Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
March 07, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined their colleagues to call on the leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to respond to unanswered questions about Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) and its reported access to sensitive disaster victim data. The Senators also demanded answers about how FEMA’s firing of hundreds of personnel and freezing of certain grants will impact the agency’s capacity to mitigate and quickly respond to disasters.
Merkley and Wyden joined the effort led by Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), alongside Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). Merkley and Wyden previously requested details on who has been granted access to victim data, the extent of access to that data, and FEMA’s protocols for ensuring Americans’ data is not misused, but FEMA failed to respond.
In their letter to the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton, the Senators wrote: “Our constituents—rebuilding from severe flooding in Vermont, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, as well as catastrophic wildfires in Hawai’i, New Mexico, Oregon, and California—have experienced first-hand the shortcomings of the federal approach to disaster resilience and recovery. Instead of addressing their needs and concerns, the Trump Administration has taken a sledgehammer to the foundation of FEMA. We agree FEMA needs fixing, but effective reform requires thoughtful and precise solutions, not brute force and arbitrary terminations.”
The Senators continued: “Last month, FEMA fired over 200 probationary employees, including new hires and those recently promoted, despite longstanding and severe staffing shortages. The Administration claims only ‘non-mission critical‘ personnel were impacted by the firings. However, we have yet to receive any evidence to support that assertion. Instead, reporting indicates that these firings will undermine federal disaster response and hamper FEMA’s ability to provide critical support to our constituents.”
“In addition to mass firings, stakeholders have informed us that the Administration has suspended disbursement of certain FEMA grants…Moreover, in Oregon, a local health care provider has been unable to move forward with a multi-million-dollar project essential for enhancing emergency response capabilities and capacity due to the agency-wide communications freeze,” the Senators stressed.
They concluded, “These apparent freezes have left frontline organizations in limbo and our communities in jeopardy. The Administration’s destructive approach will not assist the disaster-impacted communities across the country hoping to rebuild and move forward. To the contrary, it will leave the nation more vulnerable to future disasters and less prepared to pick up the pieces when the dust settles.”
In their letter, the Senators requested prompt responses to the questions posed in their previous inquiry, as well as responses to the following questions regarding reports of mass firings and funding freezes at FEMA:
Under what authority has FEMA fired individuals between January 20, 2025, and March 5, 2025?
What procedures did FEMA follow to evaluate the performance of those individuals prior to termination?
What procedures did it follow to evaluate the impact of each firing on the overall performance of FEMA operations?
From what positions has FEMA fired individuals between January 20, 2025, and March 5, 2025? Please provide a complete list of impacted positions and the associated duties of each position.
How many grant programs has FEMA frozen for any duration of time between January 20, 2025, and March 5, 2025?
Please list the frozen grant programs. Of those, how many remain frozen?
How many individual recipients have had their funding frozen, disaggregated by each program?
What evaluations, if any, has FEMA conducted to review the impact of these frozen disbursements on disaster-impacted communities? Please provide detailed accounting of the results of these evaluations.
Read the full text of the letter.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
As the Trump Administration Threatens to Weaken the NLRB, PRO Act Would Strengthen Labor Rights and Streamline NLRB Procedures
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Senate and House Members in introducing the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2025, a comprehensive proposal to protect workers’ right to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The reintroduction of the PRO Act follows illegal efforts by the Trump Administration to fire members of the National Labor Relations Board.
“We cannot allow the deck to be stacked against workers in Nevada and across the United States,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “As a daughter, cousin, and niece of union members, I know how important the right to organize has been in helping Nevadans get better wages and safer working conditions. It’s past time that Congress passes this bill to protect our unions.”
Specifically, the PRO Act would:
Establish penalties on predatory corporations that violate workers’ rights.
Strengthen workers’ right to strike for basic workplace improvements, including higher wages and better working conditions.
Streamline the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) procedures to secure worker freedoms and effectively prevent violations.
Protect the integrity of union elections against coercive captive audience meetings and other interference meant to impede union formation.
Enhance workers’ access to remedies when faced with illegal action by an employer.
The proud daughter of a Teamster, Senator Cortez Masto grew up in organized labor and has always fought for Nevada’s working families. Last Congress, the Senator introduced the Asunción Valdivia Heat Stress Injury, Illness, and Fatality Prevention Act to ensure the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. She has also been a strong supporter of increased funding for the National Labor Relations Board to help fight for workers’ rights to collectively bargain.
What you need to know: California is investing nearly $300 million of federal funding in traffic safety projects to protect public safety across the state.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced nearly $300 million in funding for 288 projects aimed at reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads across California.
“We’re making roads safer up and down the state with significant investments. I’m proud of the lifesaving work Caltrans has done to protect drivers, pedestrians, and bikers as they go about their daily commutes.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The funding for these local projects is provided through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), a critical federal-aid program with the goal of reducing fatal and serious injuries on public roads across the nation.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is using the Safe System approach – which emphasizes multiple layers of protection, including safer road designs – to achieve its goal of reducing fatalities and serious injuries on state roadways to zero by 2050.
Caltrans’ adoption of the Safe System approach builds on its ongoing work to embed safety in the state’s transportation system. When feasible, transportation projects Caltrans funds or oversees will include “complete street” features that provide safe and accessible options for people walking, biking, and taking transit.
“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California remains committed to helping ensure that every Californian has access to safe and reliable transportation, no matter who they are or where they live,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “These investments highlight our people-first approach, because we know it will pay the most important dividend of all – their safety.”
Safety improvement efforts from projects receiving the funding announced today will be distributed throughout the state, making impactful enhancements from Del Norte County in the north to San Diego County in the south and communities everywhere in between.
A sample of the safety projects include:
In the Bay Area, a $5 million project will install Class IV bike lanes in Contra Costa County, a $4.4 million project will install new high-visibility signage in San Francisco, and a $1.75 million project will improve intersection lighting and pedestrian throughways.
Along the Central Coast, a $4 million project in Santa Barbara County will implement new pedestrian improvements and traffic signals, and a $2 million project in Santa Cruz County will improve daylight and pedestrian crossings.
In the Central Valley, a $3.7 million investment will fund a new roundabout in Fresno County, a $4.5 million project in Tulare County will install rumble strips, left-turn lanes, and flashing beacons, and a $2.6 million project in San Joaquin County will improve 42 separate traffic signals.
In Northern California, nearly $6 million will go toward installing retro-reflectivity striping throughout Trinity County, and $1 million will be spent to improve guardrail throughout Humboldt County.
In Southern California, a $3.6 million project in Fullerton will provide a protected left lane, a $1 million effort in Orange County will upgrade nearly 60 signalized interchanges, and a nearly $3 million investment in Riverside County will install protected bike lanes and ADA-accessible curb ramps.
A list of projects receiving funding from today’s announcement can be found here.
Since 2007, California has provided $1.5 billion to local safety projects, which included installing rumble strips, flashing beacons, warning signs, roadway lighting, delineators and new sidewalks to make roads safer.
For more information about transportation projects and funding, visit: Build.ca.gov.
Recent news
Mar 7, 2025
News What you need to know: Governor Newsom today is issuing an executive order extending protections to help ensure that Los Angeles firestorm survivors can access rental housing. LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order to maintain…
Mar 7, 2025
News What you need to know: Pacific Steel Group’s Mojave Micro Mill will be the first steel mill built in California in the last five decades, bringing economic growth to Kern County and revolutionizing the industry with first-of-its-kind zero carbon emissions steel —…
Mar 6, 2025
News SACRAMENTO – Foresters, firefighters, community leaders and wildfire experts are applauding Governor Gavin Newsom’s state of emergency proclamation to remove red tape and increase the pace and scale of forest management in California. Following the devastation of…
What you need to know: Governor Newsom today is issuing an executive order extending protections to help ensure that Los Angeles firestorm survivors can access rental housing.
LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order to maintain protections for renters and homeowners affected by Los Angeles area firestorms. The order extends state price gouging restrictions for rental housing, hotels, and short-term housing, extends support for survivors sheltering in hotels and short-term housing, and prioritizes fire-survivors experiencing homelessness for state-funded housing.
“As the Los Angeles community continues to recover and rebuild, the state remains steadfast in its commitment to providing targeted relief and assistance. Today I am issuing an executive order to further ensure that survivors are protected from exploitation and can access housing they need.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Today’s executive order extends several of Governor Newsom’s executive orders that were set to expire, helping to encourage immediate access to housing and protect tenants from potential exploitation.
Today’s executive order:
Extends price gouging protections on rental housing, hotels, and motel rates, including prohibitions on evictions of tenants to relist the rental at a higher rate to July 1, 2025, while retaining exemptions for large homes in zip codes with high fair market values which have not recently been on the rental market to help ensure they are available for rental during recovery efforts. The order also exempts newly constructed housing to increase housing supply by enabling pricing flexibility for these new buildings that face higher financing costs.
Extends the suspension of laws that would classify occupants of hotels, motels, and temporary housing as tenants after 30 days, giving people more time to find alternative housing.
Prioritizes fire survivors experiencing homelessness by prioritizing them on waiting lists for state-funded housing for which they otherwise qualify so they can secure housing faster, consistent with the approach taken by the federal government in response to emergencies.
Supports the rebuilding of two commercial corridors in Altadena to their pre-fire character to support small businesses and rebuild walkable, vibrant community spaces.
Recent news
Mar 7, 2025
News What you need to know: Pacific Steel Group’s Mojave Micro Mill will be the first steel mill built in California in the last five decades, bringing economic growth to Kern County and revolutionizing the industry with first-of-its-kind zero carbon emissions steel —…
Mar 6, 2025
News SACRAMENTO – Foresters, firefighters, community leaders and wildfire experts are applauding Governor Gavin Newsom’s state of emergency proclamation to remove red tape and increase the pace and scale of forest management in California. Following the devastation of…
Mar 5, 2025
News What you need to know: Governor Newsom has directed his Office of Emergency Services to coordinate with key partners during this next round of winter weather to strategically preposition critical resources to protect the public. Los Angeles, California – As…
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Secretary Noem visited New York to attend a Round Table with USCG, ICE, CBP, and other officials. Her message: DHS will carry out President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations and address the fentanyl crisis.
The secretary also visited the subway – the site where a woman was brutally set on fire by a criminal illegal alien. A tragedy that should NEVER have happened because this illegal alien should never have been in this country.
Lunenburg County District RCMP is investigating a fatal collision that occurred in East Chester.
On March 7, at approximately 11:05 a.m., Lunenburg County District RCMP, fire, and EHS responded to a report of a collision on Hwy. 103 involving two vehicles. Upon arrival at the scene, both vehicles were engulfed in flames. RCMP officers learned that a black Dodge RAM and a tractor trailer travelling in opposite directions collided.
The driver and sole occupant of the Dodge RAM, a 51-year-old Hammonds Plains man, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The two occupants of the tractor trailer reported minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
A collision reconstructionist attended the scene. The investigation remains ongoing, and is being assisted by the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tayvain Folkes, age 24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by the U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of one gram of fentanyl from Folkes on December 28, 2021. Based on that purchase, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Folkes’ residence, which yielded approximately 269 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 9mm pistol, and approximately $35,000 in cash. Folkes admitted to possessing the firearm and narcotics after his arrest.
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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Harrisburg, the Vice Unit, Dauphin County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Natividad Castillo Avena.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Avena, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2024. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-064
Adan Alberto Bazaldua-Pichardo.Fraud and Misuse of Visas and Permits. Bazaldua-Pichardo, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully and knowingly possessing a fake social security card to gain entry or employment in the United States. The Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-061
Jose Ricardo Borrayo-Gomez.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Borrayo-Gomez, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2023. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-062
Carlos Daniel Calderon-Ponce.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Calderon-Ponce, 49, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2024. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-063
Aldrin Jhovani Solis Castellanos.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Castellanos, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Aug. 2024. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-073
Joseph John Ronald Chavoya.Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun. Chavoya, 40, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly and unlawfully possessing a machine gun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-075
Jose Darvin Chicas-Castro.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Chicas-Castro, 35, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2011. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-065
Adrian Lasean Foster.First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Foster, 24, of Muskogee and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with breaking into an occupied home with intent to commit a crime. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-076
Julio Gonzalez-Ramirez.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gonzalez-Ramirez, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2012. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-066
Luis Enrique Guereca-Castrellon.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Guereca-Castrellon, 67, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2020. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-067
Jose Alberto Hernandez-Casimiro.Fraud and Misuse of Visas and Permits. Hernandez-Casimiro, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully and knowingly possessing a fake legal permanent resident card to gain entry or employment in the United States. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-068
Jose Abraham Joya.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Joya, 38, a Salvadoran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-069
Felipe Jesus Mendoza-Lopez.Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Mendoza-Lopez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm, knowing he was an alien illegally in the United States. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-070
Alexander Enemias Ortiz-Gonzalez.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ortiz-Gonzalez, 22, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2023. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-071
Juan Reyes-Ochoa.Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Reyes-Ochoa, 33, a Guatemala national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Oct. 2023. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-072
Joshawa Wayne Wildcat.Assault of a Spouse by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Wildcat, 33, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with strangling his spouse. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-077
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington –U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) and 14 of their Senate Republican colleagues in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to reverse Biden-era policies that allow the federal government to award groups that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industry.
In the letter, the Senators wrote: “Dear Attorney General Bondi,
“We write regarding President Trump’s February 7, 2025, Executive Order (E.O.), “Protecting Second Amendment Rights” and call to your attention the current awarding of federal contracts to entities that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industry in the absence of federal guidance prohibiting such action. We believe that entities with discriminatory policies against a Constitutionally protected industry should not be allowed to benefit from lucrative federal contracts to help finance their anti-gun agenda.
“Unfortunately, past administrations, including the Biden administration, have sought to advance policies across multiple executive branch agencies and departments intended to undermine the Second Amendment. This includes the ongoing, intentional discrimination against the firearm and ammunition industry among private entities operating in various sectors, including financial services, insurance, shipping, and others.
“President Trump has also rightfully prioritized the elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal budget. We believe that awarding billions of dollars in federal contracts to “woke” entities engaged in anti-gun activism and discrimination is part of this waste and should end immediately.
“To that end, in accordance with the Second Amendment E.O., we request that you submit in your plan of action a provision to cease awarding federal contracts to entities that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industry. Under no circumstance should taxpayer dollars from hard-working Americans be used to deny those very taxpayers their Constitutionally protected rights.
“We appreciate you considering submitting this recommendation to President Trump.”
Joining Senator Marshall and Senator Daines on the letter were Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Rick Scott (R-Florida.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), and John Hoeven (R-North Dakota).
The full text of the letter is available HERE.
Today, Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 202 (‘Poor’ category), as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In wake of the average/ overall air quality of Delhi recording ‘Poor’ air quality category ranging between 201-300, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to take stock of the current air quality scenario of Delhi-NCR. While comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario in the region as well as the IMD/IITM forecasts and air quality index of Delhi, it was observed as under:
AQI of Delhi has shown increasing trend due to calm winds and unfavorable meteorological conditions in Delhi-NCR. The AQI of Delhi has been recorded as 202 for 07.03.2025 (in ‘Poor’ category). Further, the forecast by IMD/IITM also predicts AQI to mainly remain in ‘Poor’ category due to, low ventilation coefficient, decrease in wind speeds and unfavorable meteorological conditions.
As per the unanimous decision of the Sub-Committee on GRAP, all 27 actions as envisaged under Stage-I of revised GRAP – ‘POOR’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), to be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in NCR, with immediate effect. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR States and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been addressed to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage-I under GRAP during this period.
Further, the Sub-Committee also urges the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter of Stage I of GRAP as under:
Keep engines of your vehicles properly tuned.
Maintain proper tyre pressure in vehicles.
Keep PUC certificates of your vehicles up to date.
Do not idle your vehicle, also turn off the engine at red lights.
Prefer hybrid vehicles or EVs to control vehicular pollution.
Do not litter / dispose wastes, garbage in open spaces.
Report air polluting activities through 311 App, Green Delhi App, SAMEER App etc.
Plant more trees.
Celebrate festivals in an eco-friendly manner – avoid firecrackers.
Do not drive/ ply end of life/ 10/15 years old Diesel/ Petrol vehicles.
A 27-point action plan as per Stage-I of GRAP is applicable with immediate effect, in the entire NCR. This 27-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by various agencies including Pollution Control Boards of NCR States and DPCC. The comprehensive schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s official website and may be accessed on https://caqm.nic.in
These steps are:
Ensure proper implementation of Directions/ Rules/ guidelines on dust mitigation measures in Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities and sound environmental management of C&D waste.
Ensure strict compliance of Direction Nos. 11-18 dated 11.06.2021 and do not permit C&D activities in respect of such projects with plot size equal to or more than 500 sqm which are not registered on the ‘web portal’ of the respective state / GNCTD and / or which do not fulfil the other requirements as per the above noted statutory directions, for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures.
Ensure regular lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste, and Hazardous wastes from dedicated dump sites and ensure that no waste is dumped illegally in open land areas.
Carry out periodic mechanized sweeping and water sprinkling on roads and ensure scientific disposal of the dust collected in designated sites/landfills.
Ensure that C&D materials & waste are properly stored/ contained, duly covered in the premises. Ensure transportation of C&D materials and C&D waste only through covered vehicles.
Strictly enforce the Statutory directions and yardsticks for use of anti-smog guns at C&D sites, in proportion to the total built-up area of the project under construction.
Intensify use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling and dust suppression measures in road construction / widening / repair projects and maintenance activities.
Stringently enforce prohibition on open burning of bio-mass and municipal solid waste. Impose maximum EC upon violations in accordance with Hon’ble NGT’s orders dated 04.12.2014 and 28.04.2015 in OA 21/2014.
Strict vigil to ensure that there are no burning incidents in the landfill sites/ dumpsites.
Deploy traffic police for smooth traffic flow at all identified corridors with heavy traffic and congestion prone intersections.
Strict vigilance and enforcement of PUC norms for vehicles.
No tolerance for visible emissions – Stop visibly polluting vehicles by impounding and/ or levying maximum penalty.
Strictly enforce the Hon’ble Supreme Court order on diversion of non- destined truck traffic for Delhi, through Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
Strictly enforce NGT / Hon’ble SC’s order on overaged diesel / petrol vehicles and as per extant statutes.
Ensure strict penal/ legal action against non-compliant and illegal industrial units.
Stringently enforce all pollution control regulations in Industries, brick kilns and hot mix plants etc. – strict compliance of the prescribed standards of emissions.
Ensure that only approved fuels are used by the industries in NCR including in brick kilns and hot mix plants and enforce closure in case of violations, if any.
Stringently enforce emission norms in thermal power plants and strict actions be taken against non-compliance.
Strictly enforce Hon’ble Courts / Tribunal orders regarding ban on firecrackers.
Ensure regular lifting and proper disposal of industrial waste from industrial and non-development areas.
DISCOMS to minimise power supply interruptions in NCR.
Ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as regular source of power supply.
Strictly enforce the extant ban on coal / firewood as fuel in Tandoors in Hotels, Restaurants and open eateries.
Ensure hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity / gas-based / clean fuel – based appliances.
Information dissemination including through social media and bulk SMS etc. Mobile Apps to be used to inform people about the pollution levels, contact details of control room, enable them to report polluting activities / sources to the concerned authorities and inform them about actions that would be taken by Government.
Ensure quick actions for redressal of complaints on 311 APP, Green Delhi App, SAMEER App and other such social media platforms to curb polluting activities.
Encourage offices to start unified commute for employees to reduce traffic on road.
All the agencies concerned are also required to take note of various actions and the targeted timelines as envisaged in the comprehensive policy issued by the CAQM to curb air pollution in the NCR and take appropriate actions accordingly in the field, particularly the dust mitigation measures for C&D activities & Roads/Open areas, which becomes a pre-dominant factor in the coming months determining the air quality in Delhi-NCR.
The Commission shall be closely monitoring the situation and will review the air quality scenario on a regular basis in the coming days. The detailed schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s official website and may be accessed onhttps://caqm.nic.in
Professor John Mandyck, the CEO of the Urban Green Council and the former Chief Sustainability Officer at United Technologies, will speak on the topic, “Is Sustainability Dead?’’ next month.
The presentation is part of the Equity Now speaker series and it will be livestreamed at 6 p.m. March 27. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university are welcome to participate. Pre-registration is required.
With the United States again out of the Paris Climate Treaty and the Trump administration favoring fossil fuels, it’s easy to wonder if the sustainability movement is over. It’s definitely not, according to Mandyck.
“Climate disruption now impacts everyone, everywhere,’’ Mandyck said. “There’s no escaping it and the trillions of dollars of damage from fires, floods, and extreme weather. Climate denialism and political short-termism cannot wish away these impacts that are shifting markets and investments as they scramble to manage growing risk.’’
Mandyck Highlights Three Reasons for Optimism
John Mandyck (contributed photo)
Mandyck will discuss his recent article, published in The Harvard Business Review, that predicts that despite strong headwinds, sustainability efforts will grow, for three key reasons.
States and cities will lead the way. Mandyck argues that history has shown that U.S. cities and states step up to fill sustainability voids. In 2019, for example, New Yor City passed a law that places carbon caps on large buildings, as a counter-response to Trump’s first-term environmental policies. More recently, 350 U.S. mayors recommitted to climate action in anticipation of changing national policy.
China will drive sustainability demand. Although it is the world’s largest carbon polluter, China’s growth in the sustainability arena continues to lead the world, Mandyck said. Almost half of the world’s solar and wind capacity already resides in China, with more renewable energy technology under development. China’s leadership will yield more affordable clean-energy technology for the world and China may possibly emerge as a stronger diplomatic force for climate negotiations as the U.S. turns its attention elsewhere.
Climate risk, extreme weather, will move markets. Climate denialism will not slow the growing disruption of extreme weather, Mandyck said. The news has been filled with articles about floods, fires, and other weather-created disasters, which are causing economic hardship and human disruption at a rapid pace. In Florida alone, the average homeowner’s insurance costs rose close to 60 percent from 2019 to 2023. This has further focused the business community in favor of addressing climate change, and lenders are looking closely at the sustainability risks associated with each big investment.
Students Still Face A Bright Future in Sustainability Careers
Mandyck’s advice to students interested in pursuing careers in sustainability is to stay-the-course.
“The global need for sustainability grows every day, and so will careers,’’ he said. “Terminology and semantics may change in the short-term, but the long-term direction is clear. Even the federal government cannot pull the full nation in retreat, with the state and local governments pressing forward and filling voids.’’
Mandyck leads the Urban Green Council, a nonprofit organization based in New York City, dedicated to decarbonizing buildings for healthy and resilient communities. Since 2018, he has helped triple the organization’s reach with research, public policy development and education, shaping some of the world’s foremost climate laws for real estate and buildings.
He retired as the global Chief Sustainability Officer for United Technologies after a 25-year career there. He’s an adjunct professor for sustainability at the School of Business and served as a visiting scientist at Harvard University. He’s the co-author of the book Food Foolish, which explores the hidden connection between food waste, hunger, and climate change.
The Equity Now speaker series is produced by the UConn School of Business in coordination with the Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Virginia Tech, Indiana and Temple universities. This is the fourth of five programs offered during the 2024-25 academic year. To register for the program, please visit: the registration page
The UN World Food Programme (WFP)warned on Fridaythat potentially life-saving food and nutrition assistance in Central Sahel and Nigeria will have to end next month, unless emergency funds can be secured.
The crisis is being exacerbated by the expected early arrival of the lean season – the period between harvests when hunger peaks. Chronic hunger is being driven by conflict, displacement, economic instability and severe climate shocks, WFP said, with devastating floods in 2024 affecting over six million people across West Africa.
Funding shortfalls will force the agency to suspend food assistance for two million crisis-affected people, including Sudanese refugees in Chad, Malian refugees in Mauritania, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable food-insecure families in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.
“With millions expected to face emergency levels of hunger at the peak of the lean season, the world must step up support to prevent this situation from getting out of control,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP’s Regional Director for Western Africa.
The UN food agency urgently requires $620 million to ensure continued support to crisis-affected people across the Sahel and in Nigeria over the next six months.
Acute food insecurity
An estimated 52.7 million women, men and children are projected to experience acute hunger between June and August 2025, according to the latest projected regional food security analysis.
Despite the ever-increasing needs in West and Central Africa, the proportion of the population facing extreme hunger is projected to increase by over 20 per cent by June 2025.
An underfunded region
Needs are chronically underfunded. As a result, WFP underscores that it is being forced to regularly make the difficult decision to cut rations, effectively taking from the hungry to feed the starving.
In Chad, the influx of refugees arriving from Sudan is placing enormous pressure on already limited resources, fuelling tension and competition between communities.
This is particularly concerning as the country enters its sixth consecutive year of severe food insecurity in 2025, with more than a 200 percent increase since 2020.
In neighbouring Nigeria, the prolonged humanitarian crisis, worsened by high inflation and weather-related shocks, is endangering the lives of children, pregnant women and entire communities.
During the June-August lean season, 33.1 million Nigerians are expected to face severe food shortages.
A call to action
WFP is working with national governments to assess and adapt its response to ensure urgent assistance reaches the most vulnerable, while also calling for safe and unhindered access to crisis-affected families.
“We need to act now to allow WFP to reach those in need with timely support. Inaction will have severe consequences for the region and beyond, as food security is national security,” Ms. van der Velden warned.
Headline: Celebrating women in gaming: Pioneers and innovators
Women have been influential figures across all areas of the gaming world—from design and development to storytelling and production. As we continue to break down barriers and champion diverse perspectives, we’re proud to amplify the voices of those who have shaped the industry’s past and are shaping its future.
In our exclusive interview with Roberta, she reflects on her pioneering journey in the gaming industry and shares her insights into her love of mysteries, the creation of Laura Bow; one of the first heroines in gaming, advise for young women looking to get into gaming, and what inspired her to return with a new adventure, Colossal Cave. Her groundbreaking work in interactive storytelling has inspired generations of creators, and her thoughts on the past, present, and future of women in gaming offer invaluable perspectives on the road ahead.
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As we honor the accomplishments of women in gaming, let’s also look toward the future. The work being done today by women in this industry is setting the stage for a new generation of creators who will continue to push boundaries and inspire others. Let’s ensure that women’s voices are heard, celebrated, and given the platform they deserve—today and every day.
Discover Games Shaped by Women Creators
Celebrate International Women’s Day through the power of play. During March and beyond, you can play a variety of game collections highlighting iconic games and franchises created by women developers, showcasing how their unique perspectives have shaped the gaming world we know today.
Check out a few highlights from our full Xbox Game Collection celebrating International Women’s Day:
KeyLocker – A Cyberpunk turn-based rhythm JRPG. Play as the singer and songwriter, B0B0. Fuel your moves with the electric power of music on this unforgiving planet by using real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style! Choose a unique class, battle the authorities, unlock the secrets of Saturn, play in your own band’s concerts, and hack into the network to bring an end to this corrupt system, for better or worse.
Play KeyLocker Today
Dungeons of Hinterberg– Welcome to Hinterberg, a new tourist hotspot in the idyllic Austrian Alps! You play as Luisa, a burnt-out law trainee taking a break from her fast-paced corporate life to conquer the Dungeons of Hinterberg. There are plenty of dungeons to find and adventures to be had in Hinterberg – will Luisa be sent packing on her first day, or remain to become a Master Slayer? Only one way to find out…
PlayDungeons of HinterbergToday
Avowed – Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands – an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
Play Avowed Today
Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To–Samar is a young witch working the spirit-swapping night shift in the eastern outskirts of Demashq. A recent spike in spirits crossing over from another dimension breaks the chill atmosphere of their night shift, so with her trusty Familiarz by her side, she sets off into the city to find out what’s happened. With a popular band scheduled to kick off their big comeback tour in Demashq, Samar needs to work quickly before the city is overrun with stans and spirits alike!
Play Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To Today
Mexico 1921: A Deep Slumber – An intriguing narrative adventure where you try to solve a hundred-year-old mystery: who planned the assassination of President Álvaro Obregón? You play as Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist who will interview and photograph subjects, collect historical data and report the news that will shape Mexican history. Join Juan in post-revolutionary Mexico City to discover why Mexico ain’t no place for the weak. Developed hand in hand with the National Newspaper Library and the Popular Arts Museum, this game will be an interactive archive of Mexican post-revolutionary history.
Play Mexico 1921: A Deep Slumber Today
Colossal Cave–Embark on a timeless journey through a sprawling cave system packed with treasures, creatures, mazes, and wits-defying puzzles. The great grandpappy of adventure games will test you and tickle your problem-solving skills as you unearth its plot and secrets. Through cunning trial-and-error you will crawl through tight squeezes, encounter impressive caverns, collect inventory, locate treasure, thwart dwarf attacks, all while keeping your eye on the score before your lamp goes out.
Play Colossal Cave Today
Spotlighting Women Gaming Pioneers
Marcella Churchill – Sr. Director of Brand at SEGA of America
Marcella Churchill is a visionary leader in brand marketing with a track record of spearheading global brand campaigns at LucasArts, EA, Zynga, Discord, and now Sega of America. At Sega, she is redefining transmedia storytelling, transforming iconic franchises into multimedia powerhouses. She has played a key role in elevating Sonic the Hedgehog to new heights, leading brand marketing endeavors supporting blockbuster films, hit TV series, major brand partnerships, and best-selling games. Beyond Sonic, Marcella is driving the resurgence of beloved franchises like Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Persona, and Like a Dragon, expanding their reach and legacy. Passionate about innovation, she is dedicated to growing Sega’s global brand, crafting unforgettable fan experiences, and pushing the boundaries of brand marketing and gaming entertainment.
Q: You’ve seen incredible growth in the Sonic brand, from successful games to record-breaking movies. What do you think has been the key to Sonic’s ability to cross storytelling mediums and what’s next on the horizon for you and your team?
A: Sonic’s evolution from a beloved video game character to a full-fledged entertainment icon is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team. We’ve focused on staying true to the heart of Sonic—his energy, attitude, and sense of adventure—while expanding his storytelling across games, film, TV, comics, and beyond. By embracing a transmedia approach, we’ve introduced Sonic to new audiences while deepening the experience for longtime fans. The success of the films, alongside hit games like Sonic Frontiers and Sonic X Shadow Generations, has reinforced the strength of the franchise, and last year’s brand marketing campaign featuring the Year of Shadow was a significant moment, culminating in the movie release of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’.
Looking ahead, we have a lot in store for Sonic fans. While we can’t reveal everything yet, our team is committed to delivering exciting new, unique experiences and pushing the brand further. Whether through innovative game projects, fresh storytelling opportunities, or unexpected collaborations, we’re focused on keeping Sonic’s momentum strong and continuing to surprise and delight fans worldwide.
Q: As a woman in a leadership role in gaming, how have you seen Marketing in the gaming industry evolve over the years and where do you see it going?
A: Marketing in the gaming industry has evolved significantly, shifting from traditional print and TV ads to digital-first, community-driven strategies. Early on, marketing was heavily reliant on big-budget campaigns and retail partnerships. Still, engagement has become more personalized, pervasive, and interactive with the rise of social media, influencers, live service models, and more opportunities to collaborate with brands through collaborations and lifestyle partnerships. Players now expect direct communication, behind-the-scenes access, and content tailored to their interests. Looking ahead, I see marketing continuing to blend data-driven insights with creative storytelling, lifestyle partnerships, leveraging user-generated content, and emerging platforms to foster deeper player engagement and brand loyalty.
Q: As a leader in the gaming industry, what advice would you give to young women aspiring to build a career in marketing and gaming and how can they best prepare for the future you see ahead?
A: My advice to young women aspiring to build a career in marketing and gaming is to stay curious, build a strong network, and embrace creativity and data-driven decision-making. The industry thrives on innovation, so developing a deep understanding of player communities, emerging technologies, and digital marketing trends will be key. Seek mentors, advocate for yourself, and don’t be afraid to take up space in rooms where you may be the only woman. As the industry evolves, staying adaptable and continuously learning will be essential for long-term success.
Wonder Stormbreaker – Head of Studio Marketing at Undead Labs
As the Head of Studio Marketing at Undead Labs, Wonder Stormbreaker plays a crucial role in ensuring that the studio’s projects, particularly the State of Decay franchise, connect with audiences on a deep level. With a strong passion for storytelling and community engagement, Wonder’s work is centered around building immersive experiences for fans and amplifying Undead Labs’ voice in the gaming world. Whether through innovative marketing campaigns or leading the charge in social media outreach, Wonder is always thinking about how to bring players into the fold and create lasting relationships with the community.
Q: As Head of Studio Marketing, how do you approach creating authentic connections with fans and building a community around Undead Labs’ games?
A: One of my core values is integrity: be who you say you are and do what you say you’re going to do. That’s what players expect from us. We build strong relationships by delivering on what we’ve promised. To do that, we place a high value on players’ experiences and expectations. Trust is at the heart of strong relationships between studios and players.
Q: State of Decay has a passionate fanbase. What do you think has been the key to building that loyalty, and how do you keep the game’s community engaged over time?
A: It’s important to our studio culture that we never lose sight of the worth and power of an individual.
State of Decay’s popularity began as a grassroots movement. Personal touch is a priority for how we build community. I ask thorny questions: How do we make a larger, global audience feel connected and cared for? How do we automate what we do here to serve even more players, without depersonalization? We know we won’t always get the answers right on the first try, and frankly, I hate that. I would love to knock it out of the park the first time, every time. The important thing is that our players have evidence that we’re always improving their experience.
Q: Marketing in the gaming industry can be very dynamic and fast-paced. How do you stay ahead of trends, and what excites you most about the future of game marketing?
A: It’s important to think of games as one piece of the “entertainment-verse.” I have a theater and film background and often look to the film industry for clues about where we are headed, but really, it’s about how games fit into people’s lives when everything is vying for attention.
It’s easy to be swept into our own silos, even an Xbox silo. Right now, I’m working with the Turn 10 team on a few projects which is incredible for inspiration and new perspectives. I read industry newsletters like A16z’s speedrun and Naavik, as well as current event roundups like Mo News and Semafor. This may be surprising, but I avoid almost all social media. The firehose of micro-entertainment on social platforms can overwhelm the big picture, and the big picture is most interesting to me. That’s where vision flourishes.
Empowering Women Streamers with South of Midnight
In South of Midnight, we step into the shoes of Hazel, a strong, rough-edged protagonist navigating a world inspired by the American Deep South. Tasked with fixing what’s broken, Hazel must adapt to a hostile environment that’s barely recognizable. This month, Team Xbox continues its commitment to empowering women protagonists and celebrating women in the gaming industry in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). As part of this, Xbox is partnering with the creator agency Instinct3 on a campaign to support and elevate emerging women streamers for South of Midnight. This initiative offers smaller, up-and-coming streamers the chance to apply and receive early access codes for the game. Focused on those who may not yet have the reach of more established streamers, the campaign aims to shine a spotlight on women creators by sponsoring their streams and giving them a platform to grow.
In the spirit of empowering women, streamers will support each other through Twitch’s raid mechanics, directing viewers from one stream to the next. These streams and raids will kick off with South of Midnight Early Access on April 3. Details will be shared via Xbox Wire DACH, along with opportunities to win Game Pass codes.
The campaign application opens on International Women’s Day, March 8, and runs through the month. Selected streamers will receive Game Pass and game codes, joining our paid campaign for Early Access.
Gaming with Impact
Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting women with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:
Women in Games International – Women in Games International works to cultivate resources such as advanced knowledge sharing, access to technology, and actionable mentorship programs to normalize diversity in the games industry through increased representation. (US only)
National Center for Transgender Equality– NCTE advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. (US Only)
Xbox players 18 and older can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests (terms apply), and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning for impact today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on the Rewards redeem page.
Wallpapers and Dynamic Backgrounds
The Xbox International Women’s Day design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:
Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.
You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.
Police in the Halifax Regional Municipality and Millbrook are seeking information on the whereabouts of a man currently wanted on multiple province-wide arrest warrants.
Tayshawn Maloney, 27, from Halifax, is wanted and facing charges of:
Attempt to Commit Murder
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Uttering Threats
Impaired Operation
Operation while Prohibited
Mischief
Failure to Comply with a Release Order
Multiple firearms offences
Maloney is described as 5-foot-7, 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
At this time, investigators believe he may be driving a silver Toyota Yaris.
Maloney is known to frequent Halifax, Dartmouth and Truro. However, he was last seen in the Cape Breton area in October 2024.
Police have made several attempts to locate Maloney, and are requesting assistance from the public.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tayshawn Maloney is asked to refrain from approaching him and to call police. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, reintroduced the Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance the effectiveness and timeliness of multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that assist agricultural producers in the aftermath of adverse weather events. The bill would also provide USDA with direction to help improve the accuracy of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), which triggers certain disaster programs.
“Drought, wildfires, and extreme weather are making it harder for New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers to care for livestock, grow crops, and support our communities,” said Luján. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to help farmers and ranchers get the support they need when disaster strikes. USDA programs must respond faster and more effectively to provide the relief New Mexicans deserve. This legislation will help our agricultural producers weather the impacts of extreme weather and disasters and keep contributing to our economy and food security.”
“South Dakota farmers and ranchers are all too familiar with working through extreme weather conditions, especially drought,” said Thune. “These common-sense updates to disaster programs would help provide greater and expedited assistance to producers when they need it the most. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation that would make the Drought Monitor a more effective tool and help ensure USDA programs are using accurate and consistent data in administering programs that are designed to help the agriculture community.”
The legislation would make the following reforms:
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP):
Clarify that state and federal grazing permit holders are eligible for these programs
Streamline the ECP and EFRP permitting process to allow:
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) to waive the 30-day public comment period for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applications during a drought emergency
BLM to accept archeological reviews completed by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field staff during a drought emergency
BLM to accept NEPA and endangered species reviews completed by NRCS field staff
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP):
Require ELAP honey bee assistance to factor in rates, including per-hive, per-colony, and per-standardized expected mortality, and require consistent documentation requirements
Expand honey producer coverage for losses and costs, including transportation related to adverse weather and drought
Livestock Forage Program (LFP):
Modify LFP to allow a one-month payment when a county reaches D2 (severe drought) for four consecutive weeks, compared to eight weeks under current law
USDM:
Convene an interagency working group consisting of representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the state mesonet programs to develop recommendations to improve USDM data access, accuracy, and reliability
Require the U.S. Forest Service and the FSA to sign a memorandum of understanding related to coordinating drought-related designation and response activities
Full bill text is available here.
Amid the chaos of the Trump administration’s first few weeks in office, a court case regarding the president’s legal right to stop payment of nearly $2 billion in U.S. Agency for International Development contracts poses an important legal question whose answer may show just how strong the country’s separation of powers actually is.
On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order pausing all foreign aid funding, most of which is administered by USAID. A little more than two weeks later, USAID laid off all but a few hundred of its 10,000 workers.
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali issued a temporary order on Feb. 13 for the administration to not end or pause any existing foreign aid contracts – and again ordered on Feb. 25 that the administration needed to pay the $2 billion owed to various aid organizations for completed work.
After the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal of the decision to the Supreme Court, the justices, in a 5-4 ruling on March 5, found that the federal judge’s decision can temporarily take effect while the district court considers the merits of the case.
Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Charles Wise, an expert on public administration and law, to understand what is fueling this court case and why it has become a test of how far Trump can push the boundaries of presidential power.
Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh, left, Amy Coney Barrett, center, and former Justice Anthony Kennedy speak with President Donald Trump after his speech at the U.S. Capitol in March 4, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
1. What is most important to understand about the Supreme Court’s ruling on USAID funding?
The Trump administration issued a blanket executive order freezing all USAID funds on Jan. 20, 2025. There have been many twists and turns in this case since then, but the Washington, D.C., district court determined in February that the organizations that receive USAID funding to deliver food or health care to people in need, as well as other recipients of USAID money in foreign countries, would suffer irreparable harm.
The U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., also said that the administration did not follow proper procedures in the law. The Administrative Procedure Act has a set of standards that requires the president to do certain things before making any unilateral kind of action to withhold funds.
The Supreme Court’s March 5 order is not the final ruling on the case, but it does allow the U.S. District Court decision to stand – at least for now. This ruling requires the government to release funds to USAID recipients. The Supreme Court’s decision also directs the district court to clarify what the government must do to comply with the district court’s order, including considering the feasibility of the timeline within which the government must release the money.
This is all taking place in a very short time frame, in the context of the D.C. district court issuing a temporary restraining order. It is saying: Let’s freeze the existing situation in place so we can have a full hearing on this issue.
2. Why is this case important?
Any administration is prohibited from just withholding funds for any program it doesn’t like without following the procedures prescribed by law. This case matters because the D.C. district court’s decision puts boundaries on what the Trump administration can do to withhold funds that Congress has appropriated. It forces the administration to follow the laws that Congress and previous presidents have agreed on and adopted.
It ultimately comes down to a contest between the branches of government, and, specifically, the presidency and Congress. This is where Articles 1 and 2 of the U.S. Constitution – and how they divided powers between the president and Congress – comes in. The Trump administration claimed that the court should have respected the president’s Article 2 powers to administer the federal government’s spending. The D.C. court acknowledged the president’s powers under Article 2 but said it has to be balanced against Congress’ right, under Article 1, to appropriate funds.
A terminated federal worker leaves the offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2025, after being fired. Bryan Dozier/Middle East/AFP via Getty Images
3. What happens if Trump and his administration do not abide by this order?
Trump’s officials have a decision to make. Are they going to follow the executive order or the court’s order? That’s not a fun place to be. Administrative officials take an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the U.S., which subjects them to court decisions.
The president himself is not responsible for distributing USAID funds. State Department officials are responsible for dispersing the funds, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio was appointed as the acting administrator of USAID on Feb. 3, 2025.
If Rubio and other officials refuse to comply with the court’s order, the D.C. judge, Amir Ali, can hold those officials in contempt of court. Ali has a variety of tools he can use – one is to levy fines against them individually. He could say they have to pay a thousand dollars per day for each day they don’t execute the court’s order.
4. What will happen next in this case?
The Supreme Court said in a brief opinion on March 5 that the Feb. 26, 2025, deadline for the government to pay USAID and its contractors had already passed and instructed Ali to “clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill to ensure compliance” with paying USAID.
The government has argued to the court that the timeline the judge initially set was too fast – they couldn’t do it that fast.
Now, a few things are going to happen. Ali has ordered the government to develop and release a new schedule to release funds and to have that ready by March 10.
The second part is that the district court judge will probably schedule a hearing on the merits of the case, in which Ali will be assessing the administration’s argument about whether the administration has violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Ultimately, the Trump administration could appeal Ali’s decision, and the case could wind up back at the Supreme Court.
Charles Wise had a cooperative agreement for work with USAID that ended in 2007.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Q: Why did President Trump address a joint session of Congress?
A: Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution says the president “shall from time to time” give Congress information about the state of the union. George Washington set the precedent by fulfilling this duty in person. Although his successors from 1801 to 1913 sent their messages to Congress in writing, President Woodrow Wilson resumed the tradition of delivering the address in person that’s continued through the 47th president. While President Harry Truman’s 1947 address was the first televised to the nation, LBJ’s address in 1965 started the tradition of delivering the televised address in the evening.
Since then, the nation’s chief executive has used the annual opportunity to speak directly to the American people, outline the priorities and achievements of the administration and offer legislative proposals for Congress in the coming year. Although it looks and sounds like a State of the Union address, that title refers to the annual speech after a president’s first year in office. So, while March 4th was the fifth time for President Trump to give an annual address before a joint session of Congress, this update covered the first 43 days of his second term. And that six-week timeline is notable for the remarkable breadth of executive actions – and achievements – since inauguration day on January 20.
Since Iowans first sent me to Congress, I’ve represented the people of Iowa under nine administrations. That adds up to a half-century of annual presidential addresses. In all that time, this is the first presidency that has dramatically upended business-as-usual since day one. I compare Trump’s first month in office of his second term as a hurricane uprooting the status quo. He wasted no time delivering on his promises to secure the border, bring manufacturing jobs back to America and reverse the disastrous policies of the previous administration that led to historic inflation and high cost of living.
Q: What were the highlights of President Trump’s message?
A: This president understands the power of the bully pulpit. Throughout his speech – the longest annual address in modern history, surpassing President Bill Clinton’s 85-minute State of the Union address in 1995 by 15 minutes –Trump grabbed the bull by the horns and charged full steam ahead, declaring “America is back.” His critics need to come to grips with reality. Trump won the popular vote and America witnessed a historical electoral shift that delivered Republican majority control in both houses of Congress and the White House. In our system of self-government, elections are intended to have consequences. The victories in November are a mandate for Trump’s agenda: the American people rejected the reckless policies of the previous administration that fostered historic inflation and open borders that allowed a wave of an estimated 10 million illegal immigrants to enter the country, empowering dangerous cartels to infiltrate communities with drug and human trafficking networks.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I recently held a hearing on my bipartisan HALT Act that would give law enforcement better tools to put an end to our nation’s deadly opioid crisis. Chinese fentanyl poured into the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration’s open border. The bill I got passed out of committee in February is now one step closer to the president’s desk. Families grieving the loss of a loved one from deadly fentanyl are leading a grassroots effort to prevent other families from experiencing the crushing loss of an overdose death. During his address, Trump explained one of the reasons for the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China were partly a response to their inaction toward the flow of fentanyl into the United States, which kills 200 Americans every day in our country.
Trump also doubled down on his work to scrutinize federal spending and curb the cost of living. By cutting costly regulations and unleashing the power of American energy, the Trump administration seeks to lower energy costs by investments in natural gas pipelines and expanding the production of rare earth minerals. With unapologetic pride and hope for America, the president highlighted a handful of Americans in attendance who captured the spirit of America for their sacrifice, heroism and pursuit of the American Dream. During the speech he made a 13-year-old cancer survivor an honorary Secret Service agent; told an aspiring candidate to the U.S. military academy he was admitted into West Point; and, shined a spotlight on grieving families of crime. Notably, the first bill Trump signed into law was the Laken Riley Act, which included Sarah’s Law, named after a young Iowan killed nine years ago by an illegal migrant while driving drunk. It was an honor to be at the White House signing ceremony in her memory, alongside Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Randy Feenstra who I worked with to get this legislation passed. The president presented a strong agenda to strengthen American sovereignty, uphold freedom and liberty and bring prosperity to households, farms and businesses across the country. As always, I’m committed to represent the views and concerns of Iowans as Congress continues work on the people’s business.
WASHINGTON – Vincent Lee Alston, 23, of Washington D.C. and Niquan Odum, 23, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in connection with the December 2023 burglary of 34 firearms from a Maryland pawn shop.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department
Alston, aka “Vedo,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Odumn, aka “Stickz,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled a sentencing hearing for Alston on June 27, 2025 and for Odumn on June 13, 2025. Alston was arrested on December 15, 2023, and has been detained since. Odumn was arrested on March 25, 2024, and has been detained since.
Co-conspirator Juwon Markel Anderson, aka “Peezy,” 22, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty on March 4 to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Others charged in the conspiracy are Cy’Juan Hemsley, 18, of District Heights, Maryland, and Tyjuan McNeal, 28, of Washington, D.C.
According to the court documents, on December 13, 2023, the co-conspirators drove from Washington, D.C. to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Glen Burnie, Maryland. At the pawn shop, one of the co-conspirators used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door. Once inside, the quintet grabbed an array of rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the shelves and display racks and fled with at least 34 of the firearms. The co-conspirators later used social media to advertise the sale of the stolen firearms. Two days after the burglary, on December 15, 2023, Alston was arrested with one of the stolen firearms.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes.
Today, the Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) and Métis Nation – Saskatchewan (MN-S) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide ongoing firearms safety education to Métis citizens.
The MOU outlines opportunities for partnership, such as increasing firearms licenses among MN-S citizens and promoting firearms safety and education.
“Our government is committed to promoting public safety within all communities and protecting the rights of all lawful firearms owners,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. “Through this partnership we want to encourage responsible firearm ownership and support Métis traditions in a way that keep people informed and protected.”
The four specific areas the Memorandum outlines for the SFO and MN-S to collaborate on are:
Promotion of education and licensing of as many community members as possible;
Minimizing unnecessary criminalization of individuals for regulatory offences;
Appropriate compensation for seized firearms; and
Protection of gun owners’ current and future privileges.
“Firearms safety education is of the utmost importance to our MN-S government to ensure our Métis harvesting traditions are responsibly passed down to the next generation,” Métis Nation -Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum said. “We are pleased the Saskatchewan Firearms Office wants to continue to strengthen our working relationship with a recommitment to work together on educational programs based on current and incoming firearms regulations.”
The SFO and MN-S will coordinate to provide education to Métis citizens on existing and incoming firearms laws. The SFO will also provide training and educational materials for MN-S community centres and encourage and facilitate members in becoming fully licensed and legally compliant firearms owners.
“The Saskatchewan Firearms Office is proud to partner with MN-S again to ensure Métis citizens have the knowledge to legally use and store firearms safely,” Saskatchewan Firearms Office Commissioner Robert Freberg said. “Greater compliance increases public safety and through this partnership we will contribute to a safer Saskatchewan for our communities.”
This MOU is the second firearms education agreement between the SFO and MN-S, marking another step forward in an ongoing partnership and demonstrating a shared commitment to balancing public safety with respect for Métis traditions.
The fall of the Assad regime has created a historic opportunity to rid Syria of chemical weapons and ensure long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the UN’s top disarmament official told the Security Council on Friday.
Briefing ambassadors, Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, welcomed steps taken by the country’s new authorities to engage with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and work toward full compliance with international law.
“Syria has started to take its steps towards this objective,” she said, emphasising the importance of seizing this moment to close all outstanding issues related to the country’s chemical weapons dossier.
Ms. Nakamitsu was briefing the Council pursuant to resolution 2118.
High Representative Nakamitsu briefing the Security Council.
The resolution required Syria to fully declare and destroy its chemical arsenal under OPCW supervision and warned of consequences, including under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provide for enforcement measures to address threats to international peace and security.
Since Syria joined the CWC in 2013, the chemical weapons watchdog has repeatedly raised concerns about the accuracy and completeness of its declarations, Ms. Nakamitsu said.
Despite 20 amendments to its initial submission, the OPCW Declaration Assessment Team found that the former regime had failed to provide sufficient and accurate information.
As a result, 19 unresolved issues remain, including concerns over undeclared chemical warfare agents and munitions. In addition, OPCW investigations documented multiple instances of chemical weapons use in Syria, several of which were carried out by Syrian Armed Forces.
“It is ‘undeniable’ that the previous authorities in Syria did not declare the full extent of its chemical weapons programme and that they continued to use, and possibly produce, chemical weapons after joining theConvention,” Ms. Nakamitsu told the Council, citing reports from the OPCW Technical Secretariat.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
High Representative Nakamitsu briefs the Security Council.
New chapter of cooperation
“The situation left by the previous Syrian authorities is extremely worrying,” she continued, noting the willingness signalled by Syria’s new authorities to turn the page.
During a visit to Damascus on 8 February, the OPCW Director-General met top Syrian officials, who assured him of their commitment to dismantling the chemical weapons programme, she added.
The caretaker Foreign Minister formally appointed a focal point for chemical weapons issues within the government and held meetings with OPCW on implementing its “9-point Action Plan for Syria.”
An OPCW technical team is expected to be deployed to Damascus, to work on setting up a permanent presence in the country and planning joint site inspections.
Fighting in coastal areas
In spite of the promising developments, Ms. Nakamitsu cautioned that the road ahead will be challenging, as Syria continues to face significant humanitarian, security and recovery challenges.
Developments on the ground exemplify these concerns, with heavy fighting reported in coastal areas between Syrian Caretaker Authority forces and soldiers loyal to the former regime. According to media reports, at least 70 people have been killed.
Among them was a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff member who was caught in a crossfire on his way back from work.
“We are still determining the precise facts, there is clearly an immediate need for restraint from all parties, and full respect for the protection of civilians in accordance with international law,” he said in a statement.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
A wide view of the Security Council meeting on chemical weapons in Syria.
International support needed
Back in the Security Council, Ms. Nakamitsu reminded ambassadors that Syria will need “strong support” from international partners.
“In order to accomplish all the tasks needed to rid Syria of all chemical weapons, the OPCW Technical Secretariat and the new authorities in Syria will require strong support and additional resources from the international community,” she said.
She urged Council members to unite in supporting this unprecedented effort, emphasising that the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria is not just a national priority but a matter of regional and global security.
“The United Nations stands ready to provide support however we can and will continue to do our part to uphold the norm against the use of chemical weapons – anywhere, at any time,” she concluded.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
PEORIA, Ill. – A Marquette Heights, Illinois, man, Dalton Lee Mattus, 35, was sentenced on March 5, 2025, to an aggregate 57 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, possessing a stolen firearm, and possessing an unregistered destructive device.
At the sentencing hearing in front of Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the court was informed that Mattus had multiple prior criminal convictions within Tazewell and Peoria Counties that prohibited him from possessing a firearm. In May 2024, he was the passenger in a car that was stopped by Pekin Police Department officers. During the traffic stop, the officers confiscated a locked bag from the car. After obtaining a search warrant for the bag, they found a stolen Springfield Armory XD-S .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and two unregistered destructive devices. The devices were made from cardboard tubing, metal BBs, and chemical powder used to make explosives. The officers also obtained a search warrant for Mattus’s residence, where they found three additional unregistered destructive devices, along with materials to make several more. Officers also seized 50 rounds of live ammunition and equipment used to assemble and disassemble firearms.
In sentencing Mattus, Judge Mihm commented that while this was a very serious case, what was most troubling was that the explosives were homemade and were intended to harm others. The judge commented that this is “about as bad as it gets.”
Mattus was arrested by the Pekin Police Department in May 2024, and a federal complaint was filed two weeks later, followed by a federal indictment in June 2024. He entered a guilty plea in October 2024.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years’ imprisonment. The maximum term of imprisonment for possessing a stolen firearm and possessing an unregistered destructive device is ten years’ imprisonment. Each count carries up to a three-year term of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Pekin Police Department and Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department also participated in the investigation.
The case against Mattus 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.
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for possessing a firearm during the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Quintell Dewayne Gladney, 45, was sentenced to 262 months (21 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to information presented in court, on May 26, 2020, officers with the Shreveport Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Gladney. The officer approached the vehicle and began a conversation with Gladney and noticed what appeared to be a firearm in his waist band. Officers learned that Gladney was a convicted felon and asked Gladney to step out of the vehicle, but he refused. The officers then opened the door and removed Gladney from the vehicle for officer safety. A pat down search revealed that he did in fact have a loaded FN Herstal Model Five Seven 5.7×28 pistol in his waist band.
In addition, officers found over $3,000 in cash in Gladney’s pockets, and several small bags of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana which were packaged for distribution in the vehicle. Over 41 rounds of 5.7×28 caliber ammunition were also found inside the vehicle. Gladney pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023, and admitted to illegally possessing the firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Deming man was sentenced to 39 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on April 21, 2024, when Catron County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Wilfrido Saenz, 27. During the stop, deputies found a hypodermic needle containing methamphetamine residue on Saenz‘s person. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a loaded handgun in the center console.
Saenz, who was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction of transporting illegal aliens, admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm and ammunition despite being a convicted felon.
Upon his release from prison, Saenz will be subject to two years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Catron County Sheriff’s Office and United States Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson R. Hehr is prosecuting the case.
ATLANTA – Jordan Pack has been sentenced for two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
“Pack continued to possess firearms and commit violent offenses after being previously convicted of a violent felony,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “This case is another example of the effective law enforcement partnerships in our district that enable the successful prosecutions of dangerous repeat offenders like Pack.”
“This sentence reflects ATF commitment to ensure that those with a history of crime are held accountable”, said Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons. Convicted felons possessing firearms presents a danger to the community and ATF along with our law enforcement partners will work hard to remove them from our community.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: In October 2008, Jordan Pack was convicted of Armed Robbery (involving a firearm) in the Superior Court of Douglasville, Georgia. He was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment, with 10 years to serve in custody and the remainder to be served on probation. He was released from prison in April 2018.
On October 22, 2021, officers responding to a motor vehicle collision in Dacula, Georgia, arrested Pack for giving false identifying information to a police officer. A crossbody satchel that Pack was wearing at the time of his arrest contained live .38 caliber ammunition, and officers later learned that, after the accident, Pack had discarded a .38 caliber Taurus revolver under a nearby vehicle. Upon recovering the revolver, officers discovered that the firearm was loaded with the hammer cocked.
Later, on June 17, 2022, Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers responded to the scene of a shooting at a single-family home in Northwest Atlanta. A female resident of the home advised that, following a domestic dispute, Pack had threatened to shoot her. He then retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, fired multiple shots into the air, and fled the scene. Both the victim and her young child were present in the home at that time. Officers recovered five spent .45 caliber shell casings from the driveway of the home.
On August 10, 2022, officers with the APD fugitive unit located Pack at an apartment complex in Southwest Atlanta. Pack was working at the location as an armed security guard (under the alias “William Tate”) and in possession of a Tokarev 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun. During a search of Pack incident to his arrest, officers recovered a .45 caliber Highpoint semi-automatic pistol which was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition in a high-capacity magazine, a pair of brass knuckles, a pocketknife, a canister of bear mace, and a large machete. In addition, during a search of Pack’s vehicle, officers seized the Tocarev shotgun, two magazines, 14 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun shells, and several .45 caliber cartridge casings.
On March 6, 2024, Chief District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. sentenced Jordan Pack, also known as “William Tate,” 35, of Atlanta, Ga., to 66 months of incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release. Pack pleaded guilty to the charges on November 12, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua May, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesika French and Norman Barnett, 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 further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Riotous Irish film Kneecap has attracted much critical and public acclaim since it debuted at Sundance in January 2024 as the festival’s first Irish-language film, winning the prestigious NEXT audience award.
Its Irish premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh the following July saw it scoop best Irish film, the audience award and the Irish language feature film award. It was selected also as an entry for best international feature film and best original song at this year’s Oscars (but was unsuccessful in securing a nomination). Now Kneecap’s latest film honour comes from Britain, where its writer and director Rich Peppiatt won outstanding debut at the Baftas last month.
The film, which mixes fantasy with reality, tells the hilarious tale of struggling real-life Irish-language rap group Kneecap (who play themselves in the film) as they become the unlikely face of the civil rights campaign to recognise the Irish language – also known as Gaelic. The bio on the group’s website states theirs “is a voice which comes screaming from the too-often deprived areas of the North of Ireland, speaking in a language which is too-often ignored”.
The social and political impact of the arts and culture has long been established. Funding is often available for films that support the cultural agenda of nation states, and this plays a significant role in terms of soft power, a concept developed by political scientist Joseph Nye.
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Academic Alan Bradshaw’s review captures the complexity of the themes of the film and its attempt to distance younger people – “the ceasefire generation” – from those of us who lived through the period of civil unrest commonly referred to as the Troubles.
The Kneecap rappers are focused on advocating for the rights (cearta) of the people of Northern Ireland. Their open criticism of British rule, expressed through their music and film led to objections to them receiving public subsidies from the British taxpayer.
However, consideration of the funding for the production reflects the central themes of the film. Northern Ireland Screen, the BFI, Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán (Ireland’s independent media regulator) and TG4 (an Irish public service broadcaster providing film and television in Gaelic) collectively funded the film, demonstrating the strong creative collaborations that have developed over the past few years across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK.
While it is not uncommon to see UK-Irish co-productions – ironically, perhaps, the UK and Ireland are largely treated as one territory for film distribution – usually such collaboration is related to the shared use of English. In this case, Irish language is at the centre of the storytelling, highlighting the contentious history behind this shared use of English.
The Irish language is not just the language in which the story is told, it is at the very heart of the film. In 2020, the Gaelic film Arracht (English title Monster), a story of the Irish famine, was screened in British cinemas and was Ireland’s entry for the 2020 Academy Awards, but it was not nominated for any awards in the UK.
While Arracht dealt with the famine, illustrating the destructive impact of colonial rule on the Irish people, culture and language, in 2022 An Cailín Ciúin (A Quiet Girl)
demonstrated the beauty of the Gaelic language and provided many audiences outside of Ireland with their first opportunity to see a film in Irish.
Kneecap shifts the focus forward to contemporary Northern Ireland and the fight to resuscitate and reinstate the Irish language in the six counties still under British rule. This was eventually recognised in 2022 when the UK parliament passed the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act.
The film’s Bafta win and Oscar entry follow on from The Quiet Girl, which made it onto the Academy Awards’ shortlist for best international feature film and garnered Bafta nominations for best film not in the English language, and best screenplay (adapted), in 2023.
Although in terms of pace and energy, Kneecap and The Quiet Girl could not be more different, both films are in the Irish language. The Quiet Girl earned over US$6.5 million (£5 million) globally at the box office – the first film in the Irish language to break the US$1m mark – while Kneecap has earned US$4.5 million so far.
Kneecap’s Oscar ambitions may have been thwarted, but its success at the Baftas demonstrates the significance of film in terms of reflecting contemporary politics, shining a light on UK-Irish relations and the relevance of Northern Ireland both politically and culturally.
The 1998 Good Friday agreement, brought an end to the Troubles, and addressed the decades of imbalance in the rights of Northern Irish Catholic citizens in relation to governance, civil and political rights as well as cultural rights.
The right to use the Irish language was finally acknowledged as a cultural right and was reinstated as an official language of Northern Ireland in 2022 following the repeal of a penal law from 1737 which established English as the only language permissible in courts.
This fundamental right to your native language is the key theme in Kneecap, focusing on opposing the legacy of British colonial oppression of language and culture. Its success in receiving public funding, delighting UK critics and audiences alike, as well as winning a prestigious British film award is well worth reflecting upon.
Does this demonstrate that Britain is beginning to recognise the damage of colonialism on the psyche, culture and economics of those who are oppressed and disposed? Is this acceptance of the living legacy of colonialism?
Giving the Bafta for outstanding debut for Kneecap to Peppiatt – an Englishman living in Belfast – can perhaps be seen as the start of such recognition. But it may be too early for a film opposing colonial British rule to be awarded the award for outstanding British film.
Finola Kerrigan 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.
From Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/housing-infrastructure-communities/news/2025/03/the-governments-of-canada-and-british-columbia-sign-an-agreement-to-address-homelessness.html
French version: https://www.canada.ca/fr/logement-infrastructures-collectivites/nouvelles/2025/03/les-gouvernements-du-canada-et-de-la-colombie-britannique-signent-une-entente-pour-lutter-contre-litinerance.html
Today, the federal government and the Government of British Columbia announced that an agreement to support people experiencing homelessness, including sheltering in encampments, has been signed as part of the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI).
Funding will support the implementation of Community Encampment Response Plans (CERP) and immediately provide additional support to people living without homes. Each plan is tailored to the specific needs of a community and expands the work of the Province to implement key initiatives under Belonging in BC.
Through this agreement, over two years, the governments of Canada and British Columbia will each contribute up to $39.9 million, which will be made available in Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Kamloops. This is in addition to what the federal government is investing through the regionally delivered streams of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, which includes over $638 million from 2019 to 2028 in British Columbia to address local homelessness needs.
Through this funding, the Province will continue to provide ongoing response and outreach to people experiencing homelessness and encampments through its Homeless Encampment Action Response Team (HEART) and Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) programs. Since launching the homelessness response initiatives in 2023, the Province has partnered with 10 municipalities to open 15 HEARTH sites across B.C. for a total of 611 temporary supportive homes or shelter beds. The Province invested up to $1.5 billion through Budget 2023 in new initiatives to help prevent and reduce homelessness. These investments build on the $633 million the Province invested into actions to prevent and reduce homelessness.
This funding will help individuals and families transition into safer, more appropriate, and stable housing and shelter. Additionally, client support services will help improve integration and connectedness to essential services such as food programs, emergency shelters, transportation, healthcare, and disability support. It will also assist with economic, social, and cultural integration to help individuals access and retain stable housing. Other services and initiatives include coordinating resources and enhancing data collection and quality to improve service delivery.
Housing provides stability and security and serves as the foundation for overall well-being. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live.
Quotes:
“A safe place to call home is the foundation for a brighter future. Yet, homelessness continues to affect thousands of people across British Columbia, blocking their path to stability and opportunity. This funding will be a vital resource for communities in need, offering more than just shelter — it provides hope and the chance to rebuild. Beyond providing housing, it will provide essential support, life skills training, and access to healthcare, helping individuals and families regain their independence and build a more secure and promising future.”
— The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre
“We’re connecting people with the housing and supports they need to get on a better path and live full, healthy lives. The high cost of living and shortage of affordable housing have caused homelessness rates in BC and across the country to rise. We’re pleased to have the Government of Canada contribute to our Province’s work with local governments and community partners to address homelessness and build safer and stronger communities where all of us can thrive.”
— The Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Quick Facts:
The Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI) will help reduce the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, particularly those living in encampments. It is based on the deployment of a Community Encampment Response Plan (CERP) in each targeted community, adopting an approach that promotes housing stability with support services to ensure the dignity of individuals.
As part of Canada-British Columbia Agreement for this initiative, the federal and provincial governments are each providing up to $39.9 million, over two years, to support CERP activities in Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Kamloops.
The Province, through BC Housing has provided funding for 6,742 shelter spaces in 59 communities throughout B.C. this fall and winter – a 20% increase in spaces available compared to last year this time.
The Government of British Columbia put forward approximately $228 million over three years to help create regional multidisciplinary teams and temporary spaces through the Homeless Encampment Action Response Team and Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEART and HEARTH) to support rapid response for communities with substantive encampments in their area.
The Provincial funding includes approximately $44 million of capital funding approved through Budget 2023 to help expand access to temporary supportive housing and shelter (HEARTH) and provide more on-site support for people sheltering in encampments, such as fire prevention, safety and outreach, while housing gets built.
These investments build on the $633 million that B.C. invested into actions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Budget 2022, including the almost $4 million over three years to support people in encampments to stay safe, connect to supports and transition to housing.
Since 2017, the Province of British Columbia has nearly 92,000 homes that have been delivered or underway.
Federal funding provided for this agreement is part of a $250 million commitment, outlined in Budget 2024, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness across Canada.
The $250 million investment from the federal government is a tool to coordinate matching funds from provincial and territorial governments to address encampments throughout the country.
The UHEI builds on existing programs like Reaching Home, through which the federal government is investing $5 billion over nine years to address homelessness across Canada.
Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy supports the goals of Canada’s Housing Plan and the National Housing Strategy – to support the needs of the most vulnerable Canadians and to improve access to safe, stable and affordable housing.
Since 2015, the federal government has helped almost two million Canadians find a place to call home.
RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is investigating a fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision that occurred in Middle Sackville.
Yesterday, at approximately 7:15 p.m., RCMP officers,fire services, and EHS, responded to a reportof a collision near the 1600 block of Sackville Dr. Investigatorslearned that a Honda Civic was travelling west on the roadway when it struck a pedestrian crossing the road.
The pedestrian, a 58-year-old Middle Sackville man, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver and lone occupant of the Civic, a 25-year-old Middle Sackville man, did not suffer physical injuries.
Weather conditions in the area, at the time, consisted of heavy rain and wind.
An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene and the investigation, led by the Halifax Regional Detachment Traffic Unit, is ongoing.Currently, it’s not believed that alcohol or drugs were a factor.
Investigators are asking anyone with dash cam footage of Sackville Dr., near Lively Rd. and Wilson Lake Dr., between 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. to come forward.
Sackville Dr.was closed for several hours but has since reopened.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this difficult time.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Brandon Palmore (30, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Palmore faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Palmore has agreed to forfeit the Sig Sauer handgun and ammunition used in the commission of the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on December 1, 2023, agents were conducting surveillance at an apartment complex in Tampa in relation to an outstanding arrest warrant for Palmore and observed him walking to his vehicle. As Palmore was given commands to exit the vehicle, he was seen reaching toward the center console and passenger floorboard area of the vehicle. A Sig Sauer handgun was found where Palmore had been seen reaching. The handgun was loaded and had previously been reported stolen. At the time, Palmore had multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at, within, or into, a vehicle. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Source: The White House
This spring, the White House will open its gardens and grounds to visitors. The grounds will be open on Saturday, April 5, from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sunday, April 6, from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM. On these days, visitors can explore the beauty of the South Lawn of the White House. The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, and the White House Kitchen Garden will also be accessible to guests.
This event is free and open to the public. A ticket is required, however, for all attendees (including small children). The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at a tent outside the White House Visitor Center each day of the tours beginning at 8:30 AM. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20004, near the intersection of 15th Street and E Street Northwest.
Tickets will be distributed—one ticket per person—on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note the following items are not allowed on the White House grounds:
• Aerosols of any kind
• Animals (except guide dogs)
• Any pointed object
• Backpacks (oversized)
• Balloons
• Beverages of any kind
• Duffle bags and/or suitcases
• Electric stun guns
• Fireworks / firecrackers
• Food of any kind
• Guns / ammunition
• Insulated metal containers
• Knives of any kind
• Mace
• Selfie sticks
• Smoking (including e-cigarettes)
• Tablets (including iPads)
• Toy weapons of any kind
• Water bottles
• Bicycles and scooters
The Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. However, strollers, wheelchairs, umbrellas (no metal tips), and cameras are permitted. All items needed for medical purposes will be permitted on the tour (such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, glucose tablets, and EpiPens). Please identify and explain all items needed for medical purposes to Secret Service personnel upon arrival.
In the event of inclement weather, the event may be canceled. Please call the 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041 to check on the status of the event. For more information, including what visitors will need to access the White House campus, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Visit.
Sarah Vulstyeke is a project coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). She recently returned from the Gaza Strip, Palestine, where she coordinated operations with an MSF team in northern Gaza, where MSF runs mobile clinics to provide medical assistance to people through general consultations, treatment of non-communicable diseases, changing wound dressings, and health promotion.
During the first and second weeks of February, MSF mobile clinics were sent to Jabalia camp and Beit Hanoun. Around 1,200 consultations were conducted, with 11.6 per cent being children under five years. Just over 23 per cent of the consultations were upper tract respiratory infections and 169 dressings were done. Sarah describes what our team saw.
“When we arrived at the first health centre in the north of Gaza in early February to assess the situation, it was a slap in the face for all of us. There was nothing left to assess: we were shocked and felt helpless after realising how much infrastructure, how many buildings and lives, had been destroyed.
Right after the ceasefire [which took effect on 19 January 2025], one of our priorities was to look at how we could support access to basic healthcare for people in Gaza, especially in the northern part of the Strip. Jabalia camp had been besieged and heavily bombed by Israeli forces since 6 October 2024, and Israeli authorities dramatically reduced the quantity of essential aid authorised to enter.
Tens of thousands of people remained trapped in the north with barely any access to healthcare since last October; while hundreds of thousands returned there after the implementation of the ceasefire during end of January 2025.
A crowd of people wait for medical consultations at the MSF-supported Sheikh Radwan healthcare centre in Gaza City. Gaza Strip, Palestine, February 2025.Nour Alsaqqa/MSF
The devastation we found in Jabalia is hard to describe; there was nothing left, only rubble. We tried to assess the conditions of health centres. But we visited the first one, and it was flattened. Then the second, the third… Everything was in ruins and reduced to piles of rubble. It’s breathtaking and heartbreaking. Looking at the scale of the destruction, we had no other choice but to act quickly.
The biggest challenge was to start and set up medical activities amid the rubble. It took a week to clear up enough rubble with our rented bulldozer, just to set up a temporary structure. The first week, we parked by the side of the road and began our activities.
Later, we were able to set up tents and shelters where patients could wait for their consultation. The weather was freezing, but still hundreds of patients came every day.
People in Gaza, as well as our teams, are determined to try to rebuild what was lost, despite the unbearable difficulties they face every day. The situation is still very precarious, and we are really worried about the consequences that a blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza could have.
People in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies, and it is unacceptable that an entire population is now once again being prevented from receiving humanitarian aid.”
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