Welcome to Ahead of the Threat, the FBI’s new podcast miniseries that brings together an FBI cyber executive and a private sector chief information security officer. Join Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as an executive vice president and CISO of Equifax, as they discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals. Featuring distinguished guests from the business world and government, Ahead of the Threat will confront some of the biggest questions in cyber: How will emerging technology impact corporate America? How can corporate boards be structured for cyber resilience? What does the FBI think about generative artificial intelligence? Listen to new episodes biweekly and stay Ahead of the Threat.
Charity fraud scams can come in many forms: emails, social media posts, crowdfunding platforms, cold calls, etc. They are especially common after high-profile disasters. Always use caution and do your research when you’re looking to donate to charitable causes.
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Export Cocaine; Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Murder in Connection with a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Drug Crime; Attempt to Commit…
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals involved in the violent activities that occurred at the U.S. Capitol and surrounding areas on January 6, 2021. View photos and related information here. If you have any information to provide, visit tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Headline: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Recognizes 325 Employees at Secretary’s Award Ceremony in Washington D.C.
ASHINGTON – On October 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held an awards ceremony hosted at DHS headquarters located at St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington, D.C. where 325 employees received a Secretary’s Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Department’s mission. “Every single day, with great determination, integrity, and skill, the 268,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security ensure the safety and security of the American people,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Thanks to these extraordinary public servants, our shores, harbors, skies, cyberspace, and borders are protected; fentanyl and other deadly drugs are prevented from entering our country; communities are able to recover and rebuild after a natural disaster; the scourges of human trafficking, forced labor, and online exploitation are mitigated; and so much more. The individuals we recognize today with our Department’s highest honor, the Secretary’s Award, reflect the very best of DHS – and in their selfless dedication to mission, the very best of public service.”The DHS Secretary’s Awards are an annual program that recognizes the extraordinary individual and collective achievements of the workforce. The 325 awardees recognized in today’s ceremony represent the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, the DHS Privacy Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). “In recognizing these outstanding DHS personnel with a Secretary’s Award, we recognize all our talented personnel; the achievements of one are not possible without the contributions of others,” added Secretary Mayorkas. “We also express our appreciation to their families and loved ones; when one serves, the family serves too.”This year’s award recipients developed and issued policy and procedures associated with a whole-scale transition to a new pay system for TSA; launched a series of coordinated and collaborative initiatives, operations and investigations targeting Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and national security threats operating and transiting through the Darien Gap region; arrested over 8,000 human smugglers, produced over 5,000 intelligence reports, and seized over $38M USD in real property; ensured over 2,300 vital alerts and warnings were provided to owners and operators of critical infrastructure to protect against cyberattacks; among many other achievements. This year, DHS is holding nine Secretary’s Awards ceremonies across the country, honoring over 1,700 employees, the most annual awardees ever. Last year, Secretary Mayorkas unveiled 12 priorities for the Department, including a commitment to champion the workforce and transform the employee experience. DHS has the third largest workforce of any federal department, behind the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department is home to more than 92,000 sworn law enforcement officers, the greatest number of law enforcement officers of any department in the federal government. DHS has committed to increasing the representation of women in law enforcement or related occupations at DHS to 30% by 2030. Over 54,000 veterans, or nearly 21% of the workforce, continue serving their country by working at DHS. DHS operational components interact more frequently on a daily basis with the American public than any other federal department, from travelers moving through air, land, and sea ports of entry, to businesses importing goods into the country, to immigrants applying for services. To learn more about the impact DHS makes every day, visit: DHS.gov/TodayDHSWill.Last year, DHS improved the efficiency of processing noncitizens at the Southwest Border, deployed across the country to respond to natural disasters, investigated cybercrimes, created a new streamlined process for adjudicating asylum applications, safely and securely resettled nearly 90,000 evacuated Afghans in the United States, provided resources for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity resilience, established a process for Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge, secured the 2022 midterm elections, and demonstrated heroism by acting quickly and courageously to save lives in harrowing circumstances. For the full list of awardees, visit 2024 Secretary’s Awards | Homeland Security (dhs.gov).
NREL Researcher Bonnie Powell walks through the Smith River Complex Fire firecamp in September 2023. Photo by Bonnie Powell, NREL
What started as a small vegetation fire in Santa Barbara County in July quickly became one of the biggest wildfires of California’s 2024 fire season.
Over the first five days alone, the 2024 Lake Fire grew to over 28,000 acres and prompted evacuations of over 2,000 people. The fire would eventually consume 38,664 acres and, even with more than 3,500 firefighting personnel, took over a month of hard, dangerous work to contain. The 2024 Lake Fire was not an anomaly: Even with its massive size, it was only one of the thousands of wildfires in California this year.
When a wildfire threatens communities, wildland firefighters from all over the United States come together to mitigate its impact on ecosystems and prevent it from approaching inhabited areas. This means that much of the staging and preparation made by wildland firefighters often happens in remote areas with limited access to resources and supplies needed to sustain thousands of trained personnel. Although logistically challenging, deploying wildland firefighter basecamps closer to the fire, and further away from urban areas, also allows firefighters to more easily fight wildfires at their source.
Office trailers at the Diamond Complex Fire camp use rooftop solar panels to generate electricity for its operations in September 2024. Photo from Samuel Wu, USFS
One of the biggest challenges of supplying isolated wildland firefighter camps has always centered around fuel. Until recently, gasoline- and diesel-powered generators have been the go-to solution for providing electricity to much-needed catering, showering, handwashing, and coordination facilities. In addition, logistics staff planning firefighting efforts operate out of trailers or yurts that must have power for laptops, monitors, printers, HVAC systems, lights, and more.
Generators have been an effective way to ensure availability of power but are noisy, require regular refueling, and produce high levels of toxic emissions over time. The costs can add up as well, and it is estimated that in one year, U.S. Forest Service firefighting efforts use approximately $8 million or 2,000,000 gallons of diesel fuel—just to run generators in fire camps—enough to power more than 4,000 passenger cars for a year. Additionally, as digital technology becomes essential to improving the effectiveness of wildland firefighting, electricity demands continue to grow, and new solutions are needed to ensure uninterrupted energy generation in remote areas.
A solar-powered light tower was deployed at the McClellan Fire in California in 2014. Photo from Denise Kusnir, USFS
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has a long-running partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and its Greening Fire Team (GFT)—a group of interagency employees dedicated to promoting sustainable firefighting operations and achieving net-zero environmental impact on all large fire incidents by 2030—with the aim to integrate more renewable energy methods and infrastructure into the national wildfire mitigation and control strategy. Over the last few years, this partnership included close collaboration with the USFS National Technology and Development Program (NTDP), a problem-solving organization that seeks and implements solutions to problems and technical challenges faced by agency employees and partners.
“Our work with NREL is resulting in excellent data collection of equipment loads and power usage analyses with the goal of making fire camps more efficient without compromising their mission or safety,” said Samuel Wu, national Greening Fire Team cochair and project manager at the NTDP. “NREL engineers have become critical team members for the NTDP project and for the wider scope of work pursued within the GFT.”
When NREL first began working with USFS over 20 years ago, researchers identified ways to improve the operational efficiency of fire camps, including pinpointing means to reduce energy use, water use, and waste generation. The laboratory and USFS share a vision of sustainability, and they collaborated on creating systems and plans to expand those practices—an initiative that was well received by staff and wildfire-fighting crews on the front lines of some of the most destructive fires in the United States.
NREL found that many fire camps had some renewable solar-powered solutions, but these were often limited in their utility and procured by individuals in limited quantities. By working together, multiple potential opportunities for improvement were identified and, over the last nine years, USFS developed the infrastructure needed to create systemic access to sustainable camp practices, including recycling, hardware adoption, and diversification of energy sources.
A hybrid solar light-and-power trailer was deployed in 2022 at the Black Fire in New Mexico. Photo from Margie Guzman, USFS
Expertise from NREL helped make the adoption of renewable energy infrastructure within fire camps a systematic process, with more effective guidance and management systems becoming available to administrators and fireteam leaders. One of the most recent examples is the adoption and installation of solar light towers and high-efficiency lighting to replace traditional diesel-powered lights. When practical, wildfire camp managers can request solar light towers, or hybrid towers with back-up diesel generators, to provide area lighting that reduces fuel usage for these assets by up to 100%, reducing the overall running costs by as much as 30%.
During the recent Lake Fire, NREL and the GFT successfully piloted several renewable energy solutions that put their ideas into practice. By integrating solar power and battery energy storage systems into fire camp operations, camp leaders were able to more efficiently power office trailers, light towers, and toilets and bring critical command and control systems online quickly. New types of solar panels allowed the Lake Fire basecamp to be more energy independent, with solar cells performing well even in smoky conditions. Additional access to batteries also ensured long runtimes, to supplement any drops in supply.
A solar trailer was tested by the USFS National Technology and Development Program during its 2024 Industry Week in San Dimas, California. Photo from Elmer Balceta, USFS
NREL and the USFS believe that sustainable methods in wildland firefighting can help improve the effectiveness of firefighting practices while lowering the human footprint in remote wilderness areas. Fire camps can strain the resources of nearby communities by using local water supplies and producing large amounts of trash, in addition to creating unnecessary pollution and ecological degradation from diesel-powered generators that can be alleviated with sustainable practices and renewable energy. Together with USFS and the GFT, NREL is advancing the integration of renewable energy methods into fire camps and making new types of energy generation accessible to wildland firefighters across the nation.
“It’s incredible what can be accomplished when we pair a deep understanding of complex issues in wildland fire operations with the expertise and perspective of NREL staff,” Wu said. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with NREL and other partners as we strive to reduce waste and advance sustainability in fire incident operations.”
Learn more about the Forest Service’s Greening Fire Team, the NTDP, and how organizations can partner with NREL.
Tags: Solar,Energy Storage,Energy Security and Resilience,Partnerships,State Local Tribal
Clean Energy Buyers Provide Price Certainty Needed for Renewable Energy Investments
Through a new partnership, an NREL team is investigating the role of corporate investments in accelerating clean energy development. Photo from Getty Images
The transition to a decarbonized power system requires significant investments in clean energy generation, transmission, and storage. However, securing that investment capital is a key challenge.
For example, many power systems models focus solely on costs and overlook a critical factor: risk exposure to investors. If unaccounted for, this could ultimately lead to an overestimate of the actual deployment of renewable energy needed in our power system.
Corporate investors are increasingly purchasing renewable electricity in the “voluntary market,” providing the price stability needed for initial project investments. Image by NREL
Alongside compliance buyers such as utilities, corporate investors—known as “offtakers”—are increasingly buying the electricity from renewables directly as part of a “voluntary market,” offering the type of price certainty to renewables projects that is needed for their initial capital investment.
This rapidly growing role of corporates in renewables procurement brings new research questions, including how voluntary market activity drives renewables deployment and how a diversity of voluntary market approaches (such as hourly matching and emissions matching) impacts power systems operations.
To address these research gaps, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is partnering with Meta, one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy globally. Together, NREL and Meta are collaborating on a series of reports that will allow greater insight into corporate renewables procurement and the enabling conditions for clean energy investment.
In a first research project, NREL—in collaboration with research consultancy Aquilo Energy GmbH—will investigate the common traits of corporate buyers and their future role in renewables procurement.
“We hope to inform corporate buyers and regulators about the characteristics of renewables procurement and its impacts in today’s power markets,” research partner Philipp Beiter from Aquilo Energy GmbH said. “As corporations’ roles as offtakers grows, a greater body of research can explore their exact role in mitigating power price risks and the interaction of corporations’ long-term contracts with other power market features.”
Why Corporate Offtake Matters
NREL has led research on U.S. corporate procurement with its annually published market report Status and Trends in the U.S. Voluntary Green Power Market. Additionally, a 2023 perspectives article in Nature Energy showed that long-term contracts (so called “contracts for difference”) established between power producers and offtakers are necessary for renewables financing because they offer a level of price stability that is largely absent in wholesale electricity markets. Rather than constituting a subsidy, these long-term contracts—whether offered by utilities, governments, or corporations—serve the purpose of risk management and are becoming lasting and fundamental market features.
The 2023 perspectives article was meant to stimulate a timely discussion about the impact of greater long-term contracts diffusion on electricity market mechanisms and risk allocation, which this research effort between Meta and NREL builds upon.
“De-risking renewable generation revenue is critical for securing financing for the construction of renewable projects,” said Jenny Heeter, NREL’s principal investigator on the project. “We hope to explore how corporations manage these risks and whether that could limit future renewable energy deployment.”
Through this work, the NREL researchers aim to explain that even when renewable energy costs are competitive with fossil fuels, long-term offtake agreements are typically still needed for their deployment. Recognizing this dynamic is crucial for policy and power systems planning, which often overstates renewable energy demand and underappreciates the importance of corporate procurement in driving renewable energy deployment.
This research is funded by Meta Inc., one of the world’s largest renewable energy buyers. Since 2020, Meta has matched 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy.
Read more about NREL’s energy analysis research, and subscribe to NREL’s energy analysis emails to receive updates.
A Science-Backed Strategy To Aggressively Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission by 2050
NREL buildings research supports Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector, which outlines how the sector can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. Photo from Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Blueprint to aggressively reduce buildings sector greenhouse gas emissions while delivering equity, affordability, and resilience benefits to communities.
Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector reflects the central role that buildings will play in achieving economy-wide climate goals while delivering cost savings, healthier environments, and high-quality jobs. Buildings account for more than one-third of domestic carbon emissions and 75% of all electricity used in the United States. The Blueprint outlines how the sector can achieve ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.
Eric Wilson, senior research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is on a detail assignment supporting DOE’s deputy assistant secretary for buildings and industry and served as a lead author for the blueprint.
“Buildings are where we live, work, learn, and gather as communities,” Wilson said. “We are facing an enormous opportunity to impact people across the country with a concerted effort. Working together toward common goals will accelerate building upgrades and create healthier and more secure communities.”
To achieve the crosscutting goals, the Blueprint outlines four strategic objectives with specific performance targets that enable overall emission reductions:
Increase building energy efficiency
Accelerate on-site emissions reductions
Transform the grid edge
Minimize embodied life-cycle emissions.
Increase building energy efficiency
Reduce on-site energy use intensity in buildings 35% by 2035 and 50% by 2050 vs. 2005.
Accelerate on-site emissions reductions
Reduce on-site greenhouse gas emissions in buildings 25% by 2035 and 75% by 2050 vs. 2005.
Transform the grid edge
Reduce electrical infrastructure costs by tripling demand flexibility potential by 2050 vs 2020.
Minimize embodied life cycle emissions
Reduce embodied emissions from building materials and construction 90% by 2050 vs 2005.
Each objective has specific performance targets and market, policy, and technology milestones to reach by 2035 and 2050.
“Building upgrades have the potential to increase high-quality jobs, economic security, equity, health, and community resilience,” said Carolyn Snyder, deputy assistant secretary for buildings and industry at DOE. “Our national labs are vital partners in helping define strategic focus and in carrying out complex R&D.”
NREL Is Supporting Blueprint Objectives
NREL is focused on transforming the buildings in communities across the country and around the world into more efficient, affordable, healthy, and resilient places. More than 150 cutting-edge building science and technologies projects at NREL are collectively supporting the overall goal of equitably enabling net-zero emissions objectives.
Increasing Building Energy Efficiency
The blueprint highlights the critical role of state, local, and Tribal governments in achieving our national objectives and how federal support can bolster these efforts. Communities across the United States are adopting policies to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions from the built environment. These climate action plans and emission reduction goals need to be rooted in the historical context of the building stock, including energy data, building asset data, and socio-environmental contexts to ensure buildings meet energy and emission targets, while benefiting the people who live in them. And, to achieve measurable sustainability goals, robust and cohesive building data management is imperative.
For example, when a city passes a building performance standard or disclosure ordinance to track energy or greenhouse gas emissions, a covered buildings list is created for a city manager to track buildings over the performance standard’s compliance period―typically five years. NREL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed the covered building list workflow and Standard Energy Efficiency Data Platform™ (SEED) to help:
Identify buildings in a jurisdiction and identify which buildings are on which tax parcels
Explore which buildings would be covered based on property type or gross floor area
Identify trends across and within building data characteristics and meters and automatically merge identical buildings defined by a unique identifier
Track building performance over multiple years
Visualize progress to climate action plan goals for individual buildings and the entire portfolio.
Developed hand in hand with cities to ensure it would meet the needs of its users, the SEED Platform allows disparate datasets to be imported, merged, matched, and linked across multiple years of data imports. This makes for easier tracking of buildings over time and enables integrated timeline views of property changes. Reporting abilities within the platform also help visualize progress on policies and help property owners with compliance or reporting requirements.
“We’ve been able to partner with organizations to deploy this technology and help drive strategic investments in energy efficiency and beneficial electrification on the local level,” said Nicholas Long, senior building researcher and software engineer in NREL’s Building Technologies and Science Center. “It’s really encouraging to see DOE investments leveraged to make this technology available at scale and help a variety of jurisdictions achieve ambitious energy goals in ways that make sense for them.”
SEED allows cities to launch carbon reduction programs quickly and with a limited budget. Not only is the SEED Platform free, but it can also be easily integrated with the other software tools cities use to run their governments. Cities, for example, have linked SEED to Salesforce, a popular customer-relations management tool, so automated emails can be sent to building owners regarding compliance status.
Today, SEED and SEED-based spinoffs are used in 28 jurisdictions across the United States to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of their building stock, a major step toward a zero-emissions economy that earned NREL an R&D 100 Award in 2022.
Accelerating On-Site Emission Reductions
Space heating accounts for approximately 70% of energy-related on-site emissions in commercial buildings across the United States, and 50% of commercial floor space is conditioned with packaged rooftop units (RTUs).
Heat pump RTUs can lower greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs, but there is room to increase deployment as only 15% of commercial buildings in the United States currently have heat pumps. In cold climates, adoption has been even lower due to the current technology available on the market.
NREL recently co-led the launch of DOE’s Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator. The initiative will work with stakeholders—from commercial building owners and operators to manufacturers—to accelerate the development and adoption of heat pump RTUs for integrated energy efficiency and electrification of buildings.
“In order to achieve energy-related goals, we know new technologies are needed, specific to commercial buildings in cold climates,” said Kelsea Dombrovski, community energy researcher in NREL’s Building Technologies and Science Center. “The Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator will look at the whole market to understand challenges from building owners, installers, utilities, manufacturers, and more to make a bigger impact.”
The accelerator consists of two parts: a campaign and a challenge. The campaign provides building owners and operators with resources and guidance to deploy heat pump technology, supporting both site-level and portfolio-level installations. The challenge asks manufacturers to develop new emissions-reducing heat pump RTUs that meet an advanced technology specification developed by DOE to help organizations meet their energy efficiency needs and decarbonization objectives. Through the challenge, manufacturers will partner with DOE and the national laboratories to create prototypes, test the performance and durability of the products, and lead field validations with partners.
NREL will leverage its industry-leading modeling tools, such as ComStock™, to provide technical support on heat pump performance and impacts. The NREL team will also provide input on additional resources, connections to manufacturers and commercial building owners, and technical insight on the cutting-edge specifications for manufacturers.
“Manufacturers are looking for clear direction as to what the market wants but also what will get us to climate goals in a way that is affordable and meets other constraints, such as size, weight, materials, and compatibility,” Dombrovski added. “It’s a complex issue that the combined efforts of this accelerator will help solve.”
Transforming the Grid Edge
Transitioning to a clean energy future will require the modernization of the electrical grid to accommodate rapidly changing load patterns and new sources of renewable energy. DOE is aiming to transform the grid edge where energy efficiency, clean-energy-ready buildings, electric vehicle charging, and on-site renewable energy generation and storage connect to the power grid. The goal is to shrink the scale of electrical infrastructure required for a 100% clean electricity system by tripling demand flexibility potential by 2050.
A vital step in the transformation is planning future scenarios. Integrated analysis tools are key for stakeholders to better understand what will happen in certain situations and be able to best optimize investments in the grid edge. NREL is improving forecasting analysis that incorporates increased building electrification, electric vehicle (EV) adoption, and deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) with distribution grid infrastructure improvements.
“It’s an exciting time for clean energy. We’re installing more clean energy technologies in our buildings and getting more EVs on the road,” said Craig Simmons, senior research engineer in NREL’s Building Technologies and Science Center. “But the transition also brings complexities such as increased electric demand, varying energy production versus use, and fluctuating customer costs. This energy transition will require a better coordination of devices and systems that interact at the grid edge.”
Transformation of the grid edge requires highly granular analytical capabilities that can assess scenarios across a wide range of applications and technologies on both sides of the grid edge, including demand-side equipment and distribution infrastructure. This high level of detail is critical because every distribution feeder is unique and contains specific blends of buildings, EV potential, DERs, and distribution infrastructure.
NREL has a variety of modeling tools that support commercial and residential buildings, EV charging equipment and patterns, renewable energy generation, battery energy storage systems, thermal and district energy networks, and electric grid distribution infrastructure. Many of the NREL tools can be used in coordinated simulations that allow for highly complex bottom-up scenario forecasting analysis.
This strategy supports detailed cost-benefit analysis across assets on either side of the grid edge to support informed decisions for innovative value-add scenarios. Because NREL’s tools are open-source, all enhancements directly benefit the forecasting capabilities of any group who will need similar grid edge solutions to the increasing use of renewable generation. The tools also enable neighborhood-level scenario analysis that is essential to improve load management at the grid edge.
“Along with accuracy of analysis, this level of granularity is also an essential component when considering how to invest equitably in grid edge solutions and infrastructure,” Simmons added. “Disparities in infrastructure investment happen at the neighborhood and home level. Aggregating or averaging metrics around homeowner characteristics tend to smooth over the sharp correlations that are seen in more granular analysis.”
Minimizing Embodied Life-Cycle Emissions
Carbon emissions accounted for outside of the operation phase of a building’s life cycles are “embodied” in building materials and equipment, including from resource extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, replacement/renovation, reuse, demolition, and material recycling or disposal. New building construction is responsible for an estimated 3% to 7% of total annual emissions in the United States.
Among numerous projects aiming to reduce embodied emissions from building materials and construction, NREL is developing end-of-life embodied-carbon data for high-impact building materials. Researchers working on the Building Re-X project through REMADE are developing a set of open-access databases for construction materials to create open-access Building Re-X models that enable end-of-life considerations to be incorporated into building design and materials selection. Re-X encompasses the reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and/or repurposing of materials.
“Currently, construction sector professionals and researchers cannot objectively evaluate the benefits of various Re-X strategies (reuse/recycle) of construction materials, and most construction and demolition debris goes to landfills,” stated Michael Deru, manager of the Advanced Buildings Equipment Research Group at NREL. “There is a need for documented end-of-life reuse scenarios and data for building materials.”
NREL is not stopping at creating a database. The project will continue to develop end-of-life methodologies and communicate this information with industry leaders, then integrate this data with top design tools. This project anticipates achieving up to a 7% increase in the annual quantity of Re-X material, 120% increase in annual embodied energy efficiency, and 12% reduction in associated greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Learn more aboutbuilding technologies research at NREL.
Stories open up new worlds and spark curiosity in readers of all ages – and NASA is using the power of storytelling to encourage the Artemis Generation to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Through the below list of reading resources – books, comics, and graphic novels written and illustrated by NASA experts, and video read-alongs by astronauts – students will find themselves exploring the Moon, piloting a cutting-edge aircraft, searching for life among the stars, and more. Come along with NASA on a journey of discovery! Story Time With NASA Astronauts (Grades Pre-K to 4) Take your reading adventure out of this world! In this video playlist, astronauts read storybooks aloud from aboard the International Space Station and other locations around NASA. Kids Club Picture Show (Grades Pre-K to 4) View cool pictures from NASA missions and more! This curated collection of fascinating photos introduces young explorers to a variety of topics across NASA. Each photo includes a short description with the option to hear it read aloud. Astro-Not-Yet Storybooks (Grades K-4) These storybooks follow along as an ambitious classroom of students learn about the International Space Station, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and important STEM concepts such as microgravity and sound waves. The books are available in English and Spanish. The Adventures of Kennedy and Duke Storybook (Grades K-4) This book follows the experiences of Kennedy, a fictional young girl who discovers an amateur radio during a visit to her grandfather’s farm. While learning to use the radio, she communicates with Duke, an astronaut living and working aboard the International Space Station. Also available in Spanish.
You Are Going (Grades K-4 and 5-8) Through “You Are Going,” readers get a glimpse into NASA’s Artemis campaign. Learn about NASA’s powerful megarocket, the SLS (Space Launch System), as well as the Orion spacecraft, the Gateway, and other important elements that will help make these pioneering flights possible. Also available in Spanish and French. Hooray For SLS (Grades K-4) NASA is working to send humans back to the Moon to live, learn, and explore through the Artemis campaign – and as members of the Artemis Generation, today’s students are invited to be part of the story. “Hooray for SLS!” is the first in a series of children’s books introducing young explorers ages 3 to 8 to the SLS rocket and other components of the Artemis missions. The Adventures of Commander Moonikin Campos and Friends Comics (Grades K-4 and 5-8) Although no astronauts flew around the Moon on the Artemis I mission, the mission included a crew of manikins – Commander Moonikin Campos and two identical manikin torsos – outfitted with sensors to capture data during the flight. This webcomic explains what the manikins experienced on the Artemis I mission around the Moon. Also available in Spanish.
Aeronautics Leveled Readers (Grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12) The history of American aviation comes to life through these stories written at elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Students will read about important figures in aviation such as Amelia Earhart and the Tuskegee Airmen, as well as mini biographies of NASA employees Danielle Koch, Maria Cabellero, and Red Jensen.
First Woman Graphic Novels (Grades 5-8, 9-12, and Higher Education) This graphic novel series takes readers into the world of fictional astronaut Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon. Build on the story’s lessons with the accompanying hands-on activities and videos designed for use in K-12 informal education settings. Also available in Spanish. Astrobiology Graphic Novels (Grades 5-12) Produced within NASA’s Astrobiology Program, “Astrobiology” is a graphic novel series that explores the many facets of astrobiology: the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Some novels are also available in Japanese, Korean, or Spanish editions. Explore Further There’s more to explore! Check out NASA’s STEM Search for additional resources for each grade level, including hands-on activities, games, educator guides, and more. Visit NASA’s Learning Resources for the latest news and resources from the agency’s Office of STEM Engagement.
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke with WJHL News Channel 11 during her trip to Northeast Tennessee on Friday, where she received an update from local and state officials on repairs following Hurricane Helene:
Click here to watch Senator Blackburn’s interview with News Channel 11.
Blackburn lauds volunteers, promises FEMA oversight after floods
Murry Lee WJHL News Channel 11
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was in Northeast Tennessee surveying damage left by Hurricane Helene on Friday.
Blackburn toured damage in parts of Northeast Tennessee like Washington and Greene counties. Blackburn went to the remains of the Highway 107 Kinser Bridge and examined the amount of debris in the area.
News Channel 11 spoke with Blackburn in Greene County during a meeting with local leaders like County Mayor Kevin Morrison and EMA Director Heather Sipe.
“We are working on flood damage and of course, the response here with the EMA with the mayor, with your local elected officials has really been exemplary,” Blackburn said. “And our team has worked really closely with them. We’re standing up the multi-agency resource centers. We are doing pop-up office hours, and Michael and Kim in our office are working with people to be sure that they recover those Social Security and VA and income tax documents.”
Blackburn told News Channel 11 it is critical that people and businesses receive the care and attention required after the natural disaster.
“What we want to do is make certain that FEMA stays on the ground, that individuals are able to apply for all the resources that are available to them, and that FEMA processes these claims in a timely manner, whether it is something for the county, for businesses, or for individuals,” she said.
Blackburn’s office has also created a web page to direct flood-impacted Tennesseans to resources like FEMA individual assistance and Multi-Agency Resource Centers.
The senator also praised the volunteer spirit of Tennessee during her visit.
“Tennessee has the best volunteers and the best communities, and people have stepped up,” she said. “I think it is just so inspiring how they’ve come forward with water and food and furniture and clothing, and the communities are partnering up to help everybody in Upper East Tennessee and help them rebuild. We have so many families that have really lost everything.”
Blackburn stated that part of the process going forward will be to ensure federal agencies like FEMA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) fulfill their obligations in the months to come.
“What we will do is just continue,” Blackburn said. “It’s mostly oversight. There will be some funding provisions and we want to make certain that the agencies are funded adequately so that they respond appropriately to the needs that are there in the communities. And then looking at the oversight for how FEMA and the Small Business Administration and DOT, those agencies that respond in times of disaster to make certain that they do that in the proper manner.”
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), U.S. Representative John Rose (R-Tenn.), and the entire Tennessee Congressional Delegation sent a letter urging U.S. House and Senate leadership to provide meaningful disaster relief for Tennessee farmers in the weeks ahead.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 4 storm. While assessments are ongoing, Helene is on track to become one of the deadliest and most devastating hurricanes to hit the United States. In the letter, Members of the Tennessee Delegation highlighted the important role federal agricultural disaster assistance will have in helping Tennessee farmers recover.
“In Tennessee, some areas received nearly 10 – 15 inches of rainfall in addition to runoff from surrounding states, drowning crops and littering fields with debris. Ruined ready-to-harvest crops and forage, flooded pastures, equipment loss, and distressed livestock have left farmers questioning how their operations will move forward and how they will provide for their families,” wrote the Tennessee Delegation. “Producers, who are already engulfed by the ongoing farm financial crisis, will require meaningful disaster assistance to stand up their operations and continue farming.”
CO-SIGNERS:
The letter was also signed by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)
Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) visited the Raleigh County Commission on Aging to update the staff and seniors on her work in Congress and learn about the programs the agency offers to seniors and U.S. veterans.
“I am thankful for the work of the Raleigh County Commission on Aging and their commitment to serving West Virginia seniors and U.S. veterans. The programs and social activities this agency offers to these individuals helps build community, while also giving them the necessary tools to help them remain independent. We know that the U.S. population is aging, and it’s important that people feel supported in all stages of life. Helping West Virginians and Americans, especially those who are some of our most vulnerable, is a priority of mine. That’s why I have introduced key pieces of legislation which focuses on ensuring caregivers and hospitals in rural communities have the resources they need to provide the best care for their patients and to help older Americans,” said Congresswoman Miller.
Congresswoman Miller speaking at the Raleigh County Commission on Aging
Congresswoman Miller touring the Raleigh County Commission on Aging
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today reintroduced the School Bus Safety Act to implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), including installation of seat belts for every seat and safety measures such as stability control and automatic braking systems. The measure, being introduced during National School Bus Safety Week, would also create a grant program to help school districts modify their school buses to implement the safety specifications. Congressman Cohen first introduced a version of the bill in 2018. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio have introduced a companion measure in the Senate.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“There is no more precious cargo than school-aged children entrusted by their parents for a ride to school. The commonsense measures recommended by the NTSB and called for in this legislation will save young lives. I am pleased to reintroduce this legislation with Senators Duckworth and Brown to make school buses across the country safer while helping financially strapped school districts modify their school bus fleets to meet the new specifications. We’ve seen too many deaths and serious injuries in school bus accidents in Tennessee and elsewhere, and it is past time we act to save young lives.”
“Congressman Cohen is a champion for transportation safety, and I applaud his sponsorship of the School Bus Safety Act,” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said. “School buses are often touted as the safest vehicles on our roads, and yet the NTSB continues to investigate crashes that result in preventable fatalities and injuries involving children, adults who accompany them, and other road users. I’m pleased that the legislation introduced by Rep. Cohen would advance longstanding NTSB safety recommendations, such as requiring school buses to have three-point safety belts and collision-avoidance technology, among other vital safety enhancements. Every school bus crash serves as a painful reminder of the cost of inaction. I thank Rep. Cohen for his leadership and look forward to working with Congress to ensure U.S. school buses are as safe as possible. The NTSB will not rest until the number of lives lost to school bus tragedies is ZERO.”
The School Bus Safety Act would require the Department of Transportation issue rules requiring all school buses include:
A three-point safety belt, which includes a seat belt across a lap as well as a shoulder harness to help protect passengers by restraining them in case of a collision;
An Automatic Emergency Braking System, which helps prevent accidents and crashes by detecting objects or vehicles ahead of the bus and braking automatically;
An Event Data Recorder (EDR) that can record pre- and post-crash data, driver inputs, and restraint usage when a collision does occur;
An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System that will use automatic computer-controlled braking of individual wheels to assist the driver to remain in control of the vehicle;
A Fire Suppression System, which addresses engine fires; and
A Firewall that prohibits hazardous quantities of gas or flame to from passing from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2013 to 2022, there were 976 fatal school-transportation-related crashes, and 1,082 people of all ages were killed in those crashes — an average of 108 fatalities per year. Congressman Cohen has been a strong advocate of increasing school bus safety, originally introducing this legislation in September of 2018.
The School Bus Safety Act is supported by the National Safety Council, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Center for Auto Safety, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Consumer Reports.
Endorsing organization statements:
“Every child deserves to get to and from school safely,” said Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “This critical legislation will ensure school buses are equipped with the latest in life-saving technology, including seat belts — a common-sense solution that keeps kids safe. We commend Rep. Cohen for his leadership and look forward to working with him and his Congressional colleagues to advance this measure and protect our country’s youngest travelers.”
“Every child deserves a safe journey to and from school, and no family should endure the heartbreak of losing a child in a preventable crash. Essential protections like three-point seat belts and automatic emergency braking (AEB) should be standard on all school buses to help prevent and reduce the impact of crashes. We are grateful to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) for championing the School Bus Safety Act in the House of Representatives to ensure vulnerable child passengers are secure.” said Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates)
“When children are traveling on a school bus, it is imperative that there are commonsense safeguards in place to protect and keep them safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long advocated for needed improvements to school bus safety that can save lives and prevent serious injuries, including seat belts and other safety measures. We applaud Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) for introducing the School Bus Safety Act and call for its swift passage. It is time we enact these long overdue safety measures,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP.
“Child safety is the chief concern for parents—during the school day and while traveling to and from school,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association. “PTA supports standards, regulations and features to help keep children safe while they board, exit and ride on school buses, and our association applauds Representative Cohen for introducing the School Bus Safety Act.”
“America’s school buses lack much of the essential safety equipment protecting us in our cars every day, which is why the Center for Auto Safety commends Representative Cohen for the reintroduction of the School Bus Safety Act. The School Bus Safety Act would protect schoolchildren with effective seat belts and fire prevention, modernize the school bus fleet with automatic emergency braking and electronic stability control, and put in place better data collection on school bus crashes.” — Michael Brooks, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla)
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after introducing a bipartisan resolution alongside Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) to designate October 23rd, 2024, as AADC Deficiency Awareness Day.
“I am proud to introduce this resolution to bring greater awareness about AADC Deficiency,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.“Increasing recognition of this disease will support patients experiencing symptoms of this disease and guide them toward appropriate care. As a physician of over 30 years, I am honored to amplify awareness of AADC Deficiency in Congress and help inform the public about this rare disease.”
“I am proud to continue my work with Rep. Greg Murphy and reintroduce this bipartisan resolution designating October 23, 2024 as ‘AADC Deficiency Awareness Day,’”said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch.“Raising awareness of this rare, yet devastating, disease will help patients and families recognize their symptoms and pursue treatment. I thank the AADC Family Network for their continued advocacy, research, and services they offer those who are affected by this disease, and I am hopeful this resolution will promote medical research and progress to find better treatment for those suffering from AADC Deficiency.”
“Building awareness is crucial – not only within the AADC community but also among healthcare providers – enabling them to identify symptoms early and deliver prompt, accurate diagnoses,” said Kelly Heger, Director of the AADC Family Network.
Background AADC Deficiency is a genetic neurologic rare disease that affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people in the United States.
Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) Deficiency is a genetic neurologic rare disease that severely debilitates a patient’s development, motor skills, growth, and cognitive and language skills and limits a patient’s life.
AADC Deficiency results from an inherited genetic disease where patients lack the AADC enzyme required to create dopamine and, without dopamine, patients will never achieve motor milestones, such as holding their heads up, sitting, and standing, or develop the ability to communicate or perform basic life functions.
Patients suffering from AADC Deficiency often have unexplained low muscle tone and experience other symptoms like developmental delays and involuntary eye movements.
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
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A small staff of 15 at the Name Tape Plant, which is run by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at Fort Knox, Ky. creates quality products for U.S. military clothing stores all over the world. The plant produces name tapes for work and dress uniforms, in addition to keychains, luggage tags, and other miscellaneous items. The plant is certified by the Institute of Heraldry, the designer of insignia for various U.S. government agencies and the armed forces.
In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/22/2024, 18:44 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 75.98) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 721.45 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 15.0%) of the SU26245RMFS9 security (OFZ 26245) were changed.
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In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 10/22/2024, 18-01 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 78.09) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 742.67 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 12.5%) of the SU26245RMFS9 security (OFZ 26245) were changed.
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Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled plans for New York BioGenesis Park, a groundbreaking $430 million Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub in Nassau County, Long Island. To be developed by The Albanese Organization, Inc., this state-of-the-art facility would catalyze CGT research, development, clinical manufacturing, and commercialization across New York State. With a historic $150 million state investment—the largest nationwide for a cell and gene therapy hub—NYBGP would accelerate the delivery of new therapies from lab to patient in New York’s diverse communities. This transformative hub aims to establish New York as the leading global destination for CGT innovation, driving economic growth, attracting top talent, and revolutionizing patient care statewide and beyond.
“With this groundbreaking hub, New York has the opportunity to stake its claim as the epicenter of cell and gene therapy innovation,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re not just advancing medical science; we’re creating a powerhouse that will drive our economy, generate thousands of high-skilled jobs, and bring hope to millions facing life-threatening diseases. This investment reaffirms our commitment to leading the future of healthcare and ensuring that the next medical breakthrough happens right here in New York.”
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Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The selection of a developer with proven expertise ensures the Long Island CGT Center would be a beacon of excellence from inception to operation. ESD’s landmark investment not only underscores New York’s commitment to leadership in life sciences but also catalyzes a transformative shift in our biotechnology landscape. By creating high-quality jobs, attracting world-class talent, and fostering groundbreaking innovation, New York BioGenesis Park would cement New York’s position at the forefront of cell and gene therapy globally, driving economic growth and scientific advancement in equal measure.”
New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This groundbreaking and transformative investment puts New York State at the forefront of emerging gene and cell therapy sciences, creating a centralized hub of innovation and advancement in patient care. I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to investing in the future of medical research and therapeutic technologies that will give hope to patients fighting cancer and other devastating diseases.”
The Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub is a critical component of the statewide Cell and Gene Therapy initiative announced in Governor Hochul’s 2023 State of the State address. With the $430 million New York BioGenesis Park on Long Island and the $98 million expansion at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, these projects represent a combined total investment of over half a billion dollars in Cell and Gene Therapy innovation across New York.
The Albanese Organization, Inc., a Long Island-based developer with more than 70 years of experience in managing successful public-private partnerships, was selected following a Request for Proposals issued in December 2023. Albanese is conditionally selected to lead the comprehensive process to design, finance, build, market, tenant, and operate the Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Center. This selection ensures that the project will be executed from conception to operation with an experienced development team, leveraging Albanese’s extensive expertise in developing large life science innovation campuses.
Albanese Organization Chairman Russell Albanese, said, “The Albanese Organization and our development team are honored and excited to be designated by Empire State Development to enter into this public private partnership that will realize the Governor’s vision to create a ‘Hub of the Future’ for Cell and Gene Therapy in Lake Success, Long Island. This transformative development will serve as a significant catalyst for advancing cell therapy research, development, clinical manufacturing, and commercialization across the State that will lead to increased access to transformative, life-saving treatments. The Hub will also further amplify and expand the economic engine that is the life sciences industry within New York State, and specifically Long Island.”
With this groundbreaking hub, New York has the opportunity to stake its claim as the epicenter of cell and gene therapy innovation.”
Governor Hochul
Cell and gene therapies are revolutionary treatments that modify a patient’s cells or genes to combat diseases at their source. Offering hope for previously incurable conditions—including cancers, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases—these approaches target illnesses at the cellular and genetic levels. They have the potential to provide more effective, longer-lasting treatments with fewer side effects than traditional methods. Advancements in these therapies could revolutionize healthcare, paving the way for personalized medicine and new possibilities for patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
New York BioGenesis Park is envisioned as a cutting-edge, full-service campus dedicated to advancing cell and gene therapies and accelerating their commercialization. At full build-out, the 700,000-square-foot park would create an end-to-end Cell and Gene Therapy innovation and supply center, featuring interconnected areas for public engagement, research, manufacturing, and collaboration. The project would be developed in multiple phases, with Phase One comprising a 331,000-square-foot facility on Northwell Health’s campus in Lake Success, including the first Cell and Gene Therapy Tower and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMO) Tower. Phase One is already poised to advance, with conditional commitments from two anchor tenants; one would operate the CDMO, the other would operate the incubator.
A cornerstone of New York BioGenesis Park is its incubator, supported by a $50 million investment from ESD’s Long Island Investment Fund. This facility will empower early-stage therapeutic developers by offering state-of-the-art wet lab space, shared equipment, office space, and other essential resources. This nurturing environment would provide Cell and Gene Therapy companies with access to specialized equipment, mentoring, and stage-appropriate financial guidance. As a critical component of New York BioGenesis Park, the incubator is poised to catalyze the growth of promising Cell and Gene Therapy companies by providing them with resources and support, unlocking their potential for innovation and success.
This initial phase is expected to create approximately 830 full time union construction jobs and a combined estimate of 700 jobs related to Cell and Gene Therapy development and provision of services and technologies required by Cell and Gene Therapy developers, such as Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations, vector developers, and advanced diagnostic providers, as well as staff required for operation of the Center. Phase Two would further expand lab and office space, enhancing the park’s capabilities for Cell and Gene Therapy companies and service providers.
Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “New York BioGenesis Park represents a transformative investment in Long Island’s future and New York State’s position as a global leader in biotechnology advancements. This project not only promises to create hundreds of high-skilled jobs but also establishes a world-class ecosystem for cell and gene therapy innovation. By leveraging Long Island’s exceptional talent pool and research institutions, we’re laying the foundation for breakthroughs that will save lives and drive economic growth for decades to come.”
LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline said, “The New York BioGenesis Park represents a transformative investment in Long Island’s future and solidifies our region’s position at the forefront of biotechnology innovation. This visionary project not only promises to create high-quality jobs and drive economic growth, but it also establishes Long Island as a global hub for cell and gene therapy research and development. By leveraging our region’s world-class academic institutions, skilled workforce, and entrepreneurial spirit, New York BioGenesis Park will catalyze breakthroughs that will save lives and shape the future of healthcare.”
Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti said, “New York State’s $150 million investment in a gene therapy research hub at Lake Success is a transformative step in developing Long Island’s biotechnology sector. I thank Governor Hochul for championing this initiative, which will create hundreds of jobs and further solidify Long Island’s place as a national leader in cutting-edge medical research and treatments.”
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD said, “New York is already a leader in the science of making ‘living cures’ from our own cells. With these historic investments in the Roswell Park GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing Facility and New York BioGenesis Park, Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development are making sure our teams are supported by an innovation infrastructure powerful enough to transform their curiosity into cures”
New York Blood Center Enterprises President and CEO Christopher D. Hillyer, MD said, “The creation of the Long Island Center for Cell and Gene Therapy represents a critical investment in the future of medicine. New York Blood Center Enterprises and Comprehensive Cell Solutions are extremely proud to be part of the team that will position New York as a global leader in life sciences, particularly in cell and gene therapy, offering new hope to patients facing diseases once thought untreatable.”
Northwell Health President and CEO Michael J. Dowling said, “We are committed to supporting New York State in establishing this innovative cell and gene therapy hub on Long Island. The facility will be a game changer for physician-scientists, researchers and innovative companies, some of which are already working together in the region to advance novel biomedical treatments in the fight against cancer and other devastating diseases, offering new hope for our diverse communities across the state.”
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory President and CEO Bruce Stillman, PhD said, “The New York State cell and gene therapy initiative on Long Island will be a most welcome addition to the region’s biomedical research enterprise, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory looks forward to partnering with the CGT initiative. We thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for pioneering this exciting research expansion.”
New York BioGenesis Park would foster strong ties with academic and medical institutions throughout New York, creating a robust ecosystem for Cell and Gene Therapy innovation. Collaborating with the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium and world-class institutions like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Feinstein Institutes, Northwell Health, Roswell Park, Stony Brook University, Weill Cornell, Columbia University and others around the state. New York BioGenesis Park would enhance research synergies and accelerate medical breakthroughs. This ecosystem would bring together experts in advanced Cell and Gene Therapy therapies, offering specialized facilities, services, and resources to both tenants and collaborating institutions. By facilitating cutting-edge science, innovative technology development and novel approaches to clinical trials, New York BioGenesis Park would ensure New York’s institutions remain globally competitive in groundbreaking Cell and Gene Therapy research and commercialization.
The New York BioGenesis Park and the Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing expansion at Roswell Park would create a powerful, interconnected network that leverages complementary resources and capabilities at both ends of the state. By fostering a comprehensive ecosystem that spans from basic research to clinical application and commercialization, New York is positioning itself as the nation’s leading destination for Cell and Gene Therapy research, development, and manufacturing.
The Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub stands to serve as a cornerstone of New York’s $620 million Life Science Initiative. Aimed at establishing the state as a national leader in the broader life sciences industry—including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology—the initiative allocates $320 million for strategic programs to attract new technologies, promote investment in emerging fields, and stimulate life science business growth and employment statewide. This multifaceted approach seeks to spur the development of a world-class research cluster, enhance the state’s ability to commercialize groundbreaking research, and drive economic growth. By solidifying New York’s position in life sciences innovation, the initiative advances Cell and Gene Therapy development and strengthens the state’s global competitiveness. Read New York State’s Life Science Initiative Strategic Plan here.
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Pre-applications:
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Applications in competition mode:
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Formation of a consolidated register of applications:
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Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:
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Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:
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Preliminary applications:
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In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n
RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where
RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a RUONIA rate value published on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.
DS – discount – a value expressed in hundredths of a percent and rounded (according to the rules of mathematical rounding) to two decimal places, calculated by multiplying the value of the Key Rate of the Bank of Russia by the value of the required reserve ratio for other liabilities of credit institutions for banks with a universal license, non-bank credit institutions (except for long-term ones) in the currency of the Russian Federation, valid on the date for which interest is accrued, and published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet.
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Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Australian mining giant BHP is at the centre of one of the world’s largest class actions, the trial for which started this week in London.
The Fundão Dam in Mariana, Brazil, co-owned by BHP, collapsed in 2015 spilling a gigantic wave of toxic mud across 700 kilometres of land. Nineteen people were killed, villages and livestock wiped out, vast areas of land rendered uninhabitable and rivers and water supplies contaminated.
Corporate accountability
The class action has renewed questions about the responsibilities multibillion-dollar corporations have to local communities.
Leaders of the traditional people groups impacted by the disaster visited Australia with their lawyer Tom Goodhead from international legal firm Pogust Goodhead to raise awareness of the case two weeks ago.
Goodhead told a public forum at Macquarie University this was a case of corporate negligence and putting profit before safety. He said the operators were warned of the risk of dam collapse and continued to push operations beyond what was safe.
The class action is brought on behalf of more than 600,000 claimants. The trial is expected to run for 12 weeks and will be heard in the UK, because this is where BHP was headquartered at the time of the disaster.
The UK courts will apply the Brazilian laws, which say environmental polluters must pay for the damage they cause.
Can BHP fix this?
The claimants’ lawyers say the case is valued at more than A$68.8 billion. The figure is based on an estimation of the impact of the disaster on land, culture and sacred places, as well as some form of recompense for the lost lives.
[the] river has always been there for us to guarantee our livelihoods. It is a sacred space for us. The river is where we carry out our sacred practices. That’s where we sing, where we dance, where we gather. The new leaders, [our] children, have to learn how to swim in a water tank of a thousand litres.
But Thatiele Monic, president of the Vila Santa Efigênia and Adjacências Quilombola Association said the victims don’t trust the foundation.
In the same way that the mining company invades our land, the Renova Foundation also is invading our space and our territories. They do not respect our land. They do not respect our people, and they are creating more and more conflict. So that people are essentially giving up pursuing this.
Poor human rights record
Australian corporations operating overseas have a poor record on human rights.
The gold and copper mine triggered a brutal civil war between 1988 and 1998. Despite decades passing since the mine was decommissioned, the recent report confirms the mine continues to pose risks to life and safety due to the collapsing mine and ongoing contamination down rivers and into new areas.
The UNGPs say states should set out clearly the expectation that corporations in their jurisdiction respect human rights in all their operations – even those occurring overseas.
The Human Rights Law Centre found in a 2018 report on this topic that the Australian government was not doing enough to hold corporations to account.
It found Australian corporations operating overseas did so with impunity. Efforts to seek justice locally is often thwarted by corruption, lack of resources or ineffective legal process. At the same time, attempts by overseas communities to take legal action in Australian courts face enormous hurdles and rarely succeed.
This is why cases like the class action for claimants in Mariana are crucial for corporate accountability.
In my 2023 report with colleagues Surya Deva and Justine Nolan, we found this kind of litigation can raise awareness, facilitate broader industry developments and shape laws and policy.
Our report also found litigation needs to be supported by strong regulatory responses from governments, and complementary advocacy like shareholder or consumer engagement.
Cost of litigation
Litigation comes with significant risks to victims and their allies.
In a controversial development for corporate accountability in Australia, oil and gas giant Santos is using legal processes to challenge environmental groups who supported traditional owners opposing their Barossa gas project. Santos’ tactics, if allowed to continue, could limit public interest litigation in the future.
Thatiele Monic ended her speech at the Macquarie University event with a question worth repeating
This has happened in Brazil, but it has happened in many other places, and if we don’t do anything about it, and we don’t talk about it, it will continue to happen in many more other places. This is not the future I want for myself and for my people. I’d like to know. What future do you want for yourselves?
Ebony Birchall is affiliated with Macquarie University’s B&HR Access to Justice Lab.
HAMPSTEAD, Md., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), the parent company of Farmers and Merchants Bank (the “Bank” and, together with the Company, “we”, “us” and “our”), announced that net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $3,421,623, or $1.09 per common share (basic and diluted), compared to $5,003,107, or $1.63 per common share (basic and diluted), for the same period in 2023. Higher interest expense as a result of the Federal Reserve rate increases over the last two years was the primary reason for the decline in net income. The Company’s return on average equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 8.53% compared to 13.45% for the same period in 2023. The Company’s return on average assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 0.57% compared to 0.91% for the same period in 2023. Loan growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $49 million, an annualized growth rate of 12.5%.
Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $1,123,127, or $0.36 per common share (basic and diluted), compared to $1,432,139, or $0.46 per common share (basic and diluted), for the third quarter of 2023. The Company’s return on average equity during the three months ended September 30, 2024 was 8.05% compared to 11.54% for the same period in 2023. The Company’s return on average assets during the three months ended September 30, 2024 was 0.56% compared to 0.77% for the same period in 2023.
Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $722,419 lower when compared to the same period in 2023 due to a decrease in the net interest margin to 2.67% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from 3.04% for the same period in 2023. The decline in the net interest margin was partially offset by a $62.7 million increase in average interest earning assets to $775.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $713.2 million for the same period in 2023. Higher interest expense was the driving factor in the lower net interest income. The Federal Reserve interest rate decreased by 0.50% in late September after aggregate increases of 5.25% from March 2022 through August 2023. The net aggregate increase of 4.75% caused the cost of deposits and borrowings to increase by 119 basis points to 2.71% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from 1.52% for the same period in 2023. In addition, average interest bearing liabilities increased by $69.9 million to $624.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from $554.6 million for the same period in 2023. The taxable equivalent yield on total average interest-earning assets increased 64 basis points to 4.86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from 4.22% for the same period in 2023, partially offsetting the higher cost of funds. Despite the recent Federal Reserve rate decrease and the projected decreases in November and December of 2024, no significant improvement in the net interest margin is expected during the remainder of 2024.
The Bank entered into several interest rate swaps structured as fair value hedges during 2023 and 2024, some in combination with the purchase of mortgage backed securities, which are intended to offset the impact of higher interest expense by improving interest income on debt securities. The notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding at September 30, 2024 was approximately $99 million. Our loan portfolio is comprised primarily of commercial real estate loans with fixed rates for five-year terms. As those loans reprice, our net interest margin should improve. In addition, our current strategy is to increase the diversification of our portfolio with commercial and industrial loans, which are typically adjustable rate loans and would provide an immediate higher yield in today’s interest rate environment.
No provision was recorded for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded a $570,000 recovery.
Noninterest income increased by $160,505 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, primarily as a result of a $142,794 gain on insurance proceeds for our Upperco location and a $34,180 increase in service charges on deposit accounts, offset by $31,922 loss on the sale of debt securities. Noninterest expense was $1,117,921 higher in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, due primarily to a $488,857 increase in other expenses, a $311,155 increase in occupancy and furniture and equipment costs, and a $317,909 increase in salaries and benefits. The increase in other expenses was due primarily to costs associated with our core system conversion that is projected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, ATM related expenses, and legal fees incurred for stockholder matters. Also, the Bank’s FDIC assessment expense increased due to higher FDIC assessment rates. The increase in occupancy and furniture and equipment was due primarily to the renovations and new equipment for the Upperco location which was placed in service at the end of the first quarter and the new Towson location that was placed in service during the second quarter. The increase in salaries and benefits was due to normal annual salary increases as well as the hiring of several new employees primarily in the commercial loan production department.
Income taxes decreased by $668,351 during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023 due to lower earnings before taxes. The effective tax rate decreased to 22.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from 24.9% for the same period last year due to an increase in the amount of nontaxable income included in pretax income year over year.
Total assets increased to $818 million at September 30, 2024 from $800 million at December 31, 2023. Loans increased to $572 million at September 30, 2024 from $523 million at December 31, 2023, an annualized rate of increase of 12.5%. Investments in debt securities decreased to $180 million at September 30, 2024 from $184 million at December 31, 2023. Deposits decreased to $674 million at September 30, 2024 from $681 million at December 31, 2023. The Company’s tangible equity was $52 million at September 30, 2024 compared to $45 million at December 31, 2023.
The book value of the Company’s common stock increased to $18.81 per share at September 30, 2024 from to $16.74 per share at December 31, 2023. Book value per share at September 30, 2024 was reflective of the $14 million unrealized loss, net of income taxes, on the Bank’s available for sale (“AFS”) investment portfolio as a result of the significant rise in interest rates over the last 30 months. Changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio, net of income taxes, are reflected in the Company’s equity, but are not included in the income statement. The AFS investment portfolio is comprised of 62% government agency mortgage backed securities which are fully guaranteed, 33% investment grade non agency mortgage backed securities, 1% investment grade corporate and municipal bonds, and 4% subordinated debt of other community banks. There is no indication of credit deterioration in any of the bonds and we intend to hold these investments to maturity, so no actual losses are anticipated. There is no impact on regulatory capital because the Bank elected many years ago to not include in the calculation of regulatory capital changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio regardless of whether they are positive or negative.
The Bank began utilizing the Federal Reserve Bank’s Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) during the second quarter of 2023 and had borrowings of $54,000,000 outstanding at September 30, 2024, with a maturity date of January 15, 2025, an increase of $21,000,000 from December 31, 2023. Eligible collateral for the BTFP includes mortgage backed securities which are valued at par instead of market providing greater availability than other facilities. The BTFP also provides competitive fixed rates for up to a one-year term and advances can be refinanced or paid off in full or in part at any time. The Federal Reserve Bank stopped new BTFP advances on March 11, 2024. This facility, along with our Federal Home Loan Bank facility, other borrowing lines available, unpledged securities, brokered deposit access, and cash, provided us with access to approximately $332 million of liquidity at September 30, 2024.
Gary A. Harris, President and CEO, commented “We are pleased that our loan portfolio has grown at an annualized rate of 12.5% during the first nine months of the year, demonstrating that our investment in additional loan production staff and facilities is paying off. Our asset quality remains high and our liquidity position remains strong. Due to the sunsetting of our existing core operating system, our core system conversion will occur on October 28, 2024. While it will increase our expenses in 2024, the new system will be a substantial digital upgrade that will position the bank for future growth, provide for significant efficiency gains and an enhanced customer experience moving forward. The Federal Reserve interest rate decreased by 50 basis points in September and additional cuts are expected over the remainder of 2024 and 2025. These cuts are too late in 2024 to have any significant impact on our net interest margin, but should provide for improvement in 2025.”
About the Company
The Company is a financial holding company and the parent company of the Bank. The Bank was chartered in Maryland in 1919 and has over 100 years of service to the community. The Bank serves the deposit and financing needs of both consumers and businesses in Carroll and Baltimore Counties along the Route 30, Route 795, Route 140, Route 26, and Route 45 corridors. The main office is located in Upperco, Maryland, with seven additional branches in Owings Mills, Hampstead, Greenmount, Reisterstown, Westminster, Eldersburg, and Towson. Certain broker-dealers make a market in the common stock of Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc., and trades are reported through the OTC Markets Group’s Pink Market under the symbol “FMFG”.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management’s good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled “Risk Factors”.
Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
September 30,
December 31, *
2024
2023
Assets
Cash and due from banks
$
16,271,388
$
44,404,473
Federal funds sold and other interest-bearing deposits
570,479
285,864
Cash and cash equivalents
16,841,867
44,690,337
Certificates of deposit in other banks
100,000
100,000
Securities available for sale, at fair value
159,499,031
164,084,673
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost less allowance for credit losses of $36,894 and $35,627
20,197,994
20,163,622
Equity security, at fair value
531,958
507,130
Restricted stock, at cost
1,016,000
863,500
Mortgage loans held for sale
759,200
–
Loans, less allowance for credit losses of $4,190,882 and $4,285,247
571,562,379
523,308,044
Premises and equipment, net
7,441,171
6,583,452
Accrued interest receivable
2,362,330
2,180,734
Deferred income taxes, net
6,736,681
8,312,482
Other real estate owned, net
1,226,245
1,242,365
Bank owned life insurance
15,218,368
14,930,754
Goodwill and other intangibles, net
7,028,178
7,034,424
Other assets
7,009,579
5,939,309
$
817,530,981
$
799,940,826
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing
$
108,442,303
$
115,284,706
Interest-bearing
565,302,419
565,678,145
Total deposits
673,744,722
680,962,851
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
2,885,496
6,760,493
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta advances
5,000,000
5,000,000
Federal Reserve Bank advances
54,000,000
33,000,000
Long-term debt, net of issuance costs
11,799,931
13,212,378
Accrued interest payable
2,581,429
1,482,773
Other liabilities
8,357,055
7,344,040
758,368,633
747,762,535
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,145,974 in 2024 and 3,116,966 shares in 2023
31,460
31,170
Additional paid-in capital
30,837,137
30,398,080
Retained earnings
41,826,204
39,433,185
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(13,532,453
)
(17,684,144
)
59,162,348
52,178,291
$
817,530,981
$
799,940,826
* – Derived from audited consolidated financial statements
Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Interest income
Loans, including fees
$
7,901,509
$
6,609,039
$
22,021,236
$
19,023,308
Investment securities – taxable
1,623,113
996,586
4,794,495
2,528,793
Investment securities – tax exempt
141,258
137,254
415,629
416,626
Federal funds sold and other interest earning assets
180,572
258,818
860,922
469,721
Total interest income
9,846,452
8,001,697
28,092,282
22,438,448
Interest expense
Deposits
3,910,840
2,239,808
10,243,652
5,010,624
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
13,069
12,110
49,113
23,949
Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings
64,713
39,289
109,230
452,272
Federal Reserve Bank advances
647,882
378,500
1,910,411
391,763
Long-term debt
125,103
145,001
387,408
444,953
Total interest expense
4,761,607
2,814,708
12,699,814
6,323,561
Net interest income
5,084,845
5,186,989
15,392,468
16,114,887
Recovery of credit losses
–
(75,000
)
–
(570,000
)
Net interest income after recovery of credit losses
On October 21, 2024, at 1:00 am, Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP responded to a report of a shooting in O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation (Crane River).
Officers attended to a residence in the community and located a 35-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. They assisted two residents with life-saving measures until EMS arrived but the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.
A few hours after the shooting, a 14-year-old male youth from the community, approached officers on scene and turned himself in to police in relation to this homicide.
On October 21, the 14-year-old male was charged with 2nd Degree Murder and remanded into custody.
Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crime Services and RCMP Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.
WASHINGTON – On October 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held an awards ceremony hosted at DHS headquarters located at St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington, D.C. where 325 employees received a Secretary’s Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Department’s mission.
“Every single day, with great determination, integrity, and skill, the 268,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security ensure the safety and security of the American people,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Thanks to these extraordinary public servants, our shores, harbors, skies, cyberspace, and borders are protected; fentanyl and other deadly drugs are prevented from entering our country; communities are able to recover and rebuild after a natural disaster; the scourges of human trafficking, forced labor, and online exploitation are mitigated; and so much more. The individuals we recognize today with our Department’s highest honor, the Secretary’s Award, reflect the very best of DHS – and in their selfless dedication to mission, the very best of public service.”
The DHS Secretary’s Awards are an annual program that recognizes the extraordinary individual and collective achievements of the workforce. The 325 awardees recognized in today’s ceremony represent the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, the DHS Privacy Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
“In recognizing these outstanding DHS personnel with a Secretary’s Award, we recognize all our talented personnel; the achievements of one are not possible without the contributions of others,” added Secretary Mayorkas. “We also express our appreciation to their families and loved ones; when one serves, the family serves too.”
This year’s award recipients developed and issued policy and procedures associated with a whole-scale transition to a new pay system for TSA; launched a series of coordinated and collaborative initiatives, operations and investigations targeting Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and national security threats operating and transiting through the Darien Gap region; arrested over 8,000 human smugglers, produced over 5,000 intelligence reports, and seized over $38M USD in real property; ensured over 2,300 vital alerts and warnings were provided to owners and operators of critical infrastructure to protect against cyberattacks; among many other achievements.
This year, DHS is holding nine Secretary’s Awards ceremonies across the country, honoring over 1,700 employees, the most annual awardees ever.
Last year, Secretary Mayorkas unveiled 12 priorities for the Department, including a commitment to champion the workforce and transform the employee experience. DHS has the third largest workforce of any federal department, behind the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department is home to more than 92,000 sworn law enforcement officers, the greatest number of law enforcement officers of any department in the federal government. DHS has committed to increasing the representation of women in law enforcement or related occupations at DHS to 30% by 2030. Over 54,000 veterans, or nearly 21% of the workforce, continue serving their country by working at DHS.
DHS operational components interact more frequently on a daily basis with the American public than any other federal department, from travelers moving through air, land, and sea ports of entry, to businesses importing goods into the country, to immigrants applying for services. To learn more about the impact DHS makes every day, visit: DHS.gov/TodayDHSWill.
Last year, DHS improved the efficiency of processing noncitizens at the Southwest Border, deployed across the country to respond to natural disasters, investigated cybercrimes, created a new streamlined process for adjudicating asylum applications, safely and securely resettled nearly 90,000 evacuated Afghans in the United States, provided resources for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity resilience, established a process for Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge, secured the 2022 midterm elections, and demonstrated heroism by acting quickly and courageously to save lives in harrowing circumstances.
Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled plans for New York BioGenesis Park, a groundbreaking $430 million Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub in Nassau County, Long Island. To be developed by The Albanese Organization, Inc., this state-of-the-art facility would catalyze CGT research, development, clinical manufacturing, and commercialization across New York State. With a historic $150 million state investment—the largest nationwide for a cell and gene therapy hub—NYBGP would accelerate the delivery of new therapies from lab to patient in New York’s diverse communities. This transformative hub aims to establish New York as the leading global destination for CGT innovation, driving economic growth, attracting top talent, and revolutionizing patient care statewide and beyond.
“With this groundbreaking hub, New York has the opportunity to stake its claim as the epicenter of cell and gene therapy innovation,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re not just advancing medical science; we’re creating a powerhouse that will drive our economy, generate thousands of high-skilled jobs, and bring hope to millions facing life-threatening diseases. This investment reaffirms our commitment to leading the future of healthcare and ensuring that the next medical breakthrough happens right here in New York.”
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Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The selection of a developer with proven expertise ensures the Long Island CGT Center would be a beacon of excellence from inception to operation. ESD’s landmark investment not only underscores New York’s commitment to leadership in life sciences but also catalyzes a transformative shift in our biotechnology landscape. By creating high-quality jobs, attracting world-class talent, and fostering groundbreaking innovation, New York BioGenesis Park would cement New York’s position at the forefront of cell and gene therapy globally, driving economic growth and scientific advancement in equal measure.”
New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This groundbreaking and transformative investment puts New York State at the forefront of emerging gene and cell therapy sciences, creating a centralized hub of innovation and advancement in patient care. I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to investing in the future of medical research and therapeutic technologies that will give hope to patients fighting cancer and other devastating diseases.”
The Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub is a critical component of the statewide Cell and Gene Therapy initiative announced in Governor Hochul’s 2023 State of the State address. With the $430 million New York BioGenesis Park on Long Island and the $98 million expansion at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, these projects represent a combined total investment of over half a billion dollars in Cell and Gene Therapy innovation across New York.
The Albanese Organization, Inc., a Long Island-based developer with more than 70 years of experience in managing successful public-private partnerships, was selected following a Request for Proposals issued in December 2023. Albanese is conditionally selected to lead the comprehensive process to design, finance, build, market, tenant, and operate the Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Center. This selection ensures that the project will be executed from conception to operation with an experienced development team, leveraging Albanese’s extensive expertise in developing large life science innovation campuses.
Albanese Organization Chairman Russell Albanese, said, “The Albanese Organization and our development team are honored and excited to be designated by Empire State Development to enter into this public private partnership that will realize the Governor’s vision to create a ‘Hub of the Future’ for Cell and Gene Therapy in Lake Success, Long Island. This transformative development will serve as a significant catalyst for advancing cell therapy research, development, clinical manufacturing, and commercialization across the State that will lead to increased access to transformative, life-saving treatments. The Hub will also further amplify and expand the economic engine that is the life sciences industry within New York State, and specifically Long Island.”
With this groundbreaking hub, New York has the opportunity to stake its claim as the epicenter of cell and gene therapy innovation.”
Governor Hochul
Cell and gene therapies are revolutionary treatments that modify a patient’s cells or genes to combat diseases at their source. Offering hope for previously incurable conditions—including cancers, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases—these approaches target illnesses at the cellular and genetic levels. They have the potential to provide more effective, longer-lasting treatments with fewer side effects than traditional methods. Advancements in these therapies could revolutionize healthcare, paving the way for personalized medicine and new possibilities for patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
New York BioGenesis Park is envisioned as a cutting-edge, full-service campus dedicated to advancing cell and gene therapies and accelerating their commercialization. At full build-out, the 700,000-square-foot park would create an end-to-end Cell and Gene Therapy innovation and supply center, featuring interconnected areas for public engagement, research, manufacturing, and collaboration. The project would be developed in multiple phases, with Phase One comprising a 331,000-square-foot facility on Northwell Health’s campus in Lake Success, including the first Cell and Gene Therapy Tower and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMO) Tower. Phase One is already poised to advance, with conditional commitments from two anchor tenants; one would operate the CDMO, the other would operate the incubator.
A cornerstone of New York BioGenesis Park is its incubator, supported by a $50 million investment from ESD’s Long Island Investment Fund. This facility will empower early-stage therapeutic developers by offering state-of-the-art wet lab space, shared equipment, office space, and other essential resources. This nurturing environment would provide Cell and Gene Therapy companies with access to specialized equipment, mentoring, and stage-appropriate financial guidance. As a critical component of New York BioGenesis Park, the incubator is poised to catalyze the growth of promising Cell and Gene Therapy companies by providing them with resources and support, unlocking their potential for innovation and success.
This initial phase is expected to create approximately 830 full time union construction jobs and a combined estimate of 700 jobs related to Cell and Gene Therapy development and provision of services and technologies required by Cell and Gene Therapy developers, such as Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations, vector developers, and advanced diagnostic providers, as well as staff required for operation of the Center. Phase Two would further expand lab and office space, enhancing the park’s capabilities for Cell and Gene Therapy companies and service providers.
Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “New York BioGenesis Park represents a transformative investment in Long Island’s future and New York State’s position as a global leader in biotechnology advancements. This project not only promises to create hundreds of high-skilled jobs but also establishes a world-class ecosystem for cell and gene therapy innovation. By leveraging Long Island’s exceptional talent pool and research institutions, we’re laying the foundation for breakthroughs that will save lives and drive economic growth for decades to come.”
LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline said, “The New York BioGenesis Park represents a transformative investment in Long Island’s future and solidifies our region’s position at the forefront of biotechnology innovation. This visionary project not only promises to create high-quality jobs and drive economic growth, but it also establishes Long Island as a global hub for cell and gene therapy research and development. By leveraging our region’s world-class academic institutions, skilled workforce, and entrepreneurial spirit, New York BioGenesis Park will catalyze breakthroughs that will save lives and shape the future of healthcare.”
Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti said, “New York State’s $150 million investment in a gene therapy research hub at Lake Success is a transformative step in developing Long Island’s biotechnology sector. I thank Governor Hochul for championing this initiative, which will create hundreds of jobs and further solidify Long Island’s place as a national leader in cutting-edge medical research and treatments.”
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD said, “New York is already a leader in the science of making ‘living cures’ from our own cells. With these historic investments in the Roswell Park GMP Engineering & Cell Manufacturing Facility and New York BioGenesis Park, Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development are making sure our teams are supported by an innovation infrastructure powerful enough to transform their curiosity into cures”
New York Blood Center Enterprises President and CEO Christopher D. Hillyer, MD said, “The creation of the Long Island Center for Cell and Gene Therapy represents a critical investment in the future of medicine. New York Blood Center Enterprises and Comprehensive Cell Solutions are extremely proud to be part of the team that will position New York as a global leader in life sciences, particularly in cell and gene therapy, offering new hope to patients facing diseases once thought untreatable.”
Northwell Health President and CEO Michael J. Dowling said, “We are committed to supporting New York State in establishing this innovative cell and gene therapy hub on Long Island. The facility will be a game changer for physician-scientists, researchers and innovative companies, some of which are already working together in the region to advance novel biomedical treatments in the fight against cancer and other devastating diseases, offering new hope for our diverse communities across the state.”
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory President and CEO Bruce Stillman, PhD said, “The New York State cell and gene therapy initiative on Long Island will be a most welcome addition to the region’s biomedical research enterprise, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory looks forward to partnering with the CGT initiative. We thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for pioneering this exciting research expansion.”
New York BioGenesis Park would foster strong ties with academic and medical institutions throughout New York, creating a robust ecosystem for Cell and Gene Therapy innovation. Collaborating with the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium and world-class institutions like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Feinstein Institutes, Northwell Health, Roswell Park, Stony Brook University, Weill Cornell, Columbia University and others around the state. New York BioGenesis Park would enhance research synergies and accelerate medical breakthroughs. This ecosystem would bring together experts in advanced Cell and Gene Therapy therapies, offering specialized facilities, services, and resources to both tenants and collaborating institutions. By facilitating cutting-edge science, innovative technology development and novel approaches to clinical trials, New York BioGenesis Park would ensure New York’s institutions remain globally competitive in groundbreaking Cell and Gene Therapy research and commercialization.
The New York BioGenesis Park and the Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing expansion at Roswell Park would create a powerful, interconnected network that leverages complementary resources and capabilities at both ends of the state. By fostering a comprehensive ecosystem that spans from basic research to clinical application and commercialization, New York is positioning itself as the nation’s leading destination for Cell and Gene Therapy research, development, and manufacturing.
The Long Island Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Hub stands to serve as a cornerstone of New York’s $620 million Life Science Initiative. Aimed at establishing the state as a national leader in the broader life sciences industry—including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology—the initiative allocates $320 million for strategic programs to attract new technologies, promote investment in emerging fields, and stimulate life science business growth and employment statewide. This multifaceted approach seeks to spur the development of a world-class research cluster, enhance the state’s ability to commercialize groundbreaking research, and drive economic growth. By solidifying New York’s position in life sciences innovation, the initiative advances Cell and Gene Therapy development and strengthens the state’s global competitiveness. Read New York State’s Life Science Initiative Strategic Plan here.
ATLANTA (October 22, 2024) – Today, Sen. Derek Mallow (D–Savannah) released the following statement regarding the dock incident that took place on Sapelo Island on Saturday:
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident on Sapelo Island during the annual Sapelo Cultural Day celebration. My heart is with the families of the seven individuals who lost their lives, as well as those injured during this horrific event. This tragedy strikes at the very heart of the Gullah Geechee, whose rich heritage is woven into the fabric of Sapelo Island and our state. I offer my prayers for the families and the Sapelo Island community as they grapple with this immense loss.
As we await more details from the investigation, my colleagues and I will closely monitor the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is taken to support the victims’ families and prevent such an incident from occurring again. Let us unite as a state to support Sapelo Island and ensure they are given all possible resources to recover and heal.”
For the latest news on the Sapelo Island incident, click here.
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Sen. Derek Mallow represents the 2nd Senate District which includes a portion of Chatham County. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.7586 or via email atderek.mallow@senate.ga.gov
From 29 October, Aucklanders will be asked to have their say on a strategy for the region’s southern rural area. The Southern Rural Strategy sets out how the area will accommodate a growing population, while enabling industries like farming and food production to thrive.
Councillor for Franklin ward, Andy Baker, chairs the political working group overseeing the development of the strategy.
“A lot of the food eaten around the country comes from the rural parts of south Auckland – the unique climate, soils and proximity to markets, airport and port see major growth in our under-glass and kiwifruit industries. We rely on these, and other vital industries found in this region, every day.”
“The Franklin area is growing and is expected to become home to another 100,000 people over the next 30 years. This is great news for our economy, and means we need a strategy to manage the valuable – and vulnerable – natural resources found here. People all over New Zealand enjoy the produce from this area, so, we need to get the balance right as we develop to maintain our horticultural and agricultural advantage.”
“Growth needs to be at the right place and right time, with infrastructure in place to support new development. We also need to develop employment at the same time as housing so people can live and work in the same locality. The best places for that are in our existing towns and villages.
Which areas does the strategy cover?
The strategy covers the fullFranklin ward. It also includes some rural land from theHowickandPapakuralocal board areas.
Why do we need this strategy?
There are many different factors at play in Auckland’s southern rural area. The temperate climate and fertile soils make it ideal for rural production, one of New Zealand’s primary food production areas, and a significant contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It’s also an area where significant urban development is taking place to accommodate the increasing population.
The Southern Rural Strategy is being coordinated to manage each of these factors, to ensure they fit together in harmony. This will allow the area to be developed sustainably, as it needs to be, and ensure it continues to evolve as a key economic and environmental resource for the future.
Importantly, the strategy will reflect the views of communities in the area.
Where will growth happen in this area?
Drury, Opaheke, Pukekohe, Waiuku are identified as towns where the most growth will occur, mainly through in-fill development and expansion to future urban areas. Development has already started in some of these towns, supported by water infrastructure, roads, and are expected to have new railway stations from 2025.
Deputy chair of Auckland’s Policy and Planning Committee, Councillor Angela Dalton, also sits on the political steering group for development of the Southern Rural Strategy. She says it is anticipated that these areas will grow over the next 30 years.
“Drury and Pukekohe have long-termplansfor how they will expand over time – so the communities that live here now have had a chance to say how they would like their towns to grow.”
“Importantly, the investment in infrastructure to support the growth happening in these towns is already planned through a mix of council budgets, government investments and development contributions.”
When can I have my say?
You will be able tohave your sayon the Southern Rural Strategy from Tuesday 29 October until Sunday 1 December 2024.
Fisheries New Zealand is seeking your ideas and feedback on proposed changes to the blue cod (rāwaru) seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds (Te Tauihu-o-te-waka) to reduce fishing pressure.
Your input is also sought in developing a package of wider potential measures to ensure long-term sustainability of the fishery. Submissions can be made by email or post using the form provided, before 5pm on 1 December 2024.
Public drop-in information sessions
During consultation, we will be holding public drop-in sessions to present information, answer questions, and assist you with making a submission. These will be hosted by Fisheries New Zealand officials and Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group members at:
Tasman Bay Cruising Club in Nelson/Whakatū on Tuesday, 12 November (4.30pm to 7.30pm)
Queen Charlotte Yacht Club in Picton/Waitohi on Thursday, 14 November ( 4.30pm to 7.30pm).
About the proposed changes and potential measures
Marlborough Sounds blue cod are a taonga which play an important role in the local ecosystem, and support an iconic fishery for many Kiwis.
Over the years, pressure on the stock has increased, with high fishing effort and cumulative stressors such as sedimentation, benthic disturbance, and marine heatwaves.
Independent surveys and reports from many fishers and long-time residents demonstrate low levels of abundance, and a growing community concern about the sustainability of the stock. In 2021, a potting survey indicated that significant overfishing is very likely occurring and retrospectively has been for a significant time.
In response, the then Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in 2022 decided to cut the commercial catch limit, or TACC, and form a multi-sector group to identify measures to reduce fishing pressure.
This group (the Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group) met throughout 2023, and provided the Minister with a report of their findings. FNZ is now consulting on a potential change to the seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds, and seeking input in developing a package of wider measures to ensure long-term sustainability.
Consultation documents:
Summary of proposals:
Proposal to extend the seasonal closure (from December 2025):
Extending the seasonal closure to all blue cod take, from 1 September – 19 December currently, to 31 December, 5 January, or 15 January.
Potential measures that could be considered for a wider package
Spawning recovery areas, to rebuild spawning populations across the Sounds.
Reducing the combined daily bag limit from 20 finfish currently, to 10 or 6 finfish.
A refreshed educational campaign – how can we maximise outreach and provide the right information for fishers to minimise their impacts?
Options to enhance fine-scale recreational fishing information – voluntary catch reporting, survey mailing lists, additional monitoring, or any other ideas.
Tools to mitigate predation and release mortality – what is your experience with these issues and potential solutions?
Related information:
Plans and strategies
Rules and legislation
Science and monitoring
Making your submission
Fisheries New Zealand welcomes your views on the topics above and encourages you to use the submission template provided with your rationale and supporting. You can make your submission anytime before consultation closes on Sunday, 1 December 2024, at 5pm.
While we prefer email, you can also post written submissions to:
Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Review Fisheries New Zealand Private Bag 14 Nelson 7042 New Zealand
If you require hard copies of the consultation document or any other information, email FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
Submissions are public information
Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.
People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.
If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
LIVINGSTON, NJ –Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) convened a bipartisan group of mayors and local elected leaders from across New Jersey’s 11th District to hear concerns regarding NJ TRANSIT service for New Jersey families. Sherrill’s listening session comes ahead of her meeting with representatives from Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT as part of her ongoing efforts to advocate for improved service along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC).
“New Jerseyans deserve better than a ‘Summer of Hell’ year after year – so I’m fighting to build an affordable, accessible public transportation system that our families can rely on. That’s why, prior to my meeting with Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT, I wanted to hear directly from mayors from across my district to learn more about the most pressing transit issues families are facing. I will relay their concerns and demand accountability from state and federal officials – particularly regarding ongoing delays and lack of communication with riders – because New Jersey families deserve better,”said Rep. Sherrill.
Rep. Sherrill has been leading effortsto improve service and hold Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT accountable for recent rail breakdowns. After significant malfunctions caused dozens of delays in June and July, Sherrill led the New Jersey delegation in writing twolettersdirectly to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg demanding answers for service breakdowns and improved transparency between the agency and riders. In direct response to her advocacy, Amtrak has since released a report on their inspection and repair work to address these malfunctions, as well as the additional coordination and maintenance actions that they will undertake moving forward.
Since first taking office, Sherrill has brought back billions of dollars in federal funding for Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, and the Northeast Corridor, including $4.4 billion in COVID relief funding for NJ TRANSIT, $1.1 billion in the FY 2024 budget for Northeast Corridor repairs, $6 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to address the maintenance backlog and improve track safety and reliability, and an additional $24 billion for large capital projects on the Northeast Corridor. She is currently fighting to secure an additional $300 million in federal funding to replace the aging catenary wires that have been a major cause of this summer’s malfunctions.
Sherrill has long championed the Gateway Tunnel Project, which will cut commute times, reduce traffic and air pollution, and bring good-paying union jobs to North Jersey. She led advocacy and voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $66 billion in funding for passenger rail projects, and successfully advocated for a full funding agreementto ensure that the federal government will pay 70% of the project’s cost.
Today the Albanese Government welcomes India’s Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to Melbourne to further strengthen the education and skills links between our two countries.
Minister Pradhan has travelled to Australia for the second Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) meeting which will be held tomorrow in Sydney.
Discussions will focus on Australia’s research strengths and models for industry engagement which support innovation, businesses and economic growth.
The visit will showcase researchers and research centres who are making a significant contribution to bilateral research collaboration.
We will also explore further partnerships to deliver Australia’s world-class education in India and how we can bridge skills gaps through education and training.
The AIESC meeting coincides with Deakin and Wollongong universities opening in India this year, with more Australian universities expected to follow their lead.
Since the first AIESC meeting last November, we have continued to build our bilateral education relationship, completed an agricultural skills program in India, continued to implement the mutual recognition mechanism, and established a new STEM research fellowships program for women.
A joint communique will be issued after the conclusion of the second AIESC meeting and will be publicly available at South Asia Resources – Department of Education, Australian Government.
While in Australia, Minister Pradhan will also address the Australian International Education Conference and visit Australian universities, a public school and an early childhood education and care centre.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“It is an honour to welcome Minister Pradhan back to Australia for his second visit since 2022.
“This is the fourth time we have caught up here or in India in the last two years.
“I look forward to showcasing Australia’s education system and working together to further strengthen Australia’s education links with India.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
“Australia and India are close mates and I’m looking forward to discussing how we can collaborate even more effectively to bridge critical skills gaps and strengthen our relationship.
“We’ll be exploring how we can work together to build the research workforces we’ll need in the future and better support industries in transition.”
Senior Members of The Highland Council made six commitments at the Housing Summit in Aviemore today.
Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair said:
“The challenge is to double our current housing supply and accelerate the delivery of both public and private housing and the availability of sites across Highland. Today, we are giving our commitment to seizing the opportunities to work with partners to attract investment and undertake a range of solutions to address the housing shortage in Highland.
“As a key tool for addressing the Housing Challenge and understanding future housing and employment needs, we’re taking early action by announcing the launch of a “Call for Sites” for the Highland Local Development Plan by the end of 2024. This is some six months ahead of when it was originally intended to. Developers and landowners across the Highlands are encouraged to start preparing their submissions, and a template that will be used to submit sites will be available shortly on the Council’s website.”
Building on our recently adopted Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan, the Council has agreed how we intend to utilise Masterplan Consent Areas to enable the direct delivery of the Green Freeport and address future housing needs. Masterplan Consent Areas, or MCAs, will provide an alternative mechanism for masterplanning and securing planning consent for development. With secondary legislation expected to come into force on December 5th, MCAs are a key tool for addressing the Housing Challenge and can provide certainty for delivery and thereby streamline the delivery of new jobs and housing.
Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said:
“As delivery partners working together, we ask for certainty on emerging jobs across the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) and renewables projects. In return, we will be looking to find opportunities to prepare three MCAs over the next 18 months to accelerate direct delivery of jobs and homes in Highland. Some options have been identified already, but we’re open to investigating alternatives. The Council will use legislation to its best effect whilst trying to balance housing need with community concerns.”
Cllr Gowans added: “Rural housing makes an important contribution to housing supply in Highland. A report is to be considered by our Economy and Infrastructure Committee in November that clarifies the critical role that rural housing plays in addressing the Housing Challenge, whilst ensuring that there is as much flexibility as possible for additional housing to be provided within housing groups.”
He continued: “We recognise the need to ensure the process of reaching a planning decision on developments is a key hurdle. As a result, the Council is to begin an Integrated Housing Delivery Service, where senior officials will be available to meet with major housing scheme applicants to discuss outstanding issues, with the intention of dealing with any blockages or technical issues that need to be overcome prior to a decision being recommended. This new service will provide appointments to resolve planning issues quickly and in line with legislation.”
Leader of the Highland Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner added: “We are committed to repaying £6m into the Housing Landbank Fund to assist in the delivery of more affordable housing throughout the Highlands as part of its budget setting process for 2025/26. A report will be brought to Council next week to seek agreement for this.”
He added: “We are committed to continue to work with renewable energy developers across the region as part of our Social Value from Renewables Charter, building on the progress made with SSEN today, and leaving a lasting legacy of housing provision from the renewables revolution.”
Cllr Bremner concluded: “I would like to thank our private and public sector partners who have taken part in our housing summit and the positive commitments made by everyone towards resolving the housing challenge in Highland. It is only by collaboration and harnessing the collective energy and ambition we have seen today, that we can deliver the required investment in housing and build sustainable and thriving communities.”
Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements
Indigenous students studying at boarding schools will have support to finish their schooling and boost their success, with the Albanese Labor Government extending the Indigenous Boarding Providers Grants Program until the end of 2026.
Boarding plays an important role for many Indigenous students from rural and remote communities.
A $43.2 million investment will support approximately 2,500 students attending more than 40 boarding schools and stand-alone boarding facilities and deliver wrap-around supports to boost students’ success at school.
This investment is one of the ways the Albanese Government is helping to close the gap in education outcomes.
Secondary schools and boarding providers that mainly support First Nations students from remote and very remote areas may be eligible to receive funding under the program.
This new investment comes as the Indigenous Boarding Design Review, which is identifying ways to improve the sector, is being finalised. The program will provide certainty to providers while the Government considers and responds to the Review.
The investment also follows the Albanese Government’s Central Australia Boarding Response Fund last week offering $18 million to three Alice Springs schoolsto upgrade or build facilities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“This investment in boarding facilities across Australia is about supporting Indigenous school students in remote communities.
“It will mean supporting more students to finish school and deliver certainty for providers.
“This builds on the $18 million in funding for three boarding schools in Central Australia and is another way the Government is building a better and fairer education system.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy:
“The Albanese Government is committed to supporting First Nations students to achieve their full learning potential.
“For many First Nations students from remote and very remote areas, boarding school is their only option to engage in education.
“This investment will provide critical support for First Nations boarding students while the government considers the outcomes of the Indigenous Boarding Design Review.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)
(October 22, 2024) BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) toured the Bernards Township Police Department ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into local law enforcement needs and priorities. Congressman Kean is advocating for $1,626,100 in the FY25 appropriation process to benefit Bernards Township. This funding would be used for improving the communications capabilities of the Bernards Police Department and partner emergency response agencies within the Township.
“I will continue to advocate for the return of as many federal funds as possible to the Bernards Township Police Department,” said Congressman Kean. “This funding for Bernards Township has already passed the House Appropriations Committee. With these resources, local police officers will be able to upgrade their radio communication system, significantly enhancing their ability to communicate and coordinate deployments. This investment is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of this community.”
“Bernards Township is grateful to Congressman Kean’s support of our community, especially regarding public safety,” said Jennifer Asay, Mayor of Bernards Township. “In February, he hosted a Crime Roundtable webinar where I was a panelist and learned from my fellow panelists and the Congressman collective concerns and where to partner to develop solutions to protect residents. Additionally, we are honored to be one of the Congressman’s 15 submissions for Community Project Funding FY2025. If awarded, this $1.6M grant will upgrade the communications capabilities of the Bernards Township Police Department and partner emergency response agencies within the Township, resulting in enhanced resident safety.”
“The Bernards Township Police Department appreciated meeting and speaking with Congressman Tom Kean, Junior,” said Jon Burger, Chief of Bernards Township Police Department. “We appreciate the support he provides the community and law enforcement.”
Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE.
Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 22 October 2024 at 22:30 EET
Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 22.10.2024
Espoo, Finland – On 22 October 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:
Trading venue (MIC Code)
Number of shares
Weighted average price / share, EUR*
XHEL
1,523,949
4.37
CEUX
400,000
4.36
BATE
–
–
AQEU
–
–
TQEX
–
–
Total
1,923,949
4.37
* Rounded to two decimals
On 25 January 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to return up to EUR 600 million of cash to shareholders in tranches over a period of two years. The first phase of the share buyback program started on 20 March 2024. On 19 July 2024, Nokia decided to accelerate the share buybacks by increasing the number of shares to be repurchased during the year 2024. The post-increase repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 22 July 2024 and end by 31 December 2024 with a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 600 million for all purchases during 2024.
Total cost of transactions executed on 22 October 2024 was EUR 8,399,769. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 180,158,582 treasury shares.
Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.
On behalf of Nokia Corporation
BofA Securities Europe SA
About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.
Inquiries:
Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications