NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jefferson County Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – James Yerdon, age 54, of Adams Center, New York, appeared in federal court last week charged with possession of child pornography. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III,  Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

    The charge filed against Yerdon carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release between 5 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

    Yerdon appeared for an arraignment in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks and was detained pending further proceedings.

    The complaint filed against Yerdon alleges that on May 13, 2025, during an ongoing investigation by NYSP and HSI regarding allegations Yerdon had engaged in the hands-on sexual abuse of a child, a search was conducted of Yerdon’s home. During the search, Yerdon was found in possession of a cellphone on which Yerdon possessed multiple images and videos of child pornography including material depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as five months old. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. Yerdon is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “We thank HSI and the NYSP for their dedication and tireless work on this investigation. The defendant’s actions, as alleged, targeted infants and children, the most vulnerable amongst us.  I will not stand for it.”

    “James Yerdon is accused of preying upon defenseless victims–babies and children–for his own despicable sexual gratification,” said Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Buffalo. “Members of the public deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods and in their own homes. HSI Syracuse and our law enforcement partners are relentlessly committed to our shared pursuit of a safer New York.”

    NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The State Police have zero tolerance for anyone involved in child pornography, promoting the acts of child predators, or who perform predatory acts against children. The charge in this case reflects the severity of the crime and our commitment to finding justice for the victims. We thank our partner agencies involved for their determination in holding Mr. Yerdon accountable for his reprehensible actions.”

    The case was investigated by HSI and NYSP and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican, Ecuadorian Nationals Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two men convicted of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania were sentenced today.

    Yovany Basurto, aka Yovany Basurt Leal, 33, a Mexican national, was sentenced this morning by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. to time served, exactly three months for illegally reentering the U.S. after having been deported.

    In February of this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) received electronic notification that Basurto had been arrested and processed by the Bridgeport Borough (Pa.) Police Department on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI).

    He was arrested by ICE on a federal complaint and warrant, indicted in March, and pleaded guilty to illegal reentry last month.

    The defendant had previously been arrested by ICE in October of 2018 for being in the U.S. without authorization and was removed from the country in February 2019. In June of the same year, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Basurto in Laredo, Texas, after he illegally reentered the United States once again. That July, Basurto was removed from the U.S. for the second time. After serving the sentence imposed today, he will again be removed from the country.

    Cristhian Vega-Guerra, 34, an Ecuadorian national, was sentenced this afternoon by United States District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg to time served, approximately three months and for illegally reentering the U.S. after having been deported.

    After receiving and investigating information that the defendant may be illegally residing in Lehigh County, ICE arrested Vega-Guerra on a federal complaint and warrant in January 2025. He pleaded guilty last month to a superseding information charging him with illegal reentry.

    In March 2023, the U.S. Border Patrol had encountered Vega-Guerra near Eagle Pass, Texas, and arrested him for entering the U.S. without authorization. He was ordered removed and deported from the country that August. After serving the sentence imposed today, he will again be removed from the country.

    “Illegal immigration strains our public services, endangers our citizens, and insults the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “If you keep coming into this country illegally, know that we will keep prosecuting you, and the penalties will keep getting steeper.”

    “Yovany Basurto and Cristhian Vega-Guerra showed complete disregard for our nation’s immigration laws by repeatedly violating them and are therefore subject to removal,” said ICE ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane. “These sentences send a clear message that aliens who dismiss an immigration judge’s order of removal by illegally reentering the United States after being deported are committing a criminal offense.”

    These cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Schopf and Rebecca Kulik.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salvadoran National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Immigration Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOISE – Jorge Humberto Caballero-Umana, 37, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for being a deported alien found in the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.

    According to court records, Caballero-Umana is a native and citizen of El Salvador. The United States lawfully removed Caballero-Umana from the country in January 2018 and January 2020. After his removal from the United States, Caballero-Umana again re-entered the United States illegally and without lawful authority. Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered Caballero-Umana in Ada County in June 2024. Caballero-Umana has a history of state felony convictions in Utah, as well as federal convictions in 2018 and 2019 for being a deported alien found in the United States.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for their work on this investigation.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dozens of Illegal Aliens Plead Guilty to National Defense Area Violations in May

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EL PASO, Texas – Beginning in early May, additional criminal charges were filed against individuals who illegally entered or were found illegally in the United States and who had illegally entered the National Defense Area (NDA) that had been established along the U.S.-Mexico border from area bordering New Mexico, through El Paso County, to an area near Fort Hancock. As of May 19, 60 defendants had pleaded guilty and were convicted of these charges.

    Title 50 United States Code (USC) 797 and Title 18 USC 1382 are among the federal statutes that establish criminal penalties for unlawful intrusions into areas designated as National Defense Areas.  Title 50 USC 797 refers to the willful violation of defense property security regulation, which, pursuant to lawful authority, was approved by the Secretary of Defense—or a military commander designated by the Secretary of Defense—for the protection or security of Department of Defense property. Title 18 USC 1382 subjects anyone to criminal penalties who, within the jurisdiction of the U.S., entered upon a military post, fort, or yard—in these cases, the Texas National Defense Area—for a purpose prohibit by law or lawful regulation, that is illegal entry into the U.S.

    “The role of this U.S. Attorney’s Office is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and to administer and enforce the nation’s laws to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “These NDA-related charges are brought because the defendants violated of the federal law. These convictions area positive step in the judicial process of deterring illegal immigration, and I am very grateful to our El Paso Division staff and to our federal law enforcement and military partners for their diligent work in securing our borders.”

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Woman Who Trafficked Over 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden Inside Bag of Dog Food Sentenced to Decade in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Georgia woman was sentenced on May 14, 2025 in federal court in Boston for her role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that trafficked narcotics from Mexico into the United States.

    Brooke Logan Paniagua, 28, of Dalton, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release. In January 2025, Paniagua pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.  

    On Sept. 25, 2022, the DTO informed a confidential source that a female courier would be transporting 12 pounds of methamphetamine from Georgia to Massachusetts. On Sept. 27, 2022, Paniagua called the confidential source to coordinate the time and location to meet to complete the sale of the methamphetamine. Paniagua informed the confidential source that the methamphetamine was hidden inside a 50-pound bag of dog food.  
        
    On Sept. 27, 2022, Paniagua arrived at the agreed-upon location and notified the confidential source that she had arrived at the location. During a search of her person, a .22 caliber Ruger handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition was located in Paniagua’s back pocket. A search of Paniagua’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a large, partially opened bag of dog food that contained five plastic containers filled with 12.3 pounds of 97% pure methamphetamine. 
            
    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, and the Natick, Newton and Waltham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Salvadorian National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Salvadorian national pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

    Juan Alberto Orellana Pena, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 4, 2025. Orellana Pena was arrested on a criminal complaint and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024. Orellana Pena has remained in custody since.

    Orellana Pena unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date. In 1998, he was convicted of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years of age or older, in
    Worcester District Court. He was later removed from the United States in May 2008.

    Sometime after his May 2008 removal, Orellana Pena unlawfully reentered the United States. In August 2012, in Uxbridge, Orellana Pena was stopped for speeding resulting in Orellana Pena being indicted for illegal reentry of a deported alien in October 2012. Orellana Pena was sentenced to a term of one year and a day in federal prison. In November 2013, upon completion of this sentence, Orellana Pena was removed from the United States.

    On an unknown date after his November 2013 removal, Orellana Pena reentered the United States. Federal authorities became aware of Orellana Pena’s return to the United States after he was arrested in Worcester for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a family household member and assault and battery on or about June 16, 2024.

    The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of an imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Portland, Oregon man sentenced to four years in prison for traveling to Seattle believing he would sexually assault children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Seattle – A 64-year-old Portland, Oregon, man was sentenced today to four years in prison for traveling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Marc David McCool was arrested May 16, 2024, when he arrived at a Seattle area hotel, allegedly intending to sexually abuse fictitious 7 and 11-year-old children. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed 15 years of supervised release to follow the prison term.

    According to records filed in the case, McCool responded to an ad posted on social media by an undercover law enforcement agent. Over more than six weeks of “chats” via the Kik Messenger App, McCool described his sexual interest in children. Ultimately, McCool arranged to travel to Seattle believing he would sexually abuse two young children. He was arrested after he traveled by train and a rideshare to the meet location. At the time of arrest, he had various items reflective of his sexual interest in abusing children: condoms, baby oil, rope, and stuffed animals.

    Speaking at sentencing McCool said his life has been forever changed. He said he has lost everything and damaged his relationships with everyone he loves. He hopes to get treatment while incarcerated.

    Judge Coughenour commended the resolution of the case.

    The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation as part of the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Members of a Drug Trafficking Organization Run by Murder Convict at the Spokane County Jail Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Alexandro Aguilar 33, to 30 years in prison, Kassandra M. Montelongo, 27, to 10 years in prison, and Luis Lara, 25, to 10 years in prison on drug trafficking charges. 

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in August 2022, Aguilar was being held at the Spokane County Jail, following state court conviction for murder. Deputies with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office developed information Aguilar was regularly communicating from jail with Montelongo, who was acting as his agent for a drug trafficking operation on the outside.  Investigators also developed information that Lara and another man, Jose Garcia, were also involved in the drug operation.

    Between December 2022 and January 2023, agents conducted several controlled drug purchases in Spokane Valley, from Aguilar’s drug operation totaling 7,700 fentanyl pills and more than 7 pounds of methamphetamine. Federal law enforcement additionally obtained cocaine through these controlled purchases, which involved convert purchases under law enforcement supervision of illegal drugs to use as evidence against the defendants.

    On June 7, 2023, federal agents executed a search warrant at Montelongo’s home in Sunnyside, Washington. During the search, agents located approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine, a small scale, and ziplock bags. Additionally, agents located multiple high-capacity magazines, bulk ammunition in various calibers, one AR-15 style rifle, two pistols, and cash.

    On January 24, 2025, Garcia was sentenced to 10 years in prison on one count of methamphetamine distribution.

    “Drug trafficking continues to devastate families and communities across Eastern Washington, especially in our most vulnerable and underserved areas,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker. “Our office will continue to pursue those who profit of off addiction and violence, and we will continue to support law enforcement efforts to stop the flow of deadly narcotics like fentanyl and protect the people we serve.”

    This case was investigated by the FBI Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles H. Heinrich and Patrick J. Cashman.

    1:23-cr-02039-MKD

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Duo Sentenced to 17 Years Each for Violent Armed Carjackings

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    INDIANAPOLIS— Bryant Hoskins, 20, and Samuel Fancher, Jr., 19, of Indianapolis, have each been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

    According to court documents, in late May of 2024, Fancher Jr. and Hoskins committed two violent carjackings in less than one week, targeting Uber drivers during the late-night hours.

    On May 24, 2024, at 4:30 in the morning, the duo called an Uber to pick them up near East 21st street in Indianapolis. Once they reached their drop off location, they held the driver at gunpoint and ordered him to get out of the car. When the driver did not immediately comply, one of the defendants dragged the driver out of the car and punched him in the head. They took the driver’s wallet and then drove away in his Toyota Rav 4. After fleeing the scene, they took videos of themselves driving the stolen vehicle and bragging, “I told you we was gone get one… we got one.”

    Just five days later on May 29, the duo called another Uber to pick them up near Franklin Road, this time targeting a luxury vehicle so they could sell the stolen vehicle for profit. Once they reached their drop off location, they held the female driver at gunpoint and ordered her to get out of her Mercedes GLA. She did not immediately comply, and during the ensuing struggle Hoskins fired his weapon. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder and received treatment at a local hospital.

    “Uber drivers frequently work alone during late hours, putting their safety at risk just to earn a living. The defendants exploited this vulnerability, leaving both victims deeply traumatized and showing no signs of remorse. Instead, they became emboldened—committing additional crimes and boasting about their actions,” said John E. Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Gig workers have the right to feel safe, especially as they provide vital transportation services. Our office remains committed to working with federal and local partners to ensure that violent offenders are held accountable for their reckless actions.”

    “No one should fear becoming a victim of violence simply while driving their car in an effort to support themselves,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy O’Malley. “This sentence sends a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will pursue violent offenders relentlessly and work tirelessly to restore a sense of safety and justice to our neighborhoods.”

    FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Massa and Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Torrington Man Involved in Hartford-Based Drug Ring Guilty of Fentanyl Trafficking Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found MARIO PASCUAL-AQUINO, 44, of Torrington, guilty of fentanyl trafficking offenses.

    According to the evidence presented during the trial, this matter stems from a DEA Hartford Task Force investigation of a Hartford-based drug trafficking organization involved in the distribution of a large amount of fentanyl and other narcotics, and the transportation and laundering of cash proceeds from their drug trafficking activity.  In January 2022, law enforcement coordinated a motor vehicle stop of a minivan and seized $92,000 from a hidden compartment.  The investigation revealed that Harold Luis Del Orbe, also known as “Jaro,” was directing the operators of the minivan to conduct narcotics-related transactions on his behalf.  On November 16, 2022, investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant at an apartment on Putnam Heights in Hartford and seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, items used to process and package narcotics, and a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun.  Pascual-Aquino, Del Orbe, and others were present in the apartment at the time of the search.

    The trial before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver began on May 14, 2025.  On May 19, Pascual-Aquino was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  At sentencing, which is scheduled for August 13, Pascual-Aquino faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

    Pascual-Aquino, who had been released on bond, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of his trial.

    Del Orbe pleaded guilty to related charges and, on May 6, 2025, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

    In April 2017, Pascual-Aquino was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 30 months of imprisonment for his role in a stolen identity tax refund scheme.

    This investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Robert S. Dearington through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Slams Republicans for Advancing Bill to Rip Health Care Away from Millions & Warns GOP Will Impose Higher Health Costs for All

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Republicans in the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees voted along party lines to severely cut Medicaid and blow a hole in America’s health care system in order to provide bigger tax benefits to billionaires and big corporations.

    The House Republican plan would take health care away from millions of Americans, including children and seniors in nursing home, as well as people battling cancer or addiction, and working families who don’t receive health care through their employers.  It would result in 10.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage and 7.6 million people going uninsured, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

    Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed denounced the Republican plan to cut Medicaid, stating:

    “The American people want more people to have health insurance and for it to be more affordable.  Republicans apparently don’t agree and want to whack Medicaid so fewer people have coverage and costs go up.  These Trump inspired cuts will do real harm – pushing seniors out of nursing homes, increasing hospital closures, and denying families access to preventative care.  If you think the emergency room is crowded now, just wait until Trump’s Medicaid cuts happen.  

    “These cuts to Medicaid are extremely unpopular, which is why Republicans hope people don’t notice.  I urge citizens to look closely at what Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration are trying to do here.  Get engaged before it is too late. 

    “Ensuring the health care system is strong, sustainable, affordable, and accessible to all will do more to save Americans their hard earned money, rather than a few dollars in tax cuts.  Congressional Republicans are trying to jam Medicaid cuts through without people noticing.  Trump Administration officials are trying to incorrectly brand Medicaid, which covers hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders, as ‘welfare.’  It’s not welfare – it’s a lifeline.

    “I will continue to sound the alarm and oppose it every step of the way.  We have a long way to go, and together, we can make a difference.  But ordinary people need to speak up and send a message that if Republicans cut Medicaid, they will be held accountable.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Helps Increase Wages for RI Defense Workers Building State-of-the-Art Submarines for U.S. Navy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today commended General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB), the U.S. Navy, and labor leaders for working together to reach a tentative agreement that will increase wages for workers at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island.
     
    Last year, Reed, who was then serving as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), led passage of the $883.7 billion fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included permissive authority for wage increases for submarine workers.  President Biden signed the measure into law in December 2024 and Reed, working on the Appropriations Committee, helped to include the funds in the Continuing Resolution to allow the Navy to underwrite the cost of these wage increases for shipbuilders. 
     
    On April 30, the Navy awarded EB and Newport News Shipbuilding, which is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, an $18.4 billion contract for new submarines and workforce development, including wage improvements.
     
    “This is good news for the hardworking men and women who help build these world-class submarines right here in Rhode Island.  They deserve a raise and fair wages that reflect the value of their outstanding work.  This will also help us recruit and retain the skilled workers needed to continue building these next generation submarines at Quonset.  So it is a win for these workers, the state’s economy, and national security,” said Senator Reed.
     
    The new wage includes across the board wage increases for hourly employees at EB’s Quonset shipyard and will increase the starting rate to $22/hour.

    Additionally, current shipbuilders will see wage increases that range from 2 percent to over 6 percent depending on years of service and specific trade – for example additional wage increases for trades that have been both difficult to attract/retain employees.

    EB will also implement a new Pay-for-Performance model where hourly employees will be eligible for greater increases every 6 months based on a performance review.

    As a result of the wage adjustments, the maximum rate for each Labor Grade will also increase.
     
    The changes are scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Trump’s Middle East AI Giveaway

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC  — President Donald Trump’s efforts to curry favor from several wealthy royal families that rule over countries in the Middle East and cut artificial intelligence deals with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could threaten U.S. national security and put American economic interests at risk.

    Today. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) along with Congressmen Jim Himes (D-CT) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) issued the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s artificial intelligence deals that were announced with Saudi Arabia and the UAE this week:

    “Democrats and Republicans have long agreed that American companies must remain the undisputed leader in AI, a rapidly developing technology critical to the future of everything from our national security to manufacturing, finance to health care. We have worked hard to ensure the most powerful AI systems are built here, and we have fought to restrict the most sophisticated chips from reaching China – or those who would grant remote access to China – given Beijing’s use of AI to strengthen its military, crack down on domestic dissent, and compete with the U.S.

    “President Trump announced deals to export very large volumes of advanced AI chips to the UAE and Saudi Arabia without credible security assurances to prevent U.S. adversaries from accessing those chips. These deals pose a significant threat to U.S. national security and fundamentally undermine bipartisan efforts to ensure the United States remains the global leader in AI. Rather than putting America first, this deal puts the Gulf first.

    “The volume of AI chips Trump is offering for export would deprive American AI developers of highly sought-after chips needed here and slow the U.S. AI buildout. Under this deal, data centers and AI systems that would otherwise be built in America will be built in the Middle East – at the exact time that President Trump says he wants to bring jobs and key industries back home. This deal would incentivize U.S. firms to build the factories of the future overseas, creating significant vulnerabilities in our AI supply chain. If our leading AI firms offshore their frontier computing infrastructure to the Middle East, we could become as reliant on the Middle East for AI as we are on Taiwan for advanced semiconductors – and as we used to be on the Middle East for oil. We should not foster new dependencies on foreign countries for this premier technology.

    “Additionally, these deals will provide our highest end chips to G42, a company with a well-documented history of cooperation with the People’s Republic of China. We applaud the administration’s efforts to limit exports of advanced AI chips to China, including recent actions to further restrict exports of Nvidia chips. However, these efforts will be for nothing if G42 or other companies with ties to China are given large quantities of our most advanced chips.

    “Proponents of the deal argue that China will fill the gap if we do not sell substantial quantities of advanced chips to these countries. This is false. China cannot and will not because China makes fewer chips as a nation than these deals offer, and each is inferior to their U.S.-designed equivalent. This is thanks to the bipartisan efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations to cut off China’s access to advanced chip manufacturing equipment. These efforts have worked, and we should double down on this success rather than squander the leverage we have won.

    “If this deal succeeds, the offshoring of frontier American AI will be recorded as an historic American blunder. People around the world deserve to enjoy the benefits we will reap from AI. However, AI chips must only be exported to trusted companies, in reasonable numbers, and in concert with credible security standards and assurances. We welcome the opportunity to work with the administration to meet these objectives and urge our colleagues in Congress to do the same.”

    Senator Reed is Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  Senator Coons is Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Senator Shaheen is Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Warner is Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator Kelly is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Congressman Himes is Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee. Congressman Krishnamoorthi is Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leading National Security Senators to Trump: If your tariff tirade continues to spiral, “America First” may result in “America Alone”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — This week, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to President Donald Trump expressing concern about the Administration’s tariff policy and its harmful impact on U.S. national security.

    The leading national security Senators warned that tariffs announced this year will cost American households thousands of dollars, increase inflation and undermine longstanding U.S. alliances and partnerships—ultimately harming U.S. national security interests. They urged President Trump to reassess the long-term national security consequences of a trade policy that isolates the U.S. from its closest partners. 

    “We are writing to express our deep concern over your Administration’s tariff policy and its harmful impact on U.S. national security,” wrote the Senators. “The tariffs announced this year will raise trade barriers to their highest level in more than a century, costing the average American household $4,900 per year, increasing inflation to as high as 5.5 percent and risking bankruptcy for small businesses across the country.”

    “Global stock markets have experienced wild fluctuations and companies have paused shipments to the United States, laid off workers and delayed new investments and expansion due to the uncertainty these tariffs have caused,” continued the Senators. “Yet this decision has an additional consequence: it undermines longstanding U.S. alliances and partnerships and harms our national security interests. We urge you to assess the long-term national security implications of your short-sighted, impulsive tariff agenda.”

    “As the Senate considers the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget request, we will hold a number of hearings,” concluded the Senators. “We expect Administration officials to speak to the impact of U.S. tariff actions on our alliances and partnerships as part of that process. If your tariff tirade continues to spiral, ‘America First’ may result in ‘America Alone,’ leaving our citizens less safe and our Nation less strong and less prosperous.”

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear President Trump,

    We are writing to express our deep concern over your Administration’s tariff policy and its harmful impact on U.S. national security. The tariffs announced this year will raise trade barriers to their highest level in more than a century, costing the average American household $4,900 per year, increasing inflation to as high as 5.5 percent and risking bankruptcy for small businesses across the country. Global stock markets have experienced wild fluctuations and companies have paused shipments to the United States, laid off workers and delayed new investments and expansion due to the uncertainty these tariffs have caused. Yet this decision has an additional consequence: it undermines longstanding U.S. alliances and partnerships and harms our national security interests. We urge you to assess the long-term national security implications of your short-sighted, impulsive tariff agenda.

    The April 2nd Executive Order has been deeply felt by partners and allies across the world. All NATO allies have been affected, in addition to Indo-Pacific partners whom the United States relies upon to deliver the “free and open Indo-Pacific” that Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio has continued to call for. However, the rationale for these tariffs remains unclear to both Americans and our allies. While the April 9th announcement to pause some tariffs and apparent willingness to negotiate was a positive step, it remains unclear what goals this negotiation is meant to achieve and thus what actions countries should be prepared to take. In addition, the ten percent universal tariff appears likely to remain in place, weakening relationships with our allies and partners.

    Some of our allies, arguably our most critical allies who have stood by us in our most challenging times, have announced economic counter measures against the United States. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen has said the European Union is readying its “first package of countermeasures,” while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has noted “we are going to fight these tariffs” after having warned that Canada’s “trade and security relations are too reliant on the United States. We must diversify.” We are also concerned that US-EU negotiations show no sign of progress, with reports that the Trump Administration refuses to engage in good faith with America’s largest trading partner.

    At the same time as the Administration is imposing new tariffs, we are also urging our European and Indo-Pacific partners to increase defense spending. The Administration has called on NATO allies to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product and Taiwan to increase their defense spending to 10 percent; only to turn around and undermine such an effort by threatening a trade war that stifles economic growth and raises costs. We are already seeing reports that partners will have to diversify away from U.S. parts in weapons production and procurement and critical security partnerships, like AUKUS, could end up too expensive to pursue.

    The tariffs are also likely in conflict with our U.S. treaty commitments. For instance, the tariffs imposed on NATO members could be a violation of Article II of the North Atlantic Treaty, which calls on all NATO partners to “eliminate conflict in their international economic policies,” and “encourage economic collaboration.” The same language exists in our mutual defense treaty with Japan. The Administration must explain to how the tariff announcements are in accordance with U.S. treaty commitments. 

    Our networks of allies and partners are our greatest competitive advantage. We must work to foster greater unity and resolve to address the most pressing national security challenges together. Your administration’s policy approach is undermining such efforts. Strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will be far harder to win alone. As we learned in 2022, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we can impose significant economic pain when the United States, the European Union, and our Indo-Pacific partners act in unison. We are stronger together. And launching a trade war against our allies and partners undermines that strength. We urge you to rethink this harmful policy.  

    As the Senate considers the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget request, we will hold a number of hearings. We expect Administration officials to speak to the impact of U.S. tariff actions on our alliances and partnerships as part of that process. If your tariff tirade continues to spiral, “America First” may result in “America Alone,” leaving our citizens less safe and our Nation less strong and less prosperous.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Leads Legislation to Counter Adversary Nuclear Energy Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-Del.), senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mike Lee (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the International Nuclear Energy Act. This legislation aims to support the U.S. domestic nuclear energy industry’s leadership and offset China and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development.

    “If the U.S. doesn’t lead on nuclear energy development, Russia and China will,” said Risch. “This bill will give us the tools we need to compete with these authoritarian aggressors and build long-lasting nuclear energy deals that benefit our economy and ensure America remains the leader on nuclear energy for generations to come.”

    “With the International Nuclear Energy Act, we’re not asking for a seat at the table—we’re setting the agenda on global nuclear development,” said Lee. “Achieving American energy dominance will require us to streamline our nuclear exports, foster our relationships abroad, and bring the full weight of American industry to bear in out-competing our geopolitical adversaries. I’m grateful to partner with Senator Risch to ensure that America remains at the forefront of nuclear power for decades to come.”

    The International Nuclear Energy Act would:

    • Support the establishment of an office to coordinate civil nuclear exports strategy; establish financing relationships; promote regulatory harmonization; enhance safeguards and security; promote standardization of licensing framework; and create a nuclear exports working group.

    • Create programs to facilitate international nuclear energy cooperation to develop financing relationships, training, education, market analysis, safety, security, safeguards and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program.

    • Require a cabinet-level biennial summit focused on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards, and to enhance cooperative relationships between private industry and government.

    • Establish a Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group to determine how to best structure a Fund to finance projects critical to national security.

    The International Nuclear Energy Act is supported by the Idaho National Lab, Nuclear Energy Institute, and Clearpath Action.

    “I commend Senator Risch for his continued leadership and attention to advancing U.S. nuclear energy policy on the global stage. Securing American leadership in global nuclear deployment is essential to national security, meeting international energy demand, and ensuring that safe, reliable technologies define the global standard,” said John Wagner, Director of Idaho National Laboratory.

    “From Europe and the Asia-Pacific, from the Americas to the Middle East and Africa, countries are turning to nuclear energy to meet growing energy demands with reliable, secure, abundant, affordable, and clean sources. Now more than ever, U.S. nuclear energy leadership is needed. The International Nuclear Energy Act includes important provisions that will facilitate the deployment of U.S. nuclear energy technologies to partner nations, generating American jobs and extending U.S. influence in nuclear safety, nonproliferation, and security. We commend Senators Risch, Coons, Lee, and Heinrich for advancing legislation that will help maintain U.S. global leadership in commercial nuclear technology,” said Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute.

    “Investing in our domestic nuclear energy supply chain and fostering export opportunities abroad will increase the energy security of our allies and create jobs here in America. While the United States remains the foremost nuclear power in the world, from our power plants to our nuclear navy, developing countries have more recently looked to Russia and China for their new nuclear needs. INEA wisely puts new tools in America’s energy tool belt to support domestic technologies racing to the global marketplace to compete,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath Action.

    Idaho is home to the Idaho National Lab (INL), which is the flagship laboratory for civil nuclear research energy and the first place in the world to generate electricity with a nuclear reactor. INL is driving significant progress in new nuclear research by collaborating with industry to demonstrate advanced technologies like small modular reactors, microreactors, and safer, more efficient nuclear fuels. These efforts, made possible through public-private partnerships at INL, will contribute to the nation’s energy independence and strengthen U.S. leadership in civil nuclear energy around the world. 

    Senator Risch has long advocated for domestic nuclear energy production and the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies. In a recent Washington Times editorial, Senator Risch underscored the critical role of nuclear energy in powering America’s current and future energy needs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Announces Farmers First Initiative, Approves Nebraska SNAP Waiver During Tour of Ag Businesses with Gov. Pillen

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on a day-long visit that included three separate stops and two significant announcements. He was joined in the visits by Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Sherry Vinton and U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith.

    “I’m pleased that Sec. Rollins has had the opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of Nebraska agriculture and what our state is doing to help feed the world and save the planet,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today, she heard from a diverse group of producers, visited a typical multi-generational Nebraska family farm, and got a first-hand look at what sets our state apart for the future — value-added agriculture.  I’m glad we could make these connections and look forward to continuing the work that makes Nebraska the innovative agricultural leader it is, between crop, livestock and ethanol production.”

    The ag tour kicked off at the Cargill Bioscience 650-acre facility in Blair this morning. That facility is Cargill’s largest and directly employs approximately 600 Nebraskans while processing over 340,000 bushels of corn daily to produce products such as fuel grade ethanol, corn gluten meal and meat for poultry, pet food and cattle feed. The company also makes sweetener, corn syrup and other corn-based products such as enzymes, biopolymers, and amino acids.

    Upon arriving at Wholestone Farms in Fremont, Sec. Rollins took a few minutes to greet employees waiting inside. The group witnessed part of the plant’s hog processing operation and later gathered in the staff cafeteria with members of the media. There. Sec. Rollins signed off on Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver request, excluding soda and energy drinks from the list of approved purchases. Nebraska submitted its waiver in early April and is the first state in the nation to have its application approved by the USDA, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

    “Today’s waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from SNAP is the first of its kind, and it is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have encouraged states to serve as the ‘laboratories of innovation.’ Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Governors in Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are pioneers in improving the health of our nation,” said Sec. Rollins.  

    “There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks. SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver. I’m grateful to have worked with Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration to get this effort across the finish line. It is a tremendous step toward improving the health and well-being of our state. We have to act because we can’t keep letting Nebraskans starve in the midst of plenty,” said Gov. Pillen. 

    Gov. Pillen, Sec. Rollins, Rep. Smith and NDA Dir. Vinton wrapped up their tour of ag businesses with a stop in the afternoon at Ohnoutka Family Farm in Valparaiso. There, the group engaged in a roundtable with invited producers from across the state. Discussion hit on a variety of topics, from tariffs to grants, water quantity and quality, educating youth about agriculture and keeping generational farming going in Nebraska. Prior to the roundtable event, the group was greeted by youth from the local FFA chapter.

    Following the roundtable, Sec. Rollins made her second announcement – a policy initiative aimed at supporting small family farms. Called Farmers First, the program is part of the USDA’s Make Agriculture Great Again agenda and outlines 10 action items that aim to help the 86 percent of small family farms across the nation.

    “Welcoming Secretary Rollins to Nebraska alongside Governor Pillen provided a tremendous opportunity to showcase Nebraska’s world-leading livestock, crop, and biofuels producers,” said Rep. Smith, who represents the state’s third district. “As we mark 163 years since the signing of the Homestead Act, agriculture remains the economic driver of our state and the nation’s Heartland. USDA’s new Farmers First strategy will expand markets, deliver regulatory relief, promote long-term certainty, and ensure the accessibility of USDA resources for American farming families working tirelessly to feed and fuel the world. I will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and President Trump to unleash prosperity for generations to come.”

    Some of the efforts in the Farmers First initiative include: 

    • Streamlining Processes: Simplifying USDA applications, like the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), to reduce barriers for farmers

    • Credit and Land Access: Reforming loan programs and using tools like the Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) to help farmers buy and protect land

    • Farm Transitions: Calling on Congress to adjust tax policies, like expanding Section 179, to ease passing farms to the next generation

    • Market and Infrastructure: Prioritizing local farmers in procurement and reforming programs to ensure funds reach producers, not special interests

    • Labor Access: Working with other agencies to address labor shortages, including exploring visa reforms for agricultural workers

    • Risk Management: Making USDA programs simpler and launching a disaster portal for better access to assistance

    • Energy and Regulations: Supporting affordable energy and reviewing environmental permitting to lower costs for farmers

    “Our family-owned farms and ranches are at the heart of agriculture in America and are the backbone of the economy in states like Nebraska. Generations of producers have passed down the love of farming, strongly rooted values, and common-sense stewardship of our land and water to the next generation,” said Gov. Pillen. “I’m glad that Secretary Rollins and the USDA are highlighting the value and importance of family owned and small operations as part of our efforts to put Farmers First. I look forward to this tremendous initiative, and I am thrilled that she chose to launch it from a family farm right here in Nebraska.”

    More information about the Farmers First initiative can be found here:

    View the Farmers First: Small Family Farms Policy Agenda

    Cargill Tour

    Wholestone Tour

    Wholestone News Conference

    Ohnoutka Family Farm Roundtable

    Ohnoutka Family Farm News Conference

    Ohnoutka Family Farm

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov Pillen Joins Sec Rollins as She Approves First-in-the-Nation Waiver to Restrict Soda & Energy Drinks from Food Stamps in Nebraska

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    .S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in Nebraska today as she signed the first-in-the-nation waiver to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Effective January 1, 2026, taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing the purchase of soda or energy drinks in the State of Nebraska. 

    “There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks. SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver. I’m grateful to have worked with Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration to get this effort across the finish line. It is a tremendous step toward improving the health and well-being of our state. We have to act because we can’t keep letting Nebraskans starve in the midst of plenty,” said Governor Jim Pillen.

    “Today’s waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from SNAP is the first of its kind, and it is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have encouraged states to serve as the ‘laboratories of innovation.’ 

    Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Governors in Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are pioneers in improving the health of our nation,” said Secretary Rollins.  

    Prior to this waiver, SNAP recipients could buy anything except alcohol, tobacco, hot foods, and personal care products. This historic action adds soda and energy drinks to the list of products excluded from SNAP purchases in the state of Nebraska.

    As part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, this historic action seeks to reverse alarming disease trends across the country. Prediabetes now affects one in three children ages 12 to 19; 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic condition; and 15% of high school students drink one or more sodas daily.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Be Aware of NBA Ticket Scams

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today warned basketball fans looking to purchase tickets to an NBA Eastern Conference Final game to be aware of potential scams. The New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, and game one on Wednesday will be played at Madison Square Garden. Fans usually get excited about their favorite team and may decide to see them play live to be part of the experience, but it’s also an attractive opportunity for scammers to take advantage of high demand for tickets. Governor Hochul is urging consumers to follow tips provided by the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection to avoid event ticket scams leading up to the Knicks home games.

    “As the Knicks continue their incredible run, I understand the excitement and pride fans across New York are feeling — it’s electric,” Governor Hochul said. “But I want to remind everyone: don’t let that excitement make you a target. Be cautious when buying tickets and only use trusted sources. Scammers are out there, and we won’t let them take advantage of our fans.”

    Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “With the Knicks heading to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, excitement for fans is through the roof, but so is the risk of scams. I urge all New Yorkers, and all sports fans alike, to follow our tips from the Division of Consumer Protection when purchasing tickets to this historic matchup to prevent scammers from stealing your shot at seeing the Knicks take home the championship title.”

    State Senator Rachel May said, “As many New Yorkers celebrate the Knicks’ big win and look forward to the next game, it’s important for fans looking for tickets to be vigilant and aware of potential scams. As Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, I want Knicks fans to understand that this is an opportunity for scammers to take advantage of the excitement surrounding the team. Please pay close attention to the tickets you purchase because you don’t want to ruin your experience at the next big game with a fraudulent ticket.”

    Assemblymember Nily Rozic said, “While we cannot wait to see the Knicks-In-Four, it’s equally important that fans are not sidelined by scammers looking to take advantage of the moment. I applaud Governor Hochul for issuing this timely alert and urge all New Yorkers to follow these tips to protect themselves and their money when buying tickets.”

    TIPS TO AVOID TICKET SCAMS:

    Purchase from the venue: Many official ticket sales agents now offer secondary sales options, as well.

    Buy only from trusted sources: Buy only from vendors you know and trust. Be especially wary of online marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and other social media sites, as they are ripe with scammers peddling bogus tickets. Also avoid the so-called ticket scalpers who approach you outside the event gates, since it’s easy for scammers to sell you a fake ticket and disappear.

    Watch out for fake tickets: Scammers often use fake services that mimic legitimate payment platforms to trick individuals into providing sensitive information or transferring funds.Beware of resellers that re-direct you to a different payment platform or a different website. Official digital payment platforms are designed to integrate with existing systems to facilitate seamless and secure payment processing and do not redirect you to a different website. The process of buying tickets and paying for the tickets are embedded allowing users to purchase tickets directly from within a website, without being redirected to a separate ticketing platform.

    Verify the seller: Research the seller and check for reviews and their reputation online. Check for a physical address and phone number. A legitimate seller will have a real address and a phone number where you can contact them. Also, verify the ticket details. Ensure the ticket details, such as the event name, date, and time, match the official event information. You can also look up the seller on VerifiedTicketSource.com to confirm you are buying from a National Association of Ticket Brokers member resale company, which requires its members to guarantee that every ticket sold on their websites is legitimate.

    Beware of low prices: Don’t let the excitement of finally finding a good deal on a ticket cloud your judgement. Many scammers use low prices and will try and pressure you into quickly buying the tickets. If it looks too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

    Consider paying with a credit card: Credit cards generally offer more fraud protection than other payment methods like debit cards and payment apps if you ever need to dispute a charge. Scammers often want you to pay with payment apps, prepaid gift cards or cash since these payment methods are untraceable and may not allow you to stop payment or reverse a transaction.

    Use a strong password: Many stadiums and venues only accept digital tickets accessed through an app. Be sure to use a strong password to ensure a scammer can’t hack into your account and steal your ticket.

    Want to stream the game instead? Know your rights with free trials: If you sign up for a free trial on a streaming service to watch the game, keep track of when the trial ends and cancel beforehand to avoid paying for an unwanted subscription. New York State law requires businesses that offer automatically renewing subscriptions with free trials to outline how prices will change and how you can cancel the service.

    About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

    Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

    The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NYPA Economic Development Awards Nearly $135M in WNY

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced economic development awards to five Western New York-based firms that will spur nearly $135 million in capital investments. The awards, approved by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees today, include Western New York hydropower allocations to four firms that will create 107 jobs and $88,000 in Western New York Power Proceeds funding to Industrial Support Inc. in Buffalo.

    “New York Power Authority economic development awards play a key role in attracting businesses to Western New York, stimulating regional job growth and significant capital investments, and leveraging our state’s hydropower resources,” Governor Hochul said. “This round of awards reflects our efforts to build a vibrant, resilient economy through the creation of more than one hundred jobs for the Western New York workforce.”

    Western New York Hydropower

    At today’s meeting, the NYPA Board of Trustees approved low-cost Niagara hydropower allocations for Food Nerd, Polaris, Saint-Gobain and Deckorators.

    Food Nerd—a firm established in 2019 that creates nutrient-rich, plant-based snack foods and meals—was awarded 630 kilowatts (kW) of Niagara hydropower for a nearly $5 million expansion that will lead to the creation of 11 jobs. The project includes the establishment of a production line in a 27,000 square-foot facility in Clarence in Erie County. The new manufacturing line will have the capacity to produce more than 100,000 product packs per week for a variety of items, including those for children and pets. For its expansion, Food Nerd will purchase new machinery and equipment, refurbish its Clarence site and implement a seed sprouting operation, providing end-to-end processing capabilities—from raw ingredients to finished products.

    Polaris specializes in providing temperature-controlled storage and warehouse solutions, offering a variety of services tailored to meet the needs of industries that require strict temperature regulation for products, such as the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors. The firm was awarded 1,290 kW of low-cost Niagara hydropower to support its more than $12 million expansion that includes the construction of a new 80,000 square-foot facility in Sanborn in Niagara County and associated machinery and equipment purchases. The facility will feature five separate freezer storage areas totaling 32,000 square feet, and four separate coolers providing 16,000 square feet of climate-controlled space. Additionally, the firm will allot 12,000 square feet for dry storage. As a result of the project, Polaris will create 16 jobs.

    Saint-Gobain, a producer of high-performance materials and products, was awarded a 2,060-kW hydropower allocation to support a $40 million project at its Niagara Falls site. The firm will construct a new 125,000 square-foot manufacturing facility to expand its manufacturing capabilities for producing catalyst carriers—materials to which catalysts that speed up chemical reactions are affixed—and ceramic media products, which are used for grinding and polishing of hard metal workpieces such as steel. To outfit the new facility, Saint-Gobain will purchase associated machinery and equipment. The project will lead to the creation of 30 new jobs.

    Deckorators, an American designer and producer of decking materials and accessories, is expanding its operations through the acquisition and renovation of its first Northeast facility in Lackawanna in Erie County. The firm will double its current production of its Surestone composite decking products resulting from its expansion into a 240,000 square-foot manufacturing space on the site. NYPA will support Deckorator’s more than $77 million project—that includes machinery and equipment purchases—with 2,080 kW of Niagara hydropower, supporting the creation of 50 jobs.

    Low-cost Niagara hydropower is available for eligible companies located within a 30-mile radius of the Power Authority’s Niagara Power Project and in Chautauqua County.

    NYPA Chairman and Western New York resident John R. Koelmel said, “The approval of these Niagara hydropower allocations for Western New York businesses underscores the Power Authority’s essential role in driving economic development in Western New York. The Niagara Power Project does more than produce electricity, it supports significant investments in our communities and creates meaningful job opportunities for local residents as evidenced by the more than 100 jobs supported through today’s announcement.”

    Western New York Power Proceeds

    At today’s meeting, the NYPA board also approved an $88,005 Western New York Power Proceeds funding award to Industrial Support Inc., a Buffalo-based firm that specializes in metal fabrication and stamping, electronic and manufacturing assembly, and contract packaging.

    The funding award will support the firm’s purchase of a new machine for its metal fabrication segment to enhance quality and precision, increase production speed and offer more complex designs. The expanded capabilities will support 27 jobs—four newly created.

    NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Supporting small businesses like Industrial Support Inc. is at the heart of NYPA’s mission to support New York’s clean energy economy. The funding award approved at today’s Power Authority Board of Trustees meeting will provide Industrial Support Inc. with the resources needed to enhance its production capabilities and create new jobs, underscoring our dedication to fostering economic growth at a local level.”

    The NYPA funding award is made possible through the Western New York Power Proceeds Fund, which is comprised of net earnings resulting from the sale of unused hydropower generated at the Power Authority’s Niagara Power Project and stems from power proceeds legislation signed into law in 2012.

    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “With Empire State Development and NYPA support, we are proud to see multiple projects moving forward. Governor Hochul’s focus on manufacturing is paying off, with new companies taking root and global companies choosing to expand in Western New York. We look forward to seeing each of the businesses grow the local workforce as they find success in the region.”

    State Senator April N. M. Baskin said, “An infusion of capital investment and more than 100 new jobs in our region is welcome news; I applaud the New York Power Authority for continuing to be a catalyst for positive change in our community, delivering funds and good paying jobs. In my district alone, we are seeing tangible results with the expansion of Deckorators in Lackawanna and funding for Buffalo-based Industrial Supports Inc.”

    Assemblymember Jonathan D. Rivera said, “By utilizing our region’s unique access to clean, renewable hydropower, we are attracting forward-looking companies like Deckorators to invest, expand, and build right here in our communities. This significant investment in my district and in Lackawanna not only brings new life to a historic industrial site, but also positions Erie County as a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainable products. I thank NYPA for its continued commitment to unlocking Western New York’s economic potential as its economic development program continues to be a powerful driver of growth and job creation throughout our corner of the state.”

    About NYPA

    NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC May 20, 2025 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 201615

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1115 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025

    Valid 201630Z – 211200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
    AND TONIGHT FROM EASTERN ARKANSAS INTO MUCH OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
    AND THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS…

    …SUMMARY…
    Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms are expected today through
    this evening, centered on the Mid/Deep South, Tennessee/Lower Ohio
    Valleys, and Cumberland Plateau. Tornadoes, some of which could be
    strong, along with scattered to widespread damaging winds, and large
    to isolated significant severe hail will be possible.

    …KY/TN…
    Thunderstorms are ongoing across central KY/middle TN. These storms
    will progress eastward through the afternoon into a moist and
    increasingly unstable air mass over eastern KY/TN and eventually
    into western WV/VA. Most model guidance suggests that storms will
    intensify through the day, with an increasing risk of damaging wind
    gusts and a few tornadoes. Refer to MCD #902 for further details.

    …AR into the TN Valley this afternoon/evening…
    In the wake of the aforementioned convection, rapid heating is
    occurring across eastern AR/west TN/northern MS. Surface dewpoints
    in the upper 60s to 70s and steep mid level lapse rates will yield
    afternoon MLCAPE values around 3000 J/kg and only a weak cap. This
    will lead to the development of multiple clusters of intense
    thunderstorms (including supercells) that will track eastward
    through the afternoon and evening hours. The initial storms will
    pose a risk of very large hail and a few tornadoes. As the activity
    progresses eastward, the risk of damaging winds will increase with a
    persistent risk of tornadoes. Strong tornadoes will be possible.
    Storms are expected to get as far east as northwest GA tonight
    before slowly weakening.

    …MO/IL…
    Satellite imagery shows a well-defined shortwave trough and
    associated surface low over IA/MO. Ahead of this feature, southerly
    low-level winds have transported mid 60s dewpoints into central IL,
    where strong heating is now occurring. This will result in moderate
    CAPE across the region and encourage rapid thunderstorm development
    over northeast and east-central MO by mid-afternoon. Steep lapse
    rates aloft and favorable deep-layer shear will support supercell
    structures capable of large hail, damaging winds, and a few
    tornadoes. Storms will track across IL and into central IN this
    evening.

    ..Hart/Moore.. 05/20/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 2000Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC May 20, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

     For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

    May 20, 2025 1300 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Updated: Tue May 20 12:39:12 UTC 2025 (Print Version |   |  )

    Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

     Forecast Discussion

    SPC AC 201239

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0739 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025

    Valid 201300Z – 211200Z

    …THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MID/DEEP SOUTH
    TO TN VALLEY AND CUMBERLAND PLATEAU…

    …SUMMARY…
    Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms are expected today through
    this evening, centered on the Mid/Deep South, Tennessee/Lower Ohio
    Valleys, and Cumberland Plateau. Tornadoes, some of which could be
    strong, along with scattered to widespread damaging winds, and large
    to isolated significant severe hail will be possible.

    …Mid/Deep South to the TN/Lower OH Valleys and Cumberland
    Plateau…
    Water-vapor imagery this morning shows a negatively tilted,
    large-scale mid to upper-level trough centered over the Dakotas
    southeastward through the mid MS Valley and Ozarks. Several
    thunderstorms clusters are ongoing within a larger corridor of
    convection from the OH Valley southwestward into the lower MS
    Valley. This activity is occurring to the east/southeast of a
    gradually filling cyclone forecast to move from the lower MO Valley
    eastward into the southwest Great Lakes by late tonight.

    Little change was made to the previous outlook due in part to
    general consistency in model guidance and observational trends noted
    this morning. Richer low-level moisture from west-central KY
    southward into the Gulf Coast states will contribute to a moderate
    to very unstable airmass by the early afternoon in areas void of
    recent convective outflow and associated cloud debris. Scattered to
    numerous thunderstorms are forecast to develop coincident with the
    diurnal heating cycle. Forecast hodographs coupled with progged
    buoyancy will support a mix of supercells and line segments this
    afternoon. The initial supercell activity will potentially yield a
    threat for large to very large hail. It appears the greatest risk
    for supercell tornadoes may exist from northern MS
    east-northeastward into middle TN. Morning convection and
    associated destabilization concerns preclude higher tornado risk
    probabilities. However, models continue to indicate upscale growth
    into several bands will occur late this afternoon through the late
    evening as storms move east across the Enhanced (level 3) Risk area.
    Have enlarged severe/damaging wind probabilities across AL/GA to
    account for confidence in a continuation of a wind threat persisting
    through the evening.

    …IL/IN…
    Within the left-exit region of a cyclonically curved mid to upper
    speed max, a dry slot and attendant corridor of steep lapse rates
    will likely evolve across portions of MO to IL/IN from midday into
    the afternoon. Destabilization will likely be less across the mid
    MS Valley eastward into IN, with the richer moisture confined south
    of residual outflow and warm frontal zone over the lower OH Valley.
    Nonetheless, isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible
    later today into the evening via a mix of shorter-lived supercells
    and organized multicells. Isolated to scattered coverage of severe
    and all hazards are possible with the stronger storms before this
    activity diminishes during the evening.

    ..Smith/Marsh.. 05/20/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    .html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 902

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 0902
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1019 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025

    Areas affected…parts of eastern Kentucky…middle/eastern
    Tennessee,,,northern Alabama

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch possible

    Valid 201519Z – 201745Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…60 percent

    SUMMARY…An initially isolated severe wind threat will probably
    gradually become more widespread, perhaps along with increasing
    potential for tornadoes, as storms spread eastward into early/mid
    afternoon.

    DISCUSSION…Little in the way of notable surface pressures rises
    have recently been evident within elongated, eastward advancing
    (around 35 kt) conglomerate convective outflow. However, forcing
    for ascent downstream of large-scale mid-level troughing slowly
    pivoting into the lower Ohio Valley has been maintaining convective
    development along its leading edge, with embedded cells occasionally
    undergoing a period of intensification. The downstream
    boundary-layer across eastern Tennessee into the vicinity of a
    stalled frontal zone across Kentucky is seasonably moist, and
    becoming characterized by CAPE in excess of 1000 J/kg, with
    inhibition gradually weakening with insolation.

    As daytime heating continues, a gradual intensification of storms is
    likely to continue, with further organization probable as this
    occurs, in the presence of strong deep-layer shear beneath 50+ kt
    southwesterly 500 mb flow. It appears that the intersection of the
    convective outflow and the surface frontal zone may become the focus
    for a developing area of low pressure across south central through
    southeastern Kentucky. As this occurs, hodographs might become
    increasingly conducive to a risk for tornadoes, in addition to
    increasing potential for strong to severe surface gusts associated
    with the strengthening convective cold pool.

    ..Kerr/Hart.. 05/20/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…RLX…MRX…JKL…LMK…OHX…HUN…

    LAT…LON 37708562 38428448 38278303 37078313 35698500 34588637
    34558787 35158777 36098684 37708562

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK TORNADO INTENSITY…85-115 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…65-80 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE…1.00-1.75 IN

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 302 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request
    Local forecast by”City, St” or “ZIP” 

    SPC on Facebook

    @NWSSPC

    NCEP Quarterly Newsletter

    Home (Classic)SPC Products   All SPC Forecasts   Current Watches   Meso. Discussions   Conv. Outlooks   Tstm. Outlooks   Fire Wx Outlooks     RSS Feeds   E-Mail AlertsWeather Information   Storm Reports   Storm Reports Dev.   NWS Hazards Map   National RADAR   Product Archive   NOAA Weather RadioResearch   Non-op. Products   Forecast Tools   Svr. Tstm. Events   SPC Publications   SPC-NSSL HWTEducation & Outreach   About the SPC   SPC FAQ   About Tornadoes   About Derechos   Video Lecture Series   WCM Page   Enh. Fujita Page   Our History   Public ToursMisc.   StaffContact Us   SPC Feedback

    Watch 302 Status Reports

    Watch 302 Status Message has not been issued yet.

    Top/Watch Issuance Text for Watch 302/All Current Watches/Forecast Products/Home

    Weather Topics:Watches, Mesoscale Discussions, Outlooks, Fire Weather, All Products, Contact Us

    NOAA / National Weather ServiceNational Centers for Environmental PredictionStorm Prediction Center120 David L. Boren Blvd.Norman, OK 73072 U.S.A.spc.feedback@noaa.govPage last modified: May 20, 2025
    DisclaimerInformation QualityHelpGlossary
    Privacy PolicyFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)About UsCareer Opportunities

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 302

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL2

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 302
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    110 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Eastern Kentucky
    Northeast Tennessee
    Extreme Southwest Virginia
    Western West Virginia

    * Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 110 PM until
    800 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of thunderstorms will track eastward across the
    watch area through the afternoon, posing a risk of locally damaging
    winds gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 60 miles south of London KY to 70 miles
    northeast of Jackson KY. For a complete depiction of the watch see
    the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 25030.

    …Hart

    SEL2

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 302
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    110 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Eastern Kentucky
    Northeast Tennessee
    Extreme Southwest Virginia
    Western West Virginia

    * Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 110 PM until
    800 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of thunderstorms will track eastward across the
    watch area through the afternoon, posing a risk of locally damaging
    winds gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 60 miles south of London KY to 70 miles
    northeast of Jackson KY. For a complete depiction of the watch see
    the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 25030.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW2
    WW 302 TORNADO KY TN VA WV 201710Z – 210000Z
    AXIS..80 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    60S LOZ/LONDON KY/ – 70NE JKL/JACKSON KY/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 70NM E/W /21NNW VXV – 36SW HNN/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25030.

    LAT…LON 36208551 38248394 38248099 36208265

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU2.

    Watch 302 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (50%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (10%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (90%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bedner Growers, Inc. Recalls Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    May 19, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    May 20, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Salmonella

    Company Name:
    Bender Grower’s, Inc.
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    No Brand Name

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Cucumbers

    Company Announcement
    Bedner Growers, Inc. of Boynton Beach, Florida is voluntarily recalling cucumbers sold at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market between April 29, 2025, and May 14, 2025 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
    The recalled cucumbers were sold directly to consumers at the three Bedner’s Farm Fresh Markets locations in Florida (Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach). Because the recalled cucumbers do not bear any stickers or other labeling, customers should discard and not consume any cucumbers that were purchased at these locations between April 29, 2025, and May 14, 2025.
    The recalled cucumbers also were sold to a wholesale distributor, which has been directed to further contact its customers with recall instructions.
    The cucumbers are being recalled because they have been linked by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to a Salmonella outbreak that has resulted in 26 illnesses in AL, CA, CO, FL, IL, KS, KY, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, and VA.
    This recall does not include any cucumbers currently available for sale at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Markets after May 14, 2025, nor does it include any other agricultural products. All cucumbers currently available for sale at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Markets were not grown by Bedner Growers, Inc., as the company is no longer producing, packing, or selling any cucumbers because the growing season has concluded.
    Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting Bedner Growers, Inc. at 866-222-9180, M-F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    Bedner Growers, Inc. is conducting this recall in coordination with the FDA.

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Bedner Growers, Inc
    866-222-9180

    Content current as of:
    05/20/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Operation Washout Nets Over 50 Arrests in Lake County

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Painesville, OH – United States Marshal Pete Elliott and Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno announce the successful completion of Operation Washout in Lake County.  

    Operation Washout was a six weeklong operation focused in Lake County in an attempt to bring down drug related violence and overdose incidences throughout the county.

    Investigative and enforcement resources from the United States Marshals Service (USMS) were used to reduce crime by working in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.  The operation targeted violent felony warrants, to include offenses that have an illegal narcotic distribution or possession nexus. The operation also targeted individuals wanted for crimes related to narcotic trafficking such as homicide, robbery, sex offenses, felonious assault and firearm violations.

    Sheriff Frank Leonbruno stated, “Operation Washout was a tremendous success and made a significant impact in finding some our most wanted persons throughout Lake County.  The cooperation we have working with the United States Marshal Service helps to ensure we are able to meet the safety and security needs of our citizens to help ensure that Lake County is the best place to build a home, create a business, and raise your family.”

    During the course of the six weeklong operation, 61 warrants were closed after arrests by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), its partner agencies or other law enforcement agencies in the area.  Six known gang members were arrested during the operation and one firearm was recovered. 

    Notable arrests during the operation include Tyrese Johnson and Brianna Johnson, both wanted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for manslaughter, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with evidence, corrupting another with drugs, and drug trafficking. This investigation began with the Mentor Police Department after two overdose deaths that occurred in April of 2024. Tyrese Johnson was arrested on April 9th, at his residence in the 600 block of River Street, Grand River. Brianna Johnson was arrested on that same date at her residence in the 1400 block of East 175th Street, Cleveland.

    Additionally, Cortez Hopper who was wanted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for illegal manufacture of drugs was also arrested during the operation. Fugitive investigation led the NOVFTF to believe that Hopper was in Steubenville, OH. In addition to the charges in Lake County, Hopper was a suspect in an investigation where he was distributing cocaine in Steubenville. Members of the local police department were unable to identify Hopper until information was sent to their area in connection with the fugitive investigation. Hopper was arrested on April 4 with assistance of the Northern District of West Virginia, Wheeling. 

    U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Outstanding and longstanding partnerships are what make operations such as this so successful.  When agencies work towards the same goals, success like this is inevitable.  The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, local police departments, and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force are all committed to the safety of the communities we serve.”

    Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on X @USMSCleveland.

    The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force –  Painesville Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Eastlake Police Department, Willowick Police Department, Willoughby Police Department, Willoughby Hills Police Department, Wickliffe Police Department, Mentor Police Department, Mentor-on-the-lake Police Department, Painesville Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Geauga County Sheriff’s Department, Ashtabula Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Middlefield Police Department, Lake County Narcotics, Chester Township Police Department, Kirtland Police Department, and Madison Village Police Department.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Falling back into the shadows? How to keep internal displacement on the humanitarian agenda

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Megan Bradley, Full Professor, Political Science and International Development Studies, McGill University

    The international humanitarian system is in freefall. Following the dramatic funding cuts initiated by Donald Trump’s administration in the United States, deliveries of essential food, medicines and clean water to those in need have halted and stockpiles are dwindling. Aid agencies are scrambling to figure out how to do less with less, even as global needs are mounting.



    Read more:
    The growing threat to U.S. democracy will literally cost lives

    Those displaced inside their own countries, as a result of conflict or natural disaster, have been particularly hard hit by this upheaval.

    Internally displaced persons already fall through the cracks of the humanitarian system, despite dramatically outnumbering those who cross borders as refugees.

    Worldwide, there are an estimated 43.7 million refugees, compared to 83.4 million internally displaced people. Yet media coverage still focuses on those fleeing their country as refugees, while internally displaced people remain less visible and beholden to national governments that have the primary responsibility to assist them.

    Some governments, such as Ukraine’s, work hard to meet this challenge but need outside support. In countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan, governments are complicit in displacing their own citizens, necessitating stronger international leadership.

    The UN’s central role

    The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established to protect and assist refugees. But from as early as the 1970s — as a result of calls from the UN General Assembly to address displacement crises — it has also become a leading entity in the international response to internally displaced persons.

    Advocacy from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (established in the early 1990s), and more recently from the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Internally Displaced Persons and the work of the Office of the UN Special Advisor on Solutions to Internal Displacement, has also promoted increased attention to the issue and advocated workable solutions.

    This progress is now at risk in the face of U.S. humanitarian aid cuts.

    The danger today is not that the UNHCR and other humanitarian leaders will treat internally displaced people as unimportant or undeserving of help. Instead, ground could be lost through a return to the UNHCR’s traditional, narrow refugee mandate. Responsibility for internally displaced persons could be shirked as many UN agencies are also under stress.

    This will further increase the marginalization of internally displaced people and expose them to heightened levels of insecurity, poverty and disease.

    The UNHCR is far from the only international organization involved with internally displaced persons. The International Organization for Migration is another important player, particularly in natural disasters, and other agencies, including the UN Development Programme, support longer-term development solutions.

    Yet the UNHCR is the core protection agency for those who are forcibly displaced and its leadership is critical to ensuring a comprehensive response to both refugees and those displaced within their own country’s borders.

    Difficult choices

    In the face of a 30 per cent reduction in operating expenses in its headquarters and regional bureaus, the UNHCR faces some agonizing choices. But these cuts must not produce a competition between internally displaced persons and refugees in humanitarian assistance.

    Experience has shown that effective responses must consider displacement dynamics not only across but also within borders — especially since many refugees are internally displaced before they seek safety abroad and many face internal displacement if they return to their countries of origin.

    The good news is that the UNHCR remains committed to supporting inter-agency co-operation on solutions for internally displaced people, following up on the work of the Office of the UN Special Advisor.

    However, the head of the UNHCR has not yet publicly and clearly reaffirmed his agency’s commitment to standing up for internally displaced people alongside refugees in this moment of flux in the humanitarian sector.

    The need for strong leadership

    As the UNHCR reduces its commitments and shrinks its operations, there could be a void of senior leadership on internal displacement at headquarters and in the field. This means the agency’s response may be determined by regional and country directors with different levels of comfort with and commitment to internally displaced persons.

    The irony is that the UNHCR routinely calls for governments dealing with internal displacement crises to clearly allocate responsibility for effective responses. Today’s budget crisis is no excuse for the UNHCR not to walk its own talk.

    In the face of declining resources but mounting humanitarian needs, the UNHCR and its donors should prioritize preserving their investment in strengthened, reliable and rights-based responses to internally displaced persons — not only for the sake of these citizens, but also as an integral element of a comprehensive response to refugee situations.



    Read more:
    Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t

    The UNHCR should recognize and insist that refugee response requires an effective response to those displaced internally and vice versa. As a core part of this approach, the agency should also enhance its support for local efforts led by internally displaced people themselves, recognizing they can be, and have been, at the forefront of more effective solutions to their displacement.

    The UNHCR’s funding cuts are putting the agency in a pared-down holding pattern until the next high commissioner of the organization is chosen later this year. A key criterion for selecting the next leader should be their vision for sustaining engagement with internally displaced persons alongside refugees in this moment of global turmoil.

    Megan Bradley receives funding from SSHRC.

    Jennifer Welsh receives funding from the Social Science and Research Council of Canada and the European Research Council.

    – ref. Falling back into the shadows? How to keep internal displacement on the humanitarian agenda – https://theconversation.com/falling-back-into-the-shadows-how-to-keep-internal-displacement-on-the-humanitarian-agenda-255856

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Statement on the Passing of North Dakota Representative Cindy Schreiber-Beck

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after the passing of North Dakota Representative Cindy Schreiber-Beck, who represented District 25 for over a decade.
    “Cindy was an effective legislator because she combined the qualities of intellect, experience, compassion and common sense. She was a trusted leader and servant, and will be greatly missed. I pray God will bless her memory.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI:NPR’s Morning Edition: Sen. Peter Welch calls on Trump administration to get Israel to end Gaza aid blockade

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    40+ Senators co-sponsor Welch’s resolution calling for an immediate end to the blockade of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined Leila Fadel on National Public Radio’s (NPR) Morning Edition to discuss the starvation crisis in Gaza and his new Senate Resolution demanding the Trump Administration uses all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid.

    “It is absolutely appalling what is happening to innocent Palestinians in Gaza. There are 14,000 babies, according to the U.N., that could die in the next 48 hours if aid is not getting in. Children are now literally dying of starvation while being held by their mother or their father. And the 72 days of blockade by the Netanyahu government—of no food, no water, no medicine—is catastrophic. And the famine that people are experiencing is also catastrophic, and it’s a very brutal process and a terrifying way to die. And Israel, as having control over Gaza, has an obligation internationally, to get food and medicine in to the people that need it.”

    ■■■

    “This is not about practical and political reason—this is about people who are starving, needing food and needing water. And the notion that the Netanyahu government can use starvation—withholding food and water, withholding medicine—as a tool of the military campaign, violates international law. It’s completely wrong. We should condemn it, just as I condemn Hamas for what it’s done.  Starvation is not a legitimate tool of warfare.”

    ■■■

    “I want aid to flow. It’s really very, very simple…The United States has a role to play here, and Congress has a role to play. The idea that we’re accepting this, we’re turning our head the other way as if this is not happening, is wrong.”

    Listen here:

    Last week, Senator Welch led his Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In their resolution, the Senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children. The resolution now has the support of more than 40 Senators.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Wilson applauds Trump order restoring safety in federal prisons, ends Obama-Biden era transgender proceduresRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today praised President Donald Trump’s Executive Order requiring federal prisons to house inmates based on their biological sex and ending years of taxpayer-funded transgender procedures for federal prisoners. 

    “Prisons are for accountability and consequences, not to serve as playgrounds for leftist social experiments,” said Attorney General Wilson. “President Trump is doing what the radical left refuses to do: stand up for law and order, defend women, and reject the dangerous nonsense that’s turning our justice system into a joke. If you commit a crime, you don’t get to rewrite biology or demand special treatment. The American people are fed up, and this Executive Order puts a stop to the madness.” 

    The Executive Order halts the use of taxpayer dollars for elective transgender procedures, including hormone therapies and surgeries for federal inmates. It also requires that biologically male inmates be housed in male-only facilities, addressing growing concerns over assaults, coercion, and privacy violations in women’s prisons. 

    Earlier this month, Attorney General Wilson joined 24 other state attorneys general in a friend-of-the-court brief defending the administration’s authority to keep prisons safe and reject unproven, taxpayer-funded treatments. The brief emphasized the real danger of placing men in women’s housing and the lack of any constitutional right to gender-transition procedures behind bars. 

    Wilson reaffirmed South Carolina’s commitment to working with national leaders to resist policies that undermine safety and public trust in institutions. 

    “Enough is enough,” Wilson said. “We’re drawing the line. We won’t stand by while leftist ideology tramples basic biology, endangers women, and wastes taxpayer dollars.” 

    You can read the full brief here.

    MIL OSI USA News –