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  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. and Israel Pledge to Work Together to Unleash AI Innovation with New Memorandum of Understanding

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, vice chair and chair of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance collaboration on energy and artificial intelligence (AI) with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter.

    “President Trump and the National Energy Dominance Council are excited to announce this partnership on AI and energy security with Israel and the United States, advancing our shared vision of global energy addition and AI innovation,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. “This Memorandum of Understanding enables our two countries to leverage our research institutions, and technology and energy sectors to ensure the United States and Israel are leaders in AI and remain energy dominant forces as AI transforms our future.”

    “U.S. Energy Dominance demands the advancement of artificial intelligence,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Today, the Department of the Interior, in conjunction with the Department of Energy and leaders on the National Energy Dominance Council, recognized the critical partnership between America and the State of Israel to strategically power the feedback loop of innovation between the energy sector and AI. Through the advancement of AI, while properly managing our natural resources and improving our energy systems, the Trump administration is powering a new future that transforms global energy dominance for America and our allies.”

    The MOU highlights the transformative potential of AI to improve the security and resilience of America and Israel’s energy systems. The two countries further announced their intent to pursue cooperation in areas including analyzing the impact of rising energy demand due to data centers, opportunities for grid optimization, enhanced AI-enabled cybersecurity tools, sharing best practices on the use of AI in energy infrastructure, and the launching of bilateral pilot projects.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell Statement on Passage of Reconciliation Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Dingell Statement on Passage of Reconciliation Bill

    Washington, July 3, 2025

    Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) released the following statement on the House passage of Republicans’ reconciliation bill. 

    “Why would anyone vote for this big bad bill? It is one of the most consequential, devastating, dangerous bills Congress has passed in recent history. It is going to rip health care away from 17 million people, make the biggest cuts to food assistance ever, and ensure the poorest Americans get poorer while the richest get even richer. People will die, children will go hungry, and working Americans will struggle even more to make ends meet, all so Republicans can give another tax break to billionaires. My Republican colleagues have betrayed and abandoned the vulnerable Americans who the government is supposed to serve. This is a complete and total failure. The American people know this is wrong, overwhelmingly disagree with it, and will not forget those who chose to vote for this cruelty.”

    Nationwide, among many other provisions, this bill will:

    1. Kick 17 million people off their health care and make premiums, deductibles, and copays soar for millions more: The bill cuts more than $1 trillion from health care, including the largest Medicaid cut ever, and will cause a $500 billion cut to Medicare. More than 50,000 people will die directly because of these cuts.
       
    2. Cut services and risk closures for hospitals and nursing homes: Under the bill, as many as 300 hospitals, especially those in rural areas, will have to cut services and staff – if not close completely. One in four nursing homes are expected to close. 
       
    3. Make the largest cut to nutritional assistance ever: The bill cuts SNAP by 20 percent, while forcing states to cover more of SNAP’s cost – which could lead to dozens of states eliminating SNAP entirely. Red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put tens of millions of kids at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch.
       
    4. Increase energy costs: The bill includes devastating cuts to cheap, clean energy sources including wind and solar that will cause families to pay an average of $400 more per year for their utilities. Seniors and low-income people will also have an even harder time getting assistance to pay their energy bills. And it makes us more dependent on foreign oil.
       
    5. Kill more than a million jobs: The bill includes devastating cuts to clean energy will cost more than 840,000 jobs in just the next 5 years and an additional 790,000 jobs over the next 10 years. 
       
    6. Weaken our public schools and make higher education more expensive: The bill creates a permanent, unlimited tax credit for private school vouchers that undermine our public schools and attacks protections for student borrowers. 
       
    7. Make dangerous weapons cheaper: The bill eliminates taxes on silencers, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns – which have been in place since 1934 – flooding our streets with more dangerous weapons and devices that make shootings deadlier. 
       
    8. Add $4 trillion to the debt: This includes $700 billion in interest payments alone. It will cause our debt to rise to as much as 128% of our GDP by 2034, threatening to bankrupt our country and mortgaging our children’s futures. 
       
    9. Does all of this to give almost a trillion dollars of tax cuts to the top 1%: This bill is a reverse Robin Hood — transferring money from the poorest to the wealthiest. People making over $1 million will have an average tax cut of at least $80,000 a year while the bottom 20% of families will see their taxes rise.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • PM Modi shares highlights of meetings with Chile President, UN Chief and Rousseff at BRICS

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday shared glimpses of his meetings with key international figures — including Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff — held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

    Sharing details about his meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font, PM Modi highlighted the growing friendship between the two nations.

    “Delighted to have met President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile during the Rio BRICS Summit. India-Chile friendship is getting stronger and stronger!” PM Modi said in a post on X.

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1942569161743556985

    In April, the Chilean President paid a state visit to India accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, business associations, media and prominent Chileans involved in the India-Chile cultural connect.

    During that visit, which marked 76 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, both leaders discussed in detail the historic diplomatic ties established in 1949, growing trade linkages, people-to-people connections, cultural exchanges and the warm and cordial bilateral relations. They also expressed their desire to further expand and deepen the multifaceted relationship in all areas of mutual interest.

    PM Modi also met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

    Taking to X, PM Modi said, “Interacted with Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro yesterday.”

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1942568681692893508

    India’s deepening engagement with the UN is based on its steadfast commitment to multilateralism and dialogue as the keys to achieving shared goals and addressing common global challenges, including peacebuilding and peacekeeping, sustainable development, poverty eradication, environment, climate change, terrorism, disarmament, human rights, health and pandemics, migration, cyber security, space and frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, and comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including reform of the Security Council.

    PM Modi also shared details about his productive conversation with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who now heads the New Development Bank (NDB).

    Rousseff was in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the progress made by the ‘BRICS Bank’ and discuss reforms of global financial institutions within the BRICS framework.

    “Productive interaction with Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil,” the Prime Minister said on X.

    https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1942569414353703136

    Earlier in the day, Lula welcomed PM Modi at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, where he was given a ceremonial reception featuring a 114-horse escort for his car. The two leaders then held a restricted-format meeting, followed by delegation-level discussions and the signing of agreements.

    —IANS

  • India launches first phase of BIMSTEC cancer care capacity-building programme in Mumbai

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India on Monday launched the first phase of the BIMSTEC cancer care capacity-building program, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against cancer among BIMSTEC nations.

    The programme, jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), was inaugurated at the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai on July 7.

    The capacity-building initiative forms part of the 21-point Action Plan for BIMSTEC cooperation announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok.

    Dr A.K. Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, formally launched the first phase of the program. A total of 21 participants from BIMSTEC member countries will undergo a comprehensive four-week training in Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology.

    Aligned with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the program is expected to pave the way for deeper collaboration in the crucial area of cancer care and help address the growing healthcare challenges faced by people across the BIMSTEC region.

  • PM Modi departs for Namibia after concluding Brazil visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday departed for Namibia after concluding his two-day visit to Brazil, where he attended the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and held wide-ranging discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

    PM Modi is on a five-nation visit, with Namibia being his final stop.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Held fruitful talks with President Lula, who has always been passionate about the India-Brazil friendship. Our talks included ways to deepen trade ties and diversify bilateral trade. We both agree that there is immense scope for such linkages to thrive in the coming times.”

    “Clean energy, sustainable development and overcoming climate change were also prominent topics of discussion. Other areas where we will work even more closely include defence, security, AI and agriculture. India-Brazil cooperation in space, semiconductors and DPI will benefit our people,” PM Modi added.

  • MIL-OSI Video: BRICS, Bosnia & Herzegovina & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (8 July 2025) | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Secretary-General/BRICS
    Bosnia And Herzegovina
    Haiti
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Ukraine
    South Sudan
    Somalia
    Briefings Tomorrow

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/BRICS
    The Secretary-General is wrapping up his visit to Rio de Janeiro, where he was attending the BRICS Summit. He held a number of bilateral meetings today, notably with the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Qiang. They discussed cooperation between the United Nations and China, sustainable development, climate change and financing.
    And yesterday afternoon, on the margins of the BRICS, the Secretary-General also met the Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi. The Secretary-General noted the importance of the consolidation of the ceasefire to lay the groundwork for the resumption of negotiations.
    He also held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan. They exchanged views on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the next round of meetings on Cyprus.
    The Secretary-General is leaving Rio later today and will be back in New York at daybreak tomorrow.

    BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
    This morning, the General Assembly held a ceremony in solidarity and reflection on the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, as mandated by the General Assembly.
    Courtenay Rattray, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, delivered remarks on the Secretary-General’s behalf, saying that we must remember the more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys who were killed at Srebrenica, and we pay tribute to the strength, to the dignity and the courage of the survivors and their families.
    Thirty years ago, the Secretary-General said in his message, the United Nations and the world failed the people of Srebrenica. This collective failure, he added, was the result of policies, propaganda, and international indifference.
    Today, he said, we remember, and we must also confront reality.
    After Srebrenica, the world said – once again – “Never Again”. Hate speech is on the rise again – fueling discrimination, extremism, and violence. We see the glorification of war criminals. We see the same dangerous currents that once led to atrocity crimes. The Secretary-General said we cannot ignore these warning signs.

    As a note, Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, will be representing the Secretary-General at the official remembrance in Srebrenica that takes place this Friday.

    HAITI
    Turning to Haiti, where the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that armed attacks in the Centre department last week displaced more than 16,000 human beings. Most have found refuge with host families, while 2 per cent of them have settled in seven informal displacement sites that were created in the wake of these incidents.
    These developments reflect the continued deterioration of the security situation in Haiti, which is compounding humanitarian needs in a country where more than 1.3 million people are already internally displaced. Half of those are children. Overall, 6 million people in Haiti need humanitarian assistance, amid persistent insecurity and the gradual collapse of essential services.
    Displaced women and girls face particular risks.
    They face severe risks to their safety, including exposure to sexual and gender-based violence, with cases reported in some displacement sites.
    Despite major challenges, humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable in Haiti. From January to March, more than 720,000 people received emergency food assistance, 25,000 people received emergency shelter kits, and 35,000 benefited from essential non-food items. Nearly 170,000 people gained access to safe drinking water, and 55,000 accessed emergency sanitation facilities.
    However, as we said yesterday, the lack of funding is significantly impacting our ability and our partners’ ability to meet the growing needs of the Haitian people. And as I said, unfortunately, the Haitian humanitarian appeal remains the least funded of all of our humanitarian appeals, which are almost all underfunded. Out of the $908 million we need, we have less than $75 million in the bank.
    OCHA remains committed to working closely with humanitarian partners, national authorities and others to increase funding levels, coordinate the delivery of assistance, facilitate humanitarian access, and ensure that the needs of Haiti’s most vulnerable people are addressed.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=08+July+2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mzYocjcMe0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: Hospitals rationing critical supplies, ambulances stalling

    Source: United Nations 2

    What little fuel remains is powering essential operations, but it is running out fast, and there are virtually no additional accessible stocks left, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said, citing reports from the UN relief coordination office, OCHA.  

    “Hospitals are rationing. Ambulances are stalling. Water systems are on the brink. And the deaths this is likely to cause could soon rise sharply unless the Israeli authorities allow new fuel to get in,” said Mr. Dujarric.

    “We need fuel urgently and we need it in large quantities to power the most essential parts, notably water desalination, hospitals and telecommunications,” he added, noting fuel has not entered the enclave in the last few months.

    Khan Younis displacement

    Meanwhile Israeli forces continue to attack civilian infrastructure in Gaza and issue new displacement orders.

    On Tuesday, such orders were issued for parts of Khan Younis, specifically ordering those staying in tents to move, Mr. Dujarric reported.

    The map published alongside the order indicates that some areas included had not been subject to displacement orders since before the March ceasefire, he said.

    “The issuance of a displacement order does not relieve any party from the imperative to spare civilians, including those who are unable or unwilling to move.”  

    Safeguard hospitals

    Mr. Dujarric also reiterated the UN World Health Organization’s (WHO) call to protect the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, warning that the hospital is overwhelmed with trauma injuries at double its capacity.  

    In a video message sent from the hospital on Monday, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said the facility is running critically low on trauma supplies, essential medicines, equipment and fuel, and that staff are exhausted.

    Humanitarian movements

    Meanwhile, OCHA reported that humanitarian movements inside Gaza remain heavily restricted: only four out of 12 attempts on Monday to coordinate movements with the Israeli security authorities were fully facilitated, and just one delivered supplies.

    Four more attempts were rejected by Israeli authorities, halting efforts to evacuate patients, retrieve disabled trucks or clear debris.  

    Although the remaining four were initially approved, ground-level impediments ultimately undermined the ability to carry out the missions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: South Sudan’s longest cholera outbreak enters critical stage

    Source: United Nations 2

    The outbreak – which started in September 2024 and was confirmed a month later – comes amidst a protracted humanitarian crisis exacerbated by rising intercommunal violence, climate shocks such as flooding and catastrophic hunger.  

    “Now, more than ever, collective action is needed to reduce tensions, resolve political differences and make tangible progress in implementing peace,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.  

    Alarming escalation

    Since the cholera outbreak was declared in October 2024, UN agencies and partners have documented over 80,000 cholera cases and 1,400 deaths.  

    This is in addition to regional outbreaks of mpox, hepatitis and measles among other communicable diseases.

    South Sudanese authorities, civil society and UN agencies held an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss what they called an “alarming escalation” in the spread of the outbreak. 

    “This is not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services,” the ministers wrote in a communiqué released.  

    The group resolved to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to areas which already have outbreaks and to other areas at risk for outbreaks. The Government of South Sudan will coordinate these efforts.

    Partners will also work to preposition materials, improve water and sanitation infrastructure and coordinate proactive and reactive vaccination campaigns.  

    Time is running out

    With the peak of the rainy season on the horizon, the next eight weeks are critical in containing and mitigating the outbreak before severe flooding begins.  

    “Time is of the essence to prevent a further escalation of the outbreak,” the officials wrote.  

    Floods more than double the frequency of cholera outbreaks by imperiling access to clean water and impeding humanitarian access to affected areas. And with rising global temperatures making floods more severe, millions of South Sudanese who were not previously in regions of concern may now be at risk for cholera outbreaks.

    A preventable disease  

    Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated water or food. Although highly communicable, it is preventable through proper hygiene, regular handwashing, safe food preparation and storage, improved sanitation infrastructure, and vaccination.

    Symptoms typically include watery diarrhoea. Most cases are mild to moderate and can be treated effectively with oral rehydration salts (ORS) mixed with clean, boiled water.

    However, in severe cases, cholera can be fatal—sometimes within hours—if not treated promptly.

    Infected individuals can also transmit the disease through their faeces for up to ten days, even if they show no symptoms.

    Need for additional funds

    In South Sudan, the already inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure and overstretched public health system has further deteriorated as a result of displacement and conflict. This has ripened the conditions for the spread of cholera.

    The UN and its partners are working quickly to preposition emergency supplies, especially in these previously low-risk areas, but they are hampered by funding shortfalls. Agencies estimate that they will need $1.69 billion – of which they have only received $368 million – to address the many intersecting humanitarian needs in the country.  

    Nevertheless, the group of ministers insisted that this outbreak is and must remain a priority for all involved.

    “Cholera response and flood preparedness must be treated as urgent national priorities,” they said in the communiqué. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine: UN refugee agency helps repair homes amid ongoing conflict

    Source: United Nations 2

    In the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, housing remains one of the country’s most urgent humanitarian and recovery challenges. The destruction has been widespread and ongoing.

    According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, 13 per cent of Ukraine’s housing stock has been damaged since February 2022, impacting an estimated 2.5 million families.

    More than buildings 

    In coordination with Ukrainian authorities and partners, UNHCR has invested over $114 million in durable housing solutions since July 2022, supporting both durable home repairs and emergency shelter assistance.

    “By helping repair houses and apartments, we are enabling people to stay in or return to their homes – places that hold profound meaning, often passed down through generations,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s representative in Ukraine.  

    “These are not just buildings. These are treasured spaces where couples raised their children, families celebrated milestones, cared for older relatives and built their lives together,” she said.

    UNHCR’s support includes a range of solutions: contracting local builders, providing construction materials or offering cash assistance to homeowners. 

    Repairs may include roofs, windows, insulation and in some cases, major reconstruction. The agency also helps restore common areas in apartment buildings.

    Emergency shelter and long-term needs

    UNHCR also provides emergency shelter kits – tarpaulin, wooden boards, nails and other materials – to help protect homes from further weather damage.  

    Since 2022, more than 470,000 people have received such kits.

    With millions still internally displaced – many from areas under temporary occupation and with little prospect of return – UNHCR supports broader shelter options, including restoring social housing, repairing rural homes and refurbishing collective centres for the most vulnerable. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Additional Funding Available for Law Enforcement Recruits with Missouri Blue Scholarship

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JULY 8, 2025

    Jefferson City — Building on his public safety priorities, Governor Mike Kehoe today announced the maximum benefit of the Missouri Blue Scholarship for law enforcement academy recruits has been increased from $5,000 to $6,000, made possible by a funding increase of $1 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget. The scholarship program has awarded a total of $4.49 million to 995 law enforcement recruit scholarship recipients since its introduction in October 2022 through June 2025.

    “The Missouri Blue Scholarship Program has made law enforcement training more accessible to Missourians interested in joining the profession and helped bolster the number of licensed peace officers in Missouri,” Governor Kehoe said. “We appreciate the General Assembly approving our administration’s recommended $1 million increase in the scholarship fund. This increased investment allows the Missouri Department of Public Safety to raise the maximum scholarship award and make the scholarship available to more recruits who want to join the ranks of law enforcement and serve their communities.”

    The State of Missouri FY26 budget, which took effect July 1, included increased funding for the scholarship from $2 million to $3 million. In FY25, $1,917,942 was awarded for 420 recruits.

    While some Missouri law enforcement agencies, including the Highway Patrol, St. Louis Metropolitan Police and others, have their own basic training academies and pay recruits, many Missouri agencies do not have the funding to pay a salary or the cost of an academy. These graduating non-sponsored recruits are essential to staffing many sheriffs’ offices, smaller police departments, and even some larger departments. The Missouri Blue Scholarship expands the applicant pool and makes it easier for more young officers to stay in law enforcement without the burden of loans to repay once hired. Law enforcement academy tuition can be as high as $11,725.

    “Given the price of attending some of Missouri’s law enforcement academies and the shortage of officers around the state, raising the maximum scholarship amount to $6,000 is another way we can support recruitment efforts and will further allow DPS to provide scholarships to qualifying academy recruits this fiscal year,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said.

    Prior to the introduction of the Missouri Blue Scholarship in October 2022, an average of 1,025 peace officers were licensed annually in Missouri from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, the year the scholarship was first available before recruits started academy training, 1,050 peace officers were licensed; and in 2024, 1,099 peace officers were licensed.

    The impact of the Missouri Blue Scholarship is also evident in the number of scholarship recipients staffing Missouri law enforcement agencies. As of June 30, 2025, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office had 81 commissioned officers and 11 were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; the Fulton Police Department had 25 commissioned officers and 10 were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; the Henry County Sheriff’s Office had 29 commissioned officers and nine were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients; and the University City Police Department had 62 commissioned officers and nine were Missouri Blue Scholarship recipients.

    The Missouri Department of Public Safety administers the scholarship, and law enforcement academy recruits can apply at this link. The $6,000 maximum scholarship is possible because of the FY26 appropriation by the Missouri General Assembly. Future scholarship awards will be determined by appropriations going forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon who Conspired to Distribute Drugs and Possessed Firearms Sentenced to Over Twenty-Five Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Cedar Rapids man who conspired to distribute controlled substance was sentenced July 7, 2025, to more than 25 years in federal prison.

    James Colquhoun, age 40, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 10, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony, carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between January 2024 and February 13, 2024, Colquhoun knowingly conspired with others to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine in the Cedar Rapids area.  On February 13, 2024, officers stopped Colquhoun’s vehicle and searched it.  During the search, officers located over 500 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, over $25,000, and a firearm.  Colquhoun knowingly possessed those controlled substances with the intent to distribute them.  After the traffic stop, officers searched Colquhoun’s hotel room where he resided.  During the search of his hotel room, investigators located over 600 grams of heroin, over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and another firearm.  In 2014, Colquhoun was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa of distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime.  

    Colquhoun was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Colquhoun was sentenced to 336 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Colquhoun is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR-00029-001.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lummi Nation member indicted for assault by strangulation of ex-partner

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A 48-year-old member of the Lummi Nation was arraigned in federal court today on an indictment charging him with assault by strangulation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Marc Cagey Oreiro entered a plea of not guilty. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Lauren King on August 25, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, on May 23, 2025, Oreiro assaulted the victim in the master bedroom of a home on Lummi Nation tribal land. Oreiro pushed the victim onto the bed and alternated strangling her with his hands and forearm causing the victim to experience difficulty breathing. While she was pinned to the bed, Oreiro hit her multiple times, punching her in the head, back, stomach, side, and ear. He struck her in the ribs with his knee and knelt on her chest and repeatedly threatened to kill her.

    Lummi Police officers arrived at the door after a housemate called police. After searching the home, police arrested Oreiro who physically fought with officers. The victim was found crying in the master bedroom closet where Oreiro had ordered her to hide from police. The victim was transported by medics for treatment of her injuries. She had bruises on her face, ears, and bruising and abrasions on her neck.

    Oreiro was originally charged in tribal court. Following the initial FBI investigation, Oreiro was charged by criminal complaint, and on June 25, 2025, the grand jury returned an indictment.

    Assault by strangulation is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

    The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI Safe Trails Task Force and the Lummi Nation Police.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Loan Officer Charged and Agrees to Plead Guilty to Million-Dollar Heloc Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A former loan officer was charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with defrauding his employer out of almost $1 million.

    Brian Socha, 45, of Brookfield, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. 

    According to the charging document, Socha hacked into co-workers’ computers on over 20 occasions to covertly raise the credit limit and lower the interest rate on the home equity line of credit (HELOC) on the home he owned with his wife. Over a period of six years, Socha allegedly increased the HELOC credit limit from $135,500 to $995,000 and adjusted the HELOC interest rate from 7.25% to 1.99%.

    The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: RGV man sent to prison after using girlfriend and minor to pass through checkpoint with illegal alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of Rio Grande City has been ordered to federal prison for unlawfully transporting an illegal alien, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Jason Al Venecia pleaded guilty March 26.

    U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Venecia to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Venecia took his girlfriend and her minor daughter with him to smuggle the illegal alien to facilitate passage through the checkpoint.

    On Jan. 2, Venecia approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a Cadillac SRX. Authorities noticed two adult males in the front and an adult and minor female in the backseat. During initial inspection, the front male passenger admitted to being in the United States illegally.

    He was from Mexico with no authority to be in the United States.

    Law enforcement found multiple proof of life videos in Venecia’s cell phone from illegal aliens after they had crossed the Rio Grande River. There were text messages telling Venecia he would be paid $1,250 when the illegal aliens made it to their next destination.

    While on bond awaiting sentencing, Venecia was caught assisting his girlfriend during her own attempt to smuggle illegal aliens further into the United States. His bond was subsequently revoked and ordered into custody where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Venecia’s girlfriend has since pleaded guilty to her separate case prosecuted in the McAllen Division.

    Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Pruitt prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Finds Father Guilty of First-Degree Child Sexual Abuse of His 12-Year-Old

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON –A Washington, D.C. resident, 33, has been found guilty by a jury on seven felony charges, including first-degree child sexual abuse, second-degree child sexual abuse, and incest for sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter between April and May of 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                The verdict was returned today, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Todd Edelman scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2025. The defendant faces a maximum sentence up to life in prison for the crimes.

                According to the government’s evidence, on May 27, 2023, the twelve-year-old victim was spending Memorial Day weekend with her father (the defendant) and the defendant’s girlfriend and slept in the bed with them.  In the early morning of May 28, 2023, the defendant’s girlfriend pulled back the covers and saw that the defendant’s hand was inside of the front of the victim’s pants. Later that night the defendant texted the victim, first asking her to lie to her mother about him touching her, then asking the victim if she wanted him to touch her. The defendant raped the victim after sending the text messages. On Monday, May 29, the defendant’s girlfriend took the victim home, and she disclosed to her mother. The defendant’s DNA was on swabs collected during the victim’s sexual assault examination, and spermatozoa was confirmed on the vaginal/cervical swab collected from the victim. The victim told the jury that this was not the first time that the defendant had abused her, and that the same things that happened on Memorial Day weekend happened to her at the defendant’s house.

                This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

                This case was prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Folse and Richard Kelley.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Harlingen man imprisoned for possession of child sexual abuse material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 47 year-old Harlingen man has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Rico Deangelo Longoria pleaded guilty April 1.

    U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. considered information in several victim impact statements and ordered Longoria to serve 121 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $60,500 in restitution to the victims of the offense.

    During the sentencing, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offense. Judge Rodriguez read excerpts from victim impact statements indicating documented abuse in the material found in Longoria’s possession which highlighted enduring trauma and lifelong consequences inflicted on them. The court noted the mere possession and viewing of such material perpetuates their suffering.

    “Viewing or possessing child pornography is not some private, harmless activity,” said Ganjei. “The minor victims are repeatedly traumatized by the dissemination and viewing of the recording of the most horrific moments of their lives. This sentence sends a message that this conduct will be met forcefully in the Southern District of Texas.”

    Authorities had discovered a computer associated with a specific IP address in Harlingen engaging in downloading and distributing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In February, they executed a federal search warrant of his residence and located a phone hidden inside the water tank of a toilet.

    Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 337 images and 47 videos of CSAM. The files included images of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

    Longoria will continue in custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    FBI conducted the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman sentenced for smuggling firearms into Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 38-year-old Georgia woman has been sentenced today for smuggling several firearms and magazines hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Mirna Luna pleaded guilty April 1.

    U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now handed Luna a 46-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness 0f trafficking of firearms.

    Luna traveled from her Canton, Georgia, residence Dec. 15, 2024, and attempted to cross at the Brownsville/Matamoros  port of entry into Mexico.

    Once there, authorities had referred her to secondary inspection where they discovered 17 firearms and 27 magazines hidden in the gas tank of the Nissan car she was driving.

    Luna claimed ownership of the car and admitted she is the only person who drives it. She does not have a license to export firearms and has not applied for one.

    She will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose Esquivel and Ana Cano prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man has been charged for engaging in a scheme to defraud multiple lenders by using the personally identifiable information of a Hudson County man to submit fraudulent loan applications to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars of loans, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Humza Khan, 28, of New York, New York, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Khan appeared on July 2, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.

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

    Around December 2020, Khan submitted loan applications to secure a $150,000 accounts receivable finance loan on behalf of a Florida-based specialty pharmacy in which Khan had a financial interest. Khan used the personal information of an elderly individual who lived in Hudson County, New Jersey—including their name and social security number—in the loan application without permission, in order to conceal that Khan was receiving the loan proceeds.  Based on those fraudulent misrepresentations, the victim lenders provided Khan with approximately $150,000. 

    The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft count carries an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation leading to the charges.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney George Brandley of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark.

    The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                     ###

    Defense counsel:  Zach Intrater, Esq. and Daniela Manzi, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Bay CEO Sentenced For Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JOSE – A California man was sentenced today to a year and a day in prison for a decade-long scheme to avoid paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services to industrial customers in California and elsewhere. Vivid Inc. employed as many as 40 employees at any given time.

    Comeau was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees and then paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    From the first quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2019, Vivid Inc. paid its employee a total of over $8.8 million in wages. During this period, Comeau collected and withheld taxes from the wages of Vivid’s employees but did not pay over all the taxes owed to the IRS. He also caused false quarterly employment tax returns to be filed with the IRS, underreporting Vivid’s wages by more than $5 million.

    To conceal his scheme, Comeau caused accurate tax forms to be issued to certain employees. These tax forms reported higher wages than the amounts Vivid had reported to the IRS. Comeau also issued tax forms, such as Wage and Tax Statement, Form W-2, to other Vivid employees that underreported their wages. When an employer underreports wages paid to their employees, it may negatively impact those employees’ Social Security benefits, as those forms are used by the Social Security Administration to compute benefits owed to an employee.

    Instead of paying his taxes, Comeau used some of the funds to maintain a comfortable lifestyle that included a $3 million home and luxury cars.

    In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $1.1 million.

    In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts ordered Comeau to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1,153,948 in restitution to the IRS.

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

    IRS-CI investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini and Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced For Possessing An Unregistered Explosive Device

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Brandon Pearce, age 56, of Indianola, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device).

    The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    On November 25, 2024, Pearce pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  According to investigators, on September 4, 2023, law enforcement responded to blast reports at Pearce’s residence.  There, agents encountered Pearce and two bystanders suffering injuries from a detonated grenade.  An investigation of the blast site revealed that Pearce had modified the unregistered explosive before accidentally setting it off, and that Pearce also possessed assembly components for building additional grenades.

    “This case underscores the serious danger posed by illegal and unregistered explosive devices,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims.  “Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners, a potentially deadly situation was contained before further harm occurred.  Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws and to supporting initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods that protect our communities from violent crime.”

    “Pearce’s actions were egregious and could have been fatal,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Pearce put his own interests ahead of the safety of the community and caused immense harm.  Such caustic conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”

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

    The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.   Pearce will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Missing person located – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have located the 25-year-old man who went missing from Tennent Creek last week.

    He was located safe and well in Renner Springs and police would like to thank the members of the public who provided assistance.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Tree pollen reveals 150,000 years of monsoon history—and a warning for Australia’s northern rainfall

    Source: Flinders University

     

    Northern Australia’s annual monsoon season brings relief to drought-stricken lands and revitalises crops and livestock for farmers. But a study of 150,000 years of climate records shows that the monsoon is likely to intensify – triggering a higher risk of flooding while worsening the impact of droughts in East Asia.

     

    Led by Professor Michael Bird, researchers at James Cook University and Flinders University have assessed sediments at Girraween Lagoon near Darwin, revealing a continuous record of monsoon rainfall patterns dating back beyond the last interglacial period.

     

    This research published in the scientific journal Quaternary Science Reviews offers insight into how climate change could alter monsoon patterns across East Asia and Australia.

     

    “This is the longest terrestrial record ever produced at the southern end of the Indo-Australian monsoon system, which delivers vital rainfall to millions across the Southern Hemisphere. The record also has implications for the Northern Hemisphere where tens of millions in Asia rely on monsoons for food and their livelihoods.

     

    “Our study shows how the two monsoon systems are interrelated over thousands of years and reveals what causes them to change. Our analyses shows that that rainfall in northern Australia is closely tied to sea level changes, which shift the location of the northern coastline by up to 320 km. These shifts strongly alter local rainfall, with wetter periods occurring when the coastline is closer to the Australian landmass and the oppose effect is prolonged drought in East Asia.”

     

    “Intriguingly, the research also uncovered what we consider bursts of intense monsoon activity – some lasting less than 10,000 years. These bursts align with Heinrich events – abrupt pulses of freshwater into the North Atlantic from rapidly melting ice linked to the weakening of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean,” said Professor Bird.

     

    These findings carry a warning from scientists because the Gulf Stream is already weakening due to climate change, and the study suggests this could lead to increased rainfall in northern Australia while contributing to droughts in parts of East Asia.

     

    “This isn’t just ancient history. It is a window into the rainfall patterns that are emerging today. Our data suggest that the weather tr

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Lankford Delivers Major Victory for Charitable Giving with Key Tax Provision in One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    WASHINGTON, DC — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman of the Senate Values Action Team and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, secured an important policy provision for charitable giving in the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed the Senate and was signed into law last week. Lankford led efforts to restore and make permanent a tax deduction for non-itemizers up to $2,000 per couple. This change will enable more Americans to support churches, charities, and nonprofits that serve the most vulnerable.
    The provision restoring the non-itemizer deduction has earned strong support from leading charitable, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations nationwide, including the Charitable Giving Coalition, Faith and Giving, Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), the Nonprofit Alliance, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association of Art Museum Directors, the National Council of Nonprofits, the League of American Orchestras, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, Philanthropy Southwest, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), Mental Health Matters (MHM), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), United Philanthropy Forum, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
    “Permanently restoring and expanding the charitable deduction is a powerful policy change that will encourage additional giving,” said Brian Flahaven, Chair of the Charitable Giving Coalition. “Continuing to strengthen the charitable deduction in the Senate bill sends a clear message that encouraging private philanthropy is a national priority. The Coalition is immensely grateful to Senators James Lankford, Chris Coons, and our other bipartisan Senate champions for their unwavering commitment to America’s charities and the communities they serve.”
    “Faith and Giving is deeply grateful to Senator Lankford, Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo, and their colleagues for including a more robust charitable deduction for non-itemizers in the reconciliation package,” said Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Faith and Giving. “Giving by individuals is the financial lifeblood of many thousands of American faith-based organizations. Yet since 2018 giving to religion has fallen billions of dollars short of keeping pace with inflation. The temporary non-itemizer deduction incentivized substantial additional giving in 2020 and 2021. This larger and permanent non-itemizer charitable deduction will help stimulate even more giving by lower- and middle-income taxpayers to congregations and other faith-based organizations across the country.”
    “To honor and incentivize American generosity are among the most consequential investments we can make as a nation. Private giving fuels so much of what makes life good and beautiful in our communities – from education, arts, and the great outdoors to houses of worship that nurture faith, family, relationships and character,” said Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). “Private giving also undergirds virtually every effort to give a hand-up to the hurting – both via financial support and, critically, in building communities of supporters whose hearts and volunteer service follow their giving. This is truly America at her best.”
    “The Nonprofit Alliance applauds the strong bipartisan support for the Charitable Act and Senator Lankford’s leadership on this important legislation to establish a permanent charitable deduction of up to $2,000,” said Shannon McCracken, President and CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance. “While giving from itemizers has continued to increase over the last several years, smaller contributions from everyday givers have declined. It is critically important to democratize giving and engage more Americans in the act of giving to support and sustain organizations across diverse cause areas – and the Charitable Act does that.”
    “Since the temporary charitable deduction for non-itemizers was allowed to expire in 2022, the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Fundraising Effectiveness Project has reported a sustained decline in gifts from small donors, with a drop of 8.9% in 2024 alone,” said H. Art Taylor, President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. “This trend of continued reliance solely on large-dollar donors is unsustainable for a healthy, resilient, charitable sector. A permanent charitable deduction for non-itemizers will help reverse this decline by empowering and incentivizing everyday Americans to give, ensuring that charitable giving remains broad-based, diverse, and reflective of all communities. On behalf of our more than 26,000 fundraising professional members that raise more than $115 billion annually for charities, we thank Senator Lankford and our other bipartisan Congressional champions for their leadership in championing the original Charitable Act to restore this proven giving incentive.”
    “The Association of Art Museum Directors thanks Senator Lankford for his tireless work to restore a meaningful tax incentive for all Americans to be generous,” said Christine Anagnos, Executive Director of the Association of Art Museum Directors. “Donations to art museums make possible free and reduced admissions, educational programs, and a host of community services. The permanent reestablishment of a significant tax deduction for gifts made by people who do not itemize will encourage the participation of donors from every economic and demographic category and ensure that charitable service extends to every sector.”
    “Nonprofits are the backbone of this country, providing critical support to improve local communities and save live,” said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. “These vital organizations are led by our neighbors who step up to fill the gaps unmet by government or the private sector. On behalf of the National Council of Nonprofits’ network of more than 33,000 nonprofit organizations, I applaud Senator Lankford’s leadership in enacting a universal charitable deduction to provide the American people with a new way to support the essential work of nonprofits and their ability to serve local communities.”
    “Charitable giving provides essential support for the live performances and educational programming provided by orchestras and nonprofit arts organizations nationwide,” said Simon Woods, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras. “We are grateful to Senator Lankford for his leadership in advancing the permanent non-itemizer charitable deduction, which will fuel increased generosity by today’s donors and incentivize future generations to invest in the work of the nonprofit sector.”
    “We applaud Senator Lankford and his colleagues for including a permanent, non-itemizer charitable deduction in their reconciliation package,” said Michael Kenyon, President and CEO of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. “The deduction would be paid for by a modest floor on the itemized charitable deduction that will ensure all taxpayers are incentivized to give money away. We encourage Congress to ensure this increased and permanent deduction is included in the final version of the bill as we know once a donor starts to support a cause or organization, they are much more likely to continue giving in the future, instilling a habit of philanthropy that will drive more dollars to charity for years to come from a new generation of givers.”
    “The charitable deduction for non-itemizers is a vital step toward strengthening philanthropy by providing tax incentives that can help reverse declines in charitable giving and engagement,” said Tony Fundaro, President and CEO of Philanthropy Southwest. “Members of Philanthropy Southwest continue to face unprecedented needs in their communities, and the inclusion of this provision in the tax bill encourages giving at all levels, empowering more Americans to support nonprofits tackling our most pressing challenges. We are grateful to Senator Lankford for championing generosity in our communities, his leadership on the Charitable Act, and his commitment to supporting the charitable sector.”
    “I thank Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo for including a non-itemizer charitable deduction in this legislation, and I greatly appreciate the work of leaders like Senator James Lankford and Senator Chris Coons to urge that this common-sense provision be made more robust and permanent,” said Michael Martin, President and CEO of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). “America is well-served by supporting habits of giving among all taxpayers—regardless of whether they itemize on their tax forms or not.”
    “I commend the efforts of policymakers who recognize the importance of making the charitable deduction permanent for non-itemizers,” said Dan Cosgrove, President and CEO of Mental Health Matters (MHM).“Encouraging generosity across all taxpayers strengthens our communities and fosters a culture of giving that benefits everyone. This provision ensures that acts of charity are rewarded, regardless of tax filing status, promoting fairness and compassion in our tax system.”
    “For more than a century, the charitable deduction has played a vital role in encouraging Americans to support the missions of schools, colleges, universities, and charitable organizations across the nation,” said Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). “Yet, access to this incentive has long been limited to those who itemize their tax returns. The Senate’s proposal in the budget reconciliation bill to make the charitable deduction available to all taxpayers is a transformative step. If enacted, we believe that it would broaden participation in giving and strengthen the capacity of institutions to fund scholarships, support students, advance research, and serve their communities. We commend Senator James Lankford for his leadership and thoughtful engagement in making this a priority in the reconciliation bill, and we thank Senator Chris Coons and the bipartisan coalition of more than 20 Senators and 60 House members who continue to champion charitable giving as a cornerstone of civic life.”
    “As a proud partner in advocating for this critical policy, United Philanthropy Forum and our network of nearly 100 philanthropy-serving organizations have long championed modernizing giving incentives,” said Deborah Aubert Thomas, President and CEO of the United Philanthropy Forum. “Making the deduction permanent will create lasting pathways for everyday Americans to invest in the nonprofits that anchor their communities—from food banks to youth programs to places of worship. We thank Senator Lankford and colleagues for their leadership in ensuring that charitable giving remains a cornerstone of American civic life and accessible to all.”
    “Southern Baptists generously give to support missions, ministries, and most importantly, the works of their local church in commitment to the Great Commission,” said Brent Leatherwood, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. “Recognizing the importance of charitable giving, Southern Baptists have consistently called for the government to implement policies that incentivize charitable giving to fuel these services. The ERLC is grateful for Senator Lankford’s tireless effort to enact a robust universal charitable deduction to encourage all taxpayers, including those that do not itemize their returns, to give generously.”
    “The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities is deeply grateful to the Senate for including an increase to the universal charitable deduction in the current reconciliation bill,” said the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. “Our faith calls us to give — and our students learn to live generously by seeing that even small gifts can make a lasting difference. A universal charitable deduction doesn’t just support Christian higher education — it fosters a culture of generosity that supports communities. By expanding this deduction and ensuring inclusion in the final bill, the Senate is helping to sustain faith-based higher education for the next generation.”
    Background
    Lankford remains the leading voice in the Senate working to protect and expand charitable giving. In 2023, he introduced the bipartisan Charitable Act with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) to restore and strengthen the non-itemized deduction for charitable contributions, allowing all taxpayers to deduct donations regardless of whether they itemize.
    He also introduced the Safeguarding Charity Act to protect the independence of tax-exempt organizations from burdensome federal regulations. The bill clarifies that tax-exempt status does not constitute federal financial assistance, shielding churches, nonprofits, and private schools from costly and unnecessary government overreach.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Bice Supports One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    Washington, D.C.– After voting to support H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, Congresswoman Bice issued the following statement:

    “H.R. 1 is about delivering real support to hardworking Americans. Whether you’re an oil field worker, a server, a working mom, or an hourly employee putting in overtime, this legislation will benefit you. The One Big Beautiful Bill prevents a massive tax hike on businesses and families across Oklahoma by preserving the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It also supports workers by removing taxes on tips and overtime pay, focusing on Oklahomans who help our state grow and thrive. In addition, this legislation strengthens national security by funding Border Patrol agents and physical infrastructure along our southern border. Finally, it unleashes American energy independence, by reducing barriers to permitting, ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy for families throughout Oklahoma and across the nation.”
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Bice Supports One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    Washington, D.C.– After voting to support H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, Congresswoman Bice issued the following statement:

    “H.R. 1 is about delivering real support to hardworking Americans. Whether you’re an oil field worker, a server, a working mom, or an hourly employee putting in overtime, this legislation will benefit you. The One Big Beautiful Bill prevents a massive tax hike on businesses and families across Oklahoma by preserving the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It also supports workers by removing taxes on tips and overtime pay, focusing on Oklahomans who help our state grow and thrive. In addition, this legislation strengthens national security by funding Border Patrol agents and physical infrastructure along our southern border. Finally, it unleashes American energy independence, by reducing barriers to permitting, ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy for families throughout Oklahoma and across the nation.”
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Murder Suspects Arrested in Memphis by U.S. Marshals

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals (USMS) Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) arrested 1st degree murder suspect Kemarion Ward, age 19, in Memphis, Tennessee today. In an unrelated case they also arrested Thaddius Brown, age 29, for Murder 2.

    On December 10, 2023, Germaniee Stephens was found shot to death in Indianola, Mississippi. Sunflower County, Mississippi, issued an arrest warrant for Kemarion Ward on January 24, 2024, for this crime. The fugitive investigation was adopted on February 9, 2024, by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Oxford, Mississippi office.

    It came to light that Ward was in the Memphis, Tennessee area. The Gulf Coast Task Force immediately began working with the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force. The Two Rivers Task Force went to a residence in the 3100 block of Duke Ellington Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. Ward was found there and taken into custody without incident. At the time of this release, he is at the Shelby County Detention Center awaiting extradition.

    The U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force based out of Brooklyn, New York, began a fugitive investigation on Thaddius Brown on June 24, 2025. Brown was wanted by New York for Murder 2. When the investigation revealed that Brown had fled to the Memphis area, investigators with the New York/New Jersey Task Force traveled to Memphis and joined hands with the Two Rivers Task Force to locate the fugitive.

    Approximately one hour after Ward was taken into custody, members of the Two Rivers Task Force located Brown at a residence at the 6400 block of Crossbrook. He was taken into custody without incident and at the time of this release awaits extradition at the Shelby County Detention Center back to New York City.

    The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: MAJC Launches Digital Community Platform for Hospitality Professionals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hingham, MA, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MAJC, co-founded by award-winning chef Matt Jennings and tech entrepreneur Andy Coughlin, today announced the official launch of the MAJC Community. This first-of-its-kind digital platform connects and supports hospitality professionals through peer collaboration, expert guidance, and operational tools.

    Logo of MAJC overlaying a restaurant

    Built for restaurant owners, operators, chefs, and hospitality teams, the platform tackles the industry’s most pressing challenges, including staffing, retention, and operational efficiency. It offers access to a connected community, real-world resources, and practical solutions.

    “Hospitality is a team sport,” said MAJC co-founder Andy Coughlin. “But for too long, operators have had to do it all alone. MAJC changes that.”

    Built by Operators, for Operators

    Inside the MAJC Community, members gain access to:

    • Live Office Hours with chef Matt Jennings for real-time coaching and problem-solving
    • Monthly Expert Sessions on topics like HR, finance, marketing, and sustainability
    • Interactive forums for peer-to-peer learning and shared best practices
    • Plug-and-play templates for hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and beyond
    • Confidential advice channels for sensitive operational questions

    Whether you’re hiring your first GM or leading a multi-unit group, MAJC provides a scalable support system grounded in real industry experience.

    “There’s no manual for success in hospitality,” said Jennings. “That’s why we built MAJC—to give operators access to the kind of tools, conversations, and coaching that actually move the needle.”

    Founders Membership Now Available

    To celebrate the launch, MAJC is offering a limited number of Founders Memberships: free access to the full suite of platform features, including live sessions, expert resources, and the complete digital library of systems and templates.

    Hospitality professionals can join today at majc.ai and start building stronger, more sustainable businesses together.

    About MAJC

    Run a Stronger, Smarter, Hospitality Business. MAJC gives you the tools, support, and community to build a more sustainable, profitable operation. 

    Press inquiries

    MAJC
    https://majc.ai
    Andy Coughlin
    andy@majc.ai

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.youtube.com/embed/EKcgAcE957o

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 1847 Holdings Initiates Transition to OTCQB Market Following NYSE American Delisting Decision

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 1847 Holdings LLC (“1847” or the “Company”), a holding company specializing in identifying overlooked, deep-value investment opportunities in middle market businesses, today announced that it has initiated the process to transition the trading of its common shares to the OTCQB® Venture Market, operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. The Company has submitted an application for quotation, which is currently under review. An update and confirmation of the trading commencement date will be provided upon approval.

    “We are taking deliberate steps to ensure continued trading access and visibility for our shareholders,” said Ellery W. Roberts, CEO of 1847 Holdings. “We believe the OTCQB Market provides an efficient platform for companies like ours, and we intend to use this opportunity to continue strengthening our financial performance and balance sheet. Over the past year, we’ve delivered substantial improvements—revenue growth of more than 380% in Q1 2025, significant gross profit expansion, and meaningful debt reduction through strategic initiatives, including the divestiture of High Mountain Door & Trim Inc. for approximately $17 million and the sale of ICU Eyewear. We believe these actions underscore our disciplined approach to value creation and our strategy of acquiring, enhancing, and monetizing undervalued businesses. We are reaffirming our 2025 guidance of revenue expected to exceed $45 million and net income of approximately $1.3 million. For 2026, we anticipate revenue to surpass $60 million with net income rising to approximately $5.0 million. At the appropriate time, we plan to reapply for listing on a national securities exchange as we continue executing our strategy and building long-term shareholder value.”

    The Company’s application follows a determination by NYSE American to delist its common shares. As previously disclosed, the Company appealed the initial staff determination; however, on July 1, 2025, a Listing Qualifications Panel affirmed the decision to proceed with delisting. Trading on NYSE American has been suspended since April 3, 2025, and a Form 25 is expected to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to formally complete the delisting process.

    Additional information, including the effective date of OTCQB quotation, will be provided as soon as practicable.

    About 1847 Holdings LLC

    1847 Holdings LLC (NYSE American: EFSH), a publicly traded diversified acquisition holding company, was founded by Ellery W. Roberts, a former partner of Parallel Investment Partners, Saunders Karp & Megrue, and Principal of Lazard Freres Strategic Realty Investors. 1847 Holdings’ investment thesis is that capital market inefficiencies have left the founders and/or stakeholders of many small business enterprises or lower-middle market businesses with limited exit options despite the intrinsic value of their business. Given this dynamic, 1847 Holdings can consistently acquire businesses it views as “solid” for reasonable multiples of cash flow and then deploy resources to strengthen the infrastructure and systems of those businesses in order to improve operations. These improvements may lead to a sale or IPO of an operating subsidiary at higher valuations than the purchase price and/or alternatively, an operating subsidiary may be held in perpetuity and contribute to 1847 Holdings’ ability to pay regular and special dividends to shareholders. For more information, visit www.1847holdings.com.

    For the latest insights, follow 1847 on Twitter.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain information about 1847 Holdings’ view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future economic performance, taking into account the information currently available to it. These statements are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to us, that may cause our actual results, performance or financial condition to be materially different from the expectations of future results, performance or financial position. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include but are not limited to the risks set forth in “Risk Factors” included in our SEC filings.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020
    Email: EFSH@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vasquez Introduces Standalone Legislation Ahead of NDAA to Prioritize New Mexico Communities

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) introduced two standalone bills to address critical healthcare gaps affecting military families and deliver recognition to New Mexico’s Downwinders. The bills, which have been introduced ahead of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) markup, reflect Rep. Vasquez’s continued push to ensure New Mexico communities are prioritized in national defense policy.

    “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’m making sure New Mexico’s voices are heard, our families are respected, and our contributions are recognized in national policy,” said Vasquez. “By introducing these bills, I’m making clear that honoring our Downwinders and supporting our military families aren’t afterthoughts — they’re priorities. These efforts are about fairness, justice, and delivering real results for southern New Mexico.”

    The two bills include:

    • The TRICARE Travel Improvement Act, which reduces the travel reimbursement threshold under TRICARE Prime from 100 miles to 50 miles for active-duty servicemembers and their families. Currently, families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base who travel nearly 100 miles to El Paso for medical care are denied reimbursement due to being just under the threshold. This bill would ensure fairness for military families serving in remote areas.
    • The Downwinder Commemoration Act, which directs the Departments of Defense and Interior to place commemorative plaques in publicly accessible areas at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. These plaques will recognize the harm endured by New Mexico’s Downwinders following the 1945 Trinity Test — the first nuclear detonation in U.S. history. Despite their exposure to radioactive fallout, Downwinder families were excluded from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) until Rep. Vasquez’s successful push to reauthorize and expand RECA to include New Mexico’s Downwinders. This bill helps deliver long-overdue recognition by permanently commemorating their suffering while preserving their legacy for future generations. 

    By introducing these bills independently, Rep. Vasquez is working to ensure these local priorities are protected as the NDAA advances through the legislative process.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish A Combat Identifier for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Crew, Improving Services And Recognition

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the bipartisan Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act to establish a status identifier for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) crew who conduct combat operations, to help increase their access to mental health services and give them proper recognition. Creating a status identifier will provide them with the recognition and access to services they deserve, which have long been overlooked and out of reach. Nevada’s Creech Air Force Base is one of the highest operational tempo RPA installations throughout the Air Force. 
    Currently, RPA crews fly combat missions from the United States, but they have no identifier in their records for combat operations performed because they are not physically located in a combat zone. If a crew member decides to change career fields within the military or leave the service, there are often barriers for the member to receive the appropriate mental health services for those exposed to a combat environment because they lack a combat status identifier. This makes it difficult for members to receive prompt mental health care while in service or through the VA once they separate, despite the continuing mental health impacts of these operations.
    “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crew like those at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada perform combat operations but have no status identifier in their records for having done so, making it challenging to receive the support and care they deserve once they transition,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a status identifier for these crews in order to help improve the recognition they’ve earned and to ensure their future care. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s servicemembers.”
    “Now more than ever, military missions use airborne ISR platforms to meet our national security objectives,” said Senator Cramer. “Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) crews, including Fargo’s Happy Hooligans and the airmen from the 319th at Grand Forks, are an integral part of the nation’s Joint Force. The CARE for RPA Crews Act recognizes the accomplishments of RPA crews and identifies the appropriate resources to keep our airmen fit for duty.”

    MIL OSI USA News –