NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Statement on Senate Passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill:
    “By passing the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Senate has delivered on President Trump’s hallmark legislative priority of his second term,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This bill puts Texans first by avoiding a massive tax increase on hardworking families, making historic investments to help secure our southern border, reducing financial barriers for Texans exercising their Second Amendment rights, and other priorities I have championed like reimbursing Texas for Operation Lone Star and allowing for the movement of the Space Shuttle Discovery to its rightful home in Houston. I was proud to cast my vote in strong support of this significant legislation, and I urge the House to swiftly send it to President Trump’s desk to become law so we can Make America Great Again.”
    Background:
    The One Big Beautiful Bill contains the following provisions championed by Sen. Cornyn:
    $13.5 billion to reimburse states like Texas for stepping up and trying to secure the southern border during the Biden-Harris administration;
    Language that would result in the consideration of movement of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia to its rightful home near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston;
    A modified version of his Small Business Investment Act, which would make it easier for small and start-up businesses to access the financing they need to grow and succeed;
    Provisions from his Feral Swine Eradication Act to provide $105 million to the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program;
    And the reduction of burdensome taxes on certain firearms and silencers to $0.
    It also includes the following tax provisions to benefit Texas families:
    Prevents a more-than $3,000 tax hike on the average Texas family;
    Protects more than half a million Texas jobs from being lost;
    Ensures more than 3.7 million Texas households’ child tax credit is not cut in half;
    Shields more than two million Texas small business owners from a massive tax hike;
    Makes sure more than 12 million Texas families’ standard deduction is not cut in half;
    Establishes work requirements for able-bodied adults who are choosing not to work and do not have dependent children or elderly parents in their care;
    And ensures no taxes on tips or overtime for millions of tipped and hourly workers.
    The bill also makes historic investments in border security through the following provisions:
    $46.5 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to build the border wall and associated infrastructure like access roads, cameras, lights, and sensors;
    $4.1 billion for a border personnel surge;
    $45 billion for the detention of illegal migrants;
    $6.1 billion for improvements to surveillance at the border;
    Funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase staffing and enhance migrant screening and vetting processes;
    Resources for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to increase recruitment, onboarding, and retention of ICE staff;
    Funding for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to hire more immigration judges and staff to address the yearslong backlog of immigration cases and to investigate and prosecute immigration matters;
    And additional resources for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Davidson, Dyer and Wilson Counties

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Davidson, Dyer and Wilson Counties

    Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are now open in Davidson, Dyer and Wilson counties to assist Tennesseans who experienced damage or loss from the April 2-24 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The following recovery centers will temporarily close on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.Davidson County: Nashville Looby Public Library, 2301 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37228Hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. CT Tuesday-Saturday; open until Saturday, July 5Dyer County: Bogota Community Center, 78 Sandy Lane, Bogota, TN 38007Hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. CT Tuesday-Sunday; open until Sunday, July 6Wilson County: Wilson County Fair Grounds, 945 E. Baddour Pkwy., Lebanon, TN 37087Hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. CT Tuesday-Sunday; open until Sunday, July 6When any of the above recovery centers move to a new location or a new recovery center opens, details will be provided to the public. To find a center near you, visit fema.gov/drc.Homeowners and renters in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson counties can apply for FEMA assistance at a recovery center. FEMA representatives will help with applications for federal assistance and provide information about other disaster recovery resources. FEMA financial assistance may include money for basic home repairs or other uninsured, disaster-related needs, such as childcare, vehicle, medical needs, funeral expenses or the replacement of personal property.In addition to FEMA personnel, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and state agencies will be available to assist survivors.It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for FEMA assistance. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open seven days a week and specialists speak many languages. To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
    kwei.nwaogu
    Tue, 07/01/2025 – 14:31

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ames Science Directorate’s Stars of the Month: July 2025

    Source: NASA

    The NASA Ames Science Directorate recognizes the outstanding contributions of (pictured left to right) Sigrid Reinsch, Lori Munar, Kevin Sims, and Matthew Fladeland. Their commitment to the NASA mission represents the entrepreneurial spirit, technical expertise, and collaborative disposition needed to explore this world and beyond.

    Space Biosciences Star: Sigrid Reinsch
    As Director of the SHINE (Space Health Impacts for the NASA Experience) program and Project Scientist for NBISC (NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection), Sigrid Reinsch is a high-performing scientist and outstanding mentor in the Space Biosciences Research Branch. Her dedication to student training and her efforts to streamline processes have significantly improved the experience of welcoming summer interns at NASA Ames.

    Space Science and Astrobiology Star: Lori Munar
    Lori Munar serves as the assistant Branch Chief of the Exobiology Branch. In the past few months, she has gone above and beyond to organize a facility and laboratory surplus event that involved multiple divisions over multiple days. The event resulted in considerable savings across the groups involved and improved the safety of N239 staff and the appearance of offices and labs.

    Space Science and Astrobiology Star: Kevin Sims
    Kevin Sims is a NASA Technical Project Manager serving the Astrophysics Branch as a member of the Flight Systems Implementation Branch in the Space Biosciences Division. Kevin is recognized for outstanding project management for exoplanet imaging instrumentation development in support of the Habitable Worlds Observatory. Kevin has streamlined, organized, and improved the efficiency of the Ames Photonics Testbed being developed as part the AstroPIC Early Career Initiative project.

    Earth Science Star: Matthew Fladeland
    Matthew Fladeland is a research scientist in the Earth Science Division managing NASA SMD’s Program Office for the Airborne Science Program, located at Ames. He is recognized for exemplary leadership and teamwork leading to new reimbursable agreements with the Department of Defense, for accelerating science technology solutions through the SBIR program, and for advancing partnerships with the US Forest Service on wildland ecology and fire science.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PENSACOLA MAN SENTENCED IN DRUG AND FIREARM CASE

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dillon Devontrez Royster, 31, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring this drug trafficker to justice. This is yet another important case by my office fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively pursuing criminal offenders who victimize our communities.  We will not stop until we have rid our streets of these criminals who peddle in violence and addiction.”

    “This is a huge win for public safety in Northwest Florida,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “Armed drug trafficking is a serious crime – this investigation demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to remove an armed drug trafficker from our communities.”

    On April 17, 2024, members of the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at Dillion Royster’s residence. During the search, law enforcement found approximately 1,851 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of fentanyl, and numerous firearms.

    This sentence was the result of a joint investigation by Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: GAZA: Starvation or Gunfire – This is Not a Humanitarian Response

    Source: Amnesty International –

    NGOs call for immediate action to end the deadly Israeli distribution scheme (including the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) in Gaza, revert to the existing UN-led coordination mechanisms, and lift the Israeli government’s blockade on aid and commercial supplies. The 400 aid distribution points operating during the temporary ceasefire across Gaza have now been replaced by just four military-controlled distribution sites, forcing two million people into overcrowded, militarized zones where they face daily gunfire and mass casualties while trying to access food and are denied other life-saving supplies.

    Today, Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families. The weeks following the launch of the Israeli distribution scheme have been some of the deadliest and most violent since October 2023. 

    In less than four weeks, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and almost 4,000 injured just trying to access or distribute food. Israeli forces and armed groups – some reportedly operating with backing from Israeli authorities – now routinely open fire on desperate civilians risking everything just to survive.

    The humanitarian system is being deliberately and systematically dismantled by the Government of Israel’s blockade and restrictions, a blockade now being used to justify shutting down nearly all other aid operations in favour of a deadly, military-controlled alternative that neither protects civilians nor meets basic needs. These measures are designed to sustain a cycle of desperation, danger, and death. Experienced humanitarian actors remain ready to deliver life-saving assistance at scale. Yet more than 100 days since Israeli authorities reimposed a near-total blockade on aid and commercial goods, Gaza’s humanitarian conditions are collapsing faster than at any point in the past 20 months.

    Under the Israeli government’s new scheme, starved and weakened civilians are being forced to trek for hours through dangerous terrain and active conflict zones, only to face a violent, chaotic race to reach fenced, militarized distribution sites with a single entry point. There, thousands are released into chaotic enclosures to fight for limited food supplies. These areas have become sites of repeated massacres in blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Orphaned children and caregivers are among the dead, with children harmed in over half of the attacks on civilians at these sites. With Gaza’s healthcare system in ruins, many of those shot are left to bleed out alone, beyond the reach of ambulances and denied lifesaving medical care. 

    Amidst severe hunger and famine-like conditions, many families tell us they are now too weak to compete for food rations. Those who do manage to obtain food often return with only a few basic items – nearly impossible to prepare without clean water or fuel to cook with. Fuel is nearly depleted, bringing critical lifesaving services – including bakeries, water systems, ambulances, and hospitals – to a standstill. Families are sheltering under plastic sheets, operating makeshift kitchens amid the rubble, without fuel, clean water, sanitation, or electricity. 

    This is not a humanitarian response.

    Concentrating more than two million people into further confined areas for a chance to feed their families is not a plan to save lives. For 20 months, more than two million people have been subjected to relentless bombardment, the weaponization of food, water and other aid, repeated forced displacement, and systematic dehumanization – all under the watch of the international community. The Sphere Association, which sets minimum standards for quality humanitarian aid, has warned that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s approach does not adhere to core humanitarian standards and principles.
    This normalization of suffering must not be allowed to stand. States must reject the false choice between deadly, military-controlled food distributions and total denial of aid. States must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, including prohibitions on forced displacement, indiscriminate attacks, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. States must ensure accountability for grave violations of international law. 

    We, the undersigned organizations, once again call on all third states to:

    • Take concrete measures to end the suffocating siege and uphold the right of civilians in Gaza to safely access aid and receive protection. 
    • Urge donors not to fund militarized aid schemes that violate international law, do not adhere to humanitarian principles, deepen harm, and risk complicity in atrocities. 
    • Support the restoration of a unified, UN-led coordination mechanism—grounded in international humanitarian law and inclusive of UNRWA, Palestinian civil society, and the wider humanitarian community—to meet people’s needs.

    We reiterate our urgent calls for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, the release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained prisoners, full humanitarian access at scale, and an end to the pervasive impunity that enables these atrocities and denies Palestinians their basic dignity. 

    Editor’s Note
    • On 15 June, the Red Cross field hospital in Al Mawasi received at least 170 patients injured while trying to reach a food distribution site. The following day, 16 June, more than 200 patients arrived at the same facility – the highest number recorded in a single mass casualty incident in Gaza. Of that number, 28 Palestinians were declared dead. A WHO official underscored the deadly pattern: “The recent food distribution initiatives by non-UN actors every time result in mass casualty incidents.”
    • These deaths add to the broader toll: since October 2023, over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 17,000 children.

    List of signatory organizations:

    ABCD Bethlehem, ACT Alliance, Act Church of Sweden, Action Against Hunger (ACF), Action Corps, ActionAid, Age International, Agricultural Development Association – PARC, Al Ard for Agricultural Development, Al-Najd Developmental Forum, American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International, Amos Trust, Anera, Anti-Slavery International, Arab Educational Institute – Pax Christi Bethlehem, Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz, Asociación de Solidaridad Internacional UNADIKUM, Association for Civil Rights Israel (ACRI), Association Switzerland Palestine, B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Beesan Charitable Association, Bimkom – Planning and Human Rights, Bisan Center for Research and Development, Botswana Watch Organisation, Breaking the Silence, Broederlijk Delen, CADUS e.V., Caritas Germany, Caritas International Belgium, Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Jerusalem, Caritas Middle East and North Africa, Center of Jewish Nonviolence, CESIDA – Spanish Coordinator of HIV and AIDS., Children Not Numbers, Choose Love, Christian Aid, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), CIDSE – International Family of Catholic Social Justice Organisations, CNCD-11.11.11, codepink, Combatants for Peace, Comité de Solidaridad con la Causa Árabe, Congregations of St Joseph, COOPERATIVE AGRICULUTAL ASSOCIATION, Cordaid, Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), Coventry Friends of Palestine, Cultures of Resistance, DanChurchAid, Danish Refugee Council, DAWN, Diakonia, Ekō, Embrace the Middle East, Emmaüs International, Entraide et Fraternité, Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine Justice Network, EuroMed Rights, FÓRUM DE POLÍTICA FEMINISTA, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), Fund for Global Human Rights, Fundación Mundubat, Gaza Culture and Development Group (GCDG), Gaza Society for Sustainable Agriculture and Friendly Environment (SAFE), German Platform of Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs (VENRO), Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Glia, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P), Greenpeace, HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, Hands for Charity, HEKS/EPER(Swiss Church Aid), HelpAge International, Human Security Collective, Humanité Solidarité Médecine (HuSoMe ONG), Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International, Humanity Above All, INARA, Independent Catholic News, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), INTERSOS, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Jewish Network for Palestine, Jüdische Stimme für Demokratie und Gerechtigkeit in Israel/Palästina, JVJP, Just Foreign Policy, Just Treatment, Kairos Ireland, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Martin Etxea Elkartea, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Médecins du Monde International Network, Médecins Sans Frontières, MedGlobal, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Medico International, medico international schweiz, Medicos sin fronteras (MSF – Spain), Mennonite Central Committee, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Mothers Manifesto, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Aid, Mwatana for Human Rights, Nonviolent Peaceforce, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People’s Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam International, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA), Parents Against Child Detentions, Partners for Palestine, Partners for Progressive Israel, PAX, Pax Christi Australia, Pax Christi England and Wales, Pax Christi International, Pax Christi Italy, pax christi Munich, Pax Christi Scotland, Pax Christi USA, Peace Direct, Peace Watch Switzerland, Penny Appeal Canada, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, Plan International, Plataforma de Solidaridad con Palestina de Sevilla, Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine, Polish-Palestinian Justice Initiative KAKTUS, Première Urgence Internationale, Presbyterian Church (USA), Quixote Center, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary – NGO, ReThinking Foreign Policy, Right to Movement, Rumbo a Gaza-Freedom Flotilla, Saferworld, Saskatoon Chapter of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Save the Children, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Solsoc, Stichting Heimat International Foundation, STOPAIDS, Støtteforeningen Det Danske Hus i Palæstina, Terre des Hommes International Federation, Terre des hommes Lausanne, Terres des Hommes Italia, The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD UK), The Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church USA Bay Area, The Rights Forum, Union of Agricultural Work Committees-UAWC, United Against Inhumanity (UAI), Universities Allied for Essential Medicines UK, US-Lutheran Palestine Israel Justice Network, Vento di Terra, War Child Alliance, War on Want, Welthungerhilfe, and Yesh Din.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Preliminary Injunction Blocking Unlawful Dismantling of HHS

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    Tuesday, July 1, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted a preliminary injunction in California’s lawsuit challenging the unlawful mass firing of employees and dismantling of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The decision immediately blocks the Trump Administration from implementing or enforcing its planned Reductions in Force or sub-agency restructuring with respect to: (1) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2) the Center for Tobacco Products, (3) the Office of Head Start and Head Start employees in the Regional Offices, and (4) the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, while litigation in this case continues. 

    “The work of HHS is absolutely critical to the safety and health of millions of Americans. We are pleased the court temporarily halted the Trump Administration’s unlawful dismantling of the agency so that HHS can continue its important work,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration is not only acting against the best interest of Americans nationwide, but is once again acting beyond its power — the President does not have the power to incapacitate a department that Congress created, nor can it decline to spend funds that were appropriated by Congress for that department. We look forward to continuing to make our case in court.”

    BACKGROUND 

    On March 27, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced his planned cuts to the department under the “Make America Healthy Again” directive. Shortly after the announcement, programs funded through HHS ceased their operations and fired their staff, cutting off access to vital resources and expertise needed to combat infectious diseases, reduce smoking-related deaths, and ensure families have access to early childhood programs. On May 5, 2025, Attorney General Bonta  joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the unlawful firing of workers and dismantling of HHS. On May 9, 2025 the coalition filed a motion for preliminary injunction, which was granted today.  

    A copy of the decision is available here. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DCR News Release – American Idol Finalist Thunderstorm Artis Performs At Hālawa Correctional Facility

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DCR News Release – American Idol Finalist Thunderstorm Artis Performs At Hālawa Correctional Facility

    Posted on Jul 1, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.

         GOVERNOR

         KE KIAʻĀINA

    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

         KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

     

         TOMMY JOHNSON

         DIRECTOR

         KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

     

    AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST THUNDERSTORM ARTIS PERFORMS AT HĀLAWA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 30, 2025

    HONOLULU — “American Idol” 2025 finalist Thunderstorm Artis gifted inmates with a free concert at the Hālawa Correctional Facility Monday, June 30, 2025.

    “I think music is such a healing thing and for me the message I try to bring to my music is so important. To share this with these guys, it’s an honor for me,” Artis said.

     

    “Sometimes we enter dark seasons and we make a lot of bad decisions. So I just want to let these guys know that there are better days ahead,” he added.

     

    Artis, 29, had placed in the Top 5 of American Idol. He was also a finalist in Season 18 of “The Voice.”

    At the Hālawa Correctional Facility, Artis performed two sets Monday, one for approximately 80 inmates and the other for approximately 90 inmates at the facility gym.

     

    Pastor Alan Leigh — pastor emeritus at the Calvary Chapel Wahiawā who conducts Bible study, pastoral counseling and chapel classes at HCF — has known Artis for more than a decade when Artis assisted the youth pastor at the North Shore Christian Fellowship and Calvary Church.

     

    Leigh recalled Artis previously accompanying him to the facility in 2017 to perform for residents in custody. “His music does touch people’s souls,” he said.

     

    When Leigh heard that Artis was returning to Hawai‘i to visit, Leigh asked Artis if he was available to perform at HCF. Without hesitation, Artis said yes. Originally scheduled to fly back to the mainland Sunday night, Artis rescheduled his flight to Monday night, June 30, 2025, so he could perform for inmates at the facility.

     

    Artis said, “Years before I was even on American Idol or The Voice, I used to come through to Hālawa Heights and sing worship with Pastor Al, so when he heard I was coming back to town, he’s like ‘dude, would you love to come back here and play for the gentlemen here?’ And I was like dude, I would be honored to,” Artis said.

     

    Leigh said, “What a blessing it was for the whole facility.”

     

    Director Tommy Johnson of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation expressed his gratitude to Artis, Pastor Leigh and the Hālawa Correctional Facility. “We are truly grateful to HCF, Artis and our community partners,” Johnson said.

     

    HCF Warden Shannon Cluney said the inmates were appreciative of the concert. “We’re always excited to have opportunities like this come to the facility,” Cluney said.

     

    Born and raised in a musical family on the North Shore of Oʻahu, the singer-songwriter is the son of the late Ron Artis, a musician and artist who painted hundreds of murals on the island.

     

    “Hawaiʻi is just very close to my heart so every time I can come back and spend time here, it’s always like it’s not enough time. But I’m looking forward to coming back and hanging out here,” Artis said.

     

    Artis currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. and is preparing to go on tour with the group, The War and Treaty.

     

    Footage and photos of the concert is available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CIopNnsfT1N26Fnzs3p-SiwKLVzw9kMd?usp=sharing/

     

    The images are courtesy of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

     

    # # #

     

    Media Contact:

    Rosemarie Bernardo

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

    Office: 808-587-1358

    Cell: 808-683-5507

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on Senate Republicans Jamming Through Their ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    July 01, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Senate Republicans jammed through their One Big Beautiful Bill Act, selling out America’s middle class for billionaires’ tax cuts:
    “By passing this monstrosity of a bill, Donald Trump and Republicans are proving they are intent on becoming the party of ‘well, we’re all going to die.’
    “This Big, Beautiful Betrayal does not make America stronger, better or safer. It lights trillions of taxpayer dollars on fire to explode our debt and line the pockets of Donald Trump, his family and his billionaire friends. More than half a million Illinoisans will lose health coverage and hospitals, health clinics and nursing homes across the country will shut down. Adding insult to injury, the legion of middle-class and working-class Americans who lose their livelihoods will be unable to receive safety net support precisely because of the Republicans who voted for this awful legislation that killed their jobs.
    “There is nothing beautiful about this catastrophe of a bill—it is fiscally and morally irresponsible. It’s downright shameful that by voting for this bill, Republicans are once again showing they would rather hurt middle-class families and our neighbors who are most in need than make the wealthy pay their fair share or show any backbone in the face of Donald Trump’s desire to enrich himself and his family.”
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Coons explores how Democrats can better appeal to voters of faith on The Holy Post Podcast

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined The Holy Post Podcast for an interview with Skye Jethani to talk about U.S. foreign policy matters in the Middle East, what led him to attend divinity school, and how Democratic leaders can work to speak more openly about their faith and bring more religious voters into the party. 
    You can listen here. 
    Key excerpts:
    Early Faith and Path to Divinity School
    Jethani: What’s the journey from divinity school to the U.S. Senate? Why does divinity school end up in public political service?
    Senator Coons: I was very active in youth group and Sunday school and that just sort of formed the foundation of faith in action. My mother volunteered with a group of women at our church to welcome refugees, a refugee family from South Vietnam – who were literally rescued, you know, from the ocean – having fled persecution after the fall of Vietnam, and worked at a homeless ministry, Emmanuel Dining Room, that still serves every day in downtown Wilmington. And my father for a time volunteered in prison ministry.
    ….
    The great thing – and this is a long-winded answer, so interrupt me if it’s getting past your level of interest – but the great thing about a divinity school as opposed to a seminary was, I had classmates from a very wide range of traditions. A great friend who had gone to Oral Roberts as an undergraduate, another friend who was Catholic, another friend who is Muslim, but coming to the United States to train to be a professor of religious studies, friends who were going into pulpit ministry as Congregationalists and Episcopalians and Presbyterians, and friends who really weren’t sure why they were there but their parents were ministers or you know, they came from a long line of ministers and so they were [pastors’ kids] who were there, sort of trying to work out their future. It was a wonderful experience. I left with less certainty than I went in. So, if I were to summarize my lessons: humility. Humility in the face of the awesomeness and depth of Scripture. Humility about the certainty of my interpretation and understanding, and thus a demand or a call to constantly re-evaluate and learn, so an increased certainty about the call and the grace and the mercy and the salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ and a less absolute certainty about, “this scripture means this and we can ignore these and we have to follow these,” which as you get into politics becomes a more pressing question.
    Democratic Messaging
    Jethani: How do you think the Democratic Party can do better at drawing religious voters back into its fold or what missteps do you look at and think, we need to do better in this area?
    Senator Coons: First, I think we have to show biblical literacy. I think we have to make connections between why are you fighting for health care for the poor and the disabled and the elderly? Why are you working for food programs for children? Like where does this come from? If you can’t articulate some connection between a Torah definition of righteousness that focuses on how you welcome the hungry, the foreigner, the stranger, the orphan, the widow, the imprisoned – if you can’t draw a line between, sort of, here’s my priorities and what I’m doing and, it’s rooted in the Luke 4 passage where Jesus stands up in his home synagogue and says this is my ministry and my mission – if you can’t draw some of those connections, don’t be surprised when religious or theologically serious people sort of doubt the sincerity of your engagement.
    Second, and I’m just going to be really blunt about this, the kind of liberal consensus in the Democratic Party of the last couple of years … mistakenly viewed Black and Brown Americans, folks who are from the Hispanic community, from the African-American community, as inalterably and fundamentally progressive because they had experienced racism and racially based oppression for centuries – missing that enduring that oppression largely was possible because of a focus on faith. And so, every Black church I’ve been to in my home state of Delaware, you’ve got a really powerful, focused, engaged, on-fire community that is getting through things that are hard to get through by leaning on the arms. And so, not bringing a message rooted in values and in particular, in faith, in connecting with communities that have experienced oppression and have transited it by faith is a huge mistake. Nothing offends and annoys Hispanic and Black communities more than treating them as victims, rather than as heroes who have transcended oppression through the depth of their faith.
    Faith in Leadership and the Future of the Democrats
    Jethani: Can you point to evidence that you think the party is getting that message that it’s trying to adjust, that it will be different in 2026 and 2028?
    Senator Coons: There are certainly several of us trying very hard in this direction. Look, Joe Biden was our last Democratic president, and if there is one defining characteristic millions of Americans knew about Joe Biden that helped them trust him in 2020 in the middle of a pandemic, at a time of chaos and uncertainty, it’s that Joe Biden endured huge deep grief twice in his life: the loss of his wife and daughter just before Christmas in a tragic car accident, the loss of his beloved son Beau to glioblastoma, a terrible brain cancer. And they knew that in moments of loss and of celebration, he was on his knees praying at mass. Joe Biden does not talk about his faith much publicly…it is personal, it is something that has allowed him to endure. And I think lots of people looked at that and said, “You know what, he gets me, because that’s how I get through the hard things in life.” They may not agree with his exact positions on important moral issues, but they knew that he was a kind and compassionate man, they knew he’d been raised by a family that got through some struggles as a blue-collar, middle-class family in Claymont relying on their faith.
    Senator Coons: … If you think about three out of four of the last Democrats who became president: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, in addition to Joe Biden who I just talked about. All of them were not really of Washington, all of them were not well known before they were catapulted to electoral success, and all of them talked comfortably about their faith. Jimmy Carter continued to teach Sunday school at his hometown Baptist church throughout almost a hundred years and was – I think the election of Jimmy Carter was made possible by Richard Nixon. And I think Donald Trump, a demonstrably cruel, aggressive, and vulgar president will make possible the election of someone who champions compassion, decency, and a welcoming and gracious heart as long as that Democratic leader also makes clear that he sees and cares about opportunity and security for the people of our country. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in first phone call in nearly three years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Middle East crisis including Iran and the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, their first such exchange since September 2022.

    In Paris, Macron’s office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations on ending the conflict.

    According to the Kremlin press service, Putin said it was necessary to respect Iran’s right to the peaceful development of nuclear energy as well as its continued compliance with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

    Putin also reiterated to Macron his view that the war in Ukraine was “a direct consequence of the West’s policy”, which he said had “ignored Russia’s security interests” over the past few years.

    Any possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should have a “comprehensive and long-term character” and be based on “new territorial realities”, the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.

    Putin has previously said Ukraine must accept Russia’s annexation of swathes of its territory as part of any peace deal.

    Macron’s office said the French president had also stressed the need for Iran to comply with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Macron and Putin agreed to coordinate their efforts and to speak again soon, the Elysee statement said.

    (Reuters)

  • Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in first phone call in nearly three years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Middle East crisis including Iran and the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, their first such exchange since September 2022.

    In Paris, Macron’s office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations on ending the conflict.

    According to the Kremlin press service, Putin said it was necessary to respect Iran’s right to the peaceful development of nuclear energy as well as its continued compliance with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

    Putin also reiterated to Macron his view that the war in Ukraine was “a direct consequence of the West’s policy”, which he said had “ignored Russia’s security interests” over the past few years.

    Any possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should have a “comprehensive and long-term character” and be based on “new territorial realities”, the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.

    Putin has previously said Ukraine must accept Russia’s annexation of swathes of its territory as part of any peace deal.

    Macron’s office said the French president had also stressed the need for Iran to comply with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Macron and Putin agreed to coordinate their efforts and to speak again soon, the Elysee statement said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Crimes

    Source: US FBI

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that CARDELL GLOVER, (“GLOVER”), age 24, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, by United States District Judge Darrel J. Papillion, after previously pleading guilty to a three-count indictment.  Count One charged GLOVER with being a felon in possession a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).  Count Two charged GLOVER with possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(j) and (a)(2).  Count Three charged GLOVER with possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o) and 924(a)(2).

    GLOVER was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment as to each of the three counts of the indictment, to be served concurrently.  Judge Papillion also ordered that GLOVER be placed on supervised release for three years as to each of the three counts, to be served concurrently, and pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to court documents, on July 9, 2024, a rideshare driver reported to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) that her weapon had been stolen.  She also works as a security guard and had placed her work firearm, a Glock Model 19 Gen 5, nine-millimeter pistol, in her trunk earlier that afternoon prior to starting her rideshare work.  She reported to law enforcement that she had picked up a fare, a male and a female passenger, at the Dollar General and allowed them to place their groceries in the trunk of her car.  When they arrived at the passengers’ destination, an apartment complex in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, the passengers retrieved the groceries from the trunk and went to an unknown second floor apartment.  The rideshare driver then looked in the trunk of her vehicle to discover her firearm missing.  She had said that the first name of the passenger who ordered the ride was “Dell.”

    GLOVER pled guilty to the entire indictment and admitted that he stole the Glock pistol.  GLOVER also admitted that, at the time of its recovery, the Glock pistol, was equipped with machinegun conversion device, making it a machinegun as defined by the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5845(b)).

    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.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convenience Store Robber Sentenced to 57 Months’ Imprisonment

    Source: US FBI

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Andrew Armani Deionte Rowe, 29, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced today to 57 months’ imprisonment, and a term of three years’ supervised release after he robbed multiple 7-Eleven stores across the Salt Lake Valley in 2023.  

    The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parish, comes after Rowe pleaded guilty in September 2024 to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

    According to court documents and statements made at Rowe’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Rowe admitted that from September 12, 2023, through September 27, 2023, he robbed multiple 7-Eleven stores and threatened the clerk at each location. First, on Sept. 12, 2023, Rowe entered a 7-Eleven in Salt Lake City and locked the doors behind him. Rowe handed the clerk a note that stated, “Do as I say, or you will lose your life.” The clerk complied and gave Rowe the money from the register. On the same day, in a separate robbery, Rowe entered a 7-Eleven in Millcreek, Utah, with a gun and ordered the clerk to give him all the cash in the register. On Sept. 14, 2023, Rowe entered a 7-Eleven in Salt Lake City. Rowe pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded all the cash from the register. On Sept. 27, 2023, Rowe entered a 7-Eleven in Millcreek, threatened the clerk and demanded money from the register. See former press release here.

    On October 11, 2023, Rowe was arrested. During the investigation, law enforcement seized clothing that matched the clothing worn by Rowe during the robberies. Law enforcement also seized a black firearm with an extended firearm that matched the description of the firearm used in the robberies. It was later determined the firearm was a BB gun designed to look like a Glock.

    “No individual should feel unsafe while at work,” said Acting U.S Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah. “Mr. Rowe threatened and intimidated others for his personal gain and then repeated his criminal behavior three more times. Community safety is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners and we will continue to prosecute and seek justice against those who harm our communities.”  

    “It’s fortunate Mr. Rowe didn’t physically hurt or kill anyone during his crime spree, although the emotional toll on the victims will be long-lasting,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed with the Salt Lake City FBI. “Opportunistic crimes don’t pay. The FBI and our partners are committed to keeping our communities safe from violent offenders.”

    The case was investigated jointly by the Salt Lake City Police Department, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the 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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Juan County Man Indicted for Second-Degree Murder

    Source: US FBI

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a San Juan County man with second degree murder after he allegedly shot a man to death in San Juan County, Utah.

    Chevel Cottonwood, 34, of San Juan County, was charged by complaint on June 11, 2025, and ordered detained by a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  

    According to court documents, on June 10, 2025, Navajo Police Department Officers responded to a 911 call reporting gunfire near the Hovenweep area north of Aneth, Utah, within the Navajo Nation. Upon arrival at a residence, officers spoke with a woman who was allegedly at the residence at the time of the shooting and described hearing gunshots from the living room. She recalled hearing Cottonwood and the victim arguing and then heard another gunshot and saw the flash of the discharge. The woman then went to the living room and saw the victim laying on the floor bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound.

    As alleged in court documents, responding officers entered the residence and found the victim deceased with a gunshot wound and an empty shell casing next to him. Cottonwood was found hiding in nearby bushes with a loaded magazine and ammunition. A search warrant was executed, and officers seized a 9mm pistol and two 9mm shell casings. Agents also observed bullet holes through the roof of the house that appeared to have occurred at some point during the incident.

    Cottonwood is charged with second degree murder while within Indian Country and being a restricted person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Cottonwood will have his initial appearance on the indictment on June 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in courtroom 7.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

    Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case is being investigated jointly by the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Monticello Resident Agency.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Sam Pead and Tanner Zumwalt of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Baldwin Votes Against Republicans’ Catastrophic Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after she voted against the Republicans’ budget bill:
    “Today, I voted against rigging our tax code in favor of the biggest corporations and ultra-wealthy – all on the backs of working families who are just trying to get by and want a fair shot at success. As I travel across Wisconsin, I hear from families who are worried about paying for groceries, covering the cost of their medications, and keeping the lights on. Instead of standing up for these working families, my Republican colleagues jammed through a bill that guts Medicaid, kicks 17 million Americans off their health insurance, shutters rural hospitals, and takes food from families in need. And why? All to rig our already unfair tax code even more to help the rich get richer. This bill does not solve the problems that Wisconsin families are facing – in fact, it makes them worse. I am disappointed. I am disgusted. But, I am also fired up and ready. Ready to keep fighting alongside every Wisconsinite who believes we can do better to give hard-working families a fair shot and stop tilting the scales for the wealthy and well-connected. It’s not the people in Washington with power; it’s the people across this country. The people who keep speaking up and speaking out, who are emailing and calling, who are marching in the streets, and who are telling their stories. This fight isn’t over, and together, we can still beat this thing.”
    Senator Baldwin introduced the following amendments to the bill to block cuts to Medicaid that would rip away health care from Americans and also close a tax loophole that allows Wall Street investment managers to often pay almost half the tax rate compared to most other Wisconsin workers:
    Preventing seniors from having their health care ripped away, including those in nursing homes;
    Preventing children from having their health care ripped away, including those on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);
    Preventing health care for those battling addiction and substance use disorder from being ripped away;
    Preventing cuts to funding for rural Americans, including essential funding for hospitals;
    Preventing pregnant women from having their health care ripped away; and
    Closing the carried interest loophole that benefits wealthy money managers on Wall Street, something that President Trump also supports.
    The Republicans’ bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of [51-50], will terminate health care for 17 million Americans, including 250,000 Wisconsinites. In Wisconsin, Medicaid provides care for more than 1.2 million people, including four in seven nursing home residents, one in three children, and one in three adults with disabilities. While over 12 million rural Americans rely on Medicaid for health care, severe cuts to Medicaid will also jeopardize rural hospitals and clinics’ ability to keep their doors open.
    The legislation also makes the largest cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in history. Approximately 700,000 Wisconsin residents rely on SNAP for food assistance.
    Over the past several months, Senator Baldwin has been speaking out against the harmful impact this bill will have on Wisconsinites – in the press, on the Senate floor, and in Wisconsin communities.
    Senator Baldwin hosted roundtables in La Crosse, Milwaukee, Wausau, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Racine, Waukesha, Superior, Beloit, and twice in Madison, convening Wisconsinites whose health care coverage is in jeopardy under the Republicans’ plan to slash Medicaid to pay for corporate tax breaks.
    VIDEO: Senator Baldwin spoke on the Senate floor, condemning the Republicans’ budget bill.
    VIDEO: Senator Baldwin held a virtual press conference with impacted Wisconsinites ahead of Senate Republicans bringing up their bill for a vote. 
    VIDEO: Senator Baldwin highlighted Congressional Republicans’ efforts to barrel ahead with a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood on the Senate floor.
    Senator Baldwin slammed republicans’ planned cuts to Medicaid, which will devastate our country’s fight against the opioid and fentanyl epidemic and jeopardize treatment for thousands of Wisconsinites. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Votes Against Republicans’ Budget Bill That Strips Health Care from Americans, Closes Rural Hospitals, Explodes National Deficit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Republicans’ legislation will increase prices for Coloradans, strip health care from 17 million Americans, increase the deficit, and give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy
    Republicans blocked Hickenlooper-backed amendments to protect funding for Medicaid and clean energy
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after he voted against Republicans’ Senate budget bill:
    “This is pure lunacy, and downright cruel.
    “Republicans have voted to kick 17 million Americans off their health care, push hundreds of rural hospitals toward closure, wipe out millions of American clean energy careers, and add trillions to our national debt. And for what? For lavish tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.”
    Hickenlooper voted NO on the budget resolution after Republicans voted down critical Democratic-led amendments to prevent cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and Inflation Reduction Act clean energy funding. While Hickenlooper was successful in working with his colleagues to eliminate devastating public lands provisions and alter a few of the worst clean energy proposals, he joined a bipartisan group of senators in opposition to the final bill. The reconciliation bill now heads to the House for final passage. Hickenlooper will continue fighting against it and urge every member of the House to stop it from becoming law.
    HICKENLOOPER AMENDMENT:
    Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor in support of his amendment to protect the Inflation Reduction Act’s residential clean energy credit – which covers 30% of the cost of purchasing and installing residential solar, battery backup, or geothermal heat pumps. Hickenlooper’s amendment would protect the program from Republican cuts for one year, giving clean energy small businesses in Colorado and across the nation a runway (at bare minimum) to weather the storm the Republicans are causing and prepare for the loss of federal funding, in addition to  preserving more than 85,000 American jobs. Watch his full remarks about his amendment HERE.
    “They’re also taxing clean energy and cutting larger energy credits, which will create more expensive energy and more blackouts,” Hickenlooper said. “We should create jobs, cut costs, and boost energy production, not sacrifice working families so that the richest Americans pay less taxes.”
    Click to download full video
    WHAT’S IN THE BILL:
    The Republican-led Senate reconciliation bill includes a $3 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. It pays for those tax cuts by:
    Taking Health Care Away from 17 Million Americans
    The Republican budget proposal calls for extreme Medicaid cuts of more than $900 billion, which would take away people’s health benefits; make it harder for them to see their health care providers; and prevent seniors from getting nursing home care.
    The budget also fails to extend the Affordable Care Act expanded premium tax credits, which expire at the end of 2025.
    The latest CBO estimates that the combined cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act would result in 17 million Americans losing health insurance by 2034, and increase our national debt by $3.3 trillion.   
    The cuts would hit rural hospitals the hardest:
    According to initial estimates, more than 338 rural hospitals across the country are at an acute risk of closure as a result of these Medicaid cuts. Including 6 hospitals in Colorado:
    Delta County Memorial Hospital – Delta (CO-03)
    Conejos County Hospital – La Jara (CO-03)
    Grand River Hospital District – Rifle (CO-03)
    Prowers Medical Center – Lamar (CO-04)
    Southwest Memorial Hospital – Cortez (CO-03)
    Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center – La Junta (CO-03)

    Slashing Investments in Clean Energy and Driving up Energy Bills
    The Republican budget bill guts hundreds of billions in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) clean energy investments, including tax credits for wind and solar. The results: over a million jobs lost, hundreds of billions in lost GDP and lost wages, electricity price inflation, and killing new renewable energy needed to prevent blackouts.
    Increasing Our National Debt by Trillions
    Even after gutting over $1 trillion from Medicaid and other services, the Senate reconciliation bill will still increase our national debt by more than $3.3 TRILLION.
    The Senate version of the bill adds $900 billion moreto the national debt than the previous House version of the bill.
    Hickenlooper recently took to the Senate floor to slam the bill as “fiscal madness.”
    ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS:
    In total, Hickenlooper introduced and joined 16+ amendments to the 2025 Senate reconciliation bill to oppose Republican provisions that would harm Coloradans. Specifically, he introduced and joined amendments to:
    Prevent Americans from Losing Health Care
    Protect Nursing Homes and Medicaid Patients: Hickenlooper-led amendment to strike any provision that cuts funding for Medicaid, which covers care for 60% of all nursing home residents.
    Safeguard Small Businesses and Medicaid: Hickenlooper-led amendment to strike any provision that cuts funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which protects access for the 7,000,000 small businesses workers who depend on Medicaid coverage; and protects access for the 4,000,000 small businesses who depend on the ACA exchanges.
    Protect Medicaid: Led by Senator Wyden, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike any provision that cuts funding for Medicaid; and would ensure big corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay a fair share in taxes.
    Extend ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits: Led by Senator Jon Ossoff, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to permanently extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced Premium Tax Credits.
    Protect Safety Net Programs
    Safeguard SNAP-Education: Led by Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike the section that eliminates the SNAP Education Program, which provides free nutrition education to SNAP recipients.
    Expand Pell Grant Eligibility: Led by Senator Tim Kaine, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike the workforce Pell section in the budget bill and replace it with the bipartisan JOBS Act to expand Pell Grant eligibility to include short-term workforce training programs.
    Protect Public Lands
    Block Sale of Public Lands: Hickenlooper-led amendment to block the sale of our public lands. The amendment ensures that public lands cannot be sold if they hold any of the multiple values our public lands offer, including benefits for watershed health, hunting, fishing, recreation, and critical wildlife habitat. It also excludes sale of lands with cultural or historic significance, areas sensitive for national security, areas within an Indian reservation, or lands to which Tribes hold reserved rights.
    Non-Competitive Leasing: Hickenlooper-led amendment to strike provision that would reauthorize non-competitive leasing on federal public lands.
    Maintaining National Park Service Staffing: Led by Senator Angus King, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike the repeal of ~$267M in Inflation Reduction Act funding for the National Park Service staffing.
    Address our Climate Crisis + Invest in Renewable Energy
    Protect the solar industry:Hickenlooper-led amendment to change the termination date of the 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026 to save jobs and small businesses and help American households power their homes and reduce energy costs with solar, battery storage, and geothermal heat pumps. It is paid for by increasing the top tax bracket to 39.6%.
    RECA Expansion: Hickenlooper-led amendment that adds Colorado to the list of states that benefit from an expanded downwinder provision under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
    Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit: Led by Senator Michael Bennet, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike all changes to the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit, but retain foreign entities of concern rules, and strike changes to 48C advanced energy tax credit.
    Maintaining Parity for Wind and Solar Facilities: Led by Senator Jacky Rosen, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to restore parity for solar and wind with other technologies under the Production Tax Credit (45Y) and Investment Tax Credit (48E), paid for with an increase to the top rate at $1 million for individual filers and $1.3M for married filing jointly.
    Eliminating the tax on wind and solar: Led by Senator Adam Schiff, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike the new excise tax on wind and solar, paid for with an increase to 39.6 percent for individuals making $10 million.
    Repeal of Termination of Certain Clean Energy Credits: Led by Senators Jean Shaheen and Peter Welch, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike provisions that would terminate the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D), the New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (45L), and the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction (179D).
    Maintaining Modernized Royalty Rates: Led by Senator Jacky Rosen, Hickenlooper joined this amendment to strike the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act royalty rate modernization for oil and gas.
    Budget resolutions guide federal spending and revenue policies for the year. This is the third budget resolution the Senate has voted on during the reconciliation process. Hickenlooper voted against the first package in February, and the second package in April. The Senate and the House must pass identical versions of the budget for the reconciliation bill to become law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Ongoing job insecurity of part-time volunteer firefighters in Italy – state of play of procedure INFR(2014)4231 and structural staff shortages – E-002505/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002505/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

    In Italy, thousands of workers known as ‘part-time volunteer firefighters’ have worked for years in precarious conditions, on repeated temporary contracts and with no structural protection.

    The Commission opened an infringement procedure in that regard against Italy[1] for breach of Directive 1999/70/EC, which is still open[2]. Although the Italian authorities said that from 1 January 2025 those precarious posts would no longer be allowed, as they were being replaced by permanent staff, it does not appear thus far that this plan has been fully implemented.

    What is more, Decree-Law No 131 of 2024 provided only for partial compensation for precarious workers in the public administration, but did not include a clear stabilisation path for part-time firefighters.

    At the same time, Italy faces a serious shortage of permanent firefighters[3]. The high average age[4], the absence of regular competitions and the reduction of training activities compound this state of affairs.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Can the Commission provide an update on the current state of play of the infringement procedure?
    • 2.Does it think that the measures Italy has announced are sufficient to put an end to the abuse of fixed-term contracts in practice and comply with Directive 1999/70/EC?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    • [1] INFR(2014)4231.
    • [2] In March 2025, it confirmed that the situation was still being assessed and monitored.
    • [3] In regions such as Emilia-Romagna and Sicily, shortages are as high as 40 %. Nationally, shortages are estimated at 4 000 operational units and 2 500 administrative units.
    • [4] Their average age is 47.
    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Releases California Criminal Justice Statistical Reports for 2024

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the release of the annual Homicide in California, Crime in California, Use of Force Incident Reporting, Juvenile Justice in California, and Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California statistical reports. The information contained in the reports reflects statistics for 2024 as submitted by California law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice entities. The reports provide policymakers, researchers, law enforcement, and members of the public with vital statewide information on criminal justice statistics in California to support informed policy choices based on data and analysis and help protect the safety and well-being of all Californians. In accordance with Senate Bill 965 (D-Min), the 2024 Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California Report marks the first year specified information about the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) work to inspect firearm dealers and ammunition vendors in California. This information provides a more detailed picture of crime gun recoveries, dealer practices, and examines the link between firearm dealers and inspection trends as it relates to crime guns which are recovered by law enforcement.

    “Transparency is key for understanding, preventing, and combating crime in our communities. While crime rates have declined over the past year, public safety in our communities remains priorities one, two, and three. I encourage local partners and law enforcement to review this data and recommit to taking action,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The statistics reported today in the California Department of Justice’s annual crime reports are a critical part of understanding where we are, regulating our response, and ensuring policymakers and law enforcement have the tools they need to make informed decisions that keep millions of Californians safe.”

    Each year, DOJ publishes annual reports on various criminal justice statistics in California. While law enforcement agencies across the state are in the process of transitioning to the new data collection system known as the California Incident-Based Reporting System (CIBRS), the format of the information made available in this year’s reports remains consistent with previous years. The ongoing transition to incident-based reporting will ultimately enable law enforcement agencies to collect more in-depth information about specific incidents than previously available in the legacy system that had been in use for decades. 

    Through CIBRS, policymakers, law enforcement, and members of the public will eventually have more detailed information, context, and specificity about crime in the state. Law enforcement agencies across California are currently in the process of transitioning to CIBRS. To date, more than 600 reporting agencies have completed the transition and are in the process of becoming certified by DOJ. DOJ continues to work with agencies across the state during this ongoing transition. 

    In the interim, in order to help ensure the annual criminal justice reports remain complete and accurate to the fullest extent possible, DOJ continues to accept data in both the legacy and CIBRS formats. The information made available in this year’s reports is a combination of data collected under both reporting methods. The Attorney General encourages researchers, academics, and all members of the public to analyze the data and use it to help inform public discourse on the state’s criminal justice system. It is important to note that not all agencies were able to submit a full year of data for 2024. Please reference the “Understanding the Data, Characteristics and Known Limitations” section in the Crime in California and Homicide in California 2024 reports for more information.

    Key findings from each of the four reports released today and a brief description of their contents are available below:

    Homicide in California 2024 provides information about the crime of homicide, including demographic data of victims, persons arrested for homicide, persons sentenced to death, peace officers feloniously killed in the line of duty, and justifiable homicides. Some key findings include: 

    • The homicide rate, defined as the number of homicides per 100,000 people in the state, decreased 10.4% in 2024 (from 4.8 per 100,000 in 2023 to 4.3 per 100,000 in 2024).
    • Firearms continue to be the most common weapon used in homicides. In 2024, 69.9% of homicides, where the weapon was identified, involved a firearm.
    • For homicides where the victim-offender relationship was known and reported to DOJ, 50.5% of victims were killed by a friend or acquaintance (including unmarried intimate partners, gang members, neighbors, etc.), 26.6% were killed by a stranger, and 17.6% were killed by their spouse, parent, or child.
    • There were 1,305 arrests for homicide in 2024, a 5% decrease from the 1,374 arrests reported in 2023.

    Crime in California 2024 presents statewide statistics for reported crimes, arrests, dispositions of adult felony arrests, adult probation, criminal justice personnel, civilians’ complaints against peace officers, domestic violence-related calls for assistance, anti-reproductive rights crimes, and law enforcement officers killed or assaulted. Some key findings include:

    • The violent crime rate — i.e., the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people — decreased 6% from 511 in 2023 to 480.3 in 2024, remaining significantly below California’s historical high of 1,103.9 in 1992.
    • The property crime rate decreased 8.4% from 2,272.7 in 2023 to 2,082.7 in 2024.
    • The total arrest rate increased 2.4% from 2,611.2 in 2023 to 2,673.8 in 2024.
    •  The total number of full-time criminal justice personnel — including law enforcement, prosecutors, investigators, public defenders, and probation officers — increased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024. 

    Use of Force Incident Reporting 2024 presents a summary overview of use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death, or the discharge of a firearm by a civilian, a peace officer, or both, as defined in California Government Code section 12525.2. Some key findings include:

    • In 2024, there were 581 incidents that involved the use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death of a civilian or officer, or the discharge of a firearm.
    • In 2024, 592 civilians were involved in incidents that involved the discharge of a firearm or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death. Of those civilians:

                  o   50.2% were Hispanic.

                  o   25.8% were white.

                  o   19.4% were Black.

    • In 2024, 1,215 officers were involved in incidents that involved the discharge of a firearm or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death. Of those officers:

                  o   80% were not injured.

                  o   20% were injured.

                  o   None died.

    Juvenile Justice in California 2024 provides insight into the juvenile justice process by reporting the number of arrests, referrals to probation departments, petitions filed, and dispositions for juveniles tried in juvenile and adult courts. Some of the key findings include:

    • Of the 44,532 referrals of juveniles to probation, 92.6% were referred by law enforcement.
    • The number of juvenile arrests increased by 2.6% from 2023 to 2024.
    • Of the 32,874 juvenile arrests:

                 o   46.5% were for a felony offense.

                 o   51.8% were for a misdemeanor offense.

                 o   1.7% were for a status offense, defined as acts that would not be classified as crimes if committed by adults such as curfew violations, truancy, running away, and incorrigibility.

    • Of the 23,206 juvenile cases that were formally handled by a juvenile court, 50.8% resulted in juveniles being made wards of the court.
    • Of the 89 juvenile cases tried in adult court, 55.1% resulted in a conviction.  

    Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California 2024 provides insight into patterns and trends relating to recovered firearms that have been illegally possessed, used in a crime, or suspected to have been used in a crime — also known as “crime guns”— including the leading sources and origins of those firearms. The report also sheds light on firearm dealer and ammunition vendor inspection data and trends, including the rate at which the Bureau of Firearms obtains corrections and the link between firearm dealers providing corrections and complying with state laws and regulations. The 2024 report also includes detailed information on the Roster of Certified Handguns (Handgun Roster) that is maintained by DOJ and lists handguns that are approved for retail sale in the state of California because they meet specified testing and safety requirements. Some key findings include: 

    • 139,017 unique crime guns with identifiable serial numbers were recovered by law enforcement agencies in California and entered in the Automated Firearm System (AFS) between 2022 and 2024. This included 46,996 crime guns recovered in 2024.  
    • 32,063 crime guns were entered in AFS without any recorded serial number between 2022 and 2024. This included 9,249 unserialized crime guns recovered in 2024.
    • In 2024, there was a 11.9% drop in the number of crime guns without serial numbers reported statewide compared to 2023, indicating a 29.5% decline from the 2021 peak of 13,108.
    • 376 identified dealers were associated with only one crime gun recovered in 2024 and 81 dealers were associated with roughly half of all crime guns recovered in 2024 that could be traced to a source.
    • On average, licensed dealers sold or transferred 22.3 firearms that were later identified as a crime gun between 2022 and 2024.
    • The manufacturers associated with the most crime gun records included: Glock; Smith & Wesson; Sturm, Ruger, & Co.; Taurus Forjas; and Springfield.
    • Roughly 65% of crime guns recovered in California between 2022 and 2024 had no prior sale recorded in AFS, which may indicate that the guns were purchased illegally or imported into California from another state with fewer gun safety regulations and safeguards.
    • From 2020 through 2024, DOJ inspected 736 firearms dealers and recorded 41,602 violations. 85% of those violations have been resolved. 
    • The average number of violations per firearm dealer was 51.87 and the median number was 18. 
    • In the year prior to the firearm dealer inspections, 612 crime guns were sold by and later traced back to inspected dealers. 
    • From 2020 through 2024, DOJ inspected 68 ammunition vendors and recorded a total of 975 violations. 99% of those violations have been resolved.
    • Between 2020 and 2024, 215 handguns were added to the Handgun Roster while 87 handguns were removed from it. During the same period, 60 handguns were denied for listing on the Handgun Roster. As of December 31, 2024, there were 930 handguns on the Handgun Roster. 

    The Homicide in California report is available here. The Crime in California report is available here. The Use of Force Incident Reporting report is available here. The Juvenile Justice in California report is available here. The Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California Report is available here. The underlying data associated with the annual reports is available on OpenJustice here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in $8-Million Federal Emergency Assistance Benefits Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, a Nigerian national extradited from France, to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. Jemide will also serve three years of supervised release, pay $520,431.83 of restitution, and a forfeiture money judgment was entered against him in the amount of $311,036.64. Jemide executed his part of the criminal scheme from Nigeria where he resided when he committed the offense.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor, Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General – Philadelphia Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge William McCool, U.S. Secret Service – Washington Field Office.

    As a result of the conspiracy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided emergency benefits and compensation for damages to victims affected by declared national emergency disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires. Among other benefits, an individual in an affected area was immediately eligible for Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) to purchase life-saving or life-sustaining materials.  Victims could decide how to receive assistance payments, including deposits on pre-paid debit cards.

    According to his guilty plea, in 2016 and 2017, Jemide and others from Nigeria directed co-conspirators living in the United States to purchase hundreds of Green Dot Debit Cards. Co-conspirators living in Nigeria then registered the cards with Green Dot using stolen personal information from identity theft victims around the United States.  Jemide and his co-conspirators used an encrypted messaging application and other means to communicate.

    In 2017, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria — and the California wildfires — Jemide and other co-conspirators from Nigeria used stolen personal information to apply online for FEMA and CNA benefits.  FEMA dispersed $500 per claim on the Green Dot Debit Cards that the co-conspirators purchased for a total of at least $8 million.

    In addition to filing false disaster-assistance claims with FEMA, Jemide and co-conspirators also submitted false online claims for Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, and other government benefits using stolen identities of multiple individuals, including names, addresses, Social Security Numbers (SSN), and other personal identifiers.

    As a result of fraudulent submissions, FEMA and other federal agencies deposited benefits onto the Green Dot Debit Cards.  The funds were deposited on the debit cards using multiple stolen identities, including identities different from the identities used to register the cards. Jemide and select co-conspirators informed other co-conspirators when the fraudulent funds became available on the debit cards and gave them information to cash out the funds from the cards in exchange for a commission.  Additionally, the co-conspirators took steps to conceal their identities by enlisting others to make purchases and withdrawals; utilizing multiple store and bank locations and methods of withdrawal; and making money orders payable to other individuals and/or corporate entities.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DHS OIG, SSA OIG, and the USSS for their work in the investigation and thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service for their valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Jemide to the United States.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Darren Gardner who are prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fourth of Five Sentencings in Burglary of Dozens of Firearms from a Maryland Pawn Shop

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

                WASHINGTON – Tyjuan McNeal, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison for participating in the December 2023 burglary of 34 firearms from a Maryland pawn shop. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                McNeal pleaded guilty on March 12, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. In addition to the 84-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered McNeal to serve three years of supervised release.

                According to the court documents, on December 13, 2023, McNeal and at least four co-conspirators drove from Washington, D.C. to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee in Glen Burnie, Maryland. McNeal was wearing an ankle monitor that he had wrapped in aluminum foil.

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

                McNeal was arrested on March 22, 2024, with a Glock 29 pistol and has been detained since.

                Co-defendant Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, was sentenced to 84 months in prison. Vincent Lee Alston, aka “Vedo,” 23, was sentenced to 84 months. Niquan “Stickz” Odum, 23, was sentenced to 48 months. Sentencing is pending for Cy’juan Hemsley, 20, who pleaded to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms.           

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Jury in Louisville Returns 4 Indictments Charging 22 Defendants with Drug Trafficking, Firearms, and Money Laundering Offenses

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

    Louisville, KY – On May 6, 2025, a federal grand jury in Louisville charged a total of 20 defendants from across Kentucky and California in 3 separate indictments involving methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking offenses and firearms offenses. On May 21, 2025, a federal grand jury charged 4 defendants, 2 of whom were previously charged, in an indictment involving methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking and money laundering offenses. The indictments charging all 22 defendants were the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies.

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chicago Director of Field Operations Lafonda Sutton-Burke, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.  

    The following 9 defendants were charged in the first indictment on May 6, 2025:

    • James Havlicheck, 34, of California
    • Rodney Hollie, 38, of California
    • Joseph Nguyen, 38, of California
    • Minh Ngo, 40, of California
    • Kevin Nguyen, 30, of California
    • Johnathan Nguyen, 35, of California
    • Ordell Smith, Jr., 38, of Louisville
    • Vanray O’Neal, 38, of Louisville
    • Darren Render, 33, of Louisville 

    According to the first indictment, Havlicheck, Hollie, Joseph Nguyen, Ngo, Kevin Nguyen, and Johnathan Nguyen were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine for a conspiracy beginning as early as April 2024 and continuing through July 19, 2024. Havlicheck and Ngo were also charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine 50 grams or more.

    Smith, Jr. was charged with four counts of distribution of methamphetamine 50 grams or more. 

    O’Neal was charged with three counts of distribution of methamphetamine 50 grams or more and two counts of firearms trafficking.

    Render was charged with four counts of firearms trafficking, four counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of distribution of heroin, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Render was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.

    On April 2, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Render was convicted of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

    If convicted, Havlicheck, Hollie, Joseph Nguyen, Ngo, Kevin Nguyen, Johnathan Nguyen, Smith, Jr., and O’Neal face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Render faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison. All the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

    The following 9 defendants were charged in the second indictment on May 6, 2025:

    • Antonio Taylor, 39, of Louisville
    • Terry Matthews, 44, of Louisville
    • Dylan Bradley, 21, of Louisville
    • Demetrius Brown, 42, of Louisville
    • Dominic McCray, 30, of Louisville
    • Joshua James, 42, of Louisville
    • Gregory Jackson, 34, of Louisville
    • Thai Quoc Tran, 24, of Louisville
    • Devon Wilson, 43, of Louisville 

    According to the second indictment, Taylor, Matthews, Bradley, Brown, McCray, James, and Jackson were charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl for a conspiracy beginning as early as August 21, 2024, and continuing through October 23, 2024.

    Taylor was also charged with one count of distribution of 400 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, eight counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Taylor was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On or about May 21, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Taylor was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and trafficking in a controlled substance first degree unspecified less than ten dosage units (two counts).

    Matthews was also charged with one count of distribution of 400 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count firearms trafficking, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Matthews was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.

    On March 9, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Matthews was convicted of flagrant non-support.

    Bradley was also charged with three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    Brown was also charged with one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, one count of distribution of a fentanyl mixture, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On or about July 17, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Brown was convicted of assault in the second degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, receiving stolen firearm, and wanton endangerment in the first degree.

    McCray was also charged with one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

    James was also charged with one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.

    Jackson was also charged with one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.

    Tran was also charged with one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

    Wilson was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Wilson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On July 16, 2024, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of flagrant non-support.

    On January 9, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, schedule I heroin less than two grams.

    If convicted, Taylor, Matthews, Bradley, Brown, James, Jackson, and Tran face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. McCray faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Wilson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Matthews and McCray have not been federally arrested and are not yet before the Court.

    The following 2 defendants were charged in the third indictment on May 6, 2025:

    • Mark Foster, Jr., 33, of Louisville
    • Devante Rice, 30, of Louisville

    Foster was charged with two counts of distribution of controlled substances, nine counts of distribution of fentanyl, ten counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, seven counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, and one count of firearms trafficking. Foster was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On or about March 30, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Foster was convicted of receiving stolen property (firearm) and illegal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, heroin.   

    On or about June 15, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Foster was convicted of complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, opioids, complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, methamphetamine, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and tampering with physical evidence.

    Rice was charged with eleven counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of firearms trafficking, and two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm. Rice was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

    On January 10, 2014, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Rice was convicted of burglary in the second degree and receiving stolen property over $500.

    On April 30, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Rice was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

    On August 8, 2023, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Rice was convicted of complicity to possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, theft by unlawful taking – firearm (two counts), and theft by unlawful taking over $500 but under $10,000.

    If convicted, Foster faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 70 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Rice faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on each count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and the single count of firearms trafficking and a 10-year maximum sentence for the two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

    The following 4 defendants were charged in the fourth indictment on May 21, 2025:

    • Antonio Taylor
    • Joshua James
    • Celotia Evans, 39, of Louisville
    • Jaremei Hinkle, 24, of Louisville

    According to the fourth indictment, Taylor, James, Evans, and Hinkle were charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl for a conspiracy beginning as early as June 2024 and continuing through July 11, 2024. 

    Hinkle was also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute of 400 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.

    James was also charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.

    Taylor is also charged with engaging in monetary transactions derived from specific unlawful activities and laundering of a money instrument during his purchase of a vehicle.

    If convicted, Taylor, James, Evans, and Hinkle face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. All the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Evans and Hinkle have not been federally arrested and are not yet before the Court.

    The cases are being investigated by the FBI, HSI, ATF, DEA, IRS-CI, CBP, USPIS, KSP, and LMPD. 

    These cases were investigated and prosecuted by the Kentucky Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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).

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PENSACOLA MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF LOADED FIREARM AS A CONVICTED FELON

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

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Christ’Avian X’Zayvia Rayshon Sheard, 19, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    According to court records, on April 2, 2024, Sheard was located in a vehicle parked at Sanders Beach. Sheard was in possession of marijuana as well as a loaded Taurus 9 millimeter pistol. Sheard was a convicted felon at the time, with a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault by threat with a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America is a promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will do everything in our power to stop those who are victimizing our communities, and keeping a violent felon like this one off the streets is exactly what they meant.  I am proud of the work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners who investigated this case, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.”

    “Pensacola Police is committed to reducing guns crimes and will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners to hold everyone accountable that chooses to illegally possess a firearm in our city,” said Chief Randall of the Pensacola Police Department.

    The case involved a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing With Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine

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

    The defendant, a felon, also possessed a firearm in connection with the drug offense.

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Freddie Anthony Curry, 54, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. 

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division.

    In May 2024, the FBI and DEA began investigating Curry in connection with suspected fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in the Baltimore area.  During their investigation, they verified Curry’s vehicle and residence. Authorities then executed federal search warrants on Curry’s residence and vehicle. During the search, investigators recovered approximately 980 grams of fentanyl, 1,040 grams of cocaine, digital scales, drug-packaging materials, and a Glock 19 9-millimeter handgun. Curry is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions.

    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.

    This case is part of a Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations to reduce drug-related and/or gang violence in the Baltimore metropolitan and surrounding areas.  The Baltimore Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and DEA, for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins who is prosecuting the case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Memo to Shane Jones: what if NZ needs more regional government, not less?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeffrey McNeill, Honorary Research Associate, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    If the headlines are anything to go by, New Zealand’s regional councils are on life support.

    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones recently wondered whether “there’s going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist”. And Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is open to exploring the possibility of scrapping the councils.

    This has all been driven by the realisation that the government’s proposed resource management reforms would essentially gut local authorities of their basic planning and environmental management functions. Various mayors and other interested parties have agreed. While some are circumspect, there’s broad agreement a review is needed.

    At present, each territorial council writes its own city or district plan. Regional councils write a series of thematic plans addressing different environmental issues. All the plans contain the councils’ regulatory “rules” that determine what people can or cannot do.

    Under the coming reforms, the territorial and regional councils of each region would have only a single chapter each within a broader regional spatial plan. Their function would, for the main part, involve tweaking all-embracing national policies and standards.

    Further, all compliance and monitoring – now a predominantly regional council activity – is to be taken over by a national agency (possibly the Environment Protection Authority). This won’t leave much for regional councils to do, compared with their broad remits now.

    How regional government evolved

    In truth, regional councils have been targets since they were created as part of the Labour government’s 1989 local government reform. Carried out in lockstep with the drafting of the Resource Management Act (passed in 1991), this established two levels of local government.

    City and district councils were to be responsible for infrastructure and the built environment. The new regional councils were more opaque, essentially multi-function, special-purpose authorities, recognising that some government actions are bigger than local but smaller than national.

    In the event, they became what in many countries would be thought of as environmental protection agencies. Their boundaries were drawn to capture river catchments, reflecting their catchment board antecedents, which looked after soil erosion and flood management.

    Other functions were drawn from other government departments. Air-quality management came from the old Department of Health. Coastal management was partly inherited from the Ministry of Transport, shared with the Department of Conservation.

    Public transport and civil defence were tacked on, given their cross-territorial scale and lack of anywhere else to put them.

    Parochialism and politics

    All their various functions have meant regional councils determine who gets to use the region’s resources – and who misses out. And political decisions are a surefire way to make enemies.

    For example, the Resource Management Act applied the presumption that no one could discharge any contaminant into water unless expressly allowed by a rule or a resource consent. Regional councils therefore required their territorial councils to upgrade their rubbish dumps and sewage treatment systems.

    Similarly, farmers could no longer simply take water to irrigate or empty cowshed effluent straight into the nearest stream as of right. The necessary infrastructure upgrades were expensive.

    Ironically, these attempts to minimise the immediate impacts of such demands on water users saw urban voters and environmental groups criticise the councils and the government for being too soft on “dirty dairying” and other polluters.

    Parochialism also plays a part, as does the feeling in some rural communities that they’re forgotten by their regions’ cities, where most voters live. The perceived poor handling of events such as last year’s Hawke’s Bay flooding and the 2018 Wellington bus network failure have not helped.

    The government even replaced Environment Canterbury’s elected council with appointed commissioners in 2010 over performance concerns, particularly in water management.

    Yet the regional council model has largely survived intact – with two exceptions. The Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council was replaced by the Nelson City and Marlborough and Tasman District unitary councils in 1992, as a token sacrifice to the conservative wing of the National government, which vehemently opposed the new regions.

    The genesis of the Auckland Council super-region can be traced to the 1999–2008 Labour government’s frustration at getting a unified position from the city’s seven councils on where to build a stadium for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Not everyone is happy with the resulting metro-regional solution.

    Who will be accountable?

    If regional government is indeed put to rest, it will be another phase in this piecemeal evolutionary process. But the new model will still require central government to have a significant regional presence – and commensurate central government funding.

    But central government has had a regional-scale presence for a long time. Police, the fire service, economic development and social welfare agencies all have their own regional boundaries. Public health and tertiary training and education are also essentially regional.

    All these functions are inherently political. And in many other countries, they are are delivered by regional governments. Maybe, once the implications are looked at more closely, leaving regional councils intact will seem the easier and cheaper option. Indeed, there is a counter argument that we need more regional government, not less.

    The current impulse for local government change – including district council amalgamation – continues an ad hoc process going back more than 30 years. As I have argued previously, the form, function and funding of local government need to be considered together.

    The regional level of administration will not go away. But the overriding question remains: who should speak for and be accountable to their communities for what are ultimately still political decisions, whoever makes them?

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

    – ref. Memo to Shane Jones: what if NZ needs more regional government, not less? – https://theconversation.com/memo-to-shane-jones-what-if-nz-needs-more-regional-government-not-less-259778

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressmembers Langworthy and Stefanik Introduce SAFER at the Border Act to Block Dangerous Migrants Exploiting Biden-era Loopholes

    Source: US Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmembers Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) introduced the Safeguarding Americans from Extreme Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act, legislation aimed at closing dangerous loopholes left wide open by the Biden administration and restoring strict vetting protocols to ensure extremists and criminals are kept out of the United States.

     

    “My constituents are fed up with the flood of murderers, terrorists, and dangerous individuals that poured into our communities across New York State—all because of the reckless, failed open-border policies of the Biden administration,” said Congressman Langworthy. “A nation without secure borders is a nation in decline, and it’s time we take bold, decisive action to reverse the chaos of the last four years.”

     

    He continued, “The SAFER at the Border Act answers the urgent call from Border Czar Tom Homan, who has sounded the alarm on the unprecedented number of illegal aliens who entered our country under the Biden administration from high-risk countries like Iran. This legislation is about protecting American families from threats that never should have made it onto our soil in the first place.”

     

    “The Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul embraced and fully supported Joe Biden’s catastrophic open border policies. She has put all New Yorkers at risk by prioritizing illegals first and New Yorkers LAST with her sanctuary state policies,” Chairwoman Stefanik said. “Today, I am announcing I am co-leading the SAFER at the Border Act with Congressman Nick Langworthy to keep dangerous criminal illegals from terrorizing New York and our nation’s streets. The legislation closes loopholes that were exploited by Kathy Hochul’s failed policies and Joe Biden’s reckless abuse of immigration parole. Terrorists, transnational criminals, and dangerous foreign nationals invaded our sovereign nation under the corrupt and failed leadership of Kathy Hochul. We must put law-abiding New Yorkers first and secure our borders.”

     

    Specifically, the SAFER at The Border Act would:

     

    • Prohibit parole for high-risk aliens: The bill bars the Secretary of Homeland Security from granting immigration parole to individuals who pose national security or public safety risks—such as known terrorists, members of transnational criminal organizations, or those flagged in federal threat databases.
    • Closes loopholes for refugee parole: It prohibits parole of refugees into the United States outside of the established refugee admission process, preventing the administration from using broad parole authority to bypass standard vetting and security protocols.
    • Targets national security threats in immigration law: The bill ensures that individuals with ties to terrorism, espionage, or foreign criminal networks are flagged and blocked from entering the U.S., reinforcing existing inadmissibility standards with clear statutory guardrails.

     

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

     

    Original cosponsors of this legislation include Reps. Michael Cloud (TX), Chuck Edwards (NC), Gabe Evans (CO), Chuck Fleischmann (TN), Michael Guest (MS), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Andy Ogles (TN), Michael Rulli (OH), Mike Simpson (ID), Pete Stauber (NY), Elise Stefanik (NY), Scott DesJarlais (TN), and Claudia Tenney (NY).

     

    The SAFER at The Border Act is supported by the Immigration Accountability Project, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and America First Policy Institute (AFPI).

     

    “While the country is no longer facing the mass release of illegal aliens into the country under the guise of ‘humanitarian parole’, Congress must act to prevent this kind of abuse from happening again. In light of reports that the Biden Administration released suspected terrorists into the interior during the border crisis, Congress must change the law so that no known or suspected terrorists can ever be granted humanitarian parole. The SAFER at the Border Act prioritizes safeguarding American communities by prohibiting parole for individuals deemed dangerous, including those associated with espionage, sabotage, terrorism, or serious criminal activities. The Immigration Accountability Project applauds Senator Daines and Congressman Langworthy for this effort to help bring sanity and security back to the immigration system,”saidGrant Newman, Director of Government Relations, Immigration Accountability Project.

     

    “For the last four years, suspected terrorists were encountered at our borders in record numbers and special interest aliens flooded into the country, putting the interests of illegal aliens over protecting our national security. As a result of the Biden Administration’s catch-and-release policies and abuse of parole, dangerous aliens were more likely than ever before to slip through the cracks. Limiting the DHS Secretary from paroling aliens designated as terrorists, suspected terrorists, or special interest aliens is a commonsense step. FAIR is proud to support this crucial bill to help ensure the safety of American citizens and protect against the abuse of our immigration laws,”said Joe Chatham, Director of Government Relations, FAIR.

     

    “Border security is national security, and our open southern border has significantly increased our Nation’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks. An unprecedented number of terrorists, special interest aliens, and cartel members have exploited the Biden Administration’s failed border strategy and been released into American communities. We must reverse course from these disastrous policies, secure our border, and stop these national security and public safety threats from entering our Nation. The Safeguarding Americans from Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act empowers the Department of Homeland Security to protect American families,” said Chad Wolf, former acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute.

     

    Read the exclusive here.

      

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Texas Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Residents Affected by May Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, nonprofits, and residents in Texas of the Aug. 1 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset physical damage caused by the severe storm and straight-line winds beginning May 8.

    The disaster declaration covers the Texas counties of Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces and San Patricio.

    Small businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

    “One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s physical damage loans.”

    SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for PNPs, and 2.81% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms, based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to New Mexico Private Nonprofits Affected by Severe Storm and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Mexico of the Aug. 1, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm and flooding occurring Oct. 19-20, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the New Mexico county of Chaves.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to New Mexico Private Nonprofits Affected by Severe Storm and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Mexico of the Aug. 1, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm and flooding occurring Oct. 19-20, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the New Mexico county of Chaves.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Private Nonprofits Affected by July Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Aug. 1, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm, straight-line winds and flooding occurring July 13-14, 2024.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Private Nonprofits Affected by July Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Aug. 1, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm, straight-line winds and flooding occurring July 13-14, 2024.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –