IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser recently visited his home station and membership at Baltimore’s Thurgood Marshall International Airport.
While walking the property, Fraser spoke to members at Southwest, United, and American Airlines, emphasizing the importance of connecting with our members, regardless of station size. He also highlighted IAM General Vice President Richie Johnson’s commitment to the membership.
Watch the video here.
Fraser was also accompanied by IAM District 141 Assistant General Chairs Warren Glenn and Steve Miller, as well as District 142 General Chair Loraine Fraser. Several Southwest Shop Stewards, including Nina Caldwell (SWA), Marlene Howard (SWA), along with Devon Crawford (SWA), took time to make sure members got a chance to meet with Fraser. American Airlines Grievance Committee member Jason Copeland and United Airlines’ Above-the-Wing Committee member Kimberly Worthman helped get members to meet with the visiting guests.
Several members appreciated Fraser’s visit and the IAM Union’s representation, underscoring the positive impact of leadership presence and support for union members in the transportation industry.
The post BWI Membership Connects with Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff in Home Station Visit appeared first on IAM Union.
Fishing for evidence: How can machine learning help?
As human impacts on the environment rapidly accelerate, so does the need to understand those impacts and develop strategies to build resilience amidst growing threats.
This story was written by Gretchen Stokes, ORISE Participant with the National CASC and was originally published by Current Conservation at Fishing for evidence: How can machine learning help? | Current Conservation
As human impacts on the environment rapidly accelerate, so does the need to understand those impacts and develop strategies to build resilience amidst growing threats. Often, researchers can identify the larger causes of environmental degradation (‘drivers’, such as climate change or pollution), observe changes in the environment (‘impacts’, such as habitat loss or poor water quality), and notice how species respond (‘responses’, such as changes in reproduction or population declines) to these changes.
However, it is much more challenging to link drivers, impacts, and responses as a direct cause-and-effect relationship. For example, illegal logging might cause increased soil erosion along a river and fishers may catch fewer fish, but documenting a direct link between land use change and fish mortality can be difficult. Yet, uncovering these driver-impact-response links can help identify opportunities for interventions and appropriate conservation actions.
Untangling the links
One logical approach to understanding these links is utilising documented evidence of drivers, impacts, and responses already published in the scientific literature. There has been a surge in the number of publications about global environmental change, which is useful for providing more evidence but challenging because of the high volume of papers, and in turn requires substantial effort to sift and extract information. However, artificial intelligence tools such as machine learning—computers that learn to detect patterns and make predictions based on the data—can help overcome this challenge.
In this study, we focused on understanding driver-impact-response links across 45 river basins and large lakes with the highest freshwater fish catch. Freshwater fish comprise over half of the world’s fish species and are a vital food source for billions of people. Yet, they are some of the most threatened animals on the planet.
We searched for relevant literature using keywords and extracted 9,336 abstracts for review. After reviewing over half of them, we realised that machine learning could help sort abstracts “with threats” and “without threats” into two categories. We trained and tested four computer models and chose the one that best detected abstracts with threats to sort the remaining abstracts. This process taught us a few things.
Lessons learned
First, we discovered that some threats are better documented than others. For example, pollution and dams were the most documented drivers and the most frequently linked to negative fish responses. Other drivers known to have substantial impacts on fish, such as climate change, were seldom documented with direct fish responses. This may be because it is difficult to link climate impacts in real-time, and because some drivers have complex interactions with other drivers.
Second, we learned that machine learning was much better at classifying irrelevant abstracts (those without threats) than at correctly classifying those with threats. We think this may be due, in part, to the unstandardised nature of fisheries literature. For instance, defining a fishery can be variable, so it is not surprising that computers would have a hard time learning text patterns with nuanced language. This contrasts with other fields like medicine, where language is more standardised for medical reports. High performance in classifying irrelevant abstracts is still extremely useful and quickly helped us eliminate thousands of papers.
Through this study, we were able to demonstrate a successful application of machine learning to improve efficiency—by over 50 percent—and optimise the extraction of evidence to inform conservation planning. While neither method of evidence synthesis (human or computer) could function independently, the combination of both methods proved useful.
Since ecologists often lack the specialised training to apply complex methods in machine learning, we also created a toolkit for users to extract evidence and understand performance metrics and outputs. Overall, our study provides a transdisciplinary bridge from computer science to ecology and a useful toolkit for evidence synthesis amidst accelerating global environmental change.
Related
Assessing the State of Global Inland Fisheries
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) documents the status and trends of marine fish stocks that represent approximately 80% of global marine catch. These stocks are routinely monitored, and the FAO assessment describes the extent of exploitation against different reference points – such as underfished, sustainable fished, or overfished. Although inland…
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) documents the status and trends of marine fish stocks that represent approximately 80% of global marine catch. These stocks are routinely monitored, and the FAO assessment describes the extent of exploitation against different reference points – such as underfished, sustainable fished, or overfished. Although inland fisheries, which
Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, the ongoing negotiations of the budget reconciliation package, and final passage of the GENIUS Act.
*Click the photo above or here to watch*
Partial Transcript
Hagerty on Trump preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon: “It’s not surprising. President [Donald] Trump has been entirely clear this entire period that Iran needs to come to the table, that he will not allow them to have a nuclear weapon. Yet what does Iran do? Continues to tap the ball. They go past the 60-day window that they’d been given, and they continue to advance their nuclear program. It’s no surprise that Israel has taken the action that they have, Maria. I think they have no choice. This is an existential decision on behalf of [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. He cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon because Iran’s been very clear: death to Israel and also death to America. We have to take them at their word. This regime has been nothing but using every tactic in the book to, basically, buy more time to ‘negotiate’ while, in the background, they continue to develop this weapon. This capability is something we can’t let them finalize. President Trump has been, again, extraordinarily clear. He will not let that happen.”
Hagerty on the U.S. standing with Israel: “I think President Trump has been very clear. He’s not for these forever wars that go on. I agree with that. At the same time, he’s also been very clear that we stand with Israel. I think most people in America feel the same way. I think President Trump has a spectrum of options before him. I’m not going to get ahead of him and try to predict what he might do, but I’ll say this: Israel’s doing an incredible job. Their intelligence has been impeccable, and I think the Iranians need to wake up and realize they’re on their back foot. They’re on their back heel, and they need to get to the table quickly to get this resolved because they are not winning.”
Hagerty on China supporting Iran’s terror regime: “They have been supporting Iran, Maria, over time. If you think about it, who’s been buying this illicit oil? Iran’s been evading sanctions. How? They’re selling their oil to China. China’s been providing the funds. The funds have been used, therefore, to build up Hamas, to build up Hezbollah, to build up Houthis. It’s Iranian technology, Iranian knowhow, that’s being used, along with Iranian funds, which are being, basically, funneled from China through Iran, back into these zones of terror. China needs to bring this to a complete halt. They need to join us, and we need to see this come to an end.”
Hagerty on the ongoing budget reconciliation negotiations: “There’s a lot in that that, I think, is going to be refined. There’s going to be more deficit reduction orientation in what the Senate is working on right now. I’m not going to get in the middle of negotiations, but just take SALT, for example, the state and local tax exemption. It came over from the House with a $40,000 exemption per year. The Senate’s come back with a $10,000 exemption. That’s a negotiation that’s underway. Again, I’m not going to try to get ahead of the negotiators, but this is what’s going to take place. This is how it gets done here in Washington. Overall, though, I’d say this: we have to keep in mind that to not address this, to not address the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would deliver north of $4 trillion of tax increases to the American people. The White House budget model predicts that there would be a six percent decline in GDP next year, were that to happen. We’re not going to let that happen either, Maria. So, we’re in the process of fine-tuning. Everybody wants this to be as conservative as it can be, but also, it’s imperative that we get this passed and passed quickly, so the capital expenditure plans can firm up, so that the investments that we want to see happen in America do begin to get plans. The 2026 is the best year we’ve seen on record.”
Hagerty on SALT provisions: “I think you look at the Senate, we don’t have a SALT constituency in the Senate. We don’t have [Republican] senators from California, New York, Illinois. We’re trying to address this, but we’re trying to do this in a fiscally responsible manner. Again, we’re in the middle of a negotiation. [Representative] Mike [Lawler] is at $40,000, the U.S. Senate right now is at $10,000. Again, I’m sure Mike will be clear in his point tomorrow, but we’re in the middle of a negotiation. We’ll see where it lands.”
Hagerty on the IRA subsidies: “I think they’re going to be scrutinized very, very carefully, Maria. I understand the arguments that is that certain companies are relied, to their detriment, on the tax subsidies that were there, but I think we’re going through this with a fine-tooth comb. Certainly, we don’t want to see anymore new utilization of these types of tools, and I think they’re trying to minimize the disruption in the damage that might have occurred from those companies that have already relied upon it and started projects.”
Hagerty on final passage of the GENIUS Act: “I’m very enthusiastic about the stablecoin legislation that I’ve led. We’ve been working on this for months. We have a strong bipartisan product. We will deliver that midday today. We’ll have it ready, and I think it’s got a tremendous amount of input from the industry, from my colleagues here. We’ve involved the administration. I think we’re going to have a great product that actually sets the stage for moving into a modern-day payment system into the 21st century. Getting us off the old system that was designed in the 1970s and eighties, making the dollar the key element in the digital arena. And frankly, it will stimulate more demand for U.S. treasuries. It will strengthen the dollar’s position as a reserve currency. We’re going to see that advance in a way that, again, takes a lot of friction out of an old, clunky system, reduces counterparty risk, reduces currency risk, and will bring a lot of working capital back to the companies that need it and back into the economy. With respect to the [Securities and Exchange Commission], I couldn’t ask for a better partner than [SEC Chairman] Paul Atkins. He’s doing a terrific job already. We’re going to be working arm-in-arm to try to help advance the entire cryptocurrency industry, the entirety of this industry, that’ll keep us on the cutting edge of the 21st century. As you mentioned, I want to make my state a hub. We’ve got Bitcoin miners there. We’ve got Bitcoin Park there. We had the great Bitcoin Conference there that President Trump attended. That’s where he announced that he would be firing [Former SEC Chairman] Gary Gensler. I think that received great applause, and I think everybody’s extremely happy to see someone, strong conservative, hard-nosed fellow, like Paul Atkins, coming into office. I’m looking forward to working, arm-in-arm, together with him.”
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Phoenix Field Division, in conjunction with the Las Cruces Police Department, is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old.
At about 9 p.m. on June 2, the Las Cruces Police Department responded to a parking lot near the intersection of Solano Drive and Spruce Avenue on a report of a road rage shooting involving gunfire from one vehicle into another. Tragically, a 14-year-old boy who was seated in the rear passenger-side seat of the vehicle that was fired upon sustained gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
The suspect vehicle, described as a 2018-2022 white mid-size SUV, was driven by a male and fled the scene.
Anyone with information about this homicide should contact ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477). Information can also be sent toATFTips@atf.govor through ATF’s website atwww.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit® app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App store, or by visitingwww.reportit.com.
ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes. Our Investigative priorities focus on armed violent offenders and career criminals, narcotics traffickers, narco-terrorists, violent gangs, and domestic and international arms traffickers. ATF targets, investigates and recommends prosecution of these offenders to reduce the level of violent crime and to enhance public safety. More information about ATF and its programs is available atwww.atf.gov.
LAKEWOOD, NJ, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reliance Global Group, Inc.(Nasdaq: RELI) (“Reliance,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) today announced it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to sell Fortman Insurance Agency (“Fortman”), a wholly owned subsidiary for $5 million in cash. The contemplated sale price represents a meaningful premium over the original acquisition cost, underscoring the Company’s ability to acquire, improve, and opportunistically monetize assets to drive shareholder value.
Since acquiring Fortman, Reliance has implemented operational enhancements, upgraded internal systems, and established a strong leadership team. As a result, Fortman has evolved into a well-capitalized, efficiently run agency with a growing customer base and enhanced market presence.
Ezra Beyman, CEO of Reliance, commented, “The potential sale of Fortman demonstrates our disciplined capital allocation strategy and commitment to value creation. We acquired Fortman at a compelling valuation, strengthened its operations, and are now positioned to realize a meaningful return. This contemplated transaction reflects our ability to execute and supports our broader goal of building a highly profitable and focused organization. Not only does the sale price represent a premium to what we paid for Fortman, but it also adds substantial cash to our balance sheet—an especially notable achievement in light of our current market capitalization. We believe that this highlights the substantial underlying value embedded across our broader portfolio.”
Proceeds from the sale are expected to support Reliance’s planned acquisition of Spetner Associates (“Spetner”), a rapidly growing and synergistic insurance platform. As highlighted in previous announcements, Spetner has experienced robust growth in recent years and is expected to generate strong cash flow at both the subsidiary and parent company levels. The Company believes Spetner will integrate seamlessly into Reliance’s operations under the OneFirm strategy.
“By monetizing Fortman at a premium, we are building internal cash reserves that are intended to advance the Spetner acquisition,” added Beyman. “This strategy reflects our commitment to enhancing shareholder value while pursuing transformative and accretive growth opportunities. We believe replacing our Fortman subsidiary with Spetner aligns with our long-term vision for scale, synergy, and sustained cash flow generation.”
The LOI is non-binding and subject to customary due diligence and negotiation of definitive documentation. The Company will provide additional updates as the transaction progresses.
About Reliance Global Group, Inc.
Reliance Global Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RELI) is an InsurTech pioneer, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based technologies, to transform and improve efficiencies in the insurance agency/brokerage industry. The Company’s business-to-business InsurTech platform, RELI Exchange, provides independent insurance agencies an entire suite of business development tools, enabling them to effectively compete with large-scale national insurance agencies, whilst reducing back-office cost and burden. The Company’s business-to-consumer platform, 5minuteinsure.com, utilizes AI and data mining, to provide competitive online insurance quotes within minutes to everyday consumers seeking to purchase auto, home, and life insurance. In addition, the Company operates its own portfolio of select retail “brick and mortar” insurance agencies which are leaders and pioneers in their respective regions throughout the United States, offering a wide variety of insurance products. Further information about the Company can be found at https://www.relianceglobalgroup.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding:
Our ability to complete the non-binding Letter of Intent to sell Fortman Insurance Agency for $5 million and to realize the contemplated premium over our original acquisition cost;
Our plans to deploy the proceeds from the Fortman sale for the proposed acquisition of Spetner Associates, Inc.;
Our expectation that the Spetner acquisition will close on commercially reasonable terms and receive any required regulatory and shareholder approvals;
Our objectives to continue acquiring, improving and opportunistically monetizing agency-level assets to drive shareholder value;
Our intentions to pursue disciplined, accretive growth opportunities in the InsurTech and insurance agency industries; and
Other statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, financial results, products and services.
These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including the assumptions that: the LOI will not be terminated prior to execution of definitive purchase agreements; due diligence and documentation negotiations will proceed without material adverse findings; the Fortman sale and the Spetner acquisition will both close as expected; our revenue and EBITDA projections for Spetner are attainable; integration risks will be managed successfully; and there will be no material adverse changes in market, economic or regulatory conditions affecting our businesses. There can be no assurance that any of these assumptions will prove correct.
There are numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These include, among others: the risk that the Fortman buyer may withdraw or renegotiate the terms of the LOI; delays or failure to complete either the Fortman sale or the Spetner acquisition; unanticipated liabilities or integration challenges in connection with Spetner; our inability to realize the projected revenue or EBITDA benefits; competition in the InsurTech and agency brokerage industry; changes in insurance regulation or Nasdaq listing requirements; general economic or financial market conditions; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 and our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You should carefully review our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as amended, and the other reports we have filed or will file with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties. Except as required by law, Reliance Global Group, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
BOISE, Idaho, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Top California Lender, a private lender specializing in commercial real estate lending, is proud to announce the successful closing of a $5.3 million loan to finance the acquisition of a mixed-use development in Boise, Idaho. This transaction highlights the company’s commitment to supporting innovative projects in emerging markets across the United States.
The loan, structured as a 12-month bridge term with an interest rate of 9.5% and interest-only payments, supports the purchase of a 25,000-square-foot property featuring retail spaces and residential units in Boise’s thriving downtown area. The borrower, a local real estate group with a proven track record, plans to renovate the property to enhance its appeal to tenants, capitalizing on the city’s growing population and economic momentum. The loan includes no prepayment penalty, offering flexibility to adapt to market conditions.
“This closing reflects our ability to provide fast, tailored financing for strategic investments in up-and-coming markets,” said Jerry Dean, CEO of Top California Lender, LLC. “We are thrilled to partner with this experienced team to unlock the potential of this Boise property and contribute to the area’s revitalization.”
The deal underscores the increasing demand for acquisition financing in the Mountain West, where Boise’s economic growth continues to attract investors. Top California Lender’s efficient process, targeting closings within 30 days of approval, enabled the swift execution of this transaction, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted lender in the commercial real estate sector.
For more information about Top California Lender’s loan programs, including Rehab/Renovation Loans, Construction Loans, Bridge Loans, Commercial Acquisition Loans, and Change of Use Loans, visit www.topcalifornialender.com or contact info@topcalifornialender.com.
BOISE, Idaho, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Top California Lender, a private lender specializing in commercial real estate lending, is proud to announce the successful closing of a $5.3 million loan to finance the acquisition of a mixed-use development in Boise, Idaho. This transaction highlights the company’s commitment to supporting innovative projects in emerging markets across the United States.
The loan, structured as a 12-month bridge term with an interest rate of 9.5% and interest-only payments, supports the purchase of a 25,000-square-foot property featuring retail spaces and residential units in Boise’s thriving downtown area. The borrower, a local real estate group with a proven track record, plans to renovate the property to enhance its appeal to tenants, capitalizing on the city’s growing population and economic momentum. The loan includes no prepayment penalty, offering flexibility to adapt to market conditions.
“This closing reflects our ability to provide fast, tailored financing for strategic investments in up-and-coming markets,” said Jerry Dean, CEO of Top California Lender, LLC. “We are thrilled to partner with this experienced team to unlock the potential of this Boise property and contribute to the area’s revitalization.”
The deal underscores the increasing demand for acquisition financing in the Mountain West, where Boise’s economic growth continues to attract investors. Top California Lender’s efficient process, targeting closings within 30 days of approval, enabled the swift execution of this transaction, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted lender in the commercial real estate sector.
For more information about Top California Lender’s loan programs, including Rehab/Renovation Loans, Construction Loans, Bridge Loans, Commercial Acquisition Loans, and Change of Use Loans, visit www.topcalifornialender.com or contact info@topcalifornialender.com.
BOISE, Idaho, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Top California Lender, a private lender specializing in commercial real estate lending, is proud to announce the successful closing of a $5.3 million loan to finance the acquisition of a mixed-use development in Boise, Idaho. This transaction highlights the company’s commitment to supporting innovative projects in emerging markets across the United States.
The loan, structured as a 12-month bridge term with an interest rate of 9.5% and interest-only payments, supports the purchase of a 25,000-square-foot property featuring retail spaces and residential units in Boise’s thriving downtown area. The borrower, a local real estate group with a proven track record, plans to renovate the property to enhance its appeal to tenants, capitalizing on the city’s growing population and economic momentum. The loan includes no prepayment penalty, offering flexibility to adapt to market conditions.
“This closing reflects our ability to provide fast, tailored financing for strategic investments in up-and-coming markets,” said Jerry Dean, CEO of Top California Lender, LLC. “We are thrilled to partner with this experienced team to unlock the potential of this Boise property and contribute to the area’s revitalization.”
The deal underscores the increasing demand for acquisition financing in the Mountain West, where Boise’s economic growth continues to attract investors. Top California Lender’s efficient process, targeting closings within 30 days of approval, enabled the swift execution of this transaction, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted lender in the commercial real estate sector.
For more information about Top California Lender’s loan programs, including Rehab/Renovation Loans, Construction Loans, Bridge Loans, Commercial Acquisition Loans, and Change of Use Loans, visit www.topcalifornialender.com or contact info@topcalifornialender.com.
Headline: Breaking down the chaos of a seemingly infinite workday
In our recent 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report, we charted the emergence of the Frontier Firm—powered by intelligence on tap, run by human-agent teams, and defined by a new role for every employee, the agent boss. These firms are redesigning business processes around AI and agents to scale rapidly, operate with agility, and generate value faster than traditional companies.
But organizations will never complete their journey to becoming a Frontier Firm by concentrating on process alone. Our research, based on trillions of globally aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, reveals a challenging new roadblock: a seemingly infinite workday.
AI offers a way out of the mire, especially if paired with a reimagined rhythm of work. Otherwise, we risk using AI to accelerate a broken system. To get a handle on this barrier to transformation, let’s start our infinite workday.
The workday often begins before a lot of people are out of bed. By 6 am, many Microsoft 365 users are scanning overflowing inboxes in hopes of getting ahead. Our telemetry data shows:
40% of people who are online at 6 am are reviewing email for the day’s priorities.
The average worker receives 117 emails daily—most of them skimmed in under 60 seconds.
Mass emails with 20+ recipients are up 7% in the past year, while one-on-one threads are on the decline (-5%).
The inbox may still be the front door to work, but too often it opens to a flood of unprioritized chaos.
The chaos of the infinite workday
It starts early, mostly in email, and quickly swells to a focus-sapping flood of messages, meetings, and interruptions.
By 8 am, Microsoft Teams overtakes email as the dominant communication channel, shifting the day into high gear.
The average worker receives 153 Teams messages per weekday.
Messages per person are up 6% YOY globally—more than 20% in regions like Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and over 15% in the UK and South Korea.
Each email or message notification may seem small, but together they can set a frenetic tempo for the day ahead.
The most valuable hours of the workday are often ruled by someone else’s agenda. Half (50%) of all meetings take place between 9–11 am and 1–3 pm—precisely when, as research shows, many people have a natural productivity spike in their day, due to their circadian rhythms. But our data reveals that we fill this time with meetings, leaving little room for deep focus. Tuesdays now carry the heaviest meeting load (23%), while Fridays taper to just 16%. Instead of deep work, these prime hours are spent cycling through a carousel of calls.
Meetings hijack prime focus time
Studies show that many people have two natural performance spikes each day, but our data reveals that we fill one of them with meetings, leaving little room for focus work.
An area chart showing average productivity levels for workers between the hours of 6 am and 12 am, indicating that a high percentage of meetings are often scheduled during peak productivity hours, leaving workers with less time to dedicate to focus work.
But meetings aren’t the only force fracturing attention. By 11 am—peak productivity for many—message activity also surges, with 54% of users active. According to our telemetry data it’s the most overloaded hour of the day, as real-time messages, scheduled meetings, and constant app switching converge, making focus on any one task nearly impossible.
Calendars may show a break in meetings after lunch, but that could also be a mirage. During this time we see Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (WXP) usage surge as employees attempt focus work like writing, analyzing data, and creating decks—but that time is fragmented. Our telemetry data shows that, on average, employees using Microsoft 365 are interrupted every 2 minutes by a meeting, email, or notification. That competing digital noise doesn’t appear on calendars, but as many information workers will likely attest, it’s deeply felt. In fact, our global Work Trend Index survey shows that nearly half of employees (48%)—and more than half of leaders (52%)—say their work feels chaotic and fragmented.
The issue isn’t just volume—it’s sprawl. Our data shows that modes of communication are changing, coordination is more complex, and mental load is heavier.
57% of meetings are ad hoc calls without a calendar invite—and 1 in 10 scheduled meetings are booked at the last minute.
Large meetings (65+ attendees) are the fastest-growing type—likely a result of employees navigating increasingly complex, cross-functional teams.
Nearly a third of meetings now span multiple time zones—up 35% since 2021.
And in the final 10 minutes before a meeting, PowerPoint edits spike 122%—the digital equivalent of cramming before an exam.
For many, the workday now feels like navigating chaos—reacting to others’ priorities and losing focus on what matters most. In a time when every hour counts, that drift could quietly drain energy and stall business progress.
The shift to the triple peak day that started during the pandemic is no longer a trend—for many, it’s the norm. Today’s workday stretches well into the evening. Our telemetry data shows that meetings after 8 pm are up 16% year over year, with global and flexible teams accounting for much of the increase. And it’s not just meetings: the average employee now sends or receives more than50 messages outside of core business hours, and by 10 pm, nearly a third (29%) of active workers dive back into their inboxes, pointing to a steady rise in after-hours activity.
But “working late” can be experienced differently. A recent study from Microsoft Research found that remote workers often see evening hours as a productive window for quiet catch-up. Hybrid workers, by contrast, are more likely to experience that same time as a source of stress. For managers and leaders, this isn’t just a footnote—it’s a signal that can help set clearer expectations, shape team culture, and better support teams.
And for some, this pressure spills into the weekend—making Sunday feel like just another Monday:
Our telemetry data shows a notable bump in weekend email usage. Nearly 20% of employees actively working on the weekend are checking their email before noon on Saturday and Sunday—waking up to work, even on typical days off. And over 5% are back in email on Sunday evenings (6 pm and later)—the Sunday scaries are real and measurable.
And while email patterns mimic the workweek, other apps tell a different story: over the weekend, usage of WXP overtakes Teams messages as employees finally carve out time for uninterrupted focus work.
The infinite workday bleeds into evenings and weekends
Boundaries are eroding as 1 in 3 employees say the pace of work over the past five years makes it impossible to keep up.
This points to a larger truth: the modern workday for many has no clear start or finish. As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity. It’s the professional equivalent of needing to assemble a bike before every ride. Too much energy is spent organizing chaos before meaningful work can begin.
Leaders are feeling the squeeze. With flat budgets and rising pressure to perform, 1 in 3 employees in our global Work Trend Index survey responded that the pace of work over the past five years has made it impossible to keep up. The signals are clear: it’s time to break the cycle. The future of work won’t be defined by how much drudgery we automate, but by what we choose to fundamentally reimagine. AI can give us the leverage to redesign the rhythm of work, refocus our teams on new and differentiating work, and fix what has become a seemingly infinite workday. The question isn’t whether work will change. It’s whether we will.
Adopting AI isn’t enough. What you need now is a Frontier Firm mindset—one that questions how time is spent, how work gets done, and what truly drives impact. Here are three places to start:
Follow the 80/20 rule. In a world of flat budgets and shrinking attention, activity is not the same as progress. The most effective organizations know this—and act on it. Frontier Firms are putting the Pareto Principle into practice, focusing on the 20% of work that delivers 80% of the outcomes. AI makes this not only possible but scalable. By deploying AI and agents to streamline low-value tasks—status meetings, routine reports, admin churn—leaders can reclaim time for what moves the business: deep work, fast decisions, and focused execution. The companies that can win in the age of AI won’t just work harder—they’ll work smarter and sharper. Not sure where to start? Watch this leadership keynote from the Microsoft 365 Community Conference on Building the Future Firm.
Redesign for the Work Chart. Today, teams are organized by static functions like finance, marketing, and engineering. But with expertise available on demand through AI and agents, rigid structures add unnecessary friction. Take a product launch: content lives in marketing, data in analytics, budget in finance, and messaging with comms. A simple update like a price adjustment can take days and multiple meetings. It’s time to move from the org chart to the Work Chart—an agile, outcome-driven model in which lean teams form around a goal and use AI to fill skill gaps and move fast. At Supergood, an AI-first agency formerly called Supernatural, employees use a platform powered by decades of ad strategy to access insights instantly—no need to loop in a strategist on every brief.
Become an agent boss. There’s a new generation of professionals rising through the chaos—not by working more, but by working smarter. We call them agent bosses. Take Alex Farach, a researcher at Microsoft who uses a trio of agents to supercharge his work: one collects new research daily, the next runs statistical analysis, and the third drafts briefs to help connect the dots. Instead of getting bogged down in manual work, Farach can focus on what matters—fast, high-quality insights that benefit the entire team. This is the future of work: human-agent teams built to adapt and scale.
Methodology
Microsoft 365 Telemetry All data is based on aggregated and anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, ending February 15, 2025. Data excludes education (Edu) and European Union (EU) tenants.
Interruptions Employees are interrupted every two minutes during core work hours—275 times a day—by meetings, emails, or chats. Calculated as a rolling 28-day sum of pings (meeting invites, emails, chats) per unique user per workday. The two-minute figure reflects the average time between pings during an eight-hour workday. The 275 is based on the 24-hour day. Based on the top 20% of users by ping volume received.
Last-Minute PowerPoint Edits Edits in PowerPoint spike 122% in the final 10 minutes before a meeting. Calculated as a rolling 28-day sum of PowerPoint view and edit actions per meeting participant, measured across fixed time windows before meetings.
Ad Hoc Meetings 60% of meetings are unscheduled or ad hoc. Based on a rolling 28-day volume of unique meetings per user per workday. Represents the top 20% of users by meeting volume.
After-Hours Chats Chats sent outside the standard 9-to-5 workday are up 15% year over year, with an average of 58 messages per user now arriving before or after hours. Calculated as a rolling 28-day sum of chats sent outside of Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm
Late-Night Meetings & Cross–Time Zone Work Meetings starting after 8 pm are up 16% year over year, driven by an increase in cross–time zone collaboration. 30% of meetings now span multiple time zones—a figure that has risen 8 percentage points since 2021. Measured as a rolling 28-day sum of meetings starting between 8 pm and 11:59 pm, adjusted for each participant’s local time.
Work Trend Index Survey The Work Trend Index survey was conducted by an independent research firm, Edelman Data x Intelligence, among 31,000 full-time employed or self-employed knowledge workers across 31 markets between February 6, 2025 and March 24, 2025. This survey was 20 minutes in length and conducted online, in either the English language or translated to local languages across markets. 1,000 full-time workers were surveyed in each market, and global results have been aggregated across all responses to provide an average. In the US, an additional sample of 4,500 full-time employed or self-employed knowledge workers was collected across nine sub-regions/metros.
Global markets surveyed include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.
Sub-regions/Metros in the United States surveyed include: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, DC Metro, Houston, New York City, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Audiences mentioned in the report are defined as follows:
Knowledge workers: Those who typically work at a desk (whether in an office or at home). This group includes those who are in person or working remotely in some capacity.
Leaders: Knowledge workers in mid to upper job levels (e.g., SVP, VP, Sr. Director, General Manager, EVP, C-Suite, President, etc.) who have at least some decision-making influence related to hiring, budgeting, employee benefits, internal communications, operations, etc.
Employees: Knowledge workers who are not in mid to upper job levels or have no influence on decision-making related to hiring, budgeting, employee benefits, internal communications, operations, etc.
Managers: Knowledge workers who manage a team or group of employees. Managers can be business decision makers or non-business decision makers.
Frontier Firms: Leaders who say their company has organization-wide deployment of AI and believe their organization is a leader in actively investing in AI, and is measuring ROI on these investments. They say they have seen some ROI from implementation of AI and believe it is critical to their long-term success as an organization. They believe agents will be key to realizing a return on their company’s AI investments. These leaders say they work at organizations that are currently using agents or other AI tools that bring previously outsourced skill sets in-house, or are using multi-agent systems that collaborate to achieve a goal or execute complex workflows. Their company plans to moderately or extensively incorporate agents into its AI strategy over the next 12–18 months.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Text of Letter
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and fellow members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, including Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) as well as Representatives Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) and Bill Keating (MA-09) in demanding that the Trump administration reverse its decision to cancel federal Job Corps funding, threatening the abrupt closure of 99 contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide.
Their letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez DeRemer highlights the impact to Massachusetts’ three Job Corps centers: Shriver Job Corps Center in Devens, Grafton Job Corps Center in North Grafton, and Westover Job Corps Center in Chicopee.
“We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the Department of Labor’s recent decision to pause operations at Job Corps centers across the country. We urge you to consider the long-standing value and potential of the Job Corps program in offering young people a critical second chance at personal and professional success,” the lawmakers wrote.
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a pause in operations at contractor-run Job Corps centers across the U.S. With more than 120 centers nationwide, the Job Corps program provides opportunities for low-income and at-risk youth to gain the skills necessary to begin successful careers in a skilled trade or other profession.
“With 92,000 Massachusetts residents aged 18 to 24 living in poverty, the Shriver, Grafton, and Westover Job Corps Centers stand as vital resources for economic mobility and career development. Combined, they contribute an estimated $80 million to the local economy annually and across the state, we have seen the impact. Graduates have become union carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, police officers, cybersecurity professionals, and entrepreneurs. This is not just an investment in the local talent pipeline for employers but an investment in our communities as many of these graduates stay in the region to live, work, and raise their families. Pausing operations at these centers at the end of the month will directly detract from workforce training and discourage economic development in communities across the country like Devens, North Grafton, and Chicopee,” the lawmakers continued.
The decision to close Job Corps centers was met with swift legal opposition. On June 3, 2025, the National Job Corps Association, a trade organization representing Job Corps centers nationwide, filed a lawsuit against the DOL, arguing that the closure of the country’s largest residential career training program was both unlawful and based on misleading data about its performance. The following evening, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, blocking the DOL from suspending program operations.
“The Job Corps program is built on second chances, and we urge you to offer this program the same opportunity to adapt and grow that it has provided its students for the last 60 years,” the lawmakers concluded.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
Text of Letter
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and fellow members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, including Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) as well as Representatives Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) and Bill Keating (MA-09) in demanding that the Trump administration reverse its decision to cancel federal Job Corps funding, threatening the abrupt closure of 99 contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide.
Their letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez DeRemer highlights the impact to Massachusetts’ three Job Corps centers: Shriver Job Corps Center in Devens, Grafton Job Corps Center in North Grafton, and Westover Job Corps Center in Chicopee.
“We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the Department of Labor’s recent decision to pause operations at Job Corps centers across the country. We urge you to consider the long-standing value and potential of the Job Corps program in offering young people a critical second chance at personal and professional success,” the lawmakers wrote.
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a pause in operations at contractor-run Job Corps centers across the U.S. With more than 120 centers nationwide, the Job Corps program provides opportunities for low-income and at-risk youth to gain the skills necessary to begin successful careers in a skilled trade or other profession.
“With 92,000 Massachusetts residents aged 18 to 24 living in poverty, the Shriver, Grafton, and Westover Job Corps Centers stand as vital resources for economic mobility and career development. Combined, they contribute an estimated $80 million to the local economy annually and across the state, we have seen the impact. Graduates have become union carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, police officers, cybersecurity professionals, and entrepreneurs. This is not just an investment in the local talent pipeline for employers but an investment in our communities as many of these graduates stay in the region to live, work, and raise their families. Pausing operations at these centers at the end of the month will directly detract from workforce training and discourage economic development in communities across the country like Devens, North Grafton, and Chicopee,” the lawmakers continued.
The decision to close Job Corps centers was met with swift legal opposition. On June 3, 2025, the National Job Corps Association, a trade organization representing Job Corps centers nationwide, filed a lawsuit against the DOL, arguing that the closure of the country’s largest residential career training program was both unlawful and based on misleading data about its performance. The following evening, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, blocking the DOL from suspending program operations.
“The Job Corps program is built on second chances, and we urge you to offer this program the same opportunity to adapt and grow that it has provided its students for the last 60 years,” the lawmakers concluded.
Phil Barry ’54, who dedicated over 60 years of his life to the University of Connecticut as a student, Division of Athletics administrator, and later as a member of the Board of Trustees, passed away June 14 at the age of 96.
Born Philip Paul Barry in Willimantic on March 30, 1929, to the late Patrick and Rosa (Giraca) Barry, he leaves his beloved wife of 68 years, Lena (Gray) Barry, of Brooklyn, Conn. A lifelong resident of eastern Connecticut, Barry was a friend to all, a dedicated family man, loyal associate, and collaborator to organize good times.
Phil Barry (Contributed photo)
A 1947 graduate of Windham High School, he was class president of his freshman and senior classes. He excelled in sports – particularly basketball and baseball.
Barry enrolled at UConn and his academic career was interrupted by service in the United States Army, in which he completed officer training for two years during the Korean War. Following his military discharge, he graduated from UConn in 1954 and worked for two years at the former Willimantic Trust Company, where he met his wife when she came in to cash her nursing payroll checks.
Barry was hired in the UConn Division of Athletics as ticket manager and worked for 31 years in the department. His career in athletics progressed to business manager and later assistant to the director of athletics. In August 1970, he was named assistant director of athletics and in 1983 was named associate director of athletics for operations, before retiring in 1987. At UConn, he served on many search committees to fill staff and team coaching vacancies.
Barry served as the first treasurer of the Big East Conference at the league’s inception in 1979 and was also secretary-treasurer of the Yankee Conference.
He was active for many years in the Collegiate Athletic Business Management Association, serving that national group as president in 1974 and being named National Athletic Business Manager of the Year in 1975.
Following retirement, Barry was a member of UConn’s Board of Trustees from 2001-09 and the Board of Directors of the UConn Alumni Association. Barry was elected and served two terms as a member of the Mansfield Town Council. During his tenure, he focused on the Downtown Storrs project and worked to foster closer ties between the Town of Mansfield and UConn.
Phil Barry accepts the National Athletic Business Manager of the Year Award in 1975 from the College Athletic Business Managers Association. (Contributed photo)
In the community, Barry had many interests, including membership in the Willimantic Country Club, Elks Club, and Irish Club of Willimantic. He was one of the last living members of Roy’s Boys – a dedicated group of Willimantic area baseball players who benefited as teens under the guidance and teaching of Willimantic YMCA Director Roy Dissinger.
Barry was predeceased by his brother, John (Eloise) Barry; his sister, Pauline (Ben) Nault; and his son-in-law, John Geissler. In addition to his wife, Lena, Phil leaves four children: Patricia Geissler, David (Lori) Barry, Douglas (Pamela) Barry, and Daniel (Julie) Barry. He had nine grandchildren, which include Kristin (Phillippe and their children, Daysia, Mariah, and Devin), Alyssa (Michael), Sean, Nikki, Jessica, Anna, Emma, Ryan, and Bradley.
Barry’s family will receive relatives and friends Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. at First Baptist Church of Mansfield, 945 Storrs Road, Storrs. A memorial service will be celebrated Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Mansfield in Storrs. The family invites those attending to wear UConn blue and white.
The family would like to thank the kind and compassionate staff at Creamery Brook and Pierce Home in Brooklyn for its extraordinary care since 2019. Donations may be made in Barry’s honor to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Pierce Memorial Baptist Home Recreation Fund (checks made payable to PMBH, noting Recreation), 44 Canterbury Road, Brooklyn, CT 06234.
I never imagined that art curation and hospitals could be such a dynamic pair. The idea of intentionally organizing the placement of artwork around such a facility was so foreign to me that I almost missed having one of the most enlightening roles of my career. I eventually realized how wrong I was and how right this job is for me, but I did not come to this conclusion easily. After a friend nudged me multiple times to apply for this position at UConn Health, it was not long before a mutual friend urged me to read the description again thoroughly, then apply. This was in fact a job for me. My experience up to that point in my career had all but placed a billboard in front of me with a giant red arrow pointing in this direction.
The Frank Stella piece hanging behind curator Andre Rochester outside the Health Sciences Library is among the highest-profile pieces in UConn Health’s art collection. (2023 photo by Tina Encarnacion)
After a few friendly nudges and divine signs, I went for it. On the day of the interview, I hit a massive traffic jam caused by a statewide police procession. I called ahead from the highway, mortified, but they could see it happening outside the window. The moment felt doomed, but it led to one of the most meaningful jobs of my life. Arriving 15 minutes late, prepared with a lengthy CV, anecdotes about my art career and a decade of curatorial experience, I entered the lobby where I met my future manager. She led me to a conference room where two others patiently awaited my grand entrance. Although I arrived flustered and felt like I somehow blew this opportunity by coming in so late, the interview went well. They invited me back a couple of weeks later and presented an offer.
“The Family” is a bronze sculpture by Wolfgang Behl. (Photo provided by Andre Rochester)
Becoming the art curator at UConn Health has broadened my perspective of art placement and its function in the healing environment. People may not even notice art as they walk past it in our public spaces every day. Yet, how do you think patients, staff, or visitors might feel without it there? How drab and boring would it be if there was nothing to break up the empty space in our corridors? A part of healing from any ailment is mental. The atmosphere in which you endure or help someone through that process is important. Art must engage, inspire, invoke, and uplift. Art has the power to change the environment in which we place it. We decorate our homes because it makes us feel something. The same can be said about our workspace. Art is a subtle, but important part of feeling better. I have made it my personal mission to ensure people notice the art at UConn Health, but more importantly, they connect with it. Being an art curator in a hospital means wearing a few hats: interior decorator, creative consultant, and sometimes you become somewhat of a community organizer.
UConn Health art curator Andre Rochester (left) leads an art committee of volunteers who are current and former employees, including (as of August 2024, from left) Edith Lamonica, Ann Taridona, Christine McNally, Jillian Silverberg, Felicia Vezina, Emily Ziemba, Jo Cohen, and Rachael Norris. (Tina Encarnacion/ UConn Health photo)
The Connecticut Collection (as it was named by its founder, Celeste LeWitt) is a gem hidden in plain sight. A full spectrum of visual art can be found throughout all UConn Health locations. It started with museum-level artwork thanks to Celeste’s appeal to some of the most notable artists in the state. Through her own network and that of her cousin, world renowned conceptual artist and Hartford native Sol LeWitt, the collection quickly developed into something truly special. Since 1979, The Connecticut Collection has grown to over 2,500 works of art, including items from a wall tapestry by Frank Stella, original prints by Anni Albers, an array of sculptures by Wolfgang Behl, and a drawing by Sol LeWitt. Throughout the year, we receive donations from artists of all backgrounds- professionals and hobbyists alike- with styles ranging from landscapes to portraits, folk art, and photography. Donors also include art collectors, current and former employees, patients, and their families. What makes the Connecticut Collection so unique is we have a little bit of everybody and a little bit of everything visual arts. In 2024, an artist from Oakland, California, donated a beautiful terra cotta sculpture- a testament to the breadth of our reach as a health institution and an alignment between Celeste LeWitt’s vision and the community at large.
“Four Seasons in New England” by Tracy Kane is 10-ft-tall, 16-ft-wide acrylic mural on wood panels. (Provided by Andre Rochester)
This role includes processing art donations, leading an art committee, curating exhibits, and bringing awareness to the art collection. I help select art for offices, conference rooms, waiting rooms, and some patient treatment areas. In addition to the Connecticut Collection, we have two galleries. Celeste LeWitt Gallery is on the north side of our main dining facility. It was established by our previous curator, Linda Webber, in honor of the late Celeste LeWitt. During her 22-year tenure as art curator, Linda started as a volunteer, advocating for this to become a paid position, and nearly doubled the size of the collection. This position would not exist without her efforts. I start every art tour at an original painting by Linda to pay homage to her legacy by acknowledging the big shoes I had to fill upon my arrival at UConn Health. Even in her retirement, Linda’s passion for art at UConn Health is still felt. She often attends our receptions. Our newly established Connector Gallery is in the main floor corridor connecting our main building to John Dempsey Hospital.
“Visitor in My Garden” is a painting by Stanwyck Cromwell. (Provided by Andre Rochester)
Celeste LeWitt Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting artists from across the state of Connecticut and parts of New England. We host four exhibits per year featuring two artists at a time. This recently included a debut for Maggie Prado from our carpentry and paint team and Martha G. Trask, who works for our library. The Connector Gallery started with an exhibit for Art Connection Studio (ACS), a program of Vinfen, an organization that provides support for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This experience inspired me to connect UConn Health with organizations and people that use art as a tool for healing and cultivate opportunities for collaboration. Later that year, this mission expanded to include ongoing employee art shows in between these collaborative exhibits.
I met the ACS team in 2023 at one of their receptions. They partner with local artists to teach participants how to make several types of art and schedule shows for them throughout the state. I was so inspired by their art that I offered an opportunity to exhibit at UConn Health. By spring 2024, with full support from our executive leadership team, we displayed a temporary installation of their 15-foot collaborative mural which says the words “THIS ABILITY” along with paintings from three of their artists. We also called attention to our Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service. As a result of this first collaboration, our Office of Diversity and Inclusion led a campaign to recruit members of the UConn Health community to volunteer at ACS.
From left: UConn Health employees Jameson MacInnis, Irina Bezsonova, Rachael Norris, and Jo Cohen observe some of the submissions to the fall 2024 employee art show along the hallway connecting UConn Health’s Connecticut Tower and University Tower. Norris and Cohen are members of UConn Health’s art committee, and Bezsonova’s work has been accepted for an exhibit. (Photo provided by Andre Rochester)
We have hosted four employee exhibits in the Connector Gallery so far. This includes a solo exhibition for Irina Bezsonova, associate professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics. I am proud to say that we get at least three submissions from someone new with each call for employee artwork. We have displayed art by employees from across the entire organization. It serves as proof that there are many talented people who work at UConn Health. I am especially proud that employee artwork has had a presence in our collection from the beginning. The Connector Gallery is only one year in its journey, and the impact of these exhibits is felt by all.
I led an effort to source artwork for the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Blood Disorder Center, an opportunity for which I am profoundly grateful. Their leadership team trusted my vision to engage artists from across the state directly. Some of whom shared that they have a personal connection to the population we serve in NESCI/CBDC. I have also collaborated with our Office of Professional Wellbeing and Engagement to facilitate lunchtime art workshops for employees that focus on forward thinking, goal setting, and mindfulness using a lesson in color theory. I also host tours for students, employees, and occasional visitors upon request.
It has only been a two-and-a-half-year journey for me, but so much has happened in the time I have been the art curator at UConn Health. I am digging deeper into my purpose: a personal mission to use my own progress as an artist and creative professional to help others thrive. I continue to grow in this position, and with the help of our art committee, I will find more ways to raise awareness and increase engagement with art at UConn Health.
We must acknowledge that the scope of art at UConn Health goes beyond visual media. Creativity is the foundation for writing, music, and theater. We have an Orchestra of UConn Health (O.U.C.H.), a student acapella group, and J.J. Odom. director of buildings and grounds, is a talented drummer. Furthermore, there are authors like Lucius Downing and Shawn Brown, who work in IT. UConn Health is a premier location for medical treatment, but there is an arts community that exists among the people who work here. I have only scratched the surface but there is a deep connection between health and creativity here and I am honored to be a part of it. I hope to continue cultivating a space where art, wellness, and community thrive together at UConn Health.
Andre Rochester is UConn Health’s art curator. (Photo by Keith Claytor, Time Frozen Photography)
About the author: Andre Rochester is an artist, curator, and arts administrator based in Hartford. He currently serves as the art curator at UConn Health, where he oversees the Connecticut Collection and curates exhibitions that elevate healing through creativity. A passionate advocate for the intersection of art and wellness, Andre uses his platform to support emerging artists, cultivate community, and foster a culture of belonging through visual storytelling.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the New York State Regional Food Hub, a $45 million cold-storage facility that will transform food access across New York. The first-of-its-kind 60,000 square-foot facility, operated by GrowNYC in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx, will enable a 600 percent increase in locally-sourced food distribution — from approximately 3 million pounds to 20 million pounds annually by 2034 — while creating over 200 new jobs and providing a critical economic lifeline to New York farmers. The facility, supported by $19 million from New York State, as recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, represents a joint State and City investment designed to strengthen the local food economy, support New York farmers, and improve access to healthy and affordable foods for low-income communities.
“The New York State Regional Food Hub is a game-changer for families and farmers across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “From the streets of the Bronx to the farms of Batavia, the Empire State has so much to offer. That’s why we invested in this massive GrowNYC facility to expand access to fresh, local food while creating new economic opportunities for our agricultural producers.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “We are proud to support this transformative infrastructure that will create jobs and dramatically expand access to affordable, healthy food for New Yorkers. ESD’s strategic investment enhances the efficiency, sustainability, and equity of our state’s food system by connecting upstate farmers directly to downstate markets, ensuring urban families have access to the quality produce they deserve. The New York State Regional Food Hub represents a model investment that will benefit communities across our state.”
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The New York State Regional Food Hub is designed to be a game changer for our farmers bringing product to market and to our families who will have greater access to quality New York grown fruits and vegetables. We learned during the pandemic that we needed to double down on our efforts to strengthen the food supply chain and make sure that we had a food system right here in New York that was resilient and could feed its communities. This Food Hub is a tremendous piece of that puzzle and will provide an incredible benefit to our underserved populations and to our farmers.”
GrowNYC President and CEO Marcel Van Ooyen said, “We’re beyond grateful for the vast support from City and State leaders that led to the completion of this state-of-the-art facility and that will advance our work promoting equitable food access in New York. Our Food Hub provides ample opportunities for GrowNYC and farmers to make a tangible impact on the everyday lives of underserved New Yorkers, and I’m hopeful it will serve as a scalable model for how cities across the United States can combat hunger while supporting local farm systems.”
The Food Hub will enable GrowNYC to quadruple its aggregation and distribution square footage, dramatically expanding wholesale distribution capacity to make fresh, local foods accessible to underserved New Yorkers. The facility will serve wholesale buyers including institutions and restaurants while strengthening innovative partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Building on GrowNYC’s current work distributing free produce through New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets New York Food for New York Families program — which unites a network of 20 community partners including Graham Windham and The POINT to serve the Hunts Point community and beyond — the expanded Hub will significantly scale these vital food access efforts. Additional funding was provided by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the New York City Council, U.S. Economic Development Administration, Bank of America, and others.
The facility addresses a critical need identified during the COVID-19 pandemic, when food insecurity in New York City grew from 1.4 million residents to approximately 2 million. By sourcing food directly from regional farms and creating new jobs, the Hub will support New York State farmers — particularly small- and mid-sized operations — while increasing food distribution capacity and enhancing access to New York City’s wholesale marketplace. The processing facility will assist upstate producers and processors in targeting institutional and private sector procurement opportunities, offering a significant boost to New York’s agricultural economy while building a more resilient food supply chain.
NYCREDC Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, City University of New York Chancellor, and William D. Rahm, CEO of Everview Partners, said, “The NYCREDC sees the Food Hub as a vital tool to address our region’s needs, and an engine of economic opportunity for New York City and our upstate neighbors. The expansive cold storage space will help alleviate food insecurity — a major struggle for many households in the region — and support farming communities’ livelihoods. This investment strengthens our regional food system and builds economic partnerships that benefit communities across New York State.”
State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Strengthening the connection between upstate farmers and downstate communities has long been one of New York’s greatest opportunities — and the NYS Regional Food Hub brings that vision to scale. Every New Yorker deserves to eat fresh, healthy food, and this innovative model lays the groundwork to expand food access to more New Yorkers, especially those in historically underserved communities. It sets a national standard for how we fight hunger and invest in agriculture as a powerful engine of both economic growth and social progress, and I’m proud to champion this project alongside partners who share that vision.”
Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “We have anxiously awaited the opening of GrowNYC’s new Regional Food Hub. Providing expanded market opportunities for NY farmers is a win-win for them and for the communities who will benefit from fresh and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. I’m very happy that Empire State Development agreed with NYC’s Regional Council to make this substantial investment. I’m sure that other cities will want to emulate the work being done here.”
The New York State Regional Food Hub was first developed as the result of the New York State-New York City Regional Food Hubs Task Force, which created a roadmap to build a Regional Food Hub System. The goal was to enhance the connection between upstate food producers and the downstate market, increase access to fresh food for underserved populations, boost in-state food production and consumption, and create new job opportunities in the growing sector of food manufacturing. As a high priority in the task force’s final action plan, this facility now serves as a national model for creating sustainable, self-sufficient food systems that safeguard local food supplies.
Defendant conspired to fraudulently apply for driver’s licenses for more than 1,000 individuals who resided in states that prohibited illegal aliens from obtaining licenses
BOSTON – A Waterbury, Conn. man pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025 to conspiring to obtain driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants, principally illegal aliens.
Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents, and one count of possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2025. In December 2024, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis was charged along with four co-conspirators.
From in or about November 2020 through in or about September 2024, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators fraudulently procured driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who resided in states that prohibited illegal aliens from obtaining driver’s licenses. Prior to July 2023, illegal aliens residing in Massachusetts were not permitted to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses. Beginning in 2019, illegal aliens residing in New York became eligible to obtain New York driver’s licenses. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators conspired to fraudulently obtain New York driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who did not reside in New York, including Massachusetts residents, and after July 2023 to fraudulently obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for illegal alien customers who did not reside in Massachusetts. In exchange for fraudulently obtaining the driver’s licenses, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators typically charged approximately $1,400 per customer.
In New York, before obtaining a driver’s license, applicants were required to pass a written permit test and complete driver’s education coursework from a New York driving school. Online permit test-takers were required by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV) to take a picture of themselves with a web camera during the test. This was to ensure that the test-taker was indeed the applicant and that there was not a person sitting with and helping the applicant with the test.
To avoid the customers having to take the permit tests, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators obtained several pictures of the customers sitting down, making it look as if the customers were taking the tests. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis conspired with his alleged co-conspirators to complete the permit tests for the customers online and, when prompted by the NY DMV to take pictures during the tests, and to upload the pictures that the customers previously provided – purporting to show that it was the customers who were taking the tests, not the defendants. The defendants also allegedly created fraudulent driver’s education certificates of completion, purportedly from New York driving schools, forged the signatures of driving school staff on the fake certificates and gave these documents to the customers to provide to the NY DMV.
The NY DMV also required that applicants appear at a NY DMV location and provide documents to prove their identity and residence in New York. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis conspired with his alleged co-conspirators to meet Massachusetts-based customers at locations in Massachusetts – typically several customers at a time – and drive them to NY DMV branch locations. When they arrived at the NY DMV locations, the defendants allegedly gave the customers fraudulent documents falsely purporting to demonstrate that the customers resided in New York. The customers provided these fake records to the NY DMV staff, and the NY DMV relied on the misrepresentations to issue New York driving permits to the customers. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis conspired with his alleged co-conspirators to arrange for the NY DMV to mail the permits to locations in New York that were controlled by the defendants and provided the permits to the customers in-person. Additionally, the defendants allegedly conspired to schedule road driving license tests for the customers with the NY DMV and, again, drive the customers to New York for them to take the road tests. If the customers passed the tests, the NY DMV sent the driver’s licenses to mailing addresses in New York that the defendants allegedly controlled, and the defendants then provided the licenses to the customers.
The defendants allegedly conspired to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for out-of-state residents, in generally the same manner as they allegedly obtained the New York licenses for Massachusetts residents. In Massachusetts, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain purported foreign passports to provide to the customers to use as proof of identity with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in support of customer driver’s license applications.
Collectively, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and his alleged co-conspirators fraudulently applied for licenses for more than 1,000 customers, obtained licenses for more than 600 of the customers, and collected at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The charge of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents carries up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000; and the charge of possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents, carries up to 15 years in prison, supervised release of up to 3 years, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Kelly Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the NY DMV Division of Field Investigation; the Boston, Danbury (Conn.) and Waterbury (Conn.) Police Departments; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut; and the New York State Inspector General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
BILLINGS — In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday that it has reinvigorated efforts to protect American seniors from transnational schemes that cost seniors billions of dollars, often stealing their life savings. In the past few weeks alone, DOJ prosecutors have arrested and filed cases against foreign fraudsters and domestic actors who have knowingly facilitated foreign-based crimes.
“Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who would exploit our elderly friends, neighbors, and family members. We appreciate the efforts of our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to identify elder abuse in all its forms, physical, psychological, and financial. But we also need everyone’s help by checking on older adults, especially those with few family members close by, and watching for signs and abuse or unusual financial transactions. U.S. Attorney Alme said.
The DOJ is highlighting a number of recent prosecutions, including one here in Montana, to protect American seniors. These include cases against those who engage in, and knowingly facilitate, romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams. Romance fraud is a confidence scheme where a perpetrator feigns romantic interest with a victim only to later extract money or property under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes trick victims into believing they have won a non-existent lottery or sweepstakes prize in order to extract fake fees, taxes, or other fabricated charges from the victim. Tech support fraud scams involve perpetrators tricking victims into believing that their computer or phone has a problem, often through fake pop-up messages, and to later seek funds from the victims in order to “fix” the “problem.” Grandparent scams, another type of confidence scheme, involve scammers impersonating a grandchild or close family member who experiences a fictitious emergency and needs money from the victim as soon as possible.
Victims face many challenges in financially recovering from fraud schemes—and that is even more true for elderly victims. Many retired seniors are no longer earning income and cannot count on market appreciation to grow their retirement savings. Perpetrators may have already spent or forwarded victim funds beyond the reach of United States law enforcement. Victims may not have the resources to pursue legal action or hire legal representation. These, and other reasons, make it critically important that the DOJ work hard to achieve substantial victim restitution in cases we investigate and prosecute.
National Elder Fraud Hotline 2025 WEAAD Campaign
The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a free, national resource for older adults and their loved ones experiencing financial fraud. Supported by the DOJ Office for Victims of Crime, the National Elder Fraud Hotline is staffed by professionals who have experience working with older adults. Staff are continuously updated on the latest scams, are trained to make referrals and warm hand-offs for resources and services in the older adult’s local area and can assist older adults in placing a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a report which has the potential to freeze funds (although freezing funds cannot be guaranteed).
The DOJ urges individuals to be on the lookout for fraudulent lottery, prize notification, sweepstakes, and psychic scams. If you receive a phone call, letter or email promising a large prize in exchange for a fee, do not respond. Fraudsters often will use official-sounding names or the names of real lotteries or sweepstakes or pretend to be a government agent purportedly helping to secure a prize.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This DOJ hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the DOJ’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The DOJ provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
The DOJ notes that for all cases discussed above, facts included in a Complaint, Information, or Indictment are only allegations, and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jackson, TN – Arrest warrants have been issued for Jose Inocencio Fraire Chavez, 39. The warrants are related to incidents which occurred in Obion County, Tennessee. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the issuance of the arrest warrants today.
Chavez has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm; willful failure to comply with removal procedures in violation of Title 8 U.S.C. § 1253(b); and flight to avoid prosecution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement are working together in coordination with the Union City Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to safely locate Chavez and his child, who have not been seen in the Union City area since May 2, 2025.
“Since issuing a statewide Endangered Child Alert on May 5th, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has remained committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to bring Tah Yah Yona Chavez home safely,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “At the heart of this investigation is an innocent child who deserves to be safely reunited with her family in West Tennessee. We are truly grateful for the invaluable teamwork of our law enforcement partners in these efforts.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebookor on Xat @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
NEWARK, N.J. – Pantaleo “Leo” Pellegrini, the former Hoboken Director of Health and Human Services and Director of the Department of Environmental Services, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for embezzling money from the City of Hoboken and filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced
Pellegrini previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement and filing a false tax return before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
While working for the City of Hoboken, Pellegrini embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by diverting approximately $223,500 in payments intended for the City of Hoboken to bank accounts he controlled. Pellegrini also embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by submitting approximately $234,432.60 in his personal expenses, which the City of Hoboken unknowingly paid. Additionally, Pellegrini did not report the embezzled money on his personal tax returns, and thereby made and subscribed a false personal tax return and avoided approximately $119,972.60 in taxes due.
Pellegrini’s oversight responsibilities related to certain public recreational facilities, including soccer fields that could be reserved by both Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents for a fee paid to the City of Hoboken. Through this arrangement, the City of Hoboken Department of Parks, Recreation & Public Works sponsored a non-profit recreation soccer league open to Hoboken youth (the “Youth Soccer League”), which was funded by the City of Hoboken and participant fees. Also during the charged time period, an adult soccer league open to Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents (the “Adult Soccer League”) was in operation, which was funded from participant fees.
Pellegrini developed a scheme to divert the Adult Soccer League’s participant fee payments intended for the City of Hoboken to a business account on which he was a signatory which was registered to a soccer-related entity linked to him.
During the relevant time period, Pellegrini was also the Owner and President of a private travel soccer club. Pellegrini also submitted or caused the submission to the City of Hoboken invoices associated with his private soccer club, which Pellegrini falsely or fraudulently represented to the City of Hoboken as invoices eligible for reimbursement by the City of Hoboken. As a result, the City of Hoboken—at Pellegrini’s direction—unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to the Pellegrini’s private soccer club vendors for its expenses, and also unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars directly to Pellegrini through his private soccer club.
Pellegrini used the embezzled funds on personal expenses including meals, entertainment, and gambling, allowing him to live far beyond his means. Moreover, Pellegrini intentionally did not disclose and report the income from the above-described embezzlement scheme, thereby causing his tax returns to understate a substantial amount of the income he received.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Farbiarz ordered restitution of $439,972.60 to the City of Hoboken, restitution of $119,464 to the Internal Revenue Service, and forfeiture of $439,972.60. Judge Farbiarz also ordered a term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. McCarren and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
Lawmakers: “Failure to hold hearings and a markup on this reconciliation bill before it is considered on the Senate floor would be an abdication of our duty to the American people.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to demand Senate hearings to examine the disastrous impact of the Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill on the health and well-being of the American people and markup this legislation before it reaches the Senate floor.
“We are deeply concerned that if these policies were signed into law they would create a national health care emergency,” the lawmakers wrote. “Not only would millions of Americans lose their health insurance and tens of thousands of our constituents die as a result of the House-passed reconciliation bill, the cost of prescription drugs would go up for seniors, hospitals and community health centers in rural and underserved areas would close or shut down access to services that patients rely on, and nursing homes would be made less safe.”
The lawmakers continued: “Regardless of your views on the merits of these policies, we hope you agree with us that the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has a solemn responsibility to hold extensive hearings on the impact these policies would have on the health and well-being of the American people and our entire health care system.”
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of the Republican budget stated the legislation would result in 16 million Americans losing health insurance and increase our national debt by $2.4 trillion.
Nearly 80 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) nationally. Medicaid covers the care for over 60% of all nursing home residents.
The Republican budget proposal calls for extreme Medicaid cuts of more than $700 billion, which would take away people’s health benefits; make it harder for them to see their health care providers; and prevent seniors from getting nursing home care.
The Senate now must consider the House-passed budget. Hickenlooper has already voted against the Republican budget resolution on the Senate floor twice and offered amendments to prevent cuts to Medicaid. He will vote against the proposal again when it comes to the Senate.
Read the full letter HERE.
Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) rolled out six proposals for the One Big Beautiful Bill based on her decade of work to make Washington Squeal, reduce reckless spending, and save taxpayers’ money.
Ernst’s proposals would save tens of billions of dollars by eliminating bogus payments, snapping back SNAP overpayments, ending unemployment for millionaires, defunding welfare for politicians, stopping subsidies for union bosses, and selling vacant buildings.
Here is some of the coverage of the proposals:
Fox News | Republican senators roll out DOGE budget proposals for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
“While a $9.4 billion rescissions package, a formal request from the executive branch to codify its DOGE cuts, is in the works, proponents of the Senate DOGE package say their total estimated savings would accentuate that and also surpass it in value.”
National Review |Ernst Pushes Plan to End Food Stamp Overpayments to Cut Spending in ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill
“Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) is rolling out a series of measures to cut spending in the GOP’s ‘big, beautiful,’ bill including a proposal for ending mismanagement in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.”
New York Post | Sen. Joni Ernst pushes to ban taxpayer-funded union time in One Big Beautiful Bill Act
“Sen. Joni Ernst wants to tweak the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act to eliminate the longstanding practice of taxpayer-funded union time. Approximately $160 million of your money went toward fed workers’ union time as of 2019, the last time such data was available, and Ernst (R-Iowa) has been on a quest for more recent information.”
Breitbart | Sen. Joni Ernst Aims to Stop Fraudulent Payments as Pay-For in Big Beautiful Bill
“The Hawkeye State senator, as the chair of the Small Business Committee, aims to have her bill, the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act, as a pay-for in Trump’s marquee bill to stop fraudulent and improper federal payments. The legislation could have a significant effect, as more than $160 billion in improper payments occurred in fiscal year 2024.”
The six proposals are:
Saving billions in bogus payments
Snapping back overpayments
Ernst’s Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act strengthens the integrity of the important Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by identifying all errors, clawing back overpayments, and holding states with high payment inaccuracies accountable.
In 2023, there were approximately $10.73 billion in overpayments. However, the true cost is unknown because errors totaling $56 or less are excluded.
Ending unemployment for millionaires
Eliminating welfare for politicians
The ELECT Act eliminates the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which utilizes tax dollars to fund presidential campaigns.
This fund has been dipped into previously to reduce spending. Last year, $320 million was allocated to Secret Service and $25 million was given to the Department of Justice.
Ending the absurd practice of taxpayer-funded union time
Ernst’s Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallet Act ends the absurd policy of taxpayer-funded union time which allows federal employees to engage in union activities when they are supposed to be serving the American people.
It cost taxpayers at least $160 million per year according to the most recent report from 2019.
Selling vacant buildings
Ernst has exposed how it costs billions every year to maintain thousands of vacant government buildings and empty offices.
Selling just a handful of these buildings would generate hundreds of millions of dollars.
LEWES, Del., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific AI, the healthcare AI governance company, today announced the results of the 2025 AI Governance Survey, exploring how organizations are managing the risks and responsibilities of deploying generative AI systems. Conducted in April and May by Gradient Flow, the results highlight the priorities, practices, and concerns of professionals and technology leaders in this space. The results will be presented in an upcoming webinar on the state of AI governance taking place at 2pm ET on June 18.
As AI becomes foundational for modern business, governance should be top of mind. However, the results indicate that the pressure to innovate is outpacing the ability to scale AI systems safely and responsibly. Despite 75% of respondents reporting the existence of AI usage policies, only 59% have dedicated governance roles, and just 54% maintain incident response playbooks for AI-specific risks. Fewer than half (48%) of organizations are monitoring their AI systems for accuracy, misuse, or drift—numbers that drop drastically in small firms.
The leading barrier to effective governance is the pressure to move fast. Nearly half (45%) of all respondents—and 56% of technical leaders—cite speed-to-market as the top challenge, often resulting in shortcuts that compromise safety. Technical leaders, who are driving the most aggressive deployment timelines, are simultaneously those most aware of these governance shortcomings.
Other key findings show:
Production Reality Gaps. Only 30% of organizations have deployed generative AI systems to production, with just 13% managing multiple deployments. Large enterprises are five times more likely than small firms to have multiple systems running.
Technical Leader Ambition. Technical Leaders drive more aggressive adoption, with 48% targeting 3-5 new use cases versus 25% for other roles.
Small Company Vulnerability. Small companies consistently lag in governance maturity: only 36% have governance officers (vs 62-64% for larger firms), and just 41% provide annual AI training (vs 59-79%).
Regulatory Awareness Deficits. Familiarity with frameworks like NIST AI RMF remains concentrated in large enterprises. Small companies report only 14% familiarity with most major standards, exposing compliance risk.
Immature Incident Response. Many organizations lack protocols for AI-specific failure modes, such as prompt injection attacks or biased outputs, indicating a lack of capabilities beyond traditional IT playbooks.
“This survey exposes a growing disconnect between AI policy and practice. Organizations that don’t address it are playing with fire and they know it,” said David Talby, CEO, Pacific AI. “Without responsible AI practices baked into the entire AI development lifecycle, developers and thereby the organizations they work for are escalating legal, financial, and reputational risks.”
To help, Pacific AI provides a free AI Policy Suite available to anyone. Recent updates include an AI Incident Reporting Policy addressing some of the major gaps reported in the survey. Conforming to 110 different laws, regulations, and industry standards, the Policy Suite ensures companies are operating legally anywhere in the US. This can be especially beneficial to smaller organizations with limited resources that still need to track and implement evolving legislation and industry standards.
Register here for our upcoming webinar,“The State of AI Governance,” detailing the research and outlining the priorities, practices, and concerns of technology leaders using AI. Read the full survey report here. To learn more about Pacific AI, visit https://pacific.ai/.
About Pacific AI Pacific AI is dedicated to helping organizations deliver AI systems that comply with the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape in the USA. Whatever your starting point, Pacific AI can help you reach the next level of AI governance, implement tools and controls for compliance, or audit and certify what you’ve already built. To learn more, visit: https://www.pacific.ai.
Contact Gina Devine Head of Communications Pacific AI Corp. gina@pacific.ai
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah 6th District Wisconsin)
Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) joins Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing the CREATE JOBS Act, a bicameral bill which will restore key pro-manufacturing provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), incentivizing domestic production and creating over one million full-time jobs for hardworking Americans.
The CREATE JOBS Act would reinstate and make permanent two expired TCJA provisions that were vital in driving manufacturing growth and attracting investment back to the U.S. In addition, the bill applies neutral cost recovery for structures, such as factories. Taken together, these provisions will bolster manufacturing, raise wages, and create good-paying jobs.
“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) delivered major wins for American families and workers, but some of its most powerful tools for growth have already expired, hurting the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry,” said Grothman. “Wisconsin’s Sixth District is the most manufacturing intensive district in the country, so I’ve seen directly how this affects the hardworking men and women at home.
“The bottom line is we must make these provisions permanent to support our manufacturers, restore what we know works, and expand policies that strengthen our economy and create jobs across the nation. After our workforce has suffered through inflation and economic turmoil over the past four years, I’m proud to join Senator Ted Cruz in introducing the CREATE JOBS Act to invest in American workers and grow our industrial base.”
“As Congress considers extending immediate deductions for research and equipment, it’s long past time to give structures similar treatment. The 2017 tax cuts were a leap forward for investment, but they left buildings behind. By fixing that omission, the CREATE JOBS Act levels the playing field for all types of investment and unlocks capital for American manufacturing. Updating cost recovery for all investments is the single most pro-manufacturing, pro-growth reform Congress could include in reconciliation,” said Adam Michel, Director of Tax Policy Studies at the Cato Institute.
“WMC thanks Rep. Grothman for his leadership making the Wisconsin and American economies pro-business. One-hundred percent bonus deprecation and full-expensing of R&D costs were boons for economic growth across Wisconsin and the country following the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Making these provisions permanent will provide predictability for business investments, make America more attractive for growth, and ultimately strengthen our economy. The CREATE JOBS Act is common-sense policy that is positively pro-business and promotes job creation right here in Wisconsin and across America,” said Kurt Bauer, President & CEO at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC).
Background Information
The CREATE JOBS Act would make permanent two key pro-manufacturing provisions of the TCJA and create further incentives to produce domestically.
Specifically, the bill would make the bonus-depreciation and full-expensing for research and development (R&D) provisions of the TCJA permanent and apply neutral cost recovery to rental units and commercial structures, like factories.
According to the Tax Foundation, these provisions would increase long-run GDP by 5.1 percent, increase wages by 4.3 percent, and create over one million full-time jobs for American workers.
Senator Ted Cruz previously introduced this bill in 2020,2021, and 2023.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) is serving his fifth term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Adam Gray (CA-13) introduced the Wildfire Response and Preparedness (WRAP) Act to create a 30-minute national standard response time to the extent practical to any wildland fire on federal land administered by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.
Spectrum News 1 SoCal first reported on the bill HERE.
“Timely response to a wildfire can make the difference between life and death,” said Congresswoman Kim, who represents the Cleveland National Forest Trabuco Ranger District. “My community knows the devastation of wildfires firsthand as we still recover from last year’s Airport Fire that started in Trabuco Canyon and burned 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside Counties. The WRAP Act will help equip our communities with the manpower and tools needed to contain wildfires and save lives.”
“Californians are far too familiar with wildfires tearing through our communities, threatening lives, public health and property. The only way to counter increasingly dangerous wildfires is by responding to them as quickly as possible. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan, commonsense legislation which would protect our firefighters, save federal lands and prevent catastrophic loss of life and property across the country,” said Congressman Gray.
“The Western Fire Chiefs Association is proud to support the core mission of the Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act – ensuring a robust wildland fire response capability to stem the threat of catastrophic wildfires. Through effective partnerships and strategically leveraging local air and ground resources for fire response, we can give our brave first responders the clarity and tools they need to save lives and keep our communities safe,” said Bob Roper, CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association.
“The United Aerial Firefighters Association greatly supports this bill to develop aerial response standards. This will ensure there are aircraft available to respond to incidents and support the firefighters on the ground,” said Paul Petersen, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association.
Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 171258
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0758 AM CDT Tue Jun 17 2025
Valid 171300Z – 181200Z
…THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF KANSAS AND NORTHERN OKLAHOMA…
…SUMMARY… Severe thunderstorms producing numerous to widespread damaging winds, scattered large hail (isolated 2+ inches), and a few tornadoes are expected today across parts of the central/southern Plains and lower/mid Missouri Valley. The greatest threat for destructive gusts up to 70-100 mph is forecast across portions of Kansas and northern Oklahoma.
…Central/Southern Plains into the Lower/Mid Missouri Valley… A small but intense bow echo that moved south-southeastward across parts of KS overnight should continue to weaken this morning across northeast OK. But in the short term, an isolated threat for severe winds may continue until the cluster fully dissipates. Across eastern CO, occasional severe hail may occur with marginal supercells for another hour or two before additional weakening occurs. The net effect of this overnight/early morning convection on the severe potential across the southern/central Plains remains uncertain. But, a trailing outflow boundary from the decaying MCS now in northeast OK may prove instrumental in focusing significant severe potential this afternoon/evening.
A subtle mid-level shortwave trough over the eastern Great Basin and central Rockies will continue to move eastward over the adjacent central/southern High Plains by this evening. At the surface, further deepening of a low over southeast CO is anticipated through the day, with this low forecast to develop into the TX Panhandle by early evening. A lee trough/dryline will extend southward from this low, while a convectively reinforced boundary should extend somewhere along/near the KS/OK border by mid to late afternoon, and potentially northeastward into eastern KS as well. The airmass across east-central CO into western KS was generally not convectively overturned yesterday into early this morning, with the 12Z sounding from DDC still showing around 2800 J/kg of MUCAPE available.
Convective development and evolution remain uncertain later today. Still, it appears likely that initially high-based thunderstorms will develop over the higher terrain of central CO this afternoon, and then spread east-southeastward over the adjacent High Plains through the evening. Much of eastern CO and vicinity will be in a post-frontal regime. But steep mid-level lapse rates and sufficient low-level moisture should support the development of moderate instability. Strong deep-layer shear should foster supercells initially, with associated threat for mainly large to isolated very large hail. Some upscale growth may eventually occur with this activity as it spreads into western KS this evening, along with an increased threat for severe/damaging winds.
Farther east into central/eastern KS and MO, severe potential remains highly uncertain, with a myriad of possible solutions offered by various high-resolution guidance. In general, current expectations are for an increasing threat for numerous to potentially widespread severe/damaging winds across parts of KS into northern OK, with one or more intense clusters potentially developing in tandem with a strengthening low-level jet this evening across the southern/central Plains. Significant severe gusts of 75+ mph remain possible, along with a few tornadoes with any sustained supercells along/near the boundary this evening as low-level shear strengthens. Overall, severe probabilities have been expanded southward some across the OK/TX Panhandles and northern/central OK, in an attempt to account for where the outflow boundary/front may be present this afternoon/evening. Additional adjustments to risk areas are likely with later outlook updates pending additional observational and model data.
…Mid-Atlantic into the Tennessee Valley/Southeast… Diurnal heating of a seasonally moist low-level airmass will occur today across the central Appalachians/southern Mid-Atlantic within a modestly sheared environment. Thunderstorms are expected to develop over higher terrain by early afternoon, and subsequently spread eastward through the evening. Some of this activity may form into loosely organized clusters. Occasional strong/damaging winds should be the main severe threat with this activity, particularly across parts of VA/MD where stronger instability is forecast.
Farther south into the TN Valley/Southeast, a weak mid/upper-level trough with multiple embedded perturbations should advance slowly eastward through the day. Similar to yesterday, daytime heating of a moist airmass should foster moderate to locally strong instability this afternoon. Around 25-30 kt of mid-level southwesterly flow and similar values of deep-layer shear should support some loose convective organization with multiple thunderstorm clusters that can develop. Have expanded the Marginal Risk for isolated damaging winds southwestward to account for this potential.
..Gleason/Kerr.. 06/17/2025
CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1630Z
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated: Tue Jun 17 15:35:03 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.
Notice: The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice. Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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IAM Union workers at Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico (LTPR), standing shoulder to shoulder with union allies and community supporters, rallied outside the company’s Aguadilla facility this week to demand what they have earned: a fair contract that values their labor, safety, and dignity.
For nearly three years, the skilled aviation workers at LTPR have been at the bargaining table – yet the company continues to stall, refusing to act in the best interests of its workers. While Lufthansa Technik profits off the professionalism and dedication of these workers, it has failed to offer a contract that reflects their worth or improves the lives of those who make its operations possible.
“These workers have waited long enough,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “LTPR’s refusal to move on a fair contract is a blatant disregard for the very people who keep this company running. This fight is about respect, safety, and securing a better future for these families in Puerto Rico.”
The rally brought together union members, community leaders, and allies who echoed the same message: enough is enough. The workers are demanding basic human needs that the company continues to neglect.
“Lufthansa Technik has a choice: invest in the people who power your success or continue this pattern of delay and disrespect,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “Our members in Puerto Rico are standing strong – and the IAM stands with them. We will not back down until justice is delivered at the bargaining table.”
In May 2022, over 200 aircraft mechanics and related workers at LTPR voted overwhelmingly to join the IAM Union, seeking a voice on the job and a fair deal. Since then, progress at the bargaining table has been stonewalled by the company’s refusal to come forward with meaningful proposals. The IAM requested federal mediation from the National Mediation Board in 2023 in response to the company’s continued inaction.
This struggle has now drawn international solidarity. Verdi, a major German union representing Lufthansa workers across Europe, has called on Lufthansa AG – LTPR’s parent company – to step in and help end the contract dispute.
“LTPR can’t hide from its responsibilities – this fight is global now, and the world is watching,” added Martin. “IAM Union members in Puerto Rico are not alone. The entire IAM Union family stands behind them.”
The IAM Union is urging LTPR leadership to return to the table with real solutions that honor the value and professionalism of its workforce – not more empty promises.
SEE PHOTOS
The post Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico Workers and Allies Hold Solidarity Rally Demanding a Fair Contract appeared first on IAM Union.
Leaders of the IAM Midwest Territory recently visited one of the longest-standing union shops in the IAM Union to meet with members and company management before upcoming negotiations.
A. Finkl and Sons Steel Company was founded in 1879, in the aftermath of the great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed 3 square miles of the city. Today, the worldwide company is named Finkl Steel, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of steel dies and tools that make numerous things we take for granted: anything from oil field equipment to molds for automobile manufacturing to the famed 155mm Army Howitzer canon.
Finkl management remarked that many of the Howitzers sent to Ukraine since the war erupted in 2022 have resulted in new orders for the company’s Howitzer barrels and sustained work for the IAM members.
Documents show the workers organized with the IAM on May 1, 1903, after previous representation with the Chicago Metal Trades Association.
“My dad started here in 1955. My Brother started here just before I did,” said current IAM Local 701 member and Finkl employee Tom Buzecky.
He has worked at the company for nearly 50 years, starting in August 1977.
“I work with a whole group that has family members employed here at the company,” said Buzecky.
Buzecky recalls the 1984 strike, which lasted nearly four months.
“The only way to get what you want is to stay together,” said Buzecky. “We were solid, and that helped make our point.”
“Our IAM sisters and brothers working at Finkl Steel are truly remarkable representing an honorable example of their solidarity,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “They have built and earned the respect of this company’s management over several decades, and we plan to continue that partnership for our members’ benefit for years to come.”
“Finkl management has talked with us about their need for more workers, and Local 701 has a great apprenticeship program already running on all cylinders,” said IAM Midwest Territory Coordinator Bill LePinske. “So it’s great to partner with a company and fulfill their needs for a highly skilled workforce.”
One of Finkl Steel’s largest customers is Caterpillar, a maker of many large industrial machines. IAM members build the molds, tools, and dies that make many more jobs run. These workers know that their work is crucial to so many other workers, and they understand that union solidarity needs to be as strong as steel to maintain their long history of providing solid wages and benefits.
Generations of families, like the Buzecky family, have thrived through employment at Finkl Steel, and with some mutual respect and solidarity, their next negotiations will keep those families secure for generations to come.
The post IAM Local 701 Members at Finkl Steel Say Solidarity is Key to Progress in 122-Year Legacy appeared first on IAM Union.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release
A former Oklahoma man with business ties in Florida was sentenced today after pleading guilty to four counts of bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Shawn Ray Murnan, 57, of Windemere, Florida, to 33 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Hill further ordered Murnan to pay $1,641,796.47 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
“In 2020, the CARES Act funding was established to provide emergency financial assistance to help businesses that were disrupted,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Investigators and prosecutors are committed to finding those like Murnan who steal government funding and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.”
From April 2020 through October 2021, Murnan admitted to falsifying several CARES Act applications to the SBA. Murnan was the owner of numerous business ventures in Oklahoma, Florida, and other states. He submitted 14 applications on behalf of his businesses, including Blujett, LLC, which was based in Broken Arrow. He submitted applications claiming to have several employees and falsified his payroll expenses. Murnan requested more than two million and successfully received $1,641,796.47 from seven Paycheck Protection Program loans and two Economic Injury Disaster Loans. After receiving the funds, Murnan applied for the loans to be forgiven.
Previously released on bond, Murnan was taken into custody following the sentencing today, where he will remain pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of Inspector General for the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Whipple prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
Related programs: COVID EIDL, Disaster, Pandemic Oversight, PPP
IAM leadership was on hand to join IAM Local 2471 (District 19) members as Alstom opened its newest operation, Car Body Shell Plant 4, in Hornell, New York. The $75 million manufacturing and testing facility brings railcar body manufacturing from Brazil back to Alstom’s facilities in the southern tier of western New York state. Alstom has pledged to retain union jobs and create more union jobs for IAM Union members working at this Hornell location.
The funding was made possible in part by up to $7 million being made available through New York State, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, as well as past state investments totalling up to $30 million.
“This is telling our members that Alstom is making the investment so that they’re going to be here in Hornell, New York for future generations,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “I was honored to come here today tocelebrate the grand opening of this facility, and we look forward to the day that this facility is at full capacity.”
The first large order for the new facility is to manufacture 200 multilevel rail cars for Chicago’s Metra commuter rail lines. The newer cars will be equipped with modern internet features, greater capacity, and smoother rides.
The new plant features state-of-the-art, welding robots along an integrated assembly line. The robots will make tens of thousands of welds on each car shell making its way down the line, but human workers are needed to finish and check the automation process.
“The company has told us that there is a high demand for welders here in Hornell that is hard to keep up with, and the IAM hopes to secure the wages, benefits, and compensation for these in demand crafts,” said IAM Union Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett.
Current IAM members at the existing plants in Hornell are completing the order for the newest Amtrak trainsets named the “Aveila Liberty.” These high speed trains will reach speeds of 160 miles per hour on Amtrak’s northeast corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Twenty-eight “tilting” trains provide a smoother ride for customers, with updated modern conveniences, and one third more capacity over the existing Acela trainsets that are over a quarter century old. Aveila Liberty trainsets are expected to be in operation before fall of this year.
“We make the train bodies in plant 1, plant 2 we build the traction motors, plant 3 is basically our warehouse,” said Alstom IAM Local 2741 Secretary/Treasurer Armin Bishop-Miller. “Hopefully, when Plant 4 gets up and running the right way, we can get people in here and help this company grow.”
Hornell has a long history with the railroad industry, with the Erie Station headend connecting four different rail lines dating back to the 1860’s. Rail carriers have changed names over the years, but the tracks and legacy of this town’s roots in railroading are strong.
The Hornell plant has delivered over 8,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles to customers across North America, including 1,000 subway cars to New York City Transit. Now with this fully integrated facility in the southern tier of New York State, and the fine craftsmanship of the IAM members, railcars will continue to roll out of the city of Hornell.
Alstom Plant 4 Video
The post IP Bryant, GVP Bennett Join IAM Local 2471 Members for Grand Opening of New Alstom Rail Manufacturing Facility appeared first on IAM Union.