Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reintroduced the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, which would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks. The move comes after President Trump announced he would sign such a bill into law if it crossed his desk.
“Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve—not day trading at the expense of their constituents,” stated Senator Hawley. “Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public. It’s time we ban all members of Congress from trading and holding stocks and restore Americans’ trust in our nation’s legislative body.”
The PELOSI Act would ban lawmakers and their spouses from holding, purchasing or selling individual stocks for the duration of the lawmaker’s time in office. Lawmakers would be allowed to invest in diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or U.S. Treasury bonds while in office.
If passed, current lawmakers would have 180 days to comply with the legislation. Likewise, newly elected members of Congress would be required to comply within 180 days of taking office.
Members who refuse to comply with the PELOSI Act must forfeit any stock profits to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and face monetary penalties imposed by the House and Senate ethics committees.
Read the full bill language here.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Schiff Demand Answers on Politicization of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded answers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Senators separately called for Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, a San Francisco-based lawyer leading the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, on its politicization.
In their letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, the Senators expressed deep concerns about several directives issued by the Trump Administration that could jeopardize the Division’s work to enforce and protect the Constitutional and statutory civil rights of the American people. The Senators also requested an immediate briefing for the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution regarding changes to the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division since January 20, 2025.
“According to public reporting, at least five of the Division’s sections have received directives via email to employees which change long-standing Division enforcement objectives. The five sections are meant to protect voting rights, prevent discrimination by federal funding recipients, investigate illegal bias in housing, prohibit discrimination in education, and defend the rights of those with disabilities. The directives have not been shared publicly,” wrote the Senators. “Based on the reporting, these directives may well be inconsistent with Congress’s intent in enacting the landmark civil rights legislation that is enforced by the Division.”
The Senators also sounded the alarm on reports that Division leadership no longer includes any career officials, transferring enforcement oversight responsibilities traditionally managed by career Deputy Assistant Attorneys General to political appointees. The restructuring of the Division also included the reassigning or departures of career supervisors.
“These losses mirror a similar pattern across the Department of Justice, including the removal of career officials from the Office of Professional Responsibility and the firing of the Pardon Attorney,” continued the Senators. “The Division relies on the abilities and knowledge of its career staff to carry out the great responsibility of enforcing the nation’s civil rights laws without regard to politics.”
“Finally, we have also heard alarming reports that you authorized a second voluntary buyout for Division employees immediately before issuing the previously mentioned directives. Taken together, these measures appear to be an attempt to cajole career officials at the Division to leave voluntarily in order to fundamentally transform its work,” concluded the Senators.
U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, led the letter. In addition to Padilla and Schiff, the letter was also signed by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing earlier this year, Senator Padilla criticized Harmeet Dhillon for her alarming track record of restricting the right to vote, spreading disinformation about the 2020 election, and perpetuating discriminatory laws.
Full text of the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz is available here.
Full text of the letter to Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution Chairman Schmitt is available here.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Senators to DHS, State Department, ICE: “Students who have entered through our legal immigration system and followed the law remain unsure of what, if any, steps they may take to maintain their status and safeguard themselves from immigration enforcement”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), joined 34 Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration to reconsider recent decisions to revoke student visas. In their letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, the Senators urged the Administration to undo unlawful student visa revocations, citing a recent reversal of some student record terminations.
“We recently learned that your agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records across the country. These actions to end student status reflected an unannounced change in policy and were inconsistent with existing laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance governing the maintenance and termination of student status—that is why we welcomed the news late last week that in response to litigation around the country, ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations,” wrote the Senators. “We now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance and ensure that all future actions to end student status fully comply with the law.”
The Senators continued by highlighting the lack of reasoning provided in many of these visa revocations after the Office of Student Exchange and Visitor Programs (SEVP) within ICE terminated at least 4,736 student visa holders’ SEVIS records.
“[S]tudents across the country—who by all accounts appear to have followed all of the applicable laws and agency guidance—have reported visa revocations with no clear explanation as to the basis to terminate status,” continued the Senators. “By DHS’s own admission, the statute and regulations do not provide SEVP the authority to terminate nonimmigrant status by terminating a SEVIS record. Your decision to reverse such terminations is therefore prudent and required by law.”
The Senators outlined the Trump Administration’s apparent violation of federal law in revoking these visas, emphasizing that the Administration may not have given legally required notice when terminating or revoking some students’ statuses. Many students were not given any information on possible reinstatement after they lost their student status when their SEVIS records were terminated. Some students received emails about their visa revocations along with self-deportation directions without the ability to appeal, and others were only informed that they lost their status after masked federal agents arrested them.
The Senators concluded by appealing to the Administration to reconsider these visa revocations and warning them to adhere to federal law, before making a series of immigration requests.
“Students who have entered through our legal immigration system and followed the law remain unsure of what, if any, steps they may take to maintain their status and safeguard themselves from immigration enforcement,” concluded the Senators. “While we are relieved that ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations, we now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance. Finally, we understand that you are contemplating additional actions to end student status. Any such changes must be consistent with applicable statutes, including requirements for notice with respect to changes that would deprive a student of their status and ability to live and study in the United States and place them at risk of detention.”
The letter was led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to Padilla and Schiff, the letter was also signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
In 2021, Senator Padilla led a group of 23 Senators in calling on the State Department to address the backlog of visas for international students. Padilla also chaired a hearing entitled “Strengthening our Workforce and Economy through Higher Education and Immigration” in 2022, highlighting the challenges undocumented students and international students face in seeking higher education and obtaining jobs in the United States.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and Acting Director Lyons: We recently learned that your agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records across the country. These actions to end student status reflected an unannounced change in policy and were inconsistent with existing laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance governing the maintenance and termination of student status—that is why we welcomed the news late last week that in response to litigation around the country, ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations. We now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance and ensure that all future actions to end student status fully comply with the law.
Foreign students must navigate a complicated mix of agencies to maintain their status. Under current regulations and policy, students who enter into the United States on an F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa are admitted to the United States for “duration of status.” This essentially means that F-1 and J-1 visa holders may be in good standing as long as they comply with the terms and conditions of their status, even if their visa has expired. Students who enter on an M-1 visa for vocational education are admitted for a fixed time period to complete their course of study. The Office of Student Exchange and Visitor Programs (SEVP), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), works with universities and program administrators to determine whether F-1 and M-1 students are meeting requirements for their visas and terminate SEVIS records as appropriate under SEVP regulations. The Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the J-1 exchange visitor visa, but their records are maintained by SEVIS. Existing regulations and agency guidance inform students and other visa holders of how they might lose their student status, including that they cannot be convicted of serious crimes, cannot work unless authorized by DHS, and must be completing the education or program related to their visa. However, students across the country—who by all accounts appear to have followed all of the applicable laws and agency guidance—have reported visa revocations with no clear explanation as to the basis to terminate status. SEVP has completed at least 4,736 total terminations of student visa holders’ SEVIS records. By DHS’s own admission, the statute and regulations do not provide SEVP the authority to terminate nonimmigrant status by terminating a SEVIS record. Your decision to reverse such terminations is therefore prudent and required by law.
Current laws, regulations, and agency guidance also require notice to be provided when a student’s status is being terminated or revoked. Here, it is not clear that students were provided the notice required by law. Many students were notified by universities that they have lost their student status when their SEVIS records have been terminated, without being provided any information about potential reinstatement. Some students received emails that their visas were revoked and were directed to self-deport, with no clear information as to the basis for their revocation or means by which they can appeal the revocation. Some students only learned about losing status when arrested by masked federal agents. These reports suggest that students were not given notice of the termination of their status in a manner consistent with existing laws, regulations, and agency guidance.
Once a student’s visa is revoked, although their status is not automatically terminated, removal proceedings may be initiated against them, allowing them to be detained at the discretion of DHS. Similarly, when a student’s SEVIS record is terminated, the student is no longer in an authorized period of stay in the United States, and students and their universities cannot regularly maintain student records in SEVIS, as is required to maintain student status. In addition, upon SEVIS record termination, the student must depart the United States or take other action to restore legal status, and DHS “may investigate to confirm the departure of the student.”
Students who have entered through our legal immigration system and followed the law remain unsure of what, if any, steps they may take to maintain their status and safeguard themselves from immigration enforcement. While we are relieved that ICE has reversed these SEVIS terminations, we now urge you to undo other actions to end student status that are inconsistent with such laws, regulations, and agency guidance. Finally, we understand that you are contemplating additional actions to end student status. Any such changes must be consistent with applicable statutes, including requirements for notice with respect to changes that would deprive a student of their status and ability to live and study in the United States and place them at risk of detention.
We also request information to better understand how your departments are implementing any new, unannounced policies with respect to identifying students for status revocation. Please provide the following information by May 12, 2025:
1. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing the revocations of nonimmigrant visas, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.
2. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing how nonimmigrants are to be notified of visa revocations, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.
3. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing the terminations of SEVIS records, issued from January 20, 2025 to April 25, 2025.
4. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS governing how student visa holders are to be notified of SEVIS terminations, issued from January 20, 2025 to April 25, 2025.
5. Any guidance issued by DOS, DHS, and/or the Department of Justice governing the initiation of removal proceedings or immigration enforcement against student visa holders and other nonimmigrants, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.
6. Any guidance issued by DOS and/or DHS regarding the use of artificial intelligence to search national databases, criminal records, and social media to identify nonimmigrants for visa revocation or to otherwise end status, issued from January 20, 2025 to date.
7. The total number of student visas (F-1, M-1, or J-1 visas) that have been revoked since January 20, 2025 to date, disaggregated by:
a. Student’s country of origin;
b. Consulate or embassy that issued the visa;
c. Visa category/Optional Practical Training (OPT);
d. Date of revocation;
e. University of study;
f. Type of degree or field of study;
g. Notice provided;
h. Legal basis for revocation;
i. Any grace period to allow students to make travel or other arrangements; and
j. Whether the student’s SEVIS record was also terminated.
8. The total number of SEVIS record terminations that have been issued since January 20, 2025 to April 25, 2025, disaggregated by—
a. Student’s country of origin;
b. Visa category/Optional Practical Training (OPT);
c. Date of revocation;
d. University of study;
e. Type of degree or field of study;
f. Whether the termination was initiated by the university or by DHS;
g. Basis for termination;
h. Notice provided;
i. Any grace period to allow students to make travel or other arrangements; and
j. Whether the student’s visa was revoked.
9. The number of student visa holders on F-1, M-1, J-1 nonimmigrant status issued Form I862, Notice to Appear, initiating removal proceedings.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
A firearm and ammunition have been seized after a vehicle was detected travelling through Manurewa with false plates.
A van had been travelling along Rowandale Avenue at around midnight.
Counties Manukau Central Area Prevention Manager Inspector Warrick Adkin says the vehicle raised suspicions of frontline staff.
“Their suspicions were raised further as the van’s registration details were not stored in the database,” he says.
“A traffic stop was carried out and it was quickly established the vehicle was bearing false plates and was actually stolen from Takanini last week.”
The driver and passenger were both placed under arrest.
“Further information was provided to the staff that there was ammunition in the vehicle, and a further search was invoked,” Inspector Adkin says.
Officers located shotgun cartridges as well as a cutdown shotgun concealed inside, which were seized.
The 38-year-old driver has been charged with unlawful possession of a shotgun, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
He is appearing in the Manukau District Court today.
“It’s a great result from our staff who remain vigilant and continue to work to make our community a safer place,” Inspector Adkin says.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tegan Cohen, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology
Another election, another wave of unsolicited political texts. Over this campaign, our digital mailboxes have been stuffed with a slew of political appeals and promises, many from the new party Trumpet of Patriots (backed by Clive Palmer, a veteran of the mass text campaign).
The practice isn’t new, and it’s totally legal under current laws. It’s also non-partisan. Campaigns of all stripes have partaken. Behold, the Liberal Party’s last-minute SMS to voters about asylum seekers before the 2022 federal election, or Labor’s controversial “Mediscare” text before the 2016 poll. Despite multiple cycles of criticism, these tactics remain a persistent feature of Australian election campaigns.
A recent proposal to update decades-old rules could help change things – if a government would put it into practice.
What does the law say about political spam?
Several laws regulate spam and data collection in Australia.
First, there is the Spam Act. This legislation requires that organisations obtain our consent before sending us marketing emails, SMSs and instant messages. The unsubscribe links you see at the bottom of spam emails? Those are mandated by the Spam Act.
Second, the Do Not Call Register (DNCR) Act. This Act establishes a “do not call” register, managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which individuals can join to opt out of telemarketing calls.
Finally, there is the Privacy Act, which governs how organisations collect, use and disclose our personal information. Among other things, the Privacy Act requires that organisations tell us when and why they are collecting our personal information, and the purposes for which they intend to use it. It restricts organisations from re-purposing personal information collected for a particular purpose, unless an exception applies.
This trio of laws was designed to offer relief from unsolicited, unwanted direct marketing. It does not, however, stop the deluge of political spam at election time due to broad political exemptions sewn into the legislation decades ago.
The Spam Act and DNCR Act apply to marketing for goods and services but not election policies and promises, while the Privacy Act contains a carve-out for political parties, representatives and their contractors.
The upshot is that their campaigns are free to spam and target voters at will. Their only obligation is to disclose who authorised the message.
How do political campaigns get our information?
Secrecy about the nature and extent of campaign data operations, enabled by the exemptions, makes it difficult to pinpoint precisely where a campaign might have obtained your data from.
There are, however, a number of ways political campaigns can acquire our information.
One source is the electoral roll (though not for phone numbers, as the Australian Electoral Commission often points out). Incumbent candidates might build on this with information they obtain through contact with constituents which, thanks to the exemptions, they’re allowed to re-purpose for campaigning at election time.
Another source is data brokers – firms which harvest, analyse and sell large quantities of data and profiles.
We know the major parties have long maintained voter databases to support their targeting efforts, which have become increasingly sophisticated over the years.
Other outfits might take more haphazard approaches – former MP Craig Kelly, for example, claimed to use software to randomly generate numbers for his texting campaign in 2021.
What can be done?
Unwanted campaign texts are not only irritating to some. They can be misleading.
This year, there have been reports of “push polling” texts (pseudo surveys meant to persuade rather than gauge voter options) in the marginal seat of Kooyong. The AEC has warned about misleading postal vote applications being issued by parties via SMS.
This election campaign has seen a flood of texts from Trumpet of Patriots among others. The Conversation, CC BY-SA
Generative AI is hastening the ability to produce misleading content, cheaply and at scale, which can be quickly pushed out across an array of online social and instant messaging services.
In short, annoying texts are just one visible symptom of a wider vulnerability created by the political exemptions.
The basic argument for the political exemptions is to facilitate freedom of political communication, which is protected by the Constitution. As the High Court has said, that freedom is necessary to support informed electoral choice. It does not, however, guarantee speakers a captive audience.
In 2022, the Attorney-General’s Department proposed narrowing the political exemptions, as part of a suite of updates to the Privacy Act. Per the proposal, parties and representatives would need to be more transparent about their data operations, provide voters with an option to unsubscribe from targeted ads, refrain from targeting voters based on “sensitive information”, and handle data in a “fair and reasonable” manner.
The changes would be an overdue but welcome step, recognising the essential role of voter privacy in a functioning democratic system.
Unfortunately, the government has not committed to taking up the proposal.
A bipartisan lack of support is likely the biggest obstacle, even as the gap created by the political exemptions widens, and its rationale becomes flimsier, with each election cycle.
Tegan Cohen has received funding from the Australian Research Council (FT210100263). She has volunteered for not-for-profit groups and parties, including the Wilderness Society and the Australian Greens.
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April 28, 2025
Albany, NY
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an agreement has been reached with legislative leaders on key priorities in the Fiscal Year 2026 New York State Budget.
“I promised New Yorkers to fight like hell to put money back in their pockets and make our streets and subways safer. That’s exactly what this budget will do,” Governor Hochul said. “Working with our partners in the Legislature we’ve reached an agreement to pass a balanced, fiscally responsible budget. Good things take time, and this budget is going to make a real difference for New York families.”
Highlights of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget include:
A $1 billion tax cut for middle-class and low-income New Yorkers, bringing tax rates to their lowest levels in nearly 70 years.
Delivering a sweeping increase to the Child Tax Credit by giving eligible families a $1,000 credit for kids younger than 4 years old and a $500 credit for kids ages 4-16, effectively doubling the credit for the average family
Expanding access to child care by investing $2.2 billion statewide, including a $350 million investment to save child care subsidies for tens of thousands of New York City families.
Sending New York’s first-ever Inflation Refund checks, which will dedicate $2 billion to provide direct cash assistance to more than 8 million New Yorkers with checks of up to $400 per family.
Reducing the Payroll Mobility Tax for small businesses, and eliminating it for self-employed individuals earning $150,000 or less.
Providing $340 million to ensure free breakfast and lunch for every K-12 student in New York, saving families an average of $1,600 per child.
Investing a record $357 million in gun violence prevention programs that have helped drive gun violence down by more than 50% when compared to pandemic-era peaks.
Fixing the discovery laws to support victims and survivors, and reduce the number of cases being thrown out on technicalities, while investing $120 million in funding for discovery law compliance for prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Creating a new Class B misdemeanor to crack down on individuals who use a mask to conceal their identity when committing a Class A misdemeanor or higher crime or fleeing the scene immediately after committing such a crime.
Making our subways safer by investing $77 million for police officers on every overnight subway train, installing platform barriers and LED lighting and allocating $25 million for welcome centers to connect homeless individuals with services and care.
Strengthening involuntary commitment, improving Kendra’s Law and investing $16.5 million in Assisted Outpatient Treatment and $2 million in OMH staffing to ensure people with severe mental illness get compassionate care.
Strengthening the continuum of mental health care by investing $160 million to create a 100 new forensic inpatient psychiatric beds in New York City.
“I promised New Yorkers to fight like hell to put money back in their pockets and make our streets and subways safer.”
Governor Kathy Hochul
Setting a statewide bell-to-bell distraction-free schools policy with a $13.5 million investment to help schools operationalize bans on smart phone and other internet enabled devices usage during the school day, making New York the largest state in the nation with a bell-to-bell ban.
Investing $47 million to make community college free for adult students pursuing associate degrees in certain high-demand industries.
Leveling the playing field for homebuyers by banning private equity purchases within the first 90 days a home is on the market and making investments in Pro-Housing Communities and City of Yes.
Making a record $1 billion investment in climate priorities, including assistance to electrify homes, thermal energy networks, EV charging infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
Making the biggest capital investment in New York’s transportation history by fully funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA’s) proposed $68.4 billion 2025-2029 capital plan to build the Interborough Express, crack down on fare evasion and focus on much needed repairs and upgrades.
Investing an additional $800 million in the Department of Transportation’s 5-year Capital Plan to support core highway and bridge construction projects.
Modernizing the Hudson Valley Rail System to reduce travel time, increase connectivity and strengthen economic connections across the region.
Embedded Flickr Album
With a conceptual agreement in place, the legislative houses are expected to pass bills that will enact these priorities in the coming days. Based on a preliminary assessment of the negotiated changes to the Executive proposal, the total Budget for FY 2026 is currently estimated at $254 billion. The FY 2026 Budget does not raise income or statewide business taxes, maintains record State reserves to safeguard state finances and grants the Governor the powers necessary to make future adjustments if actions by the federal government require.
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Wanneroo Council has appointed Talis Consultants to progress concept and detailed designs for the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct.
The concept designs will incorporate key infrastructure, including a waste transfer station, community recycling centre and materials recovery facility.
Community engagement will form an important part of the design process, with consultation planned for late 2025.
This milestone follows Council’s endorsement of the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct masterplan in December 2024, outlining how the City will deliver long-term, sustainable waste management solutions for Perth’s northern corridor.
Mayor Linda Aitken said she was pleased to welcome Talis Consultants on board to bring the City’s vision for the precinct to life.
“This is an exciting step towards building the facilities we need to manage waste more sustainably in the City,” she said.
“I look forward to seeing the designs and sharing it with the community.”
The new facilities will be designed to handle recyclables, organics and residual waste more efficiently, aligning with the City’s commitment to reducing landfill and reducing emissions.
The Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct remains a key priority in the City’s advocacy efforts and will help inform the development of the upcoming Waste Plan 2026–2030.
Police conducted dedicated day of action enforcing road rules across North West
Tuesday, 29 April 2025 – 10:25 am.
Police conducted a dedicated day of action enforcing the road rules across North West Tasmania yesterday, aimed at detecting and deterring unsafe behaviours that contribute to fatal and serious injury crashes. Acting Inspector Martin Parker said police from Western Road Policing Service (RPS) and Crash Investigation Services (CIS) conducted dedicated traffic enforcement activities in a range of areas and detected offences at Burnie, Penguin, Devonport, Parramatta Creek, Kimberley, Sulphur Creek, Latrobe, Port Sorell, Forth and Don. Police issued 141 traffic infringement notices and two defect notices, for offences including:
63 x drivers detected speeding between 10 and 14 km/hr over the limit. 54 x drivers detected speeding between 15 and 29 km/hr over the limit. 1 x driver detected speeding 35 km/hr over the limit. 1 x driver detected speeding 31 km/hr over the limit. 6 x drivers failed to stop at a railway crossing. 1 x driver failed to display P plates. 1 x driver detected using a mobile phone while driving. 4 x drivers failed to wear a seat belt. 1 x unlicensed driver.
“Tasmania Police are committed to ensuring the safety of both Tasmanians and visitors on our roads,” said Acting Inspector Martin Parker. “Despite the conclusion of Operational Safe Arrival over the Easter period, our efforts in road safety enforcement will persist.” “This year, we have seen a devastating increase in fatalities and serious crashes compared to last year. Even one death or serious crash is one too many.” “It is disappointing that some individuals continue to disregard the law and endanger other road users by undertaking risky driving behaviours.” “Police will continue to conduct targeted and random patrols on Tasmania’s roads to curb high-risk behaviours such as speeding, drink driving, inattention, and not wearing seatbelts. These factors overwhelmingly contribute to serious and fatal crashes.” “We encourage the public to report dangerous driving and traffic offences to police on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Reports can also be made through our website.”
SAN FRANCISCO – Nicholas Addleman was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge James Donato handed down the sentence.
According to court documents, Addleman, 38, of Vallejo, Calif., a longtime member of the San Francisco Mission District Norteños, previously served five years in state custody following convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Addleman was released on parole in July 2022. A few months after his release, on Oct. 14, 2022, police officers conducted a parole search of Addleman’s vehicle and recovered two Glock firearms, including one with a loaded extended magazine, in a hidden compartment behind the center console. Addleman admitted to officers that the firearms were his, and his DNA was found on the grip of one of the guns.
Addleman was charged by complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) in November 2022. He pleaded guilty to the offense in September 2023, and was originally scheduled to be sentenced on his federal firearms conviction in February 2024. Days before the sentencing, Addleman absconded from pretrial supervision, and the Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. At the time of his arrest in December 2024, a search of his Vallejo residence found multiple assault rifles, large capacity magazines, and suspected gun silencers.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Donato ordered Addleman to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit the firearms and ammunition seized by police.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This prosecution was brought by the Violent Crime Strike Force and is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leif Dautch prosecuted this case, with the assistance of Nina Burney. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the San Francisco Police Department, and Vallejo Police Department.
Emergency services are in attendance at a two-vehicle crash on Western Bay Road – SH 32 – reported shortly before midday, which has blocked the road at Waihaha on the western side of Lake Taupo.
Indications are there are serious injuries involved, and a helicopter has been dispatched to the scene.
A diversion is expected at Whangamata Road, but motorists are asked to expect delays.
HOUGHTON LAKE, Mich – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol assisted the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation and arrest of an illegal alien accused of raping an 18-year-old girl April 25.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations Traverse City special agents and USBP agents from USBP Station Sault Ste Marie assisted in the apprehension of Leocado Hernandez-Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico who has been removed from the United States twice.
Hernadez-Garcia faces five felony counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Hernandez-Garcia was deported from the United States in 2014. He was encountered again in 2023 and expelled under Title 42. He reentered the United States a third time at unknown date and location without inspection by an immigration official.
“ICE HSI Detroit is committed to assisting our local partners like the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office on crimes involving illegal aliens in their jurisdiction,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Our thoughts are with the victim at this time, and we hope that these recent steps toward justice and accountability can help her on the road to recovery and healing.”
“This is another example of the results we achieve through strong partnerships with our local and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Javier Geronimo, Jr., Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent. “Thanks to this collaboration, a repeat immigration offender accused of raping a teenager is now under arrest, along with two other illegal aliens. We remain committed to protecting our community through teamwork and vigilance.”
The Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office investigation remains ongoing with the continued assistance of ICE HSI and USBP.
ICE HSI and USBP encountered two additional illegal aliens during this investigation that were taken into custody pending immigration proceedings.
ICE established the Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office to acknowledge and serve the needs of victims and families who have been affected by crimes committed by individuals with a nexus to immigration violations.
The VOICE has a toll-free hotline staffed by operators to ensure victims receive the support they need. The number is 1-855-48-VOICE.
When refugees flee their home country due to war, violence, conflict or persecution, they are often forced to leave behind their families.
For more than 30,000 people who have sought asylum in Australia since arriving more than a decade ago, that separation has stretched into more than a decade. This group of people – known in policy circles as “the legacy caseload” – need a clear pathway to reunite with family members.
Refugees separated from family are plagued by guilt and worry for their family members’ safety. This makes it extremely difficult to focus on education, work or getting settled.
The right to family unity is a basic human right and vital to any humane refugee policy.
However, tensions arise between refugees’ conceptions of family and the restrictive definitions embedded in Australian law.
High costs, complex administrative requirements, and lengthy processing times often delay or prevent families from reuniting.
The legacy caseload: more than a decade in limbo
The so-called “legacy caseload” refers to approximately 30,000 people who arrived by boat between 2012 and 2014, and who were placed on Temporary Protection Visas.
For more than a decade, they were denied a pathway to permanency and barred from sponsoring family members to join them in Australia.
That policy made life so unbearable, more than 6,500 people from this group “chose” to return home despite the risks they face. This raises serious concerns about whether they were genuinely able to make a free choice, or were pushed into returning to danger.
Since the Albanese government’s 2022 commitment to end temporary protection, almost 20,000 people have been eligible to transition to permanent visas through the Resolution of Status process.
This is a crucial step. Without a permanent visa, they could not sponsor family members.
Even with permanency, however, family reunion remains out of reach for many “legacy caseload” refugees. This is due to outdated laws, harsh policies and bureaucratic delays.
Many of these refugees have not seen their spouses or children since before their arrival. Because they arrived by boat, they are barred from proposing family members through the humanitarian visa program and must use the family migration program.
That’s significant because the humanitarian program has a much broader definition of “family”, and grants people access to settlement services after they arrive.
Still unresolved is the fate of some 7,000 people who were refused protection under the flawed fast track system (a now abandoned policy that was supposed to speed up processing but actually introduced delays and unfairness).
The main barriers to family reunification for refugees include:
high visa fees (partner visa application charges, when they include children, can cost more than A$20,000)
strict legal definitions (children over 23 are not classified as “dependents”; a child who was 12 when their parent fled may now be 24 — legally an adult, but still dependent and at risk)
barriers to documentation (war and instability can make it difficult or dangerous to obtain documents, such as passports or identity papers)
limited access to embassies
technical issues with online applications
repeated health checks (there is a visa requirement health checks but they are only valid for 12 months, so may need to be repeated if visa processing is delayed)
unclear rules around exemptions.
These uncertainties further delay the process and add emotional and financial strain.
introducing visa application charge concessions for refugees
allowing people to pay fees in instalments
adapting visa processing to reflect realities faced by refugee and humanitarian visa applicants, such as challenges obtaining identity documents
establishing a dedicated unit in the Department of Home Affairs for processing visas from refugee families
prioritising families where children may “age out”.
They have also called for changes to the legal definitions of “dependent” and “member of the family unit”. This is to reflect the diverse familial structures in many refugee communities.
For many refugees, family extends beyond the Western concept of the nuclear family. It may also encompass, for instance, adult daughters and parents (who often play pivotal care-giving roles).
Another big issue for many refugee families is single young women in Afghanistan being left behind because they have aged out.
Reuniting families
Australia can learn from other countries.
Canada’s refugee sponsorship program actively supports family reunification.
New Zealand offers a more affordable and flexible system. Their definitions of family are broader and visa fees are lower.
Without family reunion, a refugee’s safety remains incomplete.
I’m partly safer [in Australia], but inside I’m not safe […] I’m always afraid for the future of my family.
Thousands of refugees in Australia are still waiting. Their families remain in danger. The legal and policy tools to fix this already exist. What’s missing, for now, is the political will.
Reforming Australia’s family reunion system would mean more efficient refugee resettlement and integration, ultimately benefiting broader Australian society.
Mary Anne Kenny is a member of the Migration Institute of Australia and the Law Council of Australia and an affiliate of the UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. She was on the Ministerial Council on Asylum Seekers and Detention (an independent advisory body) between 2012 and 2018.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.
Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
Joseph Marcus Silva, 28, of Porterville, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to five years and 11 months in prison for manufacturing three destructive devices and possessing an unregistered silencer, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, Silva is a member of the Norteño gang subset called Varrio Central Poros and a convicted felon. Silva manufactured three destructive devices, using a 3D printer to make two of them. One of the 3D-printed destructive devices was similar to a military claymore mine that read, “FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY.” A claymore mine is a directional fragmentation, antipersonnel mine that is capable of incapacitating, injuring, or killing people. The second 3D-printed destructive device was a military-type M67 grenade. Silva also made a destructive device consisting of a glass tube with flash powder, BBs, and a fuse. In addition, Silva admitted that he unlawfully possessed an unregistered silencer, which had previously been used. Silva also possessed nine additional firearms, including six 3D-printed orange and gray frames, as depicted below:
3D-printed orange and gray frames possessed by Silva
A frame, which is the part of a firearm that integrates other components by providing housing for internal action components, is considered a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Tulare County Agency Regional Gun Violence Enforcement Team of the California Department of Justice, the Porterville Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man who once worked as a school bus driver pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Donal James Seaver, 51, of Hesperia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
Seaver has been in federal custody since March 2024.
According to his plea agreement, federal and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seaver’s residence in March 2024. Law enforcement seized four digital devices from Seaver and his bedroom, three of which contained CSAM. One of the devices – a Samsung tablet – contained thousands of images depicting CSAM.
Seaver admitted in his plea agreement that he knew the files contained videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He further admitted to knowingly downloading CSAM from the internet onto his devices – material that depicted children under the age of 12 years.
United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled an August 25 sentencing hearing, at which time Seaver will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section1. Purpose and Policy. Safe communities rely on the backbone and heroism of a tough and well-equipped police force. My Administration is steadfastly committed to empowering State and local law enforcement to firmly police dangerous criminal behavior and protect innocent citizens. When local leaders demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs that make aggressively enforcing the law impossible, crime thrives and innocent citizens and small business owners suffer. My Administration will therefore: establish best practices at the State and local level for cities to unleash high-impact local police forces; protect and defend law enforcement officers wrongly accused and abused by State or local officials; and surge resources to officers in need. My Administration will work to ensure that law enforcement officers across America focus on ending crime, not pursuing harmful, illegal race- and sex-based “equity” policies. The result will be a law-abiding society in which tenacious law enforcement officers protect the innocent, violations of law are not tolerated, and American communities are safely enjoyed by all their citizens again.
Sec. 2. Legal Defense of Law Enforcement Officers. The Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to create a mechanism to provide legal resources and indemnification to law enforcement officers who unjustly incur expenses and liabilities for actions taken during the performance of their official duties to enforce the law. This mechanism shall include the use of private-sector pro bono assistance for such law enforcement officers.
Sec. 3. Empowering State and Local Law Enforcement. (a) The Attorney General and other appropriate heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all appropriate action to maximize the use of Federal resources to: (i) provide new best practices to State and local law enforcement to aggressively police communities against all crimes; (ii) expand access and improve the quality of training available to State and local law enforcement; (iii) increase pay and benefits for law enforcement officers; (iv) strengthen and expand legal protections for law enforcement officers; (v) seek enhanced sentences for crimes against law enforcement officers; (vi) promote investment in the security and capacity of prisons; and (vii) increase the investment in and collection, distribution, and uniformity of crime data across jurisdictions. (b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall review all ongoing Federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements, and post-judgment orders to which a State or local law enforcement agency is a party and modify, rescind, or move to conclude such measures that unduly impede the performance of law enforcement functions.
Sec. 4. Using National Security Assets for Law and Order. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of agencies as appropriate, shall increase the provision of excess military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist State and local law enforcement. (b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall determine how military and national security assets, training, non-lethal capabilities, and personnel can most effectively be utilized to prevent crime.
Sec. 5. Holding State and Local Officials Accountable. The Attorney General shall pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to enforce the rights of Americans impacted by crime and shall prioritize prosecution of any applicable violations of Federal criminal law with respect to State and local jurisdictions whose officials: (a) willfully and unlawfully direct the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement; or (b) unlawfully engage in discrimination or civil-rights violations under the guise of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives that restrict law enforcement activity or endanger citizens.
Sec. 6. Use of Homeland Security Task Forces. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) formed in accordance with Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025 (Protecting the American People Against Invasion) to coordinate and advance the objectives of this order.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
i. the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
ii. the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The Department of Justice shall provide funding for this order’s publication in the Federal Register.
EMPOWERING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to empower state and local law enforcement to relentlessly pursue criminals and protect American communities. More specifically, the Order directs the Attorney General to:
Create a mechanism to provide legal resources and indemnification for officers facing unjust legal expenses from official duties, including pro bono assistance.
Maximize the use of Federal resources to improve training, increase officer pay and benefits, strengthen legal protections, seek tougher sentences for crimes against officers, enhance prison security and capacity, and improve crime-data uniformity.
Review Federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements, and post-judgment orders involving State or local law enforcement agencies and modify or rescind any that impede the performance of law enforcement functions.
Increase the provision of surplus military assets to support local law enforcement and evaluate their use in crime prevention.
Use recently established Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) to advance Federal and local coordination.
KEEPING AMERICANS SAFE: President Trump’s Executive Order empowers law enforcement to do their jobs, relentlessly pursue criminals, and protect innocent citizens.
Millions of Americans live in fear, worried that surging crime will destroy their lives, homes, or businesses.
Crime increases when local leaders demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs that make aggressively enforcing the law impossible; reversing this dynamic is essential to restoring public safety.
Democrat-led soft-on-crime policies have fueled chaos.
In many local jurisdictions, officers are forced to comply with DEI policies or are wrongly accused of misconduct, which diverts their attention from fighting crime.
Some use “bail reform” to free dangerous felons without ensuring they face trial, leaving communities vulnerable to repeat offenders.
Some ignore shoplifting, vagrancy, and urban encampments, allowing disorder to spread unchecked in cities.
Certain jurisdictions excuse violent riots when it’s fashionable and demonize law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect citizens.
President Trump is committed to reversing these failed policies, empowering law enforcement, and ensuring every American can live in safety and security.
STOPPING CRIME AND UPHOLDING JUSTICE: President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to Make America Safe Again.
President Trump sealed the border and initiated the largest deportation operation in U.S. history to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American communities.
President Trump created a task force to make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful.
President Trump designated international cartels and other violent organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
President Trump marshalled Federal resources to combat the explosion of anti-Semitism on our campuses and in our streets.
This Executive Order will restore law and order and ensure that every community is better protected from crime and lawlessness.
Motorists are asked to avoid the intersection of Mill and Ulster Streets in Whitiora, Hamilton, this morning, after a crash has left one person seriously injured.
Police were called to the crash, involving a vehicle and a cyclist, about 5.55am.
Traffic management will be in place.
Motorists should take an alternate route, or expect delays.
The challenges faced by journalists covering the climate emergency will be at the heart of a public symposium at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) next month.
The symposium, titled Framing the Emergency: Climate Journalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, will explore how journalists report on the climate crisis, what more they can do, and how more climate stories might be told.
Speakers will include leading journalists Eloise Gibson (RNZ), Marc Daalder (Newsroom), and Miriama Kamo (TVNZ).
Experts and activists in the line-up include Russel Norman (Greenpeace), Jessica Palairet (Lawyers for Climate Action), and Joe Nagera (Pacific Climate Warriors).
The symposium convenor, Professor Geoffrey Craig, said New Zealand climate journalists had a challenging job relating how the planetary crisis was impacting the nation.
They needed to “traverse the complexities of governmental policies and emission trading schemes, the power of corporations and the technicality of scientific research”, he said.
“They must cover the politics of land and water management, the advocacy of activists, and the struggles of citizens responding to disasters and building greater sustainability in their communities and everyday lives.”
Journalists also face the challenge of reporting independently on the “actions and discourses of stakeholders” who frame climate issues in different ways, based on their interests.
The climate emergency could be said to transforming our understanding of the relationships between economy, environment and society.
“Yet some might argue there is little sense of an ’emergency’ in our public responses to the climate crisis,” he said.
“Do we need other climate stories in our media where the mahi and hope of communities point the way forward?”
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is one of the world’s best modern universities. Home to 28,000 students across three campuses, AUT has more than 60 research centres and institutes delivering leading research – from artificial intelligence to robotics, and ecology to public health. As a contemporary university, AUT is connected to an extraordinary range of organisations sharing expertise and resources, collaborating on ground-breaking research, and connecting students with industry leaders and employers.
Tēna koutou kātoa. Greetings everyone. Can I thank you Malcolm for that kind introduction and thank everyone who has taken the time to be here today. My special thanks go to our hosts Metco Engineering and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. Let me also acknowledge my colleagues who join us today – your local MP and my Associate Minister of Finance the Hon Chris Bishop, together with the Minister of Education the Hon Erica Stanford. This factory is a bit of a different setting than the conference centre or ballroom Ministers typically use for a pre-Budget speech. Why? Because places like this are the engine room of the New Zealand economy. Our Government knows that to speed up the economic recovery New Zealanders need we have to get this growth engine cranking. I appreciate that economic growth can be a bit of an abstract concept: the work that happens on this factory floor is what it’s all about. The workers at Metco solve problems, coming up with new products and manufacturing processes for a range of industries. They design and create clever components for customers around the world – producing everything from window stays through to bus stops. Metco has grown successfully by making investments in its own machinery and technology and by hiring and up-skilling great people who come up with innovative ideas and then make them happen. The growth of businesses like MetCo, and indeed of all the businesses represented in this room today, has created good jobs and livelihoods for the people of the Hutt Valley community. It’s also allowed your businesses to make healthy tax contributions, which helps fund the Government’s investment in health services, schools, vital infrastructure and other important public spending. Thank you for that contribution, we don’t take it for granted. New Zealand needs more success stories like MetCo: Your growth is what’s needed to deliver the kind of country we all want: with better living standards, better job opportunities and more financially secure families. That’s why our Government is going for growth. Earlier this year we released a snapshot of the work we have underway to support this growth agenda. Going for Growth sets out 87 specific actions we are taking under five key themes:
Developing talent Competitive business settings Innovation, technology and science Overseas investment and trade Infrastructure for growth
I encourage you to check out the plan and the work underway. There’s more to come. For today though, I’m going to switch out of my Economic Growth hat and into my Minister of Finance hat and focus my remarks on this year’s Budget. The Context for Budget 2025 The Government’s growth ambition has been front and centre as we’ve put the Budget together. We know that global uncertainty is challenging for many of you and we’re determined our Budget will play a role in giving you confidence for the future. But let me be blunt: it’s not the easiest time to be putting together a Budget. New Zealand is still recovering from the economic damage inflicted during the Covid period and we’re now facing the headwinds of further global instability. There is a pressing need for greater investments in our health system, our education system, our defence force and other areas, and very little money to pay for those investments. Our Government is also acutely conscious of the challenging economic circumstances many New Zealanders have experienced in the past few years as we’ve emerged from a period of very high inflation and rapidly rising interest rates. The pain is still rippling through our communities. Kiwis feel it in the higher prices they still pay for almost everything, in higher levels of unemployment and in struggling local businesses. The cost of living remains a top-of-mind concern. The good news is that, despite significant global challenges, a steady economic recovery is now taking place here, with export-led growth gathering strength, business confidence coming off its lows and the primary sector benefiting from higher commodity prices and mostly favourable growing conditions. Having considered everything happening around the world, the Treasury is continuing to forecast accelerating growth in the New Zealand economy over the coming year, with falling unemployment forecast to follow in the second half of the year. There’s no magic wand to wish away the price rises baked in over recent years, but getting inflation and interest rates under control has been essential to achieving this economic recovery. That’s why I always take pause to celebrate that since our Government came to office inflation has returned to normal levels, resulting in a 200 basis point reduction in interest rates. We must not take this progress for granted. While some pretend we can fix all the post-Covid damage with yet more extravagant government spending, the economic truth is that they are wrong. The only way to sustainably overcome cost of living pressures is through successive years of stable inflation, careful investment and sustained economic growth. Our Government is committed to the responsible fiscal management and growth supporting policies needed to make that happen. Debt, deficit and the path out An important part of that effort is getting our own books in order. That’s a big task. The previous Government’s spending decisions during and after Covid have left New Zealand with a sea of debt and red-ink in the government finances. Government debt leapt up by almost $120 billion between 2019 and 2024, soaring from under $58 billion to $175 billion. Those are big numbers, almost too big to comprehend, so let me explain it this way: That amounts to $22,000 more in debt for every New Zealander. You may well ask: what do we have to show for all that debt? To give you some further historical context, New Zealand’s net core Crown debt, which once hovered between five and 25 per cent of GDP, rose to around 42 per cent last year. That’s the highest level of government debt New Zealand has shouldered since the mid-1990s. Servicing that debt is expensive. The interest bill on government debt has soared from $3.6 billion in 2014 to $8.9 billion last year. That sum is more than annual core Crown expenses for the Police, Corrections, the Ministry of Justice, Customs and the Defence Force combined. Our Government’s goal is to put net core Crown debt on a downward trajectory towards 40 per cent of GDP and in the longer term keep it below that percentage. Why? Because allowing debt to keep spiralling would threaten the livelihood of every New Zealander. We must ensure our country is financially strong and resilient enough to effectively respond to whatever the future may throw: be it earthquakes, extreme climatic events, biosecurity incursions or whatever. We need the world to keep seeing us as a good country to invest in and lend to. Manageable debt levels are an essential foundation for a strong economy and for your financial future. Achieving lower debt levels isn’t easy: especially because the government books remain out of balance. The post-Covid ‘structural deficit’ has left a big gap between what the country needs to fund to deliver on the spending commitments previous Budgets have made and what we need to earn to pay for that spending. The Government is currently borrowing billions to bridge the gap. Every Thursday afternoon, New Zealand Debt Management issues around $500 million of Government bonds. Some of this is to that roll over existing bonds that have expired, but large chunks of it are for new borrowing. That level of borrowing obviously can’t go on forever, or else our kids and grandkids will be left with unsustainable debt and considerable economic uncertainty. Most of you can probably relate to this if you think about your own household budget: sure, sensible borrowing has its place, but no overdraft can be extended forever, and while you can keep giving the credit card a hammering, left unpaid, it does, eventually, get declined. It’s worth bearing this in mind next time somebody tries to suggest to you that the New Zealand Government needs to spend more on something. The second question always needs to be: but how will we pay for it? Our Government’s strategy is to reduce the deficit over time, through a gradual programme of consolidation and careful spending choices. We are committed to maintaining stability for New Zealanders, by continuing to invest in essential frontline services, infrastructure for growth and social supports like superannuation. But delivering those things requires us to make careful choices about what we spend elsewhere. That’s why we’ve committed ourselves to ongoing reprioritisation and fiscal restraint. It isn’t easy, but it is essential. Believe me, I’d rather we were in clover, with money to spend on all the good ideas we hear. But the reality is that we are governing in tighter times. Economic growth is essential to our fiscal repair job. It’s simply the most effective way to raise government revenue, and to give us better choices for the future. Some have suggested a different approach. They say New Zealand should seek to close the deficit by simply adding more and higher rates of taxes to Kiwis’ wages, savings, wealth or capital. We reject that approach. Punishing Kiwis with higher taxes right now would undermine our recovery, strangle growth and threaten the economic stability New Zealand needs. It would pull the rug out from all those businesses and industries who are already just hanging on. And it would send an exodus of Kiwi talent and wealth to Australia and beyond. It would be exactly the wrong recipe for a country whose future prospects depend on investment and growth. Changes in the economic and fiscal outlook since HYEFU The Treasury’s last set of economic forecasts was presented at the Half Year Update in December. As you know, the global economic outlook has worsened considerably since that update. Tarriff announcements by the US government, countervailing tariffs being imposed by China and an uncertain path for future tariffs and exemptions have created volatile global economic conditions with forecasters around the world agreeing that global growth will be lower this year and next year than they were previously predicting. New Zealand can’t escape the fallout. Accordingly, Treasury has adjusted the forecasts it presented in December, reducing their assumptions of real GDP growth in New Zealand in 2025 and 2026. New Zealand’s economy will still be growing, but not as fast as forecast a few months ago. That lower growth trajectory has an inevitable impact on the government books, reducing revenue and threatening our already difficult return to surplus and debt reduction. At the same time, it’s clear that the country’s need for investment has not lessened: whether it be in the infrastructure we need for a more productive future, the funding needed to meet pressures in our health service and education system; or the need to rebuild our defence capability to meet the challenges of a less stable world. On top of all of that, it’s also the case that New Zealand’s long-term productivity and savings challenges haven’t gone away. So there’s a huge amount to juggle in this year’s Budget. How has the Government managed these challenges? We started with that question that I suggested to you earlier: How do we pay for the things we need now without putting our future economic stability at risk? Our approach has been threefold. First, there has been a very high bar for new initiatives in the Budget. I can confirm today that there will be no lolly scramble in Budget 2025. New spending initiatives are strictly limited to the most important priorities: our focus has been on health, education, law and order, defence, and a small number of critical social investments. We have also found room for modest measures to support business growth and to provide some carefully targeted cost of living relief. Second, beyond a small number of exceptions, government departments are not receiving additional funding in the Budget. We expect government agencies to adjust themselves to New Zealand’s limited fiscal means. This will require restraint in public sector wage increases and an ongoing commitment to getting more impact out of every dollar spent. Third, we have undertaken a significant savings drive. That effort has involved Ministers identifying areas of previously committed spending that can no longer be justified in light of the challenging circumstances New Zealand now faces. We’ve analysed spending decisions made by previous governments and re-evaluated them in the context of today’s constraints. This has involved a line-by-line review of previous funding commitments, including money put aside in contingency. This reprioritisation exercise has required careful consideration and some tough, but necessary, choices. At every step, we’ve asked ourselves two questions:
Can these dollars be justified when we are borrowing to pay for them? Can we be sure these dollars will do more good in this area than if invested in our most pressing priorities – like funding essential health services, better educating our kids, defending New Zealand’s security or ensuring our future growth?
Taken together, the Government’s savings drive has freed-up billions of dollars. Those savings will now be re-deployed to fund New Zealand’s most pressing priorities. Sticking to the fiscal strategy In this year’s Budget we’ve also had to carefully consider whether, in light of major global economic events, our fiscal strategy still remains achievable. The strategy is focused on two key goals: putting net debt on a downward trajectory and returning the books to an OBEGALx surplus by 2028. This strategy matters, it matters for getting the books back in order and that’s about more than a set of numbers. It’s about keeping interest rates lower and providing a solid platform for future growth. It’s about ensuring New Zealand continues to be seen as a stable, reliable place to invest in and lend to. It’s about making sure we don’t leave our kids and grandkids with debts they just can’t repay. At our last update in December – well before President Trump’s “Liberation Day” – we were expecting a small surplus in 2029, and it remained our intention to returning it a year earlier if possible. I can confirm that our Government remains committed to those goals. Sticking to them has required some careful adjustments in this year’s Budget. The key change we have made is to the size of this year’s “operating allowance” – that is the amount of money put aside for new spending. At the Half Year Update, the Treasury forecast that the “allowance” in Budget 2025 would be $2.4 billion. That was always a small envelope. However, as I outlined earlier, our approach has been to supplement our new spending by reprioritising funds from elsewhere. I am confirming today that the Government has reduced the size of our Budget 2025 operating allowance to $1.3 billion. This means we will be spending billions less over the forecast period than would have otherwise been the case. This will reduce the amount of extra borrowing our country needs to do over the next few years and it will keep us on track towards balanced books and debt reduction. The fiscal forecasts will not be finalised until later this week, but according to the latest numbers I have seen, this smaller operating allowance means we will continue to forecast a surplus in 2029. The reality of global economic events is that if we’d pushed on with a larger operating allowance then we would be staring down the barrel of even bigger deficits and debt. Let me emphasise once again: our Budget will still deliver increased investment in the things that really matter to Kiwis: like health, education, law and order, the defence force, business growth and targeted cost of living relief. Those things are important to you and they’re important to our Government. Our careful reprioritisation approach means we can continue to make progress on today’s priorities while ensuring we are better positioned to face the challenges tomorrow will bring. Yes, those challenges loom large. But let’s get real: global instability may not be a passing trend. New Zealand can’t expect to keep borrowing as much as we are now. The world doesn’t owe us any favours. This is not the time to kick the can down the road. We must act now to secure our financial future.
Conclusion In conclusion, Budget 2025 takes place against a difficult global backdrop. We can’t wish that away. What we can do is focus on the things in our control. Our Government is doing just that, by providing a predictable, steady approach to economic and fiscal management. In an unstable world we are staying the course with responsible policies that provide stability, support investment and make New Zealand an attractive place for the world to trade and do business with. These sensible policy approaches are the base from which we will deliver better choices and investments in the years ahead. With those basics in place, there is much for Kiwi businesses to feel optimistic about. New Zealand has enormous economic growth potential. We are a safe, secure country with a growing constellation of free trade agreements and a global reputation as a good place to do business. We are blessed with abundant natural resources – everything from ocean to freshwater, fertile land and temperate weather to abundant minerals. In a world worried about food security, we feed more than 40 million people with levels of efficiency and sustainability that are the envy of many. We have a long history of stable democracy, strong institutions and rule of law. We’ve delivered scientific breakthroughs and global success stories and we will continue to do so. As I stand here today, we are world leaders in sending rocket to space – rockets that include components made right here in this factory. Fundamentally, I’m optimistic about New Zealand’s economic future because I have faith in you: the New Zealanders who get out of bed each morning and go and make things happen. I’m optimistic because I see how hard Kiwis work. I see how much effort Kiwi parents go to for their kids. I see how much employers and workers care about their communities. We are a smart, innovative, resilient people. The next decade can be our decade. That requires good and steady government and careful spending choices. This year’s Budget will not be a lolly scramble. What this Budget will be is a responsible Budget that secures New Zealand’s future.
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section1. Purpose and Policy. Federal supremacy with respect to immigration, national security, and foreign policy is axiomatic. The Constitution provides the Federal Government with plenary authority regarding immigration to protect the sovereignty of our Nation and to conduct relations with other nations, who must be able to deal with one national Government on such matters. This power is sometimes contained in specific constitutional provisions: Article II of the Constitution vests the power to protect national security and conduct foreign policy in the President of the United States, and Article IV, Section 4, requires the Federal Government to “protect each of [the States] against Invasion.” This Federal power over immigration is also an inherent element of national sovereignty.
The prior administration allowed unchecked millions of aliens to illegally enter the United States. The resulting public safety and national security risks are exacerbated by the presence of, and control of territory by, international cartels and other transnational criminal organizations along the southern border, as well as terrorists and other malign actors who intend to harm the United States and the American people. This invasion at the southern border requires the Federal Government to take measures to fulfill its obligation to the States.
Yet some State and local officials nevertheless continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws. This is a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law and the Federal Government’s obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States. Beyond the intolerable national security risks, such nullification efforts often violate Federal criminal laws, including those prohibiting obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), unlawfully harboring or hiring illegal aliens (8 U.S.C. 1324), conspiracy against the United States (18 U.S.C. 371), and conspiracy to impede Federal law enforcement (18 U.S.C. 372). Assisting aliens in violating Federal immigration law could also violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (18 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.). Some measures to assist illegal aliens also necessarily violate Federal laws prohibiting discrimination against Americans in favor of illegal aliens and protecting Americans’ civil rights.
It is imperative that the Federal Government restore the enforcement of United States law.
Sec. 2. Designation of “Sanctuary” Jurisdictions. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall publish a list of States and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws (sanctuary jurisdictions). After this initial publication, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall update this list as necessary.
(b) Immediately following each publication under subsection (a) of this section, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify each sanctuary jurisdiction regarding its defiance of Federal immigration law enforcement and any potential violations of Federal criminal law.
Sec. 3. Consequences for Sanctuary Jurisdiction Status. (a) With respect to sanctuary jurisdictions that are designated under section 2(a) of this order, the head of each executive department or agency (agency), in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and as permitted by law, shall identify appropriate Federal funds to sanctuary jurisdictions, including grants and contracts, for suspension or termination, as appropriate.
(b) With respect to jurisdictions that remain sanctuary jurisdictions after State or local officials are provided notice of such status under section 2(b) of this order and yet remain in defiance of Federal law, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to end these violations and bring such jurisdictions into compliance with the laws of the United States.
Sec. 4. Preventing Federal Benefits for Aliens in Sanctuary Jurisdictions. The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall develop guidance, rules, or other appropriate mechanisms to ensure appropriate eligibility verification is conducted for individuals receiving Federal public benefits within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. 1611(c) from private entities in a sanctuary jurisdiction, whether such verification is conducted by the private entity or by a governmental entity on its behalf.
Sec. 5. Equal Treatment of Americans. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and appropriate agency heads, shall identify and take appropriate action to stop the enforcement of State and local laws, regulations, policies, and practices favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens that are unlawful, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable, including State laws that provide in-State higher education tuition to aliens but not to out-of-State American citizens that may violate 8 U.S.C. 1623 or that favor aliens in criminal charges or sentencing.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Department of Justice shall provide funding for this order’s publication in the Federal Register.
The Shy Kid Who Left Law To Forge Chemical (and Human) Bonds
Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL; graphic by Katie Carney, NREL
This article is part of the Manufacturing Masterminds profile series, which provides an inside look into the lives, research, and impact of NREL’s advanced manufacturing researchers.
At 8 years old, Matt Ringer already had the deep, booming voice of a radio announcer but not the personality to match.
He was a shy, track-and-field kid who spent hours running (and not talking), chasing the coveted 4-minute-mile barrier (he likely would have broken it, too, if a college injury did not thwart his plans). Even when Ringer did talk, he discovered his syrupy voice resonated more with adults than kids.
“Those things change who you are in certain ways,” Ringer said.
For a long time, Ringer was not sure who he was—at least in terms of his career. He revered James Bond and other fictional spies who schemed their ways out of no-win situations. He loved planes and Tom Cruise’s character in “Top Gun” and considered becoming a fighter pilot. But he also admired Mark Greene, the main character on the medical drama “ER” and the sharp-suited lawyers on “L.A. Law.”
In college, Ringer chose suits over lab coats—at least at first. He started as a political science major with law school ambitions, but his dad, an electrical engineer, had one request: “Sure, go be a political science major, but take a few math classes and an engineering class.” Ringer agreed and threw in a chemistry course, too. Soon, atoms and molecules and their frenetic energy seemed far more exciting than dense, prelaw readings.
“My skill set is not in reading massive amounts of material; it never has been. It’s doing things,” Ringer said. “I had to do a lot of work to get into chemical engineering. But I did.”
Matt Ringer may have started out as a shy track star running toward the 4-minute-mile barrier, but he ended up a charismatic leader running NREL’s advanced manufacturing program. Photos from Matt Ringer, NREL
Today, after 23 years at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Ringer has become a bit like one of his beloved energetic atoms. As the laboratory program manager for NREL’s advanced manufacturing program, he helps build teams (aka molecules), connecting experts, organizations, and resources. These bonds are what ensure the laboratory’s researchers can turn theoretical concepts—like wide-bandgap power electronics, novel polymer formulations, more efficient grid technologies, or more stable water supplies—into real solutions.
“I’m not going to be the person who creates the next sensor for an automotive manufacturing plant in Detroit, right?” Ringer said. “But I can help get the right people together to make that a reality.”
In the latest Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A, Ringer shares how he ended up in a people-centered role despite his shy childhood and why he joined NREL despite knowing nothing about the laboratory and its mission. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
So, how did you go from political science to chemical engineering?
When I applied to college, I was wrapped up in the imaginary life of “L.A. Law.” But the first quarter, I took chemistry again, and it really resonated with me. I liked understanding how you could use the energy molecules contained. But I never had a desire to get a Ph.D., and my dad always said that if I added engineering to something, that would make me more hirable. Lo and behold, there was a major called chemical engineering, and I thought, “Well, that’s probably what I need to do.”
“I do love being the center of attention,” Ringer said. “Put me on a pedestal and let me talk, and I’ll do it.” Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
What did you do after you graduated with your chemical engineering degree?
I worked as a research engineer at a startup membrane company in the San Francisco Bay Area called Membrane Technology and Research. I did a lot of pilot tests of our materials at larger companies and realized I was pretty good at talking to everybody from the senior manager all the way to the operator, technician, or mechanic. And I had an opportunity to shift from being a researcher to what we called more of a “sales engineer,” so I took it.
What did you do as a “sales engineer”?
I would prepare a quote, work with vendors to get costs for equipment, and then pull a bid package together. I also got to help manufacture the membranes that we sold. I would get all garbed up, get a glue gun, and roll sheets of membrane into a spiral-wound module. One of my sales highlights was spending about six months working with a Malaysian company to create a customized membrane system for their facility. That was my first sale and my one and only patent. That has long since expired, and I don’t believe it ever got used, but I still have a copy of it.
Why did you leave? Sounds like you were enjoying that role.
I had been there for six years, and I just needed to do something different and get out of California where I grew up. San Francisco was skyrocketing with dot-com craziness. And I had never envisioned how I would go to a dot-com with my background.
My girlfriend at the time—who’s now my wife—was from Colorado, so we decided to come back here. And my former boss found a job posting at NREL. I’ll be honest—I knew nothing about NREL.
Then why did you go for the NREL job?
NREL wanted a process engineer. Being a chemical engineer, I thought I needed to go work at a refinery, but I would have had to move to a very remote location to get started. And I wasn’t ready to do that. During my NREL interview, they asked what I knew about biomass, and I went on a diatribe about anaerobic digesters that wasn’t exactly correct. But apparently, my sales persona, coupled with some of the industry experience I had, fit what they needed here.
Ringer, seen here with his daughter Makena, may have bungled the biomass portion of his NREL interview, but his sales persona and industry experience earned him the role anyway. Photo from Matt Ringer, NREL
How did you become a laboratory program manager?
When I was here for about three years, I wanted to add a little more education into my background. I could go to law school and be an intellectual property attorney, but that’s a lot of reading. I could go to business school or get a master’s in engineering. Business school resonated with me. So, I went to talk to my boss. I had a whole pitch about why I should get my Master of Business Administration (MBA) and NREL should help pay for it. I said, “Hey, I want to get an MBA,” and he said, “Don’t say any more. I’ll use you in a different role.”
One of my first opportunities after I finished my MBA was creating a program where NREL works with small businesses or startups that wanted to develop our technologies. For the first time, I got to work with DOE (the U.S. Department of Energy) in a more formal way, which I really enjoyed.
For me, it always comes back to people, right? There were people at DOE who I just connected with—I understood their world a little bit. And I thought, “Well, how can I do that and help NREL at the same time?” And being a laboratory program manager was that role.
“I love winning races,” Ringer said. “But I can’t run races like I used to, which sucks.” Luckily, Ringer can still experience vicarious wins through his daughters, who both play soccer.
And what does a laboratory program manager do, exactly?
One of the amazing things for somebody like me who doesn’t have a Ph.D. is working with the researchers to understand the work they’re doing. I’m curious by nature, so the more I asked, the more people wanted to tell me. I’m not going to lie, there were things I didn’t understand. As a chemical engineer, I understand atoms and molecules more than I understand electrons. I’ve had to build a bridge between those things. That’s exactly what you do as a laboratory program manager. You bring different things together. You arrange teams. You try to be strategic.
To be successful as a laboratory program manager, you have to know people from throughout the lab: receivables, travel, human resources, web developers, technicians. And you need to ensure the operational side of the lab connects with the needs of the technical side. So, while I’m not doing the research, I can help you find the opportunities, develop stronger proposals, and then execute them.
What’s it like to work in advanced manufacturing, specifically?
It’s inspiring. The energy space is an opportunity to grow domestic manufacturing. I knew about 3D manufacturing but not what to do with it. But I learned. Now, if I go and talk to some of our researchers about power electronics, I’m not going to understand it all, but I know why they’re needed to advance manufacturing.
In an ideal world, what would you most hope to accomplish over the course of your career?
When I was 25 years old, I wanted to make lots of money. Now, I want to see our technologies make an impact. I also like to help new creative people come into NREL, so they can carry on our work. I don’t know if I’m the greatest mentor in the world. But I have a lot of experience that I can share with people, and I like seeing people grow.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career?
You can’t skip steps. You can’t come into NREL as a researcher and expect to be a research fellow or senior director in five years. A lot of people just want to be the boss—whatever that means—and that’s a recipe for disaster. You have to put in the time, be patient, and not always think, “What am I going to be doing in five years?” You’re doing what you’re doing, and you need to get it done right.
And accept who you are. I’m bald. It’s fine. I enjoy it. Accepting who you are and where you are is so important to be happy. Otherwise, you’re fighting something that’s not real. And there are enough real things to fight.
Headline: Governor Stein Speaks to NC Sheriffs’ Association, Outlines Budget Provisions to Keep North Carolinians Safe
Governor Stein Speaks to NC Sheriffs’ Association, Outlines Budget Provisions to Keep North Carolinians Safe lsaito
Raleigh, NC
Today, Governor Josh Stein spoke to the NC Sheriffs’ Association at their annual spring conference to share his appreciation for the work they do to keep North Carolinians safe. The Governor highlighted his proposals to address staffing shortages and create a dedicated Cold Case Unit and a Fentanyl Control Unit.
“Serving in law enforcement is a special calling – one of service and bravery. We ask them to run towards danger when the rest of us might flee,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I will continue to use every tool possible to advocate for law enforcement officers so that they have the resources to do their jobs well and make North Carolina safer and stronger.”
Governor Stein’s 2025-2027 budget proposal is dedicated to keeping families safe. It includes provisions to support law enforcement by raising salaries for all state law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and youth counselors and by offering signing bonuses to Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) graduates. The proposed budget also creates a Fentanyl Control Unit intended to investigate and stop the flow of narcotics and a Cold Case Unit to dedicated to cracking unsolved cases of sexual assault.
Read more about Governor Stein’s proposed investments in public safety.
overnor Kathy Hochul cautioned New Yorkers in portions of Western and Central New York to prepare for severe weather that includes an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon. Storms with strong winds are predicted along with a possible, isolated tornado for parts of Western New York, Southern Tier, North Country, Finger Lakes into Central New York. Wind gusts could exceed 70 MPH in these locations at times. There is also a possibility for hail up to one inch in diameter within thunderstorms, especially for western parts of the state. Rainfall is expected to be less than a half inch in most areas, but some isolated areas could see up to an inch of rain. There is also a marginal to slight risk for severe thunderstorms for much of the North Country, as well as portions of the Mohawk Valley, Capital Region, and Hudson Valley. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to closely monitor the weather and take any precautions necessary to stay safe through the storms.
“As storm season approaches and severe weather makes its way to Western and Central New York, I am directing state agencies to be prepared to assist New Yorkers impacted by these storms,” Governor Hochul said. “My highest priority is the safety of New Yorkers, and I implore all those in the path of inclement storms to monitor weather conditions and take necessary precautions to stay safe.”
For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories, and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website.
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services The Division’s Office of Emergency Management is in contact with their local counterparts and is prepared to facilitate requests for assistance. State stockpiles are staffed and ready to deploy emergency response assets and supplies as needed. The State Watch Center is monitoring the storm track and statewide impacts closely.
Department of Transportation The State Department of Transportation is monitoring weather conditions and prepared to respond with 3,730 supervisors and operators available statewide. All field staff are available to fully engage and respond.
Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:
1,528 large dump trucks
334 large loaders
91 chippers
90 tracked and wheeled excavators
33 water pumps
31 traffic and tree crew bucket trucks
29 traffic tower platforms
16 vacuum trucks with sewer jets
The need for additional resources will be re-evaluated as conditions warrant throughout the event. For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit 511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.
Thruway Authority The Thruway Authority has 660 operators and supervisors prepared to respond to any wind or flood related issues across the state with small to medium sized excavators, plow/dump trucks, large loaders, portable VMS boards, portable light towers, smaller generators, smaller pumps and equipment hauling trailers, as well as signage and other traffic control devices available for any detours or closures. Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of weather conditions on the Thruway.
Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:
354 Large and Small Dump Trucks
66 Loaders
31 Trailers
6 Vac Trucks
15 Excavators
8 Brush Chippers
99 Chainsaws
20 Aerial Trucks
26 Skid Steers
86 Portable Generators
67 Portable Light Units
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download the mobile app, which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to live traffic cameras, real-time traffic information and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway, follow @ThruwayTraffic on X, and visit thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.
Department of Public Service New York’s utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair and restoration efforts across New York State, as necessary. Agency staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.
New York State Police State Police instructed all Troopers to remain vigilant and will deploy extra patrols to affected areas as needed. All four-wheel drive vehicles are in service, and all specialty vehicles are staged and ready for deployment.
Department of Environmental Conservation The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Emergency Management staff, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, and regional staff remain on alert and continue to monitor weather forecasts. Working with partner agencies, DEC is prepared to coordinate resource deployment of all available assets, including first responders, to targeted areas in preparation for potential impacts due to heavy rainfall and flooding.
DEC reminds local officials to watch for potential flooding in their communities. Municipalities are encouraged to undertake local assessments of flood-prone areas and to remove any accumulating debris. DEC permits and authorization are not required to remove debris unless stream banks or beds will be disturbed by debris removal and/or the use of heavy equipment. Municipalities and local governments are advised to contact DEC’s Regional Permit Administrators if assistance is required and to help determine if a permit is necessary.
If a permit is necessary, DEC can issue Emergency Authorizations to expedite approval of projects in place of an individual permit. DEC approves Emergency Authorizations for situations that are deemed an emergency based on the immediate protection of life, health, general welfare, property, or natural resources.
Unpredictable weather and storms in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and other backcountry areas can create unexpectedly hazardous conditions. Visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for rain, snow, ice, and colder temperatures to ensure a safe outdoor experience. Trails have mixed conditions of snow, ice, slush, and mud.
Hikers are advised to temporarily avoid all high-elevation trails, as well as trails that cross rivers and streams. Hikers in the Adirondacks are encouraged to check the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for updates on trail conditions, seasonal road closures, and general recreation information.
Backcountry visitors should Hike Smart and follow proper safety guidelines. Plan trips accordingly. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. To request Forest Ranger assistance, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS.
Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Park visitors should visit parks.ny.gov, check the free mobile app, or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings and closings.
Thunderstorm Safety Tips
Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that can produce 50+ mph winds, lightning, hail and cause flash flooding and tornadoes. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to a safe shelter immediately.
Move to a sturdy building. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
If lightning occurs and sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up.
Get out of boats and away from water.
Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances.
Do not take a bath or shower.
Turn off air conditioners — power surges from lightning can overload compressors.
Get to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is possible.
Do not attempt to drive to safety — most flash flooding deaths occur in automobiles.
If outdoors, find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles.
If you are in the woods, take shelter under short trees.
If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stands on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet; place your hands on your knees with your head between them; make yourself the smallest target possible; and minimize your contact with the ground.
Tornado Safety Tips
If outdoors: Seek shelter in a substantial building immediately. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.
Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately.
If at home or in a small building: Go to the basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of the building. Stay away from windows. Closets, bathrooms, and other interior rooms offer the best protection. Get under something sturdy or cover yourself with a mattress.
If in a school, hospital, or shopping center: Go to a pre-designated shelter area. Stay away from large open areas and windows. Do not go outside to your car.
If in a high-rise building: Go to an interior small room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Do not use the elevators. Use the stairs.
If in a mobile home or vehicle: Get out of mobile homes or vehicles – they are easily tossed about by strong winds in the tornado.
Take shelter in a substantial structure: If there is no shelter near-by, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.
Flood Safety
During flash flooding, never attempt to drive on a flooded road. Turn around and go another way. If water begins to rise rapidly around you in your car, abandon the vehicle immediately.
Do not underestimate the power of fast-moving water. Two feet of fast-moving flood water will float your car, and water moving at two miles per hour can sweep cars off a road or bridge.
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Marvin Enrique Pena-Portillo, 38, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by a felon. He was ordered detained in federal custody at a detention hearing this afternoon.
The criminal complaint alleges that, on April 15, 2025, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents arrested the defendant for immigration violations, Pena-Portillo had a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic pistol in his waistband.
In August of 2024, in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Pena-Portillo pleaded guilty to carrying an illegal firearm in public and was sentenced to two years of probation for that offense.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and the ATF.
The charges and allegations contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
35 Charged Under ‘Make D.C. Safe Again’ Initiative
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia is marking President Donald J. Trump’s first 100 days by highlighting a 25 percent drop year-to-date in violent crime across the District, credited in part to the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative and the U.S. Attorney’s partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Metropolitan Police Department.
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the efforts of our ‘Make D.C. Safe Again’ initiative, the District has seen a significant decline in violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr.
“We are proving that strong enforcement and smart policies can make our communities safer,” he said.
“When President Trump chose me to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, he could have picked anybody, but he picked me, because he knew I am committed to preparing the nation’s capital for America 250, when we welcome the rest of the country and the rest of the world to celebrate America’s founding,” Martin said.
Martin is also a member of the president’s “Making DC Safe and Beautiful” Task Force.
“Violent crime often negatively impacts an entire community, and the victims are often left to pick up the broken pieces. It is our job to ensure that there are far fewer victims, and more people are held accountable for the crimes they commit,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood.
“The safety of our communities is our number one priority, and our actions will continue to reflect just how committed we are. We remain in lockstep with our law enforcement partners as well as the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure that people who arbitrarily engage in acts of violence are prosecuted and held accountable for their actions.”
According to data provided by the Metropolitan Police Department, total violent crime has declined by 25 percent year-to-date in 2025, with significant decreases in robberies, assaults with a dangerous weapon, and homicides.
In March of 2025, U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. launched ‘Make D.C. Safe Again’, a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has brought federal firearms charges against 35 defendants since the launch of the ‘Make D.C. Safe Again’ initiative.
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rodney Ermel, 71, of Colorado entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Mark Kearney on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ermel owned and managed a Colorado-based accounting firm. Along with co-defendant Kenneth Bacon, Ermel provided accounting and tax preparation services for co-defendant Joseph LaForte, LaForte’s wife and co-defendant Lisa McElhone, and their business entities. Ermel conspired with LaForte, Bacon, and others to hide approximately $20 million in income.
He did this through various fraudulent accounting practices, such as fabricating shareholder loans and “bad debt” deductions. Ermel also filed tax returns which he knew underreported taxable income by over $20 million between 2016 and 2018. Ermel’s fraud caused a loss to the United States of over $8 million.
Ermel is the fourth defendant to plead guilty to criminal conduct related to this tax scheme. Sentencing is scheduled for September 3.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Newcomer and John J. Boscia for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office announces the arrest of Timothy Austin Pannell, 31, of South Lake Tahoe on a federal complaint for alleged distribution of fentanyl, a felony. An FBI special agent took Pannell into custody on Friday, April 25, 2025, in South Lake Tahoe. This arrest was made possible with assistance from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Probation, and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
On February 12, 2024, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI responded following a 911 call reporting multiple overdoses at a residence in South Lake Tahoe. Three men and one woman were found deceased in the residence. A fifth individual survived the overdose.
According to court documents, Pannell, a.k.a. “Frog,” allegedly sold fentanyl that he represented as cocaine to two of the men in the parking lot of a church in South Lake Tahoe, California, on the night of February 11, 2024.
The charge against Pannell is a mere allegation. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: US State of California Department of Justice
OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced settlements with Clearwater Fine Foods USA Inc. (Clearwater), Seaquest Seafood Corporation (Seaquest), and Jayone Foods (Jayone), resolving allegations that the companies sold fresh and/or frozen seafood products in California with elevated levels of the toxic heavy metals lead and/or cadmium without the warnings required for exposures to such contaminants, a violation of Proposition 65 and the Unfair Competition Law. The settlement with Clearwater requires it to pay a total of $304,164.98 in civil penalties, attorneys’ fees, and costs. Clearwater must also adhere to injunctive terms that include implementing heavy metal reduction measures. A separate settlement requires Seaquest and Jayone to provide warnings, and to pay a total of $81,440 in civil penalties, attorneys’ fees, and costs. The Seaquest and Jayone settlement includes opt-in provisions that will allow other sellers of fresh or frozen seafood products to join in the settlement on similar terms.
“No one should have to question whether their food is safe to eat,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why California law requires businesses to warn our residents about potential harm from significant exposures to toxic contaminants. We appreciate the cooperation of these companies in taking steps to minimize heavy metals in their seafood products, in addition to providing warnings if their products cannot be kept below the applicable regulatory threshold. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to hold accountable those who fail to warn consumers that they are being exposed to significant levels of toxic contaminants.”
Cadmium and lead are both toxic heavy metals that accumulate in the body over time, leading to serious health issues. Long-term exposure to cadmium through ingestion can lead to reproductive harm and kidney toxicity. Exposure to lead by ingesting contaminated foods can lead to reproductive and developmental toxicity, resulting in effects such as reduced male fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
The settlement with Clearwater, a seafood harvester, resulted from an investigation the Attorney General’s Office conducted after receiving Proposition 65 sixty-day notices from a private enforcer relating to several of Clearwater’s clam products. The data supporting these notices revealed cadmium concentrations in excess of the regulatory “safe harbor” level at which no Proposition 65 warnings are required.
After testing the Clearwater products to validate the test results, our office confirmed that the clam products at issue contained cadmium levels that exceeded the regulatory Proposition 65 safe harbor level set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the implementing agency. The products thus required warnings for reproductive toxicity under Proposition 65, which Clearwater had failed to provide, thereby violating both Proposition 65 and the Unfair Competition Law.
By entering into the settlement with the Attorney General, Clearwater has agreed to terms that go above and beyond the requirements of Proposition 65, and benefit public health by requiring Clearwater to minimize cadmium levels in its clam products. The settlement resolves the People’s allegations and requires the company to pay civil penalties, attorneys’ fees, and costs, as referenced above, as well as to adhere to injunctive terms. These terms include mandating that Clearwater monitor its clam harvesting, minimize the introduction of heavy metals during processing, retain a food quality auditor to assess the origin of any detected cadmium, and conduct compliance testing to ensure that levels of cadmium in these products are minimized. Clearwater would be required to provide warnings if its fresh or frozen clam products expose California consumers to levels of cadmium above the Proposition 65 warning threshold, or if it elects to discontinue these measures.
The settlement with Seaquest and Jayone, two distributors of seafood supplied by other companies, stems from a similar investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office. Our office tested multiple seafood products distributed by the two companies and confirmed that the products at issue exceeded the safe harbor levels for lead and/or cadmium. The products thus required warnings for reproductive toxicity under Proposition 65, which neither company had provided, thereby violating both Proposition 65 and the Unfair Competition Law.
The Seaquest and Jayone settlement resolves the People’s allegations, requires both companies to provide warnings in accordance with Proposition 65, and requires them to ask their suppliers to implement practices that will minimize the introduction of lead and cadmium during processing. It also requires the payment of civil penalties and attorneys’ fees and costs, as referenced above. The settlement includes opt-in provisions that permit similarly situated companies that may be out of compliance with Proposition 65 to join in the settlement on similar terms.
A copy of the Clearwater settlement can be found here.
A copy of the Seaquest and Jayone settlement can be found here.
