Category: United States of America

MIL-OSI USA: DHS and DOJ Announce Streamlined Process for Fining Illegal Aliens

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: DHS and DOJ Announce Streamlined Process for Fining Illegal Aliens

he Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new joint federal rule with the Department of Justice (DOJ) that will make it easier and more efficient to fine illegal aliens

The current process requires giving illegal aliens 30 days’ notice of the intent to fine them before a fine is issued

This new rule will eliminate the 30-day notice period, authorize DHS immigration officers to send fines to illegal aliens by regular mail, and shorten the process that applies if illegal aliens contest their fines

“The law doesn’t enforce itself; there must be consequences for breaking it

” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

“President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for law and order and making our government more effective and efficient at enforcing the American people’s immigration laws

Financial penalties like these are just one more reason why illegal aliens should use CBP Home to self-deport now before it’s too late

”
The new process will be applied to:

Aliens who enter the United States illegally
Aliens who ignore removal orders or delay their removal
Aliens who do not honor agreements to comply with judges’ voluntary departure orders

Fines include:

$100 to $500 per unlawful entry or attempted entry
$1,992 to $9,970 for failure to honor a voluntary departure order
Up to $998 per day for willfully failing to comply with a removal order

Fines such as these were never issued by DHS prior to President Trump’s first term in office

However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped issuing them when President Biden took office

Shortly after President Trump returned to office, ICE started issuing failure-to-depart fines again as of June 13, 2025, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE
Aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States

All illegal aliens are encouraged to start their CBP Home self-deportation process immediately

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DHS and DOJ Announce Streamlined Process for Fining Illegal Aliens

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: DHS and DOJ Announce Streamlined Process for Fining Illegal Aliens

he Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new joint federal rule with the Department of Justice (DOJ) that will make it easier and more efficient to fine illegal aliens

The current process requires giving illegal aliens 30 days’ notice of the intent to fine them before a fine is issued

This new rule will eliminate the 30-day notice period, authorize DHS immigration officers to send fines to illegal aliens by regular mail, and shorten the process that applies if illegal aliens contest their fines

“The law doesn’t enforce itself; there must be consequences for breaking it

” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

“President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for law and order and making our government more effective and efficient at enforcing the American people’s immigration laws

Financial penalties like these are just one more reason why illegal aliens should use CBP Home to self-deport now before it’s too late

”
The new process will be applied to:

Aliens who enter the United States illegally
Aliens who ignore removal orders or delay their removal
Aliens who do not honor agreements to comply with judges’ voluntary departure orders

Fines include:

$100 to $500 per unlawful entry or attempted entry
$1,992 to $9,970 for failure to honor a voluntary departure order
Up to $998 per day for willfully failing to comply with a removal order

Fines such as these were never issued by DHS prior to President Trump’s first term in office

However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped issuing them when President Biden took office

Shortly after President Trump returned to office, ICE started issuing failure-to-depart fines again as of June 13, 2025, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE
Aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States

All illegal aliens are encouraged to start their CBP Home self-deportation process immediately

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DHS Terminates Haiti TPS, Encourages Haitians to Obtain Lawful Status

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: DHS Terminates Haiti TPS, Encourages Haitians to Obtain Lawful Status

ASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem today announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

The TPS designation for the country expires on Aug

3, 2025, and the termination will be effective on Tuesday, September 2, 2025

At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate U

S

government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met, and if so, how long to extend the designation

“This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary,” said a DHS spokesperson

“The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home

We encourage these individuals to take advantage of the Department’s resources in returning to Haiti, which can be arranged through the CBP Home app

Haitian nationals may pursue lawful status through other immigration benefit requests, if eligible

”
After conferring with interagency partners, Secretary Noem determined that conditions in Haiti no longer meet the TPS statutory requirements

The Secretary’s decision was based on a U

S

Citizenship and Immigration Services review of the conditions in Haiti and in consultation with the Department of State

The Secretary determined that, overall, country conditions have improved to the point where Haitians can return home in safety

She further determined that permitting Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States

Haitian nationals returning home are encouraged to use the U

S

Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure from the United States

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Notice of Availability: Draft Programmatic Agreement and Request for Public Comments

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Notice of Availability: Draft Programmatic Agreement and Request for Public Comments

Notice of Availability: Draft Programmatic Agreement and Request for Public Comments

Annapolis City Dock Flood Mitigation UndertakingPHILADELPHIA– The City of Annapolis, Maryland has applied through the Maryland Department of Emergency Management to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program for a flood resiliency and stormwater improvement undertaking in the downtown Annapolis area in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

The proposed undertaking consists of four separate, yet connected projects (HMGP-4491-0043-MD, LPDM-PJ-03-MD-2023-002, HMGP-4261-0013-MD, LPDM-PJ-03-MD-2024-003) that involve the design and construction of a comprehensive stormwater and flood mitigation system at the City Dock area

The overall undertaking includes storm drain realignment; construction of three pump stations including wet wells, electric control building, and backup generator; deployable flood barriers; and grading modifications

The purpose of this undertaking is to implement strategies to protect historic downtown Annapolis, the US Naval Academy, and surrounding areas against flooding to advance the City’s economy and safeguard the City’s cultural and historic heritage

The City Dock is a busy hub in the historic heart of Annapolis City that has served as an important port within Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay region for at least 350 years

The project is needed because the City Dock is vulnerable to flooding, which threatens its structural integrity and functionality, importance to the local economy, and use by the community as well as the safety of those using the area

FEMA is considering the effects of this undertaking on historic properties pursuant to 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 800, the regulations implementing Section 106 of NHPA (Section 106) (54 U

S

C

§§ 300101-306108)

FEMA, consistent with Section 106 and 36 CFR § 800

16(d), has defined the undertaking’s Area of Potential Effects (APE)

The APE is the geographic area within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist

A historic property is any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included on, or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

FEMA determined the undertaking has the potential to affect historic properties including National Historic Landmarks (NHL), which are historic properties that illustrate the heritage of the United States

In accordance with 36 CFR § 800

10 and Section 110(f) of the NHPA, FEMA must, to the maximum extent possible, undertake such planning and actions as may be necessary to minimize harm to any NHL that may be directly and adversely affected by an undertaking

The undertaking’s construction schedule and access constraints within the APE limit surveys to fully identify and evaluate historic and cultural resources to determine if they are historic properties, determine if the undertaking would have adverse effects on historic properties, or fully avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects, prior to completing the appropriate NEPA documentation and FEMA’s approval of the undertaking

When completing the Section 106 process prior to making a final decision on a particular undertaking is not practical, the regulations allow an agency to pursue a “project” Programmatic Agreement (PA) under 36 CFR § 800

14(b)(1)(ii)

Accordingly, to outline the phased Section 106 process, account for inadvertent discoveries and effects, and to create a proposal to resolve potential adverse effects, FEMA intends to execute a PA in accordance with Stipulation II

C

6

c of the Maryland Statewide Programmatic Agreement

In accordance with the terms of the PA, studies shall be undertaken to identify both aboveground and belowground historic properties within the APE, evaluate the undertaking’s effects on these historic properties, and complete efforts to minimize or avoid adverse effects

The City of Annapolis or its contractors will complete further site identification and evaluation efforts for the undertaking and archaeological monitoring

The PA outlines consultation procedures for evaluating the NRHP eligibility of newly identified historic properties including archaeological sites, assessing the undertaking’s effects on all historic properties, and resolving adverse effects, if needed

FEMA seeks to notify the public of this undertaking and involve potential consulting parties in the Section 106 process, including implementation of the PA

According to 36 CFR § 800

2, the following parties have consultative roles in the Section 106 process for undertakings not on tribal lands: the State Historic Preservation Officer (and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)), Indian Tribes (Tribes) and Native Hawaiian organizations, representatives of local governments with jurisdiction over the area in which the effects of an undertaking may occur, applicants for federal assistance, and additional consulting parties (individuals and organizations with a demonstrated interest in the undertaking)

Individuals or organizations with a demonstrated interest in this undertaking should contact FEMA using the instructions below

The Draft PA is available for review and comment, and can be viewed on and/or downloaded here or from the City of Annapolis website

The comment period on the Draft PA will conclude 30 days from today, June 27, 2025

Written comments on the Draft PA, or Section 106 comments on potential effects to historic properties can be mailed or emailed to the contact listed below

If no substantive comments are received, FEMA will seek to execute the Draft PA

Contact Information:ATTENTION: Annapolis City Dock Section 106 CommentsFEMA Region 3 Environmental and Historic Preservation615 Chestnut Street, 6th FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19106Email: FEMA-R3-EHP-PublicComment@fema

dhs

govSelect documents are included in the Draft PA exhibits

FEMA will provide additional documents upon request; please contact us by email at FEMA-R3-EHP-PublicComment@fema

dhs

gov

###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters

FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia

Follow us on X at @femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin

com/company/femaregion3
erika

osullivan
Fri, 06/27/2025 – 16:12

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sophia Roberts: Showcasing the Cosmos

Source: NASA

Astrophysics Science Video Producer – Goddard Space Flight Center
Growing up in Detroit with a camera in her hand, Sophia Roberts — now an award-winning astrophysics science video producer—never imagined that one day her path would wind through clean rooms, vacuum chambers, and even a beryllium mine. But framing the final frontier sometimes requires traveling through some of Earth’s less-explored corners.

Sophia received her first camera from her father, a photography enthusiast, when she was just five or six years old. “I’ve basically been snapping away ever since!” she says.
With a natural curiosity and enthusiasm for science, Sophia pursued a degree in biology at Oberlin College in Ohio. There, she discovered that she could blend her two passions.
“I often lingered in lab sessions, not to finish an experiment but to photograph it,” Sophia says. “I had an epiphany at the beginning of class one day, which always opened with clips from BBC nature documentaries. I decided right then that I would be one of the people who make those videos one day.”

She initially thought that meant wildlife filmmaking—perched in a blind on a mountainside, waiting hours for an animal to appear. That dream led her to Montana State University, where she learned to blend scientific rigor with visual storytelling through their science and natural history filmmaking master’s program.
While completing her degree, Sophia worked as a traveling presenter for the Montana Space Grant Consortium. “I was mainly giving presentations about NASA missions and showing kids beautiful images of space,” she says. “That was my first true introduction to NASA. I loved being able to watch the children’s eyes light up when they saw what’s out there in space.”
Sophia then completed an internship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History while completing her thesis. Once she graduated, she landed a year-long fellowship at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as an Earth science news fellow. In this role, she focused on packaging up stories through satellite imagery and explanations.

She leaned into her videography skills in her next role, as part of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team.
“Webb is one of my great loves in life,” she says. “I learned to negotiate with engineers for the perfect shot, navigate NASA’s protocols, and work with mission partners. I only spent five years on Webb, but it feels like it was half my life. Still—it was everything.”
That mission took her to some unforgettable places, like a mine in Delta, Utah, where raw material for Webb’s mirrors was unearthed. “It was this giant, spiral pit where they were mining beryllium at just 0.02% concentration,” Sophia says. The process was as otherworldly as the location.

She also documented thermal vacuum testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in a giant pill-shaped chamber with a 40-foot round door. “I had to take confined space training to crawl around in the area underneath the chamber,” she says. “It felt like spelunking.”
Once Webb launched, Sophia pivoted to covering many of NASA’s smaller astrophysics missions along with the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These days, she can often be found gowned up in a “bunny suit” in the largest clean room at Goddard to document space telescope assembly, or in a studio recording science explanations.

“I love capturing the visual stories and helping fill in the gaps to help people understand NASA research,” Sophia says. “I try to focus on the things that will get people excited about the science so they’ll stop scrolling to find out more.”
For Sophia, the process is often as exhilarating as the result. “I love venturing out to remote places where science is being done,” she says. “I’d love to film a balloon launch in Antarctica someday!”

To others who dream of pursuing a similar career, Sophia recommends diving in headfirst. “With cameras readily available and free online platforms, it’s never been easier to get into the media,” she says. “You just have to be careful to research your topic and sources, making sure you really know what you’re sharing and understand that science is always evolving as we learn more.” And Sophia emphasizes how important storytelling is for conveying information, especially when it’s as complex as astrophysics. “Studying science is wonderful, but I also think helping people visualize it is magical.”
By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sophia Roberts: Showcasing the Cosmos

Source: NASA

Astrophysics Science Video Producer – Goddard Space Flight Center
Growing up in Detroit with a camera in her hand, Sophia Roberts — now an award-winning astrophysics science video producer—never imagined that one day her path would wind through clean rooms, vacuum chambers, and even a beryllium mine. But framing the final frontier sometimes requires traveling through some of Earth’s less-explored corners.

Sophia received her first camera from her father, a photography enthusiast, when she was just five or six years old. “I’ve basically been snapping away ever since!” she says.
With a natural curiosity and enthusiasm for science, Sophia pursued a degree in biology at Oberlin College in Ohio. There, she discovered that she could blend her two passions.
“I often lingered in lab sessions, not to finish an experiment but to photograph it,” Sophia says. “I had an epiphany at the beginning of class one day, which always opened with clips from BBC nature documentaries. I decided right then that I would be one of the people who make those videos one day.”

She initially thought that meant wildlife filmmaking—perched in a blind on a mountainside, waiting hours for an animal to appear. That dream led her to Montana State University, where she learned to blend scientific rigor with visual storytelling through their science and natural history filmmaking master’s program.
While completing her degree, Sophia worked as a traveling presenter for the Montana Space Grant Consortium. “I was mainly giving presentations about NASA missions and showing kids beautiful images of space,” she says. “That was my first true introduction to NASA. I loved being able to watch the children’s eyes light up when they saw what’s out there in space.”
Sophia then completed an internship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History while completing her thesis. Once she graduated, she landed a year-long fellowship at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as an Earth science news fellow. In this role, she focused on packaging up stories through satellite imagery and explanations.

She leaned into her videography skills in her next role, as part of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team.
“Webb is one of my great loves in life,” she says. “I learned to negotiate with engineers for the perfect shot, navigate NASA’s protocols, and work with mission partners. I only spent five years on Webb, but it feels like it was half my life. Still—it was everything.”
That mission took her to some unforgettable places, like a mine in Delta, Utah, where raw material for Webb’s mirrors was unearthed. “It was this giant, spiral pit where they were mining beryllium at just 0.02% concentration,” Sophia says. The process was as otherworldly as the location.

She also documented thermal vacuum testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in a giant pill-shaped chamber with a 40-foot round door. “I had to take confined space training to crawl around in the area underneath the chamber,” she says. “It felt like spelunking.”
Once Webb launched, Sophia pivoted to covering many of NASA’s smaller astrophysics missions along with the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These days, she can often be found gowned up in a “bunny suit” in the largest clean room at Goddard to document space telescope assembly, or in a studio recording science explanations.

“I love capturing the visual stories and helping fill in the gaps to help people understand NASA research,” Sophia says. “I try to focus on the things that will get people excited about the science so they’ll stop scrolling to find out more.”
For Sophia, the process is often as exhilarating as the result. “I love venturing out to remote places where science is being done,” she says. “I’d love to film a balloon launch in Antarctica someday!”

To others who dream of pursuing a similar career, Sophia recommends diving in headfirst. “With cameras readily available and free online platforms, it’s never been easier to get into the media,” she says. “You just have to be careful to research your topic and sources, making sure you really know what you’re sharing and understand that science is always evolving as we learn more.” And Sophia emphasizes how important storytelling is for conveying information, especially when it’s as complex as astrophysics. “Studying science is wonderful, but I also think helping people visualize it is magical.”
By Ashley BalzerNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Crittenden, Garland, Mississippi Counties Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

strong>LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Crittenden, Garland and Mississippi counties have been added to the major presidential disaster declaration for the April 2-22 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, meaning state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in those counties may seek funding under FEMA’s Public Assistance program.
The three counties are now authorized to recover eligible costs for emergency work including debris removal and emergency protective measures; and permanent work that includes projects to permanently restore community infrastructure affected by the storms.
FEMA had previously designated Clark, Clay, Craighead, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Izard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Little River, Lonoke, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Pike, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, Stone and Woodruff counties for Public Assistance funding for the April storms.
The Public Assistance program is FEMA’s largest grant program, providing funding to help communities pay for emergency work to save lives and protect property, for debris removal, and for repairs to roads, bridges, water control facilities, public buildings, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities. The program reimburses eligible costs to local and state government agencies, and certain private nonprofits including houses of worship.
Federal funding is typically available on a cost-sharing basis, with FEMA reimbursing Arkansas applicants 75% of eligible costs and the applicant is responsible for the non-federal share, or up to 25%.
Learn about Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster | FEMA.gov.
For the latest information about Arkansas’ recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4873. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers Opening in Camden, Iron Counties

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers Opening in Camden, Iron Counties

Disaster Recovery Centers Opening in Camden, Iron Counties

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) with FEMA Individual Assistance staff are opening in Camden and Iron Counties to help people affected by the March 14-15 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and wildfires

FEMA and the U

S

Small Business Administration will help survivors with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents

The Camden County DRC opens Monday, June 30 for three days

LOCATION HOURS OF OPERATIONCamden CountyCamden County Emergency Management Office12 V F W RoadCamdenton, MO 65020June 30: 9 a

m

-7 p

m

July 1 and 2: 8 a

m

-7 p

m

The Iron County DRC opens Monday, June 30 for four days

LOCATION HOURS OF OPERATIONIron CountyHarvest Full Gospel Church 59219 Highway 49Des Arc, MO 63636June 30: 9 a

m

-7 p

m

July 1-3: 8 a

m

-7 p

m

To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a DRC

Apply online at DisasterAssistance

gov or by calling 800-621-3362

If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the DRC can assist you

You may visit any location, no matter where you are staying now

If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed

sara

zuckerman
Thu, 06/26/2025 – 19:25

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DHS Awards $94 Million in Grants to Help Protect 512 Jewish Faith-Based Organizations from Targeted Violence and Terrorism

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

Headline: DHS Awards $94 Million in Grants to Help Protect 512 Jewish Faith-Based Organizations from Targeted Violence and Terrorism

lass=”text-align-center”>Following the terror attack in Boulder, CO and the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers, DHS is working to counter the concern rise in antisemitic violence and terrorism
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced it is awarding $94,416,838 to over 512 Jewish faith-based organizations across the United States through its National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS)

This money, part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, will be used to help these organizations harden their defenses against attacks

This allocation comes after a terrorist attacked demonstrators with a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails at an event in support of hostages in Gaza, and after two Israeli Embassy staffers were murdered in Washington, DC, by a terrorist who shouted, “Free Palestine

” In 2024, the ADL said it recorded a record high of 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the U

S

, marking a 344% increase over the past five years

“DHS is working to put a stop to the deeply disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks across the United States,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

“That this money is necessary at all is tragic

Antisemitic violence has no place in this country

However, under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that Jewish people in the United States can live free of the threat of violence and terrorism

”
The program, operated through FEMA, will help protect Jewish faith-based institutions from further attacks, and was advocated for by over 40 plus Jewish organizations

The funding was appropriated by Congress in response to a surge in antisemitic threats linked to the Israel Hamas war

All faith-based institutions were eligible to apply for grant funding to help defend themselves from threats including houses of worship, educational facilities, medical facilities, community centers and other faith-based institutions

More grant disbursements will follow from the NSGP

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hubble Captures an Active Galactic Center

Source: NASA

The light that the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope collected to create this image reached the telescope after a journey of 250 million years. Its source was the spiral galaxy UGC 11397, which resides in the constellation Lyra (The Lyre). At first glance, UGC 11397 appears to be an average spiral galaxy: it sports two graceful spiral arms that are illuminated by stars and defined by dark, clumpy clouds of dust.
What sets UGC 11397 apart from a typical spiral lies at its center, where a supermassive black hole containing 174 million times the mass of our Sun grows. As a black hole ensnares gas, dust, and even entire stars from its vicinity, this doomed matter heats up and puts on a fantastic cosmic light show.
Material trapped by the black hole emits light from gamma rays to radio waves, and can brighten and fade without warning. But in some galaxies, including UGC 11397, thick clouds of dust hide much of this energetic activity from view in optical light. Despite this, UGC 11397’s actively growing black hole was revealed through its bright X-ray emission — high-energy light that can pierce the surrounding dust. This led astronomers to classify it as a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy, a category used for active galaxies whose central regions are hidden from view in visible light by a donut-shaped cloud of dust and gas.
Using Hubble, researchers will study hundreds of galaxies that, like UGC 11397, harbor a supermassive black hole that is gaining mass. The Hubble observations will help researchers weigh nearby supermassive black holes, understand how black holes grew early in the universe’s history, and even study how stars form in the extreme environment found at the very center of a galaxy.

Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli (claire.andreoli@nasa.gov)NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Introduces Legislation to Boost Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Investments in Rural Communities

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Energy Circuit Riders Act to help ensure communities in rural America can take advantage of cost savings from energy efficiency and clean energy projects. Shaheen’s bill would establish a new grant program within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to help eligible entities hire local, on-the-ground experts that travel to rural communities and provide assistance on projects that can help save energy, cut costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Granite State communities are facing sky-high electricity prices and investing in energy efficiency and clean energy is an important tool for bringing these costs down,” said Senator Shaheen. “Energy Circuit Riders will help small towns and rural communities make improvements to become more energy efficient, reduce emissions and lower their energy bills.”

The Energy Circuit Riders Shaheen’s bill supports would work with local governments in rural areas to provide assistance, such as energy planning, energy audits, grant writing, identifying federal, state, local and utility-based energy incentives and more. The legislation is modeled after a successful Energy Circuit Rider program in New Hampshire run by Clean Energy NH, a nonprofit based in Concord, New Hampshire.

“Rural communities often face the highest energy costs and the fewest resources to do something about it. The Energy Circuit Riders Act gives local governments access to practical, technology-neutral technical assistance—helping them cut energy waste, lower bills, and make smarter investments with taxpayer dollars. This is about common-sense support for towns that want to do more with less.” said Sam Evans Brown, Executive Director of Clean Energy New Hampshire.

Shaheen’s legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The legislation is also endorsed by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Shaheen leads legislative action in the U.S. Senate to support energy efficiency projects and initiatives. Last month, Shaheen pushed back on the Trump administration’s plans to scrap the Energy Star Program, which helps Americans save on energy costs.

Shaheen was a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided an approximately $6 billion investment in energy efficiency, including funding for residential, municipal, industrial and federal entities to implement efficiency upgrades based upon her longstanding bipartisan legislation with former U.S. Senator Rob Portman.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Allowing For LGBTQ+ Discrimination In Public Schools

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

June 27, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against freedom of speech, public education, and LGBTQ+ rights in Mahmoud v. Taylor:

“This is a loss for public education, freedom of speech, and LGBTQ+ rights.

“LGBTQ+ stories matter. Kids deserve to see themselves in the books they read. Tragically, the same zealots who try to ban books from libraries are now trying to limit what kids can learn, read, and hear from teachers in their classrooms.

“We must put love and acceptance over hate and division. As Pride Month comes to a close, it’s clear we still have a fight ahead of us.”

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Outlines Harmful Judiciary Committee Provisions Included In Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

June 27, 2025

In speech on Senate floor, Durbin also spoke against Senator Cruz’s provision that would leave the U.S. AI industry an unregulated wild west

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about some of the harmful Judiciary provisions included in Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which aims to slash Medicaid and Medicare coverage for hardworking Americans in order to pay for significant tax breaks forbillionaires. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, 16 million Americans will lose their health insurance under Republicans’ reconciliation bill.

Durbin began by highlighting several harmful Judiciary provisions Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have successfully challenged and removed from the Republicans’ legislation.

“One example: the Republicans included a provision that would have limited the ability of individuals to challenge the Trump Administration’s executive actions by potentially putting them on the hook for millions of dollars when they try to defend their constitutional rights and go to court. Fortunately, the Senate Parliamentarian stuck this provision,” Durbin said. “Now I’m proud of what we accomplished in eliminating some harmful provisions, but there is a lot of problems with the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ The more we learn about this bill, the worse it looks. Perhaps that is why there is a hurry to get this done before the Fourth of July and people can take a close look at the details. And I cannot stand idly by as my Senate Republican colleagues try to steamroll this bill through Congress because the President wants to do something before the Fourth of July.”

Durbin then outlined Republicans’ wish-list of policy changes included in the reconciliation package to help carry out mass deportations of immigrants who have lived in our country for years and pose no threat to our safety.

“These policies of mass deportation of immigrants are cruel and mean. And they go beyond any question of public safety. This bill would impose exorbitant fees that would make it impossible forvulnerable immigrants to access humanitarian relief in the United States,” Durbin said. “This includes a $1,000 fee on asylum and a $5,000 bond for parents seeking to be reunited with their child. The fees also place barriers on due process—a $900 dollar fee for an appeal in immigration court. These fees are not just unconscionable—they are unfair.”

Durbin then discussed how the Republican bill prohibits using grant funds for community violence intervention and prevention programs, which are proven, evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence.

“We have a gun violence epidemic in America. Currently guns are the number one cause of death for American children and teens. Let me repeat that. In America, guns are the number one cause of death for American children and teens. Not auto accidents, not cancer. Guns. We need to support and strengthen community violence intervention and prevention programs. I’ve seen them. And I’ve seen them work in the City of Chicago and all around my state of Illinois to stop violent incidents before they happen. And we need to connect people with treatment and tools that decrease the risk of future violence,” Durbin said. “Instead of supporting valuable public safety measures, the Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ removes taxes and regulations on certain rifles, shotguns, and gun silencers. This is just what we need in America, isn’t it? Cheaper guns. Combatting this epidemic takes ingenuity and funding—not the reversal of lifesaving gun violence prevention policies. But Republicans’ reckless reconciliation bill will jeopardize the progress that’s been made in our communities.”

Durbin then spoke against Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) provision that would leave the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) industry an unregulated wild west. The provision would give states the choice between regulating AI or accepting federal funding under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. This means states would have to choose between freezing all regulations on AI for the next decade or giving up specific federal funding. In addition to preventing new state regulations, it would make many of the laws already passed by states unenforceable regarding issues such as political deepfakes, face recognition, and algorithmic discrimination.

“We are currently living with the results of our failure to regulate Big Tech when it came to social media. Let’s not make the same mistake when it comes to AI,” said Durbin. “This provision by Senator Cruz will allow Big Tech and bad actors to prey on the lack of regulations in the AI space and develop deceptive, biased, and potentially dangerous tools that hurt ordinary Americans and diminish trust in technology… I promise to support any amendment that will remove the AI pause provision from this bill. And I hope my Republican colleagues will do the same.

Durbin concluded, “So now is the real test for my Senate Republican colleagues. Will they stand with President Trump and provide tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or will they stand with their hardworking constituents and reject this betrayal? What’s more important, a tax break for Elon Musk or the health insurance of 16 million in America? What’s more important, a tax break for the wealthiest people in America or your rural hospital? I think people know that when it comes to the quality of life, the hospital is more important and health insurance is critical. I hope for the sake of our country, four Republican Senators will have the courage to step up and choose their constituents over special interest groups.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: IAEA chief’s push to visit bombed Iranian nuclear sites ‘pointless’: Iranian FM

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

TEHRAN, June 27 (Xinhua) — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general’s insistence on visiting Iran’s bombed nuclear facilities is “meaningless,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday.

The head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry made the corresponding statement in his post on the X social network, accusing IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi of facilitating the adoption of an anti-Iranian resolution by the organization’s Board of Governors and the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel.

“R. Grossi’s insistence on visiting the bombed Iranian nuclear facilities under the pretext of guarantees is senseless and perhaps even malicious. Iran reserves the right to take any steps to protect its interests, its people and sovereignty,” A. Araghchi said.

The minister recalled a recent plan approved by the Iranian parliament and later endorsed by the Guardian Council of Iran, which called for an end to Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA. “This is a direct result of the unfortunate role of R. Grossi, who obscured the fact that the agency had settled all issues with Iran ten years ago,” Araghchi added.

The statement, published on the IAEA website, indicates that on Friday R. Grossi stressed the need to continue the agency’s inspections in Iran, “as provided for in the comprehensive safeguards agreement.” -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to New York Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Hurricane Debby

Source: United States Small Business Administration

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations in New York of the July 28 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Hurricane Debby occurring Aug. 5-10, 2024.

The declaration covers the New York counties of Albany, Allegany, Chemung, Dutchess, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Montgomery, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schuyler, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Yates and Oswego; the New Jersey counties of Passaic and Sussex as well as the Pennsylvania counties of Pike, Potter, and Tioga.

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 small 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.

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

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 SBA no later than July 28, 2025.

###

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, or 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 –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to New York Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Hurricane Debby

Source: United States Small Business Administration

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations in New York of the July 28 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Hurricane Debby occurring Aug. 5-10, 2024.

The declaration covers the New York counties of Albany, Allegany, Chemung, Dutchess, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Montgomery, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schuyler, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Yates and Oswego; the New Jersey counties of Passaic and Sussex as well as the Pennsylvania counties of Pike, Potter, and Tioga.

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 small 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.

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

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 SBA no later than July 28, 2025.

###

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, or 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 –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Law Enforcement Partners Announcing Results of Operation Targeting Organized Criminal Activity in the Central Valley

Source: US State of California Department of Justice

FRESNO – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the results of a collaborative multiagency effort targeting criminal street gangs in the Central Valley. As part of the operation yesterday, federal, state, and local law enforcement served 54 search warrants in locations throughout the Central Valley. As part of the operation, investigators prevented nine violent crimes, made 89 felony arrests, seized firearms, ammunition, and illicit methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.

“Today, we are sending a strong message that organized criminal enterprises cannot stand up to the power of good law enforcement work,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Together with our federal, state, and local partners, we’ve made our communities safer by taking dangerous drugs and weapons off our streets and holding bad actors accountable. I thank our DOJ agents and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and tireless work to make California safer. Their efforts here not only held accountable members of organized criminal organizations, but also prevented violent crimes from occurring. Central Valley families can live and sleep with greater peace of mind as a result of this operation.”

“Today’s announcement reflects our Office’s commitment to using every available resource in close coordination with our law enforcement partners to address the root causes of crime and hold gang members and their associates accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. “Criminal street gangs inflict real harm on our communities by trafficking deadly drugs and firearms that destroy lives and neighborhoods. I commend the outstanding work of our agents and law enforcement partners in disrupting these criminal networks and safeguarding our communities.”

“The charges reflect the brazen violence and drug trafficking that have threatened the safety and stability of the greater Fresno area, particularly in rural communities like Huron and Coalinga,” said Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Yesterday’s operation was the culmination of months of collaborative work to disrupt gang-driven violence and the flow of drugs and firearms into Central Valley neighborhoods. This case highlights the power of strong partnerships at every level of law enforcement, all united in the mission to dismantle violent gangs and protect the communities we serve.”

“The collective work done by all law enforcement agencies in this operation will undoubtedly improve the safety and overall quality of life for residents in Fresno County, particularly those living in our smaller rural communities,” said Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni.

This investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fresno County Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) Special Operations Unit, U.S Attorney’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

In February 2024, law enforcement agencies began an investigation into a criminal street gang operating in Fresno County with a specific focus on the ongoing criminal activities of criminal street gangs in the cities of Huron, Coalinga, and San Joaquin. The investigation found, and the unsealed federal criminal complaint alleges, an extensive criminal conspiracy in which gang members and associates — some of whom were inmates in California prisons and the Fresno County Jail — orchestrated various crimes, including drug and firearms trafficking. On several occasions, members of the drug trafficking conspiracy attempted to smuggle drugs into jails on their persons or through holes they punctured in the walls. Thirty-eight suspects have been charged in a federal criminal complaint on various drug and firearms trafficking charges.

Assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Highway Patrol, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, Madera County Regional SWAT, and the Fresno, Clovis, Kingsburg, Coalinga, Kerman, Firebaugh, Lemoore, and Parlier police departments.

CA DOJ’s Special Operations Unit is a collaborative investigative effort between CA DOJ and the California Highway Patrol that provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups. These unique and essential teams use advanced investigative techniques and work alongside local law enforcement to enhance investigations into violent criminals and organized crime throughout the state.

It is important to note that criminal charges must be proven in a court of law. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Consumer Alert on Notario Fraud, Obtaining Immigration Legal Help, Locating Detained People
Source: US State of California

If you need help with immigration relief or if your loved one has been detained, be careful who you hire

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued guidance to help California’s immigrant communities avoid immigration scams by those seeking to take advantage of fear and uncertainty resulting from President Trump’s cruel mass detention and deportation campaign. The alert released today provides tools for people looking to hire free or low-cost legal help and for those looking to locate loved ones who are detained.

“Families across the country are experiencing fear and uncertainly as a result of President Trump’s inhumane immigration agenda — and scammers are paying attention. Immigration scams, including notario fraud, prey on the hopes of safety and stability of our immigrant communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Before hiring someone claiming to offer help with immigration matters or assistance locating a detained loved one, I urge people to familiarize themselves with existing resources that are often available at little or no cost and learn how to check that the individual is qualified to provide immigration help.”

What is Notario Fraud?

Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so.

In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials. In the United States, however, notary publics are people authorized by state governments to witness the signing of important documents and are not necessarily authorized to provide legal services. A notario público is not authorized to provide people with any legal services related to immigration.

How to Locate Detained Loved Ones

Try to find your loved one’s Alien Registration number (A-Number), which is on their immigration documents. If someone has not previously had contact with immigration authorities or has not applied for an immigration benefit, they will not have an A number but will be assigned one if detained. To find someone in detention, search locator.ice.gov by their A-Number or by their full name and country of birth. Once you identify the detention center, go to ice.gov/detention-facilities for location, visiting, and other information. Using the A-Number, you can look up immigration court hearing information at acis.eoir.justice.gov. For more information, please visit nilc.org/resources.

Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams

If you need help applying for immigration relief, be careful who you hire. Watch out for immigration scams that can cost you thousands of dollars and/or harm your immigration status. Here are some tips and resources to help:
- Confirm that anyone helping you with your case is licensed or accredited. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Some immigration consultants may fraudulently call themselves immigration lawyers. If someone claims they are licensed in California or another state and can practice immigration law, confirm they are licensed and in good standing in that particular state by visiting americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/flh-home/flh-lawyer-licensing. If someone claims to be an accredited representative or recognized organization, visit justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports to confirm that information.
- Go to a legitimate legal aid organization for free legal help. Many nonprofit organizations provide free immigration help to low-income individuals, such as those found through the resources below. To find a legal aid organization near you, go to lawhelpca.org.
- Keep your original documents in a safe place. Don’t give your original documents to anyone unless you see proof that the government requires the original document. Make sure you have a trusted emergency contact who can access these documents. Keep copies of all immigration-related documents, including copies of documents filed with the government and communications with the government, in a safe place.
- Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. No federal or state agency, including USCIS, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text. Be skeptical of social media or other ads promising new or quick immigration help.
Access Free and Low-Cost Legal Assistance

Visit Law Help CA or Immigration Law Help to find immigration assistance near you.

Find free immigration help through the U.S. Department of Justice’s list of no cost legal service providers and list of accredited representatives.

If You are the Victim of an Immigration Scam

Report it to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report. You can also contact your local District Attorney or county department of consumer affairs.

You can get help from a legitimate legal aid organization at lawhelpca.org.

For more do’s and don’ts, see the full “Protecting Yourself from Immigration Scams” consumer alert here. The alert is available in Spanish here.

MIL OSI USA News –
June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Free Ice Cream and More at the Museum’s Annual Social

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Free Ice Cream and More at the Museum’s Annual Social

Free Ice Cream and More at the Museum’s Annual Social
jejohnson6
Fri, 06/27/2025 – 15:19

Free ice cream and watermelon will be happening at the museum’s annual Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Social. You can enjoy the festivities from 2-4 p.m., on July 4. Due to construction at the museum, the event will take place at the Morgan Cabin, located next to the museum building.

As our way of saying thank you for your support, the museum staff and the Friends of the Mountain Gateway Museum are excited to offer ice cream with toppings and watermelon for you to enjoy before the annual Old Fort 4th of July Parade.

For more information about this event, visit the Mountain Gateway Museum’s website at www.mgmnc.org or contact Brittany Joachim at 828-668-9259 or brittany.bennett@dncr.nc.gov.

The museum is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday; closed on Monday and state holidays. Admission is free.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Jun 27, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Tobacco Farm Life Museum Reopens to the Public

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Tobacco Farm Life Museum Reopens to the Public

Tobacco Farm Life Museum Reopens to the Public
jejohnson6
Fri, 06/27/2025 – 15:23

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is getting ready to open the doors to one of its newest sites — one that already has a long history in the state.

The Tobacco Farm Life Museum, which grew out of farm tours hosted at the site in the 1980s, preserves and presents the history and heritage of the North Carolina farming community. That mission will continue under the state’s Division of History Museums with additional resources and efforts to improve exhibits and the grounds to tell stories of agricultural heritage. To celebrate the updates to the site, the museum will host a public grand reopening on Saturday, July 5 at 10 a.m. There will be crafts to include coloring a quilt square that will then be used to create a community art piece, interactive activities like a ”hornworm hunt” across the museum and more available until 4 p.m. that day; supported by the Kiwanis Club of Kenly. The public is also invited to explore the exhibit gallery and grounds during a soft opening preview July 1-3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

“This reopening represents more than the completion of site enhancements,” said North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “It’s about reconnecting people with the history, stories and values that built this region.”

At the heart of the site is a 6,000-square-foot museum that helps preserve and interpret the agricultural heritage of eastern North Carolina, particularly the lives and culture of farm families from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Inside, visitors will find new interpretive panels on some of the displays, as well as a new, temporary exhibit featuring tobacco miniatures. The inches-tall models of tobacco barns, sleds and other related paraphernalia are a small-scale showcase of the tobacco industry that shaped the region.

The site’s 4.5-acre grounds will also be open for exploring and learning about the seven historic structures on the site. A hard-packed gravel walkway throughout the grounds provides accessibility during the self-guided tours.

In addition to the reopening of the site, the museum also has a new website — tobaccofarmlifemuseum.nc.gov. Public programs are expected to return later in the year; facility rentals will remain paused for the immediate future.

Maria Vann, who as director of regional history museums oversees the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, described the museum as a vital resource for insights into life of farming families.

“We’ve been working to develop new programs and updating our facilities but there will be more ahead!” Vann said. “For now, we are just excited about being able to share the museum again with our community.”

Tobacco Farm Life Museum is located at 709 N Church St. in Kenly. It will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the latest updates, follow the museum on Facebook and Instagram, @TobaccoFarmLifeMuseum, and after June 21 at tobaccofarmlifemuseum.nc.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Jun 27, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK stands ready to support steps towards a durable peace in DRC: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

Speech

The UK stands ready to support steps towards a durable peace in DRC: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

President, let me make three points.

First, the United Kingdom commends efforts by the African Union, United States and Qatar to negotiate the peaceful resolution to the conflict and also commends the continued engagement of DRC and Rwanda.

DRC and Rwandan Foreign Ministers have been meeting today in Washington to sign a peace agreement.

The UK welcomes this significant step forward on the road to a durable peace.

Focus will now rightly turn its swift implementation.

And the UK stands ready to support this process.

Second, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the M23’s continued obstructions of MONUSCO’s ability to deliver its mandate.

We thank SRSG Keita for her continued engagement with the Security Council on this issue.

Though the M23 released MONUSCO fuel trucks earlier this month, the United Kingdom emphasises that all restrictions affecting the delivery of MONUSCO’s mandate should be lifted immediately, in line with resolution 2773 which was adopted unanimously by this Council.

Third, the United Kingdom is concerned by the humanitarian crisis and significant protection challenges in eastern DRC. We remain committed to supporting the most vulnerable.

To this end, my Foreign Secretary announced an uplift of over $18 million in UK support to the humanitarian response in eastern DRC during his visit to Kinshasa earlier this year.

We are also alarmed by the continued reports of summary executions and sexual violence.

According to UNICEF, a child is reportedly raped every half hour in eastern DRC.

We urge all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian access.

President, it is time for diplomacy to deliver a long-term solution to conflicts in the Great Lakes region.

We now urge Rwanda and the DRC to engage in good faith on the implementation of the peace agreement in order to bring about a more secure and prosperous future.

One which the region has long worked towards, with the support of MONUSCO, and one which the people of the DRC greatly deserve.

Updates to this page

Published 27 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Convicted of Two Convenience Store Robberies and Money Laundering

Source: US FBI

A man who was previously convicted of robbing the Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust on Council Street in Cedar Rapids on January 3, 2024, pled guilty to additional charges today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

Andrew Philip Derr, age 22, from Fredrick, Maryland, was convicted of Two Convenience Store Robberies and Money Laundering.

In a plea agreement, Derr admitted that after being discharged from the military for misconduct in 2023, he moved to Iowa City and conducted a series of robberies in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area. Derr admitted that on December 27, 2023, he robbed the Casey’s General Store in Robins, Iowa, and obtained over $7,000 in cash. Derr admitted that on January 1, 2024, he robbed the Kum & Go store on Four Oaks Drive in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Derr was previously convicted and sentenced for robbing the Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust branch on Council Street in Cedar Rapids on January 3, 2024, in which he obtained over $16,000 in cash. Derr admitted that after each robbery he laundered the stolen funds by making multiple deposits into his Maryland Bank account to disguise the nature, source of ownership of the funds. Ultimately on January 3, 2024, Derr flew to Maryland, and subsequently made two deposits of robbery proceeds totaling more than $4,800. When the United States Marshals Service tried to arrest Derr at his Iowa City, Iowa, apartment, they found a note stating, “Catch me if you can.” On January 12, 2024, Derr turned himself into Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Derr remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Derr faces a possible maximum sentence of 60 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Additionally, Derr must forfeit the stolen funds from the convenience store robberies and the money that he laundered and will be required to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the United States Marshals Service’s Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Robins Police Department, Linn County Attorney’s Office, the University of Iowa Police Department and the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office.

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

The case file number is 24-CR-00105

Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

MIL Security OSI –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Smuggling Leader and Top Coordinator Will Spend Remainder of Their Lives in Prison Following Their Sentencing on Third Anniversary of Deadly Tractor-Trailer Smuggling Conspiracy

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Two convicted human smugglers were sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today for their prominent roles in the 2022 mass casualty human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of 47 adults and six children.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia for the Western District of Texas sentenced Orduna-Torres to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, and Gonzales-Ortega to 83 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both defendants were found guilty by a federal jury in March for three counts related to the transportation of aliens within the United States resulting in death, causing serious bodily injury, and placing lives in jeopardy. Following the jury’s verdict at the trial, Judge Garcia set the sentencing date, noting that it would be three years to the day from when the 53 migrants perished as a result of the defendants’ smuggling scheme.

“These criminals will spend the rest of their lives in prison because of their cruel choice to profit off of human suffering,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s sentences are a powerful message to human smugglers everywhere: we will not rest until you are behind bars.”

“Three years to the day after these two smugglers and their co-conspirators left dozens of men, women, and children locked in a sweltering tractor-trailer to die in the Texas summer heat, they learned that they will spend the rest of their lives locked away in a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “We recognize the justice handed down by Judge Garcia and thank our law enforcement partners for their great work that led to today’s outcome. At the same time, we reinforce the message that these criminal organizations will not place the lives of the desperate and vulnerable above their own financial enrichment. My office remains focused on prosecuting smugglers and their networks, and ultimately eradicating transnational criminal organizations.”

“Today’s sentences are the result of a far-reaching investigation and a tireless commitment by HSI and our law enforcement partners to dismantle the deadliest human smuggling operation in U.S. history,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “This case serves as a stark reminder: human smuggling is not a service — it is a deadly criminal enterprise. HSI will pursue smugglers relentlessly, wherever they operate. No one, who participates in the smuggling of human beings, will escape the reach of justice.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito/Chuekito, and Negro, 30, was a leader and organizer, and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, was a coordinator in the human smuggling organization (HSO) which illegally brought adults and children from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico into the United States between December 2021 and June 2022.

Court documents and evidence presented at the trial revealed that Orduna-Torres and Gonzales-Ortega worked in concert to transport and facilitate the transportation of the migrants, sharing routes, guides, stash houses, trucks, trailers, and transporters in order to consolidate costs, minimize risks, and maximize profit. The HSO maintained a variety of tractors and trailers for their smuggling operations, some of which were stored at a private parking lot in San Antonio.

In the days leading up to June 27, 2022, Orduna-Torres and others exchanged the names of illegal aliens who would be smuggled in an upcoming tractor-trailer load. Gonzales-Ortega traveled to Laredo to meet the tractor-trailer, where at least 64 undocumented individuals, including eight children and one pregnant woman, were loaded for smuggling.

Some of the defendants, including Orduna-Torres, were aware that the trailer’s reefer unit was malfunctioning and was not blowing any cool air to the migrants inside. When members of the organization met the tractor-trailer at the end of its approximately three-hour journey to San Antonio, they opened the doors to find 48 of the migrants were either already dead or had died on site, including the pregnant woman. Sixteen of the undocumented individuals were transported to hospitals — five of whom died.

In addition to their sentences described above, the court also ordered Orduna-Torres to pay a $96,000 money judgment and ordered the forfeiture of the following assets: one 2008 Volvo semi-tractor; one 1995 Phoenix trailer; one 2015 Cadillac Escalade; one 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty Truck; and $59,445.50.

Five other defendants in this case have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the smuggling event. Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, also known as Rrili and Rilay, 32, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 6; Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal, 39, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13; Christian Martinez, 31, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20; and Homero Zamorano Jr., 48, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4. Juan Francisco D’Luna Bilbao, 51, is indicted separately and is also scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 4.

In a related case, Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, allegedly worked with the HSO to smuggle aliens into the United States on the same fatal journey orchestrated by Orduna-Torres and his co-conspirators. He made his initial appearance in San Antonio on March 17, seven months after he was arrested in Guatemala, and is currently scheduled for a jury trial Sept. 29.

HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and has received tremendous support from Customs and Border Protection; Border Patrol; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; the San Antonio Police Department; the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; the San Antonio Fire Department; the Marshall Police Department; and the Palestine Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears and Ray Gattinella for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

These convictions are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 385 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 345 U.S. convictions; more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

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

MIL Security OSI –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Organizer of Maryland Pawn Shop Burglary that Netted Dozens of Firearms Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

WASHINGTON – Vincent Lee Alston, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison for his role in the December 2023 burglary of a Maryland pawn shop that netted dozens of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Alston, aka “Vedo,” pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on March 6 to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. In addition to the prison term, Judge Berman Jackson ordered three years of supervised release.

According to the court documents, on Dec. 13, 2023, Odumn and four co-conspirators drove in two vehicles – one a stolen Hyundai – from the District to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

At the pawn shop, co-defendant Niquan Odumn used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door. Once inside, the quintet grabbed an array of rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the shelves and display racks. They fled with at least 34 firearms.

About a half hour after the burglary, the red Hyundai crashed on I-295 southbound at Kenilworth Avenue, NE. After the accident, surveillance footage showed Alston and two of his co-defendants abandoning the vehicle. MPD arrived at the scene and recovered eight firearms from the car.

Investigators also recovered Alston’s damaged iPhone on the Hyundai’s driver’s seat floorboard. On it, an open GPS route displayed on the screen with a visible destination address of Alston’s residence.

Alston was arrested at his apartment complex on Dec. 15, 2023, and was found with a Smith & Wesson, M&P 9 mm stolen during the pawn shop burglary. To date, law enforcement has recovered close to half of the stolen firearms.

Alston is the third defendant to be sentenced in the pawn shop job.

Niquan “Stickz” Odumn, 23, of the District, was sentenced June 23 to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, of the District, was sentenced June 20 to 84 months in prison for his role in the burglary and for his subsequent attempt to sell several of the stolen guns.

Co-defendant Tyjuan McNeal, 27, is scheduled to be sentenced July 1 for conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Cy’juan Hemsley pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025, to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. Hemsley’s sentencing is pending.

This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar with valuable assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes.

Alston’s iPhone, recovered by police from a crashed getaway car, included texts planning the pawn shop burglary.

Image of Alston captured by a surveillance camera inside the pawn shop.

Firearms recovered from the stolen Hyundai.

Additional firearms recovered from the abandoned getaway vehicle.

MIL Security OSI –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Pipe Bomber Found Guilty of Blowing Up ATM

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

ATLANTA – Abdurrahim Jalal has been convicted of blowing up a bank automated teller machine and possessing illegal explosive devices.

“Criminals who use dangerous explosives to commit crimes will face federal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will not tolerate conduct that puts innocent lives at risk or threatens the safety and stability of our communities.”

“Jalal put his own greed ahead of the safety of our community. The FBI will use every resource available to find anyone who would go to the extreme use of a bomb to illegally obtain money,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.

“The use of explosives in criminal activities poses an immense threat to public safety, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure that those who engage in such acts are brought to justice,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Abdurrahim Jalal was convicted of bank theft, use of an explosive to commit a felony, arson, and two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device following a bench trial on June 23, 2025. The evidence at trial revealed that on March 29, 2023, Jalal used a pipe bomb to blow up an ATM in Decatur, Georgia. Jalal took approximately $88,000 from the vault of the machine after the explosion. Investigators identified Jalal and obtained a warrant to search his home, during which they recovered additional pipe bombs.

Sentencing for Abdurrahim Jalal, 54, of DeKalb County, Georgia, is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. Jalal faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 60 years of imprisonment followed by up to three years of supervised release. In determining Jalal’s actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DeKalb County Police Department, and DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Dash A. Cooper is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

MIL Security OSI –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Airline Employee Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Attempted Coercion, Enticement of a Minor, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Source: US FBI

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Brian Walker (52, Bradenton) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child sexual abuse material. Walker pled guilty on March 25, 2025.

According to court documents, Walker contacted a 12-year-old female living in his community over a social media application. The FBI took over the minor’s social media account and engaged in chats with Walker in an undercover capacity. Walker engaged in sexual conversations with the undercover agent, whom he believed to be the 12-year-old female, and attempted to coerce and entice her to engage in sexual activity. Within the conversations, Walker shared his attraction to 12-year-old females and expressed his desire to meet in person.

On June 24, 2024, Walker travelled to meet the minor in person at the community pool and was arrested at the scene. Law enforcement seized a cell phone from Walker and located hundreds of images and videos of minors, including those under the age of 12 years, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

June 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Taos Man in 2019 Double Homicide

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury convicted a Taos man of two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the June 2019 killings of two members of the Taos Pueblo. The verdict came after an eight-day trial and approximately six hours of deliberation.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 1, 2019, John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, both enrolled members of the Taos Pueblo, were reported missing after their last known contact on May 30, 2019. Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety officers responded to John Doe 1’s residence, where they discovered John Doe 2’s pickup truck crashed into trees near the home. Officers entered the residence and found the bodies of both men, stacked and partially concealed under wire fencing. Forensic experts confirmed both victims died from extensive blunt force trauma. Investigators documented evidence from both inside and outside the residence, including large amounts of blood spatter, vehicle tracks, and property damage.

The investigation tied Joshua Gonzales, 38, a non-Indian, to the murders. After the murders, Gonzales confessed to a witness, providing a detailed account of the killings, including that he used a wooden table leg as the murder weapon and describing the injuries he inflicted, details that matched the forensic findings. The victim’s niece testified that he was the last person seen with John Doe 1 and recounted how he attempted to manufacture a false alibi and threatened her to remain silent. She also testified that Gonzales had a key to the residence, which could only be locked from the outside.

Additional evidence included bloody footprints at the scene, DNA analysis, surveillance video and cell phone records. Investigators established a timeline placing Gonzales at the scene and showed that he possessed one of the victim’s cell phones the morning after the murders. Further, Gonzales fled the scene in John Doe 2’s truck, which he crashed while attempting to leave the area.

Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Gonzales remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Gonzales faces up to life in prison.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Espanola Police Department, Taos Police Department, Taos County Sheriff’s Department, and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Probasco and Samuel Hurtado are prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

June 28, 2025

MIL-OSI: Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (“WTMA”) Announces Successful Approval for its Business Combination with Evolution Metals LLC (“EM”) from the Extraordinary General Meeting of Stockholders on June 26, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (OTC: WTMA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced the successful approval from its extraordinary general meeting (“Business Combination EGM”) of stockholders for its Business Combination with Evolution Metals LLC (“EM”), dedicated to bringing to the US capital markets a secure, reliable global supply chain for critical minerals and materials (“CMM”) that is independent of China.

Through the Business Combination, WTMA and EM expect to acquire, scale and integrate five operating companies: (1) bonded magnet manufacturing; (2) sintered magnet manufacturing; (3) magnet metals and alloy production; (4) Li-ion battery recycling; and (5) smart machine design and automation. Upon closing, the combined company will be renamed Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. (“EM&T”) and expects to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol EMAT.

EM&T’s business is to leverage advanced technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide integrated midstream and downstream CMM recycling and processing of oxides, metals, magnet alloys, battery materials, and rare earth magnets for key industries including, but not limited to, the automotive, aerospace, defense, healthcare, high tech, consumer electronics and appliances, and renewable energy industries, while driving a sustainable future.

“Today’s stockholder approval marks a transformative milestone in our journey to identify a vertically integrated and geopolitically independent supply chain for critical minerals and materials.” said Daniel Mamadou, CEO of WTMA. “Our merger with Evolution Metals represents not only a strategic alignment of values and vision, but also a decisive step toward delivering long-term value for our stakeholders. We are proud to join forces with Evolution Metals, who shares our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and industrial resilience in an increasingly complex global environment.”

David Wilcox, Managing Member of Evolution Metals LLC, added: “This is an exciting moment for Evolution Metals and our partners. Upon the completion of our merger with WTMA, we we intend to accelerate our mission to create a secure, U.S.-centered supply chain for critical materials vital to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and national defense. By vertically integrating a supply chain of critical materials production, we bring together complementary strengths and operational capabilities that position us to lead in an era where independence and supply chain security are more important than ever. Our plans are to replicate the Korean operations we expect to acquire into Missouri, creating a major industrial campus. We expect to fully process batteries and e-waste into salts, magnets and related materials – a dominant U.S. Champion in the mid-stream.”

In addition, WTMA today announced that WTMA is extending the deadline for its stockholders to withdraw and reverse any previously delivered demand for redemption made in connection with the Business Combination EGM until WTMA determines not to accept reversals of redemption instructions. If a stockholder has previously submitted a request to redeem its shares in connection with the Business Combination EGM and would like to reverse such request, such stockholder may contact WTMA’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, at spacredemptions@continentalstock.com.

You can find further information regarding the Business Combination and related matters in WTMA’s filings with the US Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Registration Statement on Form S-4. These filings are available on the SEC website: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/q=wtma.

About Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp.

Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (OTC: WTMA) is a blank check company focused on identifying high-impact technology metals businesses aligned with global sustainability and security trends.

About Evolution Metals LLC

Evolution Metals LLC is committed to establishing a secure, robust and reliable supply chain for critical minerals & materials (CMM) that is 100% independent of China for sourcing or supplying feedstocks. EM’s strategy is to acquire and develop manufacturing, recycling and processing facilities to produce essential products (including magnets, battery feedstocks and related materials) for industrial uses such as, but not limited to, electric vehicles, electronics, environmental technologies and aerospace and defense applications. EM aims to support the creation of jobs, industry and manufacturing to promote a greener future by providing bespoke solutions to support its clients globally.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking-Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of WTMA and EM, as applicable, and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by WTMA and the following: WTMA’s ability to complete the proposed Business Combination or, if WTMA does not consummate such proposed Business Combination, any other initial business combination; the risk that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is significantly delayed; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts EM’s current plans; following the closing of the proposed Business Combination, WTMA’s (which intends to change its name to Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. (such post-closing entity is referred to as “New EM”)) ability to successfully integrate the business and operations of the target companies (the “Target Companies”) into its ongoing business operations and realize the intended benefits of New EM’s acquisition of the Target Companies; New EM’s ability to secure sufficient funding to successfully rebuild Critical Mineral Recovery, Inc.’s recycling facility with significant expansion on management’s expected timeline and budget, or at all; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; expectations regarding New EM’s strategies and future financial performance, including future business plans, expansion and acquisition plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, product and service acceptance, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and New EM’s ability to invest in growth initiatives; satisfaction or waiver (if applicable) of the conditions to the proposed Business Combination, including, among other things: (i) approval of the proposed Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the WTMA stockholders, the holder of the EM member units and the holders of the equity interests of the other Target Companies, (ii) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) the shares of WTMA common stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination, and (iii) the absence of any injunctions; that the amount of cash available in the trust account and from certain other investments is at least equal to the minimum available cash condition amount, after giving effect to redemptions by WTMA stockholders and certain transaction expenses; the occurrence of any other event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the implementation, market acceptance and success of New EM’s business model and growth strategy; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of New EM’s common stock on Nasdaq following the proposed Business Combination; limited liquidity and trading of WTMA’s public securities; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of WTMA common stock being greater than expected; WTMA’s ability to raise financing in the future; WTMA’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, New EM’s officers, key employees or directors following the completion of the proposed Business Combination; WTMA officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with WTMA’s business or in approving the proposed Business Combination; the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to WTMA from interest income on the trust account balance; the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment, including New EM’s ability to meet, and continue to meet, applicable regulatory requirements; New EM’s ability to execute its business plan, including with respect to its technical development and commercialization of products, and its growth and go-to-market strategies; New EM’s ability to achieve sustained, long-term profitability and commercial success; operational risks, including with respect to New EM’s use of agents or resellers in certain jurisdictions, New EM’s ability to scale up its manufacturing quantities of its products, New EM’s outsourcing of manufacturing and such manufacturers’ ability to satisfy New EM’s manufacturing needs on a timely basis, the availability of components or raw materials used to manufacture New EM’s products and New EM’s ability to process customer order backlog; New EM’s revenue deriving from a limited number of customers; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including with respect to New EM’s planned operations outside of the U.S. and Korea; New EM’s ability to attract and retain talented personnel; New EM’s ability to compete with companies that have significantly more resources; New EM’s ability to meet certain certification and compliance standards; New EM’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and ability to protect itself against potential intellectual property infringement claims; the outcome of any known and unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings, including any proceedings that may be instituted against WTMA or EM following announcement of the proposed Business Combination; the potential characterization of New EM as an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and other factors detailed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Registration Statement. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of WTMA, EM and the other Target Companies prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, WTMA, EM and the other Target Companies undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor & Media Contacts

Judith McGarry
Evolution Metals LLC
Tel: +1 (415) 971-2900
Email: judith.mcgarry@evolution-metals.com

Daniel Mamadou
Chief Executive Officer
Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp.
Tel: +1 (251) 280-1980
Email: daniel@welsbach.sg

The MIL Network –

June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Personal Loan For Bad Credit, Honest Loans Offers $100-$50,000 With Guaranteed Approval, No Credit Check- US
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Houston, TX, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — If you’re facing financial difficulties and have bad credit, finding the right lender to secure a loan can seem like an impossible task. Traditional banks and credit institutions often turn away borrowers with poor credit histories, leaving them feeling trapped in their financial situation.

Honest Loans offers a solution, providing personal loans for bad credit, with instant approval and no credit check required, allowing you to borrow amounts ranging from $100 to $50,000.

What Makes Honest Loans Stand Out?

Honest Loans is a trustworthy lender offering personal loans for bad credit in the United States. Unlike traditional loan companies for bad credit, which may make the borrowing process complicated, Honest Loans makes it simple and fast.

Whether you need a small loan to cover unexpected expenses or a larger sum for something more significant, Honest Loans provides you with access to funds without the worry of a credit check.

This approach makes Honest Loans a go-to option for those looking for personal loans for poor credit. With a simple online application process, guaranteed approval, and fast funding, it’s an ideal choice for anyone who needs quick financial relief.

How Honest Loans Works?

At Honest Loans, the application process is straightforward and fast. Here’s how it works:
1. Easy Application: Apply online by filling out a simple form with basic personal details and information about your income. It only takes a few minutes to complete.
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4. Flexible Loan Amounts: Whether you need just $100 or up to $50,000, Honest Loans can cater to your needs. Borrowers can choose a loan amount that fits their financial situation and repay it according to a schedule that works for them.
Benefits of Personal Loans for Bad Credit

1. Instant Approval with No Credit Check
For individuals with bad credit, securing a loan from traditional banks can be nearly impossible. Honest Loans stands apart by offering instant approval personal loans for bad credit without the need for a credit check. This makes it accessible to a broader range of borrowers, including those who may have been rejected by other lenders.

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Honest Loans offers flexibility in loan amounts, allowing you to borrow anywhere from $100 to $50,000. This range ensures that you can find a solution to your financial needs, no matter the size of the loan. Whether you’re looking for a payday loan or a larger personal loan, Honest Loans can help.

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Why Choose Honest Loans?

Honest Loans is one of the leading loan companies for bad credit in the U.S., offering payday loans near me that are quick, secure, and tailored to your financial situation. Here are a few reasons why Honest Loans is a top choice for individuals with bad credit:
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How to Apply for a Loan with Honest Loans?

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Conclusion

Bad credit doesn’t have to stand in your way when you need cash urgently. Payday loans with guaranteed approval, ranging from $100 to $50,000, offer a fast and easy way to get the money you need, even if you have a poor credit history.

Honest Loans make the application process simple and fast, ensuring that you can secure funds quickly. Just be sure to understand the terms of the loan and repay it on time to avoid any long-term financial difficulties.

Take the time to research and find the right payday loan option for your needs, and remember, these loans are meant to be a short-term solution to unexpected financial issues.

FAQs

What’s the easiest loan to get with poor credit?

The easiest loan to get with poor credit is a payday loan. They don’t require good credit scores and most lenders only do a soft credit check. You just need to be 18 years old, have some income, and have a bank account.

How much would a $5000 loan cost per month?

A $5000 loan would cost between $200-$600 per month, depending on the interest rate and loan term. If you get a 2-year loan with 15% interest, you’d pay about $245 per month. Higher interest rates or shorter terms will cost more per month.

Can I get a personal loan if my credit is 500?

Yes, you can get a personal loan if your credit is 500. Payday lenders and some online lenders offer personal loan for bad credit options for people with credit scores as low as 500. You’ll pay higher interest rates, but approval is still possible.

Can I get a $3,000 loan with bad credit?

Yes, you can get a $3,000 loan with bad credit. Many payday lenders and bad credit loan companies offer loans up to $5,000 or more, even if you have poor credit. The key is finding lenders who specialize in bad credit loans.

Urgent loans for bad credit guaranteed approval

Urgent loans for bad credit guaranteed approval are available through payday lenders and online loan companies. These loans can be approved in 1-2 hours and funded the same day. Companies like Honest Loans offer guaranteed approval for people with bad credit who meet basic requirements.

Tags: personal loan, personal loan for bad credit, payday loans USA, payday loans near me

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Loan terms, interest rates, and approval requirements may vary by lender and location. Always read and understand the full terms and conditions before applying for any loan. Consider all your options and consult with a financial advisor if needed before making borrowing decisions.
- Company: Honest Loans
- Phone: 888-718-9134
- Email: support@onlineloannetwork.com
Attachment
- HonestLoans
The MIL Network –
June 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Racist Attacks on Zohran Mamdani

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) is today releasing the following statement regarding a barrage of racist, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and xenophobic attacks against the Democratic Nominee for Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, including from sitting Members of Congress.

“There has been an outpouring of disgraceful, dangerous, racist ideology from sitting Members of Congress and administration officials following Zohran Mamdani’s win in the New York Mayoral primary.

“The constant displays of Islamophobia are an affront to the millions of Muslim Americans and Muslims around the world. One of the most jarring called for the denaturalization and deportation of Mr. Mamdani, an American citizen who just won a massive Democratic primary with more votes than that Member, Mr. Ogles, could ever hope to win. This is an insult to voters in New York City who take democracy seriously.

“Denaturalization of U.S. citizens is part of the Trump playbook to attack all legal immigration. It is completely outrageous and flies in the face of the laws of this country.

“The hateful language directed at Mr. Mamdani will get someone killed, and we all should be outraged. It must end. Every person who cares about democracy, freedom of religion, and the right for all Americans to be treated equally should speak out immediately against these insane and dangerous attacks.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 28, 2025

Category: United States of America

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