NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maine Delegation calls on Admin. to release rural connectivity funds

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

    In a letter to the Commerce Department leadership, Maine’s Congressional delegation last night urged the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to freeze nearly $35 million of federal funds designed to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities in the state. 

    “As one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses, and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy,” the delegation wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Acting Administrator Adam Cassady.

    The funding, part of the Digital Equity Act program, was approved by Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Maine was set to receive $35 million through the program for digital skills training, workforce development and expanded telehealth and educational services through libraries, educational institutions and community organizations.

    President Trump announced earlier this month via social media that he was “ending” the program, even as Maine awaited the vast majority of its approved funds. 

    Terminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world,” the delegation wrote. “We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding for this vital program.”

    The full text of the letter can be found below. 

    +++

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025 

    Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Cassady:

    We write to share our opposition to the recent announcement to terminate Digital Equity Act grant programs. As one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses, and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy.

    Passed by Congress and signed into law under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the grants provide a one-time infusion of $2.75 billion to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities, support telemedicine and education programs, strengthen connections between loved ones, and allow people to participate in the digital world regardless of their ZIP Code. This funding is essential in our state, where more than half of older residents, small businesses, veterans, low-income households, tribal communities, and students are in rural areas.

    This funding would serve more than 40,000 Mainers throughout the state who continue to face significant challenges in securing and maintaining internet connectivity. With the administration’s termination announcement, Maine expects to lose the majority of the $35 million it had been awarded to support digital skills and cybersecurity training, expand workforce development, and increase the capacity of the state’s libraries and other community organizations to provide telehealth and educational services.

    The funding is a smart investment that provides safe internet access for rural Mainers. Terminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world. We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding for this vital program.

    We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Allen Leads Georgia Colleagues in Effort to Expand Access to India’s Market for U.S. Pecan Producers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

    Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues from Georgia in sending a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins seeking a swift solution in expanding access to India’s market for U.S. pecan producers.

    Joining Congressman Allen in sending the letter are Representatives Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Austin Scott (GA-08), Rich McCormick (GA-07), and David Scott (GA-13), as well as Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA).

    In the letter, the Members write: “As you may know, India is a significant foreign market for U.S. pecans. In 2022, the United States exported more than $1.3 million of pecans to India, and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service projects that pecan exports to India could now reach up to $5 million annually. This is a result of successful efforts in advocating for India to cut its tariff on U.S. pecan exports by 70 percent, which opened a market of more than one billion consumers to premium U.S.-grown pecans.

    The Members continue: “While U.S. pecan exporters are now successfully exporting shelled pecans to India, the product purchasers in India have requested the U.S. to export in-shell pecans, which enables the pecans to travel in a more shelf-stable state and allows buyers to finish processing upon arrival in India. However, shipments of U.S. in-shell pecans cannot be completed due to the lack of appropriate plant quarantine code (PQ code) for import into India.

    The Members conclude: “In 2024, the U.S. pecan industry submitted documents to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to begin the process of obtaining a PQ code, and we write to request assistance from USDA in expediting the process…”

    To read the full letter to Secretary Rollins, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Brad Sherman Hosts +5,000 in Telephone Town Hall before Voting Against Trump’s “Big Ugly” Bill in the Dead of Night

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

    SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA – Last night, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32)hosted more than 5,000 constituentsin a liveTelephone Town Hall just before casting his vote against President Donald Trump’s “Big Bill” — a massive Republican budget plan loaded with tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and deep cuts to vital healthcare and nutrition assistance programs for American families. 

    “The energy during last night’s Town Hall meeting made it clear: people are alert, informed, and demanding leadership that’s willing to stand up to this administration’s outrageous corruption and brazen abuses of power,” said Congressman Sherman.

    Congressman Sherman used the Town Hall to brief constituents on his efforts to push back against what he called “a coordinated assault on working families, democracy, and ethics” tied to Trump’s policy comeback and personal profiteering.

    At the start of the event, Congressman Sherman broke down the contents of the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which slashes Medicaid funding, repeals key climate initiatives, and includes major tax breaks for the wealthy. He explained why he would be voting no right after the Town Hall: “This big, ugly bill epitomizes the true nature of Trump’s entire policy agenda — one that favors billionaires over everyday Americans.”

    The Congressman also addressed recent corruption schemes surrounding Trump’s business dealings:

    -The Qatari government’s offering Trump a luxury jet while lobbying his allies in Washington;

    -China’s state-affiliated entities purchasing large stakes in a Trump-branded cryptocurrency initiative, raising red flags about foreign influence and national security;

    -A $2 million investment from Abu Dhabi into Trump’s so-called “stablecoin” crypto venture, which Sherman characterized as “yet another pay-to-play scheme cloaked in blockchain buzzwords.”

    “These aren’t isolated incidents — they form a pattern of transactional politics and foreign entanglements that put personal gain over public duty in a way that’s dangerously unprecedented,” Sherman told constituents.

    He also laid out broader Democratic efforts to resist Trump’s broader agenda, including fighting attempts to roll back voting rights, immigrant protections, safeguards for consumers and more. 

    Constituents brought forward their own concerns, ranging from the future of reproductive rights, the health of our economy amid Trump’s tariffs, to the safeguarding of our democracy in the face of rising extremism — areas where Sherman said Congress must act with urgency and resolve.

    Shortly before heading to the Capitol to cast his vote against Trump’s massive and extremist budget bill, the Congressman concluded the Town Hall meeting by encouraging constituents to stay engaged and continue raising their voices against the on-going assault on our democratic norms.

    During the Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts and concerns.

    The results of the survey questions are as follows:

    1. Do you approve of President Trump’s performance as President so far?
    • Approve: 7%
    • Disapprove: 90%
    • Unsure: 2%
    1. Should your Member of Congress vote for legislation that they think is good for the country, or should they vote NO on everything that Republican Speaker Johnson is willing to propose and Trump is willing to sign?
    • Obstruction & Resistance: Vote NO on all of Speaker Johnson and President Trump’s legislation: 38%
    • Negotiate with Republicans but only vote for a bill Democrats think is good: 55%
    • Vote with Republicans: 3%
    • Unsure: 4%
    1. Should I vote for the Republican reconciliation bill that provides a tax cut of $82,000 to those who make over $1 million per year, takes away healthcare from 14 million Americans, and increases the U.S. debt by over $5 trillion?
    • Yes, vote for the Republican bill: 4%
    • No / Hell No, don’t vote for the Republican bill: 91%
    • Unsure: 4%

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Former Real-Estate Investment CEO with Operating Multimillion Dollar Ponzi-Like Scheme

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged San Francisco Bay Area resident Kenneth Mattson, the former CEO of real estate investment business LeFever Mattson, with defrauding approximately 200 investors of at least $46 million by selling them fake interests in real estate investment limited partnerships. Many of these investors were retired senior citizens Mattson met through his church community.

    According to the SEC’s complaint, LeFever Mattson managed legitimate limited partnerships that invested in residential and commercial real estate, and that were owned by a set of real investors. From approximately 2007 to April 2024, Mattson allegedly offered and sold fake ownership interests in these limited partnerships to defrauded investors. According to the complaint, the fake sales were not reflected in the legitimate records of ownership, and investors who purchased the fake interests never became actual limited partners or received ownership rights. Instead, Mattson allegedly commingled new investor funds with personal and business funds and used the commingled funds to make Ponzi-like payments, gave defrauded investors false tax records, and misappropriated investor funds to pay for personal expenses and real estate transactions and expenses related to his personal partnership, KS Mattson Partners LP. The complaint further alleges that Mattson solicited investors to transfer funds from their individual retirement accounts (IRA) to so-called self-directed IRAs, enabling them to invest in the purported limited partnership interests Mattson offered and sold. These purported sales were not recorded in LeFever Mattson’s books and records, and these investors did not become actual limited partners, according to the complaint.

    “As our complaint alleges, Mattson lied to hundreds of individual investors, many of whom were retirees investing their hard-earned savings, and did not actually sell them the ownership interests that he promised,” said Sam Waldon, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “The SEC is firmly committed to pursuing those who prey on retail investors and retirees, such as the individuals we allege that Mattson targeted.”

    The SEC’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, charges Mattson with violating the antifraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, including a conduct-based injunction, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and an officer and director bar. The complaint also names KS Mattson Partners LP as a relief defendant and seeks disgorgement of its ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest.

    The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued an Investor Alert with tips on how investors can identify and avoid frauds that operate in connection with self-directed IRAs.

    In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California today announced criminal charges against Mattson.

    The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Duncan C. Simpson LaGoy, Natasha Bronn Schrier, and Michael Foley and was supervised by David Zhou and Jason H. Lee of the San Francisco Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Mr. Simpson LaGoy and Ms. Bronn Schrier. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the FBI.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leader of Qakbot Malware Conspiracy Indicted for Involvement in Global Ransomware Scheme

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Leader of Qakbot Malware Conspiracy Indicted for Involvement in Global Ransomware Scheme

    A federal indictment unsealed today charges Rustam Rafailevich Gallyamov, 48, of Moscow, Russia, with leading a group of cyber criminals who developed and deployed the Qakbot malware. In connection with the charges, the Justice Department filed today a civil forfeiture complaint against over $24 million in cryptocurrency seized from Gallyamov over the course of the investigation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Attorneys for Southwestern Border Districts Charge More than 1100 Illegal Aliens with Immigration-Related Crimes During the Third Week in May as part of Operation Take Back America

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: U.S. Attorneys for Southwestern Border Districts Charge More than 1100 Illegal Aliens with Immigration-Related Crimes During the Third Week in May as part of Operation Take Back America

    Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from 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).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff Monday for Memorial Day

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise until noon on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day to honor and mourn all military personnel who have died while serving the U.S. Armed Forces.

    As is customary and unique for this holiday, flags are lowered in the morning and then raised to full-staff promptly at noon, where they remain for the remainder of the day.

    In addition, Governor Lamont announced that both the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, which carries I-95 across the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, and the parking structure at the Stamford Transportation Center will be illuminated in red, white, and blue lights each night this holiday weekend, beginning on the evening of Friday, May 23, and continuing through the evening of Monday, May 26. Both structures operate under the management of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

    “Our nation’s service members put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms and liberties that make this country the greatest in the world, and we honor and pay tribute to all of the fallen heroes,” Governor Lamont said. “On this Memorial Day, I urge everyone in Connecticut to take time to reflect on those who have given their lives in service to our nation, keep their families in your prayers, and thank all of those currently enlisted and our veterans for their service.”

    “As we observe Memorial Day weekend, let us remember the heroic men and women who have consistently demonstrated an unwavering sense of duty, resilience, and bravery in their service to our country,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “We owe a great debt to the members of the U.S. military, and we should honor those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy our freedom. I hope that Connecticut’s residents will join me, not only this weekend but every day, in paying tribute to these heroes and their families.”

    In accordance with the governor’s directive, flags will be at half-staff on the Connecticut State Capitol building and all other state-operated buildings, grounds, and facilities statewide. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, and any other private entities and government subdivisions are encouraged to lower their flags for this same duration of time. Since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered.

    To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, visit portal.ct.gov/governor/news/sign-up-for-news-updates.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Albany Man Arrested for Posing Online as a Teenage Boy to Obtain Child Sexual Abuse Material from a Minor Victim

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – An Albany man was arrested for posing online as a teenage boy to obtain child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from a minor victim, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Brian Hargraves, 54, was arrested on Tuesday and indicted yesterday on charges of Possession of and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.  He appeared in federal court on May 21, 2025.

    According to the charging documents, on April 29, 2025, law enforcement conducted a search of Hargraves mobile phones following a citizen complaint. A review of one of the phones revealed sexually explicit images and videos of a 16-year-old minor victim.  Hargraves allegedly met the minor victim online and told her that he was a teenage boy and asked her to create explicit videos and images of herself to send to him.

    The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and the Conway Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is prosecuting the case.

    The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Medallion Bank Announces Closing of Series G Preferred Stock Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Medallion Bank (Nasdaq: MBNKP, MBNKO), an FDIC-insured bank providing consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats, and home improvements, along with loan origination services to fintech strategic partners, announced today that it has closed a public offering of 3,100,000 shares of its Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G, par value $1.00 per share, with a liquidation amount of $25 per share (the “Series G Preferred Stock”) and an aggregate liquidation amount of $77.5 million, which includes a partial exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of the Series G Preferred Stock. The offering priced on May 15, 2025.

    Medallion Bank’s Series G Preferred Stock commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “MBNKO” on May 22, 2025. Medallion Bank remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Medallion Financial after the completion of the offering.

    Medallion Bank intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, increasing Medallion Bank’s capital levels,
    growing its consumer loan portfolios or redeeming some or all of its outstanding Series F Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”), subject to the prior approval of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

    Piper Sandler & Co. and Lucid Capital Markets, LLC acted as joint book-running managers. A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, B. Riley Securities, Inc., InspereX LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Muriel Siebert & Co., LLC, Wedbush Securities Inc., and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. acted as lead managers.

    The offering of the Medallion Bank’s Series G Preferred Stock was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 3(a)(2) of that Act and was made only by means of an offering circular. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. The securities are neither insured nor approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Federal or state regulatory body.

    The final offering circular relating to the offering is available at medallionbankoffering.com. In addition, copies of the final offering circular may also be obtained from: Piper Sandler & Co.; Attn: Debt Capital Markets, 1 Greenwich Plaza, 1st Floor, Suite 111, Greenwich, CT 06830, or by email at fsg-dcm@psc.com.

    About Medallion Bank

    Medallion Bank specializes in providing consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats, and home improvements, along with loan origination services to fintech strategic partners. The Bank works directly with thousands of dealers, contractors and financial service providers serving their customers throughout the United States. Medallion Bank is a Utah-chartered, FDIC-insured industrial bank headquartered in Salt Lake City and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medallion Financial Corp.

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements”, which reflect Medallion Bank’s current views with respect to future events and which address matters that are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and beyond Medallion Bank’s control. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “expect” and “intend” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These statements relate to the offering of shares of the Series G Preferred Stock and the anticipated use of the net proceeds by Medallion Bank and are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Medallion Bank. No assurance can be given that Medallion Bank will decide to redeem its Series F Preferred Stock or, if it does, the amount to be redeemed and the timing of redemption and required regulatory approval. Medallion Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For a description of certain risks to which Medallion Bank is or may be subject, please refer to the factors discussed under the headings “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors,” in Medallion Bank’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to the Series F Preferred Stock. If Medallion Bank decides to redeem the Series F Preferred Stock, it intends to announce its decision by press release and an appropriate notice of redemption during the applicable notice window.

    Company Contact:
    Investor Relations
    212-328-2176
    InvestorRelations@medallion.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Athene Holding Ltd. Declares Second Quarter 2025 Preferred Stock Dividends

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Athene Holding Ltd. (“Athene”) announced that it has declared the following preferred stock dividends on its non-cumulative preferred stock (represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of preferred stock), payable on June 30, 2025 to holders of record as of June 15, 2025.

    • Quarterly dividend of $396.875 per share on the company’s 6.35% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.396875 per depositary share.
    • Quarterly dividend of $351.5625 per share on the company’s 5.625% Fixed-Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.3515625 per depositary share.
    • Quarterly dividend of $398.4375 per share on the company’s 6.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (the “Series C Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.3984375 per depositary share.
    • Quarterly dividend of $304.6875 per share on the company’s 4.875% Fixed-Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D (the “Series D Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.3046875 per depositary share.
    • Quarterly dividend of $484.375 per share on the company’s 7.750% Fixed-Rate Reset Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E (the “Series E Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.484375 per depositary share.

    Depositary shares for the Series A Preferred Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “ATHPrA,” depositary shares for the Series B Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrB,” depositary shares for the Series C Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrC,” depositary shares for the Series D Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrD,” and depositary shares for the Series E Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrE.”

    About Athene
    Athene is a leading retirement services company with over $380 billion of total assets as of March 31, 2025, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.

    Contact:

    Jeanne Hess
    VP, External Relations
    +1 646 768 7319
    jeanne.hess@athene.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From peasant fodder to posh fare: how snails and oysters became luxury foods

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato

    An Oyster cellar in Leith John Burnet, 1819; National Galleries of Scotland, Photo: Antonia Reeve

    Oysters and escargot are recognised as luxury foods around the world – but they were once valued by the lower classes as cheap sources of protein.

    Less adventurous eaters today see snails as a garden pest, and are quick to point out that freshly shucked oysters are not only raw but also alive when they are eaten.

    How did these unusual ingredients become items of conspicuous consumption?

    From garden snail to gastronomy

    Eating what many consider to be a slimy nuisance seems almost counter-intuitive, but consuming land snails has an ancient history, dating to the Palaeolithic period, some 30,000 years ago in eastern Spain.

    Ancient Romans also dined on snails, and spread their eating habits across their empire into Europe.

    Lower and middle class Romans ate snails from their gardens, while elite consumers ate specially farmed snails, fed spices, honey and milk.

    An Ancient Roman mosaic dating to the 4th century AD depicting a basket of snails, Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Aquileia, Italy.
    Carole Raddato/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Pliny the Elder (AD 24–79) described how snails were raised in ponds and given wine to fatten them up.

    The first French recipe for snails appears in 1390, in Le Ménagier de Paris (The Good Wife’s Guide), but not in other cookbooks from the period.

    In 1530, a French treatise on frogs, snails, turtles and artichokes considered all these foods bizarre, but surprisingly popular. Some of the appeal had to do with avoiding meat on “lean” days. Snails were classified as fish by the Catholic Church, and could even be eaten during Lent.

    For the next 200 years, snails only appeared in Parisian cookbooks with an apology for including such a disgusting ingredient. This reflected the taste of upper-class urbanites, but snails were still eaten in the eastern provinces.

    Schneckenweib, or Snail Seller, illustrated by Johann Christian Brand in Vienna, after 1798.
    Wien Museum

    An 1811 cookbook from Metz, in the Alsace region in northeastern France, describes raising snails like the Romans, and a special platter, l’escargotière, for serving them. The trend did not travel to Paris until after 1814.

    French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838) hosted a dinner for Russian Tsar Alexander I, after he marched into Paris following the allied forces’ defeat of Napoleon in 1814.

    The chef catering the meal was the father of French cuisine Marie-Antoine Carême, a native of Burgundy, spiritual home of the now famous escargots de Bourgogne.

    Carême served the Tsar what would become a classic recipe, prepared with garlic, parsley and butter. Allegedly, the Tsar raved about the “new” dish, and snails became wildly popular. A recipe for Burgundy snails first appeared in a French culinary dictionary published in 1825.

    It is ironic that it took the approval of a foreign emperor, who had just conquered Napoleon, to restore luxury status to escargot, a food that became a symbol of French cuisine.

    Snails remain popular today in France, with consumption peaking during the Christmas holidays, but May 24 is National Escargot Day in France.

    Oysters: the original fast food

    Oysters are another ancient food, as seen in fossils dating to the Triassic Era, 200 million years ago. Evidence of fossilised oysters are found on every major land mass, and there is evidence of Indigenous oyster fisheries in North America and Australia that dates to the Holocene period, about 12,000 years ago.

    There are references in classical Greek texts to what are probably oysters, by authors like Aristotle and Homer. Oyster shells found at Troy confirm they were a favoured food. Traditionally served as a first course at banquets in Ancient Greece, they were often cooked, sometimes with exotic spices.

    Music-cover sheet for ‘Bonne-Bouche’ by Emile Waldteufel, 1847-1897.
    © The Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA

    Pliny the Elder refers to oysters as a Roman delicacy. He recorded methods of the pioneer of Roman oyster farming, Sergius Orata, who brought the best specimens from across the Empire to sell to elite customers.

    Medieval coastal dwellers gathered oysters at low tide, while wealthy inland consumers would have paid a premium for shellfish, a perishable luxury, transported to their castles.

    French nobles in 1390 preferred cooked oysters, roasted over coals or poached in broths, perhaps as a measure to prevent food poisoning. As late as the 17th century, authors cautioned:

    But if they be eaten raw, they require good wine […] to aid digestion.

    Oyster Seller, Jacob Gole, 1688–1724.
    Rijksmuseum

    By the 18th century, small oysters were a popular pub snack, and larger ones were added as meat to the stew pot. That century, it is believed as many as 100,000 oysters were eaten each day in Edinburgh and the shells from the tavern in the basement filled in gaps in the brickwork at Gladstone’s Land in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

    Scottish oyster farms in the Firth of Forth, an inlet of the North Sea, produced 30 million oysters in 1790, but continual over-harvesting took its toll.

    By 1883 only 6,000 oysters were landed, and the population was declared extinct in 1957.

    As wild oyster stocks dwindled, large oyster farms developed in cities like New York in the 19th century. Initially successful, they were polluted, and infected by typhoid from sewage. An outbreak in 1924 killed 150 people, the deadliest food poisoning in United States history.

    Costumes of Naples: Oyster Sellers, c. 1906–10.
    Rijksmuseum

    Far from the overabundance of oysters we once had, over-fishing, pollution, and invasive species all threaten oyster populations worldwide today. Due to this scarcity of wild oysters and the resources required to safely farm environmentally sustainable oysters, they are now a premium product.

    Next on the menu

    Scarcity made oysters a luxury, and a Tsar’s approval elevated snails to gourmet status. Could insects become the next status food?

    Ancient Romans ate beetles and grasshoppers, and cultures around the world consume insects, but not (yet) as luxury products.

    Maybe the right influencer can make honey-roasted locust the next species to jump from paddock to plate.

    Garritt C. Van Dyk has received funding from the Getty Research Institute.

    – ref. From peasant fodder to posh fare: how snails and oysters became luxury foods – https://theconversation.com/from-peasant-fodder-to-posh-fare-how-snails-and-oysters-became-luxury-foods-254299

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: There is a growing number of ‘super-sized’ schools. Does the number of students matter?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Rowe, Associate Professor in Education, Deakin University

    LBeddoe/Shutterstock

    Earlier this week, The Sydney Morning Herald reported one of Sydney’s top public high schools had more than 2,000 students for the first time, thanks to the booming population in the area.

    This follows similar reports of other “super-sized” schools in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland.

    Parents may be wondering if a school’s size will impact their child’s opportunities or experience. What does the research say?

    A controversial subject

    Policy-makers have been concerned about school sizes for decades. This largely relates to declining enrolments in some areas and growing demand in others. For example, in Victoria during the Kennett government in the 1990s, some schools were merged into “super schools”.

    Super schools are attractive to policy-makers due to their ability to pool resources. However, anecdotally, parents have tended to oppose mergers on the basis that big schools detract from the community feel and personal relationships.

    There is no national data on average school size, although you can check individual school sizes on the MySchool website.

    Education authorities consider a school to be “small” if it has fewer than 300 students for primary school and fewer than 700 for high school.

    What does the research say?

    Australian-based research tends to support larger schools, on the basis they provide more curriculum choices. In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Education Policy, the authors wrote:

    large schools have more resources and are therefore better placed to offer a large range of curriculum, often including both academic and vocational subjects.

    A 2023 study similarly argued:

    smaller schools are generally less able to offer a wide range and diversity of curricular offerings compared to larger schools.

    Small schools can be beneficial

    But other education advocates argue small schools better facilitate participatory democratic environments for young people, improve discipline and sense of community.

    A 2009 review of 57 studies (the majority from the United States) published after 1990 recommended high schools do not have more than 1,000 students.

    The review said smaller schools can offer a community-like feel for students and are more likely to have smaller class sizes. A smaller school may be particularly advantageous for neurodiverse students if there are lower levels of noise and movement.

    A US-based study from 1991 found schools with less than 400 students lead to better student participation, attendance and satisfaction with school:

    The two primary arguments for large schools, cost savings and curriculum enhancement, pale in comparison with the positive schooling outcomes […] achieved by small schools.

    Smaller schools can offer a stronger sense of community.
    Dean Drobot/ Shutterstock

    But context matters

    In 2000, the Gates Foundation had a “big idea” to break up large high schools and turn them into “small learning communities” of 400 or fewer students.

    The foundation believed the initiative would lift graduation rates and student achievement, especially among minority students, because of the close relationships between students and teachers.

    But by 2008, the foundation conceded it had not worked – there had been no “dramatic improvements” in the number of students who leave high school adequately prepared for further study.

    But it’s not really about size

    So the research offers a mixed picture – this strongly suggests the size of a school on its own is not the most important factor.

    We also need to look at factors such as class size. Research shows smaller class sizes and lower teacher to student ratios are beneficial for student outcomes.

    Smaller class sizes and lower teacher to student ratios can lead to more one-on-one attention, improved relationships and lower noise levels in a classroom.

    Some studies have categorised “small classes” as between 13-17 students and larger classes as between 22-25 students.

    Teaching quality may also be improved with a smaller class size, as the teacher has more time to tailor their instruction to individual students.

    Importantly, the size of a school overall does not necessarily determine class sizes. A large school or a small school can still have large class sizes, and still struggle for quality one-on-one time.

    Similarly, a large school can still offer a strong sense of community and positive relationships between teachers and peers, depending on the way the school is organised (for example, a “school-within-a-school” or specific learning group within the school).

    If a small school is not well-resourced or does not have enough teachers, it may struggle to provide a positive, happy learning environment.

    The point is the school size on its own is not necessarily a positive or negative. What matters is what else is going on inside that school and whether it has the funding and resources to offer smaller class sizes, specialised teachers and access to a wide variety of subjects.

    Emma Rowe receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. There is a growing number of ‘super-sized’ schools. Does the number of students matter? – https://theconversation.com/there-is-a-growing-number-of-super-sized-schools-does-the-number-of-students-matter-257012

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Lawler Reacts to the Horrific Antisemitic Attack at the Capital Jewish Museum

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 5/22/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, reacts to the heartbreaking antisemitic attack last night. This is part of a trend of rising antisemitic violence around the country in the wake of the October 7th attack in Israel and the failures of college administrators, local and state governments, to address antisemitism seriously. 

    “I am shocked and saddened by this act of violence right in the heart of our nation’s capital. My prayers are with the families of the victims, the Jewish people, and the Israeli embassy staff as they mourn,” wrote Chairman Lawler.

    “May the perpetrator of this heinous act of antisemitic violence be swiftly served justice,” concluded Chairman Lawler. 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Lawler Celebrates Big, Beautiful Bill That Quadruples SALT Cap For The Next Ten Years

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 5/22/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler released the following statement after securing a deal and voting for legislation that will quadruple the state and local tax deduction up to $40,000 for the next ten years. This will provide immediate relief to millions of New Yorkers who have suffered under the yoke of Governor Kathy Hochul’s runaway spending.

    “The taxpayers of New York State will soon receive huge relief thanks to the deal the SALT Caucus brokered with Speaker Johnson and President Trump,” said Congressman Lawler. “With President Trump’s support, the bipartisan SALT Caucus succeeded in quadrupling the SALT deduction, which will be a massive lift to millions of New Yorkers.”

    “This was my number one focus in Washington from Day One of being here, and I’m thrilled that we find ourselves here today,” concluded Lawler. “Now, it’s on New York State and Governor Hochul to rein in the reckless spending we’ve seen – and if that requires a change of leadership in the Governor’s mansion in 2026, so be it.”

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls Out Trump Administration For Failing to Prioritize Sudan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    May 22, 2025

    Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, today called out the Trump Administration for failing to prioritize Sudan and helping to bring an end to the war and genocide in Sudan.

    Watch Rep. Sara Jacobs’ Opening Remarks Here

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said:

    “Thank you, Chairman Smith, and thank you to all of our witnesses joining us today to testify and bring attention to the ongoing catastrophe in Sudan. Last month marked two years since the outbreak of war in Sudan. It is now the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – are facing acute hunger, and more than half a million people are facing famine. More than 13 million Sudanese have been displaced from their homes since the conflict began, including nearly four million people forced to flee across Sudan’s borders as refugees. I have seen this suffering firsthand when I traveled to Chad and met with Sudanese refugees last year.

    “And let’s be clear: this is a war of choice. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and allied militias have waged this war, committing war crimes and holding the Sudanese people captive for their own selfish interests. And their external backers, particularly the United Arab Emirates with their support to the RSF, in addition to Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia, have turned this war into a regional proxy war by supporting and arming either side, risking further regional destabilization.

    “But despite this, the Trump Administration is nowhere to be found. In fact, the Administration’s actions have only worsened the suffering of the Sudanese people. The Trump Administration’s sham “foreign assistance review” was really just a pretext to end most foreign assistance – like food aid, disaster relief, global health programs, development and economic aid, and more. In Sudan, it’s meant cancelling millions of dollars in U.S.-funded life-saving aid. For instance, before it was illegally dismantled, USAID was supporting the heroic efforts of the Sudanese Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) to open community kitchens and provide basic meals to Sudanese civilians throughout the country. Following the massive cuts to U.S. foreign assistance, which included USAID support to the ERRs, more than 80% of the roughly 1500 community kitchens across Sudan have been forced to close their doors – cutting off vulnerable Sudanese civilians from life-saving food assistance. 

    “And the Administration hasn’t stopped there. Yesterday, they announced over $87 million worth of cancelled humanitarian programs, including $30 million for emergency nutrition, water, and food aid in Darfur. The SAF and the RSF continue to commit atrocities against the Sudanese people, and the people of Darfur are facing a second genocide in 20 years at the hands of the RSF. Yet despite the clear need for the United States to play an active role in negotiations to end this brutal conflict, the Trump Administration has failed to dedicate the resources necessary to do so. 

    “More than four months into President Trump’s term, the Administration has still failed to nominate an Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs at the State Department, an NSC Senior Director for Africa, or a Special Envoy for Sudan – a position the Administration is required by law to fill. And just yesterday, during Secretary Rubio’s testimony, he actually refused to say the word genocide and reaffirm his previous statements that the RSF is in fact committing a genocide.

    “These actions – or lack thereof – show that Sudan is not a priority for the Trump Administration. And while the Administration ignores the conflict and its human consequences, it chooses instead to provide weapons to the UAE – a country that is arming the RSF, fueling the war and facilitating a genocide in Darfur. There is widespread and credible reporting that the UAE continues to funnel arms to the RSF, even though the UAE continues to deny this publicly. But instead of pressuring the UAE to stop arming the RSF forces currently carrying out a genocide, the Trump Administration has chosen to blow through a Congressional hold by Ranking Member Meeks and proceed with arms sales worth more than $1 billion. 

    “Just as I did under the Biden Administration, I believe that the United States needs to use its significant leverage with the UAE to pressure them to finally end their support to the RSF. That is why I, along with Ranking Member Meeks, introduced Joint Resolutions of Disapproval last week to block the Administration’s arms sales to the UAE. If the United States wanted to, we could take tangible actions and make sensible policy decisions that would help bring an end to the war in Sudan and a sustainable peace agreement that ends military rule, establishes a civilian government, and provides a clear roadmap to democratic elections. Instead, this Administration seems to be ignoring the problem and selling weapons that are fueling genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. 

    “The Sudanese people have suffered enough. It is time for the United States and the international community to step up and focus on bringing an end to this war so that the Sudanese people can finally rebuild their country. Thank you, Chairman Smith, and with that, I yield back.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 22nd, 2025 Heinrich Joins Colleagues in Call to Protect ENERGY STAR

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, this week joined his colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to immediately reverse course on its plan to illegally and unilaterally terminate the ENERGY STAR program. In the letter, Heinrich highlighted the cost-saving benefits of the program, which would save the average American household $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products.

    Since 1992, ENERGY STAR has reduced energy costs for American families and businesses by $500 billion, including $42 billion worth of savings in 2020 alone. For every federal dollar spent on ENERGY STAR, Americans have seen $350 in savings.

    “For over three decades, the ENERGY STAR program has lowered Americans’ energy bills by informing consumers about energy efficient products. The program has enjoyed bipartisan support since its creation under authority of Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, most recently receiving $35.7 million in fiscal year 2025 appropriations,” wrote the senators. “Reporting has indicated, however, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to eliminate ENERGY STAR without Congressional approval. Not only is the program protected under federal statute and thus illegal for the Administration to terminate unilaterally, but this decision also lacks basic economic sense. We write to urge you to immediately reverse course.”

    The senators continued: “ENERGY STAR is the epitome of an effective public-private partnership. As the program’s administrators, EPA and the Department of Energy set qualifying energy efficiency standards for products. EPA also protects the integrity of the ENERGY STAR brand, ensuring it remains well-known, trusted, and indicative of a quality product. Appliance manufacturers then voluntarily display the ENERGY STAR label, notifying consumers that a product will reduce their energy consumption and lower utility bills. The program strengthens consumer choice by sharing critical product information.”

    “Eliminating the ENERGY STAR program will not only raise energy costs for American families and businesses, but also inflict far-reaching economic harms, threatening industry jobs and the reliability of the grid at a time of growing demand. We again urge you to immediately reconsider eliminating this popular and effective Congressionally authorized program,” the senators concluded.

    Administered by the EPA and Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary, market-based program that has saved consumers billions of dollars annually. The ENERGY STAR program has cumulatively reduced four billion metric tons of harmful emissions and currently supports more than 790,000 American jobs manufacturing and installing ENERGY STAR products.

    ENERGY STAR is strongly supported by a wide array of manufacturers, homebuilders, housing organizations, building owners, small businesses, and other organizations. In April, the U.S. Real Estate Industry sent a letter to the Trump Administration expressing its strong support for the ENERGY STAR program. Additionally, the U.S. Green Buildings Council partnered with the Alliance to Save Energy in leading over 1,000 organizations in urging the Trump Administration to protect the program and maintain full funding and staffing levels.

    The letter was authored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). In addition to Heinrich, it was signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

    Read and download the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 22nd, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation to Expand Medicare Drug Price Negotiation and Lower Costs for New Mexicans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHGINTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, legislation that will expand Medicare negotiation of drug prices to lower drug costs for consumers, reduce federal spending, and give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stronger tools to negotiate lower drug prices in Medicare Part B and Part D.

    According to preliminary estimates from a model by West Health and Verdant Research, if the SMART Prices Act is enacted by 2026, it would save 33 percent more by 2030 than current law. It would also allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs.

    The legislation builds on provisions passed into law by Heinrich and Luján in 2022 that empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time. The SMART Prices Act extends this progress by more than doubling the number of prescription drugs Medicare must negotiate to a minimum of 50 per year, allowing the most costly prescription drugs and biologics to have negotiated prices five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate.

    “While the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans work to gut Medicare to give massive tax handouts to billionaires like Elon Musk, I’m fighting to protect and strengthen Medicare for New Mexicans,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to co-sponsor legislation that will lower health care costs by making more prescription drugs affordable for New Mexico’s seniors enrolled in Medicare.”

    “No one should have to choose between paying for life-saving medication and putting food on the table. At a time when President Trump’s tariffs threaten to raise prices on everyday goods and medicine, the SMART Prices Act is more important than ever for New Mexican families,” said Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to lower prescription drug costs by strengthening Medicare’s ability to negotiate prices, helping Americans afford the medications they rely on.”

    The SMART Prices Act is led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    The bill is endorsed by Center for American Progress, FamiliesUSA, Patients For Affordable Drugs NOW, Protect Our Care, and Public Citizen.

    As Republicans tank the economy, Heinrich and Luján are putting New Mexico families first and fighting against Trump and Musk’s budget, which includes cuts to Medicaid to fund massive tax handouts to billionaires.

    Earlier this month, Heinrich and Luján (D-N.M.) released a joint statement slamming President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) preliminary budget request. In their joint statement, the senators wrote, “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back.”

    Last month, Heinrich and Luján stood up for New Mexico families by voting against Senate Republicans’ budget resolution. This was after Heinrich and Luján pushed to amend Republicans’ resolution by repeatedly voting for amendments to lower costs for families — particularly as Trump’s tariffs push America to the brink of a recession. Heinrich and Luján also worked to block cuts to Medicaid, extend the tax credits for health care premiums, and prevent millions of Americans from losing health insurance, protect Social Security, and reverse cuts to the Social Security Administration, including cuts by Elon Musk’s DOGE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE San Antonio, federal partners lead to Treasury sanctions of high-tanking members of Cartel del Noreste, a foreign terrorist organization

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two high-ranking members of the Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, formerly known as Los Zetas, May 21. CDN, one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations and a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, has significant influence over the border region, particularly near the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo entry point. These sanctions emphasize the commitment to targeting CDN and other violent cartels involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and other crimes that endanger the American people. The investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s San Antonio office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ San Antonio office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Division. The action was closely coordinated with Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit, Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera. The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 14059, which targets the proliferation of illicit drugs and their production, and Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters.

    “In working toward the total elimination of cartels to Make America Safe Again, the Trump Administration will hold these terrorists accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “CDN and its leaders have carried out a violent campaign of intimidation, kidnapping, and terrorism, threatening communities on both sides of our southern border. We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.”

    Cartel del Noreste

    CDN is a terrorist organization primarily based in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. The group has been involved in narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering, vehicle theft, and oil theft. They have also engaged in terrorist activities to intimidate American citizens and local communities in Mexico, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder.

    In March 2022, CDN fired guns and threw grenades at the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo following the arrest of a CDN member wanted in Mexico for terrorism, homicide, and extortion. The consulate was closed for nearly a month due to the attack, which was seen as a retaliatory act aimed at intimidating American diplomats serving abroad.

    On Feb. 20, the U.S. Department of State identified CDN as an FTO and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Prior to this designation, CDN, then known as Los Zetas, was labeled by the United States as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker on April 15, 2009, under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for its involvement in international narcotics trafficking. On July 24, 2011, Los Zetas was named a transnational criminal organization in the annex to Executive Order 13581. On Dec. 15, 2021, the Office of Foreign Assets Control designated CDN under Executive Order 14059.

    Sanctioning key members of Cartel del Noreste

    Firearms acquired by CDN affiliates have been smuggled into Mexico. Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma (De Anda), a high-ranking member of CDN residing in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for the group. In this role, De Anda has facilitated payments to U.S. straw purchasers and organized firearm deliveries to Nuevo Laredo. Some of these weapons were used in terrorist activities, including one recovered after CDN attacked Mexico’s army during a patrol in March 2024.

    Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, who lived in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, was the second-in-command of CDN until his February 2025 arrest by Mexican authorities. He led an armed enforcement wing of the group and benefited from trafficked firearms in attacks on Mexican police and military, as well as drug trafficking activities. Gonzalez was arrested on Feb. 3, in connection with a CDN attack on the Mexican military in August 2024, which killed two soldiers and injured five. At the time of his arrest, Gonzalez was in possession of a rifle, a handgun, 300 grams of methamphetamine, and 1,500 fentanyl pills.

    The designations of De Anda and Gonzalez resulted from strong coordination between ICE Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and DEA.

    Both De Anda and Gonzalez are sanctioned under Executive Orders 14059 and 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by CDN or acting on its behalf.

    Santions Implications

    As a result of this sanction, all property, and interests in property of the designated individuals listed above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Additionally, any entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by one or more blocked individuals are also blocked.

    Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the U.S. that involve property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

    Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in civil or criminal penalties for U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding its enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. Financial institutions and other individuals may also risk sanctions for engaging in certain transactions with designated or blocked persons.

    Engaging in certain transactions with the individuals designated May 21 also poses a risk of secondary sanctions under Executive Order 13224, as amended. Under this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintenance of a correspondent or payable-through account in the U.S. for any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitated significant transactions on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

    Exports, reexports, or transfers of items subject to U.S. export controls involving individuals on the SDN List under Executive Order 13224, as amended, may face additional restrictions from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. See 15 C.F.R. section 744.8 for more details.

    The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions come not only from its ability to designate and add individuals to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove individuals from the list in accordance with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to encourage positive changes in behavior. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 250 Years of Navy Medicine

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    —————
    @USNavy Medicine celebrates 250 years of excellence delivering quality healthcare to warfighters ashore, on, below and above the sea.

    #DYK Navy Medicine represents more than 44,000 highly trained military and civilian healthcare professionals. Each year only about 600 applicants are invited to interview, and under 200 are accepted.

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
    —————
    Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!

    Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Instagram: http://instagram.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DeptofDefense

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1op3_GYTVE8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Tis the Season for Dismissals: Statement on Ending “Dealer” Lawsuits

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    First came the abandonment of crypto lawsuits.[1] Now the dismissals of “dealer” lawsuits. What do these unprecedented dismissals of ongoing enforcement actions have in common? They ignore the laws enacted by Congress – namely fundamental registration requirements of the federal securities laws – as well as long lines of judicial precedent. And they harm investors, businesses, and the capital markets.

    It is astonishing that an agency tasked with enforcing the law has decided the law does not matter.

    Overview of dismissals

    Today, the SEC dismissed three lawsuits that alleged that certain businesses broke the law by failing to register with the SEC as “dealers.”[2] Though seemingly mundane, one of our agency’s foundational statutes, passed in the wake of the Great Depression, defines a “dealer” and requires said dealers to register with the SEC.[3] The core of the dealer definition is written in plain terms: a dealer is any person or entity engaged in the regular business of buying and selling securities for their own account.

    The allegations in these now-dismissed lawsuits were not a stretch. They concerned well-established businesses that made money by purchasing debt directly from small issuers and then converting that debt into stock they would sell on the open market at high volumes and frequencies.[4] The defendants in those lawsuits transacted in billions of shares of newly issued stocks for their own accounts, generating millions in profits. They had sophisticated marketing operations to maintain a pipeline of deals. That sure sounds like being in the regular business of buying and selling securities.

    In two of these cases, courts have in fact already ruled that the SEC’s allegations were sufficient to support the charges that these entities violated the law.[5] These rulings were consistent with judgments the SEC has obtained in similar past enforcement actions holding that such activity requires registering as a dealer.[6]

    Debunking arguments for dismissals

    While favorable court precedent alone would, historically, be enough to continue litigating these cases, there are no other new or convincing reasons for the dismissals.

    First, those who have advocated for dismissals of these types of cases seem to read a non-existent requirement – that dealers have customers – into the statutory definition.[7] They argue that, historically, dealers were understood to have customers and that enforcing the dealer registration requirement more broadly is arbitrary. However, the dealer definition concerns whether one is in the regular business of transacting in securities for one’s own account, not whether one has customers. A customer requirement is simply not part of the definition. As time-consuming (or inconvenient for some) as it may be, determining whether a person is a dealer is a fact-specific inquiry, and examination of all relevant facts is necessary. Enforcing the law relies on applying all the facts to the then-current law.

    Second, those advocates also claim that, without a customer requirement, the statute will sweep into the dealer definition investment advisers, hedge funds, and others not traditionally understood as dealers. But that is not what the cases dismissed today did. An appellate court in SEC v. Almagarby spoke to this very issue in upholding a dealer registration violation:

    To be clear, we do not mean to suggest that every professional investor who buys and sell[s] securities in high volumes is a “dealer.” [S]ignificant differences exist between Almagarby’s conduct and that of…investment advisor and fund members. For example, institutional asset managers do not rely on dilution financing or the rapid resale of microcap share issues as their sole source of income. Nor do they employ networks of finders to solicit microcap debtholders or operate without financial disclosures or regulatory oversight.[8]

    Third, those who have advocated for dismissals also claim that these cases have stifled capital formation and the growth of small businesses. But this notion that, by ignoring the law we will facilitate capital formation and small business growth, turns logic on its head. Wholesale rejection of the rule of law never has, and never will, promote capital formation and business growth. And as the Almagarby court noted, the type of conduct at issue here “is called ‘toxic’ or ‘death spiral’ financing” and is “disfavored,” including by issuers and investors.[9] Today’s dismissals open the floodgates to this type of unsavory financing without regulatory oversight.

    What is at stake?

    So, what is at stake here? Registration “serves as a keystone of the entire system of broker-dealer regulations.”[10] Dealers perform important market functions, such as distributing securities, helping to balance supply and demand when there are order imbalances, and facilitating investor trading by providing liquidity to buyers and sellers who otherwise might not be able to immediately find other investors with whom to trade. The SEC has promulgated rules governing the operation of dealers, including by setting standards of conduct. These have been designed with market integrity and investor protection in mind. They also foster capital formation.

    The defendants in the now-dismissed lawsuits were alleged to have eschewed applicable securities laws and regulations. Doing so leaves investors holding the proverbial bag. And it leaves them and the markets without the fundamental protections Congress envisioned for entities acting in a dealer capacity. That regime includes, among other things, certain financial responsibility and risk management rules,[11] transaction and other and reporting requirements,[12] operational integrity rules,[13] and books and record requirements.[14] These requirements enhance market stability by providing regulators with insight into firm-level and aggregate trading activity, which helps assess and mitigate market risks. In addition, dealers are subject to examination and enforcement for compliance with applicable laws and Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) rules by the SEC and the SROs.[15]

    Last but not least, dismissing these lawsuits encourages others to flout registration and other legal requirements. This undermines the securities law framework that has been constructed over the years to protect investors and facilitate capital markets. It is a worrisome world when we help participants evade the law because the law is inconvenient for their bottom line.

    Conclusion

    A lot of lip service is paid to the SEC’s mission: protecting investors; maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and facilitating capital formation. But actions, or in this instance dismissals of actions, speak louder than words. Dismantling enforcement of across-the-board registration requirements – which has now reached every fundamental registration provision (exchange, broker, dealer, and offering) under the securities laws – undermines the mission.

    [1] See, e.g., Joint Stipulation to Dismiss, and Releases, SEC v. Balina, 22-cv-950 (W.D. Tex. May 1, 2025); Joint Stipulation to Dismiss, and Releases, Joint Stipulation to Dismiss, and Releases, SEC v. Dragonchain, 22-cv-1145-JNW (W.D. Wash. Apr. 24, 2025); SEC v. Cumberland DRW, 24-cv-9842 (N. D. Ill. Mar. 27, 2025); Joint Stipulation to Dismiss and Releases, SEC v. Payward (d/b/a Kraken), 23-cv-6003-WHO (Mar. 27, 2025); Joint Stipulation to Dismiss, and Releases, SEC v. Consensys Software, 24-cv-4578-MKB-TAM (Mar. 27, 2025); Joint Stipulation to Dismiss, and Releases, SEC v. Coinbase, 23-cv-4738-KPF (Feb. 27, 2025).

    [2] Stipulation to Dismiss and Release, SEC v. Long, No. 23-cv-14260 (N.D. Ill. May 22, 2025); Joint Stipulation to Dismiss, and Releases, SEC v. Tri-Bridge Ventures, No. 24-cv-5711-ZNQ-RLS (D.N.J. May 22, 2025); Stipulation of Dismissal and Releases, SEC v. LG Capital Funding, No. 22-cv-3353 (E.D.N.Y. May 22, 2025). See also Stipulation to Dismiss and Release, SEC v. River North, No. 19-cv-1711 (N.D. Ill. May 22, 2025) (dismissing with prejudice unregistered dealer claims, but continuing to litigate other claims).

    [3] Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 Section 3(a)(5) (15 U.S.C. § 78c(a)(5)) (defining dealer) and Section 15(a) (15 U.S.C. § 78o(a)) (requiring dealer registration).

    [4] See Complaint, SEC v. Tri-Bridge Ventures, No. 24-cv-05711 (D.N.J. Apr. 29, 2024); Complaint, SEC v. Long, No. 23-cv-14260 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 28, 2023); Complaint, SEC v. LG Capital Funding, 22-cv-3353 (E.D.N.Y. June 7, 2022). See also Complaint, SEC v. River North, 19-cv-1711 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 13, 2019).

    [5] SEC v. LG Capital Funding, 702 F.Supp.3d 61 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 13, 2023) (denying motion to dismiss); SEC v. Long, 2024 WL 3161669 (N.D. Ill. June 25, 2024) (same). See also SEC v. River North, 2019 WL 6527971 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 4, 2019) (same).

    [6] See, e.g., SEC v. Keener, 580 F. Supp. 3d 1272 (S.D. Fla. 2022) (granting summary judgment to SEC on unregistered dealer claim), aff’d, 102 F.4th 1328 (11th Cir. 2024) (upholding district court ruling that defendant operated as an unregistered dealer and rejecting due process and equal protection arguments); SEC v. Almagarby, 479 F. Supp. 3d 1266 (S.D. Fla. 2020) (same), aff’d in relevant part, 92 F.4th 1306 (11th Cir. 2024) (upholding district court ruling that defendant operated as an unregistered dealer and rejecting fair notice arguments); SEC v. Carebourn Capital, 2023 WL 6296032 (D. Minn. Sept. 27, 2023) (granting summary judgment to SEC on unregistered dealer claim); SEC v. Fierro, 2023 WL 4249011 (D.N.J. June 29, 2023) (same). See also, SEC v. Morningview Financial, 2023 WL 7326125 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 7, 2023) (denying motion to dismiss unregistered dealer claim); SEC v. GPL Ventures, 2022 WL 158885 (S.D.N.Y Jan. 18, 2022) (same).

    [9] Id. at 1312.

    [10] Roth v. SEC, 22 F.3d 1108, 1109 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (internal citation omitted).

    [11] See, e.g., 17 CFR 240.15c3-1 (“Rule 15c3-1” or “Net Capital Rule”); Financial Responsibility Rules for Broker-Dealers, Exchange Act Release No. 70072 (July 30, 2013), 78 FR 51823 at 51849 (Aug. 21, 2013).

    [12] See, e.g., FINRA Rule 6730(a)(1); FINRA Rule 4530 (Reporting Requirements); Consolidated Audit Trail, Exchange Act Release No. 62174 (May 26, 2010), 75 FR 32556 (June 8, 2010); Joint Industry Plan; Order Approving the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail, Exchange Act Release No. 79318 (Nov. 15, 2016), 81 FR 84696 (Nov. 23, 2016) (“CAT Approval Order”).

    [13] See, e.g., Market Access Rule (promotes market integrity by reducing risks associated with market access by requiring financial and regulatory risk management controls reasonably designed to limit financial exposures and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements).

    [14] See, e.g., Exchange Act Section 17(a) and 17 CFR 240.17a-3 (“Rule 17a-3”) and 240.17a-4 (“Rule 17a-4”). See also, e.g., FINRA Rules 2268, 4510, 4511, 4512, 4513, 4514, 4515, 5340, and 7440(a)(4) (requiring member firms to make and preserve certain books and records to show compliance with applicable securities laws, rules, and regulations and enable SEC and FINRA staffs to conduct effective examinations). Among other things, SEC and SRO books and records rules help to ensure that regulators can access information to evaluate the financial and operational condition of the firm, including examining compliance with financial responsibility rules, among other rules, as well as assess whether and how a firm’s participation in the securities markets impacted a major market event. See Staff Study on Investment Advisers and Broker Dealers As Required by Section 913 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Jan. 2011) at 72.

    [15] See e.g., Exchange Act Section15(b) (regarding SEC authority to sanction brokers and dealers) and Section 17(b) (broker-dealer recordkeeping and examination).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington State Wins Court Order Stopping Dismantling of Department of Education

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — Attorney General Nick Brown and a coalition of 20 other state attorneys general today won a court order stopping the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.

    On March 13, the coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its plans to cut 50 percent of Department of Education’s s workforce. Following a March 20 Executive Order directing the closure of the Department and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that, in addition to implementing layoffs, the Department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the Department, Attorney General Brown and the coalition sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services.

    Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the preliminary injunction, halting the administration’s policies that would dismantle the Department of Education and ordering all employees who were fired as part of the layoffs to be reinstated.

    “Today’s injunction supports the rule of law, and students and educators around the country,” Brown said. “Our office will fight illegal and unconstitutional executive orders. And we will continue to win.”

    The coalition of attorneys general argued in their lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction that the Trump administration’s attacks on the Department of Education are illegal and unconstitutional. It is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous laws creating its programs and funding streams. The lawsuit asserts that the executive branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismantle it without an act of Congress. In addition, the coalition argued that Department of Education’s mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.

    Joining the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

    The court order can be found here.

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    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Contractor team selected for the final stage of the SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County

    Source: Washington State News 2

    PIERCE COUNTY – The finish line for the State Route 167 Completion Project in Pierce County is getting closer with the selection of a contractor for the fourth and final stage of design and construction.

    On Thursday, May 22, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that Kraemer-Scarsella Joint Venture is the highest scoring proposer for a progressive design-build contract for the remaining 2.6 miles of the SR 167 Expressway between I-5 in Fife and SR 161/North Meridian Avenue in Puyallup.

    The selection of Kraemer-Scarsella Joint Venture means that all seven Puget Sound Gateway Program projects to finish SR 167 in Pierce County and SR 509 in south King County are either complete, under construction or final design and construction is imminent.

    Joining forces

    General contractors Kraemer North America and Kent-based Scarsella Bros., Inc. joined forces to submit a proposal for the last stage of the SR 167 Completion Project. WSDOT evaluated five different teams and invited two of them to submit proposals.

    “The quality of both proposing teams was outstanding,” said SR 167 Project Manager Steve Fuchs. “In the end, Kraemer-Scarsella Joint Venture stood out for its extensive experience successfully delivering progressive design-build projects, including its current project building Confluence Parkway in Wenatchee.”

    About progressive design-build

    WSDOT is using a contracting method called progressive design-build on a major highway construction project for the first time. It is the same contracting method being used to correct 58 fish barrier locations in western Washington.

    Progressive design-build divides the contract into two phases. During the first phase, Kraemer-Scarsella Joint Venture will collaboratively review and confirm the initial designs with WSDOT. WSDOT and the contracting team will identify and mitigate project risks and incorporate design and construction innovations. A final construction cost for the project will be developed and agreed upon. The second phase of the contract includes completing the final design and construction.

    “This progressive design-build contract provides us with multiple advantages in our current economic climate,” said Puget Sound Gateway Program Administrator John White. “It allows us to work collaboratively with the contractor to make sure that we all agree in advance on construction strategies, innovations, risks and together we develop the costs associated with those elements.”

    The contract is worth up to $475 million.

    Design work will continue for approximately a year with construction slated to begin in mid-2026.

    In addition to completing the four-lane expressway, the project also includes:

    • Multimodal elements, including connections to regional trails.
    • Local road and intersection improvements.
    • Eight new bridges.
    • Restoration of approximately 90 acres of stream and wetland habitat.

    A 3D project video highlighting the expressway, multimodal features and other improvements is available on WSDOT’s YouTube site with translations in five languages.

    SR 167 Completion Project information

    The SR 167 Completion Project builds 6 miles of new tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma. The first stage of work completed the new Wapato Way East bridge and SR 99 roundabout in Fife. The second stage builds the expressway between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma. It’s scheduled to open in 2026. Work on the third stage between SR 161/North Meridian Avenue and SR 410 began in 2025. The entire project is planned for completion by 2030.  
    Photos of construction work are available on the project’s Flickr page.

    Puget Sound Gateway Program overview

    The Puget Sound Gateway Program also includes the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County. Together, the two completion projects finish critical missing links in Washington’s highway and freight network.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commuter Railroads Combine for Record Day

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s two commuter railroads — the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad — each broke post-pandemic ridership records on Tuesday, May 20 with the LIRR carrying 285,050 riders and the Metro-North Railroad carrying 255,638 riders. Together, the commuter railroads combined to carry a record of 540,688 riders in a single travel day.

    “Our commuter railroads are the lifeline to our city, and we are continuing to deliver a faster and reliable transit system every single day for riders,” Governor Hochul said. “There is a reason our railroads keep surpassing ridership records and on-time performance — New Yorkers know they can rely on the LIRR and Metro-North to get them where they need to go.”

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Record-setting commuter railroad reliability has brought riders back to transit and in the process, helped to revive the regional economy post-pandemic. Tip of the hat to our amazing railroad workforce for yet another milestone.”

    The LIRR surpassed its previous post-pandemic of 284,694 passengers set on Nov. 27, 2024, with the highest recorded weekday average in the railroad’s history of 332,647 riders recorded in June 2019. The Metro-North continues its incredible momentum, obliterating its previous post-pandemic record of 249,585 that was set on Oct. 29, 2024. The highest recorded weekday average in Metro-North history — 290,837 passengers — was recorded in October 2019.

    On-time performance for both railroads remains historically high with Metro-North at more than 98 percent and the LIRR close behind at 97 percent. The nation’s two busiest commuter railroads are consistently the safest way to travel, reporting historically low numbers of customer injuries.

    Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said, “LIRR continues to experience substantive ridership increases due to the improved customer experience and reliability of our service. This is a result of our exceptional workforce and the investments we’ve made and continue to make in the Long Island Rail Road. Riders know that the LIRR delivers safe, reliable, and convenient service with 97 percent of our trains getting them to their destination on time.”

    Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek said, “Metro-North customers arrive at their destination on time over 98 percent of the time. Service has never been better. Our commitment to safe and reliable service is a top priority and the increase in ridership reflects our team’s commitment to the service they provide.”

    March 2025 LIRR ridership increased 10.4 percent compared to March 2024, representing 87.6 percent of March 2019, which is the highest post-pandemic percentage. Commutation ridership increased 10.6 percent and non-commutation ridership increased 10.2 percent, surpassing the same month in 2019.

    Metro-North’s total March 2025 ridership of 5.8 million increased 19.6 percent from February. Average daily ridership increased 8 percent to 185,633; average weekday ridership increased 5.8 percent to 216,540; and average weekend ridership increased 20.0 percent to 102,564. Metro-North’s total ridership in March increased 8.1 percent compared to March 2024 and represents 81.1 percent of March 2019 ridership.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Colombian National Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Kidnap and Assault U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia

    Source: US State of California

    A Colombian national was sentenced today in the Southern District of Florida for her role in kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.

    Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, was sentenced to 262 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $24,115 in restitution. She is the third and final defendant to be sentenced and held accountable for this criminal conspiracy. She pleaded guilty in March 2025 to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person.

    “Uribe Chiran and her co-defendants mercilessly preyed on U.S. soldiers when they drugged their drinks, stole their valuables, and left them incapacitated on the street,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. military service members is deplorable and the Criminal Division will continue to prioritize protecting our service members through these prosecutions. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to bring justice to these victims.”

    “Members of our military, whether serving here or abroad, can count on this Department of Justice’s respect, support, and protection,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “Kidnappings and assaults against U.S. service members will not be tolerated. To those who would dare commit such reprehensible acts against America’s heroes, know this: We will identify you; we will find you; and we will prosecute you as aggressively as the law permits.”

    “The FBI’s commitment to investigate criminal acts against the U.S. military beyond our borders is clearly demonstrated by our persistent pursuit of justice for the two kidnapped soldiers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Our close cooperation with Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities was essential to this international investigation’s success. To all would be kidnappers the message is clear: target our citizens with violence anywhere in the world and we will hold you accountable for your actions.”

    According to court documents, the two U.S. soldiers went to an entertainment district in Bogotá to watch a soccer game on the evening of March 5, 2020. They later went to a pub, where Uribe Chiran and one of her co-defendants approached the soldiers and, without their knowledge, put drugs in their drinks that rendered them incapacitated. Medical examinations later confirmed the presence of benzodiazepines in the two soldiers’ systems. The defendants then kidnapped the soldiers, took their valuables, including their credit and debit card information, and left them incapacitated on the street in separate locations. The defendants used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money.

    Uribe Chiran was extradited in September 2024 from Colombia to the United States. Co-defendant Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa was extradited in April 2024 from Chile to the United States, pleaded guilty in December 2024, and was sentenced in March 2025 to 27 years and three months in prison. Co-defendant Jeffersson Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January 2024, and was sentenced in May 2024 to 48 years and nine months in prison.

    The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided significant assistance in this matter. The United States thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.

    Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fifteen Charged with Drug Conspiracy and Weapons Charges

    Source: US State of California

    A 29-count indictment was unsealed today charging 12 men and 3 women for their roles in a drug trafficking organization and related gun offenses.

    According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, Xanax, psylocibin mushrooms, and marijuana. Six of the defendants face additional charges for gun crimes relating to their alleged drug trafficking. The defendants are alleged to have used several drug houses and a food truck to store illegal drugs and conduct drug transactions. As alleged, in one notable instance in June of 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized 29 kilograms of methamphetamine that one defendant was attempting to transport into the United States.

    “As alleged, this drug trafficking organization imported methamphetamine directly from Mexico and used the U.S. mail, a taco truck, and homes in different Houston neighborhoods to distribute and sell methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Several of the defendants are also alleged to have used firearms in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking and illegally possessed firearms despite having previously been convicted of felonies. The Criminal Division, along with our federal, state, and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to combat the scourge of drug trafficking in communities.”

    “The defendants are alleged to have engaged in a multi-drug narcotics distribution ring, and, as often seen in the drug trade, are also alleged to have used illegal firearms to facilitate their enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “Some of the charges indicate methamphetamine was alleged to have been sourced from Mexico, and thus this investigation highlights why this office’s enforcement efforts on the border are so critical. The Southern District of Texas will do everything it can to prevent narcotics from entering our country and will be relentless in apprehending those that would distribute drugs in our communities.”

    “For years, the transnational criminal organization allegedly operated by these gang members has brazenly flooded our local communities with deadly narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Houston. “Working in conjunction with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) partners, we were able to expose and dismantle their drug trafficking scheme, eliminating a significant contributor to violent crime in the area and saving an untold number of Houstonians from becoming addicted.”

    James Michael Brewer, also known as Creeper, 33; Jonathan Alvarado, also known as Joker, 28; Hector Luis Lopez, also known as Capulito, 23; Alfredo Gomez, also known as Fredo, 26; and Victor Norris Ellison, 35, all of Houston, have been indicted on drug trafficking and firearm charges. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    The following defendants, all of Houston unless otherwise noted, have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    • Jose Francisco Garcia-Martinez, also known as Paco, 29, a Mexican national;
    • Enzo Xavier Dominguez, also known as Smiley, 32;
    • Alexis Delgado, also known as Chino, 28;
    • Jose Eduardo Morales, also known as Primo, 22;
    • William Alexander Lazo, also known as Miclo, 21;
    • Kylie Rae Alvarado, 24;
    • Ruby Mata, 31;
    • Mexi Dyan Garcia, also known as Mexi, 31; and
    • Jesus Gomez-Rodriguez, also known as Jr., 33.

    Marcos Rene Simaj-Guch, also known as Taco Man, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with drug trafficking. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

    ICE-HSI and HPD conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General.

    Trial Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Rodriguez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston, Texas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.

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

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Man Sentenced for 20-Year Scheme to Evade Employment Taxes

    Source: US State of California

    Defendant Caused Approximately $60M in Loss to United States Which He Used to Fund a Lavish Lifestyle

    A California man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $38 million in restitution for a decades-long scheme to evade employment taxes.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: for more than 20 years, Luis E. Perez was the owner and primary decision-maker for more than a dozen labor staffing companies including Check Mate Inc., BaronHR LLC, BaronHR West Inc., and Fortress Holding Group LLC. Typically, a labor staffing company helps connect job candidates with client-companies looking for temporary employees. The staffing company also usually remains responsible for paying the temporary employees’ wages and complying with associated reporting and tax obligations. Specifically, the companies were responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. They were also responsible for paying their own Social Security and Medicare taxes. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    For nearly as long as Perez was in business, he was noncompliant with his tax obligations. Starting as early as 2001, Perez began not paying over the full amount of taxes withheld from employees’ wages or the full amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes his companies owed. In June 2007, Perez personally owed the IRS taxes related to Check Mate Inc., which the IRS was attempting to collect. By 2017, Perez’s outstanding tax liability had ballooned to nearly $30 million. Between 2007 and 2017, Perez tried to hinder IRS collection efforts in a number of ways. He used BaronHR and Fortress Holding Group’s bank accounts to make personal purchases, such as several luxury items, including automobiles and a boat. He titled the items in the names of several nominees to conceal his ownership from the IRS and to prevent the IRS from seizing them. In addition, he opened a credit card in the name of a nominee and used the card to make personal purchases. He then paid the bills for that credit card from those same business bank accounts. Perez also funneled money from BaronHR and Fortress Holding Group to a nominee, but then used the funds for himself. To further impede IRS collection efforts, Perez lied to IRS revenue officers and submitted false forms to the IRS about his income.

    Perez’s misconduct continued even after he was charged for tax offenses in February 2018. From January 2018 through June 2019, he reported that BaronHR West had paid total wages of approximately $54 million and paid approximately $7 million in total taxes on these wages to the IRS. In fact, BaronHR West paid approximately $185 million in total wages and was required but did not pay approximately $37 million in total taxes to the IRS. Similarly, during the first quarter of 2022, BaronHR West paid about $30 million in wages and was obligated to pay nearly $6 million in taxes. The company paid only $76,000.

    In total, Perez caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $60 million.

    Instead of paying his tax obligations, Perez used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle for himself, including multiple large residences, courtside seats to the Los Angeles Lakers, a private jet, a yacht, and dozens of luxury automobiles, including Bentleys and Lamborghinis.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Kenly Kiya Kato for the Central District of California ordered Perez to serve three years of supervised release and pay $38,052,767 in restitution to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Robert Kemins of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett A. Sagel and James C. Hughes for the Central District of California prosecuted the case

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced for 20-Year Scheme to Evade Employment Taxes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Defendant Caused Approximately $60M in Loss to United States Which He Used to Fund a Lavish Lifestyle

    A California man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $38 million in restitution for a decades-long scheme to evade employment taxes.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: for more than 20 years, Luis E. Perez was the owner and primary decision-maker for more than a dozen labor staffing companies including Check Mate Inc., BaronHR LLC, BaronHR West Inc., and Fortress Holding Group LLC. Typically, a labor staffing company helps connect job candidates with client-companies looking for temporary employees. The staffing company also usually remains responsible for paying the temporary employees’ wages and complying with associated reporting and tax obligations. Specifically, the companies were responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. They were also responsible for paying their own Social Security and Medicare taxes. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    For nearly as long as Perez was in business, he was noncompliant with his tax obligations. Starting as early as 2001, Perez began not paying over the full amount of taxes withheld from employees’ wages or the full amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes his companies owed. In June 2007, Perez personally owed the IRS taxes related to Check Mate Inc., which the IRS was attempting to collect. By 2017, Perez’s outstanding tax liability had ballooned to nearly $30 million. Between 2007 and 2017, Perez tried to hinder IRS collection efforts in a number of ways. He used BaronHR and Fortress Holding Group’s bank accounts to make personal purchases, such as several luxury items, including automobiles and a boat. He titled the items in the names of several nominees to conceal his ownership from the IRS and to prevent the IRS from seizing them. In addition, he opened a credit card in the name of a nominee and used the card to make personal purchases. He then paid the bills for that credit card from those same business bank accounts. Perez also funneled money from BaronHR and Fortress Holding Group to a nominee, but then used the funds for himself. To further impede IRS collection efforts, Perez lied to IRS revenue officers and submitted false forms to the IRS about his income.

    Perez’s misconduct continued even after he was charged for tax offenses in February 2018. From January 2018 through June 2019, he reported that BaronHR West had paid total wages of approximately $54 million and paid approximately $7 million in total taxes on these wages to the IRS. In fact, BaronHR West paid approximately $185 million in total wages and was required but did not pay approximately $37 million in total taxes to the IRS. Similarly, during the first quarter of 2022, BaronHR West paid about $30 million in wages and was obligated to pay nearly $6 million in taxes. The company paid only $76,000.

    In total, Perez caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $60 million.

    Instead of paying his tax obligations, Perez used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle for himself, including multiple large residences, courtside seats to the Los Angeles Lakers, a private jet, a yacht, and dozens of luxury automobiles, including Bentleys and Lamborghinis.

    In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Kenly Kiya Kato for the Central District of California ordered Perez to serve three years of supervised release and pay $38,052,767 in restitution to the IRS.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Robert Kemins of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett A. Sagel and James C. Hughes for the Central District of California prosecuted the case

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Acceleware Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acceleware® Ltd. (“Acceleware” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: AXE), an advanced electromagnetic (“EM”) heating company with highly scalable solutions for large industrial applications, today announced its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 (all figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted). The Company’s products are branded EM Powered Heat and provide a pathway to economically electrify and decarbonize industrial heating processes previously considered difficult to abate. EM Powered Heat technology is powered by the Company’s proprietary Clean Tech Inverter (“CTI”) for applications including enhanced oil recovery (“RF XL”), mining and mineral processing, carbon capture, cement and concrete, and agri-food. In addition to EM Powered Heat, the Company also provides specialized scientific high-performance (“HPC”) software. This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited interim condensed financial statements and the accompanying notes for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) thereto, together with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, notes and MD&A thereto, all of which are available on Acceleware’s website at www.acceleware.com or on www.sedarplus.ca.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    Financial highlights:

      Three Months Ended
        March 31, 2025     March 31, 2024  
    Revenue $ 431,226   $ 43,594  
    Comprehensive loss $ (382,195 ) $ (969,971 )
    R&D expenditures $ 420,829   $ 501,115  
                 

    Acceleware is piloting RF XL at its commercial-scale RF XL pilot project at Marwayne, Alberta (the “RF XL Pilot”). The RF XL Pilot successfully demonstrated the potential of the technology in an operational environment. RF XL is the first application of the Company’s patent-protected CTI. Functionality of the CTI has been proven through scaled field tests conducted in 2019 and 2020, and over six months of operation at the RF XL Pilot. Please refer to the RF XL PILOT UPDATE section below for more information, and to the MD&A for a complete RF XL Pilot update.

    Based on positive results to date, Acceleware remains confident that RF XL will become viable as a critical technology in the effort to reduce production costs and decarbonize heavy oil and oil sands production. In 2024, the Company’s operations team continued data analysis, “history-matching” simulations and other analyses of operational data from tests in 2022. The analysis provides evidence that the operation of the RF XL Pilot resulted in sustained heating of the formation around the heating well prior to the pause in operations for maintenance and inspection. In particular, the Company successfully injected RF power into the heating well for over 200 days — a significant milestone and something that has never been achieved before. Also of note is that the CTI successfully operated for seven consecutive months at a variety of power levels and operating conditions during this time.

    In the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company continued to work on the next iteration of the RF XL subsurface system to more concretely address technical issues that were illuminated during the first phase of heating at the RF XL Pilot. These iterations are also expected to significantly reduce the complexity of the subsurface structure, while reducing manufacturing and deployment costs once commercialized. This redesign work is now complete and ready for manufacturing and deployment. The Company is seeking funding for a second phase of heating at the RF XL Pilot incorporating the new subsurface design and existing surface facilities including the CTI. During 2024 the Company confirmed that the expected cost to redeploy the upgraded design at Marwayne would be approximately $5 million including contingency. Also in 2024, the Company announced that it had secured a total of up to $1.3 million in non-dilutive funding from the Clean Resource Innovation Network (“CRIN”) for the next phase of the RF XL Pilot, contingent on the Company sourcing the remaining $3.7 million. The Company has identified several industry and government potential funders and has discussed the project with them. The purpose of the second phase of heating at the RF XL Pilot is to enable higher power to be distributed into the reservoir for a sustained period, resulting in higher reservoir temperatures and oil production, to advance the potential commercial viability of RF XL technology.

    In addition to development work, and with results gained from RF XL deployment in Marwayne to date, Management has also initiated a strategic review of the commercialization plan for RF XL. The process involved analyzing various heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs in western Canada, with the goal of identifying the optimal resources for the demonstration of commercial viability of RF XL. These reservoirs included not only the vast McMurray oil sands, but also heavy oil plays including the Clearwater in north-central Alberta, the Bluesky in west-central Alberta, and the Mannville Stack in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan. The review process has led Management to conclude that heavy oil plays offer the greatest near-term potential for commercializing RF XL, due to lower initial capital per well, ability to scale from one heating well to many, lower operating cost to effectively decrease viscosity, and the potential for significant incremental production and ultimate recovery to make uneconomic resources economic. Once proven in heavy oil, Management believes the oil sands will offer significant market expansion potential.

    In Q1 2025 Acceleware’s board of directors approved an initiative proposed by Management to investigate (in parallel with continued effort to progress a second phase of heating at Marwayne) the opportunity for Acceleware, as an operator, to acquire rights to a suitable heavy oil property, and thereafter apply RF XL as a secondary recovery method to improve the property’s production, cashflow, ultimate recovery and asset valuation. Under this scenario, Acceleware would benefit from the valuation enhancement brought about by RF XL. Management has commenced its investigation pursuant to this initiative as of the date of this news release. In the three months ended March 31, 2025 the Company’s subsurface team refined its reservoir selection criteria and identified several promising locations for a commercial demonstration of RF XL.

    As of the date of this news release, the Company completed additional IMII-funded testing of a 100kg per hour prototype potash dryer with further promising results. IMII and its participating members had requested additional testing under various scenarios before considering the Company’s Phase 3 proposal for the design, construction and testing of a new, larger-scale prototype. Acceleware expects to learn if IMII and its members will sanction a Phase 3 project later this year. IMII’s minerals industry members include BHP, Cameco Corporation, Fission Uranium Corp., The Mosaic Company and Nutrien Ltd.

    During the three months ended March 31, 2025, Acceleware continued to invest in developing and protecting new intellectual property with the number of patents issued, allowed, applied for, or in development totalling 62. The Company has 28 patents granted or allowed to protect various proprietary technologies and 34 patent applications pending or under development. The Company uses an integrated strategy for IP protection involving a combination of patenting and trade secrets, working closely with the patent offices and intellectual property advisors.

    RF XL PILOT UPDATE
    Acceleware plans to initiate a second phase of heating after completing a proposed significant subsurface design upgrade to address the moisture ingress issue. Prior to the next phase of heating, all RF XL subsurface components will be removed, and substantially upgraded, and then redeployed. This plan was developed in consultation with industry partners and service providers and among the alternatives examined, it is expected to have the highest probability of achieving higher power injected into the reservoir for a sustained period. The subsurface design was further refined in Q1 2025 to more completely address the moisture ingress issue, to increase simplicity and to reduce costs for the commercial product. The refined design is not expected to materially impact the estimated cost for the second phase of heating at the RF XL Pilot. An estimated additional $5 million of funding is required to complete the redeployment including contingency, and Acceleware is actively working to raise these funds. Acceleware has secured $1.3 million partial funding for the redeployment conditional on securing the balance of the funds from industry partners or other sources. The final timing and cost of the redeployment and subsequent heating is uncertain and remains primarily dependent on financing, partner investment, the time required to source the remaining financing, and the successful deployment of repairs and components.

    Total direct funding received for the first phase of the RF XL Pilot was $24.4 million and included $5.9 million from Alberta Innovates, $5.5 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (“SDTC”), $5.0 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta (“ERA”), $3.0 million from CRIN and $5.0 million in aggregate from three oil sands operators. See discussion below in Financial Summary. In exchange for funding, the oil sands operators received exclusive access to detailed technical data and test results, prioritized rights to host a subsequent test, preferred pricing on pre-commercial products and preferred access to RF XL products. These major oil sands producers represent well over one million barrels of oil sands and heavy oil production per day.

    QUARTER IN REVIEW
    Revenue of $431 thousand was recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2025 (“Q1 2025”) compared to $44 thousand in the three months ended March 31, 2024 (“Q1 2024”) and $1.9 million in the previous quarter ended December 31, 2024 (“Q4 2024”). Revenue in Q4 2024 was substantially associated with deferred revenue recognized relating to a contract with one oil sands producer for the RF XL Pilot.

    Total comprehensive loss for Q1 2025 was $383 thousand compared to a comprehensive loss of $1.0 million for Q1 2024 and comprehensive income of $0.9 million for Q4 2024. The reduction in comprehensive loss in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024 was due to higher revenue and a significant reduction in R&D and G&A expenses. Comprehensive income in Q4 2024 was higher due to revenue related to the RF XL Pilot. Finance expense includes interest expense on convertible debentures and notes payable which are funding the Company’s working capital. Comprehensive income in all periods was impacted by changes in value of the derivative financial instruments embedded within the convertible debenture. The changes in derivative value are driven primarily by the fluctuation in the Company’s share price.

    R&D expenses incurred in Q1 2025 were $421 thousand compared to $501 thousand in Q1 2024 and $581 thousand in Q4 2024. R&D spending in Q1 2025 and Q4 2024 was related to the IMII dryer for potash ore and included lab engineering, designing and testing, data analysis, and partner consultations, and to further engineering on the next iteration of the RF XL Pilot. R&D spending in Q1 2024 was related to the RF XL Pilot. There was $nil government assistance received in Q1 2025, Q4 2024 and Q1 2024.

    G&A expenses incurred in Q1 2025 were $253 thousand compared to $452 thousand in Q1 2024 and $315 thousand in Q4 2024. There were lower non-cash payroll related costs incurred in Q1 2025 due to the timing of option grants and lower professional fees as the Company continues to prioritize cost control given uncertain economic conditions.

    As at December 31, 2024, Acceleware had negative working capital of $3.6 million (December 31, 2024 – negative working capital of $3.4 million) including cash and cash equivalents of $211 thousand (December 31, 2024 – $272 thousand). The increase in negative working capital is attributable to the decrease in cash as well as an increase in short term notes payable, and an increase in deferred management compensation.

    In the interests of matching cash requirements with a combination of cash generated from operations, external funding, and capital raising activities, the Company actively manages its cash flow and investments in new products. Acceleware intends to maximize cash generated from operations through several initiatives which include continuing to focus on higher gross margin software products that are marketed through a combination of direct and reseller models; minimizing operating expenses where possible; and limiting capital expenditures. As the Company continues to develop its RF Heating technology, new R&D investments will be financed through a combination of internal cash flow from the HPC business, project funding agreements, government assistance and external financing, when available.

    ABOUT ACCELEWARE:
    Acceleware is an innovator of clean-tech decarbonization technologies comprised of two business units: Radio Frequency Heating Technology and Seismic Imaging Software.  

    Acceleware is piloting RF XL, its patented low-cost, low-carbon production technology for heavy oil and oil sands that is materially different from any heavy oil recovery technique used today. Acceleware’s vision is that electrification of heavy oil and oil sands production can be made possible through RF XL, supporting a transition to much cleaner energy production that can quickly bend the emissions curve downward. With clean electricity, Acceleware’s RF XL technology could eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy oil and oil sands production. RF XL uses no water, requires no solvent, has a small physical footprint, can be redeployed from site to site, and can be applied to a multitude of reservoir types. Acceleware is also actively developing partnerships for RF heating of other industrial applications using the Company’s proprietary CTI.

    Acceleware and Saa Dene Group (co-founded by Jim Boucher) have created Acceleware | Kisâstwêw to raise the profile, adoption, and value of Acceleware technologies. The shared vision of the partnership is to improve the environmental and economic performance of the energy sector by supporting ideals that are important to Indigenous peoples, including respect for land, water, and clean air.

    The Company’s seismic imaging software solutions are state-of-the-art for high fidelity imaging, providing the most accurate and advanced imaging available for oil exploration in complex geologies. Acceleware is a public company listed on Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “AXE”.

    NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND OTHER ADVISORIES
    This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally means information about an issuer’s business, capital, or operations that are prospective in nature, and includes disclosure about the issuer’s prospective financial performance or financial position. 

    The forward-looking information in this press release can be identified by terms such as “believes”, “estimates”, “plans”, “potential”, and “will”, and includes information about, the expected commercialization of RF XL, the expected cost of the RF XL Pilot, the timing of the execution of the RF XL Pilot and the redeployment, expected financing required for the RF XL Pilot redeployment, the anticipated economic and societal benefits of the RF XL technology, and the future development plans related to potash ore drying prototypes. Acceleware assumes that current cost estimates are accurate, current timelines will not be delayed by either internal or external causes, that research and development effort including the commercial-scale test plans will result in commercial-ready products, and that future capital raising efforts will be successful.  

    Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this press release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors are described in detail in Acceleware’s continuous disclosure documents, which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 

    Acceleware assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this press release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation. 

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this release in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. 

    DISCLAIMER

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    For more information:
    Geoff Clark
    Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099
    geoff.clark@acceleware.com

    Acceleware Ltd.
    435 10th Avenue SE
    Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3
    Canada
    Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099
    www.acceleware.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: POTUS at the MAHA Commission Meeting

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2zuDtyye9k

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Vows Action as Make America Healthy Again Report Reveals Childhood Health Crisis

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    “I created the Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again, and today, the Commission officially delivers its first report on childhood health…. Something’s wrong, and we will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America.” –President Donald J. Trump

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVG62r5rIkw

    MIL OSI Video –