Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mona Krewel, Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Getty Images
Companies and shareholders associated with the government’s fast-track projects gave more than $500,000 in donations to National, ACT and New Zealand First, according to a recent analysis by RNZ.
While it is impossible to say whether these companies were listed for consideration because of their donations, allegations of possible “undue influence” are inevitably made.
New Zealand’s reputation as a country with little to no corruption owes nothing to our lack of rigour in the regulation of party donations. As Philippa Yasbek, the author of a report by the Helen Clark Foundation calling for tougher rules to combat the risk of political corruption, said:
Our political integrity and honesty have largely evolved from social norms over many decades. Politicians by and large knew the conduct that was expected of them by New Zealand society. Sadly, today, we’re naive to think that’s enough.
Some political parties seem to take little heed of the existing rules. The Electoral Commission has issued warnings to several parties about large donations being declared too late.
The Independent Electoral Review released early this year recommended parties give up access to corporate donations in exchange for greater public funding. Other recommendations included a cap on political donations set at NZ$30,000, and a much lower threshold for disclosing donors’ names.
As one might expect, the political parties disagree about how funding should be regulated, as their main income sources vary. Labour approves of the proposals, although analysis indicates its revenue streams would suffer most if such policies were in place.
ACT is strongly opposed to the principle of public funding, although there are already significant public funds supporting parliament and party advertising during election campaigns.
What New Zealanders think
But what about public opinion? Do people believe large donors have “undue influence”?
The latest New Zealand Election Study, conducted after the 2023 election, included a module of questions that give insights into New Zealanders’ attitudes to potential party funding reforms. The study is a representative sample of nearly 2,000 eligible voters.
What stands out? Many people answered “don’t know” to the questions – which is quite reasonable. The laws that regulate political party activity in New Zealand are complex and of little relevance to most.
Nonetheless, some clear messages emerge. In general, a near majority of people were concerned about the influence of “big interests”. When asked if they agreed with the statement “The New Zealand government is largely run by a few big interests”, 45% agreed and 27% disagreed.
Drilling deeper into the data, about 35% of business owners agreed, compared to just under half of people who don’t own a business.
Asked whether they believed donors exert “undue influence” on politicians, 43% agreed. Only 18% disagreed. Almost 40% had no opinion on this topic and either didn’t know or took a neutral position.
While Labour, Green and NZ First voters leaned heavily to “undue influence”, National and ACT voters were evenly divided between “undue” and “not undue”.
National voters also strongly opted for “don’t know”. About a third of business owners perceived undue influence, compared with about 45% of non-owners.
The 2023 Election Study also included a question on the recommendation made by the Electoral Review that corporate groups and trade unions should be prohibited from making direct donations to political parties: 53% supported this change, while only 17% opposed it.
The Independent Electoral Review also recommended a limit of $30,000 for any individual donation: 57% agreed, compared to 14% who disagreed. While support was strongest on the left and among New Zealand First voters, significant numbers of National and ACT voters also agreed (47% and 44%).
Finally, we asked for people’s views on anonymity of “promoter donations”. Promoters are people or groups registered to advertise during an election campaign for an issue, or for or against a political party. They can collect anonymous donations that are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as parties.
Only 14% of respondents believed in continued promoter donation anonymity on the basis of privacy, and 47% preferred greater transparency. Breaking this down by party vote, some National and ACT voters prefer transparency over privacy, although more were either neutral or answered “don’t know”.
Support for reform
These results show public perceptions of undue influence by donors are widespread. While these perceptions are strongest on the left, they also penetrate deeply into groups who vote for the parties on the right, and into the business community.
And while the political parties have conflicts of interest, there is significant support for the recommendations of the Independent Electoral review across party lines among the New Zealand public, and inside the business community.
Assuming political parties in a democracy should be responsive to voters’ concerns and demands, this should give them food for thought when it comes to potential party funding reform.
This article is based on our submission to the Justice Select Committee inquiry into the 2023 general election.
The New Zealand Election Study (NZES) has been funded by Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, the New Zealand Electoral Commission, the Gama Foundation, and the University of Auckland.
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.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
CHICAGO — A California man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme that swindled investors out of $23.1 million.
SEAN GRUSD formed three funds that he claimed would invest in private financial technology companies. Beginning in 2021, Grusd provided potential investors with marketing materials containing numerous falsehoods about the funds’ purported investment history and successes. Among other things, the promotional materials falsely claimed that one of Grusd’s funds had been an early investor in successful startup companies, such as Instacart, Coinbase, and Shippo. Grusd also falsely claimed that he had graduated from a prestigious law school and that he managed the personal portfolio of the CEO of a large investment management firm. Based on these and other false representations, more than a dozen victims invested $23.1 million in Grusd’s funds.
Instead of investing the victims’ money, Grusd transferred the funds to his personal bank accounts and spent the money on a lavish lifestyle, including high-end automobiles, luxurious condos in Chicago and Montreal, and lavish travel and entertainment expenses. Many of the victims had invested a significant portion of their life savings with Grusd.
Grusd, 32, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty last year in federal court in Chicago to a wire fraud charge. In addition to the seven-year prison term, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis on Wednesday ordered Grusd to pay more than $21 million in restitution to his victims.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“Defendant’s fraud was brazen and unmitigated,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey B. Rubenstein argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “It was an appalling stream of deliberate choices over almost two years targeting numerous victims and resulting in huge losses.”
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The leader of an Anchorage drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced today to 20 years in prison and five years’ supervised release for dealing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Anchorage.
According to court documents, in 2022, Nigel Ivory, 29, of Anchorage, was released from prison after serving a federal sentence and began selling drugs in and around the Anchorage area.
During the investigation, officials conducted three controlled purchases of drugs from Ivory between October 2022 and March 2023. During the first controlled purchase in October 2022, Ivory sold over 111 grams of methamphetamine and 98 fentanyl pills for $3,800. In January 2023, Ivory sold 282 fentanyl pills for $1,950. In March 2023, Ivory sold over 276 grams of methamphetamine and 487 fentanyl pills for $5,000.
In February 2023, officials seized over $55,000 in cash that Ivory attempted to transport from Anchorage to Fort Wayne, Indiana, on a commercial flight. Ivory attempted to smuggle the cash by hiding it inside three tennis shoes in a checked bag. The cash had trace amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl on it. Later that month, officials also seized over 180 fentanyl pills from a co-conspirator during a traffic stop. Investigators uncovered text messages from Ivory directing the co-conspirator to hide the fentanyl pills from police.
On June 22, 2023, officials simultaneously executed search warrants for two residences associated with Ivory, one of which was Ivory’s primary address. At 6:30 a.m., agents announced their presence outside Ivory’s residence. Ivory and a co-defendant did not come outside and surrender until 7:00 a.m. Upon searching the residence, agents recovered over $18,000 in U.S. currency, a money counter, drug packaging material, over 160 fentanyl pills, some of which were partially dissolved and scattered in a toilet bowl, two firearms and ammunition.
In April and May 2023, law enforcement seized three additional packages, each containing more than a kilogram of fentanyl pills, from co-conspirators in the case, in which Ivory was involved in trafficking. The following co-conspirators were also charged in this case:
Brandon Beltz, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl on Aug. 13, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing.
Jack Breitenstein died of an apparent fentanyl overdose after spending nine months on pretrial release and the charges against him were dismissed on April 11, 2024.
Wilanda Jackson, 23, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and is awaiting trial.
Don’Tia Nikolai, 21, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and is awaiting trial.
As a result of the investigation, the defendant is accountable for 5.3 kilograms of fentanyl and over 380 grams of methamphetamine. Ivory pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in April 2024.
“Fatal drug overdoses rose over 44% this past year, with the majority involving fentanyl, posing a grave threat to Alaskans,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Keeping fentanyl out of our communities is a top priority, and we urge the public to report any drug trafficking activities to law enforcement. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who conspire to traffic dangerous drugs in our state.”
“Mr. Ivory callously trafficked massive quantities of deadly fentanyl pills into and throughout Alaska, poisoning our communities and destroying lives in the process,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Pomerantz of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This investigation, worked alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, represents one of highest fentanyl seizures known in Alaska, underscoring the FBI’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our communities.”
“Your Alaska State Troopers will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold anyone that traffics dangerous drugs such as fentanyl accountable for their actions,” stated Alaska State Troopers Colonel Maurice Hughes. “I hope that this significant prison sentence serves as a deterrent to those that are peddling drugs in our state. To those trafficking dangerous drugs in Alaska, know that law enforcement will catch up to you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to include the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A California drug supplier was sentenced today to life in prison for his connection to the fatal fentanyl overdose of a Fairbanks man in October 2020.
Junior Gafatasi Tulali, 48, was convicted by a federal jury of distributing fentanyl resulting in death with an enhanced statutory penalty on April 19, 2024. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, around Oct. 13, 2020, Tulali agreed to sell 500 Oxycodone M30 pills to a Florida resident who agreed to distribute the pills in Fairbanks, where they could be sold for a higher price than Outside. The pills were shipped in a parcel from California and arrived in Fairbanks on Oct. 17. Inside the parcel were at least 480 counterfeit Oxycodone M30 pills containing a mixture of acetaminophen and an unknown amount of fentanyl.
The individual who retrieved the shipment distributed the counterfeit pills to several other dealers in the area. On Oct. 26, the victim purchased two pills from the shipment. Sometime between the evening of Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, the victim used the pills he obtained and was found dead in his home on Oct. 28. Medical examiners determined cause of death was acute toxic effects of fentanyl, which was contained in the pills that originated from Tulali.
Evidence presented at trial connected two additional non-fatal fentanyl overdoses to Tulali’s shipment of counterfeit pills. Both of the dealers in Fairbanks who were involved in selling the fentanyl pills to the victim were convicted for their role in the offence in 2022.
“In 2023, Alaska had the highest overdose death rate in the nation. Fentanyl poisoning is devastating our state, largely due to drug suppliers like Mr. Tulali, who gamble with human lives every time they sell a counterfeit pill,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative and prosecutorial work done in this case, we traced the pills that tragically killed the victim back to the source and held three people accountable for the irreparable damage they caused. My office is committed to collaborating with law enforcement at all levels to keep fentanyl out of our communities and prosecute those who jeopardize that mission.”
“Fentanyl traffickers like Mr. Tulali are willing to risk the lives of their customers in order to make money peddling drugs,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The sentence today shows that these actions have grave consequences, a lesson Mr. Tulali will spend many years learning.”
“This case is a great example of how far our officers are ready to go to make sure we provide justice for victims in our community. We take our job of protecting Fairbanks seriously and will continue to hold criminals responsible when they threaten the safety of our residents,” said Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Fairbanks Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Alaska State Troopers, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office, investigated the case as part of the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Carly Vosacek and Alana Weber prosecuted the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Birmingham, Ala. – United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced today that an Assistant U.S. Attorney will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) and lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. The DEO is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with the Department of Justice’s Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
U.S. Attorney Escalona added, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”
To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the District’s AUSA/DEO will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. The DEO can be reached by the public at 205.244.2001.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 205-326-6166.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
But please note that in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, you should call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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.
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.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
October 22, 2024
Warren Celebrates 5 New Zero-Emission School Buses for Worcester Public Schools
Boston, MA – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) celebrated the announcement that the Worcester Public Schools will replace 5 school buses with zero-emission, clean school buses through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate program.
The Clean School Bus Program has awarded funding to replace nearly 9,000 natural gas and diesel buses across the country. Funding for the Clean School Bus Program comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $5 billion to transform the country’s fleet of school buses.
“Our children shouldn’t have to breathe in dangerous exhaust while getting to and from school,” said Senator Warren. “I’ve fought hard for clean energy investments for our Commonwealth. Now, Central Massachusetts’ families will have cleaner air, even more buses that are cheaper to repair and don’t guzzle up gas, and savings for the Worcester Public Schools.”
Senator Warren has advocated for federal funding to jumpstart the transition to all-electric public vehicles and rail and to help tackle the climate crisis:
In July 2024, Senators Warren and Markey and Representatives Lynch, Pressley, and Keating announced nearly $60 million in funding for Massachusetts communities to transition to low- or zero-emission buses. This upgrade is improving bus fleets, reducing transit systems’ reliance on fossil fuels, and curbing diesel-related air pollution along major transit corridors for Black, Brown, and low-income communities who are disproportionately harmed by the impacts of the climate crisis.
In May 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) reintroduced the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which would authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation to distribute $500 billion over ten years to electrify and modernize public vehicles and build new electric transportation infrastructure across the country.
In January 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency awarded Massachusetts funding for 85 electric school buses under the Clean Bus Grant Program to help school districts replace polluting diesel school buses with electric or low-emission school buses.
In July 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and 33 Commonwealth municipalities, highlighting the benefits of electrifying the Commonwealth’s school bus fleets and encouraging the Associations and their members to take full advantage of the newly-announced EPA Clean School Bus Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included $1 billion for states, municipalities, tribes, and nonprofit school transportation associations to use for clean heavy duty vehicles, like school and transit buses and garbage trucks, all in part funded by Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Corporate Profits Minimum Tax to ensure America’s largest corporations pay at least 15% of their massive profits in federal taxes.
In May 2021, Senator Warren and Congressman Levin (D-Mich.) introduced the Buy Green Act of 2021. First announced in March 2021, the bill would establish $1.5 trillion in federal procurement commitments over the next ten years to purchase American-made clean, renewable, and emission-free energy products for federal, state, and local use. The bill also establishes a grant program for U.S. companies to invest in clean energy manufacturing.
In May 2021, in a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Senator Warren made the case for large-scale federal investments in green infrastructure, as well as her Wealth Tax and other tax proposals as a way to pay for these investments.
In April 2021, in a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, Senator Warren made the case for the need to tackle climate change by investing in our nation’s clean energy infrastructure, including the replacement of buses powered by diesel with electric buses.
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.
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.
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.”
[embedded content]
[embedded content]
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.
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.
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.
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.”
[embedded content]
[embedded content]
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.
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.
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.
OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a settlement with Walmart, resolving allegations that the retail corporation unlawfully disposed hazardous waste and medical waste from their facilities statewide to municipal landfills. As part of the settlement, Walmart will be required to pay $7.5 million in penalties and costs and comply with injunctive terms. Attorney General Bonta is joined by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the district attorneys of Alameda, Fresno, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Solano, Tulare, and Yolo Counties in today’s settlement.
“Walmart’s illegal disposal of hazardous and medical waste not only violated California laws, but, if left unchecked, posed a threat to human health and the environment. As a result of this investigation and lawsuit, Walmart has taken significant steps to prevent such disposals from happening in the future. This settlement will ensure that Walmart takes the necessary steps to ensure that its hazardous waste is handled and disposed of as required by law,” said Attorney General Bonta. “At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to hold any entity accountable for violating our environmental laws. I’m grateful to the Department of Toxic Substances Control and district attorneys statewide for their partnership in reaching this important settlement.”
“This settlement is the result of DTSC’s strict enforcement of hazardous waste laws designed to protect public health and the environment,” said Katherine M. Butler, MPH, Director of DTSC. “Holding Walmart accountable for this violation of improper hazardous waste disposal sends a clear message: all corporations must adhere to the environmental laws that protect Californians, without exception. This settlement emphasizes the strength of our law enforcement partnerships across all levels of government and DTSC’s commitment to holding any and all violators responsible.”
“With this settlement, Walmart has demonstrated its understanding of the critical importance of environmental responsibility by taking meaningful steps to address concerns and ensure compliance with state standards,” said San Joaquin CountyDistrict Attorney Ron Freitas. “We value their efforts in not only maintaining a cleaner, safer environment for our community but also in continuing to be a strong partner with our office in the fight against retail theft. Together, we are making strides in safeguarding both the environment and the people of San Joaquin County.”
“The unlawful disposing of hazardous and medical waste creates an environmental hazard and public health threat,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. “This case is another example of how the District Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office can work together to protect our environment and ensure that environmental laws are followed.
“The mismanagement of hazardous wastes can result in fires and injuries – this judgment will help to ensure that retail businesses have appropriate policies and procedures in place to protect the safety of their employees, waste management staff, and the public,” said Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni.
“Large corporations must be held accountable when they do not follow the law and put the health and safety of Alameda County residents at risk,” said Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. “I commend my office’s Consumer Justice Bureau’s active involvement in this investigation which helped bring this settlement forward and holds Walmart to account.”
“The protection of the health and safety of the people of our community and the environment are top priorities for our office. The illegal disposal and mismanagement of hazardous waste by employees pose serious risks to the environment, public health, and worker safety,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “We will continue to work with our prosecution partners around the state to protect the public by holding businesses such as Walmart accountable for its violations of environmental law.”
“This settlement brings accountability that helps to protect our environment from toxic waste,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “These types of investigations and settlements are a reminder to corporations that they have a responsibility to be a good steward to our environment.”
The settlement is the result of over 70 waste audits conducted by the district attorneys’ offices statewide and DTSC from 2015 through 2021. During those audits, the district attorneys’ offices reviewed the contents of waste that Walmart had sent from its facilities to municipal landfills and found thousands of containers of toxic aerosols and liquid wastes including spray paints, rust removers, bleach, pesticides, and medical waste, such as over-the counter drugs. The unlawful disposals are alleged to violate the Hazardous Waste Control Law, Medical Waste Management Act, and Unfair Competition Law.
The settlement resolves the allegations above and requires Walmart to pay $7,500,000 in civil penalties and costs. The settlement also imposes injunctive terms, which require Walmart to hire an independent, third-party auditor to conduct three annual rounds of waste audits at its facilities throughout California during the next four years. Walmart’s auditor must use specific requirements set forth in the settlement to ensure that the waste is thoroughly and accurately reviewed and characterized, and the audit results must be shared with the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the district attorneys involved in this settlement.
A copy of the complaint and proposed stipulated judgment, which details the aforementioned settlement terms and remains subject to court approval, can be found here and here.
On the evening of October 1st, Yellowknife RCMP responded to a report of an armed robbery. Two male subjects were reported to have approached a victim as they were exiting their vehicle and demanded the keys while brandishing a knife. The subjects then fled in the vehicle.
The vehicle and suspects remain at large.
The stolen vehicle is described as a 2017 Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan, silver in color, bearing NT licence plate 368137.
One suspect, who reportedly concealed his face, is described as being a black male of very thin build, approximately 5’11” tall wearing black pants and a grey or black coat.
The second suspect is described as being a black male of medium build, approximately 5’8″ tall, with hair styled into corn rows.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the vehicle or suspects is asked not to approach, but tocontact the YellowknifeRCMP at 669-1111or Crime Stoppers athttp://www.p3tips.com.In the event of an emergency call, 911.
On September 29th, 2024, it was discovered that four Municipal enforcement vehicles and one marked RCMP police vehicle had been spray painted at City Hall and the RCMP detachment respectively. A lone subject appears to have been responsible for all five vandalized vehicles.
The matter remains under investigation at this time. No arrests have been made.
Anyone who has information is askedtocontact the YellowknifeRCMP at 669-1111or Crime Stoppers athttp://www.p3tips.com.In the event of an emergency call, 911.
On September 22nd, 2024, Norman Wells RCMP responded to an altercation at a residence in the community which resulted in serious injuries and involved the use of weapons. A press release was issued on September 24th, 2024 detailing that officers had taken 23-year-old Teagan Sutherland into custody in relation to the matter.
Since the issuing of the aforementioned press release, Norman Wells RCMP have now charged a second suspect in the altercation, 24-year-old Dallas McCauley, with the following:
Breaking and entering with intent, contrary to section 348(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
Aggravated assault, contrary to section 268(2) of the Criminal Code
Disguised with intent to commit an offence, contrary to section 351(2) of the Criminal Code
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (2 counts), contrary to section 88(1) of the Criminal Code
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of McCauley, who is believed to be hiding in the community.
At the time of the altercation, McCauley was already subject to an arrest warrant for prior offences, including Uttering threats and Failure to comply with a probation order.
Norman Wells RCMP are asking anyone with information on McCauley’s whereabouts not to approach him and to contact the detachment at 587-1111 or Crimestoppers athttp://www.p3tips.com.
In August of 2024, Hay River RCMP officers responded to a call for service at a residence in Hay River. While in attendance at the residence, officers noted a large number of cannabis plants on the property.
On September 6th, 2024, after receiving judicial authorization, officers attended the residence again and executed a search warrant under the authority of the Cannabis Act. 40 cannabis plants were seized, ten times what is currently permitted under the Cannabis Act.
A 70-year-old Hay River man has been charged with possessing more than four cannabis plants, contrary to section 8(1) of the Cannabis Act, and will appear in court at a later date.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
INDIANAPOLIS— A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Christi Lee Dodd, 51, of Fishers, Indiana, with wire fraud and forging the signature of a federal judge.
According to the court documents, Dodd first filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Indiana in January 2015. In April 2015, a federal bankruptcy judge issued a signed discharge order releasing Dodd from liability for any remaining debts not resolved in the bankruptcy proceedings.
In December 2019, Dodd again filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Indiana, but later decided not to proceed and moved to have the 2019 case dismissed. In June 2022, the bankruptcy court dismissed Dodd’s 2019 bankruptcy petition. The court did not issue a discharge order in the 2019 case, and none of Dodd’s unpaid debts were resolved.
In 2023, Dodd allegedly created and forged a discharge order purporting to absolve her of debts related to her 2019 Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition. Dodd emailed the fraudulent document to a financial institution purportedly proving that she had received a discharge in her 2019 bankruptcy case so that she could obtain a line of credit to pay outstanding debts owed by the trucking business she owned.
The emailed document was purportedly filed in Dodd’s second bankruptcy case with the heading, “DISCHARGE OF DEBTOR IN A CHAPTER 13 CASE.” As alleged in the indictment, the forged document was in fact created by Dodd using the discharge order from her first bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and contained the forged signature of the judge who issued the 2015 discharge order.
“Protecting the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system is an important priority of the Department of Justice. Our office is committed to working closely with our partners at the U.S. Trustee Program to uphold the law and protect the interests of debtors and creditors,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“The filing of a fraudulent court order containing the forged signature of a bankruptcy judge strikes at the very core of the integrity of the bankruptcy system and will not be tolerated,” said Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Indiana and the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois (Region 10). “We are grateful for U.S. Attorney Myers and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect the integrity of the bankruptcy process in the Southern District of Indiana., as demonstrated by this indictment.”
The FBI and U.S. Trustee’s Office is investigating this case in collaboration with the Southern District of Indiana Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group. The United States Trustee Program is the component of the Department of Justice responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. If convicted, Dodd faces up to twenty-five years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Headline: Governor Cooper Announces Environmental Justice Advisory Council Report Outlining Dozens of Recommendations to Advance Environmental Justice in North Carolina
Governor Cooper Announces Environmental Justice Advisory Council Report Outlining Dozens of Recommendations to Advance Environmental Justice in North Carolina mseets
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced the release of the Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council report, representing a significant step towards addressing Environmental Justice (EJ) concerns in North Carolina. This comprehensive report comes as a result of the reestablishment of the Secretary of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board in October 2023 by Governor Cooper’s Executive Order No. 292.
The Council’s report contains 14 bold recommendations to advance environmental justice and ensures state agencies incorporate environmental justice in future decision-making processes. The report also includes over 40 recommendations from the Council’s Environmental Justice Hub and Mapping Tool, Cumulative Impacts, Community Engagement, and Training subcommittees.
“As the birthplace of the environmental justice movement, North Carolina is working to level the playing field for impacted communities and preserve and protect our natural lands and resources,” said Governor Cooper. “This report provides important recommendations that will help identify and address environmental justice challenges across our state.”
Executive Order 292 directs a whole-of-government approach and instructs the Governor’s Office and Cabinet agencies to incorporate environmental justice considerations into their policies and programs to the extent permitted by law. It also encourages Cabinet agencies to use the statewide environmental justice mapping tool. Since the signing of EO 292, The Council has actively engaged with affected communities, holding council meetings in Wayne, Halifax, and Stanley counties and participating in a tour of the West Badin community. The Council’s Environmental Justice Hub and Mapping Tool, and Public Engagement Subcommittees have held virtual and in-person meetings to gather public feedback on the directives in the Executive Order, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and valued in this process. Cabinet agencies have worked to incorporate EJ into policies and programs. Cabinet agencies draft EJ goals, incorporating public and Council feedback. The Department of Information Technology lead the development of the Environmental Justice Hub, a central location for EJ information, including awarded grants, and the Environmental Justice Mapping Tool which includes environmental, health and socioeconomic data from across departments.
“When implemented, our recommendations constitute an evidenced-based and data-driven roadmap for achieving Environmental Justice in our state,” said Jim Johnson, PhD, EJ Advisory Council Co-Chair and Director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center at the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise. “We want to ensure that North Carolina is a safe, healthy, and resilient place to live, work, play, and do business for all North Carolinians and support state agencies’ engagement in this work.”
“We also initiate a framework for assessing the cumulative impacts of multiple environmental harms on many communities,” said Virginia Guidry, PhD, EJ Advisory Council Co-Chair and NCDHHS Environmental Justice Lead. “We must measure and reduce these burdens to achieve environmental justice in North Carolina.”
The unanimously approved 14 recommendations are as follows:
1. Creating an Office of Environmental Justice within the Governor’s Office of Public Engagement.
2. Collaborating with EJ leaders to ensure the EJ Mapping Tool accurately reflects areas impacted by EJ issues.
3. Creating a North Carolina-specific EJ index.
4. Reviewing the EJ Hub and Mapping Tool for accessibility.
5. Developing a process to review, respond to and implement input received on the EJ hub.
6. Recommending cabinet agencies engage with community members around data collection and review.
7. Developing a cumulative impacts guidance document.
8. Recommending cabinet agencies review information gaps identified by the EJ Hub & Mapping Subcommittee and within their agency and provide a list of additional data they can supply; develop legislative language that authorizes such data collection and analysis, as needed.
9. Engaging community leaders and EJ organizations in meeting planning.
10. Seeking advice from tribal organizations and other relevant entities on the needs and best processes for engaging with these communities.
11. Documenting and sharing public feedback and responses on public engagement events; evaluating and addressing barriers to engagement.
12. Requiring EJ training for all state and local government employees.
13. Cataloging and sharing EJ-relevant state resources to prevent duplication of efforts.
14. Clarifying the definition of EJ to increase familiarity and ease of use.
The full text of the recommendations can be found on pages 3-4 of the report.
Read North Carolina’s Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council Report here.
Read Governor Cooper’s Executive Order No. 292 here.
Markéta Gregorová, Ville Niinistö, Maria Ohisalo, Hannah Neumann, Diana Riba i Giner, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Erik Marquardt on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
B10‑0134/2024
European Parliament resolution on the People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan
–having regard to its recommendation of 21 October 2021 to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation[1],
–having regard to its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the EU and the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific[2],
–having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2022 on the situation in the Strait of Taiwan[3],
–having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2023 on EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations[4],
–having regard to its recommendation of 13 December 2023 to the Council and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-China relations[5],
–having regard to the joint communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 16 September 2021 on the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (JOIN(2021)0024),
–having regard to the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence – For a European Union that protects its citizens, values and interests and contributes to international peace and security, approved by the Council on 21 March 2022 and endorsed by the European Council on 24 March 2022,
–having regard to NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept,
–having regard to the statement by the spokesperson of the European External Action Service of 14 October 2024 on China’s latest military drills,
–having regard to the G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement of 3 August 2022 on preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,
–having regard to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) of 25 October 1971 on the restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations,
–having regard to Article 7 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 9 May 1992,
–having regard to Rule 5 of the Standing Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
–having regard to Article 4 of the Constitution of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol),
–having regard to Article 8 and Article 18, paragraph (h), of the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO),
–having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A.whereas the statutes of most international organisations tasked with addressing global issues including climate change, the preservation of human health and the suppression of transnational crime, such as the WHO, the UNFCCC, Interpol and the ICAO, provide opportunities for non-state entities to participate without infringing on the rights of member states;
B.whereas the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has made instrumental use of UN Resolution 2758 as a legal basis for its position that Taiwan is part of the PRC and a foundational element of its One China principle; whereas UN Resolution 2758 does not include the words ‘Republic of China’ or ‘Taiwan’, but only states that the PRC will represent ‘China’ at the UN, and does not make any determination regarding the status of Taiwan; whereas, however, the PRC continues to misinterpret UN Resolution 2758 to block Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations;
C.whereas the EU and Taiwan are like-minded partners that share the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law; whereas the EU remains decisively committed to its One China policy;
D.whereas following the Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s annual speech on 10 October 2024, the PRC, on 14 October 2024, conducted a comprehensive military exercise across the Taiwan Strait, amounting to the fourth round of large-scale war games in just over two years;
E.whereas the median line, which was set up in a decades-old tacit agreement between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, was designed to reduce the risk of conflict by keeping the military aircraft from both sides of the Strait at a safe distance and thus prevent fatal miscalculations; whereas the PRC’s People’s Liberation Army violated the median line only four times between 1954 and 2020, but now routine incursions reflect Beijing’s intent to irreversibly reset long-standing benchmarks;
F.whereas on 14 October 2024, China also deployed 17 vessels from its coast guard, which was a larger deployment than in a previous exercise held in May this year, when coast guard vessels had been deployed for the first time; whereas four formations of Chinese coast guard ships patrolled the island and briefly entered its restricted waters; whereas the very frequent deployment of coast guard ships by the PRC in the Taiwan Strait, in what they consider ‘law enforcement’ missions, sends a clear message of sovereignty from the PCR, keeps constant pressure on Taiwanese authorities and causes a dangerous increase in the risk of collisions, in what is one of the most concrete indications of China’s intention to erode the status quo;
G.whereas full-scale military exercises by the PRC have also been coupled with cyberattacks against Taiwanese authorities and other grey-zone activities such as cognitive and legal warfare and disinformation, aimed at discouraging the Taiwanese population, eroding Taiwanese legitimate sovereign rights and, ultimately, instilling the belief that reunification is inevitable;
H.whereas on 16 October 2024, the authorities of the PRC stated ‘We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and endeavour, but we will never commit ourselves to renouncing the use of force,’ reiterating Xi Jinping’s landmark speech at the opening of the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th Party Congress in October 2022; whereas Xi Jinping also referred to permanent military pressure in the Taiwan Strait as ‘new normality’; whereas Chinese diplomats even threatened ‘re-education’ of Taiwanese people after reunification;
I.whereas the PRC has been behaving aggressively across a vast area of the Indo-Pacific and exerting varying degrees of military or economic coercion, which has led to disputes with neighbours such as Japan, India, the Philippines and Australia;
1.Strongly reiterates its commitment to the EU’s One China policy and to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, in the whole Indo-Pacific region and beyond;
2.Expresses the view that UN Resolution 2758 does not establish the PRC’s sovereignty over Taiwan; underlines how Taiwan has proven to be a very reliable partner in dealing with the many challenges of our time and supports Taiwan’s participation in meetings, mechanisms and activities of relevant international organisations, particularly the WHO, the UNFCCC, Interpol and the ICAO; calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote Taiwan’s inclusion in such international forums in accordance with their statutory rules;
3.Strongly condemns the PRC’s practice of regularly resorting to comprehensive military exercises in the Taiwan Strait; is very concerned by the increasing, unwarranted mobilisation of the PRC coast guard, which confirms that the PRC considers the waters around Taiwan as its own and increases the risks of accidents; considers this to be yet another worrying confirmation that China is deliberately jeopardising the status quo in the Taiwan Strait;
4.Is very concerned at the adoption of guidelines for punishing ‘diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists for conducting or inciting secession’ jointly announced by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the ministries for public security and state security and the justice ministry in June 2024, which could lead to harsh punishments for the crime of secession, up to and including the death penalty; strongly condemns the sentencing of one Taiwanese activist to nine years in prison in September this year, after his arrest while in the PRC in 2022, as well as the constant harassment of Taiwanese people working and living in the PRC;
5.Expresses concern at the expectation that China will become more aggressive militarily in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the Indo-Pacific region more broadly;
6.Urges the PRC authorities to restore full respect for the Taiwan’s Strait median line and to put a stop to all other grey-zone actions against Taiwan;
7.Remains resolutely opposed to any unilateral change in the Taiwan Strait and against the will of Taiwanese citizens; remains equally strongly opposed to the threat or use of force, and stresses that any attempt by Beijing to subjugate Taiwan would come at an extraordinarily high price for the PRC;
8.Commends Taiwan for the remarkable democratic journey it has undertaken over the last 30 years, solidly anchored upon freedoms, the rule of law, democratic institutions and free and fair elections; highlights the recognition of same-sex marriage by Taiwan in 2019, the first such recognition in Asia; strongly encourages Taiwan to keep working towards the abolition of the death penalty;
9.Welcomes the very responsible reactions by the Taiwanese political elite to provocations by the PRC and expresses its great respect for the whole of Taiwanese society for its extraordinary resilience and strength;
10.Welcomes the latest annual speech by President Lai Ching-te, who also appealed to China to work with him for peace; considers this to be an encouraging sign of movement towards stronger unity within the Taiwanese political spectrum; highlights that Taiwanese sovereignty is supported across the whole political spectrum and finds its best expression in the conducting of free and fair elections and in the maturity of Taiwanese democracy;
11.Stresses that the EU and Taiwan are like-minded partners and share common values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, thereby making Taiwan a strategically important partner for the EU in the Indo-Pacific region;
12.Acknowledges that the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle does not provide any credible prospect for the preservation of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait; stresses the need to further develop EU-Taiwan relations with the preservation of peace and democracy at their core;
13.Highlights the importance of coupling dialogue with deterrence; stresses the need, hence, to identify a fully-fledged and multidimensional strategy that would ensure that any unilateral change in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait would come at a prohibitively high cost to the PRC;
14.Welcomes the posting of a liaison officer at the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan to coordinate joint efforts to tackle disinformation and interference as a first important step towards deeper EU-Taiwan cooperation, and calls for the EU to further deepen cooperation with Taiwan in this key area;
15.Stresses the need to strengthen the focus on the PRC’s grey-zone activities against Taiwan and to renew EU support for the resilience of Taiwanese society and democracy as a whole; encourages, with this in mind, increased scientific, cultural and political interaction at the highest level possible, as well as the deepening of parliamentary diplomacy and visits; prioritises the creation of a common civic space with Taiwan by fostering exchanges and common activities with Taiwanese civil society and media organisations; underlines the importance of the people-to-people dimension of this cooperation;
16.Stresses the crucial role of Taiwan in the global supply chain of key high-tech sectors, notably semiconductors; welcomes the recent investment projects by Taiwanese companies in some Member States and underlines the importance for Taiwan’s security of continuing to deepen its investments in the EU; calls on the Commission and the Member States to start working on a resilient supply chain agreement with Taiwan or other bilateral agreements to deepen the economic relationship; highlights the potential for cooperation on foreign direct investment screening policy and on tackling economic coercion and retaliation;
17.Reiterates the importance of respecting international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea with its provisions on the obligation to settle disputes by peaceful means, and on maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight;
18.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the member states of the United Nations, and the Government and Legislative Yuan of Taiwan.
to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
B10‑0129/2024
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia
–having regard to it previous resolutions on Armenia and Azerbaijan,
–having regard to the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of international law,
–having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
–having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR),
–having regard to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
–having regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy and to the Eastern Partnership,
–having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part[1],
–having regard to the Comprehensive and enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part[2],
–having regard to the EU Country Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society in Armenia for the period 2021-2027,
–having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy signed between the EU and Azerbaijan on 18 July 2022,
–having regard to the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,
–having regard to the joint statement of 7 December 2023 of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
–having regard to the report of 10 May 2024 of the UN Committee against Torture on Azerbaijan,
–having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A.whereas a lasting and comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is essential for the security, stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus region;
B.whereas Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh has resulted in significant human suffering, and Azerbaijani troops have committed ethnic cleansing and violence against the Armenian inhabitants of the region;
C.whereas, in the context of building confidence between the two countries, an agreement had been reached for the Republic of Armenia to support the Republic of Azerbaijan’s bid to host the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by withdrawing its own candidacy; whereas this agreement provided for the Republic of Azerbaijan to release 32 Armenian military servicemen and the Republic of Armenia to release 2 Azerbaijani military servicemen;
D.whereas 23 prisoners of war are still being held captive in Azerbaijancharged with spurious crimes and without adequate legal representation;
E.whereas EU-Azerbaijan relations are based on the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 1999;
F.whereas it has become clear that the gas deal signed between the Commission and Azerbaijan has given the Azerbaijani Government carte blanche to do as it pleases, knowing that the EU’s energy security is dependent on its will;
G.whereas the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, COP29, will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024;
H.whereas progress has been made in recent years towards closer cooperation between the EU and Armenia, including in areas such as trade, development and political dialogue; whereas the European Union is Armenia’s second largest trading partner and its largest development cooperation donor;
I.whereas Azerbaijan’s record in terms of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is still very negative and needs to be improved before the EU further deepens its political and energy partnership with the country;
J.whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, stated on 15 August 2024 that in recent months she had witnessed an alarming wave of arrests and criminal cases against human rights defenders and journalists in Azerbaijan; whereas this statement concerns, among others, Anar Mammadli, Chair of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, and Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Abbasova, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, Director, Editor-in-chief and journalists respectively of Abzas Media, an outlet dedicated to human rights issues and corruption investigations;
K.whereas Gubad Ibadoghlu, a political economist and opposition figure, was arrested by the Azerbaijani authorities in July 2023 and remained in detention until 22 April 2024, when he was transferred to house arrest; whereas his health has deteriorated significantly since his arrest, as a result of torture, inhumane detention conditions and refusal of adequate medical care, thus endangering his life;
L.whereas Ilhamiz Guliyev, a human rights defender, was arbitrarily arrested on 4 December 2023 on dubious accusations of drug trafficking after his whistleblowing testimony about police tampering with evidence against government critics; whereas he is facing up to 12 years in prison;
M.whereas the human rights of LGBTIQ people in Armenia and Azerbaijan are at best disregarded and at worst actively fought against by the government and state institutions; whereas, according to the 2024 Rainbow Map and Index of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association Europe, Azerbaijan scored 2 % in terms of its legal and policy practices; whereas this makes Azerbaijan the lowest-ranked of all the countries assessed;
N.whereas, in the International Court of Justice order of 7 December 2021, which ordered Azerbaijan to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration against Armenian cultural heritage, serious allegations were made regarding the involvement of the Azerbaijani authorities in the destruction of cemeteries, churches and historical monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh; whereas the building of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh was demolished by Azerbaijan on 3 March 2024;
O.whereas the EU’s position, as expressed in relevant resolutions, is clear in rejecting ‘any attempt to facilitate or assist in any way the international recognition of the secessionist entity in occupied Cyprus, including in relation to its alleged acceptance as an observer in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS)’; whereas Azerbaijan hosted the Informal Summit of the Heads of State of the OTS on 5-6 July 2024;
1.Underlines the importance of peace, stability and security in the South Caucasus for the region, for the EU and for the world; highlights that a lasting and comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is essential for the security, stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus region;
2.Calls upon the international community to support the peace process by providing diplomatic and economic assistance, by respecting and recognising the democratic will of the refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh and by encouraging all parties to fulfil their commitments under international law;
3.Reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe and United Nations Security Council resolutions, and calls for the full implementation of these principles in the resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia;
4.Deplores the forced displacement of 100 000 ethnic Armenians, resulting in ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan;
5.Takes note of the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to release 32 Armenian and 2 Azerbaijani military servicemen; calls for the release of the remaining 23 Armenian prisoners of war; considers that such actions can have a positive influence on normalising relations and concluding a peace treaty;
6.Urges the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to take steps to build trust and confidence between their communities, including by promoting people-to-people exchanges and educational programmes that foster reconciliation and understanding;
7.Strongly denounces the fact that the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has characterised Azerbaijan as a ‘trustworthy energy supplier’; reiterates its call for the Commission to immediately suspend the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan;
8.Regrets statements from President Aliyev regarding the expansion of gas production to cover the increasing demand, including from European markets; considers that the acceleration of the Green Transition by the EU, while protecting the most vulnerable sections of society, can have the added benefit of diversifying its energy mix;
9.Expresses concern about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan; urges Azerbaijan to ensure due process and fair trials and to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, human rights defenders and journalists who have been unfairly detained; stresses that any partnership agreements should be contingent upon respect for the rule of law and human rights;
10.Calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to strengthen the enforcement of labour laws and ensure that all workers, including migrant workers, are afforded their basic rights, including the right to fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to form and join trade unions without fear of retaliation; calls on the Azerbaijani Government to improve transparency in labour practices and to implement concrete measures to prevent and address labour abuses, including child labour;
11.Believes that the continued human rights abuses in Azerbaijan are incompatible with hosting COP29; further believes that Azerbaijan’s goal of increasing its gas production is totally incompatible with the global objective of phasing out fossil fuels set by the Parties to the UNFCCC; calls on the international community to use this opportunity to push Azerbaijan to take immediate and tangible action to address its human rights situation;
12.Deplores the destruction of Armenian cultural, religious and historical heritage since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, notably the razing to the ground of the building of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh;
13.Reiterates that Azerbaijan must adhere to the principle of good neighbourly relations and respect international law, which includes the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states;
14.Rejects any attempt to facilitate or assist in any way the international recognition of the secessionist entity in occupied Cyprus, including in relation to its alleged acceptance as an observer in the Organization of Turkic States; encourages Azerbaijan to duly uphold respect for the principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states; deplores that Azerbaijan has ratified the amended Statute of the Organization of Turkic States, which would put into effect the decision to grant the secessionist entity observer status;
15.Takes note of the UN Committee against Torture’s report of 10 May 2024 on Azerbaijan; calls for further action by the Azerbaijani authorities on respecting human rights, especially in the areas of: harassment of human rights defenders and journalists; hate crimes, hate speech and discrimination; the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; and gender-based and domestic violence;
16.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In May 2023, Hungary adopted legislation which significantly strengthened judicial independence. This reform fully implemented the relevant recommendations set out in the 2022 Rule of Law Report, as confirmed in the 2023 Report, a conclusion maintained by the 2024 Report.
The Commission’s analysis of compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union horizontal enabling condition was carried out under the rules of the Common Provisions Regulations (CPR).
Since Hungary submitted compelling evidence that the relevant issues concerning judicial independence were addressed, the Commission adopted its decision within the deadline foreseen in the CPR.
The issues covered in this process are different from those covered by the recommendations set out in the 2024 Rule of Law Report.
The Commission is closely and continuously monitoring the application of the measures put in place by Hungary. If, at any point in time, the Commission considers that this horizontal enabling condition is no longer fulfilled, expenditure for programmes and specific objectives impacted by the non-fulfilment will again no longer be reimbursed.
The President of the Commission’s political guidelines clearly state that the respect of the rule of law is — and will be — a must for EU funds.
The mandate for the Commissioners-designate include clear tasks in this respect, such as ensuring that EU funding also be dedicated to national measures, for example on fighting corruption, and to protecting the EU financial interests and building a closer link between the recommendations in the Rule of Law Report and financial support under the EU budget.
The future long-term budget proposal will include strong safeguards on the rule of law — including the general regime of conditionality, applying to all EU funds.
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
Schumer Says Bridge Serves As Vital Corridor For St. Lawrence County’s Timber Industry & Outdoor Recreation
Funding Comes From U.S. Economic Development Administration & Northern Border Regional Commission, Which Schumer Delivered Historic Federal $$ For In The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced $750,000 in federal funding to replace the bridge carrying Tooley Pond Road over the South Branch of the Grasse River in the Town of Clare. Schumer said the bridge serves as a vital corridor for St. Lawrence County’s timber industry and outdoor recreation in the North Country. Funding for the new bridge is being provided through a partnership between the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which Schumer delivered a historic funding boost for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law.
“The Tooley Pond Road bridge over the Grass River is a vital corridor for the Town of Clare community, as well as the North Country timber and outdoor recreation industries. I’m proud to deliver $750,000 in federal funding to restore the bridge and pave the way for a more connected St. Lawrence County,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought to deliver historic increases for the Northern Border Regional Commission because I know how important it is to improve infrastructure across New York, and I am pleased to see those efforts paying off with this investment in strengthening key transportation infrastructure in the Town of Clare and St. Lawrence County.”
Schumer helped deliver a historic $150 million for the NBRC through the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law. This has resulted in a surge in federal investment, including earlier this year when Schumer delivered $7.5 million and in 2023 when Schumer delivered over $10 million for projects across Upstate NY through the NBRC—the largest annual investment for Upstate New York in the program’s history. The NRBC funding has nearly doubled since 2022.
Schumer is also currently leading the charge in the Senate to renew the Northern Border Regional Commission’s economic development programs and reauthorize the Economic Development Administration, the other federal source for today’s announced investment. Schumer introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Reauthorization Act of 2023 this past February, which would reauthorize the NBRC for another ten years, increase annual authorized funding levels, and target funds to addressing childcare and health care needs, supporting housing projects, building climate resilient infrastructure, and combatting the opioid crisis, in addition to the agency’s focus of creating new jobs, promoting business retention and expansion, making critical investment in public infrastructure, and boosting tourism across Upstate New York counties. The NBRC reauthorization is part of a broader reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration that passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee earlier this year and is now part of a negotiation for passage by the end of the year, an effort Schumer is actively pushing.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the ‘Legislative Drafting Training’ program in the Gujarat Assembly Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has become the centre of global aspirations, with its roots in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly
Legislative drafting is a very important and necessary art for a country governed by a constitution
Legislative drafting is the essence of law; the decline of this art would not only harm democracy but also adversely affect the public
If there is any ideal for legislative drafting in the whole world, it is the framing of the Constitution of India
If the process of writing laws is not fully developed in a scientific manner, the chances of democracy succeeding are unlikely
Laws should be made clear because judicial intervention occurs where there is a gray area lacking clear legal interpretations
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was instrumental in starting a training school for “legislative drafting” in the Parliament House
Those doing legislative drafting should possess abilities of a philosopher, knowledge of historical facts, and deep understanding of linguistics
Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 9:16PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the ‘Legislative Drafting Training’ programme in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly today. Several dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Shri Shankar Chaudhary, and the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, were present on the occasion.
Union Home Minister said that “legislative drafting” is a very important and necessary art for a country like India which is governed by a constitution. He said that the art is gradually fading away. He mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government has completed 10 years, during which India has become the center of global aspirations, with its roots in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Prime Minister Modi has achieved many milestones in public welfare over the past 10 years.
Shri Amit Shah noted that “legislative drafting” is the essence of law, and the decline of this art would not only be detrimental to democracy but also harm millions of people in the state and the country. He said that if drafting is done without understanding the legislative process while making laws, then the laws will never fulfill their intended purpose. The responsibility of converting a cabinet note into a bill lies with the legislative department, which eventually leads to the formation of law. Shri Shah stated that unless the process of “legislative drafting” is fully developed in a scientific manner, the chances of democracy succeeding remain unlikely.
Union Home Minister stated that if there is any ideal for “legislative drafting” in the world, it is the framing of the Constitution of India. He stated that there is no process bigger than the framing of the Indian Constitution. He emphasized that clarity is the most important aspect of the art of “legislative drafting.” The clearer the legislators are in translating their objectives into law, the smaller the gray area will be; and the less the gray area, the lesser the judicial interventions will be. Shri Shah mentioned that judicial interventions occurs where there are gray areas lacking clear legal interpretations; therefore, laws should be made clear.
Union Home Minister said Article 370, for example, was very clearly drafted by the drafting Committee of the Constitution. He said, the term “Temporary Provisions of the Constitution” was very important, meaning that it is not a “Permanent Provision,” and its removal does not require an amendment to the Constitution. It was mentioned that the President can issue a constitutional order to revoke Article 370 at any time, with a validation by a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. He stated that if Article 370 was kept as a provisional constitute at that time, a two-thirds majority would have been required to remove it. However, the legislators were very clear that the temporary provision was a makeshift arrangement, and as a result, the reference for its removal was placed in Article 370(3).
Shri Amit Shah appealed to all legislators and MPs to maintain continuous contact with the legislative drafting wing and keep engaging in discussions with them. He mentioned that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established a training school for “legislative drafting” within the Parliament House in 2019. He noted that an aware politician can bring about significant change through their legal understanding. Citing the example of G.V. Mavalankar, Shri Shah mentioned that despite being in the opposition, he proposed 16 reforms, all of which had to be accepted by the ruling party because they were well-considered proposals for reform. He emphasized that those involved in legislative drafting should have the abilities of a philosopher, knowledge of historical facts, and have a deep understanding of linguistics.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Maximino Sandoval Penaloza, a 44-year-old resident of Winston-Salem, has been sentenced to 210 months in prison for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Wilmington area. Penaloza pled guilty on March 7, 2023.
According to the court documents and other information presented in court, in 2020 law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities occurring in the Winston-Salem and Wilmington areas of North Carolina. Ultimately, law enforcement learned that a drug trafficking organization was distributing large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in various communities in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Penaloza was identified as a member of this organization.
From approximately December 7, 2020, through December 16, 2020, Penaloza communicated with an undercover law enforcement agent regarding the purchase of methamphetamine. On December 16, 2020, Penaloza directed a courier to meet with the undercover law enforcement agent to deliver 191.66 grams of methamphetamine. During additional conversations with the undercover agent, in March of 2021 Penaloza admitted having one kilogram of cocaine for sale. Later, in September of 2021 the undercover agent purchased 519.1 grams of methamphetamine arranged by Penaloza and delivered by a courier.
The investigation further uncovered that Penaloza, is illegally present in the United States, has three prior felony convictions for trafficking cocaine and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, resisting a law enforcement officer, and has been previously deported from the United States and returned to Mexico on at least two occasions.
The prosecution of Penaloza was a part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci and Julie Childress prosecuted the case.