NewzIntel.com

Category: Natural Disasters

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Becca Balint Launches Monopoly Busters Caucus as Founding Member

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Washington, D.C – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) joined her Democratic colleagues to launch the Monopoly Busters Caucus. The Monopoly Busters Caucus will help promote a pro consumer, pro worker, and pro small business economic agenda, ensuring members have support to better communicate Democratic work to combat corporate consolidation. The caucus will work on policy like lowering prices and tackling corporate greed from corporate grocery stores, big agriculture, healthcare consolidation and more. 

    During the 2024 election cycle, over 65 percent of voters polled in seven battleground states and Ohio said they supported the government suing to break up monopolies and economically powerful companies. Another poll of voters in these states showed that 67 percent of voters think corporate power and a lack of government pushback is one of the biggest problems facing the country; 58 percent had a favorable opinion of government enforcement of antitrust laws.

    “I’m fired up to be launching the Monopoly Busters caucus because this is an issue that impacts every one of us even though it can feel abstract or distant. So, let’s boil it down: it’s about fairness and about protecting working people from the power and greed of giant corporations,” said Rep. Balint “Because we know when fair competition is stifled, we all pay the price. Rural people feel the squeeze as they see their hourly wage unable to carry them through to the next paycheck. These corporations must be held accountable. It’s obscene. ”

    The caucus will be chaired by Reps. Jayapal, Deluzio, Ryan and Craig. Rep. Balint will serve as a founding member and is a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust. 

    The full livestreamed launch event can be seen here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: East Jerusalem schools told to close, Guterres saddened by Santo Domingo deaths, DR Congo and Haiti updates

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    Six schools run by the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem have been issued “illegal closure orders” after being forcibly entered by Israeli security forces, according to the agency’s head Philippe Lazzarini.

    The schools were told they must close within 30 days.

    Mr. Lazzarini said that some 800 boys and girls are directly impacted by these closure orders and are likely to miss finishing their school year.

    He noted that UNRWA schools are protected by the “privileges and immunities” of the United Nations. These illegal closure orders come in the wake of Knesset [parliament of Israel] legislation seeking to curtail UNRWA operations.

    Aid access blocked

    UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York that since Tuesday, the Israeli authorities have denied eight of 14 attempts by aid workers to coordinate access to people needing urgent assistance.

    Since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire fell apart and hostilities recommenced on 18 March, the authorities have denied 68 per cent of the 170 attempts by UN aid workers to coordinate access.

    “They also continue to reject all attempts to pick up supplies that were brought into Gaza and dropped at the crossings prior to the decision to shut those crossings on 2 March.”

    Despite the increasingly challenging conditions, humanitarian partners have resumed services in northern Gaza, focusing on urgent case management, psychological first aid, and psychosocial support.

    Dominican Republic: Secretary-General ‘deeply saddened’ by Santo Domingo deaths

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday he was “deeply saddened” by the collapse of a building in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, in which more than 120 died, according to news reports.

    Many others were injured when the roof of a popular nightclub collapsed during a concert featuring the renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who has been confirmed as among the dead.

    Heartfelt condolences

    It is estimated that between 500 and 1,000 people were inside the venue. Hundreds of rescuers are continuing to search for survivors and the cause of the disaster has yet to be determined.

    Mr. Guterres expressed “his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people and the government of the Dominican Republic.”

    ‘Persistent violence’ driving displacement and disease outbreaks in DR Congo

    The displacement of people and the outbreak of disease in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is being driven by “persistent violence” according to the UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA.

    Fresh clashes between armed groups near the town of Masisi in North Kivu province on Tuesday displaced more than 45,000 people, local humanitarian partners said.

    In a separate incident in Walikale territory, local sources said armed men raided two critical health facilities on 5 April.

    Medicines and other medical supplies were looted from Kibua Hospital and Kitshanga health centre, hindering access to healthcare for around 120,000 people.

    Cholera spread

    Meanwhile, OCHA has warned that cholera continues to spread in the east of the country, with outbreaks now declared in four provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu, Tanganyika and Maniema.

    UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said concern was mounting after at least eight cases were confirmed in the Mulongwe refugee camp, in South Kivu’s Fizi territory.

    “The camp, which is hosting nearly 15,000 refugees from Burundi, faces acute risks due to poor hygiene, limited access to clean water and inadequate sanitation. Response efforts are hindered by strained healthcare capacity and logistical challenges.”

    In South Kivu’s Kalehe territory, particularly in the Minova area, cholera cases surged to 77 between 31 March and 6 April, just a few days ago.

    “That is nearly five times the epidemic threshold that should trigger emergency response,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    Humanitarian organizations are working alongside local authorities to contain the spread, but the situation remains critical.

    © IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

    Haitians displaced by violence find refuge on the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince. (file)

    Haiti: Rising violence and cholera threat deepen crisis

    The United Nations on Wednesday raised alarm over renewed violence and worsening conditions in Haiti, particularly in the Centre and Ouest regions, where the capital Port-au-Prince is located.

    Recent armed attacks in Saut d’Eau and Mirebalais in the Centre Department have displaced over 30,000 people, according to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM).

    “The vast majority of them have remained in the department. Our humanitarian colleagues, along with partners, are providing assistance, including food, hygiene kits, safe water and psychosocial support,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.

    Meanwhile, the cholera outbreak continues to spread.

    As of 29 March, nearly 1,300 suspected cases have been reported, including nine confirmed cases and 19 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    “Significant increases in suspected cases have been reported in Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince and in the town of Arcahaie, which included displacement sites where living conditions, as you can imagine, are very precarious,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    The cholera response is being led by Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health.

    “We and our partners are continuing to provide assistance – including surveillance, laboratory support, case management, risk communication, vaccination, water and sanitation services, and infection prevention and control,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    However, response operations remain severely hindered by insecurity, restricted access, and critical funding shortages.

    Coordination office, OCHA, has called for urgent support to scale up aid and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn-Based Ninedee Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Covid-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Darnell Jones, also known as “EJ,” pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in wire fraud and committing aggravated identity theft.  During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 through August 2021, Jones engaged in a fraud scheme using stolen personal identifying information to fraudulently obtain more than $800,000 from federally funded unemployment insurance programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  In addition, as part of his guilty plea, Jones admitted to fraudulently obtaining personal identifying information, including bank account information, between May 2021 and October 2024, to commit wire fraud with an intended victim loss of more than $3.5 million.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry.  When sentenced, Jones faces up to 32 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.

    “Today, Jones admitted to his extensive fraud scheme to swindle millions of dollars of unemployment benefits by using the stolen identities of innocent victims,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Even worse, the federal funds were intended to provide relief to those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and instead were diverted by the defendant to finance violent crimes of the Ninedee gang in Brooklyn.  My Office and our law enforcement partners recognize that a key means of dismantling violent gangs is, as here, to cut off their sources of income.” 

    Mr. Durham also thanked the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General and the New York State Department of Labor, Office of Special Investigations for their assistance on the case.

    “At the height of a global crisis, Darnell Jones exploited the identities of vulnerable New Yorkers to bankroll a violent gang’s criminal enterprise,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “His guilty plea today is a powerful reminder that no scam is too sophisticated, no network too hidden – we will find you, and we will bring you to justice. I commend our investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their relentless pursuit of justice.”

    According to court filings, witness testimony, and the record from the defendant’s detention hearing, Jones is a member of the Ninedee Gang, a violent criminal enterprise operating out of the Louis H. Pink Houses in East New York, Brooklyn, who led the gang’s fraud schemes.  Ninedee Gang members were affiliated with the “5” and “6” Pink Houses apartment buildings and engaged in gang-related violence within and outside of the New York City Housing Authority complex.  The Ninedee Gang protected its turf through violence, made money by selling drugs and committing fraud, and sought to silence those they perceived to be working with law enforcement.  Ninedee Gang members were responsible for the July 2020 murder of Shatavia Walls, a former federal witness who testified against a Ninedee Gang member in Brooklyn federal court in 2019.  Seven Ninedee Gang members have been prosecuted for their gang-affiliated crimes, including the murder in-aid-of-racketeering of Shatavia Walls. Five Ninedee defendants have pled guilty and a sixth, Maliek Miller, was convicted at trial in June 2024.  The remaining defendant, high-ranking Ninedee leader Raquel Dunton, is charged with drug trafficking and acting as an accessory after-the-fact to Walls’ murder, among other crimes, and is awaiting trial.

    Jones and other Ninedee Gang members engaged in “scamming,” or various financial fraud schemes, including check fraud, postal money order fraud, and unemployment benefits fraud.  For example, beginning in approximately November 2020, Jones sent a co-conspirator text messages containing the names of 10 New York residents, the purpose of which was to obtain personally identifiable information (PII) for those individuals without their consent.  The co-conspirator sent Jones the requested individuals’ dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers.  In exchange, Jones paid the co-conspirator with cryptocurrency.  Subsequently, Jones submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits to the New York State Department of Labor using the stolen PII.  As introduced at the trial of Ninedee Gang leader Maliek Miller, text messages in 2020 showed that Jones coordinated with fellow Ninedee Gang member Kevin Wint about pooling their money to purchase “glicks” or “plates,” which are references to firearms.  Notably, in August 2021, law enforcement agents recovered two firearms, which were outfitted with laser sights, in a residence shared by Jones and Wint. 

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Emily J. Dean and Irisa Chen are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader.

    The Defendant:

    DARNELL JONES (also known as “EJ”)
    Age: 30
    Brooklyn, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-369 (DLI)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prior Felon Convicted of Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury today convicted Prophet Kelly Lamar Clark, 52, of Tulsa, of Felon in Possession of a Firearm 
    and Ammunition. 

    According to evidence presented at trial, in October 2024, Tulsa Police officers responded to a 911 call about a suspect with a gun. The physical description provided to law enforcement was later identified as Clark.

    When the first officer arrived, they saw Clark walking away from the caller’s home. The officer testified that Clark was on the phone, with a pair of keys and a loaded magazine in his right hand. When the officer asked Clark if he had a weapon, he did not respond. While Clark was being placed in handcuffs, the officer pointed out the magazine in Clark’s hand and asked again if he had a firearm on him. Clark told the officer, “right,” implying the firearm was on his right side.

    The evidence presented to the jury showed the purple handgun taken into custody, which was on Clark’s right side. The officer further testified that he confirmed Clark’s identity, and records showed that Clark was a convicted felon.

    Court records show that in 2011, Clark pled guilty to felony possession of a controlled drug in state court, driving without a driver’s license, and improper tail lamps. He was sentenced to a five-year deferred sentence, which was ultimately accelerated to a conviction, where Clark was placed on probation.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Discharging a Firearm in Neighborhood in Dubuque

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A convicted felon who discharged a firearm in a residential neighborhood in Dubuque, Iowa, in April 2024 was sentenced on April 8, 2025, to three years in federal prison.

    Datreon Adams, age 30, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 19, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.

    At the plea and sentencing hearings, Adams admitted to unlawfully possessing a firearm.  Information at those hearings showed that Adams drove through a Dubuque neighborhood discharging the firearm before returning to his motel.  Officers subsequently located the firearm in Adams’ motel room and determined he was a felon.  Adams did not strike anyone or anything while discharging the firearm.

    Adams was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Adams was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

    Adams is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to federal prison.

    The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  

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

    The case file number is 24-CR-1023.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Nasdaq Announces End-of-Month Open Short Interest Positions in Nasdaq Stocks as of Settlement Date March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the end of the settlement date of March 31, 2025, short interest in 3,140 Nasdaq Global MarketSM securities totaled 13,072,444,217 shares compared with 13,066,514,117 shares in 3,124 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of March 14, 2025. The mid-March short interest represents 2.64 days compared with 2.14 days for the prior reporting period.

    Short interest in 1,625 securities on The Nasdaq Capital MarketSM totaled 2,682,510,166 shares at the end of the settlement date of March 31, 2025, compared with 2,598,104,131 shares in 1,634 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.12 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.17.

    In summary, short interest in all 4,765 Nasdaq® securities totaled 15,754,954,383 shares at the March 31, 2025 settlement date, compared with 4,758 issues and 15,664,618,248 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 2.14 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 1.88 days for the prior reporting period.

    The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller.

    For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/short-interest.aspx or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp.

    About Nasdaq:
    Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions, and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on X @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

    Media Contact:
    Camille Stafford
    camille.stafford@nasdaq.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e732179-9f7c-4e87-b3b9-7b6783f4a5cd

    NDAQO

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF steps up Myanmar earthquake response story Apr 09, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    On March 28, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, devastating the regions of Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, and Shan state. In the immediate aftermath, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reaffirmed its commitment and capacity to deliver large-scale emergency medical assistance across all impacted areas. 

    MSF has prioritized responding in the hardest-hit and currently accessible cities of Mandalay and Naypyidaw, while serious concerns persist for people living in more remote and less accessible areas such as Sagaing.

    As of April 8, over 3,600 deaths have been reported, more than 5,000 people injured, and an estimated 17 million individuals affected—many severely. Key infrastructure sustained significant damage, including hospitals, roads, and water systems, while ongoing telecommunication disruptions continue to hamper relief efforts.    

    The earthquake struck a country already gripped by several health crises and conflict, compounding the challenges communities face. Limited resources, staff, and supplies have left some facilities overburdened and struggling to respond to the growing health needs.

    While local communities are demonstrating remarkable solidarity, our staff have reported extensive destruction. Many residents remain outdoors for fear of aftershocks, while monasteries have opened their doors to host displaced families. 

    View of the Naypyidaw Hospital after the March 28 earthquake. | Myanmar 2025 © MSF

    Damaged infrastructure compromises health care

    In the hardest-hit cities, damage to infrastructure has severely impacted hospitals’ ability to function. Due to fears of further building collapse, structural damage has forced medical staff to treat patients outside in some cases. 

    In Naypyidaw and Mandalay, where hospital systems were particularly damaged, MSF carried out assessments, delivered medical supplies, and initiated discussions with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health.

    In Mandalay, our teams are working to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in damaged hospitals by installing water tanks and additional handwashing basins. Teams are reinforcing waste management with dozens of bins and helping patients cope with extreme heat –often reaching 104°F –while awaiting treatment outside damaged facilities by setting up fans.

    At the same time, mobile medical teams began providing consultations in makeshift shelters including monasteries, treating a range of conditions from common illnesses to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. In southern Myanmar, mobile teams also distributed essential non-food items, restored clean water sources, and continued assessments in affected and displaced communities.

    MSF teams install and fix a water tank at the Mandalay General Hospital. | Myanmar 2025 © MSF

    Psychological impact of the earthquake

    A key priority for our response is mental health. In Mandalay, teams composed of trained staff and student volunteers have been visiting patients in surgical, orthopedic, and trauma wards at local hospitals to provide psychological first aid. In a context where survivors face high levels of psychological stress, these efforts are essential. The disaster and the fear of aftershocks, which continue to be recorded, in addition to the consequences of the ongoing conflict ravaging many parts of the country, contribute to this stress.

    A view of damage to the Thapyay Kone Market in Naypyidaw after the earthquake.

    Major concerns over expected environmental impact

    With the rainy season approaching, floods and landslides could exacerbate existing access challenges, particularly in remote areas. The rainy season also significantly heightens the likelihood of public health threats associated with outbreaks of waterborne disease such as cholera, and vector-borne diseases like malaria or dengue fever. This is due to the potential flood-related contamination of the already reduced number of safe water sources. Immediate actions like scaled up provision of clean water, safe sanitation facilities, distribution of mosquito nets, and hygiene promotion are essential to mitigate the additional threads.

    What needs to happen now?

    In order to address the immense needs, it is crucial for humanitarian aid to reach all affected areas, including hard-to-reach locations, unhindered. To avoid longer-term harmful consequences for people grappling with the aftermath of this earthquake, a further significant scale-up of aid and assurance of access to health care in all affected areas is urgently needed. 

    As part of MSF’s long-standing presence in Myanmar since its first intervention in 1992, we reaffirm our readiness to provide emergency medical humanitarian assistance wherever needed, as we continue to support communities affected by conflict, disease, and now, one of the worst earthquakes to strike the region in recent history.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New Trump administration executive order targeting state climate laws is a quid pro quo

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    A bold “Make Polluters Pay” projection lit up Houston during CERAWeek—the fossil fuel industry’s so-called “Super Bowl”—calling out Big Oil for its central role in driving the climate crisis. The campaign demands that the industry not only be held accountable for past damage, but also be forced to fund the costs of preparing our communities for the escalating impacts of climate change. © Greenpeace

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2025)– In response to the Trump administration’s executive order directing the Department of Justice to take aim at state climate laws and lawsuits, John Noël, Greenpeace USA Deputy Climate Program Director, said: “This is a pathetic and dangerous attempt by a desperate industry to cling to power while communities suffer. From the Gulf Coast to the Los Angeles area, people are being slammed by floods, wildfires, and record heat. But instead of helping Americans, Trump is launching a political attack on states that are trying to create a livable future for their people.

    “This order isn’t about ‘freedom’ or ‘energy independence’ — it’s about Big Oil CEOs using the federal government to crush states’ rights when it aligns with their fossil fuel agenda. It’s also a convenient distraction from the economic sabotage of working families and the fossil fuel industry’s covert push for blanket immunity in Congress from all climate accountability.

    “Fossil fuel companies have profited off the backs of everyday people for far too long and we have the chance to make them pay to clean up their mess. Right now, states should be leaning into climate superfund legislation, not away from it. Nothing in this order prevents states from doing so. And the many states that are already considering these types of bills, like California, should be passing them expeditiously.”

    Contact: Katie Nelson, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], +1 (678) 644-1681

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman, Slotkin, Peters To Governor Whitmer: We’re Ready to Support a State Request for Federal Assistance

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Today, Rep. Jack Bergman along with Senators Peters and Slotkin sent a letter to Governor Whitmer outlining their readiness to support any requests for federal aid or support that the state may request.

    Last week, a historic ice storm hit Northern Michigan and the Eastern Upper Peninsula, resulting in over 100,000 power outages and prompting Governor Whitmer to issue a State of Emergency in 12 counties.

    As of today, there are still over 35,000 people without power in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

    In part, the legislators wrote:

    “Dear Governor Whitmer,

    “We write to offer our full support for recovery efforts following the unprecedented ice storm that recently impacted Northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. We commend the dedication of first responders, utility crews, volunteers, and State and local officials who have been working tirelessly to restore power and ensure public safety during this difficult time.

    “We understand that the State of Michigan and local governments are actively assessing the widespread damage caused by the storm, including downed power lines, hazardous road conditions, and prolonged power outages that have left many communities vulnerable.

    You can read the full letter here.

    Background on how the process works:

    Disaster response typically follows a tiered approach. Initially, state and local agencies are responsible for mobilizing their resources to address the immediate needs of the affected areas.

    Michigan has state-level agencies such as emergency management systems and National Guard resources that are first in line to provide support to local communities – these have all been activated.

    Once state resources are exhausted or deemed insufficient and an initial damage assessment is completed, the state can then formally request federal assistance which can include financial aid, personnel, and equipment.

    This process ensures that federal resources are deployed efficiently and that the state takes the lead in addressing its own disasters first.

    In some cases, the state may not yet have reached the threshold for federal intervention, as they may still be able to manage the response with state and local resources.

    The system in its current form allows the federal response to complement state efforts and provide the necessary aid when local and state resources are overwhelmed or unable to meet the task at hand.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman Honors Linemen and First Responders on House Floor, Supports Resolution to Make April 18th “National Lineman Appreciation Day”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    After visiting with linemen, law enforcement, local first responders, and emergency management in the First District over the weekend, Rep. Bergman took to the House floor today to honor the heroic work being accomplished in the aftermath of the historic ice storm.

    In his comments, Rep. Bergman noted, “In the face of these challenges, linemen from Michigan and across the country have worked tirelessly in brutal conditions to restore power.

    This past weekend I was able to meet with many of our first responders – police, firefighters, dispatchers, and emergency medical teams – who answered the call, keeping our communities safe and our roads open.

    “Their bravery and dedication embody the spirit of resilience and unity that defines Northern Michigan. To all those affected, your determination has not gone unnoticed. My colleagues and I stand ready to support the State’s request for federal assistance.”

    You can watch Rep. Bergman’s full speech by clicking here.

    Yesterday, Rep. Bergman, joined by Senators Peters and Slotkin, wrote a letter to Governor Whitmer, outlining their readiness to support any requests for federal aid or support that the state may request.

    Rep. Bergman further outlined how disaster response typically follows a tiered approach. Initially, state and local agencies are responsible for mobilizing their resources to address the immediate needs of the affected areas.

    Michigan has state-level agencies such as emergency management systems and National Guard resources that are first in line to provide support to local communities – these have all been activated.

    Once state resources are exhausted or deemed insufficient and an initial damage assessment is completed, the state can then formally request federal assistance which can include financial aid, personnel, and equipment.

    Additionally, this week, Rep. Jack Bergman cosponsored a House Resolution recognizing linemen, the profession of linemen, the contributions of the brave men and women who protect public safety, and expressing support for the designation of April 18, 2025, as ‘‘National Lineman Appreciation Day’’

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sand Beach — RCMP charges one person after responding to barricaded man

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Yarmouth Rural RCMP Detachment has charged a man who was in possession of a firearm while barricaded in a home in Sand Beach.

    On April 7 at approximately 11:20 pm, RCMP responded to a report of a man in possession of a firearm who had assaulted a woman. The two were inside a home on Wyman Rd.

    The woman, along with another male occupant, were able to exit the home safely. When police arrived, the man was the only person in the house. He had barricaded himself inside a room and refused to exit.

    The Nova Scotia RCMP Emergency Response Team and RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS) attended in addition to general duty officers.

    At approximately 3:45 a.m. on April 8, the man exited the home but refused to comply with officers’ directions. An officer deployed their conductive energy weapon, and the man was arrested with the assistance of PDS. He was transported to hospital by EHS for assessment of non-life-threatening injuries.

    Colin Outhouse, 50, of Sand Beach, is charged with Assault and Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose. He had a first court appearance on April 8 and was remanded into custody pending future court appearances.

    Also on April 8, investigators executed a search warrant at the home and seized a firearm.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Senate Democratic Caucus Send Letter Demanding Trump Rescind Illegal Executive Order Threatening Federal Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Alsobrooks, Schumer, Kaine, and Warner and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus this week in urging President Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions and dozens of federal agencies and bureaus. In their letter, the senators blasted the move as a “gross overreach” of presidential authority, asserting that the executive order is a clear attempt to gut the federal merit-based civil service and implement a system of political cronyism. They stressed that the order poses a grave threat to the ability of over 1 million federal workers to carry out their missions and deliver important services for the American people—and should be rescinded immediately.

    “We write today in outrage over your recent executive order entitled Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs… This order is an insult to the hardworking public servants who go to work on behalf of the American people,” the senators began.

    “The executive order effectively classifies two thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions, a blatant misuse of a limited authority intended to provide operational flexibility to address legitimate security needs,” they continued. “There is no evidence that the long-standing collective bargaining agreements at these agencies have jeopardized our nation’s security in any way; to the contrary, the protection collective bargaining has provided for employees allows them to conduct their work on behalf of the American people—including blowing the whistle on fraud or abuse—without political interference.”

    “This Administration clearly does not have even a basic understanding of the legally binding nature of federal collective bargaining agreements and is actively trying to bend the law to undermine protections for federal civil servants. We urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order so that our dedicated public servants can continue to work on behalf of the American public without fear for their job or political retribution,” the senators concluded.

    The senators’ letter is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

    A copy of the letter is available here and below.

    Dear President Trump: 

    We write today in outrage over your recent executive order entitled Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs, a gross overreach of the authority granted in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA). 

    This order is an insult to the hardworking public servants who go to work on behalf of the American people. They care for our veterans, deliver disaster assistance, prevent wildfires, help farmers improve crop yields, manage health benefits for 9/11 first responders, research treatments and cures for diseases, keep air travel safe, process tax returns, staff our national parks and much, much more. Nearly one third of these dedicated civil servants are veterans seeking to continue their service to our country out of uniform.  

    The executive order effectively classifies two thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions, a blatant misuse of a limited authority intended to provide operational flexibility to address legitimate security needs. The national security exemption has existed for nearly 50 years and has been used only sparingly by Republican and Democratic Administrations—including during your first term—to exclude federal offices with an unquestionable core function in intelligence, counterintelligence, or national security. There is no evidence that the long-standing collective bargaining agreements at these agencies have jeopardized our nation’s security in any way; to the contrary, the protection collective bargaining has provided for employees allows them to conduct their work on behalf of the American people—including blowing the whistle on fraud or abuse—without political interference. 

    Federal employees’ collective bargaining agreements are critical to ensuring they continue to serve the American people with the peace of mind that comes with being protected from unfair labor practices. Unlike in the private sector, federal employee unions in most cases cannot negotiate pay or benefits, which are set by Congress, and they are legally prohibited from striking. The federal collective bargaining agreements do, however, protect federal employees from illegal firings, retaliation, and discrimination. They also promote resources for whistleblowers and veterans. These federal union contracts give employees in the civil service protections from retaliation so they can serve the American people fairly and effectively without partisan political interference.  

    This executive order, which ruthlessly strips collective bargaining agreements for over one million federal workers, is the most recent attack your Administration has levied against our merit-based civil service in the effort to cut the workforce and replace them with political cronies. While the CSRA does give the president the authority to limit collective bargaining agreements due to national security concerns, the executive order’s direction to terminate mass swaths of federal employee collective bargaining agreements is clearly intended to broadly dismantle the CSRA, which is specifically designed to grant federal employees the right to collective bargaining as a means to resolve workplace issues while maintaining the smooth functioning of government operations.  

    When the Secretary of Labor testified in February in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Members of Congress asked her both in-person and through questions for the record whether she and the Administration would commit to honoring all legally binding collective bargaining agreements signed by federal agencies and labor unions, and whether federal employees have the right to organize and collectively bargain without fear of retaliation. The Secretary answered, “if confirmed, I will follow the law and work with the experts at the Department to understand the collective bargaining process at the Department and the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreements in place.” This Administration clearly does not have even a basic understanding of the legally binding nature of federal collective bargaining agreements and is actively trying to bend the law to undermine protections for federal civil servants.  

    We urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order so that our dedicated public servants can continue to work on behalf of the American public without fear for their job or political retribution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Booking a gazebo

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Babushkinsky Park is located in the Losinoostrovsky district of the capital. There are sports and children’s playgrounds, a Green Theater, a dry fountain, attractions, and a living corner with squirrels.

    In the immediate vicinity of the gazebo there is an amusement area and toilets. The gazebo is equipped with benches, in the evening the lighting is turned on. It is prohibited to make a fire (any open fire), grill shashlik, smoke and drink alcoholic beverages on the territory.

    Capacity: 20 people.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //bytle.mo.ru/Event/341602257/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Belgium, 18-21 March

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    On Tuesday evening, 18 March, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Brussels to meet with European Union leaders.

    On Wednesday, the Secretary-General had meetings with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, as well as with Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament. 

    In the evening, he attended a dinner organized by Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, along with Ms. Von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

    On Thursday, 20 March, at the invitation of the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, the Secretary-General took part in a working lunch with the Heads of State and Government of the European Union at the opening of the European Council.  

    The Secretary-General and Mr. Costa spoke to the press as they entered the European Union building.  Mr. Guterres expressed his appreciation for the UN’s partnership with the European Union, reiterating that it is a fundamental pillar of the multilateral response to the challenges we face in peace and security, climate, sustainable development and human rights.

    Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General said any ceasefire is welcome because it saves lives, but he added that it is essential that a ceasefire paves the way for a just peace in Ukraine — a peace that respects the Charter of the United Nations, international law and Security Council resolutions, namely about the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

    The Secretary-General renewed his appeal for respect of the ceasefire in Gaza, for unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages.

    Immediately after the working lunch, Mr. Guterres had a pull-aside meeting with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

    Later that afternoon, the Secretary-General sat down for a background briefing with a group of journalists assembled by the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe.

    On Friday morning, the universities KU Leuven and UC Louvain jointly awarded an honorary doctorate to the United Nations.  The Secretary-General received the honorary doctorate on behalf of the organization and, in his remarks, he said that by bestowing this honour, the universities are sending a message of support for the mission of the United Nations — a message of solidarity to all those working to make it real — and a message of inspiration for us to keep up the fight.  (See Press Release SG/SM/22596.)

    He said the Universities’ 600th anniversary coincides with a moment of reflection for the United Nations, which marks its own eightieth anniversary as an organization at the epicentre of multilateralism.

    Standing here in Europe, the Secretary-General added, we know this same commitment to multilateralism is the beating heart of the European Union — a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to the world’s most vulnerable people and proof that isolationism is an illusion, never a solution.

    Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Secretary-General renewed his appeal for the ceasefire to be restored, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished and for the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.

    Following the ceremony, the Secretary-General visited the university library and had an exchange with students.

    Upon returning to Brussels that afternoon, the Secretary-General had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever.

    He left Brussels early in the evening.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Study Fish Communities in Hawaiʻi

    Source: US Geological Survey

    For the past few years, “king tides,” or the highest tides of the year, have been occurring more frequently and significantly affecting coastal environments across Hawaiʻi. Now, disappearing beaches and waves crashing over roadways are seemingly the “new normal.” In response, the state of Hawaiʻi is implementing adaptation strategies to combat tidal flooding in coastal areas. While flood managemen

    Learn More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Texas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Winter 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 Texas who sustained economic losses due to the drought beginning Jan. 28.

    The declaration includes the counties of Aransas, Austin, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Colorado, Concho, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Fayette, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kimble, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McMullen, Menard, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Schleicher, Starr, Sutton, Tom Green, Victoria, Webb, Wharton and Zapata.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

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

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

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% 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. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to New Mexico Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Winter 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 drought occurring Jan. 28.

    In New Mexico the declaration includes the counties of Catron, Cibola, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance and Valencia, in Arizona, Apache County, in Colorado the declaration includes Archuleta, Conejos, La Plata and Montezuma counties, and in Utah, San Juan County.

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

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

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

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% 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. 1.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mike Drury: A 40-Year Legacy of Precision

    Source: NASA

    Deputy Integration and Testing Manager – Goddard Space Flight Center
    Mike Drury began at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as a temporary technician — a contractor hired for six weeks to set up High Capacity Centrifuge tests. Six weeks then turned into three months and, eventually, over 40 years.

    Now, Mike is the deputy integration and testing manager for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. In this role, Mike oversees both Roman’s assembly and the many verification processes that ensure it is ready for launch.
    “It’s a privilege to work here. There’s really no regrets,” Mike says. “This is a big place, and it is what you make it. You can really spread your wings and go into a lot of different areas and do different things.”
    When Mike first began at Goddard, only government-employed technicians could work on space flight hardware. However, times were changing. The “old-timers,” as Mike affectionately calls them, soon began training a small group of contractors, including Mike, for flight hardware work. Mike credits these “old-timers” for the mindset he still carries decades later.
    “They taught me how to approach things and execute, and that helped me through my entire career,” Mike says. “It’s that approach — making sure things are done right, without cutting any corners — that I always liked about working here.”
    Not everyone can say that they worked on space missions while in college, but Mike can. Mike took advantage of a program through his contract that paid for classes. For 10 years, Mike studied at Anne Arundel Community College while continuing full-time work at Goddard, eventually earning an associate’s degree in mathematics. 
    While in community college, Mike also stocked up on several physics and calculus credits which helped prepare him to study thermal engineering at Johns Hopkins University. After seven more years of night classes, Mike completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. 
    “Night school was really difficult between full-time work and traveling because I was working on several missions,” Mike says. “You needed that perseverance to just keep going and working away at it. So I just hung in there.”

    In his 17 years of night school, Mike worked on seven missions, expanding his skill set from test set-up, to clean room tech work, to training astronauts. While working on the Hubble Space Telescope, Mike helped to train astronauts for their in-orbit tech work to install various instruments. 
    “Every mission I’ve worked on I’ve learned something,” Mike says. “Every test you learn more and more about other disciplines.”
    After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Mike worked for a short time as an engineer before becoming an integration supervisor. In 2006, Mike took on the position of James Webb Space Telescope ISIM (Integrated Science Instrument Module) integration and test manager. After Webb’s ISIM was integrated with the Optical Telescope Element, Mike became the OTIS (Optical Telescope Element and Integrated Science Instrument Module) integration and testing manager.
    “It was a tough eight to 10 years of work,” Mike says. “Loading the OTIS into the shipping container to be sent to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for further testing was a great accomplishment.” 
    To ensure that Webb’s ISIM would thrive in space, Mike was involved in more than three months of round-the-clock thermal vacuum testing. During this time, a blizzard stranded Mike and others on-site at Goddard for three days. Mike spent his nights overseeing thermal vacuum tests and his days driving test directors and operators to their nearby hotel rooms with his four-wheel-drive truck — a winter storm savior in short supply.

    For Mike, the hard work behind space missions is well worth it.
    “As humans, we want to discover new things and see things. That’s what keeps me coming back — the thought of discovery and space flight,” Mike says. “I get excited talking to some of the Hubble or Webb scientists about the discoveries they’ve made. They answer questions but they also find themselves asking new ones.”
    Some of these new questions opened by Hubble and Webb will be addressed by Mike’s current project — Roman.
    “This team I would say is the best I’ve ever worked with. I say that because it’s the Goddard family. Everyone here on Roman has the same agenda, and that’s a successful, on-time launch,” Mike says. “My ultimate goal is to be staying on the beach in Florida after watching Roman blast off. That would be all the icing on the cake.”
    Mike is also focusing on laying the groundwork for the next era at Goddard. He works hard to instill a sense of import, intention, and precision in his successors, just as the “old-timers” instilled in him 40 years ago.
    “I talk to a lot of my colleagues that I’ve worked with for years, and we’re all excited to hand it off to the next generation,” Mike says. “It’s so exciting to see. I’m the old guy now.”
    By Laine HavensNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: President Donald J

    Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia

    President Donald J

    Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia

    WASHINGTON — FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Virginia to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms and flooding from Feb

    10-18, 2025

    Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities in Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Lee, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise counties and the independent city of Bristol

    Jeffrey L

    Jones has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area

    Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments

     
    amy

    ashbridge
    Wed, 04/09/2025 – 14:58

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Seven Days Left to Submit Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form to LA County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Seven Days Left to Submit Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form to LA County

    Seven Days Left to Submit Your Right of Entry (ROE) Form to LA County

    LOS ANGELES – Property owners have seven days left to submit a Right of Entry (ROE) form to LA County

    In order to have debris removed by the U

    S

    Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), property owners affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires must submit a ROE form by April 15, 2025

     Federally funded debris removal is available to residents of single family and owner-occupied multi-family units

     All disaster impacted property owners should submit a ROE form by April 15, 2025, to opt-in or opt-out of the debris removal program

     If a property owner opts out of the USACE debris removal program, they become responsible for all permits, inspections and other associated debris removal requirements and costs

     There is no out-of-pocket cost to have debris removed by USACE, however the program is unable to duplicate other forms of funding specific to debris removal

    If a property owner has insurance for debris removal, residual funds not used by the property owner may be remitted to the county to offset the cost of debris removal at a later date

    Submit a ROE form to LA County:Complete a form online at: Los Angeles County Right of Entry Permit for Debris Removal on Private Property

    Download and complete a form: Debris Removal Right of Entry Permit (00011201

    DOCX;1) and submit it at a Disaster Recovery Center

    Forms are also available at Disaster Recovery Centers

    Visit the DRC Locator to find a location

    Contact Los Angeles County for more information about debris removal: Visit the LA County Debris Removal Website: recovery

    lacounty

    gov/debris-removal/Call LA County’s Public Works Fire Debris Hotline: 844-347-3332Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

    California is committed to supporting residents impacted by the Los Angeles Hurricane-Force Firestorm as they navigate the recovery process

    Visit CA

    gov/LAFires for up-to-date information on disaster recovery programs, important deadlines, and how to apply for assistance

    erika

    suzuki
    Wed, 04/09/2025 – 11:53

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Glorified press release:’ Governor Newsom responds to latest Trump order turning back the clock on climate

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 9, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement responding to President Trump’s executive order targeting state-level climate and clean energy efforts.

    This is the world the Trump Administration wants your kids to live in. California’s efforts to cut harmful pollution won’t be derailed by a glorified press release masquerading as an executive order. 

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    California’s climate leadership

    The state continues to set clean energy records. Last year, California ran on 100% clean electricity for the equivalent of 45 days. Since the beginning of the Newsom Administration, battery storage is up to over 13,000 megawatts – a 1,600%+ increase.

    Pollution is down and the economy is up. Greenhouse gas emissions in California are down 20% since 2000 – even as the state’s GDP increased 78% in that same time period.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Apr 8, 2025

    News What you need to know: A state grant of $14 million has secured safe drinking water for the severely disadvantaged community of Needles. NEEDLES – After years of struggling with poor water quality and aging facilities, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the…

    Apr 7, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis today issued a proclamation declaring April 6 to April 12, 2025 as California Library Week. The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATION During National Library Week, we…

    Apr 7, 2025

    News What you need to know: CAL FIRE is launching a new campaign supporting Californians to take steps now – including home hardening and defensible space – to prepare for peak fire season. SACRAMENTO – “Prepare your home and property! Start at the house and work your…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Recidivist drug trafficker from Portsmouth sentenced to 10 years in prison for fentanyl distribution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl.

    According to court documents, from Feb. 24, 2023, to May 22, 2023, Chesapeake Police (CPD) conducted five controlled purchases of cocaine and fentanyl from Karleak Ali, 53. On May 25, 2023, CPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) searched Ali’s residence and vehicle and recovered 33 grams of fentanyl, 87 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, packaging material, a sifter, two firearms, ammunition, and approximately $6,000.

    Ali has previous felony drug convictions in Norfolk Circuit Court, including distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. In July 2007, Ali was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. The Chesapeake Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock prosecuted the case.

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

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-4.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: South Bend Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Earl Mines, 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Mines was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, in July 2024, Mines sold nearly 100 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. This occurred while Mines was on federal supervised release following his conviction for possessing with intent to distribute heroin, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and for possessing a stolen firearm.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the DEA North Central Laboratory, with assistance from the Indiana State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Falvey.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine & Griffith Welcome Major Disaster Declaration for Southwest Virginia Following February Winter Storms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) along with U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) issued a statement on the formal approval of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in response to the February winter storms that caused widespread flooding and damage to Southwest Virginia. This declaration triggers the release of Public Assistance for Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Lee, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise Counties and the independent city of Bristol. The Commonwealth’s request for Individual Assistance remains under review.  
    “After weeks of pushing at the federal level, we are glad to see this crucial assistance approved for Southwest Virginia,” said the lawmakers. “This is a strong first step towards supporting recovery efforts and we will continue pushing for Individual Assistance to help deliver resources to the families most hard-hit by this devastating flooding.”
    This approval comes more than six weeks after the Senators and Rep. Griffith originally wrote to President Trump in support of Virginia’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Geneva, 16-18 March

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    On Sunday, 16 March, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, where he convened the two Cypriot leaders and the Guarantor Powers of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom for an informal meeting on Cyprus at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

    The meeting took place from 17 to 1 March and was held in the context of the Secretary-General’s good offices efforts on the Cyprus issue and as agreed with the two leaders on 15 October 2024.

    The informal meeting was convened to provide an opportunity for a meaningful discussion on the way forward on the Cyprus issue.  The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Cypriot leaders and all Cypriots.

    On Monday evening, 17 March, the informal meeting began with a dinner hosted by the Secretary-General with the two Cypriot leaders and the Guarantor Powers of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

    Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General visited the construction site of the Portail des Nations, a new visitors centre currently under construction at the UN campus in Geneva.  Built through a private donation from the Fondation Portail des Nations, the new facility will provide visitors with an interactive experience to learn about the UN’s work and it will enable UN colleagues in Geneva to better welcome visitors.

    On Tuesday, 18 March, the Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with the two Cypriot leaders and the Guarantor Powers of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

    Immediately after the conclusion of the bilateral meetings, they held a plenary meeting at the Palais des Nations.

    Following the conclusion of the informal meeting on Cyprus, the Secretary-Generalspoke to the press assembled at the Palais des Nations.  He told reporters the discussions were held in a constructive atmosphere, with both sides showing clear commitment to making progress and continuing dialogue.

     The Secretary-General added that the leaders have agreed to a group of initiatives to build trust:  opening four crossing points; demining; the creation of a technical committee on youth; initiatives on the environment and climate change, including the impacts on mining areas; solar energy in the buffer zone; and the restoration of cemeteries. 

    Mr. Guterres said the leaders also agreed to hold another meeting in the same format at the end of July, as well as to the appointment of a Personal Envoy to prepare the next steps.

    In answer to a question about the situation in Gaza, the Secretary-General said that unfortunately, that day, we witnessed a situation in which we had an intolerable level of suffering for the Palestinian people, with the air strikes that killed hundreds of people, and with the humanitarian aid still blocked.

    He added that the role of the UN is to do everything to convince the parties and to have the international community pressing for three essential aspects.  First, for the ceasefire to be fully respected.  Second, for humanitarian aid to have access to Gaza in an unimpeded way.  And third, for the unconditional release of hostages.  And we will not, we will not give up on these objectives, he said.

    Later that day, the Secretary-General left Geneva for Brussels, where he was scheduled to meet with European Union leaders.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Persons with disabilities in the occupied Palestinian territories – E-000618/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is committed to ensuring that Palestinians, including those with disabilities, receive the humanitarian assistance they need.

    The Commission works closely with trusted humanitarian partners to ensure that aid reaches those most in need, including persons with disabilities. Commission experts monitor the situation and engage with partners, such as Palestinian civil society organisations, to assess needs.

    In 2024, the Commission notably funded the organisation Humanity & Inclusion to ensure that children have access to safe and quality inclusive education and to provide assistive technologies, rehabilitation services and medical assistance to children with disabilities .

    Since the beginning of the crisis, the Commission has allocated some EUR 450 million to support the humanitarian response, providing persons with disabilities inclusive and accessible assistance.

    When it comes to return and reconstruction, humanitarian actors stand ready to assist people with emergency and early recovery assistance and to ensure the specific needs of persons with disabilities are duly taken into account.

    In order to support the ceasefire in Gaza, the EU’s civilian Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) continues to be operational, allowing for the movement of individuals out of Gaza, including some who require medical treatment.

    The Commission also uses its convening power to sensitise other donors to important issues such as disability inclusion. The Commission exchanges closely with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) at global level and encourages partners to pursue dialogues with local OPDs, in line with the Commission’s localisation guidance.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ukraine: Civilians are paying a devastating price for war – OCHA Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Briefing by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, on Ukraine.

    —————————

    Following “a massive strike” in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih last Friday which resulted in multiple civilian casualties, and a series of attacks against civilian infrastructure United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher told the Security Council that “this brutal pattern of civilian death and destruction in populated areas must stop.”

    Fletcher told the Council that according to authorities, “18 civilians were killed, including nine children, and 75 others injured when a children’s playground and nearby residential area were hit,” and noted that in recent weeks “civilian infrastructure – including healthcare facilities, apartment blocks, schools and children’s playgrounds – have suffered extensive damage.”

    The humanitarian Chief said, “civilians are paying a devastating price for this horrendous war,” with at least 12,910 civilians killed, including 682 children, and almost 30,700 injured across Ukraine from 24 February 2022 to 31 March 2025.”

    The true toll, he said, “is likely far greater.”

    Fletcher welcomed the recent announcement of a ceasefire focused on energy infrastructure, as well as negotiations to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and said, “ultimately the best protection of civilians is that this war ends. Until it does, the negotiating priority – whether as part of a temporary pause or lasting agreement – must start from the protection and needs of civilians.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu0VQhu1FLs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Eligibility of funding for smart irrigation systems via cohesion policy – P-001395/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001395/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Daniel Buda (PPE)

    In its Communication of 1 April on the review of cohesion policy 2021-2027, the Commission proposes a reorientation of funds towards strategic priorities such as water resilience, the digitisation of water infrastructure and the ecological transition.

    It refers to Member States being able to invest in the digitisation of water networks and in mitigating the effects of drought and desertification, which are key factors affecting European agriculture, especially in the vulnerable regions of Eastern Europe.

    The circumstances make support for smart irrigation systems all the more relevant, including support for systems that harness treated urban waste water, as a sustainable solution for preserving water resources and reducing the pressure on natural water sources. These systems make a significant contribution to the agricultural water cycle and to adapting to climate change.

    • 1.In the light of these new guidelines, can the Commission state whether it is possible for smart irrigation systems, which are digital and water- and energy-efficient, to be considered eligible for funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the mid-term review?
    • 2.More precisely, is it possible for these technologies – which simultaneously contribute to water resilience, digitisation and the green transition – to be built into the new cohesion programmes to be implemented from 2026?

    Supporter[1]

    Submitted: 5.4.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the author: Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)
    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Seasonal firefighters – E-000569/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission fully recognises the crucial role of firefighters in the face of increasing challenges linked to wildfires and other natural disasters.

    It also underlines that the framework Agreement on fixed-term work[1] aims to improve the quality of fixed-term work and to prevent misuse of successive fixed-term employment relationships.

    The Commission does not have any evidence indicating that the provisions of Greek law transposing the framework Agreement are not applicable to fixed-term firefighters.

    If misuse of successive fixed-term contracts occurs in violation of the national transposing provisions, it is a matter to be primarily addressed by the national courts and authorities. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission may decide to take appropriate action in accordance with the prerogatives conferred to it by the Treaty.

    As the Honourable Member refers to ‘seasonal’ firefighters, the Commission recalls that, according to the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union[2], the fact that two fixed-term contracts are separated by a significant lapse of time is generally sufficient to interrupt an existing employment relationship.

    Therefore, in the absence of overriding considerations based on specific circumstances, the framework Agreement does not require Member States to consider such contracts to be successive.

    • [1] Annexed to Directive 1999/70 Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP (OJ L 175, 10.7.1999, p. 43 ), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1999/70/oj/eng
    • [2] See Case C-362/13, Fiamingo, par. 71.
    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Home Affairs dismisses six officials for fraud, corruption

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Tuesday, April 8, 2025

    The Department of Home Affairs has today dismissed six officials with immediate effect for a range of offences, including fraud and corruption. 

    Another six officials were issued with final written warnings. 

    This brings to 33 the total number of officials dismissed since July 2024, as the department intensifies its clean-up campaign.

    Eight officials have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, while the criminal prosecution of another 19 officials is underway.

    The latest dismissals follow from the recent launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum, which has further strengthened coordination between Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority (BMA), Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

    “The speed at which Home Affairs, in collaboration with the SIU, is clearing out corruption from our midst demonstrates that swift progress can be made in the fight against this scourge. I have made it clear to the Department that delays will not be tolerated and that we will not rest until every last corrupt official has been fired,” Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said.

    “I applaud the interdepartmental teams for their progress in ensuring that we wash the stain of corruption and state capture off of Home Affairs, so that it becomes the proud institution our country deserves. 

    “My message to remaining perpetrators is clear: it is only a matter of time before we catch you and hold you accountable,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –