Category: Natural Disasters

MIL-OSI Security: Hagerstown Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Swatting Charges

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Baltimore, Maryland – Owen Jarboe, 19, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has pled guilty to conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosives.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.

According to the guilty plea, from December 2023 through January 18, 2024, Jarboe along with other co-conspirators, knowingly and unlawfully conspired to place swatting calls to multiple police and emergency departments across the United States. Swatting is a form of criminal harassment that involves deceiving an emergency service into sending a police or emergency service response team to another person’s location.

Jarboe helped create an online group known as “Purgatory.” The group used multiple online social-media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, to coordinate and plan swatting activities and to announce swats that they had conducted. Jarboe and his co-conspirators often used shared scripts to obscure their phone numbers and identities.

Swatting incidents perpetrated as part of this scheme include threatening to burn down a residential trailer park in Alabama and shoot a teacher and unnamed students at a Delaware high school. Other swatting occurrences include false allegations about multiple homicide events and shooting threats of individuals at a residence in Eastman, Georgia, and bombing and shooting threats of Albany International Airport in New York and an Ohio casino.

“Swatting is a very serious offense – one that can easily become dangerous for law enforcement and the victims involved,” Hayes said. “Emergency personnel work hard every day to ensure that first responders are dispatched to render aid to those who truly need it. Mr. Jarboe and his co-conspirators’ actions showed a complete disregard for law enforcement, the victims, and those who actually needed emergency assistance during these incidents.”

“Jarboe’s crimes are despicable and dangerous. He put our brave first responders and countless innocent lives at risk while creating unnecessary fear in many different communities,” DelBagno said. “Jarboe’s guilty plea shows that the FBI will not tolerate swatting or hoax threats and will make sure anyone committing these crimes is found and charged to the full extent of the law.”

Jarboe is facing a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threat, and a maximum sentence of 10 years for each charge to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosive.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 23, at 10 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its outstanding work in the investigation. Additionally, Ms. Hayes praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Columbus; Ohio Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Lenoir City, Tennessee Police Department; Albany, New York Police Department; Albany County, New York Sheriff’s Office; Fairburn City, Georgia Police Department; Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Police Department; Giles County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office; Blue Springs, Missouri Police Department; Tarboro, North Carolina Police Department; Boston, Massachusetts Police Department; Dodge County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; Houston County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI’s Mobile, Richmond, Boston, Charlotte, and Cincinnati Field Offices for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert I. Goldaris and Patricia C. McLane who are prosecuting the case.

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

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to New Mexico Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Mexico who sustained economic losses due to the drought beginning April 8.

The declaration covers the New Mexico counties of Bernalillo, Cibola, Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos and Torrance as well as the Colorado counties of Conejos and Costilla.

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 3.625% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months after 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 Dec. 15.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Newtonville — Kings District RCMP charge man with firearms offences

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Kings District RCMP charge man with firearms offences, search property as part of ongoing investigation.

On April 19, Kings District RCMP attended a residence on Jehill Davidson Rd. in Newtonville for a complaint of firearms being found on the property.

A 53-year-old man of Newtonville was safely arrested on April 19 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and is facing charges for multiple firearms offences.

The man is being held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Kentville Provincial Court on April 22 at 9:30 a.m.

The investigation, including a search of the property in Newtonville, is ongoing and is being led by Kings District RCMP.

File # 2025-514892

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Helps Launch New Equipment for Warwick FD

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

WARWICK, RI – After delivering a $1 million federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today helped the Warwick Fire Department place state-of-the-art pieces of equipment into service to ensure local firefighters can safely and effectively respond to emergencies throughout the community.

The delegation joined Mayor Frank Picozzi, Fire Chief Peter McMichael, and Warwick firefighters to celebrate the AFG award and to officially launch 72 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.

“Ensuring that our firefighters have modern, updated equipment to keep them safe is critical. I was pleased to work with my colleagues to deliver this funding to Warwick and provides dozens of new SCBA units that will ensure firefighters can respond to emergencies safely, efficiently, and effectively,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“The men and women of the Warwick Fire Department do heroic work every day to protect their community,” said Whitehouse. “I’m glad to help deliver this federal funding to ensure Warwick’s first responders have access to the tools they need to do their job safely and effectively.”

“Warwick firefighters are among Rhode Island’s bravest, and we owe it to them to make sure they have the tools they need to do their jobs,” said Magaziner. “Bringing home $1 million in federal funding for new breathing equipment is one way Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is stepping up to meet that responsibility and have the backs of local firefighters. I’ll keep fighting for first responders to get them whatever they need to keep Rhode Islanders safe.”

“I want to thank Senators Reed, Whitehouse and Congressman Magaziner for their ongoing efforts in securing funding to ensure the safety of not only our residents, but our firefighters,” said Mayor Picozzi. “This new equipment will be instrumental in protecting our first responders, and for that I am grateful.”

The new equipment launched today replaces outdated SCBA units that are no longer compliant with operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). An SCBA is a device worn by firefighters and other rescue workers that provides breathable air and necessary protection against harmful toxins in what are called Immediate Danger to Life and Health (IDLH) atmospheres.

Thanks to Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, Rhode Island’s fire departments received a record-breaking amount of federal funding last year through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding, with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces Over $21.8 Million for Hurricanes Ida, Laura Recovery

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $21,879,841.94 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in reimbursement for permanent repairs and recovery efforts following Hurricanes Laura and Ida.
“This funding supports schools, hospitals, and airport infrastructure,” said Dr. Cassidy. “These investments help our communities recover and prepare for the next storm.”
Grant Awarded
Recipient
Project Description
$11,270,163.36
Terrebonne Parish School Board
This grant will provide federal funding for the replacement of damaged school property as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.
$1,239,204.18
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to the Kenner Ochsner Medical Office Building damaged by Hurricane Ida.
$7,071,039.26
Calcasieu Parish School Board
This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs at Barbe High School campus facilities damaged by Hurricane Laura.
$1,020,440.82
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to buildings damaged by Hurricane Ida.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Santa Clara Pueblo Private Nonprofits Affected by June Storms

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Santa Clara Pueblo of the May 20, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storms and flooding occurring June 20–21, 2024.

The disaster declaration covers the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the 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.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and 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 the SBA no later than May 20.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Nebraska Private Nonprofits Affected by May Storms

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Nebraska of the May 20, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring May 20–June 3, 2024.

The disaster declaration covers the Nebraska counties of Burt, Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Fillmore, Hamilton, Hayes, Hitchcock, Howard, Keith, Lincoln, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the 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.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 3.25% and 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.

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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 the SBA no later than May 20.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Who Distributed Large Amounts of Fentanyl in the Tri-Cities Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Ricardo Cantu, age 26, to 108 months in prison on drug trafficking charges. Judge Dimke also imposed 4 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information provided at the sentencing hearing, in September 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed information that Cantu, who was a source of supply for methamphetamine and fentanyl laced pills, was distributing large quantities in and around the Tri-Cities with the assistance of several co-defendants to include Julio Gaspar Iniguez, Veronica Martinez and Daniel Mora.

Between September and October 2023, the DEA conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Cantu and Gaspar totaling nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and over 3,041 fentanyl pills. Cantu and Mora were armed with firearms during each transaction.

On December 7, 2023, Agents executed search a warrant at Cantu’s home. Cantu and another man were smoking fentanyl in the garage at the time, and as a result, law enforcement and children inside the home were exposed to the fumes from this dangerous controlled substance.

During a search of Cantu’s bedroom, agents located 10,000 pink fentanyl-laced pills in a child’s Hello Kitty bag. Inside the closet, there were another 2,000 fentanyl-laced pills, a digital scale, and loaded Glock firearm, which previously had been reported stolen. During a search of the garage, agents located another 1,500 fentanyl pills, 3 digital scales and other evidence of drug distribution.

Agents also executed a search warrant at Gaspar’s home, recovering 5 pounds of marijuana and a loaded 9mm firearm that has been associated with two shootings in the Yakima Valley. Agents also located a loaded privately made firearm, or Ghost gun, with a loaded magazine. During a search of Gaspar’s Jeep, agents located a loaded pistol in the center console.

On March 26, 2025, Gaspar pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. He will be sentenced on June 25, 2025, in Spokane.

“Distributing and using fentanyl and methamphetamine in our communities – especially in places where children are present – is both reckless and deeply dangerous,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker. “Mr. Cantu not only trafficked deadly narcotics but did so while armed and in the presence of children, putting lives at risk. I commend the DEA and our law enforcement partners for their work in removing these dangerous drugs and firearms from Eastern Washington communities.”

“Mr. Cantu put the entire community at risk by trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine while armed,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This sentence conveys the seriousness of the danger Mr. Cantu posed to law enforcement and other members of the community poised to get caught in the crossfire of his drug trafficking enterprise.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.

Case 2:23-cr-00132-MKD

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Lieu, Carbajal Announce Transformative Legislation to Address Affordable Housing and Homelessness Crises

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

Padilla, Lieu, Carbajal Announce Transformative Legislation to Address Affordable Housing and Homelessness Crises

Housing for All Act would invest in proven solutions to address affordable housing shortages and provide historic level of federal funding for existing programs and innovative solutions to keep people housed and reduce homelessness
CALIFORNIA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representatives Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24) announced the reintroduction of the Housing for All Act, a comprehensive approach to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises in California and across the nation. The legislation would invest in proven solutions to address affordable housing shortages and provide a historic level of federal funding for both existing programs to reduce homelessness and innovative, locally developed solutions to help vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness.
As the Trump Administration undermines and defunds critical housing services across the country — including illegal staff cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and potential closures of nearly two-thirds of HUD field offices nationwide — investments to boost the affordable housing stock and reduce homelessness are essential. The investments in the Housing for All Act would build on the creative solutions that cities and states across California have successfully developed to help combat the housing and homelessness crises.
“Housing is a basic human right, not a privilege. As the Trump Administration callously cuts essential housing programs and resources that Americans across the country depend on, our Housing for All Act is a blueprint for building upon locally developed solutions and providing necessary federal investments to finally treat the homelessness and affordable housing crises with the seriousness they deserve,” said Senator Padilla. “For far too long, the lack of affordable housing has hurt Americans nationwide and disproportionately harmed low-income communities and communities of color. Community leaders across California know that we have the tools to end homelessness and lower the cost of housing for Americans, but we need significant federal investments to scale up creative and effective housing solutions. I won’t stop this fight until every person has a place to call home.”
“Housing and homelessness are two significant crises we face today,” said Representative Lieu. “There is not enough affordable housing in California and across this country. Everyday Americans can work more than one job, and it’s still not enough to afford safe and stable housing. This is unacceptable. It’s time we finally invest in the proven, community-driven solutions that combat homelessness and create more affordable housing. I’m pleased to partner with Senator Padilla and Congressman Carbajal to introduce legislation that meets the urgency of this moment and helps get more people into homes.”
“Homes have been too expensive for far too long,” said Representative Carbajal. “While we have the tools to address this crisis, the challenge has always been scale. The Housing For All Act will make historic investments in programs addressing housing and homelessness–including my Safe Parking legislation–to ensure every American has a roof over their head.”
The lack of affordable housing access and the population of individuals experiencing homelessness are growing crises impacting Americans nationwide, disproportionately hurting communities of color and low-income communities. In the United States, over 770,000 individuals and families experience homelessness annually, and significantly more Americans face housing insecurity. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s recent Out of Reach 2024 Report, no state or county exists where a person working 40 hours a week and earning the state or local minimum wage can afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment. In fact, the average minimum wage earner would need to work 113 hours per week — nearly three full-time jobs — to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
The Housing for All Act would take an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat these crises, including investments from the federal government in housing solutions. Specifically, the bill would:
Address the affordable housing shortage by investing in the National Housing Trust Fund, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, and the Section 811 Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities;
Address the homelessness crisis by investing in Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, the emergency solutions grant program (which helps with street outreach, rapid re-housing assistance, emergency shelter, and homelessness prevention), and Continuums of Care;
Support innovative, locally developed approaches to these crises by investing in hotel and motel conversions to permanent supportive housing with supportive services, the Eviction Protection Grant Program to support experienced legal service providers in providing legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction, mobile crisis intervention teams to help those with medical or psychological needs get the care that they need, programs that offer a safe place to park overnight and facilitate access to rehousing services and essential services, library programs that support people experiencing homelessness, inclusive transit-oriented development and infill development, and improved coordination of culturally competent, trauma-informed behavioral health and homelessness services.
Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are cosponsoring the bill in the Senate.
Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20), Cleo Fields (D-La.-06), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.-02), LaMonica Mclver (D-N.J.-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.-13) are cosponsoring the bill in the House.
The Housing for All Act of 2025 has been endorsed by organizations and stakeholders including the National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC); LeadingAge; National Rural Housing Coalition; UnidosUS; US Conference of Mayors; Corporation for Supportive Housing; Covenant House; Liberation in a Generation; American Library Association; Self-Help Enterprises; California Housing Partnership; California League of Cities; California State Association of Counties; County Welfare Directors Association of California; Center for Law and Social Policy; California Business, Consumer Services and Housing (BCSH) Agency; and more.
“At a time when more households than ever are struggling to make ends meet, and the number of people experiencing homelessness has reached record levels, we must keep up the fight for the resources needed to ensure everyone has a safe, stable, affordable, and accessible place to call home,” said NLIHC Interim President and CEO Renee Willis. “I applaud Senator Padilla for his leadership on the ‘Housing for All Act,’ which would provide bold, long-term solutions required to address the nation’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis at its root.”
“Senator Padilla’s Housing for All Act recognizes the extraordinary work performed by local homelessness systems and would provide them with robust resources, including significant new investments in the Continuum of Care and Emergency Solutions Grants programs as well as Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance,” said Steve Berg, Chief Policy Officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “In addition to providing resources, Senator Padilla’s legislation would promote innovative policies like using motels and hotels for permanent supportive housing and specific efforts to help house the growing numbers of individuals and families experiencing vehicular homelessness. In introducing the Housing for All Act, the Senator is meeting the moment–and his legislation should inspire policymakers in the legislative and executive branches.”
“The Housing for All Act is a common sense, critically needed response to our country’s shortage of affordable homes—particularly for low-income older adults,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President & CEO, LeadingAge, the Association of Nonprofit Providers of Aging Services. “Our nonprofit members have years-long waiting lists—which means that many low-income older adults die before receiving relief in the form of an available, federally assisted house. The programs and policies supported by Senator Padilla’s bill will reverse course on record levels of housing unaffordability: for example, its authorization of $2.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program would build new, service-connected affordable homes for older adults with average annual incomes below $17,000 a year. For these older adults, the private market alone has not, cannot, and will not solve the affordable housing shortage. As Senator Padilla makes clear, public resources are critically needed. LeadingAge enthusiastically supports the Housing for All Act.”
“The California Housing Partnership enthusiastically supports Senator Padilla’s Housing for All Act providing expanded federal resources to counteract the acute shortage of affordable homes, which in California has been pushing families and individuals into overcrowded situations and risking homelessness amidst the pandemic,” said Matt Schwartz, President and CEO of the California Housing Partnership.
“Now is the time to strengthen the commitment to programs that are successful in preventing and reducing homelessness as well as increase collaboration between federal, state, county, and city governments,” said Jeff Griffiths, Inyo County Supervisor and California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President. “Senator Padilla’s Housing for All Act would accomplish these goals. CSAC and California’s counties strongly support this legislation, and are grateful for his leadership.”
“The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) is proud to once again stand in support of Senator Padilla’s Housing For All legislation,” said Carlos Marquez III, CWDA Executive Director. “Every day, California’s 58 county human services agencies work to stabilize and rapidly rehouse older adults, former foster youth, families experiencing poverty, and others at high risk of homelessness, but our efforts are limited by a lack of investment in affordable housing and in evidence-based strategies that get people off the street. Senator Padilla’s Housing For All legislation will enable counties to scale what works and provide immediate solutions to our housing crisis.”
“Cal Cities is proud to support the Housing for All Act, which would provide critical funding to connect our unhoused residents to services and keep Californians in their homes,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “We all know there’s more work to be done to address the housing and homelessness crisis in our state and that every level of government has a role to play in finding a meaningful path forward. Senator Padilla’s bill will strengthen the partnership between all levels of government by investing in the diversity of solutions that cities throughout the state are carrying out to support vulnerable residents.”
“We’re grateful for Senator Padilla’s leadership in advancing legislation that would provide comprehensive resources to address the housing and homelessness challenges facing California and across the country,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “California has made significant investments, but we know real, sustained progress will require every level of government working together.”
Senator Padilla believes everyone deserves access to affordable and safe housing and recognizes the need to drastically increase the affordable housing stock to address the homelessness crisis facing California and the country. Last week, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act to ensure veterans experiencing homelessness and receiving disability payments maintain access to crucial housing support. In the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla introduced the bipartisan Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act to expedite, expand, and improve temporary housing available to victims of disasters like wildfires and storms.
Padilla has fought against the Trump Administration’s proposals to cut HUD staff and field offices who help provide crucial housing services. Padilla and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-Mo.-05) recently led more than 100 Democrats in the Senate and House in condemning staffing cuts and potential closures of HUD field offices across the country. Earlier this year, Senator Padilla sounded the alarm that these wide-ranging cuts would hamper HUD’s ability to support vulnerable communities and address the housing and homelessness crises.
A one-pager on the bill is available here.
A section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.
Full text of the bill is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Democrats Continue Apology Tour for Deported Illegal Immigrant Gang Member

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
The past week has shown Americans everything they need to know about Democrats’ priorities.
Today, four more Democrats — Rep. Robert Garcia of California, Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, and Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon — are in El Salvador, picking up their party’s mantle of prioritizing a deported illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member over the Americans they represent.
Why hasn’t Rep. Dexter spoken about these illegal immigrants putting her region at risk?
Alvaro Flores-Barboza, a 24-year-old citizen of Venezuela, escaped from an ICE processing facility before he was arrested in Portland, Oregon. He has convictions for assault, reckless driving, and felony use of a weapon.
Juan Jose-Sebastian, a 26-year-old citizen of Guatemala, was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is wanted for 2017 rape and sexual assault charges in Washington County, Oregon. He was arrested in Florida in 2024 for driving without a license — but was released onto the streets because the Biden Administration refused to take custody of him and Oregon officials refused to extradite him.
Why hasn’t Rep. Ansari spoken about these illegal immigrants putting her region at risk?
Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, a 48-year-old citizen of Mexico, was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona. He has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and has convictions for aggravated assault and weapons charges. He also has an active arrest warrant for homicide in Mexico.
Jose Escobar-Robles, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona. He is believed to be illegally funneling money to Mexico to benefit violent cartels engaged in drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Luis Garcia-Sanchez, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona. He is connected to the notorious 18th Street Gang and has been wanted for felony narcotics charges dating back to 1987.
Edgar Guadalupe Jimenez-Aguilar, an illegal immigrant, was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona. He was wanted on charges of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Why hasn’t Rep. Frost spoken about these illegal immigrants putting his region at risk?
Franklin Jose Jimenez-Bracho, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was arrested near Orlando, Florida. He was wanted for human trafficking and smuggling.
Juan Andres Borolo Moreno Romero, a 25-year-old citizen of Venezuela, was arrested by ICE in Orlando, Florida. He is a known member of the brutal Tren de Aragua gang.
Paula Hernandez Lazaro, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested near Orlando, Florida. She crashed into a patrol car and another vehicle, sending a police officer to the hospital.
Five illegal immigrant members of the brutal Tren de Aragua gang were arrested after a string of liquor store thefts and robberies in Polk County, Florida. The five have lengthy criminal histories, including “immigration violations, thefts, robbery, drug possession, resisting arrest, fraudulent use of and possession of personal identification, false reports to law enforcement, robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence (listed as armed and dangerous), and driver’s license offenses.”
Why hasn’t Rep. Garcia spoken about these illegal immigrants putting his region at risk?
Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, a 43-year-old citizen of El Salvador, arrested in Los Angeles. He is charged with first-degree murder in the brutal slaying of a 13-year-old soccer player in Los Angeles, who was found discarded on the side of the road, and with the sexual assault of another young teenager in 2022.
Noe Diaz De Leon, a citizen of Mexico, arrested by ICE Los Angeles. He has convictions for attempted murder of a peace officer, burglary, and possession of a controlled substance.
Boxiao Song, a citizen of China, arrested by ICE Los Angeles. He is a convicted child sex offender.
Seung Hun Baik, a 39-year-old citizen of South Korea, arrested by ICE Los Angeles. He is wanted in his home country for an aggravated offense involving psychotropic drugs.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Polis Administration and Department of Agriculture Announce New Climate Resilience Funding for Colorado Farms and Ranches

Source: US State of Colorado

Broomfield, Colo. — Today, Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office (ADCRO) announced new grant opportunities to support climate resilience projects within the state’s agricultural sector.

“In Colorado we are committed to mitigating the risk associated with climate change, by investing in innovative clean energy technologies, and providing economic avenues for our farmers and ranchers to continue to provide healthy and fresh produce to all Coloradans for generations to come,” said Governor Polis.

Climate resilience is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate. The Climate Resilience Grants are designed to provide crucial financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who have experienced adverse effects due to climate change-induced disasters and are seeking to enhance their resilience against future climate-related challenges.

“Dealing with extreme weather, resulting from climate change, and an increasingly dry environment is an everyday challenge for Colorado’s farmers and ranchers,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “This funding will help producers who have experienced these challenges or are at risk for worsening climate disasters to be better prepared to withstand these events now and into the future.”

This is the first grant opportunity at CDA focused on helping producers who have experienced a disaster. Specifically, this funding addresses a critical need producers have to ensure their operations are resilient and can better withstand future climate pressures.

Climate change affects all sectors of agriculture, from workforce and the supply chain, to livestock and farm and ranch profitability. This funding will help tackle issues throughout the supply chain and invest in leaders around the state, who can later serve as positive examples or resources for their neighbors. Climate-related disasters are only increasing, and this funding can create demonstrations on what it means to recover in a resilient way. CDA will select a few priority climate impacts to focus on each funding cycle, based on needs around the state. This year, priority projects will be those that address impacts of drought, snow events, and wildfire. In future years, CDA will work with partners to determine priorities based on needs. Other disasters that are exacerbated by climate change include flooding, extreme heat, and severe storms.

Farmers and ranchers are eligible, as are producer-facing organizations, tribes, and local governments. Grant applications must demonstrate how producers will benefit, how the grant deliverables will address future climate disasters, and feasibility of the project. Matching funding is not required, though applicants will receive more points if they use matching funds. The maximum grant award is $30,000.

The online application is available on the ADCRO website. Grant applications are due on May 29.

The ADCRO team will hold an informational webinar on Wednesday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m., and interested participants can register via Zoom or find the registration link on the ADCRO website. The informational session staff will present an overview of the eligibility criteria and application process and answer producer questions.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in supporting Colorado’s agricultural sector in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change and fostering a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape for the future. These grants also align with CDA’s strategic priorities, especially Direction Three: Environmental Stewardship and Climate Resilience. These grants will work with other CDA programs to create healthy and resilient farms, ranches, and food supply chains.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 21 April 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 21 April 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy this afternoon.
The Prime Minister spoke to President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy this afternoon.

The Prime Minister reiterated his iron-clad support for Ukraine. He said that the UK supports Ukraine’s calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire and that now is the time for Putin to show he is serious about ending his brutal war.

They discussed the latest developments on the Coalition of the Willing, and looked forward to further progress towards a just and lasting peace.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 21 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Kalispell Man Sentenced to Mor Than 10 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Drugs on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation

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

GREAT FALLS – A Kalispell man who conspired to distribute drugs on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 128 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Cameron Lee Richard Carr, 34, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in early November 2023, law enforcement received information Carr was trafficking illegal drugs from Kalispell, Montana to Browning, Montana. On November 28, 2023, Carr was observed leaving the Going to the Sun Inn in Browning. A Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services officer saw Carr run a stop sign and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Carr fled before eventually stopping his vehicle and attempting to run away on foot. He was apprehended by the officer and arrested. The officer saw Carr reach for his waistband when he was arrested, so the officer searched him for weapons before placing him in a patrol vehicle. The officer recovered suspected meth and fentanyl from and noticed a 9 mm Ruger handgun on the ground near the area where Carr was apprehended.

Law enforcement searched Carr’s vehicle and seized 11 additional firearms, 500 grams of methamphetamine, 168 grams of fentanyl in pill and powder form, and small amounts of heroin, oxycodone, morphine, and cocaine. On December 1, 2023, during an interview with law enforcement, Carr admitted distributing drugs in Browning.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, DEA, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, and the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

XXX

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons statement on the passing of Pope Francis

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement on the passing of Pope Francis:
“Pope Francis has been an inspiring faith leader whose transformative papacy has shown the Spirit of Christ through his humility, his open-hearted engagement with the world, his tireless advocacy for peace, and his focus on the poor and the marginalized. I had the blessing of meeting the Holy Father twice, and was inspired by his teachings. I was struck by both his words and his actions when he visited the United States to address Congress in 2015. He called on us to overcome our partisan political differences to work together in service of the poor and the planet, and while in the U.S., he spent time meeting with migrants, the homeless, and the imprisoned to show us how to live out Christ’s teachings.
“Pope Francis often reminded us that “we are all in the same boat”—that no one can thrive and live well without the support of others. His ministry was infused with mercy, grace, and love, and particularly in times of strife he reminded us that through acts of unrestricted kindness, we can overcome any storm, any moment of challenge, together.
“The church and the world will miss his welcoming leadership and his engagement on questions of justice, climate change, migration, income inequality, and reconciliation. I join with many around the world in gratitude for his ministry and in praying for his eternal rest.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Kansas Private Nonprofits Affected by May Storms

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Kansas of the May 20, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm, straight‑line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring May 19, 2024.

The disaster declaration covers the Kansas counties of Barton, Ellsworth, Harvey, Hodgeman, Lincoln, Morris, Ottawa, Pawnee, Reno, Rush, Russell, Stafford, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature who suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the 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.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low 3.25% and 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.

The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible. 

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 May 20.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Previously Convicted Felons from Waushara County Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Firearms, including Machineguns

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 15, 2025, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced John D. Taylor (age: 37) to a total of eight years’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release after Taylor pled guilty to Dealing Firearms Without a License, Felon in Possession of Firearms, Transfer and Possession of Machineguns, and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(1)(A), 922(g)(1), 922(o), & 924(c).

Relatedly, on November 22, 2024, Judge Griesbach had sentenced Taylor’s co-defendant, Allison A. Mundt (age: 31) to a total of seven years’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release after Mundt pled guilty to Dealing Firearms Without a License, Felon in Possession of Firearms, and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(1)(A), 922(g)(1), & 924(c).

According to court records, in March and April 2024, law-enforcement officers developed information that Taylor and Mundt, previously convicted felons living in Waushara County, were offering firearms for sale. Law enforcement arranged controlled purchases of firearms and methamphetamine from Taylor and Mundt, which culminated in a search warrant. In all, the investigation recovered approximately 35 firearms, including machineguns, short-barrel rifles, short-barrel shotguns, and pistols, some with no serial numbers.
Officers also seized drum magazines and other high-capacity magazines, over 1,700 rounds of ammunition, and an ounce of methamphetamine intended for distribution.

In sentencing Taylor and Mundt, Judge Griesbach stressed that trafficking in firearms without a license circumvents background checks, increasing the risk that firearms will end up in the hands of convicted felons and other prohibited persons. The court noted that such conduct is even more dangerous with machineguns and other high-capacity rifles and pistols. Moreover, these defendants were previously convicted felons who were using and distributing methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Waushara County Sheriff’s Department, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group Drug Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Funnel.

# # #

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer

Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

414-297-1700

Follow us on Twitter

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Owner of Scott, LA Non-Profit Corporation and Two Daughters Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

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

LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana has returned an indictment charging a Lafayette man and his two daughters with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Child and Adult Care Food Program (“the Program”), a federal program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

The indictment charges Brian Desormeaux, 64, and his two daughters, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 34, each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc. (“RNA”) was a Louisiana non-profit corporation located in Scott, Louisiana and was owned and operated by Brian Desormeaux and he served as its Executive Director. Amy Desoremaux Hernandez served as its Assistant Director and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux served as its Senior Program Manager.

RNA was a “Sponsoring Organization” for the Program and was responsible for administering it in certain locations, including “Day Care Homes,” which are organized childcare programs for children enrolled in a private home. The Program authorizes assistance to states through grants-in-aid and other means to assist non-profit food service programs for children and adult participants in non-residential institutions that provide care. It is intended to provide aid to the participants and family or group day care homes to provide nutritious foods for the health and wellness of young children, older adults, and chronically impaired persons.

The indictment alleges that the defendants had access to KidKare/Minute Menu HX, the online portal used by Sponsoring Organizations to administer the Program. It is alleged that it was part of the conspiracy that defendant Amy Hernandez would access the online portal at the beginning of the month to change Day Care Home Providers to “inactive” status to avoid monitoring and oversight by the Louisiana Department of Education (“LDOE”). Then at the end of the month, she would change those “inactive” Day Care Home providers back to “active” status so that claims could be submitted to LDOE for reimbursement by USDA.

Allegations in the indictment state that all three defendants submitted or caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to LDOE for reimbursement from USDA, to include claims that children were being cared for and fed at Day Care Home providers when in fact, they were not. In fact, it is alleged that some of those Day Care Home providers were deceased at the time claims were made on their behalf.

The indictment also alleges that Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux submitted false and fraudulent state fire marshal inspection reports for Day Care Home providers so that they would be in compliance with LDOE’s requirements for inclusion in the Program, which was necessary for reimbursements. The indictment further alleges that these three defendants submitted false and fraudulent claims seeking reimbursement they were not entitled to, causing LDOE and USDA to pay at least $400,000 in fraudulent claims.

If convicted, each defendant faces not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, on each count.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Wins Three Cases to Allow for Sustainable Timber Management Including Harvesting

Source: United States Attorneys General 1

The President’s directive to expand timber production touches on a number, whole-of-government efforts needed to improve forest management. The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) plays an important role in defending those agencies’ actions, and recently the division successfully defended projects in Montana, Idaho, and California that underscore this work.

In Montana, ENRD defended the Forest Service’s South Plateau Landscape Area Treatment Project on the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The project is designed to increase landscape resiliency to insects and disease, help protect a nearby community from wildland fire and contribute to a sustained yield of timber products. The magistrate judge recommended the district court uphold the project after finding, among other things, consistent and science-based support in the project’s approach to grizzly bear and lynx and their habitat.

In the Central District of California, ENRD defended the North Big Bear Landscape Restoration Project in the San Bernardino National Forest. The project will thin trees and reduce wildfire risk, and the district court’s decision affirmed the Forest Service’s review of the science and makes clear that thinning trees is not always controversial and thus subject to additional levels of scrutiny.

A third case in Idaho focused on two large forest health restoration projects on Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in Idaho. The projects will improve forest health, reduce fire risk, and provide timber that will support the social and economic structure of local rural communities and provide for regional and national needs. The Forest Service had done an extensive environmental impact statement and other work to comply with a 2021 order from the district court. The court found that the Forest Service’s work addressed its concerns and provided thorough analyses, paving the way for the projects to proceed.

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Where the parties stand on gun control in the Canadian federal election

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By R. Blake Brown, Professor, History, Saint Mary’s University

The outcome of the 2025 federal election could have major consequences on Canada’s gun control regime. Current polling suggests that either the Liberals or Conservatives will win the April 28 election, so their proposed policies deserve close attention.

The Liberals want to cement policies implemented by Justin Trudeau’s government, particularly the ban on assault-style weapons.

The Conservative Party of Canada, on the other hand, seems intent on avoiding the gun control issue, although Leader Pierre Poilievre has suggested he might weaken Canada’s firearm laws.

The issue came up briefly during the recent English-language leadership debate, when Liberal Leader Mark Carney told his Conservative counterpart, Pierre Poilievre: “You can’t be tough on crime unless you’re tough on guns.”

Liberal gun control policy since 2015

Since 2015, the Liberal Party has substantially strengthened Canada’s gun control laws.

In 2019, the Liberals passed Bill C-71, which enhanced background checks for purchasers. It also required retailers to keep records of firearm transactions. Following the April 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting, the federal government prohibited several models of assault-style firearms.

Bill C-21, passed in 2024, codified a freeze on the sale and transfer of handguns. In addition, it increased penalties for firearms smuggling and trafficking, and added offences concerning what are known as “ghost guns,” untraceable firearms assembled with components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces. Bill C-21 also included new measures aimed at reducing intimate partner violence.

Read more:
Canada shouldn’t be smug about gun violence — it’s a growing problem here, too

In December 2024 and March 2025, the Liberal government expanded the list of prohibited firearms.

These prohibitions helped rationalize the firearm classification system by ensuring that firearms with similar characteristics are classified the same way.

Liberal Party platform

The Liberal Party’s 2025 platform does not propose introducing significant new gun control measures. Rather, the party pledges to defend and cement existing firearm laws. Carney accuses Poilievre of wanting to “import irresponsible, American-style gun laws” into Canada.

The Liberal platform promises “to keep assault-style firearms out of our communities,” while “respecting the longstanding traditions of hunting, including among Indigenous Peoples, and sport shooting.”

The Liberals will implement “an efficient gun buyback program for assault-style firearms.” They also promise that new models of firearms entering the Canadian market are classified “by the RCMP and not the gun industry.”

In addition, the Liberals promise to automatically revoke gun licences “for individuals convicted of violent offences, particularly those convicted of intimate partner violence offences, and those subject to protection orders.”

Other Liberal commitments include toughening oversight of the firearms licensing system and strongly enforcing measures aimed at reducing intimate partner violence.

Opposition party positions

The NDP says nothing about firearms in its platform, while the Bloc Québécois vaguely commits to continuing to demand better control of illegal and prohibited firearms.

The Conservative Party also largely avoids mentioning gun control. For example, on April 9, the party announced part of its criminal justice policy. It urges the adoption of a “three-strikes-and-you’re out” law. There was, however, no mention of the Conservatives’ proposed gun control platform.

The lack of a clear position seems designed to avoid entangling Poilievre in the thorny gun control issue. The Conservatives learned the dangers of promising to repeal popular gun control measures in the 2021 election. Erin O’Toole had secured the Conservative Party leadership by appealing to gun owners, and the party’s 2021 election platform promised to repeal the Liberal ban on assault-style firearms.

The Liberals drew attention to O’Toole’s promise, badly knocking the Conservatives off message for several days. O’Toole was forced to retreat from his commitment to repeal the ban. He instead promised the Conservatives would retain the ban until an independent “classification review” of firearms was completed.

Opponents of gun control responded by expressing a sense of betrayal.

In his review of the 2021 election, Canadian political scientist Faron Ellis found that O’Toole “compounded the damage when he had no definitive answers, appearing evasive or even deceitful, as the Liberals would repeatedly charge through to the end of the campaign.”

Liberals believe that the controversy over O’Toole’s gun control position helped them turn the tide and win the 2021 election. For Conservatives, the lesson of the 2021 election seems to be that they should avoid making clear promises about firearm policy.

Poilievre’s agenda

Poilievre has not been completely silent on the gun control issue. Prior to the election, he told a prominent gun control critic that he will repeal Liberal gun laws.

However, he has been less explicit during the election campaign. He has mentioned gun control at his rallies, but does not detail what a Conservative government would do. For example, at an event in Woolwich, Ont., on April 10, he promised to “reverse the wasteful multi-billion dollar gun grab that targets our hunters and our sports shooters.”

It is unclear what exactly Poilievre means by his promise to “reverse the wasteful multi-billion dollar gun grab.” Would the Conservatives again allow the purchase and transfer handguns? Would they eliminate the ban on assault-style rifles, thereby making firearms like the AR-15 widely available?

Being frank about his position would help avoid suggestions that Poilievre has an agenda to substantially alter Canada’s gun control laws.

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

– ref. Where the parties stand on gun control in the Canadian federal election – https://theconversation.com/where-the-parties-stand-on-gun-control-in-the-canadian-federal-election-253194

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Check Point Software Emerges as a Leader and Only Outperformer Among 14 Vendors in Enterprise Firewalls, According to Latest GigaOm Radar Report
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced that it has ranked as a Leader and the only Outperformer for its Check Point Quantum Security Solutions in GigaOm’s latest Radar for Enterprise Firewall report. According to GigaOm, Check Point is recognized as a top performer thanks to its consistent rollout of new innovations features, high performance, threat analytics, management automation, ambitious development plan, strong focus on AI and relentless focus on security efficacy.

“We are extremely proud to deliver outstanding cyber security solutions to organizations and governments worldwide with our AI-driven Infinity platform,” said Eyal Manor, Vice President of Product Management at Check Point Software. “Being acknowledged by GigaOm as a Leader and the sole outperforming provider in the Enterprise Firewall category highlights our strategic progress and commitment to advancing digital protection.”

The GigaOm Radar report analyzed 14 leading enterprise firewall solutions, evaluating their features to pinpoint the top contenders. According to GigaOm analyst Paul Stringfellow, “Check Point is classified as an Outperformer due to its continual delivery of new features and an aggressive roadmap. With a strong focus on AI and on increasingly offloading to its hardware ASICs to improve performance, Check Point is positioned to set a strong example for the market.”

As cyber threats grow faster and more widespread, Check Point’s 2025 Security Report found a 44% increase in cyber-attacks. With this rise, businesses need a flexible, scalable, easy-to-manage, and cost-effective security solution with a strong network. Check Point meets all these needs as GigaOm acknowledged the company for its wide partner network that supports supply and deployment.

Furthermore, Check Point was acknowledged for the following strengths highlighted in GigaOm’s evaluation:
- Performance and throughput: New Quantum Force series enhances performance, adding more ports, and reducing power consumption by 50%. Additionally, the Maestro hyperscale solution can support up to 1,000 Gbps, allowing security to scale with organizational growth
- Threat analytics: Check Point’s security tools connect to its ThreatCloud AI, which offers automated threat detection and response and 50+ AI features. It powers the Quantum firewall systems and integrates with the XDR platform —to detect, investigate, and respond to threats faster and more effectively
- Management automation: Check Point’s unique Infinity Playblocks streamlines threat and risk management by automating response workflows. It includes 70 pre-configured playbooks and supports over 20 third-party integrations, all while leveraging data from its ThreatCloud AI platform to identify new risks and initiate automated actions across its security tools
These features highlight the advantages of Check Point’s hybrid mesh firewall, which was recently recognized as the #1 AI-powered cyber security platform by Miercom.

Learn more about this accolade on our blog and access a free copy of the GigaOm Radar for Enterprise Firewalls here.

Follow Check Point via:
X (Formerly known as Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider protecting over 100,000 organizations worldwide. Check Point leverages the power of AI everywhere to enhance cyber security efficiency and accuracy through its Infinity Platform, with industry-leading catch rates enabling proactive threat anticipation and smarter, faster response times. The comprehensive platform includes cloud-delivered technologies consisting of Check Point Harmony to secure the workspace, Check Point CloudGuard to secure the cloud, Check Point Quantum to secure the network, and Check Point Infinity Platform Services for collaborative security operations and services.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The MIL Network –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Felon Charged with Possession of Firearm Following Arrest in Southeast

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

WASHINGTON – Rhondell Williams, 38, of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

Williams is charged in an indictment unsealed in federal court with three charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

According to court documents, on April 4, 2025, MPD officers observed an individual, later identified as the defendant, holding an open bottle of tequila in the 2800 block of Pomeroy Road SE. Upon approaching Williams, officers discovered the open container of alcohol and subsequently arrested him. During the arrest, it is alleged that a search revealed that Williams was also in possession of a concealed, loaded 9mm semi-automatic “ghost gun” with no serial number.

Further investigation revealed that Williams does not possess a permit to carry a firearm in Washington, D.C., and has a prior conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department.

View Williams indictment here.

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

MIL Security OSI –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: From Urban Operations to Demolitions: 41st IBCT Trains for Horn of Africa Mission

Source: United States Army

1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team fire M4 carbines during weapons qualification at Range 73, Yakima Training Center, Wash., March 30, 2025. Individual weapons qualification was a critical component of Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training, ensuring combat readiness for the upcoming Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Peter May, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, fires an M500 shotgun during a weapons familiarization range at Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 1, 2025. Soldiers qualified with multiple weapon systems during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Camron Hall, Hotel Company, 141st Support Battalion, monitors a Soldier engaging targets in the hallway of the live fire shoothouse at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. Range safety personnel maintained close supervision throughout all phases of the urban operations training to ensure safe execution of live fire exercises during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, practice room-clearing procedures in a glass house training aid at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. The glass house, constructed with handrails instead of the traditional engineer tape, provided a full-scale mock-up of the live fire shoothouse layout for squads to rehearse their movements before conducting live fire training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment enter the live fire shoothouse at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. The urban operations training is part of Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for the unit’s upcoming deployment to the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A combat engineer from 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion sprints toward a designated breach point carrying a live Bangalore torpedo during a live-fire urban assault exercise at Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 3, 2025. Engineers were integrated with infantry platoons throughout Operation Djibouti Dawn to practice combined-arms tactics in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 240406-Z-ZJ128-1002

Staff Sgt. Steven Olson, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, in the foreground, and Sgt. Andrew Kline, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, conduct an after-action review from the catwalk overlooking the live fire shoothouse at Range 24, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 6, 2025. Instructors provided immediate feedback to squads after each iteration of the urban operations training to reinforce proper tactics and techniques during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)

8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 250403-Z-ZJ128-1002 Staff Sgt. Charles Owen, squad leader with 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, delivers a situation report on buildings cleared during Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training at Range 25, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 3, 2025. Urban terrain training provides soldiers with critical skills needed during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An infantryman and an engineer range safety detonate a claymore mine from a crater position during demolitions training at Yakima Training Center, Wash., March 31, 2025. Soldiers from the 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion conducted the demolitions range for infantry units, providing hands-on experience with explosive devices that may be encountered during the upcoming Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Alex Begla, spotter, and Sgt. Jeffrey Machado, sniper, from the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment sniper section, establish a firing point and analyze the engagement area prior to an assault at Range 25, Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 3, 2025. The sniper team provided overwatch and intelligence gathering as part of the battalion’s integrated combat operations training during Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne)
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A weapons squad from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment fires an M240 machine gun from a support-by-fire position during a blank-fire iteration at Yakima Training Center, Wash., April 5, 2025. The training exercise prepared the crew for live-fire operations scheduled for the following day as part of Operation Djibouti Dawn Annual Training in preparation for their Horn of Africa deployment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Maj. Wayne Clyne) VIEW ORIGINAL

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. – “Claymore, Claymore, Claymore!” The warning echoes across the demolition range seconds before a deafening “whoomp” sends a cloud of smoke and debris skyward. Soldiers rise from behind cover, faces breaking into exhilarated grins as they witness the raw power of battlefield demolitions firsthand.

This explosive training represents just one facet of Operation Djibouti Dawn, which brought more than 400 Oregon National Guard soldiers to Yakima Training Center from March 28 to April 7, 2025, to prepare for an upcoming Horn of Africa deployment.

The operation assembled soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment (2-162 IN); 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment (1-186 IN); 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion (741 BEB); and support elements to focus on fundamental infantry and combat engineer tasks.

“The end state was to master the basics, be able to fire and maneuver, and have the engineers integrated to support operations,” said Lt. Col. Ryon Skiles, rear detachment commander of 2-162 IN.

Training included weapons qualification, demolitions, live fire training at Range 24 squad level room clearing in a 369-degree shoothouse, and urban area platoon assault at Range 25. Following field training, units returned to home stations for administrative tasks and recovery operations.

“We qualified with every weapon system in the infantry battalion, from the .50 caliber machine gun to AT-4s and claymores,” Skiles said. “The goal was hands-on experience to allow soldiers deploying to HOA to be competent and confident.”

Approximately 150 Oregon soldiers will join Task Force Baton, a 1,150-member joint force from four states. The task force will support Special Operations Command and Africa Command missions across three countries.

Lt. Col. Sergio Hands, incoming Task Force Baton commander, described their mission: “Our main task is to support operations against local violent extremists, protecting critical assets in the area.”

The deployment begins at Fort Bliss, Texas, in May 2025, with an expected return in April 2026.

What made this Annual Training unique was its collaborative approach across units. With multiple battalions operating at reduced strength due to concurrent deployments to Kosovo and Egypt, units pooled resources and personnel. Cooks from multiple units formed a single section to serve approximately 800 meals daily for approximately 400 soldiers, while medical support included 18 combat medics who received specialized training with the U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment stationed at Yakima.

Training progressed deliberately from classroom to application. “We went through a step-by-step three-day exercise, from crawling with dry fire to walking using blanks to the actual live fire,” Skiles explained.

For many soldiers, this marked a return to fundamentals. “The soldiers were happy getting back to what they joined the Army to do,” Skiles said. “It was about using your MOS to be successful.”

Senior leaders consistently reported high morale among participants—especially significant for National Guard soldiers who balance military service with civilian careers.

For the deployment, Bravo Company, 2-162 IN, will form the core infantry element, supplemented by soldiers from other units. “We took on volunteers for this mobilization. This Annual Training was about getting everybody in the squads prepared,” Skiles said.

“Annual training experiences like Operation Djibouti Dawn exemplify why the Oregon National Guard continues to be the military service of choice,” said Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard. “Our soldiers receive world-class training that prepares them for both federal missions abroad and emergencies here at home, all while maintaining deep connections to the communities they serve.”

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: ‘I am sorry’ — A reflection on Pope Francis’s apology on residential schools

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream; June Callwood Professor of Social Justice; Special Advisor on Indigenous Initiatives, Victoria University, University of Toronto

Pope Francis reads his statement of apology during a visit with Indigenous peoples at Maskwaci, the former Ermineskin Residential School, July 25, 2022, in Maskwacis, Alberta. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

With the death of Pope Francis, his apology for residential schools in Canada and its impacts needs to be explored nearly three years after it was delivered.

On July 25, 2022, in Maskwacîs, Alta., Pope Francis apologized on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church for its role in the residential school system:

“I am sorry. I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the church and of religious communities co-operated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools.”

This formal apology, and other statements the Pope made in Canada, came seven years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 Final Report. The TRC called for the Pope “to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools.” This was to occur, in Canada, within one year.

It is important to understand circumstances leading to the Pope’s Maskwacîs apology, the reaction at the time and its significance for the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Catholic Church.

I previous explored these themes as the Pope arrived in Canada. I questioned whether the apology would contribute to healing or deepen the distrust in the church. As a Mohawk faculty member raised in Catholicism, who teaches in the fields of theology and education, and has family members who attended these schools, I seek to revisit this question nearly three year later.

Seven years after TRC final report

The Pope’s Maskwacîs apology wasn’t the first time a statement was issued by a member of the Catholic Church. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (the Oblates) apologized in 1991 “for the part we played in the cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious imperialism” which “continually threatened the cultural, linguistic, and religious traditions of the Native peoples.”

This was followed by apologies offered by numerous bishops; however, they were inadequate, considering other leaders, such as the Moderator (United Church of Canada) and the Primate (Anglican Church of Canada), delivered the statements on behalf of their denominations respectively in 1986 and 1993, followed by other Protestant denominations.

The importance of who offers an apology cannot be overstated. In 1998, Jane Stewart, the minister of Indian Affairs of Canada, read a Statement of Reconciliation acknowledging the tragedies experienced by students that attended residential school. Indigenous leaders criticized the statement, sensing a lack of ownership or not taking responsibility. It came across as an expression of regret rather than an apology, and was further rejected, as Prime Minister Jean Chrétien didn’t offer it.

In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology on behalf of the country. Although met with mixed reviews, the importance of the prime minister providing it cannot be ignored. The same holds true for the Catholic Church.

Length of time to materialize

In July 2022, Pope Francis apologized before thousands of people: survivors, their families, community members and leaders. This was significant, considering the length of time for this to materialize.

Other denominations begin this process much earlier. The pressure on the Catholic Church mounted, particularly given that it was the last mainline church to have its leader apologize and it operated about 60 per cent of the residential schools. To consider how the apology finally arrived, several events need to be understood.

In 2021, reports on potential unmarked burial sites on former residential school grounds in Kamloops, B.C., began to surface. News of these discoveries not only circulated nationally, but globally. Shortly after this, other residential school sites were being investigated for unmarked burial sites.

Read more:
We fact-checked residential school denialists and debunked their ‘mass grave hoax’ theory

Reopened wounds, anger

Extensive work had already been done around unmarked burial sites: The TRC’s Final Report dedicated a volume on this issue; in 2007, The Working Group on Missing Children and Unmarked Burials was established, whose members comprised national Indigenous organizations, former students, archivists and the federal government; work at the Mohawk Institute was already in progress. Yet, the nation was stunned. Wounds were reopened for many Indigenous people.

From this pain, a great amount of anger was directed towards the Catholic Church.

Church buildings were vandalized or set on fire. As many were in First Nations territories, this created tensions, since there were still community members that were part of the Christian tradition.

This outcry reignited attention towards residential schools and the Church. The Vatican invited a delegation of survivors to meet the Pope in March 2022. This visit provided an opportunity for delegation members to share their stories, however its location is important to consider. The meeting took place at the Vatican, potentially escalating the power imbalance between the Church and First Nation, Inuit and Métis delegates.

Survivors speak about meaning

Members of the delegation invited the Pope to visit Canada. Martha Grigg, an Inuit Elder and a residential school survivor, spoke about how his visit would be meaningful to former residential school students and their families. Pope Francis offered an apology to the delegates,, committing to travelling to Canada.

Months after the Vatican trip, the Pope came to Canada to deliver a formal apology. Reactions varied from acceptance to outright rejection, while a “wait-and-see” approach was also adopted.

Some expressed how the apology “has helped to open the door for survivors and their families to walk together with the church for a present and future of forgiveness and healing.” Discontent was voiced about certain issues, such as the Doctrine of Discovery, or omitting a commitment to allow access to records.

Without apology, other measures stalled

Some of the impacts of the apology may not be felt instantaneously. It represents hope for a better relationship and a starting point for healing. Without any apology, any measures that the church offered would not gain traction. The lack of a papal apology over many years kept this as the focal point, further damaging the relationship between the Church and many Indigenous people and continuing to erode trust.

Since then, the Catholic Church has undertaken steps to address the harms of the residential schools and contribute to healing process. In 2023, the Vatican released a statement on the Doctrine of Discovery, indicating the Catholic Church was distancing itself from this concept and repudiating it, as it was not part of Church teachings.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Oblates committed to developing a process for the transparent access to records. Barriers to church records prevented access to documents that could help locate family members who never came home.

The bishops pledged to raise $30 million for the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund to support activities dedicated to healing and reconciliation in 2021. The apology energized the campaign, raising half of the funds ahead of the five-year timeline.

In a July 2024 statement, the CCCB said it has “established structures … to support dialogues and foster greater understanding of Indigenous cultural, linguistic and spiritual traditions and values,” and wishes to deepen academic collaborations to understand of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Read more:
Hot-button topics may get public attention at the Vatican synod, but a more fundamental issue for the Catholic Church is at the heart of debate

Healing journey is long, apology was necessary

While small advancements in reconciliation activities stemming from Pope Francis’ apology have occurred, the healing journey is long. Distrust is evident as the Church’s sincerity in this process is questioned; however, the apology presents an opportunity to renew relationships and forge new paths together.

The criticisms of how and when it transpired and even what was said will always remain, however the apology was necessary.

It was necessary for many survivors, who felt recognized. It was necessary for the Church to formally acknowledge its responsibility. It was necessary for Pope Francis to offer the apology directly to Indigenous people.

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

– ref. ‘I am sorry’ — A reflection on Pope Francis’s apology on residential schools – https://theconversation.com/i-am-sorry-a-reflection-on-pope-franciss-apology-on-residential-schools-250607

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Endowments aren’t blank checks – but universities can rely on them more heavily in turbulent times

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ellen P. Aprill, Senior Scholar in Residence at the UCLA Law School’s Lowell Milken Center For Philanthropy And Nonprofit Law, University of California, Los Angeles

The Trump administration is demanding that at least 60 U.S. colleges and universities change their policies or lose out on billions of dollars in federal funding.

In Harvard University’s case, the government has accused the Ivy league school – so far without providing any specific evidence – of violating some students’ civil rights by allowing other students to engage in what the authorities characterize as antisemitic speech. The government has demanded broad oversight of Harvard’s admissions policies, along with changes in its hiring processes and campus culture.

Harvard stands to lose out on more than US$2.2 billion. It may seem to be better insulated from this pressure than many other schools because it has the nation’s largest educational endowment – a reservoir of stocks, bonds and other financial assets that helps fund its operations, research and scholarships. Harvard’s endowment totaled more than $53 billion in 2024.

As a nonprofit law scholar, who served in the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy in the 1980s, I study and write about both state and federal law as it applies to nonprofit organizations. I believe that the law permits most colleges and universities to increase spending from their endowments in light of the financial pressures so many of them are facing.

Precedents for boosting endowment spending

Not all endowments are alike.

They tend to be composed of an array of smaller funds, some of which are subject to legal restrictions that make it impossible for the schools they support to freely use those assets.

Universities must respect the limits donors put on their gifts, such as tying them to specific scholarships, funding jobs held by certain kinds of professors or supporting the construction or maintenance of a particular building.

It’s up to a university’s governing board to decide how much of the school’s endowment will be spent in a given year.

As Harvard’s financial report for its 2024 fiscal year puts it: “There is a common misconception that endowments, including Harvard’s, can easily be accessed like checking accounts.” That is definitely not the case.

Nonetheless, some college and university boards did allow increased endowment spending at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Recession, which lasted from late 2007 until mid-2009.

During that downturn and the financial crisis that precipitated it, the value of endowments, along with most financial assets, plummeted.

About 80% of Harvard’s 14,000 separate endowment funds are reserved for “specific programs, departments or purposes.” But others are less restricted, Harvard has stated in the financial reports it makes available to the public.

While it’s always important to proceed with care when spending money reserved for use on a rainy day or to ensure the long-term existence of a revered institution, most colleges and universities are freer to dip into their endowments than they may realize when conditions get stormy.

Leeway in an important law

In all states except Pennsylvania, U.S. endowments are subject to a 2006 model law known as the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act.

Under this law, managing and investing an endowment requires the university to consider its charitable purposes and financial needs, while respecting the intentions of the donors who provided its assets. These are state laws, not federal statutes. In most states, a university may spend as much of an endowment fund as it deems “prudent.”

Exercising that prudence requires the consideration of several factors.

They include the purposes of the institution as a whole and the particular endowment fund, prevailing economic conditions, and what other financial resources the institution can tap. However, in almost one-third of states, including California and New York, annually spending more than 7% of an endowment’s fair market value, measured by a three-year average, is presumed to be imprudent.

But that isn’t a legal maximum because the model law’s drafters noted that “circumstances in a particular year” could easily void that presumption. Based on my study of nonprofit law, including the laws that apply to higher education, I’m confident that this caveat could easily apply to the Trump administration’s education-related spending cuts in 2025, just as it did during the pandemic and the Great Recession.

What’s more, endowment spending rate by universities in 2024 was 4.8%. As a result, many universities, including those in states with a 7% cap on prudent spending, will likely be able to increase their use of endowment funds to maintain their budgets at prior levels.

In addition, living donors can release any restriction they placed on the funds they gave universities that are still held in their endowments. Even when those funds are from donors who have died, a university can ask a court to release restrictions that have become impractical or wasteful.

The Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act also permits institutions to lift restrictions on all endowment funds that are more than 20 years old and relatively small. This amount varies from state to state and typically ranges between $25,000 and $100,000

Archon Fung, a John F. Kennedy School of Government professor, addresses students, faculty and other members of the Harvard University community on April 17, 2025.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

A bias toward accumulating

In addition to Harvard, other examples of the largest higher education endowments include Yale with $41 billion, Princeton with $34 billion and Columbia, which has some $15 billion. All three are among the 60 schools the Education Department is investigating for allegedly failing to “protect Jewish students on campus.”

Why do the boards of even these universities tend to hesitate to dip deeply into their endowments when their revenue declines?

One explanation is that because endowments can enhance a university’s prestige, its leaders and endowment donors have a bias toward accumulating rather than spending. Another is that board members have an obligation to protect their institutions’ long-term viability. Boards also bear a responsibility to preserve funds for a future rainy day, no matter how severe the current turbulence may be, how large the endowment has become or how successful the school’s current fundraising efforts are.

That may explain why Harvard is reportedly in talks with investment banks about issuing $750 million in bonds that will allow the school to meet its spending needs without dipping so deeply into its endowment.

More attacks could be on the way

At the same time, the Trump administration’s trade, fiscal and other policies may continue to roil financial markets, reducing the value of university endowments, for months or years to come.

The federal government is reportedly looking into whether it can revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a drastic move that would have no comparable precedents.

In mid-April 2025, Harvard began to push back on the Trump administration’s demands, saying that they violate the free speech rights protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment and “invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court.” Harvard’s donors have responded to the resistance of the school’s leaders with a flurry of new gifts.

In my view, it’s reasonable for colleges and universities to consider stepping up their endowment spending due to the Trump administration’s actions that could interfere with higher education revenue. Increasing endowment payouts now could ease, although not fully solve, the mounting crises that colleges and universities of all kinds now face.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as Harvard Kennedy School, is a member of The Conversation U.S.

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

– ref. Endowments aren’t blank checks – but universities can rely on them more heavily in turbulent times – https://theconversation.com/endowments-arent-blank-checks-but-universities-can-rely-on-them-more-heavily-in-turbulent-times-254909

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Federal laws don’t ban rollbacks of environmental protection, but they don’t make it easy

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stan Meiburg, Executive Director, Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced plans to review or reverse dozens of environmental protection regulations. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin have announced their intent to reconsider dozens of current regulations in an effort to loosen standards originally imposed to protect the environment and public health. But it’s not as simple as Trump and Zeldin just saying so.

A few of the changes, such as reconstituting the membership of EPA’s Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Act Scientific Advisory Committee or using enforcement discretion to avoid targeting favored industries, are administrative measures that can be changed with the stroke of a pen.

But many, including carbon emissions standards for power plants and motor vehicles, wastewater limits for refineries and chemical plants, or air pollution standards, can only be revised in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law first passed in 1946.

That process includes public notice of the proposed changes, an opportunity for the public to comment on those proposals, and a review of those comments by the responsible federal agency.

There’s a big book that contains rules about how to change the rules.
designer491/iStock / Getty Images Plus

There are some explicit restrictions that prevent loosening of existing environmental standards for clean air and water. In general, though, if the administration has evidence to support its claims that the protections should be reduced and the administration follows the process required by law, it is possible to loosen the restrictions. But as a former longtime senior leader at EPA and student of environmental policy, I know that process is not easy – and it’s not meant to be.

As examples of how the process of changing the rules and standards works, let’s look at the provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Similar provisions exist in the nation’s wide range of environmental protection laws, including the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and others.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces plans to review several environmental regulations on March 12, 2025.

Keeping the air clean

The Clean Air Act sets uniform national standards for air quality, and it created the rules by which states create plans to meet those standards.

One section of the law, Part C of Title I of the act, is titled “Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality.” Its provisions are meant to prevent states that meet the national standards from allowing air quality to get worse in the future.

Its basic effect is to require that new sources of pollution, or existing ones that make significant equipment changes, use the best available technology that meets or exceeds the minimum federal standards for pollution control. Additional protections apply to sensitive areas like national parks.

For areas that did not yet meet the standards, a set of amendments passed in 1990 included one that prevented air quality from getting worse. That provision, known as the “anti-backsliding rule,” says that no state whose air did not meet the standards before Nov. 15, 1990, can change its plan “unless the modification insures equivalent or greater emission reductions.” And once a state’s air quality improves to meet the standards, the state must follow maintenance plans to make sure the air quality doesn’t get worse.

Protecting the water

Under the Clean Water Act, states set water quality standards to protect drinking water and water for recreation, as well as to protect wildlife.

The Environmental Protection Agency has interpreted key sections of the law to require that states ensure that whatever companies discharge into the water from factories or other operations don’t degrade downstream water quality – even if the existing conditions are better than the minimum standards. Known as “anti-degradation provisions,” these rules mean water that is currently far cleaner than the standards require can’t legally be made more dirty, even if only a little bit.

The Clean Water Act also contains anti-backsliding provisions that prevent new discharge permits from allowing more pollution than previous permits did.

Air pollution is regulated by the federal government.
AP Photo/J. David Ake

Rollbacks are possible

Many federal standards can be weakened, so long as the EPA follows the Administrative Procedure Act’s process.

Since the 1970 passage of the Clean Air Act, the national air quality standards have not been weakened. Technology standards for air and water pollution controls have tightened over time because of advances that improved performance while reducing costs.

To change the rules under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must first provide evidence that the existing rules are no longer appropriate. Without that evidence, any changes may be overturned by the courts as not founded in facts – in legal terms, “arbitrary and capricious.” The first Trump administration’s efforts to change the rules failed in many court cases on this basis.

This review process is also required of the EPA’s intended effort to revoke the so-called “endangerment finding,” which establishes the agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. If successful, that revocation would undo the legal grounds for carbon dioxide and methane pollution standards for motor vehicles, electric utilities, oil and gas production, and large industrial sources.

Such an effort will certainly end up in court. The endangerment finding began with a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that required the EPA to assess whether greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health and welfare. In 2009, the agency found that they did. In 2012, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that finding, and the Supreme Court declined to reconsider the case.

Algae floats on Lake Erie. Algae blooms can be caused by water pollution.
AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Other ways to reduce environmental protections

The Trump administration’s stated plans for amending water pollution rules illustrate that rolling back protections can also mean undoing efforts to strengthen restrictions, if those efforts did not get finalized before 2025.

For instance, in June 2024, the Biden administration’s EPA notified the public that it intended to tighten restrictions on manufacturing plants’ discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, into surface water or public sewage-treatment systems. Those are a large category of human-made chemicals, used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat, which can be harmful to human health at some levels. These chemicals don’t break down easily and therefore are often called “forever chemicals.”

But the changes were never finalized, and on the second day of Trump’s second term, the new administration announced that the proposal had been withdrawn.

Rollbacks can also mean extending compliance deadlines for current standards. For example, the EPA has announced that it will review discharge rules for power plants. Even if the rules themselves don’t change, giving power plants more time to comply with the rules can increase pollution.

Public protests across the nation have objected to the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken environmental protections.
Brett Phelps/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

No change until new versions are finalized

In general, U.S. environmental laws do not prevent the EPA from weakening protection standards. But merely announcing the agency’s intention to do something doesn’t make it so.

In a recent executive order, Trump claimed he could take an action without public notice and comment “because I am ordering the repeal.” But federal law specifies that the process of change requires explicit descriptions of scientific and technical reasons and evidence that justify any proposed actions, and a notice-and-comment process that involves the public.

In the meantime, the existing standards remain in place, enforceable by citizen lawsuits even if the federal government decides not to enforce them. Agencies require technical and legal expertise to craft rules that can survive inevitable challenges in the courts. Many of those experts have been fired or laid off by the Trump administration, making the job of changing regulations more difficult.

Stan Meiburg is a volunteer with the Environmental Protection Network, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. He is also a 39 year alumnus of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He is a professional colleague with Sid Shapiro, whose Conversation article is cited in this piece.

– ref. Federal laws don’t ban rollbacks of environmental protection, but they don’t make it easy – https://theconversation.com/federal-laws-dont-ban-rollbacks-of-environmental-protection-but-they-dont-make-it-easy-253515

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 22, 2025

MIL-OSI: Private Bancorp of America, Inc. Announces Strong Net Income and Earnings Per Share for First Quarter 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

First Quarter 2025 Highlights

Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $10.6 million, compared to $10.7 million in the prior quarter and $7.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. Net income for the first quarter of 2025 represents a return on average assets of 1.74% and a return on average tangible common equity of 18.74%
Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2025 was $1.80, compared to $1.82 in the prior quarter and $1.36 in the first quarter of 2024
Total deposits were $2.19 billion as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $57.7 million or 2.7% from December 31, 2024, which included a reduction in brokered deposits of $96.9 million. Total deposits increased 15.1% year over year. Core deposits were $2.05 billion as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $154.6 million or 8.2% from December 31, 2024. Core deposits increased 27.5% year over year
Total cost of deposits was 2.22% for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease from 2.36% in the prior quarter and 2.61% in the first quarter of 2024. The spot rate for total deposits was 2.11% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 2.29% at December 31, 2024. Total cost of funding sources was 2.29% for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease from 2.45% in the prior quarter and 2.70% in the first quarter of 2024
Loans held-for-investment (“HFI”) totaled $2.08 billion as of March 31, 2025, a decrease of $6.5 million or 0.3% from December 31, 2024. Loans HFI increased 9.0% year over year
Net interest margin was 4.61% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 4.67% in the prior quarter and 4.31% in the first quarter of 2024
Provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2025 was $0.3 million, compared to $17 thousand for the prior quarter and $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2024. The allowance for loan losses was 1.27% of loans HFI as of March 31, 2025 compared to 1.31% at December 31, 2024
As of March 31, 2025, criticized and classified loans totaled $40.8 million, or 1.96% of total loans, up from $24.7 million, or 1.18% of total loans, in the prior quarter
Tangible book value per share was $40.29 as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $1.89 since December 31, 2024 primarily as a result of strong earnings. Tangible book value per share increased 4.9% quarter-over-quarter and 20.1% year over year.

LA JOLLA, Calif., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Private Bancorp of America, Inc. (OTCQX: PBAM), (“Company”) and CalPrivate Bank (“Bank”) announced unaudited financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025. The Company reported net income of $10.6 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $10.7 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, in the prior quarter, and $7.9 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.

Rick Sowers, President and CEO of the Company and the Bank stated, “We continue to be pleased by the Company and the Team’s performance. Strong growth in core deposits over the past year continues and we remain focused on building strong Relationships with our Clients. Loan demand was soft in Q1, as Clients and financial markets digest the current economy and prospects for future growth and stability. We remain optimistic that markets will settle, and demand will return. In the meantime, we are focused on providing the Distinctively Different Service our Clients and Prospects are seeking, getting more efficient and effective in our business through technology, continuous process improvement and building a strong Team throughout the Bank.”

Sowers added, “The Bank was recognized throughout the last year for superior financial performance and industry leading service metrics. These recognitions highlight CalPrivate Bank’s dedication to excellence, innovation, delivering Client-focused banking solutions and enhancing shareholder value:

#1 for both Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) among banks with less than $5 billion in assets
#1 SBA 504 Community Bank Lender in the United States
#10 Best U.S. Bank by Bank Director’s RankingBanking^®
Client Net Promoter Score of 81 (World Class)
Bauer 5 Star Rating
2025 Best 50 OTCQX

“As Los Angeles continues to tackle the enormous task of cleaning up after the devastating fires, CalPrivate Bank remains committed to being a partner to our Clients and the Communities we serve.”

“As our economy transitions based on priorities of the new administration in Washington DC, and global economic uncertainties increase, management and the board are diligently assessing and acting upon potential future risks and market opportunities. The Bank continues to produce top tier financial results by seeking improved productivity through technology investments, streamlined systems and processes, and hiring top bankers in existing and potential new markets and market segments. We continue to prioritize unparalleled Client service and creative Solutions for our loyal and growing client base. We continue to support a broad range of non-profit organizations in the communities we serve, both through team member volunteering activities and financial resources. Our Team takes great pride in doing well for shareholders by doing good for clients and community,” said Selwyn Isakow, Chairman of the Board of the Company and the Bank.

STATEMENT OF INCOME

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $27.7 million, an increase of $0.3 million or 1.2% from the prior quarter and an increase of $5.0 million or 21.8% from the first quarter of 2024. The increase from the prior quarter was due to a $0.5 million decrease in interest expense, resulting from a 22 basis point reduction in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, primarily driven by a 14 basis point decrease in the cost of total deposits.

Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2025 was 4.61%, compared to 4.67% for the prior quarter and 4.31% in the first quarter of 2024. The 6 basis point decrease in net interest margin from the prior quarter was primarily due to lower yields on interest-earning assets and a decrease in prepayment-penalty fees. The yield on interest-earning assets was 6.70% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 6.89% for the prior quarter, and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 3.14% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 3.36% in the prior quarter. The cost of total deposits was 2.22% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2.36% in the prior quarter. The cost of core deposits, which excludes brokered deposits, was 1.99% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2.07% in the prior quarter. The spot rate for total deposits was 2.11% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 2.29% at December 31, 2024.

Provision for Credit Losses

Provision expense for credit losses for the first quarter of 2025 was $0.3 million, compared to $17 thousand in the prior quarter and $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2024. The provision expense for loans HFI for the first quarter of 2025 was $0.5 million, primarily reflecting heightened macroeconomic uncertainty incorporated into our forecasts. This was offset by a $0.2 million reversal for unfunded commitments due to increased line of credit utilization that resulted in lower unfunded commitment balances. For more details, please refer to the “Asset Quality” section below.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.9 million in the prior quarter and $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. SBA loan sales for the first quarter of 2025 were $8.3 million with a 10.86% average trade premium resulting in a net gain on sale of $469 thousand, compared with $14.9 million with a 11.45% average trade premium resulting in a net gain on sale of $932 thousand in the prior quarter.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $14.1 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $14.2 million in the prior quarter and $12.8 million in the first quarter of 2024. The efficiency ratio was 47.90% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 48.34% in the prior quarter and 52.84% in the first quarter of 2024. The slight decrease in the efficiency ratio from the prior quarter was due to the decrease in noninterest expense.

The Company remains committed to making investments in the business, including technology, marketing, and staffing. Inflationary pressures and low unemployment continue to have an impact on rising wages as well as increased costs related to third party service providers, which we proactively monitor and manage.

Provision for Income Tax Expense

Provision for income tax expense was $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $4.5 million for the prior quarter. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was 29.5%, compared to 29.6% in the prior quarter and 29.5% in the first quarter of 2024.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

As of March 31, 2025, total assets were $2.48 billion, an increase of $58.9 million since December 31, 2024. The increase in assets from the prior quarter was primarily due to higher cash and due from banks and investment securities, partially offset by lower loans receivable. Our total cash and due from banks increased to $218.5 million as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $54.6 million or 33.3% since December 31, 2024, primarily due to strong growth in core deposits along with lower loan demand. Investment securities available-for-sale (“AFS”) were $156.3 million as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $11.1 million or 7.6% since December 31, 2024, primarily as a result of new securities purchased. As of March 31, 2025, the net unrealized loss on the AFS investment securities portfolio, which is comprised mostly of US Treasury and Government Agency debt, was $10.1 million (pre-tax) compared to a loss of $12.1 million (pre-tax) as of December 31, 2024. The average duration of the Bank’s AFS portfolio is 3.8 years. The Company has no held-to-maturity securities. Loans HFI totaled $2.08 billion as of March 31, 2025, a decrease of $6.5 million or 0.3% since December 31, 2024, reflecting lower loan production as borrowers deferred new financings amid economic and interest-rate uncertainty as well as wildfire-related disruptions in Southern California.

Total deposits were $2.19 billion as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $57.7 million since December 31, 2024. During the quarter, core deposits increased by $154.6 million, which was driven by a $108.9 million increase in interest-bearing core deposits (including balances in the Intrafi ICS and CDARS programs) and a $45.7 million increase in noninterest-bearing core deposits. The deposit mix has continued to shift due to short-term interest rates remaining elevated compared to recent years. Noninterest-bearing deposits represent 29.2% of total core deposits. Offsetting the increase to total deposits from core deposits, brokered deposits decreased by $96.9 million. Uninsured deposits, net of collateralized and fiduciary deposit accounts, represent 50.1% of total deposits as of March 31, 2025.

As of March 31, 2025, total available liquidity was $2.1 billion or 192.8% of uninsured deposits, net of collateralized and fiduciary deposit accounts. Total available liquidity is comprised of $366 million of on-balance sheet liquidity (cash and investment securities) and $1.8 billion of unused borrowing capacity.

Asset Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”)

As of March 31, 2025, the allowance for loan losses was $26.4 million or 1.27% of loans HFI, compared to $27.3 million or 1.31% of loans HFI as of December 31, 2024. The decrease in the coverage ratio from December 31, 2024 is due primarily to a $1.1 million partial charge-off of a nonaccrual loan that previously had a specific reserve of $2.0 million. The Company continues to have strong credit metrics and its nonperforming assets are 0.63% of total assets as of March 31, 2025 compared to 0.47% as of December 31, 2024. The reserve for unfunded commitments was $1.3 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $1.5 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease in the reserve for unfunded commitments was due to lower unfunded commitment balances (driven by higher credit line usage). Given the credit quality of the loan portfolio, management believes we are sufficiently reserved.

At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there were no doubtful credits and classified assets were $27.8 million and $14.9 million, respectively. Total classified assets consisted of 20 loans as of March 31, 2025, which included 17 loans totaling $24.7 million secured by real estate with a weighted average LTV of 52.7%, of which 11 loans totaling $16.4 million had SBA guarantees. The remaining three loans were $3.1 million of commercial and industrial loans, one of which was an unsecured loan on nonaccrual status with a carrying value of $1.5 million and a specific reserve of $1.0 million (net of a $1.1 million partial charge off).

The Bank’s loan portfolio does include assets that are in the affected areas of Los Angeles devastated by wildfires. However, based on assessments performed to date, management does not believe there is a material impact to the financial statements.

Capital Ratios ⁽²⁾

The Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of the levels established for “well capitalized” institutions and are as follows:

	March 31, 2025⁽²⁾	December 31, 2024
CalPrivate Bank
Tier I leverage ratio	10.35%	10.39%
Tier I risk-based capital ratio	11.75%	11.29%
Total risk-based capital ratio	13.00%	12.54%

(2) March 31, 2025 capital ratios are preliminary and subject to change.

About Private Bancorp of America, Inc. (OTCQX: PBAM)

PBAM is the holding company for CalPrivate Bank, which operates offices in Coronado, San Diego, La Jolla, Newport Beach, El Segundo, and Beverly Hills, as well as through efficient digital banking services. CalPrivate Bank is driven by its core values of building client Relationships based on superior funding Solutions, unparalleled Service, and mutual Trust. The Bank caters to high-net-worth individuals, professionals, closely-held businesses, and real estate entrepreneurs, delivering a Distinctly Different™ personalized banking experience while leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance our clients’ evolving needs. CalPrivate Bank is in the top tier of customer service survey ratings in the nation, scoring almost 3x higher than the median domestic bank. The Bank offers comprehensive deposit and treasury services, rapid and creative loan options including various portfolio and government-guaranteed lending programs, cross border banking, and innovative, unique technologies that drive enhanced client performance. CalPrivate Bank has been recognized by Bank Director’s RankingBanking® as the 10^th best bank in the country and the #1 bank in its asset class for both return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). CalPrivate Bank was also ranked in the top 5% of banks in the U.S. with assets between $2B and $10B by American Banker. Additionally, CalPrivate Bank is a Bauer Financial 5-star rated bank, an SBA Preferred Lender, and has been honored as Community Bank 504 Lender of the Year by the NADCO Community Impact Awards, exemplifying excellence in the banking industry. These prestigious rankings highlight the Bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional banking services and setting new industry standards.

CalPrivate Bank’s website is www.calprivate.bank.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures in addition to results presented in accordance with GAAP, including adjusted income before provision for income taxes, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share (“Adjusted EPS”), efficiency ratio, adjusted efficiency ratio, pretax pre-provision net revenue, average tangible common equity, adjusted return on average assets, return on average tangible common equity and adjusted return on average tangible common equity. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s results of operations and financial condition and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of such results of operations and financial condition, to permit investors to effectively analyze financial trends of our business activities, and to enhance comparability with peers across the financial services sector. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial information. A reconciliation of the most comparable GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures is included in the accompanying financial tables.

Investor Relations Contacts

Rick Sowers
President and Chief Executive Officer
Private Bancorp of America, Inc., and CalPrivate Bank
(424) 303-4894

Cory Stewart
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Private Bancorp of America, Inc., and CalPrivate Bank
(206) 293-3669

Safe Harbor Paragraph

This communication contains expressions of expectations, both implied and explicit, that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, especially given the current turmoil in the banking and financial markets. These factors include the effects of depositors withdrawing funds unexpectedly, counterparties being unable to provide liquidity sources that we believe should be available, loan losses, economic conditions and competition in the geographic and business areas in which Private Bancorp of America, Inc. operates, including competition in lending and deposit acquisition, the unpredictability of fee income from participation in SBA loan programs, the effects of bank failures, liquidations and mergers in our markets and nationally, our ability to successfully integrate and develop business through the addition of new personnel, whether our efforts to expand loan, product and service offerings will prove profitable, system failures and data security, whether we can effectively secure and implement new technology solutions, inflation, fluctuations in interest rates, legislation and governmental regulation. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we undertake no obligation to update those statements whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or otherwise. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from what we anticipate or project. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Although we believe in good faith the assumptions and bases supporting our forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that those assumptions and bases will prove accurate.

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)

	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Mar 31, 2024
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	34,720		$	16,528		$	13,136
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions		16,155			10,419			34,790
Interest-bearing deposits at Federal Reserve Bank		167,606			136,929			93,575
Total cash and due from banks		218,481			163,876			141,501
Interest-bearing time deposits with other institutions		4,213			4,189			4,032
Investment debt securities available for sale		156,346			145,238			114,067
Loans held for sale		2,066			3,008			383
Loans, net of deferred fees and costs and unaccreted discounts		2,078,653			2,085,149			1,906,992
Allowance for loan losses		(26,437	)		(27,267	)		(24,693	)
Loans held-for-investment, net of allowance		2,052,216			2,057,882			1,882,299
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost		9,586			9,586			8,915
Operating lease right of use assets		6,383			6,819			2,765
Premises and equipment, net		2,432			2,335			1,804
Servicing assets, net		1,993			2,087			2,203
Accrued interest receivable		8,148			7,993			7,931
Other assets		21,009			20,998			21,877
Total assets	$	2,482,873		$	2,424,011		$	2,187,777

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Noninterest bearing	$	599,095		$	553,405		$	516,294
Interest bearing		1,593,014			1,581,054			1,388,381
Total deposits		2,192,109			2,134,459			1,904,675
FHLB borrowings		16,000			28,000			53,000
Other borrowings		17,970			17,969			17,963
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		21,559			20,049			18,107
Total liabilities		2,247,638			2,200,477			1,993,745

Shareholders’ equity
Common stock		76,156			75,377			74,105
Additional paid-in capital		3,712			4,393			4,108
Retained earnings		162,462			152,252			124,464
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net		(7,095	)		(8,488	)		(8,645	)
Total shareholders’ equity		235,235			223,534			194,032
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,482,873		$	2,424,011		$	2,187,777

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the three months ended
	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Interest Income
Loans	$	36,565	$	37,259	$	33,006
Investment securities		1,505		1,510		979
Deposits in other financial institutions		2,198		1,661		1,799
Total interest income		40,268		40,430		35,784

Interest Expense
Deposits		11,899		12,297		12,130
Borrowings		637		726		886
Total interest expense		12,536		13,023		13,016

Net interest income		27,732		27,407		22,768
Provision for credit losses		299		17		233
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		27,433		27,390		22,535

Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts		557		558		388
Net gain on sale of loans		469		932		681
Other noninterest income		587		456		357
Total noninterest income		1,613		1,946		1,426

Noninterest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits		9,748		9,539		8,861
Occupancy and equipment		844		847		770
Data processing		1,326		1,195		1,058
Professional services		508		573		488
Other expenses		1,629		2,036		1,606
Total noninterest expense		14,055		14,190		12,783
Income before provision for income taxes		14,991		15,146		11,178
Provision for income taxes		4,429		4,488		3,294
Net income	$	10,562	$	10,658	$	7,884
Net income available to common shareholders	$	10,482	$	10,573	$	7,832

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share	$	1.83	$	1.85	$	1.38
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.80	$	1.82	$	1.36

Average shares outstanding		5,734,688		5,716,291		5,679,843
Diluted average shares outstanding		5,826,229		5,813,197		5,754,937

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. Consolidated average balance sheet, interest, yield and rates (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)

	For the three months ended
	Mar 31, 2025							Dec 31, 2024							Mar 31, 2024
	Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate			Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate			Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate
Interest-Earnings Assets
Deposits in other financial institutions	$	202,907	$	2,198		4.39	%	$	143,053	$	1,661		4.62	%	$	135,511	$	1,799		5.34	%
Investment securities		157,747		1,505		3.82	%		155,768		1,510		3.88	%		119,690		979		3.27	%
Loans, including LHFS		2,078,588		36,565		7.13	%		2,036,178		37,259		7.28	%		1,868,308		33,006		7.11	%
Total interest-earning assets		2,439,242		40,268		6.70	%		2,334,999		40,430		6.89	%		2,123,509		35,784		6.78	%
Noninterest-earning assets		28,536							24,951							25,469
Total Assets	$	2,467,778						$	2,359,950						$	2,148,978

Interest-Bearing Liabilities
Interest bearing DDA, excluding brokered		244,301		970		1.61	%		178,811		634		1.41	%		109,838		441		1.61	%
Savings & MMA, excluding brokered		955,259		6,830		2.90	%		904,191		6,991		3.08	%		765,770		6,421		3.37	%
Time deposits, excluding brokered		196,375		1,956		4.04	%		191,794		2,004		4.16	%		155,703		1,583		4.09	%
Total deposits, excluding brokered		1,395,935		9,756		2.83	%		1,274,796		9,629		3.00	%		1,031,311		8,445		3.29	%
Total brokered deposits		183,059		2,143		4.75	%		218,792		2,668		4.85	%		287,885		3,685		5.15	%
Total Interest-Bearing Deposits		1,578,994		11,899		3.06	%		1,493,588		12,297		3.28	%		1,319,196		12,130		3.70	%

FHLB advances		24,122		272		4.57	%		29,446		343		4.63	%		49,935		614		4.95	%
Other borrowings		17,981		365		8.23	%		17,967		383		8.48	%		17,962		272		6.09	%
Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities		1,621,097		12,536		3.14	%		1,541,001		13,023		3.36	%		1,387,093		13,016		3.77	%

Noninterest-bearing deposits		594,408							577,462							553,541
Total Funding Sources		2,215,505		12,536		2.29	%		2,118,463		13,023		2.45	%		1,940,634		13,016		2.70	%

Noninterest-bearing liabilities		21,542							21,524							18,018
Shareholders’ equity		230,731							219,963							190,326

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	2,467,778						$	2,359,950						$	2,148,978

Net interest income/spread			$	27,732		4.41	%			$	27,407		4.44	%			$	22,768		4.08	%
Net interest margin						4.61	%						4.67	%						4.31	%

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Sep 30, 2024			Jun 30, 2024			Mar 31, 2024
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	218,481		$	163,876		$	207,174		$	158,377		$	141,501
Interest-bearing time deposits with other institutions		4,213			4,189			4,124			4,097			4,032
Investment securities		156,346			145,238			141,100			121,725			114,067
Loans held for sale		2,066			3,008			2,040			–			383
Total loans held-for-investment		2,078,653			2,085,149			2,012,457			1,979,720			1,906,992
Allowance for loan losses		(26,437	)		(27,267	)		(26,594	)		(26,591	)		(24,693	)
Loans held-for-investment, net of allowance		2,052,216			2,057,882			1,985,863			1,953,129			1,882,299
Operating lease right of use assets		6,383			6,819			4,344			4,719			2,765
Premises and equipment, net		2,432			2,335			2,345			2,207			1,804
Other assets and interest receivable		40,736			40,664			39,383			41,430			40,926
Total assets	$	2,482,873		$	2,424,011		$	2,386,373		$	2,285,684		$	2,187,777

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Noninterest Bearing	$	599,095		$	553,405		$	584,292		$	557,055		$	516,294
Interest Bearing		1,593,014			1,581,054			1,522,839			1,444,671			1,388,381
Total Deposits		2,192,109			2,134,459			2,107,131			2,001,726			1,904,675
Borrowings		33,970			45,969			45,967			65,965			70,963
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		21,559			20,049			19,062			16,551			18,107
Total liabilities		2,247,638			2,200,477			2,172,160			2,084,242			1,993,745
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock		76,156			75,377			74,688			74,636			74,105
Additional paid-in capital		3,712			4,393			4,271			3,717			4,108
Retained earnings		162,462			152,252			141,623			132,179			124,464
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(7,095	)		(8,488	)		(6,369	)		(9,090	)		(8,645	)
Total shareholders’ equity		235,235			223,534			214,213			201,442			194,032
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,482,873		$	2,424,011		$	2,386,373		$	2,285,684		$	2,187,777

Book value per common share	$	40.63		$	38.76		$	37.21		$	35.03		$	33.94
Tangible book value per common share⁽¹⁾	$	40.29		$	38.40		$	36.87		$	34.65		$	33.55
Shares outstanding		5,789,306			5,766,810			5,756,207			5,751,143			5,717,519

(1) Non-GAAP measure. See GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliation table.


PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the three months ended
	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Sep 30, 2024		Jun 30, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Interest income	$	40,268	$	40,430	$	40,018	$	38,662	$	35,784
Interest expense		12,536		13,023		14,311		13,992		13,016
Net interest income		27,732		27,407		25,707		24,670		22,768
Provision for credit losses		299		17		304		2,136		233
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		27,433		27,390		25,403		22,534		22,535

Service charges on deposit accounts		557		558		504		430		388
Net gain on sale of loans		469		932		587		661		681
Other noninterest income		587		456		343		447		357
Total noninterest income		1,613		1,946		1,434		1,538		1,426

Compensation and employee benefits		9,748		9,539		9,422		8,836		8,861
Occupancy and equipment		844		847		818		822		770
Data processing		1,326		1,195		1,238		1,183		1,058
Professional services		508		573		252		424		488
Other expenses		1,629		2,036		1,695		1,697		1,606
Total noninterest expense		14,055		14,190		13,425		12,962		12,783

Income before provision for income taxes		14,991		15,146		13,412		11,110		11,178
Income taxes		4,429		4,488		3,959		3,283		3,294
Net income	$	10,562	$	10,658	$	9,453	$	7,827	$	7,884
Net income available to common shareholders	$	10,482	$	10,573	$	9,373	$	7,761	$	7,832

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share	$	1.83	$	1.85	$	1.64	$	1.36	$	1.38
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.80	$	1.82	$	1.63	$	1.35	$	1.36

Average shares outstanding		5,734,688		5,716,291		5,707,723		5,702,938		5,679,843
Diluted average shares outstanding		5,826,229		5,813,197		5,767,401		5,762,616		5,754,937

	Performance Ratios
	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Sep 30, 2024			Jun 30, 2024			Mar 31, 2024
ROAA		1.74	%		1.80	%		1.62	%		1.40	%		1.48	%
ROAE		18.56	%		19.28	%		18.00	%		15.81	%		16.66	%
ROATCE⁽¹⁾		18.74	%		19.46	%		18.18	%		15.99	%		16.86	%
Net interest margin		4.61	%		4.67	%		4.44	%		4.48	%		4.31	%
Net interest spread		4.41	%		4.44	%		4.20	%		4.24	%		4.08	%
Efficiency ratio⁽¹⁾		47.90	%		48.34	%		49.46	%		49.46	%		52.84	%
Noninterest expense / average assets		2.31	%		2.39	%		2.29	%		2.32	%		2.39	%

(1) Non-GAAP measure. See GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliation table.

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. (Unaudited)

	Selected Quarterly Average Balances
	(Dollars in thousands)
	For the three months ended
	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Sep 30, 2024		Jun 30, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Total assets	$	2,467,778	$	2,359,950	$	2,328,399	$	2,241,860	$	2,148,978
Earning assets	$	2,439,242	$	2,334,999	$	2,303,537	$	2,216,185	$	2,123,509
Total loans, including loans held for sale	$	2,078,588	$	2,036,178	$	1,989,748	$	1,939,746	$	1,868,308
Total deposits	$	2,173,402	$	2,071,050	$	2,047,197	$	1,961,099	$	1,872,737
Total shareholders’ equity	$	230,731	$	219,963	$	208,889	$	199,088	$	190,326

	Loan Balances by Type
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Sep 30, 2024		Jun 30, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Commercial Real Estate (CRE):
Investor owned	$	577,512	$	572,659	$	560,481	$	566,314	$	573,587
Owner occupied		228,232		223,442		221,364		216,876		216,123
Multifamily		163,218		162,330		175,387		177,390		175,629
Secured by single family		200,650		198,579		190,738		181,744		157,092
Land and construction		70,293		62,638		68,186		58,109		35,975
SBA secured by real estate		402,524		401,990		395,646		388,271		385,416
Total CRE		1,642,429		1,621,638		1,611,802		1,588,704		1,543,822
Commercial business:
Commercial and industrial		417,258		441,182		383,874		378,161		352,417
SBA non-real estate secured		17,004		20,205		15,101		10,758		8,657
Total commercial business		434,262		461,387		398,975		388,919		361,074
Consumer		1,962		2,124		1,680		2,097		2,096
Total loans held for investment	$	2,078,653	$	2,085,149	$	2,012,457	$	1,979,720	$	1,906,992

	Deposits by Type
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Mar 31, 2025		Dec 31, 2024		Sep 30, 2024		Jun 30, 2024		Mar 31, 2024
Noninterest-bearing DDA	$	599,095	$	553,405	$	584,292	$	557,055	$	516,294
Interest-bearing DDA, excluding brokered		257,720		251,594		182,268		156,253		117,129
Savings & MMA, excluding brokered		981,491		887,740		920,219		861,508		812,841
Time deposits, excluding brokered		210,845		201,851		186,583		168,664		160,605
Total deposits, excluding brokered		2,049,151		1,894,590		1,873,362		1,743,480		1,606,869
Total brokered deposits		142,958		239,869		233,769		258,246		297,806
Total deposits	$	2,192,109	$	2,134,459	$	2,107,131	$	2,001,726	$	1,904,675

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC. (Unaudited)

	Rollforward of Allowance for Credit Losses
	(Dollars in thousands)
	For the three months ended
	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024		Sep 30, 2024		Jun 30, 2024			Mar 31, 2024
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	$	27,267		$	26,594	$	26,591	$	24,693		$	24,476
Provision for loan losses		460			673		3		1,994			251
Net (charge-offs) recoveries		(1,290	)		–		–		(96	)		(34	)
Ending balance		26,437			27,267		26,594		26,591			24,693
Reserve for unfunded commitments		1,348			1,509		2,165		1,865			1,723
Total allowance for credit losses	$	27,785		$	28,776	$	28,759	$	28,456		$	26,416

	Asset Quality
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Sep 30, 2024			Jun 30, 2024			Mar 31, 2024
Total loans held-for-investment	$	2,078,653		$	2,085,149		$	2,012,457		$	1,979,720		$	1,906,992
Allowance for loan losses	$	(26,437	)	$	(27,267	)	$	(26,594	)	$	(26,591	)	$	(24,693	)
30-89 day past due loans	$	2,399		$	1,952		$	–		$	–		$	–
90+ day past due loans	$	13,223		$	11,512		$	11,512		$	2,500		$	3,530
Nonaccrual loans	$	15,565		$	11,512		$	11,512		$	2,500		$	4,656
NPAs / Assets		0.63	%		0.47	%		0.48	%		0.11	%		0.21	%
NPLs / Total loans held-for-investment & OREO		0.75	%		0.55	%		0.57	%		0.13	%		0.24	%
Net quarterly charge-offs (recoveries)	$	1,290		$	–		$	–		$	96		$	34
Net charge-offs (recoveries) /avg loans (annualized)		0.25	%		0.00	%		0.00	%		0.02	%		0.01	%
Allowance for loan losses to loans HFI		1.27	%		1.31	%		1.32	%		1.34	%		1.29	%
Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans		169.85	%		236.86	%		231.01	%		1,063.64	%		530.35	%

PRIVATE BANCORP OF AMERICA, INC.
(Unaudited)

The following tables present a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures for: efficiency ratio, pretax pre-provision net revenue, average tangible common equity, and return on average tangible common equity. We believe the presentation of certain non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to assess our consolidated financial condition and consolidated results of operations and to assist investors in evaluating our financial results relative to our peers. These non-GAAP financial measures complement our GAAP reporting and are presented below to provide investors and others with information that we use to manage the business each period. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP measures should be taken together with the corresponding GAAP measures and should not be considered a substitute of the GAAP measures.

	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation
	(Dollars in thousands)

	For the three months ended
	Mar 31, 2025			Dec 31, 2024			Sep 30, 2024			Jun 30, 2024			Mar 31, 2024
Efficiency Ratio
Noninterest expense	$	14,055		$	14,190		$	13,425		$	12,962		$	12,783
Net interest income		27,732			27,407			25,707			24,670			22,768
Noninterest income		1,613			1,946			1,434			1,538			1,426
Total net interest income and noninterest income		29,345			29,353			27,141			26,208			24,194
Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)		47.90	%		48.34	%		49.46	%		49.46	%		52.84	%

Pretax pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income	$	27,732		$	27,407		$	25,707		$	24,670		$	22,768
Noninterest income		1,613			1,946			1,434			1,538			1,426
Total net interest income and noninterest income		29,345			29,353			27,141			26,208			24,194
Less: Noninterest expense		14,055			14,190			13,425			12,962			12,783
Pretax pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)	$	15,290		$	15,163		$	13,716		$	13,246		$	11,411

Return and Adjusted Return on Average Assets, Average Equity, Average Tangible Equity
Net income	$	10,562		$	10,658		$	9,453		$	7,827		$	7,884
Average assets		2,467,778			2,359,950			2,328,399			2,241,860			2,148,978
Average shareholders’ equity		230,731			219,963			208,889			199,088			190,326
Less: Average intangible assets		2,098			2,028			2,051			2,163			2,208
Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)		228,633			217,935			206,838			196,925			188,118

Return on average assets		1.74	%		1.80	%		1.62	%		1.40	%		1.48	%
Return on average equity		18.56	%		19.28	%		18.00	%		15.81	%		16.66	%
Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)		18.74	%		19.46	%		18.18	%		15.99	%		16.86	%

Tangible book value per share
Total equity		235,235			223,534			214,213			201,442			194,032
Less: Total intangible assets		1,993			2,087			2,006			2,164			2,203
Total tangible equity		233,242			221,447			212,207			199,278			191,829
Shares outstanding		5,789,306			5,766,810			5,756,207			5,751,143			5,717,519
Tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)	$	40.29		$	38.40		$	36.87		$	34.65		$	33.55

The MIL Network –

April 22, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Lumma Stealer – Tracking distribution channels
Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

Headline: Lumma Stealer – Tracking distribution channels

Introduction

The evolution of Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) has significantly lowered the barriers to entry for cybercriminals, with information stealers becoming one of the most commercially successful categories in this underground economy. Among these threats, Lumma Stealer has emerged as a particularly sophisticated player since its introduction in 2022 by the threat actor known as Lumma. Initially marketed as LummaC2, this information stealer quickly gained traction in underground forums, with prices starting at $250. As of March 2025, its presence on dark web marketplaces and Telegram channels continues to grow, with over a thousand active subscribers.

LummaC2 seller’s official website

Lumma delivery usually involves human interaction, such as clicking a link, running malicious commands, etc. Recently, while investigating an incident as part of our incident response services, our Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) encountered Lumma on a customer’s system. The analysis revealed that the incident was triggered by human interaction, namely the user was tricked into executing a malicious command by a fake CAPTCHA page. In this article, we will review in detail how the fake CAPTCHA campaign works and share a list of IoCs that we discovered during our analysis and investigation of the campaign. Although we already described this distribution method in an earlier article, more details about this campaign have been discovered since then.

Lumma Stealer’s distribution vectors

Lumma Stealer’s distribution methods are diverse, using common techniques typically seen in information-stealing malware campaigns. Primary infection vectors include phishing emails with malicious attachments or links, as well as trojanized legitimate applications. These deceptive tactics trick users into executing the malware, which runs silently in the background harvesting valuable data. Lumma has also been observed using exploit kits, social engineering, and compromised websites to extend its reach and evade detection by security solutions. In this article, we’ll focus mainly on the fake CAPTCHA distribution vector.

This vector involves fake verification pages that resemble legitimate services, often hosted on platforms that use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). These pages typically masquerade as frequently used CAPTCHAs, such as Google reCAPTCHA or Cloudflare CAPTCHA, to trick users into believing they are interacting with a trusted service.

Fake CAPTCHA distribution vectors

Fake CAPTCHA distribution scheme

There are two types of resources used to promote fake CAPTCHA pages:
- Pirated media, adult content, and cracked software sites. The attackers clone these websites and inject malicious advertisements into the cloned page that redirect users to a malicious CAPTCHA.
- Fake Telegram channels for pirated content and cryptocurrencies. The attackers create Telegram channels with names containing keywords related to cryptocurrencies or pirated content, such as software, movies, etc. When a user searches for such content, the fraudulent channels appear at the top of the search. The attackers also use social media posts to lure victims to these channels. When a user joins such a channel, they are prompted to complete an identity verification via a fraudulent “Safeguard Captcha” bot.
  
  Safeguard Captcha bot
  
  Once the user clicks the Verify button, the bot opens a pop-up page with a fake CAPTCHA.
Fake CAPTCHA page

Users are presented with a pop-up page that looks like a standard CAPTCHA verification, prompting them to click I’m not a robot/Verify/Copy or some similar button. However, this is where the deception begins.

Fake CAPTCHA page examples

Fake page malicious content

When the I’m not a robot/Verify/Copy button is clicked, the user is instructed to perform an unusual sequence:
- Open the Run dialog(Win+R)
- Press Ctrl+V
- Hit Enter
Without the user’s knowledge, clicking the button automatically copies a PowerShell command to the clipboard. Once the user pastes the command into the Run dialog and presses Enter, the system executes the command.

Examples of scripts copied to the clipboard and executed via the Run dialog

The command may vary slightly from site to site and changes every few days, but it is typically used to download Lumma Stealer from a remote server, which is usually a known CDN with a free trial period or a legitimate code hosting and collaboration platform such as GitHub, and begin the malware installation process. Let’s take a closer look at this infection chain using the following command that was executed in our customer’s incident as an example:

Command triggering Lumma’s infection chain

The command is rather simple. It decodes and runs the contents from the remote win15.txt file hosted at https[:]//win15.b-cdn[.]net/win15.txt. The win15.txt file contains a Base64-encoded PowerShell script that then downloads and runs the Lumma Stealer. When decoded, the malicious PowerShell script looks like this:

Contents of win15.txt

The script performs the following actions:
1. Downloads the malware. It downloads the win15.zip file from https[:]//win15.b-cdn[.]net/win15.zip to [User Profile]AppDataRoamingbFylC6zX.zip.
2. Extracts the malware. The downloaded ZIP file is extracted to C:Users[User]AppDataRoaming7oCDTWYu, a hidden folder under the user’s AppData directory.
3. Executes the malware. The script runs the Set-up.exe file from the unpacked archive, which is now located at C:Users[User]AppDataRoaming7oCDTWYuSet-up.exe.
4. Establishes persistence mechanism. The script creates an entry in the Windows Registry for persistency, ensuring that the malware runs every time the system starts. The registry key is added under HKCU:SOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun. The key name is 5TQjtTuo, with the value pointing to Set-up.exe.
However, in some cases, the malware delivery mechanism can be more complex. In the following example, the delivery script is a JavaScript code hidden in what looks like an .mp3 file (other file formats such as .mp4 and .png have also been used). In fact, in addition to the JavaScript, the file may contain a corrupt .mp3/.mp4 file, legitimate software code, or just random data.

The script is executed using the Microsoft HTML Application engine mshta.exe by prompting the user to paste the following command into the Run dialog box:

Command triggering JS-based infection chain

The mshta command parses the file as an HTA file (Microsoft HTML Application) and executes any JavaScript code within the tag, triggering the following infection chain:

Layer (1)

The JS script inside the .mp3 file is executed by mshta.

JS script within the never.mp3 file

Layer (2)

After calculating the Kwb value, the following script is obtained, which is then executed by the eval function.

Layer (2) JS script

Layer (3)

After calculating the values for kXN and zzI, the final ActiveX command is built and executed. It contains an encoded PowerShell script in the $PBwR variable.

Deobfuscated Layer (2) JS script

Layer (4)

After decoding the PowerShell script, we found that its main purpose is to download and execute another PowerShell file from the C2 path hXXps://connect[.]klipfuzj[.]shop/firefire[.]png.

Decrypted Layer (3) PowerShell script

Analysis for firefire.png

The file firefire.png is a huge PowerShell file (~31MB) with several layers of obfuscation and anti-debugging. After deobfuscating and removing unnecessary code, we could see that the main purpose of the file is to generate and execute an encrypted PowerShell script as follows:

firefire.png

The decryption key is the output of the Invoke-Metasploit command, which is blocked if the AMSI is enabled. As a result, an error message is generated by the AMSI: AMSI_RESULT_NOT_DETECTED, which is used as the key. If the AMSI is disabled, the malware will fail to decrypt the script.

The decrypted PowerShell script is approximately 1.5MB in size and its main purpose is to create and run a malicious executable file.

Decrypted PowerShell script

Infection methods and techniques

Lumma Stealer has been observed in the wild using a variety of infection methods, with two primary techniques standing out in its distribution campaigns: DLL sideloading and injection of a malicious payload into the overlay section of legitimate free software. These techniques are particularly effective at evading detection because they exploit the trust that users place in widely used applications and system processes.
- DLL sideloading
  DLL sideloading is a well-known technique where malicious dynamic link libraries (DLLs) are loaded by a legitimate application. This technique exploits vulnerabilities or misconfigurations in software that inadvertently load DLL files from untrusted directories. Attackers can drop the Lumma Stealer DLL in the same directory as a trusted application, causing it to load when the application is executed. Because the malicious DLL is loaded in the context of a trusted process, it is much harder for traditional security measures to detect the intrusion.
- Injection of malicious payload into the overlay section of software
  Another method commonly used by Lumma Stealer is to inject a malicious payload into the overlay section of free software. The overlay section is typically used for legitimate software functionality, such as displaying graphical interfaces or handling certain input events. By modifying this section of the software, the adversary can inject the malicious payload without disrupting the normal operation of the application. This method is particularly insidious because the software continues to appear legitimate while the malicious code silently executes in the background. It also helps the malware evade detection by security tools that focus on system-level monitoring.
Both of these methods rely on exploiting trusted applications, which significantly increases the chances of successful infection. These techniques can be used in combination with others, such as phishing or trojanized software bundles, to maximize the spread of Lumma Stealer to multiple targets.

Sample analysis

To demonstrate how the Lumma Stealer installers work and the impact on systems and data security, we’ll analyze the stealer sample we found in the incident at our customer. This sample utilizes the overlay injection technique. Below is a detailed breakdown of the infection chain and the various techniques used to deploy and execute Lumma Stealer.

Initial execution and self-extracting RAR (SFX)

The initial payload in this sample is delivered as ProjectorNebraska.exe, which consists of a corrupt legitimate file and the malware in the overlay section. It is executed by the victim. Upon execution, the file extracts and runs a self-extracting RAR (SFX) archive. This archive contains the next stage of the infection: a Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) installer. NSIS is a widely used tool for creating Windows installers.

NSIS installer components

The NSIS installer drops several components that are critical to the malware’s execution:

NSIS installer components

These include AutoIt components and an obfuscated batch script loader named Hose.cmd. The following AutoIt components are dropped:
- Fragments of a legitimate AutoIt executable: These are pieces of a genuine AutoIt executable that are dropped to the victim’s system, and then reassembled during the infection process.
- Compiled AutoIt script: The compiled script carries the core functionality of Lumma Stealer, including operations such as credential theft and data exfiltration.
These components are later reassembled into the final executable payload using the batch script loader that concatenates and executes the various fragments.

Hose.cmd orchestrates the final steps of the malware’s execution. Below is a breakdown of its key components (after deobfuscation):

Deobfuscated batch script code

Process tree after executing the batch script

The batch script performs the following actions:
- Security product evasion
  
  The script scans for the presence of security software (SecureAnywhere and Quick Heal AntiVirus) using the tasklist If either of them is detected, it delays execution via the ping -n 198 command, which pings localhost 198 times. This trick is used to avoid sandbox detection, as the sandbox typically exits before the script completes the ping task.
  
  The script checks for the presence of any of the following: Avast, AVG, McAfee, Bitdefender, Sophos, using the tasklist If one of them is detected, it keeps the executable name for AutoIt as AutoIt3.exe; otherwise, it renames it to Suggests.pif.
- Environment setup and payload preparation. It sets environment variables for the AutoIt executable and the final payload. It also creates a working directory named 195402 in the Temp directory to store malicious components.
- Obfuscation and extraction. The script filters and cleans a file named Sitting from the NSIS installer by removing the string OptimumSlipProfessionalsPerspective, and storing the result as Suggests.pif. It then uses the copy /b command to merge Suggests.pif with an additional component from the NSIS installer named Oclc into the AutoIt executable, saving it again as Suggests.pif.
- Payload assembly. It concatenates multiple files from the NSIS installer: Italy, Holmes, True, etc. to generate the final executable with the name h.a3x, which is an AutoIt script.
- Execution of Lumma Stealer. Finally, the script runs Suggests.pif, which in turn executes h.a3x, triggering the AutoIt-based execution of Lumma Stealer.
AutoIt script analysis

During the analysis, the AutoIt Extractor utility was used to decompile and extract the script from the h.a3x file. The script was heavily obfuscated and required additional deobfuscation to get a clean and analyzable .au3 script. Below is the analysis of the AutoIt loader’s behavior.

AutoIt script extraction

Anti-analysis checks

The script begins by validating the environment to detect analysis tools or sandbox environments. It checks for specific computer names and usernames often associated with testing environments.

Environment validation

It then checks for processes from popular antivirus tools such as Avast (avastui.exe), Bitdefender (bdagent.exe), and Kaspersky (avp.exe).

Anti-AV checks

If any of these conditions are met, the script halts execution to evade detection.

Executing loader shellcode

If the anti-analysis checks are passed, the script dynamically selects 32-bit or 64-bit shellcode based on the system architecture, which is located in the $vinylcigaretteau variable inside the script. To do this, it allocates executable memory and injects the shellcode into it. The shellcode then initializes the execution environment and prepares for the second-stage payload.

Part of the AutoIt loader responsible for the shellcode execution

Processing the $dayjoy payload

After executing the loader shellcode, the script processes the second-stage payload located in the $dayjoy variable. The payload is decrypted using RC4 with a hardcoded key 1246403907690944.

The encrypted payload

To decrypt the payload independently, we wrote a custom Python script that you can see in the screenshot below.

Python script for payload decryption

The decrypted payload is decompressed using the LZNT1 algorithm.

Payload decompression

Final payload execution

After decryption and decompression, the $dayjoy payload is executed in memory. The script uses DllCallAddress to invoke the payload directly in the allocated memory. This ensures the payload is executed stealthily without being written to disk.

Final payload execution

This final payload is the stealer itself. The malware’s comprehensive data theft capabilities target a wide range of sensitive information, including:
- Cryptocurrency wallet credentials (e.g., Binance, Ethereum) and associated browser extensions (e.g., MetaMask)
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) data and authenticator extensions
- Browser-stored credentials and cookies
- Stored credentials from remote access tools such as AnyDesk
- Stored credentials from password managers such as KeePass
- System and application data
- Financial information such as credit card numbers
C2 communication

Once Lumma Stealer is executed, it establishes communication with its command and control (C2) servers to exfiltrate the stolen data. The malware sends the collected information back to the attacker’s infrastructure for further exploitation. This communication is typically performed over HTTP or HTTPS, often disguised as legitimate traffic to avoid detection by network security monitoring tools.

C2 servers identified

The following C2 domains used by Lumma Stealer to communicate with the attackers were identified in the analyzed sample:

These domains are used to receive stolen data from infected systems. Communication with these servers is typically via encrypted HTTP POST requests.

Conclusions

As a mass-distributed malicious program, Lumma Stealer employs a complex infection chain that includes a number of anti-analysis and detection evasion techniques, to stealthily infiltrate the victim’s device. Although the initial infection via dubious pirated software and cryptocurrency-related websites and Telegram channels suggests that individuals are the primary targets of these attacks, we saw Lumma in an incident at one of our customers, which illustrates that organizations can also fall victim to this threat. The information stolen by such malware may end up in the hands of more prominent cybercriminals, such as ransomware operators. That’s why it’s important to prevent stealer infections at the early stages. By understanding the infection techniques, security professionals can better defend against this growing threat and develop more effective detection and prevention strategies.

IoCs

The following list contains the URLs detected during our research. Note that the attackers change the malicious URLs and Telegram channels almost daily, and the IoCs provided in this section were already inactive at the time of writing. However, they may be useful for retrospective threat detection.

Malicious fake CAPTCHA pages

Telegram channels distributing Lumma
MIL OSI Economics –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Veteran and Mom Adding New Title to Her Résumé: UConn Graduate

Source: US State of Connecticut

Every day, Briana Brady ’25 (CAHNR) gets up at 5:30 a.m.

She packs school lunches and snacks for her two children, gets their backpacks ready, and gives them breakfast.

She squeezes in a shower for herself, puts the kids on the bus to school, and then drives an hour and a half to Storrs.

“I live all the way in Plymouth, over by Waterbury, so it’s three hours of driving a day,” Brady says. “And sometimes I’m only here for one class, so I drive more than I’m actually in class.”

In the afternoons, she races back home to get her kids off the bus.

Then there’s softball. Basketball. Wrestling. Dance. Clubs and carpooling. Dinner.

When everyone is fed and relaxing before bedtime, Brady tries to do some homework before she crashes out for the night herself – getting ready to do it all over again the next day.

It’s been her routine for the last two years, and it hasn’t always been easy for the Natural Resources & the Environment major and New Jersey native, who has spent the last 18 years living a nomadic life.

A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Brady spent six years in service that took her all over the country. She’s been stationed in San Francisco, Virginia, South Carolina, and Maine. She spent months in and out of Alaska, patrolling the Bering Sea and stopping in some of its ports.

Alaska is where she met her husband, who is still in active duty with the Coast Guard. They came to Connecticut when her husband was transferred five years ago.

While serving in the Coast Guard, Brady was a Boatswains mate third class – expected to be capable of serving in nearly any job on a vessel, an expert in seamanship and navigation, a leader responsible for the safety of their crew.

“I did a lot of navigation,” she explains. “A lot of chart work. A lot of driving of the boat.”

In some ways, she hasn’t stopped serving in that role even though her time in the military has ended.

‘I don’t want to just get a job to have a job’

She’s still navigating things, still driving the boat. And still living on the water.

After earning an associate’s degree from Three Rivers in Norwich, Brady applied to UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. She knew she wanted to do environmental work, but found her calling when she took courses on water resource management and geospatial technologies.

“I think water is insanely important,” she says. “Water resources are everywhere, so anywhere I have to move, there’s water. And I just want to feel good about what I’m doing – I don’t want to just get a job to have a job. I want to feel good about it.”

She continues, “I think that we don’t consider how we contaminate our resources. The things we add to water are hard to filter out and sometimes go undetected for a long time. And then we drink this, and we give this to our kids, and we don’t think twice. We assume it’s clear. Even if we live in U.S., there’s still poor water quality in places, and I think people take it for granted.”

She found willing mentors in several UConn professors and, in addition to her classes and at-home responsibilities, has been working in the campus’s Water Quality Lab after taking a course on green stormwater management, where she helps to build sample kits that are used in the lab’s well testing outreach program.

“I go to events, collect samples, and talk to people about why it’s so important to test your well water,” Brady says, “because sometimes you don’t even know what’s in it.”

Brady’s been a welcome addition to the lab, says Michael Dietz, a water resources extension educator and director of the Connecticut Institute of Water Resources who oversees the lab and the well testing program.

“Although she is a nontraditional student with family responsibilities at home, Briana puts in outstanding effort in her courses,” says Dietz. “She does this work with humility and without complaint. It has also been wonderful to watch her confidence grow through her career as a student. I will truly miss her presence and her warm wit when she graduates!”

And graduation is imminent for Brady – she’s set to wear the cap and gown and walk in her commencement ceremony this May, earning her bachelor’s degree from UConn.

Taking care of a family as a full-time student

It’s something that still doesn’t feel real, she says.

“I can’t even wrap my head around it, because I have papers and finals and projects to do,” she says. “I just look at it day-by-day. I can’t think about what I have to do too far in the future, because it’s overwhelming.

“So, I just keep trucking away. And then sometimes I look back, and I’m like, whoa, how did I do that?”

She did it by getting plenty of sleep. By trying to exercise. By drinking a ton of that precious water, she says, and paying a lot of attention to what she eats.

Taking care of a family as full-time student taking five-to-six course a semester? It’s been extremely challenging.

“I try to balance it as best as I can, but sometimes it’s like, ‘Mom, can you get off the computer?’ she says. “And I’m like, ‘I have a lab due. I’m so sorry, but it’ll be worth it.’ And I think they know it.”

Her efforts haven’t been lost on those around her, including her professors.

“Bri is a highly dedicated individual, not only as student, but also to her family. She definitely gives a 100% to both,” says Morty Ortega, an associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment. “Bri has a real passion for the environment – the more she learns about it, she then passes that to her children.”

‘If you think you can’t do it, just do it’

This summer, Brady and her family will be making what she hopes will be their last move, to Pennsylvania, which is closer to their extended families. Her husband has about five years of service left in the Coast Guard.

While her life as a nomad might be ending, her life as a student likely isn’t over. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree once her family is settled while also entering the workforce.

Her advice for other students – those who have taken a traditional path to college, or those, like her, who’ve had a different journey?

Just do it.

“If you think you can’t do it, just do it, because chances are that if you are determined and motivated and disciplined, you will get it done and you’ll get it done well,” Brady says. “It’s mental, and you just have to take that chance and go for it and apply. Don’t be scared.

“It’s very intimidating, especially for someone who has a ton of responsibilities. But I don’t regret going forward. At all.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Dragonfly Energy Partners with the National Forest Foundation to Plant Thousands of Trees for Earth Day
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- Dragonfly Energy’s collaboration with the National Forest Foundation underscores the company’s continued commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The pledge from Dragonfly Energy to plant thousands of trees is part of a bigger environmental plan initiated by the US Forest Service to combat climate change.
- Dragonfly Energy is committed to helping the National Forest Foundation reach its goal to successfully plant 50 million trees by the end of 2025.
RENO, Nev., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp . (Nasdaq: DFLI) (“Dragonfly Energy” or the “Company”), an industry leader in green energy storage and maker of Battle Born Batteries®, in recognition of Earth Day, is pledging to plant thousands of trees through a collaboration with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), the official non-profit partner of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In support of the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Dragonfly Energy aims to exceed last year’s planting of 10,000 trees.

The National Forest Foundation is leading the charge on natural solutions for climate change having planted more than 33.5 million trees to date since the campaign began in 2018, and over five million alone in 2024. In Dragonfly Energy’s backyard alone, the Sierra Nevada, the NFF planted 24,225 trees in 2024, which included planting in five National Forests. These efforts are helping to restore public lands and ensure that forests can continue to sequester carbon dioxide (CO₂), as America’s forests are the most efficient natural systems for pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere.

“Healthy forests are vital to a greener future, just as eco-friendly battery development and manufacturing are essential to sustainable progress,” said Tyler Bourns, chief marketing officer for Dragonfly Energy. “As we enter our second year of partnership for Earth Day, we remain dedicated to environmental stewardship and the pursuit of a more sustainable planet.”

Earth Day, celebrated globally on April 22, serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the planet for future generations. In honor of this world-wide celebration, Dragonfly Energy pledges to plant 10 trees for every battery sold during its annual Earth Day sale taking place April 21 through April 25.

“We want to thank Dragonfly Energy for its commitment to our reforestation initiatives and dedication to making significant environmental impacts within United States through an annual donation of trees being planted on public lands,” said Abby Schembra, National Forest Foundation Reforestation Team. “As a project-focused nonprofit organization, we value our partners who are helping us to reach our goal to successfully plant 50 million trees by the end of 2025.”

For more information about Dragonfly Energy, visit DragonflyEnergy.com. For more information about the National Forest Foundation and its Reforestation Program, visit NationalForests.org.

About National Forest Foundation

The National Forest Foundation works on behalf of the American public to inspire personal and meaningful connections to our National Forests. By directly engaging Americans and leveraging private and public funding, the NFF leads forest conservation efforts and promotes responsible recreation. Each year the NFF restores fish and wildlife habitat, facilitates common ground, plants trees in areas affected by fires, insects and disease and improves recreational opportunities. The NFF believes our National Forests and all they offer are an American treasure and are vital to the health of our communities. Learn more at nationalforests.org.

About Dragonfly Energy

Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) is a comprehensive lithium battery technology company, specializing in cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and full system integration. Through its renowned Battle Born Batteries® brand, Dragonfly Energy has established itself as a frontrunner in the lithium battery industry, with hundreds of thousands of reliable battery packs deployed in the field through top-tier OEMs and a diverse retail customer base. At the forefront of domestic lithium battery cell production, Dragonfly Energy’s patented dry electrode manufacturing process can deliver chemistry-agnostic power solutions for a broad spectrum of applications, including energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. The Company’s overarching mission is the future deployment of its proprietary, nonflammable, all-solid-state battery cells.

To learn more about Dragonfly Energy and its commitment to clean energy advancements, visit investors.dragonflyenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and statements regarding the Company’s intent, belief, or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the National Forest Foundation and its Reforestation Program, the Company’s future results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC available at www.sec.gov. If any of these risks materialize or any of the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company presently does not know or that it currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Relations
Eric Prouty
Szymon Serowiecki
AdvisIRy Partners
DragonflyIR@advisiry.com

Media Relations
Margaret Skillicorn, RAD Strategies Inc.
Margaret@radstrategiesinc.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a18578f5-be14-44bb-8604-a590b68b994e

Source: Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp.

The MIL Network –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Soldiers must excel in combat skills while being proficient in mental stability & spirituality to tackle complex challenges: Raksha Mantri

Source: Government of India

Soldiers must excel in combat skills while being proficient in mental stability & spirituality to tackle complex challenges: Raksha Mantri

MoD inks MoU for better mental health of ECHS beneficiaries

Posted On: 21 APR 2025 3:16PM by PIB Delhi

“To deal with challenges emanating from today’s constantly-evolving nature of warfare, our soldiers must excel in the skills of combat while being equally proficient in mental stability and spiritual empowerment,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing an event organised at the Brahma Kumaris Headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan on April 21, 2025. He emphasised that, now-a-days, wars are being fought on cyber, space, information & psychological fronts and there is a need for the soldiers to become mentally strong as the nation can be protected with not just weapons, but also with strong personality, enlightened consciousness and awareness.

Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that while physical strength is fundamental for a soldier, mental strength is equally vital. He stated that soldiers protect the nation while serving in difficult conditions, and these challenges are overcome through an energy born out of a strong inner-self. He added that prolonged stress, uncertainty and working in difficult conditions could affect the mental health, which calls for strengthening the inner self. The Brahma Kumaris’ campaign to bolster the mental health of soldiers is a commendable step in that direction, he said.

Raksha Mantri added that this initiative will further strengthen the minds of the soldiers in view of the present global geopolitical scenario. “The theme of the campaign ‘Self-Empowerment – Through Inner Awakening’ is extremely interesting and relevant in today’s times. Self transformation through meditation, yoga, positive thinking and self-dialogue will provide mental, emotional & spiritual strength to our brave soldiers. Self transformation is the seed, national transformation is its fruit. In an atmosphere of global uncertainty, India can spread the message that protection of inner-self and borders is possible together,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh described spirituality and yoga, which are ingrained in India’s culture, as the biggest means to enhance mental well-being and deal with stress, anxiety and emotional turmoil. He said, an alert and strong security personnel becomes a lighthouse for the nation, which can face any storm with determination. He acknowledged the Security Service Wing of the Brahma Kumaris organisation for bolstering the security forces through residential, field & online programmes, special campaigns and force specific projects.

As part of the event, an MoU was signed between the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence and Headquarters SSW, Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation of Brahma Kumaris in the presence of Shri Rajnath Singh. The aim is to guide Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries towards achieving better mental health and reducing dependency of medicines.

****

VK/SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2123145) Visitor Counter : 52

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 21, 2025

Category: Natural Disasters

PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 21 April 2025

Share this page

Updates to this page

Liberal gun control policy since 2015

Liberal Party platform

Opposition party positions

Poilievre’s agenda

Seven years after TRC final report

Length of time to materialize

Reopened wounds, anger

Survivors speak about meaning

Without apology, other measures stalled

Healing journey is long, apology was necessary

Precedents for boosting endowment spending

Leeway in an important law

A bias toward accumulating

More attacks could be on the way

Keeping the air clean

Protecting the water

Rollbacks are possible

Other ways to reduce environmental protections

No change until new versions are finalized

Introduction

Lumma Stealer’s distribution vectors

Fake CAPTCHA distribution vectors

Fake CAPTCHA page

Fake page malicious content

Analysis for firefire.png

Infection methods and techniques

Sample analysis

Initial execution and self-extracting RAR (SFX)

NSIS installer components

AutoIt script analysis

Anti-analysis checks

Executing loader shellcode

Processing the $dayjoy payload

Final payload execution

C2 communication

C2 servers identified

Conclusions

IoCs

Malicious fake CAPTCHA pages

Telegram channels distributing Lumma

Soldiers must excel in combat skills while being proficient in mental stability & spirituality to tackle complex challenges: Raksha MantriMoD inks MoU for better mental health of ECHS beneficiaries

Soldiers must excel in combat skills while being proficient in mental stability & spirituality to tackle complex challenges: Raksha Mantri

MoD inks MoU for better mental health of ECHS beneficiaries