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  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Department of State Issues Final Voting Reminders for November 5 General Election

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    PROVIDENCE, RI � Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and the RI Department of State Elections Division are today issuing final reminders for eligible voters who wish to participate in the General Election taking place tomorrow, November 5, 2024.

    Early voting continues today through 4 p.m. Eligible voters can find their early voting location online at vote.ri.gov or by contacting their local board of canvassers.

    All mail ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Mail ballots can be returned in any secure elections drop box, at the Board of Elections, at your local board of canvassers’ office, or in-person at a polling place on Election Day.

    Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the exception of New Shoreham, where polls will open at 9 a.m. Voters can find their Election Day polling place by looking up their voting record online here.

    The RI Department of State does not report election results, but information about voter turnout is available on vote.ri.gov.

    To learn more about elections in Rhode Island, visit vote.ri.gov.

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    El Departamento de Estado de RI Emite los �ltimos Recordatorios para las Elecciones Generales del 5 de Noviembre

    PROVIDENCE, RI – El Secretario de Estado Gregg M. Amore y la Divisi�n de Elecciones del Departamento de Estado de RI emiten hoy los �ltimos recordatorios para aquellos votantes que deseen participar en las Elecciones Generales que se realizar�n ma�ana, 5 de noviembre del 2024.

    La votaci�n por adelantado contin�a hasta las 4:00 p.m. del d�a de hoy. Los votantes eligibles para votar pueden encontrar su lugar para votaci�n por adelantado en l�nea en vota.ri.gov o comunic�ndose con la junta local de elecciones.

    Todas las papeletas de votaci�n por correo deben ser recibidas por la Junta Estatal de Elecciones antes de las 8:00 p.m. del D�a de las Elecciones. Los votos por correo pueden ser devueltos en cualquiera de los buzones electorales seguros, en la Junta Estatal de Elecciones, en su junta local de elecciones o en persona en su local de votaci�n en el D�a de las Elecciones.

    Los lugares de votaci�n estar�n abiertos ma�ana desde las 7:00 a.m. hasta las 8:00 p.m., a excepci�n de New Shoreham, donde las urnas abrir�n a las 9:00 a.m. Los votantes pueden encontrar su lugar de votaci�n del D�a de las Elecciones buscando su registro de votante en l�nea aqu�.

    El Departamento de Estado de RI no informa sobre los resultados de las elecciones, pero la informaci�n sobre la participaci�n electoral est� disponible en vota.ri.gov.

    Para obtener m�s informaci�n sobre las elecciones en Rhode Island, inscribirse para votar o comprobar el estado de su registro de votante, visite vota.ri.gov.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DCCA NEWS RELEASE: REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO HOST A FREE VIRTUAL “CONDORAMA” EDUCATION EVENT

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DCCA NEWS RELEASE: REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO HOST A FREE VIRTUAL “CONDORAMA” EDUCATION EVENT

    Posted on Nov 4, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

    KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA

     

    PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING DIVISION

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR | KE KIAʻĀINA

    NADINE Y. ANDO
    DIRECTOR | KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

    AHLANI K. QUIOGUE

    LICENSING ADMINISTRATOR

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    November 4, 2024

    REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO HOST A FREE VIRTUAL “CONDORAMA” EDUCATION EVENT

     

    HONOLULU — The Real Estate Commission, together with Community Associations Institute Hawaii Chapter will conduct a free “Condorama XIII” event via webinar, on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will feature speakers highlighting topics relating to the condominium community.

     

    The event is geared toward condominium owners and is open to the public. Registration is available online at https://www.caihawaii.org/. Following the presentation, a recording of the event will be made available on the CAI Hawaii and the Real Estate Branch Condorama websites.

    TOPICS INCLUDE:

    • The Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission

     

    Marcus Kawatachi, Deputy Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission (“HCRC”) will provide information on the HCRC and its function, how complaints are processed, types of claims received and tips to avoid complaints.

     

    • Dealing with Violence in Associations

     

    Jeffrey Owens, CSP, CTM, CVP, Major-HPD Ret., will provide an overview on dealing with violence in associations, including strategies on managing events to safety, productive communications, reducing personal risk during encounters and regaining control when people are out of control.

    For more information regarding Condorama XIII, please visit the Real Estate Branch Condorama website at https://cca.hawaii.gov/condorama/, or call the Real Estate Branch at 808-586-2644.

    # # #

    The Real Estate Commission is one of 52 boards, commissions and programs administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. It is responsible for the licensure, education and discipline of real estate agents; registration of prelicense schools, continuing education providers, condominium projects, condominium associations, condominium managing agents and condominium hotel operators; and certification of prelicense and continuing education courses and prelicense instructors.

    Media Contact:

    William Nhieu

    Communications Officer

    Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

    [email protected]

    Office: 808-586-7582

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: California to Receive up to $122 Million in Opioid Agreement with Kroger for Its Role in Opioid Epidemic

    Source: US State of California

    Monday, November 4, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    To date, the Attorney General has secured nearly $50 billion in nationwide opioid settlements and bankruptcies

    California is expected to receive up to $4.2 billion in opioid abatement funds under these settlements and bankruptcy plans

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the completion of a $1.37 billion settlement agreement with Kroger, addressing the grocery chain’s role in the opioid crisis. California will receive up to $122 million for opioid abatement, with payments anticipated to begin early next year. The settlement will resolve allegations that the company failed to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its pharmacies.  

    “At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to holding entities, like Kroger, accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s announcement builds on our commitment in our continued fight for justice and relief. The funds secured in this settlement will allow the state and eligible cities and counties to continue addressing the harms inflicted by this epidemic through comprehensive prevention, treatment and recovery programs, and other resources. I want to thank my team and our partners nationwide in making this settlement possible.”

    In the settlement, Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. Kroger operates in California through a number of subsidiaries, including principally Ralph’s. 

    To date, the Attorney General has secured nearly $50 billion in abatement funding through nationwide settlements and bankruptcies. California is expected to receive up to $4.2 billion in opioid abatement funds under these settlements, with the bulk of these funds going to our local governments. Recognizing the impact of the opioid and fentanyl crisis to both public health and public safety, the Attorney General issued guidance to provide local governments with suggestions for the permissible, effective, and strategic use of opioid settlement abatement funds. This guidance is aimed at helping local governments maximize impact, save lives, and strengthen public health infrastructures to tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis. 

    A copy of the multistate settlement agreement, which must still be entered by a state court judge, can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Digue — Missing 77-year-old woman

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Shediac RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 77-year-old woman from Grand Digue, N.B.

    Theresa Jones was last seen walking on Beaverbrook Road in Grand Digue in early October. She was reported missing to police on November 1, 2024. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate her, but have so far been unsuccessful. Police and her family are concerned for her wellbeing.

    Theresa Jones is described as having hazel eyes and short grey hair.

    Anyone who has seen Theresa Jones recently or has any information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Shediac RCMP at 506-533-5151.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Warren Urge Fed to Cut Interest Rates Even Further

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Seventh letter from Hickenlooper to the Fed warns that high interest rates are still raising costs for American families

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Elizabeth Warren urged the Federal Reserve to cut the federal interest rate by a further 50 basis points ahead of its November Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

    “Given the Fed’s confidence in inflation moving towards its target of 2 percent, now is the time to lift its restrictive policies and proceed with additional rate cuts,” Hickenlooper and Warren wrote. “If the Fed moves forward with more rate cuts, housing prices and mortgage rates would thus also likely drop, allowing more families to achieve the American dream.”

    After months of Hickenlooper and Warren calling on the Fed to cut the federal funds rate, the Fed finally lowered it by 50 basis points in September, the first cut since 2020. The Fed explained: “[t]he Committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance.” Recent economic data shows that inflation has fallen to 2.1 percent, the lowest since February 2021. 

    However, even as the economy remains strong, housing costs are too high and the demand for workers may be waning due to high federal interest rates.

    “As we tackle the housing affordability crisis across the United States, it is critical that we build more housing. Lowering interest rates is key to unlocking more supply: rate cuts will lower of the cost of capital, helping to tackle inflation by spurring more housing construction and consequently lowering housing prices,” the senators continued.

    This most recent letter comes after Hickenlooper called on the Fed multiple times to consider the negative impacts of its continued interest rate hikes on American families:

    • In September 2024, Hickenlooper and his colleagues sent a letter urging the Fed to cut the federal interest rate to help lower costs for working families, ahead of its September Federal Open Market Committee meeting which led to a 50 basis point cut
    • In August 2024, Hickenlooper and his colleagues sent a letter to the Fed asking them to cut interest rates to stop undermining working class Americans.
    • In June 2024, Hickenlooper and his colleagues sent a letter to the Fed, urging them to cut the federal interest rates that have increased housing and insurance costs for working families.
    • In January 2024, Hickenlooper and his colleagues sent a letter to the Fed calling on them to cut interest rates and address the affordable housing crisis
    • In January 2023, Hickenlooper sent a letter to the Fed cautioning against another interest rate increase in the face of rising layoffs and reduced employment
    • In October 2022, Hickenlooper called on the Fed to pause rate hikes in a letter to Chair Powell

    For full text of the letter, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Webster Returns Nearly $3 Million to Constituents

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Daniel Webster (11th District of Florida)

    Clermont, FL — Today, Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, announced his office reached a milestone of returning over $2.7 million to constituents in compensation, pension, or retroactive payments from agencies including the VA, IRS, Social Security, and Medicare.
     
    “Providing first-class assistance to my constituents with issues involving federal agencies is one of my top priorities,” said Rep. Webster. “I am pleased that we have been able to intercede on behalf of so many constituents to ensure they receive the services and compensation they have earned.”

    Congressman Webster’s office works diligently with agency liaisons on a constituent’s behalf to answer questions, find solutions, or simply cut through the red tape. Recently, a veteran in Laky Lake contacted Rep. Webster for regarding delays with his appeals that were pending at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Webster’s office submitted an inquiry, monitored the process, and provided regular updates to the veteran. After a mostly favorable decision by the Veterans Law Judge, the veteran received a retro payment of over $100,000.

    If you are a constituent in Congressional District 11 in need of assistance with a federal agency, call 352-241-9220 or visit https://webster.house.gov/casework.
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maintenance works coming for State Highway 2 Masterton to Carterton

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Wairarapa residents and drivers can expect night closures later this month as maintenance works and median barrier repairs are carried out on State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton.

    Night works are planned from Sunday, 17 November, until Thursday, 21 November. The highway will be closed between Hughes Line and the Norfolk Road/Cornwall Road roundabout from 9 pm to 4:30 am.

    Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says most of the work will be general maintenance.

    “Road crews will complete drainage work, pavement repairs, and replacing signs”.

    “They’ll also be repairing the wire rope median barriers, which have been struck twice since they were last repaired in July of this year. It’s great to see the barriers doing their job and protecting drivers from head-on collisions, which are the biggest cause of serious crashes on our roads,” Ms Hilliard says.

    Some of the work planned is in preparation for resurfacing, which will be done in the warmer summer months, early next year.

    “We’ll take the opportunity to do some road repairs. This will speed up our work when we resurface the road next year.”

    Local road detours will be in place while the work is underway.

    “A full closure means work crews can do the job much faster. That means much less all-round disruption for drivers.”

    The detour will require slightly longer travel times, so drivers must allow extra time for their journeys.

    Drivers must remember the detours is on a local roads not the state highway – and ensure they drive to the conditions.

    Works schedule and detour route

    • Sunday, 17 November to Thursday, 21 November, 9 pm – 4:30 am.
    • SH2 CLOSED between the rest area north of Hughes Line and Norfolk Road/Cornwall Road roundabout.
    • Local road detour via Cornwall Road and Hughes Line.

    View larger detour map [PDF, 68 KB]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 5 November 2024 A home to help the healing After a tough year fighting cancer, Jean is overjoyed to have recently moved into a new five-bedroom home in Rotorua with her children.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    “It’s amazing and I feel really blessed to have this house,” says Jean as she cuddles her eight-year old son, one of five who live at home.

    “The kids absolutely love it and we all still feel overwhelmed to be living here.”

    With her cancer now in remission, Jean is feeling stronger and looking forward positively on life.

    She volunteers for food rescue charity Love Soup twice a week, sorting and giving out rescued food boxes.

    Jean with her son and mokopuna

    “It’s been healing for me to help out there. I’ve been able to give back even with my illness and be around good people who have no judgement.”

    The busy Mum also works part-time at a local petrol station three days a week in customer service, adding “the cancer doesn’t take away my bills or my responsibilities.”

    Jean and her whānau were in a smaller Kāinga Ora house but needed to move as the property was being redeveloped.

    While being in a state house makes rent more affordable for her large family, she’s well aware how lucky she is and that she wouldn’t have been able to manage the cost of a private rental.

    “In the past we’ve had to share bedrooms, but we now have some space, which is really important for my older teens and my youngest who has a disability.”

    Reflecting on her life, Jean says having the stability of a home has helped her and her whānau get through some very tough times over the years.

    “Being in a Kāinga Ora house has helped me and my family rebuild our lives when the going has been tough, and now having us all together in this beautiful spacious home is everything.”

    “We are looking forward to Christmas together here, it will be a time for us to make happy family memories.”

    Page updated: 5 November 2024

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: One Billionth NYC Subway Rider of 2024 Announced

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority hit one billion trips on the New York City subway in 2024. The billionth customer was identified as Sir Michael Carrasquillo from Prospect Heights, Brooklyn who tapped into the subway system at Atlantic Av–Barclays Ctr 2 3 4 5 B D N R Q Station at 1:45 p.m. Mr. Carrasquillo received four weeks of unlimited rides on an OMNY card, and an OMNY hat and T-shirt. This milestone follows the busiest Sunday since the pandemic with the subway carrying 2.6 million riders during the New York City Marathon and comes nearly two months earlier than in 2022. October was the busiest October for New York City Transit since the pandemic, with nearly 114 million subway rides and over 40 million bus rides, 10 million more subway rides and 3 million more bus rides than the previous year.

    “There’s no better way to get around New York City than taking the subway, and we’re proud to be setting post-pandemic ridership records while investing in major new initiatives that will modernize our transit system,” Governor Hochul said. “We’ve also doubled down on our commitment to making mass transit safer, ensuring that every New Yorker experiences the standard of safety and service they deserve.”

    Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) also experienced record-breaking Octobers. Metro-North had an average of 230,400 weekday trips and LIRR had an average of 261,900 weekday trips, representing a post-pandemic record. Both railroads exceeded pre-pandemic weekend ridership. LIRR averaged nearly 135,000 trips per day on weekends, equaling 132 percent of Oct. 2019 weekend ridership. Metro-North averaged nearly 132,000 trips per weekend day, equaling 102 percent of Oct. 2019 weekend ridership.

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “The MTA is proud to be the engine that moves and powers New York and we’re welcoming riders back in record numbers. Credit to Governor Hochul and the NY Legislature for stepping up and allowing us to increase service when the rest of the country was making cuts and, here we are, billions of rides later.”

    MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said, “It’s great to see ridership rebound with leisure hours during the weekends booming and students are loving their OMNY cards with 20 million taps across the system. None of these records would be possible without great employees who work day-in and day-out to move customers throughout the system.”

    New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “Achieving ridership records at a quicker pace shows us that customers are relying on the subway to get where they need to go. NYCT will continue working to deliver reliable, fast and safe service, and I look forward to delivering on that goal for billions more trips.”

    Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi said, “There’s nothing like fall in the Hudson Valley, and it’s wonderful to see so many riders taking advantage of Metro-North’s great service to see the changing leaves or heading out to Yankee Stadium. As we move into the holiday season, Metro-North service is the best way to beat traffic and enjoy the iconic Grand Central Terminal and other holiday attractions throughout the region.”

    Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said, “We’re providing historic levels of service, record on-time performance, and increased reliability thanks to investments like Grand Central Madison and Main Line Third Track and customers are responding in record numbers. I look forward to continuing to build on October’s success and finish the year even stronger.”

    OMNY’s market share continues to grow with 82 percent of Regular Fare subway rides taken by tapping with OMNY. With Reduced-Fare customers now eligible for OMNY, last week 60 percent of all subway trips were taken via OMNY, an increase of 16 percent over the same week in 2023. And since receiving Student OMNY cards with expanded benefits at the start of the school year, students have tapped over 20 million times.

    To ensure subway customers were able to travel to and from the race smoothly and safely, NYCT did not schedule any non-essential work along lines that were anticipated to carry significant numbers of runners and race viewers. Platform controllers were deployed at stations surrounding the finishing area and other high priority viewing points, such as Queensboro Plaza 7 N W and Lexington Av/59 St 4 5 6 N R W . In order to prevent overcrowding on stairways and platforms at subway stations, some stairways were designated as “entrance or exit only.”

    Knowing that the subway is the fastest way to get around on Marathon Sunday, the Detroit Pistons took the train to Barclays Center for an afternoon NBA match up with the Brooklyn Nets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – Affirm needs strategic positioning amid regulatory shifts in the crowded UK BNPL market, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Following the news that the US-based buy now pay later (BNPL) startup Affirm has entered the UK market;

    Phoebe Hodgson, Associate Analyst, Banking and Payments at GlobalData, offers her view:

    “The BNPL market in the UK is becoming increasingly saturated. According to GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey*, only 21% of respondents in the UK have used an online BNPL service while buying goods and services. This limited adoption, coupled with an already concentrated market, where 75% of the UK market is held by five BNPL providers, suggests Affirm may find it challenging to position itself among the well-established competitors like Klarna, PayPal and Zilch.

    “Affirm’s unique selling points, such as extended loan periods and strategic partnerships, could help distinguish it, but it will have to overcome significant obstacles. One of the biggest hurdles is the evolving regulatory environment. The UK government seeks to regulate the BNPL product further, treating it as if it were a credit product, subjecting them to stricter consumer protections and potentially reducing the appeal for BNPL for both providers and consumers alike. Soon to be under stricter regulations, Affirm must work under pressure to assert itself among the UK customers, who are more cautious of debt amid high living costs and economic uncertainty. Furthermore, with competitors already moving towards innovative product extensions, and compliance initiatives, Affirm’s market entry may need to be more than just a product push – it must be a strategic positioning exercise to resonate with cautious UK consumers.”

    *Global survey conducted online in Q2 2024 among 67,292 consumers across 41 markets globally. The survey explores global consumer behaviors, purchasing preferences, and attitudes across the most important banking products. The UK’s sample is 5,003.

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Hussen announces multi-year funding for United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    November 4, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Forced displacement of individuals has reached record levels worldwide this year, as millions are driven from their homes by escalating conflicts, emerging crises, persecution and the effects of climate change. This has resulted in unprecedented humanitarian needs, requiring global cooperation to help the world’s most vulnerable.

    The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, today announced funding of $50.4 million over the next 4 years for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This flexible multi-year funding will help the UNHCR respond to the critical humanitarian and protection needs of refugees and other displaced populations around the world.

    The announcement was made during a visit to Ottawa by Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. During the visit, Minister Hussen and High Commissioner Grandi discussed the UNHCR’s response to crises around the world. They also discussed their efforts to strengthen their partnerships and address the root causes of forced displacement. They recommitted to working closely toward lasting solutions for refugees and other displaced people. 

    Quotes

    “The global refugee population has more than tripled in the past decade: it is one of the biggest global challenges we face today. This multi-year, reliable funding for the UNHCR will provide life-saving assistance and protection services to some of the world’s most vulnerable.”

    – Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

    Quick facts

    • Refugee situations have increased in scope, scale and complexity. For more than 12 years, the number of people remaining forcibly displaced has continued to grow.

    • As of mid-2024, an estimated 122.6 million people worldwide remained forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing the public order. Of those who are displaced, an estimated 72.1 million are internally displaced people and 43.7 million are refugees.

    • In 2023, the UNHCR and its partners responded to the assistance and protection needs of some 19.3 million people worldwide, including refugees and asylum seekers.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Olivia Batten
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of International Development
    Olivia.Batten@international.gc.ca

    Media Relations Office
    Global Affairs Canada
    media@international.gc.ca
    Follow us on X (Twitter): @CanadaDev
    Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international development – Global Affairs Canada
    Follow us on Instagram: @canadadev

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Research – Kiwi prostate cancer survivors wrestling with ED following treatment: new findings

    Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand (PCFNZ)

    PCFNZ launching ‘Life After Treatment’ educational roadshow supporting Aotearoa New Zealand’s prostate cancer community.

    Kiwis treated for our nation’s most commonly diagnosed male cancer – prostate cancer, – report experiencing a confidence-robbing, stigmatised treatment side-effect, erectile dysfunction (ED), according to Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand (PCFNZ) survey findings released today.

    Nine in 10 (93 per cent) survey respondents reported developing ED after treatment; 36 per cent felt “robbed of confidence”; while 28 per cent experienced “moderate compromise” to their mental health.

    PCFNZ’s release of the new survey findings today coincides with the first of six, free, PCFNZ public information evenings for prostate cancer survivors, and their families, kicking off in Tauranga this evening.

    Featuring leading Urologists and health professional speakers, the PCFNZ ‘Prostate Cancer – Life After Treatment’ roadshow will tour Tauranga, Palmerston North, Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington between November 5 – 14, 2024. Running between 7:00-8:30pm, each event will canvass the potential side-effects of prostate cancer treatment, and treatment options available to help manage, and aid recovery.

    According to PCFNZ Chief Executive Officer, Peter Dickens, for the more than 4,000 New Zealand men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, treatment can disrupt urinary, bowel and sexual function.

    “Findings from our PCFNZ ‘Life After Treatment’ survey complements data from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry (PCOR-NZ), which reported sexual function as the most compromised patient outcome associated with prostate cancer treatment – 38 per cent of patients reported moderate to substantial ‘bother’, compared to bother with urinary function (10 per cent) and bowel function (5 per cent).

    “Our survey aimed to glean insights from patients treated for prostate cancer, on the physical, mental, emotional and relationship challenges they have faced,” said Mr Dickens.

    “Numerous prostate cancer survivors experience distressing sexual and urinary difficulties following surgery, which compromise their mental health and wellbeing, and intimate relationships.

    “Many men report their quality of life to be severely, or moderately affected by ED following prostate cancer treatment,” Mr Dickens said.

    “Similarly, urinary incontinence (UI) can also significantly impair a man’s quality of life following prostate cancer treatment.”

    ED is a common, yet under-diagnosed and under-treated men’s health condition 4, affecting one in every three New Zealand men aged 40-70 years.

    “Almost 7 in 10 respondents (69 per cent) to our survey reported they were experiencing ED very frequently (at least once a week), while nearly 8 in 10 respondents (78 per cent) have experienced UI, with 45 per cent describing their symptoms as either ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’,”5 said Mr Dickens.

    “Concerningly, more than two in five (42 per cent) of the prostate cancer survivors who participated in our survey reported they were neither informed, nor adequately educated on the possibility of developing ED after prostate cancer treatment.

    “We are therefore, encouraging men and their families nation-wide, to attend our ‘Prostate Cancer: Life After Treatment’ public information evenings, to learn about, and discuss management and treatment options with leading experts in the field,” Mr Dickens said.

    Urologist and Clinical Director of Urology, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury, and Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Otago, Mr Giovanni Losco, Christchurch, said ED is an outcome of prostate cancer surgery for many men. While the cancer may be effectively treated, those who fail to seek help may face future challenges with erectile function.

    “ED can lead to feelings of shame and frustration, may compromise mental health, and even taint a man’s view of himself as being ‘complete or whole’.

    “Almost half (47 per cent) of the Life After Treatment survey respondents reported living with ED following prostate cancer treatment had ‘severely affected’ their sex drive, while 37 per cent were left feeling ‘moderately frustrated’, and 36 per cent ‘lacking confidence’,”5 Mr Losco said.

    “Living with ED can further compromise men’s work, friend, and intimate relationships, with 40 per cent of the survey respondents claiming the condition, post-prostate cancer treatment, had led to a ‘severe loss of intimacy’ with their partner.

    ”According to the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) President, Professor Helen O’Connell, AO, men who have experienced, or are at risk of developing prostate cancer, need to know effective treatment is available for ED.

    “As USANZ President, I want men to know that we recognise ED and UI as important health problems.

    “Once men have both overcome, and recovered from prostate cancer surgery, I urge them to be proactive in understanding how to both prevent, and recover from ED and UI,” said Prof O’Connell.

    “Importantly, a significant cause of ED is a history of prostate cancer and its treatment.

    “Should ED persist, don’t suffer in silence. Talk to your Urologist about your treatment options, because outside treatment for prostate cancer, there are other risk factors for developing ED,” Prof O’Connell said.

    “While it may take a little bit of courage, there are potential rewards for your relationship, mental health, partner, and your partnership in addressing the underlying causes of, and accessing effective treatment for both ED and UI.”

    Semi-retiree, father-to-two, and grandfather-to-three (with another on the way), Mike, 73, Tauranga, was diagnosed with ED and UI in 2016, following prostate cancer surgery. Although his UI improved within a few months, unfortunately Mike continued to grapple with the longer-term surgical side-effect, ED.

    “Prostate cancer itself was a really big thing, but then I was forced to contend with additional changes to my body following the surgery.

    “With UI, I set myself a goal to improve my symptoms, so I could stop using [incontinence] pads as quickly as possible,” Mike said.

    “I followed up with my surgeon, visited a physio, did pelvic floor exercises, and had a nurse call in every week. I managed my UI well and recovered within two-to-three months.

    “However, managing ED proved a much more protracted, complex journey, for which my main challenge was managing my compromised mental health,” said Mike.

    “As a man, I felt a loss. When you’re in a relationship, intimacy is vital, and I feared losing that special bond.

    Today Mike has an important, but poignant message for other Kiwi men (prostate cancer survivors or otherwise) living with ED.

    “Be proactive, and take the conversation lead with your family doctor.”

    About the survey

    PCFNZ conducted an online anonymous survey open to the public that attracted responses from 123 New Zealand men aged 45+ years between October 8 – 21, 2024. The ‘Prostate Cancer – Life After Treatment’ survey strove to glean insights from prostate cancer survivors about their experience of ED and UI following prostate cancer treatment.

    About Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ (PCFNZ)

    Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ provides vital support, education and information to patients, their families and whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as reducing the impact of prostate cancer through raising awareness, funding NZ-based research and advocating for improved standards of care.

    PCFNZ is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading male cancer charity. Our vision is to significantly reduce and ultimately end suffering from prostate and testicular cancer. We achieve this by providing support and education to the thousands of men and their families, those caring for them, and health professionals; advocating on their behalf for improved health outcomes; and investing in research that raises the understanding of the cancers, the effects on men, their families and our communities.

    To learn more about prostate cancer, ED and UI, head to prostate.org.nz or call the PCFNZ Information Service on 0800 66 0800.

    To register for a PCFNZ ‘Prostate Cancer – L ife A fter T reatment’ event in your area, visit: here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/5f32085d0b469c000a3ffbc6?c=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawGGlWxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWKKJ2xhC7Xiku3-bGYvvx0BHkL9FY8156qyYYohxCx_BU-YakRuTIKU7Q_aem_twWLMR2tV8tsJYweP_TdJg

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Infrastructure Sector – Have we got it right? New Zealand Infrastructure Commission seeks feedback as it develops the National Infrastructure Plan

    Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

    The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission has published Testing our thinking: Developing an enduring National Infrastructure Plan to share its initial thinking and seek feedback as it develops the National Infrastructure Plan. When completed, the 30-year Plan will help inform decision-making by both central and local government, giving the infrastructure industry more confidence to invest in the people, technology and equipment they need to build more efficiently.
    “The infrastructure we depend on today was built and paid for by previous generations. We need to leave future generations with just as strong a legacy, while making sure we don’t overly burden them with the costs. This will mean making careful choices about where we spend our infrastructure dollar, understanding what our needs are, while also allowing flexibility for the needs we can’t foresee,” says Peter Nunns, Acting General Manager – Strategy.
    “In the discussion document we outline some of the ways we’re looking at addressing this through the Plan. This includes forecasting long-term infrastructure needs, looking at current investment intentions, and independently reviewing unfunded infrastructure proposals to give decision-makers a menu of high-quality vetted proposals through the Infrastructure Priorities Programme. We will also provide advice about how we can build capability to plan and build infrastructure better, how we can take better care of our existing assets, and how we can regulate and govern infrastructure better.”
    “We obviously don’t have a monopoly on good ideas so to develop the National Infrastructure Plan we need to hear from people who provide and use infrastructure. We’ve released a discussion document to help to test our thinking on our long-term infrastructure needs and how we can address them. We welcome and encourage your feedback,” says Nunns.
    Background
    Part of the role of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission is to help build a shared, long-term view of New Zealand’s infrastructure needs and priorities. The New Zealand Instructure Commission is required to produce strategic, independent advice on the long-term needs for New Zealand’s infrastructure every five years. This advice is delivered to the Minister for Infrastructure, and the Government must develop its response. In May 2022, the Commission published New Zealand’s first Infrastructure Strategy, making recommendations for improving New Zealand’s infrastructure system. The National Infrastructure Plan will build on the Strategy and include recommendations to meet New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges.
    The Minister for Infrastructure has asked the Commission to lead in the development of the Plan. To help inform our thinking for the Plan, the Commission is seeking input from Māori/iwi organisations, across central and local government, and with the private sector and the public.
    A draft of the Plan will be delivered to the Minister for Infrastructure in mid-2025. Following public consultation and feedback from the Minister, the Commission will finalise the Plan which will be delivered to the Government in late 2025.
    Notes for Editors
    The discussion document includes four key sections, summarised below:
    Section One: Why we need a National Infrastructure Plan
    This section discusses the drivers for a National Infrastructure Plan, including:
    • The need to balance greater certainty about our infrastructure needs so we can plan and prioritise, with the flexibility to allow for changing needs and unforeseen events.
    • The challenge of investment efficiency. International comparisons show New Zealand’s invests in infrastructure at a similar or even higher level than other OECD countries, but we rank near the bottom for the efficiency of that spend.
    • A need to find new ways to meet our infrastructure needs. Research has show that if we were to simply build all the public infrastructure we may think we need, it would cost 9.6% of our GDP – almost twice what we are currently spending and more than we’ve spent in the past. Instead we can look at what we can afford and get better use from what we’ve got.
    • A need to improve the way we govern infrastructure. New Zealand ranks poorly against other high-income countries on infrastructure governance practices
    • The opportunity to better coordinate infrastructure planning, delivery and operations. This enables infrastructure investment to be focused on the right things at the right times, reduced project costs, and delivery of more affordable services.
    Section Two: Our long-term Needs
    This section sets out our approach to identifying infrastructure needs through a system-wide view. This means considering the infrastructure we already have and the factors that may increase or decrease the need for investment in the future.
    We will take a realistic view on what financial resources we are likely to have for infrastructure investment, based on what we have spent in the past.
    We outline eight factors that will influence our long-term investment needs:
    • the need to renew existing infrastructure as it wears out
    • population growth and demographic change
    • economic development and changing standards
    • construction price inflation
    • resilience to natural hazards
    • decarbonising our economy
    • technology change
    • shortage of existing infrastructure.
    Section Three: What Infrastructure is Already Planned
    The Infrastructure Commission already gathers and shares data on current or planned infrastructure projects through the National Infrastructure Pipeline. This data, alongside other information gathered by the Treasury or published by infrastructure providers, helps to paint a picture of investment intentions.
    In this section, we discuss our approach to comparing the information on current investment we get from these and other sources of information, with the data we’re gathering about long-term trends from our infrastructure needs analysis. By comparing these, we can see where New Zealand may be over or under-investing in infrastructure, where there are trade-offs between different investment paths, and where we still have gaps in our knowledge.
    In taking this approach, a National Infrastructure Plan can provide decision-makers with a guide for infrastructure investment.
    Section Four: Changing the approach
    This section discusses areas where change to our infrastructure system could get us better results. These include:
    Our capability to plan and build. This means:
    • improving our approach to investment management
    • growing the infrastructure workforce and building project leadership capability
    • finding ways to reduce the cost of our projects.
    Taking care of what we have. This means
    • getting better at asset management, or looking after our existing infrastructure
    • improving our resilience, and preparing for greater disruption from shocks like natural hazards
    • ensuring our infrastructure contributes to achieving a net zero carbon economy.
    Getting the settings right. This means:
    • making sure we have the right institutional settings to get the best from our infrastructure system
    • considering the way we pay for infrastructure, including the potential for methods like congestion charging or volumetric charging which can both guide investment and help manage demand
    • making sure regulation, like our consenting system, enables efficient and timely infrastructure development. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Work underway to determine high-speed rail route

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    Work has started on the New South Wales Central Coast to determine the best route for a proposed high-speed rail link connecting the region to Sydney in just 30 minutes.

    The Albanese Government is planning for a future high-speed rail network to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast of Australia. 

    The first stage connects Newcastle to Sydney via the Central Coast with a fast, reliable and regular link between the two largest cities in NSW.

    Two drill rigs have started work on the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn and at Brisbane Water in Gosford as part of geotechnical investigations to determine the optimum route alignment.

    Assembling the two barges took three days. They will drill six boreholes, some to a depth of 140 metres, in locations within Brisbane Water and the Hawkesbury River, with the barge on the Hawkesbury River to operate for about two months.

    The rock and sediment samples will be analysed, with the results helping inform construction methods and key details such as the design and depth of potential rail tunnels.

    The geotechnical work – which involves about 27 boreholes in key areas between Newcastle and Sydney – helps with planning for rail tunnel depths, recognising the geological complexities of traversing the escarpment into the Central Coast and on to Sydney and Newcastle.

    The work is being coordinated by the Australian Government’s High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) as part of the business case being developed for the first stage connecting Newcastle to Sydney.

    High-speed rail will connect Australian regions, cities and communities – delivering more job and lifestyle choices, greater housing options and new economic opportunities.

    The Albanese Government has committed $500 million for the planning and corridor protection of the Newcastle to Sydney section, and established the HSRA to conduct the work. 

    The business case for the Newcastle to Sydney stage is due to be delivered to the Government by the end of this year. 

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

    “High-speed rail means generations of new opportunities for regional Australia, creating more jobs in more locations and giving people greater choices in where they live, work, study and play.

    “Our transformational investment in high-speed rail will help shape Australia for decades to come.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid:

    “The Central Coast stands to benefit from the Australian Government’s nation-shaping investment in high-speed rail.

    “Our Government is committed to high-speed rail so we can support a growing population, better link workers with job opportunities, and deliver sustainable, low-emissions transport.

    “I know that the Central Coast community cannot wait to see this project come to fruition.”

    Quotes attributable to High Speed Rail Authority CEO Tim Parker: 

    “Journeys will be reliable, quick, convenient and comfortable.

    “Right now, we’re working on how to build a new railway in complex areas and the engineering challenges we would face.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Latest data reveals NSW’s top melanoma hotspots

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Published: 5 November 2024

    Released by: Minister for Health

    The Cancer Institute NSW’s newly released melanoma hotspot map reveals Ballina, Lismore, Byron, Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour local government areas (LGAs) have the state’s highest rates of melanoma, with almost 350 cases projected to be diagnosed in those areas in 2024.

    Sutherland Shire, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Tweed and Kempsey and Richmond Valley LGAs are also in the state’s top 10 melanoma hotspots, while Mosman, Mid-Western Regional, Shoalhaven, Cessnock and Wagga Wagga LGAs have entered the top 25.

    Melanoma is one of the most common cancers among young Australians and the third most diagnosed cancer in NSW, with more than 5000 people expected to be diagnosed in the state in 2024.

    As the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma can be deadly and is projected to take the lives of close to 500 people across NSW this year.

    Ninety-five per cent of melanoma and 99 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and can be prevented with proper sun protection.

    The Cancer Institute NSW has several initiatives in place to reduce the impact of skin cancer in NSW as part of its Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy 2023-2030. Initiatives include the If You Could See UV campaign, which is about to be relaunched in time for summer.

    The behaviour change campaign, which aims to motivate 18–24-year-olds to protect their skin from UV radiation, has recently received two prestigious Australian Effectiveness Awards (Effies) for Positive Change, and Insight and Strategic Thinking.

    Research shows more than 75 per cent of young people felt motivated to protect their skin from the sun after watching the campaign, which will deliver geo-targeted reminders on weather apps and outdoor advertising of the UV index in areas of NSW where young people are more likely to be outdoors. 

    The most effective defence against UV radiation is to follow these five key steps before leaving the house:

    1. Slip on protective clothing
    2. Slop on SPF50+ sunscreen. Sunscreen should always be applied 20 minutes before heading outdoors and re-applied every two hours.
    3. Slap on a wide brimmed hat
    4. Seek shade
    5. Slide on sunglasses.

    Top 25 NSW LGAs for melanoma incidence:

    1. Ballina
    2. Lismore
    3. Byron
    4. Clarence Valley
    5. Coffs Harbour
    6. Sutherland Shire
    7. Port Macquarie-Hastings
    8. Tweed
    9. Kempsey
    10. Richmond Valley
    11. Nambucca Valley
    12. Kiama
    13. Port Stephens
    14. Bathurst Regional
    15. Mid-Coast
    16. Lake Macquarie
    17. Mosman
    18. Mid-Western Regional
    19. Northern Beaches
    20. Shoalhaven
    21. Cessnock
    22. Wagga Wagga
    23. Central Coast
    24. Wingecarribee
    25. Newcastle

    More information on how to reduce your risk of skin cancer is available on the Cancer Institute NSW website.

    Quotes attributable to Health Minister Ryan Park

    “The release of the latest melanoma hotspot map is a timely reminder, particularly as we head into summer, to always take protective measures when outdoors.

    “Most melanoma hotspots are in regional areas but it’s important to remember that no matter where you live, the risk of skin cancer is ever present.

    “Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world and as a community, it’s imperative we take the threat of skin cancer seriously and follow the simple, life-saving steps needed to reduce our risk of this deadly disease.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan:

    “Here on the Northern Beaches, we love being outdoors enjoying the natural environment or being active. This is healthy, but only if you’re being sun smart. Otherwise, it can be deadly.

    “I know this all too well, losing my dad when he was 48 to melanoma. I was just 26. We know more now than we did then. The best cure is prevention. Slip slop slap seek slide is the way to go.

    “Each of us has a role to play is creating a sun smart culture, through our own behaviours and what we encourage in others.

    “Make today the day you decide to step up your sun protection game ahead of summer.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM

    “Two out of three Australians will be treated for skin cancer in their lifetime which is why protecting our skin from the sun from a very young age, and into adulthood, is key to reducing our risk of this devastating disease.

    “In NSW, UV radiation levels are high 10 months of the year and even short bursts of exposure to the sun can be deadly.

    “Whether you’re going to the beach or hanging the washing or walking to the shops or train station, I urge everyone to do the simple things like seeking shade when outdoors, wearing sunscreen, putting on a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing to safeguard themselves from harmful UV radiation from the sun.”

    Quotes attributable to Anne Gately:

    “I was diagnosed with melanoma at age 44 in 2010 and after having the mole and some lymph nodes removed, I was given the all clear. Eight years later I was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, but thankfully after receiving immunotherapy treatment I was cancer free within three months.

    “I was a tanner, so I spent a lot of time at the beach, and I also spent a lot of time playing sport, which is why I think it’s not just about personal responsibility but that we have a duty of care to others in our community when it comes to sun protection.

    “I think the campaign is spot on, in spreading the message that while you may not be able to see or feel the consequences every amount of UV exposure is adding to the damage.”

    Quotes attributable to Sonia Knight:

    “I was 43 when I noticed a mole on my arm that was changing and looked nasty and a visit to the GP confirmed it was a melanoma which had spread to some lymph nodes. I had it removed and was cancer free for five years, until July this year when I received news the melanoma had returned at stage 3c. I had surgery recently and will soon start immunotherapy.

    “I grew up on Northern Beaches and spent every weekend at the beach, I thought a tan was healthy looking but now I tell everyone, tanning is definitely not cool and how important it is to protect your skin from the sun – my daughters don’t leave the house unless they’re applied sunscreen half an hour beforehand.

    “I have lent on many services that I didn’t even know existed including Canteen, Melanoma Patients Australia and Cancer Wellness and would encourage others to seek out this sort of vital support.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Wanding Operation – Katherine

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police conducted a proactive Wanding Operation in the Katherine CBD between Thursday and Saturday of last week.

    During the operation 399 individuals were scanned, resulting in five arrests, one Notice to Appear and six cautions. There were 20 positive indications for weapons, leading to the seizure of multiple pairs of scissors, a screwdriver, a knife, two machetes, a bullet and 71 litres of alcohol.

    Commander Kylie Anderson stated, “Strike Force Cerberus and Katherine General Duties officers carried out this operation to prevent and deter the carrying of edged weapons which, in turn, enhances community safety.

    “By removing these dangerous items from circulation, we aim to create a safer environment for everyone in the Katherine region.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Disaster Assistance Available to New Mexico Private Nonprofit Organizations

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    “As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists in person and online so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.”

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in New Mexico following President Biden’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of severe storm and flooding that occurred Oct. 19-20, announced Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

    These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Chaves County.

    “Private nonprofit organizations should New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Recovery Bureau by calling (505) 476-9600, emailing recovery.unit@dhsem.nm.gov or visiting https://www.dhsem.nm.gov to obtain information about applicant briefings,” said Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “At the briefings, private nonprofit representatives will need to provide information about their organization,” continued Sánchez. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use that information to determine if the private nonprofit provides an “essential governmental service” and is a “critical facility” as defined by law. FEMA may provide the private nonprofit with a Public Assistance grant for their eligible costs. SBA encourages all private nonprofit organizations to apply with SBA for disaster loan assistance.

    SBA may lend private nonprofits up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    For certain private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help with meeting working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez continued. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    The interest rate is 3.25 percent with terms up to 30 years. The deadline to apply for property damage is Dec. 31, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Aug. 1, 2025.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

    Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

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

    ###

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Administrator Guzman Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON– Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for more 34 million small businesses, kicked off Native American Heritage Month byhighlighting the unprecedented progress made in supporting Native small business owners across the country.

    “Native American small businesses are a vital component of the economic fabric of our nation, contributing to job creation, innovation and community development across the U.S.,” said SBA Administrator Guzman. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA has made significant strides in its work to support and uplift these businesses, delivering the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. Every month we honor and respect Tribal Nations, and during Native American Heritage Month in particular, we acknowledge the many contributions Indigenous people have made to this country. We are proud to honor their achievements and support their continued success.”

    Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the SBA has prioritized engagement with Native communities, resulting in significant advancements in federal contracting, access to capital and policy development. Currently, there are 13 Native banks or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that lend with SBA programs, representing a 30% increase since January 2021. The SBA has nearly doubled its lending dollar amount to Native entrepreneurs from FY20 to FY24, reaching $267 million for both 7(a) and 504 lending in the last fiscal year. Native American contracting, including Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), has also experienced unprecedented growth, with a remarkable 49% increase from FY20 to FY23.

    Additionally, in recognition of the importance of Tribal consultation, the SBA has updated its Tribal Consultation Policy and successfully held rounds of consultations that have directly influenced final policy outcomes. The Biden-Harris Administration has also developed two groundbreaking programs to further support Native small businesses: The Small Business Tribal College Achievement (TCSBA) grant program, which enhanced entrepreneurship education and training, and the Native Trade Export Program (NATEP), which expanded Native businesses’ access to international markets.

    Since taking office, Administrator Guzman has made it a priority to visit Native communities, lands and convenings, surpassing the record of any previous SBA Administrator. Notable visits include the Winnebago Tribe, Navajo Nation, All Pueblo Council of Governors, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, North Dakota, Chickasaw Nation, Anchorage, Nome, Juneau, Honolulu, Maui and participation in the Reservation Economic Summit (RES) hosted by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Additionally, the Administrator has participated in the White House Tribal Nation Summits on three occasions, demonstrating the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Tribal consultation.

    ###

    About SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA)

    The Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) is in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) headquarters in Washington, DC. Our goal is to promote and support Native American entrepreneurs. We engage in numerous outreach activities including tribal consultations, development and distribution of promotional materials, attendance and participation in national economic development conferences.

    ONAA facilitates full access to business growth and expansion tools for small businesses owned by Native Americans. ONAA engages in tribal consultations, produces promotional materials and participates in national economic development conferences.

    American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians can use our local assistance tool to find nearby offices and resources. There, you can get counseling on whether our 8(a) Business Development Program is right for you.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smoky Skies Over the Indo-Gangetic Plain

    Source: NASA

    Every November, satellites detect large numbers of small smoke plumes and heightened fire activity in northern India and Pakistan as farmers burn off excess straw after the rice harvest. Many farmers, particularly in the Punjab region, use fire as a fast, inexpensive way to clean up fields before planting winter wheat crops. However, the influx of smoke to the densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plain often contributes to a sharp deterioration of air quality in October and November.
    Levels of air pollution soared during the last week of October and first week of November in 2024 as weather patterns kept air bottled up in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. On November 3, 2024, the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this natural-color image of plumes of smoke streaming from large numbers of small fires burning in Pakistan and India.
    Air quality sensors in Lahore, Pakistan, recorded concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at hazardous levels—above 300 on the air quality index (AQI)—on several days in October and November, according to data posted by AirNow. As pollution levels rose, authorities in Pakistan announced school closures, partial lockdowns, and halts in construction in a bid to limit the health impacts, according to news reports.
    Smoke from crop fires is not the only contributor to the hazy skies, explained Pawan Gupta, a lead scientist for AERONET, a NASA-sponsored network of ground-based sensors that measures the concentration of aerosols at hundreds of locations around the world. Influxes of dust sometimes arrive from the Thar Desert to the west. An array of other human-caused sources of air pollution in cities, including motor vehicle emissions, industrial and construction activity, fireworks, and fires for heating and cooking, also produce particulate matter and other pollutants, Gupta added.
    Geography and weather can exacerbate the region’s poor air quality. Temperature inversions are common in November and December as cold air rolls off the Tibetan Plateau and mixes with smoky air from the Indo-Gangetic Plain. An inversion can function like a lid, with warm air trapping pollutants near the surface. The low-hanging haze becomes hemmed in between the Himalayas to the north and the Vindhya Range to the south.
    Pollution levels in Lahore typically peak in late November and December, “so this is just beginning,” Gupta said. “The worst pollution days are probably still ahead of us.”
    Hiren Jethva, a senior research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Morgan State University, uses the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)—a measure of the land’s “greenness”—to anticipate fire activity in the region each year. Based on the NDVI data, he expects that NASA’s Aqua satellite will detect between 15,500 and 18,500 fires in 2024—higher than most years since 2002 but lower than 2016 and 2021, years with especially bountiful rice crops.
    NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Story by Adam Voiland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FORT Economist James Meldrum and the Wildfire Research Team win the 2024 CO-LABS Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research: Pathfinding Partnerships Award

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Filter Total Items: 28

    Living with wildfire in Lake Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report

     Community wildfire readiness includes actions taken by residents, including wildfire risk mitigation at the parcel level and evacuation preparedness. This report presents results from two data collection efforts in the Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue service district in Chelan County, Washington: parcel level rapid wildfire risk assessments and household surveys sent to the owners of assessed parcel

    Authors

    Julia Goolsby, Patricia A. Champ, Suzanne Wittenbrink, Colleen Donovan, Kris King, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, James Meldrum, Christopher M. Barth, Carolyn Wagner, Chiara Forrester

    Living with wildfire in Stemilt Basin, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report

    Homeowner wildfire risk mitigation and preparedness are important components of community wildfire readiness. This report presents data collected via rapid wildfire risk assessments to describe the parcel-level wildfire risk of properties within the Stemilt basin, Chelan County, Washington study area. The report also describes household survey data collected from homeowners in the study area, incl

    Authors

    Julia Goolsby, Patricia A. Champ, Suzanne Wittenbrink, Colleen Donovan, Hilary Heard, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, James Meldrum, Christopher M. Barth, Carolyn Wagner, Chiara Forrester

    Living with wildfire in Santa Fe: 2021 Data Report

    The City of Santa Fe is well known for arts, food, and architecture, but it also faces significant risk of wildfire. In 2020, the City of Santa Fe partnered with the Wildfire Research (WiRē) team with the goal of better understanding the needs of residents within the study area and their level of support for wildfire risk mitigation programs. The resulting project centers on two types of property-

    Authors

    James Meldrum, Julia Goolsby, Colleen Donovan, Porfirio Chavarria, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Patricia A. Champ, Christopher M. Barth, Carolyn Wagner, Chiara Forrester

    Rethinking cost-share programs in consideration of economic equity: A case study of wildfire risk mitigation assistance for private landowners

    Public agencies and organizations often deliver financial assistance through cost sharing, in which recipients contribute some portion toward total costs. However, cost sharing might raise equity concerns if it reduces participation among populations with lower incomes. Here, we revisit a past study using a richer dataset (n=1,689) to assess whether stated income levels affect survey respondents’

    Authors

    James Meldrum, Patricia A. Champ, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Christopher M. Barth, Abby Elizabeth McConnell, Carolyn Wagner, Colleen Donovan

    The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities

    Implementation of broad landscape management goals to confront the wildfire crisis occurs at the project level and is subject to public scrutiny. Although the research literature demonstrates broad public acceptability of fuels treatments, a closer examination of the studies reveals notable variation in acceptance. Survey data from thirteen western U.S. communities using the same measures of accep

    Authors

    Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Julia Goolsby, Patricia A. Champ, James Meldrum, Colleen Donovan, Carolyn Wagner, Christopher M. Barth, Chiara Forrester, Suzanne Wittenbrink

    Living with wildfire in Genesee Fire Protection District, Jefferson County, Colorado: 2022 data report

    Genesee Fire Protection District (GFPD) and members of the Board contacted the Wildfire Research Center (WiRē) early in 2021. GFPD serves a community of approximately 1,500 homes and 3,600 residents. The community borders the south side of I-70 and runs south up varied topography with varied vegetation to approximately 8,000 feet of elevation and is considered to be at extremely high risk of wildf

    Authors

    Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Dorie Dalton, Jason Puffett, Patricia A. Champ, Christopher M. Barth, James Meldrum, Colleen Donovan, Carolyn Wagner, Julia Goolsby, Chiara Forrester

    Living with wildfire in Emigration Canyon, Utah: 2022 data report

    Located in North Central Utah, Emigration Canyon is a prominent and historic canyon that runs northeast from Salt Lake City into the higher elevations of the Wasatch Mountains. The Wasatch Range is characterized by steep, rocky slopes and 26-44 millimeters of annual rainfall, both of which contribute to a high threat of wildfire. The area’s landscape is diverse with oak woodland at the lower eleva

    Authors

    Julia Goolsby, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Dax Reid, James Meldrum, Patricia A. Champ, Christopher M. Barth, Colleen Donovan, Carolyn Wagner

    Living with wildfire in Park County, Colorado 2021 data report

    Wildfire affects many types of communities and is a particular concern for communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI), such as those of Park County, Colorado. The core intent of this project was to provide evidence to support the Platte Canyon Fire Protection District (PCFPD) and Fire Adapted Bailey in their wildfire mitigation and education programming. This report describes wildfire risk

    Authors

    Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Patricia A. Champ, Abby Elizabeth McConnell, Jamie Gomez, Christopher M. Barth, James Meldrum, Colleen Donovan, Carolyn Wagner, Julia Goolsby

    Actionable social science can guide community level wildfire solutions. An illustration from North Central Washington, US

    In this study we illustrate the value of social data compiled at the community scale to guide a local wildfire mitigation and education effort. The four contiguous fire-prone study communities in North Central Washington, US, fall within the same jurisdictional fire service boundary and within one US census block group. Across the four communities, similar attitudes toward wildfire were observed.

    Authors

    Patricia A. Champ, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Jonathan P Riley, James Meldrum, Colleen Donovan, Christopher M. Barth, Carolyn J Wagner

    Wildfire imagery reduces risk information-seeking among homeowners as property wildfire risk increases

    Negative imagery of destruction may induce or inhibit action to reduce risks from climate-exacerbated hazards, such as wildfires. This has generated conflicting assumptions among experts who communicate with homeowners: half of surveyed wildfire practitioners perceive a lack of expert agreement about the effect of negative imagery (a burning house) on homeowner behavior, yet most believe negative

    Authors

    Hilary Byerly Flint, Patricia A. Champ, James Meldrum, Hannah Brenkert-Smith

    You vs. us: Framing adaptation behavior in terms of private or social benefits

    Private actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change may have benefits to both the individual and society. In some cases, an individual may be motivated by appeals that highlight benefits to others, rather than to oneself. We test whether such prosocial framing influences information-seeking behavior to address wildfire risk among homeowners. In a field experiment across ten communities in west

    Authors

    Hilary Byerly Flint, Paul Cada, Patricia A. Champ, Jamie Gomez, Danny Margoles, James Meldrum, Hannah Brenkert-Smith

    Living with wildfire in Grand County, Colorado: 2021 data report

    Wildfire affects hundreds of wildland-urban interface communities each year, and yet most communities lack data reflecting the conditions before an event. This study was conducted before the devastating 2020 East Troublesome Fire1, which spread across 193,812 acres and resulted in two lives lost and 366 homes and 214 other structures burned. The fire’s dramatic run threatened over 7,000 structures

    Authors

    Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Abby Elizabeth McConnell, Schelly K. Olson, Adam C. Gosey, James Meldrum, Patricia A. Champ, Jamie Gomez, Christopher M. Barth, Colleen Donovan, Carolyn Wagner, Julia Goolsby

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Kansans Echo Governor Kelly’s Support for Medicaid Expansion in New Survey – Governor of the State of Kansas

    Source: US State of Kansas

    KEY QUOTE: “More than 72% of respondents to the Kansas Speaks survey said they support expanding Medicaid, up slightly from last year. That includes over 63% of Republicans and nearly 90% of Democrats… These signs of growth in support for Medicaid expansion follow a significant media tour and legislative push by Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly earlier this year.”

    These two issues find strong support among Kansans, according to Docking survey
    Rose Conlon, Kansas News Service
     Oct. 30, 2024

    • Support for Medicaid expansion in Kansas remains high, according to a new survey by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University.
    • According to the Kansas Health Institute, Medicaid expansion would allow an estimated 152,000 more low-income Kansans to receive coverage under the government health care program.
    • The majority of the costs for the expansion are covered by federal funding, and Kansas is one of only ten states that has not yet implemented this expansion. Analysts say that many individuals who would benefit from the expansion are employed in jobs that don’t offer health insurance.
    • The survey also revealed that over 11% more Kansans now believe that expanding Medicaid would help rural hospitals remain in business. Several rural hospitals in the state have closed in recent years, including closures last year in Fort Scott and Herington, which have threatened timely access to emergency medical care.
    • Around half of Kansans who responded to the Kansas Speaks survey said the issue is highly or extremely important as they decide who to vote to represent them in the state legislature.
    • “We can see that a huge portion of Kansans say that (Medicaid expansion) is important to some degree,” said Alexandra Middlewood, a political science professor at Wichita State University who contributed to the survey’s development.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Announcement of New Revolving Credit Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”) today reported that on October 31, 2024, the Company entered into a new, $1.0 billion, five-year, revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) among WLFC, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of WLFC, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto from time to time (the “Lenders”), and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent, swing line lender, and letter of credit issuer. The Credit Agreement replaced the existing $500.0 million revolving credit agreement, dated as of June 7, 2019 (as amended and restated, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), among WLFC, the lenders party thereto from time to time and MUFG Bank, Ltd. as agent.

    Under the Credit Agreement, WLFC may request an additional increase of the aggregate commitments from time to time up to an aggregate additional $250.0 million from the lenders, who may elect to make such increase available, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

    Proceeds from the revolving credit facility may be used for general corporate purposes. The credit facility will be available on a revolving basis until October 31, 2029, and WLFC may request to extend the maturity, subject to lender approval.

    Loans under the Credit Agreement will bear interest based on a floating rate (Term SOFR) plus a margin. In addition, WLFC has agreed to pay Bank of America, N.A. an unused line fee, quarterly in arrears, as well as pay other fees to Bank of America, N.A. and to the Lenders as separately agreed upon in writing.

    The Credit Agreement also requires WLFC to maintain, as of the last day of each Measurement Period (as defined in the Credit Agreement), commencing with the last day of the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2024, a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no less than 2.25 to 1.00, and a Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement ) of no greater than 4.25 to 1.00 through June 30, 2025 and no greater than 4.00 to 1.00 thereafter.

    “We are very excited to have closed our new, expanded revolving credit facility,” said Scott B. Flaherty, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. “Our new facility will provide incremental capital to support the growth we are experiencing across the WLFC platform.”

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“WLFC”) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Additionally, through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.

    Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and pandemics; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     CONTACT: Scott B. Flaherty
      EVP & Chief Financial Officer
      561.413.0112

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. Sets Reporting Date for its 2024 Third Quarter Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Midland, Texas, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS), a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry, will host a conference call to review its third-quarter financial results on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (EST), 7:30 a.m. (CST). The Company’s Q3 2024 financial and operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 will be disseminated via press release and made available on the Company’s website (www.ngsgi.com) after market close on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

    To join the conference call, kindly access the Investor Relations section of our website at www.ngsgi.com or dial in at (800) 550-9745 and enter conference ID: 167298 at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Please note that using the provided dial-in number is necessary for participation in the Q&A section of the call. A recording of the conference will be made available on our Company’s website following its conclusion. Thank you for your interest in our company’s updates.

    About Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

    Natural Gas Services Group is a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry. The Company designs, rents, sells and maintains natural gas compressors for oil and natural gas production and plant facilities, primarily using equipment from third-party fabricators and OEM suppliers along with limited in-house assembly. The Company is headquartered in Midland, Texas, with a fabrication facility located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a rebuild shop located in Midland, Texas, and service facilities located in major oil and natural gas producing basins in the U.S. Additional information can be found at www.ngsgi.com.

    For Additional Information:

    Anna Delgado-Investor Relations
    (432) 262-2700
    ir@ngsgi.com
    www.ngsgi.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CFC Launches New Investment Product to Retail Investors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DULLES, Va., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) is excited to announce the launch of a Retail Subordinated Notes program, which will allow CFC to issue subordinated deferrable notes from time to time to retail investors.

    “Adding retail subordinated notes to our funding mix allows us to diversify our investor base and access the market more frequently,” CFC Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ling Wang said. “This additional funding source provides CFC with greater financial flexibility, enhancing our ability to meet our members’ financing needs.”

    The offerings will be made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement. A pricing supplement describing the terms of the offering will be filed with each issuance. Prospective investors should read the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus included in the registration statement and other documents CFC has filed with the SEC for more complete information about CFC and the offering of the Subordinated Notes. Copies of the prospectus and the prospectus supplement may be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Interested investors should contact their broker to obtain additional information.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification thereof under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About CFC

    Created and owned by America’s electric cooperative network, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)—a nonprofit finance cooperative with over $36 billion in assets to serve the needs of our member-owners. CFC is an equal opportunity provider. www.nrucfc.coop.

    Contacts:   Brad Captain
        Corporate Relations Group
        publicrelations@nrucfc.coop
        800-424-2954

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings with Maria to Discuss Failed Economic and Foreign Policies of Biden-Harris Administration

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking and Foreign Relations Committees, today joined Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to discuss the failed economic and foreign policies of the Biden-Harris Administration and their sharp contrast with the successful policies of the Trump Administration. 

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial TranscriptHagerty on the failed economic policies of the Biden-Harris Administration: “Well, the economic policies of this Administration under Kamala Harris have been an absolute disaster for America. If you look at it, 72 percent of American people think that this country is on the wrong track, and the number one issue, Maria, is the fact that real wages have gone down. Inflation has destroyed and devastated families here in America, and I think the only thing keeping the market up right now is the anticipation, and frankly, the sheer hope that President Trump gets reelected on Tuesday.”
    Hagerty on the failed foreign policies of the Biden-Harris Administration: “Well, if you look at the foreign policy of this Administration, it’s absolutely pathetic. Under President Trump, we had no wars. Under [Joe] Biden and [Kamala] Harris, this has been a complete disaster. It goes back to the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan where Kamala Harris was the quote, ‘last voice in the room.’ That was an absolute disgrace and a disaster that embarrassed our nation like nothing in our lifetimes, Maria. And that invited and precipitated, I think, and emboldened our adversaries around the world. You look at what happened with Iran: the day that this Administration came into office, they stopped enforcing sanctions against Iran. I worked very closely with President Trump and in his Administration to impose maximum sanctions on Iran, to put maximum pressures on them, to get our allies to stop buying oil from Iran. It worked. What we did was we made Iran basically broke. We stopped the funding of Hamas, stopped the funding of Hezbollah, the Houthis had no funds. We saw peace break out in the Middle East. President Trump was able to move our embassy to Jerusalem. He was able to take out Soleimani and Al-Baghdadi. He even did the Abraham Accords, which was the foundation, I think, of peace and prosperity in the Middle East. Iran could do nothing about it. As soon as [Joe] Biden comes into office, as soon as [Kamala] Harris comes into office, they start allowing the funds to flow, and we have terrible wars outbreaking in the Middle East.”
    Hagerty on Kamala Harris running conflicting advertisements on Israel stance: “Well, she wants to [have it both ways]. It’s a complete lack of integrity. And if you talk about having it both ways, we have seen her flip-flop on every major policy. It’s like an avatar, Maria. The media have helped support this. Again, the partisan media, not yourself, have helped support creation of a candidate that’s nowhere close to where Kamala Harris from San Francisco, the most liberal Senator in the United States Senate, has been for her entire political career. Now they’re trying to create something entirely different, entirely false. They send one message into Michigan. They’ll send a completely different message into Pennsylvania to try to appeal to Jewish voters. I think the American public can see right through this.”
    Hagerty on Iran changing its nuclear policy to produce nuclear weapons: “Well, I remind you, we wouldn’t be in a position for Iran to respond at all were President Trump in office because we brought Iran to its knees. That’s got to happen again. If Kamala Harris gets into office, I think Iran’s going to have free range to do whatever they want to do, because they’re going to continue to allow Iran to bring billions of dollars in. They’re going to continue to allow them to pump [oil]. They’re going to continue to allow Iran to sell weapons to Russia. Iran has had free reign under Kamala Harris, and at the same time, you see her bringing in people like Liz Cheney, others that all want to see war breakout in the Middle East. I think what we’ve got to do is look directly at what the past has shown us. We’ve got a track record with President Trump That has delivered peace and prosperity. We’ve got a track record with Kamala Harris that has delivered nothing but agony and war in the Middle East and around the world.”
    Hagerty on the top priority of a second Trump Administration: “Well, for me, Maria, our foreign policy is derived directly from the strength of our economy. We have the most amazing, the most prosperous economy in the world. Access to that economy is absolutely critical. President Trump understands that. Let’s get our economy moving again. That’s what the people of America need to see. We need to see security at our southern border. We have a national security risk like we’ve never seen before. No one’s better than you in reporting on this. But then we’ve got to turn around and deal with strength and credibility with our adversaries. No one in the world believes that Kamala Harris can deal with Vladimir Putin, can deal with Xi Jinping, can deal with the Ayatollah. She has no credibility whatsoever. President Trump has and will.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Friends like these: What a second Trump term may mean for the CDC, and how it affects Canada

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kevin Quigley, Scholarly Director of the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance, Dalhousie University

    Should Donald Trump be re-elected on Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is likely facing a major shake-up. Many Republicans were frustrated by the CDC’s performance during the pandemic. Project 2025, authored by leading Republicans with ties to Trump, describes the CDC as incompetent and arrogant.

    In fact, no matter who wins the United States presidential election on Nov. 5, the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is a cautionary tale for Canada.

    While there is significant and justifiable criticism to be leveled at Trump about his administration’s handling of the pandemic in the early stages, as former chief medical advisor to the president, Dr. Anthony Fauci noted to Congress in 2024, the U.S. health system is not designed for an effective co-ordinated response to a health crisis.

    Trump and the CDC

    There was clearly a disconnect between Trump and the CDC during the pandemic. For weeks in early 2020, President Trump had described the threat as low risk; he said that the situation was under control in the U.S. and that only a few cases had been reported.

    While the president was on a return flight from India, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, announced that the situation in the U.S. was about to change quickly and severely. Officials say that Trump was very upset by the announcement and concerned about potential lockdowns causing panic and disruption to financial markets.

    Throughout the early stages of the pandemic, the actions of the CDC sparked a high degree of politicization. The Trump administration was criticized for interfering with the CDC’s operations and censoring internal experts. Disagreements between federal and state political leaders and public health experts led to inconsistencies in public health messaging, reporting, enforcement of directives and timing of public health restrictions.

    The CDC itself was not above criticism. The agency’s infrastructure had been neglected for decades, and years of declining funding resulted in insufficient preparations for a possible pandemic. The CDC had also been criticized for being too insular and academic.

    The CDC made key mistakes, particularly regarding surveillance and testing. It was criticized for underestimating the threat of the virus and overestimating its ability to design, manufacture and distribute a test quickly.

    Rapid responses are crucial during such events, and the early stages of the U.S.’s pandemic response provides salient lessons for Canada, both about its relationship with the U.S. and to global threats more generally.

    Pre-event planning is necessary, but audits and world rankings of emergency preparedness can be unreliable. In 2019, Johns Hopkins University ranked the U.S. as the best prepared country in the world to address a health crisis. The pandemic demonstrated that it was not.

    Canada needs to establish a strong and independent capacity to assess health threats. Trump’s early handling of the pandemic has been widely criticized, yet the Canadian government’s speaking points in the early stages were the same: the virus was low risk. It was only when the CDC and the World Health Organization increased its threat assessment that Canada followed suit.

    Lessons from the pandemic

    Borders can re-assert themselves. Despite decades of global political and economic agreements that saw a freer flow of goods, services and people, many western governments were unable or unwilling to assume the risks associated with letting those from other jurisdictions cross their borders, and as such, imposed strict rules to prevent non-citizens from entering. This aggressive stance was ironic and unforeseen, as during previous public health crises such as the H1N1 flu episode in 2009-10, many governments underscored that closing borders had little impact on disease spread.

    The weaknesses of supply chains were highlighted as the global economy shut down in March 2020. Canada’s Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland described competition for medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) as resembling the “wild west.” Shipment delays, order shortages, trade restrictions and defective or contaminated items prevented governments from effectively procuring supplies.

    Global manufacturing capabilities for vaccines were below what was needed, with only about a dozen countries able to produce COVID-19 vaccines early on, including the U.S. More than any other country, the U.S. enabled the rapid development and production of the vaccine, highlighting Canada’s considerable dependence on the U.S. Canada has since funded vaccine manufacturing initiatives, but the investments have produced little to-date.

    The adage “When the U.S. sneezes, the world catches a cold” applies nowhere more than in Canada. Should Trump be re-elected, the CDC will likely exist on a smaller budget with a reduced role internationally. This will increase Canadian vulnerabilities.

    Whatever the criticisms, the CDC has more capacity and influence than any other health agency in the world. If Canada cannot depend on strong and co-ordinated response from the U.S. administration during a health crisis, Canada has to be better prepared to adapt. Lessons from the pandemic provide a powerful to-do list.

    Kevin Quigley is the Scholarly Director of the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance, an independent, non-partisan research institute located at Dalhousie University.

    – ref. Friends like these: What a second Trump term may mean for the CDC, and how it affects Canada – https://theconversation.com/friends-like-these-what-a-second-trump-term-may-mean-for-the-cdc-and-how-it-affects-canada-242673

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Updated fiscal statutes benefit Albertans

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    [embedded content]

    If passed, the Financial Statues Amendment Act would provide alternative financing options to help expand mortgage financing options for all Albertans. The bill also includes amendments to provide more support for parents who have lost a child, and standardizes indexing across government to help Albertans with the cost of living by creating a consistent and stable system. In addition, a new annual adjustment system would enable a more consistent and flexible approach to determining the amount that benefits and taxes will be impacted. The legislation would also introduce a new tax on electric vehicles, as was announced in Budget 2024.

    “This bill proposes a number of important changes. I’m particularly pleased that if passed, Alberta would be the first jurisdiction in Canada to make legislative changes that would permit provincial financial institutions to offer alternative financing options.”

    Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

    Alternative financing options would provide homebuyers with more options for mortgage financing. All Albertans who want to buy a home can apply for this financing option.

    Additional changes being proposed in the Financial Statutes Amendment Act include continuing Alberta Child and Family Benefit payments to parents of deceased children for six months after their child passes away. These amendments would align with similar federal changes under the Canada Child Benefit program.

    “Families experiencing the unimaginable loss of a child face enough challenges. The proposed changes to the Alberta Child and Family Benefit will not only help lighten the financial burden, but offer a measure of comfort during their darkest moments.”

    Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services

    Other changes in the proposed bill include:

    • Standardizing indexation rates across government. Government is also introducing a system to enable a more consistent and flexible approach for these annual enhancements. This change ensures Albertans continue to receive annual cost-of-living increases to personal income taxes and important support programs.
    • Amendments to the Fuel Tax Act to implement an electric vehicle tax of $200 annually. This is in line with what drivers of a typical internal combustion engine vehicle pay in fuel tax and is a fair way for all drivers to contribute to public services, such as keeping our roads and highways safe and smooth.
    • Technical changes to align Alberta’s taxation of multi-jurisdictional tax filers who have a split income with that of other provinces in order to meet the requirements of the federal-provincial Tax Collection Agreement.

    Related information

    • Updating financial laws
    • Bill 32: Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference
    • Listen to the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First steps towards National Infrastructure Plan

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed the first steps from the Infrastructure Commission in developing New Zealand’s 30-year National Infrastructure Plan.

    The Commission today released a discussion document which outlines the Commission’s thinking in developing the 30-year plan, including looking at what’s needed over the next 30 years, what our planned investments are over the next decade, and what the gap is between the long-term needs and planned investments.

    “The development of a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan has been widely welcomed across the infrastructure sector and was a National Party campaign commitment. The Infrastructure Commission has been tasked with delivering the Plan.

    “The Plan will consist of four components:

    1. An Infrastructure Needs Assessment which provides analysis of New Zealand’s long-term needs – and what we can afford – across the next 5-30 years
    2. A strengthened National Infrastructure Pipeline which will provide a national view of upcoming projects in the next ten years
    3. The Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) which will involve a structured independent review of unfunded projects and initiatives, and
    4. Priority reforms, which will improve the way we select, invest in, deliver and maintain our infrastructure.

    “The National Infrastructure Plan will help deliver greater stability for infrastructure and help New Zealand plan for, fund and deliver important projects into the future.

    “I am keen that the Plan enjoys bipartisan support. I have asked that the Infrastructure Commission brief other political parties on the Plan and have proposed that once the Plan is finalised, a special debate is held in Parliament to discuss it.” 

    “To help inform development of the National Infrastructure Plan, the Infrastructure Commission is seeking input from across central and local government, from Māori/iwi organisations, the private sector and the public. The discussion document is open for consultation until the 10th of December and I encourage people to have their say.

    “In addition to the National Infrastructure Plan, the Government is focusing on improving the fundamentals of our infrastructure system. Next month the new National Infrastructure Agency will be up and running, strengthening the Government’s private finance and commercial capability. The NIA will act as the Crown’s ‘shopfront’ to receive unsolicited proposals and to facilitate private sector investment in infrastructure, partner with agencies, and in some cases, local government on projects involving private finance, and administer central government infrastructure funds.

    “I expect to receive a draft of the plan in mid-2025. Following public consultation and feedback, the Commission will finalise the plan and deliver it to Ministers by the end of 2025.”

    Link to National Infrastructure Plan discussion document: https://tewaihanga.govt.nz/national-infrastructure-plan/discussion-document

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: School of Pharmacy’s Megan Delaney Receives 2024 Provost Award

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Delaney earned the award for her efforts in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA) initiatives within the university. She expressed surprise and gratitude for receiving the award, noting that it acknowledges her work in both advising students and addressing systemic issues in academic settings.

    Delaney completed her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at UConn in May 2023, with a focus on higher education, critical whiteness studies, and academic advising. Her dissertation, titled “Systemic Whiteness, Racial Consciousness, and Deconstructing Becky(s): A Phenomenological Study of White Women STEM Academic Advisors”, delved into how whiteness affects academic advising in predominantly white spaces.

    “I noticed there was a much bigger gap in terms of the diversity. In the humanities, there were a lot more diverse students. When I came over to the pharmacy, I saw a lot of these students, who looked like me—they’re white” she says. 

    Delaney’s journey from advising liberal arts students to working with STEM students highlighted stark differences in diversity.

    She describes a “light bulb moment” during her doctoral studies when she realized that the educational system often frames students as the problem rather than addressing the inequities built into the system. “We need to think about how the system is set up to benefit certain students over others,” Delaney says. 

    Her research found that white women advisors often reinforce existing social hierarchies and gender norms in their advising, making it harder for students of color.

    Delaney has consistently advocated for change, serving on various committees at UConn, including the School of Pharmacy’s Diversity Committee and the Wellness Committee. 

    She hopes to collaborate with UConn’s Central University Advising to develop in-depth training that moves beyond basic sessions. 

    “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to break down those barriers,” she says, emphasizing that while most advisors want to improve, many lack the tools to do so effectively.

    Reflecting on her work, Delaney acknowledges the challenges she faced, such as time constraints and difficult conversations. However, she remains committed to addressing systemic issues head-on. 

    “If I can’t talk to other white people about it, you’re never going to move the needle,” she says.

    Delaney’s work, driven by her personal dedication and academic research, is a strong example of the continued efforts to create a more inclusive academic community at UConn.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Announces Town Hall in Multnomah County

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    November 04, 2024
    Friday, Nov. 8 town hall at David Douglas High School will be No. 1,101 in fulfilling the Senator’s pledge to hold at least one annual town hall in each of Oregon’s 36 counties
    Portland – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold an open-to-all town hall on Friday, Nov. 8 in Multnomah County.
    This 10 am town hall at David Douglas High School’s Howard F. Horner Performing Arts Center (1400 SE 130th Ave, Portland) will be Wyden’s 1,101st overall — honoring his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. 
    “Town halls that provide Americans the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with their elected representatives are just as vital to a vibrant democracy as elections,” Wyden said. “I’m honored that Oregonians have turned out 1,100 times in every county every year to voice their opinions in an open-to-all setting. And I very much look forward to this Friday’s town hall in Multnomah County to work on common-ground and common-sense solutions that make our state an even better place to live and work. That’s the Oregon Way.”
    Parking is limited due to construction on campus, so public transit or carpooling is encouraged. Attendees who want to park should use street parking or use the high school’s South Lot, 1500 SE 130th Ave, Portland. ADA parking and attendee drop-off only can be done in the Howard F. Horner Performing Arts Center Lot.

    MIL OSI USA News –