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Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Volcano Watch — Halemaʻumaʻu Eruption Reaches New Heights as HVO Updates Volcano Alert Notifications

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. 

    High lava fountains erupted from the north and south vents during episode 23 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption in Halema’uma’u. Fountains reached heights of about 1,150 feet (350 meters) above the vent about an hour after the episode began. These were the highest lava fountains observed so far during the current eruption. The tall narrow finger of lava shown here, as well as the lower fountain to the right, are both sourced from the south vent, while the wider fountain in the foreground originates from the north vent. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will start issuing “Volcano Activity Notice (VAN)” / “Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA)” notifications, with no change in Volcano Alert Level orAviation Color Code, to announce the beginning and end of future sustained fountaining episodes. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

    Episode 23 lava fountains erupted continuously for six hours and reached heights of about 1,150 feet (350 meters). These were the highest lava fountains observed so far during the current eruption, which began on December 23, 2024. An impressive blanket of tephra—volcanic rock fragments carried into the air—was deposited beneath and downwind of these fountains, primarily in the upper part of Kīlauea’s Southwest Rift Zone in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. 

    This episode also had the highest gas plume seen thus far in this eruption sequence. The plume reached heights of more than 20,000 feet (6,100 meters)—and likely over 25,000 feet (7,600 meters)—above Kīlauea’s summit, which is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) above sea level. The plume contained high levels of water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

    These record-setting fountain and plume heights were reached quickly, less than one hour after episode 23 started. Following an extended period of gradual inflation and precursory low-level activity, episode 23 began at 4:15 p.m. with thin jets of lava erupting from the north vent. Fountaining became more vigorous around 4:25 and then escalated quickly and dramatically around 4:36 p.m. as tremor intensified and gradual inflation switched to rapid deflation. North vent fountains approached 1,000 feet (300 meters) in height by 5:00 p.m. and peaked just after 5:30 p.m. South vent fountaining began at 5:20 p.m. and reached heights of 600–800 feet (180–250 meters) by 6:30 p.m. that were sustained until the final hour of the episode.

    The Kīlauea plume from episode 23 reached heights of more than 20,000 feet (6,100 meters)— likely over 25,000 feet (7,600 meters)—above Kīlauea’s summit, which is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) above sea level.  This photo, taken from Mauna Kea and looking south, shows Mauna Loa in the right side of the photo and the Kīlauea plume rising above the clouds in the left side of the photo. The plume contained high levels of water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).  USGS webcam photo.

    Episode 24 will likely begin within the coming week. Kīlauea’s summit is currently reinflating and magma remains close to the surface within the north and south vent conduits. During a helicopter overflight on May 28, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists could see lava churning away at a depth of a few tens of yards (meters) within the north vent conduit. Strong orange glow from the vents is visible at night on HVO webcams and from public viewing areas in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. 

    As the eruption transitions from episode 23 to 24, HVO is transitioning to a different type of volcano alert notification to announce significant changes in activity such as lava fountaining episodes.

    Starting with episode 24, HVO will issue a paired “Volcano Activity Notice (VAN)” and “Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA)” (VAN/VONA) to announce the beginning and end of fountaining episodes. Our use of VAN/VONA will replace the Status Report notifications we have been issuing to announce the beginning and end of eruptive episodes. When possible, VAN/VONA notifications will also be issued to announce the onset of confirmed precursory activity.

    HVO is making this transition because of the increased fountain and plume heights during recent episodes and their rapid onset. The goal is to more effectively communicate the presence or anticipated presence of airborne hazards like volcanic gas emissions and tephra that, depending on wind conditions, can impact Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, nearby communities, and the aviation sector.

    If you have signed up to receive volcano updates using the USGS Volcano Notification Service (VNS), then the terms VAN and VONA probably look familiar to you. That’s because HVO always issues VAN/VONA notifications when we change Volcano Alert Level and/or Aviation Color Code. For example, HVO issued a VAN/VONA on December 23, 2024, at 2:41 a.m. to announce the start of the current eruption and raised Kilauea’s Volcano Alert Level / Aviation Color Code from ADVISORY/YELLOW to WARNING/RED.

    HVO issued another VAN/VONA on December 23, 2024, at 6:43 a.m. to go from WARNING/RED to WATCH/ORANGE. Kīlauea has remained at WATCH/ORANGE since then. If future activity remains similar to the past 23 episodes, there will be no change in Volcano Alert Level or Aviation Color Code at Kīlauea even though new VAN/VONAs are issued. 

    Visit the Volcano Notification Service website to check your volcano notification subscriptions: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/.

    High lava fountains and eruptive plumes are significant airborne hazards. Recent fountaining episodes in Halemaʻumaʻu escalated quickly and literally reached new heights. VAN/VONA notifications will more clearly inform island residents, visitors, and aviators when these hazards are occurring or expected to occur.

    Volcano Activity Updates

    Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

    Episode 23 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on May 25, with approximately 6 hours of fountaining from the north and south vents. Lava fountains reached a high record for this eruption—an estimated 350 meters (1150 feet) at around 5:30 p.m. on May 25.  Strong glow visible in both the north and south vents and summit region inflation since the end of episode 23 suggests that another episode is possible. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

    Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.9 earthquake 56 km (34 mi) WSW of Captain Cook at 38 km (23 mi) depth on May 26 at 9:36 p.m. HST and a M3.1 earthquake 16 km (9 mi) WSW of Kailua-Kona at 4 km (2 mi) depth on May 25 at 4:19 p.m. HST.

    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

    Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Delivers Millions in Relief to Low-income Sandy Survivors Caught Up in Red Tape

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    NJ 6th District Congressman’s Years-Long Effort Culminates in State Launch of New Program

    New Brunswick, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that New Jersey has officially launched a new policy implementing the clawback relief he fought for and secured for Superstorm Sandy survivors. After years of Pallone’s advocacy, the State of New Jersey will now begin outreach to eligible homeowners who may no longer be required to repay disaster assistance that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has been seeking recoupment on for years. 

    These recoupment efforts known as clawbacks have blindsided homeowners because many New Jersey residents owed tens of thousands of dollars through no fault of their own after applying for loans and benefits through various federal programs at the recommendation of the government. Preliminary assessments show that more than 400 New Jersey households are expected to collectively receive more than $16 million in relief from this recoupment waiver. Pallone encouraged the State to distribute relief as broadly as possible and to avoid placing new financial burdens on residents who have already been through so much.

    “After years of pushing for fairness, today we are finally delivering financial relief for many Sandy survivors,” said Pallone. “The official launch of this program means hundreds of families will no longer have to bear the burden of having to repay the disaster aid they used to rebuild in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Thanks to our advocacy, they can now – after many years – finally close this dark chapter and put this bureaucratic nightmare behind them.”

    Pallone has fought tirelessly to ensure Sandy-impacted families are not burdened with repaying federal disaster aid. In 2022, Pallone secured an indefinite legislative extension of recoupment efforts for debt owed to the federal government that was included in the Omnibus Fiscal Year 2023 package but did not absolve homeowners of the funds owed.

    In January, the Biden Administration agreed to Pallone’s request to provide relief to low- and moderate-income survivors, as well as those who have faced extreme hardship – including foreclosure, bankruptcy, or lost loved ones after receiving federal disaster aid. Eligible households facing extreme hardship may receive full forgiveness, while eligible low- and moderate-income households may receive up to $27,000 in forgiveness for federal assistance previously subject to repayment.

    The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has already notified 278 applicants that their recoupment has been forgiven in full, totaling over $13 million collectively. The agency will continue reaching out to residents eligible for partial forgiveness over the coming weeks and months. No additional action is required at this time for eligible households, but affected New Jersey residents can visit DCA’s website to learn more about the policy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Warren, Wyden Urge Investigation to Determine if DOGE Employees’ Committed Criminal Violations of Federal Ethics Laws

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and Inspector Generals at the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) urging their offices to investigate whether Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees broke the law by working to dismantle government agencies while holding hundreds of thousands of dollars in private companies. The lawmakers are Ranking Members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; Senate Armed Services Committee; and Senate Finance Committee, respectively. 

    “These DOGE employees’ conflicts of interest and role in the mass firings at CFPB, Treasury, and IRS undermine the integrity of their decision-making and the actions taken by the agencies where they work,” the three senators wrote.

    Recent reporting by Politico revealed that Tom Krause, the leader of the Treasury’s DOGE team, has financial holdings worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in companies like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, PNC, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Santander—all companies that have business before Treasury or provide services to the Department. Krause has also been responsible for leading Treasury’s efforts to modernize the Treasury’s IT and financial infrastructure while owning shares of big tech companies like Google, Oracle, and Amazon. 

    Krause and two other Treasury employees, Todd Newnam and Linda Whitridge, also own shares of Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, which for years has attempted to sabotage the IRS Direct File program. Direct File allows taxpayers to file their taxes for free and directly with the IRS instead of using private sector programs like TurboTax. In recent months, DOGE fired the program’s development team and the Trump administration has reportedly decided to end the program. 

    “It would be deeply disturbing if DOGE employees with a financial stake in Intuit were involved with overseeing and dismantling the Direct File initiative, which would directly benefit Intuit and these employees’ financial holdings,” the lawmakers wrote. 

    ProPublica also recently reported that Gavin Kliger, a DOGE aid at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), was warned by ethics officials that he held stock in companies that “employees are forbidden from owning.” These holdings include as much as $715,000 of investments in barred companies such as Apple Inc., Tesla Inc., Alphabet Inc., and two cryptocurrencies, all companies subject to investigation by the CFPB. Three days later, despite ethics officials’ warnings, Kliger participated in layoffs at the agency, including firing the ethics lawyers that warned him of his conflicts. 

    At least one expert has described Mr. Kliger’s actions as “look[ing] like a pretty clear-cut violation’” of the federal criminal conflict-of-interest statute, which could carry a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years in prison. 

    “Together, these three examples underscore what appears to be a pervasive problem with Elon Musk and DOGE employees trampling ethics rules and laws to benefit their own pockets at the expense of the American public,” wrote the senators. 

    The senators called on the DOJ, OGE, and Inspectors Generals of the Treasury, Office for Tax Administration, and the Federal Reserve to investigate the legality of these employees’ conflicts and whether they have violated federal ethics laws. 

    “Neither Mr. Musk nor those working on his behalf in DOGE are above the law, and if they have failed to follow it, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other relevant government officials should act to hold them accountable,” the senators concluded.

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Attorney General Bondi, Acting Director Greer, Ms. Sciurba, Ms. Hill, and Mr. Gibson:

    We write regarding new reports that DOGE employees at the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have been engaged in the dismantling of these agencies while holding hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock in private companies benefitting from these individuals’ efforts to eliminate key programs, staff, and policies. This poses a clear conflict of interest and potential criminal violation of federal ethics law, which bars any Federal government employee from “participat[ing] personally and substantially…[in any] particular matter in which [they] … ha[ve] a financial interest.” A willful violation of the law would subject these individuals to a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years in prison. We request that your offices investigate this matter.

    Neither Mr. Musk nor those working on his behalf with DOGE are above the law, and if they have failed to follow it, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other relevant government officials should hold them accountable.

    First, earlier this month, reporting revealed that Tom Krause, the leader of Treasury’s DOGE team and top official overseeing Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, has financial holdings worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in companies that have business before Treasury or provide services to the Department. Some of Mr. Krause’s holdings—including hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of shares of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, PNC, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Santander—are in financial institutions that provide financial services to and purchase U.S. debt securities directly from Treasury. In addition, Mr. Krause has also been responsible for leading Treasury’s efforts to “modernize its IT and financial infrastructure,” despite owning shares of big tech firms like Google, Oracle, and Amazon. Experts have described this as “a massive, glaring red flag of a conflict of interest.”

    Second, the same report also indicated that Mr. Krause and two other Treasury DOGE team members—Todd Newnam and Linda Whitridge—own shares of Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, which has been engaged in a years’ long attempt to sabotage the IRS’ free tax filing program, “Direct File.” This easy-to-use program allows taxpayers to file their taxes for free and directly with the IRS, rather than use private sector tax preparation software like TurboTax. Troublingly, the program has been targeted for elimination by DOGE: months after Musk posted that DOGE had “deleted” a team that contributed to Direct File’s development, reports surfaced that the Trump Administration had decided to end the program. It would be deeply disturbing if DOGE employees with a financial stake in Intuit were involved with overseeing and dismantling the Direct File initiative, which would directly benefit Intuit and these employees’ financial holdings.

    Third, last month, ProPublica reported that Gavin Kliger, a DOGE aide at the CFPB, was warned by ethics attorneys “that he held stock in companies that employees are forbidden from owning — and was advised not to participate in any actions that could benefit him personally.” These holdings include as much as $715,000 of investments in barred companies such as Apple Inc., Tesla Inc., Alphabet Inc., and two cryptocurrencies. These companies are on the CFPB’s “Prohibited Holding” list since they are “subject to examination by the Bureau.”

    Three days later, Mr. Kliger “participated in mass layoffs at the agency anyway, including the firings of the ethics lawyers that warned him” of his conflicts. The conflicts are obvious: “a defanged and downsized consumer watchdog is unlikely to aggressively regulate those and other companies, freeing them of compliance costs and the risk associated with examinations and enforcement actions. That in turn could boost their stock prices and benefit … Kliger.” At least one expert has described Mr. Kliger’s actions as “look[ing] like a pretty clear-cut violation’” of the federal criminal conflict-of-interest statute

    Together, these three examples underscore what appears to be a pervasive problem with Elon Musk and DOGE employees trampling ethics rules and laws to benefit their own pockets at the expense of the American public. These DOGE employees’ conflicts of interest and role in the mass firings at CFPB, Treasury, and IRS undermine the integrity of their decision-making and the actions taken by the agencies where they work.

    To be clear, there continues to be uncertainty about the specific circumstances surrounding these individuals’ conflicts, including whether they may have divested from some or all of their conflicted holdings, whether their actions may have constituted involvement in “particular matters” that will have a “direct and predictable effect” on their financial interests, or whether they may have received waivers from relevant Designated Agency Ethics Officials or White House officials. But the American people deserve answers regarding whether their own interests may have been undermined by Trump Administration officials that acted in violation of federal ethics laws.

    Given these open questions, we ask that your offices investigate this matter. The Treasury Inspector General (Treasury IG), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and Inspector General of the Federal Reserve (Fed IG) should conduct a broad review of whether these and other DOGE representatives may have engaged in illegal or inappropriate efforts at the Treasury, IRS, and CFPB. The Department of Justice (DOJ) should investigate whether these and other DOGE representatives may have violated federal ethics law by abusing their official roles for the benefit of private companies in which they have a vested financial interest. We also ask that the Office of Government Ethics examine this matter and recommend any potential violations for appropriate enforcement action.

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Capital Jewish Museum Shooting, Reed & Whitehouse Seek Additional Funds to Protect Nonprofits and Places of Worship from Violence & Hate Crimes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — In an effort to enhance public safety and deter violence targeted towards specific religious communities, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators in urging Senate Appropriations Committee leaders to provide $500 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in 2026.

    NSGP funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and competitively awarded to applicants to help non-profits and faith-based entities enhance their security infrastructure, training, and systems.  The federal NSGP funds can be used for things such as purchasing and installing locks, video cameras, and bulletproof glass, or hiring off-duty police officers as security personnel.

    Reed and Whitehouse say that NSGP funds have become a critical security tool for churches, synagogues, and temples in Rhode Island to guard against targeted hate crimes and antisemitism.

    Following the murder of two Israeli Embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, Reed and Whitehouse joined with 31 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter asking appropriators to significantly boost NSGP funding from $274.5 million last year to $500 million in fiscal year 2026 to help ensure the safety and security of Jewish institutions and other vulnerable non-profits and houses of worship nationwide.

    “The threat of violence is unfortunately increasing at places of worship across our country at alarming rates,” the 33 U.S. Senators wrote. “There has been an increase in hoax bomb and active shooter threats against houses of worship to interrupt services and intimidate the worshipers. There has also been an increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents across the country following the October 7 attack in Israel.”

    The Trump administration had proposed cuts to non-emergency grant programs at DHS. 

    The letter also notes that last year, only 43 percent of grant applications were approved, even with additional funding available through the national security supplemental bill.  Nationwide, applicants requested a total of nearly $1 billion in funding.

    “Unfortunately, it is easy to see that the need for the NSGP is quickly outpacing the funding,” the letter notes.

    Citing the February 2024 arson attack on Shiloh Gospel Temple, a predominantly Black church in North Providence, the 33 U.S. Senators wrote:“Today’s threat environment provides a compelling public interest in preventing attacks that would disrupt the vital health, human, social, cultural, religious, and other humanitarian services provided by at-risk faith-based and nonprofit institutions.  Such threats terrorize the lives and well-being of millions of Americans who operate, utilize, live, and work in their communities.”

    In addition to Reed and Whitehouse, the bipartisan letter was signed by U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), joined by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ed Markey (D-MA).

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Chair Collins, Vice Chair Murray, Chair Britt, and Ranking Member Murphy:

    Thank you for your strong support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).

    As you draft the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) Homeland Security (HLS) Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you provide $500,000,000 in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program under section 2009 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609a), of which $250,000,000 is for eligible recipients located in high-risk urban areas that receive funding under section 2003 of such Act and $250,000,000 is for eligible recipients that are located outside such areas. 

    Together, these programs provide critical security resources to at-risk faith- based and nonprofit institutions located in urban, suburban, and rural communities. In addition to ensuring that the NSGP is funded at robust levels, we also urge the committee to advocate for and maintain separate line items for this program. The NSGP is used by nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship and other faith-based organizations, at risk of terrorist attacks to provide funding for physical security enhancements as well as emergency preparedness training.

    The NSGP also works to enhance the engagement and cooperation between community groups, state and; local homeland security organizations, and emergency management agencies to be better; prepared for, prevent, and respond to acts of terrorism. This preparation and investment is critical to our national security and part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) comprehensive measures to strengthen the safety of our communities. DHS recognizes the risk of extremist-motivated violence as a danger to national security and has warned that violence against nonprofits and faith-based institutions is likely to continue.

    The threat of violence is unfortunately increasing at places of worship across our country at alarming rates. There has been an increase in hoax bomb and active shooter threats against houses of worship to interrupt services and intimidate the worshipers. There has also been an increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents across the country following the October 7 attack in Israel. In the year since October 7, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the United States, an over 200 percent increase over the year before and the highest number recorded in a single year since ADL started tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.

    Nationwide, there have been countless acts of violence against religious communities, including these specific incidents that underscore the importance and complexity of protecting our religious communities from violence and extremism:

    • On January 3, 2024, a Newark, New Jersey, an Imam was shot and killed outside of his mosque.
    • On January 30, 2024, a man opened fire at a San Francisco Catholic Church.
    • On February 11, 2024, a man set fire to Shiloh Gospel Temple, a predominantly Black church in North Providence, Rhode Island.
    • On February 11, 2024, a woman forced her way inside a Texas Christian megachurch and opened fire.
    • On February 17, 2024, police in Broward County, Florida, arrested a man for beating a 69-year-old Rabbi who was walking home from synagogue on Shabbat.
    • On April 9, 2024, an Idaho teenager was arrested the day before his planned violent attack on local churches.
    • On May 25, 2024, a man was struck in a hit and run in front of a mosque in; Minnesota.
    • On July 22, 2024, St. Leo’s Church in Hartford, Arkansas, was vandalized, and racial slurs were graffitied on the building.
    • On August 12, 2024, a young man was stabbed near a synagogue in New York City.
    • On December 17 and 18, over 400 Jewish Institutions across the country were targeted with false bomb threats and swatting calls.

    These events highlight the ever-increasing need for the NSGP. Unfortunately, it is easy to see that the need for the NSGP is quickly outpacing the funding. In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024), FEMA received 7,584 grant applications for the NSGP, over 2,300 more than the previous year. These applicants requested $978 million in federal funding, while NSGP received $274.5 million in annual FY24 appropriations. Even with the additional NSGP funding provided by the National Security Supplemental Act for FY2024, FEMA could only fund 43 percent of all grant applicants. This left most of the applicants without the funding they needed to provide security to their at-risk institution.

    Today’s threat environment provides a compelling public interest in preventing attacks that; would disrupt the vital health, human, social, cultural, religious, and other humanitarian services provided by at-risk faith-based and nonprofit institutions. Such threats terrorize the lives and well-being of millions of Americans who operate, utilize, live, and work in their communities. Accordingly, we respectfully urge you to strengthen the NSGP by properly funding the program at $500 million in FY2026, and we remain sincerely grateful for your past support of this critical program. Thank you for your consideration of our request.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Decimates FEMA Ahead of Hurricane Season, Reed Sounds the Alarm & Urges Administration to Rehire FEMA Staff

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    PROVIDENCE, RI — Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and forecasters are predicting an active Atlantic hurricane season.  Meanwhile, state emergency response agencies are preparing for the possibility that the Trump Administration will leave them in the lurch – as President Trump attempts to shift a heavier financial burden onto states and dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provides timely, coordinated support to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes and other major disasters.   

    U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, warns the Trump Administration’s chaotic leadership changes, budget reductions, and FEMA staff cuts are unnecessarily making it harder for coastal states to prep for hurricane season and respond to and recover from a major natural disaster. 

    Senator Reed sent a letter to the head of FEMA urging the agency to “rehire key staff and provide a detailed plan showing how FEMA will operate during what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts will be an “above normal” hurricane season.”

    Since the start of President Trump’s term, FEMA has lost at least one-third of its staff: At least 2,000 of the agency’s roughly 6,100 full-time employees have either left or plan to leave due to waves of terminations and voluntary retirements ordered by the so-called Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE).  President Trump’s preliminary 2026 budget proposal calls for slashing $646 million from FEMA. 

    FEMA provides direct financial relief to states, localities, and individuals after a disaster, but it also provides technical expertise and funding to help state and local governments prepare for and manage large scale disasters. 

    Senator Reed wrote: “Regrettably, because of the Trump Administration’s actions over the last several months, FEMA seems ill-prepared to carry out these responsibilities.”

    The letter also noted: “On May 21, Reuters reported that the Administration’s abrupt firing of Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton and the departure of 16 senior FEMA executives have “disrupted the agency’s planning for hurricane season.”  CNN reported on May 15 that a recent FEMA internal review found that the agency “is not ready” for the start of hurricane season.  According to a May 9 NPR report, the Administration has fired more than 200 FEMA employees and that hundreds more have indicated they are accepting the Administration’s resignation offers.  And a May 23 Washington Post article notes that FEMA faces a backlog of unprocessed emergency declaration requests from prior storms.  These reports inspire little confidence that FEMA is focused on its mission.”

    Noting the obvious connection between a major reduction in FEMA staff, budget, and resources and a potential reduction in federal involvement, Reed called on the Trump Administration to reverse its mass staff reductions and implement a plan to ensure the timeliness and adequacy of FEMA’s response to future disasters.

    “With hurricane season just days away, it is essential that FEMA shows that it is properly staffed and that key leadership positions are held by individuals who have had previous experience as emergency managers during major disasters.  To that end, I urge you to reinstate the professional staff who have left the agency in recent months and provide a detailed plan showing how FEMA will assist states during major disasters.  Additionally, I would caution against adopting any significant changes in FEMA’s processes for approving requests for disasters declarations and disaster assistance without consultation with states, stakeholders, and Congress.  Any changes should be the result of a deliberative process, rather than impromptu actions,” the letter concluded.

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Mr. Richardson:

    With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season due to start on June 1, there is increasing doubt that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be able to meet the challenge due to the chaotic leadership of the agency during the first few months of the Trump Administration.  To assure stakeholders and the public that FEMA is ready, I urge you to rehire key staff and provide a detailed plan showing how FEMA will operate during what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts will be an “above normal” hurricane season.

    As you know, the American people rely on FEMA for timely, coordinated support to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes and other major disasters.  The agency provides direct financial relief to states, localities, and individuals after a disaster, but it also provides technical expertise and funding to help state and local governments prepare for and manage large scale disasters.  Regrettably, because of the Trump Administration’s actions over the last several months, FEMA seems ill-prepared to carry out these responsibilities.

    On May 21, Reuters reported that the Administration’s abrupt firing of Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton and the departure of 16 senior FEMA executives have “disrupted the agency’s planning for hurricane season.”  CNN reported on May 15 that a recent FEMA internal review found that the agency “is not ready” for the start of hurricane season.  According to a May 9 NPR report, the Administration has fired more than 200 FEMA employees and that hundreds more have indicated they are accepting the Administration’s resignation offers.  And a May 23 Washington Post article notes that FEMA faces a backlog of unprocessed emergency declaration requests from prior storms.  These reports inspire little confidence that FEMA is focused on its mission. 

    With hurricane season just days away, it is essential that FEMA shows that it is properly staffed and that key leadership positions are held by individuals who have had previous experience as emergency managers during major disasters.  To that end, I urge you to reinstate the professional staff who have left the agency in recent months and provide a detailed plan showing how FEMA will assist states during major disasters.  Additionally, I would caution against adopting any significant changes in FEMA’s processes for approving requests for disasters declarations and disaster assistance without consultation with states, stakeholders, and Congress.  Any changes should be the result of a deliberative process, rather than impromptu actions.

    Thank you for your attention in this matter, and I look forward to your prompt reply.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray Responds to Trump Admin Canceling Ongoing Contract to Develop Bird Flu Vaccine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s abrupt cancellation of a contract with Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine to combat bird flu in humans.
    “As bird flu continues to spread across the U.S.—and infect humans—it’s hard to imagine something more shortsighted than canceling the contract for a new vaccine that’s shown promise in protecting people from the disease. mRNA technology has shown incredible promise and helped save millions of lives—but now this administration is casting doubt on the very technology this president propelled in his first administration that ultimately ended a pandemic. We are all now suffering the dangerous consequences of Republicans confirming an anti-vax conspiracy theorist to serve as the nation’s top health official. This contract has helped fund an early trial with promising results. Now, all that work is being put in serious jeopardy—talk about government waste and inefficiency. Donald Trump and RFK Jr. want to stop lifesaving vaccines from being discovered, and they are very intentionally pushing this country down a dangerous path: we will be less prepared for the next influenza pandemic, putting the lives and health of the American people at real risk.”
    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s destruction of HHS and America’s health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.
    In particular, Senator Murray has been leading the charge against the Trump administration’s efforts to gut lifesaving research at NIH and pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH skilled scientists, grants administrators, and other employees at the agency. When the Trump administration attempted to illegally cap indirect cost rates at 15 percent, Senator Murray immediately and forcefully condemned the move, led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in a letter decrying the proposed change, and introduced amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution to reverse it, which Republicans blocked. Murray has led Congressional efforts to boost biomedical research. Previously, over her years as Chair of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at NIH, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. 
    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray Meets with WA State Emergency Management Leaders, Hears How Trump’s Attacks on FEMA Threaten Emergency Response Ahead of Wildfire Season

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senators Murray, Merkley, WA & Oregon Fire Officials Lay Out How Trump is Putting Wildfire Preparedness & Response at Risk

    ***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL FROM EVENT HERE***

    ***AUDIO HERE***

    Sultan, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion with emergency management leaders in Washington state to hear about the impacts of the Trump administration’s attacks on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies, and how these changes are already affecting communities around the state as they respond and prepare for disasters. As climate change continues to increase the severity and unpredictability of natural disasters like wildfires, communities across Washington State need to be able to rely on help from the federal government to both respond to disasters and to prepare for them—but the Trump administration’s reckless and chaotic policy changes are putting that work in jeopardy. Joining Senator Murray for the roundtable were: Lucia Schmit, Emergency Management Director at Snohomish County; Julie de Losada, Chief of Emergency Management at Skagit County; Angel Cortez, Emergency Preparedness Manager at Tulalip Tribes; Hannah Cleverly, Washington State Emergency Management Association Secretary and Deputy Director at Grays Harbor County Emergency Management; Sharon Wallace, Deputy Director of the Washington State Emergency Management Division; Chandra Fox, Deputy Director at Spokane County Emergency Management; and Tony Miller, Director of Emergency Management at Yakima County.

    “I am incredibly grateful for all the work our emergency responders do to protect our families—whether it’s floods, tsunamis, wildfires, or mudslides—and I was glad to have the opportunity to hear from emergency management leaders today about the importance of planning and preparing for natural disasters before they strike,” said Senator Murray. “Unfortunately, we have a new administration that doesn’t understand that—and doesn’t seem to care if their policies put people in danger. Trump and his DHS Secretary want to eliminate FEMA completely. They are doing all they can to leave us less prepared by proposing to slash FEMA’s budget, pushing out thousands of employees, freezing funds that were already allocated, and cancelling BRIC grants and other critical programs. It is sending our communities reeling and creating painful and unnecessary chaos for disaster response efforts in Washington state and across the country. States rely on federal support, both to respond to disasters and prepare for them, and the Trump administration’s reckless policy changes have already put years of emergency management preparation work, and lives, at risk. I will keep shining a spotlight on how Trump’s senseless decisions to destroy our emergency management system are threatening the safety of our families and communities.”

    Under the Trump Administration, FEMA has undergone significant cuts to staff and funding reductions, leading to worries about the agency’s ability to respond and address disasters effectively. The Trump Administration has proposed to cut FEMA’s budget in the coming fiscal year, pushed out approximately 2,000 full-time staff, from terminations and employees participating in the deferred resignation program, roughly one-third of the total staff employed at the end of 2024, frozen over $100 billion in previously awarded FEMA grants and disaster assistance, and canceled the Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which supports states, local and territorial governments, and Tribal Nations as they work to reduce their hazard risk. BRIC has invested over $5 billion in projects nationwide, reducing harm from floods, wildfires, and more. Senator Murray recently led a letter with Senators Van Hollen, Tillis, and Murkowski urging Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson to reinstate the BRIC grant program—in Washington state, over $200 million in BRIC funding across 67 applications was impacted.

    “All disasters begin and end at the local level. This has always been true. But one of the things that makes this nation strong is how we all come together to help during the hard times,” said Lucia Schmit, Snohomish County Emergency Management Director. “When the slide buried the Steelhead Haven neighborhood and Highway 530 near Oso in 2014, killing 43, responders from over 120 organizations—including from other counties and states—waded into the mud. We were all able to work together because of the critical role the federal government plays in supporting a common emergency management system. To hazard that partnership courts disaster.”

    “I want to thank Senator Murray for her leadership at the federal level to ensure we are prepared for and can respond to emergencies of all types,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said. “Our county is no stranger to emergencies like landslide, floods, or fires. We live in a remarkably beautiful place, and that comes with the responsibility to limit risks and respond to needs in communities near powerful rivers, active volcanoes, and expansive forests. The federal government has been a key partner in that work, but proposed changes threaten to fracture that partnership. In the long run, I would expect reduced support for planning, mitigation, and recovery to cost our nation more, both in dollars and human suffering.”

    “Skagit County is facing increasingly complex threats such as coastal and riverine flooding, encroaching wildfires, and the potential for the Cascadian earthquake. We already have the frameworks in place to address these challenges with FEMA, but effective emergency management is only possible if federal agencies fulfill their obligation to being a reliable and enduring partner to local emergency responders. The federal government must not abandon communities during times of crisis, and we call on them to adhere to their responsibility to support local jurisdictions in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery,” said Julie de Losada, Skagit County Emergency Management Chief.

    “Tribes being a sovereign nation, each individually unique, comes with its own sets of challenges. The uncertainty of FEMA potentially being dismantled and pulling up critical funding leaves tribes in a position that makes it harder to implement mitigation strategies, plans, response and to recover in the event or prior to a disaster happening. Tribes also face a historical challenge with their local and state governments that you and I are both aware of,” said Angel Cortez, Emergency Preparedness Manager at Tulalip Tribes. “The reality of today is we need FEMA, and FEMA needs us. We need our states and local partners, and they need us too. None of us will be able to go through a major disaster alone. For disasters are not restricted to borders, political ideologies, or economic status.”

    “Whether you call it FEMA reform, change, restructuring, or transformation—what matters is that it’s thoughtful, strategic, incremental, and grounded in the real needs of our communities,” said Sharon Wallace, Deputy Director of Washington’s Emergency Management Division.

    “Effective and sustainable resilience in the face of wildland fire requires cooperation and collaboration across all levels of government.  We need to have engaged federal partners supporting our efforts in Public Education, Fuels Reduction, and Incident Management, as well as Response and Recovery,” said Chandra Fox, Deputy Director at Spokane County Emergency Management. “The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program provides essential funding to Fire Agencies and community partners, directly supporting fuels reduction and home hardening efforts at the local level.  Without this funding opportunity, these efforts would be severely curtailed, limiting their effectiveness and reach.”

    Senator Murray is a leading voice pushing back against the Trump administration’s attacks on FEMA and other federal agencies, including NOAA and the U.S. Forest Service, that support disaster preparedness and response in Washington state and across the country. At a budget hearing, Senator Murray grilled Secretary Kristi Noem on the Department of Homeland Security’s sweeping funding freeze, including FEMA disaster relief and public safety grants, and its plans to weaken FEMA and recent denials of disaster declarations. Last week, Senator Murray led Washington state’s entire congressional delegation in a letter President Donald Trump urging him to reconsider the denial of Washington state’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the devastating windstorms, heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides caused by a bomb cyclone that struck Washington state in November 2024. Murray previously led the entire delegation in a letter urging President Biden to grant the request for a Major Disaster Declaration in January.

    Earlier this month, Senator Murray held a press conference with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and wildfire officials in Washington state and Oregon to sound the alarm on how the Trump administration’s funding freezes and punishing cuts to the workforce at the U.S. Forest Service and other key agencies are seriously undermining wildfire preparedness and response in Washington state and Oregon and putting communities at risk. Senator Murray is working to secure critical investments in wildfire suppression and mitigation—and in our firefighters. Last year, as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she secured nearly $22 million in funding for wildfire risk reduction projects across Washington state as part of the USFS Wildfire Crisis Strategy. In the Interior and Environment appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024, she worked to include essential investments in wildfire preparedness and suppression. And in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she secured $25 million in funding for wildfire mitigation projects across Washington state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in Weslaco

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Hidalgo County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damage from severe storms and flooding occurring March 26‑28.

    Beginning Friday, May 30, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Business Recovery Center in Weslaco to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    HIDALGO COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    Valley Metro Transit Center
    Boardroom
    510 S. Pleasantview Dr.
    Weslaco, TX  78596

    Opens at 12 p.m. Friday, May 30

    Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    The following BRC location is open and continues to serve survivors:

    CAMERON COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    Harlingen Chamber of Commerce
    311 E. Tyler Ave.
    Harlingen, TX  78550

    Mondays – Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Fridays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The deadline to apply for physical damage applications is July 21, 2025. The deadline to apply for economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in St. Louis County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires occurring March 14-15.

    Beginning Friday, May 30, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Florissant to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    ST. LOUIS COUNTY
    Disaster Loan Outreach Center
    St. Louis County Library
    Florissant Valley Branch
    Quiet Room
    195 South New Florissant Rd.
    Florissant, MO  63031

    Opens at 1 p.m. Friday, May 30

    Mondays – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    Fridays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Most of Australia’s conservation efforts ignore climate risks – here are 3 fixes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yi Fei Chung, PhD Candidate in Environmental Policy, The University of Queensland

    Imagine replanting various native species only to have them die because the area is too hot or too dry. Or reconnecting woodland habitat only to lose large tracts to bushfire.

    Well, our new research suggests those scenarios are entirely possible.

    We analysed the two most common ways to prevent overall biodiversity loss on private land in Australia. We found these efforts largely ignore climate risks such as fire, heat, drought and floods.

    Climate change is already threatening the survival of species. Unless conservation efforts are made more resilient to climate change, Australia’s aim to to reverse biodiversity loss could fail.

    What we found

    We examined two types of biodiversity measures in Australia. One is “biodiversity offsets”, which aim to compensate for damage caused by development. The other is voluntary conservation programs, including “conservation covenants”.

    We analysed 77 policy documents underpinning nine biodiversity offset policies and 11 voluntary conservation programs.

    Of the 77 documents, 84% did not consider the impact of climate change. What’s more, only 44% of biodiversity offset policies and 27% of voluntary conservation programs considered climate risk. Even then, they often lacked detail or tools to translate policy into real action on the ground.

    The most common climate adaptation strategies were:

    • safeguarding climate refuges
    • connecting habitat so wildlife can escape extreme heat, fires or droughts
    • targeting funding
    • avoiding offset sites vulnerable to threats such as sea-level rise.

    But most documents lacked details on implementing these strategies.

    We suggest three practical steps to ensure conservation efforts deliver lasting results in a changing climate.

    Few private land conservation programs or biodiversity offset policies took climate change into account.
    Chung, Y. F., et al, (2025) Biological Conservation

    1. Identify and protect climate refuges

    Climate refuges are areas somewhat shielded from the effects of climate change. Gullies, sheltered slopes and forests with good water supplies can help species survive during heatwaves and droughts.

    These places can provide a lifeline for endangered species and prevent local extinctions. Species may shelter in these areas during climate extremes and recolonise well-connected habitats when conditions improve.

    Protecting climate refuges by restricting land clearing or other damaging activities is a common climate adaptation strategy. We found it featured in six policy documents supporting voluntary conservation programs and biodiversity offsets across Australia. But few policy documents explain where these places are or how to protect them.

    For example, the New South Wales Biodiversity Conservation Investment Strategy lists climate refuges as high-priority assets under threat. The strategy says future investment should target these areas.

    But we found no explanation of how investments would be prioritised, or where to find that information. Without this detail, mentioning climate refuges in policy documents is little more than having good intentions.

    To be effective, refuges need to be mapped, prioritised and supported with appropriate protections and incentives. Nature law reform must strengthen protection of climate refuges to prevent further loss.

    Conservation programs could also specifically incentivise landholders to protect or restore refuges on their properties.

    Here’s how to protect Australia’s native species from climate change (The Climate Council)

    2. Promote the actions that build resilience

    On the ground, conservation actions must adapt to climate change. That could mean doing things differently. For example, planting species more likely to survive future climates, or connecting habitat so wildlife can move to new areas.

    While these strategies are well established, we only found three policy documents that mention them. One is the Heritage Agreement policy in South Australia. This offers guidance and potential funding to help landholders implement these actions.

    As Australia’s nature laws are reformed, funding commitments and conservation guidelines need to follow suit.

    Financial incentives or technical support could be offered to landholders for activities that build resilience. Biodiversity offset policies could also mandate conservation actions that improve climate resilience at offset sites.

    3. Adapting to climate change needs to link policy to on-ground action

    Our research found a clear gap between high-level intent and guidelines for on-ground actions. If they don’t line up, then conservation efforts risk falling short. Field programs may lack legal backing, or legislation may not translate into action where it matters most.

    Climate change should be considered at all levels of conservation policies – from high-level legislation to guidelines for implementing individual programs.

    Policies should include clear and consistent targets informed by climate risk. This should be supported by regulations ensuring compliance and practical guidelines for on-ground action.

    Voluntary conservation programs in New South Wales show how it can be done. State biodiversity conservation legislation includes conserving biodiversity under climate change as a key objective. This can then shape real-world programs. For example, the NSW Conservation Management plan echoes this climate commitment. It makes addressing climate change impacts one of the main targets.

    A chance to get it right

    National nature law reform and state reviews present an opportunity to future-proof Australia’s conservation policies.

    These policies must consider the accelerating pace of change and ensure adaptation is embedded through to action. Such actions must be clear, well-resourced, and equipped with practical tools government agencies and landholders can use.

    Otherwise, we risk making conservation policies unfit for the future – missing a golden opportunity to safeguard biodiversity.



    Read more:
    Want genuine progress towards restoring nature? Follow these 4 steps

    Yi Fei Chung receives funding from a UQ Research Training Scholarship. He is also involving in an Australian Research Council Linkage Project that receives financial and in-kind support from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, Tweed Shire Council, and the NSW Koala Strategy.

    Jonathan Rhodes receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the NSW Government, the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, Tweed Shire Council, the NSW Koala Strategy, and the Queensland Government.

    – ref. Most of Australia’s conservation efforts ignore climate risks – here are 3 fixes – https://theconversation.com/most-of-australias-conservation-efforts-ignore-climate-risks-here-are-3-fixes-257131

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The Bureau of Meteorology issues winter long-range forecast

    Source: Australia Safe Travel Advisories

    29/05/2025

    The Bureau of Meteorology has issued its long-range forecast for winter 2025.

    While winter is a time for cooler weather, the winter long-range forecast shows day and night temperatures are likely to be above average across Australia for this time of the year.

    Winter rainfall is likely to be above average for interior and central parts of the country. For parts of Australia’s tropical north, the south-east and the south-west, rainfall is expected to be in the typical winter range. Typical rainfall means there’s a roughly equal possibility for these areas to receive above, below or near-average rainfall.

    This includes parts of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania that have been affected by prolonged dry conditions as well as parts of New South Wales recently impacted by severe flooding.

    This winter forecast follows an autumn which was much wetter than average in the north and east of Australia, and much drier than average in many southern parts.

    Australia’s fire agencies advise there is an unseasonal increased risk of fire this winter across parts of South Australia and Victoria.

    The Bureau updates the long-range forecast each Thursday and you can search the latest details for your location on the Bureau’s website.

    2025 winter long-range forecast (states and territories)

    New South Wales and the ACT

    Winter rainfall is expected to be above average for much of the state and the ACT.

    However, parts of the state’s east are likely to have rainfall in the typical range.

    Average winter rainfall in recent decades has been between 100 and 300 mm along most of eastern New South Wales, with higher falls in the alpine regions, while in western and central New South Wales winter averages are between 25 and 100 mm.

    Warmer than usual winter maximum temperatures are likely across the state, and warmer than usual winter minimum temperatures are very likely.

    Victoria

    Rainfall is expected to be within the typical winter range for much of the state.

    Average winter rainfall in recent decades ranges between 100 and 300 mm throughout much of the state, while the state’s north-west has 50 to 100 mm and parts of the far south and alpine areas have up to 600 mm on average

    Warmer than usual winter maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely across the state.

    Queensland

    Winter rainfall is expected to be in the typical range for much of the state, with parts of the south and west likely to have above average rainfall.

    Warmer than usual winter maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely across the state.

    Western Australia

    Winter rainfall is expected to be above average for much of the state, except for the south-west where rainfall is likely to be in the typical winter range.

    Average winter rainfall in recent decades has been between 100 and 400 mm for most of the South West Land Division with up to 600 mm in the far south-west, 50 to 100 mm in parts of the west, central and south-east, between 25 and 50 mm mid-state, and less than 10 mm in the north.

    Warmer than usual maximum and minimum winter temperatures are very likely across the state.

    South Australia

    Winter rainfall is likely to be above average for much of the state, except for the far south-east where rainfall is expected to be within the typical range for winter.

    Average winter rainfall in recent decades has been between 50 and 300 mm across the south with some coastal parts up to 400 mm, and 10 to 50 mm for the central and northern parts.

    Warmer than usual winter maximum and minimum temperatures are likely across the state.

    Tasmania

    Winter rainfall is expected to be in the typical range for much of the state.

    Warmer than usual winter maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely across the state.

    Northern Territory

    Winter rainfall is likely to be above average across the southern two-thirds of the Territory.

    Warmer than usual June to August maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely across most of the Territory.

    Autumn Preliminary Summary

    Autumn has been warmer than usual for most of Australia. Throughout much of the south and west, daytime temperatures were very much above average.

    Victoria had its warmest autumn on record, New South Wales had its second warmest, and South Australia and Western Australia had their third warmest autumn on record. Autumn has been drier than average across much of the country’s south and west.

    Slow-moving high pressure systems to the south of the continent are contributing to drier conditions in the south. This pattern has also enhanced coastal troughs off New South Wales and southern Queensland, contributing to the recent above average coastal rainfall in these states.

    Conditions have been wetter than usual for much of the east and north, with rainfall very much above average in large parts of Queensland.

    Tropical activity, including Tropical Cyclone Alfred and a low pressure trough over western Queensland, brought widespread rainfall and flooding during March and April.

    Autumn rainfall was very much below average in large parts of the south-east and the west coast. In Tasmania, autumn rainfall was the second lowest on record.

    The national summary for autumn and May will be on the Bureau’s website from 2 June. Detailed summaries for autumn and May conditions for each state, territory and capital city will be published on 4 June.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese military urges US to stop fanning flames on Taiwan question

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

    A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday urged the U.S. side to stop fanning the flames on the Taiwan question, stressing that such behavior would only backfire.

    Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to reports of U.S. military commanders’ groundless accusations against Chinese actions related to Taiwan.

    Taiwan is part of China. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, which brooks no external interference, Zhang reiterated at the press conference.

    “For the cross-Strait situation, there is no factor more destabilizing than the provocations made by the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists and the disruptions by foreign forces,” Zhang said.

    It is legitimate, necessary, lawful, and justified for the Chinese side to take actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhang told reporters.

    Responding to reports of the U.S. side building up its military presence against the so-called “China’s threat,” Zhang noted that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are the right path for the two countries to engage with each other.

    “The U.S. side should stop conjuring up a ‘powerful enemy’ for itself, whether intentionally or unintentionally,” Zhang said. “Such imagination is irrational and extremely dangerous.”

    The Chinese military will make all-out efforts to enhance its combat readiness and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, the spokesperson added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s global trade plans are in disarray, amid legal appeals to a US court ruling on ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, University of South Australia

    Earlier this week, a US court blocked the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs that US President Donald Trump imposed on imported goods from around 90 nations.

    On Wednesday (US time), the Court of International Trade ruled the emergency authority Trump used to impose the tariffs could not override the role of Congress, which has the right to regulate commerce with other countries.

    The following day, however, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington paused the trade court’s ruling, temporarily reinstating Trump’s tariffs. The earlier court ruling, and the fresh uncertainty prompted by the appeal have left the implementation of Trump’s trade policy in disarray.

    Even though it has been paused, the trade court’s ruling calls into question trade negotiations underway with more than 18 different nations, which are trying to lower these tariffs. Do these countries continue to negotiate or do they wait for the judicial process to play out?

    The Trump administration still has other mechanisms through which it can impose tariffs, but these have limits on the amount that can be imposed, or entail processes which can take months or years. This undermines Trump’s preferred method of negotiation: throwing out large threats and backing down once a concession is reached.

    Emergency powers were a step too far

    The lawsuits were filed by US importers of foreign products and some US states, challenging Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.

    The lawsuits argued the national emergencies cited in imposing the tariffs – the trade deficit and the fentanyl crisis – were not an emergency and not directly addressed by the tariff remedy. The court agreed, and said by imposing tariffs Trump had overstepped his authority.

    The ruling said the executive orders used were “declared to be invalid as contrary to law”.

    The act states the president is entitled to take economic action in the face of “an unusual and extraordinary threat”. It’s mainly been used to impose sanctions on terrorist groups or freeze assets from Russia. There’s nothing in the act that refers to tariffs.

    The decision means all the reciprocal tariffs – including the 10% tariffs on most countries, the 50% tariffs Trump was talking about putting on the EU, and some of the Chinese tariffs – are ruled by the court to be illegal.

    The ruling was based on two separate lawsuits. One was brought by a group of small businesses that argued tariffs materially hurt their business. The other was brought by 12 individual states, arguing the tariffs would materially impact their ability to provide public goods.

    Some industry tariffs will remain in place

    The ruling does not apply to tariffs applied under Section 201, known as safeguard tariffs. They are intended to protect industries from imports allegedly being sold in the US market at unfair prices or through unfair means. Tariffs on solar panels and washing machines were brought under this regulation.

    Also excluded are Section 232 tariffs, which are applied for national security reasons. Those are the steel and aluminium tariffs, the automobile and auto parts tariffs. Trump has declared all those as national security issues, so those tariffs will remain.

    Most of the tariffs against China are also excluded under Section 301. Those are put in place for unfair trade practices, such as intellectual property theft or forced technology transfer. They are meant to pressure countries to change their policies.

    Other trade investigations are still underway

    In addition, there are current investigations related to copper and the pharmaceuticals sector, which will continue. These investigations are part of a more traditional trade process and may lead to future tariffs, including on Australia.

    The Trump administration is still weighing possible sector-specific tariffs on pharmaceuticals.
    Planar/Shutterstock

    Now for the appeals

    Following the subsequent reinstatement of tariffs, we now have to wait for the appeals process to play out. This may take some time. The plaintiffs have until June 5 to respond, and the Trump administration has until June 9.

    In the meantime, there are at least five other legal challenges to tariffs pending in the courts.

    If the appeals court provides a ruling the Trump administration or opponents don’t like, they can appeal to the Supreme Court.

    Alternatively, the White House could direct customs officials to ignore the court and continue to collect tariffs.

    The Trump administration has ignored court orders in the past, particularly on immigration rulings.

    The administration is unlikely to lie down on this. In addition to its appeal process, officials complained about “unelected judges” and “judicial overreach” and may contest the whole process. The only thing that continues to be a certainty is that uncertainty will drive global markets for the foreseeable future.

    Susan Stone 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. Trump’s global trade plans are in disarray, amid legal appeals to a US court ruling on ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs – https://theconversation.com/trumps-global-trade-plans-are-in-disarray-amid-legal-appeals-to-a-us-court-ruling-on-liberation-day-tariffs-257812

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Larsen Requests Nearly $37 Million for 15 Local Projects in Fiscal Year 2026 Spending Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) has requested $36,773,695 for 15 local projects in the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill. Larsen submitted the requests to the House Appropriations Committee as the Committee begins work on legislation to fund the federal government.

    “My priority in shaping spending bills is to invest in Northwest Washington communities,” said Larsen. “I will continue to work closely with community leaders and stakeholders to secure critical funding to create more jobs, build better infrastructure and improve vital services residents rely on.”

    The spending bill will include earmark funding for community projects that local leaders and stakeholders identified as critical to their communities. Larsen secured more than $19.3 million for 15 Northwest Washington projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending package, which was signed into law in March 2024.

    Northwest Washington Community Project Funding Requests

    Larsen requested the following earmarks to invest in Northwest Washington communities:

    Investing in a Cleaner, Greener, Safer and More Accessible Transportation System

    • Community Transit’s Bus Replacement Project: This project will enable Community Transit to purchase two battery electric buses with chargers to replace diesel buses that are beyond their expected useful life. ($3,000,000)
    • City of Lynden’s Pepin Flood, Agriculture, Salmon and Safety Transportation (FASST): This project will complete design and support construction of a new channel for Pepin Creek, and complete design and construction of the Pepin Parkway Bridge. ($2,448,000)
    • Snohomish County’s Everett Intermodal Yard and Curve Improvements: The project will improve rail shipping capability, safety, and reliability for freight and intercity passenger service at the Everett Intermodal Yard. These improvements will benefit both BNSF freight trains and Amtrak Cascades service. ($2,000,000)

    Investing in Community Services

    • City of Anacortes’ Community Event Center: The project will support final design and construction for a central event space to host large-scale tourist-oriented events, local nonprofit events and private rentals located near the Anacortes waterfront and downtown. ($3,000,000)
    • Lopez Island Family Resource Center’s Food Center: This project will construct a mixed-use food center, including a community kitchen, shared farm stand, rental spaces, and gathering areas for pop-up shops, in addition to a home base for the San Juan Food Hub and local food bank. ($2,500,000)
    • City of Edmonds’ Food Bank and Community Engagement Space: This project will support an expanded facility for Edmonds Food Bank, including increased food bank space, a commercial kitchen, an urban garden and community meeting spaces. ($2,000,000)
    • City of Bellingham’s Bellingham Central Library Renovation: This project will support exterior renovation of the Bellingham Central Library, including updated windows, upgraded main and children’s entrances, and a refreshed plaza. ($2,000,000)
    • Whatcom County and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County’s (DVSAS) Douglas Building Preservation: This project will support the renovation of a building used by DVSAS to serve survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. ($1,510,295)
    • Whatcom County Sheriff Office’s Portable Radio Replacement Project: This project will support the purchase of new portable radios to replace outdated radios that are failing, allowing deputies to communicate clearly with dispatch and each other. ($600,000)
    • Orcas Senior Center’s Roof Replacement: This project will repair the failing roof of the facility, ensuring seniors can continue to access services. ($175,000)

    Investing in Education and Workforce Development

    • Edmonds College and Latino Educational Training Institute’s (LETI) Incubator for Family Success: This project will establish a comprehensive community center that includes a cultural retention and arts center, vocational school, commercial kitchen, deli-specialty store and child care circles. ($4,250,000)
    • Western Washington University’s (WWU) Shannon Point Marine Center Research Vessel: This project will support acquisition of a new research vessel for WWU marine and coastal science educational and research activities. ($1,490,400)

    Investing in Critical Infrastructure

    • Port of Everett’s South Marina Terminal Replacement Project: The project will replace the existing Dock 1 in the South Marina that has exceeded its useful life with a new structure that will provide greater utility capacity to serve potential small cruise and passenger ferry service. ($5,000,000)
    • Port of Edmonds’ North Portwalk and Seawall Reconstruction: This project will repair the Port’s seawall, which is urgently needed to protect the Port and surrounding community from flooding and extreme weather. The project will also create new public use spaces for recreational activity and replace the boardwalk to improve public access and increase economic development for the businesses on and surrounding the port. ($4,000,000)
    • Island County’s Recycling and Reuse Station: This project will build a new solid waste transfer station that will significantly enhance the efficiency of the county’s waste management processes, reducing costs for local rate payers and mitigating associated impacts to public health, safety and the environment. ($2,800,000)


    What Northwest Washington Community Leaders and Stakeholders Are Saying

    Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz on the Bus Replacement Project: “Community Transit ensures that people of all walks of life can easily and reliably get from where they are to where they want to be. In order to live up to this mission, it’s critical that buses are maintained and replaced according to schedule. We are grateful to Rep. Larsen for prioritizing the Bus Replacement Project, enabling us to serve customers with lower pollution buses that benefit everyone in Snohomish County.”

    Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis on the Pepin Flood, Agriculture, Salmon and Safety Transportation (FASST) Project: “The Lynden FASST project (Flood, Agriculture, Salmon, Safety and Transportation) is a significant investment in infrastructure for the city to provide housing opportunities in what is a difficult area of the city to develop.  With the support of Representative Larsen on this project, we will continue to develop the needed infrastructure in this area of the city and provide a variety of housing types.  We greatly appreciate Representative Larsen moving this project forward and investing in Lynden.”

    Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers on the Everett Intermodal Yard and Curve Improvements Project: “We are grateful for Congressman Larsen’s support for this vital rail project. If we receive the funding, the renovated intermodal yard will allow us and our rail partners to continue a sustainable and low impact operation for our residents, ensuring public health and safety are prioritized.”

    Anacortes Mayor Matt Miller on the Anacortes Community Event Center project: “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Larsen for championing the Anacortes Community Event Center project. His support for this waterfront facility—developed in partnership with the Port of Anacortes—reflects a strong commitment to strengthening our community, our economy, and our shared public spaces. This proposed investment will help create a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors alike, and we appreciate the Congressman’s leadership in moving this vision forward.”

    Lopez Island Family Resource Center Executive Director Barbara Schultheiss on the Lopez Food Center Project: “The Lopez Food Center believes that a thriving local food system and strong economy are essential to a healthy, sustainable life here on Lopez. The construction of the food center will create a vital central gathering place—that will provide a much needed new space for the food bank; increase sales of local farm products with space for a communal farm stand and the San Juan Food Hub; creates opportunities for food businesses to grow/expand with storage, commercial kitchen and event space; and, provide critical trainings and supports for food businesses.  This shared facility will increase efficient food production and distribution and support the health and well-being of Lopez Island residents by increasing access to nutritious food and hands-on opportunities in the local food economy.”

    Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen on the Edmonds Food Bank and Community Engagement Space Project: “We greatly appreciate the leadership of Rep. Larsen to support the Edmonds Food Bank. We know that many people in our community are struggling with food insecurity, and sadly the numbers are increasing, so this funding request is vitally important.”

    Edmonds Food Bank Executive Director Casey Davis on the Edmonds Food Bank and Community Engagement Space Project: “We are incredibly grateful to Representative Larsen for continuing to advocate for our community. As the need for food assistance continues to rise and other critical funding sources are eliminated, this $2 million request is vital to help us build a new facility that meets the growing needs of the individuals we serve in a respectful and efficient way. A new food bank and community engagement space will allow us to provide not only nutritious and culturally relevant food, but also deeper connection, dignity, and resources for long-term stability for our entire community. We cannot do this alone, we need the strength of continued partnerships to make this vision a reality.”

    Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund on the Bellingham Central Library Renovation Project: “Our library is a well-loved institution that gives community members opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. We are grateful for Rep. Larsen’s request for funding, which would help us make the library more accessible, comfortable, and welcoming, especially for families and children.”

    Whatcom County Health and Community Services Co-Health Officer Dr. Amy Harley on the DVSAS Douglas Building Preservation Project: “Whatcom County Health and Community Services is pleased to support the rehabilitation of the Douglas Building, the home of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS) in Bellingham. Washington. The Douglas building is used to provide critical counseling, legal support, and children’s programs for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation, and is an essential part of the continuum of care for this vulnerable population. The Douglas Building, however, is more than a building – it’s a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Whatcom County. Investing in its rehabilitation will ensure that DVSAS staff can continue to provide high-quality, trauma-informed care in a safe and trusted location, where individuals and families can begin the process of healing with dignity and respect.”

    Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County on the DVSAS Douglas Building Preservation Project: “Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS) extends its deepest gratitude to Congressman Larsen and his team for their efforts in prioritizing funding to preserve our downtown support center. Securing this vital funding guarantees continued access to essential services for individuals experiencing domestic or sexual violence, ensuring survivors have a lifeline to safety and immediate access to crisis services. Congressman Larsen’s commitment to preserving our downtown support center ensures everyone in our community has access to safety and support, now and for years to come.”

    Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley on the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department Portable Radio Replacement Project: “Great training and bullet-proof vests aren’t all that keep our Patrol Deputies safe. Portable radios ensure deputies can communicate hazards, status and needs in the field. During the upcoming World Cup – with matches in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. – increasing traffic through Whatcom County, it is vital that radios are interoperable with international agencies. Our current portables are not. We are grateful to Congressman Rick Larsen for his support of this essential need.”

    Orcas Senior Center Board Member John Ehrmantraut on the Orcas Senior Center Roof Replacement Project: “As Chair of Orcas Senior Center, I can’t stress enough how critical it is to replace our aging roof —not just to protect the building, but to safeguard the essential services and sense of community this space provides to Orcas Island residents. This center is a cornerstone of our island community, and protecting it means protecting the people who rely on it every day.”

    Edmonds College President Dr. Amit Singh on the LETI Incubator for Family Success Project: “Edmonds College is committed to our partnership with LETI in supporting first generation immigrants and their success. This resource center will empower individuals and families by providing assistance with everything from navigating social services to pursuing higher education. I am very thankful to Representative Larsen for his ongoing support of LETI and Edmonds College.”

    Founder & CEO of Latino Educational Training Institute Rosario Reyes on the LETI Incubator for Family Success Project: “We deeply appreciate Representative Larsen’s support for LETI’s Incubator for Family Success and are grateful to Edmonds College for joining us as a vital partner in this initiative. This new center will serve as a lasting community hub for Latino and low-income families in Snohomish County—a place to celebrate culture, host life events, and access essential services. With dedicated offices and classrooms, LETI will continue advancing its mission to empower Latino families through education, business development, family health, and support for financial advancement.”

    Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa on the Shannon Point Marine Center Research Vessel Project: “Western Washington University appreciates Representative Larsen’s efforts to include funding for a new research vessel at Shannon Point Marine Center as part of the FY26 budget. If funded, this investment will significantly enhance our ability to study the Salish Sea and surrounding coastal ecosystems while expanding hands-on research opportunities for Washington’s next generation of scientists.”

    Port of Everett CEO Lisa Lefeber on the South Marina Terminal Replacement Project: “The reconstruction of Dock 1 will bring new commercial opportunities to the Everett waterfront, including possible passenger-only ferry service and small regional cruise visits for the first time to the area. This investment in transportation infrastructure will benefit jobs and recreation, therefore investing in our economy. The Port of Everett appreciates Congressman Larsen’s support of this infrastructure investment.”

    Port of Edmonds Commission President David Preston on the North Portwalk and Seawall Reconstruction Project: “We are grateful to Representative Rick Larsen for his continued support of the North Portwalk and Seawall Reconstruction Project. The Port will utilize funds to advance our project into its third and final phase. Vital repairs to the marina seawall will protect the Port and the surrounding area from flooding, erosion, and storm surges. At the same time, the improvements to the Port’s boardwalk will enhance the public’s use and experience on the waterfront.”

    Chair of the Board of Island County Commissioners Jill Johnson on the Island County Recycling and Reuse Station Project: “We are incredibly grateful for Representative Larsen’s leadership and support for Island County. Federal funding for the Island County Recycling and Reuse Station will improve upon and expand the county’s waste removal and recycling capacity, directly enabling growth and increasing environmental resiliency.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Seizure of 3D printed handguns

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Seizure of 3D printed handguns

    Friday, 30 May 2025 – 9:24 am.

    Police have seized two 3D printed handguns, ammunition and illicit drugs during a search of a Risdon Vale property.
    Officers from the Tasmania Police Southern Drugs and Firearms Unit, the Dog Handling Unit and specialist resources conducted the search on Thursday.
    As a result, a 29-year-old man has been charged with several drug-related offences, including possessing a controlled drug, possessing a controlled plant, cultivating a controlled plant and selling a controlled drug.
    He has also been charged with unlawful possession of property and with possessing ammunition when not the holder of an appropriate licence.
    Police investigations are continuing into the 3D printed firearms found at the property.
    Anyone with information about the possession of illegal firearms, or parts, can contact police on 131 444, or report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Announces More Than $4 Million to Reimburse Costs for Emergency Repairs to Maine Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that multiple agencies in Maine have been awarded $4,079,583.91 in grant funding for emergency repairs to roads and transportation infrastructure that were damaged by severe storms between April 2023 and January 2024. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program, which reimburses states agencies for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways and facilities damaged by natural disasters.

    “Severe weather in recent years has caused serious damage to infrastructure across our state,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will help recoup the costs of emergency response efforts to restore critical transportation routes for Maine communities.”

    The grant funding is allocated as follows:

    1. MaineDOT (Franklin County): $1,813,478 to reimburse costs for repairs following the June 2023 heavy rainstorm that caused significant road washouts and damage to culverts.
    1. National Park Service (Hancock County): $1,000,000 to reimburse costs for road and trail repairs on Mount Desert Island following two coastal storms with record winds in January 2024.
    1. MaineDOT (Statewide): $967,103 to reimburse costs for emergency repairs in 35 locations across the state following storm and flooding events in April and May of 2023 that caused shoulder and roadway washouts and damage to pavement, embankments, and culverts.
    1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Statewide): $299,003 to reimburse costs for repairs at multiple wildlife refuges in Maine following the December 2023 Nor’easter.

    Eligibility for the FHWA Emergency Relief Program is dependent on a presidential or gubernatorial disaster declaration, and it is the responsibility of individual states and federal agencies to request emergency relief funds for assistance in covering the cost of necessary repairs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Career Offender Is Sentenced To More Than 15 Years In Prison For Distributing Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ASHEVILLE, N.C. –Ronald Lee Peak, 45, of Hendersonville, N.C., was sentenced today to 188 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

    According to court records and court proceedings, law enforcement learned that Peak was distributing firearms and methamphetamine in and around Asheville and Hendersonville. Investigators used a confidential informant (CI) to purchase firearms and methamphetamine from Peak at least two times between July and August 2022. The first time Peak sold the CI a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number in Hendersonville, and later, sold 36.82 grams of methamphetamine in Asheville. The second time Peak sold the CI 27.175 grams of methamphetamine and a .32 caliber pistol.

    Peak pleaded guilty on August 16, 2024, to distribution of methamphetamine. Court records indicate Peak has prior state convictions and as a result he qualified for an increased sentence as a career offender. Peak will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons after he completes his state prison sentence.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Buncombe Country Sheriff’s Office, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister Olszewski regarding wildfires in Manitoba

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 29, 2025 – Ottawa (Ontario)

    Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, issued the following statement:

    “Early this morning, I approved two Requests for Federal Assistance from the Government of Manitoba to support evacuation efforts in response to the devastating wildfires threatening Pimicikamak Creen Nation and the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation.

    The Government Operations Centre is working with the Canadian Armed Forces, and other federal and provincial partners, to deploy all necessary federal resources, and ensure Manitoba has the supports it needs.

    I also wish to express my profound gratitude to the firefighters, first responders, emergency management officials, and local volunteers who continue to help those in need in these communities.”

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Spsa Fire Ban Revised to Prohibit the Use of ATVs and UTVs

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 29, 2025

    Effective as of 5 p.m. on May 29, 2025, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has revised the provincial fire ban to prohibit the use of All Terrain Vehicles and Utility Terrain Vehicles in the following areas of the province:

    • All vacant Crown land;
    • Provincial parks located within the provincial forest; and,
    • The provincial forest, including the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District.

    The fire ban also prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the designated boundary. 

    “The vast majority of the active fires in the province are caused by human activity,” SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts said. “By revising the fire ban to prohibit ATVs and UTVs, we are taking a significant step to reducing the number of fire starts.” 

    In Saskatchewan, human-caused wildfires typically start in accessible areas near communities and roads. Simple actions like not driving a vehicle on dry grass, drowning campfires until embers are cool and talking to young children about fire safety can make an impact on the number of fires in Saskatchewan.

    The SPSA continues to encourage 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. 

    As of 4 p.m., there are 17 wildfires burning in the province. To date, Saskatchewan has had 207 wildfires, which is 40 more than the same point in time last year of 167. The wildfire 5-year average in Saskatchewan to date is 125. 

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

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

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

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

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law Expanding Healthcare Services Agricultural Workers; Protecting Colorado From Wildfires; Keeping Colorado Students Safe and Increasing Government Transparency

    Source: US State of Colorado

    KEENESBURG/DENVER – Today, Governor Polis started the day in Keenesburg, signing SB25-128 – Agricultural Worker Service Providers Access Private Property, sponsored by Senators Byron Pelton and Dylan Roberts, and Representatives Karen McCormick and Ty Winter. This law helps ensure agricultural workers have access to health care services when needed. 

    “Colorado is proud of our strong agricultural community and economy. Making sure that Colordans who work in agriculture have access to necessary health care services when needed is critical to ensuring we continue our work to save people money on healthcare and support our farmers and ranchers,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed SB25-007 – Increase Prescribed Burns, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Janice Marchman, and Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Ron Weinberg. This law expands prescribed burn capacity, and strengthens Colorado’s fire mitigation efforts. 

    “Wildfires affect everyone, and in Colorado we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent devastating wildfires and protect our communities. Prescribed burns are an important tool we can use to reduce fire fuel and prevent small flames from becoming major blazes, keeping Coloradans safe and our communities,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed HB25-1293 – Drug Overdose Education & Opioid Antagonists in School, sponsored by Representative Jackson, Minority Leader Pugliese, and Senators Pelton and Snyder. 

    Governor Polis signed the following bills into law administratively: 

    • HB25-1163 – Free Access to State Parks for Colorado Ute Tribes, sponsored by Representatives Katie Stewart and Rick Taggart, and Senators Dylan Roberts and Cleave Simpson
    • HB25-1294 – Court Costs Assessed to Juveniles, sponsored by Representatives Jamie Jackson and Junie Joseph, and Senators Tony Exum and Julie Gonzales
    • SB25-190 – Offender Release from Custody, sponsored by Senators Matt Ball and Julie Gonzales, and Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Matt Soper
    • SB25-186 – Sunset Workers’ Compensation Providers Accreditation Program, sponsored by Senators Winter and Ball, and Senators Hamrick and Lieder
    • HB25-1240 – Protections for Tenants with Housing Subsidies, sponsored by Representatives Joseph and Froelich, and Senators Winter and Wallace
    • HB25-1219 – Requirements for Better Understanding Metropolitan Districts, sponsored by Representatives Jacque Phillips and Carlos Barron, and Senators Kyle Mullica and Liza Frizell
    • SB25-301 – Remove Authorization Requirement Adjust Chronic Prescription, sponsored by Senators Wallace and Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Lieder and Johnson
    • SB25-118 – Health Insurance Prenatal Care No Cost Sharing, sponsored by Senators – Bridges and Jodeh, and Representatives Stewart and Jackson
    • SB25-296 – Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Examinations, sponsored by Senators Michaelson Jenet, and Representatives Bird and Stewart
    • SB25-072 – Concerning the Regulation of Kratom, sponsored by Senators Mullica and Pelton, and Representatives Lindsay and Soper

    Governor Polis vetoed the following bills: 

    • HB25-1122 – Automated Driving System Commercial Motor Vehicle, sponsored by Representatives Sheila Lieder and Chris Richardson, and Senators Tom Sullivan and Larry Liston
    • HB25-1026 – Repeal Copayment for Department of Corrections Inmate Health Care, sponsored by Representatives Michael Carter and Lorena García, and Senators Iman Jodeh and Nick Hinrichsen.
    • HB25-1088 – Costs for Ground Ambulance Services, sponsored by Representatives McCormick and Brown, and Senators Baisley and Mullica
    • HB25-1004 – No Pricing Coordination Between Landlords, sponsored by Representatives Woodrow and Mabrey, and Senators Gonzales and Hinrichsen

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom proclaims Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    Source: US State of California Governor

    May 29, 2025

    Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

    The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:

    PROCLAMATION

    California is home to more than 6 million Californians of Asian or Pacific Islander descent, each invaluable to our state and nation. During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we celebrate all the ways in which AAPI Californians enrich and strengthen our society as part of California’s incredibly diverse heritage.

    Unfortunately, throughout our history, AAPI communities have been the target of violence, disenfranchisement, discrimination, and other xenophobic policies at the federal, state, and local levels. Echoes of this dark history are still evident in shameful anti-Asian hate acts seen across the country. We must confront past and present racism and fight for the safety and inclusion of our AAPI friends and neighbors, who continue to show strength and resilience in the face of this discrimination.

    AAPI communities in California have created and sustained some of the oldest and strongest cultural enclaves in the country, offering refuge and connection during times of hardship. Rebuilt from the ground up after the 1906 earthquake and fire, Chinatown in San Francisco is the oldest and largest in North America. All three remaining Japantowns in the country are in California – each with residents resilient enough to rebuild these thriving neighborhoods after they returned from unjust imprisonment in internment camps to ransacked homes and businesses. Across California, communities like Cambodia Town in Long Beach, Little Saigon in Orange County, Historic Filipinotown and Koreatown in Los Angeles, and Little India in Artesia are now thriving cultural enclaves, but many of these distinct neighborhoods were born of discrimination and segregation. Today, Californians from over 30 different countries and communities, including Native Hawaiians, live inside and outside of these historic boundaries. Their pride in their heritage and in themselves, in spite of prejudice, has always been and continues to be foundational to this state. 

    Few movements and turning points in California history were not shaped, at least in part, by AAPI leaders. Throughout California’s history, AAPI communities have driven change, doing so not just for themselves but in solidarity and partnership with other communities. We would not be the same without the AAPI communities and individuals that have made this state the leader it is in arts and culture, in labor rights and human rights, in business starts, in research, and so much more.

    During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, California takes the opportunity to pay tribute to the irreplaceable legacy of our AAPI communities, their incredible strength and resilience, and their essential role in driving our state and nation forward. This month and every month, let us celebrate all members of our California family and work together to achieve the promise of a California for all.

    NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 27th day of May 2025.

    GAVIN NEWSOM
    Governor of California

    ATTEST:
    SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
    Secretary of State

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Patients and pupils to benefit from school and hospital repairs

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Patients and pupils to benefit from school and hospital repairs

    Government investing £1.2 billion to fix crumbling hospitals and schools across England

    • Government to deliver vital maintenance in hospitals to help prevent cancelled appointments and operations   

    • Focus put back on education as classrooms and school facilities upgraded to be safe and warm   

    • Combined £1.2billion funding is part of government’s promise to deliver public infrastructure improvements through its Plan for Change   

    Patients and pupils across England are set to benefit from nearly £1.2billion worth of essential maintenance fixes being rolled out at hospitals and schools.   

    Over 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will be handed £750million to tackle long-term problems such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation and electrical issues, helping to prevent thousands of cancelled operations and appointments.   

    And children at 656 schools and sixth forms will benefit from a share of £470million for projects like fixing crumbling roofs and removing dangerous asbestos – restoring pride in our classrooms and undoing years of dangerous neglect.  

    The funding is part of the government’s mission to fix the dire state of public service infrastructure it inherited and deliver investment and reform through its Plan for Change.  

    It will help people benefit from better services and facilities across the health system, and supporting children to get the best start in life.   

    Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:    

    A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.   

    We are on a mission to rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation.   

    Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.

    Fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations, with services disrupted over 4,000 times in 2023/24 due to issues with poor quality buildings.   

    A wide range of facilities and services will benefit, including over £100million for maternity units to enable better care for mothers and their newborns. This will fund critical improvements such as replacing outdated ventilation systems in neonatal intensive care units, creating optimal environmental conditions for vulnerable babies and their families during challenging times.  

    The funding will also support schools and sixth form colleges that urgently need repairs – giving parents the confidence that their children are learning in safety and comfort.   

    It is part of the £2.1 billion investment into the school estate this year, as the government forges on with delivering for the public through our Plan for Change – by investing in our children, their futures and the future of this country.   

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:   

    The defining image of the school estate under the previous government was children sitting under steel props to stop crumbling concrete falling on their heads. It simply isn’t good enough.  

    Parents expect their children to learn in a safe warm environment. It’s what children deserve, and it is what we are delivering.   

    This investment is about more than just buildings – it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.

    This investment will deliver energy efficient, warm classrooms with safe outdoor spaces that are not just fit for lessons, but for the future. Creating a welcoming and supportive school environment for generations of children so they can achieve and thrive as they progress through their education.    

    The school and hospital funding packages were confirmed in last year’s Autumn Budget, in which an extra £26billion was secured for the NHS.    

    Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS England, said:  

    I welcome this funding as a long-overdue step toward tackling the unacceptable state of parts of the NHS estate. Too many buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair, putting patient safety and staff working conditions at risk. 

    It is now vital that NHS England and local leaders deliver – every pound must be spent wisely, with clear accountability and a laser focus on improving frontline care.

    The government has already delivered over 3 million additional NHS appointments since June 2024, exceeding its 2 million target. Additionally, over 1,000 GP surgeries are being modernised to enable 8.3 million more appointments annually.    

    It has also invested in new technology, including 13 DEXA scanners delivering 29,000 extra bone scans and £70m in radiotherapy machines delivering up to 27,500 additional treatments per year by March 2027.  

    The Department for Education confirmed a £2.1bn investment for the school estate for 2025-26, almost £300 million more than the previous year, to fix the foundations of our school estate.    

    A further £1.4 billion will back the acceleration of the School Rebuilding Programme this year, with a commitment to kickstart projects at 100 schools this year alone.  

    Rejuvenating the school estate by delivering new, high-quality buildings that are not just energy efficient but fit for all pupils needs.  

    This will provide high-tech facilities that will raise the standards of education through new sports halls, IT rooms, school kitchens and playgrounds that children and staff can enjoy for years to come.    

    Projects across schools and hospitals will be delivered during the 2025 to 2026 financial year, with the first upgrades expected to begin this summer.      

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Small but mighty Sunshine Coast community forest stepping up in local economy

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Sunshine Coast Community Forest is being recognized for its excellence in forestry and its effect on the community, receiving the 2025 Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Forestry on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

    “When you hear about local leaders and the incredible benefits they bring to their community through forestry, you can just tell this is what the future of forestry looks like,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “The Sunshine Coast Community Forest is this future and is leading with a community-first approach that weaves together local economic resiliency with healthy forests to support those who call the Sunshine Coast home.”

    The Sunshine Coast Community Forest is one of the smallest in the province, but it has an outsized impact on its community, investing almost $25 million since 2007 in local infrastructure, recreation, economic development and community initiatives across the Sunshine Coast. A recent staple of the community forest, the firewood program, is delivering affordable and sustainably sourced firewood. The program employs people facing barriers in the workforce and provides the firewood at no cost to families facing financial hardship by helping them keep their heat on whether they are elderly, living with a disability or recovering from an injury.

    With a commitment to community involvement and transparency, the Sunshine Coast Community Forest is involved in local events, sends out bi-weekly newspaper updates and an email newsletter, has a community advisory panel and carries out field trips for school children, university researchers, government representatives and community members.

    “It means a lot to us to be recognized among the many exceptional community forests in B.C.,” said Sara Zieleman, executive director, Sunshine Coast Community Forest. “We’re grateful, first and foremost, to our community with whom we share this success – the many people who generously contribute their time, and the organizations that collaborate with us. This recognition reflects the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our volunteers and a shared commitment to stewarding the land responsibly. We’re proud to be part of a network of community forests working to create social, ecological and economic benefits across the province.”

    The Sunshine Coast Community Forest takes an ecosystem-based management approach that prioritizes forest health, biodiversity and long-term sustainability. It does this by implementing retention systems to reduce the effects of logging, while taking conservation measures to protect wildlife habitats, protect watersheds and reduce the risk of fire.

    Community forests are managed by a combination of local governments, community groups and First Nations. At the heart of community forests is a mandate to support local communities and regions, through contributing to a more diversified forest economy and supporting opportunities in recreation, wildlife and watershed management.

    The Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Forestry was established in 2016 to honour the life and legacy of the late Robin Hood. Hood was a British Columbian with a passion for local community forestry. Hood was active in the woodlot and community forest communities.

    Quotes:

    Randy Spyksma, president, BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) –

    “The BCCFA board of directors and staff extend our sincere congratulations to the Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF), the well-deserving recipient of this year’s Robin Hood Memorial Award. The SCCF truly exemplifies excellency in community forestry through dedication to ecosystem-based management, commitment to wildfire risk reduction, and fostering meaningful relationships in their community. We are proud to honour their hard work and the strides they have made in long-term forest stewardship around Sechelt.”

    Randene Neill, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast –

    “Congratulations to the leaders of the Sunshine Coast Community Forest on their well-deserved award. The leaders of the Sunshine Coast Community Forest exemplify the care and intention we have for our forests locally and across B.C. They fulfil their mission by creating a legacy by balancing the environmental, economic and social aspirations of the community.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The Sunshine Coast Community Forest is managed by the District of Sechelt and is committed to representation from across the region, with various Sunshine Coast representatives as board members.
    • The Sunshine Coast Community Forest was established in 2007 with an allowable annual cut of 20,000 cubic metres.
    • There are 62 community forests operating in British Columbia.
    • The Community Forest Agreement program contributes more than 2.25 million cubic metres of fibre per year, or 3% of the provincial total cut.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about the Sunshine Coast Community Forest, visit: https://www.sccf.ca/

    To learn more about community forests in B.C., visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/forest-tenures/timber-harvesting-rights/community-forest-agreements

    To learn more about the BC Community Forest Association, visit: https://bccfa.ca/

    A tribute with more information about Robin Hood’s effect on the community forest program can be found on the BC Community Forest Association website:
    http://bccfa.ca/rip-our-beloved-robin-hood

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on the Second Review of the Extended Credit Facility with Togo

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 29, 2025

    Press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after meetings with the authorities of a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary conclusions of the meetings, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • IMF Staff and the Togolese authorities have reached staff-level agreement on economic policies and reforms to conclude the second review of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF)-supported program. Once the review is completed by the IMF Executive Board, Togo will have access to SDR 44.0 million (about US$58.4 million) in financing.
    • The IMF-supported program is broadly on track, with robust growth and moderating inflation. All quantitative targets and all structural benchmarks at end-December 2024 met, except for the quantitative performance criterion on the fiscal balance.
    • The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to implementing sound policies, including by raising fiscal revenue, containing debt accumulation, and making growth more inclusive, as well as enacting structural reforms to enhance public financial management, strengthen the financial sector, and enhance governance.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team, led by Hans Weisfeld held meetings with the Togolese authorities in Lomé and Washington in recent months to discuss progress under the authorities’ economic program supported by an IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.

    At the conclusion of the discussions, Mr. Weisfeld issued the following statement:

    “The mission has had constructive and productive discussions with the Togolese authorities and commended them on the sustained progress in advancing reforms. A staff-level agreement was reached on all policies, including key parameters of the 2025 fiscal framework and reform measures going forward, in line with the program‘s objectives.

    “Economic growth reached an estimated 5.3 percent in 2024 and is projected at 5.2 percent in 2025 and around 5.5 percent per year thereafter, barring major adverse shocks. Inflation has continued to slow, reaching 2.6 percent in April 2025 (annual average). 

    “The IMF-supported government economic policy program is broadly on track. The authorities met all quantitative performance criteria for end-2024 except the criterion on the fiscal balance. Tax revenue in 2024 increased as planned, while non-tax revenue even exceeded expectations. At the same time, financing support provided to local communities affected by floods and the purchase of a large stock of fertilizers that are being made available to farmers at subsidized prices meant that government debt rose more quickly than planned, slowing progress toward stronger debt sustainability. To help the public understand budget execution and the drivers of debt, the authorities have published an explanation of fiscal developments in 2024. This is a very welcome step.

    “At the same time, the authorities made good progress on structural reforms. They met both outstanding structural benchmarks set for end-2024 by (i) strengthening the budgetary risk analysis report accompanying the draft annual budgets; and (ii) injecting substantial funds into the remaining public bank to bring its regulatory capital in line with the requirements set by the regional banking regulator. The authorities also aim to continue to enhance governance. They (i) are working on strengthening the public procurement legal framework to require the publication of the names of beneficial owners of companies awarded procurement contracts; and (ii) have invited an IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment and committed to publishing its findings.

    “It will be very important to make good progress on the planned growth-friendly and socially responsible fiscal consolidation to reinforce debt sustainability while continuing reforms to enhance public financial management, strengthen the financial sector, and enhance governance.

    “The IMF approved the ECF arrangement in March 2024 to help the authorities address the legacies of shocks seen since 2020, notably the COVID pandemic and the increase in global food and fuel prices. The Togolese authorities were able to lessen the impacts of these shocks on the Togolese economy and population, but this came at the price of large fiscal deficits and a rapidly rising debt burden. The IMF-supported government program aims to (i) make growth more inclusive while strengthening debt sustainability, and (ii) conduct structural reforms to support growth and limit fiscal and financial sector risks. The IMF provides financing of SDR 293.60 million (about US$ 390 million) on favorable terms to Togo through the ECF arrangement. The IMF Executive Board completed the First Review of the program in December 2024.   

    The staff team looks forward to continuing the fruitful dialogue with the Togolese authorities and stakeholders in the period ahead, including in the context of the mission for the Third Review in the second half of 2025.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Kwabena Akuamoah-Boateng

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/29/pr-25166-togo-imf-reaches-agreement-on-the-2nd-rev-of-ecf-with-togo

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police seeking information about vehicle in relation to Waikaia fires

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Brian McKinney, Gore CIB

    Gore Police are continuing to investigate a suspicious house fire in Waikaia last year.

    Just after midnight on Wednesday 21 February 2024, emergency services were called to the fire on Elswick Street.

    The investigation team have now identified a vehicle of interest, and we’re keen to know more about its movements around the time of the fire.

    The vehicle is a red BMW Z3 convertible, like the one pictured, which was seen leaving the Waikaia township at speed around the time of the fire. On that same night, the vehicle was also observed travelling towards the Riversdale area, again at speed.

    We would like to speak to anyone who has information about this vehicle, or one matching the description. Additionally, if anyone has any footage of this vehicle in the area around 21 February 2024.

    If you have any information that could assist, please contact Police via 105 either over the phone or online.

    Reference file number 240222/8704.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, DeGette, Crow, Pettersen Pressure Trump Admin to Not Gut FEMA Ahead of Wildfire Season

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Sec. Noem recently announced plans to eliminate FEMA 

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representatives Joe Neguse, Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen called on the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to preserve Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which helps communities prepare for and recovery from disasters like wildfires.

    “The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters make FEMA’s role in coordinating federal disaster response more crucial than ever,” wrote the lawmakers. “Our nation depends on FEMA’s expertise and swift action during emergencies, and we cannot afford to weaken this vital resource.”

    Specifically, the lawmakers highlighted FEMA’s crucial support after the 2021 Marshall Fire and how cutting FEMA’s workforce jeopardizes current recovery efforts and future disaster relief. 

    The lawmakers continued: “The 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed over 1,084 homes—the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. FEMA provided critical support that helped Coloradans recover, rebuild infrastructure, and prepare for future emergencies.”

    The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

    Dear Secretary Noem:

    We write to express our concern regarding proposed reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including its potential dissolution. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters make FEMA’s role in coordinating federal disaster response more crucial than ever. We urge careful evaluation of any agency restructuring to avoid compromising our nation’s ability to effectively respond to emergencies.

    Like many states, Colorado has experienced devastating disasters in recent years. Destructive wildfires and severe flooding have displaced families and left communities struggling to rebuild. The 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed over 1,084 homes—the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. FEMA provided critical support that helped Coloradans recover, rebuild infrastructure, and prepare for future emergencies. Cutting FEMA’s workforce, closing mitigation programs such as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), or even dissolving the agency completely threaten to jeopardize ongoing recovery efforts and hinder our ability to swiftly and effectively respond in the future.

    We respectfully urge you to maintain strong funding and staffing levels for FEMA, and ensure that any reforms are based on a demonstrated need to cut red tape in service of facilitating swifter assistance. Anything less threatens to delay response times, slow rebuilding efforts, and leave communities more vulnerable to future disasters. Our nation depends on FEMA’s expertise and swift action during emergencies, and we cannot afford to weaken this vital resource.

    Thank you for your consideration.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Earth’s seasonal rhythms are changing, putting species and ecosystems at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Hernández Carrasco, PhD Candidate in Ecology, University of Canterbury

    Shutterstock/Colin Stephenson

    Seasonality shapes much of life on Earth. Most species, including humans, have synchronised their own rhythms with those of Earth’s seasons.

    Plant growth cycles, the migration of billions of animals, and even aspects of human culture – from harvest rituals to Japanese cherry blossom viewings – are dictated by these dominant rhythms.

    However, climate change and many other human impacts are altering Earth’s cycles. While humans can adapt their behaviour by shifting the timing of crop harvests or Indigenous fire-burning practices, species are less able to adapt through evolution or range shifts.

    Our new research highlights how the impacts of shifting seasons can cascade through ecosystems, with widespread repercussions that may be greater than previously thought.

    This puts species and ecosystems at risk the world over. We are still far from having a full picture of what changes in seasonality mean for the future of biodiversity.

    Almost every ecosystem on Earth has seasons

    From tropical forests to polar ice caps and abyssal depths, the annual journey of Earth around the Sun brings distinct seasons to all corners of the planet.

    These seasonal rhythms shape ecosystems everywhere, whether through monsoonal rains in equatorial regions or the predictable melt of snowpack in mountain ranges.

    But the seasonality of these processes is changing rapidly due to local human impacts. This includes dams in many rivers, which completely and abruptly disrupt their natural flow, and deforestation, which changes the timing of the onset of the rain season.

    These local influences are compounded by climate change, which is systematically modifying seasonal patterns in snow cover, temperature and rainfall around the world.

    Monsoon rains represent one of Earth’s major seasonal cycles.
    Shutterstock/Milju varghese

    From the earlier seasonal melting of glaciers and the snowpack to the disruption of monsoonal rain cycles, the effects of these changes are being felt widely.

    Many important ecological processes we rely on could be affected. A mismatch between plankton blooms and the life cycles of fish could affect the health of fisheries. Tourism dependent on seasonal migrations of large mammals could suffer. Even the regulation of the climate system itself is tightly controlled by seasonal processes.

    Changing seasonality threatens to destabilise key ecological processes and human society.

    Evolutionary adaptations to seasonal fluctuations

    The seasonal rhythms of ecosystems are obvious to any observer. The natural timing of annual flowers and deciduous trees – tuned to match seasonal variations in rainfall, temperature and solar radiation – transforms the colours of whole landscapes throughout the year.

    The arrival and departure of migratory birds, the life cycle of insects and amphibians, and the mating rituals of large mammals can completely change the soundscapes with the seasons.

    These examples illustrate how seasonality acts as a strong evolutionary force that has shaped the life cycles and behaviour of most species. But, in the face of unprecedented changes to Earth’s natural rhythms, these adaptations can lead to complex negative impacts.

    Snowshoe hares are struggling to adapt to shifts in the timing of the first snowfall and melt.
    Shutterstock/Karen Hogan

    For instance, snowshoe hares change coat colour between winter and summer to blend in with their surroundings and hide from predators. They are struggling to adapt to shifts in the timing of the first snow and snowmelt. The impact of changing seasonality on hare populations is linked with changes in predation rates. But predators themselves may also be out of sync with the new onset of seasons.

    Our research highlights that these kinds of complex interactions can propagate impacts through ecosystems, linking individual species’ seasonal adaptations to broader food web dynamics, or even ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration.

    Although biologists have studied seasonal processes for centuries, we know surprisingly little about how they mediate any ecological impacts of altered seasonality. Our findings show we are likely underestimating these impacts.

    The distinct mechanisms involved deserve further attention. Until we account for these complex processes, we risk overlooking important ecological and human consequences.

    The more we understand, the better prepared we are

    Understanding the extent to which impacts of altered seasonality can interact and propagate from individuals to whole ecosystems is a big challenge. It will require different types of research, complex mathematical modelling and the design of new experiments. But it is not easy to manipulate the seasons in an experiment.

    Scientists have come up with inventive ways of experimentally testing the effects of altered seasonality. This includes manually removing snow early in spring, manipulating rainfall patterns through irrigation and moving plants and animals to places with different seasonality.

    Some researchers have even recovered seeds from centuries-old collections to sprout them and look at how recent changes in climate have affected plant populations.

    These efforts will be of great value for forecasting impacts and designing effective management strategies beneficial for ecosystems and humans alike. Such efforts help to anticipate future shocks and prioritise interventions.

    For instance, understanding the mechanisms that allow native and non-native species to anticipate seasonal changes has proven useful for “tricking” non-native plants into sprouting only in the wrong season. This gives an advantage to native plants.

    Similarly, studies on the molecular mechanisms involved in the response to seasonality can help us determine whether certain species are likely to adapt to further changes in seasonal patterns. This research can also point out genes that could be targeted for improving the resilience and productivity of crops.

    Not only are we likely underestimating the ecological risks of shifting seasons, we tend to forget how much our everyday lives depend on them. As Earth’s rhythms change, the risks multiply. But so does our opportunity to better understand, anticipate and adapt to these changes.

    Daniel Hernández Carrasco receives funding from a Doctoral Scholarship by the University of Canterbury.

    Jonathan Tonkin receives funding from a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Centres of Research Excellence Bioprotection Aotearoa and Te Pūnaha Matatini.

    – ref. Earth’s seasonal rhythms are changing, putting species and ecosystems at risk – https://theconversation.com/earths-seasonal-rhythms-are-changing-putting-species-and-ecosystems-at-risk-257660

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Applauds EPA for Awarding Nearly $4 Million in Grants to Clean Up Communities Across Kansas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) released the following statement after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the selection of nearly $4 million in Brownfields Grants to clean up Kansas communities.
    “I am grateful to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for awarding nearly $4 million to the Sunflower State,” Senator Marshall said. “This funding will help us revitalize our communities, create opportunities for growth, and protect Kansans’ health. Thanks to President Donald Trump’s leadership, the EPA is restoring American greatness by ensuring we have the cleanest air, land, and water while being good stewards of American taxpayer dollars.”
    “The $267 million in Brownfield Grants will transform contaminated properties into valuable spaces for businesses and housing, creating new opportunities that strengthen local economies and directly benefit American families,” EPA Administrator Zeldin said. “EPA’s Brownfields program demonstrates how environmental stewardship and economic prosperity complement each other. Under President Trump’s leadership, EPA is Powering the Great American Comeback, ensuring our nation has the cleanest air, land, and water while supporting sustainable growth and fiscal responsibility.”
    EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Janet Stanek, and Mitchell County Economic Development Director Emily Benedick also joined Senator Marshall and EPA Administrator Zeldin in releasing the following statements.
    “EPA Region 7 is proud to work with our partners across the state of Kansas, advancing cooperative federalism and empowering local and state partners to take the lead in revitalizing their communities,” EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy said. “This collaborative approach ensures fiscal responsibility, promotes economic development, and transforms potentially contaminated properties into clean, usable land that supports long-term growth and sustainability.”
    “The Community Wide Assessment Grant for State and Tribal will help increase property values and create jobs across Kansas,” Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Janet Stanek said. “Receiving these substantial dollars to support the redevelopment of brownfields throughout the state not only benefits the environment, but it elevates communities and industries by turning underutilized and vacant properties into productive ones. This is a win for the entire state.”
    “The City of Beloit is incredibly grateful and excited to receive EPA Brownfield Cleanup funding. This funding enables our community to repurpose two vacant buildings into housing, a critical need in our rural community,” Mitchell County Economic Development Director Emily Benedick said. “This grant gives us the peace of mind to know we are providing a safe environment for future housing development.”
    The following organizations in Kansas have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding:

    The City of Beloit has been selected to receive $418,620. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Kansas Industrial School Campus, located at 1720 N. Hersey Avenue. The 0.8-acre cleanup site operated as a juvenile detention center for girls and has been vacant since 2009. It is contaminated with inorganic contaminants. Grant funds will also be used to conduct community engagement activities.
    The Flint Hills Regional Council has been selected to receive $1 million. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund (RLF), from which Flint Hills Regional Council Inc. will provide up to three loans and up to two subgrants to support cleanup activities. Grant funds will also be used to establish the RLF, market the program, and support community engagement activities. RLF activities will focus on Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee counties, with a focus on the cities of Herington, Junction City, and Manhattan.
    The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been selected to receive $2 million. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 116 Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds will also support the development of at least three cleanup plans and at least one community meeting annually, with each community to provide general updates on the grant. The target area for this grant includes the Oak Grove neighborhood in Kansas City and the cities of Eureka and El Dorado. Priority sites include Land Bank properties in Oak Grove; a former horse racetrack, a former nursing home, sites adjacent to the existing fire department to accommodate its expansion, Memorial Hall, and the former Masonic Lodge in Eureka; and the Grizzly Development in El Dorado.
    The City of Topeka has been selected to receive $500,000. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct eight Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds will also be used to inventory brownfield sites and support reuse planning and community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the City of Topeka. Priority sites include the 36-acre, former White Lakes Mall and two former schools.

    Background:
    EPA’s Brownfields program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfield investments have leveraged over $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding created over 220,500 jobs from both public and private sources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $9.6 million in Hurricane Ida, wildfire aid for Louisiana

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $9,623,017 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for the Jefferson Parish Public School System, the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

    “It’s impossible to keep Louisianians down, and our people’s response to storms like Hurricane Ida and deadly wildfires proves that. This $9.6 million will help cover Louisiana’s response to the Tiger Island and Highway 113 fires, and help with school restoration costs in Jefferson Parish,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $3,589,728 to the Jefferson Parish Public School System for repairs to the J.D. Meisler Middle School campus due to Hurricane Ida damage.
    • $3,156,954 to the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness for emergency management costs sustained due to the Tiger Island Fire.
    • $2,876,335 to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry for emergency response costs sustained due to the Highway 113 Fire.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Facing Up To Life In Federal Prison For Firearm And Drug Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of a six-count indictment charging Darius Reshodd Alexander (29, Eustis) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, up to 5 years in prison on the controlled substances offenses, and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to life, for carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, which must be served consecutively to one another and to any other prison term imposed in the case. 

    According to the indictment, Alexander has five previous felony convictions. On December 3, 2023, and on October 16, 2024, he was in possession of marijuana and firearms, which he carried during and in relation to the marijuana-trafficking crimes. At the time of the December 2023 offenses, Alexander had three prior felony convictions. At the time of the October 2024 offenses, however, he had five felony convictions—two of which he had just received the month prior. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Daytona Beach Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

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

    MIL Security OSI –