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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI China: Angolan president sends Chinese New Year greetings

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

    LUANDA, Jan. 29 — Angolan President Joao Lourenco conveyed greetings to the Chinese people and government on Tuesday during the Chinese New Year, expressing his hope to strengthen cooperation with China.

    In a congratulatory message, Lourenco emphasized China’s significant role in Angola’s development efforts, praising the Chinese community residing in Angola for its essential contributions to the country’s economic growth.

    He reiterated his “firm intention to continue reinforcing the strategic partnership with the People’s Republic of China across various sectors of common interest.”

    The Angolan president also highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Chinese civilization, noting that the beginning of the new cycle symbolizes “the renewal of hopes and aspirations, with achievements for a better future.”

    He extended his wishes to every Chinese citizen for success in their personal, family, and professional endeavors. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Celebrating Spring Festival in museums becomes a new trend in China

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

    Celebrating Spring Festival in museums becomes a new trend in China

    Updated: January 30, 2025 07:52 Xinhua
    Tourists buy souvenirs at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. Celebrating the Spring Festival in museums has become a new trend across the country. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists take part in a riddle game at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists attend a lecture at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists buy souvenirs at the Anhui Museum in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit a Spring Festival-themed exhibition at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A boy tries to blow a sugar figure at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist experiences the craft of making new year woodblock prints at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Anhui Museum in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Anhui Museum in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists receive Spring Festival decorations carrying the Chinese “Fu” character, which symbolizes good fortune, distributed at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Maldives president extends Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people

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

    COLOMBO, Jan. 29 — Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu conveyed greetings and best wishes to the Chinese people on Wednesday during the Spring Festival celebrations.

    “May this year bring prosperity, health, and happiness to the people of China,” Muizzu said in a post on the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter).

    Muizzu said that the Maldives cherishes its close and enduring friendship with China, adding the two countries have built a partnership based on mutual respect and shared aspirations.

    “As we welcome the new year, I am confident that our strong ties will be transformed to bring greater benefits to both our nations,” Muizzu said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: South African president sends good wishes on commencement of Chinese New Year

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

    JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 29 — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday extended his good wishes to China on the commencement of the Lunar New Year, expressing confidence that the Year of the Snake will sustain China’s standing as a formidable force for good and a source of wisdom and shared prosperity in the global family of nations.

    “On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of South Africa, it is a unique pleasure for me to convey our warmest compliments to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China on the commencement of the Lunar New Year,” said Ramaphosa in a statement issued by the Presidency Wednesday.

    According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the New Year began on Jan. 29 this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake. The snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac and represents wisdom, intuition, and strategic growth.

    In the statement, Ramaphosa also extended good wishes to the Chinese community in South Africa including Chinese citizens who live in or are currently visiting his country.

    “Similarly, we wish that the New Year will bring continued success to our Chinese trade and investment partners who are making an important contribution to our economy,” he said. “May the celebration of spring and the rebirth of nature be a symbol of the blossoming of even closer relations between our two nations under our all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.”

    The Chinese community in South Africa has lined up celebrations of the Lunar New Year in various parts of the country.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spring Festival and new visa policy attract int’l visitors to China

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

    Spring Festival and new visa policy attract int’l visitors to China

    Updated: January 30, 2025 08:16 Xinhua

    This year’s Spring Festival has seen a surge in international tourists visiting China to experience the country’s most important holiday, as an expanded visa-free policy has made travel easier.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Improving flood resilience in Kempsey Shire

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Improving flood resilience in Kempsey Shire

    Published: 30 January 2025

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    A Kempsey Shire causeway that’s highly susceptible to flooding is to be replaced with a new 75-metre-high bridge following approval of more than $3 million in natural disaster betterment funding from the Albanese and Minns Governments.

    The Dungay Creek causeway at Yessabah has been repeatedly damaged across multiple natural disasters in recent years, leading to frequent closures which have impacted and isolated local communities. 

    A more resilient and higher concrete structure is being funded through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Funding Arrangements. The funding will allow council to build more resilience into the road network to help communities to stay connected during extreme weather.

    Work will start this month with the construction of precast elements off-site, and is due to be complete in February 2026, weather permitting.

    Quotes attributable to Senator Tony Sheldon:

    “Infrastructure that keeps communities connected during natural disasters isn’t just about roads or bridges – it’s about ensuring families can stay safe, access medical help when they need it, and recover together after the worst has passed.”

    “There’s often an increased demand for medical services during natural disasters, so having infrastructure that provides access to those services is essential.”

    “I’m really pleased to see Kempsey Shire Council leading the way on this project. With the backing of the Albanese and Minns Governments, this new bridge will be a game-changer for locals, keeping them safe and connected when they need it most.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully:

    “The NSW Government is committed to making sure we do all we can to improve the safety of local infrastructure and mitigate against future disasters.

    “This bridge is critical to the livelihoods of locals, and not only will this work mean it is more resilient in the event of future disasters, it will also help keep them safe and connected.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison:

    “It’s great to see all three levels of government working together to improve the reliability of the crossing over Dungay Creek which will provide social and economic benefits for Council and the community.

    “The new bridge will reduce the number of closures and will mean communities can stay connected during and after flood events, ensuring Council can focus on other assets or functions during post-flood events.”

    Quotes attributable to Kempsey Shire Council Infrastructure Delivery Group Manager, Dylan Reeves:

    “The Dungay Creek causeway project is a significant undertaking for our community and will greatly enhance the reliability and safety of access for the community of Wittitrin.

    “With preliminary off-site works commencing in January 2025, we’ve already completed essential groundwork, including site surveys, geotechnical investigations, and environmental assessments.

    “The construction will be managed by Kempsey Shire Council, with specialised contractors engaged to ensure we deliver a high-quality project. We’ll minimise disruptions by keeping the existing causeway open during construction, with only limited closures during key phases.

    “This bridge represents an incredible enhancement to our transport network, ensuring safety and better connectivity for all who rely on it.”

    Quotes attributable to Kempsey Shire Council Mayor, Kinne Ring: 

    “The Dungay Creek causeway project is a powerful step forward in connecting the Macleay Valley, improving road safety for all, and enhancing the daily lives of our residents.

    “With work beginning in January 2025, this bridge is an essential piece of infrastructure, made possible through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package.

    Kempsey Shire Council is proud to manage this significant upgrade to our transport network, providing safer, more reliable access for our entire community.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: If the government wants science to have an economic impact it has to put its money where its mouth is

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Gaston, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    jittawit21/Shutterstock

    Billed as the most significant change to the science system in 30 years, last week’s announcement of major structural changes to scientific research institutions was objectively a big deal.

    But the devil will be in the details. The proposed reforms are focused on the economic impact of the science sector and are based on the first of two reports from the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG).

    Success will depend on how they are implemented and, most of all, on the sector receiving sufficient funding.

    The government’s reforms include:

    • the merger of seven public Crown Research Institutes to create three larger Public Research Organisations (PROs)

    • the creation of a fourth new PRO focused on “advanced technology” such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and potentially cleantech

    • the disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation and the creation of a new agency called “Invest New Zealand” to target international investment

    • the creation of a new national intellectual property policy, meaning scientists working in PROs and in the university system are on a level playing field when it comes to commercialisation

    • the establishment of a Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council to provide strategic direction and oversight.

    As the reforms move forward, the government will have to answer several questions. For example, how will the expertise relating to advanced technologies, much of which currently sits within our university sector, be moved into the new PRO?

    And how will the funding model be changed as these new PROs are established?

    Long running issues

    Overall, the higher level changes are positive. Reforms have been a long time coming and are based on years of discussion within the crown research sector.

    But we need to look at the reforms in the context of the science advisory group’s first report.

    The report is strongly and deliberately focused on the potential economic impact of science and research. The authors outline how this must be supported by a properly functioning system.

    According to the authors, a lack of strategy from the highest level of government is a barrier for the sector.

    It is clear the advisory group recommends structural change (such as the PRO model). But it is also explicit that sufficient research funding is a necessary condition for these reforms to work:

    The SSAG stands firmly of the view that our parsimonious attitude to research funding is a core reason that New Zealand has become an outlier in performance on productivity growth.

    Barriers to progress

    The advisory group identified certain cultural attitudes, such as New Zealand’s “number-eight wire” thinking, as a reason the country doesn’t value research as it should. The group also strongly advocated for bipartisan agreement on funding systems and investment levels.

    The group had strongly positive things to say about research in the social sciences and mātauranga Māori through the lens of economic growth.

    There is no debate that research into Māori culture and knowledge is an obligation of the New Zealand research system and that this should be largely determined by experts in mātauranga Māori. We will be recommending a distinct funding stream in the proposed National Research Foundation.

    Unfortunately, this government’s defunding of the social sciences and humanities, announced in December, suggests it has already made its mind up on the value of these disciplines.

    Missing the bigger picture

    Reading the full report, there is the sense that while the government announcement has taken the most visible recommendations for change, it has missed the bigger picture: the need for sufficient funding to strengthen the sector as a whole and help New Zealand become internationally competitive.

    This means we need to benchmark ourselves against other countries and their economic and scientific performance. According to the report:

    The international analysis is clear: we are spending significantly less than comparable countries spend from the public purse on [research and development].

    The authors emphasise that for countries with low expenditure, improved research and development activity is especially important for GDP growth. New Zealand should take note – it is an outlier both as a low investor and a poor economic performer.

    These messages are not new.

    Steven Joyce, science minister in the National-led government between 2011 and 2016, advocated for the National Science Challenges as a way to justify increased government investment to the sector. But issues with the implementation costs effectively killed off his promise of increased funding.

    Labour’s science minister between 2022 and 2023, Ayesha Verrall, had a similar argument about needing to establish research “priorities” in order to justify increased spending. Again, it never happened.

    It is possible the current reforms will be more effective in providing justification for increased investment.

    But this time we need to put the horse before the cart by investing money in the system – one that has been underfunded for years and which has only recently seen further funding cuts and job losses.

    And this has to happen before the system absorbs the implementation costs of these reforms.

    Nicola Gaston receives funding from TEC as Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and from the Marsden fund administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

    – ref. If the government wants science to have an economic impact it has to put its money where its mouth is – https://theconversation.com/if-the-government-wants-science-to-have-an-economic-impact-it-has-to-put-its-money-where-its-mouth-is-248299

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin Questions Commerce Secretary Nominee if He Will Cut Funding for Wisconsin Tech Hubs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) questioned Howard Lutnick, nominee for Secretary of the Department of Commerce (DOC), in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on if he will cut funding for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub. The questioning comes as the Trump Administration holds up federal funding approved by Congress and already awarded to states, local governments, and nonprofits. The Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub was awarded a $49 million investment to grow the state’s personalized medicine and biohealth sector – advancing research and innovation, growing our economy and creating jobs, and boosting American competitiveness in a cutting-edge industry. 
    “Wisconsin has a rich history of innovation and making things, and our Tech Hub is going to carry that into the future, creating good paying jobs, growing our Made in Wisconsin economy, and revolutionizing health care as we know it. But, cutting funding for it puts it all at risk,” said Senator Baldwin. “Cutting this investment would put Wisconsin jobs on the line, hurt our economy, and put breakthroughs that could keep families healthy out of reach. I will keep fighting to get what Wisconsin is owed so we can continue to grow our economy and keep families healthy.”
    On Monday night, the Trump Administration ordered a freeze on federal grants and loans. While the Administration continues to send mixed signals about the future of this order, which now faces challenges in court, Senator Baldwin asked Mr. Lutnick to confirm whether funding for Wisconsin’s Tech Hub would be impacted. Mr. Lutnick was not able to provide an answer.
    If the Committee approves his nomination to be DOC Secretary, Howard Lutnick will advance to a confirmation vote by the whole Senate.
    A full video of Senator Baldwin’s questions is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Proud to Confirm Zeldin as EPA Administrator

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding the confirmation of Lee Zeldin as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
    “Lee Zeldin served our country honorably in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Army, where he remains a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve. I’m grateful his service to our nation will continue as President Trump’s Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is in desperate need of reform after four years of radical climate policies that almost always came at the expense of American workers, farmers and job creators. Lee Zeldin understands the urgency of returning the agency to its core mission of clean air and clean water – without crippling our economy. I’m confident he will lead the EPA in a more balanced direction with commonsense environmental policies that are sustainable over the long-term.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell to Serve as Chair of Senate Agriculture Subcommittee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that he will Chair the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research in the 119th Congress. The subcommittee is one of five under the authority of the Senate Agriculture Committee and will allow the Senator to drive the narrative on federal agriculture research, specialty crop policy, and our nation’s nutrition assistance programs.
    “I’ve been proud to be a strong voice for Kentucky’s farmers my entire time in the Senate from the Agriculture Committee. I look forward to taking the helm of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, and Research in the 119th Congress. Research has long been essential to maintaining America’s competitive edge in agriculture, and I’m proud that Kentucky’s universities are leaders in agricultural research today. As I’ve said in the past, Congress has work to do to address the immediate concerns of American farmers, and that’s exactly what I intend to do from this new perch in the years ahead,” said Senator McConnell.
    “Kentucky’s agricultural industry has never been more vital than it is now to the economic well-being of our state – from nutritional and equine health to the vibrancy of our bourbon industry and the sustainability of forage-based enterprises that raise beef cattle, horses, sheep and goats,” said University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto. “Sen. McConnell’s stalwart leadership in protecting and promoting agriculture over many decades and now as chair of this critical subcommittee overseeing research underscores the importance of agriculture to Kentucky and to our country. We look forward to working with him and supporting his efforts to ensure the long-term strength and competitiveness of the agricultural industry, so central to the commonwealth’s future.”
    During the 119th Congress, Senator McConnell also serves as Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Questions RFK Jr.’s Lack of Experience, Character During Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch highlights RFK Jr.’s lack of plans to fix broken health care system 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today raised concerns about the character and fitness of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), to lead HHS’ ten public health service agencies and three human services agencies. Senator Welch also expressed concern about the lack of concrete plans by the Trump Administration and Mr. Kennedy to lower health care costs for Vermont families. 
    Watch the exchange between Senator Welch and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health: 
    Read excerpts of Senator Welch’s questioning below: 
    “This is not just about a debate about vaccines. It’s a debate about the qualifications, experience, and priorities as to the person that will head Health and Human Services. And it’s not just about what your answers are today or what the questions are.” 
    “The question I fundamentally have is whether your willingness to disrupt and maybe break rules is going to be dangerous and destructive.”  
    “There’s incidents that do, I think, concern the question of whether the stability is there to be in charge of this major organization. That’s compounded by my concern that you don’t have any experience managing a large organization. That you don’t have any experience in government. So, those are things that have to be taken into account…” 
    ••• 
    “I’ve seen nothing coming out of the Trump Administration–and I’ve seen nothing coming out of your advocacy–that is going after what is a rampant abuse by the insurance companies and overcharging people and not doing the job. 
    “It’s a broken health care system. We spend the most and get the least. And I think there should be collective anger about on this by both sides. Because all of our people are dependent on that health care system.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Colleagues Call on Secretary Rubio to Immediately Restore Refugee Resettlement Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Colleagues Call on Secretary Rubio to Immediately Restore Refugee Resettlement Services

    Letter Calls on State Department to Restart Program Providing Basic Services to Refugees, Including Afghan Allies Who Supported U.S. Troops
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately restore vital services for refugees already resettled in the United States. The letter comes after the State Department abruptly halted services for refugees last week, despite the fact that resettlement agencies are vital in helping refugees settle into their new homes and contribute to the U.S. economy and to their communities.
    “This unprecedented order threatens to deprive refugees already in the United States of the vital assistance known as Reception and Placement (R&P) services, which help them during their first three months in the United States as they rebuild their lives here,” wrote the lawmakers.
    “We also call on you to do everything in your power to swiftly resume refugee processing and admissions—and restore this life-saving humanitarian program that advances U.S. security, foreign policy work, and diplomatic interests,” continued the lawmakers.
    Since the start of Fiscal Year 2025, more than 32,000 refugees have arrived through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), thousands of whom remain eligible for R&P services. These refugees were forced to flee their home countries to escape war or persecution and were deemed eligible to resettle in the United States after undergoing thorough vetting. These services also provide temporary assistance to the approximately 10,000 Afghan nationals who are in the United States on Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), which they received after risking their lives to assist U.S. troops and U.S. government efforts in Afghanistan. These SIVs also remain eligible for such benefits.
    The stop work orders undermine legal obligations that the State Department has entered into through its contracts with U.S.-based and intergovernmental organizations, increasing newly arrived refugees’ vulnerability to homelessness and food insecurity at a time when they still have no lifeline for support. The R&P program covers basic needs like rent, food, and clothes in the first few months after arrival, providing core services for refugees who often resettle with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Suspending R&P services causes undue, unnecessary suffering and hardship, while breaking a promise the United States made to refugees and Afghan allies after approving them for resettlement in America.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Rubio:
    Congratulations on your confirmation and extraordinary new position.
    We write as the Ranking Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees and Immigration Subcommittees.  We urge you to immediately revoke the stop work orders that the Department issued on January 24, 2025, to the 10 national resettlement agencies that provide services to refugees who were forced to flee their home countries in order to escape war or persecution and were deemed eligible to resettle in the United States after undergoing thorough vetting.  This unprecedented order threatens to deprive refugees already in the United States of the vital assistance known as Reception and Placement (R&P) services, which help them during their first three months in the United States as they rebuild their lives here.
    More than 32,000 refugees have arrived through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to the United States since the start of FY 2025, thousands of whom remain eligible for R&P services.  This is on top of the approximately 10,000 Afghan nationals who are in the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), which they received after risking their lives to assist U.S. troops and U.S. government efforts in Afghanistan; these SIVs also remain eligible for such benefits.
    The stop work orders undermine legal obligations that the Department has entered into through its contracts with U.S.-based and intergovernmental organizations, increasing new arrivals’ vulnerability to homelessness and food insecurity at a time when they still have no lifeline for support.  The R&P program covers basic needs like rent, food, clothes, and furnishing in the first few months after arrival, providing core services for refugees who often resettle with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.  Barring R&P services, including Virtual R&P available to self-traveling SIVs, will cause undue and unnecessary suffering and hardship, breaking a promise we made to the refugees and SIVs when we approved them for resettlement in America.
    Furthermore, the stop work orders are purportedly being issued as part of the Administration’s 90-day moratorium on “foreign development assistance.”  But the R&P program is not “foreign development assistance” by any stretch of the imagination.  R&P dollars are spent on refugees in the United States, to facilitate their entry and assimilation into our country.  By accessing the minimal but critical support services offered through the R&P program, refugees build a foundation for a successful new life in America.
    These actions are particularly troubling given your previous support for the refugee program.  In August 2019, you joined a letter addressed to the Trump Administration in strong support of the refugee resettlement program. You also led the World Refugee Day Resolution in 2015. In support of the World Refugee Day Resolution, you stated: “Recent conflicts and persecution, especially religious persecution, have resulted in the largest number of displaced persons since World War II. The U.S. must continue to lead on this issue and work to ensure that refugees who flee war, torture and persecution are provided safe environments to live and thrive in.”
    These harmful stop work orders follow the President’s Executive Order on “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” suspending the USRAP and grinding refugee processing and admissions to a halt, effective January 27, 2025.  Beyond its powerful humanitarian logic, the U.S. resettlement program is a vital tool for advancing U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic interests.  The sudden suspension of activities related to the program 24 hours later, even before the Executive Order’s effective date, threatens global security and countless lives.
    During your confirmation hearing, you said: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” Unequivocally, the U.S. resettlement program does all three.  Welcoming refugees and newcomers makes America safer and stronger.  The United States has welcomed refugees, including Albert Einstein, Madeleine Albright, Gloria Estefan, Sergey Brin, and Wyclef Jean, among many others, who enrich who we are as a nation.  A record number of community supporters have worked alongside resettlement agencies to welcome, sponsor, and support refugees and Afghan SIVs upon their arrival to the United States.  The federal government found that over a 15-year period, refugees and asylees contributed over $123 billion to the U.S. economy, including a $31.5 billion net benefit to the federal government. Our assistance to refugees strengthens America.
    Therefore, we urge you to reverse course by excluding or granting a waiver to the R&P program from the definition of “foreign development assistance,” as used in the President’s Executive Order on “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” revoking the stop work orders, and permitting a resumption in R&P services for all eligible populations, including refugees and certain SIVs.
    We also call on you to do everything in your power to swiftly resume refugee processing and admissions—and restore this life-saving humanitarian program that advances U.S. security, foreign policy work, and diplomatic interests.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Votes Against Advancing Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla criticizes Bondi’s ability to serve as an independent Attorney GeneralWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted against advancing the nomination of Pamela Jo Bondi to be U.S. Attorney General during a Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) executive business meeting. In his remarks, Padilla voiced serious concerns over Bondi’s ability to run the Department of Justice independently from President Trump’s improper influence, especially given her support for Trump’s false claims of 2020 presidential election fraud. He criticized Bondi for her refusal to commit to defending birthright citizenship as clearly defined by the 14th Amendment after President Trump issued an unlawful Executive Order attempting to overturn the constitutional right.
    The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Bondi’s nomination on a party-line vote of 12-10.
    Key Quotes:
    Colleagues, after carefully evaluating Ms. Bondi’s record and after her testimony before this committee, I continue to have significant reservations about her ability to serve as an independent Attorney General who will put her duty to the Constitution and to the American people above her loyalty to President Trump. So for that reason, I’m unable to support Ms. Bondi’s nomination to serve as our nation’s chief law enforcement officer.
    I was particularly struck by the fact that despite practicing law for decades, two terms as Attorney General of the State of Florida, private practice experience, despite all that, Ms. Bondi claimed to be unfamiliar with the 14th Amendment and the citizenship clause within it? She and I discussed the very issue when we met one-on-one, it’s clearly been in the news, and when given the opportunity to discuss it during the hearing, here in public, she refused to answer. Even worse, offensively, either claimed that she needed to study or telling me that she was not going to be doing my homework. Colleagues, in that moment, I wasn’t asking her to do my homework. I was asking her if she did hers.
    The law is clear. The Constitution is clear. But what’s increasingly clear is that when push comes to shove, Pam Bondi is not the kind of person who will defend the Constitution, defend the 14th Amendment, or defend Americans when the President instructs otherwise.
    There were some glimmers of potential agreement in areas that I’d be hopeful to maybe agree and work together on. Things like tackling the threat and the dangers of human trafficking. Things like her positions on gun safety, building on some of the work in the state of Florida, where she served as Attorney General, that seemed to be commonsense ideas that can and should be spread across the country. But instead of focusing on those, Ms. Bondi kept coming back to her unwillingness to answer some key questions.
    I remain deeply concerned about Ms. Bondi’s willingness to go on national television and propagate lies about the results of a free and fair election despite a total lack of evidence. I raised this during the hearing, colleagues, as you recall, not because they were political talking points that she was pushing that I might have happened to disagree with, but they were outright lies that pose a real threat to our democracy, a threat to voters, and a threat to the election workers who dedicate themselves to administering our elections.
    Ms. Bondi will face far more daunting challenges as Attorney General to shield the department’s work and professional civil servants from politicization and weaponization, and we’ve seen what’s happened just in the last couple of days as evidence of what will continue to happen. It is not hypothetical. Look at the President’s activities this last week alone. Despite some of my colleagues’ assurances that he would refrain, President Trump has issued roughly 1,500 blanket pardons for January 6th insurrectionists and commuted the sentences of 14 of his supporters, including those convicted of violence against police officers.
    The American people need and deserve to have faith that the Department of Justice enforces the law fairly, neutrally, and free from political interference. We need and deserve an Attorney General who will push back against illegal, immoral, and unethical requests. And unfortunately, I don’t believe Ms. Bondi is up to the task.
    Bondi was one of the leading defense lawyers for President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. She traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the day after the general presidential election in 2020 to appear alongside Rudy Giuliani where she falsely asserted that Trump had won Pennsylvania despite there being at least 1 million outstanding ballots still left to count. She has continued to double down in her support of President Trump’s false claims of election fraud.
    Padilla pressed Bondi for refusing to uphold the constitutionally guaranteed principle of birthright citizenship and declining to disavow the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen during an SJC hearing earlier this month.
    Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks is available here.
    Footage of his remarks can be downloaded here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Support Individuals Living with FASD

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    01.29.25
    Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) reintroduced the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Respect Act of 2025, legislation which reauthorizes programs and funding to aid individuals and families impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
    “We made significant progress on this bill in the 118th Congress, and we were close to getting this legislation across the finish line. That momentum has only motivated Senator Klobuchar and I to work even harder to reauthorize this critical bill,” said Senator Murkowski. “Preventing and mitigating the risks posed by FASD requires comprehensive education, support, and intervention programs. Ensuring communities have access to these resources has the potential to make a genuine difference in the lives of families across Alaska.”
    “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders affects at least one in 20 people in the U.S., and too many lack access to diagnosis, treatment, and support services,” Senator Klobuchar said. “Our bill will renew federal resources for programs that support evidence-based services for families that need access care and help put impacted children on the best path forward towards a successful future.”
    “I first became aware of FASD over 2 ½ decades ago while serving as Minnesota’s First Lady and a Juvenile Court judicial officer,” said Susan Shepard Carlson, FASD United Board Chair.  Many youths from families with long substance use histories were failing and not responding to traditional interventions. It became clear then and is still true today that our systems of care are failing this population by not recognizing and/or understanding their FASD complex needs. As a country, we can and should do so much better for those with an FASD and their families. The FASD Respect Act will bring much-needed focus and resources to systemically address this huge societal problem. The FASD community thanks the Senate sponsors for leading the charge to enact this much-needed bipartisan FASD legislation.”
    “Thanks to the determined efforts of Senators Murkowski and Klobuchar we have a bill that balances ongoing research and public health with vital, overdue direct assistance benefiting children and adults living with FASD. A bill that all lawmakers can support and one that respects and ranks first the needs of a grateful and deserving FASD community,” said Tom Donaldson, CEO of FASD United.
    The FASD Respect Act of 2025:
    Reauthorizes federal FASD programs by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish or continue a comprehensive FASD prevention, identification, intervention, and services delivery program which may include:
    Educational and public awareness programs for professionals in systems of care
    Developing and expanding screening and diagnostic capacity for FASD
    Research on FASD as appropriate
    Building State and Tribal capacity for the identification, treatment, and support of individuals with FASD and their families
    Establishes Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Centers for Excellence to build local, Tribal, State, and national capacities to prevent the occurrence of FASD and other related adverse conditions, and to respond to the needs of individuals with FASD and their families. These Centers may:
    Develop and support public awareness and outreach activities
    Act as a clearinghouse for evidence-based resources on FASD prevention, identification, and culturally aware best practices
    Disseminate ongoing research and developing resources on FASD to help inform systems of care for individuals with FASD across their lifespan.
    Increase awareness and understanding of evidence-based FASD screening tools and culturally- and linguistically appropriate evidence-based intervention services and best practices across systems of care
    Improve capacity for State, Tribal, and local affiliates dedicated to FASD awareness, prevention, and identification and family and individual support programs and services (technical assistance provided by FASD Center of Excellence).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Supports President Trump’s Action to End Woke Curriculum in Classrooms, Expand School Choice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – During National School Choice Week, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) issued a statement in support of President Donald Trump’s latest executive orders prohibiting federal funds from going to any K-12 school that teaches critical race theory (CRT) or radical gender ideology and expanding school choice for students:
    “I fully support President Trump’s decision to prohibit federal funds from going to any K-12 school that teaches woke, anti-American ideologies. For four years, I have sounded the alarm about the Biden administration’s attempts to make our schools ground zero for Marxist, hateful indoctrination. Despite the fact that we spend the most money per student in the world, our education system has failed our kids. We need to be focused on helping kids learn to read, write, and do math—not on brainwashing them.
    I am also grateful for President Trump’s action to increase access to school choice. As a former coach and educator, I know how important it is to make sure every child gets the best possible education, regardless of their zip code. Every child’s educational journey looks different—and we have had tremendous success with magnet, charter, and technical schools in Alabama. This decision from President Trump comes during National School Choice Week and reaffirms the President’s commitment to empowering parents, not the government, to determine a child’s educational future. I’m grateful for President Trump’s leadership and unwavering commitment to helping every child succeed.”
    Sen. Tuberville also joined his colleagues Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) today to introduce the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), bicameral legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S House of Representatives. 
    BACKGROUND:
    As a former coach, mentor, and educator for more than 40 years, Senator Tuberville is committed to ensuring each child is given the tools to lead a successful life. During his time in the Senate, he has been proud to represent Alabama on the Senator Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee where he has been a tireless advocate for ending woke ideology in schools and boosting school choice programs.
    ENDING WOKENESS IN SCHOOLS
    Sen. Tuberville joined his colleagues in asking the U.S. Department of Education under President Biden to withdraw its plans to skew U.S. History and Civics towards an anti-American agenda.
    Sen. Tuberville reintroduced the Saving American History Act, legislation to prohibit the use of federal funds to teach the 1619 Project by K-12 schools or school districts. Under the bill, schools that teach the 1619 Project would also be ineligible for federal professional-development grants.
    Sen. Tuberville has repeatedly raised concerns about the Chinese Communist Party’s influence on American education. The CCP has made it clear their plan of action is to infiltrate the American education system and indoctrinate students. 
    Sen. Tuberville cosponsored the Safeguarding American Education from Foreign Control Act. This bill would tighten the enforcement of rules surrounding foreign donations to higher education institutions and their contracts with foreign entities. 
    He specifically urged Troy University in Alabama to close its CCP-backed Confucius Institute, and hopes other universities will follow their lead. 
    INCREASING ACCESS TO SCHOOL CHOICE
    Sen. Tuberville joined his colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider proposed rules to redefine the Charter School Program (CSP) and strip parents of their ability to choose the best school for their child. 
    Sen. Tuberville advocated for school choice on the floor of the U.S. Senate and helped introduce a resolution for National School Choice Week. 
    Last year, Sen. Tuberville hosted a roundtable discussion during National School Choice Week with parents, students, teachers, and administrators about making sure that parents, not the federal government, are in charge of their kids’ education.
    Sen. Tuberville visited the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) in Huntsville. ASCTE is America’s only high school primarily focused on the integration of cyber and engineering into all academic areas. This unique public school is equipping kids with the skills needed to enter the workforce and achieve the American dream. 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Praises Alabama Students, Teachers for Leading the Nation in Math Education Improvement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    Alabama was only state with improvements in post-COVID math scores
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Alabama’s voice on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), issued the following statement celebrating Alabama being the only state with improvements in post-COVID math scores among fourth graders:
    “Our children have suffered emotionally and cognitively because of Democrat lockdowns during the COVID pandemic. In many states, students were unnecessarily forced out of the classrooms to learn at home, where many of them didn’t have access to adequate technology and resources. While schools across the nation are still struggling to overcome this setback, Alabama is leading the way in math progress among fourth graders. This is a testament to Alabama’s dedicated educators who were unwavering in their dedication to equipping our students with the tools to succeed. I couldn’t be more proud of Alabama’s progress, and know that we will continue to lead the way in setting the gold standard for education.”
    The statement follows a disturbing report from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) that shows students have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels of achievement, and in some cases have declined further. Alabama was the ONLY state that did not see a decline in post-COVID math scores among fourth graders.
    Senator Tuberville has been a strong advocate for returning students to the classroom, and continues to be a leader in the fight for school choice. 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Deputy PM: Building the Northern Territory’s Future

    Source: Minister of Infrastructure

    The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future, investing more than $24 million for crucial infrastructure and community facilities across the Northern Territory.

    The Government is committed to delivering more homes and is investing $7 million to deliver enabling infrastructure to facilitate the construction of up to 730 homes, along with parklands, within the mixed-use Katherine East Neighbourhood Centre.

    The Ngurratjuta Service Hub will be expanded with a $4.8 million dollar grant from our Growing Regions Program.

    The investment will provide employment, education, and family support and services and a new climate-controlled facility to store and preserve its nationally significant art collection.

    We are investing $1.1 million for the Urapuntja Community Splash Park with splash pads and interactive features such as a bucket dumper, ground sprays and water cannons, and an eight-seater picnic shelter. 

    We are delivering $4 million from the regional Precincts and Partnerships program for a masterplan to upgrade infrastructure as part of the Nitmiluk Tourism Services Precinct within the Katherine region.

    The project is centred on Jawoyn history and culture, developing multipurpose and accessible infrastructure to contribute to social, cultural and economic outcomes.

    The Central Australian Regional Community Precincts including Ti Tree, Atitjere, Santa Teresa, Papunya, Yuendumu and Ntaria are receiving $4.7 million for planning and design.

    The Albanese Government is committed to delivering more homes and is investing $7 million to deliver enabling infrastructure to facilitate the construction of up to 730 homes, along with parklands, within the mixed-use Katherine East Neighbourhood Centre.

    The Albanese Government is also working to improve road and rail safety so people can get home following their journeys

    We are investing $1.9 million to upgrade sections of the Willowra main access road to improve road safety and accessibility, and $800,000 for important safety upgrades to the Gorrie Road railway level crossing near Mataranka including flashing lights and a new train detection system.

    These projects highlight the Government’s commitment to listening to local voices and funding priorities that directly benefit communities in the Northern Territory. 

    Quote attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “The Australian Government is investing in the Northern Territory supporting partnerships and projects that provide long-term benefits to communities.

    “We remain dedicated to working for all Australians by delivering infrastructure that increases community cohesion, liveability and accessibility.”

    Quote attributable to Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour: 

    “I remain committed to ensuring the future growth and sustainability of remote communities and regional centres across my electorate of Lingiari.  

    “I welcome the funding announced today for delivering safer roads, more homes and increasing the liveability of these communities through improved recreational and social infrastructure.

    “I am confident the development of a masterplan for the Nitmiluk Tourism Services Precinct will broaden the community’s understanding and appreciation of Jawoyn history and culture, and strengthen social, cultural and economic outcomes for this precinct”.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building the Northern Territory’s Future

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future, investing more than $24 million for crucial infrastructure and community facilities across the Northern Territory.

    The Government is committed to delivering more homes and is investing $7 million to deliver enabling infrastructure to facilitate the construction of up to 730 homes, along with parklands, within the mixed-use Katherine East Neighbourhood Centre.

    The Ngurratjuta Service Hub will be expanded with a $4.8 million dollar grant from our Growing Regions Program.

    The investment will provide employment, education, and family support and services and a new climate-controlled facility to store and preserve its nationally significant art collection.

    We are investing $1.1 million for the Urapuntja Community Splash Park with splash pads and interactive features such as a bucket dumper, ground sprays and water cannons, and an eight-seater picnic shelter. 

    We are delivering $4 million from the regional Precincts and Partnerships program for a masterplan to upgrade infrastructure as part of the Nitmiluk Tourism Services Precinct within the Katherine region.

    The project is centred on Jawoyn history and culture, developing multipurpose and accessible infrastructure to contribute to social, cultural and economic outcomes.

    The Central Australian Regional Community Precincts including Ti Tree, Atitjere, Santa Teresa, Papunya, Yuendumu and Ntaria are receiving $4.7 million for planning and design.

    The Albanese Government is committed to delivering more homes and is investing $7 million to deliver enabling infrastructure to facilitate the construction of up to 730 homes, along with parklands, within the mixed-use Katherine East Neighbourhood Centre.

    The Albanese Government is also working to improve road and rail safety so people can get home following their journeys

    We are investing $1.9 million to upgrade sections of the Willowra main access road to improve road safety and accessibility, and $800,000 for important safety upgrades to the Gorrie Road railway level crossing near Mataranka including flashing lights and a new train detection system.

    These projects highlight the Government’s commitment to listening to local voices and funding priorities that directly benefit communities in the Northern Territory. 

    Quote attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “The Australian Government is investing in the Northern Territory supporting partnerships and projects that provide long-term benefits to communities.

    “We remain dedicated to working for all Australians by delivering infrastructure that increases community cohesion, liveability and accessibility.”

    Quote attributable to Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour: 

    “I remain committed to ensuring the future growth and sustainability of remote communities and regional centres across my electorate of Lingiari.  

    “I welcome the funding announced today for delivering safer roads, more homes and increasing the liveability of these communities through improved recreational and social infrastructure.

    “I am confident the development of a masterplan for the Nitmiluk Tourism Services Precinct will broaden the community’s understanding and appreciation of Jawoyn history and culture, and strengthen social, cultural and economic outcomes for this precinct”.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: HOGWASH ROAD, CADELL (Grass Fire)

    Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia

    CADELL

    Hogwash Bend Grass Fire

    Issued for Hogwash Bend Conservation Park near Cadell in the Riverland.

    Just after 9:00pm on Wednesday 29 January, approximately 26 CFS firefighters on 8 trucks supported by heavy machinery responded to a scrub fire which was burning in hard to access terrain.

    The fire was located 300m from the campgrounds, with wind pushing the fire in the opposite direction from campers limiting immediate risk. SA Police were on scene supporting with informing campers in the area.

    Crews remained on scene into the early hours of this morning and created a control line around the fire, which has now been extinguished. National Parks and Wildlife Services will be in attendance over the coming days to ensure the scene remains safe.

    The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and Fire Investigators will be attending.

    Roads are currently open around this incident however this may change at short notice. Continue to monitor road closures at: traffic.sa.gov.au. Emergency services may be working on and around roads in the area, and motorists are advised take care and drive to the local conditions.

    Message ID 0008064

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. Q4 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SFBC), the holding company for Sound Community Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $1.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, or $0.74 diluted earnings per share, as compared to net income of $1.2 million, or $0.45 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and $1.2 million, or $0.47 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend on the Company’s common stock of $0.19 per share, payable on February 26, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 12, 2025.

    Comments from the President and Chief Executive Officer  
     
    “The Bank ended the year with many positives, including a 15-basis-point increase in net interest margin compared to the third quarter of 2024. This was largely due to our significant progress in reducing deposit costs, which fell by 16 basis points,” remarked Laurie Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, nonperforming loans decreased by 11.8% from the third quarter, and for the first time in more than a decade, we have no OREO,” concluded Ms. Stewart.

    “Notable progress was made in reducing funding costs during the quarter and in controlling expenses throughout the entire year. We hope to continue this momentum in 2025. Our staff across the company played an important role in these accomplishments by focusing on client relationships and increasing efficiencies through technological improvements,” explained Wes Ochs, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

    Mr. Ochs continued, “We ended the year with the same balance sheet strategy that we used to close out 2023, which helped reduce the Bank’s asset size below $1 billion. This strategy is intended to provide the Bank with additional operational flexibility and continued cost savings in 2025.”
    Q4 2024 Financial Performance
    Total assets decreased $107.3 million or 9.7% to $993.6 million at December 31, 2024, from $1.10 billion at September 30, 2024, and decreased $1.6 million or 0.2% from $995.2 million at December 31, 2023.     Net interest income increased $347 thousand or 4.4% to $8.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, from $7.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $653 thousand or 8.6% from $7.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
       
        Net interest margin (“NIM”), annualized, was 3.13% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2.98% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and 3.04% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
    Loans held-for-portfolio decreased $1.6 million or 0.2% to $900.2 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $901.7 million at September 30, 2024, and increased $5.7 million or 0.6% from $894.5 million at December 31, 2023.    
        A $14 thousand provision for credit losses was recorded for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to an $8 thousand provision and a $27 thousand release of provision for credit losses for the quarters ended September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. At December 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans outstanding was 0.94%, compared to 0.95% at September 30, 2024 and 0.98% December 31, 2023.
    Total deposits decreased $92.4 million or 9.9% to $837.8 million at December 31, 2024, from $930.2 million at September 30, 2024, and increased $11.3 million or 1.4% from $826.5 million at December 31, 2023. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased $2.8 million or 2.2% to $132.5 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $129.7 million at September 30, 2024, and increased $5.8 million or 4.6% compared to $126.7 million at December 31, 2023.    
        Total noninterest income decreased $75 thousand or 6.1% to $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $94 thousand or 8.8% compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
    The loans-to-deposits ratio was 108% at December 31, 2024, compared to 97% at September 30, 2024 and 108% at December 31, 2023.    
        Total noninterest expense decreased $621 thousand or 8.1% to $7.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and decreased $248 thousand or 3.4% compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
    Total nonperforming loans decreased $998 thousand or 11.8% to $7.5 million at December 31, 2024, from $8.5 million at September 30, 2024, and increased $3.9 million or 110.7% from $3.6 million at December 31, 2023. Nonperforming loans to total loans was 0.83% and the allowance for credit losses on loans to total nonperforming loans was 113.46% at December 31, 2024.    
        The Bank continued to maintain capital levels in excess of regulatory requirements and was categorized as “well-capitalized” at December 31, 2024.
           

    Operating Results

    Net interest income increased $347 thousand, or 4.4%, to $8.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $7.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $653 thousand, or 8.6%, from $7.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.The increase from the prior quarter was primarily the result of lower funding costs and an increase in average yield on loans receivable and investments, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance and yield on interest-bearing cash. The increase in net interest income compared to the same quarter one year ago was primarily due to a higher average yield on interest-earning assets, particularly loans receivable and investments, and an increase in the average balances of both loans receivable and interest-bearing cash, partially offset by a lower average yield on interest-bearing cash and higher funding costs.

    Interest income decreased $102 thousand, or 0.7%, to $14.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $14.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $1.4 million, or 10.5%, from $13.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The decrease from the prior quarter was primarily due to a lower average balance of interest-bearing cash, and a 59 basis point decline in the average yield on interest-bearing cash, offset by a seven basis point increase in the average loan yield and a 16 basis point increase in the average yield on investments. The increase in interest income compared to the same quarter last year was due primarily to higher average balances of loans and interest-bearing cash, a 37 basis point increase in the average yield on loans, and a 43 basis point increase in the average yield on investments, partially offset by a decline in the average balance of investments and a 59 basis point decline in the average yield on interest-bearing cash.

    Interest income on loans increased $194 thousand, or 1.5%, to $13.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $12.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $1.0 million, or 8.6%, from $12.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The average balance of total loans was $900.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, up from $898.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and $884.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The average yield on total loans was 5.77% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, up from 5.70% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and 5.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The increase in the average loan yield during the current quarter, compared to both the prior quarter and the fourth quarter of 2023, was primarily due to the origination of new loans at higher interest rates. Additionally, variable-rate loans resetting to higher rates contributed to the increase in average yield compared to the prior quarters. The increase in the average balance during the current quarter compared to the prior quarter was primarily due to growth in commercial and multifamily loans, manufactured housing loans and floating home loans. This was partially offset by a decline in construction and land loans and commercial business loans. The average balances for one-to-four family loans, home equity loans, and other consumer loans remained relatively flat from the third quarter of 2024. The increase in the average balance of loans during the current quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 was primarily due to loan growth across all categories, except for one-to-four family loans, construction and land loans, commercial business loans, and other consumer loans, with the largest decrease being in construction and land loans.

    Interest income on investments was $132 thousand for both the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, and $129 thousand for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Interest income on interest-bearing cash decreased $296 thousand to $1.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $1.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $359 thousand from $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The decrease from the prior quarter was due to decreases in the average yield and average balance of interest-bearing cash. The increase from the same quarter in the prior year was a result of a higher average balance, partially offset by a lower average yield.

    Interest expense decreased $449 thousand, or 6.4%, to $6.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, from $7.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $746 thousand, or 12.9%, from $5.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in interest expense during the current quarter from the prior quarter was primarily the result of average balance decreases of $3.8 million in demand and NOW accounts, $2.3 million in certificate accounts and $9.5 million in FHLB advances, as well as lower average rates paid on all categories of interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by a $10.2 million increase in the average balance of savings and money market accounts. The increase in interest expense during the current quarter from the same quarter a year ago was primarily the result of a $91.9 million increase in the average balance of savings and money market accounts and a $1.3 million increase in the average balance of certificate accounts, as well as higher average rates paid on savings and money market accounts. This was partially offset by a $25.3 million decrease in the average balance of demand and NOW accounts and a $9.6 million decrease in the average balance of FHLB advances. The average cost of deposits was 2.58% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, down from 2.74% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and up from 2.38% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The average cost of FHLB advances was 4.31% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, down from 4.32% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and up from 4.26% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

    NIM (annualized) was 3.13% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, up from 2.98% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 and 3.04% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The increase in NIM from the prior quarter was the result of lower cost of funding, partially offset by a decrease in interest income on interest-earning assets. The increase in NIM from the quarter one year ago was primarily due to an increase in interest income on interest-earning assets, driven by the higher average balance in loans and interest-bearing cash and a higher yield earned on loans and investments, partially offset by a higher average balance of and cost of savings and money market accounts.

    A provision for credit losses of $14 thousand was recorded for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, consisting of a release of provision for credit losses on loans of $73 thousand and a provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $87 thousand. This compared to a provision for credit losses of $8 thousand for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, consisting of a provision for credit losses on loans of $106 thousand and a release of provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $98 thousand, and a release of provision for credit losses of $27 thousand for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, consisting of a provision for credit losses on loans of $337 thousand and a release of the provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $364 thousand. The increase in the provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024 resulted primarily from an additional qualitative adjustment related to our loan review, additional enhancements to the loss model related to how we adjust for the qualitative component, including the utilization of a scorecard to drive managements analysis, and growth in our unfunded construction loan portfolio, which has a higher loss rate than our other loan portfolios. These increases were offset by lower reserves in both our floating home sub-segment of other consumer loans within our quantitative analysis and in our qualitative analysis related to market conditions and value of underlying collateral, as economic conditions have improved. Expected loss estimates consider various factors, such as market conditions, borrower-specific information, projected delinquencies, and the impact of economic conditions on borrowers’ ability to repay.

    Noninterest income decreased $75 thousand, or 6.1%, to $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and increased $94 thousand, or 8.8%, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The decrease from the prior quarter was primarily related to a $24 thousand downward adjustment in fair value of mortgage servicing rights and a $59 thousand decrease in earnings from bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”), both influenced by fluctuating market interest rates. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $13 thousand in net gain on sale of loans due to higher sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $7 thousand increase in gain on disposal of assets due to insurance claims exceeding the book value on the replacement of stolen laptops in the second quarter of 2024. The increase in noninterest income from the same quarter of 2023 was primarily due an $43 thousand increase in service charges and fee income primarily due to increases in late fees on loans, higher interchange income and income related to a new, multi-year agreement with our credit card provider that was effective in 2024, a late fee on one commercial loan and higher specialty deposit fees due to fewer reversals of fees in 2024, a $173 thousand increase in the fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights due to changes in prepayment speeds, servicing costs, and discount rate, and a $7 thousand increase in gain on disposal of assets as noted above. These increases were partially offset by a $95 thousand decrease in earnings on BOLI due to market rate fluctuations, and a $23 thousand decrease in net gain on sale of loans due to fewer loans sold, and an $11 thousand decrease in mortgage servicing income as a result of the portfolio paying down at a faster rate than we are replacing the loans. Loans sold during the quarter ended December 31, 2024, totaled $3.5 million, compared to $2.4 million and $4.5 million of loans sold during the quarters ended September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

    Noninterest expense decreased $621 thousand, or 8.1%, to $7.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and decreased $248 thousand, or 3.4%, from the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The decrease from the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was primarily a result of lower salaries and benefits and operations expenses, partially offset by higher data processing expense. Salaries and benefits decreased $549 thousand primarily due to lower incentive compensation, lower retirement plan expense due to fluctuating market rates, lower medical expense due to higher medical costs during the third quarter of 2024, and lower salaries expense, as well as higher deferred salaries due to higher loan production. Operations expense decreased $211 thousand primarily due to a reversal of state and local tax expense related to higher estimated tax payments made than actual tax due, and lower operational losses in the current quarter as the prior quarter included the charge-off of a fraudulently obtained loan. This was partially offset by an $165 thousand increase in data processing expenses, reflecting new technology implementation costs. Compared to same quarter in 2023, the decrease in noninterest expense was primarily due to lower operations expenses, occupancy expenses and data processing expenses, which were partially offset by a $118 thousand increase in salaries and benefits costs. Operations expenses decreased due to reduction in loan originations costs, office expenses, operational losses, charitable contributions and state and local taxes, partially offset by higher professional fees primarily related to costs for future FDIC Improvement Act implementation. Data processing expenses decreased due to lower costs related to our core processor, while occupancy expenses decreased primarily due to fully amortized leasehold improvements. The increase in salaries and benefits compared to the same quarter last year reflected higher incentive compensation, lower deferred salaries, higher medical expenses due primarily to a change in insurance providers, and a higher contribution to our employee stock ownership plan due to the increase in value of our stock in 2024. This was partially offset by lower retirement plan expenses due to fluctuating market rates and lower salaries from a restructuring of positions at the end of 2023.

    Balance Sheet Review, Capital Management and Credit Quality

    Assets at December 31, 2024 totaled $993.6 million, down from $1.10 billion at September 30, 2024 and $995.22 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease in total assets from September 30, 2024 was primarily due to decreases in cash and cash equivalents and loans held-for-portfolio. The decrease from one year ago was primarily a result of lower balances of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, offset by an increase in loans held-for-portfolio.

    Cash and cash equivalents decreased $105.3 million, or 70.7%, to $43.6 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $148.9 million at September 30, 2024, and decreased $6.0 million, or 12.2%, from $49.7 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease from the prior quarter was primarily due to higher deposit withdrawals, as well as the strategic decision to sell reciprocal deposits at the end of the year. Cash and cash equivalents decreased from one year ago primarily due to the increase in loans held-for-portfolio and the payoff of one FHLB borrowing, partially offset by an increase in deposits.

    Investment securities decreased $251 thousand, or 2.5%, to $9.9 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $10.2 million at September 30, 2024, and decreased $533 thousand, or 5.1%, from $10.5 million at December 31, 2023. Held-to-maturity securities totaled $2.1 million at both December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, and totaled $2.2 million at December 31, 2023. Available-for-sale securities totaled $7.8 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $8.0 million at September 30, 2024 and $8.3 million at December 31, 2023.

    Loans held-for-portfolio were $900.2 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $901.7 million at September 30, 2024 and $894.5 million at December 31, 2023.

    Nonperforming assets (“NPAs”), which are comprised of nonaccrual loans (including nonperforming modified loans), other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other repossessed assets, decreased $1.1 million, or 12.9%, to $7.5 million at December 31, 2024, from $8.6 million at September 30, 2024 and increased $3.4 million, or 81.3%, from $4.1 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease in NPAs from September 30, 2024 was primarily due to the payoff of seven loans totaling $1.2 million, one loan totaling $76 thousand returning to accrual status, and sale of one other real estate owned property for $115 thousand for a small net gain on sale, partially offset by the addition of seven loans totaling $326 thousand to nonaccrual. The increase in NPAs from one year ago was primarily due to the placement of an additional $9.3 million of loans on nonaccrual status, which included a $3.7 million matured commercial real estate loan where the borrower is in the process of securing financing from another lender, and a $2.4 million floating home loan, all of which are well secured. These additions were partially offset by payoffs totaling $4.2 million, the return of $784 thousand of loans to accrual status, charge-offs of $142 thousand, the sale of two other real estate owned properties for $685 thousand, and normal loan payments.

    NPAs to total assets were 0.75%, 0.78% and 0.42% at December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans outstanding was 0.94% at December 31, 2024, compared to 0.95% at September 30, 2024 and 0.98% at December 31, 2023. Net loan charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2024 totaled $13 thousand, compared to $14 thousand for the third quarter of 2024, and $15 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    The following table summarizes our NPAs at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

      December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Nonperforming Loans:                  
    One-to-four family $ 537     $ 745     $ 822     $ 835     $ 1,108  
    Home equity loans   298       338       342       83       84  
    Commercial and multifamily   3,734       4,719       5,161       4,747       —  
    Construction and land   24       25       28       29       —  
    Manufactured homes   521       230       136       166       228  
    Floating homes   2,363       2,377       2,417       3,192       —  
    Commercial business   11       23       —       —       2,135  
    Other consumer   3       32       3       1       1  
    Total nonperforming loans   7,491       8,489       8,909       9,053       3,556  
    OREO and Other Repossessed Assets:                  
    Commercial and multifamily   —       —       —       575       575  
    Manufactured homes   —       115       115       115       —  
    Total OREO and repossessed assets   —       115       115       690       575  
    Total NPAs $ 7,491     $ 8,604     $ 9,024     $ 9,743     $ 4,131  
                       
    Percentage of Nonperforming Loans:                  
    One-to-four family   7.3 %     8.7 %     9.1 %     8.5 %     26.9 %
    Home equity loans   4.0       3.9       3.8       0.9       2.0  
    Commercial and multifamily   49.8       54.8       57.2       48.7       —  
    Construction and land   0.3       0.3       0.3       0.3       —  
    Manufactured homes   7.0       2.7       1.5       1.7       5.5  
    Floating homes   31.5       27.6       26.8       32.8       —  
    Commercial business   0.1       0.3       —       —       51.7  
    Other consumer   —       0.4       —       —       —  
    Total nonperforming loans   100.0       98.7       98.7       92.9       86.1  
    Percentage of OREO and Other Repossessed Assets:                  
    Commercial and multifamily   —       —       —       5.9       13.9  
    Manufactured homes   —       1.3       1.3       1.2       —  
    Total OREO and repossessed assets   —       1.3       1.3       7.1       13.9  
    Total NPAs   100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %

    The following table summarizes the allowance for credit losses at the dates and for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, unaudited):

      At or For the Quarter Ended:
      December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans                  
    Balance at beginning of period $ 8,585     $ 8,493     $ 8,598     $ 8,760     $ 8,438  
    (Release of) provision for credit losses during the period   (73 )     106       (88 )     (106 )     337  
    Net charge-offs during the period   (13 )     (14 )     (17 )     (56 )     (15 )
    Balance at end of period $ 8,499     $ 8,585     $ 8,493     $ 8,598     $ 8,760  
    Allowance for Credit Losses on Unfunded Loan Commitments                  
    Balance at beginning of period $ 147     $ 245     $ 266     $ 193     $ 557  
    Provision for (release of) provision for credit losses during the period   87       (98 )     (21 )     73       (364 )
    Balance at end of period   234       147       245       266       193  
    Allowance for Credit Losses $ 8,733     $ 8,732     $ 8,738     $ 8,864     $ 8,953  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans   0.94 %     0.95 %     0.96 %     0.96 %     0.98 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans   0.97 %     0.97 %     0.98 %     0.99 %     1.00 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total nonperforming loans   113.46 %     101.13 %     95.33 %     94.97 %     246.34 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total nonperforming loans   116.58 %     102.86 %     98.08 %     97.91 %     251.77 %

    Total deposits decreased $92.4 million, or 9.9%, to $837.8 million at December 31, 2024, from $930.2 million at September 30, 2024 and increased $11.3 million, or 1.4%, from $826.5 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease in total deposits compared to the prior quarter-end was primarily a result of the movement of reciprocal deposits off balance sheet for strategic objectives at year-end, followed by the return of those deposits to our balance sheet in the first quarter of 2025, and a decrease in one high cost money market depositor relationship as part of our strategic decision to decrease our overall cost of funds. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased $2.8 million, or 2.2%, to $132.5 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $129.7 million at September 30, 2024 and increased $5.8 million, or 4.6%, from $126.7 million at December 31, 2023. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 15.8%, 14.0% and 15.3% of total deposits at December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

    FHLB advances totaled $25.0 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $40.0 million at both September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023. The decrease from both prior dated was due to the repayment of a $15.0 million FHLB advance that matured in November 2024. FHLB advances are primarily used to support organic loan growth and to maintain liquidity ratios in line with our asset/liability objectives. FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2024 had maturities ranging from early 2026 through early 2028. Subordinated notes, net totaled $11.8 million at each of December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

    Stockholders’ equity totaled $103.7 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $1.4 million, or 1.4%, from $102.2 million at September 30, 2024, and an increase of $3.0 million, or 3.0%, from $100.7 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in stockholders’ equity from September 30, 2024 was primarily the result of $1.9 million of net income earned during the current quarter, $98 thousand in share-based compensation, and $19 thousand in common stock options exercised, partially offset by a $122 thousand increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax and the payment of $486 thousand in cash dividends to the Company’s stockholders.

    Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company, is the parent company of Sound Community Bank, which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and has full-service branches in Seattle, Tacoma, Mountlake Terrace, Sequim, Port Angeles, Port Ludlow and University Place. Sound Community Bank is a Fannie Mae Approved Lender and Seller/Servicer with one loan production office located in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle. For more information, please visit www.soundcb.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

    When used in this press release and in documents filed or furnished by Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in the Company’s other press releases or other public or stockholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events and may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors listed below or because of other factors that we cannot foresee that could cause our actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

    Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, include, but are not limited to:adverse impacts to economic conditions in the Company’s local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company’s business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation or deflation, a recession or slowed economic growth, as well as supply chain disruptions; changes in the interest rate environment, including increases and decreases in the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) benchmark rate and the duration at which such interest rate levels are maintained, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the values of our assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the impact of inflation and the current and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto; the effects of any federal government shutdown; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; fluctuations in interest rates; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; the Company’s ability to access cost-effective funding; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in the Company’s market area; secondary market conditions for loans;expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; environmental, social and governance goals and targets; results of examinations of the Company or the Bank by their regulators; increased competition; changes in management’s business strategies; legislative changes; changes in the regulatory and tax environments in which the Company operates; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on our third-party vendors; the potential imposition of new tariffs or changes to existing trade policies that could affect economic activity or specific industry sector; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest and other external events on our business; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC, which are available at www.soundcb.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The risks inherent in these factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company and could negatively affect the Company’s operating and stock performance.

    The Company does not undertake—and specifically disclaims any obligation—to revise any forward-looking statement to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
        For the Quarter Ended
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Interest income   $ 14,736     $ 14,838   $ 14,039     $ 13,760     $ 13,337  
    Interest expense     6,516       6,965     6,591       6,300       5,770  
    Net interest income     8,220       7,873     7,448       7,460       7,567  
    Provision for (release of) credit losses     14       8     (109 )     (33 )     (27 )
    Net interest income after provision for (release of) credit losses     8,206       7,865     7,557       7,493       7,594  
    Noninterest income:                    
    Service charges and fee income     619       628     761       612       576  
    Earnings on bank-owned life insurance     127       186     134       177       222  
    Mortgage servicing income     277       280     279       282       288  
    Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights     77       101     (116 )     (65 )     (96 )
    Net gain on sale of loans     53       40     74       90       76  
    Other income     7       —     30       —       —  
    Total noninterest income     1,160       1,235     1,162       1,096       1,066  
    Noninterest expense:                    
    Salaries and benefits     3,920       4,469     4,658       4,543       3,802  
    Operations     1,329       1,540     1,569       1,457       1,537  
    Regulatory assessments     189       189     220       189       198  
    Occupancy     409       414     397       444       458  
    Data processing     1,232       1,067     910       1,017       1,311  
    Net (gain) loss on OREO and repossessed assets     (21 )     —     (17 )     6       —  
    Total noninterest expense     7,058       7,679     7,737       7,656       7,306  
    Income before provision for income taxes     2,308       1,421     982       933       1,354  
    Provision for income taxes     389       267     187       163       143  
    Net income   $ 1,919     $ 1,154   $ 795     $ 770     $ 1,211  
    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
         
        For theYear Ended December 31
          2024       2023  
    Interest income   $ 57,374     $ 50,609  
    Interest expense     26,372       16,759  
    Net interest income     31,002       33,850  
    (Release of) provision for credit losses     (120 )     (273 )
    Net interest income after (release of) provision for credit losses     31,122       34,123  
    Noninterest income:        
    Service charges and fee income     2,620       2,527  
    Earnings on bank-owned life insurance     625       1,179  
    Mortgage servicing income     1,118       1,179  
    Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights     (4 )     (219 )
    Net gain on sale of loans     258       340  
    Other income     38       —  
    Total noninterest income     4,655       5,006  
    Noninterest expense:        
    Salaries and benefits     17,590       17,135  
    Operations     5,894       6,095  
    Regulatory assessments     787       688  
    Occupancy     1,665       1,810  
    Data processing     4,226       4,388  
    Net (gain) loss on OREO and repossessed assets     (31 )     13  
    Total noninterest expense     30,131       30,129  
    Income before provision for income taxes     5,646       9,000  
    Provision for income taxes     1,006       1,561  
    Net income   $ 4,640     $ 7,439  
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    ASSETS                    
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 43,641     $ 148,930     $ 135,111     $ 137,977     $ 49,690  
    Available-for-sale securities, at fair value     7,790       8,032       7,996       8,115       8,287  
    Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost     2,130       2,139       2,147       2,157       2,166  
    Loans held-for-sale     487       65       257       351       603  
    Loans held-for-portfolio     900,171       901,733       889,274       897,877       894,478  
    Allowance for credit losses – loans     (8,499 )     (8,585 )     (8,493 )     (8,598 )     (8,760 )
    Total loans held-for-portfolio, net     891,672       893,148       880,781       889,279       885,718  
    Accrued interest receivable     3,471       3,705       3,413       3,617       3,452  
    Bank-owned life insurance, net     22,490       22,363       22,172       22,037       21,860  
    Other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other repossessed assets, net     —       115       115       690       575  
    Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value     4,769       4,665       4,540       4,612       4,632  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock, at cost     1,730       2,405       2,406       2,406       2,396  
    Premises and equipment, net     4,697       4,807       4,906       6,685       5,240  
    Right-of-use assets     3,725       3,779       4,020       4,259       4,496  
    Other assets     7,031       6,777       6,995       4,500       6,106  
    TOTAL ASSETS   $ 993,633     $ 1,100,930     $ 1,074,859     $ 1,086,685     $ 995,221  
    LIABILITIES                    
    Interest-bearing deposits   $ 705,267     $ 800,480     $ 781,854     $ 788,217     $ 699,813  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits     132,532       129,717       124,915       128,666       126,726  
    Total deposits     837,799       930,197       906,769       916,883       826,539  
    Borrowings     25,000       40,000       40,000       40,000       40,000  
    Accrued interest payable     765       908       760       719       817  
    Lease liabilities     4,013       4,079       4,328       4,576       4,821  
    Other liabilities     9,371       9,711       9,105       9,578       9,563  
    Advance payments from borrowers for taxes and insurance     1,260       2,047       812       2,209       1,110  
    Subordinated notes, net     11,759       11,749       11,738       11,728       11,717  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES     889,967       998,691       973,512       985,693       894,567  
    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                    
    Common stock     25       25       25       25       25  
    Additional paid-in capital     28,413       28,296       28,198       28,110       27,990  
    Retained earnings     76,272       74,840       74,173       73,907       73,627  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (1,044 )     (922 )     (1,049 )     (1,050 )     (988 )
    TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     103,666       102,239       101,347       100,992       100,654  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 993,633     $ 1,100,930     $ 1,074,859     $ 1,086,685     $ 995,221  
    KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
    (unaudited)
        For the Quarter Ended
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Annualized return on average assets   0.70 %   0.42 %   0.30 %   0.29 %   0.46 %
    Annualized return on average equity   7.40 %   4.50 %   3.17 %   3.06 %   4.78 %
    Annualized net interest margin(1)   3.13 %   2.98 %   2.92 %   2.95 %   3.04 %
    Annualized efficiency ratio(2)   75.25 %   84.31 %   89.86 %   89.48 %   84.63 %

    (1)   Net interest income divided by average interest earning assets.
    (2)   Noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income).

    PER COMMON SHARE DATA
    (unaudited)
        At or For the Quarter Ended
        December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.75   $ 0.45   $ 0.31   $ 0.30   $ 0.47
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.74   $ 0.45   $ 0.31   $ 0.30   $ 0.47
    Weighted-average basic shares outstanding     2,547,210     2,544,233     2,540,538     2,539,213     2,542,175
    Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding     2,578,771     2,569,368     2,559,015     2,556,958     2,560,656
    Common shares outstanding at period-end     2,564,907     2,564,095     2,557,284     2,558,546     2,549,427
    Book value per share   $ 40.42   $ 39.87   $ 39.63   $ 39.47   $ 39.48

    AVERAGE BALANCE, AVERAGE YIELD EARNED, AND AVERAGE RATE PAID
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

    The following tables present, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resultant yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates. Income and yields on tax-exempt obligations have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis. All average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccrual loans have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield for the period they have been on nonaccrual (dollars in thousands).

      Three Months Ended
      December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023
      Average Outstanding Balance   Interest Earned/
    Paid    		   Yield/
    Rate    		   Average Outstanding Balance   Interest Earned/
    Paid    		   Yield/
    Rate    		   Average Outstanding Balance   Interest Earned/
    Paid    		   Yield/
    Rate
    Interest-Earning Assets:                                  
    Loans receivable $ 900,832     $ 13,070   5.77 %   $ 898,570     $ 12,876   5.70 %   $ 884,677     $ 12,033   5.40 %
    Interest-earning cash   130,412       1,534   4.68 %     138,240       1,830   5.27 %     88,401       1,175   5.27 %
    Investments   13,263       132   3.96 %     13,806       132   3.80 %     14,479       129   3.53 %
    Total interest-earning assets $ 1,044,507       14,736   5.61 %     1,050,616     $ 14,838   5.62 %   $ 987,557       13,337   5.36 %
    Interest-Bearing Liabilities:                                  
    Savings and money market accounts $ 350,495       2,476   2.81 %   $ 340,281       2,688   3.14 %   $ 258,583       1,586   2.43 %
    Demand and NOW accounts   144,470       128   0.35 %     148,252       151   0.41 %     169,816       149   0.35 %
    Certificate accounts   301,293       3,413   4.51 %     303,632       3,524   4.62 %     300,042       3,436   4.54 %
    Subordinated notes   11,756       168   5.69 %     11,745       168   5.69 %     11,714       168   5.69 %
    Borrowings   30,546       331   4.31 %     40,000       434   4.32 %     40,109       431   4.26 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities $ 838,560       6,516   3.09 %   $ 843,910       6,965   3.28 %   $ 780,264       5,770   2.93 %
    Net interest income/spread     $ 8,220   2.52 %       $ 7,873   2.34 %       $ 7,567   2.42 %
    Net interest margin         3.13 %           2.98 %           3.04 %
                                       
    Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities   125 %             124 %             127 %        
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 130,476             $ 132,762             $ 134,857          
    Total deposits   926,734     $ 6,017   2.58 %     924,927     $ 6,363   2.74 %     863,298     $ 5,171   2.38 %
    Total funding(1)   969,036       6,516   2.68 %     976,672       6,965   2.84 %     915,121       5,770   2.50 %

    (1)   Total funding is the sum of average interest-bearing liabilities and average noninterest-bearing deposits. The cost of total funding is calculated as annualized total interest expense divided by average total funding.

      Year Ended
      December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
      Average
    Outstanding Balance    		   Interest Earned/Paid   Yield/Rate   Average
    Outstanding Balance    		   Interest Earned/Paid   Yield/Rate
    Interest-Earning Assets:                      
    Loans receivable $ 896,690     $ 50,499   5.63 %   $ 870,227     $ 46,470   5.34 %
    Interest-earning cash   124,259       6,367   5.12 %     74,708       3,621   4.85 %
    Investments   12,468       508   4.07 %     13,661       518   3.79 %
    Total interest-earning assets $ 1,033,417       57,374   5.55 %   $ 958,596       50,609   5.28 %
    Interest-Bearing Liabilities:                      
    Savings and money market accounts $ 319,314       9,145   2.86 %   $ 194,810       2,783   1.43 %
    Demand and NOW accounts   151,528       568   0.37 %     204,922       736   0.36 %
    Certificate accounts   309,441       14,363   4.64 %     280,238       10,617   3.79 %
    Subordinated notes   11,740       672   5.72 %     11,698       672   5.74 %
    Borrowings   37,623       1,624   4.32 %     43,977       1,951   4.44 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities $ 829,646       26,372   3.18 %   $ 735,645       16,759   2.28 %
    Net interest income/spread     $ 31,002   2.37 %       $ 33,850   3.00 %
    Net interest margin         3.00 %           3.53 %
                           
    Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities   125 %             130 %        
    Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 131,141             $ 154,448          
    Total deposits   911,424     $ 24,076   2.64 %     834,418     $ 14,136   1.69 %
    Total funding(1)   960,787       26,372   2.74 %     890,093       16,759   1.88 %

    (1)   Total funding is the sum of average interest-bearing liabilities and average noninterest-bearing deposits. The cost of total funding is calculated as annualized total interest expense divided by average total funding.

    LOANS
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Real estate loans:                    
    One-to-four family   $ 269,684     $ 271,702     $ 268,488     $ 279,213     $ 279,448  
    Home equity     26,686       25,199       26,185       24,380       23,073  
    Commercial and multifamily     371,516       358,587       342,632       324,483       315,280  
    Construction and land     73,077       85,724       96,962       111,726       126,758  
    Total real estate loans     740,963       741,212       734,267       739,802       744,559  
    Consumer Loans:                    
    Manufactured homes     41,128       40,371       38,953       37,583       36,193  
    Floating homes     86,411       86,155       81,622       84,237       75,108  
    Other consumer     17,720       18,266       18,422       18,847       19,612  
    Total consumer loans     145,259       144,792       138,997       140,667       130,913  
    Commercial business loans     15,605       17,481       17,860       19,075       20,688  
    Total loans     901,827       903,485       891,124       899,544       896,160  
    Less:                    
    Premiums     718       736       754       808       829  
    Deferred fees, net     (2,374 )     (2,488 )     (2,604 )     (2,475 )     (2,511 )
    Allowance for credit losses – loans     (8,499 )     (8,585 )     (8,493 )     (8,598 )     (8,760 )
    Total loans held-for-portfolio, net   $ 891,672     $ 893,148     $ 880,781     $ 889,279     $ 885,718  
    DEPOSITS
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Noninterest-bearing demand   $ 132,532   $ 129,717   $ 124,915   $ 128,666   $ 126,726
    Interest-bearing demand     142,126     148,740     152,829     159,178     168,346
    Savings     61,252     61,455     63,368     65,723     69,461
    Money market(1)     206,067     285,655     253,873     241,976     154,044
    Certificates     295,822     304,630     311,784     321,340     307,962
    Total deposits   $ 837,799   $ 930,197   $ 906,769   $ 916,883   $ 826,539

    (1)   Includes $5.0 million of brokered deposits at December 31, 2023. 

    CREDIT QUALITY DATA
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
        At or For the Quarter Ended
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    Total nonperforming loans   $ 7,491     $ 8,489     $ 8,909     $ 9,053     $ 3,556  
    OREO and other repossessed assets     —       115       115       690       575  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 7,491     $ 8,604     $ 9,024     $ 9,743     $ 4,131  
    Net charge-offs during the quarter   $ (13 )   $ (14 )   $ (17 )   $ (56 )   $ (15 )
    Provision for (release of) credit losses during the quarter     14       8       (109 )     (33 )     (27 )
    Allowance for credit losses – loans     8,499       8,585       8,493       8,598       8,760  
    Allowance for credit losses – loans to total loans     0.94 %     0.95 %     0.96 %     0.96 %     0.98 %
    Allowance for credit losses – loans to total nonperforming loans     113.46 %     101.13 %     95.33 %     94.97 %     246.34 %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     0.83 %     0.94 %     1.00 %     1.01 %     0.40 %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.75 %     0.78 %     0.84 %     0.90 %     0.42 %
    OTHER STATISTICS
    (Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
        At or For the Quarter Ended
        December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
                         
    Total loans to total deposits     107.64 %     97.13 %     98.27 %     98.11 %     108.42 %
    Noninterest-bearing deposits to total deposits     15.82 %     13.95 %     13.78 %     14.03 %     15.33 %
                         
    Average total assets for the quarter   $ 1,089,067     $ 1,095,404     $ 1,070,579     $ 1,062,036     $ 1,033,985  
    Average total equity for the quarter   $ 103,181     $ 102,059     $ 100,961     $ 101,292     $ 100,612  

    Contact

    Financial:    
    Wes Ochs      
    Executive Vice President/CFO    
    (206) 436-8587      
           
    Media:    
    Laurie Stewart      
    President/CEO    
    (206) 436-1495      
           

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Union County Man Sentenced To 57 Months In Prison For Stolen Vehicles Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive, retitle, and “re-VIN” stolen vehicles, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Nathaniel Bell, 27, of Linden, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to a seven-count information charging him with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles, five counts of altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and one count of transportation of stolen vehicles.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Bell was the leader of a criminal conspiracy that obtained stolen vehicles from New Jersey, New York, Florida, and other states, obtained fraudulent titles for the stolen vehicles, and altered vehicle identification numbers to conceal the fact that the vehicles were stolen. Bell and his co-conspirators then sold the stolen cars to dealerships or individual purchasers so they could make a profit. In at least two instances, the co-conspirators sold a stolen car to an individual purchaser and then stole it back so they could sell it again. Bell also knowingly altered or removed the VIN numbers on five vehicles and knowingly transported a stolen vehicle between New York and New Jersey.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Bell to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution.

    Bell’s co-conspirators, Johnathan Tanksley, 31, of Orange; L’Hubermane Felix, 25, of Miami, Florida; and Dayanna Sarango-Hidalgo, 29, of Newark, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles. Felix was previously sentenced to 24 months in prison. Tanksley and Sarango-Hidalgo await sentencing.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, with the investigation that led to the sentencing. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office; the National Insurance Crime Bureau; the Jersey City Police Department; the Belleville Police Department; the Rahway Police Department; the Linden Police Department; the Roselle Police Department; the Eatontown Police Department; the Freehold Police Department; the Elizabeth Police Department; the Miami Police Department (Florida); the Florida Highway Patrol; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the Howard County Police Department (Maryland); the New York Police Department; the Nassau County Police Department (New York); the Georgia Department of Revenue; the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; the Deputy Attorney General’s Office; the FBI Miami Office; the FBI Cleveland Office; and the FBI Milwaukee Office

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kober of the Organized Crimes/Gangs Unit in Newark.

                                                                 ###

    Defense counsel: Jason F. Orlando 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rochester Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man pleaded guilty for his role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, from approximately October 2020 through January 2022, Sharmake Jama, 37, knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a federal child nutrition program designed to provide free meals to children in need. Rather than feed children, the defendants took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic—and the resulting program changes—to enrich themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds.

    According to court documents, in September 2020, Jama and Aimee Bock applied for Jama’s Brava Restaurant to be enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Bock’s non-profit, Feeding Our Future. Jama enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program after he first prepared application paperwork at the direction of Salim Said, the co-owner of Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, which was another business involved in the scheme to defraud the food program.

    From late 2020 through 2021, Jama and other conspirators claimed Brava Restaurant was serving approximately 2,000 to 3,000 daily breakfasts and lunches to children, for which they fraudulently claimed and received millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds. To accomplish his scheme, Jama and his co-conspirators submitted fake attendance rosters purporting to list the names of children who purportedly received their food at sites. These rosters were fraudulent in that the names on them were fake or did not correctly reflect the number of children that were fed.

    According to his plea agreement entered today, Jama claimed Brava Restaurant had served more than 1.7 million meals in Rochester as part of the Federal Child Nutrition Program in a little over one year, a number substantially higher than the actual number of meals served. Based on these fraudulent claims, Feeding Our Future paid out over $5.3 million in federal child nutrition program reimbursements for meals purportedly served to children by the defendant and his co-conspirators. Jama knew his receipt of such funds was fraudulent because he and other conspirators intentionally submitted inflated meal counts. Jama’s Brava Restaurant ultimately received $4.3 million directly from Feeding Our Future and over $900,000 from Safari Restaurant, co-owned by Salim Said.

    As part of their scheme, Jama and his conspirators coordinated the establishment of shell companies through which they received and dispersed funds from the federal child nutrition program. Specifically, on January 7, 2021, Salim Said paid to register six different shell companies with the state of Minnesota for Jama and others. Salim Said paid to register Mumu LLC for Jama. In 2021, Jama deposited at least $872,230—almost all of which was misappropriated Federal Child Nutrition Program funds—into his Mumu LLC bank accounts.

    Jama used federal child nutrition funds to pay for personal expenditures unrelated to feeding children, including at least $88,000 for a 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali 4WD Crew Cab truck and over $500,000 toward real estate in Rochester, Minnesota, and Rosemount, Minnesota.

    Jama pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

    The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Joseph H. Thompson, and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teen 20 years his junior.

    According to court documents, Thomas Lee Chaffins, 35, an enrolled member of Mescalero Apache Tribe, admitted to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on September 27, 2024, in Otero County, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation.

    Chaffins will remain detained pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Chaffins faces up to 15 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Alyson Hehr are prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Joseph Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in or around August 2021, Sanchez was living in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. A foreign national who worked at a convenience store near Sanchez’s residence offered to pay Sanchez if he found a woman willing to marry the foreign national so he could obtain lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a Green Card. Sanchez ultimately agreed to the request in exchange for $10,000 in cash. The understanding was that $5,000 would be paid upon the marriage being final, and another $5,000 would be paid once the foreign national received his Green Card.

    Sanchez arranged to have his sister-in-law marry the foreign national. Sanchez told his sister-in-law about the purpose of the arrangement and the financial benefits associated with it. The sister-in-law had only occasionally interacted with the foreign national, as a customer at his convenience store. The sister-in-law and Sanchez had no social connections to the foreign national beyond frequenting the convenience store.

    In September 2021, Sanchez’s sister-in-law and the foreign national were married in White Sulphur Springs. In March 2023, Sanchez traveled with the sister-in-law and the foreign national to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was for the sister-in-law and the foreign national to attend an interview with U.S. immigration officials to trick those officials into believing the marriage was entered into in good faith and that the relationship between the sister-in-law and the foreign national was genuine. The scheme was unsuccessful, and the foreign national’s application was denied.

    Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

    United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-198.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Sentences for Two Santa Fe Men for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Two Santa Fe men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking operation that utilized social media to advertise and distribute drugs.

    According to court documents, the Santa Fe Police Department (SFPD) and the FBI began investigating a fentanyl-based drug-trafficking organization in the fall of 2020. During the investigation, officers uncovered the defendants, Mario Guizar-Anchondo and Werni Lopez-Perez, social media activity advertising the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

    In December 2021, SFPD officers encountered Guizar-Anchondo and Lopez-Perez twice.

    • December 4, 2021: SFPD responded to a report of suspected drug activity involving Lopez-Perez in a white Ford F-150 truck. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a loaded firearm, over $18,000 in cash, 635 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of fentanyl pills, and drug paraphernalia.
    • December 30, 2021: SFPD officers stopped the same Ford F-150 truck, this time driven by Guizar-Anchondo with Lopez-Perez as the passenger. A search of the vehicle, authorized by federal and state warrants, revealed approximately 1,730 grams of methamphetamine, 32,000 fentanyl pills, five loaded firearms, and additional drug paraphernalia.

    Despite the ongoing investigation, Guizar-Anchondo and Lopez-Perez continued to advertise fentanyl pills for sale on social media platforms. These posts depicted baggies of fentanyl pills similar to those recovered from the vehicle.

    Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo both pled guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Lopez-Perez was sentenced to 80 months in prison, while Guizar-Anchondo was sentenced to 108 months.

    Upon their release from prison, Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boone County Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Trenton Alan Cremeans, 24, of Seth, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of prepubescent child pornography. Cremeans must also register as a sex offender.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 17, 2024, Cremeans possessed child pornography on his cell phone. When combined with child pornography also possessed in his Snapchat accounts, Cremeans possessed a total of approximately 373 images and 31 videos of child pornography. These images and videos included depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and some of the images depicted sadistic and masochistic abuse. Cremeans further admitted that he downloaded these images and videos online, and used his cell phone to search online for child pornography and related information by using specific search terms, including terms that specifically sought child pornography depicting infants and toddlers.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing 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 www.justice.gov/psc.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-41.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Helena man admits conspiracy to distribute large quantities of meth, fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS — A Helena man accused of trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl he received from suppliers in California and Oregon admitted to a conspiracy charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Charles Clifford Hamlin, 61, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Hamlin faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 5. Hamlin was detained pending further proceedings.

    In a plea agreement filed in the case, the parties agreed that Hamlin would serve a sentence within a stipulated range of 15 years to 20 years in prison.

    In court documents, the government alleged that the Missouri River Drug Task Force and United States Postal Service began investigating Hamlin after they intercepted a package intended for Hamlin in August 2021. The package contained approximately three pounds of meth. Over the next several years, investigators spoke with numerous sources who identified Hamlin as a large-scale narcotics distributor. Two sources worked with Hamlin to bring meth from California to Montana, and one source went to Oregon to obtain meth for Hamlin to distribute. The sources stated the deliveries to Hamlin ranged from between one pound to three pounds.

    Another source told investigators about receiving ounces of meth and “rolls” of fentanyl pills regularly from Hamlin. Hamlin received deliveries every two and one-half weeks from a source in Oregon. Each delivery was approximately seven pounds of meth, 4,000 to 7,000 fentanyl pills, two ounces of cocaine and two ounces of heroin.

    In December 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Hamlin and his truck was searched based on a suspected probation violation. Officers located approximately 18 grams of meth in his gas tank flap. Investigators also made controlled buys of meth and fentanyl pills from Hamlin. In February 2024, law enforcement stopped an individual in Powell County, and the person had nine pounds of meth and 6,200 fentanyl pills. Approximately six pounds of the meth was destined for Hamlin.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Helena Police Department, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.

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

    XXX

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Fayette County Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kayla Nicole Dent, 34, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, 2024, Dent sold approximately 1.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $140 at Dent’s residence. Dent admitted to the transaction and to arranging it with the confidential informant beforehand.

    Dent is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which  consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.

    United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys  Brian D. Parsons and Alexander A. Redmon are prosecuting the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-140.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: President Trump Signs the Laken Riley Act into Law

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – Today, President Trump signed his first piece of legislation into law, the Laken Riley Act. This law mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury.  

    A statement from Secretary Noem on the signing of the bill is below:  

    “Thank you, President Trump, for signing the Laken Riley Act. This law restores commonsense to our broken immigration system. Under President Trump, violent criminals and vicious gang members will no longer be released into American communities.” 

    The Laken Riley Act is named after a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan alien who was previously arrested and paroled into the U.S. under the previous administration.  

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  • MIL-OSI Security: First of 3 new Coast Guard cutters arrives to homeport in Kodiak, Alaska

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/29/2025 06:30 PM EST

    News Release

    		  

    U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska
    Contact: 17th District Public Affairs
    Office: (907) 463-2065
    After Hours: (907) 463-2065
    17th District online newsroom

     

    01/29/2025 06:05 PM EST

    KODIAK, Alaska — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon (WPC 1158) arrived at the cutter’s new homeport in Kodiak, Tuesday.  The cutter is scheduled to be commissioned during a ceremony in April.  The Witherspoon is the first of three Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) scheduled to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Kodiak and is now the fourth FRC currently based in Alaska. While these ships will be homeported in Kodiak, they will operate throughout the 17th Coast Guard District to include the U.S. Arctic, Gulf of Alaska, and Bering Sea.   The crew of the Witherspoon will carry out integral Coast Guard missions such as maritime law enforcement and security, living marine resources, and search and rescue. They will provide security for Alaskan coastal communities as they continue to utilize the ocean for their livelihoods while preserving Alaska’s living marine resources in conjunction with our partner agencies.   “The crew is humbled to be associated to a namesake honoring Capt. John G. Witherspoon, a trailblazer who found enjoyment and purpose in leading and mentoring others,” said Lt. Cmdr. Adam Young, commanding officer of the Witherspoon. “It is fitting that the cutter’s first sail was no tall order, stretching more than 7,000 nautical miles from Key West to Kodiak. Throughout the last five months, the crew displayed remarkable teamwork and resilience, a true testament to the core values Capt. Witherspoon epitomized throughout his illustrious career. I couldn’t be prouder of the team we have onboard, and I look forward to experiencing the beauty of Alaska once again.”  The new FRCs arriving in Alaska are designed to replace the service’s fleet of 110-foot cutters that are projected to be decommissioned this year. The Coast Guard is currently scheduled to have six FRCs operating throughout Alaska by the end of 2025 to reinforce our maritime boundaries and shorten on-scene response times to support search and rescue efforts and better serve the people of Alaska.  FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as over-the-horizon response boat deployment capability and improved habitability for the crew. The ships can reach speeds of 28 knots and are equipped to coordinate operations with partner agencies and long-range Coast Guard assets such as the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutters.  FRCs are 154-foot multi-mission ships designed to conduct drug and migrant interdictions; ports, waterways and coastal security operations; fisheries and environmental protection patrols; national defense missions; and search and rescue. Each cutter is designed for a crew of 24, has a range of 2,500 miles and is equipped for patrols up to five days. The FRCs are part of the Coast Guard’s overall fleet modernization initiative. 

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