NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Eighth co-conspirator convicted for role in botched human smuggling attempt that resulted in 2 aliens being shot

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON – Mailon Almendares-Martinez, a 21-year-old resident of New Orleans, was convicted of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens April 30 for his role in a botched human smuggling attempt that resulted in two of the aliens being shot by suspected rival smugglers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation that has now resulted in the conviction of eight human smugglers.  

    “This is another unfortunate example of the dangers of relying on human smugglers to circumvent U.S. immigration law,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Driven exclusively by greed and their own personal safety, these human smugglers recklessly put the lives of two aliens in jeopardy to avoid being caught and keep their smuggling operation from being discovered. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the HSI special agents and HPD officers who investigated this case, eight of the human smugglers involved have now been convicted and their alien smuggling organization has been dismantled.”

    The investigation revealed that Almendares-Martinez conspired with others from Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2022, to transport aliens from the South Texas border to Houston. During the hearing, the jury heard testimony that Almendares-Martinez recruited friends and conspirators from New Orleans to carry out the scheme and that he and his co-conspirators offered to pay the smugglers $1,000 to $2,000 per alien that they transported.

    Evidence revealed he had directed them through WhatsApp messages and phone calls on where to pick up the aliens. After picking up the aliens near the border, the conspirators headed back to Houston. En route, individuals believed to be a part of a rival human smuggling organization fired several shots at them and two of the aliens being smuggled suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and leg.

    After the shooting, Almendares-Martinez told the co-conspirators to return to Houston and not seek medical attention for the two wounded aliens. Co-conspirators then brought the aliens to a motel in Houston Nov. 1, 2022. The next day, the illegal aliens escaped. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and took four people in custody, to include Jonathan Melendez-Merino, Oscar Melendez-Sosa, Cristian Mencias-Padilla and Cesar Monge-Milla.

    The defense attempted to convince the jury that Almendares-Martinez was not part of the conspiracy and that someone else was using his WhatsApp account to communicate with co-conspirators. They did not believe those claims and found Almendares-Martinez guilty as charged.

    Almendares-Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11. At that time, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.  

    Previously released on bond, Almendares-Martinez was taken into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending that hearing.

    Seven others, all from New Orleans, Louisiana, previously pleaded guilty in the case – Melendez-Merino, 32, Melendez-Sosa, 22, Mencias-Padilla, 21, and Monge-Milla, 25, along with Yunior Sorto-Ramirez, 23, Bayron Pineda-Alvarado, and Alan Galvez-Baquedano, 22.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Palomar Holdings, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LA JOLLA, Calif., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Palomar Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLMR) (“Palomar” or “Company”) reported net income of $42.9 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025 compared to net income of $26.4 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted net income(1) was $51.3 million, or $1.87 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025 as compared to $27.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024.

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights

    • Gross written premiums increased by 20.1% to $442.2 million compared to $368.1 million in the first quarter of 2024
    • Net income of $42.9 million compared to $26.4 million in the first quarter of 2024
    • Adjusted net income(1) increased 84.6% to $51.3 million compared to $27.8 million in the first quarter of 2024
    • Total loss ratio of 23.6% compared to 24.9% in the first quarter of 2024
    • Catastrophe loss ratio(1) of -0.3% compared to 3.1% in the first quarter of 2024
    • Combined ratio of 73.1% compared to 76.9% in the first quarter of 2024
    • Adjusted combined ratio(1) of 68.5% compared to 73.0%, in the first quarter of 2024
    • Adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses(1) of 68.9% compared to 69.8%, in the first quarter of 2024
    • Annualized return on equity of 22.6% compared to 21.7% in the first quarter of 2024
    • Annualized adjusted return on equity(1) of 27.0% compared to 22.9% in the first quarter of 2024

     

    (1)  See discussion of “Non-GAAP and Key Performance Indicators” below.

    Mac Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I am very pleased with our strong start to 2025, as our first quarter saw sustained gross written premium growth and record adjusted net income. The quarter featured 85% adjusted net income growth, a 69% adjusted combined ratio, and a 27% adjusted ROE. Our results demonstrate our continued execution of the Palomar 2X strategic imperative as well as concerted efforts to build a leading specialty insurance franchise with a resilient and diversified portfolio.  Our 20% gross written premium growth was driven by both new products like Crop and Casualty as well as our balanced mix of residential and commercial property products. Importantly, our same-store premium growth rate was 37%(2), demonstrating the strong underlying momentum that exists across our portfolio of specialty products.”   

    Mr. Armstrong continued, “Beyond our financial performance, we remain focused on executing all our 2025 strategic imperatives. We continue to make investments across our organization, including the successful acquisition of Advanced AgProtection. This acquisition enhances the talent and operational scale of our Crop franchise and is expected to strengthen the near-term and long-term prospects of Palomar.”  

    (2) Excludes the impact of lines of business exited or discontinued since prior year.

    Underwriting Results

    Gross written premiums increased 20.1% to $442.2 million compared to $368.1 million in the first quarter of 2024, while net earned premiums increased 52.1% compared to the prior year’s first quarter. 

    Losses and loss adjustment expenses for the first quarter were $38.7 million, comprised of $39.2 million of attritional losses, offset by $0.5 million of favorable development on prior year catastrophe events. The loss ratio for the quarter was 23.6%, comprised of an attritional loss ratio of 23.9% and a catastrophe loss ratio(1) of -0.3% compared to a loss ratio of 24.9% during the same period last year comprised of an attritional loss ratio of 21.8% and a catastrophe loss ratio(1) of 3.1%.

    Underwriting income(1) for the first quarter was $44.1 million resulting in a combined ratio of 73.1% compared to underwriting income of $25.0 million resulting in a combined ratio of 76.9% during the same period last year. The Company’s adjusted underwriting income(1) was $51.6 million resulting in an adjusted combined ratio(1) of 68.5% in the first quarter compared to adjusted underwriting income(1) of $29.2 million and an adjusted combined ratio(1) of 73.0% during the same period last year. The Company’s adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses(1) was 68.9% compared to 69.8% during the same period last year.

    Investment Results
    Net investment income increased by 69.1% to $12.1 million compared to $7.1 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher yields on invested assets and a higher average balance of investments held during the three months ended March 31, 2025 due to cash generated from operations and proceeds from the August 2024 public offering. The weighted average duration of the fixed-maturity investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, was 4.09 years at March 31, 2025. Cash and invested assets totaled $1.2 billion at March 31, 2025. During the first quarter, the Company recorded $2.3 million net realized and unrealized losses related to its investment portfolio as compared to net realized and unrealized gains of $3.0 million during the same period last year.

    Tax Rate
    The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was 20.1% compared to 23.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. For the current quarter, the Company’s income tax rate differed from the statutory rate due primarily to the tax impact of the permanent component of employee stock options offset by non-deductible executive compensation expense.

    Stockholders’ Equity and Returns
    Stockholders’ equity was $790.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $501.7 million at March 31, 2024. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s annualized return on equity was 22.6% compared to 21.7% for the same period in the prior year while adjusted return on equity(1) was 27.0% compared to 22.9% for the same period in the prior year. 

    Full Year 2025 Outlook
    For the full year 2025, the Company expects to achieve adjusted net income of $186 million to $200 million, an increase from the Company’s initial outlook of adjusted net income of $180 million to $192 million. This range includes an estimate of $8 million to $12 million of catastrophe losses for the remainder of the year.

    Conference Call
    As previously announced, Palomar will host a conference call Tuesday, May 6, 2025, to discuss its first quarter 2025 results at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed live by dialing 1-877-423-9813 or for international callers, 1-201-689-8573, and requesting to be joined to the Palomar First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call. A replay will be available starting at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 6, 2025, and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921, or for international callers, 1-412-317-6671. The passcode for the replay is 13752911. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 13, 2025.

    Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://ir.palomarspecialty.com/. The online replay will remain available for a limited time beginning immediately following the call.

    About Palomar Holdings, Inc.
    Palomar Holdings, Inc. is the holding company of subsidiaries Palomar Specialty Insurance Company (“PSIC”), Palomar Specialty Reinsurance Company Bermuda Ltd. (“PSRE”), Palomar Insurance Agency, Inc., Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company (“PESIC”), Palomar Underwriters Exchange Organization, Inc. (“PUEO”), First Indemnity of America Insurance Co. (“FIA”), and Palomar Crop Insurance Services, Inc. (“PCIS”). Palomar’s consolidated results also include Laulima Exchange (“Laulima”), a variable interest entity for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Palomar is an innovative specialty insurer serving residential and commercial clients in five product categories: Earthquake, Inland Marine and Other Property, Casualty, Fronting, and Crop. Palomar’s insurance subsidiaries, PSIC, PSRE, and PESIC, have a financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) from A.M. Best. FIA carries an “A-” (Stable) rating from A.M. Best. 

    To learn more, visit PLMR.com.

    Non-GAAP and Key Performance Indicators

    Palomar discusses certain key performance indicators, described below, which provide useful information about the Company’s business and the operational factors underlying the Company’s financial performance.

    Underwriting revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as total revenue, excluding net investment income and net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of total revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP to underwriting revenue.

    Underwriting income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as income before income taxes excluding net investment income, net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, and interest expense. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of income before income taxes calculated in accordance with GAAP to underwriting income.

    Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net income excluding the impact of certain items that may not be indicative of underlying business trends, operating results, or future outlook, net of tax impact. Palomar calculates the tax impact only on adjustments which would be included in calculating the Company’s income tax expense using the estimated tax rate at which the company received a deduction for these adjustments. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of net income calculated in accordance with GAAP to adjusted net income.

    Annualized Return on equity is net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period.

    Annualized adjusted return on equity is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as adjusted net income expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of average beginning and ending stockholders’ equity during the period. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of return on equity calculated using unadjusted GAAP numbers to adjusted return on equity.

    Loss ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the ratio of losses and loss adjustment expenses, to net earned premiums.

    Expense ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the ratio of acquisition and other underwriting expenses, net of commission and other income to net earned premiums.

    Combined ratio is defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100% generally indicates an underwriting profit. A combined ratio over 100% generally indicates an underwriting loss.

    Adjusted combined ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio calculated excluding the impact of certain items that may not be indicative of underlying business trends, operating results, or future outlook. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of combined ratio calculated using unadjusted GAAP numbers to adjusted combined ratio.

    Diluted adjusted earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as adjusted net income divided by the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period, reflecting the dilution which could occur if equity-based awards are converted into common share equivalents as calculated using the treasury stock method. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of diluted earnings per share calculated in accordance with GAAP to diluted adjusted earnings per share.

    Catastrophe loss ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as the ratio of catastrophe losses to net earned premiums. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of loss ratio calculated using unadjusted GAAP numbers to catastrophe loss ratio.

    Adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as adjusted combined ratio excluding the impact of catastrophe losses.  See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of combined ratio calculated using unadjusted GAAP numbers to adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses.

    Adjusted underwriting income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as underwriting income excluding the impact of certain items that may not be indicative of underlying business trends, operating results, or future outlook. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of income before income taxes calculated in accordance with GAAP to adjusted underwriting income.

    Tangible stockholders’ equity is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as stockholders’ equity less goodwill and intangible assets. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of stockholders’ equity calculated in accordance with GAAP to tangible stockholders’ equity.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    Palomar cautions you that statements contained in this press release may regard matters that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the company’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Palomar that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business. The forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified through use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “enable,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “intends,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “predict,” “probable,” “potential,” “possible,” “should,” “continue,” and other words of similar meaning. Actual results could differ materially from the expectations contained in forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including unexpected expenditures and costs, unexpected results or delays in development and regulatory review, regulatory approval requirements, the frequency and severity of adverse events and competitive conditions. These and other factors that may result in differences are discussed in greater detail in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    Contact
    Media Inquiries 
    Lindsay Conner 
    1-551-206-6217 
    lconner@plmr.com  

    Investor Relations
    Jamie Lillis
    1-203-428-3223
    investors@plmr.com 

    Source: Palomar Holdings, Inc.

    Summary of Operating Results:

    The following tables summarize the Company’s results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:

        Three Months Ended                  
        March 31,                  
        2025     2024     Change     % Change  
        ($ in thousands, except per share data)  
    Gross written premiums   $ 442,163     $ 368,078     $ 74,085       20.1 %
    Ceded written premiums     (230,745 )     (228,171 )     (2,574 )     1.1 %
    Net written premiums     211,418       139,907       71,511       51.1 %
    Net earned premiums     164,070       107,866       56,204       52.1 %
    Commission and other income     830       528       302       57.2 %
    Total underwriting revenue (1)     164,900       108,394       56,506       52.1 %
    Losses and loss adjustment expenses     38,743       26,837       11,906       44.4 %
    Acquisition expenses, net of ceding commissions and fronting fees     46,359       31,798       14,561       45.8 %
    Other underwriting expenses     35,733       24,804       10,929       44.1 %
    Underwriting income (1)     44,065       24,955       19,110       76.6 %
    Interest expense     (85 )     (740 )     655       (88.5 )%
    Net investment income     12,071       7,139       4,932       69.1 %
    Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments     (2,338 )     3,002       (5,340 )     (177.9 )%
    Income before income taxes     53,713       34,356       19,357       56.3 %
    Income tax expense     10,791       7,974       2,817       35.3 %
    Net income   $ 42,922     $ 26,382     $ 16,540       62.7 %
    Adjustments:                                
    Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments     2,338       (3,002 )     5,340       (177.9 )%
    Expenses associated with transactions     2,088       —       2,088       — %
    Stock-based compensation expense     4,745       3,820       925       24.2 %
    Amortization of intangibles     707       390       317       81.3 %
    Tax impact     (1,494 )     204       (1,698 )     NM  
    Adjusted net income (1)   $ 51,306     $ 27,794     $ 23,512       84.6 %
    Key Financial and Operating Metrics                                
    Annualized return on equity     22.6 %     21.7 %                
    Annualized adjusted return on equity (1)     27.0 %     22.9 %                
    Loss ratio     23.6 %     24.9 %                
    Expense ratio     49.5 %     52.0 %                
    Combined ratio     73.1 %     76.9 %                
    Adjusted combined ratio (1)     68.5 %     73.0 %                
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 1.57     $ 1.04                  
    Diluted adjusted earnings per share (1)   $ 1.87     $ 1.09                  
    Catastrophe losses   $ (542 )   $ 3,359                  
    Catastrophe loss ratio (1)     (0.3 )%     3.1 %                
    Adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses (1)     68.9 %     69.8 %                
    Adjusted underwriting income (1)   $ 51,605     $ 29,165     $ 22,440       76.9 %
    NM – not meaningful                                

    (1) Indicates Non-GAAP financial measure – see above for definition of Non-GAAP financial measures and see below for reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Condensed Consolidated Balance sheets

    Palomar Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

    (in thousands, except shares and par value data)

        March 31,     December 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (Unaudited)          
    Assets                
    Investments:                
    Fixed maturity securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost: $1,015,892 in 2025; $973,330 in 2024)   $ 991,759     $ 939,046  
    Equity securities, at fair value (cost: $44,462 in 2025; $32,987 in 2024)     44,367       40,529  
    Equity method investment     2,259       2,277  
    Other investments     11,031       5,863  
    Total investments     1,049,416       987,715  
    Cash and cash equivalents     119,312       80,438  
    Restricted cash     15       101  
    Accrued investment income     8,590       8,440  
    Premiums receivable     334,247       305,724  
    Deferred policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commissions and fronting fees     102,861       94,881  
    Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and loss adjustment expenses     30,361       47,076  
    Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses     361,227       348,083  
    Ceded unearned premiums     295,275       276,237  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     92,292       91,086  
    Deferred tax assets, net     5,596       8,768  
    Property and equipment, net     2,393       429  
    Goodwill and intangible assets, net     24,925       13,242  
    Total assets   $ 2,426,510     $ 2,262,220  
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity                
    Liabilities:                
    Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities   $ 65,405     $ 70,079  
    Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses     543,889       503,382  
    Unearned premiums     813,462       741,692  
    Ceded premium payable     179,105       190,168  
    Funds held under reinsurance treaty     34,200       27,869  
    Total liabilities     1,636,061       1,533,190  
    Stockholders’ equity:                
    Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024     —       —  
    Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 26,735,132 and 26,529,402 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     3       3  
    Additional paid-in capital     501,950       493,656  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (16,642 )     (26,845 )
    Retained earnings     305,138       262,216  
    Total stockholders’ equity     790,449       729,030  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 2,426,510     $ 2,262,220  
     

    Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

    Palomar Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries

    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (loss) (Unaudited)

    (in thousands, except shares and per share data)

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
    Revenues:                
    Gross written premiums   $ 442,163     $ 368,078  
    Ceded written premiums     (230,745 )     (228,171 )
    Net written premiums     211,418       139,907  
    Change in unearned premiums     (47,348 )     (32,041 )
    Net earned premiums     164,070       107,866  
    Net investment income     12,071       7,139  
    Net realized and unrealized (losses) gains on investments     (2,338 )     3,002  
    Commission and other income     830       528  
    Total revenues     174,633       118,535  
    Expenses:                
    Losses and loss adjustment expenses     38,743       26,837  
    Acquisition expenses, net of ceding commissions and fronting fees     46,359       31,798  
    Other underwriting expenses     35,733       24,804  
    Interest expense     85       740  
    Total expenses     120,920       84,179  
    Income before income taxes     53,713       34,356  
    Income tax expense     10,791       7,974  
    Net income   $ 42,922     $ 26,382  
    Other comprehensive income, net:                
    Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale     10,203       (2,514 )
    Net comprehensive income   $ 53,125     $ 23,868  
    Per Share Data:                
    Basic earnings per share   $ 1.61     $ 1.06  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 1.57     $ 1.04  
                     
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding:                
    Basic     26,658,106       24,862,367  
    Diluted     27,399,997       25,468,564  


    Underwriting Segment Data

    The Company has a single reportable segment and offers specialty insurance products. Gross written premiums (GWP) by product, location and company are presented below:

        Three Months Ended March 31,                  
        2025     2024                  
        ($ in thousands)          
                % of             % of             %  
        Amount     GWP     Amount     GWP     Change     Change  
    Product                                                
    Earthquake   $ 130,245       29.5 %   $ 105,729       28.7 %   $ 24,516       23.2 %
    Casualty     110,487       25.0 %     51,935       14.1 %     58,552       112.7 %
    Inland Marine and Other Property     99,284       22.5 %     76,876       20.9 %     22,408       29.1 %
    Fronting     53,927       12.2 %     94,831       25.8 %     (40,904 )     (43.1 )%
    Crop     48,220       10.9 %     38,707       10.5 %     9,513       24.6 %
    Total Gross Written Premiums   $ 442,163       100.0 %   $ 368,078       100.0 %   $ 74,085       20.1 %
        Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        ($ in thousands)  
                % of             % of  
        Amount     GWP     Amount     GWP  
    State                                
    California   $ 139,723       31.6 %   $ 157,217       42.7 %
    Texas     44,991       10.2 %     40,795       11.1 %
    Hawaii     20,358       4.6 %     12,516       3.4 %
    Florida     18,641       4.2 %     13,924       3.8 %
    Washington     15,669       3.5 %     12,002       3.3 %
    New York     14,597       3.3 %     8,030       2.2 %
    New Mexico     12,395       2.8 %     7,469       2.0 %
    Colorado     12,168       2.8 %     9,605       2.6 %
    Other     163,621       37.0 %     106,520       28.9 %
    Total Gross Written Premiums   $ 442,163       100.0 %   $ 368,078       100.0 %
        Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        ($ in thousands)  
                % of             % of  
        Amount     GWP     Amount     GWP  
    Subsidiary                                
    PSIC   $ 230,917       52.2 %   $ 222,657       60.5 %
    PESIC     190,786       43.1 %     136,493       37.1 %
    Laulima     16,037       3.7 %     8,928       2.4 %
    FIA     4,423       1.0 %     —       — %
    Total Gross Written Premiums   $ 442,163       100.0 %   $ 368,078       100.0 %

    Gross and net earned premiums

    The table below shows the amount of premiums the Company earned on a gross and net basis and the Company’s net earned premiums as a percentage of gross earned premiums for each period presented:

        Three Months Ended                  
        March 31,                  
        2025     2024     Change     % Change  
        ($ in thousands)  
    Gross earned premiums   $ 375,776     $ 302,872     $ 72,904       24.1 %
    Ceded earned premiums     (211,706 )     (195,006 )     (16,700 )     8.6 %
    Net earned premiums   $ 164,070     $ 107,866     $ 56,204       52.1 %
                                     
    Net earned premium ratio     43.7 %     35.6 %                

    Loss detail

        Three Months Ended                  
        March 31,                  
        2025     2024     Change     % Change  
        ($ in thousands)  
    Catastrophe losses   $ (542 )   $ 3,359     $ (3,901 )     (116.1 )%
    Non-catastrophe losses     39,285       23,478       15,807       67.3 %
    Total losses and loss adjustment expenses   $ 38,743     $ 26,837     $ 11,906       44.4 %
                                     
    Catastrophe loss ratio     (0.3 )%     3.1 %                
    Non-catastrophe loss ratio     23.9 %     21.8 %                
    Total loss ratio     23.6 %     24.9 %                

    The following table represents a reconciliation of changes in the ending reserve balances for losses and loss adjustment expenses:

        Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Reserve for losses and LAE net of reinsurance recoverables at beginning of period   $ 155,299     $ 97,653  
    Add: Balance acquired from FIA(1)     6,788       —  
    Add: Incurred losses and LAE, net of reinsurance, related to:                
    Current year     43,059       26,333  
    Prior years     (4,316 )     504  
    Total incurred     38,743       26,837  
    Deduct: Loss and LAE payments, net of reinsurance, related to:                
    Current year     4,998       4,895  
    Prior years     13,170       9,432  
    Total payments     18,168       14,327  
    Reserve for losses and LAE net of reinsurance recoverables at end of period     182,662       110,163  
    Add: Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and LAE at end of period     361,227       292,024  
    Reserve for losses and LAE gross of reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and LAE at end of period   $ 543,889     $ 402,187  

    (1) Represents amounts recognized in Reserve for losses and LAE net of reinsurance recoverables upon acquisition of FIA on 1/1/2025, in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations.

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Non-GAAP financial measures discussed above reconcile to their most comparable GAAP measures as follows:

    Underwriting revenue

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Total revenue   $ 174,633     $ 118,535  
    Net investment income     (12,071 )     (7,139 )
    Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments     2,338       (3,002 )
    Underwriting revenue   $ 164,900     $ 108,394  

    Underwriting income and adjusted underwriting income

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Income before income taxes   $ 53,713     $ 34,356  
    Net investment income     (12,071 )     (7,139 )
    Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments     2,338       (3,002 )
    Interest expense     85       740  
    Underwriting income   $ 44,065     $ 24,955  
    Expenses associated with transactions     2,088       —  
    Stock-based compensation expense     4,745       3,820  
    Amortization of intangibles     707       390  
    Adjusted underwriting income   $ 51,605     $ 29,165  

    Adjusted net income

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Net income   $ 42,922     $ 26,382  
    Adjustments:                
    Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on investments     2,338       (3,002 )
    Expenses associated with transactions     2,088       —  
    Stock-based compensation expense     4,745       3,820  
    Amortization of intangibles     707       390  
    Tax impact     (1,494 )     204  
    Adjusted net income   $ 51,306     $ 27,794  

    Annualized adjusted return on equity

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
                     
    Annualized adjusted net income   $ 205,224     $ 111,176  
    Average stockholders’ equity   $ 759,739     $ 486,455  
    Annualized adjusted return on equity     27.0 %     22.9 %

    Adjusted combined ratio

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Numerator: Sum of losses and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition expenses, and other underwriting expenses,
    net of commission and other income    		   $ 120,005     $ 82,911  
    Denominator: Net earned premiums   $ 164,070     $ 107,866  
    Combined ratio     73.1 %     76.9 %
    Adjustments to numerator:                
    Expenses associated with transactions   $ (2,088 )   $ —  
    Stock-based compensation expense     (4,745 )     (3,820 )
    Amortization of intangibles     (707 )     (390 )
    Adjusted combined ratio     68.5 %     73.0 %

    Diluted adjusted earnings per share

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands, except per share data)  
                     
    Adjusted net income   $ 51,306     $ 27,794  
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted     27,399,997       25,468,564  
    Diluted adjusted earnings per share   $ 1.87     $ 1.09  

    Catastrophe loss ratio

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Numerator: Losses and loss adjustment expenses   $ 38,743     $ 26,837  
    Denominator: Net earned premiums   $ 164,070     $ 107,866  
    Loss ratio     23.6 %     24.9 %
                     
    Numerator: Catastrophe losses   $ (542 )   $ 3,359  
    Denominator: Net earned premiums   $ 164,070     $ 107,866  
    Catastrophe loss ratio     (0.3 )%     3.1 %

    Adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses

        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Numerator: Sum of losses and loss adjustment expenses, acquisition expenses, and other underwriting expenses,
    net of commission and other income    		   $ 120,005     $ 82,911  
    Denominator: Net earned premiums   $ 164,070     $ 107,866  
    Combined ratio     73.1 %     76.9 %
    Adjustments to numerator:                
    Expenses associated with transactions   $ (2,088 )   $ —  
    Stock-based compensation expense     (4,745 )     (3,820 )
    Amortization of intangibles     (707 )     (390 )
    Catastrophe losses     542       (3,359 )
    Adjusted combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses     68.9 %     69.8 %

    Tangible Stockholders’ equity

        March 31,     December 31,  
        2025     2024  
        (in thousands)  
    Stockholders’ equity   $ 790,449     $ 729,030  
    Goodwill and intangible assets     (24,925 )     (13,242 )
    Tangible stockholders’ equity   $ 765,524     $ 715,788  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than 15 Years For Selling Drugs And Guns

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington has sentenced Noe Alegria (30, Ruskin) to 15 years and 1 month in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Alegria pled guilty on December 3, 2024.

    According to court documents, on July 13, 2023, Alegria sold cocaine to an undercover officer outside of Alegria’s residence. During the sale of cocaine, Alegria had a Glock firearm in his pants pocket. After completing the sale, the undercover asked about purchasing a firearm. Alegria and the undercover then went inside Alegria’s residence, where Alegria sold him a separate firearm. Alegria also sold the undercover firearms on future occasions. In total, law enforcement purchased or recovered 14 firearms from Alegria over the course of the investigation.

    Alegria was previously convicted for possessing controlled substances in 2020. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.       

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced for Roles in Straw Purchase of a Firearm

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

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joshua Paul Stewart Turner, 25, of Summerville, and Noah Olen Fowler, 26, of Moncks Corner, have each been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to straw-purchase a firearm.

    Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Fowler, knowing Turner was prohibited from possessing and/or purchasing a firearm, purchased a firearm for Turner. During the purchase of the firearm, Fowler false certified on the ATF Form 4473 that he was purchasing the firearm for himself. Evidence also revealed that Turner sent Fowler information on which firearm to purchase and, further, paid him for the firearm via CashApp. When Fowler purchased the firearm for Turner he was employed as a correctional officer at the Berkeley County Detention Center.

    “Straw purchases undermine our efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of those legally prohibited from possessing them,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who attempt to circumnavigate the proper procedure to purchase firearms.”

    “Straw purchasing is a dangerous tactic that circumvents our laws and puts guns in the hands of prohibited individuals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Whether you are the prohibited individual in possession of a firearm or the individual who lied to supply that firearm, both are considered threats to public safety and both face serious consequences.”

    “Weapons in the hands of those prohibited from possessing them are a direct threat to public,” said Reid Davis, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “These sentences underscore the serious consequences of violating federal firearms laws and send a clear message: the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring those who violate these laws are held accountable.”

    United States District Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Turner to 20 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. United States District Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Fowler to a time-served sentence, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022.  The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia field office, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Cramer: Brad Thykeson & Tom Campbell Appointed to Serve in Key USDA Positions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    05.02.25
    Senators Recommended Thykeson as FSA State Executive Director, Campbell as Rural Development State Director
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer today announced the Trump administration appointed Brad Thykeson and Tom Campbell to key leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) state offices in North Dakota:
    Brad Thykeson will serve as the next North Dakota State Executive Director of the Farm Service Administration (FSA).
    Tom Campbell will serve as the next North Dakota State Director for Rural Development (RD).
    Brad Thykeson – Farm Service Agency State Executive Director
    The senators supported reinstating Brad Thykeson to serve as the North Dakota FSA Executive Director. Thykeson is a life-long farmer, who served in the same position during President Trump’s first term. During his previous tenure leading the agency, Thykeson implemented FSA programs and oversaw policies providing producers with assistance in times of market uncertainty and natural disasters.
    “Brad Thykeson has a proven track record at FSA, having helped ensure farmers could navigate challenges new and old,” said Hoeven and Cramer. “Between an increased cost of production, efforts to secure better trade deals and an ongoing recovery from wildfires and harsh weather, our farmers need someone at the head of the state FSA office who knows our ag economy. Brad is the right person for the job, and we appreciate the administration for heeding our call to reinstate him to this critical position.”
    Tom Campbell – North Dakota State Director for Rural Development
    In recommending him to lead the USDA’s rural development efforts in North Dakota, Hoeven and Cramer cited Campbell’s experience as a lifelong farmer as well as his extensive public service. Campbell is the co-founder of Campbell Farms, a multi-locational potato production farm and served in the North Dakota State Senate from 2013 to 2018.
    “The RD State Director position calls for a person ready to serve the community on day one. Time and again, Tom has answered the call to be a public servant. From his service in the North Dakota Senate to a variety of leadership roles with both local and national agricultural groups, Tom has worked to help fellow producers manage agricultural policy. This long history of building relationships with producers in the state and advocating for policies that benefit farmers, ranchers and rural communities will serve him well in the state director position,” said the senators.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Kelly and Fellow Congressional Veterans Demand Accountability for Mishandling of Classified Information by Trump Administration

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    May 02, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—joined fellow Veteran and SASC member Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and a group of Veteran colleagues in Congress in calling out President Trump and demanding accountability for the reckless mishandling of classified military information by senior administration officials. In the letter, the lawmakers called out Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, specifically. The lawmakers warn that these actions put American servicemembers’ lives at risk and undermined the integrity of U.S. national security operations.
    “This was a major security breach. There are appropriate and secure places and platforms that all officials are required to use to discuss sensitive and classified information without exposing it to adversaries. Signal is not the correct or DoD and IC sanctioned platform to discuss these matters. Longstanding DoD and IC policy has prohibited the use of unsecured devices and commercial apps for discussing sensitive information,” the lawmakers said.
    As former servicemembers, Duckworth, Kelly and their colleagues emphasized the risk of this classified information landing in the wrong hands: “Had this information been released to the public, and more critically accessed by our adversaries, it could have had catastrophic consequences and resulted in American service members being wounded, captured, or killed, and mission failure. This is not an abstract or hypothetical scenario. In 2000, a Sailor on the USS Cole sent an email to his wife outlining the USS Cole’s port call schedule. This communication was intercepted and allowed the Al Qaeda terrorists in the region to orchestrate an attack on the USS Cole. This resulted in 17 Sailors killed and 39 injured and was a direct result of poor operational security.”
    They continued: “To highlight Secretary Hegseth’s negligence and wanton disregard for the basic safeguarding of controlled information, even more reporting came out that indicated Secretary Hegseth had an internet connection that bypassed the Pentagon’s security protocol set up in his office to use the Signal messaging application on his personal computer. This unsecured internet line can expose users to hacking and malign surveillance.”
    For this reason, the group of Veterans call on President Trump to fire Hegseth: “We expect our service members to put their lives on the line, and if necessary, die for this country, and the Secretary of Defense is flippantly incurring additional risk onto their mission, with no real justification other than expediency and because it’s easier to send a text than it is to do the right thing. We implore you to fire Mr. Hegseth on the grounds that his reckless handling of classified information put the men and women serving our nation at risk and displayed a terrible judgement that will erode confidence among service members.”
    In addition to Duckworth and Kelly, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Jason Crow (D-CO-06) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06).
    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Reintroduction of Historic Equality Act to Ban Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    May 01, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39) for the bicameral reintroduction of the Equality Act in an effort to push back against escalated attacks from the Trump Administration, MAGA Republicans, and state legislatures on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide.
    “It is absolutely unacceptable that someone can be fired from their job, evicted from their home and experience discrimination just because of who they are or who they love,” said Duckworth.  “As Trump continues his dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ attacks and we see a growing wave of legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community across the country, we must protect their rights at the federal level. I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and my colleagues in re-introducing the Equality Act to finally enshrine critical civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in federal law.”
    “No one should be treated as less than equal because of who they love or who they are. While we’ve taken big steps in the fight for equality for the LGBTQ+ community, Republican-led state legislatures and the Trump Administration are relentlessly attacking the rights and humanity of LGBTQ+ Americans. We must act,” said Durbin. “I’m joining my colleagues in introducing the Equality Act to ensure that LGBTQ+ Americans are fully and explicitly protected under our nation’s civil rights laws.” 
    In states across the country, over 850 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed so far this year—the most in U.S. history. The Equality Act is historic, comprehensive legislation to enshrine civil rights protections for our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors in federal law.
    The Equality Act amends landmark federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to longstanding bans on discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding, and more. It would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, such as public accommodations and federal funding.
    Despite major advances in equality for LGBTQ+ Americans in recent years, including codifying federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, the majority of states still do not have explicit LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protection laws. The Equality Act would finally enshrine protections into federal law under all areas of potential discrimination, protecting the rights and freedoms of all LGBTQ+ Americans for generations to come.
    The Equality Act is supported by 47 U.S. Senators and 214 U.S. Representatives. A full list of the over 600 organizations endorsing the Equality Act can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.
    Full text of the Equality Act as introduced in the Senate and as introduced in the House can also be found on Senator Duckworth’s website as well as a summary of the bill.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an ‘airpower trap’ that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Charles Walldorf, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University

    A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 27, 2025. AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman

    In the first 100 days of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has shown a willingness to lean on airpower when his administration decides that military force is necessary abroad.

    So far, the second Trump administration has launched limited airstrikes in Somalia and carried out a weekslong air campaign against the Iranian-aligned Houthis who rule most of Yemen. The president has also threatened direct strikes against Iran itself should talks on a new nuclear deal collapse.

    This turn to airpower for Trump makes sense to me. Airpower is cheap when compared with ground wars, and it usually comes with fewer casualties for those conducting the strikes. This helps explain why U.S. leaders, including Trump as a self-proclaimed “anti-war president,” typically find it attractive.

    But if the Trump administration is not careful, it could fall into what military strategists informally call the “airpower trap.” This happens when the stated objectives of military force are too big for airpower alone to achieve, potentially leading to a face-saving escalation of conflict that could – if history is a guide – draw in ground forces from the U.S. or their local allies.

    U.S. presidents such as Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all fell into this trap. In Vietnam, the Balkans and Syria, respectively, all ended up with far bigger wars than they bargained for, with consequences for civilian casualties, international peace and damage to America’s reputation abroad.

    As an expert on U.S. national security policy and the Middle East region, I believe the Trump administration is in danger of falling into the airpower trap in Yemen and could potentially do the same in Iran should it elect to use direct force against Tehran. Recognizing this military and historical risk, and opting for some kind of off ramp from continued airstrikes, might be the best hope the U.S. government has to avoid a further escalation into full-scale war.

    The limits of air bombardment

    Research shows airpower is most effective when it’s used for limited objectives – things like taking out leaders of terrorist groups or degrading rival capabilities – or in support of ground operations for more ambitious ends, like bolstering or overturning governments.

    Given the sophistication of U.S. airpower, a common fallacy among American strategists in particular is to think big strategic gains can be achieved solely by dropping bombs from above.

    But when airpower alone fails, leaders can feel the pressure to expand the scope of conflict and end up with bigger military commitments than expected.

    Johnson’s initial airpower-only strategy for attempting to stop communism in South Vietnam failed miserably, leading to his decision to commit half a million U.S. troops into war. That expanded conflict presaged years of war, with massive humanitarian and political consequences for people in Southeast Asia and America, as well as lasting reputational damage to the U.S.

    Yemenis carry the coffins of civilians killed in U.S. airstrikes while participating in their funeral procession on May 1, 2025, in Sanaa, Yemen.
    Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images

    Worried about U.S. and NATO credibility, Clinton escalated airstrikes – nearly to the point of introducing ground troops – for the ambitious end of stopping genocide in the Balkans during the early 1990s. Likewise, Obama’s initial airpower-only strategy to “degrade and destroy” the Islamic State group quickly faltered, leading Obama, under intense pressure at home and abroad, to introduce thousands of ground troops to combat the group’s territorial gains across Syria and Iraq.

    In each case, relying on airpower alone ultimately failed to meet their objectives.

    The airpower trap in Yemen

    There are reasons to believe that conditions in Yemen mean that Trump, too, could be falling into a similar trap.

    Trump has adopted an airpower-only strategy to “completely annihilate” the Houthis, a powerful rebel movement that all but won the recent Yemeni civil war. The proximate cause of the air campaign, a policy inaugurated by the Biden administration and expanded dramatically by Trump, is to restore the free flow of shipping in the Red Sea that the Houthis have disrupted by force to protest Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

    The early signs are that this air campaign isn’t going well.

    Despite the U.S. burning through finite munitions supplies at a cost of US$1 billion to bomb at least 800 sites since March 15, the Houthis are undeterred and the volume of Red Sea shipping remains as depressed as ever. Houthi attacks on U.S. ships and Israel continue. A Houthi missile narrowly missed Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport on May 4.

    In fact, the direct attacks on the Houthis and the rapidly growing casualty count among Yemeni civilians from the Trump administration’s bombing campaign appear to be strengthening the Houthis’ political position in Yemen. In a particularly shocking case, U.S. bombs reportedly hit an African migrant camp, killing and injuring dozens of people.

    The humanitarian crisis from the brutal bombing campaign by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in the late 2010s had a similar effect.

    Airpower played a big part then, too. The Saudi coalition, supported by the U.S., engaged in some 25,000 air raids against the Houthis, killing or maiming approximately 19,000 civilians. Yet despite such overwhelming force, the Houthis kept seizing territory and eventually won the civil war, according to experts.

    They have been the country’s de facto rulers ever since.

    Now, Trump is exploring options to further escalate to defeat the Houthis. Reports indicate his administration is considering arming, training and enabling anti-Houthi resistance fighters who are loosely affiliated with Yemen’s government in exile to launch ground operations.

    Between diplomacy and quagmire

    Proxies are a common tool U.S. leaders turn to when caught in the airpower trap. Sometimes those proxies fulfill American policy objectives, such as the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, which helped the U.S. defeat the Islamic state caliphate in 2019.

    A U.S. Air Force F-5 Skoshi Tiger drops three general purpose bombs on Vietnam on Feb. 28, 1966.
    Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images

    Often, U.S. proxies fail on both strategic and humanitarian terms, leading to further escalation, strategic quagmires for the U.S., and loss of life and political sovereignty for the people under attack. South Vietnam was an instructive example.

    Riven by corruption, poor governance, weakness and political infighting, the South Vietnamese army and government proved so ineffective at fighting the North Vietnamese that Johnson decided to launch a ground war once U.S. airpower failed.

    Today, the anti-Houthi resistance in Yemen looks a lot more like the South Vietnamese government than the Kurdish YPG. According to a 2025 report from the Soufan Center, a security think tank, the anti-Houthi forces are poorly trained and considered incapable of pulling off victories over the Houthis without major U.S. support.

    Meanwhile, the anti-Houthi resistance consists of an estimated 85,000 fighters, compared with some 350,000 for the Houthis.

    Absent continuing the air war or escalating it into a more all-encompassing conflict, U.S. officials can still pursue diplomacy in order to try to find a political solution to the Yemen conflict.

    Despite the Trump’s administration public threats, the U.S. is already negotiating with the Houthis’ main sponsor, Iran.

    For their part, the Houthis continue to insist that they will stop attacking ships in the Red Sea if the U.S.-backed Israeli war in Gaza halts, something that happened during the recent Gaza ceasefire.

    The Trump administration might consider seeking alternatives, such as direct or indirect talks, if it wants to avoid getting stuck in a widening conflict in Yemen. History is full of examples of what happens when airpower takes on a logic of its own.

    Charles Walldorf is a Senior Fellow at the think tank Defense Priorities.

    – ref. In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an ‘airpower trap’ that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars – https://theconversation.com/in-yemen-trump-risks-falling-into-an-airpower-trap-that-has-drawn-past-us-presidents-into-costly-wars-255651

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ezell, Carbajal Introduce Bipartisan FEMA Reform Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

    Today, Congressmen Mike Ezell (D-MS-04) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) introduced H.R. 3177, the Keep It In The State (KITS) Act to ensure that projects under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act are handled by professionals who are licensed in the states where disaster recovery projects take place. The bill seeks to improve the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of federally funded disaster recovery efforts by requiring that cost estimates, material acquisition, and other project-related activities be carried out by state-licensed professionals.

    “When disaster strikes, our communities rely on FEMA to help rebuild stronger and safer,” Ezell said. “But that only happens when the work is done right. By ensuring FEMA projects are overseen by professionals licensed in our home state, we’re making sure local standards, materials, and practices are respected throughout the process. The KITS Act will help prevent government bureaucrats from states away from overruling local experts. We want to rebuild smarter, not just faster—and that starts with using qualified professionals who understand our terrain, our codes, and our people.”

    “Post-disaster rebuilding should be led by local experts who deeply understand the affected region,” Carbajal said. “This legislation will go a long way toward empowering communities to accelerate their region’s recovery efforts.”

    As a coastal city that understands firsthand the urgency of disaster recovery, we strongly support Congressman Ezell’s Keep it in the State (K.I.T.S.) Act. Ensuring FEMA projects are managed by licensed professionals within the state not only respects local knowledge but also enhances the quality and speed of our recovery efforts. Local experts are more familiar with our building codes, environmental conditions, and infrastructure systems, which leads to better-informed decisions and more resilient outcomes. This legislation is a practical step forward in empowering communities like Gautier to rebuild stronger and smarter after disaster strikes,” Mayor Casey Vaughan, City of Gautier said.

    “As Mayor of Biloxi, we have been impacted by several major hurricanes. Our City works with FEMA everyday. We are grateful for Representative Ezell’s leadership and efforts to streamline the regulatory process and ensure that future rebuilding efforts are under the control of our state and local officials. Requiring state-licensed professionals makes good common sense, and we fully support this legislation,” Mayor Andrew “Fo Fo” Gilich, City of Biloxi said.

    “Here in Pascagoula, we know how important it is to rebuild our community the right way after a disaster. Making sure that rebuilding is done by licensed professionals from our own state means safer homes, stronger infrastructure and a faster return to normal for our families and businesses. I’m grateful for Congressman Ezell’s leadership for pushing forward this effort that will strengthen recovery operations by putting the work in the hands of those who know our state best. It’s a common-sense step that will make a real difference for communities like ours along the coast,” Mayor Jay Willis, City of Pascagoula said.

    “This certainly makes sense for the protection of a City and or County, to secure the services of a professional in determining the extent of storm damage, development of the scope of work necessary to restore to pre-storm conditions or, should an improvement be considered for mitigation and for the development of project plans and specification which would ensure appropriate materials and work methods adhere to specific engineering standards,” D’Iberville City Manager, Bobby Weaver said.

    “The City of Moss Point certainly supports Congressman Ezell’s effort to ensure quality and efficiency in disaster rebuilding. Recognizing the importance of local perspective and expertise can go a long way in speeding up recovery processes,” Moss Point Mayor Billy Knight, Sr. said. “We appreciate the congressman’s focus on disaster-related issues, as South Mississippi sits in a disaster-prone zone.”

    The legislation responds to long-standing concerns from local leaders and industry professionals who have raised issues with out-of-state or unlicensed individuals making critical decisions in the wake of disasters. These decisions often lead to delays, unnecessary costs, or construction that fails to meet state and local requirements.

    Under the KITS Act, FEMA will be required to:

    • Use professionals who are licensed in the relevant state for cost estimating, procurement, and other major project tasks.
    • Prioritize the use of local expertise to improve accountability and ensure compliance with state and local codes.
    • Work more closely with state agencies and stakeholders during disaster response and recovery.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Westerville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Aiding & Abetting Aggravated Postal Robberies, Firearms Crime

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cameron D. Newton, 21, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 240 months and one day in prison for his roles in four armed robberies against postal carriers.

    According to court documents, between December 2022 and May 2023, Newton aided and abetted the aggravated robberies of mail and the use of a firearm during the crimes of violence.

    Newton, who was on probation and consequently wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time, recruited two juveniles to assist with an armed robbery in German Village on Dec. 22, 2022. Newton also arranged for the use of the handgun that his co-conspirator used during the crime.

    On Jan. 23, 2023, Newton provided surveillance for an armed postal robbery on East Columbus Street. Newton was in his vehicle nearby, using the cover of making DoorDash deliveries to evade his home confinement.

    Later that same day, Newton provided surveillance again for a third postal robbery and worked to arrange buyers for the stolen postal keys.

    Newton also obtained a firearm for a co-conspirator to use in the May 11, 2023, robbery of an elderly female postal worker. He picked up accomplices near Goodale Park following the robbery. Newton then paid the robbers several hundred dollars via CashApp.

    On May 18, 2023, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Newton’s residence and discovered $22,000 in cash, hundreds of washed and altered checks and money orders totaling more than $590,000, two Postal keys and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail.

    A total of six defendants have been charged in connection with six separate armed robberies of postal carriers in central Ohio.

    “Newton and his accomplices terrorized postal workers in an effort to steal their keys and loot mailboxes,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Through the hard work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local police, and the FBI, we were able to arrest those responsible for these violent crimes and ensure they are held accountable.”

    Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler and Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen announced the sentence imposed this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in these cases.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Effects of Lower Launch Costs on Previous Estimates for Space-Based, Boost-Phase Missile Defense

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    This letter provides CBO’s estimates of how recent declines in the costs of launch services would change previous estimates of the costs to deploy a constellation of space-based interceptors (SBIs) designed to defeat one or two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) fired at the United States by a regional adversary, such as North Korea. Those previous estimates appeared in studies published by CBO in 2004 and by the National Research Council (NRC) in 2012. Although launch costs are lower now, threats and U.S. policies have changed since those studies were published in ways that could increase the overall size and cost of an SBI constellation.

    By themselves, decreases in launch costs could reduce the previous estimates of the 20-year costs of various SBI constellations by 30 percent to 40 percent, CBO finds. For the lowest-cost alternative that CBO examines here, the reduction in launch costs would cause the total estimated cost of deploying and operating the SBI constellation for 20 years to fall from $264 billion to $161 billion (in 2025 dollars). For the highest-cost alternative that CBO examines, the total estimate would fall from $831 billion to $542 billion. (The wide range of estimates among the alternatives, both before and after accounting for the reduction in launch costs, results from differing assumptions about the performance of the individual components that make up the SBI constellations.)

    Although launch costs are much lower today than when the previous studies were published, two major factors could lead to higher costs for space-based missile defenses than CBO and the NRC estimated earlier. First, North Korea’s ICBMs have increased in number and sophistication since those studies were published. Second, a recent executive order by the President, titled The Iron Dome for America, calls for deploying a missile defense system to protect the United States not only from attacks by regional adversaries (ones with limited capabilities, such as North Korea) but also from attacks by peer or near-peer adversaries (ones with military capabilities similar to those of the United States). Such a defense could require a more expansive SBI capability than the systems examined in the previous studies. Quantifying those recent changes will require further analysis, which CBO is undertaking at the request of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Atlanta Woman Guilty of Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted Vannesa Violante-Lujano of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in June 2022, federal authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border seized approximately 220 pounds of Cartel-sourced methamphetamine destined for Minnesota. Special agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) then conducted an undercover operation in Lakeville, Minnesota. During the undercover operation, Violante-Lujano and a co-conspirator met an undercover officer at a Lakeville truck stop and attempted to pick up the 220-pound shipment of methamphetamine. The attempted drug deal was captured on video, and Violante-Lujano and her co-conspirator were apprehended by the Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) shortly thereafter.

    “Minnesota has become a hub for Cartel-sourced methamphetamine,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “In 2022, the Cartel was flooding the border with their poison. In this case, the Cartel sent 220 pounds of deadly methamphetamine—worth $6 million—across the border, bound for Minnesota. I am grateful to the excellent work of law enforcement, who not only seized these drugs, but also utilized an undercover operation to catch the state-side drug dealers.”

    After a four-day trial before Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court, Violante-Lujano was convicted by a jury on one count of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Following the verdict, Violante-Lujano was taken into custody pending sentencing.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the DEA and MSP.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David P. Steinkamp tried the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Shooter Who Injured Stranger on a Metro Bus in March 2025 Pleads Guilty

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON – Javarry Peaks, 19, of the District, pleaded guilty Friday May 2nd, to the March 2025 shooting of a stranger while inside of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus that was traveling along the V2 route, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department.

    Peaks pleaded guilty in the Superior Court to aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Sentencing is scheduled for July 3, 2025, before the Honorable Rainey Brandt. Peaks faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

    According to the government’s evidence, on March 8, 2025, Peaks and the victim both boarded a WMATA bus at the Anacostia metro station at approximately 9:30 p.m. Multiple other, unidentified people were also on the bus at the time. While the bus was driving along the V2 route, the victim began talking to Peaks while they were seated across from each other. When the defendant stood up to walk, the victim momentarily blocked him from proceeding. After a few seconds, the victim walked toward the front of the bus where the defendant was standing. Peaks and the victim then continued to move around the bus for the next several minutes.  At 9:45 p.m., the victim attempted to push the defendant off the bus, at which point the defendant briefly exited the bus before boarding again and walking past the victim toward the back of the bus. Within approximately a minute, at 9:46 p.m., while the defendant was standing at the front of the bus near the bus operator, and the victim was behind him in the middle of the bus, the defendant asked the bus operator if he could get off. As soon as the bus operator opened the doors, the defendant reached into his left jacket pocket, spun around, and shot the victim, who was approximately two feet away, one time in the chest. The defendant then ran off the bus and away from the area.

    Peaks was arrested March 25, 2025, and has been in custody ever since.

    This case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Goldstein.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to three years of imprisonment on his conviction of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Deon Cortez Dutrieuille, 24, on May 1, 2025.

    According to information presented to the Court, on November 25, 2023, the Monroeville Police Department were called to the Monroeville Mall in connection with a retail theft investigation. When they arrived, Dutrieuille was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle wearing a stolen jacket for which he admitted not paying. At that time, Dutrieuille had an outstanding arrest warrant in connection with an unrelated incident. When the officers tried to speak with Dutrieuille, the defendant provided fake names and then fled on foot. After apprehending and taking Dutrieuille into custody, officers conducted a search of the car and seized a stolen Glock handgun. Dutrieuille’s fingerprints were found on the gun by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dutrieuille had multiple prior felony convictions, including in a robbery and prior illegal gun possession cases. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroeville Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dutrieuille.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Gonzalez Urges President Trump to Issue Disaster Declaration for South Texas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

    BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) sent a letter to President Trump and FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton urging the administration to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the Rio Grande Valley so that South Texans impacted by the March 2025 floods can receive essential federal assistance.  

    This letter follows Congressman Gonzalez’s letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott on March 28, 2025, urging him to issue a disaster declaration, and the Governor’s letter to President Trump on April 17, 2025, requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Nearly a month after the devastating floods, South Texans remain waiting for a determination and final decision from the Trump administration.  

    The letter reads: “Due to the damage, on March 28, 2025, I wrote to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to issue a disaster declaration for South Texas so that the affected counties could receive assistance: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties.” 

    “As a result, on March 29, 2025, Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration for the four affected counties. Over the last several weeks, members of the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Small Business Administration (SBA), and local governments coordinated a Damage Assessment of the area. As of April 14, 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed the following damages to homes: 842 affected, 2,618 minor, 1,911 major, and 235 destroyed.”  

    “As time progresses and people recover, our communities will continue to confront the long-term damage that these floods left behind…As Congressman for the 34th Congressional District of Texas, I urge you to head Governor Abbott’s request to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the Rio Grande Valley and the release Individual Assistance (IA) funds to allow affected communities to rebuild. South Texans need assistance and rely on their public officials to step up and help them. I look forward to working together for the betterment of all South Texans.” 

    Read the full letter here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Firearms trafficker sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment

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

    BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Marion man to more than 8 years in federal prison after he admitted to trafficking firearms in southern Illinois.

    Lonnie J. Petty, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of illegal transfer of a machine gun. Law enforcement recovered two privately made firearms or “ghost guns”, one firearm with an obliterated serial number, five additional firearms, three machine gun conversion devices or “switches,” multiple extended and drum magazines, and a large amount ammunition. 

    “Lonnie Petty recklessly engaged in a high-speed chase with police after trafficking firearms and selling drugs in the presence of children. These actions pose an obvious threat to the safety of our community, and the case demanded decisive action,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Our office will hold such offenders accountable and ensure the safety of southern Illinois.”

    According to court documents, Petty admitted to possessing a machine gun in Williamson County in June 2023. In addition, he transferred machine guns in Williamson and Franklin counties from September through November 2023.

    “The increasing use of machine gun conversion devices by criminals has fueled violence in our communities, endangering both members of the public and law enforcement officers,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “ATF, in partnership with local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue its mission to investigate and hold those accountable who illegally traffic these dangerous devices into our communities.”

    Machine gun conversion devices include traditional “drop in auto sears,” which are designed for use on AR-type firearms, and more recently developed “switches,” which are designed for use on certain semiautomatic pistols. MCDs are easily integrated with semiautomatic firearms to illegally convert them to fire automatically.

    MCDs are defined as machine guns under the National Firearms Act, even when not installed.

    ATF led the investigation with support from the Marion Police Department and the Carbondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Trippi and J. David Sanders prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Helps Restore Three CBP Whistleblowers’ Careers after Nearly a Decade of Retaliation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has successfully secured promotions for three Customs and Border Protection (CBP) whistleblowers, along with full compensation for the more than seven years of retaliation they’ve suffered.

    Whistleblowers Fred Wynn, Mike Taylor and Mark Jones have been elevated to new supervisory roles at CBP, reversing their prior demotion and reduction in pay. The whistleblowers will receive back pay and retirement benefits to cover for nearly a decade of financial losses inflicted by the agency. The agency is also reauthorizing Jones and Taylors’ law enforcement credentials, badges and firearms, after they were revoked by the Biden administration in 2023 for blowing the whistle on CBP’s failure to comply with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005. 

    These actions fulfill Grassley’s explicit requests on behalf of the whistleblowers, and fully unwind years of CBP retaliation.

    “Today is a victory for Fred Wynn, Mike Taylor, Mark Jones and the rule of law. At long last, these patriotic men will be made whole again,” Grassley said. “I’m very grateful to the leadership at the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, who worked with me to bring these whistleblowers back to their rightful roles. Once again, the Trump administration has shown its respect for people that blow the whistle on wrongdoing. I hope that continues, because when you’re at the top of the bureaucracy, you don’t always know what goes on below. That’s precisely why we need brave whistleblowers like these three.”

    “These men had the courage and patriotism to speak up against the Biden Administration’s deliberate efforts to destroy our national security. They paid an unjust price for doing so — betrayed by an administration that protected lawbreakers and punished law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restoring what is right and true and getting these patriots back to doing the work they love.”

    Background:

    The DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 requires federal law enforcement to collect DNA from every individual CBP arrests, charges, convicts or detains. Wynn, Taylor and Jones were sidelined for sounding the alarm on the agency’s consistent failure to collect all legally-required DNA samples. In 2023, data showed CBP was collecting DNA samples from fewer than 40 percent of the illegal immigrants entering under the Biden-Harris administration.  

    Since 2018, Grassley has urged CBP to halt its retaliation of these three whistleblowers and follow the law. He highlighted their case at a congressional roundtable last year, where Wynn, Taylor and Jones addressed senators in a panel discussion on the national security implications of CBP’s refusal to collect DNA samples.

    During last week’s hearing to consider President Trump’s nominee to be CBP Commissioner, Grassley again voiced his request for these whistleblowers to be “100% redirected from the punishment they had by the previous administration.” Days later, CBP agreed to promote Wynn, Taylor and Jones.

    This is the second agreement Grassley has brokered this year on behalf of whistleblowers. In March, the IRS promoted whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, at Grassley’s urging.   

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington joins states suing to stop dismantling federal Health and Human Services

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — Attorney General Nick Brown today joined 18 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other Trump administration officials to stop the dismantling of HHS.

    Since taking office, Kennedy and the Trump administration have fired thousands of federal health workers, shuttered vital programs, and abandoned states to face mounting health crises without federal support. The attorneys general argue that Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration have robbed HHS of the resources necessary to effectively serve the American people.

    “These actions are both plainly illegal and a moral failing. More Americans will suffer from illness, injury, and death without these commonsense programs,” Brown said. “A robust public health system that serves communities with the most barriers to appropriate medical care is vital.”

    The administration has wreaked havoc across the entire health system through their reckless and illegal cuts. Among the examples are

    • Miners suffering from black lung disease have been left unprotected as congressionally mandated surveillance programs were abruptly shut down.
    • Workers have lost reliable access N95 masks following the closure of the nation’s only federal mask approval laboratory.
    • Key Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infectious disease laboratories have been shuttered, including those responsible for testing and tracking measles, effectively halting the federal government’s ability to monitor the disease nationwide.
    • Hundreds of employees working on mental health and addiction treatment, including half of the entire workforce at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), have lost their jobs, and all SAMHSA regional offices are now closed.
    • Pregnant women and newborns are now at risk after the firing of the entire CDC maternal health team and Head Start centers could face closures after many regional employees at the Office of Head Start were let go.
    • The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which provides life-saving care to more than 137,000 9/11 first responders and survivors, has lost the doctors needed to certify new cancer diagnoses, leaving American heroes without access to the health care they deserve.

    These sweeping actions are in clear violation of hundreds of federal statutes and regulations. The administration is disregarding the constitutional separation of powers and undermining the laws and budgets enacted by Congress to protect public health.

    The coalition is urging the court to halt the mass firings, reverse the illegal reorganization, and restore the critical health services that millions of Americans depend on.

    In April, Brown joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration for abruptly and unlawfully slashing billions of dollars in vital state health funding. Days later, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Administration, temporarily reinstating the funding.

    Joining Washington in this lawsuit – led by Brown, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha – are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

    A copy of the complaint is available here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties.

    Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration over Unlawful Mass Firings and Dismantling at HHS

    Source: US State of California

    17th lawsuit against Trump Administration asks court to block implementation of “Make America Healthy Again” Directive

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the unlawful mass firing of roughly 10,000 full-time U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees, the consolidation of 28 HHS divisions into 15 divisions, and the closing of half of HHS’s ten regional offices — including one in San Francisco. Announced on March 27, these actions were part of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Directive to “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA Directive). In their lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that the MAHA Directive is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), is beyond the scope of presidential power, and violates the Appropriations Clause and Separation of Powers doctrine of the U.S. Constitution. Accordingly, they ask the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island to declare the MAHA Directive unconstitutional and illegal, and to block its implementation in order to undo the mass firings, reverse the illegal reorganization, and restore the critical health services that millions of Americans depend on.  

    “The Trump Administration does not have the power to incapacitate a department that Congress created, nor can it decline to spend funds that were appropriated by Congress for that department. That’s why my fellow attorneys general and I are taking the Trump Administration to court — HHS is under attack, and we won’t stand for it,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Our States, and our people, are facing real harms as a result of the MAHA Directive. We look forward to making our case in court.”   

    Congress has passed dozens of laws for HHS to enforce and authorized HHS to spend about $1.8 trillion in 2024 alone because, in Congress’s judgment, the work of the Department is that critical. The MAHA Directive has had devastating consequences on HHS’s core mission to protect the health and well-being of all Americans. Following the MAHA Directive, work across several agencies within HHS came to a halt overnight. Further, the MAHA Directive layoffs compounded staff departures through a series of so-called “buy-out” offers, meaning that all told, in the last three months, HHS has lost roughly 20,000 of the 82,000 employees who were working at the agency as of January 2025. In addition, workers across the country can no longer reliably access N95 masks following the closure of the nation’s only federal mask approval laboratory. Key Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infectious disease laboratories have also been shuttered, including those responsible for testing and tracking measles, effectively halting the federal government’s ability to monitor the disease nationwide.

    In their lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that: 

    • Long before he was nominated by President Trump to lead HHS, Secretary Kennedy had a history of spinning conspiracy theories about the Department and advocating for the evisceration of the Department’s statutorily mandated work promoting public health.
    • The MAHA Directive has caused substantial harm to their States. Among other things, the regional staff who were fired helped to provide critical support to early childhood programs within the Administration for Children and Families like Head Start. If Head Start programs in their States are forced to pause operations or close, hundreds of thousands of children (and their families) would be left without child care, early education, and health supports, which would inevitably impact and strain their States’ social support programs.
    • The MAHA Directive has disabled HHS from performing its regulatory and enforcement functions. For example, the Office of Compliance and Enforcement within the Center for Tobacco Products — a subagency within HHS — typically filed more than 100 complaints a week seeking civil monetary penalties against retailers that repeatedly sold tobacco to customers under 21, in violation of federal law. The MAHA Directive wiped out the Office of Compliance and Enforcement, straining the ability of remaining staff to seek penalties. 

    In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. 

    A copy of the complaint can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul is a Guest on ‘CNN News Central’

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Hochul was a guest on “CNN News Central.”

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Kate Bolduan, CNN:  Let’s focus in right now on the President’s comments on the Constitution, and much more. Joining us right now is the Democratic Governor of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul. It’s good to have you here, Governor.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you. Thank you so much.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: Let’s start there — where Mark and Sarah were talking about the President saying that he does not know if every person on U.S. soil should be afforded due process under the Constitution. What do you make of that after hearing the President?

    Governor Hochul: He basically said that he doesn’t have to follow or even understand what the Constitution of the United States requires of every person who takes that oath of office. I took the same oath of office 31 years ago to run for town board. I knew I was supposed to uphold the constitution.

    I have to think a President who took the oath of office — not once, but twice — understands that there are limitations and that is the body of the Constitution. He must follow it. Otherwise, the democracy that we fought for and upheld for 250 years is just going to go down the drain and we’re not going to let that happen. But it was shocking and it tells you all you need to know about this presidency and this man — that he doesn’t give a damn about the U.S. Constitution and that is frightening in itself.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: Also, overnight, he announced that he wants to put a 100 percent tariff on all films made overseas. I actually saw – I was looking at the budget that you’re rolling out. And as part of the budget, you’re actually expanding tax credits — tax breaks — to try to bring more film production to New York. I mean, while not clear how the President would apply a tariff on intellectual property, something that’s not a physical good. I guess maybe if I can set that aside for a second. Do you like the idea of that?

    Governor Hochul: These midnight ideas that he has or throws out on the table and we’re all supposed to process? I’ll tell you what, I’m fighting hard for this industry in New York State. It’s an economic driver. It’s part of our identity.

    The talent wants to be in New York, and so I’m in competition with other states, but indeed other countries. So I’m focused on what I can do here in the State of New York. I don’t know if that leads to retaliatory tariffs in other countries because once you start the trade war, who knows where it ends.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: Right, does it backfire?

    Governor Hochul: Right now, we’re on the bad end of that war because if we’re talking about everything from children’s dolls and toys going up – it may not be here for Christmas. So that’s not what Americans thought they were getting with this president. These were promises they did not expect to see upheld. They thought they’re voting for possible tariffs. But they had no idea that meant when they go to Walmart this Christmas, the shelves may be empty because of what Donald Trump has done.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: You mentioned the dolls. Let me play how he said that, just to remind our viewers how he talked about that when asked, acknowledging the prices would go up, and then he said this, let me play this for you again.

    […]

    What is your reaction to the President’s take on that? I heard Mark Short – who’s a long time Republican operative – say this feels very, “Let them eat cake” at the moment, even hearing that from a Republican.

    Governor Hochul: It’s so condescending on so many levels. But as a mom who has bought dolls for my little girl and my granddaughter. I mean, come on? The President of the United States is telling you that, “Oh, you don’t need that.” This is a millionaire — maybe billionaire, who really knows what his records show — but he has a lot more money than the average American.

    It shows a disconnect with the people who voted him into office — many of them — that he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about the families, and this is the contrast that I’m drawing with the budget that I just unveiled. And so he shows he doesn’t care about them. And I think they’re starting to hear this and feel this, and they feel they’ve been betrayed.

    And that’s a very overwhelming feeling across the State of New York. People in the North Country who voted for him, people on Long Island who voted for him, who now lost offshore wind jobs. The North Country – our small businesses are saying, why are you at war with Canada? These are our customers, and now they’re not coming to places like Lake George and Saranac Lake.

    They’re not spending money here because you antagonize one of our best friends in the whole world. So people across New York who did vote for him – the majority did not — but those who even did, they’re shaking their heads at what is happening.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: I want to ask you about the budget — the state budget that you’re rolling out. I’ve seen it described in more than one place actually as providing a possible roadmap for Democrats far beyond New York and the coming cycle in the Trump era. Not to get into the weeds of the state budget, but you included measures of increasing public safety and lowering taxes for all but the wealthy.

    Do you see success for yourself in the coming election and your party, as I will broad strokes it as moving more towards the center versus the left, which we’re seeing this conversation happen within the Democratic party.

    Governor Hochul: This is not a new movement for me. I’ve always found comfortable in the very wide center — where I believe that most New Yorkers really are. And what it does is it provides a blueprint for anyone who really cares about delivering what the constituents actually want. They want you to focus on two things. Are they and their families safe? Can you do more to make me feel safe? Or whether I’m on the subway?

    So I put more police officers there on our streets, putting more money for gun interdiction up in our rural communities, making sure that our law enforcement has what they need. You have to feel fundamentally safe and Democrats have to talk about that. Don’t be afraid to talk about fighting crime.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: Do you think that’s been one of the misses in and lessons from the election?

    Governor Hochul: For many, many years. Not this year, many years. We will protect defendants’ rights without a doubt. But I changed the laws so no longer will people see cases — violent criminals walking free, because there were technical reasons why a case was dismissed. We ended that. We’re going to make sure that does not — so I’m focused on that, but it’s also public safety and the economy.

    People are worried about prices and their bills, and you see everybody walking around looking at their cell phone, what their 401k plan is plummeting and turning into — numbers that they never thought could go that low. It is frightening for New Yorkers, and I think about the Walmart moms and the people who shop in the big box stores.

    Like I said, I used to do it as a mom, like you’re clutching your coupons. Hoping it’s enough to get you out of that cash out without being embarrassed in front of your kids that you didn’t have enough for the groceries that week because tariffs drove up the prices. So I’m putting money back in people’s pockets — $5,000.

    Inflation rebate. A thousand dollars for kids under the age four, $500 for school age. The biggest — as you mentioned — the biggest tax cut we’ve had for the middle class in 70 years. It’s all about putting money back in their pockets. And lastly, letting them know I care about their families because their family is my fight.

    I’m banning cell phones in all schools so our kids can finally get their childhood back. So you talk to people about things they understand. You don’t give them a 25 point blueprint on future energy needs. Just tell it like it is. Talk like a regular citizen, a regular New Yorker, a regular person, and stop being so condescending ourselves and talking down to people. This is what they want.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: You’re going to face some competition in your reelection effort. Just heard, Elise Stefanik, who was up to be an ambassador for Trump – obviously that did not happen. And she was out just yesterday and had some really harsh words to say about you saying, you’re the worst governor in America, that she dubbed Andrew Cuomo that not thinking anyone could do, do worse.

    She’s clearly — she’s exploring a run against you. Are you concerned there has been a lot of talk about the growing Republican sentiment in the State of New York over cycles. Are you concerned about a Republican challenger?

    Governor Hochul: No. No, Donald Trump has made sure that the Republican Party brand is so tainted in New York that no matter who runs against me, they will have the baggage of explaining why people’s prices went up, why they lost healthcare, why they lost Medicaid, why they lost education, all to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest. I look forward to that fight. No matter who it is, it’s not settled yet, but I say bring it on.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: Governor, thanks for coming in.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you.

    Kate Bolduan, CNN: It’s good to have you here. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Pennsylvania Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by September Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP)organizations of the June 2 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning Sep. 24, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers Greene, Fayette, and Washington counties in Pennsylvania as well as Marshall, Monongalia, and Wetzel in West Virginia.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. 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 small 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.

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    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.

    Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than June 2, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration  

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for $1 Million Fraud Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Seattle – A 43-year-old Laguna Niguel, California man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to wire fraud for his scheme to steal nearly $1 million from his employer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Paul Joseph Welch was the IT manager of Kent, Washington energy manufacturing company Algas-SDI when he used various schemes to steal more than $950,000 from the company. Welch is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead on August 21, 2025.

    According to records in the case, Welch worked for the company from 2011 to 2024. He was promoted to Information Technology Manager in 2018. As early as 2017, Welch used the company’s Amazon business account to make unauthorized personal purchases from Amazon.com. Between 2017 and 2023, those purchases totaled at least $43,000. Welch primarily purchased electronics such at televisions, laptops and more—all for personal use. In 2019, Welch began using his company credit card for personal purchases through other online retailers such as Apple, Alaska Airlines, Instacart, and BestBuy. Between 2019 and 2024, those unauthorized personal purchases totaled at least an additional $60,000.

    The scheme really accelerated in January 2021 when Welch began making payments to himself disguised as payments to a computer services company. Welch created a series of email addresses and payment processor accounts using a business name that was very similar to a legitimate computer services company based in Washington State. Welch then used Algas-SDI company credit cards to pay the computer services company under the guise that the company was providing IT equipment and services to Algas-SDI.  However, the legitimate computer services company had no relationship with Welch and never provided any services or equipment to Algas-SDI. The credit card payments Welch made from Algas-SDI’s credit cards went directly to the payment processor accounts that Welch controlled. Between 2021 and 2024 Welch used this scheme to transfer approximately $879,175 from company accounts to his own accounts.

    Algas-SDI tried to verify the legitimacy of Welch’s activity on multiple occasions, but each time, Welch provided false or misleading information to cover up his scheme. Algas-SDI employees asked Welch to submit invoices to substantiate his charges, but Welch emailed phony documents designed to look like invoices from the legitimate computer services company. At one point in 2023, an Algas-SDI accounting employee identified personal purchases on Welch’s company credit card. Welch claimed the charges were inadvertent and said he would repay the company. Welch never repaid the charges and continued to defraud the company through unauthorized personal purchases and more fake vendor charges. In January 2024, alone, Welch submitted phony invoices to Algas-SDI showing that the computer services company had purportedly invoiced Algas-SDI more than $55,000 for equipment and services in that timeframe.

    On January 19, 2024, Algas-SDI employees confronted Welch about the charges from the computer services company accounts that Welch controlled. After Welch again told Algas-SDI that the vendor was a real vendor for the company, the company fired him.

    The wire fraud charge is representative of the overall scheme. It represents the times Welch emailed the company false statements or invoices purported to be from a legitimate computer services company.

    In all, between 2017 and January 2024 Welch secretly made at least 250 fraudulent charges for the third-party vendor he controlled. He made at least 140 unauthorized purchases with retailers using the company credit card and at least 100 fraudulent purchases on the company’s Amazon account. While Welch profited some $950,000 from his theft, the loss to ALGAS-SDI was approximately $982,520 due to various fees on the transactions.

    Welch has agreed to make full restitution to the company.

    Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 27 months in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Whitehead after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Celebrating Alberta Forest Week: Minister Loewen

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Covington Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms, Silencers and Machineguns

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JOE LYNN BEATTIE (“BEATTIE”), age 53, of Covington, Louisiana, was sentenced on April 29, 2025 by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 63 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and payment of a $300 mandatory special assessment fee.  BEATTIE previously pleaded guilty on January 27, 2025, to a three (3) count indictment.  Count One charged him with being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  Count Two charged him with possession of silencers, that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5841.  Count Three charged him with possession of machineguns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 922(o).

    According to court records, federal agents received information that BEATTIE had received unlawfully imported firearm parts from China.  Thereafter, Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies, executed a search warrant at his residence.  The search yielded five (5) firearms, ammunition, sixteen (16) silencers, and five (5) machinegun conversion devices that turn firearms into fully automatic weapons.

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

    U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office,  in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. 

                                                                                                                                                               *   *   *

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Emergency Preparedness Week: Minister Ellis

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Ohio Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by September Drought

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Ohio of the June 2 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning Sept. 24, 2024. 

    The disaster declaration covers the Ohio counties of Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Coshocton, Guernsey, Hamilton, Highland, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Montgomery, Muskingum, Pike, Preble, Scioto, Tuscarawas and Warren and Dearborn, Franklin, and Union in Indiana as well as Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, and Pendleton in Kentucky. 

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. 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. 

    “Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”  

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

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

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 2, 2025. 

    ### 

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 444 Months for Firing on Law Enforcement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A Forsyth County, North Carolina, man was sentenced yesterday in Greensboro to a total of 37 years in prison after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, assault on a federal officer by use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).   

    TYREE RAY LONG, age 28, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for the felon in possession of a firearm plus 3 years of post-release supervision by the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. LONG was sentenced to 204 months to run consecutive to that sentence for the assault on a federal officer plus 3 years of post-release supervision. LONG was also sentenced to 120 months to run consecutive to the other two sentences for discharging a firearm during and in relation to the assault on law enforcement plus 5 years of post-release supervision to run concurrent to the other post-release supervision.

    According to court records, on the evening of April 21, 2022, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) were called to a domestic disturbance with a report of shots fired. A woman reported that her boyfriend, TYREE RAY LONG, shot at her and her daughter as they tried to drive away from their residence after an argument.  LONG hit the car four times, but no one was injured.

    Officers investigated the shooting and obtained arrest warrants for LONG. On April 26, 2022, members of the US Marshal’s Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force (FTF) received information that LONG was at a hotel on Northpoint Boulevard in Winston-Salem. Members of the USMS FTF and local law enforcement officers from WSPD and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the parking lot of the hotel. LONG was identified in the driver’s seat of a Ford Fusion which was backed into a parking space. At least seven law enforcement vehicles entered the parking lot and were positioned to block LONG’s exit. Agents and officers then exited their vehicles and began giving commands to LONG to show his hands. Instead, LONG dropped his hands to the gear shifter.

    LONG began to drive forward and wedged the Fusion between two law enforcement vehicles that had been blocking him in. He hit at least two cars, one of which was occupied by a United States Marshal.  LONG then sped out of the parking lot and was pursued by officers. LONG entered University Parkway Southbound and led agents and officers on a three-mile car chase through both business and residential areas, including off-campus student housing for Wake Forest University. At times during the chase, Long was driving in the opposing lane of travel.  A USMS Agent was operating the lead car in pursuit when LONG began shooting at officers out the window of his car while in the 2800 block of University Parkway.  LONG fired at officers approximately ten times.

    Shortly thereafter, LONG crashed his car into a line of traffic waiting at the stoplight at University Parkway and 25th Street, which caused a chain reaction of collisions. LONG abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot toward the CVS at that intersection. When LONG exited his car, an agent observed a handgun in LONG’s hand.

    LONG hopped the fence behind the CVS and then leveled the gun and fired one round at a pursuing WSPD officer before fleeing toward a detached garage behind a house.  He was detained shortly afterwards by pursuing officers.

    LONG pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025, to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer by Use of a Deadly and Dangerous Weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. § 111(b); and to one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).

    The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin and Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. DuPré.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mark Carney wants to make Canada an energy superpower — but what will be sacrificed for that goal?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Leah Levac, Associate Professor of Community Engagement and Political Science, University of Guelph

    Canada’s recent federal election was regularly dubbed one of the most consequential of the last 50 years. Economic and sovereignty threats from United States President Donald Trump were key issues in the campaign. In response, pledges about energy infrastructure and resource development played an important role in party platforms.

    We have been studying impact assessments, the uneven consequences of resource development and sustainable energy transitions for over 15 years. We’re concerned about what and who may be overlooked as the government moves to become “an energy superpower,” in part by getting projects “done faster and better.”

    We’re also interested in how the newly elected Liberal government can support more just energy transitions — that is, moving toward low carbon energy and economies that prioritize equity for workers and communities.



    Read more:
    How to ensure Alberta’s oil and gas workers have jobs during the energy transition

    Challenges with Liberal promises

    The Liberal Party platform includes renewed attention to an east-west energy corridor. It also promises to speed up and streamline the review of major resource projects and “get big projects built quickly” by “shifting the focus of project review from ‘why’ to ‘how.’”

    The platform also promises more support for Indigenous participation in major projects and commits to using Gender-Based Analysis Plus — or GBA Plus — in policies and programs. GBA Plus is a method for assessing how diverse groups of people experience policies, programs and initiatives.

    Through our research, we have advocated strongly for applying GBA Plus in the resource sector, including by centring community knowledge in impact assessments and proposing strategies for improving how Indigenous women’s experiences and knowledge are considered in impact assessments.

    Over the last year, we also produced — along with our colleague Deborah Stienstra — two major research reports for the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Both were on the application of GBA Plus in regional assessments for offshore wind in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Regional assessments are a planning tool used before specific projects are proposed. They help identify important issues to consider if specific project assessments — for instance, for critical mineral mines, offshore wind projects or other resource developments — are conducted. If done well, regional assessments can help with more equitable and efficient project planning and development in the long run.

    What do the findings from our work in this area suggest in terms of how the Liberal government should proceed with its energy vision?

    Duty to consult

    The 2019 Impact Assessment Act requires meaningful execution of the duty to consult with Indigenous people affected by a major economic development.

    The Liberal Party made important promises to advance Indigenous participation in major projects and to double capacity support so more Indigenous communities can take an active role in project decisions at various stages.

    But what the Liberal platform overlooks is Indigenous Peoples’ right to resist and refuse developments in their territories, or how specifically to ensure that Indigenous women and gender-diverse people are meaningfully engaged.

    Moving forward, the Liberals must meet their constitutional duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples, while being guided by the United Nations’ principle of free, prior and informed consent per legislation that confirms Canada’s commitment to the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    GBA Plus

    During the campaign, the Liberal Party reiterated its support for GBA Plus by listing it as one of six key themes in its Make Canada Strong vision.

    The Liberals seemingly recognize that GBA Plus is an important tool for advancing equity for women, gender-diverse people, people with disabilities and racialized people by:

    “Identifying direct and indirect benefits of programs (e.g. job opportunities, access to programs and services) … and considering how these benefits will be distributed across diverse groups.”

    The Liberal platform does not explicitly raise GBA Plus in relation to becoming an “energy superpower.” But GBA Plus has been gaining attention in the resource sector — particularly in relation to the development of specific projects — since the requirement to consider “the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors” was included in the 2019 Impact Assessment Act.

    GBA Plus needs to be applied in project-specific assessments (for specific developments, such as mines and hydroelectric dams) and in planning assessments (like regional assessments).

    In our work on the regional assessments for offshore wind in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, we demonstrate the value of applying GBA Plus throughout all impact assessment processes.

    Doing so helps strengthen community engagement efforts, identify potential effects early, determine the data sources required for monitoring those effects, fill data gaps and highlight barriers that prevent diverse groups of people from benefiting from energy projects.

    For example, without adequate child-care options, many women cannot access the high-paying jobs that sometimes accompany resource projects. The Liberal government’s support for GBA Plus must therefore be explicitly incorporated into its energy proposals.

    What and who is lost with fast tracking

    A just energy transition is one concerned not only with planetary survival, but also with the effects of the transition on people who will be most affected.

    The Liberal party’s vision for becoming an energy superpower includes “conventional energy resources” (like oil) as well as clean and renewable energy (like solar and hydro) and critical minerals needed to support decarbonization and energy transitions.

    We disagree with the Liberal Party’s commitment to “shifting the focus of project review from ‘why’ to ‘how.’”

    We need to ask how — and even whether — an energy project contributes to a just transition. Answering questions about whether projects will meet climate commitments and help advance equity for workers and communities is critical. These questions are best asked early, during planning phases and as part of regional assessments, before specific projects are proposed.

    The duty to consult, GBA Plus and just energy transitions are interconnected and necessary commitments for sustainable energy production.

    Together, they can contribute to a relationship with Indigenous Peoples that recognizes their sovereignty and to a more equitable and sustainable future. But these commitments cannot be meaningfully realized when fast-tracking development, because they require time and relationship-building.

    Prioritizing fast-tracking — thereby falling short on these priorities and legal commitments — will backfire. It will lead to delays rather than more efficient processes, and will worsen existing inequities.

    Leah Levac receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She does research on behalf of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, which receives funding from the the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, other federal departments (e.g., WAGE) and non-government organizations for work related to advancing GBA Plus practice in impact assessments and elsewhere.

    Jane Stinson is affiliated with the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, which receives funding from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, other federal departments (eg. WAGE) and non-government organizations for work related to advancing GBA Plus practice in impact assessments and elsewhere.

    Leah M. Fusco receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She does research on behalf of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, which receives funding from the the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, other federal departments (e.g., WAGE), and non-government organizations for work related to advancing GBA Plus practice in impact assessments and elsewhere.

    – ref. Mark Carney wants to make Canada an energy superpower — but what will be sacrificed for that goal? – https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-wants-to-make-canada-an-energy-superpower-but-what-will-be-sacrificed-for-that-goal-255079

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: SkyFire Energy and Jayman BUILT Celebrate 10 MW Milestone by donating solar system to support Discovery House and the families it serves

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SkyFire Energy is marking a significant clean energy milestone: 10 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity achieved through its longstanding partnership with Jayman BUILT by giving back to the community in a powerful way.

    To mark the occasion, SkyFire Energy is launching a special edition of Power Your Purpose, its flagship community impact initiative that donates solar power systems to non-profits. This edition’s recipient is Discovery House, a Calgary-based non-profit that supports women and children leaving domestic violence. With the installation of a fully donated solar system, Discovery House will be able to lower its utility bills and reduce operational costs, enabling the organization to invest more deeply in life-saving programs and services.

    “Reaching the 10-megawatt milestone with Jayman BUILT reflects the power of long-term, purpose-driven collaboration,” said David Vonesch, President and CEO at SkyFire Energy. “Through Power Your Purpose, the benefits of solar energy are extended to organizations like Discovery House – creating meaningful, community-level impact.”

    Focused on empowering change through clean energy, the Power Your Purpose initiative helps reduce operational costs for these organizations, allowing them to reinvest in mission-driven services. Built on a community engagement and environmental stewardship foundation, Power Your Purpose represents a growing legacy of impact, supporting organizations creating lasting, positive change and advancing a more sustainable and equitable future.

    “At the heart of our organization is a deep commitment to giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play. We are proud to continue our partnership with SkyFire Energy in support of a deserving Calgary charity—demonstrating our shared dedication to sustainability,” says Stephanie Myers, Vice President, Jayman BUILT. “ Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. By investing in organizations like Discovery House, we are investing in people—their potential, their dignity, and their future.”

    “Discovery House is thrilled to be the recipient of a new solar system. With this system installed, the organization can reduce its energy costs, which have risen greatly in the past decade,”  says Leslie Hill, Executive Director. Discovery House. “This will allow us to use our funds to help the families we serve recover, rebuild, and reimagine their lives. Many thanks to SkyFire Energy and Jayman BUILT for this tremendous boost that will make an impact for years to come.” 

    SkyFire Energy is currently accepting nominations for the next Power Your Purpose recipient in British Columbia. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate a local non-profit making a meaningful difference in their communities. Nominations close on May 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM MST.

    Nominate a deserving organization now at: https://skyfireenergy.com/power-your-purpose/

    For more information, visit SkyFire Energy and Jayman BUILT.

    Media Contacts:

    SkyFire Energy Inc.
    Amanda Schewaga
    marketing@skyfireenergy.com
    403-251-0668

    Jayman BUILT
    Vanessa Sambrooke
    vsambrooke@jayman.com
    403-723-7662

    Discovery House
    Iboro Edem, Communications Specialist
    iedem@discoveryhouse.ca
    403-998-4914

    About SkyFire Energy Inc.
    SkyFire Energy Inc. is Western Canada’s leading solar installer. Since 2001, the company has designed and installed thousands of grid-connected solar power systems throughout Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon. Its portfolio includes the design and installation of more than 200 MWp of solar PV systems, and its operations and maintenance team has serviced over 2 GWp of utility-scale solar and BESS projects.

    For more information: https://skyfireenergy.com

    About Jayman BUILT
    For over 40 years, Jayman BUILT has continually redefined the way new homes are built, bought and, most importantly, lived in. Customer experience remains central to the company’s mission. Active in community developments in Calgary, Cochrane, Edmonton, Leduc, St. Albert and Sherwood Park, Jayman BUILT is one of Alberta’s largest homebuilders, having welcomed over 30,000 new homeowners.

    For more information: https://www.jayman.com

    About Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society
    Discovery House is a non-profit organization providing a continuum of care to women and their children leaving domestic violence. The organization offers transitional, longer-term, safe housing while families begin rebuilding their lives. Discovery House provides mothers access to counselling, support, and programs designed to ensure they do not return to abusive environments, helping to prevent the cycle of violence from continuing.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Calian Responds to Rising Need for Mental Health Support for Canada’s Frontline

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OTTAWA, Ontario, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calian Group Ltd. (TSX: CGY), a trusted provider of mission-critical solutions for defence, space and healthcare, is responding to rising national demand for psychological services for Canada’s public safety agencies across the country. Following a 25% year-over-year growth in fiscal year 2024, Calian’s psychological services team is already projecting another record-breaking year. The demand for services, ranging from pre-employment psychological services to tailored mental health and wellness programs, has resulted in the addition of 17 new and renewed contracts in the first six months of FY25 including the addition of its first fire department.

    “We know the landscape of public safety in Canada is evolving and with it we’re seeing a growing need for psychological services,” said Derek Clark, President, Health. “Our public safety agencies are increasing recruitment efforts to respond to growing demands being placed on them through evolving crime patterns, increased community engagement and public safety requests as a whole. Each require frontline workers that can mentally and emotionally handle the strain of day-to-day work so they can continue to perform their duties and serve. That’s where our team of experts can help.”

    As one of Canada’s largest providers of pre-employment psychological assessments, Calian is helping to build resilient public safety workforces through evidence-based evaluations, fitness-for-duty assessments and customized wellness programs. With over 20 years of experience in the sector, Calian now conducts nearly 7,000 psychological assessments annually, and growing, enabling organizations to make informed, responsible hiring and return-to-work decisions.

    “Public safety professionals are inevitably exposed to high-stress and unpredictable situations as an inherent part of their job. When combined with organizational and external stressors, they are at a significant increased risk of mental health challenges,” said Dr. Nina Fusco, Chief Psychologist, Calian. “We are proud to support those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving others with the aim to help build healthier, more resilient teams in public safety and high-risk occupations.”

    According to the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), public safety personnel—including police, firefighters, correctional officers and paramedics—are more likely to experience mental health disorders due to the nature of their work. A recent CIPSRT study found approximately 44.5% of Canadian public safety personnel screen positive for one or more mental health disorders. Early intervention and ongoing mental health support are proven to reduce burnout, absenteeism, and turnover, while improving team performance and community safety. Calian’s mental health services are designed to strengthen the psychological resilience of these professionals and foster healthier, more sustainable careers in public safety.

    Calian’s services are tailored to meet public safety agencies’ operational and cultural realities. This includes law enforcement departments at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, correctional institutions, paramedic services, and fire departments. Whether evaluating new recruits or supporting veteran personnel, Calian’s approach ensures accuracy, trust and compassion at every stage.

    For more information about Calian’s psychological services and wellness programs, visit:
    https://www.calian.com/health/psychological-services

    About Calian

    www.calian.com

    We keep the world moving forward. Calian® helps people communicate, innovate, learn and lead safe and healthy lives. Every day, our employees live our values of customer commitment, integrity, innovation, respect and teamwork to engineer reliable solutions that solve complex challenges. That’s Confidence. Engineered. A stable and growing 40-year company, we are headquartered in Ottawa with offices and projects spanning North American, European and international markets. Visit calian.com to learn about innovative healthcare, communications, learning and cybersecurity solutions.

    Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

    Media inquiries:

    media@calian.com

    613-599-8600

    Investor Relations inquiries:

    ir@calian.com

    DISCLAIMER

    Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Such statements are generally accompanied by words such as “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” or similar statements. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price competition; scarce number of qualified professionals; the impact of rapid technological and market change; loss of business or credit risk with major customers; technical risks on fixed price projects; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, and including currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the business services industry. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, please see the Company’s most recent annual report and other reports filed by Calian with the Ontario Securities Commission. Calian disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No assurance can be given that actual results, performance or achievement expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements within this disclosure will occur, or if they do, that any benefits may be derived from them.

    Calian · Head Office · 770 Palladium Drive · Ottawa · Ontario · Canada · K2V 1C8
    Tel: 613.599.8600 · Fax: 613-592-3664 · General info email: info@calian.com

    The MIL Network –