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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Leads Coalition Urging Supreme Court to Strike Down Hawaii’s Unconstitutional Public Carry Ban

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Leads Coalition Urging Supreme Court to Strike Down Hawaii’s Unconstitutional Public Carry Ban

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador of Idaho and Attorney General Austin Knudsen of Montana filed an amicus brief urging the United States Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional right to bear arms and strike down Hawaii’s sweeping restrictions on lawful public carry. The brief, filed in Wolford v. Lopez, asks the Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that upheld Hawaii’s near-total ban on carrying firearms in public.
    In 2023, Hawaii enacted Act 52—a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen—imposing unprecedented restrictions on where law-abiding citizens may carry firearms. The law prohibits the carrying of firearms, presumptively or outright, on the vast majority of publicly accessible land in Hawaii, including parks, beaches, and nearly all private property unless the owner gives prior express consent. The result is a comprehensive public carry ban that stands in direct conflict with the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s clear guidance in Bruen.
    The Ninth Circuit’s decision to uphold Hawaii’s law creates a direct split with the Second Circuit’s ruling in Antonyuk v. James, which struck down similar restrictions enacted by New York. Idaho and Montana’s brief warns that this circuit conflict threatens to leave millions of Americans’ constitutional rights unprotected based solely on geography—an outcome the Supreme Court must resolve.
    “The right to bear arms belongs to the people—not because government permits it, but because government is bound to protect it,” said Idaho Attorney General Labrador. “Hawaii’s law turns that principle on its head, treating a guaranteed liberty as a regulated privilege. No government—federal or state—has the authority to take what it never had the power to give. If the courts do not intervene, this approach will become a blueprint for restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners nationwide. Idaho will not stand by. We will fight to uphold the Constitution and defend the freedoms it was established to protect.”
    “Bruen guarantees that the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” said Montana Attorney General Knudsen. “The Ninth Circuit’s flawed decision puts that guarantee at risk. I hope the Supreme Court will take up the case and reverse the decision to reassure Montanans and Americans that our right to keep and bear arms will not be eroded. I will not stand idly by as Americans’ rights are in jeopardy. My office will continue to fight to uphold the Second Amendment.”
    The coalition’s brief explains that Hawaii’s restrictions lack any grounding in the historical tradition the Supreme Court requires under Bruen. At the time of the founding, citizens were free to carry arms in public spaces and onto private property open to the public—unless expressly forbidden by the owner. Hawaii’s law inverts that tradition, treating public carriage as a privilege to be denied rather than a right to be protected.
    The coalition cautions that unless the Court intervenes, other states may pursue similar legislative ploys to undermine constitutional protections through regulation and presumption. The amici urge the Court to reaffirm that the Second Amendment cannot be regulated out of existence.
    The other 25 members of the coalition are Attorneys General Steve Marshall (Alabama), Treg Taylor (Alaska), Tim Griffin (Arkansas), James Uthmeier (Florida), Christopher Carr (Georgia), Theodore Rokita (Indiana), Brenna Bird (Iowa), Kris Kobach (Kansas), Russell Coleman (Kentucky), Liz Murrill (Louisiana), Lynn Finch (Mississippi), Andrew Bailey (Missouri), Michael Hilgers (Nebraska), John Formella (New Hampshire), Drew Wrigley (North Dakota), Dave Yost (Ohio), Gentner Drummond (Oklahoma), Alan Wilson (South Carolina), Marty Jackley (South Dakota), Ken Paxton (Texas), Derek Brown (Utah), John McCuskey (West Virginia), Bridget Hill (Wyoming), Warren Peterson (President of the Arizona Senate), and Steven Montenegro (Speaker of the Arizona House).
    Read the brief here.
    Read more from the Idaho Dispatch here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Motion for Preliminary Injunction to Halt Implementation of President Trump’s Unlawful Elections Executive Order

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford today led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration from implementing Executive Order No. 14248 (Executive Order), an unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. Among other things, the Executive Order attempts to conscript state election officials in the President’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration, force States to ignore mail ballots that are cast by Election Day but received by election officials just days afterward, and withhold various streams of federal funding from the States if they fail to comply.  

    On April 3, the attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the Executive Order. The lawsuit underscores that the power to regulate elections rests exclusively with the States and Congress — not the President. Since then, the Trump Administration has begun taking steps to implement the Executive Order. In their motion for a preliminary injunction, the attorneys general argue that they are likely to win on the merits of their lawsuit, that their States have unique and profound interests at stake in the litigation, and that their States will suffer irreparable harms without court-ordered relief. 

    “Last month, my fellow attorneys general and I sued President Trump over his unconstitutional elections Executive Order. We are now back in court because our States are facing imminent and concrete harms,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Elections don’t just happen overnight — States must devote significant resources and countless hours of preparation to make them happen. The Executive Order threatens to disrupt that process, to the detriment of California and its voters, so we are asking the court to halt its implementation.”

    In their motion for a preliminary injunction, the attorneys general explain that the Executive Order acutely injures their States’ compelling interest in preserving the integrity of their election processes. For instance, the documentary proof of citizenship requirements have necessitated an immediate response from some state elections officials, who must consider how to carry out their voter registration duties subject to the new requirements by meeting with their staff, speaking with local elections officials, and beginning to plan for a near future with the requirements in place — or risk the loss of federal funding. In addition, to force States to comply with the new ballot receipt deadline, the Executive Order uses enforcement threats by the United States Attorney General and conditions on funding. And, to properly administer elections in line with that new ballot receipt deadline, state elections administrators must devote significant additional resources to training, education, and support of local elections officials and the voting public.  

    In filing today’s motion for a preliminary injunction, Attorneys General Bonta and Ford are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. 

    A copy of the motion can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer on Senate Floor: Congress Must Pass the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, during a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) called on her colleagues to pass her Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act – approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last week – which will require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publicly identify entities that hold FCC licenses, authorizations, or other grants of authority that are owned, wholly or partially, by foreign adversarial governments.
    In her remarks, Fischer highlights the threats the United States faces from companies with strong ties to foreign adversaries. She specifically calls out Huawei, a major global supplier of cellphone network equipment, citing its troubling and potentially dangerous access to critical communications infrastructure.
    Click the image above to watch a video of Fischer’s remarks.
    Click here to download audio 
    Click here to download video
    Following is a transcript of Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:M. President,
    Last week, my bill, the Foreign Adversary Communication Transparency Act—or FACT Act— cleared the Commerce Committee unanimously. Now, it will come before us here, on the Senate floor, for a vote.
    I stand before you today because the threat our foreign adversaries pose is not a distant concern. It is real, it is relentless, and it is constantly evolving.
    We cannot afford to wait and deal with the consequences. The cost of inaction is too great.
    Congress must anticipate the threats and we must work together to curb the malign influence of foreign adversaries like Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
    For too long now, we have allowed foreign adversarial governments to secure a silent foothold in our telecommunications infrastructure.
    Take, for example, Huawei.
    Huawei, a Chinese-owned telecommunications giant, is one of the leading producers of cellphone network equipment. This equipment spans across our country and finds its home in most of our cellular devices.
    Over a decade ago, our intelligence agencies began noticing a peculiar pattern of Huawei equipment on cell towers across my home state of Nebraska, as well as nearby Colorado and Montana. That Chinese gear was clustered near sensitive military assets, including Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base and our nuclear missile silos.
    Then, just four years ago, U.S. intelligence officials sounded the alarm. Their investigations found that Huawei could secretly access mobile phone networks around the world through “back doors” – unbeknownst to carriers.
    And perhaps even more concerning: Huawei has had this capability for more than a decade.
    And, Huawei’s ownership is bankrolled by billions of dollars from the Chinese government.
    What government freely hands over that kind of money without expecting something in return?
    Despite being based in China and having deep connections to the Chinese Communist Party—as confirmed by the U.S. intelligence community—the company continues to refuse to acknowledge the Chinese government’s influence.
    However, in 2020, under President Trump’s administration, the Federal Communications Commission designated Huawei as a national security threat and banned the sale of its telecommunications equipment in the United States. This past December, Congress also secured the remaining funding to enable smaller, rural communications companies to rip risky Chinese-made equipment out of their networks.
    In 2022, the Justice Department charged two Chinese intelligence officers with an unsettling crime: attempting to obstruct a federal investigation into Huawei by stealing sensitive case material from a U.S. District Attorney’s office.
    Colleagues, I pose to you this question: Why would the Chinese government go to such lengths to interfere in a case involving a so-called ‘private company’ in which they have no stake? They wouldn’t.
    While recent actions to curtail Huawei equipment, and those from other high-risk Chinese firms, are steps in the right direction, they don’t go far enough.
    We must have far greater transparency about which companies holding federal communications licenses and authorizations also have influential ties to foreign adversarial governments.
    And we must look deeper at: Who has this access? And, how many more companies like Huawei are out there?
    Companies like Huawei must be stopped. We can no longer permit authoritarian regimes, like China, to infiltrate our networks and lurk in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. It is not enough to brace ourselves for the aftermath of disaster. We must root out the threat before it has time to fester.
    The reality is that our foreign adversaries have stakes in numerous companies operating freely and legally within the United States.
    Yet, in many cases, the public remains unaware of which companies are owned – wholly or partially – by these adversaries.
    That’s why, today, I call upon the Senate to pass my FACT Act, which takes a much-needed step to strengthen our visibility into our telecommunications market to weed out that access we have seen from malicious foreign adversaries.
    Because the first step in defending our national security is understanding the threat.
    My bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to publicly identify any companies – with an FCC license or authorization – that are owned by foreign adversarial governments. Under the FACT Act, companies with foreign ties will no longer be able to operate in secrecy. And they will no longer be able to conceal their financial backers or obscure their true loyalties.
    Huawei should serve as a warning. China is on the offensive, to undermine the security of America’s communications. An attack on our networks is a direct attack on the United States, and it is not one we should tolerate.
    Thank you, M. President, I yield the floor.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Warren Stands Up for Seniors, Fights Back Against Trump Social Security Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 05, 2025
    “Frank Bisignano will rubber-stamp Trump and Musk’s attack [on Social Security]…He’ll let them keep slashing services and threatening benefits. That will hurt people everywhere.”
    Video of Floor Speech (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. — Ahead of the Senate vote to confirm Frank Bisignano as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) took to the Senate floor in opposition, warning that he will “rubber-stamp Trump and Musk’s attack” on Social Security. 
    Senator Warren defended Social Security, saying it is “more than just a retirement program — it’s insurance.” 
    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to rip that protection away. Two people who don’t have the slightest clue how much Social Security means to families are threatening Americans’ benefits in order to pay for giant tax cuts for billionaires,” said Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren also read stories from concerned Social Security recipients and their families into the Congressional record. She highlighted stories of people worried they won’t be able to make rent, pay for life-saving medical treatment, or pay for groceries, due to Trump and Musk’s attacks on Social Security. 
    “Frank Bisignano has made clear he won’t stop the chaos and harm. That’s wrong — and on behalf of every single American who counts on Social Security, I’m voting no,” Warren concluded. 
    Transcript: Floor Speech Opposing the Confirmation of Frank BisignanoU.S. Senate Floor May 5, 2025
    As Prepared for Delivery
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to Social Security. 
    For nearly a century, Social Security has been there for tens of millions of Americans. But Trump and Musk are threatening to tear that all down. They’re firing staff. Plotting to close down offices. Making it harder for people to get help over the phone.
    Trump’s pick to head up Social Security, Frank Bisignano, will rubber-stamp Trump and Musk’s attack. He’ll let them keep slashing services and threatening benefits. That will hurt people everywhere — from seniors who count on their monthly checks right now, to the parents of kids with a disability supported by Social Security, to every American paying into the program now for later down the line.
    And Social Security is more than just a retirement program — it’s insurance. If you’re 30 years old and get in an accident and become disabled, Social Security’s got you covered. If you have a child and something happens to you, that kid will get Social Security benefits.
    Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to rip that protection away. Two people who don’t have the slightest clue how much Social Security means to families are threatening Americans’ benefits in order to pay for giant tax cuts for billionaires.
    And since they can’t begin to imagine what that means for working people, let’s tell them.
    A few weeks ago, I posted a video explaining what Trump and Musk were doing to Social Security. The stories came flooding in. Here are just a few:
    “I’m on Social Security disability — it’s about 95% of my total income. Every month since Trump took office this year, I’ve worried about whether or not my [Social Security] payment will come as usual.”
    “I’ve had Medicare medication coverage for around 20 years, and all of [a] sudden, with Musk’s appearance, I’ve had to fight to keep it.”
    “I’ve been getting my Social Security check with zero problems for 15 years. Last night, I was so worried about me not getting a check, I stayed up to the early morning hours, to make sure it was in my account. Thanks to Trump and Musk, I worry if I will be able to pay my rent every month. Since Trump has been in office, it’s been extremely stressful.”
    “We have a son born with Down syndrome and we are now retired, depending on our Social Security for the three of us — for food, utilities, clothing, medical services, things that we worked all our lives for, only to have billionaires come in and take what little we have to live on away.”
    “I’m about to turn 65 and have had a nightmare of a time trying to even talk to a real human being at the Social Security office. It’s been just a series of dead-ends and mistakes piled atop confusion.”
    “I had cancer at 52 years old — stage 4 uterine cancer. I spent more than a year fighting cancer. I am currently 66 years old and fighting the chronic pain from the chemicals they used to treat the cancer. I rely on my Social Security to survive. What am I going to do?”
    “I’m 71 years old and work part-time as a data technician in dementia research, so my [Social Security benefits] supplement my income. I’m anxious that eventually I, too, will have my Social Security check delayed or stopped altogether.”
    “We all need Social Security to survive, as a nation. I myself have been having it drawn out of my paychecks for over 40 years but haven’t retired yet and will need it shortly. My only hope is that it is still there when I need it. We earned that right to collect this money and [will] not let a bunch of billionaires take it from us.”
    “I have worked since I was 16 years old and now I’m 71 but I still work part-time. It goes without saying that I need my [Social Security] benefits to survive and since Trump and Musk took over I don’t know from one month to the next what might happen. So scary now!”
    “I only get $25,000 yearly from Social Security, and it constitutes more than half of my income. I have a small pension from the company where I worked for 40 years. If I lose my Social Security, I’ll have to support myself and my sister [who cannot work]…I don’t have much in savings due to continuing medical expenses over the years. [We] need my Social Security to survive.”
    “I’m a [Social Security] employee and I just want to say thank you for standing up for the programs SSA runs and the beneficiaries. It is true it’s been becoming harder for people to access their benefits but also for other services such as getting their Social Security card replaced. There [are] some days where people are waiting for 8 hours just to talk to a customer service representative or they don’t even get the call back and have to call again the next day to have an issue resolved — that’s if they have the time the next day.”
    “I went to [a Social Security] office yesterday because I need[ed] to change my direct deposit for my monthly benefits. The doors were locked…all the booths were shuttered. Sign on the door said “by appointment only” and there was a number to call, which I did. The automated system put me on hold, and the recording said 15 minute wait, and after time passed, the recording said I would be helped as soon as possible, then said they were receiving higher than normal call volumes… after several rings, the recording said … leave [a] message [which I did] and someone will return your call, but that hasn’t happened yet. As I sat outside that office, another person walked up and said he heard that we have to go into the office in person to show our I.D. or lose our benefits — then realized the door was locked… Now I am very concerned that I might not get my benefits in the future…”.
    So, Trump and Musk, that is what your attack on Social Security means for Americans — more problems, and fewer people to fix them. Hours on the phone or waiting in line at an office trying to get help. All to get benefits they’ve paid into their entire working lives. That’s money they’ve earned and are owed.
    Frank Bisignano has made clear he won’t stop the chaos and harm. That’s wrong — and on behalf of every single American who counts on Social Security, I’m voting no. I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES: “DONALD TRUMP AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE RUN”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he emphasized that instead of working to lower costs, Rubber Stamp Republicans are advancing a budget that cuts Medicaid and food assistance and makes life more expensive for hardworking taxpayers while allowing Donald Trump to crash the economy.

    LEADER JEFFRIES: George Washington, in his farewell address to the nation, made the important observation that the Constitution is ‘sacredly obligatory upon all.’ That means everyone in the United States of America has a responsibility to follow the Constitution. That includes presidents of the United States of America. That includes you, Donald Trump. There is nothing unclear about it. Why does Donald Trump make such ridiculous statements like he’s unsure as to whether he has a responsibility to follow the Constitution? Why is the Republican Party stuck with Marjorie Taylor Greene as their candidate for the United States Senate seat in Georgia? Why is the top thing that House Republicans are going to do this week on their legislative agenda renaming the Gulf of Mexico? It’s because Donald Trump and House Republicans are on the run. They are on the run. They are on the run with respect to the economy. They are crashing the economy in real time and driving us toward a recession.

    Donald Trump and House Republicans have nothing good to say about the economy. They promised to lower costs and to drive down the high cost of living in the United States of America. Costs aren’t going down, they’re going up. House Republicans haven’t passed a single bill that has anything to do with lowering the high cost of living in the United States of America. Not a single bill, no executive order, no administrative action coming from this administration. They’re crashing the economy in real time, driving us toward a recession. Donald Trump and Republicans are on the run with respect to the economy. They’re on the run with respect to healthcare. They want to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. It’s deeply unpopular, which is why they have been ordered not to hold town hall meetings. Democrats are running toward our constituents, and House Republicans are running away from them. And Republicans are on the run as it relates to Social Security. They believe that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, and they’re trying to end Social Security as we know it. Democrats are here to protect and strengthen Social Security.

    So when you have Republicans, in barely 100 days, on the run on the economy, on healthcare and on Social Security, ridiculous statements are made or they’re left with scratching the bottom of the barrel as it relates to candidates for U.S. Senate seats. And they’re forced to cancel hearings, like Republicans were compelled to do this week, because they have nothing of value or substance for the American people. They are on the run, and Democrats are going to keep the pressure on.

    Full press conference can be watched here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hungry Jack’s pays penalties for supplying toys with its children’s meals that allegedly breached the mandatory information standard for button batteries

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    Australian fast-food franchise Hungry Jack’s Pty Ltd has paid penalties totalling $150,240 after the ACCC issued it with eight infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law by failing to comply with the mandatory button battery information standard.

    The infringement notices relate to a Garfield toy powered by button batteries that was supplied nationwide without the important warnings and information required by the mandatory information standard.

    Between 20 May 2024 and 30 May 2024, Hungry Jack’s supplied 27,850 of the Garfield toys with its children’s meals.

    While the Garfield toy complied with the button battery safety standard, it did not advise consumers that it contained button batteries, nor provide relevant warnings about the potentially fatal hazards these pose or advice about what to do if a child ingested one.

    “Button batteries are extremely dangerous for young children and tragically, children have been seriously injured or died from swallowing or ingesting them,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

    “The ACCC continues to see non-compliant products on the market which pose unacceptable safety risks to vulnerable young children. We take non-compliance with these important standards seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate.”

    The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Hungry Jack’s in which it admitted the Garfield toy is likely to have failed to comply with the button battery information standard.

    Hungry Jack’s has undertaken to establish and implement a compliance program designed to minimise Hungry Jacks’ risk of future breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.

    Millions of consumer goods worldwide contain button batteries. If swallowed, a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in catastrophic injuries, and even death, in as little as two hours. In Australia, three children have died and more than one child a month is injured from incidents involving button batteries. 

    Businesses involved in the supply of button batteries and products containing them must ensure compliance with both the mandatory safety and information standards. The safety standards require products containing button batteries to be sold in child resistant packaging and to have secure battery compartments to prevent children from gaining access to the batteries.  The information standards require warnings and emergency advice on packaging and instructions.

    Images of the Garfield toy including packaging

    Recalled product

    Hungry Jack’s has recalled the Garfield toy. Consumers can return the toy to their nearest Hungry Jack’s restaurant for a free replacement for a non-battery toy.

    ACCC guidance for businesses and consumers

    Button batteries are small, round and shiny and can be appealing for young children to swallow or insert, which poses a significant risk of serious injury or death. Compliance with the mandatory standards helps to prevent this.

    If you suspect your child has swallowed or inserted a button battery:

    • call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your child is bleeding or having any difficulty breathing
    • call 13 11 26 immediately for 24/7 fast and expert advice from the Poisons Information Centre.

    Prompt action is critical, do not wait for symptoms to develop. Serious injury can occur in as little as two hours and can be fatal.

    The ACCC strongly encourages consumers to check for button battery products in their homes and take steps to secure them to keep them safe for young children. Consumers can check the list of recalled products on the ACCC Product Safety website.

    Anyone who has experienced product safety incidents (including near misses) is strongly encouraged to report these to the supplier and to report safety concerns about particular products to the ACCC via the Product Safety website.

    Suppliers of button battery products must submit a report to the ACCC within 2 days if they become aware that a consumer good they have supplied caused or may have caused a death, serious injury or serious illness. Further information about this reporting can be found in the ACCC’s Mandatory Reporting Guideline.

    The ACCC has published a fact sheet and guide for businesses on the button battery mandatory standards to assist businesses with meeting their obligations.

    Notes to editors

    The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain consumer protection provisions in the Australian Consumer Law.

    The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law. The Australian Consumer Law sets the penalty amount.

    Background

    Hungry Jack’s Pty Ltd is an Australian fast-food franchise of the Burger King corporation.

    Four mandatory button battery standards operate in Australia which aim to make button battery products safer and provide consumers with important safety information.

    The ACCC consulted and engaged extensively with industry during the 18-month transition period before the standards became mandatory, including working with businesses to explain the changes that would be required to comply with the new standards.

    Product safety, and consumers experiencing a vulnerability or disadvantage, are enduring ACCC priorities, and consumer product safety issues for young children (with a focus on compliance with the button battery standards) is a 2025-26 ACCC compliance and enforcement priority.

    Other button battery enforcement outcomes include:

    • In April 2025 the ACCC commenced proceedings against Fewstone Pty Ltd (trading as City Beach) regarding allegations that City Beach offered for sale 70 product lines containing button batteries which did not comply with Australia’s mandatory button battery standards.
    • In May 2023, the Reject Shop and Dusk paid a total of nearly $240,000 in penalties after the ACCC issued infringement notices for alleged failure to comply with mandatory product safety and information standards in Halloween novelty products containing button batteries.
    • In June 2023, the ACCC, in collaboration with state and territory consumer protection regulators, announced the outcome of market surveillance of over 400 businesses and 8 online platforms which identified a concerning level of non-compliance with the information standards, and to a lesser extent with the safety standards.
    • In October 2023, Tesla Motors Australia Pty Ltd paid penalties totalling $155,460 after the ACCC issued 10 infringement notices for alleged contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law in relation to the supply of 3 types of car key fobs and 2 types of illuminating door sills that allegedly did not comply with the safety and information standards.
    • In December 2023 Repco, Supercheap Auto and Innovative Mechatronics Group paid penalties totalling $119,280 after the ACCC issued them with infringement notices for supplying aftermarket car key remotes that allegedly did not comply with the information standards.
    • In June 2024, MDI International Pty Ltd and TEEG Australia Pty Ltd  each paid penalties of $49,500 after the ACCC issued them with infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, by failing to comply with the testing requirements of the button battery safety standard.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Scott, Cantwell Reintroduce Aviation Workforce Development Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act. This legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code to make expenses for education at FAA-certified flight andaviation maintenance programs eligible for 529 plan funds. 529 plans are valuable tools for saving for education, offering tax-free growth and allowing withdrawals for qualified expenses like tuition, room and board, and school supplies. The Aviation Workforce Development Act allows students pursuing FAA-certified flight and aviation maintenance programs to now use their 529 plan funds to cover these educational costs. As record numbers of air travelers visit South Carolina each year, this legislation will open doors for aspiring pilots and aviation maintenance technicians by ensuring they can play a vital role in the state’s aviation workforce.
    In addition to Senators Scott and Cantwell, this bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (R-Ga.). Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.  
    “This bill provides a commonsense solution to tackling workforce shortages in the aviation industry and offering more flexibility for parents investing in 529 accounts,” said Senator Scott. “By streamlining workforce development in aviation and expanding the use of 529 funds, it strengthens the aviation sector and provides parents greater freedom to invest in their children’s future.”
    “Families use 529 plans to save for their children’s future education. But we know that our next generation of workers need options beyond traditional four-year college degrees, such as apprenticeships, trade schools, and more,” Senator Cantwell said. “By allowing 529 plans to cover FAA-certified commercial pilot and aviation maintenance courses, this bill helps remove cost barriers for students considering a career path in Washington state’s thriving aviation industry.”
    “I’ve worked tirelessly in the Senate to secure federal investments for aviation workforce programs. The Aviation Workforce Development Act builds on my efforts to create educational pipelines that welcome Georgians from every zip code into this critical industry,” said Senator Warnock. “This is a bipartisan and bicameral bill for a reason—these are commonsense solutions to address needs throughout our aviation industry, and I’m proud to work alongside Senators Scott and Cantwell in this effort.”
    The Aviation Workforce Development Act is endorsed by Airlines for America, Air Line Pilots Association, Delta Air Lines, Aerospace Industries Association, Atlas Air Worldwide, National Air Carrier Association, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Aviation Technician Education Council, and National Business Aviation Association.
    Background: 
    According to a recent Pilot and Technician Outlook report from Boeing, the 20-year outlook for aviation personnel includes 602,000 new pilots and 610,000 new maintenance technicians. 
    According to ATP, that nation’s largest flight school, it costs just over $96,000 a year to become a pilot with no previous experience and just over $75,000 if you start with a private pilot certificate. 
    According to BLS, the median annual wage for commercial pilots was $99,640 in 2021 and the median wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $65,380.  
    Meanwhile, 529 plans generally do not include coverage of commercial pilot or aviation maintenance programs unless they are part of an “eligible educational institution.”
    Eligible institutions are colleges, universities, trade schools, or other post-secondary educational institutions that are eligible to participate in a student aid program run by ED. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján Statement on President Trump’s 2026 Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Heinrich and Luján: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back”
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statement onPresident Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Preliminary Budget Request, which proposes slashing critical investments that benefit New Mexico families to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires like Elon Musk:
    “Donald Trump’s budget doesn’t put New Mexico families first — it jeopardizes Medicaid and slashes nutrition programs and services hardworking people rely on, all to fund massive tax handouts to Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire donors.
    “This proposal would drive up the cost of health care, groceries, housing, and utilities; gut public school and pre-K funding; defund cancer research; weaken law enforcement’s ability to fight drug trafficking; and strip resources from wildland firefighters, farmers, Tribes, and rural communities. It also threatens our public lands — paving the way for Republicans’ massive sell-off. 
    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back — to protect Medicaid and Social Security, defend every dollar we’ve secured for our communities, and keep putting New Mexico families first.”
    Among all of his proposed cuts, President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Preliminary Budget Request:
    HEALTH:
    Slashes funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by $33 billion (-26%).
    Slashes funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million. CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
    Cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $18 billion or more than 40% — decimating funding for lifesaving medical treatments and cures.
    Decimates funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by cutting $3.6 billion — hollowing out the agency’s ability to save lives and protect Americans from health threats.
    Guts funding for substance use prevention and treatment and mental health services by $1 billion (roughly –15%) and eliminates the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — the agency with expertise in tackling the substance use and mental health crises.
    Eliminates the Title X program, which helps nearly 3 million patients get preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more in every state.
    EDUCATION:
    Guts funding for the U.S. Department of Education by $12 billion (-15%).
    Eliminates all funding for Preschool Development Grants, which help states strengthen their early childhood education system and get parents the child care and pre-K they need.
    Eliminates and cuts dozens of elementary and secondary education programs (the vast majority of which are not specified), underscoring that President Trump’s vision for returning education to the states means state and local taxpayers will pay more to support students and educators at their local schools as a result of major cuts in federal funding.
    Eliminates several higher education programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, Federal Work Study, Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), and more, which help Americans pursue a postsecondary education and further their careers.
    Slashes funding for the U.S. Department of Labor by $4.6 billion (-35%).
    Proposes to “Make America Skilled Again” by cutting workforce training programs that help Americans develop skills and secure good-paying jobs by roughly a third. 
    Eliminates Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
    Eliminates AmeriCorps, which enables over 200,000 Americans to help serve communities across the country, including by responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans, fighting the opioid epidemic, helping older Americans age with dignity, and working in our schools, educating and supporting students.
    HOUSING:
    Eviscerates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a 43.6% cut.
    Slashes HUD rental assistance programs by 42.8% while foisting responsibility over those programs onto state and local governments. Over 10 million Americans rely on HUD rental assistance, the vast majority of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, and children. This will rip the roofs off Americans’ heads and put even more families at risk of homelessness.
    Eliminates or cuts federal programs most targeted to build more affordable housing and address this country’s housing supply shortage, including in Tribal country. 
    Eliminates the Community Development Block Grant that cities and towns across the country use to improve the quality of life for their citizens every day.
    PUBLIC SAFETY:
    Slashes the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget by at least $3.7 billion (-10%).
    Guts funding for grants to help keep communities safe by over $1 billion (-26%).
    Cuts funding for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) salaries and expenses by $545 million (-5%), endangering Americans’ safety.
    Cuts funding for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) salaries and expenses by $212 million (-7%), weakening the agency’s capacity to crack down on drug trafficking. Also proposes shuttering major DEA offices in countries around the world, noting that those countries “are equipped to counter drug trafficking on their own.”
    Cuts funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) salaries and expenses by $468 million (-29%) as part of the administration’s ongoing attempt to dismantle the agency in charge of enforcing our country’s gun laws.
    Cuts $1.386 billion (-22%) from the U.S. Forest Service, gutting grant funding for state and Tribal wildfire risk reduction, volunteer fire departments, and much more. The proposal would cut at least 2,000 National Forest System staff positions, which will severely harm the administration’s stated goals of improving forest management.
    Cuts funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account by $1.3 billion (-91%) which helps prevent human trafficking, stop drug trafficking, and much more, with direct implications for American communities.
    Proposes a reckless $209 million cut for NOAA’s weather satellites, which play a critical role in ensuring Americans have accurate weather forecasting and will result in a gap in observations when the current satellites retire early in the next decade.
    NUTRITION:
    Eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance to low-income individuals 60 years of age and older to supplement diets and addressing potential nutrient deficiencies. The preliminary budget request does not mention any of the other 16 Nutrition Programs, including WIC, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the National School Lunch Program.
    PUBLIC LANDS:
    Cuts $900 million (- 30%) from National Park Service operations, abandoning national parks the administration says should now be transferred to the states, while providing no funding for states to manage massive new obligations that such a dramatic move would entail. This would incentivize states to sell off public lands to the highest bidder, threatening valued open space and areas of natural and historical value to local communities.
    AGRICULTURE:
    Guts funding for agricultural research, which is critical to ensuring American agriculture is competitive with the rest of the world and provides key resources to help farmers and ranchers prepare and adapt in an uncertain environment. Zeroes out foreign food aid that supports American farmers and is a lifeline for people living in extreme poverty across the world.
    TRIBES:
    Slashes $911 million (-24%) for core Tribal programs that uphold the federal government’s legally-obligated and court-ordered trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. 
    Decimates core Tribal programs, including road maintenance, housing, and programs for children and families. 
    Nearly eliminates funding for construction of Tribal schools, which are already too often dilapidated, and cuts Tribal law enforcement funding by 20%.
    RURAL COMMUNITIES:
    Slashes investments in core Rural Development programs by $721 million, including investments in safe drinking water, affordable housing, and resources to bolster the rural economy.
    Cuts funding for the U.S. Department of Commerce by $1.9 billion (-18%). Outright eliminates the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps economically distressed communities across America get ahead.
    Eliminates all Community Services Block Grant funding ($770 million) for community-based anti-poverty programs that help individuals and families access services to alleviate the causes of poverty.
    Eliminates funding to 27 states by zeroing out funding for 6 of 7 regional commissions, which provide grants in economically distressed communities for disaster mitigation, opioid crisis support programming, workforce training, and much more. This includes eliminating the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC).
    The Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) is one of eight authorized federal regional commissions and authorities, which are congressionally-chartered, federal-state partnerships created to promote economic development in their respective regions. Congress first authorized the establishment of the SBRC in 2008 to promote economic development in the southern border regions of New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas.
    Last year, Heinrich secured an expansion of the SBRC’s jurisdiction to include the following counties in New Mexico: Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Roosevelt, Torrance, Lea, and Valencia. These are in addition to Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra, Socorro, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy, Doña Ana, and Chaves Counties in New Mexico, which are already included within the SBRC’s jurisdiction.
    In 2023, Heinrich led the introduction of the Southwest Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize and fully fund the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC). The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and former-U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.).
    INFRASTRUCTURE:
    Cuts funding for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation by $600 million (-34%), gutting investments in key restoration projects.
    Cuts funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by $2 billion (-23%), slashing funding used to maintain our nation’s ports and harbors.
    Cuts funding for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) non-disaster grants that help communities prepare for disasters, support efforts to prevent violence and terrorism, prepare emergency responders, and more.
    Eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, ending support for more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations. 
    Eliminates funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the support provided to libraries and museums throughout the United States.
    Cuts funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than half by abandoning state and Tribal programs that build and maintain drinking water and sewer systems, starving states of longstanding federal funding provided to pay for states’ work enforcing federal laws, and decimating funding for cleaning up toxic Superfund sites. The request would also effectively eliminate research funding used to better understand the impacts on human health from polluted air and water and from toxic chemicals. 
    ENERGY:
    Slashes funding for the Department of Energy overall by $4.7 billion (-9.4%).
    Guts funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs by $2.572 billion (-74%) and proposes to rescind $15.25 billion from Infrastructure Law energy programs, which will raise energy costs for American consumers by halting vital innovation and energy projects.
    Eliminates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps 6 million American households heat and cool their homes.
    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
    Slashes funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Programs by $167 million, proposing the elimination of nearly all programs, including programs that support veterans as they work to start and grow a small business.
    Eliminates $291 million in funding for all current Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) financial assistance awards, which help leverage private capital to support the development of child care centers, housing, health care facilities, and small businesses. Since 2010, CDFIs have financed over 1.3 million businesses and 557,000 affordable homes.
    Completely eliminates the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provide funding for every state and every congressional district for cultural economic development and the creative economy.
    Guts funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by $1.5 billion, which would eliminate all manner of programs that create good jobs, help local economies, and support ocean research, health, and coastal resilience.
    More than halves funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a $5.2 billion (-57%) cut. Cuts funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.148 billion (-14%). Together, these proposed cuts would decimate America’s edge in essential scientific research that would otherwise drive future economic growth.
    FOREIGN ASSISTANCE:
    Guts funding for the U.S. Department of State and America’s international security, economic, and humanitarian assistance programs by $31.2 billion (-48%).
    Cuts funding for lifesaving and other humanitarian assistance by $4.7 billion (-54%), which will lead to preventable deaths and suffering across the globe, and threaten Americans’ safety and well-being by undercutting our efforts to stop disease outbreaks and prevent conflict. A cut of this magnitude will also lead to more migration of people fleeing poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
    Slashes economic growth and development funding across multiple agencies and accounts by $6 billion (67%) and proposes the final dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
    Guts funding for global health initiatives by $6.2 billion (-62%).
    Reneges on our treaty dues for the United Nations (U.N.), U.N. Peacekeeping operations, and a majority of other international organizations.
    SPACE EXPLORATION:
    Cuts National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding by $6 billion (-24%), the largest single-year cut to NASA in U.S. history, which would mark an incredible retreat for American leadership and ambition in space. Terminates the Artemis Campaign to establish a human presence on the Moon after the Artemis III mission. Slashes funding for the Science Mission Directorate by $3.43 billion (-47%), which would cancel numerous current and planned missions to better understand our universe, solar system, and Earth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hopkinsville, Kentucky Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement.

    According to court documents, Jay Brown, 55, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of a fentanyl mixture, one count of distributing methamphetamine, two counts of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of engaging in a money laundering conspiracy. The events related to his convictions spanned from January 25, 2021, through September 20, 2023, in Christian County, Kentucky. Brown was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction at the time he committed these offenses.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty, the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations Paducah, the United States Postal Investigations Service Bowling Green, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

    This case was sentenced under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Franklin, Kentucky, Pharmacist and Spouse Sentenced to Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Louisville, KY – Last week, a Franklin, Kentucky, pharmacist was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison and his wife was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and health care fraud, among other charges.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower, and Acting Inspector General Tricia Steward of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement.

    According to court documents, pharmacist Joseph Huff, 46, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, twelve counts of health care fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of making a false statement. His wife, Jenifer Huff, 46, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, and two counts of health care fraud.

    The defendants conspired to divert oxycodone and hydrocodone from the pharmacy from May 2, 2020, to January 17, 2023, with Jenifer Huff selling or trading the controlled substances for cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They also fraudulently billed Kentucky Medicaid for prescriptions that were not ordered by a physician or nurse practitioner. In addition, Joseph Huff fraudulently billed various insurance companies for brand name Adderall when in fact generic Adderall was issued to patients. Joseph Huff also fraudulently billed an insurance company for medication never dispensed to the patient. Additionally, Joseph Huff falsely reported a pharmacy robbery to the DEA when in fact no drugs had been stolen. Finally, Joseph Huff used another medical professional’s name and National Provider Identifier, a unique 10-digit number used to identify health care providers, to issue prescriptions without the medical professional’s knowledge or consent.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Joseph Huff was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,518.19 and Jenifer Huff was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,730.43.

    This case was investigated by the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA with the assistance of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari prosecuted the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Duncan Man Pleads Guilty after Fatal Shooting in Indian Country

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – JESSE WAYNE JAMES KEENAN, 18, of Duncan, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    According to public record, on July 19, 2024, officers with the Duncan Police Department (“DPD”) responded to a Duncan apartment complex on a reported shooting. At the apartment, DPD located a male victim who had been shot and attempted to provide medical care, but the victim died on scene. Witnesses at the complex identified Keenan as the person who shot the weapon.  He was located and arrested a short time later. After speaking with Keenan, FBI agents learned Keenan went to the apartment complex after an argument between Keenan and his girlfriend. After Keenan arrived, a fist fight ensued between Keenan and the victim. During the altercation, Keenan shot the victim with a pistol and fled from the scene. The pistol was later recovered by the FBI.

    On April 7, 2025, Keenan was charged by Superseding Information with voluntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

    On May 1, 2025, Keenan pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted that during a quarrel, he intentionally and unlawfully shot the victim, while intending to cause serious bodily injury, which resulted in the victim’s death. At sentencing, he faces no less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, and a fine of up to $500,000.

    This case is in federal court because Keenan is a member of the Choctaw Nation, and the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Duncan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Edgmon and Bow Bottomly are prosecuting the case.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Midwest City Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Property Management Company

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – SHERRIE BILLINGS, 53, of Midwest City, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    According to public record, in January 2017, Billings worked as a regional property manager for Manhattan Management Company, LLC (“MMC”), out of New York. MMC owned four apartment complexes in Oklahoma City. Her duties included maintaining daily upkeep, maintenance, and inspections of the properties, and she had access to an MMC bank account and credit card for such maintenance. Court documents allege that from January 2017 through July 2022, Billings defrauded MMC by issuing unauthorized checks from MMC’s bank account and utilizing the company credit card, both for her own personal use. During this time period, Billings issued approximately 385 unauthorized checks, illegally withdrawing approximately $1,660,238.00 from MMC’s account. To conceal her scheme, Billings manufactured fraudulent payment vouchers to legitimate vendors and emailed the fraudulent vouchers to MMC’s bookkeeper to be added to the company ledger. Billings also used the MMC credit card for personal expenses, which defrauded the company out of approximately $49,798.00. Public record further alleges that on April 14, 2022, Billings filled out a federal income tax return form on which she reported income that was substantially lower than the actual income she received as a result of the criminal behavior described above. 

    On April 2, 2025, Billings was charged by Information with wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. On May 2, 2025, Billings pleaded guilty to the two-count Information, and admitted she knowingly devised a scheme to defraud MMC, and that she knowingly filed a federal income tax return form on which she reported an income amount she knew was substantially lower than what she received for the year. 

    At sentencing, Billings faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charge and up to three years in prison for the tax charge, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 per count. 

    This case is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown is prosecuting the case. 

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta Next: Albertans to decide path forward for the province

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    Albertans have always been loyal, proud and generous Canadians.

    We love Canada. We have fought wars and died defending Canada. We have opened our doors wide for millions of our fellow Canadians searching for opportunity – many of whom stay and become Albertan, and many who return home to their native province. All have been welcomed with open arms.

    Our province has contributed hundreds of billions of dollars more to the federal treasury for use in other parts of the country than we’ll ever receive back in benefits. We have allowed this to occur because, quite frankly, we know how blessed our province is with an endowment of natural resources that no other country on earth possesses – and we want all of our friends, families and fellow Canadians across the country to benefit from it.

    We do not ask for special treatment or handouts.

    We just want to be free. Free to develop and export that incredible wealth of resources we have for the benefit of our families and future generations. Free to pursue opportunities with the ideals of entrepreneurship, hard work and innovation that have become synonymous with the name of our province. Freedom to choose how best to provide health care, education and other needed social services to our people – even if its done differently than what Ottawa has in mind.

    Strong and Free is more than just our provincial motto – it represents who we are and how we want to live as a people.

    And that is why Albertans are so frustrated with the direction of our country.

    For the last 10 years, successive Liberal Governments in Ottawa – supported by their New Democrat allies – have unleashed a tidal wave of laws, policies and political attacks aimed directly at Alberta’s free economy – and in effect – against the future and livelihoods of our people.

    They have blocked new pipelines with C-69, cancelled multiple oil and gas projects, and banned the very tanker ships needed to carry those resources to new markets.

    They have stacked an oil and gas production cap on top of a crippling industrial carbon tax, making new energy and agricultural projects economically impossible to pursue without massive subsidies from governments – which Ottawa has failed to provide and which our taxpayers cannot afford.

    This onslaught of anti-energy, anti-agriculture and anti-resource development policies have scared away global investment to the tune of over a half a trillion dollars – driving those investments and jobs out of Alberta and Canada to much more attractive investment climates in the United States, Asia and the Middle East.

    Having travelled much of the world these past few years, it is evident that Canada is not viewed as an attractive place to invest in resource development, manufacturing or agriculture because of our high carbon taxes, endless red tape, and the uncertainty and chaos brought about by these and other federal government policies.

    As a result, Canada has fallen to dead last in economic growth among industrialized nations. The world looks at us like we have lost our minds. We have the most abundant and accessible natural resources of any country on earth – and yet we landlock them, sell what we do produce to a single customer to the south of us, while enabling polluting dictatorships to eat our lunch.

    For Albertans – these attacks on our province by our own federal government have become unbearable.

    As I said, these policies have cost Albertans roughly a half a trillion dollars in investment – and that loss is growing daily. It has and will continue to cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, robbing countless Albertans and other Canadians of their means of providing for their families. It has cost us a decade of opportunities and tens of billions in lost royalties that could have been invested in the health, education, infrastructure and social services Albertans and Canadians need.

    And what’s worse, Ottawa continues onward with more destructive policies.

    They have imposed net-zero mandates on our natural gas-based power grid causing investment in reliable generation from natural gas to flee, thereby endangering the future stability of our power grid, and risking future blackouts and spikes in electricity costs for Alberta families and businesses.

    They have attacked our food producers with methane taxes, onerous regulations on fertilizer, electric vehicle mandates, and many other destructive policies that have hiked costs on our farmers and ranchers, and driven billions of dollars of investment in agriculture elsewhere.

    They have interfered in provincial jurisdiction time and again. From taking over the regulation of plastics, to mandating how we operate child care, health care and dental care, to harassing law abiding firearms owners, to dozens of other examples of unconstitutional interference.

    And of course, Alberta has fought back. We always have and always will.

    We passed the Sovereignty within a United Canada Act and have invoked it twice to protect Albertans as best we can from the effects of the net zero electricity regulations and energy production cap.

    We have beat the feds in court on both the “no new pipelines law” C-69 and their attempt to regulate plastics (though they have ignored both court decisions to this point) — and we have just announced a court challenge on the net zero electricity regulations and are further preparing to also challenge the energy production cap.

    We continue to do all in our power to counteract Ottawa’s chill on investment in energy, agriculture and our other job sectors through various tax cuts and incentive programs which greatly strain the provincial budget.

    We have fought these attacks from Ottawa furiously and have won some important battles, but the lost opportunities, jobs and futures of so many Albertans are costly and demoralizing — as are the growing number of eastern politicians who choose to openly demonize and target Alberta for political gain.

    That is why a large majority of Albertans are so deeply frustrated with the results of last week’s federal election.

    It’s not that our preferred candidate and party lost. That happens in a democracy.

    It’s that the same Liberal government with almost all of the same Ministers responsible for our nation’s inflation, housing, crime and budget crisis, and that oversaw the attack on our provincial economy for the past 10 years – have been returned to power.

    Now, as we all know, one thing has changed. We have a new Prime Minister. And I will say that in my first conversation with him since the election, he had some promising things to say about changing the direction of his government’s anti-resource policies.

    However, Albertans are more of a “actions speak louder than words” kind of people.

    So while I will in good faith work with Prime Minister Mark Carney on unwinding the mountain of destructive legislation and policies that have ravaged our provincial and national economies this past decade —- until I see tangible proof of real change —- Alberta will be taking steps to better protect ourselves from Ottawa.

    As a start, I will soon appoint a Special Negotiating Team to represent our province in negotiations with the federal government on the following reforms requested by our province. We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in – call it an Alberta Accord if you will.

    First, Alberta requires guaranteed corridor and port access to tidewater off the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic coasts for the international export of Alberta oil, gas, critical minerals and other resources in amounts supported by the free market, rather than by the dictates and whims of Ottawa.

    Every province in the country, other than Alberta and Saskatchewan, have coastal port access, and no province needs it more given the size and value of our resources. This will benefit all Canadians to the tune of trillions of dollars of economic activity including billions for First Nations’ partners.

    Second. The federal government must end all federal interference in the development of provincial resources by repealing the no new pipelines law, C-69, the oil tanker ban, the net zero electricity regulations, the oil and gas emissions cap, the net zero vehicle mandate, and any federal law or regulation that purports to regulate industrial carbon emissions, plastics, or the commercial free speech of energy companies. These laws are destroying investment confidence and costing Canada and Alberta hundreds of billions in investments each year.

    They need to go.

    Third. The federal government must refrain from imposing export taxes or restrictions on the export of Alberta resources without the consent of the Government of Alberta. Frankly, all provinces should be given that same respect for their resources.

    And fourth, the federal government must provide to Alberta the same per capita federal transfers and equalization as is received by the other three largest provinces – Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. We have no issue with Alberta continuing to subsidize smaller provinces with their needs, but there is no excuse for such large and powerful economies like Ontario, Quebec, B.C. or Alberta to be subsidizing one another. That was never the intent of equalization, and it needs to end.

    If these points can be agreed to by the federal government, I am convinced it will not only make Alberta and Canada an infinitely stronger and more prosperous country, but will eliminate the doubts a growing number of Albertans feel about the future of Alberta in Canada.

    While these negotiations with Ottawa are ongoing, our government will appoint, and I will chair, the ‘Alberta Next’ panel. This panel will be composed of some of our best and brightest judicial, academic and economic minds, to join with me in a series of in-person and online town halls to discuss Alberta’s future in Canada, and specifically, what next steps can we take as a province to better protect Alberta from any current or future hostile policies of the federal government. Details of the membership and scope of that panel will also be released in the coming weeks.

    After the work of the panel is finished, it is likely we will place some of the more popular ideas discussed with the panel to a provincial referendum so all Albertans can vote on them sometime in 2026.

    To be clear from the outset, our government will not be putting a vote on separation from Canada on the referendum ballot; however, if there is a successful citizen-led referendum petition that is able to gather the requisite number of signatures requesting such a question to be put to a referendum, our government will respect the democratic process and include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot as well.

    I also want to state unequivocally that as Premier, I am entirely committed to protecting, upholding and honouring the inherent rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Therefore, ANY citizen-initiated referendum question MUST not violate the constitutional rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and must uphold and honour Treaties 6, 7 and 8 should any referendum question ever pass. This is non-negotiable.

    Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – that being separation.

    We are well aware that there is large and growing number of Albertans that have lost hope in Alberta having a free and prosperous future as a part of Canada. Many of these Albertans are organizing petitions to trigger a citizen-initiated referendum, as I mentioned earlier. The vast majority of these individuals are not fringe voices to be marginalized or vilified – they are loyal Albertans. They are quite literally our friends and neighbours who have just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government. They are frustrated – and they have every reason to be.

    I want to talk directly to those Albertans.

    I know how frustrated so many of you have become with our country and the feeling of having politicians living thousands of miles away passing laws and rules that have cost you or your loved ones, jobs, careers, dreams, and opportunities for a brighter future.

    As most Albertans know, I have repeatedly stated I do not support Alberta separating from Canada. I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Let me explain a few reasons why.

    First, Alberta already has and can continue to use the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act and other measures to fight through much of Ottawa’s damaging interference and prosper in spite of it. We will also continue our successful battles against these unconstitutional and damaging policies in both the Courts of law and public opinion.

    But there is more to be hopeful for. This past election demonstrated that attitudes across the country, especially among young people, are changing with respect to understanding the importance of free markets and the development of our natural resources. People are pushing back against government censorship and ‘cancel culture’. More and more Canadians understand that in order for Canada to play a role in ending conflict and poverty at home and abroad – our country must become strong again. And we can only do that by becoming an energy and economic superpower using the vast and unmatched energy, mineral resources and fertile lands of our country.

    85 per cent of Canadians in this last election voted for the two leaders promising to turn Canada into an energy superpower and to build resource corridors, including for oil and gas – while only 13 per cent voted for the fringe voices in the socialist NDP and Bloc parties and their extremist “leave it in the ground” policies.

    Obviously, we have a ways to go and it will take a lot of work to undo the damage caused by these last 10 years of Liberal/NDP rule, but that clear change in public opinion gives me hope. I think it should give all Albertans hope

    Now, none of us know what the future holds should Ottawa, for whatever reason, continue to attack our province as they have done over the last decade. Ultimately that will be for Albertans to decide and I will accept their judgement.

    But I am going to do everything within my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new Prime Minister. And while doing so, our government will work with Albertans on various initiatives to better protect Alberta’s provincial sovereignty and economy from Ottawa should those negotiations fail, and the economic attacks continue.

    Alberta didn’t start this fight, but rest assured…we will finish it…and come out of it stronger and more prosperous than ever.

    In closing, I want Albertans to know how important it will be, in the coming months, for our province to be steadfast, unified and to refrain from heeding the voices of those seeking to divide Albertans against one another.

    There will be many outside – and even inside this province – who will try and sow fear and anger among us. They will seek to divide us into different camps for the purpose of marginalizing and vilifying one other based on differing opinions. Effectively pitting neighbour against neighbour — and Albertan against Albertan.

    That is not the Alberta way. It’s not who we are. And it’s not who I am.

    There are thousands of Albertans that are so frustrated with the last ten years of Ottawa’s attacks on their friends’ and family’s livelihoods that they feel Alberta would be stronger and more prosperous as an independent nation. That is an understandable and justifiable feeling to have even if we disagree on what to do about it. These Albertans are not traitors, nor should they ever be treated as such. They just love their province and family and want a better future than the one Ottawa is offering right now.

    There are also thousands of Albertans that are so attached and loyal to their identity as Canadians that there is nothing Ottawa has done to our province that would justify Alberta leaving Canada. Its not that they think everything is perfect or we’ve been treated fairly – they just believe being part of Canada, despite those problems, has much more value than leaving. These individuals are also loyal Albertans and should never be accused of being anything less.

    And then there are hundreds of thousands of Albertans that probably feel a lot like I do —- that are deeply frustrated with the way our province has been mistreated and damaged by successive federal Liberal governments and are not willing to tolerate the status quo any longer. But these Albertans still believe there is a viable path to a strong, free and sovereign Alberta empowered to succeed and prosper within a united Canada. A Canada where the federal government actually honours the constitution, upholds provincial rights, and empowers provinces to pursue their unique potentials as their people so choose.

    Regardless of what each of us believes about this issue, or what path we think is best; we, as Albertans, must be able to respectfully debate and discuss these issues with our friends, family members and neighbours.

    I know that if we do that — in the end, our province will find the best solution for this immense challenge we face, and come out of it stronger and more free than ever.

    I’ll always put my faith in Albertans to find that right path. I trust you.

    May our beautiful Alberta always remain forever strong and free.

    Related information

    • A media availability will follow on May 6 at 12 p.m.
    • Alberta Next: Albertans to decide path forward for the province

    Multimedia

    • Watch the Premier’s address to Albertans

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, law enforcement partners arrest 8 illegal aliens, 1 American during large-scale EBT benefit fraud operation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service and other federal, state and local partners, carried out a large-scale enforcement and interdiction operation targeting high-traffic ATM locations known for rampant fraudulent electronic benefit transfer card activity May 1 and 2.

    “This operation underscores ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment — alongside our law enforcement partners — to defend public assistance programs from exploitation,” said ICE HSI Los Angeles acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “This kind of fraud doesn’t just target government systems — it robs struggling families, children and seniors of the essential resources they rely on to survive. We will not stand by while criminals prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

    ICE HSI’s El Camino Real Task Force, which includes special agents with ICE HSI and the U.S. Secret Service, as well as officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, is conducting the investigations in this matter.

    Criminals, many from Romania, have historically targeted EBT cash fund allocations to victim accounts at the beginning of each month to maximize withdrawal amounts. These individuals employ deceptive means and methods of skimming card information before ultimately reloading the stolen information onto magnetic card strips for later use.  

    This operation yielded nine arrests, including eight Romanian illegal aliens, one Mexican illegal alien, and one U.S. citizen. Special agents seized approximately 100 fraudulent cards and arrested the nine subjects for violations of 18 U.S.C. 1029. Following completion of their criminal judicial process, the eight illegal aliens will be transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations custody pending removal proceedings.  

    Recent enforcement operations in February, March and April 2025 resulted in the federal arrest of 32 suspects, including 27 foreign nationals. These enforcement operations have involved strong partnerships between ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, and several state and local law enforcement agencies.

    “ICE HSI prioritizes identity and benefit fraud crimes that originate outside the United States through our Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces,” said Pasciucco. “Criminals who exploit government programs and steal from the American people will be aggressively pursued. We are dismantling the criminal organizations behind these schemes and making it clear: Fraud will not go unanswered.”

    If you suspect someone may be involved in or a victim of human trafficking, contact local law enforcement, dial 911 or call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: IDEX Biometrics ASA: Results of the exercise of Warrants B

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Reference is made to the announcement by IDEX Biometrics ASA (the “Company”) on 12 December 2024 regarding the listing of Warrants A and Warrants B on Oslo Stock Exchange. Warrants B were exercisable between 31 March 2025 and 11 April 2025, and all Warrants B not exercised within such time lapsed without compensation to the holder.

    A total of 36,767 Warrants B were exercised, resulting in an aggregate subscription for 36,767 new shares (the “New Shares”) in the Company, each Warrant B having an exercise price of NOK 0.15.

    The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the allocation of New Shares to the exercising holders of Warrants B and has consequently resolved to increase the share capital of the Company.

    Payment for the allocated New Shares falls due one week after the Board’s resolution. The New Shares will be issued upon registration of the share capital increase in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises.

    Following registration of the share capital increase in connection with the exercise of Warrants B, the Company’s share capital will be NOK 38,316,309.99, divided into 3,831,630,999 shares each with a nominal value of NOK 0.01.

    For more information relating to the Warrants, please refer to the Prospectus approved and published by the Company on 13 November 2024.

    For further information contact:

    Kristian Flaten, CFO, Tel: +47 95092322

    E-mail: ir@idexbiometrics.com

    About IDEX Biometrics:

    IDEX Biometrics ASA ( IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market. For more information, visit www.idexbiometrics.com .

    About this notice:

    This notice was published by Kristian Flaten, CFO, 5 May 2025 at 23:35 CET on behalf of IDEX Biometrics ASA.  This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to the Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-12.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 440 km of the road network will be updated in 2025 under the Victory Street project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, repair work and development of road infrastructure are underway on sections of regional and local roads named in honor of heroes or events of the Great Patriotic War, as well as leading to monuments and memorials dedicated to the events of those years. The work is being carried out under the national project “Infrastructure for Life” and other programs with federal and regional funding. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “On the eve of one of the most important holidays for our country – Victory Day – the “Victory Street” project is launched in Russian regions, aimed at preserving the memory of the feat of war heroes and home front workers. In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory, we will bring about 180 objects named in honor of the heroes or events of the Great Patriotic War to a standard state. Their total length will be more than 440 km. I would like to note that such objects are always given special attention, including in order to preserve the memory of the feat of the soldiers of the Soviet Army for many years to come,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    Let us recall that in 2020, on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War, a number of Russian regions came forward with the initiative to hold a patriotic campaign “Victory Street” in the country.

    “This idea was, of course, supported by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. Then, in 2020, the “Victory Street” project became one of the largest in the country. It involved 83 Russian regions – participants in the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads”. As a result, about 400 objects were updated. Each of these streets preserves the memory of the heroes of our country,” emphasized Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit.

    An important task of the Victory Street project is to increase the attention of Russian residents to the history of the country, the feat of the Soviet people – both on the battlefield and in the rear. In this way, a spiritual and moral position, a sense of involvement in the history of the Fatherland, and responsibility for the future of Russia are formed.

    “During the Great Patriotic War, road workers made a special contribution to the common cause, helping on the front lines and in the rear. During the years of fighting the Nazi onslaught, workers maintained 359 thousand km of military highways in difficult conditions, restored about 100 thousand km, and also laid more than 5 thousand km of transport arteries with hard surfaces. Today, we continue their work. Streets named in honor of the heroes and events of the Great Patriotic War do not just connect infrastructure facilities, but connect generations, embodying the memory of everyone who, sometimes at the cost of their lives, brought Victory closer,” said Igor Kostyuchenko, Deputy Head of the Federal Road Agency.

    Thus, in St. Petersburg in 2025, under the national project, the asphalt concrete pavement will be replaced, sidewalks and curbstones will be restored on a 4-kilometer section of Savushkina Street. Hero of the Soviet Union fighter pilot Alexander Petrovich Savushkin made 373 combat sorties on LaGG-3 and P-39 “Airacobra” fighters, shot down 18 enemy aircraft in 49 battles, defending Leningrad from Nazi air raids. In addition, Savushkina Street leads to the Military Pilots Square, where the monument to the Heroes of the Soviet Union is located.

    Another 3.2 km will be brought up to standard on Morskaya Embankment. This is a busy street, where more than 5,000 cars pass daily. On Morskaya Embankment there is a monument to the cruiser Kirov, one of the symbols of the defense of Leningrad during the war and blockade. In addition, more than 2 km of Moskovsky Prospekt (from Kuznetsovskaya Street to Ligovsky Prospekt) will be renovated in the hero city. The repair section leads to Moskovsky Victory Park.

    Fierce battles took place in the Oryol region during the Great Patriotic War. Thanks to the Victory Street project, everyone will be able to honor the memory of those who fought for their homeland. In the Kolpnyansky District, 5.4 km of the Droskovo-Kolpna-Ushakovo highway will be renovated. It leads to the Field of Soldiers’ Glory. Work will also take place on a 9.6 km section of the Glazunovka-Maloarkhangelsk-Kolpna-Dolgoye highway. This is the route to the memorial in the village of Yakovka. Here, in a mass grave, lie the soldiers who heroically defended their native village from the Nazi invaders.

    In the Moscow Region, six road sections associated with the events and names of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War will be repaired. In particular, more than 3 km of the Ostashkovskoye Highway in Mytishchi will be replaced. The Federal War Memorial “Pantheon of Defenders of the Fatherland” is located next to the repair section. Repairs will also be carried out on Bosov Street in Istra. It is named after Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey Petrovich Bosov, and a monument to him has been erected in the Central Square of the city. For the courage and heroism shown in battle, Alexey Petrovich was awarded the Order of Lenin three times, the last time posthumously in February 1942.

    Roads to places of military glory and monuments to liberator soldiers are repaired annually. In 2023, under the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads”, work was completed, including on several sections of the Volokolamsk Highway. The road leads to the large memorial complex “Frontier of Glory” in the village of Lenino, before entering Snegiri. In December 1941, Snegiri was the line where the German troops advancing on Moscow were stopped. The Nazis entered the village on the night of November 30, 1941. On December 2 and 4, they attacked the village of Lenino, but were repelled by Soviet troops. As a result of heavy fighting, more than 6.5 thousand people died here.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Beyer Fights For Feds

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    As Elon Musk and the Trump Administration expand their chaotic assault on the federal government and the workers and contractors who deliver its essential services to the American people, Northern Virginia Congressman Don Beyer continues to fight for civil servants who devote their careers to making this country stronger.

    On Thursday, Beyer announced the introduction of two bills to rehire federal workers fired by Trump and Musk, and to protect them from future civil service purges. On Saturday, Beyer hosted a jobs fair for federal workers with 40 companies, organizations, and other employers; attendance dwarfed expectations, with over 2,400 people ultimately participating in the event.

    Additional coverage from local news outlets:

    Government Executive: “Federal Employees Removed By Trump Would Have Easier Pathway Back To Government Service Under Democratic Bill”

    “Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who represents more than 72,000 federal workers, is introducing legislation to make it easier for government employees removed under the Trump administration to rejoin agencies and to deter a future president from undertaking a mass firing of the workforce.

    “The Restoring Employment and Hiring Incentives for Removed Employees (REHIRE) Act would deem any federal employee who was involuntarily removed during the period between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2027, as preference eligible for competitive service appointments, a special candidate consideration in the federal hiring process normally afforded to veterans or their family members.”

    WUSA9: ‘I’m Ready To Work Seven Days A Week, Ten-Hour Days’ | Fired Federal Workers Flock To Alexandria Job Fair

    “Fired federal workers arrived at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria on Saturday, looking for their next career. A job fair hosted by Virginia Congressman Don Beyer featured more than 40 employers ready to hire now.

    …

    “I think it tells you just how many people have been impacted by cuts already, or how many people are fearful that cuts may be coming to their positions,” said City of Alexandria Mayor Aliya Gaskins. “That’s huge for Alexandria, where we have over 16,000 residents who are federal workers.”

    “Everyone at the job fair, like Marianne Carliez, wished they didn’t have to be.

    “I’m this far away from cleaning houses so I can pay my mortgage,” said Carliez, whose career in foreign aid was cut short in January when federal cuts began. “It’s been 25 years of working hard, and I miss working. That’s just, that’s all I want. I want to work.”

    “Beyer organized the job fair for Carliez and the thousands of people in a similar situation.”

    Black Virginia News: Congressman Beyer’s job fair to assist federal workers and contractors will easily hit over 2,000 people

    WJLA7: New Bill Would Rehire Fired Federal Workers And Reform Probationary Period Rules

    “A group of House Democrats led by Northern Virginia Rep. Don Beyer has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at rehiring and protecting federal workers.

    …

    “The second bill, the PREP Act, aims to reform the probationary process for federal employees, impacting both new hires and those with new jobs or recent promotions.”

    ALXnow: City Of Alexandria Teams Up With Congressman Beyer For Federal Worker Job Fair On May 3

    “The event aims to connect job seekers with more than 40 companies and organizations looking to hire. Recruiters and hiring managers from various fields, including healthcare, IT, local government, military, consumer electronics, accounting and finance, and federal government professional services, will be there.”

    The Zebra: Beyer Sponsoring Job Fair for Federal Workers, Contractors

    “This fair is specifically for federal workers and contractors who have lost their jobs in recent months. “Every day, I’m hearing from so many of my constituents who have been laid off – or are afraid that they may be the next to lose their jobs,” said Beyer in an email announcement.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden statement on President Trump’s budget proposal

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement today following the release of President Donald Trump’s FY 2026 budget proposal:

    “Right now, my focus is on opposing the GOP’s reconciliation plan to fund tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing health care for my constituents and running up the deficit. 

    “Looking ahead to the president’s FY 2026 budget request, I can’t co-sign a plan to eliminate LIHEAP, which would leave tens of thousands of Maine households in the cold. However, there are other areas where we may be aligned; For example, I support in principle the president’s proposals to increase funding for law enforcement at our border and in our international trade. These are policy priorities I could support. 

    “My staff and I will continue to review the details of the president’s budget request, while remaining focused on protecting health care this year.”

    This year, GOP majorities in Congress have pushed ahead with a budget reconciliation plan that would gut health care programs to fund the renewal of tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest households. The plan would add trillions of dollars to the national deficit.

    Golden voted against the reconciliation plan that set Congress down this reckless path in February and again in April. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden votes to roll back California EV mandates that could take options away from Mainers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted this week to roll back several waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency that allowed California to set aggressive, unrealistic new electric vehicle (EV) standards that would effectively ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles in several states across the country, potentially including Maine.

    “Maine families and small businesses should be able to buy vehicles that meet their needs, whether that’s a diesel truck or an EV,” Golden said. “The EV market is growing steadily and will continue to grow without new regulations that take options away from people looking to purchase their next vehicle.” 

    Golden voted today in favor of three resolutions under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn federal agency rules. Each resolution involved EPA waivers approved by the Biden Administration under the Clean Air Act (CAA), which allows California to adopt more aggressive emissions reduction standards than the floor set by federal law.

    The CAA permits other states to adopt California’s emissions rules, thereby allowing California to set new standards for the rest of the country. Currently, there are 17 other states (including Maine) that have historically sought to adhere to California’s emissions standards.

    The resolutions included: 

    • H.J.Res. 88, voted on today, which would revoke an EPA waiver allowing California to require all new passenger vehicles sold to be zero emissions by 2035. The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 246-164.
    • H.J.Res. 87, voted on yesterday, which would revoke an EPA waiver allowing California to require manufacturers to produce and sell increasing percentages of zero-emission trucks by 2035. The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 231-191.
    • H.J.Res. 89, voted on yesterday, which would revoke an EPA waiver allowing California to reduce the permissible nitrogen oxide emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 225-196.

    Each resolution will have to pass the Senate and be signed by the president to repeal the respective waivers. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler, Menendez, Malliotakis Introduce Legislation to Ban Non-Essential Helicopters in Wake of Hudson River Tragedy 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) introduced the Improving Helicopter Safety Act, which bans all non-essential helicopter traffic within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty. The bill comes in the wake of the tragic crash of an air tourism helicopter into the Hudson River on April 10, which claimed the lives of six people.  

    “The tragic helicopter crash last month on the Hudson River was not an isolated incident; it was the latest in a long line of preventable tragedies in the New York metropolitan region’s increasingly crowded and poorly regulated airspace,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “For far too long, non-essential helicopter flights have endangered public safety and shattered the peace of our neighborhoods. I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Improving Helicopter Safety Act with my colleagues, Rob Menendez and Nicole Malliotakis, to finally put an end to these dangerous flights in our region. We owe it to the victims, and to every resident living beneath these flight paths, to put safety first and prevent future disasters.” 

    “While we have consistently worked to address the impact of non-essential helicopters on our communities, last month’s tragic crash should be a clarion call for every level of government to take action on helicopter safety,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “Rising congestion of non-essential helicopters, coupled with concerning safety records of air tourism operators, are causing a direct threat to public safety. Along with my colleagues from New Jersey and New York, we’re doing what is necessary to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”  

    “The tragic crash that claimed six lives in the Hudson River isn’t an isolated event, it’s the clearest sign yet of an industry that has operated without meaningful oversight for far too long and continues to pose an unacceptable public safety threat,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “Congress must take action, which is why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ban non-essential helicopter traffic within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty and finally rein in these helicopter tour companies.” 

    The crash on April 10 is part of a well-documented and escalating pattern of helicopter-related incidents in the New York Metropolitan Area. Since 1983, there have been at least 30 helicopter crashes in the region, resulting in at least 31 fatalities. In addition to furthering ongoing frustration over air traffic congestion in the region, this year’s crash also shed new light on serious concerns about regulatory oversight and operational standards for non-essential helicopter operations. 

    The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez, and LaMonica McIver.  

    It is also supported by the grassroots advocacy organization Stop The Chop NY/NJ: “Stop the Chop NY/NJ commends Representatives Jerry Nadler, Rob Menendez, and Nicole Malliotakis for today’s introduction of the ‘Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2025’ – common sense federal legislation that will, when passed, finally put an end to the dangerous helicopter conditions in the New York metropolitan area. For too long, tax-paying New Yorkers and Jerseyites have been subjected to excessive noise and air pollution, as well as the safety risks, of endless sightseeing and commuter helicopters flying, often at extremely low altitudes, over our homes, parks, and schools. We have sounded the alarm each time one of these nonessential helicopters has crashed while traversing our densely populated urban areas. However, the FAA has still not addressed the community’s concerns, harms, and pleas for relief. The multiple recent fatal crashes involving helicopters, coupled with the alarming shortage of air traffic controllers, demonstrate the need for immediate reform of the current Wild West-like conditions over NYC and surrounding communities. We also thank the additional Congressional co-sponsors: Representatives Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez, and LaMonica McIver. This non-partisan issue negatively impacts all who live or work near the NYC and NJ heliports and/or along the helicopter flight paths. It is heartening to see our elected officials joining forces across state lines and party affiliations to end this public harm.” 

    For full bill text, click here. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Affordability Actions in the FY26 Budget to Benefit Families

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul visited Kamil and Karolina Kolodziejczyk — parents of two children — on Long Island to discuss her affordability agenda in the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget. The Governor highlighted her efforts to increase the child tax credit, expand child care access, issue New York State’s first-ever inflation refund checks, deliver a tax cut for middle-class and low-income New Yorkers, and provide free breakfast and lunch for every K-12 student in New York — all efforts to put more money back in families’ pockets.

    B-ROLL of the Governor meeting the Kolodziejczyk family is available to stream on Youtube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    VIDEO: The Governor’s conversation with the Kolodziejczyk family is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s conversation with the Kolodziejczyk family is available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s conversation with the Kolodziejczyk family is available below:

    Governor Hochul: But I just want to talk to you about some of the stresses that families are feeling now and — you’ve got the two little ones, 5-year-old and a 3-year-old.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yep. 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.

    Governor Hochul: And I know a 3-year-old. I have got a 3-year-old granddaughter now. She just had her birthday, so I know this age very well and I’m a mom, so it’s great to see this. But, what’s it like? I mean, you worry about grocery shopping and what’s it like when you have to go to the counter it all adds up? Are you seeing any — what’s it like?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Oh yeah. Everything got so expensive in a few years. This one was born five years ago, and that’s when COVID happened and lost the job, laid off and it got tough.

    Governor Hochul: How long were you laid off when COVID hit?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: I got laid off and I went and opened my own business with a chance and business, you know, going into HVAC.

    Governor Hochul: That was ambitious. How’s that going for you?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: It’s going well. It’s going well. Now especially in this weather; it got really, really warm lately, so people call — we’re doing installation service. When my second son was born, my wife had to take a week from work and stay-at-home because daycare got really expensive and the needs for the kids and everything.

    Governor Hochul: Same thing happened to me — when I had my job, my son was born and then child care was not really available. I just couldn’t find much child care and it was very expensive. And so, I just ended up staying home too. So we went from having two incomes — my husband was working for the government and we went and eliminated my income — and that was when I would go to the newspapers, and cut out the coupons, and go to the big-box stores and just, yeah; you load up the big cart, and buy the diapers in bulk, and paper towels, and toilet, detergent, dishwashing liquid.

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: Costco is my favorite.

    Governor Hochul: Costco. There a BJ’s. Or just even going to Walmart, but even those prices are going up, right?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah. I go get the water for a week or something. It’s $100, $20 and it goes in price. Water, drinks — pull up the cart and so, definitely the prices went up, you know?

    Governor Hochul: So you got hit with COVID —

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah.

    Governor Hochul: — lost your job, came back to work, inflation hits you..

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Inflation — the rate for the house, it’s over 6 percent.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, yeah.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: So the payment —

    Governor Hochul: Interest rates were going up when you bought your house and then you have property taxes.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Taxes up. Yeah.

    Governor Hochul: Also, especially important here on Long Island is the state and local tax deduction — and back in 2017, that was eliminated by the president who’s in office now; that was a big tax increase for New Yorkers. New Yorkers right now are sending $12 billion because of losing the state and local tax reduction. So you’re not able to deduct all your taxes, are you?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: No, we’re over —

    Governor Hochul: You’re over the limit. So that’s money that you know you should have back in your pocket, not sending to the federal government. And that’s something that’s really a problem. So, have you ever had to make decisions about what not to buy? Like you want to do some —

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: I do want — like some of the little things for the children and even clothes for them, like do I need that?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Thank God we got two boys. So one after another saving too.

    Governor Hochul: They’re always outgrowing their clothes, aren’t they?

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: Yeah. It’s like every year, the whole — everything new for him, so. Thank God, Benjamin. But if it’s still not ripped, he could use it.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: They’re boys, you know? They’re (inaudible).

    Governor Hochul: They’re rough on clothes, boys, aren’t they? I know that, I know that. We used to get clothes at used clothing stores and put it on layaway. You can’t buy it right when you want to buy it so you put it aside and have to come get it later. So, you know, that’s hard. It’s hard.

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: It is hard, and like I said, I do cook at home so getting the groceries, everything we need — it’s a lot.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Obviously the vehicles, you got to get bigger because you got car seats with little kids.

    Governor Hochul: That’s right.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: If you had three kids, you got a problem because what are you going to do with it? You can’t put the three car seats in the back of the vehicle. Having a bigger family, you can’t even think of nowadays.

    Governor Hochul: Are you going to have a bigger family?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: No, it’s — you know.

    [Laughter]

    Governor Hochul: I didn’t want to pry.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: People that consider a bigger family, they have got to think twice, you know?

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, they do. Cost of child care, in some cases, is as much as a first year of college education in a public university or college. Right? I mean, it’s so much — such a big chunk out of family’s lives and so, we’re very focused on that. You know, everything you’re talking about is not unique to you, and a lot of it is out of your control — pandemic, and inflation, and now tariffs are making all the products that even go into the less expensive stores like Walmart or Target; those products are coming from China and there’s now additional costs on them because of the tariffs. So it’s just all adding up. And, I know you feel it, right?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah, a hundred percent. Can of all the awful things that we wish —

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: It’s going up.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah. And the bills, utility bills and everything. Well, we’re focused on that in government to put you on my Budget. I just wrapped it up and I think it’ll be done another day officially — I’ve been done with my priorities for a little while. I really wanted to figure out a way to put money back in people’s pockets, and it’s people like you — I’ve been thinking about that. Again, none of this you asked for; you came here in search of the American Dream all the way from Poland — that joy of home ownership, which is becoming too rare for people, especially here in Long Island because it’s so expensive. You’re raising your boys here and that’s all good, but sometimes it all feels like it just comes crashing down.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah, every month, the first, you’ve got to pay the mortgage, there’s a tax bill comes in, there’s insurance, repairs around the house. So, yeah, it’s definitely —

    Governor Hochul: So my goal is to put more money back in your pockets. I talked about my priorities back when I announced my Budget. I said, “Your family is my fight,” as your executive — families that I’m thinking about. So we have found a way, working with the Legislature, to first of all have a middle class tax cut, which will benefit about 80 percent of people on Long Island. About 1.3 million will be able to get part of this tax cut. We also are looking at families like yours, and we just talked about how expensive they are, they outgrow everything. So for families with four-year-olds or under, we’ll give a $1,000 direct rebate to you, and for the kids that are over four, $500.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Wow, that’s great.

    Governor Hochul: Sound good?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah, we could definitely use it. Definitely use it.

    Governor Hochul: What would you do with that?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Oh, definitely we are going to spend it on first needs — stuff that is needed for the kids. And the summer is coming so we, obviously you want to spend some time with the kids. So maybe that will let us take some time off and maybe go spend more time with the kids doing a little bit, out of trouble.

    Governor Hochul: That’s not all. We have the inflation rebate. What does that mean? Because you paid so much more over the last few years because everything was higher, we collected more at the state level because of the sales tax. Right? So sales tax — we collected more so we had this surplus there, which some would say we should spend on other things, or some would say we should just stash away. And I said, “No, this is not our money. It belongs to you because you had to pay more. You didn’t ask for that.” And so, the money we accumulated there we were able to give a family like yours an additional $400.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Wow.

    Governor Hochul: So $400 there, and in school districts where they don’t cover the school lunches and breakfast, we’re going to pay for that so children that are struggling and their parents don’t have the money to cover it, they won’t feel a stigma. The kids that have to get it subsidized will be able to get it covered. That’s about $1,600 a year that you can either pay for the school lunch with that, or you can — you won’t have to pay this, it’s free — or you can just not have to make the sandwiches anymore. You won’t have to buy the peanut butter and jelly and all those things that are part of your shopping basket that you don’t have to buy now, and all the little snacks. So when your kids are both school aged, that’ll be $3,200 that you don’t have to spend right there

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: That’s great. That’s big.

    Governor Hochul: And then a tax rate — the largest middle class tax rate decrease in 70 years. So we’re going to work cutting middle class taxes, the direct rebates, the Child Tax Credit, covering school lunches and breakfasts, and we have calculated, for a family like yours, it should add up to about $5,000 back in your pockets. So that’s the whole goal of my Budget. Was public safety, keeping everybody safe, but also realizing —

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: There’s a middle class that needs help.

    Governor Hochul: There’s a middle class that needs help, and we get that, and we want you to keep being successful and not have all these stresses that you have. I can’t take them away from you, but maybe just help a little bit. Right?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Of course.

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: I really appreciate it.

    Governor Hochul: Anything else you need me to know as I head back to Albany and finish up our work?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: No, we really appreciated that you remember about the middle class because there’s so many of us around here, not only us, but there’re people that really need that help.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, people come here, especially our immigrants, people who are living here because you want to contribute and have a better life and build a business and expand that. When I come back someday you’re going to have a big business, lots of employees working all over Long Island.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Hopefully. Hopefully.

    Governor Hochul: Well, Kamil and Karolina, it has been a pleasure just to just catch up with you a little bit, and this is a great reminder to me of why we do what we do and reminds me who we’re fighting for.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Thank you. We appreciate that you remembered and took your time to come and visit us.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Midlands Men Plead Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 33, of West Columbia, and Terrell Counts, 33, of Columbia, have pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy and aiding and abetting the coercion and enticement of a minor.

    According to evidence presented in court, from at least December 2022 through August 2023, Nicholson and Counts worked together with co-defendants Monesha Gary and Rebecca Perry to exploit three minor victims to engage in the commercial sex trade, despite several members of the conspiracy knowing they were minors.

    The investigation revealed that Nicholson was the leader of this operation. Nicholson targeted and exploited minor victims to engage in commercial sex.  Nicholson recruited one minor victim who was a runaway, drove her across state lines, and introduced her to commercial sex work. Nicholson and Counts recruited two additional minor victims near a local high school and exploited the minors on days they were not in school. Nicholson provided the minor victims with lingerie, took photographs of them, posted advertisements online for commercial sex on the internet, instructed them to lie about their age, and confiscated between 50% and 100% of proceeds from commercial sex acts. The advertisements were posted advertising commercial sex in the Midlands, the Upstate, Myrtle Beach and Fayetteville, North Carolina. 

    Evidence presented in court revealed that Nicholson used force, violence and weapons to maintain control and keep the minor victims involved. Nicholson pointed a firearm at one of the exploited victims, directed assaults, and threatened to harm the minor victims if they left.

    Counts facilitated the conspiracy and assisted Nicholson, including running the operation when Nicholson was not around. Counts knew how photographs were taken, and advertisements were posted, how money was transferred from customers to the conspiracy, how proceeds were divided, and how the conspiracy responded to customers. Counts was present during commercial sex acts, present when the minor victims were photographed, and collected proceeds from commercial sex acts. He provided the minor victims with condoms, transportation to and from hotels, and watched for law enforcement at hotels during commercial sex acts.  

    Nicholson, and Counts face a penalty of up to life in prison.  They also face a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registry requirements.  Pursuant to plea agreements, Nicholson and Counts agreed to pay victims restitution.

    United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the Nicholson and Counts after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.  Gary and Perry pleaded guilty previously and are awaiting sentencing.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

    The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: AGF Reports April 2025 Assets Under Management and Fee-Earnings Assets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AGF Management Limited reported total assets under management (AUM) and fee-earning assets1 of $51.3 billion as at April 30, 2025.


    AUM
    ($ billions)
    April 30,  
    2025  
    March 31, 2025  
    % Change  
    Month-Over-  
    Month  
    April 30,  
    2024  
    % Change  
    Year-Over-  
    Year  
    Total Mutual Fund $29.3   $29.8     $26.2    
    Exchange-traded funds + Separately managed accounts $2.8   $3.0     $1.9    
    Segregated accounts and Sub-advisory $6.2   $6.2     $7.2    
    AGF Private Wealth $8.3   $8.5     $7.8    
    Subtotal
    (before AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets1)    		 $46.6   $47.5     $43.1    
    AGF Capital Partners $2.6   $2.5     $2.6    
    Total AUM $49.2   $50.0   -1.6%   $45.7   7.7%  
    AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets1 $2.1   $2.1     $2.1    
    Total AUM and fee-earning assets1 $51.3   $52.1   -1.5%   $47.8   7.3%  
               
    Average Daily Mutual Fund AUM $28.6   $30.1     $26.4    
               

    1 Fee-earning assets represent assets in which AGF has carried interest ownership and earns recurring fees but does not have ownership interest in the managers.

    Mutual Fund AUM by Category
    ($ billions)    		 April 30,  
    2025      		 March 31, 2025   April 30,  
    2024  
    Domestic Equity Funds $4.3   $4.4   $4.1  
    U.S. and International Equity Funds $18.0   $18.1   $15.4  
    Domestic Balanced Funds $0.1   $0.1   $0.1  
    U.S. and International Balanced Funds $1.4   $1.7   $1.6  
    Domestic Fixed Income Funds $2.0   $2.0   $1.6  
    U.S. and International Fixed Income Funds $3.2   $3.2   $3.1  
    Domestic Money Market $0.3   $0.3   $0.3  
    Total Mutual Fund AUM $29.3   $29.8   $26.2  
    AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-
    earning assets

    ($ billions)    		 April 30,  
    2025      		 March 31, 2025   April 30,  
    2024  
    AGF Capital Partners AUM $2.6   $2.5   $2.6  
    AGF Capital Partners fee-earning assets $2.1   $2.1   $2.1  
    Total AGF Capital Partners AUM and fee-earning assets $4.7   $4.6   $4.7  

    About AGF Management Limited

    Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. Our companies deliver excellence in investing in the public and private markets through three business lines: AGF Investments, AGF Capital Partners and AGF Private Wealth.

    AGF brings a disciplined approach, focused on incorporating sound, responsible and sustainable corporate practices. The firm’s collective investment expertise, driven by its fundamental, quantitative and private investing capabilities, extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and their clients to high-net worth and institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America and Europe. With over $51 billion in total assets under management and fee-earning assets, AGF serves more than 815,000 investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

    AGF Management Limited shareholders, analysts and media, please contact:

    Nick Smerek
    VP, Financial Planning & Analysis
    416-865-4337, InvestorRelations@agf.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dime Adds Fund Finance Banking Vertical

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As part of the continued execution of its growth plan, Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the “Company” or “Dime”), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the “Bank”), announced the launch of a new fund finance vertical. Led by Michael Watts, the Fund Finance vertical will provide customized fund-level financing to the private equity industry and expand Dime’s coverage across this ecosystem. Watts, who will be based in Manhattan, was most recently a Senior Vice President at East West Bank.

    Stuart H. Lubow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dime, said, “We are committed to growing our coverage, and position Dime for success, as we respond to the growth in the Fund Finance space. The addition of this vertical is yet another example of targeted strategic investments to expand our commercial expertise and capabilities. For the twelve month period ended March 31, 2025, Dime grew Business loans by over $450 million and we expect Fund Finance to contribute to future growth once we get the vertical up and running.”

    The expansion into Fund Finance, which follows the previous successful buildouts of a Healthcare vertical and a Not-for-Profit vertical, is part of Dime’s recent geographic and vertical expansion. Dime is focused on expanding capabilities and industry-specific coverage expertise by recruiting talented individuals from a variety of financial institutions.

    “Dime has strong momentum and is firmly establishing diversification in its business lines. Within the Fund Finance space, there is an opportunity for Dime to help private equity firms and their portfolio companies with bespoke solutions. I’m looking forward to Michael being part of Dime’s growth and leading the Bank’s efforts in this new vertical,” said Tom Geisel, Dime’s Senior Executive Vice President of Commercial Lending.

    ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

    Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $14 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island (1).

    Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
    Investor Relations Contact:
    Avinash Reddy
    Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
    Phone: 718-782-6200; Ext. 5909
    Email: avinash.reddy@dime.com

    1 Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks with less than $20 billion in assets.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Canoe EIT Income Fund Announces May 2025 Monthly Distribution and Quarterly Distribution on Preferred Units

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canoe EIT Income Fund (the “Fund”) (TSX – EIT.UN) announces the May 2025 monthly distribution of $0.10 per unit. Additionally, the Fund announces a quarterly distribution for preferred units. Cumulative Redeemable Series 1 (EIT.PR.A) and Series 2 Preferred (EIT.PR.B) unitholders will receive a distribution of $0.30 per unit. Unitholders of record on May 23, 2025, will receive distributions payable on June 13, 2025.

    About Canoe EIT Income Fund
    Canoe EIT Income Fund is one of Canada’s largest closed-end investment funds, designed to maximize monthly distributions and capital appreciation by investing in a broadly diversified portfolio of high quality securities. The Fund is listed on the TSX under the symbol EIT.UN, and is actively managed by Robert Taylor, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Canoe Financial.

    About Canoe Financial
    Canoe Financial is one of Canada’s fastest growing independent mutual fund companies managing approximately $20.0 billion in assets across a diversified range of award-winning investment solutions. Founded in 2008, Canoe Financial is an employee-owned investment management firm focused on building financial wealth for Canadians. Canoe Financial has a significant presence across Canada, including offices in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

    For further information, please contact:
    Investor Relations
    1–877–434–2796
    www.canoefinancial.com 
    info@canoefinancial.com

    Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States of America.

    The Fund makes monthly distributions of an amount comprised in whole or in part of Return of Capital (ROC) of the net asset value per unit. A ROC reduces the amount of your original investment and may result in the return to you of the entire amount of your original investment. ROC that is not reinvested will reduce the net asset value of the fund, which could reduce the fund’s ability to generate future income. You should not draw any conclusions about the fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment funds. Please read the information filed about the fund on www.sedar.com before investing. Investment funds are not guaranteed and past performance may not be repeated.

    This communication is not to be construed as a public offering to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Such an offer can only be made by way of a prospectus or other applicable offering document and should be read carefully before making any investment. This release is for information purposes only. Investors should consult their Investment Advisor for details and risk factors regarding specific strategies and various investment products.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Archrock Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Archrock, Inc. (NYSE: AROC) (“Archrock” or the “Company”) today reported results for the first quarter 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 and Recent Highlights

    • Revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was $347.2 million compared to $268.5 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $70.9 million and EPS was $0.40, compared to $40.5 million and $0.26, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the first quarter of 2025 was $74.5 million and adjusted EPS (a non-GAAP measure defined below) was $0.42, compared to $40.5 million and $0.26, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the first quarter of 2025 was $197.8 million compared to $131.0 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Announced acquisition of Natural Gas Compression Systems, Inc. (“NGCSI”) and NGCSE, Inc. (“NGCSE”) (collectively “NGCS”), which closed on May 1, 2025.
    • Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per common share for the first quarter of 2025, approximately 15% higher compared to the first quarter of 2024, resulting in dividend coverage of 3.9x.
    • Raised full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $790 to $830 million.

    Management Commentary and Outlook

    “Our outstanding first quarter results were driven by solid execution and our operational transformation from prior and ongoing investments in our high-quality asset base and innovative processes and technology,” said Brad Childers, Archrock’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We maintained record equipment utilization and, excluding asset sales, grew our operating fleet by over 70,000 horsepower. In addition, we delivered outstanding profitability in both business segments and maintained our sector-leading balance sheet, including a leverage ratio of 3.2x.
      
    “Our excellent underlying business performance and financial strength have positioned us to participate in value-creating industry consolidation. The integration of Total Operations and Production Services is progressing as planned and during the first quarter, we also announced the strategic acquisition of NGCS. The addition of complementary, large horsepower and electric compression assets further enhances our earnings power and position as a premier provider of natural gas compression services.

    “We believe our production-oriented business, high-graded operation and outstanding financial position provide us with differentiated cash flow stability. These factors, combined with our robust and committed backlog, give us good visibility into our outlook this coming year, even in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty.

    “We are committed to our prudent and returns-based capital allocation approach. Our cash available for dividend coverage remains over 3.0x, we’ve repurchased approximately 977,000 shares totaling $22.7 million during 2025 and the Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s share repurchase program by an additional $50 million. We believe the growth in global natural gas demand continues to support infrastructure investment in the U.S., but we are prepared to take decisive action should production growth decelerate,” concluded Childers.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Archrock’s first quarter 2025 net income of $70.9 million included transaction-related costs totaling $3.9 million, a non-cash long-lived and other asset impairment of $1.0 million, and restructuring charges of $0.7 million. Archrock’s first quarter 2024 net income of $40.5 million included a non-cash long-lived and other asset impairment of $2.6 million.

    Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 included $7.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, in net gains related to the sale of compression and other assets.

    Contract Operations

    For the first quarter of 2025, contract operations segment revenue totaled $300.4 million, an increase of 35% compared to $223.1 million in the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted gross margin for the first quarter of 2025 was $210.6 million, up 45% from $145.3 million in the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted gross margin percentage for the first quarter of 2025 was 70%, compared to 65% in the first quarter of 2024. Total operating horsepower at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was 4.3 million, compared to 3.6 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024. Utilization at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was 96%, compared to 95% at the end of the first quarter of 2024.

    Aftermarket Services

    For the first quarter of 2025, aftermarket services segment revenue totaled $46.8 million, compared to $45.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted gross margin for the first quarter of 2025 was $11.5 million, compared to $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted gross margin percentage for the first quarter of 2025 was 25%, compared to 23% for the first quarter of 2024.

    Balance Sheet

    Long-term debt was $2.3 billion and our available liquidity totaled $589.9 million at March 31, 2025. Our leverage ratio was 3.2x as of both March 31, 2025 and 2024.

    Shareholder Returns

    Quarterly Dividend

    Our Board of Directors recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share of common stock, or $0.76 per share on an annualized basis. Dividend coverage in the first quarter of 2025 was 3.9x. The first quarter 2025 dividend will be paid on May 13, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 6, 2025.

    Share Repurchase Program

    Year to date through May 1, 2025, Archrock repurchased 977,218 common shares at an average price of $23.22 per share, for an aggregate of approximately $22.7 million. Since April 2023, the Company has repurchased 2,460,418 common shares at an average price of $18.24 per share for an aggregate of $44.9 million. 

    The Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s share repurchase program by an additional $50 million through April 27, 2026, resulting in available capacity of $65.2 million as of May 1, 2025.

    Updated 2025 Annual Guidance

    Archrock is providing revised guidance for the full year 2025. The full-year 2025 guidance below incorporates eight months of the financial impact of the NGCS acquisition that closed on May 1, 2025.

    (in thousands, except percentages, per share amounts, and ratios)

      Full Year 2025 Guidance
      Low   High
    Net income (1) (2) $ 245,000     $ 285,000  
    Adjusted EBITDA(3)   790,000       830,000  
    Cash available for dividend(4) (5)   480,000       495,000  
                   
    Segment              
    Contract operations revenue $ 1,260,000     $ 1,290,000  
    Contract operations adjusted gross margin percentage   69 %     71 %
    Aftermarket services revenue $ 190,000     $ 210,000  
    Aftermarket services adjusted gross margin percentage   22 %     24 %
                   
    Selling, general and administrative $ 149,000     $ 144,000  
                   
    Capital expenditures              
    Growth capital expenditures $ 330,000     $ 370,000  
    Maintenance capital expenditures   110,000       120,000  
    Other capital expenditures   35,000       50,000  

    _______________
    (1)     2025 annual guidance for net income includes $1.0 million of long-lived and other asset impairment as of March 31, 2025, but does not include the impact of any such future costs, because due to its nature, it cannot be accurately forecasted. Long-lived and other asset impairment does not impact adjusted EBITDA or cash available for dividend, however it is a reconciling item between these measures and net income. Long-lived and other asset impairment for the years 2024 and 2023 was $10.7 million and $12.0 million, respectively.
    (2) Reflects an estimate of expenses incurred related to the acquisitions of Total Operations and Production Services, LLC (“TOPS”) and NGCS.
    (3) Management believes adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because this non-GAAP measure, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance, comparability measure and performance measure for period-to-period comparisons.
    (4) Management uses cash available for dividend as a supplemental performance measure to compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned dividends.
    (5) A forward-looking estimate of cash provided by operating activities is not provided because certain items necessary to estimate cash provided by operating activities, including changes in assets and liabilities, are not estimable at this time. Changes in assets and liabilities were $(25.8) million and $(28.0) million for the years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

    Summary Metrics
    (in thousands, except percentages, per share amounts and ratios)

      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Net income $ 70,850     $ 59,758     $ 40,532  
    Adjusted net income (1) $ 74,484     $ 61,533     $ 40,532  
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 197,845     $ 183,844     $ 131,024  
                         
    Contract operations revenue $ 300,397     $ 286,466     $ 223,051  
    Contract operations adjusted gross margin $ 210,598     $ 200,245     $ 145,308  
    Contract operations adjusted gross margin percentage   70 %     70 %     65 %
                         
    Aftermarket services revenue $ 46,766     $ 39,950     $ 45,437  
    Aftermarket services adjusted gross margin $ 11,509     $ 9,054     $ 10,437  
    Aftermarket services adjusted gross margin percentage   25 %     23 %     23 %
                         
    Selling, general, and administrative $ 37,207     $ 42,234     $ 31,665  
                         
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 115,628     $ 124,338     $ 137,702  
    Cash available for dividend(1) $ 132,247     $ 118,089     $ 82,026  
    Cash available for dividend coverage (2)   3.9 x     3.5 x     3.2 x
                         
    Adjusted free cash flow (1) $ (48,403 )   $ 68,945     $ 51,779  
    Adjusted free cash flow after dividend (1) $ (82,588 )   $ 38,255     $ 25,779  
                         
    Total available horsepower (at period end) (3)   4,461       4,401       3,780  
    Total operating horsepower (at period end) (4)   4,283       4,227       3,593  
    Horsepower utilization spot (at period end) (5)   96 %     96 %     95 %

    _______________
    (1)     Management believes adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA, cash available for dividend, adjusted free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow after dividend provide useful information to investors because these non-GAAP measures, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to review current period operating performance, comparability measures and performance measures for period-to-period comparisons.
    (2) Defined as cash available for dividend divided by dividends declared for the period.
    (3) Defined as idle and operating horsepower and includes new compressor units completed by a third-party manufacturer that have been delivered to us.
    (4) Defined as horsepower that is operating under contract and horsepower that is idle but under contract and generating revenue such as standby revenue.
    (5) Defined as total available horsepower divided by total operating horsepower at period end.

    Conference Call Details

    Archrock will host a conference call on May 6, 2025, to discuss first quarter 2025 financial results. The call will begin at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

    To listen to the call via a live webcast, please visit Archrock’s website at www.archrock.com. The call will also be available by dialing 1 (800) 715-9871 in the United States or 1 (646) 307-1963 for international calls. The access code is 4749623.

    A replay of the webcast will be available on Archrock’s website for 90 days following the event.

    Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) excluding restructuring charges and transaction-related costs adjusted for income taxes. A reconciliation of net income to adjusted net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per common share to adjusted earnings per share, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appear below.

    Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, long-lived and other asset impairment, unrealized change in fair value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate, restructuring charges, transaction-related costs, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, amortization of capitalized implementation costs and other items. A reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and a reconciliation of our full year 2025 net income to adjusted EBITDA guidance appear below.

    Adjusted gross margin, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as revenue less cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization. Adjusted gross margin percentage, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as adjusted gross margin divided by revenue. A reconciliation of net income to adjusted gross margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and a reconciliation of gross margin to adjusted gross margin and adjusted gross margin percentage appear below.

    Cash available for dividend, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, long-lived and other asset impairment, unrealized change in fair value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate, restructuring charges, transaction-related costs, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, amortization of capitalized implementation costs and other items, less maintenance capital expenditures, other capital expenditures, cash taxes and cash interest expense. Reconciliations of net income to cash available for dividend and net income to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, and a reconciliation of our full year 2025 net income to cash available for dividend guidance appear below.

    Adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash provided by operating activities plus net cash provided by (used in) investing activities. A reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted free cash flow, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below.

    Adjusted free cash flow after dividend, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash provided by operating activities plus net cash provided by (used in) investing activities less dividends paid to stockholders. A reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted free cash flow after dividend, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below.

    About Archrock

    Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a primary focus on midstream natural gas compression and a commitment to helping its customers produce, compress and transport natural gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Archrock is a premier provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the energy industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment. For more information on how Archrock embodies its purpose, WE POWER A CLEANER AMERICA, visit www.archrock.com.

    Forward–Looking Statements

    All statements in this release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release) other than historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, many of which are outside the control of Archrock. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to statements regarding: guidance or estimates related to Archrock’s results of operations or of financial condition; fundamentals of Archrock’s industry, including the attractiveness of returns and valuation, stability of cash flows, demand dynamics and overall outlook, and Archrock’s ability to realize the benefits thereof; Archrock’s expectations regarding future economic, geopolitical and market conditions and trends; Archrock’s operational and financial strategies, including planned growth, coverage and leverage reduction strategies, Archrock’s ability to successfully effect those strategies, and the expected results therefrom; Archrock’s financial and operational outlook; demand and growth opportunities for Archrock’s services; structural and process improvement initiatives, the expected timing thereof, Archrock’s ability to successfully effect those initiatives and the expected results therefrom; the operational and financial synergies provided by Archrock’s size; statements regarding Archrock’s dividend policy; the expected benefits of the TOPS Acquisition, including its expected accretion and the expected impact on Archrock’s leverage ratio; and plans and objectives of management for future operations.

    While Archrock believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. The factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: inability to achieve the expected benefits of the NGCS acquisition and difficulties in integrating NGCS; risks of acquisitions or mergers, including the NGCS acquisition, to reduce our ability to make distributions to our common stockholders; risks related to macroeconomic conditions, including an increase in inflation and trade tensions; pandemics and other public health crises; ongoing international conflicts and tensions; risks related to our operations; competitive pressures; risks of acquisitions to reduce our ability to make distributions to our common stockholders; inability to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms; uncertainty to pay dividends in the future; risks related to a substantial amount of debt and our debt agreements; inability to access the capital and credit markets or borrow on affordable terms to obtain additional capital; inability to fund purchases of additional compression equipment; vulnerability to interest rate increases; erosion of the financial condition of our customers; risks related to the loss of our most significant customers; uncertainty of the renewals for our contract operations service agreements; risks related to losing management or operational personnel; dependence on particular suppliers and vulnerability to product shortages and price increases; information technology and cybersecurity risks; tax-related risks; legal and regulatory risks, including climate-related and environmental, social and governance risks.

    These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties described in Archrock’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, Archrock’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and those set forth from time to time in Archrock’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.archrock.com. Except as required by law, Archrock expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    SOURCE: Archrock, Inc.

    For information, contact:

    Megan Repine
    VP of Investor Relations
    281-836-8360
    investor.relations@archrock.com

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Revenue:                
    Contract operations $ 300,397     $ 286,466     $ 223,051  
    Aftermarket services   46,766       39,950       45,437  
    Total revenue   347,163       326,416       268,488  
                     
    Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization                
    Contract operations   89,799       86,221       77,743  
    Aftermarket services   35,257       30,896       35,000  
    Total cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization   125,056       117,117       112,743  
                     
    Selling, general and administrative   37,207       42,234       31,665  
    Depreciation and amortization   57,620       58,129       42,835  
    Long-lived and other asset impairment   972       1,203       2,568  
    Restructuring charges   665       —       —  
    Interest expense   37,741       38,238       27,334  
    Transaction-related costs   3,935       2,247       —  
    Gain on sale of assets, net   (7,335 )     (12,712 )     (2,381 )
    Other (income) expense, net   (684 )     1,598       139  
    Income before income taxes   91,986       78,362       53,585  
    Provision for income taxes   21,136       18,604       13,053  
    Net income $ 70,850     $ 59,758     $ 40,532  
                     
    Basic and diluted net income per common share (1) $ 0.40     $ 0.34     $ 0.26  
                     
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding:                
    Basic   174,014       173,451       154,187  
    Diluted   174,371       173,848       154,501  

    _______________
    (1) Basic and diluted net income per common share is computed using the two-class method to determine the net income per share for each class of common stock and participating security (restricted stock and stock-settled restricted stock units that have non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents) according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Accordingly, we have excluded net income attributable to participating securities from our calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    (in thousands, except percentages, per share amounts and ratios)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Revenue:                
    Contract operations $ 300,397     $ 286,466     $ 223,051  
    Aftermarket services   46,766       39,950       45,437  
    Total revenue $ 347,163     $ 326,416     $ 268,488  
                     
    Adjusted gross margin:                
    Contract operations $ 210,598     $ 200,245     $ 145,308  
    Aftermarket services   11,509       9,054       10,437  
    Total adjusted gross margin (1) $ 222,107     $ 209,299     $ 155,745  
                     
    Adjusted gross margin percentage:                
    Contract operations   70 %     70 %     65 %
    Aftermarket services   25 %     23 %     23 %
    Total adjusted gross margin percentage (1)   64 %     64 %     58 %
                     
    Selling, general and administrative $ 37,207     $ 42,234     $ 31,665  
    % of revenue   11 %     13 %     12 %
                     
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 197,845     $ 183,844     $ 131,024  
    % of revenue   57 %     56 %     49 %
                     
    Capital expenditures $ 168,140     $ 97,988     $ 99,755  
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets   (2,904 )     (43,387 )     (13,844 )
    Net capital expenditures $ 165,236     $ 54,601     $ 85,911  
                     
    Total available horsepower (at period end) (2)   4,461       4,401       3,780  
    Total operating horsepower (at period end) (3)   4,283       4,227       3,593  
    Average operating horsepower   4,254       4,205       3,606  
    Horsepower utilization:                
    Spot (at period end) (4)   96 %     96 %     95 %
    Average (4)   96 %     95 %     96 %
                     
    Dividend declared for the period per share $ 0.190     $ 0.190     $ 0.165  
    Dividend declared for the period to all stockholders $ 33,758     $ 33,487     $ 25,978  
    Cash available for dividend coverage (5)   3.9 x     3.5 x     3.2 x
                     
    Adjusted free cash flow (1) $ (48,403 )   $ 68,945     $ 51,779  
    Adjusted free cash flow after dividend (1) $ (82,588 )   $ 38,255     $ 25,779  

    _______________
    (1)     Management believes adjusted gross margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow after dividend provide useful information to investors because these non-GAAP measures, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to review current period operating performance, comparability measures and performance measures for period-to-period comparisons.
    (2) Defined as idle and operating horsepower and includes new compressor units completed by a third-party manufacturer that have been delivered to us.
    (3) Defined as horsepower that is operating under contract and horsepower that is idle but under contract and generating revenue such as standby revenue.
    (4) Defined as total available horsepower divided by total operating horsepower at period end (spot) or over time (average).
    (5) Defined as cash available for dividend divided by dividends declared for the period.

      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025      2024      2024
    Balance Sheet                      
    Long-term debt (1) $ 2,297,767     $ 2,198,376     $ 1,566,566  
    Total equity   1,349,983       1,323,531       882,080  

    _______________
    (1) Carrying values are shown net of unamortized premium and deferred financing costs.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Earnings Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Net income $ 70,850     $ 59,758     $ 40,532  
    Restructuring charges   665       —       —  
    Transaction-related costs   3,935       2,247       —  
    Tax effect of adjustments (1)   (966 )     (472 )     —  
    Adjusted net income (2) $ 74,484     $ 61,533     $ 40,532  
                       
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding used in diluted earnings per common share   174,371       173,451       154,401  
                       
    Basic and diluted earnings per common share (3) $ 0.40     $ 0.34     $ 0.26  
    Restructuring charges per share   0.00       —       —  
    Transaction-related costs per share   0.03       0.01       —  
    Tax effect of adjustments per share   (0.01 )     (0.00 )     —  
    Adjusted earnings per share (2) $ 0.42     $ 0.35     $ 0.26  

    _______________
    (1) Represents tax effect of restructuring charges and transaction-related costs based on statutory tax rate.
    (2) Management believes adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share provides useful information to investors because these non-GAAP measures, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to review our current period operating performance, comparability measure and performance measure for period-to-period comparisons without burdened earnings and earnings per share for non-recurring transactional costs.
    (3) Basic and diluted net income per common share is computed using the two-class method to determine the net income per share for each class of common stock and participating security (restricted stock and stock-settled restricted stock units that have non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents) according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Accordingly, we have excluded net income attributable to participating securities from our calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Gross Margin
    (in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Net income $ 70,850     $ 59,758     $ 40,532  
    Depreciation and amortization   57,620       58,129       42,835  
    Long-lived and other asset impairment   972       1,203       2,568  
    Unrealized change in fair value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate   —       1,484       —  
    Restructuring charges   665       —       —  
    Interest expense   37,741       38,238       27,334  
    Transaction-related costs   3,935       2,247       —  
    Stock-based compensation expense   4,027       3,431       3,964  
    Amortization of capitalized implementation costs   762       750       738  
    Indemnification expense, net   137       —       —  
    Provision for income taxes   21,136       18,604       13,053  
    Adjusted EBITDA (1)   197,845       183,844       131,024  
    Selling, general and administrative   37,207       42,234       31,665  
    Stock-based compensation expense   (4,027 )     (3,431 )     (3,964 )
    Amortization of capitalized implementation costs   (762 )     (750 )     (738 )
    Gain on sale of assets, net   (7,335 )     (12,712 )     (2,381 )
    Other (income) expense, net   (684 )     1,598       139  
    Adjusted gross margin (1) $ 222,107     $ 209,299     $ 155,745  

    _______________
    (1) Management believes adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin provide useful information to investors because these non-GAAP measures, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to review current period operating performance, comparability measures and performance measures for period-to-period comparisons.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Total Revenue to Adjusted Gross Margin and Adjusted Gross Margin Percentage
    (in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Total revenues $ 347,163       $ 326,416       $ 268,488    
    Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization   (125,056 )       (117,117 )       (112,743 )  
    Depreciation and amortization   (57,620 )       (58,129 )       (42,835 )  
    Gross margin and gross margin percentage   164,487   47 %     151,170   46 %     112,910   42 %
    Depreciation and amortization   57,620         58,129         42,835    
    Adjusted gross margin and adjusted gross margin percentage (1) $ 222,107   64 %   $ 209,299   64 %   $ 155,745   58 %

    _______________
    (1) Management believes adjusted gross margin and adjusted gross margin percentage provide useful information to investors because this non-GAAP measure, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance, comparability measures and performance measures for period-to-period comparisons.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Dividend
    (in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Net income $ 70,850     $ 59,758     $ 40,532  
    Depreciation and amortization   57,620       58,129       42,835  
    Long-lived and other asset impairment   972       1,203       2,568  
    Unrealized change in fair value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate   —       1,484       —  
    Restructuring charges   665       —       —  
    Interest expense   37,741       38,238       27,334  
    Transaction-related costs   3,935       2,247       —  
    Stock-based compensation expense   4,027       3,431       3,964  
    Amortization of capitalized implementation costs   762       750       738  
    Indemnification expense, net   137       —       —  
    Provision for income taxes   21,136       18,604       13,053  
    Adjusted EBITDA (1)   197,845       183,844       131,024  
    Less: Maintenance capital expenditures   (22,753 )     (21,623 )     (19,525 )
    Less: Other capital expenditures   (6,019 )     (7,023 )     (2,920 )
    Less: Cash tax (payment) refund   (92 )     134       89  
    Less: Cash interest expense   (36,734 )     (37,243 )     (26,642 )
    Cash available for dividend (2) $ 132,247     $ 118,089     $ 82,026  

    _______________
    (1)     Management believes adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because this non-GAAP measure, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance, comparability measure and performance measure for period-to-period comparisons.
    (2) Management uses cash available for dividend as a supplemental performance measure to compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned dividends.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Cash Available for Dividend
    (in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 115,628     $ 124,338     $ 137,702  
    Inventory write-downs   (188 )     18       (199 )
    Provision for credit losses   (156 )     (286 )     75  
    Gain on sale of assets, net   7,335       12,712       2,381  
    Current income tax provision   1,182       997       593  
    Cash tax (payment) refund   (92 )     134       89  
    Amortization of operating lease ROU assets   (1,204 )     (1,063 )     (947 )
    Amortization of contract costs   (5,889 )     (6,106 )     (5,768 )
    Deferred revenue recognized in earnings   3,746       5,294       2,859  
    Indemnification expense, net   137       —       —  
    Cash restructuring charges   665       —       —  
    Cash transaction-related costs   3,935       2,247       —  
    Time-based cash or equity settled units settled as equity   (1,756 )     —       —  
    Changes in assets and liabilities   37,676       8,450       (32,314 )
    Maintenance capital expenditures   (22,753 )     (21,623 )     (19,525 )
    Other capital expenditures   (6,019 )     (7,023 )     (2,920 )
    Cash available for dividend (1) $ 132,247     $ 118,089     $ 82,026  

    _______________
    (1) Management uses cash available for dividend as a supplemental performance measure to compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned dividends.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities to Adjusted Free Cash Flow
    and Adjusted Free Cash Flow After Dividend
    (in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31,    December 31,    March 31, 
      2025   2024   2024
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 115,628     $ 124,338     $ 137,702  
    Net cash used in investing activities   (164,031 )     (55,393 )     (85,923 )
    Adjusted free cash flow (1)   (48,403 )     68,945       51,779  
    Dividends paid to stockholders   (34,185 )     (30,690 )     (26,000 )
    Adjusted free cash flow after dividend (1) $ (82,588 )   $ 38,255     $ 25,779  

    _______________
    (1) Management believes adjusted free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow after dividend provide useful information to investors because these non-GAAP measures, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to review current period operating performance, comparability measures and performance measures for period-to-period comparisons.

    Archrock, Inc.
    Unaudited Supplemental Information
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Dividend Guidance
    (in thousands)
     
      Annual Guidance Range
      2025
      Low   High
    Net income (1) $ 245,000     $ 285,000  
    Interest expense   165,000       165,000  
    Provision for income taxes   98,000       98,000  
    Depreciation and amortization   248,000       248,000  
    Stock-based compensation expense   18,000       18,000  
    Long-lived and other asset impairment   1,000       1,000  
    Amortization of capitalized implementation costs   4,000       4,000  
    Transaction-related costs (2)   10,000       10,000  
    Restructuring charges   1,000       1,000  
    Adjusted EBITDA (3)   790,000       830,000  
    Less: Maintenance capital expenditures   (110,000 )     (120,000 )
    Less: Other capital expenditures   (35,000 )     (50,000 )
    Less: Cash tax expense   (5,000 )     (5,000 )
    Less: Cash interest expense   (160,000 )     (160,000 )
    Cash available for dividend (4)(5) $ 480,000     $ 495,000  

    _______________
    (1)     2025 annual guidance for net income includes $1.0 million of long-lived and other asset impairment as of March 31, 2025, but does not include the impact of any such future costs, because due to its nature, it cannot be accurately forecasted. Long-lived and other asset impairment does not impact Adjusted EBITDA or cash available for dividend, however it is a reconciling item between these measures and net income. Long-lived and other asset impairment for the years 2024 and 2023 was $10.7 million and $12.0 million, respectively.
    (2) Reflects an estimate of expenses to be incurred related to the TOPS and NGCS acquisitions.
    (3) Management believes adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because this non-GAAP measure, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance, comparability measure and performance measure for period-to-period comparisons.
    (4) Management uses cash available for dividend as a supplemental performance measure to compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned dividends.
    (5) A forward-looking estimate of cash provided by operating activities is not provided because certain items necessary to estimate cash provided by operating activities, including changes in assets and liabilities, are not estimable at this time. Changes in assets and liabilities were $(25.8) million and $(28.0) million for the years 2024 and 2023, respectively.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Discusses Space, Defense Budget with additional DoD Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Daniel Zimmerman, Justin Overbaugh, and Matthew Lohmeier, President Trump’s nominees to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, and Under Secretary of the Air Force, respectively.
    Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s conversation with the nominees can be found below, and the full conversation can be found on YouTube or Rumble.
    ON CENTCOM TARGETING HOUTHIS AS FTO
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, gentlemen, for [your] willingness to serve. Mr. Zimmerman, since March 15th, CENTCOM forces have conducted a sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence. As of April 27th, CENTCOM has struck over 800 targets. These targets have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders, including senior Houthi missile and UAV officials. Mr. Zimmerman, in your assessment, have U.S. operations against the Houthis been a success?”
    ZIMMERMAN: “Senator, I support the administration’s forcible approach toward the Houthis beginning in the early days of the administration with the Executive Order that called for the elimination of the threat of the Houthis with allies and designated them as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. I don’t think I have access to the classified information that I would like to have to make an assessment about the efficacy of these strikes, but I support what the administration is trying to do.”
    ON MSIC IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Overbaugh, one of the organizations you will help oversee if you are confirmed is the Missile and Space Intelligence Center—we call MSIC—which is a component of DIA and located in my state [in] Huntsville, Alabama. MSIC provides a world-class analysis on the performance of foreign weapons systems, which is critical to ensuring our warfighters dominate the battlefield against our adversaries. Mr. Overbaugh, are you familiar with MSIC and MSIC’s analysis, and if so, can you talk a little bit about how important this mission is?”
    OVERBAUGH: “Senator, I am familiar with MSIC and particularly their role in feeding quality intelligence into other entities like DIA to ensure that we have an accurate threat picture. I think even more important is the potential for MSIC to play a key role to ensure we understand the key adversarial threat as it relates to ensuring that our Golden Dome is as effective as it possibly can be.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Have you had the opportunity to visit MSIC headquarters in Huntsville?”
    OVERBAUGH: “Huntsville, yes. MSIC, no.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Hopefully you get to soon. Thank you.”
    ON SUPPORTING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AT DOD
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Lohmeier, you have an absolutely outstanding unique career path as a military officer. Thank you for your service. You’ve got a breadth of experience in both Air Force and Space Force, which is very uncommon, but none of those experiences are with managing large budgets. Why should you be trusted now with such a heavy responsibility at a time when we are taking [fiscal] responsibility more seriously—thank goodness—than ever before, and while there is a growing demand from the American people that we have a clean audit of the defense department?”
    LOHMEIER: “Thanks, Senator. I’m glad that I get to readdress this. While it’s true that I don’t personally have extensive experience with a large budget in a large organization or acquisition experience, I have sound judgment. I’ve demonstrated it throughout my life. I’m a fast learner. Secretary Meink, if he’s confirmed, has demonstrated that you can pass 16 or 17 clean audits at the National Reconnaissance Office. He’ll be a phenomenal leader to work with on this problem in the Department of the Air Force. What I can say is that we’ve got exceptional professionals who’ve been trying administration after administration to solve our problems—our budget problems, our acquisition problems in the Department of the Air Force—and many of them have had extensive acquisition and budgeting experience, but that doesn’t mean you’re able to solve the problems well. And so, if confirmed, what I can commit to this committee and to the American people is that I’m interested in making data-driven decisions. I’m interested in exercising keen judgement and discernments about these budget decisions, and coming to the right decisions that I believe the American people would be grateful for and trust—and doing that in concert with Secretary Meink and in support of the President’s priorities and in support of the Secretary of Defense’s priorities.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, and your knowledge will be very important moving into space. You have a lot of experience in that area. We look forward to working with you in that area because as we know, it is going to be a much, much more important part of our military in the very near future. Thank you, gentlemen. Look forward to confirming you.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Banks, Rep. Mrvan Push for Northwest Indiana Hydrogen Hub

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)

    Washington, D.C – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Representative Frank Mrvan (IN-01) sent a bipartisan letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright urging the Trump administration to prioritize Northwest Indiana as a regional Hydrogen Hub.  They highlighted the region’s unmatched manufacturing strength, existing energy infrastructure, and readiness to lead in blue hydrogen production using natural gas and carbon capture.  The lawmakers argued that investing in Indiana’s hydrogen project would support President Trump’s push for American energy dominance, create jobs, lower costs, and strengthen the U.S. industrial base for decades to come.

    In part, the letter reads:  “Prioritizing a Hydrogen Hub in Northwest Indiana is a bold, pro-America decision that plays to our state’s strengths.  Indiana offers the Hoosier workforce, infrastructure and industrial knowledge to deliver results fast.  This project is a key step in strengthening America’s energy dominance, ensuring we remain the world leader in energy production while creating jobs and boosting economic growth.  We respectfully ask that the Administration make the Hydrogen Hub project in Indiana a top priority.”

    The full text of the letter is below and a pdf is available here.

    We write today to express our strong support for the ongoing development of blue hydrogen energy in Northwest Indiana’s industrial corridor. 

    This region is home to a dense manufacturing hub, containing the largest inland oil refinery and two of the largest integrated steel production facilities in our nation.  For over a century, major industry titans have made decisions to invest and locate along Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline.  As a result, Hoosiers in the Northwest region and across the state have been world leaders in manufacturing.

    Keeping in line with President Trump’s efforts to bolster American energy, this Hydrogen Hub presents a significant opportunity to expand energy production.  In particular, the Whiting “Refinery in Northwest Indiana is an ideal location for blue hydrogen production, which is produced from clean and reliable natural gas using carbon capture technology.  Blue hydrogen offers a quick, cost-effective solution by utilizing existing infrastructure, and will provide a scalable energy source capable of meeting immediate energy demands.  Investing in blue hydrogen production at this facility will bolster existing supply chains and will best position the United States for energy dominance. 

    Further, we believe the success of the hydrogen energy project will support the Administration’s stated goal to reshore our critical industries and strengthen our manufacturing base.  With our region’s established downstream infrastructure, midstream pipeline capacity and manufacturing prowess, the continued support for this project will ensure that our energy and steel industries remain well positioned for success into the next century. 

    Notably, the Whiting Refinery in Northwest Indiana can process up to 440,000 barrels of crude oil daily and would be an ideal site to locate a regional Hydrogen Hub.  Continuing this project means investing in Hoosiers and a state that delivers.  Indiana is ready to lead the way in blue hydrogen innovation, strengthening American manufacturing, boosting our domestic energy supply and lowering costs by maximizing the potential of our abundant and reliable fossil fuel resources.

    Prioritizing a Hydrogen Hub in Northwest Indiana is a bold, pro-America decision that plays to our state’s strengths.  Indiana offers the Hoosier workforce, infrastructure and industrial knowledge to deliver results fast.  This project is a key step in strengthening America’s energy dominance, ensuring we remain the world leader in energy production while creating jobs and boosting economic growth.  We respectfully ask that the Administration make the Hydrogen Hub project in Indiana a top priority.

    Thank you for your consideration.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Midwives Day

    Health Minister Josie Osborne released the following statement in recognition of Midwives Day, May 5, 2025:

    “Today, we recognize and celebrate the vital role midwives play in our health-care system. These dedicated and compassionate professionals provide exceptional care to many families in British Columbia through one of the most meaningful times in their lives – from pregnancy to birth and the post-partum period.

    “In 2024, midwives assisted in 31% of births in B.C. This is a powerful testament to the trust families place in them. Midwives deliver personalized, safe and culturally respectful care to families throughout the province, including those in rural, remote and First Nations communities. They also play a crucial role in improving maternity, reproductive and gynecological care – a core priority in my ministry’s mandate letter.

    “Midwives Day is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of midwives and our government’s commitment to supporting them. Since 2022, our government has increased the wages and benefits of midwives and has provided more supports for Indigenous midwifery and midwifery in remote communities. In addition, by implementing B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, we continue to support and strengthen recruitment, retention and training for midwives. Their well-being and professional growth are key to the future of maternity care in our province and ensures stable, reliable maternity and newborn services for people in B.C.

    “To every midwife in B.C. – thank you. Your dedication and excellence mean the world to the little ones and families you serve.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Crikey, ChatGPT’s gone bush! How AI is learning the art of Aussie slang

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ross Yates, Lecturer, Project Management, Edith Cowan University

    Shutterstock

    Ever tried to explain why a sausage would be referred to as a “snag” while overseas, or why the toilet is the “dunny”? If you found this challenging, spare a thought for large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, which have to contend with slang terms from all over the world.

    Is it possible for AI to decipher the strange “code” that is Australian slang, given all the nuance and cultural references loaded into it?

    Cracking the code

    LLMs don’t “understand” language like we do. Rather, they are trained on massive quantities of online text data (including websites, news articles and books) to learn patterns between words. They can then mimic these patterns to produce human-like responses.

    So it follows that unless AI systems can mingle with people in informal real-world settings – or can access TV shows such as Kath and Kim – they’re unlikely to grasp the finer points of our real-world conversations.

    Take words such as “cooked” and “random”, which can have different meanings in different contexts. Or consider the phrase “flat out like a lizard drinking”. What could it mean? Is the speaker comparing themselves to a thirsty reptile sprawled out under a dripping tap?

    The phrase actually refers to being very busy, by using the visual metaphor of a lizard’s fast-moving tongue. While an AI may not make this connection, many people living in Australia will have a lifetime of experience that helps them understand the message being conveyed.

    To further complicate matters, Aussie slang continues to evolve, and doesn’t always follow the rules of grammar and structure.

    Slang phrases tend to follow a looser sentence structure and are often filled with idioms, metaphors, abbreviations and culturally-specific humour. Australian language expert Roland Sussex estimates we use more than 5,000 abbreviations and diminutives.

    Slang also changes from one generation to the next. For instance, one 2010 study suggests older Australians are more likely to shorten words with an “ie” or “o” sound, such as “truckie” instead of “truck driver” and “ambo” instead of ambulance. Young Australians, meanwhile, are more likely to clip words or add an “s”, such as “mobes” for mobile phone.

    Are we there yet?

    Can AI chatbots learn Aussie slang? There is evidence many are already developing a broad understanding of the most frequently used terms and their current interpretations.

    For example, “give it a crack” and “mozzie” are both understood by Amazon’s Alexa.

    In 2021, Alexa partnered with local celebrity Sophie Monk and comedy duo The Inspired Unemployed to incorporate a large collection of Aussie slang into its vocabulary. The personal AI assistant even comes with an Aussie accent feature.

    Keeping up-to-date with changing Aussie slang terms, interpretations and regional dialects is a resource-intensive undertaking. Nonetheless, ChatGPT and other LLMs have made progress on this front, as this example shows:


    ChatGPT/screenshot

    Some chatbots, such as Perplexity AI, can scour the internet in real-time to try and find the best possible response to an input.

    Trying to peek inside

    LLMs continue to advance in their sophistication and capabilities. The most recent models such as GPT 4o, DeepSeek and Claude 3.7 even incorporate “thinking” to tackle more complex tasks by displaying an internal “thought process” before revealing their answer.

    However, research has shown many AI models, when prompted, won’t always reveal the full “chain-of-thought” they followed to arrive at a particular answer.

    This makes it harder for us to understand the models’ intentions and reasoning processes. So while they may be learning to adapt and respond to our niche slang and cultural references, in many ways they remain a black box.

    Beyond that, AI models can only regurgitate our own slang back to us. They can’t grasp why it is meaningful. Nor do they understand the important role slang plays in our society.

    Aussie slang is born out of millions of interactions and conversations – and LLMs can only ever respond to our use of it. To create it remains an entirely human endeavour.

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

    – ref. Crikey, ChatGPT’s gone bush! How AI is learning the art of Aussie slang – https://theconversation.com/crikey-chatgpts-gone-bush-how-ai-is-learning-the-art-of-aussie-slang-253939

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –