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Category: Taxation

  • MIL-OSI: Himax Technologies, Inc. Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call on Thursday, November 7 at 8:00 AM EST

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAINAN, Taiwan, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced that it will hold a conference call with investors and analysts on Thursday, November 7 at 8:00 a.m. US Eastern Standard Time and 9:00 p.m. Taiwan Time to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2024 financial results.

    HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES THIRD QUARTER 2024 EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL
    DATE: Thursday, November 7, 2024
    TIME: U.S. 8:00 a.m. EST  
      Taiwan 9:00 p.m.  
     
    Live Webcast (Video and Audio): http://www.zucast.com/webcast/naEJkyEo
    Toll Free Dial-in Number (Audio Only):
      Hong Kong 2112-1444
      Taiwan 0080-119-6666
      Australia 1-800-015-763
      Canada 1-877-252-8508
      China (1) 4008-423-888
      China (2) 4006-786-286
      Singapore 800-492-2072
      UK 0800-068-8186
      United States (1) 1-800-811-0860
      United States (2) 1-866-212-5567
    Dial-in Number (Audio Only):
      Taiwan Domestic Access 02-3396-1191
      International Access +886-2-3396-1191
         
    Participant PIN Code: 1407507 #
       

    If you choose to attend the call by dialing in via phone, please enter the Participant PIN Code 1407507 # after the call is connected. A replay of the webcast will be available beginning two hours after the call on http://www.himax.com.tw. This webcast can be accessed by clicking on this link or Himax’s website, where the webcast can be accessed through November 7, 2025.

    About Himax Technologies, Inc.

    Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. The Company’s display driver ICs and timing controllers have been adopted at scale across multiple industries worldwide including TVs, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, ePaper devices, industrial displays, among others. As the global market share leader in automotive display technology, the Company offers innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including traditional driver ICs, advanced in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI), local dimming timing controllers (Local Dimming Tcon), Large Touch and Display Driver Integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a pioneer in tinyML visual-AI and optical technology related fields. The Company’s industry-leading WiseEye™ Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology which incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as diffractive wafer level optics, LCoS microdisplays and 3D sensing solutions, are critical for facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. Additionally, Himax designs and provides touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors for diverse display application coverage. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany, and the US. Himax has 2,683 patents granted and 390 patents pending approval worldwide as of September 30, 2024.

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

    Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; changes in export license regulated by Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, as may be amended.

    Company Contacts:

    Eric Li, Chief IR/PR Officer
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-6-505-0880
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Karen Tiao, Investor Relations
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Mark Schwalenberg, Director
    Investor Relations – US Representative
    MZ North America
    Tel: +1-312-261-6430
    Email: HIMX@mzgroup.us
    http://www.mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trump Tax: private jet levy could raise £250k every time former President visits Scotland

    Source: Scottish Greens

    08 Oct 2024

    The super wealthy are doing terrible damage to our planet.

    A private jet tax could raise £250,000 every time former US President Donald Trump visits Scotland, says Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, Ross Greer.

    The levy would be based on the application of a new ‘super rate’ of Air Departure Tax for private jet passengers. This would be set at 10 times the current top rate of the tax, proportionate to the massively increased level of pollution for private air travel versus regular commercial flights. 

    The distance between Scotland and Trump’s Mar A Lago home in Florida puts it in Band B for Air Passenger Duty, currently set at £581 per passenger at the ‘Higher’ rate. A new Super Rate which reflects the huge damage private jets do to the climate could be set at £5,800. With Trump’s Boeing 757 capable of carrying 43 passengers, a flight to Scotland at this rate would result in a £249,400 fee at the point of departure back to the US.

    All parties agreed to devolve Air Passenger Duty during the Smith Commission ten years ago and an Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed in 2017 to replace it with a Scottish Air Departure Tax. However, this has not yet commenced due to the UK Government’s refusal to allow the exemption for lifeline island flights to continue. Were this to be resolved, the Scottish Government would immediately have the power to implement a super-tax on private jets.

    Ross Greer MSP said: “Most people are trying to play our part in tackling the climate crisis. Our individual efforts are important, but they are totally undermined by the super-rich flying across the world in private jets which are ten times more polluting than regular flights and fifty times worse than trains. It’s time these elites were taxed in line with the massive damage their lifestyle is doing to the planet.

    “Whether it’s Trump jetting between his golf courses, CEOs visiting their yachts or Rishi Sunak flying between parts of the UK with perfectly good rail lines, there’s no justification for it when we can all see the effects of climate breakdown as they devastate communities across the planet.

    “A billionaire uses 820 times as much CO2 as the average person in the UK. They do more damage to the planet before lunch than you do in a whole year. 

    “A private jet tax would raise money for our public services but its real aim would be to keep the super-rich and their destructive toys on the ground. It would of course have the added bonus of keeping the notoriously tight and cash-strapped Donald J Trump out of Scotland. That’s a gift you couldn’t even begin to put a price tag on.”

    NOTES

    Below table is current Air Passenger Duty as set UK-wide, with a new theoretical Super rate which would be applied to private aircraft above a certain size/weight. This Super rate is just ten times the Higher rate, roughly equal to the increased level of emissions per passenger relative to those on regular commercial flights.

    The distance between Orlando (closest major airport to Mar A Lago) and Edinburgh is just under 5,000 miles, so would be band B at £5,800. Trump’s 757 has a capacity of 43 people, so 43 x £5,800 = £249,400.

    Destination

    Reduced Rate

    Standard

    Higher

    New ‘Super’ Rate

    Domestic

    £7

    £14

    £78

    £780

    Band A
    (0 – 2,000 miles)

    £13

    £26

    £78

    £1000

    Band B 

    (2,001 – 5,500 miles)

    £88

    £194

    £581

    £5,800

    Band C

    (5,501 miles and above)

    £92

    £202

    £607

    £6,000

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Self Assessment: online help is just a click or a swipe away

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Self Assessment customers urged to use online guidance as top 5 calls to helpline revealed

    • HMRC reveals the most common calls to its Self Assessment helpline, all of which can be answered quickly online
    • Customers can access help online to register for Self Assessment or tell HMRC they no longer need to complete a tax return
    • Anyone new to Self Assessment can register using the quick and easy tool on GOV.UK

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals the top 5 reasons why people are calling the Self Assessment helpline and reminds them that they can self-serve to quickly access the information online.

    Currently, the most common reason for speaking to an HMRC advisor is about coming out of Self Assessment. Customers don’t need to call HMRC and can instead visit GOV.UK to check if they need to send a Self Assessment tax return. If they no longer need to send one, they can use the online service to tell HMRC without the need to speak to an advisor.

    The 5 most common reasons for calling the helpline are:

    1. I no longer need to complete a Self Assessment tax return
    2. I need to register for Self Assessment
    3. Can you tell me if I still have to complete a tax return?
    4. What’s happening with my Self Assessment registration?
    5. What’s happening with my Self Assessment repayment?

    More than 12 million taxpayers are due to complete Self Assessment for the 2023 to 2024 tax year and pay any tax owed by the 31 January 2025 deadline. HMRC’s Self Assessment helpline and webchat services are available for those who need them but there is lots of help available online.

    Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

    We want to help customers get their tax returns right first time which is why we have produced a wealth of online resources and guidance to support them every step of the way. Just search ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to find out more and start your return today.

    Anyone who is new to Self Assessment needs to register to receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference before they can send a tax return for the 2023 to 2024 tax year.

    Taxpayers may need to complete a tax return, even if they pay taxes through PAYE, for example, if they:

    • are self-employed and have earned gross income over £1,000
    • are self-employed and earned up to £1,000 and wish to pay Class 2 NICs voluntarily to protect their entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits
    • are a partner in a business partnership
    • had a total taxable income of more than £150,000
    • have received any untaxed income including pension income over £2,500
    • received income over £1,000 from trading or providing services online
    • have to pay the High Income Child Benefit charge
    • received interest from banks and building societies or investments (more than £10,000)
    • received rental or letting income from UK land and property

    HMRC is encouraging customers to be prepared and have all the information they need ready to file their tax returns early, so they can avoid any last-minute stress and know what they owe sooner. HMRC has a range of online help and support and YouTube videos to assist anyone completing their return, including first-time filers.

    Criminals use emails, phone calls and texts to try to steal information and money from taxpayers. Before sharing their personal or financial details, people should search ‘HMRC tax scams’ on GOV.UK to access a checklist to help them decide if the contact they have received is a scam

    Customers should never share their HMRC login information with anyone. Someone could use them to steal from them or claim benefits or a refund in their name.

    Further Information

    More information on Self Assessment

    A full list of anyone who may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return include those who:

    • are self-employed and have earned gross income over £1,000
    • are self-employed and earned up to £1,000 and wish to pay Class 2 NICs voluntarily to protect their entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits
    • are a partner in a business partnership
    • had a total taxable income of more than £150,000
    • have received any untaxed income including pension income over £2,500
    • received income over £1,000 from trading or providing services online
    • have any gains or income from cryptoassets
    • are claiming Child Benefit and they or their partner had an income above £50,000 for the 2023 to 2024 tax year
    • received interest from banks and building societies or investments (more than £10,000)
    • received income from property that they own and rent out
    • received dividends payments (more than £10,000)
    • claim tax relief for their job expenses if more than £2,500
    • need to pay Capital Gains Tax on gains of more than £6,000 (in 2023 to 2024 tax year)

    The deadlines for tax returns for 2023 to 2024 tax year are 31 October 2024 for paper returns and 31 January 2025 for online returns.

    More than 97% of customers now file their Self Assessment tax returns online.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ Launches Option Income Strategy ETF on Palantir Technologies (PLTR)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ announced the launch today of the following ETF:

    YieldMax™ PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSE Arca: PLTY)

    PLTY seeks to generate current income by pursuing options-based strategies on Palantir Technologies Inc. (“PLTR”). PLTY is actively managed by ZEGA Financial. PLTY does not invest directly in PLTR.

    PLTY is the newest member of the YieldMax™ ETF family and like all YieldMax™ ETFs, aims to deliver current income to investors. With respect to distributions, PLTY will be a Group B ETF and its first distribution is expected to be announced on November 6, 2024. Please see table below for distribution and yield information for all outstanding YieldMax™ ETFs.

    ETF
    Ticker
    1
    ETF Name Reference
    Asset
    Distribution
    Rate
    2,4,5
    30-Day
    SEC Yield
    3
    TSLY YieldMax™ TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF TSLA 115.53% 3.09%
    OARK YieldMax™ Innovation Option Income Strategy ETF ARKK 53.47% 3.37%
    APLY YieldMax™ AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF AAPL 31.19% 3.17%
    NVDY YieldMax™ NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF NVDA 65.43% 3.24%
    AMZY YieldMax™ AMZN Option Income Strategy ETF AMZN 41.70% 3.27%
    FBY YieldMax™ META Option Income Strategy ETF META 31.65% 3.22%
    GOOY YieldMax™ GOOGL Option Income Strategy ETF GOOGL 22.22% 3.28%
    NFLY YieldMax™ NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF NFLX 36.06% 3.45%
    CONY YieldMax™ COIN Option Income Strategy ETF COIN 97.94% 3.70%
    MSFO YieldMax™ MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF MSFT 27.17% 3.33%
    DISO YieldMax™ DIS Option Income Strategy ETF DIS 35.17% 3.41%
    XOMO YieldMax™ XOM Option Income Strategy ETF XOM 18.73% 3.32%
    JPMO YieldMax™ JPM Option Income Strategy ETF JPM 34.76% 3.60%
    AMDY YieldMax™ AMD Option Income Strategy ETF AMD 73.41% 3.24%
    PYPY YieldMax™ PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF PYPL 102.97% 2.94%
    SQY YieldMax™ SQ Option Income Strategy ETF SQ 86.71% 3.44%
    MRNY YieldMax™ MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF MRNA 71.92% 3.91%
    AIYY YieldMax™ AI Option Income Strategy ETF AI 47.26% 3.76%
    MSTY YieldMax™ MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF MSTR 81.35% 0.00%
    YBIT YieldMax™ Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF Bitcoin ETP 87.09% 4.07%
    CRSH YieldMax™ Short TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF TSLA 101.44% 3.61%
    GDXY YieldMax™ Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF GDX® 40.15% 3.27%
    SNOY YieldMax™ SNOW Option Income Strategy ETF SNOW 40.64% 3.44%
    ABNY YieldMax™ ABNB Option Income Strategy ETF ABNB 33.60% 2.84%
    FIAT YieldMax™ Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF COIN 110.90% 3.22%
    DIPS YieldMax™ Short NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF NVDA 87.48% 3.69%
    BABO YieldMax™ BABA Option Income Strategy ETF BABA 33.24% 2.62%
    YQQQ YieldMax™ Short N100 Option Income Strategy ETF NDX® 26.88% 3.63%
    TSMY YieldMax™ TSM Option Income Strategy ETF TSM 23.98% 3.48%
    SMCY* YieldMax™ SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF SMCI — —
    YMAX YieldMax™ Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs Multiple 61.63% 62.93%
    YMAG YieldMax™ Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs Multiple 45.17% 50.85%
    ULTY YieldMax™ Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF Multiple 113.94% 0.00%


    The performance data quoted above represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling (833) 378-0717.

    Note: CRSH, FIAT, DIPS and YQQQ are hereinafter referred to as the “Short ETFs” and “ADR” stands for American Depositary Receipt.

    Distributions are not guaranteed. The Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield are not indicative of future distributions, if any, on the ETFs. In particular, future distributions on any ETF may differ significantly from its Distribution Rate or 30-Day SEC Yield. You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from month to month and may be zero. Accordingly, the Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant.

    Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

    * The inception date for SMCY is September 11, 2024.

    1. All YieldMax™ ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX and YMAG have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax™ ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio of 1.24% but the investment adviser has agreed to a 0.10% fee waiver through at least February 28, 2025.
    2. The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on October 7, 2024. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recently declared distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by multiplying such distribution by twelve (12), and dividing the resulting amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.
    3. The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended September 30, 2024, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period. As of such date, the ULTY subsidized and unsubsidized 30-Day SEC Yields were 0.00% and 0.00%, respectively. The subsidized yield reflects fee waivers in effect while the unsubsidized yield does not adjust for any fee waivers in effect.
    4. Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.
    5. As of the date hereof, distributions for the following ETFs have included return of investor capital: TSLY, OARK, APLY, AMZY, NVDY, GOOY, JPMO, XOMO, PYPY, CONY, DISO, FBY, MSFO, NFLY, SQY, AMDY, MRNY, AIYY, MSTY, ULTY, YMAX, YMAG, YBIT, SNOY, CRSH and GDXY. For additional information, please visit http://www.YieldMaxETFs.com/TaxInfo.

    Standardized Performance

    For TSLY, click here. For OARK, click here. For APLY, click here. For NVDY, click here. For AMZY, click here. For FBY, click here. For GOOY, click here. For NFLY, click here. For CONY, click here. For MSFO, click here. For DISO, click here. For XOMO, click here. For JPMO, click here. For AMDY, click here. For PYPY, click here. For SQY, click here. For MRNY, click here. For AIYY, click here. For MSTY, click here. For YBIT, click here. For CRSH, click here. For GDXY, click here. For SNOY, click here. For ABNY, click here. For FIAT, click here. For DIPS, click here. For BABO, click here. For YQQQ, click here. For TSMY, click here. For SMCY, click here. For YMAX, click here. For YMAG, click here. For ULTY, click here.

    Prospectuses

    Click here.

    Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information are in the prospectus. Please read the prospectuses carefully before you invest.

    There is no guarantee that any Fund’s investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment in any such Fund.

    Contact Gavin Filmore at gfilmore@tidalfg.com for more information.

    Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax™ ETFs and ZEGA Financial is their sub-adviser.

    THE FUND, TRUST, AND SUB-ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERNCE ASSET.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable to all YieldMax ETFs referenced above, except the Short ETFs)

    YMAX and YMAG generally invest in other YieldMax™ ETFs. As such, these two Funds are subject to the risks listed in this section, which apply to all the YieldMax™ ETFs they may hold from time to time.

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer time periods.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given month. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security (ARKK, TSLA, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL, NFLX, COIN, MSFT, DIS, XOM, JPM, AMD, PYPL, SQ, MRNA, AI, MSTR, Bitcoin ETP, GDX®, SNOW, ABNB, BABA, TSM, SMCI, PLTR), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

    Currency Risk: Indirect exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

    Depositary Receipts Risk: Investment in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

    Foreign Market and Trading Risk: The trading markets for many foreign securities are not as active as U.S. markets and may have less governmental regulation and oversight.

    Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. issuers, such as risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability, as well as varying regulatory requirements applicable to investments in non-U.S. issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

    Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. The Fund is exposed indirectly to the securities of foreign issuers selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.

    Risk of Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Companies. The Fund is exposed indirectly to gold and silver mining companies selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies.

    The Fund invests in options contracts based on the value of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX®), which subjects the Fund to some of the same risks as if it owned GDX®, as well as the risks associated with Canadian, Australian and Emerging Market Issuers, and Small-and Medium-Capitalization companies.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

    YBIT does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than YBIT.

    Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in Bitcoin, through holdings in one or more Underlying ETPs, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing Bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends.

    Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is only a single eligible Underlying ETP, and it is an investment company subject to the 1940 Act.

    Bitcoin ETP Risk: The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Bitcoin ETP. This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Bitcoin ETP, even though it does not. Bitcoin ETPs are subject, but not limited, to significant risk and heightened volatility. An investor in a Bitcoin ETP may lose their entire investment. Bitcoin ETPs are not suitable for all investors. In addition, not all Bitcoin ETPs are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Those Bitcoin ETPs that are not registered under such statute are therefore not subject to the same regulations as exchange traded products that are so registered.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Price Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the value of the underlying reference asset. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the underlying reference asset, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the underlying reference asset increases. If the value of the underlying reference asset increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses.

    Put Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s put writing (selling) strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in decreases in the value of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold put options and over longer time periods.

    Purchased OTM Call Options Risk. The Fund’s strategy is subject to potential losses if the underlying reference asset increases in value, which may not be offset by the purchase of out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. The Fund purchases OTM calls to seek to manage (cap) the Fund’s potential losses from the Fund’s short exposure to the underlying reference asset if it appreciates significantly in value. However, the OTM call options will cap the Fund’s losses only to the extent that the value of the underlying reference asset increases to a level that is at or above the strike level of the purchased OTM call options. Any increase in the value of the underlying reference asset to a level that is below the strike level of the purchased OTM call options will result in a corresponding loss for the Fund. For example, if the OTM call options have a strike level that is approximately 100% above the then-current value of the underlying reference asset at the time of the call option purchase, and the value of the underlying reference asset increases by at least 100% during the term of the purchased OTM call options, the Fund will lose all its value. Since the Fund bears the costs of purchasing the OTM calls, such costs will decrease the Fund’s value and/or any income otherwise generated by the Fund’s investment strategy.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given month. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in decreases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Put Period.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

    Index Overview. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a benchmark index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, based on market capitalization.

    Index Level Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the Index level. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the Index, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the Index level, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Index level increases. If the Index level increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks: innovation and technological advancement; strong market presence of Index constituent companies; adaptability to global market trends; and resilience and recovery potential.

    Index Level Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will benefit from decreases in the Index level experienced over the Put Period. This means that if the Index level experiences a decrease in value below the strike level of the sold put options during a Put Period, the Fund will likely not experience that increase to the same extent and any Fund gains may significantly differ from the level of the Index losses over the Put Period. Additionally, because the Fund is limited in the degree to which it will participate in decreases in value experienced by the Index level over each Put Period, but has significant negative exposure to any increases in value experienced by the Index level over the Put Period, the NAV of the Fund may decrease over any given time period. The Fund’s NAV is dependent on the value of each options portfolio, which is based principally upon the inverse of the performance of the Index level. The Fund’s ability to benefit from the Index level decreases will depend on prevailing market conditions, especially market volatility, at the time the Fund enters into the sold put option contracts and will vary from Put Period to Put Period. The value of the options contracts is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of component companies that comprise the Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the Index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. As the Index level changes and time moves towards the expiration of each Put Period, the value of the options contracts, and therefore the Fund’s NAV, will change. However, it is not expected for the Fund’s NAV to directly inversely correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns of the Index level. The amount of time remaining until the options contract’s expiration date affects the impact that the value of the options contracts has on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect until the expiration date of the Fund’s options contracts. Therefore, while changes in the Index level will result in changes to the Fund’s NAV, the Fund generally anticipates that the rate of change in the Fund’s NAV will be different than the inverse of the changes experienced by the Index level.

    Holdings

    As of October 7, 2024, the YieldMax™ PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF did not hold any shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (“PLTR”). As of such date, the holdings of PLTR in such fund were 0.00%.

    YieldMax™ ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, YieldMax™ ETFs or ZEGA Financial.

    © 2024 YieldMax™ ETFs

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SAMOA REPRESENTED AT THE 5TH BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE TAX ADMINISTRATION COOPERATION FORUM.

    Source: Government of Western Samoa

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    (PRESS RELEASE- Ministry of Customs and Revenue)- A delegation from the Ministry of Custom and Revenue (MCR) is in Hong Kong, to attend the 5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum (BRITACOF).

    The delegation is led by the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio, and accompanied by the CEO of MCR, Fonoti Talaitupu Lia Taefu and the ACEO for Taxpayer Services, Auimatagi Galumalemana Michael Maua.

    The BRITACOF is one of the major bodies of the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism (BRITACOM), a non profit body envisioned to facilitate trade and investment, foster economic growth for the Belt and Road jurisdictions, and contribute to the fulfillment of inclusive and sustainable development as set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Samoa was one of the thirty four (34) member jurisdictions who signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the year 2019 when the BRITACOM was launched.

    With the acceptance of the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority in this year’s forum, the membership now stands at thirty seven (37) council member jurisdictions, thirty (30) observer jurisdictions and more than thirty partners and members of the other bodies and the Advisory Board.

    The Forum for this year, hosted by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, commenced on Tuesday 24th September 2024 on the theme “Deepening Tax Administration Cooperation for High Quality Belt and Road Development”.

    The program spreads over a period of three days and focuses on four main topics. The forum kicked off with selected member presentations and panel discussions on raising tax certainty and continues on the second and final day on discussions in the same format, on updates from members and task force on promoting digitalization, improving tax environment and reinforcing capacity building in tax administrations.

    As MCR prepares for its tax reform and transformation project, the forum echoed the drive behind this project. Digitalization is indeed a positive way forward for all tax administrations on the international and regional realms.

    Member administrations, tax practitioners, academic and partners who share their experiences recognizes the critical need for modernization in tax administrations.

    The changing tax environment, taxpayer demands and needs, the need for the tax administrations to enhance compliance management and service delivery are some of the key drivers of modernization and transformation projects noted from the forum. Several approaches taken by members and platforms in the ICT enabled services, legislative frameworks, operational processes and procedures and capacity building for tax officers and stakeholders. Success stories driven by continual stakeholder consultation and engagement, tax administrators and political commitment provides key lessons for Samoa’s delegation and will form a strong foundation to the Ministry’s tax reform and modernization efforts.

    Share this:

    October 8, 2024

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Lucinity and Facctum Partner for AI-Powered, Real-Time Watchlist Screening and Investigations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lucinity, a leader in AI-driven financial crime investigation tools, and Facctum, a provider of watchlist screening technology, have announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration offers a seamless, end-to-end financial crime prevention solution by integrating Facctum’s real-time screening capabilities into Lucinity’s platform.

    By combining their strengths, Lucinity and Facctum will handle alerts across watchlist screening use cases including sanctions and PEP screening. Facctum’s flexible solution allows customers to configure their own watchlists or utilize third-party sources such as LSEG (WorldCheck), Dow Jones, Kharon, and many others, providing institutions with the agility needed to adapt to evolving compliance challenges.

    Key Benefits for Customers:

    • Regulatory Compliance: Integrating Facctum will provide customers with real-time updates to sanctions lists within 15 minutes – an industry-leading capability that helps institutions stay compliant with fast-changing regulatory requirements like SEPA Instant Payments.
    • Customizable Screening: Institutions can create custom watchlists or use external sources, reducing false positives and improving screening accuracy.
    • End-to-End Management with AI-Powered Efficiency: The integrated solution embeds watchlist screening into Lucinity’s Case Management platform, providing a comprehensive view of financial crime risks. With Luci, Lucinity’s AI copilot, screening results are analysed in real-time, offering suggestions and insights to speed up the review and decision-making process.
    • Real-time Decisioning and Automatic Payment Holds: Analysts can block or release transactions directly from the Lucinity interface as part of reviewing matches. Additionally, payments suspected of fraud are temporarily held, ensuring verification before processing.
    • Quick Integration and Deployment: Lucinity’s system-agnostic platform integrates seamlessly with various data sources and systems. Customers can quickly implement the joint solution and start seeing results without disrupting their existing workflows.

    Facctum’s advanced matching engines drastically reduce false positives, improving the efficiency of compliance processes. Additionally, the platform helps financial institutions stay ahead of regulatory changes, such as the SEPA Instant Payment Regulation, which requires screening as soon as possible after new EU sanctions are announced.

    Lucinity’s platform also reduces investigation times from three hours to just 30 minutes, delivering productivity gains that can save large banks up to $25 million annually. The combined solution offers immense productivity gains, cost savings, and faster compliance with rigorous regulatory requirements.

    “At Lucinity, we’ve always aimed to provide comprehensive solutions that simplify financial crime management for our customers,” said Udi, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Lucinity. “Our partnership with Facctum enables us to offer real-time screening alerts alongside fraud and AML monitoring and investigations, all within one platform. This allows institutions to remain compliant with rapidly changing regulations while efficiently managing investigations.”

    “Our partnership with Lucinity meets the growing demand for fast, accurate sanctions screening,” said KK Gupta, CEO of Facctum. “By integrating our solutions, we help financial institutions stay compliant and reduce the risk of costly penalties from regulators.”

    Contact

    celina@lucinity.com

    The MIL Network –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Hurricane Helene update #10 from Congressman Edwards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

    Dear enewsletter.salutation_for_merging.merge,

    Here’s to hope: 6,586 people have been rescued, evacuated or assisted by search and rescue teams since Hurricane Helene hit, including 39 survivors being rescued on Saturday, October 5, over eight full days into rescue efforts.

    More than 4,000 first responders, national guardsmen, and active-duty military are in Western North Carolina looking for your friends, your family, or if you’re still stranded waiting for help – they’re looking for you. And they won’t stop until every missing person is accounted for.

    I’m sure many of you have heard that there is a second hurricane brewing on the coast of Florida. It is not expected to hit Western North Carolina, but if it maintains it’s intensity as a Category 4 hurricane, it is expected to be catastrophic. I’m here to tell you that we will support Florida in any way we can, but I am also committed to making sure Western North Carolina does not get left behind in place of the newest natural disaster.

    The resources and help I have listed over the last nine days are here to stay.

    Today is update number 10 and includes details on where to find critical health care services including orthopedic care, dialysis treatments, and oxygen tanks, and an updated timeline on power restoration for individuals in the hardest hit areas. More information is to come in the following days.

    As always, please make sure to read everything and share it with your friends and family.

    • Supplying drinkable water remains a top priority for emergency crews.
      • 84 water systems are on a boil advisory.
      • 24 treatment plants have reported having no power and 33 systems are out of water.
        • Water restoration trends continue to move in a positive direction.
    • The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised 120 truckloads a day of food and water with no specified end date.
      • FEMA has shipped 13 million meals and 13 million liters of water utilizing the $20 billion in funds that I helped to draft and pass for disaster relief just two days before Hurricane Helene hit.
        • Of the shipped food and water, more than 6 million liters of water and 4 million individual meals have already been delivered to Western NC communities.
    • Walmart is hosting activities at the following locations:
      • Hendersonville, NC Store 1242
        • 250 Highlands Square Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792
          • Portable restrooms
          • Serving hot meals at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily
      • Arden, NC Store 1179
        • 60 Airport Rd., Arden, NC 28704
          • Portable restrooms
          • Laundry
          • Showers
          • Wi-fi hotspot and charging stations
        • Buncombe County
          • Buncombe County has begun water distribution at multiple sites. Each will be available daily from 1:00 -7:00 p.m.:
            • Pack Square Park – you MUST bring your own container for this site
              • 80 Court Plz., Asheville, NC 28801
            • William W. Estes Elementary School
              • 275 Overlook Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
            • Sand Hill-Venable Elementary
              • 154 Sand Hill School Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
            • North Windy Ridge Intermediate School
              • 20 Doan Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787
            • Fairview Elementary
              • 1355 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730
          • The following major feeding site is available in Buncombe County, where citizens can access food, water and other basic necessities:
            • Biltmore Baptist Church
              • 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704
                • Distribution and bulk pickup for volunteers looking to take bulk loads of supplies to in-need community members
                  • Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
                • Community drive-thru for anyone in the community needing supplies
                  • Saturday hours: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
            • First Baptist Church – Weaverville
              • 63 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
                • Hot showers available from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
                • Unlimited clean drinking water is available, bring your own container.
                • Supplies and bottled water.
                • Hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m.
          • Food and drinking water are available from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily at the following locations:
            • Asheville Middle School
              • 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
            • Ingles
              • 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711
                • This location also has handwashing stations and portable restrooms
            • Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center
              • 121 Shiloh Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
            • Lucy Herring Elementary
              • 98 Sulphur Springs Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
            • Oakley Elementary School
              • 753 Fairvew Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
        • Haywood County
          • The following locations are providing community members with essential resources such as but not limited to, food, water, cleaning products, baby formula, and pet food, Monday through Fridays:
            • Fines Creek Community Center
              • 190 Fines Creek Rd., Clyde, NC 28721
              • Open every day until 6:00 p.m.
            • Pigeon Community Center
              • 450 Pigeon St., Waynesville, NC 28786
                • Also offering hot meals every day at 2:00 p.m.
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
            • Cruso Community Center
              • 13186 Cruso Rd., Canton, NC 28716
                • Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
            • First United Methodist Church
              • 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, NC 28786
                • Includes shower access.
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
            • Maggie Valley Pavilion
              • 3935 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
                • Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
            • Woodland Baptist Church
              • 545 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
            • Bethel Elementary School
              • 4700 Old River Rd., Canton, NC 28716
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
            • Jonathan Valley Elementary School
              • 410 Hall Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
                • Monday through Friday
            • St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church – in the Parish Hall
              • 234 Church St., Waynesville, NC 28786
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
                  • Monday to Friday
                • Hot food available from 4:00 p.m. to 7 :00 p.m. daily.
            • St. Barnabas Catholic Church
              • 109 Crescent Hill Rd., Arden, NC 28704
                • Daily Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
            • Reynolds Baptist Church – Family Life Center
              • 520 Rose Hill Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
                • Daily Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
                • This location also has potable water available to residents who bring their own vessels to fill.
          • The following location offers hot meals daily:
            • Maggie Valley Fire Department
              • 2901 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
          • The following location offers showers daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:
            • Calvary Baptist Church
              • 2701 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, NC 28751
        • Henderson County
          • Henderson County has stood up Resource Hub locations for water distribution and other supplies as they become available.
          • Distribution will be taking place daily from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6 at the following locations:
            • Etowah Elementary: 320 Etowah School Rd., Etowah, NC 28729
            • Rugby Middle School: 3345 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28791
            • East Henderson High School: 150 Eagle Pride Dr., East Flat Rock, NC 28726
            • North Henderson High School: 35 Fruitland Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
            • Mills River Town Hall: 124 Town Center Dr., Mills River, NC 28759
            • Fletcher Town Hall: 300 Old Cane Creek Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
          • Each family unit will be provided supplies for one day’s meal and water as available.
          • Individuals are asked to enter the drive-through and remain in your car unless otherwise instructed by volunteers to ensure an efficient process.
        • Jackson County
          • In partnership with the Red Cross, the following is available for citizens of Jackson County:
            • The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau are providing shelf-stable meals at the following location:
              • 558 Frank Allen Rd., Cashiers, NC 28717
              • Hours of operation to come.
              • The Canada Fire Department is distributing emergency supplies at the following location:
                • 149 Charleys Creek Rd., Tuckasegee, NC 28783
                • Hours of operation to come.
        • Madison County
          • The following locations are offering food, water, and some supply distribution in Madison County:
            • Beech Glen Community Center
              • 2936 Beech Glen Rd., Mars Hill, 28754
              • Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time.
            • Center Community Center
              • 1300 Grapevine Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
              • Daily hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
            • Ebbs Chapel Community Center
              • 281 Laurel Valley Rd., Mars Hill, NC 28754
              • Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
            • Enon Baptist Church
              • 174 Ammons Branch Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
              • Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m.
            • Freedom Christian Church
              • 7350 US 25/70 Bypass, Marshall, NC 28753
              • Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
              • This location offers additional resources such as hygiene products, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, etc.
            • Laurel Community Center – also has supplies
              • 4100 NC 212 Hwy., Marshall, NC 28753
              • Daily Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
            • Revere-Rice Community Center
              • 3980 Revere Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
              • Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Mon-Sat)
            • Spring Creek Community Center
              • 13075 NC 209 Hwy., Hot Springs, NC 28743
              • Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
              • This location also has additional resources such as pet food, livestock feed and hay.
            • Walnut Community Center – also has supplies
              • 46 School Rd., Marshall, NC 28753
              • Daily hours: Unable to locate daily hours at this time.
            • N.C. Cooperative Extension – Madison County Center
              • 258 Carolina Ln., Marshall, NC 28753
              • Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
              • This location is offering drive-thru food distribution only.
        • McDowell County
          • McDowell County has established multiple points of distribution that are open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m., depending on supply levels.
          • Distribution takes place daily at the following locations:
            • Former TJ’s Discounts – North Cove
              • 8153 US 221 N., Marion, NC 28752
            • Old Fort Town Hall
              • 38 Catawba Ave., Old Fort, NC 28762
            • New Manna Baptist Church
              • 225 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752
            • Solid Rock Free Will Baptist Church – Dysartsville 
              • 7860 NC 226 S., Nebo, NC 28761
            • Zion Hill Baptist Church
              • 1036 Zion Hill Rd., Marion, NC 28752
          • Hot meals are also being provided at the following location:
            • Grace Community Church
              • 5182 US 70 W., Marion, NC 28752
                • Lunch is served every day from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
                • Dinner is available from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
          • First Baptist Church of Marion is offering hot showers, air conditioning, and areas to charge devices.
            • Current hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 2:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
        • Polk County
          • The following locations are offering food and water distribution for residents in need from 1:00-5:00 p.m.:
            • Mill Spring/Green Creek Community
              • 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756
            • Columbus Community
              • 95 Walker St., Columbus, NC 28722
            • Saluda Community Bus Parking Lot
              • 214 E. Main St., Saluda, NC 28773
            • Tryon Community
              • 301 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782
            • Sunny View
              • 86 Sunny View School Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756
        • Rutherford County
          • The following locations are open from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for citizens to get food and emergency supplies:
            • Thomas Jefferson High School
              • 2527 US-221A Hwy., Mooresboro, NC 28114
            • Florence Baptist Church
              • 201 S. Broadway St., Forest City, NC 28043
            • Rutherford County Health Department
              • 221 Callahan Koon Rd., Spindale, NC 28160
            • Gilkey Church of God
              • 255 Oak Springs Rd., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
            • Parks, Recreation, & Lake Office
              • 658 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746
            • Lake Lure Baptist Church
              • 6837 US-74 ALT, Lake Lure, NC 28746
            • Ingles at Lake Lure – meals only
              • 276 NC-9, Lake Lure, NC 28746
                • Offers hot meals at 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.
                • Also offers showers, restrooms, a mobile health van, a tool trailer, a charging station (please bring your own charging cord), and wi-fi.
            • Father’s Vineyard – also has shower and charging stations
              • 724 Oakland Rd., Spindale, NC 28160
            • Spencer Baptist Church – water distribution only
              • 187 N Oak St., Spindale, NC 28160
            • United Way of Rutherford County – water distribution and charging stations only
              • 668 Withrow Rd., Forest City, NC 28043
            • The Church at Sapphire – through October 10
              • 620 Whitewater Rd., Sapphire, NC 28774
              • Daily hours: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
            • Little River Baptist Church – through October 11
              • 51 Little River Church Rd., Penrose, NC 28766
              • Breakfast hours: 8:00-10:00 a.m.
              • Lunch hours: 12:30-2:00 p.m.
              • Dinner hours: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
        • Transylvania County
          • The following locations are providing hot meals to county residents:
            • The Church at Sapphire – through October 10
              • 620 Whitewater Rd., Sapphire, NC 28774
                • Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
              • Little River Baptist Church – through October 11
                • 51 Little River Church Rd., Penrose, NC 28766
                  • Breakfast hours: 8:00-10:00 a.m.
                  • Lunch hours: 12:30-2:00 p.m.
                  • Dinner hours: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
              • Cedar Mountain Community Center
                • 10635 Greenville Hwy., Cedar Mountain, NC 28718
                  • Breakfast hours: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
                  • Lunch hours: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
                  • Dinner hours: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
              • Balsam Grove Community Center – daily until power is fully restored
                • 8732 Parkway Rd., Balsam Grove, NC 28708
                  • Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Resource pick-up locations are listed below by county. As I learn more, I will keep you posted:
          • Bottled water is available daily at local fire departments and 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Anchor Baptist Church located at:
            • 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
          • Water filling stations can be found at the following locations:
            • City Sports Complex
              • 824 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712
              • Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
            • Cedar Mountain Outpost
              • 8431 Greenville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
              • No posted daily hours.
            • Territory Brevard
              • 43 S. Broad St, Brevard, NC 28712
              • No posted daily hours.
            • DD Bullwinkles
              • 60 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712
              • No posted daily hours.
            • First United Methodist Church
              • 325 N. Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712
              • Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
            • Pisgah Forest Baptist Church
              • 494 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
              • Daily hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
            • Newfound Artisan
              • 22 W. Jordan St., Brevard, NC 28712
              • Through today, October 6.
              • Hours: 12:00-5:00 p.m.
          • Food, water, and other supplies such as hygiene products are being distributed at the following locations:
            • Anchor Baptist Church
              • 3232 Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
              • Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
            • The Church at Sapphire
              • 620 Whitewater Rd., Sapphire, NC 28774
              • Through October 10.
              • Daily hours: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
        • Yancey County
          • Yancey County has transitioned to one centralized distribution site for water, food and ice located at the following address:
            • Altec
              • 150 Altec Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
          • Mobile laundry facilities are available in the GO Grocery parking lot located at the following address:
            • 631 W Hwy. 19E Bypass, Burnsville, NC 28714

    • Additionally, the following counties have resources for where to take debris waste.
      • Buncombe
        • Curbside collection will begin Monday for City of Asheville sanitation customers.
          • There will be no recycling pick up until the recycling plant is operational.
          • Residents can use both recycling and trash carts for household waste.
            • The following materials cannot be collected at this time: Mud, construction debris, concrete and other bulky or hazardous items.
          • Debris collection is estimated to start in mid-October.
        • The Town of Black Mountain Public Works Department has secured four 15-yard dumpsters located in two sites for Black Mountain residents to throw away household trash ONLY:
          • Tractor Supply: 125 Old US Hwy. 70 E., Black Mountain, NC 28711
          • Ingles: 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711
          • Please Note: Yard waste, bulk item, separate recycling and debris collection are not available at this time. 
        • Waste Pro collection service will resume today, October 7, for regular Monday route customers.
          • Recycling services are currently suspending while repair work is underway at the recycling process facility.
      • Haywood
        • Household waste will be accepted at the Materials Recovery Facility at 247 Recycle Rd., Clyde and at Convenience Centers at Jonathan Creek, Beaverdam, Bethel, Hazelwood, Mauney Cove, Jones Cove and Highway 110.
        • White Oak Landfill has reopened.
      • Henderson
        • Henderson County Transfer Station is open and accepting storm debris with normal fees.
        • Henderson County has begun curbside storm debris removal to county residents as a free service.
          • The county will pick up storm debris for free if it is pushed to the right of way of a property.
        • Storm debris includes tree branches, leaves, logs, building materials, furniture, paint etc.
          • Please be patient.
          • The county will pick up storm debris for free as quickly as possible.
      • Madison
        • The Hot Springs collection center is operating on normal hours for household trash ONLY:
          • Monday: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
          • Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
          • Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
          • Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
        • Hot Springs trash pickup is returning to Mondays like usual.
          • Please only use this pickup service if you cannot bring it to the collection center yourself.
          • The pickup service is being led by volunteers at this time.
      • Polk
        • The Polk County landfill is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
          • 322 Landfill Rd., Mill Spring, NC 28756
          • The service fee is waived through October 8.
          • Beginning on October 9, drop off of residential trash will be $10.
        • GFL trash services will continue on the regular schedule. However, certain areas may be inaccessible due to ongoing power outages from Hurricane Helene.
          • Two dumpsters are located on Gibson Street for immediate trash disposal due to road inaccessibility.
      • Transylvania
        • The City of Brevard has resumed regular trash pickup.
      • Yancey
        • The Riverside and East Yancey Recycling Centers were expected to resume operations by yesterday, October 5.
        • No update has been published, but I will keep you posted once I have received confirmation that the facilities have been reopened.

    • The North Carolina State Board of Elections has provided pertinent information and recommendations for voters in the Helene disaster area during the 2024 general election.
      • To review information on voting in the 2024 general election after Hurricane Helene, you can follow this link.
        • The site provides information on absentee voting, how to change your polling location, county board of elections, office closures and more.
        • For any additional questions on voting post-hurricane, please contact your county Board of Elections.
          • Please note: Your county Board of Elections is the best place to get any questions answered.
            • I have been permitted to share the above, nonpartisan information but am prohibited from answering any questions related to the 2024 general election.

    • USPS anticipates continued improvement of mail delivery operations with local recovery efforts, to include power, connectivity, and roads.
    • There are some facilities unable to provide full retail and mail delivery due to road closures and current conditions.
      • No drop shipments will be accepted at any of the locations listed below.
        • The following sites are closed with no retail or delivery:
          • Barnardsville – 28709
          • Cedar Mountain – 28718
          • Hot Springs – 28743
          • Rosman – 28772
          • Swannanoa – 28778
        • The following site is closed with no retail, but delivery is being attempted where it is safe to do so:
          • Newland – 28657
        • The following sites are closed with alternative facilities listed:
          • Alexander – 28701
          • Alternative location: 270 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
            • Daily hours M-F: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
            • Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Bat Cave – 28710
            • Alternative location: 1800 Four Season Blvd., Ste. 11, Hendersonville, NC 28739
              • Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
              • Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Chimney Rock – 28720
            • Alternative location: 2432 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746
            • Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00-1:00 p.m.
          • Edneyville – 28727
            • Alternative location: 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Ste. 11, Hendersonville, NC 28739
              • Daily hours M-F: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
              • Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Gerton – 28735
            • Alternative location: 1352 Charlotte Hwy., Fairview, NC 28730
              • Daily Hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
              • Open Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Green Mountain – 28740
            • Alternative location: 670 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714
            • Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
            • Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Marshall – 28753
            • Alternative Location: 270 N. Main St., Weaverville, NC 28787
              • Daily hours M-F: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
              • Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Micaville – 28755
            • Alternative location: 670 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714
              • Daily hours M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
              • Open Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
          • Montreat – 28757
            • Alternative location: 2 Tucker Rd., Ridgecrest, NC 28770
              • Daily hours M-F: 12:30-4:30 p.m.
          • Penland – 28765
            • Alternative location: 899 Oak Ave., Spruce Pine, NC 28777
              • Daily hours M-F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
              • Open Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
        • All remaining locations are attempting delivery where it is safe to do so.
        • Due to internet outages and connectivity issues, the following sites are providing retail services with cash only, PO Box only:
          • Dana – 28724
          • Enka – 28728
          • Flat Rock – 28731
          • Hendersonville MPO – 28739
          • Lake Lure (OIC) – 28746
          • Little Switzerland – 28749
          • Mountain Home – 28758
          • Naples – 28760
          • Pisgah Forest – 28768
          • Ridgecrest – 28770
          • Skyland – 28776
          • Zirconia – 28790
          • Bostic – 28018
      • Multiple United Parcel Service (UPS) sites continue to be affected by power, flooding, and downed trees/power and lines/storm related obstacles.
        • The Hendersonville and Asheville UPS buildings in North Carolina are currently operational and are being powered by portable generators.
        • Delivery of packages in these areas is increasing as road conditions improve daily.

    • The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response under the Department of Health and Human Services has activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for North Carolinians as of Friday, October 4.
      • The EPAP program helps uninsured residents replace prescription medication or certain medical equipment lost or damaged during Hurricane Helene.
      • Through the program, uninsured residents can:
        • Request a free 30-day supply of certain prescription medications at any EPAP-participating pharmacy which can be renewed every 30 days while the EPAP is active.
        • Replace certain medical equipment and supplies such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar meters and blood sugar test strips for diabetics.
          • Uninsured North Carolina residents affected by the recent hurricane can call the EPAP hotline, 855-793-7470, or visit the EPAP website to check their eligibility, determine if their medications or medical equipment are covered, or locate a participating pharmacy.
      • Prescription Pad is open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and filling prescriptions for Yancey County residents at the following location:
        • 730 E. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714
    • For individuals able to safely travel to fill a prescription, CVS at the following locations are actively open as of October 2:
      • 324 Long Shoals Rd., Arden, NC 28704
      • 505 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville, NC 28806
      • 371 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
      • 3450 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
      • 1605 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      • 2001 Spartanburg Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      • 111 S Main St., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
      • 773 Russ Ave., Waynesville, NC 28786
    • You can also use this link to locate non-CVS pharmacy locations open to the public by county.
    • How to Acquire a Prescription:
      • If a store is closed, you can still call the number and the pharmacy’s phone lines have been rerouted to a nearby CVS Pharmacy that is open to help patients access their prescriptions.
      • Patients can visit any CVS Pharmacy for assistance with immediate prescription needs.

    • There is a field hospital with physicians, nurses and paramedics who can treat patients at the Burnsville Fire Department. The address is as follows:
      • 305 Pineola St., Burnsville, NC 28714
    • The following urgent cares are open and accessible for community members with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries:
      • Locations open between 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.:
        • Mercy Urgent Care Weaverville
          • 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC 28787
        • Mercy Urgent Care West Asheville
          • 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806
        • Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville
          • 120 Frazier St., Ste. 6, Waynesville, NC 28786
      • Locations open between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.:
        • Mercy Urgent Care Brevard
          • 22 Trust Ln., Brevard, NC 28712
      • Locations open between 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.:
        • Mercy Urgent Care Columbus
          • 140 West Mills St., Columbus, NC 28722
      • Locations open between 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.:
        • Mobile Urgent Care Clinic
          • 12 Florida Ave., Black Mountain, NC 28711
        • Mental Health & Basic Medical Support Center
          • 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711
        • Pardee Urgent Care
          • 45 Hendersonville Hwy., Ste. A, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
      • Locations open from 12:00-5:00 p.m.
        • Hot Springs Elementary School – Art Room (mental health services only)
        • 63 N. Serpentine Ave., Hot Springs, NC 28743
      • The following emergency orthopedic offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily:
        • 800 Fleming St., Hendersonville, NC 28791
        • 2585 Hendersonville Rd., Arden, NC 28704
        • 9 Haywood Office Park, Ste. 102 and 103, Waynesville, NC 28785
        • Please Note: Emergency orthopedic phone services are down so patients will be seen on a walk-in basis without appointment.

    • The following location is open and available for dialysis treatments in NC-11:
      • Pardee Hospital
        • 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville, NC 28791
          • This location can dialyze 30 patients a day.
        • DaVita Kidney Care nurses are reaching out to their patients to coordinate treatment, but the following DaVita locations are available:
          • DaVita Greer South Dialysis
            • 3254 Brushy Greek Rd., Greer, SC 29650
            • Contact Number: (864) 801-2065
          • DaVita Saluda River Dialysis
            • 8080 Augusta Rd., Piedmont, SC 29673
            • Contact Number: (833) 378-2702
          • DaVita Wofford at Home
            • 8024 White Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29303
            • Contact Number: (864) 583-4788
          • DaVita Boiling Springs Dialysis
            • 196 Sloane Garden Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316
            • Contact Number: (833) 458-4809

    • Hendersonville High School
      • 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791
        • Must be assessed through Pardee Hospital.
      • Lincare is only serving established patients.
        • Patients must bring in empty tanks to one of the following locations:
          • Asheville Lincare
            • 103 Elk Park Dr., Asheville, NC 28804
            • Fax number: (866) 234-6698
          • Greenville Lincare
            • 355 Woodruff Rd., Ste. 204 and 205, Greenville, SC 29607
            • Fax Number: (864) 288-0339
      • The following locations are available for oxygen refills, but patients must bring their own oxygen equipment – fire departments are available 24/7:
        • Boiling Springs Fire Department
          • 186 Rainbow Lake Rd., Boiling Springs, SC 29316
        • Reidville Fire Department
          • 7450 Reidville Rd., Woodruff, SC 29388
        • Inman City Fire Department
          • 6 Humphrey St., Inman, SC 29349
        • First Presbyterian Church
          • 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302
          • Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
        • Greer Relief Indigo Hope Neighborhood Impact Center
          • 113C Berry Ave., Greer, SC 29651
          • Daily hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
        • Croft Fire Department
          • 370 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302
        • Arkwright Fire Department
          • 1070 Southport Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29306
        • Roebuck Fire Department
          • 2639 Stone Station Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376
        • North Spartanburg Fire Department
          • 8767 Asheville Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29316

    • Legionnaires, Sons of the American Legion members and Legion Posts that have been displaced from their primary residence due to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene may be eligible for financial assistance through the American Legion.
      • Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion members may be eligible for up to $3,000.
      • Legion Posts may be eligible for up to $10,000.
        • To learn more or to request assistance, please use this link.
        • Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster: Dec. 26, 2024.
    • The Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville and Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic in Forest City are open for essential and emergency services.
      • Veterans can:
        • Visit the Asheville VA Hospital pharmacy for medication refills or:
        • Call the Regional Clinical Contact Center at (855) 679-0074 and press 1 for pharmacy representatives.
      • Local pharmacies in the VA’s community care network will also fill written prescriptions, or prescriptions as they appear on an active VA prescription bottle that is not older than six months and has available refills, to provide a 30-day supply.
    • Hickory and Franklin outpatient VA clinics are now operating regularly.
      • Due to the damage and personal losses caused by Hurricane Helene to the staff of the VA, it will take some time to bring staffing to full capacity.
      • Please be patient as the VA works to rebuild their workforce.

    • The United States Department of Agriculture is beginning to put together a list of resources for farmers and other agricultural industry members.
      • If your agricultural operation has been impacted by Hurricane Helene, you can review this link, farmers.gov, for emergency and disaster assistance programs.

    • About 117,000 customers remain without power in Western North Carolina.
      • Customers whose properties are inaccessible or not able to receive power may be without electricity for an extended period of time as Duke Energy works to rebuild critical infrastructure.
    • Restoration of service for all other customers in the heavily impacted areas is anticipated within a week, by Sunday, October 13.
      • Crews are working around the clock to restore power as quickly as possible.
    • As work on substations conclude, Duke Energy is moving personnel to work on the power grid’s thousands of miles of lines and poles that serve individual homes and businesses.
      • This work can feel slower because the same amount of work restores fewer customers.
    • For more information on Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts, you can review the following links:

    • A “DO NOT DRIVE” message remains in place from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for most of Western North Carolina.
      • Unless it is an emergency, please do not travel to the hardest hit communities.
      • Cherokee, Graham, Clay and Swain counties ARE FULLY OPEN to people who can access them through safe routes.
        • Please DO NOT try to visit or travel through the areas hardest hit by the storm such as Henderson and Buncombe counties.
    • USDOT approved an initial $100 million in Emergency Repair funds to NCDOT.
      • Damage to our mountain roads exceeds $100 million but USDOT’s investment is a significant and most welcome start.
    • A total of 2,050 DOT employees are working to restore and repair road access in WNC.
      • NCDOT also has:
        • DOT also has:
          • 1,100 pieces of heavy equipment for debris clearance and road repairs in affected areas, including dump trucks, backhoes, loaders, graders, etc.
          • More than 50 personnel from neighboring states on the ground providing assistance.
    • NCDOT is reporting about 650 road closures, 106 of which are to primary routes.
      • Now that communications have been largely restored, NCDOT has a more comprehensive picture of debris blocking roadways, road damage, and necessary repairs in our mountains.
      • At least 100 bridges are irreparable and will require replacement.
    • All roadways in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties are accessible, although some are requiring four-wheel drive.
      • While none of the above-listed counties are in NC-11, they are a welcome sign of what’s to come.
    • Progress has been made on NCDOT and Tennessee DOT’s plans for reconstruction of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.
      • Bids for stabilization of the westbound lanes of I-40 where the eastbound lanes no longer exist will be opening today, October 7.
      • A contract will be awarded shortly after the bid closes.
      • NCDOT is working to expedite the necessary repairs to restore mobility to the area as soon as possible.
    • Air traffic has sustained at 300 percent above pre-hurricane levels in Western NC.
      • NCDOT’s aviation division continue to work to make sure flight operations are safe coming into and out of airports, including by:
        • Scheduling landing/unloading times and aircraft parking so aircraft are spaced out and to reduce the risk of incidents.
        • Establishing a first of its kind “corridors in the sky” to separate civilian and military aircraft in the air.
        • Having search and rescue partners use short, time and location specific restrictions on air operations to enhance safety when multiple helicopters are engaged in search and rescue efforts.
      • The state of North Carolina is NOT turning away civil aviation support so long as it has been coordinated through the proper channels with NC Emergency Management.
        • If you or someone you know is interested in providing civil aviation support and don’t know where to coordinate your efforts, please call my office and we will help you get in touch with the right folks.
    • NCDOT has launched a detour map to show motorists how to get around closures on I-26 and I-40 at the Tennessee border.
      • You can access the map here.

    • Internet providers are working with local energy and cell providers to restore service for customers across Western North Carolina.
      • Restoration timelines are not available at this time.
    • Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are working around the clock to restore service for customers. However, part of the network’s infrastructure was destroyed by mudslides and collapsed bridges making restoration a lengthy process.
      • As a result, some impacted areas will require a rebuild of the network from scratch.
    • To mitigate the lack of service, Optimum, formerly Altice USA, has set up an Optimum Wi-Fi Trailer that is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:
      • 717 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      • 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
    • The following locations are offering free public wi-fi:
      • First Baptist Church – Weaverville
        • 63 N. Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787
      • Downtown Franklin
        • The Town of Franklin has free wi-fi on the town hill area in downtown.
      • Transylvania County Library – 24/7
        • 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard, NC 28712
      • Newfound Artison through today, October 6
        • High-speed internet and charging outlets
        • Available 12:00-5:00 p.m.
      • The Yard Brevard
        • 284 Railroad Ave., Brevard, NC 28712
      • Brevard Visitor Center
        • 175 E. Main St., Brevard, NC 28712
        • Available daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    • Communications in the region are improving rapidly.
      • Cell service providers reported significant gains in service coverage on Sunday, October 6.
      • Roughly 80 percent of access to cell service has been restored in Western North Carolina.
      • More than 100 temporary network assets have been deployed across all service providers in NC-11 to assist with service quality.
    • Cell service providers have implemented disaster roaming for any phone located in Western North Carolina to maximize phone service for all users.
      • Disaster roaming allows users to connect to any mobile network during a disaster when other networks are down.
        • This allows users to access emergency services, such as 911, even when their own network is out.
      • If you have service one moment, but experience a reduction in service the next, try restarting your phone to jumpstart disaster roaming again.
    • UpCycle Tech in Transylvania County is offering free computers and phones for use at the following location:
      • 470 Asheville Hwy., Brevard, NC 28712
    • AT&T has deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center to the following location:
      • Sam’s Club: 645 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC 28806
        • The Mobile Connectivity Center is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations and wi-fi.
        • The public can use the center for various needs including contacting your insurance company, filling out paperwork or connecting with loved ones.
    • Verizon has deployed Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to help hurricane survivors stay connected to their friends, family and other important contacts.
      • Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets, and other devices available for use.
      • Verizon’s Wireless Emergency Communication Centers have been set up at the following locations:
        • A-B Technical Community College
          • 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
        • Asheville YMCA
          • 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801
        • Family Justice Center
          • 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801
        • Groce United Methodist Church
          • 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805
      • Verizon also has charging stations at the following locations:
        • YMCA of Western North Carolina
          • 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752
            • Two charging stations at this location
        • WNC Agricultural Center
          • 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher, NC 28732
            • Three charging stations at this location
        • A-B Technical Community College
          • 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
          • One charging station at this location
    • T-Mobile has set up satellite cellular on light trucks (SatCOLTs), providing cellular voice and data along with wi-fi and charging stations at the following locations:
      • Asheville Middle School
        • 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
      • Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center
        • 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801
      • First Baptist Church
        • 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711
    • Additional T-Mobile satellite cell on trucks are located in Hendersonville and at a Tractor Supply Co. in Asheville, with others planned for Mission Hospital in Asheville, Cherokee County Emergency Operations Center in Murphy, and in Cherokee.

    • Almost 1,800 North Carolina National Guard soldiers and airmen have been deployed to provide support to Western North Carolina so far.
      • The total number of deployed guardsmen will continue to increase over the coming days.
    • The National Guard has more than 700 vehicles and 50 helicopters from six states and two active-duty units in Western NC for rescue and recovery, debris clearing, and other missions.
      • So far, the National Guard has:
        • Delivered more than 2,614 tons of commodities to affected areas
        • Cleared 1,052 obstacles
        • Rescued nearly 1,000 individuals
    • The Guard’s key tasks continue to be search and rescue of impacted civilian personnel, followed by:
      • Delivery of essential relief supplies to points of need
      • Clearing of routes to gain access to isolated communities
    • Although airspace is limited due to ongoing missions by the National Guard and Department of Defense, a process has been established for private pilots seeking to fly in humanitarian relief to coordinate with local authorities.
      • If you are looking to fly in resources and don’t know where to turn, call my office and we will get you in contact with the right coordinators.
    • On October 2, the Secretary of Defense authorized the movement of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers, including soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division from Ft. Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg).
      • Nearly all 1,000 of the authorized active-duty soldiers have been mobilized to support the residents and affect counties devastated by Hurricane Helene in Western NC.
      • These soldiers are providing additional manpower and logistics capabilities to reach the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible.
    • In addition to the 1,000 previously authorized soldiers, another 500 troops with advanced technological assets were approved for deployment to Western NC to provide greater situational awareness on the ground.
      • These troops are not yet in NC-11, but coordination is taking place for rapid deployment over the coming days.
      • The Department of Defense has also committed 22 helicopters to assist with search and rescue operations.
    • Here are a few key phone numbers from the NCNG:
      • HOTLINE: 888-892-1162
      • Emergency management watch: 919-733-3300
      • Donated goods: 919-825-2474
        • These lines have very high call volumes. If you do not get through the first try, keep calling.

    • Asheville Regional Airport closed mid-day on Friday, September 27, due to risk of flooding.
    • Commercial flights at Asheville Regional Airport have resumed.
    • If you parked your car in an Asheville Regional Airport lot and could not retrieve the vehicle due to the storm, great news – none of the airport’s lots flooded and all cars are fine.
      • Stay safe and pick up your car when you are able.
    • PLEASE NOTE:
      • No general aviation pilots are allowed to land at Asheville Regional Airport without prior clearance from FEMA to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel.
        • Supply deliveries by civilian pilots ARE permitted to land at Asheville Regional Airport so long as they have prior clearance from FEMA.
        • FEMA is not turning away any pilot that has gone through the proper channels to coordinate delivery and ensure the safety of his fellow aircraft and personnel.

    Federal Nutrition Programs

      • SNAP
        • North Carolina was granted a waiver for the 10-day reporting requirement for the replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits lost because of the hurricane.
        • This waiver provides additional time beyond the standard 10-day time frame for households to report food losses and receive replacement benefits for food that was destroyed and previously purchased with SNAP benefits.
      • Child Nutrition
        • The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was approved for a waiver pertaining to the child nutrition programs.
          • Under the waiver approval, NCDPI’s local program operators may:
            • Serve meals in a non-congregate setting
            • Adjust the time of meal service
            • Allow parent pick-up
            • Allow service of meals at school sites
      • Food and Nutrition Services Program
        • People and families in North Carolina who are enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Services program can now use their EBT card to purchase hot food.
          • This flexibility will remain in effect until November 3.
      • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
        • Families participating in WIC who may have relocated to a new area can go to any NC WIC agency to:
          • Have a new eWIC card issued
          • Request replacement breastfeeding supplies or breast pumps
          • Request replacement food that was purchased with current WIC benefits and lost due to Hurricane Helene

    • If you own a medical practice in NC-11 and are experiencing financial hardship due to Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Medical Society will be reactivating its Financial Recovery Program (FRP) to help you recover and open your doors again.
      • The FRP will be back online to provide much needed assistance soon.
      • More information to follow.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available:
      • Accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers affected by Hurricane Helene
      • Advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene

    • For county leaders: This is a reminder to make sure your Emergency Operation Center has submitted the request for gasoline, food, water, cell service deployables, etc. with North Carolina Emergency Management to have your request processed and resources delivered.
      • My office stands ready to assist with checking the status of your request if the county or municipality has not heard back from NC Emergency Management within 24 hours.

    North Carolina received a Major Disaster Declaration for the following counties: Buncombe, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in one of the above-listed counties should apply for Individual Assistance through FEMA, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies.

    • Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.

    Individual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process. Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST.

    • To date, FEMA has paid out more than $30 million in housing and other types of assistance and more than 96,000 Western North Carolinians have registered for Individual Assistance.

    • Residents trying to connect with family members may call NC 211 (or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state) to report missing loved ones or request a welfare check.
    • People in the impacted areas can indicate that they are safe by reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
      • Please only use 911 for life-threatening emergencies so the lines remain open for critical situations.
    • If you are still trying to locate a friend or family member, please complete this form to notify local officials of their missing status.
      • The form was created by Buncombe County but information is being shared amongst all counties.
      • Regardless of which county your loved one was last known to be in, you can still submit the form.
        • Buncombe County will share the information with the appropriate officials to initiate search and rescue efforts.
      • United Way is also fielding missing person/welfare check requests.
        • Text PERSON to 40403 to add a loved one to search and rescue efforts or fill out this form.

    For information on the status of utilities, debris sites, etc., we want to share the following resources. As communications are restored and more information becomes available, these sites will continue to be updated.

      • Filing FEMA claims and appeals (a process which can be overwhelmingly bureaucratic and burdensome)
      • Replacement of lost or destroyed legal and government documents, including driver’s licenses and identification cards
      • Medical and insurance claims
      • Home repair contracts
      • Utility disputes related to restoration of services
      • Consumer protection issues like construction fraud, price-gouging on repairs and identity theft
      • Housing issues such as unlawful eviction and foreclosures
      • Bankruptcy
      • Probate and clearing title for survivors living in generational homes without a clear title
      • Family law cases and children in need of services (unfortunately, domestic violence tends to rise following a natural disaster)
    • If you need civil legal assistance, please contact Legal Aid of North Carolina via the following toll-free hotline:
      • (866) 219-LANC or (866) 219-5262
        • The hotline is available from:
          • 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursdays.
        • Constituents can also apply online at legalaidnc.org/get-help/ between 1:00-4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.

      • IRS has extended various filing deadlines for taxpayers in impacted areas, including 2024 individual/business returns, certain quarterly estimated income tax payments, and certain payroll/excise taxes.
      • Tax relief for qualified payments, disaster-related losses:
        • IRS released provided guidance to taxpayers on how to address disaster-related losses in their 2024 tax return, as well as providing guidance on how qualified disaster relief payments – like government assistance payments – are generally excluded from gross income.

    • For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of October 5:
      • Buncombe
        • A-B Technical Community College
          • 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801
        • Gold’s Gym
          • 801 Fairview Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
        • WNC Agricultural Center
          • 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732
      • Haywood
        • Haywood County Government Armory
          • 285 Armory Dr., Clyde, NC 28781
      • Henderson
        • Edneyville Elementary School
          • 2875 Pace Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
        • Henderson County Recreation Center
          • 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
      • Madison
        • Madison Early College High School
          • 5374 US Hwy 25-70, Marshall, NC 28755
      •  McDowell
        • Glenwood Baptist Church
          • 1550 Glenwood Baptist Church Rd., Marion, NC 29640
        • YMCA of Western North Carolina
          • 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 28752
      • Polk
        • Polk County High School
          • 1681 NC 108 Hwy. E., Columbus, NC 28722
      • Rutherford
        • Rutherfordton/Spindale Central High School
          • 641 US 221 Hwy. N., Rutherfordton, NC 28139
      • Transylvania
        • Transylvania Parks & Rec
          • 1078 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC 28712
      • Yancey
        • Blue Ridge Elementary
          • 910 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714
        • Cane River Middle School
          • 1128 Cane River School Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714

    With my warmest regards,

    Chuck Edwards
    Member of Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Africa: Fossil Fuels to Power 60% of Africa’s Energy by 2040

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LUANDA, Angola, October 7, 2024/APO Group/ —

    By 2040, up to 60% of the African energy matrix will be fossil fuel driven, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners and Distributors Association remarked at a FAMAR-sponsored panel discussion during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference on Thursday. This, he noted, highlights a fundamental need to invest more heavily in downstream infrastructure.

    While efforts are being made to reduce petroleum imports, Kragha offered three recommendations to expand downstream infrastructure, strengthen regional trade and bolster energy security.

    “The first is coordinated, harmonized, regional regulations – it is critical to do this. If you don’t have harmonized regulations, you won’t have harmonized markets. Secondly, you need market-based pricing and products. Lastly, you must focus on infrastructure to minimize supply chain risks. We use trucks but we should be using rails, optimizing ports and such,” he said.

    Orlando Chongo, Head, Coverage in Indian Ocean and Lusophone Africa at the Trade Development Bank, emphasized the need to improve access to financing for downstream players. While plans are in place to strengthen infrastructure capacity, capital needs to be made more available.

    Meanwhile, in Angola, to support companies seeking investments in the country’s downstream market, the country’s downstream regulator is putting in place the requisite supportive policies. Dr. Luis Fernandes, Director General at the IRDP said that “Today, the regulatory framework allows everyone that wants to be in the market to be involved. We have new rules that are needed to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with climate change policies. We have a legal framework that supports companies achieve this.”

    For the national oil company Sonangol, expanding downstream infrastructure is a top priority. The company is prioritizing investments in refining, distribution and port infrastructure to strengthen regional trade. Three new refining projects are currently under construction, namely the 60,000 barrel per day (BPD) Cabinda project – starting operations this year -; the 100,000 BPD Soyo Refinery and the 200,000 BPD Lobito Refinery.

    Other projects include the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal. According to Mauro Graça, CEO, Sonangol Distribution and Marketing, “This will not only allow us to be self-sufficient in storage capacity but allow us to fulfil our strategic reserves. With that project, we are not only thinking about Angola, but of the region. With the Cabinda refinery, we will need more storage capacity and to be able to export. We are investing in 24,000 cubic meters in additional storage capacity. We also have a project to make a sea-line, so that larger ships can go to Cabinda to conduct operations.”

    Angola’s focus on strengthening its port logistics will be instrumental in driving exports – both regionally and internationally. Sara Silva, Legal Compliance Manager at FAMAR, noted that maritime transport is imperative for global trade.

    “It is proving to be the most cost-effective manner of transportation, allowing you to transport large volumes of cargo and reducing the cost per unit that you transport. It has the opportunity to connect markets, connecting Africa to the world,” she said.

    In the retail sector, efforts are underway to increase the number of retail stations across the country. Óscar Sequesseque, CCO at Pumangol, shared that the company is focused on accelerating Angola’s inland fuel storage capacity. This way, Angola aims to improve access to affordable, locally-sourced fuel products.

    MIL OSI Africa –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Owner of Massachusetts Cellular Phone Tower Installation and Repair Business Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Friday to willful failure to collect, account for and pay over any payroll taxes owed by businesses he owned and controlled.

    According to court documents, Kenneth Marston, of Kingston, was the owner and operator of Bowmar Steel Industries Inc., a steel fabrication company, and Teleconstructors Inc., which provided installation services on cellular phone towers. Marston was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ paychecks and paying those funds over to the IRS.

    However, from approximately March 2015 through December 2018, Marston caused Bowmar Steel and Teleconstructors to not withhold taxes or pay them to the IRS on approximately $3.8 million in wages.

    In total, Kenneth Marston caused a tax loss to the IRS of between $550,000 and $1.5 million.

    Marston is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 3. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Mark McDonald of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: NJBiz’s Matthew Fazelpoor on How the Murphy Administration Nurtures the ‘Innovation Economy’

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    https://njbiz.com/deploying-dollars-how-the-state-nurtures-the-innovation-economy/
     

    A number of Strategic Innovation Centers are designed to support R&D, innovation or entrepreneurship

    One of the recurring themes throughout Gov. Phil Murphy’s time in office has been an emphasis on building out what he calls the innovation economy with programs overseen by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. At the core of that strategy has been a focus on assembling public-private partners from industry, academia and other stakeholders to collaborate and help catalyze economic growth.

    That effort has taken shape in a number of Strategic Innovation Centers, facilities that either directly support research and development, innovation or entrepreneurship. They can also help solve specific problems in new and innovative ways through a combination of services such as mentorship, networking opportunities, hands-on training, business support services, education opportunities and/or access to testing, fabrication, or manufacturing facilities and equipment.

    According to the NJEDA, the SICs can be accelerators, incubators or research centers – stressing that having a physical location where entrepreneurs can collaborate will help support new, diverse innovators as well as help drive long-term economic growth.

    A June report analyzed the impact of innovation centers and incubators, finding that the New Jersey BioScience Center Incubator – the largest incubator in the state dedicated to life sciences and biotechnology companies – supported companies that created an average of 2,744 jobs per year. In 2023, resident companies generated $32 million in state and local tax revenue.

    Situated on Route 1, that North Brunswick incubator is part of the 50-acre research park known as the New Jersey Bioscience Center, offering lab space and much more. “Located alongside New Jersey’s Route 1 Research Corridor, the Incubator at the New Jersey Bioscience Center leverages it close proximity to leading universities and corporations to attract, retain, and grow companies of the future that fuel our highly talented workforce,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Since taking office, Gov. Phil Murphy has been committed to creating resources for biotech startups to help bring life-saving products to market, and further New Jersey’s legacy as a leader in innovation, especially within the life sciences sector.”

    “The BCI is one of many ways the NJEDA is supporting biotech and life sciences businesses and startups by providing them with the space and resources to grow their companies, while encouraging collaboration among like-minded entrepreneurs,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer Kathleen Coviello. “This report shows that New Jersey has what it takes to remain at the forefront of innovation.”

    Some examples of recent and impending SICs NJEDA has partnered or invested in include HAX, a Newark hard tech startup accelerator; the New Jersey Health & Life Science Exchange (HELIX) in New Brunswick; the NJ Fintech Accelerator at Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ FAST) in Hoboken; SciTech Scity on the Liberty Science campus in Jersey City; and the recently announced Aerospace Innovation Center in Egg Harbor Township.

    ‘We’ve got a lot to do’

    NJBIZ recently spoke with Coviello, who joined the agency in 2005 and is central to the state’s innovation economy efforts and ambitions. “Usually, a governor this late in his term, we start to soften the pace a little bit,” she said. “But that’s not the case here. It’s rush, rush – we’ve got a lot to do, before the end of the term.”

    Coviello noted that she has worked under several different administrations, stressing that there is a lot happening at NJEDA in a number of sectors — from the broader innovation efforts to clean energy/offshore wind, manufacturing, film and television, tech, life sciences and more.

    “The organization has put together tremendous toolkits – when you look at each of these segments of the economy that we are supporting, in response to really what we’ve heard from the market,” she explained. “I think, in general, most of what we’ve done has been really well-received. And, if and when needed, we’ll go back and tweak it and get it right. So, yeah, lots of activity.”

    Through the first six months of the year, New Jersey hit a major milestone in the innovation/startup space with a $9.8 billion investment in venture capital money, ranking as the No. 3 state in the nation during that stretch, according to PitchBook.

    “Timing is right for New Jersey. Some of the major hubs that you think of for innovation are struggling a bit more,” said Coviello. “We’ve got the talent. Certainly, when we talk about those Strategic Innovation Centers, we have the locations. When we think about life science, a lot is location-based. Particularly, we saw it during COVID and coming out of COVID. You can’t do genome predicting and drug discovery in your basement. So having all that lab space and all the talent in New Jersey is critical to that industry. We’re seeing it in film as a new resurgence of another innovation economy in the State of New Jersey. I think that the data around venture capital in New Jersey shows that we’re a good value for investors.”

    She said that some of the markets, such as the West Coast, Boston and New York, have “very frothy” deal terms that are overpriced. “But what we find traditionally in New Jersey is you get good value for your investment,” said Coviello. “And we have a lot of investors starting to see that. Of course, the Evergreen Fund, has attracted a lot of national attention. We have investors from California, New York. We just approved an investor from Mexico. Folks are saying – this is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the state and put more capital to work in New Jersey. The Angel Investor Tax Credit program continues to break all kinds of records. Lots and lots of great things going on anywhere you look in the state.”

    Growing life science companies

    Discussing the SICs, Coviello cited the Bioscience Center Incubator, which she described as the NJEDA’s first SCI – before that term was coined – and almost a proof of concept for the current efforts and projects.

    Since 2002, BCI companies have generated over $9 billion in total output and $4 billion in total labor income in the state, according to the recent study. “We’ve had the ability to really prove it out. And that facility came about because the life science industry in the state couldn’t invest in real estate,” she explained. “What I think we’ve proven out there – is the collision that happens when you bring like-minded, innovation-focused, smart people under one roof is really important.

    “We kind of took that and said – that’s a great anchor in the state to point to of where and how we grow life science companies in the state,” said Coviello.

    She reflected on when Murphy first ran for governor and noted that the state sits between two major metropolitan areas. “It’s the great thing about New Jersey – you have access to New York and the investors, and you have access to Philadelphia and D.C.,” she recounted. “But sometimes we get carved out as suburbs of those locations. And if we want to have our own identity, we need to put these pins in a map where we point to: This is where innovation happens in this part of our economy. What we have found as we have built these out is we really want to make sure we have an academic partner, a corporate partner and we have government. So, it’s all about this public-private partnership. And then part of the sauce, as well, is bringing in an activator – someone who’s going to pull all these pieces together; make sure that folks aren’t working in silos; make sure that there is collaboration.”

    Each of the SICs takes on their own identity, Coviello emphasized. “We’ve been very mindful about making sure we play to the strengths of that region,” she added.

    Coviello stressed there has been a deliberate process and focus behind the SICs and their different components and partners. “And that’s the only way it’s going to work. Each one has a very unique structure,” she explained. “Each one has very unique purposely articulated and curated partners – each one has a different focus.”

    Partners on these ventures include heavy hitters such as Nokia Bell Labs, Rutgers University, Hackensack Meridian Health, DEVCO, Plug and Play, Prudential Financial, Stevens, SOSV, RWJBarnabas Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, EY, Sheba Medical Center and others.

    She spoke about the power of partnerships – especially for ventures and initiatives such as these.

    “First off, we don’t have big enough pockets in government to do it alone – and it just wouldn’t be smart to do it alone,” said Coviello. “We don’t do everything. And adding that value in experience of the private sector is critical.”

    Recently, the first phase of HELIX reached a milestone with a topping off ceremony and NJ FAST held a launch event.

    As for other areas of emphasis and focus for Coviello and NJEDA, she pointed to life sciences continuing to be one of the leading sectors as well as technology, especially with Bell Labs at HELIX, and the resurgence of manufacturing. “I think the sky’s the limit. But again, playing to our strengths – fintech, aviation, life sciences, manufacturing,” she said. “And you’ll certainly hear announcements in the next six months about a few more of these centers. We’ve got, I think, 15 months left in the Murphy administration. The total funding pool for innovation centers was $250 million with all of the different appropriations over the years.”

    “We’re working hard to deploy all those dollars.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Owner of Massachusetts Cellular Phone Tower Installation and Repair Business Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Friday to willful failure to collect, account for and pay over any payroll taxes owed by businesses he owned and controlled.

    According to court documents, Kenneth Marston, of Kingston, was the owner and operator of Bowmar Steel Industries Inc., a steel fabrication company, and Teleconstructors Inc., which provided installation services on cellular phone towers. Marston was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ paychecks and paying those funds over to the IRS.

    However, from approximately March 2015 through December 2018, Marston caused Bowmar Steel and Teleconstructors to not withhold taxes or pay them to the IRS on approximately $3.8 million in wages.

    In total, Kenneth Marston caused a tax loss to the IRS of between $550,000 and $1.5 million.

    Marston is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 3. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Mark McDonald of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Dean Press CocaCola, PepsiCo, and General Mills on “Shrinkflation” Price Gouging and Tax Dodging

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 07, 2024
    Text of Letters (PDF)
    Washington, D.C.  – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) wrote to the CEOs of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and General Mills, pressing their executives on the companies’ pattern of profiteering off consumers, both through “shrinkflation” and dodging taxes on the profits they made from that price gouging.
    All three of these companies have shrunk the size of their packaging to squeeze profits out of their customers, and then paid a very slim federal income tax on their billions of dollars in profits. In other words, the companies are sticking the American people with the bill twice over, with American families (1) paying higher prices for smaller packages of food, and (2) paying their taxes while big corporations like PepsiCo avoid chipping in their fair share to run our country.
    It is clear that these big companies are engaging in shrinkflation. In fact, reporting indicates that one of the key reasons that General Mills’ profits continue to grow is because they’ve shrunk some of their packaging. For example, the “Family Size” box of Cocoa Puffs went from 19.3 ounces to 18.1 ounces while charging the same price, at least initially. Similarly, PepsiCo replaced its 32 oz Gatorade bottle with a 28 oz bottle for the same price. And Coca-Cola has openly told its shareholders that it had “earn[ed] the right” to hike prices for consumers because of their company’s market power.
    “Shrinking the size of a product in order to gouge consumers on the price per ounce is not innovation, it is exploitation,” wrote the lawmakers. “Unfortunately, this price gouging is a widespread problem, with corporate profits driving over half of inflation.”
    While these companies continue to profit off consumers, the company is also turning around and paying less of those profits in taxes than the families it price gouges. 
    According to a recent report by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, from 2018 to 2022, Coca-Cola made $13.4 billion but paid an average effective tax rate of just 13.5 percent, General Mills made $12 billion but paid an average effective tax rate of just 14.8 percent, and PepsiCo made $22.4 billion but paid an average effective tax rate of just 15 percent. These tax rates are even lower than the corporate tax rate that was reduced from 35 to 21 percent by President Trump and Congressional Republicans in 2017.
    “We strongly oppose these corporate tax giveaways, and have fought to pass tax increases on big corporations, including the 15 percent minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations,” wrote the lawmakers. “No corporation should pay a lower tax rate than working Americans – especially when that same corporation turns around and gouges consumers on the other end through shrinkflation.”
    As a champion for American consumers and a secure and healthy economy, Senator Warren has engaged in oversight of corporations for unfairly increasing prices for consumers. She has also been calling for more competition and stronger enforcement of antitrust laws to bring down prices for families: 

    On February 15, 2024, Senators Warren, Baldwin, Casey, and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2024, which would protect consumers and prohibit corporate price gouging by authorizing the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce a federal ban against grossly excessive price increases. 

    In December 2023, Senator Warren urged the FTC to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger, which would give the five largest food retail companies control of 55 percent of all grocery sales, allowing them to further control and ultimately raise consumer prices, while also reducing job competition, decreasing wages, and decreasing the bargaining power of organized labor. 

    In November 2023, Senator Warren called out TransDigm for its refusal to provide cost and pricing information needed to prevent price gouging of taxpayers and the Department of Defense. 

    In November 2023, Senator Warren expressed disappointment at the FTC’s decision to allow pharmaceutical giant Amgen to move forward with its acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics (Horizon) given the potential impacts on the price of medicine.  

    In the past few years, Senator Warren has urged the Biden administration to closely scrutinize other potentially anticompetitive mergers that could lead to higher prices for consumers and accelerate industry consolidation. She has led letters about the proposed mergers of Frontier and Spirit airlines, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, Sanderson-Wayne, WarnerMedia-Discovery, and Amazon-MGM.

    In March 2022, Senator Warren introduced the Prohibiting Anticompetitive Mergers Act to help stomp out rampant industry consolidation that allows companies to raise consumer prices and mistreat workers. The bill would ban the biggest, most anticompetitive mergers and give the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission the teeth to reject deals in the first instance without court orders and to break up harmful mergers. 

    In February 2022, at a hearing, Senator Warren called out corporations for abusing their market power to raise consumer prices and boost profits. 

    That same month, Senator Warren requested the Department of Justice to take aggressive action against corporations violating antitrust laws to hike prices for consumers. 

    In January 2022, Senator Warren questioned Federal Reserve nominee Lael Brainard about market concentration and price gouging driving inflation.

    At a January 2022 hearing, Senator Warren pressed Fed Chair Jerome Powell on the role of corporate concentration in driving up prices for consumers during his renomination hearing to be Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

    In a New York Times op-ed published in April 2020, Senator Warren urged Congress to focus on cracking down on price gouging in its ongoing effort to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

    In March 2020, Senator Warren joined her colleagues in urging the FTC to use its full authority to prevent abusive price gouging on consumer health products during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: “What’s Happening Across Our City” – Inverness Strategy Interactive Storymap Launches

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    An interactive online “StoryMap” has been launched to bring forward a partnership approach to promoting the City of Inverness as the hub of economic, social and cultural activity in Highland.

    The site, which features extensive visuals, is part of the Inverness Strategy workstream and draws together recent projects and initiatives into a single, coordinated framework.  This overview of ‘what’s happening’ and ‘in the pipeline’ makes clear what projects are intended to be delivered, when this looks likely to happen, and who is responsible.

    City Leader, Councillor Ian Brown said: “The Inverness Strategy is about collating recent and anticipated projects across the City and area to build on one another to bring about a much bigger, collective vision.

    “The site is a great resource to capture what’s happening across our city with details of projects planned, underway or completed in an easy-to-use format that reflects the partnership approach across the public, private and community sectors.”

    Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “The city of Inverness is at an exciting stage in its evolving role as the main economic, service and administrative centre for Highland and a transport hub for the wider Highland and Islands region.

    “By bringing together what’s happening across the City, the site clearly lays out the collective vision all partners have. This collective approach will improve the coordination, funding and delivery of existing and emerging plans, projects and workstream to ensure Inverness remains Highland’s prime destination for those who live, work, visit and invest here.”

    The StoryMap includes sections on;

    • Culture and night-time economy
    • Key sectors for future
    • Community action and leadership
    • Green Freeport
    • City centre
    • Transport
    • Housing

    A public face-to-face event to showcase projects highlighted as part of the Inverness Strategy and featured on the StoryMap website will be held at Inverness Town House on 26 November from 2pm – 7pm.

    Key sources for the development of Inverness Strategy include:

    • Inverness City Centre Vision (360 Architecture): Post-Covid review of how the city centre can continue to be a vibrant, healthy and attractive place to work, live and do business.
    • Inverness 2035: One City, One Vision (Inverness Futures Group).
    • National Planning Framework 4: qualities of successful places.
    • Highland Local Development Plans and associated supplementary guidance: including the Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (IRSS), emerging Local Development Plan, city-specific development briefs.
    • Draft Inverness Community Partnership Plan.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CBDT forms internal committee to comprehensively review Income-tax Act and invites suggestions from stakeholders/experts/public on the Income Tax e-filing portal

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 5:14PM by PIB Delhi

    In pursuance of the announcement in the Union Budget 2024-25 by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has formed an internal committee to oversee a comprehensive review of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Act). The goal is to make the Act concise, clear, and easy to understand, which will reduce disputes, litigation, and provide greater tax certainty to taxpayers.

    The committee invites public inputs and suggestions in four categories:

    1. Simplification of Language
    2. Litigation Reduction
    3. Compliance Reduction, and
    4. Redundant/Obsolete Provisions

    To facilitate this, a webpage has been launched on the e-filing portal, which can be accessed with the following link:

    https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/#/pre-login/ita-comprehensive-review

    The above link is live and accessible to the stakeholders/experts/public in the E-filing portal from 06.10.2024. The stakeholders/experts/public can access the page by entering their name and mobile number, followed up by a validation via OTP.

    Suggestions by stakeholders/experts/public should specify the relevant provision of the Income-tax Act, 1961 or Income-tax Rules, 1962 (mentioning the specific section, sub-section, clause, rule, sub-rule, or form number), as the case may be, to which the suggestion relates under the aforementioned four categories.

    ****

    NB/KMN

    (Release ID: 2062861) Visitor Counter : 45

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Joint National Workshop of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Training of Trainers on Forest Rights Act and PESA issues to start tomorrow at Jabalpur

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 7:28PM by PIB Delhi

    In alignment with the provisions of the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA), Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Panchayati Raj are collaborating for focused Capacity Building & Training of tribal communities, particularly the members of the District Level Committees, Sub Division Level Committees and Elected Panchayat Representatives in the PESA areas with the aim of strengthening of Gram Sabhas in Areas covered by Panchayat Extension in Scheduled Act (PESA) and effective implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA). The Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop being jointly organised by Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (MGSIRD&PR), Jabalpur, on 8th and 9th October 2024 on PESA subject of Control over Money Lending and on various issues related with implementation of FRA. Approximately 150 State and District level Master Trainers from across 21 States and UTs (having Forest Rights Act in force) will be trained in the workshop.

    The aforesaid Special Capacity Building Campaign will be implemented within the framework of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). While the Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan is being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) will provide support for Special Capacity Building Campaign and Training under its flagship Scheme Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). It will include State, District and Block level Training Programmes.

    The Special Capacity Building Campaign had started with a joint workshop of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Tribal Affairs in June 2024 at NIRD&PR to finalize the Instruction Material for Training on PESA issues and FRA. After finalization of Instruction material State and District level Master Trainers have been identified in States & UTs for imparting training to the Elected Representatives and other stakeholders of PRIs in the PESA areas and FRA implementing States. Training of these Trainers (ToT) is in progress, four ToTs on PESA subjects have been conducted by the MoPR.

    In the workshop, training would be provided on various aspects of FRA such as Institutional Mechanisms; Process of Claims under Individual Forest Rights, Community Forest Rights and Community Forest Resource Rights; challenges in filing claims and grievance redressal etc.

    Senior officers from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and from the Panchayat & Rural Development and Tribal Welfare Departments of Government of Madhya Pradesh would be present to guide the participants towards next course of action to attain the mandate of the Joint Advisory and the collaboration through training of grassroots level trainers, PRIs and various implementation stakeholders.

    ***

    AA

    (Release ID: 2062946) Visitor Counter : 43

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Haryana records 67.9% turnout in Assembly elections 2024; scores 3% higher than Lok Sabha voting

    Source: Government of India

    Haryana records 67.9% turnout in Assembly elections 2024; scores 3% higher than Lok Sabha voting

    Urban Apathy continues to drag down overall state turnout

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 8:46PM by PIB Delhi

    A voter turnout of 67.9% has been recorded across the 90 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in the Haryana Assembly Elections 2024, reflecting significantly higher voter response compared to last Lok Sabha elections which recorded 64.8% voting in the state. The turnout nearly touches the figures of Assembly Elections in 2019, which stood at 68.3%. Voters across rural areas turned up at polling stations with greater vigour. The gender wise voter turnout figures are given below:

    Single Phase

    Male Turnout

    Female turnout

    Third gender turnout

    Overall turnout

    90ACs

    68.93%

    66.73%

    25.27%

    67.90%

     

    2. The disturbing trend of Urban Apathy, however, continues to significantly impact overall state voter turnout, with many urban constituencies in Haryana recording turnout rates 10% below the state average.

    Voter turnout at polling stations in some prominent urban ACs in Haryana

    Name of AC

    Turnout in 2024 Assembly Elections

    Difference in %turnout

    from 2024 LA state average (67.9%)

     

    Turnout in 2019 Assembly Elections

    Difference in % turnout

    from 2019 LA state average (68.3%)

    Gurgaon

    51.81%

    16.09%

    52.36%

    15.9%

    Faridabad

    53.74%

    14.16%

    49.56%

    18.7%

    Panchkula

    59.37%

    8.53%

    60.03%

    8.3%

    Ballabhgarh

    53.27%

    14.63%

    51.42%

    16.9%

    Sonipat

    57.67%

    10.23%

    61.86%

    6.4%

    Karnal

    56.37%

    11.53%

    52.29%

    16.01%

    Badshahpur

    54.26%

    13.64%

     

    57.61%

    10.7%

     

    3. This trend of low urban participation mirrors similar patterns seen in previous assembly elections in Karnataka, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Countrywide various initiatives were undertaken by the Commission in the previous elections to motivate and engage the urban voters. Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, special consultations with Municipal Commissioners and DEOs from select districts and introduction of TIP (Turnout Implementation Plan) were undertaken. However, despite the Commission’s intensive efforts to engage and motivate urban voters, the participation continues to be subpar. Recently, during the review visit in Maharashtra, CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar had again emphasised on all DEOs and MCs to work on improving voter turnout, especially in urban areas. The Commission, while expressing concerns over the discernible lower turnout in urban areas in Haryana and in J&K, has resolved to further strengthen measures and innovative outreach to deal with urban apathy in the upcoming elections in predominantly urban states like Maharashtra.

    4. Voting turnout trends at the polling stations on the poll day was facilitated by the Commission through its Voter turnout App, every two hours starting 9:30 am onwards. CEO Haryana has confirmed that all polling parties have returned safely and scrutiny has completed in the presence of the candidates/their authorised agents. The Assembly Constituency and gender wise voter turnout data for Haryana Assembly Elections is given at Table 1. Further, a copy of Form 17C is also provided to the candidates through their polling agents.

    5. The voter turnout given in Table 1 is at the polling stations and final votes polled will be available post-counting with counting of postal ballots. Postal Ballots include Postal Ballots given to service voters, absentee voters (85+, PwD, Essential Services etc.) and Voters on Election Duty. Daily account of such Postal ballots received, as per established guidelines, are given to all candidates.

    Table 1: AC wise and Gender wise Voter turnout at polling stations for Haryana Assembly Elections

    AC No.

    AC Name

    Registered Elector

    Voter Turnout Percentage

    Total

    Male

    Female

    TG

    Total Percentage

    1

    KALKA

    202052

    73.95%

    70.03%

    20.00%

    72.07%

    2

    PANCHKULA

    236193

    60.99%

    57.58%

    12.50%

    59.37%

    3

    NARAINGARH

    191954

    74.57%

    71.95%

    44.44%

    73.33%

    4

    AMBALA CANTT.

    206271

    65.64%

    63.15%

    18.18%

    64.45%

    5

    AMBALA CITY

    262199

    64.23%

    61.70%

    10.00%

    63.02%

    6

    MULANA

    224118

    72.06%

    69.88%

    33.33%

    71.04%

    7

    SADHAURA

    220596

    79.62%

    77.54%

    Nil

    78.65%

    8

    JAGADHRI

    233840

    79.43%

    77.09%

    100.00%

    78.34%

    9

    YAMUNANAGAR

    243023

    68.43%

    65.88%

    0.00%

    67.24%

    10

    RADAUR

    208812

    73.75%

    72.08%

    0.00%

    72.97%

    11

    LADWA

    196536

    74.85%

    75.07%

    0.00%

    74.96%

    12

    SHAHBAD

    171536

    71.41%

    69.33%

    50.00%

    70.42%

    13

    THANESAR

    218409

    64.68%

    65.38%

    28.57%

    65.01%

    14

    PEHOWA

    186944

    67.54%

    69.59%

    50.00%

    68.53%

    15

    GUHLA

    192364

    68.66%

    69.97%

    75.00%

    69.29%

    16

    KALAYAT

    214107

    74.65%

    74.00%

    33.33%

    74.34%

    17

    KAITHAL

    222913

    75.41%

    74.62%

    50.00%

    75.04%

    18

    PUNDRI

    192443

    70.04%

    70.21%

    50.00%

    70.12%

    19

    NILOKHERI

    233507

    64.93%

    61.96%

    75.00%

    63.50%

    20

    INDRI

    218716

    72.26%

    70.16%

    0.00%

    71.25%

    21

    KARNAL

    266616

    57.96%

    54.68%

    40.00%

    56.37%

    22

    GHARAUNDA

    242271

    73.15%

    70.55%

    40.00%

    71.91%

    23

    ASSANDH

    242385

    68.43%

    64.79%

    25.00%

    66.70%

    24

    PANIPAT RURAL

    289385

    69.84%

    68.76%

    60.00%

    69.34%

    25

    PANIPAT CITY

    234020

    64.52%

    60.49%

    25.00%

    62.62%

    26

    ISRANA

    183606

    71.75%

    68.45%

    0.00%

    70.20%

    27

    SAMALKHA

    229240

    74.96%

    71.47%

    0.00%

    73.33%

    28

    GANAUR

    194344

    73.26%

    70.96%

    Nil

    72.18%

    29

    RAI

    199861

    71.19%

    68.48%

    12.50%

    69.94%

    30

    KHARKHAUDA

    177128

    65.49%

    61.98%

    22.22%

    63.85%

    31

    SONIPAT

    251087

    59.04%

    56.18%

    20.00%

    57.67%

    32

    GOHANA

    195124

    67.87%

    64.98%

    18.18%

    66.52%

    33

    BARODA

    188907

    69.41%

    67.58%

    Nil

    68.57%

    34

    JULANA

    184665

    74.66%

    74.67%

    0.00%

    74.66%

    35

    SAFIDON

    195528

    74.85%

    74.24%

    0.00%

    74.56%

    36

    JIND

    203721

    66.81%

    64.75%

    33.33%

    65.83%

    37

    UCHANA KALAN

    218507

    75.39%

    75.50%

    Nil

    75.44%

    38

    NARWANA

    224432

    71.63%

    69.67%

    100.00%

    70.71%

    39

    TOHANA

    231884

    77.86%

    76.86%

    66.67%

    77.39%

    40

    FATEHABAD

    258978

    75.91%

    73.82%

    40.00%

    74.92%

    41

    RATIA

    227487

    73.16%

    70.62%

    14.29%

    71.95%

    42

    KALANWALI

    184203

    76.94%

    74.78%

    33.33%

    75.92%

    43

    DABWALI

    207722

    78.88%

    76.84%

    33.33%

    77.92%

    44

    RANIA

    189408

    76.68%

    75.04%

    25.00%

    75.91%

    45

    SIRSA

    232026

    68.88%

    66.52%

    54.55%

    67.76%

    46

    ELLENABAD

    195547

    81.52%

    79.58%

    66.67%

    80.61%

    47

    ADAMPUR

    178650

    76.24%

    74.59%

    50.00%

    75.47%

    48

    UKLANA

    215906

    68.03%

    64.62%

    50.00%

    66.44%

    49

    NARNAUND

    214830

    76.35%

    76.24%

    Nil

    76.30%

    50

    HANSI

    203214

    70.97%

    67.83%

    0.00%

    69.50%

    51

    BARWALA

    189112

    74.27%

    72.76%

    0.00%

    73.56%

    52

    HISAR

    182083

    62.76%

    59.98%

    33.33%

    61.44%

    53

    NALWA

    180375

    71.85%

    70.46%

    50.00%

    71.19%

    54

    LOHARU

    206663

    79.22%

    80.15%

    0.00%

    79.66%

    55

    BADHRA

    197966

    72.02%

    71.62%

    100.00%

    71.83%

    56

    DADRI

    208350

    68.39%

    66.38%

    Nil

    67.44%

    57

    BHIWANI

    236537

    62.18%

    59.23%

    0.00%

    60.77%

    58

    TOSHAM

    221442

    72.38%

    72.09%

    0.00%

    72.24%

    59

    BAWANI KHERA

    215564

    71.13%

    69.67%

    Nil

    70.45%

    60

    MEHAM

    199898

    74.54%

    73.63%

    50.00%

    74.12%

    61

    GARHI SAMPLA – KILOI

    221912

    69.21%

    64.51%

    Nil

    67.02%

    62

    ROHTAK

    199738

    61.63%

    58.18%

    0.00%

    59.96%

    63

    KALANAUR

    216156

    67.14%

    64.41%

    100.00%

    65.86%

    64

    BAHADURGARH

    245974

    65.22%

    63.63%

    0.00%

    64.47%

    65

    BADLI

    187603

    71.39%

    68.51%

    0.00%

    70.02%

    66

    JHAJJAR

    190025

    65.67%

    62.75%

    0.00%

    64.27%

    67

    BERI

    183266

    65.66%

    62.91%

    20.00%

    64.37%

    68

    ATELI

    202985

    70.70%

    70.45%

    Nil

    70.58%

    69

    MAHENDRAGARH

    209992

    72.40%

    73.26%

    Nil

    72.81%

    70

    NARNAUL

    156372

    68.29%

    65.86%

    0.00%

    67.14%

    71

    NANGAL CHAUDHRY

    165930

    69.85%

    71.07%

    0.00%

    70.42%

    72

    BAWAL

    229170

    69.54%

    66.21%

    Nil

    67.95%

    73

    KOSLI

    249851

    70.52%

    69.83%

    100.00%

    70.19%

    74

    REWARI

    253892

    67.61%

    63.95%

    50.00%

    65.86%

    75

    PATAUDI

    254780

    64.79%

    58.26%

    0.00%

    61.67%

    76

    BADSHAHPUR

    520958

    56.30%

    51.96%

    23.53%

    54.26%

    77

    GURGAON

    443102

    53.50%

    49.95%

    14.29%

    51.81%

    78

    SOHNA

    286119

    73.06%

    68.55%

    33.33%

    70.95%

    79

    NUH

    207841

    74.87%

    73.90%

    33.33%

    74.42%

    80

    FEROZEPUR JHIRKA

    247350

    73.02%

    73.25%

    0.00%

    73.13%

    81

    PUNAHANA

    206279

    70.53%

    71.16%

    0.00%

    70.81%

    82

    HATHIN

    240643

    78.63%

    76.98%

    36.36%

    77.87%

    83

    HODAL

    196672

    73.28%

    70.58%

    11.11%

    72.02%

    84

    PALWAL

    267983

    73.15%

    70.06%

    42.86%

    71.70%

    85

    PRITHLA

    226202

    76.25%

    71.47%

    66.67%

    74.02%

    86

    FARIDABAD NIT

    321159

    61.47%

    58.59%

    16.67%

    60.18%

    87

    BADKHAL

    332125

    50.34%

    45.86%

    8.33%

    48.27%

    88

    BALLABGARH

    274743

    54.10%

    52.25%

    0.00%

    53.27%

    89

    FARIDABAD

    265869

    55.38%

    51.86%

    12.50%

    53.74%

    90

    TIGAON

    374454

    56.35%

    51.90%

    4.00%

    54.34%

    Total

    20354350

    68.93%

    66.73%

    25.27%

    67.90%

    *NIL means there are no registered third gender electors

    *******

    PK/RP

    (Release ID: 2062981) Visitor Counter : 35

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT OF INDIA HOSTS PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES

    Source: Government of India

    PRESIDENT OF INDIA HOSTS PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES

    MALDIVES HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN INDIA’S ‘NEIGHBOURHOOD FIRST’ POLICY AND SAGAR VISION: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU

    Posted On: 07 OCT 2024 9:28PM by PIB Delhi

    The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu received H.E. Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the President of the Republic of Maldives at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (October 7, 2024). The President also hosted a banquet in honour of President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed.

    Welcoming Dr Muizzu to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that Maldives is a close friend and key partner for India in the Indian Ocean Region, and holds a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and SAGAR Vision.

    The President said that the Vision document adopted during this visit would elevate the level of our relationship and provide a clear roadmap to achieving a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.

    The President was happy to note that India is one of the top trading partners of Maldives, and noted that there is also good potential for taking forward collaboration in the field of digital payments and other new technologies.

    Both leaders agreed that advancement in the bilateral partnership would benefit the people of both countries. 

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2062993) Visitor Counter : 38

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: East Coast students get a taste of the future at successful careers day | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    3 mins ago

    School students from the East Coast were given a taste of the future at a successful discovery day organised by EIT’s Education 2 Employment team.

    School students from the East Coast were given a taste of the future at a successful discovery day held at Ngata College in Ruatoria recently.

    The event, organised by EIT’s Education 2 Employment team, saw hundreds of students from the region get a chance to engage with tertiary institutes, pathway providers and employers.

    Education 2 Employment (e2e) encourages the coordination and support of employers and the local business community to be involved in vocational education, employment and development opportunities for young people. The primary goal of the e2e programme is to help connect industry with schools so that students can identify possible career pathways.

    Twenty-seven organisations were represented at the event in Ruatoria last month. While the event was aimed at senior school students, year seven and eight and even younger students also attended.

    Among the companies and organisations attending to connect with the students were local and regional businesses, Government agencies like IRD, and educational institutes including EIT and others from outside the region.

    Adrianna Wilson, Education 2 Employment Advisor for EIT Tairāwhiti, says that the aim of the event was to expose students to what opportunities were out there.

    “We wanted them to see that there are local employers and ones further afield who can offer them a pathway to a career of their choice.”

    “For an example, we had Mātai Medical Research Institute there, so if a student was interested in going into that career, what’s the pathway for them?”

    School students from the East Coast were given a taste of the future at a successful discovery day organised by EIT’s Education 2 Employment team.

    Adrianna says the event was staged in a way that engaged the students and got them interested in potential careers.

    “Every employer or business had an interactive activity. Some had honey pots representing apiculture, civil infrastructure had roading games, the police services had drug goggles and were in their police cars. We also had a Media House there which did portraits of the students, STEM were there doing science activities, and we had the Department of Conservation discussing survival, trapping and other outdoor skills.”

    “We also had a game where they were given a bingo card with symbols that represented each employer or industry. And they had to go and either ask questions or do the interactive activity and get it ticked off by the employer. At the end, they all got a prize if they filled their bingo card. They had to ask questions and engage.”

    Adrianna says the aim is to make the event an annual occurrence.

    “It is a rewarding time for both students and participating organisations as the students get to see what career opportunities there are and employers are exposed to the talent coming through.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Food Sales Tax Axed by Governor Kelly to be Fully Eliminated in 2025 – Governor of the State of Kansas

    Source: US State of Kansas

    KEY QUOTE: “Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said this tax reduction is ‘a win for the Kansas people.’ ‘All people have been talking about for the past two years or so has been inflation and particularly the cost of food,’ Kelly said. ‘Now that’s waning, coming down quite significantly, but by eliminating the sales tax on food — you take a 6.5% reduction in the cost of food for people — that makes a huge difference to many, many people. Now I think we calculated that the average family of four would save over $500 a year, just on sales tax elimination.’”

    Kansas to eliminate food sales tax in 2025
    Meredith McCalmon, Kansas State Collegian
    Oct. 2, 2024

    • State sales tax on food in Kansas will reduce to 0% by Jan. 1, 2025 — a process which began in 2023 in accordance with House Bill 2106. According to a publication by the Kansas Department of Revenue, [the] Kansas legislature reduced food tax from 6.5% to 4% in Jan. 2023, to 2% in Jan. 2024 and will eliminate it completely on Jan. 1, 2025.
    • Daniel Kuester, director of undergraduate studies in economics at Kansas State, said this bill is especially impactful to low-income individuals. “I personally look at this as more of a way to remove what is, in essence, a regressive tax,” Kuester said, “Because the people with the least amount of income pay the highest percentage of their income on sales tax, particularly those on things like groceries.”
    • Basil Knight, junior in music education, said saving money on groceries would allow them to make more meals instead of eating fast food. “It’s so hard, with groceries being so expensive, to be able to afford getting enough for three meals a day…But now knowing that there won’t be taxes on it [groceries], it’ll be less expensive and I won’t have to waste so much money eating out all the time.”
    • Kelly said she talked with many Kansans for public input on the food sales tax reduction. “[I had] lots and lots of conversations with folks…In fact, I did a sort of around-the-state tour when we [proposed] to axe the sales tax, so I heard from lots and lots of people about how much they would appreciate the elimination of that sales tax. … I know people are very pleased that we did what we did.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: MSA Marks 25th Anniversary with Celebration on Oct. 17

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The MSA program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, a significant milestone for the trailblazing program that consistently ranks among the best in the nation.

    “I wish I could take the spirit, the energy, and the interaction that occurs in this program, bottle it and present it to potential students,’’ said accounting professor Steve Pedneault, who owns a forensic accounting firm and has been teaching in the program since 2007. “If they knew how special it is here, they would all come to UConn.’’

    He said he speaks with colleagues and students around the country, who confirm that UConn MSA is unique.

    “First, our professors are experts in the field. You’re learning forensic accounting from an expert, you’re learning tax law from people who worked at the IRS,’’ he said.

    “What we also do better than anyone else is our level of interaction with students,’’ he said. “When I started here, the leadership made it clear if you’re not going to have a high level of interaction with students, you’re not going to be here long!’’

    Celebration Dinner Slated for Oct. 17

    To honor its history and achievement, the MSA program is having a 25th anniversary dinner Oct. 17. Faculty, alumni, students, and business partners are welcome to attend.

    “We are very excited to be hosting this event and to recognize the MSA program for how groundbreaking it was,’’ said Professor George Plesko, head of the accounting department. “We’re proud that we have maintained the program’s excellence, despite the increased competition, and regularly receive national recognition among the best online programs in the country. There are many people who have contributed to that success and I am grateful for them all.’’

    The MSA program began in-person in 1999 and quickly converted to an online format, an approach to education that was almost unheard of then. In the last decade, U.S. News has consistently ranked the program among the Top 10 in the nation.

    Part of a World-Class Institution

    Professor Irene Louth ’02, ’03 MSA is the Chief Tax Officer and Vice President of Taxation at Atlas Air and a two-time UConn alumna. She holds the accounting program in the highest regard.

    “UConn is a world-class institution, and it was a privilege to be part of the UConn Accounting community,’’ she said. “My accounting degrees opened doors for me, and I had many companies competing for my skills. Because of my education at UConn, I passed my CPA exam on the first try with one of the top scores in the state. My UConn experience was excellent and allowed me to step into the world of accounting.’’

    When she was approached about an opportunity to teach in the program two years ago, she didn’t hesitate. She said it was an honor to apply her knowledge and experience and nurture the next generation of professionals.

    “The MSA program instills a great sense of readiness for the learners,’’ she said. “UConn prepares you for what comes next, whether it’s the CPA exam or life as a young professional.’’

    Caring Faculty, High Performing Students

    Alumna Christine D. Gagnon ’02, ’03 MSA , ‘08 MBA is Chief Financial Officer of Roha Group, a New York-based private equity firm, and CEO of Odin Frigg, a boutique agency and advisory services firm. She said that one of the most memorable aspects of the MSA program is the quality and engagement of the faculty.

    “The faculty were very caring and invested,’’ she said. “My fellow students were all of a solid caliber and were striving for high performance as they prepared to enter the professional workforce. Having a peer group of the highest quality was helpful. I’m still in touch with many of my classmates today.’’

    She also appreciated the convenience and flexibility that allowed her to work in the profession, with all the seasonal and client-related demands, while completing her MSA.

    “The Big Four were well connected within the department,’’ she said. “From the university to the profession, everything was well aligned and very relevant. In addition, the program was practical; I could immediately apply the lessons I’d learned.’’

    Louth said she thinks more milestones are on the horizon for the MSA program. “I wish the UConn MSA program another 25-, 75- and 125-year anniversary with quality candidates, faculty, and staff,’’ she said. “I’m biased but I think there is no accounting program that’s better.’’

    The MSA 25th anniversary celebration on Oct. 17 is open to alumni and current students. Tickets are $25 per person. The event begins at 5:45 and runs until 9 p.m. at the Alumni Center in Storrs. To register, please visit: https://msaccounting.uconn.edu/anniversary/. For more information, please contact Erika Durning at Erika.Durning@uconn.edu.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Smith Bill Supports Pregnant Mothers, Promotes Choosing Life Through Tax Code

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Smith (8th District of Missouri)

    strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jason Smith and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), along with Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO), introduced the Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act that would make pregnant mothers eligible for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), allowing them to save up to an additional $2,000 for an unborn child.

    “From the moment a baby is conceived, a family’s priorities begin adjusting to prepare for their arrival. It’s time for our tax code to help babies who are still in the womb by making sure their parents have the resources necessary for their arrival. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act, which will allow working families to claim up to an additional $2,000 with the Child Tax Credit before the child is born, giving them a chance to get a head start to prepare, save, and invest in their future.” –  said Rep. Jason Smith

    “Expecting parents begin providing and preparing for their child the minute they learn they’re having a baby—the Child Tax Credit should reflect the fact that unborn children are children too,” Sen. Daines said. “From prenatal care to stocking up on baby supplies, this tax relief will help parents prepare for the arrival of their baby.”

    “Having a child is a financial commitment which is why I am pleased to introduce the Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act with Senator Daines and Congressman Smith. This legislation will encourage childbirth by allowing pregnant mothers to collect the child tax credit and get the necessary resources they need for their unborn children. Despite attempts by the left to dehumanize the unborn, we must continue working to recognize the inherent value and dignity of our unborn babies.”- said Rep. Doug Lamborn

    From stocking up on diapers, to setting up a new crib the work, care, and costs associated with motherhood begin long before a child is born. Recognizing unborn children for the CTC would give expecting parents and their families an opportunity for a better start.

    In order to ensure equal access, parents of miscarried and stillborn children also have the opportunity to qualify for the tax credit. Parents who lose a child to miscarriage or stillbirth often have significant financial burdens such as medical bills and funeral expenses. Allowing grieving parents to receive the CTC is a small but meaningful step to help provide them with support.

    Read the full text HERE.

    Organizations that support this legislation include: Susan B. Anthony List, Family Research Council, March for Life, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Student for Life, Feminists for Life, Americans United for Life, National Right to Life, American Principles Project, Catholic Vote

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Capital Gains Tax… Again

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    Devastation in Dunedin and the loss of HMNZS Manawanui are hurting New Zealanders in different ways. They also underline what Free Press argued last week, that the Government needs to think hard about its capital assets. It holds over half a trillion in assets, but does it own the right things, do core infrastructure and defence need more commitment? Meanwhile we’ve received voluminous praise for David Seymour’s performance Q+A with Jack Tame last week.

    Capital Gains Tax… Again

    ANZ CEO Antonia Watson revived the unending debate about a capital gains tax for New Zealand. Free Press welcomes business leaders talking about public policy. We’d all benefit if they did it more. Too often we hear business leaders say things privately that we wish they’d say publicly but they’re usually too afraid of criticism.

    We just don’t agree with Watson about the capital gains tax. It always seems to be a band-aid for concerns about housing, but it won’t fix that, and what New Zealanders really need is more capital. This week, once more with feeling, Free Press goes through the usual arguments for a capital gains tax and sets out why they’re wrong.

    Perhaps the worst argument for a capital gains tax is ‘everyone else has one.’ Practically every other Government imposes a capital gains tax on its citizens, except the Swiss Federal Government. Being like Switzerland can’t be the worst thing for the New Zealand economy.

    Even if ours was the only Government not levying a capital gains tax on its citizens, the argument still doesn’t work. Governments do silly things all over the world, and we don’t need to copy every one of them.

    Others say the Government needs the money. We’d argue that it needs to spend better, and it is improving, but there is better evidence the Government doesn’t need more money, at least not from a capital gains tax.

    The New Zealand Government is the second biggest taxer in the Asia Pacific region (behind Japan) with total revenues of 33.8 per cent of GDP. Every Asia-Pacific Government has a Capital Gains Tax. It’s difficult to argue a Government raising more revenue than dozens of Governments with capital gains taxes needs a capital gains tax for lack of money.

    Then there’s the fairness argument. People who make money from capital should pay tax like people who work for their money. Sounds fair, but the reality is capital gains are already caught by income tax.

    Anyone who buys a farm, a business, or a property is really buying a stream of income in the future. That income is taxed. A company with future income worth $10 million before tax is not worth $10 million though. It is only worth the after-tax income. You’ll be lucky to get $7 million. You’ll already lose $3 million-odd, that’s the tax that whoever buys it will pay.

    Putting a tax on the price of the asset each time it’s sold is just nasty. The argument with housing is that house prices go up regardless of how much rental income they produce.

    People even claim a capital gains tax would make housing more affordable. Any realistic capital gains tax would apply to all businesses, but only to houses you don’t live in. Nobody who wants a capital gains tax wants one ‘on the family home.’ On balance it would be more of a tax on businesses than on houses, so much for shifting investment away from housing.

    Maybe it would at least stop ‘speculators’ from pushing up house prices by buying ‘more houses than they need to live in’? Unlikely when the new tax has gone on every other kind of investment, too.

    Just like L.A., London, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Vancouver have all had outrageous house prices with a capital gains tax, a capital gains tax won’t make housing affordable in Auckland. Prices are set by supply and demand, and so long as supply doesn’t keep up with demand, prices will rise.

    A capital gains tax really just makes the Government a silent partner in property investment, it doesn’t change the underlying fundamentals of the housing market. It certainly doesn’t comfort a first home buyer to know that the Government took a share of their eye-watering purchase price.

    We hope these arguments are helpful for repelling demands for a capital gains tax. They’re technical though. The real question is whether the goal is to grow the pie, or divide the pie?

    If you think New Zealand can’t get any richer, and it’s just a matter of pulling the ‘rich’ down a peg or two and dividing up the wealth, maybe it’s time to talk about a new tax. On the other hand, maybe it’s time to shelve the distraction, acknowledge our lack of a CGT is a strength, and get back to making New Zealand wealthier overall.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Michigan Attorney Indicted on Tax Charges

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Defendant Allegedly Did Not Report Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from His Law Practice

    A federal grand jury in Detroit charged a Michigan attorney yesterday with filing false tax returns and willfully failing to file tax returns.

    According to the indictment, Shawn Smith, who calls himself “Shawn the Law,” is a lawyer residing in Birmingham. For 2017 through 2020, Smith allegedly filed false individual income tax returns that did not report hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross receipts that he earned from his law business. In addition, Smith allegedly did not file an individual income tax return for 2021 and 2022.

    If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return count and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each count of failing to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan and IRS Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Jeffrey A. McLellan and Kenneth C. Vert of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: California Real Estate Agent Charged with Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment yesterday charging a California man with evading the payment of his individual income taxes and obstructing the IRS in its efforts to collect those taxes.

    According to the indictment, Gabriel Guerrero, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate agent, did not timely file tax returns for many years. In 2014, he allegedly filed more than 10 years’ worth of returns but did not pay the amounts he self-reported he owed. When the IRS began trying to collect those outstanding taxes, Guerrero allegedly sought to prevent the IRS from being able to do so in at least two ways: by not depositing substantial commission checks he earned from commercial real estate sales into his bank accounts and using cashier’s checks to circumvent IRS levies of those accounts. The indictment also alleges that Guerrero further obstructed collection efforts by submitting false financial disclosure forms to the IRS, which significantly underreported his income and by not disclosing a bank account he used to deposit his income.

    In total, Guerrero is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $350,000.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and three years in prison for obstructing the IRS. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and Christopher Gerace of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Arkow for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Woman Admits COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida woman today admitted fraudulently obtaining $465,489 in COVID-19 relief funding after submitting fraudulent applications to victim lenders, the U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

    Jane Batista, 43, of Lake Worth, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    From April 2020 to August 2021, Batista submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for herself, her husband, and two businesses they owned and operated. In support of those applications, Batista lied about the number of employees the businesses employed, the income the employees earned, and the revenue Batista and her husband generated as sole proprietors. Batista also submitted forged documents, including fake tax return documents. After the victim lenders funded the loans, Batista used that money for personal expenses and made several large transfers, including one for $15,000.

    The wire fraud count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. The money laundering count carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Corwin Rattler; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney with the investigation.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Taj Moore of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

    The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of the five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: New York Man Admits Conspiring to Engage in Multimillion-Dollar Wire Fraud Scheme

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man today admitted conspiring to commit wire fraud that caused losses of more than $2 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

    Terrell Fuller, 34, of Baldwin, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud conspiracy.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Fuller and his conspirators submitted a fraudulent application to the Small Business Administration (SBA), which caused the SBA to provide them with approximately $1.2 million. They also opened bank accounts in the names of various entities and individuals, deposited illegally obtained or fraudulent checks into those accounts, and then withdrew and attempted to withdraw money from the accounts. Fuller, using stolen personal identifying information, fraudulently rented locations to live in New York and failed to pay more than $400,000 in rent and fees for those locations. Fuller and his conspirators obtained more than $2 million in money and property through their fraudulent actions.

    The wire fraud conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the transfer, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.  

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: California Real Estate Agent Charged with Tax Crimes

    Source: US State of Vermont

    A federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment yesterday charging a California man with evading the payment of his individual income taxes and obstructing the IRS in its efforts to collect those taxes.

    According to the indictment, Gabriel Guerrero, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate agent, did not timely file tax returns for many years. In 2014, he allegedly filed more than 10 years’ worth of returns but did not pay the amounts he self-reported he owed. When the IRS began trying to collect those outstanding taxes, Guerrero allegedly sought to prevent the IRS from being able to do so in at least two ways: by not depositing substantial commission checks he earned from commercial real estate sales into his bank accounts and using cashier’s checks to circumvent IRS levies of those accounts. The indictment also alleges that Guerrero further obstructed collection efforts by submitting false financial disclosure forms to the IRS, which significantly underreported his income and by not disclosing a bank account he used to deposit his income.

    In total, Guerrero is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $350,000.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and three years in prison for obstructing the IRS. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and Christopher Gerace of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Arkow for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Michigan Attorney Indicted on Tax Charges

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Defendant Allegedly Did Not Report Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from His Law Practice

    A federal grand jury in Detroit charged a Michigan attorney yesterday with filing false tax returns and willfully failing to file tax returns.

    According to the indictment, Shawn Smith, who calls himself “Shawn the Law,” is a lawyer residing in Birmingham. For 2017 through 2020, Smith allegedly filed false individual income tax returns that did not report hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross receipts that he earned from his law business. In addition, Smith allegedly did not file an individual income tax return for 2021 and 2022.

    If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return count and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each count of failing to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan and IRS Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Jeffrey A. McLellan and Kenneth C. Vert of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA News: A Proclamation on Child Health Day,  2024

    Source: The White House

         Our Nation’s children deserve every opportunity to reach their biggest dreams — that begins with ensuring our families and children have the resources and support they need to stay healthy and strong.  On Child Health Day, we recommit to supporting families as they help their children to lead healthy lives.

         When we came into office, Vice President Harris and I promised to give families some well-deserved breathing room so that families could care for their children without worrying about how they were going to pay the bills.  That is why my American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit, which reduced child poverty by nearly half across the Nation.  That law also made our Nation’s biggest investment in child care ever, keeping businesses open and hundreds of thousands of child care workers employed to care for children.  To lower health insurance costs, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, saving millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums.  And we strengthened the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to provide home visits from trained professionals, who can offer prenatal care and postpartum support to new mothers and ensure their children’s health and well-being needs are met.  We launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA to help better support pregnant and postpartum moms.  We also modernized the Thrifty Food Plan for the first time in nearly five decades so that millions more families can afford nutritious foods.  We are working to reduce the amount of sodium in food to help prevent children from experiencing high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke later in life.  At the same time, we are working to secure free and healthy school meals for every child — beginning with setting a goal to deliver free school meals to nine million more children by 2032.

         My Administration is also working to ensure our youth have access to the mental health care they need, making the largest investment in mental health ever.  This includes over $2 billion in funding, including $1 billion through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to help schools across the country train and hire new mental health counselors.  We made it easier for schools to leverage Medicaid to deliver health care, including mental health care, to millions of children and youth.  And we launched 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which anyone can call, text, or chat to be connected to a trained crisis counselor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

          Americans deserve to live in a safe community, free from the threat of violence — and when it comes to our Nation’s children, one of our most fundamental responsibilities is keeping them safe.  In the United States, firearms are the leading cause of death for children.  It is unacceptable.  Children are exposed to violence and worry about school shootings happening to them, and this exposure and fear can lead to negative consequences for their school life, mental health, and more.  That is why I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years and have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions, including one that will improve the active shooter drills that nearly all students undergo.  I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris.  We have made significant progress, but we must do more.  I continue to call on the Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. 

         Our Administration is also making historic investments to tackle the climate crisis, which is essential to protecting our children’s futures.  Every child should be able to turn on the faucet at home or school and have access to safe, clean water — that is why, through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are working to replace every lead pipe in America.  My Inflation Reduction Act — the most significant investment in climate ever — is investing in air quality sensors so that we prevent communities from experiencing the harmful effects of pollution.  And we have recommitted to conserving 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 so that generations to come may enjoy them.

         Our children deserve to grow up in a country that cares about their health, happiness, and opportunities for success.  During Child Health Day, may we recommit to supporting our children and families so that they can thrive.  And may we continue to build a future where every child can reach their full potential. 

         The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the first Monday in October as Child Health Day and has requested that the President issue a proclamation in observance of this day.

         NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 7, 2024, as Child Health Day.  I call upon families, child health professionals, faith-based and community organizations, and governments to help ensure that America’s children stay safe and healthy.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                  JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA News: Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Redford,  MI

    Source: The White House

    Redford Fire Department Station 1
    Redford, Michigan

    2:03 P.M. EDT

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi.  (Applause.) 

    Oh, good afternoon, everybody.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  It is my great honor to be with everybody this afternoon.

    Matt, I want to thank you for your leadership and for all that you do for so many.

    You know, everyone here, you all have chosen to live a life of service in the most extraordinary way.  And I’m so thankful to all of you — to Matt, for your leadership — and everybody here. 

    And it is so good to be in the house of labor.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  Thank you all. 

    And, you know, yours is a profession that is more than a profession.  It really is about a calling. 

    You know, my — I was just telling Matt — my brother-in-law just retired as a firefighter in California.  So, for me, this is personal and it is professional.  I know what you guys do, and I know your character.  I know your families.  I know what it means for the whole community for you all to take on the lives that you have decided to live, and I’m so thankful to you.

    You guys work long shifts with unpredictable hours in some of the most dangerous conditions.  You do so on behalf of people you’ve never met.  Sometimes, those people will never know your name, but because of what you do with such sincerity and the highest level of skill and professionalism, their lives are forever better.  And they always know and have the comfort of going to sleep at night knowing that should any tragedy come their way that you guys are out there and would be there.

    It’s an extraordinary thing you do, and it’s a great gift that you have that you give.  And so, I am so thankful to you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

    And, of course, I am thankful for the union that supports you and your right to all that you deserve in terms of the wages and the benefits that you so rightly have earned.  (Applause.)

    And I also want to thank the other brothers and sisters from labor who are here from UAW — (applause); IBE- — IBEW; LIUNA.  Where are your orange T-shirts?  I know you’re here somewhere.  I thank you all, all of you. 

    So, look, just yesterday, we saw another example of the power of collective bargaining — right? — when the longshoremen and the U.S. Maritime Alliance came together, ended a strike, and reached an agreement on a record wage.  Right?  (Applause.)  They did good.  They did good. 

    And I say, everywhere I go, look, collective bargaining benefits everybody.  And you know the — the term — and I’m looking at our young leaders who are here.  I’m so glad you guys are here.  (Applause.)  So, collective bargaining, it’s really — it’s just a basic logical point. 

    So, here’s what it means.  It means that in any negotiation, you want the outcome to be fair.  Right?  We all want fairness, right?  Everybody wants fairness — or should. 

    So, here’s the thing about collective bargaining.  If you want the outcome to be fair, you got to realize, if you’re requiring the one worker to negotiate against the big entity, do we really think that the outcome is going to be fair?  Probably not.  But if you let the workers together, as the collective, then negotiate against the big entity, it’s more likely that the outcome will be fair.  

    That’s the basic point of collective bargaining.  That’s the basic point of why we want our unions to be able to do their work on behalf of workers every day, because we know when union wages go up, everyone’s wages go up.  (Applause.)  Yeah. 

    And when union workplaces are safer, all workplaces are safer.  (Applause.) 

    And the bottom line is: When unions are strong, America is strong.  (Applause.)  And our unions have always fought to make our nation, then, more equal, more fair, and more free. 

    And in this election, in 32 days, everything we have fought for is on the line. 

    This election is about two very different visions for our nation: one that is focused on the past, and ours that is focused on the future. 

    We fight for a future where we protect the fundamental freedom to organize.  We fight for a future where workers, all workers, are treated with dignity and respect; a future where we tap into the ambition and the aspirations of the American people and build what I call an “opportunity economy” so that every American has an opportunity to buy a home, start a business, build wealth — intergenerational wealth for their family. 

    Over the last three and a half years, our nation has seen historic small-business creation as an example of that focus. 

    In Michigan alone, we have seen more than 500,000 new small-business applications.  And when I am president, I plan to build on that progress and that success, including by raising the start-up deduction — tax deduction for small businesses from $5,000 for — to $50,000 to help more entrepreneurs start a small business. 

    I’ll tell you guys, my sister and I were raised by our mother, who worked very hard, and we lived on an apartment above a daycare center.  And it was run by and owned by the woman that we called our second mother, who lived two houses down.  She was a small-business owner, and her name was Ms. Shelton. 

    And I grew up as a child knowing about who our small businesses are, right?  They’re leaders in the community.  They’re civic leaders.  They hire locally.  They train.  And so, that’s one of the reasons I’m focused on small businesses as part of how we lift up the middle class in America’s economy.

    We need to also build more housing in America.  Housing is too expensive. 

    My mother saved up for years, until I was a teenager, when she was able to buy our first home. 

    And right now, we have a serious housing shortage in America, and that’s part of what is driving up costs.  And so, we are going to cut red tape, we’re going to work with the private sector, and we’ll build 3 million new homes by the end of my first term — (applause) — including — including providing first-time homebuyers with a $25,000 down payment assistance so they can just get their foot literally in the door to be able to invest in the American dream — (applause) — which not everyone has access to these days.

    We need to lower the cost of living, because, look, our economy, while we’re making good progress — just this morning, in fact, we got a solid jobs report: over 250,000 jobs created last month, unemployment fell.  And just a few weeks ago, the Federal Reserve cut down interest rates, which is going to be great for a lot of folks.  But there’s still more work we need to do. 

    Prices for everyday things like groceries are still too high.  You know it, and I know it.

    And so, we have a plan to lower costs on everything from health care to groceries, including what I’ve done in my career as attorney general, which is we got to take on corporate price gouging. 

    We got to take on what we need to do to understand that if you want to grow the middle class, we need more middle-class tax cuts.  And the tax cut that is part of my plan will give a tax cut to 100 million Americans. 

    We need to expand Child Tax Credit, and I will do that to expand it to $6,000 so that for the first year of a child’s life, their parents have the resources that they need to be able to buy a crib or a car seat, and in that very critical stage of their child’s development, just be able to do more than get by but be able to get ahead. 

    And I say all this to say, I will always put the middle class and working families first.  I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from.  I will never forget where I come from.  (Applause.)

    And we know we cannot have a strong middle class without American manufacturing. 

    Over the last three and a half years, we brought manufacturing back to America.  We created 730,000 manufacturing jobs and announced the opening of more than 20 new auto plants in the United States.  And we did it by investing in American industry and American workers.

    And I want to make sure that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.  (Applause.)

    So, under my plan, we will invest in the industries that built America, like steel, iron, and the great American auto industry — (applause) — yeah — so we can ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs, from advanced batteries to electric vehicles, are not only invented but built right here in America by American union workers.  (Applause.)

    So, the election is in 32 days, and Americans have a big choice to make.  And I think it’s very important, then, to point out Donald Trump has a very different approach than mine. 

    And let’s be real about who Donald Trump is.  Let’s be real.  This is a time for real talk. 

    He was handed $400 million on a silver platter and filed for bankruptcy six times.  This is a man who has only ever fought for himself.  This is a man who has been a union buster his entire career, who has called union leaders, quote, “Dues Sucking” people.  And as president, he did not lift a finger to save the pensions of millions of American workers. 

    We did.  We did.  (Applause.)

    This is a man who sold promise after promise to American workers but never delivered, who said he supports so-called right-to-work laws “100 percent.”  Those are his words. 

    He who joked and laughed about firing striking workers.  You remember that? 

    AUDIENCE:  Yes.

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Who rolled back labor standards and made it easier for companies that break labor laws to get federal contracts. 

    And Donald Trump is a man who tried to cut funding for our first responders, including SAFER grants for firefighters. 

    So, brothers and sisters, as we stand here in a house of labor, we will not be fooled.  We will not be gaslighted.  Donald Trump’s track record is a disaster for working people, and he’s trying to gaslight people all over our country.  But we know the facts and we know the truth: He is an existential threat to America’s labor movement.  Just look at his track record to know. 

    He said he was the only one who could bring back America’s manufacturing jobs — Michigan knows what I’m about to say — then America lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs when he was president, including tens of thousands of jobs in Michigan.  And those losses started before the pandemic, so we’re clear, making Donald Trump one of the biggest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history.  (Applause.)

    And recall his record — his track record for the auto industry.  He promised workers in Warren that the auto industry would, quote, “not lose one plant” during his presidency.  Then American automakers announced the closure of six auto plants when he was president, including General Motors in Warren and Stellantis in Detroit.  Thousands of Michigan autoworkers lost their jobs. 

    And now he is making the same empty promises to the people of Michigan that he did before, hoping you will forget how he let you down.  But we know, if he wins again, it will be more of the same. 

    Everything he intends to do is spelled out in Project 2025.  If reelected, he intends to launch a full-on attack on unions and the freedom to organize.  He will ban public-sector unions, roll back workplace safety protections, and appoint a union buster to run the Department of Labor.

    And on top of that, Donald Trump will give billionaires and the biggest corporations massive tax cuts like he did last time. 

    He will cut Social Security and Medicare and impose what I call a Trump sales tax, a 20 percent tax on everyday goods and necessities, which will cost — the economists have said — which will cost the average American over $4,000 a year more. 

    And if that weren’t enough, he intends to end the Affordable Care Act.  And even after he tried to repeal it time and time again when he was president, he still has no plan to replace it. 

    Did you guys see the debate?  (Laughter and applause.)  “Concepts of a plan.”  He has “concepts of a plan.”  (Laughter.)  Come on. 

    And, you know, I’ve said many times he is an unserious human — (laughter) — but the consequence of him is quite serious, because think about that: “concepts of a plan.” 

    So, he’s going to threaten the health care and health coverage of 45 million people in America based on a concept — think about that — to take us back to when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions.  You remember what that was like?

    So, look, I’m here to say, and I think we all know: It’s time to turn the page.  It’s time to turn the page.  (Applause.)  We’re not going back. 

    America is ready to chart a new way forward, because we are not going back. 

    AUDIENCE MEMBER:  No, we’re not.  We’re not going back.

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, we’re not.

    And so, it all comes down to this.  We are here together because we know what is at stake.  And we are here together — and I’m looking at the young leaders — because we love our country.  We love our country.  (Applause.)  Yes, we do.  We love our country.

    And I do believe it is the highest form of patriotism to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

    We have 32 days to get this done, and we know this is going to be a very tight race until the very end.  And we are the underdog, so we have some hard work ahead of us.  But I know who’s here.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)

    And we know what we stand for, so we know what to fight for.  We stand for opportunity, we stand for dignity, and we stand for the future.

    And so, we know when we fight —

    AUDIENCE:  We win!

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win. 

    God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

    Thank you all.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

    END                 2:20 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025
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