed.

    Stunting in Nova Scotia carries a fine of $2,422.50 for first time offenders, six licence demerit points and an immediate seven-day driver’s licence suspension.

    File # 24-132069, 2024-1463532, 24-136618

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  • MIL-OSI Security: North Sydney — RCMP investigates fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Northeast Traffic Services (NETS) is investigating a fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision that occurred in North Sydney.

    On October 4, at approximately 7:55 p.m., RCMP NETS, Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP), fire services, and EHS responded to a report of a crash on Hwy. 125. RCMP officers learned that a pedestrian was on the roadway when they were struck by a Nissan Murano travelling eastbound.

    The pedestrian, a 65-year-old Sydney Mines man, was transported to hospital and pronounced deceased.

    The driver and passenger of the Nissan did not report physical injuries.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    Hwy. 125 was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia – B10-0070/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

    Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Bernard Guetta, Ľubica Karvašová, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    B10‑0070/2024

    European Parliament resolution on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

    (2024/2822(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

    – having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part[1],

    – having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023 and to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690), which outline the steps for Georgia’s candidacy status, particularly step 9, concerning the freedom of civil society,

    – having regard to the statement by the spokesperson for the European External Action Service of 4 September 2024 on the legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’ in Georgia,

    – having regard to the statement of 18 September 2024 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the laws, adopted by the Georgian Parliament, on ‘family values and protection of minors’,

    – having regard to the opinions adopted or endorsed by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on various pieces of Georgian legislation at its 139th session (21-22 June 2024),

    – having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas the Constitution of Georgia protects the exercise of the freedoms of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly, and the right to universal, equal and free elections, as fundamental rights; whereas the Constitution of Georgia also guarantees the equality of all persons and protects them from discrimination; whereas, according to Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, ‘the constitutional bodies shall take all measures within the scope of their competences to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’;

    B. whereas, despite widespread public protests and calls from the EU and Georgia’s other Western partners, the ruling Georgian Dream party has adopted a Russian-inspired bill on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’, which requires civil society and media organisations that accept funds from abroad to register as ‘organisations pursuing the interest of a foreign power’ or face fines;

    C. whereas this legislation limits the capacity of civil society and media organisations to operate freely, curtails freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatises organisations that deliver clear benefits to the citizens of Georgia;

    D. whereas in March 2023, a proposal for similar legislation sparked widespread protests in Georgia, leading to its withdrawal; whereas since the proposal’s withdrawal in 2023, the ruling party and pro-government media have continued to escalate rhetoric against civil society and journalists;

    E. whereas on 20 February 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party adopted amendments to the electoral legislation, endangering the independence and impartiality of the Central Election Commission and undermining public trust in this institution;

    F. whereas in late August 2024, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili urged voters to help the Georgian Dream party retain a supermajority in the Georgian Parliament in order to initiate the process of outlawing several opposition parties; whereas this was supported by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who announced that the government would seek to ban more than half a dozen parties following the parliamentary elections;

    G. whereas on 17 September 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed a law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, which strips LGBTIQ+ people of their rights;

    H. whereas two days after the introduction of the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender model and prominent public figure, was killed in her apartment;

    I. whereas previously, on 4 April 2024, the ruling Georgian Dream party abolished the mandatory gender quotas for political parties’ electoral lists contained in Georgia’s election code and overturned the gender-related funding rule laid down in the law on political associations of citizens, thereby undoing the progress achieved on the promotion of women’s political participation and representation;

    J. whereas the Georgian authorities have not acted on a single recommendation of the Venice Commission regarding the annulment or modification of the above-mentioned legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and on ‘family values and protection of minors’, the abolition of gender quotas in local and parliamentary elections, and the formation of the Central Election Commission;

    K. whereas the ruling Georgian Dream party and pro-government media are spreading anti-EU and anti-democratic propaganda, as well as conspiracy theories;

    L. whereas the ruling Georgian Dream party and its leadership continue to escalate divisive, distorted and violent rhetoric against political opponents and international partners, including Ukraine; whereas the ruling party uses despicable political banners depicting Ukrainian cities destroyed by Russia, thus capitalising on the suffering of brave Ukrainians;

    M. whereas Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement expressing his readiness to help Georgia normalise its relations with ‘the neighbouring … states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’ was praised by the leaders of the ruling party, demonstrating the Georgian Government’s departure from its policy of non-recognition of the occupied regions of Georgia;

    N. whereas in the Commission communication entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’, the Commission recommended granting candidate status to Georgia on the understanding that Georgia takes nine steps, which include combating disinformation and interference against the EU and its values, engaging opposition parties and civil society in governance, and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression, as well as consulting civil society and involving it meaningfully in legislative and policymaking processes and ensuring that civil society can operate freely;

    O. whereas on 14 December 2023, Georgia was granted EU candidate status by the European Council on the understanding that the nine steps set out in the Commission recommendation are taken;

    P. whereas Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that Georgia will not impose sanctions on Russia, but only prevent their circumvention from happening on its territory;

    Q. whereas trade and business cooperation between Georgia and Russia has increased over the past two years, with more than 100 000 Russians having moved to Georgia, opened more than 26 000 businesses, purchased real estate and engaged in activities that create risks of money laundering; whereas this situation jeopardises Georgia’s national security and increases its dependence on Russia;

    R. whereas in recent months, the United States has imposed financial sanctions on Georgian security officials and the leaders of a far-right party for undermining and suppressing the freedom of peaceful assembly in Georgia, and has imposed travel sanctions on 60 other individuals, including senior government officials; whereas the National Bank of Georgia has refused to comply with these sanctions;

    S. whereas parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Georgia on 26 October 2024;

    1. Strongly condemns the adoption of the so-called ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’ legislation, as well as the abolition of gender quotas in local and parliamentary elections and the changes in formation of the Central Election Commission by the Georgian Dream majority; underlines that this legislation is incompatible with EU norms and values, damages Georgia’s reputation and jeopardises its efforts towards EU accession;

    2. Urges the Georgian Dream majority to immediately withdraw the legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’, to reintroduce gender quotas in local and parliamentary elections, and to ensure a consensus-based political process, which is crucial for the independence and impartiality of the Central Election Commission and for public trust in that institution; urges the Georgian Dream majority to implement the other recommendations of the Venice Commission; reiterates its call to cease all attacks on civil society, independent media, gender equality and the LGBTIQ+ community and to ensure a genuine enabling environment for civil society and media in the country;

    3. Stresses that the withdrawal of the legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’ will be necessary steps in improving the relationship between the EU and Georgia;

    4. Stands in solidarity with the courageous Georgian people fighting for their democratic rights and the European future of their country; reiterates its unwavering support for all those who advocate for and defend human rights and work for a peaceful country and society committed to equality and human dignity for all;

    5. Calls for the EU funding provided to the Georgian Government to be frozen until these illiberal pieces of legislation are repealed, and for strict conditions to be placed on the disbursement of any future funding to the Georgian Government;

    6. Reiterates its calls on the Commission to promptly assess how Georgia’s legislation on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the abolition of gender quotas and other changes in its electoral legislation, and the implementation of the Venice Commission’s recommendations in general, affect Georgia’s continuous fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks, in particular the fundamental rights benchmark, which is a crucial component of the EU visa liberalisation policy;

    7. Calls for the EU and its Member States to impose sanctions on Georgian officials who are involved in human rights violations against Georgian citizens or in the country’s democratic backsliding; reiterates its call on the Council to consider imposing personal sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili for his role in the deterioration of the political process and the human rights situation in Georgia; urges Georgian commercial banks to implement international sanctions;

    8. Reminds the Georgian Government that the EU granted Georgia candidate status on the understanding that the steps set out in the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 would be taken; underscores that the recently adopted pieces of legislation clearly go against this goal and put Georgia’s EU integration on hold;

    9. Reiterates its call on the Georgian Government to uphold its commitment to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and encourages it to adopt and implement reforms that are in line with its stated objective of joining the EU, as demanded by a large majority of Georgia’s citizens;

    10. Strongly urges Georgia, as an EU candidate country, to impose sanctions on Russia in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to effectively enforce measures to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions, as it has committed to doing; is deeply concerned by the alignment of the Georgian Government with Russian policies and the increasing dependence of Georgia on Russia, and by the Georgian Dream party’s use of violent images of the war in Ukraine as a means of manipulating public opinion and spreading disinformation in its campaign ahead of the October 2024 elections; calls on Georgia to fully align with the EU’s foreign policy and the EU’s strategy towards Russia;

    11. Calls for the EU and its Member States to guarantee their full support to Georgian civil society organisations in this difficult period, including on issues linked to fines and other burdens imposed on them by the new legislation;

    12. Urges the Georgian authorities to ensure that the October 2024 parliamentary elections adhere to the highest international standards, guaranteeing a transparent, free and fair process that reflects the democratic will of the people; urges the abolition of the ingrained practice of misusing public resources and administrative capacity for the benefit of the ruling party; insists that the presence of both domestic and international observers should be ensured in order to safeguard the integrity of the elections and calls for an expanded EU election observation mission;

    13. Is deeply concerned by reports that the Georgian Government is creating obstacles for the coalition of 30 NGOs and Transparency International Georgia in their efforts to conduct the ‘Go Out and Vote’ campaign; considers these obstacles an attempt to undermine democracy in the country;

    14. Is extremely concerned about the police brutality that occurred during the protests of March-June 2024 in Tbilisi, and calls on the Georgian authorities to conduct timely and thorough investigations into that police brutality;

    15. Reiterates its call for an impartial and independent long-term international election observation mission by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in order to monitor Georgia’s upcoming parliamentary elections;

    16. Reiterates its call on the Georgian authorities to immediately release former President Mikheil Saakashvili and to allow him to receive proper medical treatment abroad;

    17. Calls for the EU and its Member States to continue to pay close attention to these matters and to closely monitor developments in Georgia ahead of and after the country’s October 2024 parliamentary elections;

    18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.

     

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Türkiye’s provocative bid to join the BRICS countries and inclusion of the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine in the school curriculum – E-001895/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001895/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Vangelis Meimarakis (PPE)

    There have recently been two worrying developments concerning Türkiye:

    its application to join the BRICS countries and the inclusion and teaching of the revisionist narrative about the ‘Blue Homeland’ in school textbooks.

    Türkiye is an EU candidate country that has an Association Agreement and is in a customs union with the EU. It is also a member of NATO. How is this compatible with BRICS membership given these countries’ conflicting interests with the EU and NATO?

    Meanwhile, the ‘Blue Homeland’ narrative violates the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus under the Convention on the Law of the Sea and has led to the illegal Memorandum of Understanding between Türkiye and Lebanon. This narrative undermines the EU’s work in the field of energy in the Eastern Mediterranean and can become a source of conflict. It will also instil in Türkiye’s young generations a false understanding of the country’s history and obligations.

    In view of this:

    • 1.How will the Commission address these two issues in the context of the EU-Türkiye high-level dialogue?
    • 2.How will it address the digital diplomacy Türkiye has built through social media, which is reinforcing the ‘Blue Homeland’ narrative beyond Turkish borders?

    Submitted: 1.10.2024

    Last updated: 7 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Agenda – Thursday, 10 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    39 The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 38 The cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 40 Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 4 October 2024, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 7 October 2024, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Agenda – Wednesday, 9 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    25 Strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration     – Motion for a resolution Friday, 4 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 24 The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia     – Motion for a resolution Friday, 4 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 30 Urgent need to revise the medical devices regulation     – Motions for resolutions Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 20:00 39 The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 38 The cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 40 Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law     – Motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Monday, 7 October 2024, 20:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 14:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 4 October 2024, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 7 October 2024, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 8 October 2024, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Takes Action to Shut Down Monroe County Nonprofit for Financial Mismanagement

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a petition to dissolve the Community Resource Collaborative (CRC), a Monroe County not-for-profit, for misusing government funds intended to support local organizations that provide services to Rochester-area communities. The CRC, founded by Tina Paradiso, was created in 2021 to distribute millions of dollars in federal funds to 12 local organizations that provide housing, food, and other essential services to New Yorkers in the Rochester area as part of a program known as the Neighborhood Collaborative Project. However, the CRC’s executives used tens of thousands of dollars in federal funds to pay for personal expenses and failed to deliver more than $243,000 to the local organizations that were promised aid. Attorney General James seeks to dissolve CRC and appoint a receiver to liquidate its remaining assets to distribute owed funds to the local nonprofits.

    “Vulnerable communities in the Rochester area were relying on financial support from the Community Resource Collaborative, but they only saw a fraction of what they were promised,” said Attorney General James. “The CRC’s executives cheated local organizations that provide essential services to the needy to pay for their personal luxuries instead. To right this wrong, my office is taking action to dissolve CRC for rampant financial mismanagement and to help recoup funds for nonprofits that were promised aid and were left empty-handed.” 

    In November 2022, CRC was chosen to receive $7.1 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act over a four-year period for the Neighborhood Collaborative Project, an initiative intended to fund 12 local nonprofits that serve the Rochester area. In 2023, CRC received $1,067,971 in federal funding, but only $750,514 was distributed to the local nonprofits. 

    An audit into CRC by Monroe County found that the nonprofit paid for expenses unrelated to its mission, including $28,000 in transportation expenses, most of them Uber charges for CRC executives, and $180,000 in disbursements to repay loans made by CRC’s founder, Tina Paradiso. The organization also made direct payments to its directors for no apparent reason, including $28,000 in rent payments to Tina Paradiso’s company Imprintable Solutions, $10,000 for personal security, and $20,000 in direct payments to CRC board member Anthony Hall. The report also concluded that CRC failed to maintain a proper financial management system and financial records. In many instances, accounting entries lacked detail and disbursements were not accounted for by the program and/or agency. 

    As a result of this self-dealing and financial mismanagement, the CRC failed to deliver $243,907.02 to community charities that provide food, housing, and other services and were promised aid.

    Through this petition, Attorney General James seeks to dissolve CRC for violating New York’s not-for-profit corporation laws and to appoint a receiver to liquidate CRC’s assets and use those funds to pay the local nonprofits the money they are owed. 

    Attorney General James thanks the Monroe County Law Department for their cooperation and assistance in this matter.

    Attorney General James has always held nonprofits, organizations, and bad actors accountable when they misuse charitable funds. In May 2024, Attorney General James secured nearly $6.3 million for individuals who were defrauded by an Albany attorney and a financial advisor who looted family trusts intended to benefit charitable organizations throughout the Capital Region. In August 2023, Attorney General James recovered $510,000 for charity from Long Island lawyers who allegedly illegally paid themselves more than $1.3 million from a deceased client’s trust and charitable foundation. In February 2022, Attorney General James sued the former President and CEO of the Humanitarian Organization for Multicultural Experiences, Inc. (H.O.M.E.) for diverting or misusing nearly a million dollars in H.O.M.E.’s charitable assets for her personal gain. In May 2019, Attorney General James announced a settlement with Oneonta Elks over their wrongful use of charitable assets to pay for capital improvements to its lodge building and property, as well as covering general operating expenses. 

    This matter is being handled by Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge Benjamin Bruce and Assistant Attorney General Audrey Cooper both of the Rochester Regional Office which is led by Assistant Attorney General-in-Charge Ted O’Brien.  The Rochester Regional Office is a part of the Division of Regional Offices, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Justice celebrates Roads to Prosperity anniversary and achievements with 1,320 highways members

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    CategoriesEnglish, MIL OSI, US State Governments, US State of West Virginia

    CHARLESTON, WV — Seven years ago, Gov. Jim Justice asked West Virginians to believe in his vision for transforming the state’s infrastructure and approve a constitutional amendment allowing the largest bond sale in state history. The funds would be used to rebuild and maintain roads and bridges in every corner of the Mountain State.

    Voters overwhelmingly answered the call, with 73% supporting the Governor’s bold plan, giving rise to the $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity program, the largest infrastructure investment West Virginia had ever seen.

    Today, Gov. Justice joined 1,320 West Virginia Department of Transportation workers to celebrate the remarkable success of this program. Each highway worker held a card representing one of the 1,320 projects made possible by Roads to Prosperity, highlighting the significant improvements made across the state’s infrastructure.
    “This is absolutely one of the most important days in West Virginia history. We have accomplished things that nobody believed could have ever been possible. In fact, there were a lot of people that doubted this program. Despite the doubts, Toby and Edith made it known they were done being last, and they put their faith in the Roads to Prosperity program. We all believe in that vision now,” Gov. Justice said.

    “I look behind me at the 1,320 incredible DOT folks that represent the total number of projects that were on the books for decades. I cannot thank the folks at our Department of Transportation enough for the unbelievable work they’ve done and that they will continue to do. Roads are being fixed in every corner of West Virginia. We’ve created tens of thousands of jobs, our tourism is skyrocketing, and people around the world are taking notice.

    “Roads to Prosperity started as a promise. I promised if West Virginians said yes on the bond vote that we’d do something that had never been done before. Today on this anniversary, I can say that we have delivered on that promise. Prosperity is HERE in West Virginia. We’ve planted the seeds for the future, and they will continue bringing prosperity for years to come. We are watching West Virginia become a powerhouse on the world stage, and we can thank Roads to Prosperity for laying the foundation.”
    Gov. Justice envisioned Roads to Prosperity as a way to create immediate jobs in West Virginia while addressing decades of underinvestment in the state’s roads and bridges, spurring economic development across the Mountain State.

    The program included major projects like the $224 million effort to replace or upgrade 26 bridges along Interstate 70 in Wheeling and the $254 million project to expand Interstate 64 to six lanes between Nitro and the US 35 exit, which also replaced the Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge with two new spans.

    Roads to Prosperity also funded smaller bridge, paving, and slide repair projects in every county—many of which might have remained untouched for years without this initiative.

    To date, nearly all of the 1,320 Roads to Prosperity projects have been started or completed. 
    “Today is indeed the most important milestone in West Virginia’s history,”  Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation Jimmy Wriston, P.E. said. “When you talk about transportation in West Virginia, you are talking about the Roads to Prosperity program. Our infrastructure was off track due to decades and decades of underinvesting. The bold vision of Gov. Justice changed that. His vision got us on the launch pad for the rocketship ride. None of that would have made any difference if it wasn’t for our DOT workers. We are all connected. That is the message the Governor instilled in us with his leadership. We are all pulling the rope together in the same direction, and our connections are much stronger.  Gov. Justice’s Roads to Prosperity program has turned West Virginia around.”

    “Seven years ago, I had no idea how much transportation would shape our tourism, and now I know it’s our biggest asset,” Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said. “We have come a long way, and what an absolute privilege it has been working so closely with our DOT. Gov. Justice’s incredible vision for Roads to Prosperity and telling West Virginia’s story has boosted our tourism like never before. We welcome 75 million visitors to our beautiful state each year, and they are all driving on our roads. Today, we celebrate how important our roads are to our tourism efforts. We proudly promote the country roads that have made West Virginia famous. We owe a huge thank you to Gov. Justice for his support and leadership. He has been our biggest advocate since day one, and West Virginia has become a world-class tourism destination.” 
    Major projects undertaken under Roads to Prosperity include:

    Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge and I-64 Widening Project
    Completing the Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge project on Interstate 64 between the Nitro and St. Albans exits eliminates a significant bottleneck and improves driver safety on one of West Virginia’s most heavily traveled interstates. 

    The project involved building a brand-new bridge just north of the old Donald Legg Bridge to carry westbound traffic. The old bridge was torn down, and a new bridge was erected on the existing bridge piers to carry eastbound traffic. Each bridge is four lanes wide, allowing motorists to travel between the Nitro and St. Albans exits without merging into traffic.
     
    The work is part of an approximately $254 million project to upgrade I-64 to six lanes from Nitro to the US 35 exit. The project also called for the construction of five new bridges in addition to the new Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge. Construction is expected to be finished by the end of October.
    Interstate 70 Bridges
    In 2019, work began on a massive project to replace or rehabilitate 26 different bridges in and around Interstate 70 in the Wheeling area, increasing safety for travelers and improving traffic flow once the project is complete.
     
    One of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the approximately $224 million project replaces or rehabilitates infrastructure dating back to the 1950s, which would have been too expensive to undertake prior to Roads to Prosperity.
    Corridor H
    Corridor H was designed to open some of West Virginia’s most remote areas in Grant, Tucker, and Hardy counties to economic development, connect the state’s highlands to eastern ports, reduce travel times through the mountains, and provide a smoother, safer highway for both travelers and residents.

    Stretching from Weston across central West Virginia to connect with Interstate 81 in Strasburg, Virginia, the completion of the four-lane Corridor H has been in progress for decades but had stalled for years. When Gov. Justice took office and launched his Roads to Prosperity program, additional funding was secured, allowing work on the corridor to resume.

    Today, over 100 miles of Corridor H are open to traffic, with approximately 30 miles remaining.
    Beckley Widening Project
    The section of the West Virginia Turnpike around Beckley has historically been one of the most congested portions of the entire Turnpike, with heavy traffic and the potential for accidents. That changed in the fall of 2021 with completing a $140 million widening project between mile marker 40 (Interstate 64 Interchange) and mile marker 48 (North Beckley exit).
     
    The Turnpike was widened to six lanes for the eight-mile stretch of highway, which includes the Mabscott, Tamarack, and Beckley exits. The six-lane upgrade eased congestion in the heavily traveled section of the Turnpike and improved safety on the stretch of highway.
    Coalfields Expressway
    The Coalfields Expressway (WV 121) is a four-lane limited access highway designed to connect The West Virginia Turnpike at Beckley with US 23 in Slate, Virginia, opening West Virginia’s Southern Coalfields to never-before-seen economic development opportunities. The four-lane will also replace narrow, twisting country roads with safer, faster, and more direct routes.
     
    Construction began in 1999 but stalled due to a lack of funding.
     
    In 2017, Gov. Jim Justice committed to extending the Coalfields Expressway as part of his Roads to Prosperity program. In 2020, an 8.9-mile section of the Expressway opened to traffic between Slab Fork in Raleigh County and Mullens in Wyoming County.
     
    In May 2022, a $147.6 million project was awarded to Bizzack Construction to build a 5.12-mile section of highway from Welch to WV 16 to connect the town with the Coalfields Expressway.
     
    Future plans are also in the works to build a five-mile stretch of the Coalfields Expressway from Mullens to Twin Falls State Park and a three-mile link from Twin Falls toward Pineville.
     
    About 18 miles of the Coalfields Expressway are currently open to traffic.
    King Coal Highway
    When Gov. Justice took office, he made the completion of Corridor H, the Coalfields Expressway, and the King Coal Highway significant priorities of his administration. On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, Gov. Justice cut the ribbon and celebrated the grand opening of an approximately three-mile stretch of the King Coal Highway spanning from Airport Road to John Nash Boulevard near Bluefield.
     
    The approximately $68 million project, the first section of the King Coal Highway to be funded through Gov. Justice’s $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity program, connects Airport Road to the previously constructed Christine Elmore West Bridge and the bridge to the intersection of John Nash Boulevard and US 460. Kanawha Stone Company Inc. was awarded the contract in October 2018, with construction starting that winter.
     
    The King Coal Highway is a four-lane highway approximately 95 miles long, running through McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wyoming, and Wayne counties, along or near the currently existing US 52 from US 119 near Williamson to Interstate 77 in Bluefield. The project is intended to open West Virginia’s southern coalfields to economic development.
     
    Development of the King Coal Highway has been underway since the 1990s but bogged down for lack of funding before Gov. Justice revitalized the project in 2018. A two-mile section of the King Coal Highway connecting Airport Road to Interstate 77 and a four-mile section connecting US 119 to Belo north of Williamson is currently open to traffic. About 10 miles between Red Jacket and Mountain View is also open.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs To Host Listening Tour in Welch

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice and the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) announced today the next stop in a statewide listening tour on Thursday, October 10, in Welch.

    This listening tour aims to actively engage with community members across West Virginia, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration to address their needs and priorities. 

    The Welch Listening Tour features two key sessions:

    Senior Visit — McDowell County Commission on Aging
    725 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801
    10-11:30 a.m.

    General Public Meeting — Jack Caffrey Arts & Cultural Center
    143 Wyoming Street, Welch, WV 24801
    5:30-7:30 p.m.

    “The Welch community and residents of nearby areas are invited to join this listening session and share their experiences and views,” Jill Upson, Executive Director of HHOMA, said. “This is a great way to promote meaningful dialogue and collaboration as we work to create a more equitable and resilient future for everyone.”

    These sessions provide citizens and community leaders with a platform to voice their concerns and raise awareness of issues affecting residents. Attendees are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and share their insights. 

    For more information about the Listening Tour, please visit http://www.minorityaffairs.wv.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen, DeGette Announce Support for Colorado River District’s Application for Funding to Complete Shoshone Water Rights Purchase

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Brittany Pettersen, and Diana DeGette, wrote to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (CRWCD) application for federal funding to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in Colorado, known as the Shoshone Permanency Project. The lawmakers offered their support as part of an ongoing BOR funding opportunity to provide environmental benefits in response to drought, which remains open for additional projects in Colorado and the rest of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
    “The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the state of Colorado,” wrote the lawmakers. “Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.”
    The 1902 Senior and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Rights currently held by Xcel Energy are used to generate power at the Shoshone Power Plant and then return it to the river. Communities across Western Colorado have already committed over $55 million, and are applying to BOR for funding from the Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program to help complete the purchase and create stability for communities, water and recreational users, and the environment. The Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program funding opportunity is open for application through November 22, 2024, and the lawmakers welcome other applicants to contact their offices on the opportunity to provide support. 
    “This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies,”continue the lawmakers. “We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention.”
    As part of the Shoshone Permanency Project, CRWCD will seek a change in these rights to include an alternate beneficial use and preserve the historical flow regime. The state process for changing these decreed water rights is distinct from any federal funding review or outcome, and will proceed separately. As acknowledged in the letter, data collection and analysis related to the Shoshone water rights’ historic use is ongoing and important to the state of Colorado’s formal review. 
    As the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources, Bennet has consistently worked with his colleagues to help communities in Colorado and across the American West as they face the effects of climate change. In June 2022, as Subcommittee Chair, Bennet held the Senate’s very first hearing on Western drought. In June 2024, Bennet and Subcommittee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) held a field hearing in Burlington, Colorado, to hear from Western producers and agricultural leaders facing historic drought. 
    Bennet and Hickenlooper fought to include $8 billion for Western water infrastructure, $10 billion for forests, $19 billion for agricultural conservation, and $4 billion for drought in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In September 2022, Bennet, Neguse, and Crow urged BOR to prioritize funding for long-term, permanent solutions to the Colorado River drought crisis as it worked to allocate the $4 billion for Western drought from the IRA. After calling on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change in April 2024, Bennet welcomed $400 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for investments at the irrigation district scale to address drought in August. The lawmakers will continue to work with communities and water users across the state to ensure as much of this funding as possible comes to the state of Colorado.
    The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Commissioner Touton:
    We write in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (the River District) application to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation funding opportunity, referred to as Bucket 2E. As you know, the Inflation Reduction Act provided a historic $4 billion to address issues caused by drought, including activities to support environmental benefits, and ecosystem and habitat restoration. If selected, the River District will leverage Bucket 2E funding alongside significant state and local investment to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in the State of Colorado – the Shoshone Water Rights – to preserve their historical flow regime in perpetuity. 
    The River District was established in 1937 as a local governing entity to represent water users across 15 counties in Western Colorado – including the headwaters of the Yampa, White, Gunnison, and Colorado Rivers. The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the State of Colorado.
    Now, the River District is pursuing the Shoshone Permanency Project, which aims to preserve the historical Colorado River flow regime created by the 1902 Senior Shoshone Water Right and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Right (the “Shoshone Water Rights”). The River District has signed an agreement to purchase the Shoshone Water Rights from Xcel Energy, which currently holds the rights for its Shoshone hydropower plant. Today, the Shoshone Water Rights are decreed as non-consumptive water rights: the water is used to generate hydropower at the Shoshone Power Plant and is returned to the stream. The Shoshone Water Rights’ senior status “pulls” water to Glenwood Canyon, which ensures that water continues to flow and benefits the downstream environment. Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.
    Data collection and analysis of Shoshone Water Rights’ historic use is not yet completed, and ongoing–a key step for understanding the historic flow regime on the Colorado River. The Shoshone Permanency Project seeks to change the water rights to include an alternate beneficial use for instream flow purposes, a legally recognized beneficial use in Colorado, to preserve the historical Shoshone flow regime. The proposed decree associated with these flows is still under technical review by the State of Colorado. The River District is actively discussing the proposal with other water users across the state. The Colorado Water Conservation Board and the State of Colorado Water Court will conduct a formal review in the coming months. Ongoing modeling will also help quantify the environmental benefits of the Shoshone Water Rights flows. One potential benefit is to the critical habitat of four fish in the Colorado River listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), known as the 15-Mile Reach, located near Palisade, Colorado.
    The State of Colorado and our water users are making their own significant investments to ensure that the historical Shoshone flows can continue in perpetuity. The Colorado River District has allocated $20 million, the State of Colorado has appropriated another $20 million for the acquisition, provided the State’s instream flow requirements are met, and a coalition of Western Slope water users and local governments have formally committed over $15 million. This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies.
    We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention. We encourage you to give the River District’s proposal your full and fair consideration consistent with all applicable rules and regulations. Thank you for your review, and please notify our offices of any funds awarded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mavillette — RCMP investigates fatal crash in Mavillette

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Meteghan RCMP is investigating a fatal crash that occurred in Mavillette.

    On October 6, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Meteghan RCMP, fire services, and EHS responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision on Hwy. 1. Officers learned that a Pontiac G5 veered out of its lane and collided with a Hyundai Kona travelling in the opposite direction.

    One of the passengers in the Hyundai, a 77-year-old Saint Alphonse woman, was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver and another passenger in this vehicle were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

    The driver of the Pontiac, a 33-year-old man from Saint Alphonse, showed signs of impairment by alcohol, and was arrested and transported to a local hospital where blood samples were obtained. He will face charges of Operation while Impaired Causing Death.

    An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

    Hwy. 1 was closed in both directions for several hours, but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Arrest Serial Rapist in Washington

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Columbia Superior Court, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit, as well as other law enforcement partners, executed an arrest warrant for Ernesto Ramon Mercado in connection with five sexual offenses that occurred within the District of Columbia between 2008 and 2012.

    Following his arrest, Mercado was arraigned at DC Superior Court on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and five counts of second-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances in connection with a series of six unsolved, forensically linked home invasion burglary/rape offenses. Five of the attacks occurred in the Georgetown area of Northwest Washington and the sixth occurred just off the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. Evidence testing in all six cases yielded the same unknown male DNA profile.

    Each of the victims had described waking up after a night out to find someone with them in their residence. A man would be on top of them or beside them in their bed, raping or attempting to rape them. The man would run away when the victim screamed or began to fight back.

    Investigators suspect Mercado as the perpetrator of dozens of unsolved cases of voyeurism, burglary and other offenses across the region in this same time period, though he has not been charged in those crimes. This is an ongoing investigation led by the Cold Case Sexual Assault Initiative, a collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Significant assistance is being provided by the U.S. Marshal’s Service’s Superior Court Unit, the FBI Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team, FBI’s Baltimore and Washington Field Offices, the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Arlington County Police Department.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI conducts Regional Workshop on Competition Law in Collaboration with NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

    Source: Government of India (2)

    CCI conducts Regional Workshop on Competition Law in Collaboration with NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

    Chairperson, CCI Smt. Ravneet Kaur highlighted the significance of the Competition Amendment Act, 2023 in promoting fair competition and safeguarding consumer interests

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 6:17PM by PIB Delhi

    The Competition Commission of India, in association with NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, successfully organized a Regional Workshop on Competition Law at the NALSAR Campus in Hyderabad today. The Workshop aimed to enhance the understanding of recent developments in competition law and its enforcement.

    The event began with an Inaugural Session where Smt. Ravneet Kaur, the Chairperson of the CCI delivered the keynote address. The Chairperson highlighted the significance of the Competition Amendment Act, 2023, which introduced important changes to India’s competition law framework. The address underscored the role of these amendments in promoting fair competition, safeguarding consumer interests, and ensuring a level playing field for businesses across sectors, including digital markets. Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor NALSAR delivered the inaugural address.

    Following the inaugural session, two technical sessions were conducted by the Members of CCI viz. Shri Anil Agrawal and Ms. Sweta Kakkar. The first session focused on recent amendments to competition law and their implications for businesses and regulators.

    The second session delved into cartel investigation and enforcement, with special emphasis on the hub-and-spoke model, where coordination between competitors is facilitated by a central entity.

    The workshop attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, researchers and legal professionals, academics. It provided an opportunity for valuable dialogue on the practical challenges of enforcing competition law in India’s rapidly changing economic environment.

    The Chairperson of the CCI remarked that the workshop reflected the CCI’s ongoing efforts to engage with stakeholders and strengthen its enforcement capabilities. The workshop also highlighted the importance of collaboration between regulatory bodies, academia, and industry in addressing the challenges posed by modern markets.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chairs a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in New Delhi today

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chairs a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in New Delhi today

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we will completely eliminate Naxalism by 2026

    Naxalism is the biggest hurdle in the development of tribal areas and an enemy of humanity as a whole

    Due to Naxalism, more than 8 crore people have been deprived of basic amenities, a major violation of human rights

    Since January 2024, a total of 237 Naxalites have been neutralized, 812 arrested, and 723 have surrendered in Chhattisgarh

    A zero-tolerance approach to Left Wing Extremism and full implementation of government schemes will transform LWE-affected areas into fully developed areas

    Modi government is strengthening 3-C i.e Road connectivity, Mobile connectivity and Financial connectivity

    During the Modi government, security spending in LWE-affected states has nearly tripled, reaching Rs. 3,006 crore

    From 2004 to 2014, only 66 fortified police stations were constructed, but the Modi government has built 544 such stations in the last 10 years

    Violent incidents in LWE-affected areas dropped by 53%, from 16,463 cases between 2004 and 2014 to 7,700 in the last 10 years

    Chief Ministers of all LWE affected states should review development and anti-Naxal operations once a month and Director Generals of Police at least once in 15 days

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 6:24PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in New Delhi today. The Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh participated in the meeting. Union Ministers from various ministries, who are cooperating with the states to accelerate developmental works in LWE-affected areas, were also present during the meeting. The Union Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau, Deputy National Security Advisor, senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the central government, Chief Secretaries, Director Generals of Police, and senior officials from LWE-affected states also participated in the meeting.

    In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, all LWE-affected states, working shoulder to shoulder, are committed to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. He mentioned that Prime Minister Modi has set the goal of making India a developed nation by the year 2047, and our 8 crore tribal brothers and sisters have a very important role in it. Shri Shah added that the true meaning of a developed India is that development reaches the 140 crore people of the country, including our 8 crore tribal brothers and sisters. He said that the biggest obstacle in bringing development to remote areas and tribal communities today is Naxalism. He said that Naxalism prevents education, healthcare, connectivity, banking, and postal services from reaching villages. Shri Shah emphasized that in order to ensure that the development reaches the last person in the society, we must completely eliminate Naxalism.

    Union Home Minister said major success has been achieved in the fight against Naxalism from 2019 to 2024. He stated that through the joint efforts of the central and state governments, we aim to replace the darkness created by left-wing extremism with the constitutional rights and start a new era of development and trust instead of the violent ideology of left-wing. Shri Shah emphasized that with a zero-tolerance approach towards left-wing extremism and 100% implementation of government schemes, we want to fully develop the LWE-affected areas.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the government had laid down two rules of law to fight left wing extremism. First, to establish the rule of law in Naxalism-affected areas and completely stop illegal violent activities. Second, to quickly compensate for the loss in those areas which were deprived of development due to the long Naxalite movement.

    Union Home Minister said that for the first time in 30 years, the number of casualties due to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) was below 100 in 2022, which is a significant achievement. He mentioned that from 2014 to 2024, there has been a substantial decline in Naxal-related incidents. He said that 14 top Naxal leaders have been neutralized, and the government welfare schemes have been better implemented to reach to the last man in the queue. Shri Shah said that the fight against LWE is in its final phase, and by March 2026, with everyone’s cooperation, the country will be completely free from this decades-old menace. He further mentioned that areas like Buddha Pahad and Chakarbandha have been completely free from the grip of Naxalism. He added that 85 per cent of the LWE cadre strength in Chhattisgarh has been eliminated, and now the need is to deliver a final blow to Naxalism.

    Shri Amit Shah said that since 2019, the Modi government has implemented a multi-pronged strategy, under which vacuums were identified for the deployment of CAPFs. As a result, more than 194 camps were established in just one year, leading to significant success. Shri Shah mentioned that the filling of security vacuums through 45 police stations, strengthening state intelligence branches, and the excellent performance of state special forces contributed to the success of the strategy. He further said that the provision of helicopters has drastically reduced the number of casualties among our troops. Earlier, there were only two helicopters deployed for the service of the forces, but today, 12 helicopters, 6 from BSF and 6 from the Air Force, are operational.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation complimented Chhattisgarh government for its success in combating Naxalism. He mentioned that since January 2024, a total of 237 Naxalites have been killed, 812 arrested, and 723 have surrendered in Chhattisgarh. Home Minister appealed to the youth involved in Naxalism to abandon the path of violence and join the mainstream of society to contribute to the country’s development. He noted that more than 13,000 people from the Northeast, Kashmir, and LWE affected areas have renounced violence and joined the mainstream. Shri Shah asked the youth engaged in Naxalism, that all states have developed beneficial rehabilitation schemes for them. He emphasized that it has now been fully proven that no one benefits from Naxalism.

    Shri Amit Shah said that Rs 1,180 crore was spent under the security related expenditure scheme from 2004 to 2014, which the Modi Government has increased almost 3 times to Rs 3,006 crore between 2014 to 2024. He said Rs 1,055 crore has been given under the scheme of assistance to central agencies for managing LWE. Shri Shah said that Special Central Assistance is a new scheme under which the Modi Government has spent Rs 3,590 crore in the last 10 years. He said that a total of Rs 14,367 crore has been approved so far, out of which Rs 12,000 crore has been spent.

    Union Home Minister said that 66 fortified police stations were built between 2004 and 2014, whereas 544 fortified police stations have been built between 2014 to 2024. In the 10 years before 2014, 2,900 km of road network was constructed, which has increased to 14,400 km in the last 10 years. He added that no efforts were made for mobile connectivity in the last 10 years from 2004 to 2014, whereas during 2014 to 2024, 6,000 towers have been installed and the work of converting 3,551 towers to 4G has also been completed. Before 2014, only 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) were approved, now in the last 10 years, 216 schools have been approved, out of which 165 EMR schools have come into existence. The Home Minister said that all these efforts show with what intensity we have worked to accelerate development.

    Shri Amit Shah said that in the 10 years between 2004 and 2014, 16,463 incidents of violence had occurred which have now come down to 7,700 with a reduction of about 53%. Similarly, the deaths of civilians and security forces have reduced by 70%, 96 districts reporting violence have now come down to 16 with a reduction of 57 percent. Police stations reporting violence have also come down to 171 from 465, out of which 50 police stations are new. Shri Shah said that this success is the result of joint efforts of all the states and the central government. He added that we have to take it forward with more determination and vigor.

    Union Home Minister said that the success achieved in Chhattisgarh against Naxalism inspires all of us. He said that the Chhattisgarh government has launched a new campaign of development in all the districts affected by Left Wing Extremism. A target has been set for 100% saturation of about 300 schemes of central and state governments for personal and family welfare. He added that due to these schemes, grains and medicines at cheaper rates, schools, public health centers etc. have now reached the villages.

    Shri Amit Shah highlighted that since 2019, to fill the security vacuum, 280 new camps have been established, 15 new Joint Task Forces have been created, and six CRPF battalions have been deployed to assist state police in various states. Along with this, an offensive strategy has been adopted by activating the NIA to choke the financing of Naxalites, which has resulted in a shortage of financial resources for them. Home Minister added that multiple long-duration operations were conducted, ensuring that the Naxalites are surrounded, leaving them with no opportunity to escape.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that apart from the flagship schemes, the Modi government has placed significant emphasis on key development areas such as road connectivity, improvement in telecommunications, financial inclusion, skill development, education, health, and nutrition, which have yielded positive results. He mentioned that on October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ from the land of Jharkhand. He added that this campaign will be a milestone in providing personal amenities for achieving full saturation in rural areas in over 15,000 villages, benefiting nearly 1.5 crore people in LWE affected areas. Shri Shah emphasized that Modi government is strengthening 3-C i.e Road connectivity, Mobile connectivity and Financial connectivity.

    Union Home Minister emphasized that Naxalism is not only the biggest obstacle to the development of tribal areas but also the enemy of humanity and the greatest violator of human rights. He mentioned that depriving 8 crore people of basic amenities is a major violation of human rights. Shri Shah pointed out that thousands of innocent tribal brothers and sisters are killed by landmines planted by Naxalites, and it is due to Naxalism that development in these areas has been halted.

    Union Home Minister stated that in order to completely eradicate Naxalism, it is essential to give a final push to eliminate this menace once and for all. He urged the Chief Ministers of all affected states to review the progress of development and anti-Naxal operations at least once a month, and requested the Director Generals of Police to conduct such reviews at least once every 15 days.

    Shri Amit Shah said that we must work towards the complete elimination of Naxalism. He emphasized that by April 2026, through the collective strength of the people, we should be able to announce that the states and central government, working together, have fully eliminated the menace of Naxalism. He added that once this is achieved, there will be no obstacle to development, no human right violations, and no violence in the name of ideology.

    *****

    RK/ASH/PR/PS                    

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    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Attacks on judicial independence by Spanish Government ministers – E-001514/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    As reflected in the Commission’s 2022, 2023 and 2024 Rule of Law Reports[1], according to European standards, while courts are not immune to criticism and scrutiny, the judiciary must enjoy public confidence to be effective in view of its special role in society.

    Damage to this confidence is particularly relevant in relation to statements by members of the legislative and the executive branches, as all powers of the State must foster and protect the trust of the general public in constitutional institutions including the judiciary.

    As regards the ‘Organic Law on Amnesty for the Institutional, Political and Social Normalisation of Catalonia’, now that the law entered into force on 11 June 2024, the Commission is analysing it in terms of relevance for EU law.

    The Commission remains committed to taking any necessary measures to ensure compliance with EU law and upholding the rule of law in all Member States and will continue to work with the Spanish authorities to promote the rule of law, including within the framework of the rule of law cycle.

    Last updated: 7 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Protecting the European music industry by making broadcasting rights payments to third-country nationals subject to reciprocity – E-001423/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has intensively worked on analysing the consequences of the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C-265/19 on the remuneration of phonogram producers and performers[1].

    The Commission conducted a comprehensive evidence-gathering and engaged in discussions with Member States and stakeholders on this matter. More details and references may be found in the reply to Written Question E-001161/2024.

    The discussions with Member States and the feedback from the stakeholders highlighted significant differences across Member States in the practices of remunerating third-country phonogram producers and performers, based on national treatment or material reciprocity.

    There were as well varying opinions on the necessity of any form of regulatory intervention especially if that intervention would be for the purposes of reversing the judgment of the Court of Justice with the risk of fragmenting the internal market.

    Accordingly, the review of Directive 2006/115/EC[2] was not identified as one of the matters for which the Commission would bring forward proposals under the 2019-2024 mandate. The matter may be further examined under the new Commission.

    • [1] Judgment of 8 September 2020, Recorded Artists Actors Performers Ltd v Phonographic Performance (Ireland) Ltd and Others, C-265/19, EU:C:2020:677.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32006L0115
    Last updated: 7 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey Delivers $4.5 Million to Lower Energy Costs for Farmers and Small Business Owners

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey
    Grants funded by Casey-backed Inflation Reduction Act
    Grants will go towards purchasing and installing solar energy systems and improving waste digestion to help farmers and small businesses save on energy costs  
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) secured a total of $4,537,255 to lower energy costs for farmers and small businesses across the Commonwealth. The twenty awards will help businesses and farms purchase and install solar photovoltaic systems, which will convert captured solar energy into electricity to power machines and operations and save Pennsylvanians thousands of dollars per year. These funds will also help a Pennsylvania dairy farm purchase and install a new engine for their anerobic digester. The funding comes from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.
    “When we invest in technology that lowers energy costs for our businesses and farmers, we are investing in the Commonwealth’s long-term success,” said Senator Casey. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, farmers and small businesses can continue supporting their families and their communities and save thousands of dollars each year. I will always fight for investments that lower costs, support businesses, and protect our Commonwealth’s environment for generations to come.”
    See below for a list of project recipients of the Inflation Reduction Act funding.
    Table of Funding Recipients
    Recipient
    Grant
    City/County

    Denis Beachel

    $329,831

    Danville, Montour County

    Charles L. Fisher

    $648,800

    Unionville, Centre County

    McNaughton Bros Inc.

    $152,600

    Indiana, Indiana County

    GeoTech Engineering Inc.

    $49,894

    Morrisdale, Clearfield County

    Ambassador Towers LLC

    $483,300

    Huntington County

    Pax-Terra LLC

    $610,420

    Meyersdale, Somerset County

    Schrack Farms LP

    $479,161

    Loganton, Clinton County

    Unity Lab Corp.

    $387,300

    Dunshore, Sullivan County

    Bruce King Jr.

    $306,150

    Troy, Bradford County

    Ebensburg Animal Hospital Inc.

    $165,773

    Ebensburg, Cambria County

    Mr. B’s Lawn Service Inc.

    $29,080

    Ellwood City, Lawrence County

    Talview Dairy LLC

    $200,704

    Lebanon, Lebanon County

    Philip Wise

    $79,000

    Berks County

    Mann Plumbing and Heating LLC

    $49,810

    Fayetteville, Franklin County

    Shree Sai Nivas LLC

    $81,142

    Mifflin County

    Joeseph Nolt

    $81,216

    Lancaster County

    Bellaire Farms LLC

    $184,050

    Elizabethtown, Lancaster County

    McCartney’s Inc.

    $56,024

    Altoona, Blair County

    Peter G. Reifsnyder Inc.

    $66,250

    Bernville, Berks County

    Eagle Rental Inc.

    $96,750

    Lebanon County

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Justice amends special session call with several new items for consideration

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    CategoriesEnglish, MIL OSI, US State Governments, US State of West Virginia

    CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim Justice has issued a proclamation amending his original call for the West Virginia Legislature to convene in Special Session, adding several new items for consideration.

    Some of the additional items include: 

    • A 2% reduction in the personal income tax.
    • A resolution to honor Hershel “Woody” Williams with a statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection.
    • Funding for certain federally-funded broadband expansion programs to come from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority.
    • Supplemental funding for West Virginia University, Marshall University, Concord University, Shepherd University, and New River Community and Technical College.
    • The allocation of $5 million for statewide EMS program support.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California takes bold step to revolutionize youth sports with 25×25 Coaches Challenge

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 7, 2024

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom’s Advisory Council and Million Coaches Challenge are joining forces to train 25,000 youth coaches in California by 2025, setting a new standard for positive youth development and equity in sports.

    Sacramento, California –  Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced today that the California Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-being is teaming up with the Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge (MCC) to launch 25×25: The California Coaches Challenge. This initiative aims to train 25,000 coaches in positive youth coaching across California by the end of 2025. 

    Through the Council’s Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind campaign, MCC partners Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS) will spearhead a statewide effort to instill the principles of positive youth development, social-emotional learning, healing-centered practices, and culturally responsive coaching in youth coaches. Coaches will learn a range of youth-centered strategies, including creating safe spaces for all young people, fostering a sense of belonging, and coaching with empathy. The American Institutes for Research (AIR), which leads the multiyear implementation study of the MCC, will provide research support for the 25×25 California Coaches Challenge.

    “Sports are a hugely important tool for helping kids develop teamwork, confidence, and physical and mental health, while also meeting strong role models in their coaches. As leaders, we have an obligation to make sure those coaches have the tools to meet that high bar. Working with the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-being and Million Coaches Challenge, I’m confident that we can build a new generation of coaches that are ready to meet every challenge our young athletes throw at them.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “A positive and empowering youth sports culture is critical to the mental health and overall well-being of our children. When coaches are trained to prioritize character development, teamwork, grit, and emotional resilience, young people are more likely to stay engaged in sports and build essential life skills. The partnership between the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-being and Million Coaches Challenge will ensure that our youth not only experience the physical benefits of sports but also gain the social and emotional support they need to thrive on and off the field.”

    First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

    Why this matters

    Physical activity and sports participation rates are declining nationally, and California is no exception. Today many children in California are not meeting daily physical activity recommendations, and only half of California’s youth participate in sports. With around 70% of children discontinuing organized sports before reaching high school, the 25×25 California Coaches Challenge aims to create a more positive and inclusive sports and fitness culture that keeps youth engaged in sport and helps them develop the skills needed to thrive.

    Through existing relationships with parks and recreation systems, schools, community-based organizations, and club teams, PCA and CHJS will provide training to at least 25,000 coaches across California by December 2025. The Governor’s Advisory Council will promote the initiative statewide, reaching communities with significant need and underrepresentation in youth sports. CHJS has existing coach training partnerships across the state. Notable examples include the Dodgers Foundation, the Los Angeles Clippers, the YMCA of Greater Los Angeles, and, together with Nike, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department. PCA, with its robust state-wide infrastructure, also has planned trainings this fall with the LA Jr. Clippers, USTA Southern California, Boys and Girls Club of Burbank, Irvine Ice Foundation, Santa Maria Swim Club, and numerous high schools across the state. 

    Kevin Connors, Managing Director of the Susan Crown Exchange, funder of the Million Coaches Challenge: “California is setting a powerful example for the country. This initiative will help ensure that hundreds of thousands of young athletes experience sports in ways that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being.”

    The California Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-being

    Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind is a California campaign launched in 2023 by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, with a goal to provide guidance and resources on physical activity and mental well-being for Californians of all ages; increase awareness among all age groups about the benefits of movement, sport, nutrition, and overall mental wellness; encourage intergenerational physical fitness activities; promote equitable access to outdoor and physical activities for underserved communities; and facilitate collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies, education, business and industry, the private sector, and others in the promotion of movement and mental wellness. The campaign provides easy ways for Californians to get active and to take steps to increase mental well-being. Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind provides resources for both individuals and organizations.

    The Million Coaches Challenge

    The Million Coaches Challenge partners have embarked on a journey to grow a generation of coaches trained in youth development. Coach training is essential to creating quality sports experiences and we envision a world in which all young athletes, regardless of their family’s income, their gender, their race, or their ability status, have access to coaches who are well-versed in youth development and skill-building techniques that help kids succeed on and off the field. The first step: train one million coaches in youth development practices by 2025. The Million Coaches Challenge is funded by the Susan Crown Exchange.

    Recent news

    Oct 7, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement marking one year since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel:“For the last year, the people of Israel – and Jewish communities across the globe – have mourned for their lost loved…

    Oct 4, 2024

    News Lo que necesita saber: El Estado lanzó una versión renovada de CA.gov, el portal insignia de California que conecta a las personas con cientos de servicios y programas estatales, como por ejemplo CalFresh, certificados de nacimiento, licencias comerciales,…

    Oct 4, 2024

    News What you need to know: The state launched a refreshed version of CA.gov, California’s flagship portal that connects people to hundreds of state services and programs. Haga clic aquí para español.SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the launch of the…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commissioner Johansson’s speech at the Plenary debate on internal border controls and their impact in Schengen

    Source: European Commission – Justice

    European Commission Speech Strasbourg, 07 Oct 2024 I am proud to live in the Schengen area.
    And I think all of us are.
    The biggest area of free movement in the world.
    450 million people in 29 countries, who can …

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Civil Society Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of civil society organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand, whose reports the Committee will review this week.

    In relation to Lao People’s Democratic Republic, speakers raised concerns regarding gender-based violence, human trafficking, and the experiences of Hmong women and girls. 

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Saudi Arabia raised topics on the imprisonment of women human rights defenders, women on death row, and the treatment of female domestic workers. 

    On New Zealand, speakers addressed the situation of Māori women and girls, the treatment of transgender and intersex persons, and the gender pay gap.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Association for Development of Women and Legal Education; Gender Development Association; the Alliance for Democracy in Laos; Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization in affiliation with its member the Congress of World Hmong People; and Hawai’i Centre for Human Rights Research and Action and on behalf of the Advocates for Human Rights, the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, and Harm Reduction International.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Saudi Arabia: Amnesty International; MENA Rights Group and ALQST; the Advocates for Human Rights, the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights; Migrants Rights and Global Detention Project; and Sema Nami, Global Alliance against Traffic in Women, Solidarity Centre, IZWI Domestic Worker Alliance, and Africa End Sexual Harassment Initiative. 

    The New Zealand Human Rights Commission spoke on New Zealand, as did the following non-governmental organizations: Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge, Homeless Women’s Coalition and Maori Women’s Welfare League; Pacific Allied Council (of women) Inspires Faith Ideals Concerning All; Shakti; Pacific Women’s Watch; and the National Council of Women.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-ninth session is being held from 7 October to 25 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 8 October to consider the tenth periodic report of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (CEDAW/C/LAO/10).

    Opening Remarks by the Committee Chair

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, said this was the first opportunity during the session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties that were having their reports reviewed during the first week, namely Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.  A second meeting would be held on Monday, 14 October, where civil society would provide information on the countries under consideration in the second week of the session.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand

    Lao People’s Democratic Republic

    On Lao People’s Democratic Republic, speakers, among other things, said the percentage of women and girls who experienced gender-based violence was high.  Authorities had misconceptions about what violence against women looked like. It was recommended that the Government develop an appropriate platform to raise awareness and expand shelter services, to ensure women and girls had access to protection and legal mechanisms. There were also limitations for women’s access to the justice system, especially in the context of violence against women.  Customary law was often applied to violence against women cases, without women representatives.  It was recommended that the Government enhance the capacity of law enforcement and mediation units, and review relevant laws for ensuring the full protection of women and girls. 

    There was a great difference in the rates of young births between the rural and urban areas; 23.5 per cent of girls aged 15 to 19 were married or in a relationship.  It was recommended that the Government develop communication tools for ethnic women and provide community hospitals and resources. Around 32 per cent of young females between 15 and 17 years of age did not go to school, primarily due to financial reasons.  It was recommended that the Government enhance the monitoring and data collection system.  Many young women and girls were often offered for sale to men in China on the internet. The internet trade continued unabated, and perpetrators roamed free.  Many women human rights defenders were murdered or disappeared.  The Government had announced that it would do everything to improve the situation, but there were many laws which only existed on paper and had not truly been implemented. 

    The systemic discrimination faced by the Hmong had been underlined but was not present in the list of issues. The Hmong were the third largest ethnic group in the country, and their women and girls endured poverty, deprivation and a lack of health care services.  The Hmong were targeted for extrajudicial killings.  Women and girls were strategically targeted when searching for food, particularly for trafficking, sex slavery and rape.  Lao People’s Democratic Republic must address gender-based violence against this group.  It was strongly requested that the Committee raise these concerns with the State party.  Women faced greater oppression when standing up for those who had been disappeared. Many people were waiting for their loved ones bodies to be returned or for more information on their whereabouts. Women often received unfair trials with mandatory death sentences, particularly when it came to drug-related crimes.  There should be a moratorium on the death penalty. 

    Saudi Arabia

    Concerning Saudi Arabia, speakers acknowledged some positive reforms on the male guardianship system since the last review.  However, authorities had pursued a ruthless crackdown on human rights defenders, unfairly trialling women human rights defenders and subjecting them to torture and imprisonment.  The family law, which entered into force in 2022, showed that newly enacted legislation entrenched a system of discrimination in all aspects of family life and did not adequately protect women from domestic violence or rape. 

    The Government was called on to release all women rights activists in prison and repeal discriminatory legislation. Many women human rights activists were placed under illegal travel bans and were being subjected to arbitrary arrests for being vocal about human rights issues.  The authorities used anti-terrorism laws to target women human rights defenders, who were often placed in secret detention centres and denied contact with their families.  Saudi Arabia needed to ensure women human rights defenders were protected and included in shaping society. 

    Between 2020 and 2024, at least 11 women were executed for drug-related crimes, all of whom were migrant women. Several women had been convicted without legal counsel.  Increased transparency was needed in the judicial process, particularly for women on death row.  There needed to be a moratorium on the death penalty. 

    Speakers highlighted the plight of domestic and migrant workers within the country, and said Saudi Arabia should improve its treatment of migrant women and their families during the immigration process.  Saudi Arabia should rescind its regime which punished women seeking to escape exploitation. Immigration detention for women who became pregnant at their place of work should be ended.  Saudi Arabia should ratify International Labour Organization Convention 198 and incorporate domestic workers into their labour legislation. Domestic workers in Saudi Arabia were subjected to lower pay and forced to live in inhumane conditions which diminished their dignity.  Some were subject to extreme abuse, including physical violence, starvation and sexual harassment.  Justice remained out of reach for most of these women. 

    New Zealand

    Among other things, speakers urged the New Zealand Government to focus on gender equality.  Too many indigenous women were unhoused and unsafe.  The New Zealand Government was a serial perpetrator of colonial violence.  Māori women and girls were profiled as a minority group and were othered.  They were in urgent need of a global, indigenous women’s forum and needed the Government to develop a national action plan on their behalf.  The Committee had the power to recommend that the Government affirm its commitment to the Convention.  The New Zealand Government should endorse and recognise Pacific women’s leadership and aspirations. 

    The issue of forced marriage remained unequally addressed despite recommendations by the Committee.  Women on non-permanent residence visas faced immense barriers in accessing justice and social security.  Religious abuse was unrecognised; women were kept in limbo about their marital status in the name of religion.  The Committee should call for stronger reforms for migrant women living in an increasingly ethnically diverse New Zealand. 

    The Government should adhere to its commitments to establish stalking as a criminal act.  The Government should evaluate legal and court processes to ensure victims were not prohibited from seeking justice.  The Government ought to establish an enquiry into non-consensual surgeries on intersex persons and provide redress.  Transgender and intersex persons needed to be protected. In rural areas, internet coverage was limited, which impacted outcomes for rural families.  The Government should invest in mobile communications and infrastructure for these communities.  Pay gaps for women, including Māori women, needed to be closed. The State was urged to implement national machinery which ensured disaggregated data was available to inform policy. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked what the Government of New Zealand should do to release women from religious marriages? What should be done to combat forced marriage? 

    Another Expert asked if there were situations of statelessness among Māori women and girls in New Zealand? Were there issues relating to women, nationality and citizenship? 

    An Expert asked about the internet trade in Lao People’s Democratic Republic which saw young girls being trafficked.  Did the Government recognise this as a great problem?  What was the view on increasing family violence?

    A Committee Expert said given the Government of New Zealand had established an intersex clinical reference group, were there any positive recommendations or movements coming out?

    Another Expert asked New Zealand if there were any specific challenges affecting education?  What could be done to address these challenges? 

    An Expert asked about the situation of education in Lao People’s Democratic Republic? 

    A Committee Expert said information provided claimed that there was a genuine change in Saudi Arabia; women could obtain drivers’ license and travel with their own passport, among other things. Could more information on these reforms be provided?  How many women human rights defenders were in jail? 

    An Expert asked about data sovereignty in New Zealand?  There had been an important climate case decided in New Zealand, regarding the extractive industry being sued for alleged contribution to climate change. Could more information on this be shared with the Committee? 

    A Committee Expert asked non-governmental organizations from Saudi Arabia what were the main issues when it came to the limitations of legislation on trafficking? 

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Lao People’s Democratic Republic

    Responding to questions, speakers said the Government did not take any effective actions against human trafficking, especially for young girls.  Internet control for criminals was not effective in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. People in the country were very poor and their income was very low.  Around 30 per cent of young people did not have any employment. 

    Saudi Arabia

    Answering questions on Saudi Arabia, speakers said since 2018, Saudi Arabia had implemented reforms to its male guardianship system, including allowing women to obtain passports and be legal heads of households, among others.  However, there were still issues under the Personal Status Code, including that women needed permission from males to marry, and that women were considered as custodians of their children rather than guardians.  There was also a disobedience law still in place. Families feared speaking about women in prison so there were no official statistics.  There were dozens of cases of women who had been jailed for expressing their views on women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, but without open and fair trials, there were no exact numbers. 

    New Zealand

    Speakers answering questions on New Zealand said women’s connection to culture empowered them to navigate diverse environments.  It was essential that the Government recognised this to empower women and communities.  The reference group had been established in New Zealand for intersex persons which sought to establish medical guidelines.  As this was quite recent, it was hard to say its impact.  Even if it was successful, it would not help those who had already been through the system.  Further answers would be provided in writing. 

    Statement by the National Human Rights Institution of New Zealand

    SAUNOAMAALI’I DR KARANINA SUMEO, Acting Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, said Māori women’s rights in New Zealand were at serious risk due to a lack of constitutional protection and regressive policy and legislative measures.  Today, Māori women and girls continued to experience inequities across health, justice, state care, employment, income and housing.  Despite this, the Government was currently working through a reform programme that looked to further undermine Māori rights.  The programme included disestablishing the body created to advance Māori health equity and self-determination; introducing a bill to reinterpret treaty principles to omit reference to Māori self-determination and recognition of Māori as indigenous peoples; and reviewing the role of the Waitangi Tribunal, the primary avenue for Māori to raise claims regarding Crown breaches of Te Tiriti. 

    The Government had already overridden Māori rights recognised by the Tribunal and courts, and stopped all work to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The Acting Chief Commissioner urged the Committee to recommend that the Government strengthen legal and constitutional protection of Te Tiriti; take meaningful action to implement the Declaration; and ensure all law and policy reforms met obligations under Te Tiriti and general recommendation 39. 

    New Zealand unfortunately had one of the highest rates of family and sexual violence.  Women were more at risk of sexual violence and family violence than men, particularly Māori, Pacific, ethnic and disabled women.  In 2022, the Government launched Te Aorerekura – the National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence. However, there had been a recent reduction in funding to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, further impacting access to justice for women. 

    In September 2024, the report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-based Care (2018-2024) was publicly released, revealing the grave extent of physical, psychological and sexual abuse that took place, in some cases amounting to torture.  Gender-based abuse of women and girls included regular intrusive genital exams and ‘health checks’ providing cover for abuse.  The Government had committed to designing a new redress system, but survivors still had no immediate prospect of full redress, including compensation and rehabilitation.  The Committee was urged to recommend that the Government develop and implement an updated Te Aorerekura action plan and mainstream gender-specific issues; resume the regulatory review of online services and platforms; and implement all the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

    In 2019, the Welfare Expert Advisory Group made 42 recommendations to restore dignity to the social security system. Some recommendations were progressed but some had recently been reversed, which would disproportionately affect the incomes of women, particularly older, disabled, and Māori and Pacific women.  The social security system still did not allow people to retain their individual income if they were viewed to be in a relationship ‘in the nature marriage’.  This created risks for women, including social isolation, financial entrapment, and difficulties leaving violent or abusive relationships. 

    The previous Government had announced its intention to introduce mandatory gender and ethnic pay gap reporting. The current Government announced in July 2024 that it would not progress mandatory reporting but develop another voluntary tool.  This decision neglected the role factors, including racism, ableism and violence and harassment in the workplace, playing a role in affecting pay, progression, income security and preparation for a dignified life in retirement for women. The Committee was urged to recommend that the Government adjust income support rates to those recommended by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group adjusted for inflation; individualise income support entitlements; and introduce appropriate temporary special measures to ensure equal employment opportunity by gender, ethnicity and disability. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said that at the last dialogue with New Zealand, the outlook for Māori women and girls had been positive; what was the reason behind the setback?

    Another Expert asked if there were specific references within the proposed framework which dealt with the rights of women and girls? 

    An Expert asked about the situation of abortion in rural areas? 

    A Committee Expert asked if there were cases where temporary special measures had a negative effect? 

    Responses by the National Human Rights Institution

    In response, Ms. Sumeo said New Zealand did not have a formal constitution which was one of their weak areas, leaving indigenous women vulnerable.  If there was a law which weakened women’s rights, it was difficult to push against targeted policy.  There was now a different Government, which was why there was a different view from the previously positive position.  The previous Government’s policies assumed everyone was equal to begin with, which was not the case now. 

    New Zealand was far away from having equal pay despite having an Equal Pay Act since 1972.  Many women were facing situations of homelessness.  Under the Human Rights Act, there was the ability for organizations to develop measures which ensured equality. Unfortunately, those measures were seen as somehow violating human rights and were seen as discriminatory in some parts of New Zealand.  The ability to address inequity had become more difficult under the current climate. It was difficult to address issues such as the gender-pay gap if there was a reluctance to use temporary special measures. 

    BRITTANY PECK, Legal Advisor, said the Government was not providing an adequate response to gender-based violence, including police attending fewer family-based callouts. These compounded the existing high rates of violence in New Zealand.  Because of this retrogression, it was expected this would be reflected in the cases of Māori women over time.  It was expected that over 90 per cent of sexual violence was not reported to police. New Zealand was experiencing a workforce health crisis and there was a gap in the availability of abortion services in rural areas. 

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    CEDAW24.023E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Portage la Prairie — Portage la Prairie RCMP seize drugs after foot pursuit

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 28, 2024, at approximately 11:55 pm, Portage la Prairie RCMP were patrolling when an individual was observed with a flashlight outside of a residence on Oak Bay. Officers stopped and told the male to approach the police vehicle in an attempt to identify him. The male then fled on foot.

    Officers pursued the male on foot for a short distance. The male was apprehended. He was in possession of approximately 172 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine and approximately 15 grams of fentanyl. Police also seized an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency.

    James Borden, 41, from Portage, is charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, and Resist Arrest.

    Borden remains in custody.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tech Today: Spraying for Food Safety

    Source: NASA

    Whether protecting crops from diseases and pests or sanitizing contaminated surfaces, the ability to spray protective chemicals over important resources is key to several industries. Electrostatic Spraying Systems Inc. (ESS) of Watkinsville, Georgia, manufactures electrostatic sprayers and equipment that make this possible. By licensing NASA electrostatic technology, originally made to water plants in space, ESS’s improved spray nozzles efficiently use basic laws of electricity to achieve complete coverage on targeted surfaces. 
    ESS traces its origins to research done at the University of Georgia in the 1970s and ’80s. An electrostatic sprayer works by inducing an electric charge onto atomized droplets. Much like an inflated balloon sticking to a wall when it’s gained a charge of static electricity, the droplets then stick to targeted surfaces.
    NASA’s interest in this technology originated with astronauts’ need for an easy way to support plant-growth experiments in space. On the International Space Station, watering plants without the help of gravity isn’t as easy as using a garden hose on Earth. In the future, using a system like an electrostatic sprayer on the space station or other orbiting destination could help the water droplets stick to the plants with uniform coverage. However, most spraying systems require large sources of water and air to properly aerosolize fluids.

    As both air and water are precious resources in space, NASA needed an easier way to make these incredibly small droplets. Charles Buhler and Jerry Wang of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida led the efforts to develop this capability, with Edward Law of the University of Georgia as a consulting expert. Eventually, the NASA team developed a new design by learning from existing technology called a mister nozzle. The benefit of a mister is that even though the interior volume of the nozzle is small, the pressure inside never builds up, which makes it perfect for enclosed small spaces like the space station.
    As the sprayer industry is a tight-knit group, technology transfer professionals at NASA reached out to the companies that could use a nozzle like this on Earth. Electrostatic Spraying Systems responded and later licensed the sprayer design from the agency and incorporated it into the company’s Maxcharge product lines.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Hosts Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for Community Conversation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    ALBUQUERQUE — Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) was proud to welcome Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for a community conversation at the New Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church in Albuquerque.

    The conversation brought together community members, local leaders, and advocates to discuss pressing issues impacting New Mexicans. Leader Jeffries and Rep. Stansbury touched on a broad range of topics including how Democrats are delivering for Americans in tangible ways like lowering costs for Americans, expanding access to healthcare, protecting the environment, and ensuring our democracy stays secure.

    “I am so proud to welcome Leader Jeffries to our beautiful state and share the stage with him and to showcase all the work Democrats are doing for New Mexicans,” said Stansbury. “We have brought millions of dollars back to New Mexico through federal programs, legislation, and Community Project Funding that support education, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. We will continue this momentum – including tackling pressing issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and access to quality education as we continue to work for New Mexico and our communities.”

    “House Democrats will continue to lean into lowering housing costs and growing the middle class with a particular emphasis on access to affordable homeownership,” said Leader Jeffries. “Being able to purchase a home, keeping that home and being able to pass it onto the next generation is central to the great American dream. And we will fight to maintain the principles of free and fair elections and ensure the right to vote, which John Lewis would always say to us, is sacred, is sacrosanct and is essential to the integrity of our democracy. We have to push back against the extreme right-wing efforts to take it away, so one of our top priorities in Congress will be to pass the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

    Find photos from the event here. 

    Since taking office, Rep. Stansbury has secured more than a billion dollars in funding for New Mexico’s First Congressional District, including more than $44.5 million for 37 community projects for public safety, economic development, and other needs. 

    Some of what Congresswoman Stansbury has delivered to New Mexico’s First Congressional District include: 

    Crime Prevention and Public Safety: 

    • Last month, the Congresswoman introduced the Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act (STOPP Fentanyl Act) to disrupt global criminal networks and suppliers of illicit drugs like fentanyl. 

    Behavioral Health Resources: 

    • In Congress, Rep. Stansbury has secured millions for NM-01 to improve community well-being through behavioral health-focused solutions. This includes leading efforts to secure funding for mental health and addiction recovery programs, such as workforce development, school-based support, crisis intervention, and veterans’ suicide prevention. 

    Gun Violence and Safety: 

    • Congresswoman Stansbury has cosponsored key bills aimed at addressing gun safety, including the Keep Americans Safe Act, the SAFES Act, the Identify Gun Stores Act, the Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2023, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act), and the AMMO Act. 
    • These bills focus on universal background checks, bans on military-style rifles and untraceable weapons, and enhancing research and oversight related to gun violence and ammunition. 

    Reproductive Rights: 

    • Congresswoman Stansbury voted to defend reproductive rights against the House GOP’s systematic efforts to criminalize abortion and abortion providers. 
    • Rep. Stansbury joined other House Democrats to sponsor legislation to restore Roe vs. Wade, condemn violence and attacks on healthcare facilities, personnel, and patients, and to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. 
    • Rep. Stansbury co-sponsored a resolution by House Democrats to condemn attacks on abortion clinics that threaten the safety of patients and health care workers. 
    • Rep. Stansbury also voted to pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act and the Right to Contraception Act to safeguard access to contraception and the right of pregnant individuals across the nation to travel to seek safe, legal care. 

    Economy and Jobs: 

    • Rep. Stansbury helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act and her bill the Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, to invest in our infrastructure, tackle climate change, and build a clean energy economy. 
    • The Congresswoman led the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act to improve federal rail safety regulations, including mandates for a two-person crew, changing the ways hazardous materials can be transported, increasing funding for rail safety inspectors, and codifies mandatory sick leave for all rail workers. 
    • Rep. Stansbury co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO ACT) which is a comprehensive bill aimed at strengthening labor rights by amending key labor laws to enhance protections for workers, particularly in union organizations and collective bargaining efforts. 

    Water Access and Water Rights:

    • Since her time in the New Mexico Statehouse, the Congresswoman has been a leader in fighting for access to clean water and securing water rights for communities across New Mexico. 
    • She introduced the Water Data Act to establish a framework for standardizing water data across federal agencies, so data is interoperable and easily accessible to water managers and communities.   
    • She also introduced the Rio Grande Water Security Act providing necessary operational flexibility for water managers in the Rio Grande Basin.  The bill also reauthorizes a vital lifeline to address the irrigation infrastructure needs of the Pueblo nations who have used these waters for countless generations.   

    Environmental Justice and Protection:

    • Along with her work in other areas, the Congresswoman has been a champion for climate protections and ensuring a just transition occurs during the efforts to address the climate crisis in communities in New Mexico and across the country. 
    • She co-sponsored several pieces of legislation, including House Resolution 37 – Acknowledging a Climate Emergency, the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, the Environmental Justice For All Act, the Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being in a Changing Climate, the Climate and Health Protection Act, and the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act. 

    Housing: 

    • Congresswoman Stansbury has been focused on bringing more affordable housing to New Mexicans and has championed several bills including the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, the Expansion of Attainable Homeownership Through Manufactured Housing Act of 2023, the Eviction Protection Act of 2023, the Housing for All Act of 2023, the Ending Homelessness Act of 2023, the Affordable Housing Stability During Shutdowns Act of 2023. 
    • Some of her legislative actions include working closely with local tribal leaders to address concerns regarding a lack of funding to meet tribal housing needs in New Mexico and across the country. 

    Healthcare: 

    • The Congresswoman is focused on lowering the costs of healthcare for all New Mexicans and ensuring people who need care can find it when needed. Some of her work includes introducing the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, the Small Practice, Underserved, and Tural Support Program Extension Act, the Public Health Nursing Act, the Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act, and co-sponsoring the Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2024 and the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –