NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-Evening Report: Wetland restoration is seen as sunk cost – but new research shows why it should be considered an investment

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wei Yang, Senior Scientist in Environmental Economics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators

    As extreme weather intensifies globally, governments are seeking nature-based solutions that deliver both climate and economic benefits.

    The restoration of wetlands is an often overlooked opportunity. As our recent study shows, wetlands have long been treated as environmental “add-ons” but are in fact rising economic assets, delivering more value as they mature.

    Restored coastal wetlands, particularly mangroves and saltmarshes, offer growing returns in the form of carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and storm buffering. These benefits build up gradually, sometimes exponentially, over time.

    But planning frameworks treat restorations as static costs, rather than compounding investments.

    Using international data and economic modelling, we developed a framework to capture how wetland benefits evolve over decades. While we draw on global datasets, this approach can be applied in New Zealand to understand the value of local restoration projects.

    Timing matters for wetland investment

    Traditional cost-benefit analyses treat wetland restoration as a one-off expense with fixed returns. Our research shows this misses the bigger, long-term picture.

    For example, coastal mangroves initially store a modest amount of carbon while seedlings develop. But as root systems establish and capture sediment, there is a critical threshold when carbon sequestration accelerates dramatically. Mature restored mangroves can store three times more carbon annually than during early years.

    Saltmarshes follow a similar pattern. They develop from basic habitat into complex networks that buffer storm surges, filter nutrients and support productive fisheries.

    For New Zealand, where many wetlands were historically drained or degraded, the implication is clear. Early investment in restoration is critical and will deliver increasing returns over time.

    Our study highlights mangroves and saltmarshes as priority systems, but also points to peatlands and freshwater marshes as promising candidates.

    Early investment in wetland restoration can deliver long-term returns.
    Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators

    Risk from resource management reform

    As part of a major reform of the Resource Management Act, the government is reviewing the environmental rules governing the work of local and regional councils, including policies on freshwater.

    The law review and freshwater policy consultations present both opportunities and challenges for wetland valuation.

    The amendment to the Resource Management Act regarding freshwater proposes:

    quick, targeted changes which will reduce the regulatory burden on key sectors, including farming, mining and other primary industries.

    While this may reduce the regulatory burden, it highlight the need for robust valuation tools that can weigh long-term benefits against immediate development returns.

    The current consultation outlines specific changes, including clarifying the definition of a wetland. The amended definition would exclude wetlands “unintentionally created” through activities such as irrigation, while constructed wetlands would have a new set of objectives and consent pathways.

    Councils would also no longer need to map wetlands by 2030, while restrictions on non-intensive grazing of beef cattle and deer in wetlands would be removed.

    These definition changes could exclude wetlands that accumulate significant climate and biodiversity benefits over time, regardless of their origin. As our research suggests, the ecological and economic value of wetlands often increases substantially as systems mature.

    The valuation gap

    Despite growing international recognition of “blue carbon” initiatives (which store carbon in coastal and marine ecosystems), New Zealand lacks frameworks to capture the dynamic value of wetlands.

    Earlier research shows coastal ecosystems contribute about US$190 billion annually to global blue carbon wealth, with wetlands storing about half of all carbon buried in ocean sediments despite occupying less than 2% of the ocean.

    New Zealand has no wetland-specific financial instruments to attract private investment and wetlands are not integrated into the Emissions Trading Scheme, the government’s main tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    This creates a fundamental mismatch. Policy frameworks treat restoration as static costs while science reveals appreciating assets.

    Our modelling framework offers a pathway to bridge this gap. By tracking how different wetland types accumulate benefits over time, decision makers can better understand long-term returns on restoration investment.

    Australia is already developing wetland carbon markets. International blue carbon financial initiatives are emerging and recognising that today’s restoration investment delivers tomorrow’s climate benefits.

    For New Zealand, this could mean:

    • integrating wetland valuation into environmental assessments, moving beyond upfront costs to consider decades of accumulating benefits across different wetland types

    • aligning finance with restoration timelines and developing funding mechanisms that capture growing value rather than treating restoration as sunk costs

    • building regional datasets and generating location-specific data on how New Zealand’s diverse wetlands develop benefits over time, reducing investment uncertainty.

    With sea-level rise accelerating and extreme weather becoming more frequent, wetlands represent critical infrastructure for climate adaptation. Unlike built infrastructure (stop banks, for example) that depreciates, wetlands appreciate, becoming more valuable as they mature.

    The current policy consultation period offers an opportunity to embed this thinking into New Zealand’s environmental frameworks. Rather than viewing wetlands as regulatory constraints, dynamic valuation could reveal them as appreciating assets that increase resilience for coastal communities.

    Restoring coastal wetlands is not just about repairing nature. It’s about investing in a living, compounding asset that ameliorates climate impacts and protects our coasts and communities.

    Wei Yang was funded by a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour grant.

    – ref. Wetland restoration is seen as sunk cost – but new research shows why it should be considered an investment – https://theconversation.com/wetland-restoration-is-seen-as-sunk-cost-but-new-research-shows-why-it-should-be-considered-an-investment-258281

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Joins Cassidy, Republican Colleagues in Demanding an End to Biden-Era Flood Insurance Premiums

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) recently joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and eight other Republican senators in demanding the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finally end the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, which caused flood insurance premiums to skyrocket. 

    “Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system,” the senators said.

    “The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike,” the senators continued.

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    Dear Acting Administrator Richardson,

    We write to draw your urgent attention to the increasingly untenable flood insurance premiums paid by American homeowners as a result of the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We respectfully ask for your leadership to halt further premium increases under Risk Rating 2.0 and implement much needed transparency from FEMA.

    On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 13990, directing every federal agency to target and modify Trump era regulations under the auspice of combating climate change. A few months later, Biden signed EO 14030, requiring agencies to integrate up-to-date flood risk considerations into federal actions. Collectively, both of these EOs laid the groundwork for FEMA’s implementation of a new rating system known as Risk Rating 2.0, which was enacted on October 1, 2021.  

    Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system. According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, premiums on primary residences under Risk Rating 2.0 are subject to a maximum 18 percent increase each year until such premiums reflect “the full risk loss of the insured property,” as determined by FEMA.

    Families in the following Republican states are especially hard-hit.

    Louisiana:

    • It is estimated that 80 percent of Louisiana NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    • In 2023 alone, the average flood insurance premium in our state jumped by 234 percent, forcing more than 52,000 Louisianans—many of them seniors on fixed incomes—out of the program.
    • Coastal parishes, which depend on flood insurance to secure mortgages and rebuild after storms, are now facing premiums that exceed 2 percent of median household income—a threshold that federal guidance deems “cost prohibitive.”

    West Virginia:

    • It is estimated that 83% of West Virginia NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    • As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in West Virginia by ~176%
    • Over the last 12 months, ~600 West Virginians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.

    Texas:

    • It is estimated that 86% of Texas NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    • As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Texas by ~53%.
    • Over the last 12 months, ~26,300 Texans have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases. 

    Alabama:

    • It is estimated that 79% of Alabama NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    • As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Alabama by ~106%.
    • Over the last 12 months, ~1,200 Alabamians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.

    Mississippi:

    • It is estimated that 84% of Mississippi NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    • As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Mississippi by ~103%.
    • Over the last 12 months, ~2,200 Mississippians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.

    Rural and low-income homeowners, along with high-risk coastal areas, are being priced out at far higher rates than urban or wealthier communities. In ten states, full risk NFIP premiums today exceed 2 percent of median household income.  This undermines home values, depresses property tax revenues, and ultimately inflates federal disaster assistance costs when uninsured homeowners cannot rebuild.

    The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike.

    The President has long championed policies that reduce federal overreach and protect everyday Americans from burdensome costs. To limit the damage caused by this harmful Biden era policy, we urge you to:

    1. Direct FEMA to terminate the Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology.
    2. Require FEMA to publish all actuarial inputs and outputs of future flood insurance premium increases exceeding the 5% statutory minimum so stakeholders can verify fairness and accuracy.
    3. Restore targeted affordability measures for coastal, low income, and historically underinsured communities—ensuring NFIP remains accessible to those who need it most.

    Time is of the essence. Each month that Risk Rating 2.0 continues unchecked, more families are forced to abandon their insurance coverage, neighborhoods face economic strain, and entire communities risk collapse after the next disaster. We respectfully urge you to act now—before further harm is done—to protect vulnerable Americans, preserve homeownership, and ensure the NFIP fulfills its mission as Congress intended.

    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito and Justice Release Statement Following Flooding in Ohio and Marion Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) issued a statement following the devastating flooding in Ohio and Marion counties:

    “Our hearts go out to the families and communities across West Virginia who are being impacted by the devastating flooding we have seen these last few days, especially those who have lost or are missing loved ones. I am also incredibly grateful to our first responders who have been on the ground and working tirelessly. I have and will continue to closely monitor the situation, and remain in close contact with local and state officials to ensure every available resource is available and deployed as quickly as possible. I urge all West Virginians to remain cautious, and continue helping friends and neighbors in need. Although the recovery won’t happen overnight, West Virginia is strong, and we will rebuild—just as we always do,” Senator Capito said.

    “Unfortunately, West Virginia is no stranger to flooding. As a result of the storms from this weekend, we’ve lost multiple West Virginians, and some folks are still missing. My heart breaks for the families who are grieving and those who are still waiting to hear from their loved ones. Cathy and I are certainly holding them close in our prayers. Our first responders deserve more thanks than we could ever put into words. When the water came rushing in, they didn’t blink—they ran straight into the danger, no questions asked. That’s just who they are. They’re heroes through and through. I’ve been talking with our emergency folks on the ground, and we’re going to do everything in our power to get help where it’s needed. When West Virginia gets knocked down, we don’t stay down. We pull the rope together and we lift each other back up. That’s exactly what we’re going to do because these folks need all of us badly right now,” Senator Justice said.

    BACKGROUND:

    • Ohio County was under a flash flood warning beginning Saturday night and around 8:00 p.m., up to four inches of rain fell in just 30 minutes, causing rapid and dangerous flooding.
    • Numerous roadways, homes, and neighborhoods in the area sustained significant damage.
    • On Sunday, a second round of storms brought additional flash flooding across parts of the state.
    • Marion County was particularly impacted, with severe damage reported in Fairmont and surrounding areas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Provincial Fire Ban Lifted

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 16, 2025

    Due to recent rainfall and cooler weather, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is rescinding the provincial fire ban effective at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025. 

    The fire ban will be lifted on all Crown lands, provincial parks, and provincial recreation sites located north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River, along with the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. 

    The public is reminded that provincial parks, municipalities and R.M.s may still have their own local fire ban, restriction or advisory in place. A list of fire restrictions in provincial parks and recreation sites can be found here and the SPSA interactive fire ban map can be found here.

    Municipalities and provincial parks should continue to monitor local conditions and implement fire bans or burning restrictions as required. 

    The latest fire risk maps, fire prevention tips, an interactive fire ban map and frequently asked questions can be found at saskpublicsafety.ca.

    Anyone who spots a wildfire can call 1-800-667-9660 or dial 9-1-1.

    Established in 2017, the SPSA is a treasury board Crown corporation responsible for wildfire management, emergency management, Sask911, SaskAlert, the Civic Addressing Registry, the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program and fire safety.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in Pulaski County Kentucky

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Pulaski county to assist small businesses, private nonprofits and residents affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes occurring March 16-17.

    Beginning Monday, June 16, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Business Recovery Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

    Business Recovery Center (BRC-02)

    Pulaski County

    Emergency Management Office

    25 Jessie Lane

    Somerset, KY 42501

    Opening:     Monday, June 16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Hours:    Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Closed: Sunday

    Permanently Closing: TBD

    The BRC hours of operation is listed below:

    “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

    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 filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 23, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    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 or 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: Durbin Joins Local Leaders, Army Corps Of Engineers To Celebrate Progress of Cahokia Heights Sewer Trunkline Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 13, 2025

    Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through an earmark in the FY23 government funding bill

    CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined state and local officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a news conference to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project, which was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)—more commonly known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) government funding bill, as well as the announcement earlier this year of $10 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funding for St. Clair County.

    “For far too long, the residents of Cahokia Heights have endured the devastating impact of failing storm and sanitary water infrastructure, facing not only property damage, but also threats to their health and safety,” said Durbin. “The sanitary sewer trunkline project will address the immediate needs of the community while laying the foundation for more secure infrastructure and economic investment for generations to come. While there is still more work to be done, Phase I’s completion and the announcement of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief Funding is representative of what federal, state, and local collaboration and cooperation can bring to communities like Cahokia Heights.”

    “This is a transformative moment for our community,” said Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. “Thanks to this funding, we are now able to move forward with meaningful, permanent solutions to problems that have affected our residents for far too long.”

    “Our continued partnership with Cahokia Heights reflects a deep, shared commitment to advancing critical initiatives that benefit the community. By working closely together, we are able to combine federal resources and local expertise to ensure effective, sustainable outcomes. We remain dedicated to supporting this collaboration and look forward to building on the strong foundation we’ve established, driving progress that truly makes a difference,” said COL Andy J. Pannier, Commander St. Louis District, United States Army Corps of Engineers.

    “These needed infrastructure dollars will go a long way to improve the lives of many St. Clair County residents. These problems have long existed and we appreciate the work of Senators Durbin and Duckworth and Representative Budzinski,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman.

    Durbin increased the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) authorized funding limit for the Metro East in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 and secured language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 government funding bill supporting the Corps’ expansion of its ongoing study focusing on the Canal 1 Watershed to a broader area of Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis.  After severe storms devastated St. Clair County in July 2022, Durbin led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to President Biden, supporting Governor Pritzker’s request for federal assistance.  President Biden declared a Presidential Disaster Declaration, unlocking St. Clair County’s eligibility for the CDBG-DR funds now being distributed for the sewer project.

    Durbin also led a December 2023 letter with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL13) to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) urging the agency to conduct a public health assessment on the impact of decades of flooding in Cahokia Heights.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Merkley, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Train Next Generation of Wildland Firefighters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Jeff Merkley, and Steve Daines recently introduced the bipartisan Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025, which would create a pipeline for young people to enter into careers fighting fires and caring for public lands.  

    Specifically, this bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to offer wildland firefighter training to Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center students. 

    “Colorado’s wildfires are growing more intense. We all agree that we can’t wait to act,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill sets students on a direct path to stable careers caring for our public lands, and builds a firefighting force that’s ready to meet the urgent threat of climate change.” 

    The Job Corps is the nation’s largest job training and education program for students from 16 to 24 years of age. The U.S. Forest Service operates 24 Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs) nationwide, including one in Colorado. 

    During the 2024 fire season, CCC youth across the country completed 205,882 hours of work on wildland firefighting efforts and prescribed burns to reduce hazardous fuels and the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and 11,410 hours on other fire management support functions, including providing meals through mobile kitchens.

    The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act would further strengthen the program by setting a goal for both the USDA and the DOI to hire 300 students a year and providing direct hire authority specific to CCC graduates to expedite that process. It would also create a pilot program to use students at CCCs to address the lack of workforce housing for wildland firefighters.

    The full text of the bill is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon State Fire Marshal Mobilizes Resources to Rowena Fire in Wasco County

    Source: US State of Oregon

    he Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing structural firefighters and an incident management team to fight the Rowena Fire burning in Wasco County. The fire was first reported on Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread, prompting level three, Go Now, evacuations by the Wasco County Sheriff. The fire prompted the closure of I-84 between Mosier and The Dalles as firefighters work to stop the fast-moving flames.

    At 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, which allows the state fire marshal to mobilize resources. The agency is currently mobilizing its Green Incident Management Team and six structural task forces. Three task forces will be responding tonight and three more will be arriving early Thursday morning. The Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Incident Management Team will be working in unified command with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service Type 3 Team.

    “This early season conflagration should come as a reminder to Oregonians to be ready for wildfire,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The predictions for this summer are extremely concerning. I am asking everyone to take that extra minute to mindful of the conditions and remember it takes a single spark to ignite a disaster.”

    The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office is posting the latest evacuation information here. The agency says The Dalles Middle School (1100 E 12th St, The Dalles, OR 97058) is open as a temporary shelter and the Wasco County Fairgrounds (81849 Fairgrounds Rd, Tygh Valley, OR 97063) is open for livestock and horses.

    For information about the I-84 closure, please monitor www.tripcheck.com.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Corporate Executives Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Report Defective Dehumidifiers Linked to More Than 450 Fires

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Two corporate executives were sentenced today to federal prison terms for conspiring to defraud the United States and for failing to report information about defective dehumidifiers linked to multiple fires in the first criminal enforcement action against corporate executives for failing to report required information ever brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act. (CPSA)

    Simon Chu, 70, of Pomona, was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison and was fined $5,000 by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer. Judge Fischer today also sentenced Charley Loh, 67, of Arcadia, to 40 months in federal prison and fined him $12,000.

    The executives each were found guilty by a jury in November 2023 of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and one count of failure to furnish information as required by the CPSA.

    “Federal law requires companies to report potentially dangerous products to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help protect consumers from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and bring to justice companies and individuals who willfully evade these requirements and put the public in danger.”

    “Corporate executives who choose to ignore the law will be held accountable – especially when death and serious injuries result,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “By putting profits over the safety of others, these defendants created serious risks to consumers, and we will continue to prosecute those who endanger the public.”

    “These Chinese-made products were hazardous, and the defendants knew it,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “Today’s sentences are a clear message that the CPSC will take a hard line against executives who break American laws and endanger families. I commend the CPSC and Justice Department teams for their work to secure this outcome.”

    The defective dehumidifiers sold by Chu’s and Loh’s two corporations were included in multiple recalls of a larger number of defective dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai (Gree Zhuhai) in China. Recall notes stated that more than 450 reported fires and millions of dollars in property damage have been linked to the recalled Gree Zhuhai dehumidifiers. 

    The most recent recall announcements for the Gree dehumidifiers can be found here and here. The CPSC’s most recent warning about the recalled Gree dehumidifiers is here. 

    Chu was part owner and chief administrative officer of Gree USA Inc. and another corporation in the City of Industry, that distributed and sold to retailers for consumer purchase dehumidifiers that were made by Gree Zhuhai in China. Loh was part owner and CEO of the same two corporations.

    The CPSA requires manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer products to report “immediately” to the CPSC information that reasonably supports the conclusion that a product contains a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. This duty also applies to the individual directors, officers, and agents of those companies.

    By September 2012, Chu, Loh and their companies received multiple reports that their Chinese dehumidifiers were defective, dangerous and could catch fire. They also knew that they were required to report this product safety information to the CPSC immediately. Despite their knowledge of consumer complaints of dehumidifier fires and test results showing defects in the dehumidifiers, Chu and Loh failed to disclose their dehumidifiers’ defects and hazards for at least six months while they continued to sell their products to retailers, for resale to consumers.

    The jury acquitted both defendants of one count of wire fraud.

    Gree USA was sentenced in April 2023 to pay a $500,000 criminal fine after pleading guilty to failing to notify the CPSC about the problems with the dehumidifiers. The fine, along with provisions to pay restitution to victims, was part of a $91 million criminal resolution with Gree USA, Gree Zhuhai and another related Gree company, Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co. Ltd.

    Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorney Dennis Mitchell of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Natalie Sanders, Speare Hodges, and Stephen Gripkey of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted this case, with the assistance of Patricia Vieira of the CPSC’s Office of General Counsel.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, Homeland Security Task Force, partners investigate cockfighting operation, illegal immigration and other crimes

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, conducted a joint operation targeting an illegal animal fighting exhibition in Blount County, Alabama June 14. The multiagency team executed search warrants related to the prohibition of animal fighting ventures, presence of illegal aliens, and the prohibition of illegal gambling. The Homeland Security Task Force is comprised of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, IRS, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and supported by the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the United States Attorney’s Office.

    Results of the operation include:

    • 60 people arrested
      • 55 illegal aliens
      • Five U.S. citizens
    • More than $100K in bulk currency seized
    • Two firearms recovered
    • Five pending federal indictments for the U.S. citizen criminal organization organizers
    • Four aliens charged for illegal reentry after deportation

    “This illegal cockfighting operation wasn’t just about animal cruelty — it was tied to a broader network of serious crimes, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and violent offenses,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “These criminal enterprises endanger our communities, and HSI remains steadfast in its mission to disrupt and dismantle them. This operation underscores our commitment to public safety and the strength of our law enforcement partnerships.”

    This case will be prosecuted in the Northern District of Alabama.

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

    The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Corporate Executives Sentenced in First-Ever Criminal Prosecution for Failure to Report Under Consumer Product Safety Act

    Source: US State of California

    Two California businessmen were sentenced in Los Angeles, California, today for conspiracy and failing to report information related to defective dehumidifiers linked to multiple residential fires.

    U.S. District Court Judge Dale S. Fischer sentenced Simon Chu, 70, of Pomona, California, and Charley Loh, 67, of Arcadia, California, to serve 38 and 40 months in prison respectively, plus three years of supervised release, for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and in failing to furnish information as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The Court also ordered Chu and Loh to pay fines of $5,000 and $12,000, respectively, as part of their sentences. Chu and Loh were convicted on November 16, 2023, following trial in Los Angeles.

    According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Loh was part owner and chief executive officer of Gree USA Inc. (Gree USA), and another corporation in City of Industry, California, both of which imported and sold residential dehumidifiers that were made in China by Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai (Gree Zhuhai). Chu was part owner and chief administrative officer of the same two corporations.  

    The CPSA requires manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer products to report “immediately” to the CPSC information that reasonably supports the conclusion that a product contains a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. This duty also applies to the individual directors, officers and agents of those companies. According to evidence presented in court, by September 2012, Chu, Loh and their companies had received multiple reports that their Chinese dehumidifiers were defective, dangerous and could catch fire. They also knew that they were required to report this product safety information to the CPSC immediately. Despite knowing about dehumidifier fires and tests showing defects in the dehumidifiers, Chu and Loh failed to disclose those defects and hazards for at least six months while they continued to sell their products.

    “Federal law requires companies to report potentially dangerous products to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help protect consumers from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and bring to justice companies and individuals who willfully evade these requirements and put the public in danger.”

    The defective dehumidifiers sold by Chu and Loh’s two corporations were included in multiple recalls of a larger number of defective dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree Zhuhai. According to the recall notices, more than 450 reported fires and millions of dollars in property damage were linked to the recalled Gree dehumidifiers.

    The most recent recall announcements for the Gree dehumidifiers can be found here: www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Gree-Reannounces-Dehumidifier-Recall-Following-450-Fires-and-19-Million-in-Property-Damage-0 and here:

    www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Gree-Recalls-1-56-Million-Dehumidifiers-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Reports-of-At-Least-23-Fires.

    The CPSC’s most recent warning about the recalled Gree dehumidifiers is here: www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2023/CPSC-Warning-Stop-Using-Recalled-Gree-Dehumidifiers-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-4-Deaths-May-be-Tied-to-Recalled-Units.

    “Corporate executives who choose to ignore the law will be held accountable – especially when death and serious injuries result,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “By putting profits over the safety of others, these defendants created serious risks to consumers, and we will continue to prosecute those who endanger the public.”

    “These Chinese-made products were hazardous, and the defendants knew it,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “Today’s sentences are a clear message that the CPSC will take a hard line against executives who break American laws and endanger families. I commend the CPSC and Justice Department teams for their work to secure this outcome.”

    Gree USA was sentenced in April 2023 to pay a $500,000 criminal fine after pleading guilty to failing to notify the CPSC about the problems with the dehumidifiers. The fine, along with provisions to pay restitution to victims, was part of a $91 million criminal resolution with Gree USA, Gree Zhuhai and another related Gree company, Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co. Ltd. This resolution is the first corporate criminal enforcement action ever brought under the CPSA.

    Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case.

    This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Natalie Sanders, Speare Hodges, and Stephen Gripkey of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Mitchell of the Central District of California, with the assistance of Patricia Vieira of the CPSC’s Office of General Counsel.

    Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, visit its website at www.justice.gov/usao-cdca.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Corporate Executives Sentenced in First-Ever Criminal Prosecution for Failure to Report Under Consumer Product Safety Act

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Two California businessmen were sentenced in Los Angeles, California, today for conspiracy and failing to report information related to defective dehumidifiers linked to multiple residential fires.

    U.S. District Court Judge Dale S. Fischer sentenced Simon Chu, 70, of Pomona, California, and Charley Loh, 67, of Arcadia, California, to serve 38 and 40 months in prison respectively, plus three years of supervised release, for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and in failing to furnish information as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The Court also ordered Chu and Loh to pay fines of $5,000 and $12,000, respectively, as part of their sentences. Chu and Loh were convicted on November 16, 2023, following trial in Los Angeles.

    According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Loh was part owner and chief executive officer of Gree USA Inc. (Gree USA), and another corporation in City of Industry, California, both of which imported and sold residential dehumidifiers that were made in China by Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai (Gree Zhuhai). Chu was part owner and chief administrative officer of the same two corporations.  

    The CPSA requires manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer products to report “immediately” to the CPSC information that reasonably supports the conclusion that a product contains a defect that could create a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. This duty also applies to the individual directors, officers and agents of those companies. According to evidence presented in court, by September 2012, Chu, Loh and their companies had received multiple reports that their Chinese dehumidifiers were defective, dangerous and could catch fire. They also knew that they were required to report this product safety information to the CPSC immediately. Despite knowing about dehumidifier fires and tests showing defects in the dehumidifiers, Chu and Loh failed to disclose those defects and hazards for at least six months while they continued to sell their products.

    “Federal law requires companies to report potentially dangerous products to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help protect consumers from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and bring to justice companies and individuals who willfully evade these requirements and put the public in danger.”

    The defective dehumidifiers sold by Chu and Loh’s two corporations were included in multiple recalls of a larger number of defective dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree Zhuhai. According to the recall notices, more than 450 reported fires and millions of dollars in property damage were linked to the recalled Gree dehumidifiers.

    The most recent recall announcements for the Gree dehumidifiers can be found here: www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Gree-Reannounces-Dehumidifier-Recall-Following-450-Fires-and-19-Million-in-Property-Damage-0 and here:

    www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Gree-Recalls-1-56-Million-Dehumidifiers-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Reports-of-At-Least-23-Fires.

    The CPSC’s most recent warning about the recalled Gree dehumidifiers is here: www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2023/CPSC-Warning-Stop-Using-Recalled-Gree-Dehumidifiers-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-4-Deaths-May-be-Tied-to-Recalled-Units.

    “Corporate executives who choose to ignore the law will be held accountable – especially when death and serious injuries result,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “By putting profits over the safety of others, these defendants created serious risks to consumers, and we will continue to prosecute those who endanger the public.”

    “These Chinese-made products were hazardous, and the defendants knew it,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “Today’s sentences are a clear message that the CPSC will take a hard line against executives who break American laws and endanger families. I commend the CPSC and Justice Department teams for their work to secure this outcome.”

    Gree USA was sentenced in April 2023 to pay a $500,000 criminal fine after pleading guilty to failing to notify the CPSC about the problems with the dehumidifiers. The fine, along with provisions to pay restitution to victims, was part of a $91 million criminal resolution with Gree USA, Gree Zhuhai and another related Gree company, Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co. Ltd. This resolution is the first corporate criminal enforcement action ever brought under the CPSA.

    Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case.

    This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Natalie Sanders, Speare Hodges, and Stephen Gripkey of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Mitchell of the Central District of California, with the assistance of Patricia Vieira of the CPSC’s Office of General Counsel.

    Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, visit its website at www.justice.gov/usao-cdca.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Iran fires new rocket salvo at northern Israel

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    JERUSALEM, June 16 (Xinhua) — A new salvo of rockets was fired into Israel from Iran on Monday evening, triggering air raid sirens in Haifa and dozens of other cities and towns in the north of the country and the occupied Golan Heights, the Israeli military said.

    According to the Israeli emergency medical service Magen David Adom, there have been no reports of casualties so far.

    According to the state television channel Kan, three missiles were fired from Iranian territory, one of which was intercepted, while the other two fell in open areas. As specified, fragments of the downed shell fell in the city of Safed, causing a fire.

    The current rocket attack is a continuation of the air attacks that Iran and Israel have been exchanging in recent days following the Jewish state’s devastating surprise airstrikes on the Islamic Republic on June 13. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Barber shop blaze at Blackwood

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a southern suburbs barber shop overnight.

    Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a barbers in a group of shops on Coromandel Parade, Blackwood just before 1.30am on Tuesday 17 June.

    CFS crews managed to contain the fire to just the barber shop and quickly extinguished the blaze.  Neighbouring premises were affected by smoke.  There were no reports of injuries.

    Crime scene investigators will attend the scene this morning.

    Police are treating the fire as deliberate and ask anyone with information to contact police.

    Anyone who saw any suspicious activity or has dashcam or CCTV from the area in the early hours of this morning is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Soldier brings mountain expertise to NATO training in North Macedonia

    Source: United States Army

    U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, poses for a photo while demonstrating climbing equipment during a static display event in Kavadarci, North Macedonia, June 1, 2025. The static display was a community outreach event connecting local citizens with military forces from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, all joined together for training at exercise Immediate Response 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia — Among the thousands of troops participating in Immediate Response 2025, one Soldier stands out — not for rank or years of military experience, but for the expertise she brings from her civilian life to the rugged mountains of North Macedonia.

    U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont National Guard, joined the military just one month before her 38th birthday. Now, for the first time, she finds herself training in North Macedonia, where she and her fellow soldiers are working alongside members of the Armed Forces of North Macedonia during one of NATO’s premier military exercises.

    “I graduated basic training and went straight into the mountain unit,” said Calzaretta. “While I’m relatively new to the military, my civilian experience as a climbing instructor comes in handy and made the transition into a mountain unit much easier.”

    U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, poses for a photo while demonstrating climbing equipment during a static display event in Kavadarci, North Macedonia, June 1, 2025. The static display was a community outreach event connecting local citizens with military forces from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, all joined together for training at exercise Immediate Response 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    Calzaretta is here as a participant in Immediate Response 2025, part of the greater Defender series of exercises, featuring multinational training in the Balkan region of Europe.

    Her expertise in navigating rugged terrain is particularly valuable during the exercise, which focuses on live-fire drills, airborne and amphibious operations, as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training. For mountain soldiers, terrain mastery is critical, and Calzaretta brings a unique skill set to the multinational training environment.

    “I’m also a 240B gunner, so I’m not afraid of a physical challenge,” she added. “I’m the only enlisted female in Alpha Company and everyone has way more military experience, but they value my expertise on the mountain. Together, I’m excited to build a lethal mountain force with the North Macedonians.”

    Training alongside NATO forces, including troops from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, Immediate Response 2025 is designed to test NATO’s readiness and operational coordination, including responses to cyberattacks. For Soldiers like Calzaretta, it’s an opportunity to forge lasting bonds with allied forces and enhance multinational readiness in complex operational environments.

    “Immediate Response 25 is a joint exercise involving eight partners and allies,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard. “It truly validated not only the training value of Krivolak Training Area, but the interoperability of our forces as we become better together.”

    U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, the adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, greets a soldier from the Republic of North Macedonia after a multinational live-fire exercise during Immediate Response 25 at the Krivolak Training Area, North Macedonia, June 2, 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.- based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Osburn) VIEW ORIGINAL

    The U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program between North Macedonia and the Vermont National Guard has been going strong since 1993. Along with the relationship, the two military forces also share similar mountainous topographies, enabling the sharing of best practices in areas such as climbing, mountaineering and cold weather survival.

    Spread throughout the Balkan region for the exercise, the 86th IBCT also conducted mountain operations together with the Hellenic Armed Forces, including on Greece’s most famous peak, Mt. Olympus.

    U.S. Army Pfc. Jenifer Calzaretta, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, explains the importance of climbing equipment and mountain training to U.S. Army Col. Daniel Sqyres, defense attache, U.S. Embassy Skopje, during a static display event in Kavadarci, North Macedonia, June 1, 2025. The static display was a community outreach event connecting local citizens with military forces from Albania, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the U.S, all joined together for training at exercise Immediate Response 2025. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    With her civilian and military experience converging in North Macedonia, Calzaretta embodies the spirit of the Citizen-Soldier, proving the kind of leadership, adaptability and expertise which extends far beyond time spent in uniform.

    As Immediate Response 2025 progresses, Clazaretta and her fellow soldiers continue honing their skills, ensuring they are prepared for real-world challenges in dynamic, unpredictable terrain.

    About the 86th IBCT

    The 86th IBCT includes units in six states, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Colorado. The brigade’s mission is to provide a trained and ready mountain IBCT capable of deploying anywhere in the world, under any climactic conditions, to conduct decisive action when directed by appropriate command authority. The 86th IBCT frequently utilizes the Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont, to train in individual military mountaineering skills so the entire brigade can be skilled in such warfare.

    About Defender 2025

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Michigan National Guard father and son reunited in Kosovo

    Source: United States Army

    U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – The military has a way of bringing people together in unexpected ways, and for U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, that sentiment is especially true. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Maj. Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element (TPASE), 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, arrived in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) in support of exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe.

    “I knew my son, Joey, was deploying with his unit to Kosovo, but I didn’t realize we might have the chance to meet,” said Reynolds. “That’s not something people normally get to do. But, I deployed with that same unit to Kuwait several years ago and reached out to a few colleagues about the possibility.”

    U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    Ryan and the 126th TPASE are responsible for providing photos and videos, documenting the enhanced multinational lethality and readiness at Immediate Response. His North Macedonia-based public affairs team wrapped up coverage of the culminating combined arms live-fire exercise earlier in the day, meaning Ryan had just enough time to visit his son later that afternoon.

    Meanwhile, Spc. Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (3-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Seeing his father in-person while on deployment was a moment few service members ever experience.

    1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)

    U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)

    U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Reynolds, a public affairs officer assigned to the 126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan National Guard, and his son, Spc. Joey Reynolds, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintainer assigned to Delta Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (2-238 GSAB), Michigan National Guard, reunite at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 3, 2025. Ryan is in the Balkans for a two-week overseas deployment for training (ODT) supporting exercise Immediate Response 2025, part of NATO’s largest annual exercise series titled Defender Europe. Joey is currently serving on a nine-month deployment in Kosovo. Though deployed under very different circumstances, their commitment to service and a little coordination led to a memorable reunion on foreign soil.

    Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Grace Wajler) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Grace Wajler)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    That connection runs deep and those same colleagues now look after Joey as one of their own.

    “When Ryan called me up, I was all about making this reunion happen,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Snook, the aviation task force commander of Task Force Griffin in support of Kosovo operations and commander of the 3-238 GSAB. “Our unit is still in the transition stage of taking over this mission from the previous unit here in Kosovo, so it was good timing all the way around. Plus, how often do a father and son get to meet on deployment?!”

    The 3-238 GSAB is in Kosovo to facilitate the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across the entire area of operations. As a member of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), they serve under a NATO-led international peacekeeping mission established in 1999 to maintain a safe and secure Kosovo, ensure freedom of movement and support broader international efforts for stability in the region.

    “I still keep in contact with a number of my deployment buddies,” said Ryan. “It’s a special feeling to now count my son among this number.”

    The reunion in Kosovo may have been brief, but it underscored the powerful ties of service and family—a reminder that while deployments separate loved ones, they can also bring them together in unexpected and meaningful ways.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gilford Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

    “This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”

    “It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”

    “Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division.  “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Gilford Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

    “This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”

    “It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”

    “Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division.  “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Passaic County Convicted Felon Admits to Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey man admitted to possessing quantities of fentanyl and heroin he intended to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Luis Polanco, 35, of Wayne, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an Indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Law enforcement investigated Polanco for his drug distribution in Passaic, New Jersey, including from his residence.  Polanco was arrested after law enforcement searched his residence and vehicle, which revealed Polanco to be in possession of controlled substances that tested positive for more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin, as well as other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs.  Law enforcement also recovered a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, 158 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition and four rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.

    The drug charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million.  The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, which must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence imposed, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.  Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., Newark Field Division, as well as the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the Wayne Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Joseph Rooney, and the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of under the direction of Officer In Charge Patrick Murray, with the investigation leading to this guilty plea.

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

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Goldman of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Jason F. Orlando, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Carthage Woman Pleads Guilty to Arson

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, MS – On June 12, 2025, a Leake County woman pleaded guilty to setting fire to a Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians tribal member’s home located in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

    According to court documents, in September of 2021, Lashandell F. Thomas, 25, attempted to burn down the residence by starting a fire in the interior of the home.  Thomas was indicted in January of 2022.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, made the announcement.  The Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.

    Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MEXICAN NATIONAL SETNENCED FOR FIREARM POSSESSION

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, MS – A citizen of Mexico was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal re-entry into the United States after having been removed or deported.

    According to court documents and statements made in open court, Erik Sel Camacho-Lara, 31, was arrested by the Ridgeland Police Department for possession of a stolen firearm after law enforcement responded to a call for service at a Ridgeland residence. The caller was a minor child that resided in the home. The minor child told Ridgeland Police that Camacho-Lara was armed and had possibly discharged a firearm inside the home. Responding officers were forced to make entry into the home to apprehend Camacho-Lara. Officers opened a bedroom door inside the home and heard the slide of a semi-automatic handgun being manipulated. Once inside the room, Officers saw Camacho-Lara holding a handgun. After speaking with officers, Camacho-Lara surrendered the firearm and was taken into custody. The United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations then took over the investigation. A biometric verification confirmed Camacho-Lara’s identity and revealed that he had been previously removed from the United States on April 2, 2013, by United States Border Patrol Agents in Texas. Camacho-Lara pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on March 6, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, made the announcement.

    The United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Ridgeland Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.

    This case was investigated by the Mississippi 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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MEXICAN NATIONAL SETNENCED FOR FIREARM POSSESSION AND ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY AFTER REMOVAL

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, MS – A citizen of Mexico was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal re-entry into the United States after having been removed or deported.

    According to court documents and statements made in open court, Erik Sel Camacho-Lara, 31, was arrested by the Ridgeland Police Department for possession of a stolen firearm after law enforcement responded to a call for service at a Ridgeland residence. The caller was a minor child that resided in the home. The minor child told Ridgeland Police that Camacho-Lara was armed and had possibly discharged a firearm inside the home. Responding officers were forced to make entry into the home to apprehend Camacho-Lara. Officers opened a bedroom door inside the home and heard the slide of a semi-automatic handgun being manipulated. Once inside the room, Officers saw Camacho-Lara holding a handgun. After speaking with officers, Camacho-Lara surrendered the firearm and was taken into custody. The United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations then took over the investigation. A biometric verification confirmed Camacho-Lara’s identity and revealed that he had been previously removed from the United States on April 2, 2013, by United States Border Patrol Agents in Texas. Camacho-Lara pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on March 6, 2025.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, made the announcement.

    The United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Ridgeland Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.

    This case was investigated by the Mississippi 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).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Interest Rates Expected to Drop, Real Estate Market Poised for 10% Growth, Says Maxim Lending CEO

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, CA, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a bold but confident prediction, Brian Jahabin, CEO of Maxim Lending, says the real estate market is primed for a significant comeback — and it all starts with falling interest rates.

    “We’re going to see rates come down in the next few months. The signs are already there,” Jahabin said in a recent interview. “Inflation has cooled considerably, the Fed is shifting its stance, and the broader economic indicators are lining up. It’s only a matter of time before the market responds.”

    According to Jahabin, the anticipated drop in rates will unlock a wave of pent-up demand in the housing sector. “Buyers have been on the sidelines, waiting. Once rates fall — even by half a point — that’s going to light the match,” he explained. “People who were priced out last year will suddenly be back in the game.”

    The impact? Jahabin believes home prices could rise by as much as 10% by the end of 2025.

    “That number might sound aggressive, but when you look at the supply and demand equation, it’s actually quite realistic,” he said. “Inventory is still incredibly tight. We’re not building fast enough to meet demand, and with a fresh wave of buyers coming in, it’s simple economics — prices will rise.”

    Jahabin points to several key factors driving this trend: improving affordability, strong generational demand, and continued migration to high-growth cities.

    “We’re seeing a huge push from younger buyers — millennials and even Gen Z — who are entering peak homebuying years,” he said. “Markets like Dallas, Austin, Nashville, and Charlotte are already heating up again. These are places where people want to live, and where the market will move quickly once rates ease.”

    He also urged both buyers and sellers to get prepared now.

    “For buyers, this is the moment to get your financials in order, get pre-approved, and be ready to act fast. You don’t want to be scrambling once the competition ramps up,” Jahabin advised. “For sellers, this could be the most opportune window in years. If you’ve been waiting to list — this is your green light.”

    Despite some recent volatility, Jahabin remains optimistic. “We’ve weathered the storm. What’s ahead is a more stable, more active market — and that’s great news for homeowners, buyers, and the industry as a whole.”

    His final message? Stay informed and stay ready. “The real estate rebound is already in motion — it’s just not evenly visible yet,” he said. “But it will be. And when it hits, it’s going to move fast.”

    Contact Information

    • Brian Jahanbin, CEO
    • Maxim Lending Corp
    • NMLS#: 166917 (Licensed in CA, AZ, GA, FL, TX, MD, SC, WA, CO, VA)
    • Office: (949) 799-2613
    • Fax: (949) 799-2613
    • Mobile: (949) 381-9633
    • Address: 23272 Mill Creek Drive, Suite W310, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
    • Website: www.maximlending.net

    Brian Jahanbin and Maxim Lending continue to pave the way for foreign nationals eager to invest in the robust U.S. real estate market. Their strategic approach, comprehensive services, and client-centered philosophy ensure that international buyers receive the best financing solutions available.

    Ready to get started? Call (888) 345-9333 today and take the first step toward your new home.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Clyburn, Thompson Joined By Leader Jeffries To Reintroduce Legislation Expanding Background Checks For Gun Sales

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

    Washington – On Tuesday, Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) were joined by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to announce legislation to close the Charleston loophole and establish universal background checks for firearm purchases — a policy that’s supported by over 90 percent of Americans. Watch a video of the press conference here.

    “Next Tuesday, June 17, marks the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. On that horrific night in 2015, a shooter motivated by racial hatred opened fire during a bible study at this historic place of worship, killing nine worshipers. He was able to obtain the gun because of a provision in federal law that allows the sale to take place if the background check is still unresolved after three business days. Ten years ago, it became known as the Charleston loophole,” said Congressman Clyburn. “I am proud to join Rep. Mike Thompson in introducing The Enhanced Background Checks Act that would eliminate the three-day period and establish in its place a more thorough process that would keep guns out of dangerous hands, while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

    “Keeping guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves or others just makes sense — and Americans overwhelmingly agree. That’s why 90 percent of non-gun owners and 90 percent of gun owners support universal background checks for firearm purchases. Background checks are quick and effective tools to keep our communities safe while still respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens. It’s time Republican leaders in the House get on board and help us pass this sensible legislation,” said Congressman Thompson. 

    “As House Democrats, we stand strongly behind this commonsense, life-saving legislation designed to improve public safety for communities across our nation. We just need a handful of Republicans to join us to advance and enhance the safety of the American people. I’m thankful for the leadership of Mike Thompson, Jim Clyburn and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. We will continue to press forward with the fierce urgency of now until we crush the gun violence epidemic in the United States of America once and for all,” said Democratic Leader Jeffries. 

    Rep. Thompson reintroduced H.R. 18, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. It is Co-Sponsored by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). Rep. Clyburn introduced the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Both bills would expand requirements for background checks and reduce loopholes to help ensure people who are a danger to themselves or others can’t get a firearm. 

    Background checks are quick, effective, and Constitutional. More than 90 percent of both gun owners and non-gun owners support universal background checks. Recently, reporting revealed that the perpetrator in the horrific June 1st antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado originally planned a mass shooting but was unable to access a gun after failing a background check. This most certainly saved lives. 

    Chairman Thompson has introduced background check legislation every Congress since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting which killed 20 children and six adult staff members. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 (H.R. 18) is endorsed by 204 Members of Congress. Endorsing organizations include: GIFFORDS, Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, March For Our Lives, Newtown Action Alliance, Sandy Hook Promise, and Equality California. 

    “At a moment where safety and security is a top concern and too many of our leaders fail to prioritize it, we are glad to see this reform introduced again. Background checks work and save lives. It’s a commonsense, bipartisan policy that keeps guns out of the hands of dangerous people. GIFFORDS is proud to endorse the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and thanks Reps. Thompson and Fitzpatrick for their leadership,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director, GIFFORDS.

    “Since its implementation in 1994, the Brady Background Check system has saved countless lives by preventing over 5 million transactions to prohibited purchasers. Yet, loopholes in the system, exacerbated by the rise of gun shows and sales facilitated by the internet, have allowed for far too many guns to be sold without background checks, leading to devastating consequences. H.R. 18 will fix this problem by expanding background checks to cover, with limited and reasonable exceptions, every transfer of firearms, fulfilling the mission of our namesakes, Jim and Sarah Brady. We applaud Representatives Mike Thompson and Brian Fitzpatrick for introducing this legislation and loudly call on Congress to pass this expansion of background checks, which the overwhelming majority of the American public supports,” said Kris Brown, President, Brady.

    “Background checks are the foundation of any common-sense approach to keeping guns out of dangerous hands, which is why the vast majority of Americans support them,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown applauds Representative Thompson and Representative Fitzpatrick for championing this crucial and common-sense step to address America’s gun violence crisis.”

    “Young people across the country have made it clear: background checks are the bare minimum. We’re proud to support the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and will continue fighting until our laws reflect the demands of a generation that refuses to accept gun violence as normal,” said Jackie Corin, Executive Director, March For Our Lives.

    “Since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, over 1.3 million Americans have been shot and nearly 500,000 have been killed by guns,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “Ensuring that every firearm sale includes a thorough background check is a proven and commonsense public safety measure that is supported by the majority of Americans – including gun owners. By closing the loophole on private transfers, this bill strengthens our communities without burdening law abiding citizens. We urge Congress to urgently pass H.R.18 to protect Americans and reduce gun violence.”

    “Keeping guns out of unauthorized hands is crucial in preventing tragedies like the one that took 26 precious lives, including my son Daniel, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. No community and no family should ever experience that kind of trauma. Background checks are a key piece of legislation that will save lives, and we call on every member of Congress to pass this bill to protect children and communities throughout our nation,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty in Connection With Murder-For-Hire Plot

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

    Baltimore woman killed in a case of mistaken identity.

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Matthew Hightower, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to using a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime resulting in the death Latrina Ashburne on May 27, 2016.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

    According to the plea agreement, Hightower solicited others and conspired to kill Ashburne’s neighbor — a female federal witness — in retaliation for providing information to a law enforcement officer and to prevent her from testifying against him at an official proceeding. Hightower learned that the federal witness provided law enforcement with information about his involvement in a health care fraud scheme and the murder of David Wutoh. At the time, Hightower was under federal indictment for both matters.  While incarcerated pre-trial, Hightower used jail calls and letters to communicate with others to conspire to kill the federal witness.

    Ashburne, who was the next-door neighbor of the federal witness and was similar in age and appearance, was shot and killed as she entered her car outside of her home.  Davon Carter, the shooter, and Clifton Mosley, the accomplice, were previously tried and convicted for their roles in the murder plot.

    Hightower faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  Pursuant to his plea agreement, the parties agree that if the court accepts the plea agreement, the government will recommend that the court impose a sentence of 60 years in prison to run consecutive to the sentence Hightower is currently serving for Wutoh’s murder.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG, FBI, ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Hagan and Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting this case.

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

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Resident Sentenced in Rhode Island for Possessing a Machinegun and an Unregistered Firearm

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

    PROVIDENCE – A Florida resident who often stayed at a residence in Coventry has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, having been convicted of possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Joshua Pavao, 45, previously admitted to a federal judge that he possessed an unregistered semi-automatic weapon modified to function as a fully automatic machine gun which had a barrel length of 10 and 5/8 inches, substantially less than the 16 inches required by law.

    Court documents reflect that in December 2023, Pavao engaged East Providence Police, who were investigating a report of shots fired, in a high-speed car chase that resulted in multiple motor vehicle crashes. Pavao fled on foot from his vehicle but was quickly apprehended. Upon his arrest officers discovered three loaded firearms and a multitude of ammunition and loaded pistol magazines in and around his vehicle and nearby.

    Shortly after Pavao’s arrest, Coventry Police Department and East Providence Police Department Detectives and ATF agents executed a court-authorized search of a duffle bag belonging to Pavao that he stored inside a garage at the Coventry residence where he frequently visited. From inside the duffle bag, law enforcement seized eight long guns, four of which were outfitted with an auto sear machine gun conversion device rendering them machine guns.

    Pavao, who pled guilty in February 2025, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on June 5, 2025, to 30 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

    The matter was investigated by the East Providence Police Department, with valuable assistance provided by the Coventry Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Wilkins, Aboriginal Cultural Educator, Trainer and Facilitator, Indigenous Knowledge

    Artist’s impression of Dargan Shelter as it would have looked during the last Ice Age. Painting by Leanne Watson Redpath

    Travel back 20,000 years into the last Ice Age, to a time when the upper reaches of the Blue Mountains were treeless and the ridgelines and mountain peaks laden in snow and ice.

    At an elevation of 1,073 metres, you will find Dargan Shelter, an ancient rock shelter resembling a large amphitheatre. Looking around, you could easily assume this cold and barren high country was too difficult for people to spend time in.

    But our new research, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, indicates Dargan Shelter was occupied as early as the last Ice Age and repeatedly visited during this cold period.

    Our excavation results provide the earliest known evidence of high-altitude occupation in Australia, establishing the Blue Mountains as Australia’s most archaeologically significant periglacial landscape – that is, an area which goes through seasonal freezing and thawing.

    Cultural perspectives

    This is a highly significant landscape concentrated with tangible and intangible cultural values for Aboriginal people.

    For millennia, Aboriginal people have passed down the knowledge and stories of Country.

    Knowing our Ancestors have lived here, in this Country, for thousands of years was on our minds as the team headed down into the site where we would sit alongside our Ancestors of yesterday.

    We chose this site because of its location on a known Aboriginal travelling route, high elevation and its potential to hold deep deposits.

    Archaeologically, a deep and undisturbed deposit is one of the most important things to look for. The sediment buildup over time preserves cultural material, and allows us to reconstruct past activities by associating cultural objects within distinct layers or bands of time.

    Members of the season 3 team at Dargan Shelter. Back to front, left to right: Tyrone Pal, Rodney Lawson, Wayne Brennan, Duncan Wright, Eitan Harris, Juliet Schofield, Michael Spate, Wayne Logue, Lauren Roach, Rebecca Chalker, Dominic Wilkins, Phil Piper, Amy Way, Imogen Williams.
    Amy Way

    When we enter the site, we pay respects to the Country and Ancestors before us. As part of the opening of the site for the archaeological works, a lyrebird song and dance were performed and, magically, a handful of lyrebirds began approaching the cave and singing out as if they were communicating between the current and old worlds through song.

    We do not know who exactly the Aboriginal people who moved through the Blue Mountains in the deep past were, nor where they came from. But Dargan Shelter was probably an important stopover point for people to attend gatherings and ceremonies that could have included people from the western interior, the Cumberland coastal plains, and Country to the north and south.

    Finds from the Dargan Shelter excavation

    New evidence provides definitive proof of repeated occupation in this once frozen high-altitude landscape. It is now believed to be the oldest occupied site in Australia at high elevation.

    We unearthed 693 stone artefacts, including 117 flakes from stratigraphic layers older than 16,000 years, and documented a small amount of faded rock art, including a child-sized hand stencil and two forearm stencils.

    Charcoal from hearths (campfires) underwent radiocarbon dating, indicating Dargan Shelter had been continuously occupied since 22,000 to 19,000 years ago.

    Stone artefacts excavated at Dargan shelter dating to the last ice-age, showing the range of non-quartz raw material used during that time. (A) hornfels; (B) black quartzite hammerstone from the Hunter region; (C) exotic coarse grained unidentified siliceous stone possibly from Jenolan; (D) Local Burragorang claystone; (E) exotic fine grained siliceous stone possibly from Jenolan;
    Amy Way

    Among the findings, most of the stone tools were locally sourced and made. But, very interestingly some stones from the Jenolan Caves area, approximately 50 kilometres to the south-west, and the Hunter Valley region, 150 km to the north, were also found. This indicates people were travelling into this mountainous region from both the north and south.

    We found a sandstone grinding slab, dated to 13,000 years ago, consistent with shaping bone or wooden artefacts such as needles, awls, bone points and nose points. A basalt anvil with impact marks consistent with cracking hard woody nuts and seed shells was dated to 8,800 years ago.

    Greater Blue Mountains and world heritage

    The Blue Mountains was listed as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage area in 2000 for its outstanding biodiversity values.

    Although the cultural heritage is remarkably intact and connected with an environmental system and natural features, the parallel nomination for cultural values listing failed due to a paucity of archaeological and cultural heritage information.

    Our new research should be considered in a nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage area to also encompass cultural heritage alongside biodiversity.

    The Blue Mountains landscape shrouds a silent yet rich tapestry of Aboriginal heritage.

    Our people have walked, lived and thrived in the Blue Mountains for thousands of years. The mountains are a tangible connection to our Ancestors who used them as a meeting place for sharing, storytelling and survival. They are a part of our cultural identity.

    We need to respect and protect our heritage for the benefit of all Australians.

    Archaeological works in progress: Imogen Williams, Rebecca Chalker and Tyrone Pal excavating the Ice Age layers.
    Amy Way

    Our results align Australia for the first time with ice age data from the world’s other inhabited continents, including sites in other places not traditionally thought of as cold climates, such as Mexico and Spain.

    We now have a truly global story of people entering and living in high-altitude landscapes during the last ice age.

    The continuation of research projects like this one, and the invaluable evidence it provides across the region, will allow Aboriginal people with connections to the Blue Mountains to begin to stitch back together much of the history and many of the stories that until now have had gaps.

    The more we discover and piece together the movements, ceremonies and stories, the stronger we are as a community.

    Amy Mosig Way receives funding from the Australian Museum Foundation and is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney.

    Erin Wilkins, Leanne Watson, and Wayne Brennan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago – https://theconversation.com/ice-age-shelter-high-up-in-the-blue-mountains-reveals-aboriginal-heritage-from-20-000-years-ago-247358

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Wilkins, Aboriginal Cultural Educator, Trainer and Facilitator, Indigenous Knowledge

    Artist’s impression of Dargan Shelter as it would have looked during the last Ice Age. Painting by Leanne Watson Redpath

    Travel back 20,000 years into the last Ice Age, to a time when the upper reaches of the Blue Mountains were treeless and the ridgelines and mountain peaks laden in snow and ice.

    At an elevation of 1,073 metres, you will find Dargan Shelter, an ancient rock shelter resembling a large amphitheatre. Looking around, you could easily assume this cold and barren high country was too difficult for people to spend time in.

    But our new research, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, indicates Dargan Shelter was occupied as early as the last Ice Age and repeatedly visited during this cold period.

    Our excavation results provide the earliest known evidence of high-altitude occupation in Australia, establishing the Blue Mountains as Australia’s most archaeologically significant periglacial landscape – that is, an area which goes through seasonal freezing and thawing.

    Cultural perspectives

    This is a highly significant landscape concentrated with tangible and intangible cultural values for Aboriginal people.

    For millennia, Aboriginal people have passed down the knowledge and stories of Country.

    Knowing our Ancestors have lived here, in this Country, for thousands of years was on our minds as the team headed down into the site where we would sit alongside our Ancestors of yesterday.

    We chose this site because of its location on a known Aboriginal travelling route, high elevation and its potential to hold deep deposits.

    Archaeologically, a deep and undisturbed deposit is one of the most important things to look for. The sediment buildup over time preserves cultural material, and allows us to reconstruct past activities by associating cultural objects within distinct layers or bands of time.

    Members of the season 3 team at Dargan Shelter. Back to front, left to right: Tyrone Pal, Rodney Lawson, Wayne Brennan, Duncan Wright, Eitan Harris, Juliet Schofield, Michael Spate, Wayne Logue, Lauren Roach, Rebecca Chalker, Dominic Wilkins, Phil Piper, Amy Way, Imogen Williams.
    Amy Way

    When we enter the site, we pay respects to the Country and Ancestors before us. As part of the opening of the site for the archaeological works, a lyrebird song and dance were performed and, magically, a handful of lyrebirds began approaching the cave and singing out as if they were communicating between the current and old worlds through song.

    We do not know who exactly the Aboriginal people who moved through the Blue Mountains in the deep past were, nor where they came from. But Dargan Shelter was probably an important stopover point for people to attend gatherings and ceremonies that could have included people from the western interior, the Cumberland coastal plains, and Country to the north and south.

    Finds from the Dargan Shelter excavation

    New evidence provides definitive proof of repeated occupation in this once frozen high-altitude landscape. It is now believed to be the oldest occupied site in Australia at high elevation.

    We unearthed 693 stone artefacts, including 117 flakes from stratigraphic layers older than 16,000 years, and documented a small amount of faded rock art, including a child-sized hand stencil and two forearm stencils.

    Charcoal from hearths (campfires) underwent radiocarbon dating, indicating Dargan Shelter had been continuously occupied since 22,000 to 19,000 years ago.

    Stone artefacts excavated at Dargan shelter dating to the last ice-age, showing the range of non-quartz raw material used during that time. (A) hornfels; (B) black quartzite hammerstone from the Hunter region; (C) exotic coarse grained unidentified siliceous stone possibly from Jenolan; (D) Local Burragorang claystone; (E) exotic fine grained siliceous stone possibly from Jenolan;
    Amy Way

    Among the findings, most of the stone tools were locally sourced and made. But, very interestingly some stones from the Jenolan Caves area, approximately 50 kilometres to the south-west, and the Hunter Valley region, 150 km to the north, were also found. This indicates people were travelling into this mountainous region from both the north and south.

    We found a sandstone grinding slab, dated to 13,000 years ago, consistent with shaping bone or wooden artefacts such as needles, awls, bone points and nose points. A basalt anvil with impact marks consistent with cracking hard woody nuts and seed shells was dated to 8,800 years ago.

    Greater Blue Mountains and world heritage

    The Blue Mountains was listed as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage area in 2000 for its outstanding biodiversity values.

    Although the cultural heritage is remarkably intact and connected with an environmental system and natural features, the parallel nomination for cultural values listing failed due to a paucity of archaeological and cultural heritage information.

    Our new research should be considered in a nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage area to also encompass cultural heritage alongside biodiversity.

    The Blue Mountains landscape shrouds a silent yet rich tapestry of Aboriginal heritage.

    Our people have walked, lived and thrived in the Blue Mountains for thousands of years. The mountains are a tangible connection to our Ancestors who used them as a meeting place for sharing, storytelling and survival. They are a part of our cultural identity.

    We need to respect and protect our heritage for the benefit of all Australians.

    Archaeological works in progress: Imogen Williams, Rebecca Chalker and Tyrone Pal excavating the Ice Age layers.
    Amy Way

    Our results align Australia for the first time with ice age data from the world’s other inhabited continents, including sites in other places not traditionally thought of as cold climates, such as Mexico and Spain.

    We now have a truly global story of people entering and living in high-altitude landscapes during the last ice age.

    The continuation of research projects like this one, and the invaluable evidence it provides across the region, will allow Aboriginal people with connections to the Blue Mountains to begin to stitch back together much of the history and many of the stories that until now have had gaps.

    The more we discover and piece together the movements, ceremonies and stories, the stronger we are as a community.

    Amy Mosig Way receives funding from the Australian Museum Foundation and is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney.

    Erin Wilkins, Leanne Watson, and Wayne Brennan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago – https://theconversation.com/ice-age-shelter-high-up-in-the-blue-mountains-reveals-aboriginal-heritage-from-20-000-years-ago-247358

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Army to change names of seven installations

    Source: United States Army

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army will take all necessary actions to change the names of seven Army installations in honor of heroic Soldiers who served in conflicts ranging from the Civil War to the Battle of Mogadishu. Five of them received the Medal of Honor, three received the Distinguished Service Cross and one received the Silver Star.

    Fort Pickett (formerly Fort Barfoot) will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett for his extraordinary heroism during World War II. While pinned down by enemy machine gun fire, Pickett crawled forward and destroyed two enemy positions with grenades. After being captured, he escaped from a transport train with fellow POWs and rejoined his unit before being killed in action.

    Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Col. Robert B. Hood for his extraordinary heroism during World War I. Amid intense shelling near Thiaucourt, France, then-Capt. Hood directed artillery fire under enfilading machine-gun fire. After his gun crew was lost to enemy fire, he rapidly reorganized and returned fire within minutes, restoring combat capability.

    Fort Gordon (formerly Fort Eisenhower) will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia. Gordon volunteered to be inserted to defend wounded crew members at a helicopter crash site and held off an advancing enemy force, protecting the pilot after exhausting all his ammunition.

    Fort Lee (formerly Fort Gregg-Adams) will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Fitz Lee for his heroism during the Spanish-American War. During a coastal assault in Cuba, Lee voluntarily disembarked under direct enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades from the battlefield.

    Fort Polk (formerly Fort Johnson) will be named in honor of Silver Star recipient Gen. James H. Polk for his gallantry in action as commanding officer of the 3rd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) during operations across Europe in World War II. Then-Col. Polk led reconnaissance and combat missions under fire, spearheading Third Army advances as part of Task Force Polk. He later served as commander in chief of U.S. Army Europe.

    Fort Rucker (formerly Fort Novosel) will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Capt. Edward W. Rucker for extraordinary heroism in World War I. Flying deep behind enemy lines, then-1st Lt. Rucker and his fellow aviators engaged a numerically superior enemy force in a daring aerial battle over France, disrupting enemy movements and completing their mission against overwhelming odds.

    Fort A.P. Hill (formerly Fort Walker) will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipients Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Pvt. Bruce Anderson for extraordinary heroism during the Civil War. Then-Capt. Hill, Pinn and Anderson executed significant actions separately at Cold Harbor, Virginia; Chapin’s Farm, Virginia; and Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in support of the U.S. Army.

    The Secretary of the Army will take immediate action to implement these redesignations, which are in accordance with Section 1749(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

    For more information, please contact usarmy.pentagon.hqda-ocpa.mbx.mrd-press-desk@army.mil.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Army’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14, 2025

    Source: United States Army

    WASHINGTON – Members of the media are invited to cover the celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday on June 14, 2025.

    The festival is at the National Mall in Washington D.C. and begins with an Army Fitness competition at 9:30 a.m. Festival exhibits open at 11 a.m. The festival will provide opportunities to interact with Soldiers, Army astronauts, NFL representatives, and Medal of Honor recipients. There will be military demonstrations, equipment displays, a cake cutting ceremony and opportunities to take part in a variety of activities.

    All press have access to cover the fitness event and the exhibits which are open to the public. If press registered for the parade they are automatically registered for the festival. If press have not registered for the parade, they will still have access to the festival. In other words, press do not need credentials for the festival.

    Press covering the festival may arrive as early as 8 a.m. and should enter through the festival entrance at 7th St. SW and Jefferson St. SW.

    First stop for the press should be the Media Operations Center (Tent #48) located behind the main stage. From there, press will be directed to the media tents (Tents #43&44).

    Soldiers, historians in uniform, and other experts will be available throughout the day for interviews.

    The media can move from the festival to the parade through the pedestrian checkpoint located at 14th St. NW, south of Constitution Ave. NW beginning at 2 p.m.

    The screening checkpoint for the general public attending the parade will be open at 2 p.m. at the following locations:

    • 14th Street between Constitution and Independence Avenue
    • C Street NW between 18th and 19th Street

    At 6:30 p.m. the Army Birthday Parade will celebrate the Army’s history and will feature Army equipment, flyovers and 6,700 Soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present. The day will end with an enlistment and reenlistment ceremony, a parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights and a fireworks display.

    All press access for the parade is controlled by the America250 Commission. If press did not request parade access through the America250 Commission, they can still access the parade with the general public. For more information about press access to the parade, please contact press@america250.org.

    WEATHER

    The weather is being closely monitored and taken into consideration, but at this point nothing has changed. New developments, if any, will be announced by the Army or the America250 Commission.

    To learn more about road/metro closures, and prohibited items, visit:

    For questions about parade credentialing, visit:

    To learn more about the Army’s 250th birthday, visit:

    Livestreams on June 14:

    The U.S. Army Fitness Competition – 9:20 a.m. to 12 p.m.,

    The 250th Army Birthday Festival is made possible through the support of 22 sponsors. This includes presenting sponsors General Dynamics and USAA, and festival entertainment sponsor the Gary Sinise Foundation. Platinum sponsors include the Wounded Warrior Project, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, the Association of the United States Army, Bell Textron, Wal-Mart, GOVX, Leonardo DRS, RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Leidos and BAE Systems. Gold sponsors include Armed Forces Mutual, Boeing, First Command, General Electric Aerospace, T-Mobile, King George, InterContinental Hotels Group and the NFL. Sponsorship does not imply U.S. Army or federal endorsement.

    MIL OSI USA News –