NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The silent killer: We need better risk governance to beat extreme heat | GP 2025

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Extreme heat is no longer a seasonal inconvenience. It’s a systemic, cross-cutting threat, silently claiming lives, stressing economies, overwhelming cities, and widening inequalities. Yet it remains one of the least governed climate hazards.

    At a high-level special event on extreme heat risk governance at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, leaders from governments, international agencies, labour unions, academia, and the humanitarian sector came together to discuss how better governance can protect people’s lives from the “silent killer.”

    “Extreme heat is the deadliest of all climate-related hazards,” said the World Meteorological Organization’s Director-General Celeste Saulo. “Yet it remains the least recognized and least managed.”

    The crisis is heating up

    Between 2000 and 2019, extreme heat caused an estimated 489,000 deaths annually. Heat takes its toll on global productivity, with International Labour Organisation estimates showing that in low- and middle-income economies in particular, the costs of injuries from excessive heat in the workplace can reach around 1.5 per cent of national GDP. And these risks are intensifying.

    “This is not just a health crisis. It is an economic, labour and governance crisis,” said Dr. Saulo.

    Despite this, as of 2023 only half of national meteorological services were issuing extreme heat warnings, and just 26 countries had dedicated heat-health early warning systems, WMO reported. 

    Urbanisation is compounding the threat. Cities are warming up twice as fast as the global average, and 68% of the global population projected to live in urban centres by 2050.

    From a reactive to a systemic approach

    Much of the current global approach to heat is reactive: authorities issue warning during events, the respond to spikes, and measure the toll on communities and economies. But the impacts cascade across sectors – disrupting health, labour, agriculture, education, and energy – and this requires a systemic governance response.

    “Heat is a systemic and pervasive risk,” said Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. “It cuts across public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience.”

    The problem is not technical, but a lack of effective plans and policies to implement live-saving measures.

    “Most of the extreme heat impact is predictable,” said IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain. “If something is predictable, it’s preventable.”

    Responses need be rapid, and taken at the level of local communities, using cross-sectoral partnerships.

    Lessons in local leadership

    Examples from several countries demonstrate how integrated governance can work:

    • India first developed a local plan in Ahmedabad and now has 250+ cities and districts with operational heat action plans (HAPs).
    • France, after a devastating heatwave in 2003, launched a multi-ministry effort to integrate adaptation and risk communication. Stakeholders were asked to imagine life under a +4°C scenario, and then develop local and national resilience strategies around this likely reality.
    • The Philippines has developed a real-time “iHeatMap” platform and set up a cross-sectoral national task force to manage health, food, energy, and water impacts during heat events.

    To guide cities in improving heat governance, the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative has developed a resource package on urban extreme heat risk management, which gives practical recommendations to help local and national governments create urban heat strategies.

    “We are learning through lived experience,” said Senator Rosa Galvez of Canada – such as the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, which lasted 27 days and resulted in 618 deaths. “But we must understand that we cannot adapt forever.”

    Protecting the poorest

    “Poor people can’t afford poor design—especially on a heating planet,” said the International Labour Organization’s Mia Seppo.

    To address this imbalance, we need climate-informed finance that protects workers and promotes inclusive infrastructure investment.

    “Financial strategies must align with just transition principles,” Ms. Seppo said. “Climate risk must be integrated into investment decisions.”

    “Any development project should have a heat risk element,” said Dr. Mishra. “Projects should include protection for both users and workers. Construction companies, for instance, must provide heat protection for labourers.”

    Benoît Faraco, France’s Ambassador for Climate Negotiations for Decarbonized Energies and for the Prevention of Climate Risks, said that regulatory levers and standards can drive climate-resilient investment and avoid maladaptive pathways.

    “Standards and regulation play an important role in prevention. You cannot build a hospital or school as if climate change was not happening; it’s your job in the design to integrate mitigation and adaptation strategy,” he said. “If you let the market do things on heatwaves, people run to buy air conditioning systems, and during peak electricity demand this results in more fossil fuel use. It’s misadaptation.”

    A global framework for local action

    To facilitate coordinated approaches to extreme heat, UNDRR, WMO, WHO and the Global Heat Health Information Network are developing a Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance. This initiative aims to align actors across sectors, and to support national and subnational entities in integrating extreme heat into their DRR, climate, health, and urban strategies.

    The Common Framework is designed to support the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat, which outlines eight essential course corrections:

    • Accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.
    • Enhance investments in sustainable, low-carbon energy systems to mitigate heat-related risks.
    • Promote climate-resilient agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant crops and sustainable irrigation.
    • Strengthen food supply chains to withstand heat-induced disruptions.
    • Integrate urban planning with heat mitigation measures, including green infrastructure and shaded areas.
    • Prioritize nature-based solutions that enhance resilience across sectors.
    • Implement national heat action plans, including early warning systems.
    • Establish heat-safe working conditions and policies.

    These actions form the foundation of effective heat governance and call for integrated leadership across all sectors of society, at all levels of government.

    “We must mainstream heat into both climate and disaster governance. We must embrace a multi-hazard approach,” Dr. Saula said. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We need to align, scale and accelerate.”

    Every extreme heat death is preventable

    Closing the special event, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Kamal Kishore said we should aim for zero heat-related deaths next heat season.

    “We have the science. We know what to do. Now we must act – urgently, together, and at all levels,” he said.

    We can start by making schools safer against extreme heat.

    “One of my dreams is that in five years we will have 100,000 heat-resilient schools in all heat-prone areas,” Mr. Kishore said. “It’s not rocket science. We know what it takes to build heat-resilient schools in terms of built environment. We know how to incorporate green spaces and water bodies in schools. We know what kind of awareness children need to have to deal with heat waves.”

    The Common Framework will provide tools to make schools, homes, and workplaces safer from the heat – but political will, coordinated governance, and community-centred approaches will determine whether the world beats the heat or succumbs to it.

    We need to act for heat resilience today. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: From coast to community: Local leaders drive early warning action at UN Ocean Conference

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Nice, France, 9 June 2025 – As climate extremes intensify and sea levels rise, coastal communities are sounding the alarm – not about distant threats, but about dangers already unfolding. At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, a side event titled “From Coast to Community: Building Resilience Through Early Warnings” put the spotlight a critical mission: ensuring that every person on Earth is protected by Early Warnings for All (EW4All) by 2027. Co-hosted by the UN Office for Partnerships, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the event brought together ministers, mayors, scientists, and UN leaders.Their message was clear: early warnings save lives – but only if they are inclusive, trusted, and locally led.

    The call: early warnings must be inclusive, trusted and locally led

    Opening the session, Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships, underscored that nearly half the world still lacks access to basic early warning systems- She emphasized that early warnings are not just about sensors and satellites, – they are about people, institutions, leadership, and action at every level. From coastlines to city halls, from community organizers to data scientists, everyone has a role to play. 

    “Sea levels are rising. Storms are intensifying. Lives and livelihoods are hanging in the balance. And when disaster strikes without warning, the results are brutal. That’s not just a gap – that’s an injustice.” – Annemarie Hou, UN Office for Partnerships

    Jamaica: Reaching people where they are

    H.E. Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s Foreign Minister, shared how the country is integrating smart technologies and community engagement into its early warning systems. With 70% of the population living within five kilometers of the coast, Jamaica has installed flood gauges, hurricane detection systems, and 15 early warning siren towers – covering 95% of the population. 

    “We’ve partnered with mobile networks to deliver real-time alerts and even used TikTok to reach people where they are. Early warnings must be accessible, relatable, and trusted.” – Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jamaica

    Jamaica’s approach is grounded in legislation, with early warnings embedded in both its Disaster Risk Management Act and Climate Change Policy Framework.

    WMO: The physics of urgency

    Prof. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, delivered a sobering message: science is clear, and the window for action is closing. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record highs, and the last decade has been the hottest on record. She emphasized that adaptation and coastal resilience are no longer optional – they are essential. Early warnings are a cornerstone of that resilience, but they must be timely, actionable, and globally supported.

     “We cannot negotiate with the laws of physics. Every fraction of a degree matters. Early warnings work – but only if they work for everyone, everywhere.” – Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO

    UNDRR: Local leadership is not optional – It’s essential

    Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, emphasized that early warnings are central to achieving the Sendai Framework’s goals. He reminded the audience that while 108 countries report having multi-hazard early warning systems, 85 still do not. He outlined three priorities: empower local leadership, bridge science and community knowledge, and embed early warnings into broader systems of resilience. He also called for simplified, accelerated financing to support small island states and vulnerable communities. 

    “If we fail on early warnings, we fail on reducing disaster losses. Local actors are not waiting – they are innovating. They deserve investment and political support.” – Kamal Kishore, UNDRR

    Local leadership in action: Voices from the frontlines

    Moderated by Pulitzer Center journalist Delger Erdenesanaa, the panel showcased how cities and communities are turning global goals into local action: 

    – Thabani Nyawose, Speaker of Council, Durban, South Africa, shared how community-based early warning systems saved lives during the devastating 2022 floods. In Quarry Road informal settlement – home to 1,000 residents – not a single life was lost, thanks to a locally managed alert system linked to the South African Weather Service. 

    – Dr. Jérôme Aucan, Head of PCCOS, described how Pacific Island nations are building resilience through decades of investment in ocean modeling, risk knowledge, and regional cooperation. In Tuvalu, early warning data informed over $50 million in adaptation investments and supported legal advocacy at the International Court of Justice. 

    – Rym Nadia Benzina Bourguiba, President of La Saison Bleue, emphasized the power of inclusive dialogue and South-South cooperation. Her organization has mobilized thousands of students and citizens across Africa and the Mediterranean through education, cleanups, and regional summits. 

    – Patricia Desouza, UN Resident Coordinator in Cabo Verde, described how the UN is helping transform early warnings into daily tools for dignity and security. In Mozambique, early alerts triggered evacuation protocols that protected over 3 million people. In Cabo Verde, early warnings are now embedded in agriculture, water governance, and national policy planning.

    A Call to Action: Urgency, Innovation, and Equity

    Closing the session, Prof. Dwikorita Karnawati, Head of Indonesia’s BMKG, called for harnessing AI, big data, and IoT to make early warnings smarter and more accessible. She emphasized that innovation must be paired with capacity building and local ownership. 

    “We must move from managing disasters to managing risk. Early warnings are the bridge.” – Dwikorita Karnawati, BMKG Indonesia

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada Invests in Landmark Solar Project in Anahim Lake

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 11, 2025       Anahim Lake, British Columbia             Natural Resources Canada

    Today, the Government of Canada is pleased to announce an additional $4.9 million in funding to support the Anahim Lake Solar Project, bringing our total contribution to nearly $17 million. This new solar energy project will provide the Ulkatcho First Nation with access to a clean and renewable source of energy that is cheaper, safer and healthier than diesel power. Located in Anahim Lake, B.C., the project is set to reduce the need for diesel generation in the remote community by about 64 percent — equal to a reduction of 1.1 million litres of diesel a year — making it one of the largest off-grid solar projects in Canada.

    The project also includes the construction of new access roads and paths, together with investments in the control and monitoring of the new facility, fire management and security.

    This is how Canada becomes a clean energy superpower — by working with Indigenous partners, reducing emissions and investing in nation-building infrastructure that delivers economic and environmental results.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney speaks with President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.

    The leaders agreed to advance shared priorities during their respective G7 and G20 presidencies this year, including energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and wildfires. The Prime Minister thanked the President for South Africa’s deployment of firefighters to help combat wildfires in Canada in recent years.

    Prime Minister Carney and President Ramaphosa also agreed to deepen the partnership between Canada and South Africa. They looked forward to meeting at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DelBene Grills Treasury Secretary on Trump’s Government Database

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on reports that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is creating a massive government database with Americans’ sensitive personal information.

    Bessent refused to answer whether he supported the central government database and could not explain how he would protect the financial and tax data of millions of Americans fed into it from abuse or a data breach.

    The video can be found here, and the transcript is below.

    DelBene: Mr. Secretary, do you support the government having a consolidated database containing Americans’ sensitive financial health and personal information?

    Bessent: I support protecting Americans –

    DelBene: Do you support the consolidated database?

    Bessent: I support protecting Americans’ personal –

    DelBene: So, I think it’s very concerning that you’re not able to say, “No.” This is not a partisan question. In fact, just last week, Republican Representative Warren Davidson responded to reports that DOGE is merging huge sets of data from across federal agencies into a centralized repository. He said, “It’s dangerous when you start combining all those data points on an individual into one database. It’s a power that history says will eventually be abused.” While I could not agree more and would also add that this kind of database would be a gold mine for malicious actors who are eager to exploit American sensitive data. Mr. Secretary, Section 6103 sets forth the confidentiality and disclosure rules for tax returns and tax information. Just because DOGE wants to compile people’s sensitive information into one place, doesn’t mean the confidentiality rules go away. Is that correct?

    Bessent: We adhere to 6103.

    DelBene: So, it seems like you know that should be a simple one too. We should absolutely be clear that the confidentiality rules did not go away. In fact, earlier in this hearing, you asserted that the Treasury Department is following, I think you said, the proper provisions within the Privacy Act, all proper provisions within the Privacy Act, and Section 6103. So, my question for you is, how can we be sure that’s happening? I mean, especially knowing that the President illegally fired 18 inspectors general, including Treasury – Acting Treasury IG Sherpa. How do we know? I’m sorry, you’re just – you saying that isn’t good enough. We’re an oversight body. How do we know?

    Bessent: Again, I will say that we are following the law and that –

    DelBene: But we need – that’s not good enough, Mr. Secretary. We should have officials within Treasury coming. We should – this is a statement to my colleagues on the other –

    Bessent: I’m here today –

    DelBene: But you’re not answering how we know that. You’re just saying we are.

    Bessent: What would an acceptable answer be to how do we know?

    DelBene: Let’s bring them, let’s bring people who are building a database. Let’s go through the details of exactly what you are doing with that data. What protections are in place that we should have hearings doing that. In fact, we requested hearings on this from our partners on the other side of the aisle, refused to bring people from DOGE, et cetera into this committee, so we can be sure that consolidated a database –

    Bessent: A judge in the Southern District of New York has ruled that all of our protocols are –

    DelBene: Mr. Secretary. We are a co-equal branch of government. We are the oversight body. I’m answering – I asked that question because it is part of my job not to have you just say it. So let’s look at it. I think because we actually have the authority to get that detail. We are oversight. We are not just here to have you say, don’t worry about it. We are here to get detail. And I want you to be clear that it helps – This is a risk to the American people. This is sensitive personal information. There is no clarity on how this is being protected. Early on in this administration, people are given access to information with no controls. We have not had folks come into hearings. That’s not good enough, Mr. Secretary, and I’m supportive of making sure that we are using technology in smart ways. I’m also very supportive of making sure that we are protecting people’s personal information and we are following the law. 6103 is clear, and there is no and now this consolidation, there’s no approval on how this consolidation takes place. And you can’t even be clear to me that you that you know you’re – about where you stand in terms of making that happening. So I don’t think we’re getting the information.

    Bessent: So, Representative, maybe it did not filter up to you, but we provided a staff-level briefing several weeks ago.

    DelBene: Then let’s bring folks – I want to ask the questions. Frankly, it’s not about whether or not you had a staff-level brief. Let’s bring experts to answer detailed questions in this body, so that we get those answers. You know, I have a technology background. I’m happy to have those detailed conversations of exactly who’s given access, how that access is given, and how we are making sure that information is protected. We absolutely have to make sure that there are no violations there are the right protocols put in place. We have no data to say that. We just have, you’d say, just, trust me, it’s okay. That’s not good enough.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: April–June 2025

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Earth science missions have continued to demonstrate remarkable adaptability and innovation, balancing the legacy of long-standing satellites with the momentum of cutting-edge new technologies. The Terra platform, the first of three Earth Observing System flagship missions, has been in orbit since December 1999. Over a quarter-century later, four of its five instruments continue to deliver valuable data, despite recent power challenges. As of this writing, Terra’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) – Visible–Near Infrared (VNIR) and Thermal Infrared (TIR) bands, Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and one of the two Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy Systems (CERES) instruments onboard, are all still producing science data. For reasons explained below, only the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument has been shut down completely, after 25 years of successful operations. The longevity of the Terra instruments is credited to Terra’s instrument team members, who have skillfully adjusted operations to compensate for the reduction in power and extend Terra’s scientific contributions for as long as possible.
    Terra has been experiencing power-based limitations caused by platform orbital changes and solar array impacts. On November 28, 2024, one of Terra’s power-transmitting shunt units failed. A response team reviewed Terra’s status, and discussed potential impacts and options. Consequently, the team changed the battery charge rate and reduced spacecraft power demands by placing the ASTER instrument into safe mode.
    In order to maintain power margins, the Terra team also moved the MOPITT instrument from science mode into safe mode on February 4, 2025, ceasing data collection. On April 9, 2025, the Terra project determined that additional power was needed for the platform and MOPITT was moved from safe mode and fully turned off, ending the instrument’s carbon monoxide data record of near-global coverage every three days.
    MOPITT was the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) contribution to the Earth Observing System. Launched as part of Terra’s payload in 1999, it became the longest-running air quality monitor in space, and the longest continuously operating Canadian space mission in history. MOPITT’s specific focus was on the distribution, transport, sources, and sinks of carbon monoxide (CO) in the troposphere – see Figure. The spectrometer’s marquee Earthdata products have included MOPITT Near Real-Time Datasets and offerings from the MOPITT Science Investigator-led Processing System (MOPITT SIPS). From tracking pollution from wildfires to providing data that informs international climate agreements, MOPITT served as a powerful tool for gathering data about pollution in the lowest portion of Earth’s atmosphere, informing research, policies, and even helping to advance forecasting models used by scientists worldwide. Congratulations to the MOPITT team for more than 25 years of groundbreaking science and international collaboration!

    As chance would have it, the MOPITT Team had planned a 25th anniversary celebration in April, 10–11, 2025, at CSA headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec and online – which began one day after the instrument was shut down. The celebration was a fitting closeout to the MOPITT mission and a celebration of its accomplishments. Over the two days, more than 45 speakers shared memories and presented findings from MOPITT’s quarter-century record of atmospheric carbon monoxide monitoring. Its data showed a global decline in carbon monoxide emissions over two decades and could also track the atmospheric transport of the gas from fires and industry from individual regions. MOPITT is a testament to remarkable international collaboration and achievement. As it is officially decommissioned, its data record will continue to drive research for years to come.
    The Director General of the Canadian Space Agency—a key MOPITT partner—delivered remarks, and both Ken Jucks [NASA HQ— Program Manager for the Upper Atmosphere Research Program (UARP)] and Helen Worden [National Center for Atmospheric Research— MOPITT U.S. Principal Investigator] attended representing the U.S.
    More information is available in a recently-released Terra blog post and on the Canadian Space Agency MOPITT website.
    After continued investigation and monitoring of platform battery status, the Terra Flight Operations Team (FOT) determined there was sufficient power to resume imaging with ASTER’s VNIR bands, and as a result, ASTER once again began collecting VNIR data on January 17, 2025. Subsequently, ASTER resumed acquisitions for the TIR bands on April 15, 2025. (The ASTER Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) bands have been shut down since 2008).
    As one long-serving mission sunsets its operations, new missions are stepping in to carry forward the legacy of Earth system science with fresh capabilities and approaches. Launched on May 25, 2023, the NASA Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission provides a groundbreaking approach to studying tropical cyclones using a passive microwave sounder CubeSat constellation. TROPICS uses multiple small satellites flying in a carefully engineered formation to measure precipitation structure as well as temperature and humidity profiles both within and outside of storms.
    Unlike traditional polar-orbiting satellites, TROPICS’ low-inclination orbits allow for hourly revisits over tropical regions, enabling scientists to better monitor storm structure, intensity changes, and key processes like upper-level warm core formation and convective bursts.
    The mission has already significantly contributed to operational forecasting and scientific research. With over 10 billion observations to date, TROPICS data have been used to validate storm models, support early-warning systems, and improve forecasts for events like Hurricane Franklin and Typhoon Kong-rey. Collaborations with agencies like the National Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center have shown the value of TROPICS channels, particularly the 204.8 GHz channel, in identifying storm structure and intensity. The data are publicly available through the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), and TROPICS continues to set the stage for the next generation of rapid-revisit Earth observation missions. To read more about the last two years of successful science operations with TROPICS, see NASA’s TROPICS Mission: Offering Detailed Images and Analysis of Tropical Cyclones.
    While some missions focus on monitoring atmospheric processes, others are expanding the frontiers of Earth observation in entirely different domains—ranging from seafloor mapping to land surface monitoring and beyond. NASA’s Ice, Clouds, and land Elevation Satellite–2 (ICESat-2) mission continues to provide critical data on Earth’s changing ice sheets, glaciers, and other environmental features. In March 2025, the satellite achieved a significant milestone by firing its two trillionth laser pulse, measuring clouds off the coast of East Antarctica. Despite challenges, such as a solar storm in May 2024 that temporarily disrupted operations, the mission has resumed full functionality, providing high-resolution data that has enabled scientists to map over 16 years of ice sheet changes. The mission’s advanced laser altimeter system, ATLAS, continues to deliver unprecedented detail in monitoring Earth’s changing ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and ocean floor.
    The ICESat-2 Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) workshop, held on March 17, 2025, in conjunction with the US-Hydro meeting, brought together experts and stakeholders from government, academia, and industry to explore the current capabilities and future potential of satellite-based seafloor mapping. With over 2000 journal articles referencing ICESat-2 in the context of bathymetry, the workshop underscored the growing importance of this technology in coastal management, navigation, habitat monitoring, and disaster response. For more details, see the ICESat-2 Applications Team Hosts Satellite Bathymetry Workshop report.
    As satellite technologies continue to evolve, so do the scientific communities that rely on them, bringing researchers together to share insights, refine data products, and explore new applications across a range of Earth and atmospheric science disciplines. As of early 2025, NASA’s Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) continues to provide critical insights into Earth’s atmospheric composition. In addition to scientific advancements, SAGE III/ISS has enhanced public accessibility to its data. In February 2025, the mission launched updates to its Quicklook and Expedited data portal, introducing a new ‘Highlights’ tab to showcase major stratospheric events and a ‘Comparisons’ tab for validating measurements with ground-based stations. These enhancements aim to make SAGE III/ISS data more accessible and increase its utilization for atmospheric research.
    The most recent SAGE III/ISS Science Team Meeting took place in October 2024 at NASA Langley Research Center and was held in hybrid format. Around 50 scientists gathered to discuss recent advancements, mission updates, and future directions in upper troposphere–stratosphere (UTS) research. The SAGE III/ISS team celebrated eight years of continuous data collection aboard the ISS and presented Version 6.0 of SAGE III/ISS data products during the meeting, which addresses previous data biases and enhances aerosol profile recovery. Presentations also covered aerosol and cloud studies, lunar-based aerosol retrievals, and collaborative projects using data from multiple satellite platforms and instruments. To learn more, see the full Summary of the 2024 SAGE III/ISS Meeting.
    Moving on to personnel announcements, I wish to extend my condolences to the friends and family of Dr. Stanley Sander, who passed away in March 2025. Sander devoted over 50 years to atmospheric science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, making groundbreaking contributions to stratospheric ozone research, air pollution, and climate science. His precise laboratory work on reaction kinetics and spectroscopy became foundational for atmospheric modeling and environmental policy, including the Montreal Protocol. Sander also played a key role in satellite calibration, mentored dozens of young scientists, and held several leadership positions at JPL. Remembered for his brilliance, humility, and kindness, his legacy endures through both his scientific achievements and the many lives he influenced. See In Memoriam: Dr. Stanley Sander.
    On a happier, though bittersweet, note, my congratulations to Jack Kaye [NASA HQ—Associate Director for Research, Earth Science Division (ESD)] who retired from NASA on April 30, 2025, after 42 years of distinguished service. With a background in chemistry and atmospheric science, he played a leading role in NASA’s efforts to understand Earth’s atmosphere and climate using satellite data and modeling. Throughout his career, Kaye has held various key leadership positions, managed major missions, e.g., the series of Shuttle-based Atmospheric Laboratory of Applications and Science (ATLAS) experiments, and supported the development of early-career scientists. He also represented NASA in national and international science collaborations and advisory roles. Kaye received numerous awards, published extensively, and was widely recognized for his contributions to Earth science and global climate research. I extend my sincere thanks to Jack for his many years of vital leadership and lasting contributions to the global Earth science community!
    Barry Lefer [NASA HQ—Tropospheric Composition Program Manager] has taken over as Acting Associate Director for Research in ESD. Reflecting on Kaye’s impact, Lefer said, “Jack has been a wonderful friend and mentor. The one thing about Jack that has had the biggest impact on me (besides his incredible memory) is his kindness. He has an enormous heart. He will be missed, but his impact on Earth Science will endure for a very long time!” See the full announcement, Jack Kaye Retires After a Storied Career at NASA.
    Steve PlatnickEOS Senior Project Scientist

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuning a NASA Instrument: Calibrating MASTER

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley houses a unique laboratory: the Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF). The engineers at the ASF are responsible for building, maintaining, and operating numerous instruments that get deployed on research aircraft, but one of their most important roles is instrument calibration.
    Think of calibration like tuning a piano between performances: A musician uses a tuner to set the standard pitch for each string, ensuring that the piano remains on pitch for every concert.
    The “tuners” at ASF include lasers, mirrors, and a light source called an integrating sphere – a hollow sphere about 36 inches in diameter that emits a set amount of light from a hole in the top. By checking an instrument against this baseline between each mission, engineers ensure that the instrument sensors provide accurate, reliable data every time.
    In the photo above, electrical engineer Nikolas Gibson performs calibration tests on the MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) spectrometer, co-developed by NASA Ames and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
    A spectrometer separates light into individual wavelengths, providing researchers with information about the properties of whatever is creating or interacting with that light. The MASTER instrument measures about 50 individual spectral channels, providing data on wavelengths from the visible spectrum through the infrared.
    When it comes to calibration, each of these channels functions like a specific key on a piano and needs to be individually checked against the “tuner.” By pointing the instrument’s sensor at a known quantity of light coming from the integrating sphere, the team checks the accuracy of MASTER’s data output and repairs or adjusts the sensor as needed.
    In this image, MASTER had returned from an April 2025 scientific campaign observing  prescribed fires in Alabama and Georgia with NASA’s FireSense project. It was recalibrated before heading back into the field for the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment, or GEMx,  mission in late May 2025, which will use the instrument to help map critical minerals across the southwestern United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant Approved for Marie Fire

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant Approved for Marie Fire

    FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant Approved for Marie Fire

    OAKLAND, Calif

     – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 9 Administrator authorized the use of federal funds to assist the State of Nevada in combating the Marie Fire burning in Washoe County

    On June 10, the State of Nevada submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration for the Marie Fire

     At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 500+ homes in and around Sun Valley and Spanish Spring

    Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 2,000 people

    The fire started on June 10 and has burned more than 70 acres

     FMAGs provide federal funding for up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs

     The Disaster Relief Fund provides allowances for FMAGs through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to become major incidents

    Eligible costs covered by FMAGs can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization, and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire

    For more information on FMAGs, visit fema

    gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance

    eileen

    chao
    Wed, 06/11/2025 – 15:48

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Berrien County Residents Invited to Review Flood Maps

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Berrien County Residents Invited to Review Flood Maps

    Berrien County Residents Invited to Review Flood Maps

    CHICAGO –Preliminary flood risk information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review by residents and business owners in Berrien County, Michigan

    Property owners are encouraged to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements

    Community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the 90-day appeal and comment period

    The 90-day appeal period began on June 6, 2025

    The preliminary maps and changes from current maps may be viewed online at the FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer: http://msc

    fema

    gov/fmcv

     The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials

    Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments

    Contact your local floodplain administrator to do so

     Appeals must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim

    Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress

    If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information, such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary, they can submit a written comment

     The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals

    Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps

    For more information about the flood maps: Use a live chat service about flood maps at go

    usa

    gov/r6C (just click on the “Live Chat” icon during operating hours)

    Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone toll-free at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema

    dhs

    gov

       Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding

    Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent and visiting www

    FloodSmart

    gov

     For more information, contact the FEMA Mapping Team at FEMA-R5-MAP@fema

    dhs

    gov

    kimberly

    keblish
    Wed, 06/11/2025 – 15:12

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Severe Weather Season, King and Colleagues Call on White House to Nominate an Experienced FEMA Administrator

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Maine facing a severe weather season, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joined his colleagues calling on the White House to nominate an experienced Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator. In a letter to President Donald Trump, King and his colleagues expressed serious concern about the ongoing absence of a Senate-confirmed FEMA Administrator and steps his administration has taken to weaken and destabilize the agency, including the abrupt termination last month of Cameron Hamilton, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator.  
    To date, President Trump has failed to nominate an Administrator or appoint someone who satisfies the qualifications specified for the role. David Richardson — Mr. Hamilton’s replacement as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator — told agency staff last week that he did not know the United States has a hurricane season.
    “In recent months, your administration has reduced FEMA staff by roughly 30%, rescinded grant funding local communities rely on to recover from disasters and significantly scaled back emergency management training for state officials,” wrote the Senators. “Taken together, these actions have impeded ongoing recovery efforts and undermined the national response to future natural disasters.” 
    “We agree that FEMA can do better and needs reform. But dismantling the agency and weakening its leadership will only leave states and localities stranded when disaster strikes. To preserve the long-term integrity of FEMA and ensure our nation’s preparedness for future disasters, we urge you to nominate a qualified Administrator that will restore confidence in the agency as soon as possible,” the Senators concluded. 
    In addition to Senator King, the letter was cosigned by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). 
    The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 
    +++
    Dear President Trump,
    As peak disaster season approaches, we write with serious concern about the ongoing absence of a Senate-confirmed FEMA Administrator and steps your administration has taken to weaken and destabilize the agency.
    To date, you have failed to nominate an Administrator or, in the absence of such an official, appoint someone who satisfies the qualifications specified for that role in statute. The abrupt termination of Cameron Hamilton as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator last month injected further instability into an agency already struggling to navigate mass reductions in force.
    Mr. Hamilton’s termination came just one day after his appearance in front of the House Appropriations Committee, at which he testified, “I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
    We share Mr. Hamilton’s concerns. In recent months, your administration has reduced FEMA staff by roughly 30 percent, rescinded grant funding local communities rely on to recover from disasters, and significantly scaled back emergency management training for state officials. Taken together, these actions have impeded ongoing recovery efforts and undermined the national response to future natural disasters.
    Mr. Hamilton’s departure leaves a vacuum of leadership at FEMA. David Richardson — Mr. Hamilton’s replacement as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator— told agency staff last week that he did not know the United States has a hurricane season. Mr. Richardson will head the federal response to any hurricanes that hit our shores this season.
    We agree that FEMA can do better and needs reform. But dismantling the agency and weakening its leadership will only leave states and localities stranded when disaster strikes.
    To preserve the long-term integrity of FEMA and ensure our nation’s preparedness for future disasters, we urge you to nominate a qualified Administrator that will restore confidence in the agency as soon as possible.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Call Out Trump Admin Attacks on USGS, American Science

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    $564 million in proposed budget cuts to USGS will undermine science that helps fight avian flu, monitor droughts, track wildfires
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined 17 of their Senate colleagues to call out the Trump administration’s assault on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the agency’s key science programs. In their letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the senators warned that the President’s proposal to cut $564 million in USGS funding – along with plans to lay off hundreds of scientists and potentially close research centers nationwide – would jeopardize public safety and undermine crucial scientific research.
    “The proposed budget cuts are not about ‘efficiency’ – they represent a retreat from federal responsibility and a dismantling of the scientific infrastructure that communities, industries, and governments depend on every day,” wrote the senators. “These proposed budget cuts could mean abandoning research and monitoring that helps farmers guard against wildlife diseases like avian flu, delaying when real-time water and hazard data is provided for disaster response, and ending collaborations that monitor invasive species, harmful algal blooms and wildfire risks.”
    The USGS is a key science agency that monitors and analyzes the nation’s resources, including water, natural hazards, and energy. USGS’s scientific expertise and robust data collection efforts support protecting the public, safeguarding our environment, and strengthening our economy.
    The President’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposes a $564 million cut to USGS’s budget.
    Hickenlooper and Bennet previously raised alarm about initial reports that the Trump admin planned to terminate 17 leases for federal facilities in Colorado that support state wildlife efforts.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Dear Secretary Burgum,
    We write to express concern over recent and proposed actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and broader administrative decisions that together threaten the integrity and continuity of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Specifically, the potential termination of General Services Administration (GSA) leases supporting USGS centers across the country— alongside USGS’s proposed FY2026 budget cut of $564 million and the reported planned terminations of hundreds of scientists—represents a multi-front assault on the nation’s scientific infrastructure.
    The USGS is a premier science agency with a critical role in monitoring and analyzing the nation’s resources, including water, ecosystems, natural hazards, minerals, and energy. Its scientific expertise and robust data collection efforts support public safety, environmental stewardship, and national economic resilience. USGS’s work underpins the ability of federal, state, and local governments, Tribal nations, industry, and communities to make informed decisions—particularly in areas such as disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, water resource management, and ecosystem protection.
    The proposed budget cuts are not about “efficiency”— they represent a retreat from federal responsibility and a dismantling of the scientific infrastructure that communities, industries, and governments depend on every day. USGS supports work that directly protects public health, strengthens our economy, and informs disaster preparedness and response. These proposed budget cuts could mean abandoning research and monitoring that helps farmers guard against wildlife diseases like avian flu, delaying when real-time water and hazard data is provided for disaster response, and ending collaborations that monitor invasive species, harmful algal blooms and wildfire risks. While these impacts are not yet certain, they represent serious risks for communities, Tribes, state and local governments, and natural resource managers who depend on USGS science to make informed, often life-saving decisions. As demonstrated throughout its nearly 150 years of existence, USGS science is not optional; it is essential.
    The potential termination of USGS leases, many of which house Water Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, and Ecosystems Research Centers, threatens regional scientific capacity at a time when local expertise and place-based science are most needed. These facilities provide critical support to states, local communities, and Tribal Nations as they confront unprecedented drought, wildfires, habitat loss, and other climate-related disruptions. Reliable Page 2 scientific information is essential to both our national economy and the safety of communities across the country.
    While DOGE’s actions are framed as efficiency measures, the potential impact of terminating these leases – without transparent criteria or coordination – as well as slashing $564 million from the budget and crippling of the scientific workforce raises serious questions about continuity of operations. If implemented, these changes to USGS would directly impair the federal government’s ability to assess and respond to threats in real time.
    Given this uncertainty and the far-reaching implications of these actions, we request immediate clarity on the following by June 19, 2025:
    1. What is the current status of all USGS leases and what facilities are at risk of lease termination?
    2. What criteria were used to select these leases for potential termination, and how was USGS consulted in this process?
    3. What plans are in place to ensure uninterrupted mission support—particularly for key activities under the Water Resources, Natural Hazards, and Ecosystems Mission Areas— if these facilities are closed?
    4. Where will affected employees be relocated, and how will critical field and lab operations be maintained in the interim?
    5. How will USGS ensure that existing commitments to state and local governments, tribal partners, and other stakeholders are honored, particularly for time-sensitive water data and hazard alerts?
    6. What USGS staff positions are on the list for termination (please include title and location)? When will the terminations be implemented?
    7. Do any of the USGS employees on the list for termination have salaries funded by reimbursable contracts with external partners? If so, how many such employees are affected, and what is the amount of federal savings that would be generated from their termination?
    8. Given the planned reduction in force, how will existing staff fill the gaps in order to fulfill the USGS mission?
    9. What programs will be eliminated by the $564 million proposed budget cut?
    The scientific integrity, public safety responsibilities, and operational continuity of the USGS must not be compromised by administrative actions taken without proper oversight or consultation. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DSD implements flood prevention measures to cope with Tropical Storm Wutip (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DSD implements flood prevention measures to cope with Tropical Storm Wutip  
    Mr Mok and the senior management team inspected several locations respectively, including the modular pumping system at Chai Wan Road roundabout, the installation of demountable flood barriers at Heng Fa Chuen, the divider holds at Lung Cheung Road carriageway in Wong Tai Sin, manhole covers, and the Pilot Scheme on Wading Line System. He also inspected the powerful pumping robots, Mobile Powerful Pumping Robot and Amphibious Pumping Robot, to ensure their readiness for operation.
     
    As the Tropical Storm Wutip came within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) initiated early preparation for low-lying or exposed coastal areas, such as Tai O and Lei Yue Mun. The measures include inspecting drainage channels, installing demountable flood barriers, setting up temporary water pumps, providing and placing sandbags, and constructing temporary pedestrian walkways. The DSD will maintain close liaison with the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and closely monitor the flooding situation.
     
    Earlier in March this year, the DSD conducted a drill in full spectrum before the rainy season and further enhanced the response capacity of the Emergency Control Centre (ECC). During extreme weather, the number of emergency response teams will increase from 160 last year to approximately 180, with over 30 emergency operation stations in Hong Kong, to conduct inspections and clearance of drainage channels across the territory. The DSD will continue to implement the “just-in-time clearance” measures, deploying staff immediately upon receiving rainstorm warnings from the HKO to inspect and clear 240 drainage points in Hong Kong which are prone to blockages.
     
    When the HKO issues a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal, a special announcement on Flooding in the northern New Territories, the Pre-No. 8 Special Announcement or Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above, the DSD’s ECC will come into operation immediately to handle and coordinate emergency flooding incidents in Hong Kong.
     
    The DSD reminds members of the public to complete precautionary measures for coping with typhoon and flooding as soon as possible, keep the drains clear at all times and avoid blockage of drainage intakes. In the event of serious flooding, they should evacuate immediately. The DSD urges the public to immediately call the 24-hour Drainage Hotline at 2300 1110 in case of flooding.
    Issued at HKT 0:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Case Opposed Proposed Funding Bill That Shortchanges Critical Military Infrastructure Needs In Hawaii, The Indo-Pacific and NATO

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, early this morning voted against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations funding measure.

    The measure (MILCON-VA) would fund worldwide military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation’s some 19 million veterans, including some 112,000 throughout Hawai‘i, and their families.

    The bill is the first of twelve separate bills developed by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year.

    “While the measure does have positive provisions including funding for essential veterans programs, I regrettably had to vote against it because it kicks critical military infrastructure projects down the road yet again, pursues the Project 2025 goal of privatizing VA medical care, shortchanges dedicated funding for Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup, eliminates climate resiliency efforts and excludes important VA infrastructure funding,” said Case, who is in his seventh year on Appropriations and previously served on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs for four years. He currently serves on its Subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security. 

    Case spoke to his Appropriations Committee colleagues on the serious deficiencies in the bill that fail to address critical military infrastructure needs throughout the Indo-Pacific (speech here). He stated that only one milcon project is located in the Indo-Pacific despite critical needs in meeting the challenge of the People’s Republic of China. The bill also fails to provide funding for infrastructure in Europe to support U.S. servicemembers working to bolster NATO and deter Russia.

    Case further said that the funding measure specifically advances the privatization of veterans health care by proposing vastly larger increases for medical care provided in private sector compared to shorfunding the government’s VA healthcare system, a key goal of the Project 2025 plan being followed by the Trump administration. By vast margins, veterans oppose privatizing the VA and want to receive their medical care at VA clinics and hospitals with a direct mission to care for veterans and their families as opposed to the private sector.

    Despite these and other significant problems with the bill, Case highlighted positive provisions he requested, including fully funding the budget request for veterans’ medical care at $131.4 billion and for veterans’ toxic exposures-related needs under the PACT Act.

    It also includes $1.3 billion for specific care for women veterans, and supports the Office of Women’s Health, including its childcare initiative. These funds will allow the VA to continue hiring women primary care providers and to increase the number of peer support specialists for women veterans. These efforts have become even more critical as the number of female veterans using VA health care services has increased.  

    “Women veterans often require specialized care due to unique health needs stemming from their military service and gender,” said Case. “With sustained support from my Committee over multiple years, Congress is working to ensure the VA set the standard for women veterans care, ensuring consistent, high-quality services across all facilities.” 

    The measure also continues support as Case requested for the VA Center for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and United States-affiliated Pacific Islander (NHPIUSAPI) Veterans. The center’s doctors and scientists coordinate research from all over the Pacific Islands and the United States to specifically address veterans’ healthcare in the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific. The center works with the University of Hawai‘i, and the bill encourages the VA to continue partnering with universities in the Pacific region focusing on issues unique to the NHPIUSAPI community. 

    Further details follow: 

    Veterans-Related Programs 

    The bill provides $133.7 billion in discretionary spending for veterans-related programs, an increase of $4.7 billion above the FY 2025 enacted level 

    “Our Hawai‘i veterans and their families make up one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation including in such key areas like women and minority veterans. I continued to focus especially on the often unique challenges of delivering full veterans’ health and other benefits in a diverse island state,” said Case.

    Specific veterans-related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:

    ·        $12 million for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which is $6 million above the FY 2025 level. 

    ·        Contracting preferences for Native Hawaiian owned business that work with the VA. 

    ·        Directing the VA to continue supporting the VA Center for NHPIUSAPI Veterans.

    ·         $1.5 million for a pilot project using the most advanced technology to identify the remains of unidentified fallen servicemembers buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.  

    ·        Directing the VA to develop a plan for more fully providing VA benefits for veterans living in the Freely Associated States. 

    ·         $106 million for the American Battle Monument Commission, which manages the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

    ·        $60 million for the VA Grants for the Construction of Veterans Cemeteries Program, which regularly provides fundings to support Hawaii’s state cemeteries. 

    ·        $233 million for substance-use disorder (SUD) efforts to ensure veterans can receive timely SUD specialty services. 

    ·        $3.4 billion for the Veterans’ Homelessness Program Resources Account for our nation’s veterans. This funding will enhance homeless veterans service providers ability to provide high demand care such as health services, substance use disorder programs, compensated work therapy and other supportive services.   

    ·        $342 million for Rural Health Initiatives, $5 million above FY 2025 level. This will improve access and quality of care for the more than 3 million enrolled veterans residing in highly rural areas.  

    Military Construction 

    The bill provides $453.6 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, $480 million above the FY 2025 enacted level.  

    Specific military construction programs and provisions requested and secured by Case critical to Hawai‘i include:  

    ·          $634 million for the Energy Resiliency and Conservation Investment Program, which funds projects that save energy and water, reduce DoD energy costs and improve energy resilience. 

    ·         Directing the DoD to identify the Army’s investment needs in order to support the wildland firefighters located on Schofield Barracks.   

    ·         Directing the DoD to provide a report on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam infrastructure development plan, to address ongoing concerns of the aging water and wastewater facilities on the installation. 

    ·          Directing the DoD to assess the aging infrastructure that houses the headquarters of the Marine Corps, Space Force and Special Operations Commands on O‘ahu. 

    ·         Directing the DoD to assess the requirement for a floating drydock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

    ·         Directing the DoD to assess the capacity for battle damage repair of all public shipyards and how to prepare these shipyards for conflict requirements under the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). SIOP is a multi-billion multi-year effort to upgrade the Navy’s four public shipyards, including Pearl Harbor. 

    ·         Directing the DoD to assess the infrastructure needs and shortfalls for 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment on Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i.  

    ·         Directing the DoD to study the impacts of unexploded ordnance on military construction sites in Guam. 

    ·         Directing the DoD to study the necessary steps and what actions would be required to begin construction on port improvements on Tinian Island. 

    ·         Directing the DoD to study the necessity and feasibility of establishing a biosecurity inspection facility to combat invasive species on the Northern Mariana Islands. 

    ·         Directing the DoD to study the impact and develop a plan to address growing solid waste management issues on Tinian Island.  

    The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.  

    A summary of the VA-MilCon funding bill is available here. The committee report explaining the full bill in detail is available here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: E-bikes are becoming e-waste – here’s how to reduce the environmental cost

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yvonne Ryan, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, University of Limerick

    Electric e-bikes make cycling easier, faster and more accessible. They are already playing an important role in reducing the environmental impact of transport, particularly when they replace a trip in a private car.

    But when you scrap an e-bike, you also have to scrap its battery. And these batteries can be particularly dangerous and tricky to dispose of. This means the growth of e-bikes is leading to at least one related environmental problem: a rise in electronic or e-waste.

    The sector needs stronger regulations to encourage it to cut its waste. This includes encouraging bikes to be designed to be easier to repair or recycle, and establishing universal standards that allow parts to work across different brands and models, so components can be reused instead of thrown away.

    However, e-bikes often fall between legislative cracks, and their exclusion from the priority products under the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, introduced in 2024, was unfortunate.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    At the University of Limerick in Ireland, colleagues and I have been researching the environmental impact of e-bikes. We’re interested in their full lifecycle, from metals in rocks to extraction, manufacturing, years of use and eventual disposal – to see if there are ways to reduce the materials they use.

    We interviewed retailers and people who work in waste management. They expressed concerns about online sales of lower-quality e-bikes with easily broken components, as well as the high turnover rates of e-bikes.

    E-bike rental services like this one in Dublin, Ireland are growing fast.
    Brendain Donnelly / shutterstock

    Using data from the fleet of e-bikes loaned out at our university, we noted issues with design and compatibility of components. Bike tyres, for instance, have become increasingly non-standard and specialised.

    Additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing, may become more important for bike retailers and repairers, who could use it to “print” themselves replacements nuts, screws or even seats. This may be particularly needed in island states such as Ireland, where there are often delays in sourcing parts.

    But first, the e-bikes must be of sufficient quality to be repaired. Then, to create the replacement parts, people will need to access the necessary data – digital files with precise designs of objects such as a bicycle tyre or handlebar.

    Keeping e-bikes in use

    New business models are emerging. Some companies are lending e-bikes to their employees, with a management company taking care of maintenance and repair.

    There are also a growing number of mobile e-bike repair services, and specialist training for e-bike repair and retail through manufacturer platforms like Bosch and Shimano.

    E-bike brands are shifting from a focus on selling bikes towards offering ongoing services. For example, e-bike retailer Cowboy offers a subscription to mobile bike mechanics, and VanMoof partners with authorised repair services. But while these models work well in big towns and cities, they may not be suitable for rural and smaller urban areas.

    Care needs to be taken to ensure that consumers are not disadvantaged or locked out from repair options. In the US, e-bike manufacturers have been requesting exceptions to laws designed to make products easier to repair – while urging that the public should not be allowed to access data needed to make repairs.

    E-bikes can be hard to spot

    On the waste handling side, some of the innovations that have made e-bikes more accessible are also creating new problems.

    For example, e-bikes have evolved to be sleeker and sometimes indistinguishable from regular bikes. This makes it easier for them to end up in regular waste management facilities that aren’t equipped for electronic waste. If a lithium-ion battery inside an e-bike still holds charge and gets crushed or shredded, it can start a fire.

    But this is a problem we can solve. Computer vision and other AI technologies could help to recognise e-bikes and batteries at waste management facilities. QR codes on bike frames could be used to provide information on the entire product lifecycle, including repair manuals and service history – just like the EU’s proposed product passports.

    Consumer awareness, choice and education are key. While it’s up to consumers to initiate the maintenance and repair of e-bikes, policymakers need to ensure these options are available and affordable, and that consumers are aware of them.

    Retailers need support to embed “repair and reuse” in their business models. This includes cycle-to-work schemes for people to buy e-bikes, as well as better access to insurance and legal protections for selling refurbished e-bikes, and a workforce with the skills to repair these bikes.

    Across the world, bike libraries and “try before you buy” schemes are helping consumers make better decisions, as people can test an e-bike before committing. Moving away from traditional ownership – especially for expensive e-bikes – could make active mobility more accessible.

    Policies that drive sales, such as grants and incentives for new bike purchases, can work against efforts to reduce waste. We need more policies that support refurbished and repaired e-bikes.

    The e-bike sector is one with great potential to improve both environmental and public health. But to realise these benefits, we need to focus on making them last longer and use less resources.

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

    – ref. E-bikes are becoming e-waste – here’s how to reduce the environmental cost – https://theconversation.com/e-bikes-are-becoming-e-waste-heres-how-to-reduce-the-environmental-cost-258367

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Torres Slams HUD Budget for Abandoning Disaster Survivors and Slashing Housing Aid for Families, Veterans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    June 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — At today’s House Appropriations THUD Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) pressed HUD Secretary Turner over the Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which slashes the agency’s funding by more than 50%—gutting disaster recovery, housing assistance, and HUD’s workforce amid a worsening national housing crisis.

    “California sends $83 billion more to the federal government than we get back—yet it’s our veterans, working families, and seniors being asked to sacrifice. Who exactly do you think deserves to lose their housing, Mr. Secretary,” said Torres. “After historic floods and wildfires, HUD is walking away from the communities that need help most. Zero dollars for disaster recovery is not just neglect—it’s reckless. This budget fails the very people HUD was created to serve.”

    The proposed FY26 HUD budget includes:

    • $0 for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and disaster recovery aid
    • A 44% cut to homelessness and affordable housing programs
    • A 51% cut to HUD’s overall budget
    • Layoffs for more than 2,000 HUD employees under the Elon Musk-backed “DOGE” task force

    Torres warned these cuts will increase homelessness, delay recovery efforts, and strip communities of critical housing support. She also blasted the Administration’s shift toward a state-administered rental assistance model, calling it a “federal cop-out” that dumps responsibility onto under-resourced local governments.

    As the author of the Thriving Communities Act and a longtime champion for housing justice, Torres has fought to expand affordable housing near transit, reduce pollution, and deliver investments to high-need communities. In fiscal year 2023, she secured $100 million for the Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities initiative and $5 million for HUD to coordinate planning and housing development.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amata Honors 250 Years of the U.S. Army  

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

    Headline: Amata Honors 250 Years of the U.S. Army  

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is honoring the U.S. Army’s historic 250th birthday, which marks the founding of the U.S. Army on June 14, 1775. 

    Army Captain Peter Tali Coleman 

    In the nation’s capital, the historic occasion is set to be marked with a major celebration, beginning with a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by an all-day festival and a parade with numerous military vehicles and military aircraft in the skies, the Army Golden Knights paratroopers, and closing with a fireworks display at nightfall. 

    “This year, on 14 June, the United States celebrates 250 years of continuous service by the U.S. Army. Happy birthday to the U.S. Army and all our soldiers, past and present, along with our heartfelt thanks to each one,” said Congresswoman Amata.

    The distinguished history of the U.S. Army began in 1775, with the volunteers of the first continental army encamped around British-held Boston, when the Continental Congress gave George Washington of Virginia the historic responsibility of being the first commanding General. The U.S. Army today is composed of hundreds of thousands of personnel, over 900,000 in uniform with the support of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard. 

    “In American Samoa, we are proud of our Toa o Samoa, as our people have built a tremendous record of military service,” Amata continued. “Congratulations to each one of our own serving in the Army, Army Reserve, and our Army Veterans, because this day is about you and your fellow soldiers over the last two and half centuries.”

    “I know this day will remind many of us in military families of a soldier far away, a Veteran, or a beloved memory, as I have of my father. He served during the Pearl Harbor attack as an Army officer in Oahu, in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, and is the only Samoan inducted into the Army Infantry Hall of Fame,” she continued. “I wish I could name and honor each soldier from American Samoa. My Chief of Staff, Leafaina Tavai, is historic as the first ever student from American Samoa to go to West Point, and after her retirement as a Colonel, she was inducted into the Army Ordnance Hall of Fame.”

    “We will always need a strong, fully equipped, highly trained, and well supported U.S. Army, in times of peace or war, to protect our freedom and national security,” Amata concluded. “May God bless all our military, our Veterans, and the families who support them.”

    END

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: National Weather Service Reverses Cuts after Harder’s Outcry

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

    Sacramento, Hanford stations were targeted for reduction of operations

    Loss of 24/7 service would be catastrophic for disaster weather response

    WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced that the National Weather Service (NWS) is implementing emergency hiring plans to keep two Valley weather stations open in response to Harder’s advocacy. The Sacramento and Hanford stations were poised to lose 24/7 service because of staffing cuts which would have been catastrophic for emergency response to floods, wildfires, and severe storms. On Friday, Rep. Harder demanded the National Weather Service reverse its cuts and keep the only two Valley stations fully staffed.  

    NWS service crisis by the numbers:

    • DOGE terminated 500 NWS employees, representing a 12% reduction in force.
    • Sacramento has 7 vacancies out of 16 meteorologist positions, and Hanford has 8 vacancies across 13 positions – leaving the Valley half-staffed amid peak wildfire season.
    • Decreased service capacity leaves California water managers without critical forecasts needed to make life-or-death water supply decisions.

    “Ending 24/7 service operations that keep our families safe from floods and fires makes absolutely no sense – that’s why I called on NWS to immediately reverse these plans,” said Rep. Harder. “Today’s announcement is a step back towards sanity, but Valley communities need more than a temporary fix. I’m going to keep fighting to get these vacancies filled permanently, and I won’t rest until Valley families can rest assured that the federal government is actually at work keeping them safe.”

    In his letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Harder urged Washington to:

    • Reinstate all terminated workers at the Sacramento and Hanford offices.
    • Ensure that the Sacramento and Hanford weather forecast offices are adequately staffed to maintain 24/7 operations.

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: SPSA Fire Ban Revised to Area Between Provincial Forest and Churchill River

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 11, 2025

    The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has revised the provincial fire ban, which came into effect at 5 p.m. on June 10, 2025. The ban now encompasses a smaller area of the province – the area north of the provincial forest boundary, up to the Churchill River. This is the area that was previously covered under the initial fire ban announced on May 8, 2025.

    The fire ban continues to prohibit the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs), any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the designated boundary. This includes provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District within the boundary.

    “Although we have seen improved fire conditions in the far north, it is still critical that residents take every precaution to prevent wildfires,” SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts said. “The SPSA strongly encourages all residents to do their part to prevent fire starts and for all municipalities to examine the fire risk in their area.”

    The SPSA encourages all other municipalities, rural municipalities and communities to examine fire risks in their area and to consider implementing consistent fire bans to prevent unwanted human-caused wildfires. 

    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 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 USA: U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) Condemns Reckless USDA Firings, Secretary Admits Mistakes

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) questioned United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins on the recent terminations of federal workers, including at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. Rollins called the firings an “imperfect process.”

     

    “We can’t talk about our shared goal of improving government efficiency while pulling the rug out from under the very people who keep our food supply running,” said Davids during the hearing. “You can’t eliminate good-paying, skilled jobs in Kansas City at the same time our producers are already facing droughts, volatile markets, and rising costs… These are neighbors, families, and friends, and they deserve better than this chaos.”

     

    WATCH: Davids questions USDA Sec. Rollins, who admits firings were an “imperfect process”

     

    Davids was responding to the erratic firing of USDA employees by the Department’s Office of General Employment (DOGE), a move she called “reckless and unjust.” The cuts have raised alarm bells throughout Kansas and the agricultural community, as they threaten food safety, stall research initiatives, and disrupt vital USDA services that farmers rely on every day.

     

    In particular, Davids called out staffing reductions at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. The state-of-the-art lab is the nation’s first biosafety level 4 facility for livestock, built to protect against the most dangerous animal diseases. According to recent reports, 28 employees were abruptly fired — only for some of those firings to be rescinded days later. A similar pattern occurred at the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), raising further questions about leadership and decision-making at USDA.

     

    “We’ve heard about the new world screwworm already [today]. During that time [of NBAF firings], the bird flu was one of the bigger concerns,” said Davids. “There are other potential animal diseases. How can the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility or Food Safety and Inspection Service even be part of the chopping block in the first place? Was there any discussion about how those decisions were going to be made? … Especially at these specific facilities that are meant to protect us from some of the worst animal diseases that could spread to humans.”

    The timing of these firings is especially alarming given ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu and the emergence of the New World Screwworm, both of which pose serious risks to Kansas livestock and public health. Davids warned that slashing key roles at facilities like NBAF — which was built specifically to respond to such biological threats — undermines the very mission of the USDA and weakens the nation’s ability to respond to agricultural emergencies.

     

    To support Kansas producers, Davids embarked on a Farm Bill listening tour, where she visited a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a goat farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, spoke with industry leaders on financial support programs for farmers, toured a dairy farm in Garnett, and more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cole Secures $1.45 Billion in Disaster Recovery for American

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

    Washington, D.C. – Through his legislation, The American Relief Act, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) secured about $1.45 billion for the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. This disaster recovery funding will be used by American communities that received major disaster declarations due to hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in 2023 or 2024. After the EDA money was announced, Congressman Cole released the following statement:

    “As a lifelong Oklahoman, I know just how much destruction natural disasters, like tornadoes, can cause. In fact, just last year, the towns of Sulphur and Marietta in Oklahoma’s Fourth District were devastated by tornadoes. Now, with this EDA grant funding, communities will be able to not only rebuild but also plan for long-term recovery and future resiliency,” said Congressman Cole.“I look forward to seeing this funding being put to good use and I thank President Trump and Secretary Lutnick for their commitment to helping Americans.”

    How to apply for assistance:

    If you are a state, local or tribal government, an economic development district, a higher education institution, an economic development organization, a public or private non-profit working with local government, or a public-private partnership for public infrastructure you are an eligible applicant for this disaster supplemental grant program.

    Additionally, projects must be located in, primarily serve, or demonstrably benefit one or more communities in areas that received a major disaster designation occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. You can check eligibility here.

    Readiness and implementation grant applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or a Notice of Funding Opportunity is canceled.

    Industry Transformation grant applications are due Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

    Applications must be submitted online through the EDA’s portal. You can find the portal here. The required materials are detailed in Section D.2 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

    Please stay tuned for future announcements as additional disaster assistance is released and available to Oklahomans.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government Provides Additional $500 in Financial Assistance to Northern Residents Displaced by Wildfires

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 11, 2025

    Due to wildfires affecting communities across Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe announced today that the Government of Saskatchewan will be providing emergency funds to those displaced due to ongoing emergency. All residents over the age of 18, that reside in communities that have been evacuated will receive $500 in financial assistance.

    “Our government recognizes the impact of wildfires on these residents,” Moe said. “These funds will help support families throughout these evacuations and as they return to their home communities.”

    The funds will be issued directly to communities as a grant from the provincial government. Funds will be disbursed by community leadership to affected residents over the age of 18. Those residents are eligible for $500. This is in addition to the increased financial assistance for evacuees announced on June 7th, 2025, provided to evacuees who have registered with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). More information on this funding can be found here.

    The Government of Saskatchewan has provided $15 million to the Canadian Red Cross to help Saskatchewan residents who have been displaced from their homes, as wildfires continue to threaten communities across the province.

    If you are from an evacuated community and looking for information or support, please contact the Canadian Red Cross 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

    For evacuees who have registered the SPSA’s Emergency and Community Support (ECS) program, please call the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency 1-855-559-5502 to seek information or supports.

    The latest information as well as wildfire mapping can be found at https://www.saskpublicsafety.ca/emergencies-and-response/active-incidents.

    The SPSA continues to provide daily updates on the current wildfire situation to ensure that Saskatchewan residents are provided with the most up to date information.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts Man of Trafficking Multiple Rifles in Chicago

    Source: US FBI

    CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a man of trafficking six rifles, including AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, and a handgun in Chicago.

    CEDRIC CURTIS, 32, of Chicago, sold the six rifles and handgun to a buyer in 2018 and 2019.  Unbeknownst to Curtis, the buyer was cooperating with federal law enforcement.  Curtis was not a licensed firearms dealer and, having been previously convicted of a felony offense, could not legally possess a firearm.

    The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago last week convicted Curtis on one count of dealing firearms without a license and six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.  U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso set sentencing for Oct. 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

    The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn D. McCarthy and Margaret A. Steindorf.

    A co-defendant, DEONTA MOORE, 31, of Chicago, pleaded guilty prior to trial to a charge of illegal firearm possession by a previously convicted felon.  Moore was sentenced to three years and a month in federal prison.

    Holding illegal firearm dealers accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods.  In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Memphis Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Trafficking 17-Year-Old Female to Perform Commercial Sex Acts

    Source: US FBI

    NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DOMINIQUE PEEPLES (“PEEPLES”), age 28, from Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced on May 28, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(2), 1594(a), and 2.

    According to court documents, PEEPLES brought a seventeen-year-old female (“Minor Victim”) from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Houston, Texas, and required her to engage in commercial sex acts.  During this time, PEEPLES was aware of Minor Victim’s age.  PEEPLES advertised Minor Victim on websites commonly used to advertise sexual services in exchange for money and kept all or most of the proceeds from her work.   PEEPLES waited in a vehicle and watched Minor Victim while she solicited commercial sex “dates.”  Minor Victim worked under PEEPLES’ supervision between August of 2020 and her escape in mid-January 2021.  After Minor Victim ran away, PEEPLES posted a video on social media in which he boasted about exploiting Minor Victim and pointed firearms at the screen.

    U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced PEEPLES to seventeen (17) years in prison.  PEEPLES was also sentenced to ten (10) years of supervised release after release from prison. Judge Vance further ordered PEEPLES to pay $120,000 in restitution to Minor Victim, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  PEEPLES will also have to register as a sex offender.

    This case was part of a broader investigation involving defendants JEREMY TALBERT and MACEO ROBERTS, both of whom have pleaded guilty for related sex trafficking crimes.  In February 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan sentenced ROBERTS to 22.5 years of imprisonment for conspiring to traffic three minors and two adults.  In March 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk sentenced TALBERT to 18 years for trafficking a fourteen-year-old minor to New Orleans.

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

    Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit and Jordan Ginsberg, Supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SWALWELL INTRODUCES BICAMERAL BILL TO REPEAL THE GUN INDUSTRY’S LEGAL LIABILITY SHIELD

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15)

    Legislation would give victims of gun violence their day in court & enable them to hold manufacturers accountable for negligence

    Legislation would give victims of gun violence their day in 

    court & enable them to hold manufacturers accountable for negligence

    Video of a virtual press conference announcing 

    the bill is available here

     

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During the first week of Gun Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Dwight Evans (D-PA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA) led a group of 81 Members of Congress in introducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed by Congress in 2005, which gives the gun industry a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits.  

    Blumenthal, Swalwell, Schiff, Murphy, Evans, and Thompson announced the legislation this week during a virtual press conference joined by leading gun violence prevention advocates: Kris Brown, President of Brady; Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action; and Adam Skaggs, Chief Counsel and Vice President of GIFFORDS Law Center. Video of the press conference is available here.

    “PLCAA is the ultimate sweetheart deal – legal immunity afforded to basically no other industry for a product that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year,” Blumenthal said. “Despite the strength and perseverance of the Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and Highland Park families – and the tenacity of their legal teams – this is a problem that cannot be solved only through the courts. PLCAA must be repealed by Congress.”

    “No industry in American has a liability shield like gun manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers,” said Swalwell. “The NRA and their GOP stooges made sure that the gun industry has a unique immunity from accountability. This bill ends that ridiculous carve out. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will finally repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) once and for all, allowing victims of gun violence to bring civil suits against gun producers and sellers. The time has long since come for Congress to be clear – if you put the most dangerous weapons in the hands of the most dangerous people, you will be held accountable.”

    “More than a 100 Americans are killed by a gun every single day in America. And yet, Congress does nothing to hold the gun industry accountable when the negligence of gun makers and dealers is responsible for the tragic consequences their products have on our kids, our families, and our communities. As long as gun violence continues to take the lives of so many in California and across the nation, I will fight to repeal the liability shield that wrongly protects negligent gun industry actors from liability,” said Schiff.

    “There’s absolutely no reason why the gun industry should get special treatment when it comes to negligence. Their immunity from lawsuits effectively gives them a license to kill. It’s past time for Congress to repeal PLCAA and allow gun violence victims their day in court,” said Murphy. 

    “Victims and survivors should be able to hold the gun industry accountable in court for negligent behavior. But right now, the gun industry is shielded from any liability when they disregard public safety. That’s wrong,” said Crow. “I’m introducing this bill so we can finally hold the gun industry responsible.”

    “As someone who’s advocated for this concept in Pennsylvania’s legislature and now in Congress, I’m proud to be a co-lead on this bill to restore this basic right of victims and survivors – a right that a heavy-handed federal government took away 20 years ago. So many American gun deaths could be avoided if we held companies accountable for things like illegal sales, defective guns and irresponsible marketing. State attorneys general were able to hold Big Tobacco accountable in the 1990s, and they should be able to hold gun manufacturing companies accountable in the 21st century since thousands of lives depend on it. This legislation would be an important tool in the toolbox to protect our citizens from gun violence,” said Evans. 

    “In the 20 years since PLCAA was passed, it’s become clear that negligent gun manufacturers and dealers have taken advantage of the law. Responsible manufacturers and dealers don’t need this legal protection – and irresponsible ones are hiding behind it. As a hunter, combat veteran and responsible gun owner, I’m proud to work with Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell to introduce this sensible legislation,” said Thompson, Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. 

    When Congress passed PLCAA, its supporters argued that it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits, and that victims of gun violence would not be shut out of the courts. In reality, numerous cases around the nation have been dismissed on the basis of PLCAA, even when the gun dealers and manufacturers acted in a fashion that would qualify as negligent if it involved any other product. Victims in these cases were denied the right to even discover or introduce evidence. This legislation allows civil cases to go forward against irresponsible bad actors.

    In 2005, the National Rifle Association (NRA) identified PLCAA as their “number one” legislative priority, and the NRA celebrated the passage calling it the “most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.” Letting courts hear these cases would provide justice to victims and their families, while creating incentives for responsible business practices that would reduce injuries and deaths. Effectively, the gun industry would once again be subject to the same laws as every other industry, just as it was prior to 2005.

    The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, and Equality California.

    “PLCAA gives the gun industry a free pass to put profits over people—legally. When defective firearms or irresponsible gun sellers cause harm, victims are left powerless and justice is delayed or denied. No other industry gets this kind of special treatment,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady. “The gun industry has made it clear: they won’t change on their own, no matter how much devastation they leave behind. So the law must change. Brady is proud to endorse Senator Blumenthal’s bill to end the gun lobby’s stranglehold on accountability and remove the option of hiding behind PLCAA to dodge responsibility. The gun industry shouldn’t get special protection while communities suffer.”

    “For too long, gun lobby CEOs have operated above the law, shielded from accountability while families of gun violence victims are denied their day in court. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will finally repeal the gun lobby’s sweetheart deal and restore Americans’ right to seek justice. When companies can be held responsible for harm, they have a reason to act more safely—it’s time to hold the gun industry accountable and put people over profits. We applaud Senator Blumenthal for championing this critical legislation and for his commitment to reducing gun violence and improving public safety,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director of GIFFORDS and GIFFORDS Law Center. 

    “The gun industry has a long track record of putting profits over public safety – and it’s the American people who are paying the price,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We’re proud to stand with Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell as they work to hold the gun industry to the same rules as every other industry.” 

    “Every student in America goes to school wondering if today will be the day they don’t come home. They practice lockdown drills while gun manufacturers hide behind PLCAA, a law that shields them from any accountability,” said Jackie Corin, Executive Director of March For Our Lives. “The families of Parkland victims fight for justice while gun companies profit from illegal gun sales and reckless marketing practices that fuel mass shootings, all while being protected from consequences. When grieving families are denied their day in court because of special protections for gun manufacturers, that is not justice. That is cruelty. Every family shattered by gun violence deserves a system that protects them, not the companies profiting off their pain. That’s why March For Our Lives is proud to support the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act and ensure the gun industry finally has to answer to us.”

    “The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act restores the rights of the American people to seek justice from negligent corporations. People, families, and communities have been systematically denied access to valid litigation against the gun industry since President George W. Bush signed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005. This legal shield has privileged the gun industry with sweeping immunity, leading them to lean into more aggressive, more deadly, and ever more avaricious corporate actions that endanger every American,” said Hudson Munoz with Guns Down America. “We commend Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell for their dedication to seeing that shield fall so every person impacted by gun violence has the ability to pursue justice again.”

    “As a neighbor of the Sandy Hook shooter and many victims, I carry the heartbreak of that day every single moment,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “I’m grateful to Senator Blumenthal for reintroducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act—because no industry that profits from death should be shielded from accountability. The gun industry’s unique civil legal protection has allowed it to market weapons of war and other deadly firearms and accessories with impunity, fueling an epidemic that steals thousands of lives each year. The families impacted by gun violence from Sandy Hook to Chicago to Monterey Park—and every family member shattered by gun violence—deserve their day in court.”

    “The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) provides a pathway for the firearms industry to continue irresponsible practices in ways that no other industry is permitted to conduct. Under this legislation, the rights of victims – some of whom have been irrevocably harmed by these deadly products – are shown to be less important than the special interests of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. This cannot be allowed to continue. We applaud Senator Blumenthal and his team for their leadership in re-introducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, and call upon Congress to pass this bill,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and co-CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.

    The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Don Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Danny Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Jill Tokuda (D-HI).

     

    Text of the legislation can be found here. 

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers Olszewski, Hodgson, Gull-Masty and Dabrusin to Provide an Update on the 2025 Wildfires Season

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Ottawa, Ontario – Members of the media are invited to join the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, and the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, as they provide an update on the forecast for the 2025 wildfires season.

    Prior to the press conference, Government of Canada officials will host an embargoed media technical briefing to provide an update on the seasonal outlook for wildfires. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions to officials attending in a “for attribution” capacity.

    All information and materials related to this briefing will be shared under embargo, until the Ministerial press conference begins at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

    1. Media Technical Briefing

    Event: Hybrid (In-person and virtual)
    Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
    Time: 11:30 a.m. EDT
    Location: National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325, Ottawa, Ontario

    2. Press Conference

    Event: In-person
    Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
    Time: 12:30 p.m. EDT
    Location: National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325, Ottawa, Ontario

    Notes for media:

    • Simultaneous translation audio feed will be available. Participation in the question and answer portion of the technical briefing is in person or via Zoom and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may also contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca to request temporary access.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Schrier Demands Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Immediately Reinstate All Members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in New Letter

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), pediatrician and member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, led 86 of her colleagues, with the support of Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, on a letter demanding that Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. upholds his oath to protect the health of the American people by immediately reinstating the seventeen members of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that were recently fired.

     “Secretary Kennedy’s dangerous decision to fire all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a direct attack on science and a threat to our public health,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “For 61 years, this integral committee of seasoned health care experts has been trusted to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make fully transparent recommendations about vaccines. But now, Secretary Kennedy is gutting that expertise and may well use this opportunity to elevate conspiracy theorists and social media influencers to these decision-making positions. As a pediatrician and a member of Congress, I am outraged that the Secretary of Health and Human Services would dismiss science and the medical community and instead welcome those with fringe healthcare ideas into the heart of our public health system. It is just plain dangerous.” 

     Today’s letter comes on the heels of Congresswoman Schrier introducing the Family Vaccine Protection Act that will protect the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule.

     A copy of the letter is below.

     Dear Secretary Kennedy,

     For over 60 years, in both Republican and Democratic Administrations, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has played a pivotal role in keeping Americans healthy and safe. As Members of Congress, we are outraged at your decision to unilaterally remove all 17 individuals from ACIP on June 9th. As Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), your duty to this country is to enhance the well-being of all Americans and this decision will cost lives. Your decision to disband the ACIP, a committee of medical and public health experts whose sole focus is to develop vaccine recommendations, completely undermines ACIP’s critical role and endangers this nation’s public health.

    On June 9th, in your opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, you blame conflict of interests and a lack of curiosity as a rationale for removing this panel of experts from their roles. Your statement belies the rigorous vetting process for ACIP members, including financial disclosures and a review of their previous work on clinical trials. ACIP members must recuse themselves from votes and discussions on vaccines they are studying, or on any other vaccines manufactured by companies that fund their research. In fact, just this year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set up a public, searchable database allowing transparency for any conflicts of interest for voting ACIP members dating back to 2000.

     These actions upend ACIP’s thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making and will weave unfounded or disproven theories into what has traditionally been a science-based process trusted by our health care providers. Conducting immunization reviews takes months of deliberation and review of research, and your unilateral decision to abruptly end ACIP’s existing work is detrimental. It has become abundantly clear that your intent is to sow doubt and fear in the American public that will cost lives. With an ongoing measles outbreak and the decline of routine child immunizations, we will see the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases across the country. Your politicization of vaccines has made American families less safe and will return the US to an era before mass vaccination prevented millions of infections and early deaths.

     We demand that you reinstate the fired 17 members to ACIP and uphold your oath to the American people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Drug Trafficker Convicted by Federal Jury

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal jury convicted an Elizabeth City man Tuesday on one charge of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

    According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Charles Gregory, 36, was stopped for a traffic violation in Elizabeth City on August 7, 2022.  An Elizabeth City police officer observed Gregory, the sole occupant of the car, toss an item out the window before coming to a stop. Officers recovered the tossed item from the street and found it to be a bag containing multiple smaller baggies of crack cocaine. Officers placed Gregory under arrest and searched the vehicle, where they found a stolen pistol in the glovebox. Gregory later made statements on recorded jail phone calls about the drugs and gun. Gregory is a convicted felon who has multiple prior felony drug convictions, including possession of cocaine and sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.

    Charles Gregory faces a mandatory minimum of five years of imprisonment and a statutory maximum of life imprisonment when sentenced on a later date.

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Elizabeth City Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Jermaine Sellers prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-14.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ICYMI: “For the first time in decades, the US-Mexico border is silent”

    Source: US Whitehouse

    gure data-wp-context=”{“imageId”:”68499d6bddf6f”}” data-wp-interactive=”core/image” class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized wp-lightbox-container”>

    From the Arizona Republic:

    “Across the entire span of the U.S.-Mexico border, the change is stark — and it happened nearly overnight. Where Border Patrol agents encountered well over 100,000 migrants and asylum seekers every month just a year ago, they now see fewer than 10,000.

    More than four months into President Trump’s second term, one of his signature campaign promises — shutting down the flow of migrants across the border — seems fulfilled. Reporters with the USA TODAY Network traveled to 15 sites along the border from the Pacific to the Gulf, from California to Arizona and Texas, and found much of the same situation in each: few migrants were attempting to cross; once bustling shelters for migrants were ghost towns; local officials expressed relief for no longer having to assist with the flood of people. […]

    But as the border itself has gone quiet, Trump maintains that it remains in a state of crisis while touting the success of his efforts. The recently passed spending bill by the U.S. House of Representatives includes $150 billion in new money for immigration enforcement, including tens of billions for wall construction and facilities along the border along with tens of billions more for deportation efforts.”

    Click here to read the full story.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: “For the first time in decades, the US-Mexico border is silent”

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    gure data-wp-context=”{“imageId”:”68499d6bddf6f”}” data-wp-interactive=”core/image” class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized wp-lightbox-container”>
    From the Arizona Republic:
    “Across the entire span of the U.S.-Mexico border, the change is stark — and it happened nearly overnight. Where Border Patrol agents encountered well over 100,000 migrants and asylum seekers every month just a year ago, they now see fewer than 10,000.
    More than four months into President Trump’s second term, one of his signature campaign promises — shutting down the flow of migrants across the border — seems fulfilled. Reporters with the USA TODAY Network traveled to 15 sites along the border from the Pacific to the Gulf, from California to Arizona and Texas, and found much of the same situation in each: few migrants were attempting to cross; once bustling shelters for migrants were ghost towns; local officials expressed relief for no longer having to assist with the flood of people. […]
    But as the border itself has gone quiet, Trump maintains that it remains in a state of crisis while touting the success of his efforts. The recently passed spending bill by the U.S. House of Representatives includes $150 billion in new money for immigration enforcement, including tens of billions for wall construction and facilities along the border along with tens of billions more for deportation efforts.”
    Click here to read the full story.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Westchester Mountain — Cumberland County District RCMP investigating multi-vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Cumberland County District RCMP is investigating a multi-vehicle collision that occurred on Hwy. 104.

    On June 9 at approximately 11:42 a.m., Cumberland County District RCMP, fire and EHS responded to a report of a collision involving three-vehicles and a fifth wheel trailer on Hwy. 104 near Westchester Mountain.

    Responding officers learned that a Ford F250 truck that was towing a fifth-wheel trailer had pulled over to the side of the highway due to a blown tire. As a Nissan Rogue and a Ford F150 were passing by the trailer a collision occurred between them. This collision caused the F150 to veer into the parked fifth wheel trailer. The driver of the Ford F250 and fifth wheel was outside the vehicle when the trailer was struck.

    The driver and of the Ford 250 truck, a 65-year-old man of Valley suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital by EHS LifeFlight. The passenger of the Ford 250 truck, a 65-year-old woman of Valley, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver of the Ford F150 truck, a 41-year-old woman, and passenger, a 59-year-old woman, both of Ontario suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene. The driver and sole occupant of the Nissan Rogue, a 69-year-old woman of Donkin was transported by EHS with minor injuries.

    The investigation is ongoing and is being led by Cumberland County District RCMP, with assistance of RCMP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction.

    Anyone with information about the collision or who may have dash cam footage is asked to contact Cumberland County District RCMP at 902-667-3859. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    Hwy. 104 was closed for a period of time while RCMP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction completed their work.

    Note: On Monday, the collision was reported to have involved a tractor-trailer. The trailer involved has since been confirmed to be a fifth wheel.

    File #: 2025-799700

    MIL Security OSI –