NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaMalfa Applauds Trump Executive Order to Overhaul Wildfire Prevention and Response

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.— Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of a new Executive Order aimed at restoring commonsense to wildfire prevention and response. The order, titled Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response, takes direct steps to improve coordination across agencies, cut unnecessary regulations, and strengthen the tools and partnerships needed to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

    “As peak wildfire season continues, President Trump is continuing to take decisive action to increase preparedness to combat these preventable disasters,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “By consolidating Federal wildland fire programs between agencies and increasing Federal and local partnerships, every firefighter will be part of a stronger and better coordinated response. The President’s action also modernizes the tools available to predict and detect wildfires, which will not only hasten reaction times but also enhance preparation and prevention efforts. Strengthening State and local response, and land management practices will decrease future out of control fires. I look forward to seeing implementation of this Executive Order.”

    Background:

    • Directs the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to consolidate federal wildland fire programs for better coordination.
    • Modernizes detection and prediction efforts by deploying tools like AI, data-sharing platforms, satellite imagery, and advanced weather forecasting.
    • Removes outdated regulations that delay prescribed fire use, fire-retardant deployment, and other proactive fuel reduction efforts.
    • Promotes the use of woody biomass and other forest byproducts to lower wildfire risk.
    • Prioritizes sale of surplus Department of Defense aircraft and parts to support wildfire response.
    • Declassifies historical satellite data to improve fire modeling and prediction.
    • Strengthens federal partnerships with state and local governments to streamline and improve wildfire mitigation efforts.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Science, Space and Technology Committee Leaders Amo, Sykes Lead 64 Colleagues in Demanding Trump Keep Tracking Weather Disasters That Cause More Than $1 Billion in Damage

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    With increased storms due to climate change, more and more communities are hit by storms causing more than $1 billion in damage.

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Members Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Emilia Sykes (D-OH) led 64 Democratic colleagues in calling on the Acting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Laura Grimm to reinstate the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Report to ensure America has a record of the increasing number of storms that cause catastrophic financial damage to communities.

    READ THE FULL LETTER HERE. 

    Excerpts of the letter: 

    “It is clear this cancellation is just another attack in the Trump administration’s crusade against climate science and NOAA. From proposing massive budget cuts to firing climate scientists to retiring multiple critical datasets and products, the Trump administration is trying to hide the true cost and impact of climate change from the American people. Preventing scientists from studying climate change and educating the public will not lessen the damage caused by more frequent extreme weather events. It will simply make us less prepared to respond to them, increasing climate change’s human and economic cost.”

    “We cannot respond to a problem if we do not understand it. Without the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters report, it will be significantly more difficult for scientists and policymakers to understand and respond to the economic effects of climate change. Since its inception, hundreds of peer-reviewed studies have cited or used data from the report for analysis on climate impacts, economic losses, and policy recommendations. In addition to painting a picture of climate change’s economic impact, the report details disaster frequency and duration trends and maps risk and vulnerability levels by county and census tract. Americans rely on this data to understand climate risks and potential insurance rates before purchasing a home.”

    The Members urge Acting Administrator Grimm to reinstate the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product.

    Background

    Climate change has caused an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, with more and more communities facing fatalities and billions of dollars in damages caused by extreme weather. 

    Since 1980, 403 weather and climate disasters have caused more than $1 billion in damage each for a cumulative total of $2.195 trillion in damage. Thanks to the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters report, we know that the extreme flooding that rocked Rhode Island in December 2023 was part of a forceful East Coast storm that caused $1.3 billion in damage from Florida to Maine and took 5 lives. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Hosts Fireside Chat on AI and Civil Rights with Massachusetts Advocates, Community Leaders

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (June 13, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hosted a fireside chat with Massachusetts advocates and community leaders to discuss artificial intelligence (AI), civil rights, and the Senator’s AI Civil Rights Act, the most comprehensive AI civil rights legislation introduced in Congress. The legislation, which Senator Markey introduced last year, would put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms.

    Participants discussed the civil rights issues already developing in Massachusetts communities—from housing to hiring algorithms—and the necessity of passing the AI Civil Rights Act to build a just digital world for all.

    “Today’s discussion provided powerful evidence of the risks AI poses for marginalized communities and workers in Massachusetts and across the country. I remain committed to fighting for a just digital future and that starts by protecting those who are most affected by these emerging technologies,” said Senator Markey. “That is why I authored the AI Civil Rights Act. My legislation would protect the public’s civil rights and liberties during the development and deployment of algorithms that make critical life decisions for individuals on everything from housing to health care. We need to chart a path forward for AI that protects civil rights, empowers workers, and promotes innovation rooted in accountability.”

    “The threat of AI to unions and labor organizing comes from the imbalance of control and access to information between management and workers – a dynamic the labor movement has long battled,” said Chrissy Lynch, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President. “Robust notification systems and knowledge that one’s sensitive information, including biometric data, is being accessed by an employer should be a baseline for all workplace-based AI and other algorithmic technologies. Workers need a voice in how these tools are developed and implemented, and workers need to be at the table when policy decisions are being made that affect their livelihood and wellbeing.”

    “In the current political climate, having this bill is crucial because it serves as a safeguard against the erosion of civil rights and racial justice gains that are being challenged or rolled back,” said Rahsaan Hall, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

    “The dangers from artificial intelligence aren’t a future problem—they are here now. Today, corporations are using algorithmic systems to manipulate prices, decide who gets a job or a loan, conduct surveillance of our labor and political expression, and artificially inflate already sky high rents. Even worse, these technologies can be used to secretly discriminate against us based on our race, religion, gender, and other protected characteristics. The ACLU is proud to stand with Senator Markey as he fights for legislation to ensure technology works for all people, strengthens rather than undermines our democracy, and is never used to discriminate against us because of who we are or where we come from,” said Kade Crockford, Director of the ACLU MA Technology for Liberty Project.

    “Artificial intelligence technology is already being used nationwide to discriminate,” said Armani White, Co-Founder of Reclaim Roxbury. “Right here in Boston, it is being used by companies to gouge prices for renters. We are overdue on artificial intelligence oversight and regulation.”

    Senator Markey first introduced the AI Civil Rights Act in September 2024. This week, Senator Markey announced plans to file an amendment to the Senate reconciliation bill to block Republicans’ attempt to prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years. Last week, Senator Markey convened a virtual roundtable with advocates to discuss the impacts this ban would have on communities across the country. On June 3, Senator Markey delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the provision in the House-passed reconciliation bill that would prevent states from regulating AI for the next ten years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Typhoon Wutip makes landfall in China’s Hainan Province

    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

    HAIKOU, June 14 (Xinhua) — Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly), the first to hit the island this year, made landfall near Dongfang city in south China’s Hainan Province at around 11 p.m. on Friday, the provincial meteorological office said.

    At the time of the typhoon’s arrival on the coastline, “Wutip” weakened to the level of a strong tropical storm. The maximum wind speed near its epicenter reached 11 points /30 m per second/, and the minimum pressure at the epicenter was 980 hPa. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Unmanned aerial vehicle troops created in Belarus

    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

    MINSK, June 14 /Xinhua/ — Unmanned aerial vehicle troops have been created in Belarus. This was announced on Friday by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko. The corresponding information was published by the press service of the Defense Ministry of Belarus on the same day.

    “Currently, unmanned aerial vehicle troops have been created as an independent component of the special forces of the Armed Forces within the general structure,” P. Muraveiko noted in his report to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during his visit to the 927th center for the training and use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

    According to him, these troops are tasked with conducting aerial reconnaissance, inflicting fire damage on the enemy, guiding and adjusting fire, and performing support functions in the interests of other special forces. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Selling Ghost Guns, Stolen Guns, Machinegun Conversion Devices, And Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who pleaded guilty to unlawfully selling ghost guns, stolen guns, large capacity magazines, machinegun conversion devices, and cocaine in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

    According to court documents, from April 24, 2023, to August 3, 2024, Richard Edwin Sanchez engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a Federal Firearms License by selling 17 firearms, including .223, .40, and 5.56 caliber firearms, 9mm firearms, and a 12-gauge shotgun. Of these firearms, 10 were Glock semi-automatic firearms capable of being converted into fully automatic weapons using machinegun conversion devices provided by Sanchez. In addition, he sold 21 machinegun conversion devices. Of the Glock pistols, nine were sold with large capacity magazines, two were stolen, and two others were associated with at least five shootings in the Las Vegas and North Las Vegas area. Two other firearms sold had either no serial number or an obliterated serial number. Additionally, Sanchez sold a total of about 435 grams of cocaine.

    Sanchez pleaded guilty to one-count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, one-count of distribution of cocaine, and one-count of possession or transfer of a machine gun.

    United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Alex Buenaventura, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the ATF; and the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Luján, Warnock and Blunt Rochester in Slamming Secretary Kennedy’s Decision to Gut Nation’s Vaccine Advisory Committee and Replace Them with Vaccine Skeptics

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    June 13, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and 17 of their Senate colleagues in condemning U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s decision to gut the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and appoint several members to the committee with a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. In the letter, the lawmakers raise the alarm on the dangers of gutting the ACIP and urge Secretary Kennedy to immediately reappoint the members of the committee he fired.

    “We are deeply concerned by your decision to fire every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),” the Senators wrote. “This unprecedented action will strip Americans of the ability to make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of vaccinations — the complete opposite of ‘radical transparency’ and ‘good science.’” 

    The Senators raised the alarm on the recent appointment of several members to the committee, “We are troubled by your recent announcement to appoint several members to the committee who have a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. We urge you to restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee and immediately reinstate the members of ACIP you have baselessly fired.”

    “ACIP is a longstanding, trusted national source of science- and data-backed advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease. Members that serve on this committee must undergo extensive vetting and disclose any conflicts of interest. Firing every member of the committee just before their next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 eliminates the advisory board’s ability to debate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk,” continued the Senators.

    “We urge you to immediately reappoint the members of the committee that you fired and remove those that you have recently appointed that have a documented history of peddling misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence,” the Senators concluded. 

    Last week Duckworth also slammed Kennedy and HHS for announcing changes to CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule that would dramatically limit access to COVID-19 vaccines for millions of pregnant women and children, needlessly endangering their health.

    In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Luján, Warnock and Blunt Rochester, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

    Read the full letter on the Senator’s website or below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We are deeply concerned by your decision to fire every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This unprecedented action will strip Americans of the ability to make informed decisions about the benefits and risks of vaccinations — the complete opposite of “radical transparency” and “good science”. We are troubled by your recent announcement to appoint several members to the committee who have a documented history of anti-vaccine ideology and peddling misinformation. We urge you to restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee and immediately reinstate the members of ACIP you have baselessly fired.

    ACIP is a longstanding, trusted national source of science- and data-backed advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease. Members that serve on this committee must undergo extensive vetting and disclose any conflicts of interest. Firing every member of the committee just before their next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 eliminates the advisory board’s ability to debate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk. This reckless move is also happening as our nation faces the largest measles outbreak in over 30 years.

    This decision appears to be a deliberate effort to repopulate the committee with anti-vaccine demagogues and continue pushing vaccine misinformation to the American people. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 80 percent of parents with children under age 18 report that their children receive routine immunizations; however, a divide based on political ideology is growing. The reality is that most Americans trust the science behind vaccines — but through inaccurate information and politicization, you are eroding the trust in vaccines.

    This is just one action of many that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently taken to undermine vaccine confidence in the United States. Just over two weeks ago, HHS reversed the CDC recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination. This decision was made without the consultation of ACIP or CDC, narrowing recommendations to exclude healthy pregnant people despite pregnancy increasing the risk for severe infection. Just a day later, HHS announced the termination of a contract with Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine despite warnings of a future pandemic from infectious disease doctors and public health professionals. These deliberate efforts to sow doubt in the safety and efficacy of vaccines have real consequences — people will die.

    In addition to advising everyday Americans on their health decisions, ACIP recommendations also influence whether insurance will cover certain vaccines, making them accessible to insured Americans. Furthermore, ACIP determines the vaccine recommendations for the Vaccines for

    Children program, which ensures underinsured and uninsured children across the nation can access vaccines at no cost. Without these recommendations, vaccines will become out of reach for far too many Americans. These actions contradict your written responses to questions for the record from the Senate Finance Committee, in which you said “yes” in response to a question about your commitment to ensure there are no financial barriers to accessing safe and effective vaccines.

    Vaccines are safe and effective and have significantly reduced, and in some cases entirely eliminated, disease. With recent scientific advances in mRNA technology, vaccines are becoming easier and faster to produce in addressing today’s public health crises. It is critical that ACIP maintains its ability to develop science- and data-driven recommendations on vaccination without interference from anti-vaccine ideology.

    Patient safety and transparency is at the heart of ACIP — Americans deserve the ability to make informed decisions about their health. You are stripping Americans of the freedom to choose by your recent appointments to the committee by centering anti-vaccine ideology.  Therefore, we demand that you recuse your personal views on vaccines and restore the ACIP. We urge you to immediately reappoint the members of the committee that you fired and remove those that you have recently appointed that have a documented history of peddling misinformation or undermining vaccine confidence.

    Sincerely,

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Malvern

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Hot Spring County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents affected by severe storms and tornadoes occurring March 14-15 and also for those impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding occurring April 2-22.

    Beginning Monday, June 16, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the DLOC in Malvern to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in‑person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    HOT SPRING COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Former USDA Service Center 
    220 Olive St.
    Malvern, AR  72104

    Opens at 8 a.m., Monday, June 16

    Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    The following DLOC locations are also open and continue to serve survivors:

    JACKSON COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Diaz City Hall 
    3401 S. Main St.
    Diaz, AR  72112

    Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

    Closes Friday, June 20 at 4 p.m.

    RANDOLPH COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    Black River Technical College, Room 101
    1410 Hwy. 304 E.
    Pocahontas, AR  72455

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Closes Friday, June 20 at 6.p.m.

    SHARP COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    City Hall – Cave City
    Conference Room
    201 S. Main St.
    Cave City, AR  72521

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    Closed on Saturday, June 14 only

    SHARP COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center 
    Hardy Fire Station
    203 Church St.
    Hardy, AR  72542

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    Closed on Saturday, June 14 only

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”

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

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

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

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

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

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage due to the March storms is July 14, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 9, 2026.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage due to the April storms is July 22, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

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    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency Fire Ban Revised to Allow the Use of All Terrain Vehicles and Utility Terrain Vehicles

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 13, 2025

    Effective as of 5 p.m. on June 13, 2025, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has revised the provincial fire ban to allow the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) in all areas of the province.

    “Due to favourable weather conditions, we are seeing reduced risk for fire starts caused by ATVs and UTVs,” SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts said. “We ask that ATV/UTV users stay away from the active fire lines to ensure personal safety and safety of crews.”

    The provincial fire ban remains in effect, and continues to prohibit any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the area north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River. 

    As of 3:30 p.m., there are 19 active wildfires in the province. To date, Saskatchewan has had 259 wildfires, which is 84 more than the previous year at this time. The wildfire five-year average in Saskatchewan to date is 148. 

    Anyone who spots a wildfire can call 1-800-667-9660, dial 9-1-1 or contact their closest SPSA Forest Protection Area office.

    People can find an interactive fire ban map, frequently asked questions, fire risk maps and fire prevention tips at saskpublicsafety.ca.

    A list of fire bans and restrictions in provincial parks and recreation sites can be found here.

    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 Security: Pierce County man charged with illegally possessing ammunition as part of an investigation over threats to detonate a bomb

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant allegedly sent a ‘manifesto’ in connection with anger over his father’s death some 20 years ago

    Tacoma – A 46-year-old resident of Graham, Washington was charged today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma following the investigation into his threats to build a bomb and set it off in a public area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. David Michael Eddo was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance on the criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of ammunition this afternoon. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Wednesday June 18, 2025. He remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.

    According to the criminal complaint, Eddo is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammuniti0n because of his conviction for drive-by shooting and assault. In that 2019 case, Eddo fired multiple shots into the cab of a semi-truck that was on the I-5 exit ramp to the Port of Tacoma. He was sentenced to 26 months in prison.

    In early May 2025, Eddo came to the attention of the FBI for writing a ‘manifesto’ in which he claimed to be building and deploying a bomb to get ‘justice’ for his father who died approximately 20 years ago at the Port of Tacoma. Eddo allegedly names certain people who were involved in litigation over his father’s death as targets in the manifesto.

    On June 12, 2025, law enforcement searched Eddo’s Graham home and recovered various items that could be used to make an explosive device including Ammonium Perchlorate also called Potassium Nitrate. Eddo had no license to purchase, use, or store explosives.

    Additionally, agents recovered two different types of ammunition. Unlawful possession of ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

    The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The FBI is leading the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elyne Vaught.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fijian in Abu Dhabi worried about Pacific communities in Middle East

    By Susana Suisuiki, Presenter/producer of RNZ Pacific Waves

    Fiji’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi says it is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and Israel as tensions remain high.

    Israel carried out a dozen strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites on Friday, claiming it acted out of “self-defence”, saying Iran is close to building a nuclear weapon.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel that “severe punishment” would follow and two waves of missiles were fired at Israel.

    Fiji’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi is urging the Fijian community there to remain calm, stay informed, and reach out to the Embassy should they have any concerns or require assistance during this period of heightened regional tensions.

    A Fiji national in Abu Dhabi said he had yet to hear how other Pacific communities in the Middle East were coping amid the Israel-Iran conflict.

    Speaking to RNZ Pacific Waves from Abu Dhabi, Fiji media specialist Kelepi Abariga said the situation was “freaky and risky”.

    Abariga has lived in Abu Dhabi for more than a decade and while he was far from the danger zones, he was concerned for his “fellow Pacific people”.

    ‘I hope they are safe’
    “I just hope they are safe as of now, this is probably the first time Israel has attacked Iran directly,” he said.

    “Everybody thinks that Iran has a huge nuclear deposit with them, that they could use it against any country in the world.

    “But you know, that is yet to be seen.

    “So right now, you know we from the Pacific, we’re right in the middle of everything and I think you know, our safety is paramount.”

    Abariga was not aware of any Pacific people in Tehran but said if they were, they were most likely to be working for an NGO or the United Nations.

    However, Abariga said there were Fiji nationals working at the International Christian embassy in Jerusalem and Solomon Island students in the south of Israel.

    He also said that Fijian troops were stationed at Golan Heights occupied by Israel.

    While Abariga described Abu Dhabi as the safest country in the Middle East, he said the politics in the region were volatile.

    “It’s been intense like that for all this time, and I think when you mention Iran in this country [UAE], they have all the differences so it’s probably something that has started a long way before.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Possession

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jon Waugh, age 55, from Sioux City, Iowa, a man who possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it within 1,000 feet of a protected location pled guilty June 12, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

    On August 14, 2024, law enforcement officers contacted Waugh outside his apartment for an outstanding arrest warrant, while he was on his way to sell methamphetamine.  Officers searched Waugh and found and seized approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine and $854 in cash.  Law enforcement officers searched Waugh’s residence and seized over one kilogram of methamphetamine, a scale with meth, drug paraphernalia, and four firearms, one of which was stolen.  At the plea hearing, Waugh admitted he planned to distribute the methamphetamine to other individuals in Sioux City.  Waugh’s residence was within 1,000 feet of a protected location, specifically a local elementary school in Sioux City. 

    Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Waugh remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Waugh faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig Hamit.  

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The King’s Birthday Honours 2025 – Police, Fire and Ambulance

    Source: Scottish Government

    Recipients of blue light service medals in Scotland.

    King’s Police Medal 

    Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, Police Scotland 

    King’s Fire Service Medal 

    Volunteer Leader Gerry Ralston, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service 

    Watch Commander John Aitchison, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service 

    King’s Ambulance Service Medal 

    Scottish Ambulance Service Corporate Risk Manager, Sarah Stevenson, Scottish Ambulance Service 


    KING’S POLICE MEDAL     

    Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, Police Scotland 

    Former Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie joined Strathclyde Police in 1991 and retired in April 2025 after 33 years’ police service. He was an experienced Major Events Commander, Strategic Firearms Commander, and Public Order Gold Commander. He was instrumental in the roll-out of naloxone to all frontline police officers, making Police Scotland the first force globally to implement a nationwide roll-out of the opioid reversing medication. Under his leadership, a national naloxone co-ordination unit was established, prior to national rollout. During his time at Police Scotland, 13,216 operational officers completed the training, more than 10,500 frontline officers were equipped with naloxone while on duty and officers administered naloxone to over 630 individual incidents involving suspected opioid overdoses.

    In 2021, ACC Ritchie was instrumental in the creation, development and delivery of Police Scotland’s International Academy and the wider international strategy for Police Scotland. He has represented and showcased Police Scotland globally, hosting visits to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Germany, and Columbia. In 2023, he led a Scottish delegation to the Global Law Enforcement & Public Health Association Conference in Sweden where he outlined Scotland’s public health approach to addressing underlying inequalities. That same year, ACC Ritchie was appointed Executive Lead for Operational Support, a broad area of responsibility ranging from road policing to the planning and preparation for events and counter terrorism incidents. He was responsible for major events planning in Scotland and was involved in the COP-26 conference held in Glasgow, Operation Unicorn, following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the Interpol General Assembly, which saw senior policing officials from across the world descend on Glasgow to discuss international cooperation.  ACC Ritchie also led on Royalty and VIP Protection in Scotland, ensuring Police Scotland worked closely with the Metropolitan Police in relation to the security of protected persons.  

    KING’S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL 

    Volunteer Leader Gerry Ralston, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service 

    Volunteer Leader Ralston is an On Call Firefighter recognised for his work at Salen Community Fire Station on the Isle of Mull, and across East and West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute. The on-call firefighter joined the Salen Volunteer Unit as a Firefighter in 1988. He has helped design and deliver initiatives aimed at improving how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service identify, recruit, and retain On Call Firefighters. Volunteer Leader Ralston also helps drive forward programmes aimed at educating and informing the community, such as CPR awareness, and delivers engagement sessions to Tobermory High School. 

    He has organised and raised over £8000 for different causes and charities including The Fire Fighters Charity, Cancer Research UK, Stroke Foundation, the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow and, in July this year, will tackle a 62-mile event for Cancer Research UK. During the pandemic, he facilitated test and protect at Craignure Community Fire Station, taking time out with his main employment to assist the community. He has been at the forefront of all fundraising efforts undertaken by Salen Community Fire station and regularly supports Tobermory Fire Station with their annual open day including donations supporting the Firefighters Charity and other deserving local charities and projects. 

    Watch Commander John Aitchison, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service 

    Watch Commander John Aitchison has been a member of the Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland for over 21 years – initially joining Grampian Fire Brigade – where he was first posted to Altens Fire Station, Aberdeen. He was promoted to Crew Commander in 2006, where he served at Aberdeen’s Central Fire Station. It was while working here in 2007 that he became a member of Operation Florian, a charity that organises fundraising for international humanitarian aid. In 2008, as part of the project, Watch Commander Aitchison led a convoy of donated fire engines from Aberdeen to Macedonia. On their arrival, the watch commander and his team provided two weeks of training to local fire crews with the donated equipment. He would go on to complete the trip a further two times – returning to provide further training and equipment. 

    In 2011, Watch Commander Aitchison joined the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue as a Crew Leader and Sector Medic, and is on standby to attend national and international emergencies. As a member of this team, he was sent to help the response to the Nepal Earthquake in 2015 and the earthquake in Türkiye in 2023. His work in this area led to difficulties with his mental wellbeing. Determined to not let this define him, he went on to co-found Talk Group 20 Aberdeen – a peer support group for firefighters which aims to safeguard mental wellbeing. He also co-founded the organisation, Fire Aid Nepal, a project which aims to support, and future prepare the Nepalese community following the devastating quake 10-years-ago. In 2023, he played an integral role in forming the first ever fire and rescue service for the Mount Everest region and, in 2024, received a Pride of Scotland Award for his work in Nepal which has also attracted letters of thanks from King Charles III. He was promoted to Watch Commander in 2020, where he is currently a national urban search and rescue instructor. 

    KING’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL  

    SAS Corporate Risk Manager, Sarah Stevenson, Scottish Ambulance Service 

    As Corporate Risk Manager for the Scottish Ambulance Service, Ms Stevenson has worked tirelessly to embed robust and effective risk management arrangements across the organisation, embedding this at local and board levels. 

    She also recently led a significant project to replace a 20-year-old IT risk management system to record risk and adverse events. This two-year project has resulted in substantial improvements for all staff, including easier reporting access and annual recurring savings of more than £13000.  

    Ms Stevenson personally led the training and awareness programme for the new system, leading staff engagement sessions and developing video tutorials and other tools to assist staff and improve accountability and responsibility. The system – which went live in March this year – has received positive feedback from Scottish Ambulance Service staff.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States Army

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
     
    A PROCLAMATION

     On June 14, 1775, the sword and shield of our Republic were forged when the Second Continental Congress voted to establish what would later become the United States Army.  Today, our Nation proudly celebrates 250 years of our Army’s strength, service, valor, and discipline.  We honor its heroic legacy as the guardian of our sovereignty and our fortress against tyranny — and we pay tribute to the millions of warriors who live by the motto:  This We’ll Defend.

    Following the first shots of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, it became clear to the patriots that — despite their persistent efforts for peace — war against the British was necessary as a final recourse in defense of their freedom.  In the wake of the Boston Massacre, the Intolerable Acts, and the enduring injustice of taxation without representation, they established the First Continental Congress in the fall of 1774 to formally address their grievances.  After dozens of patriots perished at Lexington and Concord, the Colonies reconvened — and by June 14, the delegates had decided that there was only one path forward.

    On that spring day, in a momentous act of unity and resolve, the Congress passed a resolution to formally establish the instrument of our national defense in the form of the Continental Army.  “Resolved, that six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia” the resolution reads.

    With the passing of that fateful resolution, the scattered militias of the American Colonies banded together as a single force — boldly declaring that they would never waver in defense of their liberty and their home.  The next day, George Washington was unanimously appointed as the Continental Army’s Commander-in-Chief.  Weeks later, on July 3, 1775, he took charge of his Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  “It is hoped that all Distinctions of Colonies will be laid aside so that one and the same Spirit may animate the whole, and the only Contest be, who shall render, on this great and trying occasion, the most essential service to the Great and common cause in which we are all engaged,” he wrote.

    In the days, weeks, and years that followed, that very same Army shocked the Redcoats at Trenton and Princeton, won their first great victory at Saratoga, secured the cause of independence at Yorktown, preserved the Union at Gettysburg, held the line at Chateau-Thierry, stormed the bloody beaches of Normandy, and to this day, gallantly defends our inheritance of freedom against every foe with unmatched tenacity, courage, and strength.  What was first formed as a ragtag army of farmers, frontiersmen, blacksmiths, and merchants now stands as the most dominant military force ever born of human will — guided by the promise to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

    To ensure our Army’s storied legacy continues well into the future, as President, I have purged the sinister ideology of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” from the ranks of our military.  I directed the Department of Defense to update its guidance regarding transgender — identifying medical standards to ensure our military remains the most lethal in the world.  In a long overdue redress of injustice, I reinstated American service members who were dismissed for refusing the COVID vaccine, with full back pay and benefits.  Every day, I am restoring a foreign policy of peace through strength — and as a result, military recruitment is soaring to historic highs.  Under my leadership, the United States military will remain the mightiest, fiercest, boldest, and most revered in the entire world.

    On this 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army, we pay tribute to every legend of liberty who sacrificed their life to keep America safe, sovereign, and free.  As my Administration continues the work of protecting our homeland and upholding our way of life, we proudly summon the spirit, confidence, and resolve of the intrepid men who won our independence on the battlefield 250 years ago — and we vow that their legacy of courage will never perish, and that our sacred birthright of freedom will never, ever die.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2025, as a day in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army.  This We’ll Defend.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
     
     
     
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Trump is gutting police and public safety funding in California

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 13, 2025

    What you need to know: Donald Trump is raiding public safety funds to bankroll his militarized birthday party this Saturday, while stripping local police departments, first responders, and communities across the country of the tools they need to keep Americans safe.

    Los Angeles, California – Donald Trump, a convicted felon who has prioritized pardoning individuals convicted of assaulting police, is gutting public safety funding — slashing billions from programs that help police departments, fight terrorism, prevent gun violence, and protect women and children from domestic violence — all while he adds to the nation’s debt to pay for militarizing Los Angeles and his ego-driven birthday party this Saturday.

    Trump doesn’t respect the rule of law and taxpayers. He uses our members of the military — our heroes — as his own chess pieces and he’s stacking the deck against our own state and local law enforcement. We’ve had enough.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Trump is defunding public safety

    President Trump is proposing to gut public safety funding across the country — putting the safety and lives of all Americans at risk.

    At a time when violent crime is dropping, Trump’s so-called “big beautiful bill” threatens to erase substantial progress on public safety, at a time when exactly the opposite is needed. 

    The President’s proposed funding cuts include: 

    • $1 billion from police departments to reduce violent crime, hate crime, and crime against women.
    • $646 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for violence and terrorism prevention.
    • $545 million from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cutting its workforce by more than 2,000 personnel and reducing its capacity to keep criminals off the street. 
    • $491 million from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), making our cyber and physical infrastructure more vulnerable to attack.
    • $468 million from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), greatly reducing its ability to crack down on firearm trafficking and reduce gun violence.
    • $212 million from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), greatly reducing its capacity to help state and local law enforcement and weakening efforts to fight international drug smuggling impacting the United States.
    • $107 million from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Public Safety and Justice, exacerbating current understaffing and making tribal communities less safe. 

    $134 million reasons why this is wrong

    As the federal government adds to the open deficit tab, taxpayers are footing the $134 million militarization display in Los Angeles where Trump illegally took control over state National Guard units. Trump federalized 4,000 National Guard soldiers and deployed 700 Marines to use as pawns in Los Angeles.

    Even as tensions rise in the Middle East, in an unprecedented move, there are now more American troops deployed in Los Angeles than in Iraq and Syria combined.

    Trump is adding to the national debt

    Trump’s budget proposal would push the country further into debt. Although he proposes cutting public safety funding, he proposes even more massive tax cuts for the wealthy, pushing the federal government further into the red. According to the Congressional Budget Office, his proposal would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit, before even considering interest costs. 

    Birthday display

    And, in a scene more common in authoritarian dictatorships, Trump is holding a massive $45 million birthday party for himself in Washington, D.C.

    Trump’s parade, set to destroy streets in Washington DC due to heavy military vehicles rolling through, including 28 M1A1 tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Stryker armored fighting vehicles and vehicles towing artillery, is being thrown in the face of Americans reeling from his attempt to militarize Los Angeles.

    The festivities will be visible on the ground and in the air – with more than 50 helicopters participating in a large flyover in the nation’s capital. See the Governor’s response to this fete here. 

    Hypocrisy on full display

    In 2020, Trump said he wouldn’t federalize National Guard members without the approval of a state’s Governor first. The head of his own Department of Homeland Security said just last year that federalizing the National Guard would be a direct attack on state rights. But now his administration is adding more National Guard soldiers and Marines to an already charged situation in Los Angeles when they are unneeded. There are 1,600 soldiers waiting for commands at armories in the area.

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    Jun 13, 2025

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Plotting Election Day Terror Attack in the United States

    Source: US State of California

    Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, a native and citizen of Afghanistan, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Oklahoma City to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism.

    “The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Let this serve as notice to anyone who tries to conduct attacks in our homeland for ISIS or any other terror group: we will find you and you’ll face American justice. I want to commend the FBI teams and our partners for their hard work and success in executing the mission.”

    “Through incredible law enforcement effort and coordination, a violent terrorist attack on American soil was thwarted, and those responsible are being held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “I commend the outstanding work by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and prosecutors to diligently discover, thoroughly investigate, and completely foil this terror plot. These guilty pleas serve as an emphatic reminder that the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm Americans through terrorist acts.”

    “Thanks to outstanding work by the Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the defendant’s plan to kill innocent Americans in a terrorist attack on Election Day was stopped,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The FBI is grateful to all who stand beside us in our fight against terrorism. Together, we will continue to safeguard our communities from those who conspire against the United States.”

    According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024 he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS.  According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient.

    Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, Abdullah Haji Zada, were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing the firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee.  Zada, 18, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the firearms offense in connection with his role in the terror plot and is awaiting sentencing. Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult.

    At sentencing, Tawhedi faces a maximum penalty 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for the firearms charge. Zada faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Upon completion of any sentence, Tawhedi and Zada will be permanently removed from the United States and barred from reentry under stipulated judicial orders of removal to Afghanistan. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma; Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian, who previously served in the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Mark Stoneman of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, who previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, also assisted with the prosecution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marrero Man Sentenced for Narcotics and Weapons Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on June 10, 2025, TYRIQUE RICHARDS, age 28, of Marrero, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 66 months imprisonment and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).  Following imprisonment, RICHARDS, will be placed on supervised release for three (3) years.

    According to court documents, on February 27, 2024, February Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force (NOGTF) members arrested RICHARDS pursuant to local parish attachments.  Upon arrest, RICHARDS was found in possession of marijuana, cocaine, a digital scale, and a Glock firearm.

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

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch on Trump Executive Order to Mitigate Wildfire

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Risch (R-Idaho) released the following statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response.

    “Idahoans are all too familiar with catastrophic wildfires that devastate our communities every year,” said Risch.“President Trump’s actions to streamline federal regulations, strengthen local partnerships, and increase the use of proven mitigation strategies is a significant opportunity to reduce fire risk.”

    Senator Risch, as a trained forester, has long sought to create meaningful, effective policies to build healthier, more resilient forests; better fight fires; and aid the communities hurt by these disasters. Senator Risch has also encouraged the federal government to utilize prescribed fires and other innovative fuel management strategies to reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Update 4: Alberta wildfire update (June 13, 3:30 p.m.)

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Plotting Election Day Terror Attack in the United States

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, a native and citizen of Afghanistan, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Oklahoma City to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism.

    “The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Let this serve as notice to anyone who tries to conduct attacks in our homeland for ISIS or any other terror group: we will find you and you’ll face American justice. I want to commend the FBI teams and our partners for their hard work and success in executing the mission.”

    “Through incredible law enforcement effort and coordination, a violent terrorist attack on American soil was thwarted, and those responsible are being held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “I commend the outstanding work by the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and prosecutors to diligently discover, thoroughly investigate, and completely foil this terror plot. These guilty pleas serve as an emphatic reminder that the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm Americans through terrorist acts.”

    “Thanks to outstanding work by the Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the defendant’s plan to kill innocent Americans in a terrorist attack on Election Day was stopped,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The FBI is grateful to all who stand beside us in our fight against terrorism. Together, we will continue to safeguard our communities from those who conspire against the United States.”

    According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024 he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS.  According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient.

    Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, Abdullah Haji Zada, were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing the firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee.  Zada, 18, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the firearms offense in connection with his role in the terror plot and is awaiting sentencing. Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult.

    At sentencing, Tawhedi faces a maximum penalty 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for the firearms charge. Zada faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Upon completion of any sentence, Tawhedi and Zada will be permanently removed from the United States and barred from reentry under stipulated judicial orders of removal to Afghanistan. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma; Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian, who previously served in the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Mark Stoneman of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, who previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, also assisted with the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Newington Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison

    Source: US FBI

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARTIN DELGADO, 30, of Newington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 13, 2024, members of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force conducted a court-authorized search of Delgado’s residence on Main Street in Newington and seized approximately 2,500 wax paper sleeves containing fentanyl, approximately 160 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately 21 grams of cocaine, narcotics packaging materials, and a loaded 9mm gun magazine.  Delgado, who fled on foot when officers arrived at his residence, was apprehended a short time later in West Hartford.  Investigators also located and seized a loaded 9mm handgun near Delgado’s residence that he discarded as he fled, and additional quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from Delgado’s vehicle.

    The firearm had been reported stolen in 2019.

    Delgado was charged with state offenses and released on bond.

    Delgado has been detained since his federal arrest on August 2, 2024.  On February 11, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine.

    This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the Connecticut State Police, and the West Hartford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Reed Durham through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Myers Man Sentenced To More Than 20 Years For Pizza Shop Armed Robbery

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Shadarien Lamarr Ward (22, Fort Myers) to 22 years in federal prison for robbing a pizza shop at gunpoint near downtown Fort Myers. Ward previously pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

    According to court documents, on the evening of September 1, 2024, Ward robbed a pizza shop at gunpoint, pistol-whipping an employee in the process. After grabbing the cash register drawer and approximately $700 in cash, Ward fled the area on foot. Though he was hooded and masked during the robbery, he was later identified by law enforcement after an extensive review of surveillance cameras in the area tracked him to a nearby motel.

    Ward, a registered sex offender, was wearing a GPS monitor at the time of the robbery as part of his state sex offender probation. Though he had cut off his GPS monitor and absconded from supervision following the robbery, Ward was located and arrested at a North Fort Myers motel soon thereafter.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced To Federal Prison For Possessing A Loaded Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Mickey Colangelo, Jr. (44, Fort Myers) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Colangelo to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the commission of the offense. Colangelo pled guilty on February 26, 2025.

    According to the plea agreement, on October 30, 2024, Colangelo was stopped by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a wanted suspect for a felony offense. In his backpack, deputies located a loaded pistol. Court records confirm that Colangelo had previously been convicted of a felony, which prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Colangelo has at least three prior felony convictions that qualify as “violent felonies” under federal law, thus subjecting him to enhanced punishment as an Armed Career Criminal. Colangelo also agreed to forfeit the firearm used in the offense.

    This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Colleagues Question President Trump over Decision to Fire NTSB Vice Chair

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to President Trump questioning his administration’s decision to remove National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vice Chair Alvin Brown. The move is especially alarming given that NTSB plays a critical role in investigating transportation accidents like the deadly January 29th collision that killed 67 people.

    In their letter the senators highlighted the independent nature of NTSB and stressed the need to have qualified individuals serve on the board.

    The senators wrote, “Congress designed the Board to represent a range of viewpoints by mandating that no more than three of the five members be of the same political party. Additionally, Congress removed the Board from the Department of Transportation and reestablished it as an independent establishment of the U.S. government to ensure the NTSB retains its independence and that NTSB staff are able to fulfill their mission of performing investigations into certain transportation accidents, including every civil aviation accident in the United States, by determining the probable cause of the accident and issuing safety recommendations.”

    They continued, “The NTSB provides support to the victims, survivors, and families following a transportation accident – including facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers. The NTSB has earned the trust of the transportation industry and millions of Americans through many grueling investigations; because of the NTSB, improved transportation safety has come out of calamity and tragedy.”

    The senators also questioned the rationale behind President Trump’s decision to remove Vice Chair Brown without naming a replacement, leaving a vacancy in this crucial role that manages nearly 1250 investigations in the United States and supports more than 150 foreign investigations each year.

    “Mr. Brown’s removal is consistent with your Administration’s dismissals of federal government leaders on the basis of bald partisanship and animus, however it is inconsistent with the law. The recklessness of vacating a leadership role on the NTSB in this critical moment in aviation safety runs counter to your obligations to the American people,” they wrote.

    This is only the latest in the Trump administration’s reckless purge of qualified federal workers for political reasons. Earlier this week, Sen. Warner lead a group of colleagues objecting to Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard’s decision to unilaterally terminate the Acting Counsel of the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General, and he has repeatedly warned of the lasting damage of the Trump administration’s continued politicization of nonpartisan government positions and removal of employees.

    A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

    Dear President Trump:

    On January 29, 2025, 67 souls were lost in the midair collision between an American Airlines flight inbound to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and a U.S. Army helicopter. The survivors of the loved ones lost and our unanimous commitment is to prevent a tragedy like this from happening ever again. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB or Board) is vital to ensuring that outcome which is why we were alarmed by the abrupt firing of Alvin Brown who recently served as the Vice Chair of the Board. We urge you to reevaluate your Administration’s actions related to Mr. Brown and reinstate his membership to the NTSB. 

    The law directs the President to appoint, and the Senate to consent to, the five members of the Board, each serving a term of five years.   Congress designed the Board to represent a range of viewpoints by mandating that no more than three of the five members be of the same political party.  Additionally, Congress removed the Board from the Department of Transportation and reestablished it as an independent establishment of the U.S. government to ensure the NTSB retains its independence and that NTSB staff are able to fulfill their mission of performing investigations into certain transportation accidents, including every civil aviation accident in the United States, by determining the probable cause of the accident and issuing safety recommendations. 

    The NTSB provides support to the victims, survivors, and families following a transportation accident – including facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers. The NTSB has earned the trust of the transportation industry and millions of Americans through many grueling investigations; because of the NTSB, improved transportation safety has come out of calamity and tragedy. Upwards of “82 percent of NTSB recommendations have led to the implementation of safety improvements deemed acceptable by the Board.” 

    On May 5, 2025, you fired the Vice Chair of the NTSB, Mr. Alvin Brown. Mr. Brown was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in December 2024 to a term expiring on December 31, 2026. When you fired Mr. Brown, you failed to identify a potential replacement, creating a vacancy on the Board as it manages nearly 1,250 investigations in the United States, and supports close to 160 foreign investigations.  You provided no justification or explanation for Mr. Brown’s abrupt removal even as the law requires that a Board member may only be removed for cause in the form of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance of office.   When your Administration removed Mr. Brown from his position on the National Transportation Safety Board, you made it clear that it was for reasons unrelated to those enumerated in law and even thanked him for his service.  Had Congress intended NTSB members in good standing to be removable by the President at will, it would have written the law accordingly. Mr. Brown’s removal is consistent with your Administration’s dismissals of federal government leaders on the basis of bald partisanship and animus, however it is inconsistent with the law. The recklessness of vacating a leadership role on the NTSB in this critical moment in aviation safety runs counter to your obligations to the American people.

    The traveling public relies on the NTSB to be a strong watchdog for transportation safety. Too many advances in aviation safety have come on the heels of a tragedy; but since 1967, the NTSB has worked to ensure the lessons learned are integrated into the aviation industry. Your recent actions indicate that your priorities for aviation safety are focused more on partisan politics rather than the safety of the millions of Americans who use our skies. We hope you will prove us wrong and ask that, in the absence of a showing that your actions to remove Mr. Brown complied with the law, you immediately reinstate Mr. Brown to the NTSB to complete his term of service as Vice Chair and to affirm your commitment to upholding the independence of the NTSB and allow the Board to perform their Congressionally-mandated duties to keep America’s transportation systems safe.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Midlands Men Sentenced for Injuring Officers During Riot on May 2020

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brandon Jemar Pickett, 38, of Cayce and Luis Rosario, 29, of Columbia, have been sentenced to four years and one year and one day, respectively, in federal prison for interfering with law enforcement officers during civil disorder.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 30, 2020, organizers held a peaceful protest at the South Carolina State House to protest the death of George Floyd. After the protest, some individuals continued protesting at the City of Columbia Police Department. However, the protest turned into a violent riot when multiple individuals began throwing objects at police officers, destroying property, and setting police cars on fire.

    During the riot, Brandon Pickett picked up a large rock and threw it at a police officer causing the officer to suffer a chipped tibia. Rosario threw water bottles with an unknown substance at officers and picked up a wooden barricade and threw it at an officer resulting in a head injury requiring seven stitches.

    Pickett has prior convictions for assault with intent to kill, failure to stop for a blue light, and attempted burglary. Rosario has no prior convictions.

    United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Rosario to 48 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Judge Lewis sentenced Rosario to one year and one day followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Fyall is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Trinitarios Gang Leader Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Triple Shooting in Queens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant, the Leader of the “OZP” set of the Trinitarios, Orchestrated a Months-Long Conspiracy to Murder Gang Rivals

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Pedro Serrano, also known as “Papo,” the leader of the Ozone Park (or “OZP”) set of the Trinitarios street gang, was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano to 183 months in prison for carrying out a June 29, 2021 shooting that injured three victims.  The shooting was part of a long-running conspiracy to murder members of a rival Trinitarios gang set.  Serrano pleaded guilty in March 2024 to assault in-aid-of racketeering and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

    “Serrano was ruthlessly committed to a dangerous criminal enterprise, and he and his co-conspirators shot multiple victims in furtherance of a senseless gang rivalry to advance his enterprise,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Such warfare jeopardizes public safety and underscores the importance of my Office’s mission to eradicate violent gangs from our communities.”

    Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department for their work and assistance on the case.

    According to court filings, Serrano, along with other members of the gang, engaged in a series of violent feuds with rivals, including rival sets within the Trinitarios.  Beginning in at least 2021, disputes arose between OZP and other sets of Trinitarios from Queens and Brooklyn, including the Southside set, resulting in back-and-forth shootings between sets.  On June 29, 2021, Serrano carried out a retaliatory shooting—while driving through a residential neighborhood in Queens—targeting Southside members.

    Serrano enlisted fellow OZP members—including co-defendant Albert Santana-Fernandez, also known as “Pipa,” a Pennsylvania-based member of OZP—to help attack OZP rivals.  After departing from Serrano’s house, the co-conspirators drove around until they located a rival group of Trinitarios on 77th Street near Jamaica Avenue near the Queens-Brooklyn border.  Serrano and Santana-Fernandez were armed with firearms and after locating their rivals, fired shots at them from their moving vehicle.  At least 13 shell casings were recovered at the scene, and three victims were wounded—one of whom sustained a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Santana-Fernandez pleaded guilty to his role in the shooting in October 2024 and is awaiting sentencing.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States  Attorneys Lindsey R. Oken and Benjamin Weintraub are in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendants:

    PEDRO SERRANO (also known as “Papo”)
    Age: 24
    Brooklyn, NY

    ALBERT SANTANA-FERNANDEZ (also known as “Pipa”)
    Age: 27
    Philadelphia, PA

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-28 (ENV)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven defendants charged with trafficking drugs from Lower 48 to Alaska

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned two unrelated indictments last month charging seven defendants with trafficking drugs from California and Nevada to Alaska for distribution.

    “These cases are a reminder that our office takes seriously the threat of drug traffickers targeting Alaska, and we will be relentless in working with our law enforcement partners in stopping the flow of dangerous drugs to keep Alaskans safe,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska.

    U.S. v. Miles et al.

    According to court documents, beginning in at least March 2024 and continuing through February 2025, Kinarla Miles, 67, of Highland, California, Jerome Larue, 51, of Juneau, and Edie Seslar, 60, of Juneau, allegedly conspired with each other to traffic meth to Alaska and knowingly and intentionally attempted to possess meth with intent to distribute it in Alaska.

    During the same offense period, Miles, Larue, Seslar and Travis Lind, 38, of Juneau, also allegedly conspired to launder money from their drug trafficking activity.

    Miles, Larue and Seslar face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for their drug trafficking charges. Lind faces up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy.

    The USPIS Juneau Domicile, Juneau Police Department and Alaska State Troopers, as part of the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force (SEACAD), are investigating the case, with assistance from the USPIS San Bernadino Domicile.

    U.S. v. Rodgers et al.

    According to court documents, beginning in at least September 2024 and continuing through March 2025, Christian Rodgers, 33, of Kenai, Helmut Mey, 37, of Las Vegas, and Jonhatan Lau-Osuna, 37, of Las Vegas, conspired with each other to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl in Alaska.

    Rodgers is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the alleged conduct, Rodgers had two prior felony convictions for misconduct involving controlled substances and misconduct involving weapons in Alaska Superior Court, Kenai.

    Mey is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Lau-Osuna is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

    If convicted, all three defendants face between 10 years to life in prison.

    The charges are a result of an investigation conducted by the USPIS Anchorage Domicile, FBI Anchorage Field Office, and Alaska State Troopers through the Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Initiative’s Southcentral Area-Wide Narcotics (SCAN) team, with assistance from the Anchorage Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson is prosecuting these cases, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central District of California, District of Nevada and District of Idaho.

    These cases were brought as part of the Alaska Parcel Interdiction Initiative, a statewide partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Alaska State Troopers and other local law enforcement to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics into Alaska through the mail. Together, the agencies work tirelessly to interdict suspicious U.S. Postal Service and other carriers’ parcels, with a goal of seizing narcotics before they enter communities and prosecuting those responsible for trafficking drugs to Alaska. 

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Qatar Warns of Dangers of Israeli Violations on International Peace and Security

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Vienna, June 13

    The State of Qatar has reiterated its strong condemnation and deep denunciation of the Israeli attack that targeted the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security at a time when countries around the world are striving to reach diplomatic solutions to restore peace to the Middle East.

    This came in Qatar’s statement delivered by HE Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna Jassim Yaqoub Al Hammadi before the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), during discussions on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Israeli nuclear file.

    His Excellency called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities to urgently stop Israeli violations before it is too late, warning of their grave consequences for the region, particularly the destruction of prospects for peace and the endangerment of the people of the region as well as regional and global security.

    He further urged the international community and its organizations to pressure Israel, the occupying power, to immediately end its campaign of genocide against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip, its use of food as a weapon, and its ongoing military operations and settlement projects in the occupied West Bank.

    His Excellency reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s firm and unwavering position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to establish an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also noted that Qatar continues its mediation efforts alongside the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to reach a permanent ceasefire and create conditions conducive to launching serious negotiations toward achieving a two-state solution.

    Regarding Israel’s nuclear capabilities, His Excellency emphasized the need for the international community and its institutions to fulfill their commitments under United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as IAEA decisions and the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference resolution, all of which call on Israel to subject its entire nuclear program to the Agency’s comprehensive safeguards system and to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Calls May Come from Unfamiliar Numbers

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Calls May Come from Unfamiliar Numbers

    FEMA Calls May Come from Unfamiliar Numbers

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark

    – After Arkansans apply for disaster assistance, FEMA may call to schedule an inspection of the damaged home or for more information to process the application

    These calls may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers

    It is important to answer the call

    A FEMA inspection may be required to determine whether a home is safe, functional and accessible

    If an inspection cannot be scheduled, that may cause a delay in FEMA’s review of a homeowner’s or renter’s application

    There is no charge for an inspection

    The inspector will have FEMA photo ID and your application number

    FEMA representatives never ask for money

    If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, but you aren’t sure, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify the caller’s identity

    Residents who suffered losses after the March 14-15 and April 2-22 severe storms can apply for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

     Survivors affected by both disasters are encouraged to file a separate FEMA application for each disaster

    Survivors in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties may apply if they had damage in March

    Additionally, those affected by the April storms in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, St

    Francis, Saline, Sharp and White counties may also apply

    The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance for the March storms is Monday, July 14

    The last day to apply for the April storms is Tuesday, July 22

     There are several ways to apply

    Go to DisasterAssistance

    gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Lines are open from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CDT seven days a week and specialists speak many languages

     In-person survivor assistance is also available at several sites across the impacted area

    To find hours and locations, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4865 or fema

    gov/disaster/4873, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the link under “In-person Survivor Assistance

    ”To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For the latest information about Arkansas’ recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4865 or fema

    gov/disaster/4873

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/

    thomas

    wise
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 14:00

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors

    SBA Loans Are a Meaningful Option for Texas Storm Survivors

    AUSTIN – Low-interest disaster loans from the U

    S

    Small Business Administration are available to Texas residents, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations that are recovering from the severe storms and flooding that occurred March 26-28, 2025

     Residents and businesses in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties may now apply if they had damage in the March storms

     FEMA partners with other agencies to help meet the needs of disaster survivors

    Disaster loans are the largest source of federal recovery funds for storm survivors

    They help private property owners pay for disaster losses not covered by insurance, local or state programs

    SBA loans also cover deductibles and increased cost of compliance after a disaster

    Survivors should not wait for an insurance settlement before submitting an SBA loan application

    Interest rates on disaster loans can be as low as 2

    75% for homeowners and renters, 3

    62% for private nonprofit organizations and 4% for businesses, with terms up to 30 years for physical damage to real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment

    Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition

    Survivors are not required to begin repaying the loan and the interest does not begin to accumulate for 12 months from the date the first disaster loan disbursement is awarded

    Homeowners may be eligible for a disaster loan of up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or rebuilding

    SBA may also be able to help homeowners and renters with up to $100,000 to replace important personal property, including automobiles damaged or destroyed in the storms

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged property, destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes

     Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy and the contiguous counties of Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy and Zapata

      Businesses can apply for up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster

    Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact

    Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage

    In partnership with FEMA and the state, SBA representatives are available to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at sites throughout the affected areas

     SBA’s Business Recovery Centers are open at the following locations:CAMERON COUNTYBusiness Recovery CenterHarlingen Chamber of Commerce311 E

    Tyler Ave

    Harlingen, TX 78559Mondays – Thursdays, 8 a

    m

    – 5 p

    m

    Friday, 8 a

    m

    – 4 p

    m

     HIDALGO COUNTYBusiness Recovery CenterValley Metro Transit Center510 S

    Pleasantview Dr

    BoardroomWeslaco, TX 78596Monday – Friday 8 a

    m

    to 5 p

    m

      To apply online or to download an application, go to SBA

    gov/disaster

    You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba

    gov

     The deadline to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan for the March storms is July 22, 2025

    The last day for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations to apply for an SBA economic injury loan for the March storms is Feb

    23, 2026

    For the latest information about Texas’ recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4871 Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    toan

    nguyen
    Fri, 06/13/2025 – 12:08

    MIL OSI USA News –