NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two People Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $300,000 in COVID-19 Relief Money

    Source: US FBI

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R Barker announced that David Kurt Schneider, of Kennewick, Washington and Kelly Jo Driver, of South Carolina, were sentenced after pleading guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Schneider to 12 months in prison and Driver to 5 years of probation. Chief Judge Bastian also ordered restitution of $121,762.

    Co-defendant, Leif Gerald Larsen, of Pasco, Washington, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and will be sentenced July 30, 2025, in Yakima.

    On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses.  One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided government-backed funding to small businesses which could be forgiven so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other eligible expenses.  Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.  The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington. 

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Schneider, Driver, and Larsen submitted funding applications in the name of Larsen Firearms, owned by Larsen, and Solar Mobility LLC, RealNZ Water LLC, and Tempest Tactical Solutions, LLC, all owned by Schneider. Driver created fraudulent payroll and tax forms that were submitted in support of the applications, and that, for her part in the scheme, Driver received 10% of the funds disbursed by the SBA and participating lenders.

    In total, Schneider, Driver, and Larsen fraudulently obtained at least $292,000 in CARES Act funding through the PPP and EIDL programs and submitted fraudulent applications seeking at least an additional $560,000 in CARES Act funding that were ultimately not approved.

    “Pandemic relief programs were created to support workers, small businesses, and communities struggling through an unprecedented crisis – not to enrich fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker. “By stealing nearly $300,000 intended for legitimate businesses, these defendants diverted critical resources at a time when many businesses were fighting to survive. The SBA, FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those who exploit government aid for personal gain.”

    “Those who exploited SBA’s pandemic relief programs for personal gain will be held accountable,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Tim Larson. “SBA OIG continues to prioritize fraud investigations involving pandemic-era programs, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer funds and uphold the integrity of federal relief efforts.”

    This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by FBI and SBA OIG.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy J. Kelley and Frieda K. Zimmerman.   

    4:24-cr-06004-SAB

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United Kingdom National Charged with Unlawful Entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Danny Gabriel Rooney, 19, of the United Kingdom, has been charged by criminal complaint with entering the United States at a time or place other than designated for entering the country by immigration authorities.

    On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Rooney appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Rooney be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court documents, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended Rooney after he was observed walking southbound in an area of Highgate, Vermont, that is frequently travelled by persons attempting to enter the United States illegally from Canada. Law enforcement’s records review revealed that Rooney has no legal status in the United States.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Rooney is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Rooney faces up to six months’ incarceration if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra. Rooney is represented by Stephanie M. Greenlees , Esq.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Paul Man Sentenced in Twin Cities Stuffed Animal Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to his part in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

    According to court documents, between August 2022 through December 2023, Quijuan Hosea Bankhead, 31, and others conspired to distribute fentanyl in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota.  To accomplish their scheme, several of the co-defendants traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl pills from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals, and then mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities.  Law enforcement in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties became aware of the trafficking and initiated a joint investigation, which resulted in the seizure of six packages containing over 30,000 grams of fentanyl pills.

    Bankhead was sentenced on May 29, 2025, in U.S District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan.

    “Bankhead and his network smuggled deadly fentanyl into Minnesota and had the gall to hide this poison inside of children’s toys—stuffed animals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.  “Bankhead will now serve a well-deserved decade in federal prison.”

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Washington County Drug Task Force, and the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: KAMANDAG 9 | 3d MLR Conducts Simulated Maritime Strikes with NMESIS

    Source: United States Navy

    BATANES ISLANDS, Philippines — Strategically positioned on an island in the Luzon Strait, U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, established a Fires Expeditionary Advanced Base (EAB) with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and conducted simulated maritime interdiction as a part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9, June 1, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy completes Integrated Battle Problem 25.5

    Source: United States Navy

    SASEBO, Japan – Navy units assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet concluded Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 25.5, May 23, after spending nearly a week off the coast of Sasebo conducting a tactical warfighting rehearsal event that tests and develops fleet-centric concepts and capabilities.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to unpublished conference abstract in which scientists propose a new approach for classifying processed foods

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A conference abstract presented at the annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition looks at a new approach for classifying processed foods. 

    Prof Martin Warren, Chief Scientific Officer and Group Leader, the Quadram Institute, said:

    “Refining the definition of processed food is key to improving scientific precision as the current NOVA categories, especially “ultra-processed foods” (UPFs), are too broad and vague, grouping diverse foods together based on processing techniques rather than nutritional composition or health outcomes.  Clearly, more precise definitions would allow for more appropriate research on diet and health outcomes.

    “This also has implications for policy and regulation, as governments and organizations use NOVA to shape food labelling laws as well as dietary guidelines.

    “Currently, there is a mismatch with nutrient profiling with some foods classified as UPFs being nutritionally adequate or even beneficial (e.g., some plant-based alternatives, fortified foods).  A refined system could integrate both processing level and nutritional quality, enabling more balanced assessments.

    “It’s difficult to tell about the quality of this abstract without more detailed analysis of the paper – but the general description and approach seems logical and robust.

    “A step in the right direction but there is a lot of work to do with encouraging people to address the need to adopt the five-a-day recommendation, which has such clear health benefits.”

    Prof Eileen Gibney, Professor in the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin (UCD), said:

    “This is an interesting piece of work.

    “It attempts to address some of the criticisms of the current dialogue around the topic of ultra processed foods.  As the authors state some of the issues raised in relation to the current definitions used in the UPF discussion is that you can have two distinctly different foods – a sweet or ‘candy’ bar (e.g. chocolates / sweets) in the same category as a fortified sugar-free whole grain breakfast cereal.  This makes it complicated to use the concept of UPF in nutritional guidance, and nutritional advice.  You can’t ask individuals to simply remove all UPF from a diet, as this leaves little choice for the consumer, and would be incredibly hard for people to follow.  What we need to do is to understand which processed foods to minimise, and those that are in fact beneficial in a diet.

    “The work presented here looks more closely at the ingredients, determining which are processed and not, as well as their known impact on health, it then considers how much added sugar the food contains, and how the combined ingredients impact on health, penalising foods with ingredients which have evidence for increased risk of disease.

    “Essentially this scoring system aims to consider the level of processing (by considering the ingredients within the foods), but also considers evidence that links those ingredients with health outcomes.  This more nuanced evidenced based approach appears to then discriminate foods that have been processed for benefit (e.g. sugar free fortified breakfast cereal) versus those that do not give any nutritional or health benefit e.g. a chocolate bar.

    “This differentiation is important as it means that we are not simply considering the ‘presence of processing’ in a food, as the existing categorization does, but using an evidence based approach, informed by scientific evidence that demonstrates if a processing step, and/or ingredient actually impacts health.  Evidence based approaches to the provision of nutritional advice is really important, and underpins our approach to public health.  It will be important that this scoring system is updated as and when new evidence is available.”

    Prof Helen Roche, Full Professor of Nutrigenomics (Nutrition and ‘Omics’), Director Of Academic Centre – Conway Institute School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin (UCD), said:

    “It is an example of nice research which advances the ways we can enhance and improve classification of healthy versus unhealthy foods, based on sound, systematic science, to better inform the consumer.  It is very difficult to distinguish processed from non-processed food and their potential impact on health.  Take for example lasagne, if you make it yourself at home versus a highly processed version, which by virtue of inferior ingredients and extensive food processing – the end products are very different in terms of nutritional quality.  The new classification system proposed WISEcode UPF has the potential to more accurately classify processed versus non-processed foods – which when presented in an app might help support consumers choice towards more healthy food options.”

    Prof Alexandra Johnstone, Theme Lead for Nutrition, Obesity and Disease, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, said:

    “The press release and abstract are very brief and do not allow for this novel research to be assessed for quality or rigor.  The experienced US-based research group present a novel scoring system to classify foods and ingredients according to processing and evidence of impact on health, in comparison to the existing NOVA scale which is commonly used to classify UPF.  There is very limited description on the validation of the tool and no perspective on limitations of the dataset.  For example, this is being presented at a US nutrition meeting and the trademark terms look to be only relevant for the US food system; it is not clear if this is transferrable in other countries.  Prior to a peer-review publication, it is difficult to comment further on the translation of the data.”

    Dr Amanda Avery, Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nottingham, said:

    “The NOVA system for classifying foods as ultra-processed or not has served us well since it was first introduced in 2009.  But it is time to look for an update given that we know that not all ultra-processed foods are equal and some can contribute to a healthy diet.  Also given the ever-increasing number of manufactured food products and increasing level of processing.

    “It is unsurprising that AI has been used to create an app with a scoring system using an assessment of ingredients weighted based on current scientific knowledge of the associated health risks, the percentage of calories that come from added sugars, and considerations for ingredients with known health concerns (such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and salt).  Without further information, one assumes that there is also consideration of the positive health benefits of wholegrains providing dietary fibre.

    “This scoring system was applied to a large number of foods and many different food ingredients were considered.  The USA-based scientists found that the proposed scoring system was better able to differentiate between foods classified as ultra-processed compared to using the NOVA criteria.  As one would expect, and hope, there was less differentiation between those foods that are minimally processed.

    “It is unlikely that there will ever be a perfect system that accounts for all the nuances that weigh up the risks and benefits of processed food and health.  Food manufacturers continue to process food to develop products that are safe and appealing without always considering the wider health impact and of course the health impact is very dependent on how often and how many ultra-processed foods are included in an individual diet.  If included occasionally as part of an overall healthy and nutritionally balanced diet, the health risks will be considerably reduced.

    “Sadly, whilst such an app may be able to influence healthier food choices, people’s food choices are influenced by a number of factors.  Having a greater awareness of the level of processing and ingredients included in a product may not influence choice for everyone.  Price for many has a huge influence on the food choices they make, and sadly ultra-processed foods often remain the cheaper option.  One exception is that instore brands can often have a better nutritional profile compared to the equivalent branded product and such technology may provide consumers with a greater awareness of this – which is great.

    “The abstract being presented is very much describing the development of the app.  There does not seem to be any robust evaluation of the use of the app that demonstrates conclusive evidence of the value of the app in improving consumer food choice or the wider health benefits.  It would also be good to know if the ability for consumers to be able to compare similar products changes food manufacturing practices to reduce the level of processing and use of artificial ingredients.

    “The app has been developed in the USA and whilst a large number of foods and ingredients have been used as part of the development, there are differences in the foods that are available in the UK.”

    Abstract title: ‘Ultra-Processed Foods Are Not All Alike: A Novel, Objective Approach to Differentiate Among Processed Foods Including Those Classified As NOVA 4’ by Richard Black et al.  It will be presented at the NUTRITION 2025 conference, and is under embargo until 15:00 UK time on Tuesday 3 June 2025.

    There is no paper.

    Declared interests

    Prof Martin Warren: “The Quadram Institute is a UK science national capability strategically supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and also receives funding from other government agencies, national and international charities, and limited funding from industry (six per cent of total funding in 2022/23 came from industry).

    Martin’s not got any interests to declare.”

    Prof Eileen Gibney: “Eileen R. Gibney is a Professor of Nutrition in University College Dublin, and Director of the UCD Institute of Food and Health.  Over the last 5 years she has received research funding through the following; Enterprise Ireland for Technology Centre – Food for Health Ireland (www.fhi.ie) project, co-funded with core partners Carbery, Kerry, Tirlan, Dairygold & Bord Bia; Research Ireland for the Insight Centre for Data Analytics and Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems; Horizon Europe most recently in projects such as FNSCloud, PLANEAT and MarieCurie CareerFIT; PhD studentship funding from Société des Produits Nestlé, Switzerland; UCD Foundation and McCarrick Family has provided funding for PhD studentship.

    A travel bursary including Registration, Accommodation and Honorarium for attendance and speaking at the Nestle International Nutrition Symposium 2025, was provided by Société des Produits Nestlé, Switzerland.

    Eileen R Gibney has completed consultancy work for the following; Société des Produits Nestlé, Switzerland; Irish Advertising Standards Agency, Food Safety Authority of Ireland.  No personal payment was received, all payments were made into a research fund through Consult UCD.”

    Prof Helen Roche: “I have no conflict of interest with respect to the study I commented on.”

    Prof Alexandra Johnstone: “AJ holds voluntary roles within the UK Nutrition Society, Association for the Study of Obesity and British Nutrition Foundation.

    FIO Food Grant

    https://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/research/fio-food/

    DIO Food Grant

    https://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/research/dio-food/.”

    Dr Amanda Avery: “Besides my academic position at the University of Nottingham, I also hold a position at Slimming World as Consultant dietitian in the Nutrition, Research & Health Policy team. 

    I have no other conflicts of interest to declare.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pocan, Moore Statement on ICE Visit in Dodge County, WI

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

    MADISON, WI – Today, Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) visited Wisconsin’s only ICE detention facility, Dodge County Jail, as part of their congressional oversight responsibilities of the executive branch. This visit provided a firsthand understanding of the facility’s conditions and the impact of ICE policies.  In response, they released the following statement:

    “We were relieved to see that the Dodge County Jail was well-maintained and provided mental health, recreational and medical services to detainees. However, it was concerning that we couldn’t visit detainees in the facility or receive more detailed information on ICE detainees. 

    “During our visit, it became clear that the root of the issues are ICE policies, which include denying individuals their right to due process. In this facility, ICE is still detaining Ramon Morales Reyes despite being wrongfully accused of a crime. ICE is also working without transparency to Congress, which was only magnified by today’s visit when we tried to call the local Milwaukee field office number on its website, but the number was disconnected. It is unacceptable for ICE to be inaccessible to Members of Congress.  

    “As Members of Congress, we will continue using all tools available to conduct oversight.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New NIST Standard Helps Deliver the Right Dosage of Cancer-Fighting Drugs

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Actinium-225 and some other radioactive elements that emit alpha rays can be transformed into cancer-fighting missiles if they are attached to molecules that seek out and attach to tumor cells. Because alpha rays dump most of their energy within extremely short distances in the human body, this radiation can be harnessed to kill cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

    Credit: S. Kelley/NIST

    Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed the first U.S. standard for measuring the radioactivity of actinium-225, a radioactive isotope that drug companies are using to develop a new class of anticancer drugs.

    The new standard, which is tied to the International System of Units (SI), has enabled NIST to open a calibration service for drug companies and research institutions studying the cancer-fighting potential of actinium-225. By comparing NIST’s measurement of a sample of actinium-225 to their own measurements, the companies can ensure that human volunteers injected with actinium-225 receive the exact amount of radioactivity required for it to be effective.

    “Health care providers don’t want to overdose patients. Then they risk doing more harm than good,” said NIST chemist Denis Bergeron. “But they also don’t want to underdose patients. In a way, that’s even worse because a patient is exposed to potentially harmful radiation without effectively treating their cancer. This is a case where you have to get it precisely right. That’s our job at NIST. For actinium-225, that means accurately measuring the injected radioactivity.”

    As the national measurement institute for the U.S., NIST provides a wide range of calibration services to industry and other organizations to help ensure that their equipment is providing accurate readings. This latest calibration service could facilitate FDA review of anticancer drugs based on actinium-225, potentially speeding their deployment to cancer patients. More than 15 clinical trials in the U.S. have revealed that drugs based on actinium-225 show promise for fighting several cancers, including prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors and acute myeloid leukemia.

    Blasting Tumors With Radioactive Atoms

    Actinium-225 is one of several radioisotopes — radioactive versions of stable elements — that dump a massive amount of energy, in the form of alpha particles, within an extremely short distance in the human body. Alpha particles, composed of two protons and two neutrons, are relatively bulky and dense, so they don’t travel far before depositing all their energy.

    Taking advantage of this short-range blast of energy, clinicians have devised drugs that act like anticancer missiles, binding actinium-225 or another alpha-emitting radioisotope to molecules that seek out and attach to cancer cells specifically. Once the radioactive source arrives at a tumor, alpha particles destroy the DNA of the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed.

    To deliver the right dose to the tumor, clinicians must know how many alpha particles are being emitted at the tumor site. But counting radioactive decays is not as simple as it may seem.

    When it decays, actinium-225 successively transforms into a series of smaller atoms that are also unstable and emit their own alpha particles, along with gamma rays (a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation) and beta particles (electrons). To measure radioactivity, researchers must account for all the decay products.

    The radioactive decay chain of actinium-225 includes several lighter radioactive elements as daughter products. As the elements decay, they emit alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) ray radiation.

    Credit: S. Kelley/NIST

    Setting the Standard for Measuring a Radioactive Drug

    To create the new standard, Bergeron and his NIST colleagues relied on an established method of measuring radioactivity known as the triple-to-double coincidence ratio (TDCR). They placed a small amount of actinium-225 in a vial filled with a liquid that emits flashes of light when struck by radioactive particles. They then converted the flashes into electrical signals.

    This allowed the researchers to accurately measure the number of decays per second of actinium-225, a unit of measure known as the becquerel that is defined by using fundamental constants of nature. Other measurement techniques confirmed the accuracy of the new standard, the team reported online in the journal Applied Radiation and Isotopes.                             

    Helping Pharmaceutical Companies Accurately Measure Their Drug’s Dosage

    Once the NIST team established the new standard with TDCR, pharmaceutical companies began sending NIST samples of actinium-225 that they had measured in their own laboratories. The NIST scientists measured the radioactivity of the samples using the NIST standard. By comparing NIST’s measurement to its own, each pharmaceutical company was able to calibrate its equipment to the NIST standard.

    “When you inject a radioactive drug into a patient, you want to make sure that the strength is exactly right for treating a tumor; a lower amount could harm the patient without any benefit,” said Elisa Napoli, a nuclear physicist at the pharmaceutical company ARTBIO in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which specializes in developing radioactive anticancer drugs. “If you have different dial settings or different instruments that measure radioactivity [in different parts of the world] and they are not calibrated with the same standard, then it’s a mess,” she added. “You don’t know how much radioactivity you’re injecting into a patient in Japan or how much you’re injecting into another patient in Italy.”

    The service is in high demand: Since November, five pharmaceutical companies have sent samples of actinium-225 to NIST for radioactivity measurements, and several other companies are on a waiting list. Instructions for using the service are available on the NIST website.

    “Our goal in developing, improving and disseminating radioactivity standards is to give pharmaceutical companies and research facilities the resources they need to accurately monitor the activity of radionuclides on their own,” Bergeron said.

    Linking Radioactivity Measurements to the NIST Standard

    Pharmaceutical companies measured the radioactivity of actinium-225 by using a simpler, easier-to-use method than NIST’s. They placed the radioactive element in a gas-filled device known as an ionization chamber. Gamma rays released by the sample of actinium-225 ionized the gas, stripping atoms in the gas of electrons and creating an electric current proportional to the intensity of the radiation.

    When they received a company’s sample, the NIST scientists measured the radioactivity of the sample also using an ionization chamber — but with one important difference. The radioactivity recorded by the chamber at NIST had been calibrated according to the NIST standard.

    “We let the calibrated ionization chamber serve as the repository, or memory, for our primary standard,” Bergeron said.

    Paper: Bergeron, D.E.; Hamad, G.; Broder, B.A.; Cesna, J.T.; Pearce, A.J.; LaRosa, J.; Pibida, L.; Salter, R.; Saxena, N.S.; and Zimmerman, B.E. Activity measurements and calibrations for 225Ac in radioactive equilibrium with its progeny. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. Published online Dec. 9, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111630

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Declaring June Worker Safety Month

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today proclaimed June as Worker Safety Month as part of her continued commitment to keep New Yorkers safe while on the job. The announcement coincides with three new laws going into effect, the Retail Worker Safety Act, the Fashion Workers Act, and the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program. These new policies are meant to safeguard thousands of workers in these sectors by requiring employers to implement health and safety programs to reduce incidents of work-related injuries or abuse. Complementary to Workers Safety Month, the Governor announced safety enhancements for highway workers and users as part of her FY26 Enacted Budget. These new measures are the latest in Governor Hochul’s ongoing effort to make New York State safer and more affordable for workers statewide.

    “Our workers are the lifeline of the state and deserve to have a safe and secure work environment no matter the job,” Governor Hochul said. “With new safety enhancements and health programs in place, workers across the state will have the tools and resources necessary to ensure their safety while in the workplace.”

    New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Every worker has the right to a safe work environment, free from threats of violence, exploitation, and workplace oversights that lead to injuries. With these new laws, our Department now has more tools in its toolbox to better protect hundreds of thousands of workers across these industries. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to champion the safety of our precious workforce, this month and beyond.”

    New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Chair Clarissa M. Rodriguez said, “These new laws will help guarantee worker safety is prioritized in our great state. We applaud Governor Hochul for recognizing the contributions of hardworking New Yorkers and ensuring that employers take safety seriously. In the unfortunate circumstance when an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness though, the Board is committed to ensuring the proper delivery of benefits, so injured workers can recover and return to their lives.”

    New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Everything we do at the Department of Transportation is centered around safety — the safety of our workforce and the safety of the traveling public — and I thank Governor Hochul for commemorating the importance of keeping workers throughout New York safe through Worker Safety Month. Since its inception, our Department has lost 59 employees in state operated work zones, and just last week we suffered an unimaginable loss when Highway Maintenance Supervisor Robert Bornt was tragically killed as a result of a work zone intrusion. I urge all New Yorkers to take the matter of worker safety seriously – respect our DOT workers — the dedicated public servants who are working on our roads and bridges to keep you safe. Pay attention, put your phone down and please, slow down and move over in a work zone — lives are at risk.”

    New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “The Union Movement always prioritizes workplace safety, and we are resolute in our fight to create safe environments for all New Yorkers. These new laws will help ensure greater safety for retail workers and shoppers, implement injury reduction programs in specific warehouse distribution centers, and improve working conditions in the fashion industry. We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to prioritizing safety in the workplace.”

    New Yorkers for a Fair Economy Coalition Executive Director and Leader Theodore A. Moore said, “The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act is a massive victory for workers, to both prevent injuries and stand up to bad employers. Thanks to Governor Hochul, worker safety champions Senator Ramos and Assemblymember Bronson, and our mighty labor and community coalition for this huge achievement. Now, we must be vigilant. Workers need to know their rights, and New York must stay laser-focused on strong worker education and enforcement to ensure every New York worker is safe on the job.”

    The Retail Worker Safety Act requires retail employers with ten or more employees statewide to develop and implement training programs to prevent workplace violence, including acts or threats of physical violence, abuse, harassment, or intimidation. Additionally, employers with 500 or more employees must install silent response buttons or provide wearable or mobile phone-based silent response buttons by January 2027. Combined, these measures will make New York retail locations safer for workers and shoppers. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has created a series of training videos and a written model training to assist employers with creating their own workplace violence prevention training programs. The Department is also launching a social media campaign, featuring videos in English and Spanish to inform New Yorkers about the new law.

    Retail Council of New York State President and CEO Melissa O’Connor said, “The retail industry’s top priority is the safety of store employees and shoppers, as evidenced by our consistent collaboration with local police precincts, district attorneys, state and local leaders and community groups. We are encouraged by the new laws and related funding to address instances of organized retail crime and habitual retail theft in New York, including stronger penalties for the assault of retail employees. As we continue our work with Governor Kathy Hochul to promote public safety, we will also partner with the Department of Labor to ensure all covered employers are ready to comply with the Retail Worker Safety Act.”

    Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) President Stuart Appelbaum said, “Retail workers — and shoppers — across New York will now be safer because of the Retail Worker Safety Act. We are grateful that Governor Hochul has focused on preventing retail violence and theft. Retail workers should not have to go to work every day in fear; and this law goes a long way towards ending that. As implemented, the RWSA provides for preventative measures that will help deter violence and harassment before it starts; and most importantly, will assist workers in getting help quickly in the event of an emergency.”

    Also going into effect is the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program, requiring certain warehouse distribution center employers to establish and implement an injury reduction program. This will help them identify and reduce the risk of work-related injuries. Employers must now conduct worksite evaluations, provide training to employees and supervisors, and establish medical staffing and treatment protocols. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction program is part of the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which requires employers to disclose production quotas as well as protect warehouse workers from disciplinary action or firing where quotas are undisclosed or prevent legally protected breaks. To learn more, please see NYSDOL’s English and Spanish videos on the expansion of this law.

    Teamsters Joint Council 18 President Tom Quackenbush said, “The New York Teamsters thank Governor Hochul and legislative leaders for enacting the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act and giving the state the tools to tackle the injury crisis in this industry. Bad employers are putting their profits ahead of safety, and workers are getting hurt in staggering numbers. We look forward to working with the New York Department of Labor to ensure this law is properly implemented and enforced to hold these companies accountable and protect New York workers.”

    State Senator Jessica Ramos said, “Behind every paycheck, there’s a life worth protecting. Our fight for the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program and the Retail Worker Safety Act reflects our commitment to ensuring that every New Yorker goes home safe, every shift, every day. These laws aren’t the finish line; they’re the foundation for expanded protections that safeguard the health and dignity of our workforce. Declaring June as Worker Safety Month is a powerful reminder that no job is worth risking a life. Let’s keep pushing forward to make New York a safer place to work.”

    Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “As we recognize Worker Safety Month, it’s important we make sure policies are in place so when a New York worker leaves for work, they will return home to their family safely. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, which I sponsored

    in the Assembly and will take effect during Worker Safety Month, ensures that warehouses enact safety measures that put the health of our workers above profits. As Assembly Labor Chair, I will always fight for the protections our workers deserve.”

    The New York Fashion Workers Act goes into effect on June 19, requiring model management companies and model management groups to comply with new duties and responsibilities under the law. The new law outlines the duties and responsibilities companies must provide, including:

    • Acting in the best interest of the models they represent;
    • Ensuring a safe work environment;
    • Providing models with a written agreement detailing their total compensation before work begins and clearly communicating itemized deductions and disclosing any financial relationships with clients;
    • Establishing company policies and complaint processes that addresses abuse, harassment, and any other inappropriate behavior towards models; and
    • Outline penalties for violations of company policies.

    Starting December 21 of this year, these groups must register with the New York State Department of Labor and comply with any registration-related requirements. The law also prohibits these groups from imposing certain fees, requiring models to sign contracts for longer than three years, and using models’ digital replicas without permission. NYSDOL has created English and Spanish videos to raise awareness of the new law.

    Model Alliance Executive Director Sara Ziff said, “Models are workers who deserve the same labor rights and protections as anyone else. For too long, models have faced late payment, bogus fees, and unsafe working conditions — often without recourse. With the Fashion Workers Act, New York is finally saying: enough is enough. This victory is hard-fought recognition for a vulnerable workforce, one that is overwhelmingly young, female, and immigrant. We are deeply grateful to our bill sponsors, Senator Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Reyes, and to Governor Hochul for making this landmark protection a reality.”

    Complementary to Workers Safety Month, Governor Hochul announced safety enhancements for highway workers and users as part of her FY26 Enacted Budget. The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program has been expanded to include MTA Bridges and Tunnels and NYS Bridge Authority properties and has been extended until 2031. The program, which aims to improve work zone safety for both workers and drivers, was previously set to expire in 2026. The Governor’s FY26 Budget also doubles the number of work zones eligible for participation in the program for both the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority. A majority of the funds collected under this program are reinvested into the work zone safety programs including safety training and public awareness advertising.

    Keeping workers safe is at the core of the mission of the Department of Labor. Last month, NYSDOL announced that businesses statewide have saved around $500 million over the last five decades thanks to the On-Site Consultation Program. The free and confidential safety and health service helps small and medium-sized businesses operating in high-hazard industries prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. The program also provides assistance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory compliance. For more information, please visit the On-Site Consultation Program webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Fight to Help Home Renters Continue Receiving Emergency Assistance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), with a bicameral group of his House and Senate colleagues, is calling on Congressional Appropriations leadership to include enough funding for the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program as part of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding legislation. Tens of thousands of Americans depend on this vital program for safe, stable, and affordable housing. The letter comes as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced in March that the program will soon run out of money due largely to rents rising at the fastest pace in decades.
    “[Public Housing Agencies] in every state have benefited from the improved voucher issuance and utilization that the EHV program provides, as have the people and communities they serve,” wrote the lawmakers. “Congress must provide sufficient and robust funding to ensure that the families who rely on EHVs don’t lose their housing.”
    “The EHV program provides rental assistance to help end and prevent homelessness,” continued the lawmakers. “At a time when housing costs and homelessness continue to rise, we respectfully request that you provide adequate funding in the FY26 THUD Appropriations bill to renew all EHVs to ensure that those who have been served by the program do not lose their housing support and to ensure landlords continue receiving the rental payments they depend on to maintain their properties.”
    As of April, this critical program supports 107,000 individuals who are mostly children under five years old, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and domestic violence survivors. Support for the program is especially important as the Trump Administration cuts vital HUD funding and support staff. The EHV program was established in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan. Congress originally authorized $5 billion in funding for 70,000 vouchers through September 2030, with increased flexibilities for public housing authorities that made the program more successful than typical housing vouchers.
    Senator King has long been committed to ensuring Maine people across the state can access safe and affordable housing, as well as working with his colleagues on creative solutions to combat the housing shortage. He recently introduced the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to create nearly two million new affordable homes across the country — including thousands in Maine. Earlier this year, he introduced the bipartisan Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act to expand existing grant program so rural homeowners can create more housing on their property and help ease housing shortfall.
    The full text of the letter is available here and below. 
    +++
    Dear Chair Hyde-Smith, Ranking Member Gillibrand, Chair Womack, and Ranking Member Clyburn:
    As you develop the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you include funding to ensure that the nearly 60,000 households who are currently being served by the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program do not fall into homelessness.
    During the pandemic, Congress appropriated $5 billion in mandatory funding for the EHV program to help people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence and victims of human trafficking, access safe, stable and affordable housing during a moment of crisis.
    Since 2021, the success of the EHV program and its design, which includes critical administrative flexibilities that are responsive to a tumultuous housing market, cannot be overstated. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that EHVs are leasing at a rate faster than any previous housing voucher program within HUD and drove unprecedented collaboration among public housing agencies (PHAs), homeless services organizations, and victim services organizations to provide rapid and effective housing assistance to vulnerable populations. PHAs in every state have benefited from the improved voucher issuance and utilization that the EHV program provides, as have the people and communities they serve. Congress must provide sufficient and robust funding to ensure that the families who rely on EHVs don’t lose their housing.
    We understand that the Subcommittee must make difficult decisions. However, the EHV program provides rental assistance to help end and prevent homelessness. At a time when housing costs and homelessness continue to rise, we respectfully request that you provide adequate funding in the FY26 THUD Appropriations bill to renew all EHVs to ensure that those who have been served by the program do not lose their housing support and to ensure landlords continue receiving the rental payments they depend on to maintain their properties. Thank you for your consideration of this request and your continued support for the most vulnerable Americans.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: BALTOPS 25 Begins in the Baltic Sea Region

    Source: United States Navy

    ROSTOCK, Germany – Sixteen NATO allies, more than 40 ships, 25 aircraft and approximately 9,000 personnel began the 54th iteration of Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS 25, with the start of the pre-sail conference, June 3, in the Baltic Sea region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF announces new NextG wireless funding opportunity

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The NSF VINES program will invest up to $100 million in advanced wireless communications networks

    The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced a new funding opportunity to support research and technology development that will improve the next generation of wireless communication systems known as NextG.     In collaboration with industry, other government agencies, and international partners, the NSF Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork  Systems (NSF VINES) program will invest up to $100 million to accelerate performance and capabilities of next-generation (NextG) advanced intelligent network systems  spanning the user-edge-core-cloud continuum. 

    “NSF VINES will enhance U.S. competitiveness in advanced telecommunications technologies, including NextG wireless telecommunications and emerging potential NextG vertical industries, and prepare the American workforce for jobs available now and in the future,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF Director.

    “This important investment from NSF, in collaboration with industry and other government agencies, will help strengthen U.S. leadership and ensure the American people reap the benefits in areas such as self-driving cars, advanced manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and beyond,” said Dr. Lynne Parker, Principal Deputy Director of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. 

    NSF VINES is in partnership with several major industry organizations and U.S. federal agencies, including Ericsson, Intel, Qualcomm, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, and U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as international partners from Finland, India, Japan and Sweden. 

    NSF VINES will invest in both use-inspired basic research (Track 1) as well as technological innovations that enable vertical applications, including piloting, prototyping and demonstration of high technology-readiness level solutions (Track 2). By collaborating with industry and international partners, the program will ensure U.S.-led technological advancements drive NextG global telecommunication networks as well as emerging “vertical industries” such as connected autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, precision agriculture, disaster response, remote healthcare, critical infrastructure, and smart grids, among others. NSF will fund research teams spanning multiple fields to achieve the program goals. 

     Partnering with international organizations will also bring complementary expertise and resources that will accelerate the program’s impact on the development of global standards and interoperability. These collaborations will ensure that solutions address worldwide market and economic needs. 

    In addition, NSF VINES will support research and technology development that leverage other emerging technologies to advance NextG telecommunications networks. For example, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum communications will be deeply embedded in NextG networks, potentially transforming how they are designed, managed and utilized.

    NSF VINES offers two tracks:

    • Track 1 (Use-inspired Fundamental Research) will invest in activities focused on use-inspired fundamental research to develop novel networking techniques and solutions; and
    • Track 2 (Verticals-Driven Technology Development, Demonstration and Translation) will invest in activities focused on technology development, maturation, demonstration, integration and translation of solutions with higher technology readiness levels, with the goal of producing adoption-ready technologies.

    More information about VINES

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Scheme to Transport Contraband Into FCI McDowell with Drone

    Source: US FBI

    BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit the felony crime of attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 1, 2024, Aleman-Piceno traveled on foot with co-defendant Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez to the fence surrounding Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell. Aleman-Piceno and Gonzalez possessed a backpack and a duffle bag containing a drone and two camouflaged packages containing four cell phones, chargers, phone cards, marijuana, and tobacco. As part of his guilty plea, Aleman-Piceno admitted that they intended to fly the packages onto the grounds of FCI McDowell using the drone, and were stopped by law enforcement as they prepared to launch the drone.

    Aleman-Piceno further admitted to traveling to McDowell County, West Virginia, from Chicago with Gonzalez and co-defendant Arturo Joel Gallegos, believing that he would be paid $3,000 to deliver the packages into the prison by drone. Aleman-Piceno also admitted that he and his two co-defendants stayed an area motel where law enforcement seized marijuana, tobacco and materials used to make the camouflaged packages.

    Aleman-Piceno is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.

    Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.

    The indictment against Gonzalez, 24, and Gallegos, 26, both of Chicago, remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Hector Luis Gomez DeJesus, 32, of Sanford, North Carolina, Raymond Luis Saez Aviles, 37, of Poinciana, Florida, and Gamalier Rivera, 33, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, each pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the introduction of contraband into a federal prison in a separate indictment. On February 9, 2024, DeJesus, Aviles, and Rivera used a drone to transport marijuana, tobacco, and cell phones into FCI McDowell. DeJesus and Aviles are scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2025. Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-126.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Steven Scott Gordon, 53, of Curtice, Ohio has been charged by a superseding indictment with production of child pornography announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph. H Thompson.

    According to court documents, the defendant posed online as a 20-year-old woman to publish online erotica about the sexual abuse of children. The defendant, using his alias, encouraged and directed a Minnesota man to create images and videos of sexual abuse of a child in Minnesota.

    According to court documents, Steven Scott Gordon’s electronic devices were obtained from the FBI in Ohio. Investigators found Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on the defendant’s computer, including CSAM that was produced by the Minnesota man who transmitted them to Gordon.

    “Child sexual predators are among the dangerous of criminal defendants,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Anyone who victimizes and sexually abuses Minnesota children should be prepared to serve decades in federal prison.” 

    “Every child deserves a safe and innocent childhood,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Gordon’s heinous actions shattered that innocence and caused unimaginable harm. Protecting children and holding vile predators accountable is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. Anyone who exploits a child should expect to face the unflinching efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”

    Gordon was arraigned in U.S. District Court on May 21, 2025, before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz, and was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI in partnership with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Rosemount Police.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Mattessich is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Whitehouse Slam Republicans’ Subcommittee Hearing Attacking an Independent Judiciary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights, today released the following statement ahead of a joint Judiciary subcommittee hearing designed to attack district judges and undermine America’s independent judiciary: 
    “Today’s hearing will not be on the level, and it’s important that the public and press do not put falsehoods and rhetoric before the facts. This is not a policy debate—this is yet another Republican attack on an independent judiciary.  
    “Let’s be clear: The reason district judges have enjoined the Trump Administration’s orders is because of unprecedented unlawfulness, not unprecedented judicial behavior. Our colleagues across the aisle are making it clear they are willing to help do Trump’s bidding and protect his unlawful activity at any cost. Republicans can either defend the rule of law and the judiciary, or defend this administration’s agenda and lies—but they cannot do both.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: We asked over 8,700 people in 6 countries to think about future generations in decision-making, and this is what we found

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stylianos Syropoulos, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University

    Shifting the public’s perspective toward greater concern for future generations could result in more support for climate change policies, among others. Artur Debat/Moment via Getty Images

    People often prioritize the well-being of family, friends and neighbors, as they feel a closeness emotionally and share the same temporal context. But they overlook how people born decades or centuries from now may suffer as a result of today’s failures to address major global risks such as climate change, future pandemics and unregulated artificial intelligence.

    Our new research, published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, shows that brief, low-cost psychological interventions can help individuals adopt a more expansive moral perspective to include future generations.

    We conducted three online studies with over 8,700 participants to examine whether prompting people to consider the long-term consequences of their actions could shift moral priorities beyond the present.

    In one of two interventions, participants imagined themselves serving on a government committee responsible for protecting future generations. Their task was to ensure that new legislation accounted not only for immediate needs but also for long-term impacts; they were asked to write a speech communicating these goals to the American public. This exercise highlighted institutional responsibility and the role of collective action across time.

    In the second intervention, participants engaged with a more personal thought experiment adapted from philosopher William MacAskill’s book “What We Owe the Future,” which explores our moral responsibility toward humanity’s long-term future.

    The impact of actions over time.

    Here, they read a scenario about a hiker who comes across broken glass on a remote trail – glass that may one day injure an unknown child. Should the hiker clean it up, even though no one is watching and the child may not appear for decades? After reflecting on this story, participants were asked to write about what they themselves could do to help make the future better for others.

    Moral concern for both intervention and control participants was assessed using the Moral Expansiveness Scale. We asked participants to rate how much moral concern they felt for a wide range of issues. These included concern for future generations, alongside family and friends, strangers, marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ people, animals and the natural environment.

    Why it matters

    Although these exercises differed, one emphasizing collective responsibility and the other individual, both led to the same outcome: Participants randomly assigned to an intervention condition expressed significantly greater moral concern for future generations than those assigned to a control condition who completed neither exercise.

    This effect held across cultural contexts and across six diverse countries – the U.S., Argentina, South Africa, the Philippines, the U.K. and Australia – and persisted even when participants were required to make trade-offs in a zero-sum version of the Moral Expansiveness Scale. In this version of the task, they distributed a fixed number of “moral concern points” across competing groups, compelling them to weigh the moral importance of future generations against that of present-day entities like family members, strangers, nature and others.

    What’s especially intriguing, however, is that the elevated concern for future generations among intervention participants did not come at the expense of concern for other socially distant entities or those viewed as marginalized.

    What changed was how participants prioritized their moral concern: They placed slightly less emphasis on family and friends – groups that people typically prioritize most, even when they may be least in need of moral protection.

    In contrast, concern increased for distant others, both living today and in the future.

    What’s next

    This perspective, encouraged by the interventions, could perhaps help lay the groundwork for more durable public support for addressing long-term challenges.

    In future work, we hope to explore whether these interventions can inspire real-world action. This could include increased support for climate policies, voting for leaders who prioritize long-term investments like sustainable infrastructure and pandemic preparedness, or donating to causes that benefit future generations.

    But how might these interventions be integrated into everyday life? One promising approach is to embed them into settings where such reflections already occur, such as schools, civic education programs or public awareness campaigns.

    To assess their real-world potential, we plan to examine the durability of these effects. We want to see whether deploying them in such contexts can meaningfully inspire long-term shifts in attitudes and – importantly – behavior.

    For example, brief storytelling exercises or classroom role-plays, like imagining oneself as a future-focused policymaker, could be incorporated into high school or college curricula to shape students’ values, goals and even career trajectories. Similarly, community workshops, online media or social campaigns could adapt these scenarios to foster long-term thinking in broader populations.

    When people reflect on how their actions today shape the future, they may be more likely to back solutions to present-day issues like poverty and inequality, knowing these problems can have ripple effects for generations to come. They may also become more motivated to confront emerging risks, such as unregulated artificial intelligence or future pandemics, before those risks escalate.

    The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

    The research relevant to this article was funded by the John Templeton Foundation and APA Division 48.

    The research relevant to this article was funded by the John Templeton Foundation and APA Division 48.

    – ref. We asked over 8,700 people in 6 countries to think about future generations in decision-making, and this is what we found – https://theconversation.com/we-asked-over-8-700-people-in-6-countries-to-think-about-future-generations-in-decision-making-and-this-is-what-we-found-256767

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Peace has long been elusive in rural Colombia – Black women’s community groups try to bring it closer each day

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tania Lizarazo, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies and Global Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Local activists known as ‘comisionadas’ pose with women from Tanguí, Chocó, Colombia, at the end of a workshop in 2013. Tania Lizarazo

    It’s been almost nine years since Colombia celebrated a landmark peace agreement between one guerrilla group and the government, and three years since President Gustavo Petro vowed “total peace.” But in reality, the country’s decades-long internal conflict continues – making it one of the oldest in the world.

    Violence surged in early 2025, the most intense uptick in years. Fighting between two armed guerrilla groups in the northeastern Catatumbo region killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands more. Since the largest armed group – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC – signed the 2016 peace accord, more than 400 signatories have been killed. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 social leaders and human rights defenders have been assassinated.

    We often define peace as the absence of war. The problem with thinking about peace and war as an all-or-nothing binary, however, is that it obscures the violence that takes place in “peaceful times.” For Colombians, that paradox is nothing new. In many communities most affected by the violence, thinking about a “post-conflict era” feels utopian.

    As a Colombian researcher who has collaborated with Afro-Colombian leaders for over a decade, I have noticed that emphasizing peace talks and accords erases the historical violence that is still present, especially for racial minorities. Colombia has the largest Black population in Spanish-speaking Latin America. In Chocó – a region on the Pacific coast where I conducted my research – Afro-Colombians form a majority.

    Communities there are contending not only with the contemporary conflict, but also ongoing challenges from the legacies of slavery, colonialism and extractive industries. Many residents, particularly women, work together every day to try to bring peace and justice within reach.

    Signs in the office of COCOMACIA, a Black women’s organization, say ‘option for life’ and ‘peace, we all build it.’
    Tania Lizarazo

    Rights vs. reality

    Colombia has been mired in war for over six decades, as legal and illegal armed groups across the political spectrum fight for territories and resources. The conflict is estimated to have killed around 450,000 people and displaced around 7 million.

    Black and Indigenous communities have disproportionately suffered the brunt of the war – especially in rural areas, where their lives and territories have been threatened by armed groups and companies alike. In Chocó Department, the site of my research, the region’s remoteness and biodiversity have attracted illegal groups and practices like drug trafficking, as well as mining and other types of resource extraction that threaten traditional livelihoods. Mercury from industrial mining poses an additional danger to people’s health and the environment.

    Andres Magallan carries an urn with the remains of Ivan Mejia, who was murdered by right-wing paramilitary guerrillas years before, in Santa Maria, Chocó, Colombia, in 2010.
    Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images

    Black rural communities in the Pacific lowlands, where most of Chocó is located, have a legal right to collective ownership of their territories and to be consulted about development plans. In reality, land grabs and targeted killings over illegal crops, mining and other extractive practices have become the norm here, as is true throughout rural Colombia.

    The conflict has intensified racism and gender hierarchies, with Black women, particularly activists, especially vulnerable. Vice President Francia Márquez Mina, for example – who has won awards for her activism against illegal mining – survived an attack near her home in the nearby department of Cauca in 2019. She and her family have received other threats on their lives since then.

    Building solidarity

    Even in “postconflict” times, peace is a challenging task. It requires social change that does not happen overnight. Rather, it is the accumulation of tiny sparks in people’s daily commitments.

    In my book “Postconflict Utopias: Everyday Survival in Chocó, Colombia,” I write about how Black women’s organizations care for their territories and communities. The “comisionadas,” for example, belong to one of the largest such groups in Colombia, called COCOMACIA. These women travel the Atrato River and its tributaries to lead workshops about the organization, as well as territorial rights and women’s rights.

    Comisionadas next to a poster with information about a landmark law against domestic violence, on July 7, 2012. María del Socorro Mosquera Pérez sits on the left.
    Tania Lizarazo

    Everyone in the community is welcome to participate in dialogues about issues such as women’s political participation, land ownership and related legislation. Comisionada María del Socorro Mosquera Pérez, for example, wrote a song to share the importance of Law 1257, a landmark 2008 law against violence and discrimination against women.

    In her story for the research project that I discuss in my book, “Mujeres Pacíficas,” comisionada Rubiela Cuesta Córdoba says it best: “The best legacy that one leaves to family and friends is resistance.”

    One focus of these women’s groups’ work is the Atrato River itself. Since 2016, the same year of the peace accords, Colombian courts have recognized the river as a legal person, with rights to protection, conservation, maintenance and restoration.

    Students paint a mural in Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia, which says ‘Somos Atrato’: We are the Atrato River.
    Jan Sochor/Getty Images

    The river is a source of food and transportation between many basin communities where potable water, electricity and other amenities are scarce. But it is also intertwined with politics and spirituality. Pilgrimages like “Atratiando,” a trip along the river and its tributaries that has taken place multiple times since 1999, highlight that there is no life without the river. Participants travel through areas where paramilitaries and guerrillas are active, showing solidarity with vulnerable communities.

    COCOMACIA’s comisionadas are part of many other organizations – highlighting how survival is not only intertwined with lands and rivers, but other regions and countries. The struggle for women’s rights has led the comisionadas to collaborate with other organizations, creating wider networks of care. These include La Red Departamental de Mujeres Chocoanas, a feminist coalition of women’s organizations in Chocó; La Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres, a feminist movement of 300 organizations from across Colombia; and Women in Black, an anti-militarism network with members in over 150 countries.

    Their solidarity is a reminder that peace and justice are a collaborative, everyday effort. As Justa Germania Mena Córdoba, leader of the comisionadas at the time, told me in 2012: “One cannot change the world by herself.”

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

    – ref. Peace has long been elusive in rural Colombia – Black women’s community groups try to bring it closer each day – https://theconversation.com/peace-has-long-been-elusive-in-rural-colombia-black-womens-community-groups-try-to-bring-it-closer-each-day-219550

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is methylene blue really a brain booster? A pharmacologist explains the science

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lorne J. Hofseth, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina

    This vibrantly colored chemical was originally created for use as a fabric dye. Kittisak Kaewchalun via iStock/Getty Images Plus

    The internet is abuzz with tributes to a liquid chemical called methylene blue that is being sold as a health supplement.

    Over the past five or 10 years, methylene blue has come to be touted online as a so-called nootropic agent – a substance that enhances cognitive function. Vendors claim that it amps up brain energy, improves memory, boosts focus and dispels brain fog, among other supposed benefits.

    Health influencers, such as podcaster Joe Rogan, have sung its praises. In February 2025, shortly before he was confirmed as health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in a video squirting a blue liquid widely presumed to be methylene blue into a glass – though he never verbally endorsed the substance.

    As a researcher studying inflammation and cancer, I investigate how dyes affect human health. Claims about methylene blue are alluring, and it’s easy to buy into its promise. But so far, evidence supporting its health benefits is scant, and there are some serious risks to using the substance outside of medical practice.

    What is methylene blue?

    Methylene blue was first synthesized in the 19th century by scientists at the German chemical company BASF.
    Museo di Chimica dell’Università di Genova via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Methylene blue is a synthetic dye that exists as a dark green powder and takes on a deep blue color when dissolved in water. My work and that of others suggest that many synthetic dyes widely used in foods and medicines can trigger potentially harmful immune system reactions in the body. But unlike commonly used food dyes – one of which was recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – methylene blue is not derived from petroleum, also known as crude oil. Instead, it comes from a different family of dyes, which isn’t thought to have these health concerns.

    Methylene blue was first synthesized in 1876 as a dye for textiles and was valued for its intense color and ability to bind well to fabrics. Soon after, German physician Paul Ehrlich discovered its ability to stain biological tissues and to kill the parasite that causes malaria — making it one of the first synthetic drugs used in medicine.

    The chemical didn’t gain widespread use as a malaria treatment because it was no more effective than quinine, the standard therapy at the time. But in the 1930s, the dye found a new use in testing the safety of raw or unpasteurized milk. If its blue color faded quickly, the milk was contaminated with bacteria, but if it remained blue, the milk was considered relatively clean.

    This safety test now is largely obsolete. But it works thanks to methylene blue’s chemical superpower, which is that its molecules can swap electrons with other molecules, like a tiny battery charger.

    How do doctors use it today?

    That same chemical superpower enables some of methylene blue’s medical uses. Most significantly, doctors use it to treat a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia, in which hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, takes on a different form that can’t do the job. Methylene blue restores hemoglobin’s function by transferring an electron.

    Doctors also sometimes use methylene blue to treat the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, septic shock or toxicities from drugs such as chemotherapy. It is also used as a surgical dye to highlight specific tissues such as lymph nodes, or to identify where tissue is leaky and therefore may be damaged.

    How does methylene blue affect the brain?

    Methylene blue can enter the brain by crossing the protective tissue barrier that surrounds it. Researchers have also found that the chemical can protect and support mitochondria, cell structures that are often described as the powerhouses of the cell. Methylene blue may help mitochondria generate energy for cells to use. For these reasons, researchers are studying methylene blue’s effect on the brain.

    So far, most of what’s known about the substance’s effects on the brain comes from studies in rats and in cells grown in a lab dish – not in people. For example, researchers have found that methylene blue may improve learning, boost memory and protect brain cells in rats with a condition that mimics Alzheimer’s disease.

    Studies in rodents have also found that methylene blue can protect the brain from damage from brain injury. Other studies showed that methylene blue is useful in treating ischemic stroke in rats. However, no research to date has examined whether it protects peoples’ brains from traumatic brain injury or stroke.

    A handful of clinical trials have investigated the effects of methylene blue in treating aspects of Alzheimer’s disease in people, but a 2023 review of these trials notes that their results have been mixed and not conclusive. A small study of 26 people found that a single low dose of the chemical boosted memory by about 7% and increased brain activity during thinking tasks. Another study by the same researchers found that methylene blue changed how different parts of the brain connected, though it didn’t improve thinking skills.

    Although some studies in people have shown hints that methylene blue may be beneficial for some brain-related issues, such as pain management and neuropsychiatric disorders, such studies to date have been small. This suggests that while there may be patient circumstances where methylene blue is beneficial, researchers have not yet pinned down what those are.

    Is methylene blue safe?

    Methylene blue is generally safe when used under medical supervision. However, the chemical has some serious risks.

    For one thing, it can interact with widely used medications. Methylene blue inhibits a molecule called monoamine oxidase, whose job is to break down an important brain chemical, serotonin. Many commonly used medications for treating anxiety and depression target serotonin. Taking the supplement along with these medicines can cause a condition called serotonin syndrome, which can lead to agitation, confusion, high fever, rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness and, in severe cases, seizures or even death.

    In people with a rare genetic deficiency of an enzyme called G6PD, methylene blue can cause a dangerous condition in which red blood cells break down too quickly. At high doses, the chemical can also raise blood pressure or cause heart problems. Also, it’s considered unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women because it may harm the fetus or baby.

    Overall, while scientists have found hints of some fascinating properties of methylene blue, much larger, longer trials are needed to know if it truly works, what the right dose is and how safe it is over time.

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

    – ref. Is methylene blue really a brain booster? A pharmacologist explains the science – https://theconversation.com/is-methylene-blue-really-a-brain-booster-a-pharmacologist-explains-the-science-257159

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicholas Green, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University

    The system of scientific naming began in the 1700s. Westend61 via Getty Images

    Most people would call it a “field mouse,” but a scientist would ask, “Was it Peromyscus maniculatus? Or Peromyscus leucopus?”

    Scientists use a system of complicated-sounding names to refer to everyday creatures, a practice heavily lampooned in the Warner Bros. cartoons featuring the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote – or, respectively, Accelleratii incredibus and Carnivorous vulgaris.

    As a biologist, I use these seemingly odd names myself and help my students learn them. For most people it’s a huge effort, like learning a second language. That’s because it is.

    A chimpanzee, otherwise known as Pan troglodytes.
    guenter guni/E+ via Getty Images

    Humans, skunks and maple trees

    The science of naming and classifying organisms is called taxonomy. Scientists do this so they can be as precise as possible when discussing living things.

    The first word in an organism’s name is its genus, which is a group of related species, such as Panthera for lions, tigers and leopards.

    The second word is the specific name identifying the species, usually defined as a population that can reproduce only with each other, such as Panthera leo for lion.

    Every two-word combination must be unique. Called binomial nomenclature, this naming system was popularized by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s. So, humans are Homo sapiens, the red maple Acer rubrum, garlic Allium sativum, and the eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius.

    Today, biologists maintain huge databases containing the taxonomic names of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms. For instance, one of these databases – the Open Tree of Life project – includes over 2.3 million species.

    The scientist who discovers a species usually names it by publishing a formal description in a peer-reviewed journal. From there, the name makes its way into the databases. From then on, scientists always use that name for the organism, even if it turns out to be misleading. For example, many fossils were originally given names containing the Greek root “saur,” which means lizard – even though paleontologists later realized dinosaurs were not lizards.

    The archosaur group includes dinosaurs and also today’s birds and crocodiles.
    Orla/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Snobbery isn’t the issue

    To most people, these names sound inscrutable. Particularly nowadays, as science becomes more open and accessible to everyone, such arcane vocabulary can come across as old-fashioned and elitist.

    Given the current backlash against “elites” and “experts” in every field, that’s a serious charge. But in a roundabout way, this seemingly exclusive practice is really a story of inclusiveness.

    As modern science began taking shape in Europe during the 1600s, scientists had a problem. They wanted to read and be read by others, but language got in the way. French scientists couldn’t read Swedish, Swedes couldn’t read Italian, and Italians couldn’t read German.

    Also, writing about plants and animals posed a particular challenge: Many species had common names that could vary from place to place, and some common names might apply to multiple species. Scientists needed a way to be precise and consistent when referring to species, so that everyone could understand each other.

    To sidestep the language issue, scientists of the era mostly published their work in classical Latin. Back then, everyone learned it – at least every European man wealthy enough to attend school and become a scientist. Others published in classical Greek, also widely taught. By sticking with these more universally known languages, early scientists made sure that science was accessible to as many of their peers as possible.

    By the late 1700s and 1800s, translation services were broadly available, so naturalists such as Georges Cuvier could write in his native French, and Charles Darwin in his native English. Today, English has become the de facto language for science, so most scientists publish in English regardless of their native tongue.

    So why continue to use Latin and Greek names today? Taxonomists do it partly out of tradition, but partly because the terminology is still useful. Even without seeing a photo of the animal, a biologist might work out that Geomys bursarius – “earth-mouse with a pouch” – was a pocket gopher. Or that Reithrodontomys fulvescens – “groove-toothed mouse that is yellow” – is a yellow mouse with grooves on its incisors.

    A two-minute, how-to-do-it lesson.

    What’s in a name?

    Although taxonomists still largely adhere to the naming principles of Linnaeus, new scientific names are more and more frequently derived from non-European languages. For example, a chicken-size dinosaur discovered and named in China is called Yi qi, meaning “strange wing” in Mandarin.

    Some of the more recent names are touched by whimsy, with a few honoring politicians and celebrities. Etheostoma obama is a spangled darter named after the 44th U.S. president; the Swift twisted-claw millipede – Nannaria swiftae – is named after pop star Taylor Swift.

    With so much of Earth’s biodiversity yet to be discovered and named, remember that names are just names. What we call these species often reflects our own values and perspectives.

    In the future, another language – or no language at all – might rise to dominance. Artificial intelligence may act as a universal translator. This possibility would let everyone publish and read science in their own language. Predicting how technology will change our relationship with terminology is challenging, but the need for precise scientific language, including the names of species, will never go away.

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

    – ref. A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names – https://theconversation.com/a-bottlenose-dolphin-or-tursiops-truncatus-why-biologists-give-organisms-those-strange-unpronounceable-names-252265

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: It’s miller moth season in Colorado – an entomologist explains why they’re important and where they’re headed

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ryan St Laurent, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Colorado Boulder

    It is spring on the Front Range of Colorado, which means before long the region will receive an influx of many, many moths.

    Colorado is home to thousands of species of moths, many of which are hatching out from a winter of hibernation, known as diapause.

    Moths are known to swarm porch, stadium and street lights at night. Each summer, Denver is visited by miller moths as they make their trek to the mountains.
    Fairfax Media/GettyImages

    At night, porch lights, stadium lights and street lamps are regularly visited by moths, a collective term for most of the nocturnal members of the insect order called Lepidoptera. Butterflies are also part of this order, but they are mostly diurnal, or active during the day. Butterflies are actually just a subset of moths, so all butterflies are moths, but not all moths are butterflies.

    The Front Range lies on the path of a springtime migration of a particularly familiar species of moth, usually referred to in this part of the country, including Colorado and neighboring states, as “miller moths.” Miller moth caterpillars are often called the “army cutworm,” a whimsical name referring to the caterpillars’ tendency to reach large numbers that march across fields and roads to find food. Both the moths and their caterpillars are rather drab and brown in color, though the moths are variable in patterning.

    ‘Miller moth’ is the common name for a moth species that migrates from southeastern Colorado to the Front Range to forage for food.
    Chuck Harp, Colorado State University

    Many people find miller moths to be a nuisance, and the caterpillars can be a pest. But miller moths are a native species to Colorado and play important roles across the plains and up into the high country.

    I am an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology as well as the curator of the entomology collection at the University of Colorado’s Natural History Museum in Boulder. I study moths from around the world. I have a particular fascination for the large moth group known as Noctuoidea, the superfamily to which miller moths and their relatives belong.

    As an entomologist, I crisscross the state looking for moths for my ongoing evolutionary, classification and life history studies. During miller moth migrations, they may swarm my moth traps, which are made up of a bright light in front of a white sheet. The crush of miller moths makes finding the less common species that I am looking for all the more challenging in a sea of dusty brown.

    To spot and trap moths, entomologists set up bright lights in front of a white background.
    Ryan St. Laurent

    What makes miller moths so unique?

    In temperate regions like most of North America, most moth species hibernate in the cold winter months. During this time, they are in a dormant pupal stage. Some species spin cocoons. They then hatch into adult moths, mate, lay eggs, and those caterpillars grow during the spring and summer. Come fall, the cycle starts over.

    While miller moths also have a hibernation period, it is not like that of most moths. Miller moths instead spend their winters on the plains of eastern Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and nearby states as partially grown caterpillars, rather than a pupa, having gotten a head start on feeding in the late summer. This puts the caterpillars at an advantage. As soon as the weather warms and low-lying crops like wheat and alfalfa produce new, nutrient-rich foliage during the early spring, the caterpillars are right there ready to feast and may cause serious damage to the crops in outbreak years.

    Pupation then occurs later in the spring, and unlike in most Lepidoptera, the adult moths hatch without an extended pupal diapause, and instead begin to migrate west. They travel more than 100 miles (roughly 160 kilometers) toward higher elevations to seek out flowering plants, feeding on nectar and pollinating as they go.

    Miller moths migrate to the Rocky Mountains to forage for food. In this video, courtesy of Ecologist Adrian Carper, thousands of moths flutter around trees in the mountains.

    This migration is where folks on the Front Range become all too familiar with these weary travelers, who seek out narrow spaces to rest, often crawling into gaps in cars and homes. Inside a home, miller moths don’t feed, reproduce or lay eggs. Sudden agitation of the resting moths may cause them to fly about to seek out a new spot to hide – that is, if your house cat doesn’t see them first. If they do make their way inside, they can be easily swept into a cup or jar and let outside.

    People on the Front Range experience a second run-in with these moths after they finish their summer of feeding in the mountains and head back to the plains to lay their eggs in the fields from August to September.

    The call of the night

    The importance of pollinators is familiar to many Coloradans. The state offers many resources and groups to help create spaces to attract butterflies and bees, including an initiative that designated Interstate Highway 76 as the “Colorado Pollinator Highway”.

    But pollination does not stop when the sun goes down. In fact, moths make up the largest percentage of pollinators in terms of number of species globally – more than bees and butterflies combined. But scientists have yet to figure out which plants miller moths pollinate.

    Despite the importance of moths as pollinators to agriculture and ecology, by comparison to bees, for example, we know exceedingly little about nocturnal pollinators. Of the thousands of moth species in Colorado, many hundreds remain unknown to science. One of the reasons scientists study moths is to literally shed a light on these insects in the environment to see what they are doing.

    My work aims to understand what certain moths eat in their caterpillar stage, but other researchers, and my colleague Dr. Julian Resasco, at the University of Colorado Boulder, study what plants the adults are feeding on as they pollinate.

    Colorado moths

    Moths are among the primary airborne insects at night, playing a significant, and perhaps leading, role in insect-feeding bat diets. During their migration to the mountains, there are so many miller moths that they are a substantial protein- and fat-rich meal for animals as large as bears.

    Considering that we still know so little about moths, it’s important to realize that light pollution, habitat loss and agricultural chemicals are all impacting moth numbers, resulting in annual declines in these insects globally.

    So, the next time you see a miller moth in Colorado, or any moth at a light anywhere on Earth, remember that it’s working the night shift. Turn out that light so it can go about its way.

    Ryan St Laurent receives funding from the National Science Foundation (no active grants). Some scientific publications referenced in this article were coauthored by Ryan or by his other collaborators.

    – ref. It’s miller moth season in Colorado – an entomologist explains why they’re important and where they’re headed – https://theconversation.com/its-miller-moth-season-in-colorado-an-entomologist-explains-why-theyre-important-and-where-theyre-headed-256660

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Uncertainty at NASA − Trump withdraws his nominee for administrator while the agency faces a steep proposed budget cut

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, Air University

    The vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

    Over the past several days, NASA’s ambitious space exploration plans have experienced major setbacks. First, on May 30, 2025, newly released budget documents revealed the extent of the significant budget and personnel cuts proposed by the Trump administration. Then, just a day later, President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator just days before an expected confirmation vote.

    From my perspective as a space policy expert, these events signal problems ahead for a space agency that now faces stiff competition in space exploration from the commercial sector. Without a leader and facing a fight over its budget, NASA faces an uncertain future, both in the months ahead and longer term.

    Budget problems

    When the Trump administration released a preview of its budget proposal in early May, it was clear that NASA was facing significant cuts.

    After receiving US$24.9 billion for 2025, the president’s proposal would allot NASA $18.8 billion in 2026. After accounting for inflation, this amount would represent NASA’s smallest budget since 1961.

    Space science programs are one of the largest targets of the proposed budget cuts, seeing an almost 50% reduction, to just $3.9 billion. Specific programs targeted for elimination include the Mars Sample Return mission, the currently operating Mars Odyssey and MAVEN missions around Mars, and several missions to Venus.

    Several ongoing and proposed astrophysics programs, including the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, would also end if the proposed budget passes.

    NASA’s human spaceflight programs also face potential cuts. The budget proposes canceling the Space Launch System, the Orion crew vehicle and the Lunar Gateway following the Artemis III mission.

    Artemis III, planned for 2027, would be the first crewed flight back to the lunar surface since 1972. The mission would use the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew vehicle to get there. The proposed Lunar Gateway, a mini-space station in lunar orbit, would be abandoned entirely.

    Instead, the budget proposes to establish a Commercial Moon to Mars program. Under this initiative, NASA would utilize commercial systems such as Blue Origin’s New Glenn and SpaceX’s Starship to put Americans on the Moon and Mars.

    Several Mars missions, including the Mars Sample Return, MAVEN and Mars Odyssey, would be canceled under the proposed budget. It would instead establish a program to work with commercial partners to put humans on the red planet.
    NASA, ESA, Zolt G. Levay (STScI)

    A smaller budget also means a smaller NASA workforce. The budget proposal suggests that the number of NASA employees would be reduced by one-third, from more than 17,000 to 11,853.

    Advocates for space science and exploration have criticized the cuts. The Planetary Society has stated that these cuts to space science represent an “extinction level event” that would all but end NASA’s ability to perform meaningful science.

    Democrats in Congress were also quick to push back on the proposed cuts, arguing that they would hamper the U.S.’s ability to carry out its missions.

    The budget documents released so far are just proposals. Congress must make the final decisions on how much money NASA gets and which programs are funded. While this might be good news for NASA funding, my research has shown that Congress rarely appropriates more money for NASA than the president requests.

    Leadership challenges

    The release of the president’s proposed budget was followed with the news that the president would withdraw his nomination of Jared Isaacman to be NASA’s administrator.

    Jared Isaacman, the former nominee for NASA administrator, is a businessman who has been to space on several commercial flights.
    AP Photo/John Raoux, File

    In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space.”

    Like the budget proposal, news of Isaacman’s withdrawal has also hit the space community hard. Following his nomination, Isaacman won the support of many in the space industry and in government. His confirmation hearing in April was largely uncontentious, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.

    NASA will now need to wait for the president to make a new choice for NASA administrator. That person will then need to go through the same process as Isaacman, with a hearing in the Senate and several votes.

    Given the amount of time it takes for nominations to make their way through the Senate, NASA is likely to face several more months without a confirmed administrator. This absence will come while many of its programs will be fighting for money and their existence.

    The months ahead

    Like many federal agencies right now, NASA faces a tumultuous future. Budgetary and leadership challenges might be the immediate problem, but NASA’s long-term future is potentially rocky as well.

    Since its founding, NASA’s mission has been largely centered on sending humans to space.

    If that role shifts to commercial companies, NASA will need to grapple with what its identity and mission is going forward.

    History provides some insight. One of NASA’s forerunners, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, largely focused on advanced research and development of aeronautical technologies. For instance, NACA researched things such as proper engine placement on airliners as well as advances that helped air flow more efficiently over those engines.

    A new NASA that’s more similar to NACA might continue research into nuclear engines or other advanced space technology that may contribute to the work commercial space companies are already doing.

    Choices made by the Trump administration and Congress in the coming months will likely shape what NASA will look like in the years to come. Until then, NASA, like many government organizations, faces a period of uncertainty about its future.

    Wendy N. Whitman Cobb is affiliated with the US School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. Her views are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense or any of its components.

    – ref. Uncertainty at NASA − Trump withdraws his nominee for administrator while the agency faces a steep proposed budget cut – https://theconversation.com/uncertainty-at-nasa-trump-withdraws-his-nominee-for-administrator-while-the-agency-faces-a-steep-proposed-budget-cut-258032

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – June 3, 2025 – 2:00 PM

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Spokesperson Tammy Bruce leads the Department Press Briefing at the Department of State, on June 3, 2025.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
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    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSTATEBPA/signup/32562

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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjpgI2hiP1s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) Announces American Rebel Light Beer’s Initial Expansion into 62 Total Wine & More Locations – America’s Largest Independent Alcohol Retailer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Consumers looking for American Rebel Light – America’s Patriotic Beer can now purchase in-store at several Total Wine & More locations across the American Rebel Light Beer Distribution Footprint.
    • Initial Placement for American Rebel Light Beer in either 12oz or 16oz cans is scheduled for 62 Total Wine & More Locations across 7 states.
    • Total Wine & More has officially approved American Rebel Light Beer for immediate placement reinforcing the brand’s rapid growth and consumer demand.

    NASHVILLE, TN, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), proudly reports that American Rebel Premium Light Lager Beer (“Rebel Light”) continues its rapid national retail and chain expansion with Total Wine and More, one of the nation’s leading alcohol retailers. American Rebel Light Beer, America’s Patriotic Beer, is initially scheduled to be placed into 62 Total Wine & More (www.totalwine.com) locations. This milestone marks another significant step in American Rebel Light Beer’s retail and chain growth strategy, ensuring greater accessibility for consumers across Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Connecticut, Missouri, and Kansas—key territories where the brand has active distribution partners.

    Total Wine & More (www.totalwine.com) is recognized as a premier national retailer, boasting over 250 locations across the United States. The company plays a pivotal role in the alcohol industry, generating billions in annual sales and serving as a top destination for beer, wine, and spirits enthusiasts. With beer accounting for approximately 42% of supplier gross revenues in the U.S. alcohol market, Total Wine remains a critical player in domestic light beer sales.

    “The U.S. domestic beer market is a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse, fueling American traditions and bringing people together in celebration. As America’s Patriotic Beer, American Rebel Light Beer is not just making waves—we are redefining what it means to be a beer brand with heart, grit, and unwavering American values. With explosive growth and a rapidly expanding footprint, we are proud to be recognized as America’s Fastest Growing Beer and well on our way to becoming America’s Next Great Success Story.’ said Andy Ross, CEO of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. “Adding a premier alcohol retailer like Total Wine & More to our distribution network is a critical milestone in our mission to bring American Rebel Light Beer to more consumers nationwide. Total Wine’s reputation for excellence and expansive reach will allow us to connect with new audiences who share our passion for quality beer and patriotic pride. This expansion reinforces our commitment to making American Rebel Light Beer a household name across the country.”

    “American Rebel Light Beer’s entry into Total Wine & More is another significant milestone for American Rebel Light Beer,” said Todd Porter, President at American Rebel Beverages. “Total Wine’s expansive reach and reputation as a trusted retailer will allow us to connect with more consumers who share our passion, patriotic values and see the market opportunity for a quality, better for you, domestic light beer.”

    Total Wine & More Market Influence, Sales Impact & Customer Experience

    Total Wine generates billions in annual revenue, surpassing many competitors in wine and spirits sales. The retailer plays a crucial role in the U.S. alcohol market, where beer alone accounts for 42% of supplier gross revenues.

    Customer Experience & Brand Strategy

    Total Wine enhances its customer experience with in-store tastings, educational events, and private-label offerings, making it a go-to destination for beverage enthusiasts. Its ability to provide exclusive products and expert recommendations sets it apart from general grocery and warehouse retailers

    American Rebel Light Beer’s presence in Total Wine locations will be supported by in-store promotions, digital marketing campaigns, and brand ambassador activations to engage customers and drive awareness. The company remains committed to delivering a premium domestic light beer that embodies the spirit of American pride and resilience.

    The placements have already begun with several locations currently in stock including

    Tennessee

    Brentwood (Nashville), TN

    Brentwood Place Shopping Center
    330 Franklin Rd., Suite 306C
    Brentwood, TN 37027

    Knoxville, TN

    Pinnacle at Turkey Creek
    11370 Parkside Dr., Suite 2400
    Knoxville, TN 37934

    North Carolina

    Charlotte (Rivergate), NC

    RiverGate
    14151 Steele Creek Rd., Suite 200
    Charlotte, NC 28273

    Charlotte (Promenade on Providence), NC

    Promenade on Providence
    5341 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. S. 100
    Charlotte, NC 28277

    Concord, NC

    Pavilion at Kings Grant
    8054 Concord Mills Blvd.
    Concord, NC 28027

    Charlotte (Myers Park), NC

    Park Towne Village (Myers Park)
    1600 East Woodlawn Road
    Charlotte, NC 28209

    Cornelius, NC

    The Shops at the Fresh Market
    20615 Torrence Chapel Road, Unit 101
    Cornelius, NC 28031

    Kentucky

    Lexington Green, KY

    The Mall at Lexington Green
    161 Lexington Green Circle
    Lexington, KY 40503

    Sir Barton, KY

    Sir Barton Place Shopping Center
    2321 Sir Barton Way Suite 165
    Lexington, KY 40509

    Connecticut

    Norwalk, CT

    Main Avenue Shopping Center
    380 Main Ave.
    Norwalk, CT 06851

    Milford, CT

    230 Cherry St.
    Milford, CT 06460

    Kansas

    Overland Park, KS

    Pinnacle Village Shopping Center
    12100 Blue Valley Parkway
    Overland Park, KS 66213

    Wichita, KS

    Greenwich Place
    2762 N Greenwich Ct.
    Wichita, KS 67226

    Florida

    Jacksonville, FL

    St. John’s Town Center North
    4413 Town Center Parkway 300
    Jacksonville, FL 32246

    For more information on American Rebel Light Beer and its availability at Total Wine & More, visit americanrebelbeer.com.

    About American Rebel Light Beer

    American Rebel Light is more than just a beer—it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

    For more information about American Rebel Light and its sponsorship of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, visit American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals | Events | Charlotte Motor Speedway or follow us on social media @AmericanRebelBeer

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or follow us on our social media platforms.

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is a Premium Domestic Light Lager Beer – All Natural, Crisp, Clean and Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About Total Wine & More

    Total Wine & More is America’s Wine Superstore® — the country‘s largest independent retailer of fine wine. We started in 1991 when brothers David and Robert Trone opened a small store in Delaware. Today, Total Wine & More operates 282 superstores across 29 states and continues to grow. Total Wine & More employs more than 11,000 dedicated men and women

    Total Wine and More offers nation’s best wine selection, with an emphasis on fine wines. The typical store carries more than 8,000 different wines from every wine-producing region in the world. The typical Total Wine & More also carries more than 2,500 beers, from America’s most popular brands to hard-to-find microbrews and imports, and more than 3,000 different spirits in every style and price range.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer.. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit www.americanrebel.com and www.americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit www.americanrebel.com/investor-relations.

    Media Inquiries:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@Precisionpr.co
    917-280-7329

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    ir@americanrebel.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of placements in Total Wine & More locations, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Paytronix Announces Nonita Verma as New GM, Changes to Executive Structure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWTON, Mass., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paytronix, an Access Group company, and the leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, has announced the appointment of technology industry veteran Nonita Verma as its new General Manager. A seasoned executive with over two decades of leadership experience, Verma brings a proven track record of scaling global platforms and driving hyper-growth. Verma’s appointment, along with changes to the executive team, will help accelerate Paytronix’s growth and provide its customers with a flexible, industry-leading guest engagement platform that meets their challenges.

    Verma previously served as a Chief Strategy Officer at Keenai Global, where she focused on their Go-to-Market strategy and operational alignment as the Wealthtech platform readied for market entry across their B2C and B2B platforms. She has an extensive financial services background dating back to 2000 at Goldman Sachs, as well as senior roles at Credit Suisse among other places.

    Verma’s connection to the hospitality industry was strengthened during her tenure at Tripadvisor, where she served as B2B General Manager and Global Head of Hotels.

    According to Access North America President Jonah Paransky, “Nonita brings a plethora of skillsets to the table that will be essential during a pivotal time in Paytronix’s history. Her leadership qualities and experience are a great complement to our executive team and are sure to enhance our guest engagement offerings in the industry.”

    “The hospitality industry is under pressure from uncertain market conditions and Paytronix is poised to help equip brands with the solutions they need to meet evolving customer expectations,” said Verma. “We’re accelerating investment in our platform while infusing it with advanced technologies like AI and new unique functionalities from Access to further enhance value we drive for our customers.”

    Additionally, other members of the Paytronix executive team have taken on new roles:

    • Former Chief Revenue Officer Charles Gray will become the VP of Product Management at Paytronix, leveraging his extensive product and technology background with NCR, California Pizza Kitchen, and Cosi to lead product development and direction.
    • Pamela Robertson, who was brought on as Chief Marketing Officer of Paytronix in late 2022, will take on a larger role in Access, becoming the VP of Marketing, Hospitality for the Americas. She will maintain her role at Paytronix, and work alongside Access’ hospitality brands in North America to unify their marketing initiatives with Paytronix and Access.
    • Digger McElligott will become VP of Sales at Paytronix.
    • Customer Success will see a new face in Philippe Mestritz, who will become Access Group’s VP of Customer Success, Hospitality for the Americas.

    For more information, reach out to Communications Manager Calen McGee.

    About Paytronix
    Paytronix, an Access Group company, is a cloud-based digital guest engagement platform for the hospitality industry. Our innovative, unified platform provides loyalty programs, online ordering, gift cards, branded mobile applications, and strategic insights to more than 1,800 leading restaurant and convenience store brands. Our valued clients leverage the power of Paytronix across 50,000 sites globally to create seamless, personalized, and brand-authentic experiences that foster lasting relationships with their customers. For more than 20 years, Paytronix has been a trusted partner helping brands maximize the lifetime value of their guests and grow more profitable businesses. For more information, visit www.paytronix.com.

    About The Access Group  

    The Access Group is one of the largest UK-headquartered business management software providers. It provides solutions that empower more than 128,000 small and mid-sized organisations in commercial and non-profit sectors across Europe, USA and APAC, giving every employee the freedom to do more of what’s important. Its innovative cloud solutions and integrated AI software experience across multiple Access products transform how business technology is used. Access employs approx. 8,000 people, continuously driving product innovation and customer service excellence. For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com or follow us @TheAccessGroup

    Media Contact:
    Calen McGee
    Paytronix Systems, Inc.
    Calen.McGee@theaccessgroup.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32e6fab2-3ac0-4858-aa54-0c5c96ecde18

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Pacific AI Joins Forces with the Coalition of Health AI as Newest Partner in Assurance Provider Certification Process

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWES, Del., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacific AI, the AI governance company, today announced its operational deployment certification intent under the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI)’s assurance service provider certification process, setting a precedent for how AI models can be responsibly governed. This designation recognizes the company’s commitment to supporting the safe, effective, and responsible deployment of AI technologies in healthcare.

    Assurance Services are designed to accelerate the adoption of AI models in healthcare by providing tools and frameworks that ensure compliance with industry best practices. CHAI has developed a rigorous certification framework grounded in consensus-driven standards that emphasize transparency, trustworthiness, and accountability in AI applications.

    Pacific AI will work with CHAI to establish a governance framework and serve as a CHAI Certified Assurance Service Provider as that framework is finalized later this year. Once certified, Pacific AI will provide:

    • AI Governance Policies that conform to CHAI guidelines and reflect current laws, regulations, and industry standards. These policies are regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with the rapidly evolving regulatory environment of healthcare AI.
    • AI Governance Tools and Software that streamline adherence to AI governance requirements and enable healthcare organizations to accelerate the responsible adoption of AI technologies.

    Assurance Service Providers play a vital role in establishing trust by offering transparency into how AI models perform in real-world environments. While these services are not part of any formal government regulatory process, they are crucial in filling critical gaps in the AI evaluation pipeline. This helps users and beneficiaries better understand the reliability and context-specific performance of AI solutions.

    “As we advance our mission to enable responsible, trustworthy AI, this is one of the first of many collaborations where CHAI-certified service providers and health institutions will work together to ensure AI serves all patients,” said Dr. Brian Anderson, CEO of CHAI. “We’re proud to see Pacific AI lead the way in streamlining product evaluation and facilitating simpler comparisons during health AI procurement for both health systems and solution providers.”

    “Working with CHAI to develop governance and eventually formal certification demonstrates alignment in our shared mission of advancing the responsible deployment and oversight of AI in healthcare,” said David Talby, CEO of Pacific AI. “We’re proud to be part of the trusted ecosystem helping to ensure AI delivers on its promise responsibly.”

    Pacific AI meets the highest standards for ethical and secure AI validation and is committed to working with CHAI on this governance framework, which includes provisions for privacy, security, data quality, intellectual property protection, conflict of interest management, and conformance with established CHAI standards, such as the CHAI model card.

    For more information about Pacific AI, visit www.pacificai.com. To learn more about CHAI and its Assurance Service Providers, visit https://chai.org/.

    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.

    About CHAI
    The CHAI (Coalition for Health AI) mission is to be the trusted source of guidelines for Responsible AI in Health. It aims to ensure high-quality care, foster trust among users, and meet the growing healthcare needs. As a coalition bringing together leaders and experts representing health systems, startups, government and patient advocates, CHAI has established working groups focusing on privacy and security, fairness, transparency, usefulness, and safety of AI algorithms.

    Contact
    Gina Devine
    Head of Communications
    Pacific AI Corp.
    gina@pacific.ai

    Press contact for CHAI
    CHAI@12080group.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: InCHIP’s Weight Management Research Group Publishes NIH Trial Results in Top Medical Journal

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    For the majority of people who lose weight, keeping the weight off can be challenging.

    Research has shown biological, behavioral, and environmental factors may undermine weight loss maintenance. Within 2 to 3 years, most individuals will regain nearly all the weight they lost. As a result, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified weight-loss maintenance as the next major challenge in obesity treatment.

    Tricia Leahey, professor of allied health sciences and director of the UConn Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), and, Amy Gorin, professor of psychological sciences and vice provost for health sciences and interdisciplinary initiatives, have led a new study that underscores the power of patient-delivered care for weight loss maintenance.

    Leahey and Gorin also direct InCHIP’s Weight Management Research Group, which develops and assesses weight management interventions for the treatment of obesity and reduction of chronic disease.

    The study, which was recently published in the prestigious, peer-reviewed academic journal, JAMA Internal Medicine, found that patient-delivered care may be more effective than care delivered by professional staff.

    Tricia Leahey, director of the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy

    “Patient-delivered care holds great potential, but how patients promote health behavior change has not been investigated extensively. Our goal with this study was to better understand how patient care providers support weight loss maintenance and improve cardiovascular disease risk, and whether this model would be sustainable long-term,” says Leahey, who is the study’s lead author.

    Leahey is a clinical health psychologist who has extensive experience developing and evaluating lifestyle interventions for obesity treatment. Her recent work has explored how patient-provided care influences short-term weight loss outcomes.

    Overweight and obesity are complex health conditions that can increase one’s risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and more. In addition, adults with obesity can pay up to $2,505 in additional medical expenses per year. From 2001 to 2016, total direct medical costs relating to obesity doubled from $124 billion to $260.6 billion.

    Obesity impacts about 40% of U.S. adults, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity treatment, whether lifestyle, pharmaceutical, or surgery, produces significant weight loss and reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, these risks may return if weight is regained.

    Traditionally, treatment for sustaining weight loss is delivered regularly over the course of 18 months by professional staff who have a master’s degree and training in behavioral weight loss maintenance. While this approach is effective, it can be costly and difficult to maintain. Research has also demonstrated that weight regain occurs after treatment ends.

    Insights into patient-provided care

    Patient-delivered care may be a more cost-effective option that could be sustainable indefinitely. This model employs two types of patient providers: mentors and peers. Mentors are patients who have successfully altered their health behaviors and coach incoming patients on lifestyle change. Peers are incoming patients who support and coach one another. Typically, patient-delivered care employs a hybrid approach that incorporates patients and professional staff.

    The research evidence supporting the efficacy of patient-provided care has been mixed. Studies have shown this model can enhance quality of life and survival rates for cancer patients. It has also been shown to improve short-term blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes and weight loss outcomes when used in conjunction with professionally delivered treatment.

    Other studies suggest the effectiveness of patient-provided support is limited when used for managing depression or pain.

    Despite these varied outcomes, patient care providers may offer a unique sense of empathy and motivation not replicated by professional caregivers. Fellow patients may also provide ongoing weekly support over an extended period, and possibly when patients need it the most – again, not possible with professional providers.

    Leahey and Gorin’s study addressed these research gaps. It is the first study to examine the efficacy of a treatment intervention fully delivered by patient-providers and compare it to professionally delivered treatment. The study is also the first to train patient providers to provide all components of the treatment intervention, include both types of patient providers, and determine whether patients continue to coach one another after the treatment period ends.

    “This study offers insights into how patient providers may support weight loss maintenance over the long-term. By including both mentors and peers in the treatment intervention, we leveraged the strengths of both to provide a more effective treatment program,” says Leahey.

    Required: ongoing support and intervention

    The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease funded the study (PI: Leahey; Co-I: Gorin), which employed a two-phase weight loss maintenance design considered the gold standard for weight loss maintenance trials.

    Phase one was a weight loss intervention where all study participants engaged in a 4-month online obesity treatment program based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). This evidence-based lifestyle change program provides education on eating healthy, physical activity and behavior change strategies to support weight loss.

    Phase one participants who lost more than 5% of their body weight were eligible to participate in the study’s second phase, the weight loss maintenance trial.

    Phase two participants were randomly assigned to participate in one of two weight loss maintenance interventions – patient-delivered treatment or standard of care delivered by a professional.

    The authors found that study participants in the patient-delivered intervention group had superior weight loss maintenance compared to those in professional care.

    Additionally, the patient-delivered treatment group had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate and this group engaged in more lifestyle activity and less sedentary behavior during the weight loss maintenance program.

    These results are meaningful and demonstrate the potential of patient-delivered care in behavioral medicine where health behavior maintenance remains a significant challenge, whether weight loss, smoking cessation, physical activity, or other behavior.

    “Sustaining health behaviors, including weight loss, requires ongoing intervention and support. Patient-provided treatment eliminates the need of costly professional care and promotes ongoing support and excellent maintenance outcomes,” says Leahey.

    Leahey and Gorin’s study indicates that patient-provided care for weight loss maintenance is just as effective as the gold-standard, professionally delivered treatment, potentially shifting the obesity treatment paradigm for long-term weight loss maintenance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Michelin Guide is Eurocentric and elitist − yet it will soon be an arbiter of culinary excellence in Philly

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Tulasi Srinivas, Professor of Anthropology, Religion and Transnational Studies, Emerson College

    Could a Philly cheesesteak joint actually get a Michelin star?

    The famed Michelin Red Guide is coming to Philadelphia, and inspectors are already scouting local restaurants to award the famed Michelin star.

    Michelin says the selected restaurants will be announced in a Northeast cities edition celebration later this year. Boston will also be included for the first time.

    As an anthropologist of ethics and religion who has an expertise in food studies, I read the announcement with some curiosity and a lot of questions. I had seen this small red guide revered by chefs and gourmands alike around the globe.

    How did the Michelin guide begin reviewing restaurants? And what makes it an authority on cuisine worldwide?

    The Michelin Guide has retained its iconic red cover for more than a century.
    Matthieu Delaty/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

    From tires to terrines

    It all began in 1889 in the small town of Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin founded their world-famous Michelin tire company, fueled by a grand vision for France’s automobile industry – though there were fewer than 3,000 cars at the time in the whole of France.

    To encourage travel, they distributed a red-bound guide filled with maps and helpful tips on routes and destinations. Initially free to automobile owners, it soon started to sell for seven francs – roughly US$1.50 at the time. The guide later added lists of restaurants and eateries along with other points of travel interest.

    Being French, readers had questions about the quality of the food at these establishments, so the brothers started a rating system of a single star to denote high-quality establishments worthy of their elite customers and their fancy automobiles.

    But that wasn’t enough for discerning diners. So the guide created a discriminating hierarchy of one-, two- and three-star establishments: one star for “high-quality cooking worth a stop,” two stars for “excellent cooking worth a detour,” and three stars for “exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.”

    An army of anonymous inspectors

    How do restaurants get a Michelin star – or three? According to the guide, restaurants have to be consistently extraordinary to garner three stars. To ensure a restaurant’s excellence is consistent, Michelin has to surveil them repeatedly, which it does using a stable of mysterious diners called “inspectors.”

    You might be thinking of Inspector Clouseau, the klutzy, misguided detective from the Pink Panther movies played by the inimitable Peter Sellers.

    Mais non!

    Michelin inspectors are dreaded anonymous restaurant reviewers. They dine at restaurants unannounced and undercover, and inevitably write scathing critiques of everything – ingredients, food, chefs and dishes – in their reports.

    In the 2015 Bradley Cooper movie “Burnt,” the restaurant is obsessed with the mystery Michelin inspectors, who dine incognito. Restaurateur Tony, played by Daniel Bruhl, instructs the dining room staff on how to spot them:

    “No one knows who they are. No one. They come. They eat. They go. But they have habits. One orders the tasting menu, the other orders a la carte. Always. They order a half a bottle of wine. They ask for tap water. They are polite. But attention! They may place a fork on the floor to see if you notice.”

    Japan’s Chizuko Kimura, a Michelin-star chef, at her restaurant Sushi Shunei in Paris.
    Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images

    Holy grail for chefs

    The inherent elitism of the iconic Michelin Guide was central, though left unspoken.

    To counteract the guide’s existential classist bias, Michelin introduced the Bib Gourmand award in 1997 to identify affordable “best value for money restaurants.” Bib Gourmand restaurants are easier on the wallet than Michelin-starred establishments and offer casual dining. The award’s logo is the Bibendum, also known as the inflatable Michelin Man, licking his lips.

    In 2020, the guide introduced yet another award: the green star for eateries with farm-to-table fresh quality.

    Today, the Michelin Guide has become a vaunted yet controversial subjective yardstick by which restaurants are measured.

    Getting a Michelin star has become a holy grail for many chefs, a Nobel prize of cuisine. Chefs speak of earning a star as an honor they have envisaged for a lifetime, and starred chefs often become celebrities in their own right.

    The 2022 dark comedy “The Menu” stars Ralph Fiennes as one such celebrity Michelin chef, whose exclusive island restaurant has a lavish modern menu that culminates in a mystery performance. His greatest fear is losing his Michelin star – a cause for lament, mental health crises and, sometimes, murder.

    Three stars for Eurocentrism

    The Michelin Guide evaluates restaurants on the quality of their ingredients, the mastery of their flavors, the chef’s personality in their cooking, the harmony of flavors, and the consistency of the cuisine over the course of numerous visits.

    Yet somehow, all these factors, seemingly easily translatable across the world’s cuisines, has led to an intensely parochial guide.

    Only in 2007, 118 years after its inception, did the guide recognize Japanese cuisine as worthy of its gaze. Soon after, stars rained down on Tokyo’s many stellar eateries.

    On a contemporary map charting where the Michelin Guide is found, huge swathes of the world are missing. There is no Michelin Guide in India, one of the world’s greatest and oldest cuisines, or in Africa with its multiplicity of cultural flavors.

    Perhaps a side of racism with the boeuf bourguignon?

    Despite a movement to decolonize food by rethinking colonial legacies of power and extractive ways of eating, Michelin has derived its stellar reputation primarily from reviewing metropolitan European cuisine. It has celebrated obscure European gastronomic processes such as “fire cooking” in Stockholm’s famous Ekstedt restaurant, and new chemical processes such as “molecular gastronomy” in Spain’s famed el Bulli eatery.

    One could say Michelin is a somewhat conservative enterprise. Rather than leading the way, it has followed consumers’ expanding palates.

    In 2024, in a rare break with tradition, Michelin awarded one star to a small family-run taqueria, El Califa De León, in Mexico City. The taqueria is known for its signature tacos de gaonera – thinly sliced rib-eye steak cooked in lard on fresh corn masa tortillas with a squeeze of lime.

    Some discerning diners worried that Michelin had gone downhill.

    Quelle horreur!

    The decision to give a star to a Mexican restaurant that is essentially just a steel counter, fridge and griddle was so unlike Michelin that it resorted to describing El Califa tacos as “elemental and pure”; language previously reserved only to describe elite cuisine.

    The Michelin-starred taqueria El Califa de León in Mexico City is known for its tacos de gaonera.
    Apolline Guillerot-Malick/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    A big bill

    Soon-to-be-reviewed Philadelphia boasts a portfolio of epicurean excellence, with contributions from a global diaspora of culinary creators. Restaurants such as Zahav, Kalaya and Mawn – which serve Israeli, Thai and Cambodian food, respectively – are surely eyeing their prospects for a starry future.

    That Boston and Philadelphia’s tourism boards likely paid for the pleasure of the guide visiting their cities has been a topic of discussion among food cognoscenti. Reportedly, the Atlanta Tourism Board paid nearly $1 million for Michelin to visit their city. Is Michelin merely a well-regarded shakedown? A few stars in exchange for a million dollars?

    After indirectly footing that big bill, what can local diners look forward to in the wake of Michelin awards scattering across the Northeast?

    Since Michelin restaurants are notoriously difficult to get into – the award invariably prompts a surge in customers and reservations – the enhanced reputation of the restaurants might translate to price increases for diners.

    Starred restaurants will also likely feel tremendous pressure to maintain high food quality and service, and this too can add to cost – particularly in an era of tariffs on foreign ingredients and alcohols.

    Diners won’t escape unscathed. Industry officials suggest that Michelin stars add an average of $100 per diner per star. But, on the upside, diners may be able to gawk at local and international celebrities at dinner, since hanging out at Michelin-starred establishments has long been a celebrity preoccupation.

    So if you have a favorite hot restaurant in Philadelphia, better make that reservation immediately, before a Michelin star makes it impossible to get in.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

    – ref. The Michelin Guide is Eurocentric and elitist − yet it will soon be an arbiter of culinary excellence in Philly – https://theconversation.com/the-michelin-guide-is-eurocentric-and-elitist-yet-it-will-soon-be-an-arbiter-of-culinary-excellence-in-philly-256667

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public Notice of Intent to Issue a Categorical Exclusion to Prudence Park Water Co-Op

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is seeking public comment on intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion.

    RIDOH has reviewed for approval the request by the Prudence Park Water Co-Op for a Categorical Exclusion determination for proposed installation of three (3) bladder pressure tanks and a water flow meter. The proposed tanks and flow meter are to be installed within Prudence Park Water Co-Op’s existing pumphouse located on in Prudence Park, Portsmouth, RI.

    It has been determined that any impacts would be minor and short term in duration and that the project will not individually, or cumulatively over time, have a significant effect on the quality of the environment. Therefore, RIDOH is hereby giving notice of intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion for the proposed project pursuant to the requirements and authority set forth in Chapter 46-12.8 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund regulations (216-RICR-50-05-6).

    A copy of the proposed Categorical Exclusion can be obtained by calling RIDOH’s Center for Drinking Water Quality at 401-222-6867 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by emailing DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov. All material submitted for review is available for public inspection weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at RIDOH, Center for Drinking Water Quality, Three Capitol Hill, Room 209, Providence, RI 02908.

    Written comments should be sent to the Center for Drinking Water Quality at the address above or emailed to DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov within thirty (30) days of the date of this notice.

    A public hearing to hear or otherwise receive comments on the proposed intent to issue a Categorical Exclusion will be held if RIDOH receives such a request by twenty-five (25) persons, or by a governmental agency, or by an association having not less than twenty-five (25) members, within ten (10) days of published notice. If a public hearing is held, it will be open to the public, recorded and held at least five (5) days before the end of the public-comment period. A hearing will not be held earlier than ten (10) days after notice of its location, date, and time published. A request for a public hearing should be sent to the Center for Drinking Water Quality at the address above or emailed to DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov. Notice should be taken that if RIDOH receives a request(s) as provided above on or before 4:30 p.m., July 03, 2025, a public hearing will be held at the following time and place:

    July 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. RIDOH Auditorium Three Capitol Hill Providence, Rhode Island 02908

    Interested persons should contact RIDOH to confirm if a hearing will be held at the time and location noted above.

    The location of the public hearing will be accessible to the handicapped. Interpreter services for people with hearing impairment and audiotapes for people with vision impairment will be made available. RIDOH is handicap accessible to individuals with disabilities.

    Please call RIDOH’s Center for Drinking Water Quality at 401-222-6867 for further information. For individuals requesting communication assistance, call Rhode Island Relay (TTY) at 711 or 800-745-5555 at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: SIOS Technology Announces New Distribution Agreement with Climb Channel Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN MATEO, Calif., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIOS Technology Corp., a leading provider of application high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions, today announced a new distribution agreement with Climb Channel Solutions, an international specialty technology distributor and wholly owned subsidiary of Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLMB). This partnership will enable Climb to distribute SIOS DataKeeper and SIOS LifeKeeper products to its extensive network of reseller partners across the Americas region.

    SIOS delivers innovative high availability and disaster recovery solutions that protect critical applications from downtime and data loss. SIOS LifeKeeper provides automated failover clustering, ensuring continuous operation of essential applications, while SIOS DataKeeper offers real-time replication for high availability and disaster recovery in both cloud and on-premises environments. Together, these solutions help businesses maintain uptime, safeguard data integrity, and achieve seamless business continuity.

    “Partnering with Climb Channel Solutions strengthens our ability to deliver industry-leading HA and DR solutions to a broader audience,” said Masahiro Arai, COO of SIOS Technology. “With Climb’s expertise in connecting innovative technologies with reseller partners, we are excited to expand access to our solutions and help organizations achieve greater resiliency and reliability.”

    “Climb Channel Solutions specializes in delivering emerging and established IT technologies, offering flexible financing, real-time quoting, and best-in-class channel operations to drive speed to market and exceptional service,” said Dale Foster, CEO of Climb Channel Solutions. “This partnership enhances Climb’s portfolio of technology offerings, equipping customers with critical solutions that ensure business continuity and operational efficiency.”

    For more information about SIOS Technology and its high availability solutions, visit www.us.sios.com. To learn more about Climb Channel Solutions, visit www.ClimbCS.com.

    About SIOS Technology Corp.

    SIOS Technology Corp. high availability and disaster recovery solutions ensure availability and eliminate data loss for critical Windows and Linux applications operating across physical, virtual, cloud, and hybrid cloud environments. SIOS clustering software is essential for any IT infrastructure with applications requiring a high degree of resiliency, ensuring uptime without sacrificing performance or data – protecting businesses from local failures and regional outages, planned and unplanned. Founded in 1999, SIOS Technology Corp. (https://us.sios.com) is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices worldwide.

    SIOS, SIOS Technology, SIOS DataKeeper, SIOS LifeKeeper and associated logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of SIOS Technology Corp. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact:

    Beth Winkowski
    Winkowski Public Relations, LLC for SIOS
    978-649-7189
    bethwinkowski@US.SIOS.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vivakor Strengthens Permian Presence with 10 Pipeline Stations, Fueling Revenue and Margin Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dallas, TX, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vivakor, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIVK) (“Vivakor” or the “Company”) is an integrated provider of energy transportation, storage, reuse, and remediation services. Vivakor’s growth strategy is anchored in the Permian and Eagle Ford Basins where the Company is positioned to opportunistically expand its integrated crude oil storage, logistics, and marketing value chains.

    Vivakor owns and operates 10 strategically located pipeline injection stations in the core Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. These facilities receive and aggregate crude oil transported by truck from production wells, throughputting volumes into interstate crude oil pipelines that include Centurion (Lotus), Plains Basin Pipeline (PAA), and the West Texas System (EPD).

    Vivakor’s Footprint in the Permian

    “Our facilities position Vivakor as a critical logistics hub in the Permian,” said James Ballengee, Chairman, President, and CEO. “These assets enable us to support increasing volumes from upstream operators, enhance crude blending and compression efficiency, and ultimately drive revenue growth and operating leverage as activity scales.”

    Mr. Ballengee continued, “The Permian continues to be biggest contributor to U.S. production of crude oil and NGLs, supporting international and domestic energy demand. Consistent drilling, quantities produced, and barrels brought to key markets bolster our revenues and business model. Our Permian facilities provide Vivakor with a capital-efficient means of giving producers needed market access while generating a rewarding return on capital for the Company.”

    Vivakor’s infrastructure directly supports its broader strategy to deliver vertically integrated services in one of the world’s most productive oil regions. With the Permian accounting for more than 40% of total U.S. oil output, Vivakor’s expanded operations give it a front-row seat to the sector’s next growth cycle.

    About Vivakor, Inc.

    Vivakor, Inc. is an integrated provider of sustainable energy transportation, storage, reuse, and remediation services, operating one of the largest fleets of oilfield trucking services in the continental United States. Its corporate mission is to develop, acquire, accumulate, and operate assets, properties, and technologies in the energy sector. Vivakor’s integrated facilities assets provide crude oil and produced water gathering, storage, transportation, reuse, and remediation services under long-term contracts.

    Once operational, Vivakor’s oilfield waste remediation facilities will facilitate the recovery, reuse, and disposal of petroleum byproducts and oilfield waste products.

    For more information, please visit our website: http://vivakor.com

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified but not limited by the use of the words “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” or “continue” and variations or similar expressions. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, pending or expected transaction and ownership structures, the valuation of such transactions, the likelihood and ability of the Company to successfully and timely consummate planned acquisitions, the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect Vivakor or the expected benefits of transactions, our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market, disruption and volatility in the global currency, capital, and credit markets, changes in federal, local and foreign governmental regulation, changes in tax laws and liabilities, tariffs, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, and general economic conditions.

    These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed in Vivakor’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors may be incorporated herein by reference. Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially, and potentially adversely, from any projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which those forward-looking statements are based. There can be no assurance that the data contained herein is reflective of future performance to any degree. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance as projected financial information and other information are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to various significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. All information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof in the case of information about Vivakor or the date of such information in the case of information from persons other than Vivakor, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication. Forecasts and estimates regarding Vivakor’s industries and markets are based on sources we believe to be reliable; however, there can be no assurance these forecasts and estimates will prove accurate in whole or in part.

    Investor Contact:
    Phone: (949) 281-2606
    info@vivakor.com

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