NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republicans Raise Utility Bills and Energy Prices in 2026 Interior, Environment Funding Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

    Today, House Republicans released the draft fiscal year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. Instead of lowering the cost of living and confronting the climate crisis, House Republicans are raising utility bills and energy prices. The legislation takes an aggressive anti-environment, pro-pollution stance with crippling cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and policy provisions that endanger public health and fail to confront the climate crisis. The bill also slashes funding for National Parks and arts programs.

    The fiscal year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill includes $38 billion, which is $2.9 billion below the fiscal year 2025 enacted level and $9.2 billion above the budget request. The bill also provides $2.9 billion for the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund.

    The legislation:

    • Raises utility bills by shifting costs onto state and local governments and making electricity more expensive through funding cuts and extreme policies that would cripple renewable energy development.
    • Worsens the climate crisis by defunding critical Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work.
    • Slashes funding for national parks, threatening Americans’ ability to enjoy public lands.
    • Guts resources for museums, arts, and culture, suppressing Americans’ engagement with the arts and art education.
    • Favors polluters over public health through dozens of harmful policies that undermine EPA’s ability to regulate pollution. 
    • Promotes environmental discrimination against rural and poor communities by making it more difficult for hardworking people to deal with the rising costs associated with climate change. 
    • Exploits public lands and accelerates ecosystem decline by allowing harmful and dirty mining activities and by removing Endangered Species Act protections for numerous species.

    “With the release of the FY26 Interior bill, it’s clear House Republicans are once again pushing an agenda that accelerates the climate crisis, upends our National Parks system, and leaves local communities to fend for themselves—all while undermining the power of the Appropriations Committee and of Congress,” Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) said. “We are still living with the fallout of last year’s failure to negotiate a full-year funding bill. Instead of correcting course, the bill released today delivers more of the same: it cuts water infrastructure funding, slashes EPA programs, and wipes out environmental justice and climate initiatives. It even blocks the EPA from completing its risk assessment on PFAS in sewage sludge—a forever chemical crisis Maine knows all too well. On top of the environmental attacks, Republicans are taking aim at the arts and cultural institutions that enrich communities and drive local economies. Cutting the NEA, NEH, and Smithsonian silences artistic expression and undermines the jobs, education programs, and cultural spaces that strengthen towns and cities across the country. Any arguments that these irresponsible cuts are somehow fiscally responsible ring hollow in the wake of Republicans adding $3.4 trillion to the national deficit thanks to their disastrous so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ I urge my Republican colleagues to come to the table and support the essential work of this subcommittee: protecting public health, conserving our lands and waters, investing in resilience, and ensuring that every community—from rural Maine to urban centers—has access to a healthy environment and a vibrant cultural life.”

    “President Trump promised to address the cost-of-living crisis, but instead, he and House Republicans are making it worse. House Republicans’ 2026 Interior funding bill raises utility bills and energy prices to benefit billionaires and big corporations,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “Republicans are threatening the air we breathe and the water we drink and taking steps that damage our public lands, promote dirty energy, and hinder our ability to confront the climate crisis. In addition to these dangerous cuts, Republicans’ proposal would mean fewer trips to National Parks and less access to museums and the arts. House Republicans are more focused on lining the pockets of big oil companies than lowering prices for working class, middle class, rural, and vulnerable families; protecting our public health; and preserving the planet.”

    A summary of House Republicans’ 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill is here. A fact sheet is here. The text of the bill is here. The subcommittee markup will be webcast live and linked on the House Committee on Appropriations website.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Trump’s Brazil tariffs point more to his enduring bond with far-right Bolsonaro than economic concerns

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rafael R. Ioris, Professor of Modern Latin America History, University of Denver

    U.S. President Donald Trump and then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attend a joint news conference at the White House on March 19, 2019. Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty Images

    After much back-and-forth over several months, President Donald Trump announced on July 9, 2025, that he planned to levy a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports to the United States. While Brazilian authorities, along with leaders of most other countries, have been expecting new tariffs given their centrality to Trump’s economic agenda, the announcement seemingly caught Brazilian officials off guard, as trade negotiations between the two nations were still ongoing.

    Brazil President Lula da Silva was quick in reacting, stating his country could respond in kind, if tariffs indeed come into effect on Aug. 1.

    There has been much speculation about the reasons behind Trump’s decision and timing, with some onlookers noting the proximity to the recent meeting of the BRICS nations, a grouping of emerging economies, including Brazil, which had already drawn Trump’s ire. Others argued that this was a protective measure to defend key U.S. industries, such as steel, which have been facing continued difficulties against cheaper products from Brazil.

    The clearest answer, however, came from Trump himself.

    In a letter to Lula, the U.S. president indicated that his main grievance with Brazil is in fact the trial that former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces in front of that country’s highest court. The former far-right firebrand is charged for refusing to recognize the result of the last presidential election in October 2022 and for allegedly having led an attempted coup against the democratic institutions and rule of law in January 2023. If convicted, Bolsonaro and some of his closest associates could face long prison sentences.

    A history of meddling

    The only economic rationale mentioned in Trump’s letter, that of a deficit that his country is said to face with Brazil, is belied by the numbers. The U.S. has sustained consistent surpluses in trade with the South American nation for close to two decades now.

    And Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, active cheerleader and primary conduit between the Trump camp and Bolsonaro, was even more blunt than the U.S. president. In an interview with one of Brazil’s main news site, he stated: “Stop the trial and we will reverse the tariffs.”

    Bolsonaro meets with Trump during the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019.
    Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

    As the history of U.S.-Latin American relations ably demonstrates, this is far from the first time Washington has meddled in the region in order to satisfy its own political proclivities. Indeed, particularly during the Cold War, a slew of U.S. decision-makers actively intervened to support friendly right-wing regimes or to otherwise remove from power administrations considered unacceptably independent.

    This was nonetheless the first time in recent history that the official U.S. position is that a foreign nation should face harsh economic punishment unless its current government illegally circumvent the judicary’s constitutional role to stop a major investigation against someone accused of high crimes.

    Trump-Bolsonaro: Mutual admiration

    Of course, Trump’s overt support for Bolsonaro is not surprising, nor new. Their relationship of mutual admiration and ideological affinity hearkens back to the latter’s first presidential campaign in 2018, when he was labeled, to great reciprocal delight, the “Trump of the Tropics.”

    During the subsequent two years when their terms coincided (2019-2000), both men pledged to have a mutual special relationship, though to little consequence – no consequential bilateral projects were put in place.

    Both leaders also share the experience of having failed to obtain a second consecutive term and having supported the derailment of the peaceful transfer of power.

    Now that Trump is back in power, Bolsonaro hopes that the U.S. president will come to his rescue.

    Seeking to obtain explicit support, Bolsonaro’s third son, Eduardo, a member of Brazil’s lower house of congress and his family’s most eloquent international voice, took a leave from his legislative duties and moved to the U.S. early this year. He did so to lobby on behalf of his father based on the fallacious argument that Lula is a left-wing dictator, that Bolsonaro faces a politically motivated trial, and that the U.S. government should act against Lula’s administration.

    Given Trump’s tariff notice and the explicit reasons he gave for it, it seems safe to assume that Eduardo’s actions paid dividends.

    Which direction will Brazil head?

    Like the U.S., Brazil is deeply fractured along left and right political lines. So it was no surprise that the local reactions to Trump’s announcement manifested along ideological camps.

    Despite their leader’s legal travails, Bolsonaro’s supporters remain very influential in politics, the media and among important economic areas, such as the agribusiness sector. Whether Trump’s decision will serve to help people rally around and in support of Lula and against a case of foreign interference is unclear. Lula’s initial pronouncement that Brazil would respond in kind was seen favorably among his supporters, though the opposition and many in the media pinned the blame on Lula for not being able to forge compromise with the Trump administration.

    Key industrialists in the powerful state of Sao Paulo, where Bolsonaro’s powerful ally Tarcisio de Freitas serves as governor, will be the first ones affected by the new tariffs. But the pain will likely spread into other activities, including in the countryside.

    And given that the bulk of the country’s agricultural exports go to China rather than to the U.S., the important question is whether these powerful exporters will act pragmatically and work with Lula to enlarge trade with the Asian giant and other countries, or whether they will continue to act ideologically and continue to support Bolsonaro’s enduring partnership with Trump against their own economic interests.

    Dialogue has been a hallmark of Brazil’s diplomacy, and even in the middle of these latest heated diplomatic exchanges, Lula reiterated his willingness to negotiate. It is unclear, though, whether the Trump adminstration’s actions in Latin America will be conducted on the basis of rationality and actual numbers, or if they will indeed bring back some old ideologically driven behaviors of picking sides in the internal political disputes of foreign nations. Should one consider at face value Trump’s latest letter, there is reason for concern.

    Rafael R. Ioris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump’s Brazil tariffs point more to his enduring bond with far-right Bolsonaro than economic concerns – https://theconversation.com/trumps-brazil-tariffs-point-more-to-his-enduring-bond-with-far-right-bolsonaro-than-economic-concerns-260993

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ivey, Van Hollen, Klobuchar Lead Over 70 Members in Pressing Administration on Conflicting Orders Fueling Uncertainty Among Afghans Living in U.S.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), .S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.),, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led 73 of their colleagues in pressing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for answers on the Trump Administration’s inconsistent policies regarding Afghanistan and the legal status of Afghan nationals living in the U.S. – many of whom played important roles in supporting American servicemembers during the war in Afghanistan over two decades. In the letter, the lawmakers point out that the justifications for the decisions to implement a large-scale travel ban, which applies to Afghanistan, and terminate Temporary Protected Status conflict with one another. The lawmakers ask Secretary Rubio how the State Department arrived at these determinations and whether it can guarantee that Afghans who may be forced to leave the U.S. will not face danger upon their return to their home country – should the termination of Afghanistan’s TPS designation be upheld. 

    The lawmakers’ concerns over the safety of Afghan nationals who may be forced to leave the U.S. stem from a recent State Department human rights report covering Afghanistan finding that the Taliban has increased restrictions on freedom of expression and significantly eroded women’s rights. Additionally, Afghanistan remains gripped by violence and instability; the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, many risk being caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP, threatening their human rights and freedoms. These risks are on top of those already incurred by the men and women who have previously assisted the United States military and face retribution for their support to our armed forces. 

    “We write to you with deep concern over President Donald Trump’s recently announced so-called travel ban and its striking inconsistency with the Department of Homeland Security’s justification for termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. We respectfully request that you provide detailed information regarding the State Department’s assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan to clarify the Trump Administration’s position,” the lawmakers began.

    They quoted the determination that Secretary Rubio made upon consultation over the decision to include Afghanistan in the Administration’s travel ban proclamation, writing, “Specifically, the proclamation bans most entry into the United States from Afghanistan, stating the following as justification: ‘The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan. Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.’

    “As you know, the U.S. visa vetting system is a multi-layered process involving extensive background checks, biometric data collection, interagency information sharing, and screening against a range of national security databases that works to keep residents of our country safe,” the lawmakers continued. “According to the Brennan Center for Justice, “[m]ore than 40 national security experts from across the political spectrum have unequivocally told courts that travelers to the U.S. should not be vetted on religious or national stereotypes, but rather on specific threat information.” Categorically banning foreign nationals from coming to the United States based on their country of origin is discriminatory and harmful to our nation’s international relations and security interests. 

    Highlighting the inconsistencies between the reasoning for including Afghanistan in the travel ban and ending the country’s TPS designation, they wrote, “This [travel ban] determination appears to be at odds with the Trump Administration’s stated position just weeks ago. May 12, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem announced that DHS was ending TPS for Afghanistan. The basis offered in the Federal Register notice for this decision was ‘notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.’

    “As you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States,” they went on to write.

    They asked Secretary Rubio to address the following questions:

    1. Please provide detailed reports or information that the State Department is relying upon in advising the Department of Homeland Security and the White House as to the conditions in Afghanistan.
    2. How can you assure Afghan nationals fearing persecution in Afghanistan that the Taliban will not retaliate against them based upon their relationship with the United States?

    In addition to Congressman Ivey, Senator Van Hollen, and Senator Klobuchar, the letter was signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Ami Bera (D-Calif.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Calif.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

     

    The full text of the letter is available here and below.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    We write to you with deep concern over President Donald Trump’s recently announced so-called travel ban and its striking inconsistency with the Department of Homeland Security’s justification for termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. We respectfully request that you provide detailed information regarding the State Department’s assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan to clarify the Trump Administration’s position. 

    On June 4, 2025, President Trump announced via a proclamation entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats” that he was imposing travel restrictions for foreign nationals entering the United States. Among the countries included in this proclamation is Afghanistan. Specifically, the proclamation bans most entry into the United States from Afghanistan, stating the following as justification: 

    “The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan. Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.” 

    As you know, the U.S. visa vetting system is a multi-layered process involving extensive background checks, biometric data collection, interagency information sharing, and screening against a range of national security databases that works to keep residents of our country safe. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, “[m]ore than 40 national security experts from across the political spectrum have unequivocally told courts that travelers to the U.S. should not be vetted on religious or national stereotypes, but rather on specific threat information.” Categorically banning foreign nationals from coming to the United States based on their country of origin is discriminatory and harmful to our nation’s international relations and security interests.

    The proclamation further states that you, as the Secretary of State, were directed to make this determination, in consultation with other members of the President’s Cabinet including the Secretary of Homeland Security. Per the proclamation, you ultimately determined that “a number of countries remain deficient with regards to screening and vetting,” including the country of Afghanistan. Placing a blanket ban on another country’s citizens is a severe action, and the title of the proclamation states that it is being done “to protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats.” This determination appears to be at odds with the Trump Administration’s stated position just weeks ago. On May 12, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem announced that DHS was ending TPS for Afghanistan. The basis offered in the Federal Register notice for this decision was “notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.” Specifically, the notice points to:

    1. the totality of Taliban rule and lessening overt presence of ISIS-K and other various terrorist organizations;
    2. a decrease in large-scale violence and humanitarian need;
    3. a growing economy; and
    4. increased tourism, with tourists “sharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage.”

    Further, Secretary Noem found that “permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States.” The Federal Register notice cited consultation with your Department in making this determination.

    These seemingly incompatible recent decisions indicate a troubling lack of consistency in the Administration’s analysis of country conditions in Afghanistan. Either Afghanistan is safe for the return of Afghan refugees and nationals that fled following the return of the Taliban to power or it is not. 

    According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls, who are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk. Additionally, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP.  

    As you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States. 

    We would request that you immediately provide answers to the following questions:

    1. Please provide detailed reports or information that the State Department is relying upon in advising the Department of Homeland Security and the White House as to the conditions in Afghanistan.
    2. How can you assure Afghan nationals fearing persecution in Afghanistan that the Taliban will not retaliate against them based upon their relationship with the United States?

    Congress has a strong interest in understanding what information the Trump Administration is using to carry out its policies and how it is making national security decisions that impact all of our constituents. We look forward to receiving your response.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Alaska Private Nonprofits Affected by Landslides

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Alaska of the Aug. 13, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the landslides occurring Aug. 25, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Ketchikan Gateway Borough of Alaska.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible private nonprofits cover both physical as well as economic injury after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help private nonprofits get back on their feet but help them rebuild.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 13.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Wyoming Private Nonprofits Affected by Wildfires

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Wyoming of the Aug. 13, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by wildfires occurring Aug. 21-31, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Wyoming counties of Campbell and Johnson.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible private nonprofits cover both physical damage as well as economic injury after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help private nonprofits get back on their feet but help them rebuild.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 13.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to the Crow Tribe of Montana Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by August Storm

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Crow Tribe of Montana of the Aug. 14, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm and straight-line winds occurring Aug. 6, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the Crow Tribe of Montana as well as the Montana counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, and Yellowstone and the Wyoming counties of Big Horn and Sheridan.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 14.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Record MTA Ridership and Performance for 2025

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is on track to deliver a record-breaking year, following the success of the first six months of 2025. New York City Transit (NYCT), Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad ridership and on-time performance have all improved in the first half of the year, while customer satisfaction rates are up across all agencies. This comes while the MTA executes a historic capital plan, investing in state-of-good-repair work that will ensure the system continues to run reliably and safely for generations to come. Safety in the subway system continues to improve with overall major crimes dropping by 3.2 percent from the same period last year and by almost 10 percent when compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

    “MTA ridership, performance and safety are all improving dramatically in 2025, serving nearly six million New Yorkers every day and keeping New York moving,” Governor Hochul said. “Thanks to the investments we’re making in safer, more reliable and more frequent service, riders are benefitting every day. When transit is thriving, New York is thriving.”

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “The new MTA is a business-like organization that delivers for customers, and the proof is in the data – soaring ridership, historic levels of on-time performance and major improvements in customer satisfaction.”

    In the past several years, Governor Hochul and the MTA have increased service across the MTA network. In 2023 and 2024, weekend and off-peak weekday service was increased on 12 subway lines, reducing wait times for millions of customers. The opening of Grand Central Madison in 2023 enabled a 41 percent increase in service on the Long Island Rail Road. Bus service has improved across the city: service was increased on 8 express and 15 local routes with high-ridership earlier this year, following the launch of congestion pricing. The Queens Bus Network Redesign, which began its first phase June 29, expands 24-hour service to hundreds of thousands of Queens bus riders and includes a $35 million annual investment in more service for the borough.

    New York City Transit
    In the first half of 2025, performance across New York City Transit was at historic highs. Weekday subway on-time performance in the first six months of 2025 was 83.7 percent, 2.4 percentage points higher than the same time last year and on track for the best non-pandemic year in recorded history. Weekday subway delays are down 11 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, while weekend delays were down 14 percent. Bus service delivery was above 95 percent each month of 2025, and bus speeds have improved over the first half of the year, thanks in part to reduced gridlock following the start of congestion pricing. Across the board, customers are happier. In the biannual customer survey completed this spring, satisfaction for subways rose 8 percent, satisfaction for local buses rose 11 percent, and satisfaction for express buses rose 9 percent compared to the Fall of 2024.

    Ridership has also surged in 2025. The first half of the year has seen record post-pandemic ridership for subways, buses and paratransit. In June, NYCT surpassed 106 million rides, up 10 percent from 2024. 2025 subway ridership is up 8 percent compared to 2024 and 31 percent compared to 2022. Ridership gains have continued, with the first post-pandemic July days to exceed four million subway riders reached on July 9 and 10. Bus ridership has also grown in 2025, with ridership up 12 percent compared to 2024. Bus paid ridership has grown in part following the MTA’s efforts to improve fare compliance through targeted deployments of fare enforcement teams. Combined, buses and subways have carried over 850 million customers in the first half of 2025.

    Paratransit has also continued to see huge ridership and performance gains. In June, Paratransit served 1.3 million Paratransit riders on 904,000 completed trips, both above previous pre-Covid peaks, and delivered an on-time performance rate of 92 percent for the month. Customer satisfaction has remained high with rates staying above 78 percent every month of 2025.

    Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad
    In June, LIRR hit a new post-pandemic high for weekday riders by averaging 266,047 weekday riders. On June 18, LIRR set a new single day post-pandemic ridership record, carrying 287,437 customers. LIRR carried 6.9 million customers in June, representing 89 percent of pre-pandemic ridership — the best June since 2019. Year-to-date ridership on LIRR is up 9 percent compared to 2024 and up 64 percent from 2022. LIRR also achieved the best June non-pandemic On-Time Performance in its history at 95.9 percent, up 1.4 percentage points from 2024.

    On June 18, Metro-North carried nearly 259,000 riders and average weekday ridership for the month of June was 235,450, both new post-pandemic highs. Year-to-date Metro-North ridership is up 6 percent compared to 2024 and up 63 percent compared to 2022. Metro-North delivered an On-Time Performance rate of 98 percent in June, continuing its outstanding start to 2025. In the customer survey completed this spring, Metro-North received a satisfaction rating of 89 percent from customers, an increase of 4 percent from the Fall 2024 survey, while satisfaction among LIRR customers surged 11 percentage points from this time last year.

    New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “NYC Transit is working hard to deliver fast, reliable and safe service for riders and that determination is reflected in these historic on-time performance and ridership numbers. We’ll keep up the momentum and build on this success across Subways, Buses and Paratransit as we head into the rest of the year.”

    Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said, “Not only do riders have more service options than ever before, but we’re getting them where they need to go more reliably with record levels of on-time performance. The big gains we’ve made in customer satisfaction prove that riders are noticing our commitment to great service and we will work even harder to improve the customer experience.”

    Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek said, “Riders are responding to the great service Metro-North is providing by choosing to take the train in record numbers. And we’ll continue to deliver safe and reliable service that they can count on.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong, agency leaders meet with Turtle Mountain officials in Belcourt to strengthen partnerships

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong and representatives from more than a dozen state agencies visited the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) today in Belcourt to strengthen state-tribal partnerships and identify shared priorities for further collaboration.

    The visit was part of Armstrong’s commitment to visit all five tribal nations in North Dakota during his first year in office. The North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission is facilitating the visits to the tribal nations introduce the new administration and build stronger relationships and effective partnerships.

    “We want to build on our relationships, partnerships and conversations that began at the Government to Government seminar and bring these conversations to you,” Armstrong said.  “These visits serve as listening sessions, opportunities to hear directly from tribal leaders and community members, gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities each nation faces and foster mutual respect rooted in history, culture and sovereignty.”

    The governor and Cabinet agency leaders met with TMBCI Chairman Jamie Azure and Tribal Council members and agency representatives, District 9 state legislators and other stakeholders at Sky Dancer Event Center. Discussion covered a wide range topics including health care and behavioral health, education, economic and workforce development, public safety and law enforcement, corrections, emergency management, transportation, gaming, natural resources, hunting access, and the need to extend natural gas service to the reservation.

    State agencies and offices represented in today’s discussions included the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Department of Commerce, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Health and Human Services including the Commissioner of Recovery and Reentry, Department of Public Instruction, State Fire Marshal, Governor’s Office, Game and Fish Department, and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Job Service ND, Insurance & Securities Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the state-tribal Northland Narcotics Task Force. Other participating partners included the North Dakota Tribal College System, First Nation Women’s Alliance (MMIP), Broadband Association of North Dakota, Spirit Lake Nation, and United and Turtle Mountain Communications, Tribal Nations Research Group, USDA Rural Development, Turtle Mountain Recovery Center and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    Before breakout sessions, Armstrong challenged participants to move the dialogue forward into actionable solutions and address problems before they become crises. He emphasized the importance of open lines of communication, citing as an example the state’s role in helping Turtle Mountain battle wildfires that burned thousands of acres in early May.

    Azure, the TMBCI chairman, said he’s hoping the dialogue and “hard discussions” can lead to more substantive action, and he thanked Armstrong for bringing his administration and other state agencies to Belcourt.

    “We appreciate people coming to our lands,” he said. “You can see with your own eyes … a lot of the issues, a lot of the infrastructure needs. While you’re here, you are guests, you are friends.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong, agency leaders meet with Turtle Mountain officials in Belcourt to strengthen partnerships

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong and representatives from more than a dozen state agencies visited the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) today in Belcourt to strengthen state-tribal partnerships and identify shared priorities for further collaboration.

    The visit was part of Armstrong’s commitment to visit all five tribal nations in North Dakota during his first year in office. The North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission is facilitating the visits to the tribal nations introduce the new administration and build stronger relationships and effective partnerships.

    “We want to build on our relationships, partnerships and conversations that began at the Government to Government seminar and bring these conversations to you,” Armstrong said.  “These visits serve as listening sessions, opportunities to hear directly from tribal leaders and community members, gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities each nation faces and foster mutual respect rooted in history, culture and sovereignty.”

    The governor and Cabinet agency leaders met with TMBCI Chairman Jamie Azure and Tribal Council members and agency representatives, District 9 state legislators and other stakeholders at Sky Dancer Event Center. Discussion covered a wide range topics including health care and behavioral health, education, economic and workforce development, public safety and law enforcement, corrections, emergency management, transportation, gaming, natural resources, hunting access, and the need to extend natural gas service to the reservation.

    State agencies and offices represented in today’s discussions included the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Department of Commerce, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Health and Human Services including the Commissioner of Recovery and Reentry, Department of Public Instruction, State Fire Marshal, Governor’s Office, Game and Fish Department, and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Job Service ND, Insurance & Securities Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the state-tribal Northland Narcotics Task Force. Other participating partners included the North Dakota Tribal College System, First Nation Women’s Alliance (MMIP), Broadband Association of North Dakota, Spirit Lake Nation, and United and Turtle Mountain Communications, Tribal Nations Research Group, USDA Rural Development, Turtle Mountain Recovery Center and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    Before breakout sessions, Armstrong challenged participants to move the dialogue forward into actionable solutions and address problems before they become crises. He emphasized the importance of open lines of communication, citing as an example the state’s role in helping Turtle Mountain battle wildfires that burned thousands of acres in early May.

    Azure, the TMBCI chairman, said he’s hoping the dialogue and “hard discussions” can lead to more substantive action, and he thanked Armstrong for bringing his administration and other state agencies to Belcourt.

    “We appreciate people coming to our lands,” he said. “You can see with your own eyes … a lot of the issues, a lot of the infrastructure needs. While you’re here, you are guests, you are friends.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong statement on passing of Dr. Tom Strinden, husband of Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Dr. Tom Strinden, husband of Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden. Tom Strinden passed peacefully Sunday, July 13, at their family lake home, surrounded by his loving family following a 17-month battle against brain cancer.

    “Tom valiantly fought cancer the same way he lived his life – with an unshakable faith in his savior Jesus Christ and an unwavering commitment to his family,” Armstrong said. “Tom was Michelle’s biggest fan, encouraging her to enter public service and supporting her journey to the Legislature and lieutenant governor’s office. Even after his cancer diagnosis and initial surgery, he returned to his work as a gifted eye surgeon who cared deeply about his patients and improving their quality of life. From coaching and supporting hockey programs to hunting and fishing with his kids, to making regular medical mission trips around the globe, Tom lived life to the fullest – with the happiness of others always his top priority. Our hearts go out to Michelle, Jacob, Joe, Ben, Sarah, and the entire Strinden and Strecker families. We ask all North Dakotans to pray for them as they grieve this enormous loss.”

    Funeral arrangements are pending. The Strinden family asks for privacy during this difficult time.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California’s Seasonally Rotating Pocket Beaches

    Source: US Geological Survey

    “This study shows that there is a seasonal predictability to these pocket beaches, which are a fundamental landform type along California’s rocky shore,” said USGS Research Geologist Jon Warrick, lead author of the study.

    Because the dataset used primarily captured medium and large beaches, researchers believe many more pocket beaches exhibit similar rotational behavior but went undetected due to their small size. That means the number of seasonally rotating beaches may be significantly undercounted.

    Understanding how these pocket beaches behave over time is important not only for managing erosion and habitat change, but also for improving models that forecast coastal response to climate-driven shifts in wave energy and sea level. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests 1,361 criminal aliens in Houston area in June

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    July 14, 2025Houston, TX, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

    Among the aliens arrested were 32 child predators, 9 murderers, 16 gang or cartel members, and one alien convicted for hijacking an airplane

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 1,361 illegal aliens in the Houston area during the month of June who are currently charged with, or have been convicted of, a criminal offense after illegally entering the United States. Among the criminal aliens arrested were 32 aliens convicted of child sex offenses, nine aliens convicted for homicide-related offenses, 16 documented members of a transnational gang or drug cartel, and one alien convicted for hijacking an airplane on its way to Key West from Cuba.

    “Despite attempts by some to undermine our mission by spreading false and malicious rumors, the brave men and women of ICE continue to work tirelessly around the clock targeting dangerous criminal aliens to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system and bolster public safety in our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez. “The number of dangerous criminal aliens that they removed from local communities across Southeast Texas last month is just another example of their selfless and unyielding efforts to return our local communities to places where we can all raise our families without having to worry about child predators, gang members, or other violent criminal aliens preying on our loved ones.”

    Among the criminal aliens arrested in June by the ICE ERO Houston field office were: 

    • Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez, a 56-year-old criminal alien from Cuba, arrested by ICE June 29 who was convicted in 2003 of hijacking an airplane traveling from Cuba to Key West, Florida.
    • Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes, a 47-year-old criminal alien from Mexico and former Mexicles gang member, arrested by ICE June 13 who has illegally entered the U.S. six times and been convicted twice for trafficking cocaine, and once for attempted murder, evading arrest, illegal entry, and drug possession.
    • Luis Pablo Vasquez-Estolano, a 29-year-old, six-time deported criminal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE June 10 who has been convicted of homicide, aggravated robbery, burglary of a vehicle, and drug possession.
    • Jose Meza, a 40-year-old criminal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE June 24 who has illegally entered the U.S. four times and been convicted of sexual assault of a minor and theft.
    • Javier Escobar Gonzalez, a 51-year-old criminal alien from Mexico, arrested by ICE June 23 who has been convicted of sexual indecency with a minor, criminal trespass with a deadly weapon, driving while intoxicated, and unauthorized use of a firearm.

    The arrests were part of the ERO Houston field office’s routine immigration enforcement activities being conducted alongside federal, state and local law enforcement agencies daily throughout Southeast Texas to enhance public safety, national security and border security.

    To learn more about ICE’s mission to combat illegal immigration in Southeast Texas follow us on X at @EROHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SECAF, CSAF recognize Airmen who supported Operation Midnight Hammer

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: SECAF, CSAF recognize Airmen who supported Operation Midnight Hammer

    Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Allvin visited US Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command and Scott Air Force Base to engage with service members and highlight contributions to Operation Midnight Hammer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SECAF, CSAF recognize Airmen who supported Operation Midnight Hammer

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: SECAF, CSAF recognize Airmen who supported Operation Midnight Hammer

    Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Allvin visited US Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command and Scott Air Force Base to engage with service members and highlight contributions to Operation Midnight Hammer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: READOUT: Heinrich, Luján Meet with New Mexicans Affected by Severe Flooding in Ruidoso

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    PHOTOS & VIDEO
    RUIDOSO, N.M. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) met with New Mexicans affected by severe flash flooding in Ruidoso, received an update on the disaster and future recovery efforts, and delivered supplies to flood victims.
    PHOTO: U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) meet with local leaders in Ruidoso, July 11, 2025. 
    “What we saw yesterday was devastation – to businesses, properties, and families whose lives changed overnight. But we also saw enormous community strength. It will take time, resources, and work to rebuild, and this community is ready. Talking with the local leaders and impacted residents, it’s clear that we can all support their work, and we must,” said Heinrich. “I am grateful to all those, on the ground and from afar, who are working to support Ruidoso in this critical time. My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy. And I will keep urging President Trump to approve a full Major Disaster Declaration to unlock all the federal support needed to rebuild.”
    “Seeing the devastation from the flooding in Ruidoso firsthand is heartbreaking and tragic,” said Luján. “My prayers are with the families who lost loved ones, and with those who were injured or forced from their homes. I’m deeply grateful to the first responders whose quick action saved lives, and to the local leaders whose tireless work is guiding the community through this crisis. With more rain projected this weekend, I encourage residents to stay vigilant. The road to recovery is just getting underway, but the approval of an emergency declaration is a critical first step. I’ll keep working with our Congressional Delegation to push for a Major Disaster Declaration and to deliver the federal support that Ruidoso families need to rebuild.”
    Earlier this week, Heinrich, Luján, and the rest of the N.M. Congressional Delegation welcomed the President’s granting of an emergency declaration for Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, and Valencia Counties, while renewing their call for President Trump to grant a Major Disaster Declaration in the wake of severe flooding that took the lives of three people and damaged homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
    The emergency declaration opens up access to specific FEMA funds for immediate disaster response, including support for search and rescue and incident management efforts. An emergency declaration does not preclude a subsequent Major Disaster Declaration. Therefore, the N.M. Delegation will continue to push President Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
    Through a Major Disaster Declaration request, the State of New Mexico has requested Public Assistance, Category A through G, including Direct Federal Assistance for Lincoln County, Chaves County, Otero County, and Valencia County, as well as Individual Assistance, including Housing Assistance, Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance, Disaster Case Management, Transitional Sheltering Assistance, Serious Needs Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Unemployment, and Displacement Assistance for Lincoln County and Valencia County. The State also requested Hazard Mitigation statewide, as facilitated by New Mexico’s Natural Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Paramount’s $16 Million Settlement with President Trump, Luján, Markey Urge FCC to Hold Full Commission Vote on Paramount Merger

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Senators Send Letter to Commissioner Olivia Trusty Urging Her to Support a Full Commission Vote on the Merger
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Olivia Trusty, urging the FCC to hold a full Commission vote on the pending Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger. On July 2, Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump. In May 2025, as Paramount was reportedly pushing for the settlement to help facilitate approval of its merger, Senators Luján and Markey wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr requesting that the FCC hold a full Committee vote on the Paramount-Skydance merger.
    In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As we explained in a letter to Chairman Brendan Carr in May, the Paramount-Skydance merger is unique in the FCC’s storied history, with the sitting President actively litigating against a news organization whose parent is seeking FCC approval of a major media merger. In that baseless lawsuit, Trump falsely alleged that CBS had violated state consumer protection laws through its editorial decisions around an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Although the transcript of the interview indisputably showed that Trump’s claims were a flagrant attempt to intimate the media, Paramount has nevertheless agreed to settle that lawsuit for $16 million. This settlement casts a shadow over the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger and raises serious questions about the editorial independence of one of the nation’s largest media organizations. The Commission cannot turn a blind eye to this context.”
    The lawmakers conclude, “For that reason, in our May letter, we urged Chairman Carr to hold a vote on the merger by the full Commission, instead of unilaterally directing the Media Bureau to approve it on its delegated authority. Commissioner Anna Gomez has similarly called for a full Commission vote on the merger. We respectfully request you to join her and encourage Chairman Carr to schedule a full Commission vote. The FCC owes the public a transparent, deliberative process on such a high-profile and controversial issue.”
    As Ranking Member of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, Senator Luján has pushed back against attacks on news organizations. In February, Senators Luján, Markey, and Peters wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Nathan Simington condemning actions taken by the FCC under the Trump administration demonstrating that the FCC is weaponizing its authority over broadcasters and public media for political purposes. In March, Senators Luján, Markey, and Rosen introduced the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. In May, Senators Luján and Markey wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr requesting that the FCC hold a full Committee vote on the Paramount-Skydance merger.
    Read the full letter here or below:
    Dear Commissioner Trusty,
    Congratulations on your recent confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). We write today regarding the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media now pending before the FCC. Paramount’s recent agreement to settle for $16 million a frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against CBS — a Paramount subsidiary — over its editorial decision-making raises serious questions about Paramount’s rationale for the settlement and its implications for media independence. For that reason, we urge you to insist that the FCC conduct its merger review with the utmost transparency, including holding a full Commission vote on any order to approve the merger.
    As we explained in a letter to Chairman Brendan Carr in May, the Paramount-Skydance merger is unique in the FCC’s storied history, with the sitting President actively litigating against a news organization whose parent is seeking FCC approval of a major media merger. In that baseless lawsuit, Trump falsely alleged that CBS had violated state consumer protection laws through its editorial decisions around an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Although the transcript of the interview indisputably showed that Trump’s claims were a flagrant attempt to intimate the media, Paramount has nevertheless agreed to settle that lawsuit for $16 million. This settlement casts a shadow over the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger and raises serious questions about the editorial independence of one of the nation’s largest media organizations. The Commission cannot turn a blind eye to this context.
    For that reason, in our May letter, we urged Chairman Carr to hold a vote on the merger by the full Commission, instead of unilaterally directing the Media Bureau to approve it on its delegated authority. Commissioner Anna Gomez has similarly called for a full Commission vote on the merger. We respectfully request you to join her and encourage Chairman Carr to schedule a full Commission vote. The FCC owes the public a transparent, deliberative process on such a high-profile and controversial issue.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure that our media and communications systems serve the public interest, uphold democratic values, and reflect the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: IoT Microcontroller Market to Reach USD 18.76 Billion by 2032 at 16.50% CAGR, Driven by Surge in Smart Device Adoption: AnalystView Market Insights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, USA, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The global IoT Microcontroller Market is on a robust growth path, projected to reach a market size of USD 18,765.80 million by 2032, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.50% during the forecast period. This rapid expansion is largely fueled by the ever-growing deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices across both consumer and industrial landscapes.

    IoT microcontrollers are compact, power-efficient chips that function as the brains of connected devices. These chips manage real-time operations, data processing, and communication between sensors, actuators, and networks. As the number of connected devices continues to grow exponentially, so does the need for smarter, faster, and more energy-efficient microcontrollers. From smartwatches and home appliances to industrial machinery and autonomous vehicles, IoT microcontrollers play a pivotal role in enabling seamless device intelligence. According to the OECD, the number of IoT connections globally surpassed non‑IoT connections in 2020, marking a pivotal shift toward smart, interconnected devices.

    Get Instant Access to the Sample Report PDF @ https://analystviewmarketinsights.com/request_sample/AV3782

    Proliferation of Smart Devices and Systems- Primary Driving Forces Behind Market Growth

    One of the primary drivers propelling this market is the proliferation of smart devices and systems across virtually every sector. In the UK, Ofcom reports growth from 13.3 million IoT connections in 2016 to an estimated 39.9 million by 2024, driven by smart device proliferation. In the consumer space, applications such as smart homes, fitness trackers, and wearable health devices rely on microcontrollers to perform quick computations while conserving battery life. On the industrial side, microcontrollers are integral to smart factories, smart agriculture, and automated energy systems. These applications demand rugged, reliable chips that can function under a wide range of operating conditions.

    The increasing adoption of edge computing is another major catalyst. As businesses and developers move processing capabilities closer to the data source, there is a growing demand for microcontrollers that can handle localized, real-time processing without constant reliance on cloud infrastructure. This reduces latency, improves performance, and supports faster decision-making—particularly important for critical applications like industrial automation, autonomous systems, and healthcare diagnostics.

    Technological Advancements Pushing Innovation

    The IoT microcontroller space is witnessing continuous innovation aimed at increasing processing power, improving wireless communication, and extending battery life. Manufacturers are focusing on integrating support for the latest communication standards, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), NB-IoT, and LoRaWAN. These features are crucial for seamless device-to-device communication and for supporting massive IoT deployments in smart cities and industrial environments.

    Another key area of focus is low-power architecture. With many IoT devices operating on small batteries or energy-harvesting solutions, minimizing power consumption is a top priority. Modern microcontrollers are now equipped with advanced sleep modes, efficient wake-up cycles, and intelligent power management features that help extend device life significantly.

    Moreover, the integration of AI and machine learning at the edge is pushing the development of smarter microcontrollers capable of performing data analysis directly on the device. This is particularly useful in applications such as predictive maintenance, facial recognition, and anomaly detection, where real-time insights are critical.

    Industrial IoT as a Core Growth Segment

    Industrially, IoT microcontrollers are becoming a foundational technology for Industry 4.0 initiatives. Smart manufacturing, energy monitoring, predictive maintenance, and asset tracking all rely on microcontrollers to collect and process sensor data on-site. According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the demand for industrial IoT solutions is growing rapidly due to the global push toward automation and operational efficiency.

    In manufacturing, microcontrollers are used to monitor equipment health, control robotic systems, and enable adaptive production processes. In the energy and utilities sector, they support applications such as smart meters, grid automation, and energy-efficient building systems. As industries seek to digitize operations, the need for reliable and intelligent microcontrollers continues to intensify.

    TABLE OF CONTENT:

    1. IoT Microcontroller Market Overview
    1.1. Study Scope
    1.2. Market Estimation Years
    2. Executive Summary
    2.1. Market Snippet
    2.1.1. IoT Microcontroller Market Snippet by Product Type
    2.1.2. IoT Microcontroller Market Snippet by Application
    2.1.3. IoT Microcontroller Market Snippet by Architecture
    2.1.4. IoT Microcontroller Market Snippet by Country
    2.1.5. IoT Microcontroller Market Snippet by Region
    2.2. Competitive Insights
    3. IoT Microcontroller Key Market Trends
    3.1. IoT Microcontroller Market Drivers
    3.1.1. Impact Analysis of Market Drivers
    3.2. IoT Microcontroller Market Restraints
    3.2.1. Impact Analysis of Market Restraints
    3.3. IoT Microcontroller Market Opportunities
    3.4. IoT Microcontroller Market Future Trends
    4. IoT Microcontroller Industry Study
    4.1. PEST Analysis
    4.2. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    4.3. Growth Prospect Mapping
    4.4. Regulatory Framework Analysis ……

    Regional Insights: North America Leading the Way

    North America currently dominates the global IoT microcontroller market, thanks to its well-established tech ecosystem, advanced research facilities, and widespread adoption of IoT technologies across multiple industries. The region is home to numerous cloud service providers, semiconductor giants, and IoT platform companies, all contributing to a strong demand for microcontroller solutions. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, over 100 U.S. cities have launched smart grid and intelligent transportation initiatives that rely heavily on IoT microcontroller-based sensors and gateways—fueling North America’s roughly 30% share of the global IoT MCU market in 2024.

    Asia-Pacific, however, is rapidly emerging as a high-growth market, driven by massive manufacturing capabilities in China, South Korea, and Japan, as well as increased IoT adoption in India and Southeast Asia. The region benefits from a large consumer base, expanding smart city projects, and rising investments in industrial automation.

    Strategic Moves by Market Players

    Companies in the IoT microcontroller space are employing diverse strategies to stay ahead in this competitive landscape. Key among these are:

    • Product Innovation: Firms are continually enhancing chip design to offer better performance, lower power consumption, and improved security.
    • Collaborations & Alliances: Semiconductor manufacturers are partnering with cloud providers, IoT platform developers, and system integrators to deliver end-to-end solutions tailored to specific use cases.
    • R&D Investment: Significant resources are being allocated to research next-generation microcontrollers that can handle AI tasks, secure communications, and complex real-time analytics.

    Moreover, many vendors are embracing open-source development platforms and providing developer tools, software libraries, and modular hardware kits to encourage rapid prototyping and foster developer communities. This lowers the barriers to IoT product development and helps accelerate market adoption.

    Outlook: A Foundation for the Connected Future

    As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the demand for smart, efficient, and reliable microcontrollers will only rise. The convergence of IoT, AI, and edge computing is transforming how data is processed and used, and microcontrollers sit at the heart of this transformation.

    Take a deep dive into regional competitiveness, market clusters, customer distribution, and business leaders@ https://analystviewmarketinsights.com/reports/report-highlight-iot-microcontroller-market 

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Philipp Kastner, Senior Lecturer in International Law, The University of Western Australia

    The governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda concluded a peace treaty in June 2025, aimed at ending a decades-long war in eastern DRC. The United Nations welcomed the agreement as “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability” in the region.

    I have analysed several different peace negotiations and agreements. It’s important to distinguish between what’s needed to get warring parties to the table, and what’s eventually agreed on. In this article, I examine whether the DRC-Rwanda deal has got the four essential components that usually signal that an agreement will hold.

    Two broad points about peace agreements, first – and one particular complication in the DRC-Rwanda case.

    Firstly, one agreement is rarely enough to resolve a complex conflict. Most deals are part of a series of agreements, sometimes between different actors. They often mention previously concluded ones, and will be referred to by subsequent ones.

    Secondly, peace is a process, and requires broad and sustained commitment. It is essential that other actors, like armed groups, are brought on board. Importantly, this also includes civil society actors. An agreement will be more legitimate and effective if different voices are heard during negotiations.

    One major complication in relation to the DRC-Rwanda deal is that the United States has been the prime broker. But rather than acting as a neutral mediator trying to bring about peace, Washington seems to be pursuing its own economic interests. This does not bode well.

    There is no simple recipe for a good peace agreement, but research shows that four elements are important: a serious commitment from the parties, precise wording, clear timelines and strong implementation provisions.

    What underpins a good agreement

    First, the parties need to be serious about the agreement and able to commit to its terms. It must not be used as a cover to buy time, re-arm or pursue fighting. Moreover, lasting peace cannot be made exclusively at the highest political level. Agreements that are the result of more inclusive processes, with input by and support from the communities concerned, have a higher success rate.

    Second, the agreement must address the issues it aims to resolve, and its provisions must be drafted carefully and unambiguously. When agreements are vague or silent on key aspects, they are often short-lived. Previous experiences can guide peace negotiators and mediators in the drafting process. Peace agreement databases established by the United Nations and academic institutions are a useful tool for this.

    Third, clear and realistic timelines are essential. These can concern the withdrawal of armed forces from specified territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the establishment of mechanisms providing reparations or other forms of transitional justice.

    Fourth, an agreement should include provisions on its implementation. External support is usually helpful here. Third states or international organisations, liked the United Nations and the African Union, can be mandated to oversee this phase. They can also provide security guarantees or even deploy a peacekeeping operation. What is crucial is that these actors are committed to the process and don’t pursue their own interests.



    Read more:
    DRC and Rwanda sign a US-brokered peace deal: what are the chances of its success?

    To know what to realistically expect from a specific peace agreement, it’s important to understand that such agreements can take very different forms. These range from pre-negotiation arrangements and ceasefires to comprehensive peace accords and implementation agreements.

    A lasting resolution of the conflict should not be expected when only a few conflict parties have concluded a temporary ceasefire.

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement: an important step with lots of shortcomings

    It’s difficult to tell at this point how serious the DRC and Rwanda are about peace, and if their commitment will be enough.

    Their assertion that they will respect each other’s territory and refrain from acts of aggression is certainly important.

    But Rwanda has a history of direct military activities in the DRC since the 1990s. And the treaty only includes rather vague references to the “disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda”. It doesn’t specifically mention the withdrawal of the reportedly thousands of Rwandan troops deployed to eastern DRC.

    The Paul Kagame-led Rwandan government has also supported Tutsi-dominated armed groups in the DRC since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) is the current primary military actor in eastern DRC. But the agreement between the governments of DRC and Rwanda didn’t include the M23 or other groups. The two governments only commit themselves to supporting the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the M23 facilitated by Qatar.

    The agreement also foresees the “neutralisation” of another armed group, the Hutu-dominated Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR). This group claims to protect Rwandan Hutu refugees in the DRC, but is considered “genocidal” by the Rwandan government. The group has reacted to this plan by calling for a political solution and a more inclusive peace process.

    What’s needed

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement includes provisions that are vital to the people most affected by the conflict, such as the return of the millions of people displaced because of the fighting in eastern DRC. But it does not address other key issues.

    For instance, aside from a general commitment to promote human rights and international humanitarian law, there is no reference to the widespread violations of human rights and war crimes reportedly committed by all sides. These include summary executions, and sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against children.

    Some form of justice and reconciliation mechanism to deal with such large-scale violence should be considered in this situation, as for instance in the fairly successful 2016 agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC). This could contribute to preventing further violations as it sends a clear signal that committing crimes will not be rewarded. It also helps the population heal and gives peace a better chance.

    There is no single model for this, and so-called transitional justice (defined as the “range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation”) remains highly controversial. For instance, insisting on war crimes trials can be seen as endangering a fragile peace process.

    But peace agreements across the world, from Libya to the Central African Republic, have over past decades moved away from blanket amnesties. They have increasingly included provisions to ensure accountability, especially for serious crimes. The DRC-Rwanda deal is silent on these questions.

    A twist in the tale

    The DRC-Rwanda deal is complicated by Washington’s role and pursuit of economic interests.

    The two states agreed to establish a joint oversight committee, with members of the African Union, Qatar and the United States. It foresees a “regional economic integration framework”, which has been criticised as opening the door for foreign influence in the DRC’s rich mineral resources. The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, for instance, which is essential for the renewable energy sector.

    Such a neocolonial “peace for exploitation bargain” does not send a positive signal. And it will probably not contribute to ending an armed conflict that has been fuelled by the exploitation of natural resources.

    Philipp Kastner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up – https://theconversation.com/4-things-every-peace-agreement-needs-and-how-the-drc-rwanda-deal-measures-up-260944

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OmegaPro founder, promoter charged for running global $650 million foreign exchange and crypto investment scam following ICE New York investigation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NEW YORK — An investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York, alongside several partners, has resulted in an indictment charging two men for their alleged roles in operating and promoting OmegaPro, an international investment scheme that defrauded victim investors of over $650 million.

    According to court documents, Michael Shannon Sims, 48, of Georgia and Florida, was a founder, strategic consultant, and promoter of OmegaPro, and Juan Carlos Reynoso, 57, of New Jersey and Florida, led OmegaPro’s operations in Latin America and parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

    “This case highlights the critical role international partnerships play in dismantling transnational financial fraud schemes that exploit global markets and victimize unsuspecting investors,” said ICE HSI International Operations Assistant Director Ricardo Mayoral. “HSI remains committed to working with our partners worldwide to disrupt criminal networks that weaponize emerging technologies to conceal illicit profits and defraud the public.”

    Mayoral; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico; Assistant Director Joe Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division; and Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation announced the charges on July 8.

    HSI New York, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case, with assistance from HSI Bangkok; HSI Bogota; HSI Frankfurt; HSI Istanbul; HSI London; HSI Miami; HSI New Delhi; HSI The Hague; the FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit; the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia; and the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement, an alliance between the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K., and IRS-CI.

    According to the investigation and as outlined in court documents:

    Sims and co-conspirators established OmegaPro in or about January 2019, and Reynoso joined a few months later, in or about April 2019. As alleged, the defendants and others operated and promoted OmegaPro as a multi-level marketing scheme for investors to purchase “investment packages,” which the defendants and others falsely promised would generate 300% returns over 16 months through foreign exchange trading by elite traders. Investors were instructed to purchase these investment packages using virtual currency.

    Sims allegedly misled victims by vouching for OmegaPro’s trading performance and the skills of the hired traders and by falsely advertising the safety of investment in OmegaPro. Reynoso allegedly falsely and misleadingly represented that OmegaPro was operating pursuant to a legitimate license and, at other times, that OmegaPro was not subject to any country’s legal rules. The indictment alleges that Sims and Reynoso, together with co-conspirators, hosted lavish OmegaPro promotional events and trainings all over the world including, for example, projecting the OmegaPro logo onto the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, at an event in Dubai. The objective of these promotional events allegedly was to convince existing and prospective investors that OmegaPro was a legitimate enterprise that offered a path to wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.

    Further, Sims, Reynoso, and their co-conspirators used social media to display their expensive vacations and cars, as well as their designer clothes and watches. The indictment alleges that through the defendants’ and others’ misrepresentations, OmegaPro raised over $650 million in virtual currency from thousands of investors. After OmegaPro announced that it had suffered a network hack, Reynoso and others told victims in or about January 2023 that their investments were secure and that OmegaPro was transferring their investments to another platform called Broker Group. Despite these representations, victims were unable to withdraw money from either their OmegaPro accounts or their accounts at Broker Group, resulting in millions in victim losses.

    The more than $650 million in funds raised from victims allegedly was first sent to virtual currency wallet addresses controlled by OmegaPro executives and then allegedly transferred to OmegaPro insiders and high-ranking promoters to disperse the funds and obscure their origins. As alleged, Sims and Reynoso both profited millions from this scheme.

    “As alleged, the defendants preyed upon vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad, defrauding them of over $650 million by making false promises of substantial returns and that their money was safe,” said Galeotti. “The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting these bad actors and pursuing justice for their many victims. Thanks to the dedicated work of our multiagency and international law enforcement partners, we are leading efforts to combat these complex and insidious digital asset investor scams.”

    “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants operated a global fraud scheme through OmegaPro that deceived investors with false promises of extraordinary returns, only to misappropriate hundreds of millions of victim funds,” said Muldrow. “We remain committed to dismantling international financial schemes that target U.S. victims — including here in Puerto Rico — and to recovering illicit proceeds through criminal prosecution and asset forfeiture.”

    “The FBI will not stand by while the American public is defrauded,” said Perez. “Through coordination with our partners, these individuals will have to defend their actions in a court of law.”

    “This case exposes the ruthless reality of modern financial crime,” said Ficco. “OmegaPro promised financial freedom but delivered financial ruin — stealing over $650 million from everyday people and vanishing it into virtual currency. These weren’t just scams; they were precision-engineered betrayals. Our job is to stand up for those who’ve been exploited and continue our cross-agency collaboration until those responsible are brought to justice.”

    Both defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Sims and Reynoso each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ivey Marks the Calendar for Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, Encourages Alabama Families to Stock Up on School Supplies

    Source: US State of Alabama

    MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Monday encouraged Alabamians to begin preparing for the upcoming academic year by participating in Alabama’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. The tax-free period will run from Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20, 2025.

    “A new school year brings new opportunities, and we want every Alabama student to step into the classroom ready to learn and succeed,” said Governor Ivey. “This tax holiday is one more way we’re supporting our Alabama families and reinforcing the importance of education across our state. When we invest in our students and equip them for success, we’re building a stronger future for all of Alabama.”

    During the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, items like pencils, paper, binders, calculators and rulers are free from state sales tax. The holiday also covers school uniforms, books and computers. For the full list of back-to-school items that qualify for the sales tax holiday, please visit this link.

    “ALDOR is pleased we can offer this tax-free opportunity to parents and caregivers across Alabama who are getting their children ready for the upcoming school year,” said Alabama Department of Revenue Commissioner Vernon Barnett. “Many counties, cities and towns are also participating in the tax-free holiday, so we encourage everyone in Alabama to take advantage, and we wish students all the best this year.”

    Counties and municipalities may also choose to participate in the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday by removing local sales and use taxes from the same selected items during the same weekend.

    You can see if your city, town or county is participating in the 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday at this link.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Twelfth Individual Charged in Alvarado Police Officer Shooting at Prairieland Detention Center

    Source: US FBI

    A twelfth individual has been charged for his role in the shooting of an Alvarado police officer at the Prairieland Detention Center, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.  

    According to a criminal complaint filed today, Benjamin Hanil Song, a former United States Marine Corps reservist, joined ten others in an organized attack against officers at the Prairieland Detention Center just after 10:30 p.m., Friday, July 4.

    The complaint alleges that group was dressed in black military style clothing.  The group began shooting fireworks towards the detention center.  Some then sprayed graffiti on vehicles and a guard structure in the parking lot at the facility.  Correctional officers called 911 to report suspicious activity.  An Alvarado police officer responded to the scene and, upon exiting his vehicle, the officer was shot in the neck by a defendant positioned in nearby woods. Another alleged assailant across the street fired 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had stepped outside the facility.

    As alleged in the complaint, Song purchased four of the guns that were found in connection with the shooting.  Two AR-style rifles were found at the scene, which records show were purchased by Song.  One of the abandoned rifles at the scene had a binary trigger, used to “double” a regular rate of fire, allowing a shooter to fire more rapidly than a standard semiautomatic gun.  Police also recovered additional firearms in searches of residences and vehicles, including another AR-15 style rifle in the back of a van driven that night by Bradford Morris, who was charged in a separate complaint on Monday.  Song also purchased that rifle, according to court documents.  Joy Gibson—also charged in Monday’s complaint—had a pistol in her backpack when apprehended.  Records show that Song purchased this firearm in October 2024.

    Ten assailants charged in Monday’s complaint fled from the detention center but were apprehended by additional responding law enforcement officers.  Song, however, was not located by law enforcement officers that night.  As alleged, the location data associated with Song’s cellular telephone indicates that his phone was located within several hundred meters of the Prairieland Detention Center from late in the evening of July 4, 2025, until after dark on July 5, the day after the shooting.  Additionally, the complaint alleges that on July 6, a white Mercedes Benz registered to a relative of Song was found on the same block of Bradford Morris’s residence.  A DFW Airport camera captured an individual—believed to be Song—driving the Mercedes on May 23, 2025.

    Song has been charged by federal complaint with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.  The ten others charged with these offenses in Monday’s complaint include Cameron Arnold, Savanna Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto.  The FBI has deemed Song a wanted individual and advises that he should be considered armed and dangerous.  As described in the attached notice, the FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in Song’s apprehension.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson praised the tireless efforts of all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this case to date. “The swift response of nearly 70 law enforcement officers to the site of the shooting hemmed in several of the attackers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “The quick action and professionalism of our state and local law enforcement officers in the immediate aftermath of the shooting resulted in the prompt capture of ten of the assailants. Though Song escaped the scene by hiding overnight, he will be relentlessly pursued until he is in custody.”

    “Benjamin Hanil Song is wanted by the FBI for his connection to the violent assault that occurred at the Prairieland Detention Center. He is considered armed and dangerous, and we ask that the public contact law enforcement immediately if he is seen,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We are committed to apprehending Song and are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.  If you have any information, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI or you can submit a digital tip to fbi.govprairieland.”

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence.  Like all defendants, Song is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

    The investigation was conducted by the FBI—Dallas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Office (ICE ERO), ATF, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Links are below to the FBI Wanted Notice for Song, and the Criminal Complaint filed.
     

    https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/additional/benjamin-hanil-song

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Sentenced to Prison for Traveling to Washington for Sex with Fictitious Minor

    Source: US FBI

    Communicated with undercover law enforcement officer; Phone contained evidence of illegal communication with other children

    Seattle – A 73-year-old Tucson, Arizona man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison for travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven J. Migdon, was arrested in August 2024 following an online investigation by Seattle Police and the FBI. In the investigation, the undercover agent posed as a 13-year-old boy. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead noted that Migdon lived a crime free life for 73 years, but added, “Today we are here to confront the ugliness of what you did over ten days. The images you had on your phone represented real children and real abuse. These are among the most serious crimes we see in federal court, the crimes that exploit children.”

    In July 2024, an undercover agent posted on a teen chatroom platform. Migdon replied to the 13-year-old persona and made the communication become more sexually explicit.  Migdon requested, but did not receive, sexually explicit images from the “teen.” Migdon sent pictures of his face and penis to the undercover agent.

    On August 5th Migdon flew from Tucson to Everett, Washington, believing he would meet the “teen” at an Everett hotel room. Instead Migdon was arrested. A search of his phone revealed that he had sent sexually explicit images to other children, and that he had images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

    In asking for a four-year sentence and ten years of supervised release to follow, Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “Despite age and experience, Migdon spent ten days communicating with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. Worse, the content of his phone confirmed his chatting and travel conduct were not stand alone. Migdon had been sexually communicating with unidentified minors in the days leading up to his travel to Washington for sex with a fictitious child.”

    Migdon was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a fund for the known victims in the child sex abuse images he possessed. Migdon is required to register as a sex offender and will be on ten years of supervised release following prison.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and the Seattle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Philipp Kastner, Senior Lecturer in International Law, The University of Western Australia

    The governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda concluded a peace treaty in June 2025, aimed at ending a decades-long war in eastern DRC. The United Nations welcomed the agreement as “a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability” in the region.

    I have analysed several different peace negotiations and agreements. It’s important to distinguish between what’s needed to get warring parties to the table, and what’s eventually agreed on. In this article, I examine whether the DRC-Rwanda deal has got the four essential components that usually signal that an agreement will hold.

    Two broad points about peace agreements, first – and one particular complication in the DRC-Rwanda case.

    Firstly, one agreement is rarely enough to resolve a complex conflict. Most deals are part of a series of agreements, sometimes between different actors. They often mention previously concluded ones, and will be referred to by subsequent ones.

    Secondly, peace is a process, and requires broad and sustained commitment. It is essential that other actors, like armed groups, are brought on board. Importantly, this also includes civil society actors. An agreement will be more legitimate and effective if different voices are heard during negotiations.

    One major complication in relation to the DRC-Rwanda deal is that the United States has been the prime broker. But rather than acting as a neutral mediator trying to bring about peace, Washington seems to be pursuing its own economic interests. This does not bode well.

    There is no simple recipe for a good peace agreement, but research shows that four elements are important: a serious commitment from the parties, precise wording, clear timelines and strong implementation provisions.

    What underpins a good agreement

    First, the parties need to be serious about the agreement and able to commit to its terms. It must not be used as a cover to buy time, re-arm or pursue fighting. Moreover, lasting peace cannot be made exclusively at the highest political level. Agreements that are the result of more inclusive processes, with input by and support from the communities concerned, have a higher success rate.

    Second, the agreement must address the issues it aims to resolve, and its provisions must be drafted carefully and unambiguously. When agreements are vague or silent on key aspects, they are often short-lived. Previous experiences can guide peace negotiators and mediators in the drafting process. Peace agreement databases established by the United Nations and academic institutions are a useful tool for this.

    Third, clear and realistic timelines are essential. These can concern the withdrawal of armed forces from specified territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the establishment of mechanisms providing reparations or other forms of transitional justice.

    Fourth, an agreement should include provisions on its implementation. External support is usually helpful here. Third states or international organisations, liked the United Nations and the African Union, can be mandated to oversee this phase. They can also provide security guarantees or even deploy a peacekeeping operation. What is crucial is that these actors are committed to the process and don’t pursue their own interests.

    Read more: DRC and Rwanda sign a US-brokered peace deal: what are the chances of its success?

    To know what to realistically expect from a specific peace agreement, it’s important to understand that such agreements can take very different forms. These range from pre-negotiation arrangements and ceasefires to comprehensive peace accords and implementation agreements.

    A lasting resolution of the conflict should not be expected when only a few conflict parties have concluded a temporary ceasefire.

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement: an important step with lots of shortcomings

    It’s difficult to tell at this point how serious the DRC and Rwanda are about peace, and if their commitment will be enough.

    Their assertion that they will respect each other’s territory and refrain from acts of aggression is certainly important.

    But Rwanda has a history of direct military activities in the DRC since the 1990s. And the treaty only includes rather vague references to the “disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda”. It doesn’t specifically mention the withdrawal of the reportedly thousands of Rwandan troops deployed to eastern DRC.

    The Paul Kagame-led Rwandan government has also supported Tutsi-dominated armed groups in the DRC since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) is the current primary military actor in eastern DRC. But the agreement between the governments of DRC and Rwanda didn’t include the M23 or other groups. The two governments only commit themselves to supporting the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the M23 facilitated by Qatar.

    The agreement also foresees the “neutralisation” of another armed group, the Hutu-dominated Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR). This group claims to protect Rwandan Hutu refugees in the DRC, but is considered “genocidal” by the Rwandan government. The group has reacted to this plan by calling for a political solution and a more inclusive peace process.

    What’s needed

    The DRC-Rwanda agreement includes provisions that are vital to the people most affected by the conflict, such as the return of the millions of people displaced because of the fighting in eastern DRC. But it does not address other key issues.

    For instance, aside from a general commitment to promote human rights and international humanitarian law, there is no reference to the widespread violations of human rights and war crimes reportedly committed by all sides. These include summary executions, and sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against children.

    Some form of justice and reconciliation mechanism to deal with such large-scale violence should be considered in this situation, as for instance in the fairly successful 2016 agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC). This could contribute to preventing further violations as it sends a clear signal that committing crimes will not be rewarded. It also helps the population heal and gives peace a better chance.

    There is no single model for this, and so-called transitional justice (defined as the “range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation”) remains highly controversial. For instance, insisting on war crimes trials can be seen as endangering a fragile peace process.

    But peace agreements across the world, from Libya to the Central African Republic, have over past decades moved away from blanket amnesties. They have increasingly included provisions to ensure accountability, especially for serious crimes. The DRC-Rwanda deal is silent on these questions.

    A twist in the tale

    The DRC-Rwanda deal is complicated by Washington’s role and pursuit of economic interests.

    The two states agreed to establish a joint oversight committee, with members of the African Union, Qatar and the United States. It foresees a “regional economic integration framework”, which has been criticised as opening the door for foreign influence in the DRC’s rich mineral resources. The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, for instance, which is essential for the renewable energy sector.

    Such a neocolonial “peace for exploitation bargain” does not send a positive signal. And it will probably not contribute to ending an armed conflict that has been fuelled by the exploitation of natural resources.

    – 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up
    – https://theconversation.com/4-things-every-peace-agreement-needs-and-how-the-drc-rwanda-deal-measures-up-260944

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Millions Flow into Great Lakes: Canada funds $9.3 million in freshwater solutions

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 14, 2025 – Burlington, Ontario

    Water sustains life; it is a vital resource for people, nature and our economy. It is more important now than ever that we invest in protecting our freshwater to build a cleaner, safer and sustainable future for all.

    The Great Lakes Watershed is a critical freshwater system that we have here in Canada. It supports industry, recreation, ecosystems, and culture. It also holds spiritual and cultural significance for Indigenous peoples and their way of life.

    Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency, announced an investment of $9.3 million in 26 freshwater projects in the Great Lakes.  

    These projects are delivered through the Canada Water Agency’s Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. Each project addresses key environmental challenges affecting water quality and ecosystem health in the region. They are also key in advancing Canada’s commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Each of these initiatives is community-led, facilitating collaboration on freshwater science and management.

    Among the funded projects, four will support freshwater restoration in Hamilton and Burlington, representing a $1.6 million investment over four years:

    • Royal Botanical Gardens will receive up to $150,000 to enhance habitat resilience in Cootes Paradise Marsh in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern through invasive species control, shoreline restoration, and ecological monitoring.
    • Hamilton Region Conservation Authority will receive up to $228,000 to engage landowners in implementing watershed improvement initiatives that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.
    • Halton Region Conservation Authority will receive up to $242,000 to develop a science-based nutrient management plan for the Grindstone Creek watershed. This includes analyzing water quality data, identifying nutrient sources, and engaging stakeholders to recommend targeted best management practices. 
    • The Regional Municipality of Halton will receive up to $995,000 to restore two kilometers of shoreline and dune ecosystems at Beachway Park in Burlington using nature-based restoration approaches.

    This investment will help improve water quality in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern and throughout the Great Lakes. Local projects like these drive measurable improvements in water quality and ecosystem health across the region. These projects are also creating lasting economic and social value by supporting sustainable fisheries, protecting drinking water sources, restoring vital habitats, and engaging local communities and landowners in stewardship efforts that strengthen both environmental resilience and regional well-being.

    Through the newly established Canada Water Agency, the Government of Canada is strengthening coordination and collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to address freshwater challenges and opportunities in the Great Lakes and across the country. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to building a cleaner, more secure, and more prosperous future, because when we protect our water, we protect what makes Canada strong.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Launches Center for Faith, Eliminates Biden Ban on Disaster Relief for Faith Organizations

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched its Center for Faith to empower faith-based businesses, community organizations, and houses of worship with access to capital, counselling, and government contracting opportunities. As part of its commitment to ending federal discrimination against religious entities, the agency is also eliminating a regulation, previously upheld by the Biden Administration, that banned faith-based organizations from receiving SBA disaster loans.

    “The SBA is committed to ending the era of weaponized government that has systematically discriminated against Americans of faith – even denying them access to vital disaster relief in times of tragedy,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “We are thrilled to announce our first-ever Center for Faith at the SBA to improve access to agency resources for the faith community, ensuring that all SBA programs are accessible to eligible Americans regardless of their religious affiliation. We are proud to uphold the principles of religious freedom that our nation was founded on – and look forward to forging lasting relationships that bring new small businesses into the SBA ecosystem.”

    During the last Administration, the Biden SBA maintained a regulation that made any entity “principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling, or indoctrinating religion” ineligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – even after the Supreme Court ruled that such discrimination was unconstitutional. Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has reversed this rule. Effective immediately, faith-related organizations are now eligible for agency disaster relief in the aftermath of tragedy.

    Pursuant to Executive Order 14205, the new SBA Center for Faith will be housed within SBA’s Office of Economic Development and will focus on building partnerships with faith-driven organizations to increase awareness and access to capital, business counseling, contracting opportunities, and disaster recovery. For more information, please click HERE.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Launches Center for Faith, Eliminates Biden Ban on Disaster Relief for Faith Organizations

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched its Center for Faith to empower faith-based businesses, community organizations, and houses of worship with access to capital, counselling, and government contracting opportunities. As part of its commitment to ending federal discrimination against religious entities, the agency is also eliminating a regulation, previously upheld by the Biden Administration, that banned faith-based organizations from receiving SBA disaster loans.

    “The SBA is committed to ending the era of weaponized government that has systematically discriminated against Americans of faith – even denying them access to vital disaster relief in times of tragedy,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “We are thrilled to announce our first-ever Center for Faith at the SBA to improve access to agency resources for the faith community, ensuring that all SBA programs are accessible to eligible Americans regardless of their religious affiliation. We are proud to uphold the principles of religious freedom that our nation was founded on – and look forward to forging lasting relationships that bring new small businesses into the SBA ecosystem.”

    During the last Administration, the Biden SBA maintained a regulation that made any entity “principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling, or indoctrinating religion” ineligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – even after the Supreme Court ruled that such discrimination was unconstitutional. Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has reversed this rule. Effective immediately, faith-related organizations are now eligible for agency disaster relief in the aftermath of tragedy.

    Pursuant to Executive Order 14205, the new SBA Center for Faith will be housed within SBA’s Office of Economic Development and will focus on building partnerships with faith-driven organizations to increase awareness and access to capital, business counseling, contracting opportunities, and disaster recovery. For more information, please click HERE.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: SECAF, CSAF recognize Airmen who supported Operation Midnight Hammer

    Source: United States Air Force

    Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Allvin visited US Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command and Scott Air Force Base to engage with service members and highlight contributions to Operation Midnight Hammer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Sanders, Baldwin, Colleagues Demand Vought, McMahon Stop Blocking Funding for Afterschool Programs, K-12 Schools Across America

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    32 senators demand Trump admin stop blocking funding signed into law by President Trump in March and end freeze that has sent districts scrambling just weeks out from the new school year
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, led a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding the immediate release of nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America that the Trump administration abruptly let states and school districts know it would indefinitely block last week.
    The Trump administration’s decision to withhold the funding has sent school districts nationwide scrambling to determine how they could fill the, in many cases, massive budget hole and whether they’ll have to lay off teachers or end after school programs in the coming weeks. School districts have made clear they will have to end afterschool programs, already told parents to prepare backup options, and adult literacy programs have already been forced to lay off staff.
    In addition to Senators Murray, Sanders, and Baldwin, the letter was also signed by Senators Schumer, Hirono, Booker, Blunt Rochester, Reed, Blumenthal, Fetterman, Coons, Wyden, Shaheen, Hickenlooper, Durbin, Heinrich, Van Hollen, Kim, Hassan, Markey, Slotkin, Schatz, Padilla, Smith, Whitehouse, Warren, Kaine, Cantwell, Peters, Alsobrooks, Duckworth, and Merkley.
    “We are writing to demand an immediate end to the illegal withholding of nearly $7 billion in federal education formula grant funds our states and communities are expecting for the coming school year, which is set to begin in just a few weeks in some communities,” write the Senators. “These funds were made available by the bipartisan Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, signed into law on March 15, 2025. Yet, instead of supporting the tens of millions of students and adult learners intended to benefit from these investments, the administration has chosen to continue an unprecedented and opaque ‘programmatic review’ of these formula grant funds past the July 1, 2025, date these funds became available for allotment to states.”
    The lawmakers blasted the administration for its abrupt notice and illegal freeze of the funds, which has sent school districts and programs nationwide scrambling: “We are shocked by the continued lack of respect for states and local schools evidenced by this latest action by the administration.”
    They note that blocking funding for before and after school programs, as well as summer learning programs, is already hurting families nationwide: “By withholding these funds from states, the Department will impact programs for nearly 1.4 million students served by 10,000 summer and before and afterschool programs around the nation, which the Department’s latest performance report showed supported significant improvements in student attendance, grades, and teacher reports of student engagement in learning.  These centers also help working parents by providing a safe and productive place for their children to be after the school day ends and during the summer months. It is beyond comprehension why the administration would want to jeopardize these outcomes.”
    Warning of how denying these funds will cause schools to lay off teachers and cut back on teacher training, they write: “This rash decision will only worsen school working conditions and teacher shortages.”
    The lawmakers also detail how the move affects adult learners nationwide: “This pause could jeopardize services to more than 1.2 million adult learners working to develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills needed to enter and succeed in workforce training and health, financial, digital, and information literacy skills necessary for full participation in community and civic life. The withholding will have an even more significant impact on 12 states that rely on these funds for 70 to 75 percent of their adult education programs.”
    The Trump administration has confirmed it is blocking funding for the following programs—all of which are programs President Trump has requested to eliminate in his budget request, raising serious concerns about this administration’s intentions to simply impound the funding:
    Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (Title II-A), which support professional development and other activities to improve the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, including reducing class size.
    21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV-B), which support high-quality before and after-school programs focused on providing academic enrichment opportunities for students.
    Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (Title IV-A), which provide flexible funding for school districts for a wide range of activities including supporting STEM education, accelerated learning courses, college and career counseling, school-based mental health services, and improving school technology, among many others.
    English Language Acquisition (Title III-A), which supports language instruction to help English language learners become proficient in English.
    Migrant Education (Title I-C), which supports the educational needs of migratory children, including children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
    Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants (including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants), which support adult education and literacy programs to provide the basic skills to help prepare adults and out-of-school youth for success in the workforce.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: SECAF, CSAF recognize Airmen who supported Operation Midnight Hammer

    Source: United States Spaceforce

    Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Allvin visited US Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command and Scott Air Force Base to engage with service members and highlight contributions to Operation Midnight Hammer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: The SBB Research Group Foundation Sponsors Chicago Scholars

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chicago Scholars collaborated in a volunteer initiative alongside the SBB Research Group Foundation, which partners with local nonprofits through its Champion A Charity Program.   

    In celebration of Women’s History Month and in alignment with its mission to develop young adults from under-resourced communities, Chicago Scholars hosted its inaugural Women Lift and Lead networking reception on Monday, March 31st. The event welcomed nearly 50 guests and marked a vibrant kickoff to the 2025 program year.

    Women Lift and Lead is a unique initiative within Chicago Scholars’ career readiness programming. For the past five years, the program has empowered young women of color to build direct relationships with women in senior leadership roles. Through carefully curated interviews and mentorship pairings, Scholars are matched with industry-aligned leaders to engage in honest dialogue about career journeys, leadership, and personal development.

    The SBB Research Group Foundation provided resources to support the enrollment of 20 additional Scholars compared to last year and helped with the Women Lift and Lead networking event through event support and on-site participation. The event created a welcoming and dynamic space for students, mentors, and supporters to connect and celebrate the power of mentorship and education in shaping women’s careers. The reception also served as a recruitment event for the upcoming Women Lift and Lead programming set to take place later this year.

    “It was so inspiring to see these young women getting to connect with business professionals who are truly making an impact in their lives. We are grateful to be able to support Chicago Scholars Women Lift and Lead Program,” said Mitchell Lederer a volunteer for The SBB Research Group Foundation.

    To learn more about Chicago Scholars, please visit https://chicagoscholars.org/ 

    About the SBB Research Group Foundation 

    The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. 

    Contact: Erin Noonan 
    Organization: SBB Research Group Foundation
    Email: grants@sbbrg.org 
    Address: 450 Skokie Blvd, Building 600, Northbrook, IL 60062 United States 
    Phone: 1-847-656-1111
    Website: https://www.sbbrg.org 

    The MIL Network –