Headline: One Month Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Tennessee April Severe Storms
One Month Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Tennessee April Severe Storms
Middle and Western Tennesseans who have been affected by April severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding have one month left to apply for FEMA assistance
Homeowners, renters, students, self-employed, ranchers and farmers in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson counties who were displaced or have property damage from the April 2-24 storms have until Tuesday, Aug
19 to submit an application for FEMA assistance
Money is available for survivors who need help covering uninsured costs for things like rental expenses, home repairs, vehicle damage, medical expenses, moving and storage, and reimbursement for temporary housing
How to Apply for FEMA AssistanceApply online at DisasterAssistance
gov, use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
In-person help is available at any Disaster Recovery Center for submitting applications, getting updates and asking questions
Find a center here: DRC Locator (fema
gov)
Video: What to Expect Before Applying for FEMA Assistance | ASL | SpanishVideo: Next Steps After Applying for FEMA Assistance | ASL | SpanishDisaster Recovery Center locations:Dyer County: Bogota Community Center, 78 Sandy Lane, Bogota, TN 38007Hours: 8 a
m
–6 p
m
CT Monday-SundayHardeman County: Safehaven Storm Shelter, 530 Madison Ave W
, Grand Junction, TN 38039Hours: 8 a
m
–6 p
m
CT Monday-SundayMcNairy County: Latta Theatre, 205 W
Court Ave
, Selmer, TN 38375Hours: 8 a
m
–6 p
m
CT Monday-SundayMontgomery County: Montgomery County Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, TN 37040Hours: 9 a
m
–8 p
m
CT Monday-Thursday; 9 a
m
–6 p
m
CT Friday-Saturday; 1 p
m
–5 p
m
CT SundayObion County: Obion County Library, 1221 E
Four crew members are preparing to launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission to perform research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance activities aboard the orbiting laboratory. During the mission, Crew-11 also will contribute to NASA’s Artemis campaign by simulating Moon landing scenarios that astronauts may encounter near the lunar South Pole, showing how the space station helps prepare crews for deep space human exploration. The simulations will be performed before, during, and after their mission using handheld controllers and multiple screens to identify how changes in gravity affect spatial awareness and astronauts’ ability to pilot spacecraft, like a lunar lander. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov will lift off no earlier than 12:09 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 31, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a long-duration mission. The cadre will fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, which previously flew NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2, Crew-2, Crew-6, and Crew-8 missions, as well as private astronaut mission Axiom Mission 1. The flight is the 11th crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Overall, the Crew-11 mission is the 16th crewed Dragon flight to the space station, including Demo-2 in 2020 and 11 operational crew rotations for NASA, as well as four private astronaut missions. As support teams progress through Dragon preflight milestones for Crew-11, they also are preparing a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster for its third flight. Once all rocket and spacecraft system checkouts are complete and all components are certified for flight, teams will mate Dragon to Falcon 9 in SpaceX’s hangar at the launch site. The integrated spacecraft and rocket will then be rolled to the pad and raised vertically for the crew’s dry dress rehearsal and an integrated static fire test before launch.
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017, Cardman will conduct her first spaceflight. The Williamsburg, Virginia, native holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in marine sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At the time of selection, she was pursuing a doctorate in geosciences. Cardman’s geobiology and geochemical cycling research focused on subsurface environments, from caves to deep sea sediments. Since completing initial training, Cardman has supported real-time station operations and lunar surface exploration planning. Follow @zenanaut on X and @zenanaut on Instagram. This mission will be Fincke’s fourth trip to the space station, having logged 382 days in space and nine spacewalks during Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 18 in 2008, and STS-134 in 2011, the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour. Throughout the past decade, Fincke has applied his expertise to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, advancing the development and testing of Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft toward operational certification. The Emsworth, Pennsylvania, native is a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and holds bachelors’ degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, in both aeronautics and astronautics, as well as Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences. He also has a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in California. Fincke is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with more than 2,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. Follow @AstroIronMike on X and Instagram. With 142 days in space, this mission will be Yui’s second trip to the space station. After his selection as a JAXA astronaut in 2009, Yui flew as a flight engineer for Expedition 44/45 and became the first Japanese astronaut to capture JAXA’s H-II Transfer Vehicle using the station’s robotic arm. In addition to constructing a new experimental environment aboard Kibo, he conducted a total of 21 experiments for JAXA. In November 2016, Yui was assigned as chief of the JAXA Astronaut Group. He graduated from the School of Science and Engineering at the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1992. He later joined the Air Self-Defense Force at the Japan Defense Agency (currently the Ministry of Defense). In 2008, Yui joined the Air Staff Office at the Ministry of Defense as a lieutenant colonel. Follow @astro_kimiya on X. The mission will be Platonov’s first spaceflight. Before his selection as a cosmonaut in 2018, Platonov earned a degree in engineering from Krasnodar Air Force Academy in aircraft operations and air traffic management. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in state and municipal management in 2016 from the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. Assigned as a test cosmonaut in 2021, he has experience in piloting aircraft, zero gravity training, scuba diving, and wilderness survival.
Following liftoff, Falcon 9 will accelerate Dragon to approximately 17,500 mph. Once in orbit, the crew, NASA, and SpaceX mission control will monitor a series of maneuvers that will guide Dragon to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. The spacecraft is designed to dock autonomously, but the crew can pilot it manually, if necessary. After docking, Crew-11 will be welcomed aboard the station by the seven-member Expedition 73 crew, before conducting a short handover period on research and maintenance activities with the departing Crew-10 crew members. Then, NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov will undock from the space station and return to Earth. Ahead of Crew-10’s return, mission teams will review weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of California before departure from the station. Cardman, Fincke, and Yui will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will simulate lunar landings, test strategies to safeguard vision, and advance other human spaceflight studies led by NASA’s Human Research Program. The crew also will study plant cell division and microgravity’s effects on bacteria-killing viruses, as well as perform experiments to produce a higher volume of human stem cells and generate on-demand nutrients. While aboard the orbiting laboratory, Crew-11 will welcome a Soyuz spacecraft in November with three new crew members, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams. They also will bid farewell to the Soyuz carrying NASA astronaut Jonny Kim. The crew also is expected to see the arrival of the Dragon, Roscosmos Progress spacecraft, and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft to resupply the station. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission will be aboard the International Space Station on Nov. 2, when the orbiting laboratory surpasses 25 years of a continuous human presence. Since the first crew expedition arrived, the space station has enabled more than 4,000 groundbreaking experiments in the unique microgravity environment, while becoming a springboard for building a low Earth orbit economy and preparing for NASA’s future exploration of the Moon and Mars. Learn more about the space station, its research, and crew, at: https://www.nasa.gov/station
When astronauts began spending six months and more aboard the International Space Station, they started to notice changes in their vision. For example, many found that, as their mission progressed, they needed stronger reading glasses. Researchers studying this phenomenon identified swelling in the optic disc, which is where the optic nerve enters the retina, and flattening of the eye shape. These symptoms became known as Space-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS).
Microgravity causes a person’s blood and cerebrospinal fluid to shift toward the head and studies have suggested that these fluid shifts may be an underlying cause of SANS. A current investigation, Thigh Cuff, examines whether tight leg cuffs change the way fluid moves around inside the body, especially around the eyes and in the heart and blood vessels. If so, the cuffs could serve as a countermeasure against the problems associated with fluid shifts, including SANS. A simple and easy-to-use tool to counter the headward shift of body fluids could help protect astronauts on future missions to the Moon and Mars. The cuffs also could treat conditions on Earth that cause fluid to build up in the head or upper body, such as long-term bed rest and certain diseases.
The Fluid Shifts investigation, conducted from 2015 through 2020, was the first to reveal changes in how blood drains from the brain in microgravity. Vision Impairment and Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) began testing the role those fluid shifts and resulting increased brain fluid pressure might play in the development of SANS. This research used a variety of measures including clinical eye exams with and without dilatation, imaging of the retina and associated blood vessels and nerves, noninvasive imaging to measure the thickness of retinal structures, and magnetic resonance imaging of the eye and optic nerve. In addition, approximately 300 astronauts completed questionnaires to document vision changes during their missions. In one paper published from the research, scientists described how these imaging techniques have improved the understanding of SANS. The authors summarized emerging research on developing a head-mounted virtual reality display that can conduct multimodal, noninvasive assessment to help diagnose SANS. Other researchers determined that measuring the optic nerve sheath diameter shows promise as a way to identify and quantify eye and vision changes during spaceflight. The paper also makes recommendations for standardizing imaging tools, measurement techniques, and other aspects of study design. Another paper reported on an individual astronaut who had more severe than usual changes after a six-month spaceflight and certain factors that may have contributed. Researchers also observed improvement in the individual’s symptoms that may have been due to B vitamin supplementation and lower cabin carbon dioxide levels following departure of some crew members. While a single case does not allow researchers to determine cause and effect, the magnitude of the improvements suggest this individual may be more affected by environmental conditions such as carbon dioxide. This may have been the first attempt to mitigate SANS with inflight B vitamin supplementation.
SANSORI, a CSA (Canadian Space Agency) investigation, used an imaging technique called Optical Coherence Tomography to examine whether reduced stiffness of eye tissue contributes to SANS. On Earth, changes in stiffness of the tissue around the eyeball have been associated with aging and conditions such as glaucoma and myopia. Researchers found that long-duration spaceflight affected the mechanical properties of eye tissues, which could contribute to the development of SANS. This finding could improve understanding of eye changes during spaceflight and in aging patients on Earth.
The MHU-8 investigation from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), which examined changes in DNA and gene expression in mice after spaceflight, found changes in the optic nerve and retinal tissue. Researchers also found that artificial gravity may reduce these changes and could serve as a countermeasure on future missions. These and other studies ultimately could help researchers prevent, diagnose, and treat vision impairment in crew members and people on Earth.
Home Newsroom AG Labrador Leads States Backing Trump’s Decision to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting
BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador led a 20-state coalition in filing an amicus brief urging a federal court to approve the Trump Administration’s decision to stop enforcing racial discrimination in federal transportation contracting. The brief, filed in Mid-America Milling Company v. United States Department of Transportation, supports a proposed consent order that would end the federal government’s enforcement of race-based preferences in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. “The DBE program requires states receiving federal funds to award a certain percent of federal transportation contract dollars to minority and women-owned businesses, regardless of whether those businesses submit the lowest bids,” said Attorney General Labrador. “This federal mandate forces states to sometimes reject the most qualified, cost-effective contractors based solely on the race and gender of business owners, resulting in higher costs for taxpayers. The Trump Administration is right to end this, and Idaho is proud to support them in doing so.” In Idaho, this discrimination has proven expensive. Over a recent 44-month period, the DBE program required Idaho’s Transportation Department to reject the lowest bid eight times, wasting $15.2 million in total project costs that could have been spent on other transportation projects. In one example, Idaho was forced to reject a $2.2 million bid and instead accept a $2.7 million bid to meet these federal demographic targets. The Mid-America Milling case was originally filed during the Biden Administration, challenging the DBE program as unconstitutional racial discrimination, and the Biden Administration vigorously defended the discriminatory program. After President Trump took office, his Administration reversed course, acknowledging that the program violates the Constitution and agreeing to a consent order that would stop enforcing it. The coalition’s brief urges the court to approve the proposed consent order, arguing that the DBE program violates the Equal Protection Clause. The $15.2 million figure represents only cases where the lowest bid was rejected outright. According to an MIT study cited in the brief, the total cost may be significantly higher because DBE requirements artificially inflate most contract prices. The study found that when California ended race-based contracting preferences, state contract costs fell 5.6% compared to federal contracts that still required such preferences. Joining Idaho are attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, along with the Arizona Legislature. Read the brief here.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Axel Gustavo Calderon-Rosado, 36, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine.
Evidence presented in court revealed that in 2021, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating Calderon-Rosado for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation that used the U.S. Postal Service to ship parcels of drugs and drug proceeds. Investigators identified Calderon-Rosado as a significant supplier of cocaine in both the Columbia and Lexington County areas.
According to the investigation, Calderon-Rosado regularly shipped large sums of cash to Puerto Rico, and in return, received kilogram quantities of cocaine by mail. Investigators identified two locations associated with Calderon-Rosado that he used for storing and distributing illegal drugs. On July 13 and Oct. 4, 2021, investigators intercepted two suspicious parcels addressed to locations associated with Calderon-Rosado. The first package contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine; the second, more than three kilograms.
Following the October package, authorities executed an undercover operation involving the second package, and arrested Calderon-Rosado after he took possession of the cocaine. Law enforcement searched both associated addresses and seized more than $30,000 in cash, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, including a kilogram press, multiple stolen firearms, and ammunition. A review of postal and financial records revealed that between April 2020 and November 2023, Calderon-Rosado received over 30 kilograms of cocaine through the mail as part of the trafficking operation.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Axel Gustavo Calderon-Rosado to 168 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia field office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariyana Gore and Lamar Fyall prosecuted this case.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
WASHINGTON – Ronte Ricardo Greene, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 108 months in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy which distributed hundreds of thousands of lethal fentanyl-laced pills from Southern California to destinations throughout the United States, including Washington D.C. Greene was one of 24 co-defendants arrested over the course of 2023 in D.C., Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles and charged in the conspiracy. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Greene, aka “Cardiddy,” pleaded guilty on Feb. 27, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl. In addition to the 108-month prison term, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Greene to serve five years of supervised release.
Joining in the announcement of Greene’s sentencing today were Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court documents, Greene entered into the conspiracy in 2022 after he was introduced to a Los Angeles-based drug trafficker who was a wholesale distributor of the counterfeit pills. Greene’s role was to travel to Southern California, purchase the fentanyl-laced pills, and return with them to the DMV where he would sell the pills to others.
Greene regularly boasted of the money generated from his drug trafficking, and posted photos of himself on social media holding stacks of cash.
When Greene was arrested on Nov. 15, 2023, he was in possession of about 100 fentanyl-laced pills.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the USPIS Washington Division in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The investigation had valuable support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Kinskey, Solomon Eppel, and Iris McCranie of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Trafficking Division.
DEFENDANT
AGE
LOCATION
CHARGES/SENTENCE
Hector David Valdez,
aka “Curl”
27
Santa Fe Springs, California
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;
conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Craig Eastman
21
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Feb. 6, 2025, to 165 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
Charles Jeffrey Taylor
21
Washington, D.C.
Pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Raymond Nava, Jr.
21
Bell Gardens,
California
Sentenced Sept. 17, 2024, to 14 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Ulises Aldaz
28
Bell Gardens,
California
Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 95 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Max Alexander Carias Torres
27
Bell Gardens,
California
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy”
35
Washington, D.C.
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Marvin Anthony Bussie,
aka “Money Marr”
22
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced June 28, 2024, to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Marcus Orlando Brown
29
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Oct. 3, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Columbian Thomas, aka “Cruddy Murda”
27
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced Oct. 22, 2024, to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden
35
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced April 29, 2024, to 45 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Andre Malik Edmond,
aka “Draco”
24
Temple Hills, Maryland
Sentenced July 22, 2024, to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Treyveon James Johnson,
aka “Treyski”
21
Alexandria, Virginia
Sentenced Sept. 5, 2024, to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Karon Olufemi Blalock,
aka “Fat Bags”
30
Alexandria, Virginia
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Ronte Ricardo Greene,
aka “Cardiddy”
29
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced July 18, 2025, to 108 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21”
39
Washington, D.C.
Sentenced June 20, 2025, to 75 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Darius Quincy Hodges,
aka “Brick”
34
Glen Allen, Virginia
Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Lamin Sesay,
aka “Rock Star”
28
Alexandria, Virginia
Sentenced May 30, 2025, to 110 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Paul Alejandro Felix
26
Glendale,
California
Sentenced Nov. 12, 2024, to 164 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Omar Arana,
aka “Frogs”
27
Cudahy,
California
Sentenced May 2, 2025, to 93 months, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano”
27
San Diego,
California
Sentenced May 8, 2025, to 148 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Raul Pacheco Ramirez
31
Long Beach,
California
Sentenced Nov. 26, 2024, to 95 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Giovani Alejandro Briones
31
Victorville, California
Sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 90 months for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Alfredo Rodriguez Gonzalez
27
Rosarito, Mexico
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;
conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Kyle T. Brady, 39 years old, of Ashley, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Brady was sentenced to 300 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on two occasions in July of 2022, Brady distributed methamphetamine. On July 19, 2022, a search warrant was served at Brady’s residence where approximately 250 grams of methamphetamine, a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine, and marijuana were found. Officers also located two handguns, a shotgun, an AR-15 rifle, two ballistic vests, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. Brady has prior felony convictions for drug distribution and firearms offenses. This is Brady’s seventh conviction related to drug distribution, and as such, he was determined to be a career offender.
“Drugs, firearms, and large quantities of ammunition are never a good combination, especially when they are illegally possessed by a convicted felon,” said Proctor. “The public is safer thanks to the combined efforts of the excellent team that investigated and prosecuted this case.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Auburn Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a knife, causing serious injuries.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on November 2, 2024, Jane Doe, and her sister were stopped at a road construction zone when her ex-boyfriend, Tyrell Lee Johnson, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached their vehicle. Johnson physically attacked Jane Doe, striking her head, stabbing her abdomen with a knife, and striking her with his vehicle as he fled the scene. Jane Doe sustained injuries, including an abdominal wound, bruises, and abrasions.
Navajo Police located Johnson’s vehicle in Cudei, New Mexico, identified by its damaged front bumper, and apprehended him after a brief pursuit. Officers recovered a black folding knife from Johnson’s possession and confirmed he had no alcohol in his system during processing.
Upon his release from prison, Johnson will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
The Defendants’ Crimes Also Involved Armed Robberies, Drug Trafficking, Weapons Possession, and Assault in-Aid-of Racketeering
Earlier today, in a federal court in Brooklyn, an 11-count superseding indictment was unsealed charging four Euro 380 gang members, Kashawn Mason, also known as “Jojo” and “Jojo Euro,” Daniel Horton, also known as “DayDay” and “DayDay Tz,” Ryan Nieves, also known as “Rocket” and “TooSturdy,” and Dylan Stanley, also known as “Brady,” with racketeering, firearm-related murder, multiple armed robberies, and assaults in-aid-of racketeering. Mason and Stanley are also charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Mason and Stanley were taken into custody today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. Horton and Nieves are presently in federal custody and will be arraigned at a later date.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney; and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney announced the superseding indictment.
“As alleged in the superseding indictment, the defendants carried out a litany of violent crimes, including a senseless murder in furtherance of their gang, putting the Bedford Stuyvesant community at extreme risk of harm and turning housing developments into war zones,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s superseding indictment speaks loudly about the commitment of our Office to reducing gun violence, making our communities safe for law abiding residents who have been living in fear of violent gangs and bringing gang members to justice. I commend our prosecutors and federal and state law enforcement partners for their tireless work dismantling gangs operating in Brooklyn and throughout the Eastern District.”
Mr. Nocella also thanked the Nassau County Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections for their valuable assistance.
“To enhance their gang’s status and intimidate rivals, these four defendants allegedly participated in a myriad of criminal activity, including a retaliatory murder,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Their alleged actions allowed tensions to violently erupt in a residential community and submitted bystanders to a senseless territorial gunfight. Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI maintains its steadfast determination to disrupt any gangs’ reign of terror in our neighborhoods. This operation is part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months.”
“The defendants in this case allegedly treated our Brooklyn neighborhoods like a warzone, firing 34 rounds in broad daylight, killing one person and injuring others, all to settle a gang score,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “They robbed businesses, pushed fentanyl, and recruited teenagers to carry out violence. Today’s indictment makes clear that we will not let violent gangs turn our communities into battlegrounds. I want to thank our investigators and law enforcement partners for their relentless work to bring these defendants to justice.”
“This was brazen, targeted violence that put entire communities at risk as these defendants allegedly opened fire near homes and businesses and robbed residents at gunpoint,” stated Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez. “Brooklyn saw record-low gun violence last year, and we are committed to holding accountable anyone who imperils our progress improving the safety of our neighborhoods. This indictment reflects the results of a strong collaboration between my Office, the NYPD, and federal law enforcement. I commend U.S. Attorney Nocella, his team, and all of our partners for their outstanding work.”
“Gun violence and gang-related crime know no borders, which is why strong law enforcement partnerships are crucial in the fight against them,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “My office is proud to have assisted the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our local partners in New York City, and the FBI, in charging these defendants for their alleged crimes. By working together across jurisdictions, we are sending a message that anyone who perpetrates violence in our communities will be met with justice.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment and other court filings, Euro 380 gang is a violent street gang operating out of the Marcy Houses, a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Euro 380 is a subset of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation (UGSN), a parent gang with members located in Brooklyn and elsewhere. Members of Euro 380 have a longstanding rivalry with another gang known as the Bloodhound Brims and, more specifically, a subset of the Bloodhound Brims known as “900,” which also operates out of Bedford-Stuyvesant in the Tompkins and Sumner Houses, also NYCHA developments located less than two blocks from the Marcy Houses.
On September 30, 2023, Nieves, Stanley and two juveniles walked from the Marcy Houses to the Sumner Houses intending to shoot and kill rival 900 gang members after one of their fellow Euro 380 members was murdered three days earlier. After arriving at the Sumner Houses, Nieves and Stanley unleashed a fusillade of 34 rounds at a group of individuals they believed to be 900 gang members. Kyle Forde was killed and two other individuals suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds. The fatal shooting was allegedly ordered by Mason and another high-ranking Euro 380 member.
Additionally, in September 2023 and November 2023, the defendants carried out three robberies in Brooklyn of individuals, a smoke shop, and a bodega during which they displayed firearms or what appeared to be a firearm.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, defendants Mason, Nieves, and Stanley face a maximum of life in prison. Horton faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andy Palacio, Raffaela S. Belizaire, and Megan Larkin are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants
KASHAWN MASON (also known as “Jojo” and “Jojo Euro”) Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York
DANIEL HORTON (also known as “DayDay” and “DayDay Tz”) Age: 23 Brooklyn, New York
RYAN NIEVES (also known as “Rocket” and “TooSturdy”) Age: 20 Brooklyn, New York
DYLAN STANLEY (also known as “Brady”) Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Kevin Cuevas Del Cid, also known as “Creeper,” “Malcriado,” “Sombra,” “Vinky,” and “Dabura,” a member of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in connection with his participation in the May 21, 2016 murder of Kerin Pineda and the October 10, 2016 murder of Javier Castillo, both of whom were killed in Freeport, New York, as well as a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the guilty plea.
“Today, the defendant pleaded guilty to the brutal killings of two young people, whose murders demonstrate the MS-13’s well-established obsession with committing extreme acts of violence and complete disregard for human life,” stated U.S. Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to hold violent gang members accountable for the fear, destruction, and death they bring to our communities.”
“Kevin Cuevas Del Cid, an MS-13 member, slaughtered two victims based on their assumed alliance with a rival gang. Del Cid’s attacks reflect the gang’s brutal rhetoric designed to intimidate and punish any perceived threat to its organization,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “The FBI remains committed to collaborating with our local law enforcement partners to eradicate this senseless gang violence from continuing to terrorize our communities.”
“We are grateful to our federal partners for working together to take these dangerous criminals off our streets,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder. “We have no tolerance for gang violence in Nassau County and we will never stop working to protect our citizens from these violent elements.”
According to court filings and statements by the defendant at the guilty plea proceeding, the defendant participated in the murder of 20-year-old Kerin Pineda, who was killed because of his suspected membership in the 18th Street gang. Specifically, in May 2016, Del Cid and other MS-13 members devised a plan where Del Cid created a fake Facebook profile of a young female to communicate with Pineda in order to lure Pineda out to be killed. On May 21, 2016, Pineda went to a secluded wooded area near the Merrick-Freeport border believing that he was meeting the young female he had been communicating with on Facebook, who was, in fact, Del Cid. When Pineda arrived, he was surrounded and violently attacked by Del Cid and the other MS-13 members, each of whom took turns hacking and slashing him with machetes. Pineda’s body was then buried in a hole that had been dug in the ground the day before in anticipation of the murder. Del Cid is the last of six previously charged MS-13 members to plead guilty to the Pineda murder.
Del Cid also pleaded guilty to the murder of 15-year-old Javier Castillo, who, like Pineda, was killed because the MS-13 suspected him of being a member of the 18th Street gang. On October 10, 2016, members of the Sailors clique in Brentwood convinced Castillo, who lived in Central Islip, to go with them to Freeport – approximately 30 miles away – to smoke marijuana. Del Cid and the other MS-13 members took Castillo to an isolated marsh area along the water in Cow Meadow Park, in Freeport, where they attacked and killed him, taking turns hacking him with a machete. Thereafter, the MS-13 members dug a hole and buried Castillo’s body, which was not recovered until one year later, in October 2017. With Del Cid’s conviction, more than a half dozen MS-13 have been charged and pleaded guilty in connection with the Castillo murder.
Del Cid, who was 16 years old at the time of the Pineda and Castillo murders, initially was charged by a juvenile information filed under seal on May 20, 2020. The government subsequently filed a motion to transfer Del Cid to adult status for prosecution, and an evidentiary hearing was held on June 3, 2022. On July 6, 2022, United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco, sitting by designation, issued a Memorandum and Order granting the government’s motion, and ordering Del Cid be prosecuted as an adult.
Today’s guilty plea is the latest achievement in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 75 murders in the Eastern District of New York, resulting in the convictions of dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the FBI, NCPD, Suffolk County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law.
This prosecution is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Kerry Ucci and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello.
The Defendant:
KEVIN CUEVAS DEL CID (also known as “Creeper,” “Malcriado,” “Sombra,” “Vinky,” and “Dabura”) Age: 25 Freeport, New York
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and Kaluga Region Governor Vladislav Shapsha opened a children’s and adult polyclinic in Kaluga. The new facility is designed for 650 visits per shift, its area is 17.5 thousand square meters.
“I sincerely congratulate you with all my heart, because this is a truly significant event: here, in the Pravoberezhny microdistrict of Kaluga, a large children’s and adult clinic is opening. This is another result of the national project “Healthcare”, which was announced by our President in 2018, completed in 2024, but we continue this work, because we understand perfectly well that the availability and quality of medical care is an absolute priority of our state, because there is nothing more precious than the health of citizens. And today’s clinic, both adult and children’s, and the clinic that provides assistance to pregnant women, is a very important contribution to the development of the Kaluga region. Because a healthy person is a capable person who creates the wealth of the Kaluga land,” said Tatyana Golikova.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the national goal of preserving the population, strengthening health, improving well-being and supporting families is key. In total, 11 thousand healthcare facilities were created within the framework of the national project “Healthcare”. In the Kaluga Region, 236 primary care facilities were created and renovated. Since January 1, 2025, the development of the healthcare system continues within the framework of the new national projects “Long and Active Life” and “Family”.
“Today, primary healthcare is the first contact with the population, with the patient. Every year, more than 1 billion citizen requests are registered at the primary level. But the task of the polyclinic is not just to cure existing diseases. Its main goal is prevention, aimed at early detection of diseases or risks of their development, timely treatment and monitoring of patients’ health,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
The children’s and adult polyclinic was built in the Pravoberezh’ye microdistrict in Kaluga. According to the region’s governor Vladislav Shapsha, more than 70 thousand people live in this part of the city today.
The new facility houses three outpatient clinics with modern diagnostic facilities: adult and children’s outpatient clinics, as well as a women’s consultation center. The total cost of construction was 1.9 billion rubles. More than 8 thousand units of medical equipment and medical products were purchased. Including heavy equipment: magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, X-ray machine, fluorograph, mammograph. Subsidies from the federal and regional budgets were allocated for these purposes – 1.08 billion rubles and 0.5 billion rubles, respectively.
The Deputy Prime Minister inspected the computed tomography rooms, blood collection rooms, specialist doctors’ rooms, gastroscopy rooms, children’s physiotherapy and rehabilitation departments, women’s consultation rooms, a pharmacy – a branch of the Kalugafarmatsiya State Enterprise and a number of other premises.
The Deputy Prime Minister assessed the work of the modern electronic registry, which has been in operation at Kaluga City Hospital No. 5 since December last year as part of the pilot project “New Registry”. Some of the duties of the medical staff were taken over by the employees of the multifunctional center. This allows optimizing the work of the medical institution, creating more comfortable conditions for patients, and minimizing queues.
The clinic also has conditions for students of the medical faculty of the Kaluga State University named after K.E. Tsiolkovsky – an office of the Department of Internal Medicine, where future doctors will master practical skills and work with mentors.
As part of her working visit, Tatyana Golikova also held an all-Russian conference entitled “Personnel for Modern Healthcare. Strategy for Reducing the Personnel Shortage.”
“Today, there are 558 thousand doctors and 1.2 million mid-level medical workers working in the healthcare system. For a very long time, we have been observing a steady trend towards a decrease in the number of personnel in the healthcare system, but over the last two years, the industry has nevertheless begun to grow, and we have seen positive changes over the last two years by more than 16 thousand doctors,” noted Tatyana Golikova.
Thanks to the activities of the national project “Healthcare”, by the end of 2024, the staffing of paramedic stations and outpatient organizations approached 95%. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that, on the instructions of the head of state, the federal project “Medical Personnel” was launched this year as part of the national project “Long and Active Life”. Based on its results, by 2030 it is necessary to increase the provision of the population with doctors from 42.0 to 43.5 per 10 thousand people, and with mid-level medical personnel – from 83.3 to 85.1 per 10 thousand people.
The federal project includes measures to improve the qualifications and accelerate professional retraining of medical workers, increase the number of students in universities and colleges, create regional personnel centers and develop regional personnel programs. Regions need to develop social support measures in the form of providing housing for medical workers, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
The conference was attended by Governor Vladislav Shapsha, Chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly on Budget and Financial Markets Anatoly Artamonov, heads of medical organizations of Kaluga and a number of other regions, and representatives of all Russian regions via videoconference.
The heads of relevant departments from the Kaluga, Irkutsk and Tyumen regions shared their successful experience in strengthening the human resources potential of healthcare. They also discussed improving the system of university training of qualified specialists using the example of the Ryazan State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlov.
In addition, as part of a working trip to the Kaluga Region, a meeting with Governor Vladislav Shapsha took place, as well as a visit to the K.E. Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A meeting of the subcommittee on the implementation of tourism investment projects of federal significance of the Government Commission for the Development of Tourism in the Russian Federation was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Dmitry Vakhrukov, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Energy, Rosreestr, JSC Corporation Tourism. RF and others.
The meeting discussed the organization of work on the implementation of the project of federal year-round resorts “Five Seas and Lake Baikal”.
Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that thanks to the implementation of the project, by 2030 an additional 10 million tourists will be able to vacation per year.
“On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, within the framework of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”, we are working on the federal project “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” with a total funding volume for all projects until 2030 of 103 billion rubles. I would like to note that today we need to prioritize the objects, we will establish the order of projects, especially since there are instructions from the President and a number of initiatives to create resorts in other regions. Thus, the federal project “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” was supplemented by the project “Balaklava Bay” in Sevastopol,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Dmitry Vakhrukov added that the implementation of the project of federal year-round resorts “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” will further increase the number of tourist trips around Russia, as well as expand the number of rooms.
“Systematic work on the implementation of the federal project is carried out in strict accordance with the approved roadmaps. This indicates a high degree of involvement of the subjects and a clear understanding of the tasks. Most projects are being implemented within the planned timeframes. Work is constantly underway to balance the sources of financing the supporting infrastructure, attract and support investors. We are confident that this approach will contribute to the timely implementation of projects,” he said.
Dmitry Vakhrukov reminded that the construction of resorts should become one of the priority tasks.
Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov called the Saint Petersburg Marina project significant for the city. To implement it, a structure for financing the construction of road facilities and, to a significant extent, engineering infrastructure has been defined to date. The plans include continuing work on including measures to create road infrastructure and street and road networks in the Infrastructure for Life.
Deputy Governor of Zaporizhia Region Alexander Zinchenko presented a report on the Primorsk project, Governor of Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev spoke about the Gates of Baikal and Baikal Sloboda, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Buryatia Vyacheslav Sukhorukov – about Magic Baikal. Acting Minister of Resorts, Tourism and Olympic Heritage of Krasnodar Region Mikhail Zaritsky reported on the implementation of the New Anapa project, and Deputy Governor of Sevastopol Maria Litovko presented the Balaklava Bay project in Sevastopol.
Information was also presented on the projects “Golden Sands” in the Republic of Crimea, “Caspian Coastal Cluster” in the Republic of Dagestan, “Primorye” in Primorsky Krai.
In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko called on the regions to more actively interact with federal ministries and departments in order to more quickly resolve issues related to project implementation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Larry Wilson, of Memphis, Tennessee, made his initial appearance in federal court today for his role in Young Mob (YM), a violent street gang that allegedly commits crimes including murder, assault, arson, drug trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, and narcotics trafficking. Wilson is the last of eight Young Mob defendants charged to make his initial appearance related to this case.
“As alleged, this gang shot and killed a member of a rival gang in a restaurant drive-through and robbed customers at gunpoint at another Memphis establishment, recklessly endangering innocent bystanders,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence that spills into our community spreads fear and insecurity in our neighborhoods. The Criminal Division, in partnership with our federal and local law enforcement colleagues, remains steadfast in our pursuit of gangs that inflict senseless violence in our country.”
“This gang engaged in numerous unlawful activities, including acts of extreme violence, which demonstrated a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Through a coordinated effort, the ATF and its local, state, and federal partners worked tirelessly to dismantle the organization and ensure that its members are held accountable.”
Larry Wilson, 35, Brian Lackland, 35, Paul Nelson, 32, Mohamed Samba, 25, Braxton Beck, 33, Edgar Smith, 39, Jerrod Cox, 32, and Cedric Jackson, 33, all Tennessee residents, were charged for their membership and association with YM. YM members signify their membership by wearing red and/or black clothing and jewelry with an “Eight Ball” or the letters YM or YMM. YM members and recruits are required to commit acts of violence to gain membership and maintain their status in the gang.
On May 28, 2022, Samba and other, not-yet-identified, YM members, shot suspected rival KSBG gang members ─ murdering one and attempting to murder two others ─ in a McDonald’s restaurant drive-through in Memphis. After the shootings, YM members burned the stolen car used in the shooting.
The indictment further alleges that on May 13, 2023, at Tug’s Casual Grill, a Memphis restaurant, Nelson, Cox, and another unnamed YM member robbed customers at gunpoint. The unnamed member was shot and killed. Nelson and Cox left the mortally wounded man in a nearby fire station parking lot and then drove their stolen vehicle to another location and burned it.
The indictment also alleges that on March 17, 2024, Lackland and Beck attempted the murder of a suspected gang rival, which was thwarted in part due to police presence in the area. In addition, on June 11 and June 12, 2024, Lackland, Wilson, Beck, and Jackson attempted to rob customers at a Memphis tattoo shop before abandoning the scene because of police presence. Undeterred, the same group, along with Smith this time, returned to the tattoo shop after police left the area and robbed multiple customers.
As alleged, YM receives money and income from drug trafficking, kidnappings, and robberies. Such funds are used for gang purposes, including obtaining weapons and narcotics and providing support for YM gang members, including those in prison serving time for various crimes. YM also receives money and income from various musical interests, with defendant Lackland being a well-known rapper who goes by the stage name “Stupid Duke.”
YM members and associates are also separately charged as part of a drug conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Multiple members are also charged with various firearm offenses.
If convicted, Lackland, Samba, Nelson, Smith, and Cox face a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison, Beck faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison, and Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The ATF, Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and Memphis Police Homicide Unit are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
. Pillen, Sen. DeKay and NDA Director Vinton Celebrate Passage of Nebraska Law Addressing Fake Meat
O’NEILL, NE –Today, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Senator Barry DeKay and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton at Shamrock Locker in O’Neill to ceremonially sign LB246. The new law bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of lab-grown or cultivated meat in Nebraska. Passage of the measure during the most recent legislative session builds on the Governor’s executive order from last year which prohibits agencies from purchasing lab-grown meat and requires state contractors to certify they will not discriminate against natural-meat producers in favor of lab or cultivated meat producers.
“Nebraska feeds the world and saves the planet. I know first-hand that the food products we sell overseas are in high demand, largely because of the care with which we raise our crops and our animals,” said Gov. Pillen.
“The idea of a meat substitute makes no sense and only serves to undercut the livelihood of our producers. If someone wants meat from a bioreactor, they can buy it through Amazon. They won’t find it on our store shelves.”
Nebraska is a leading beef producing state, consistently ranking high in cattle slaughter and exports. In 2024, the state processed 6.8 million head of cattle, more than any other state. It also leads the nation in beef and veal exports, sending over $2 billion of high-quality products to international markets.
While securing the state’s livestock industry is essential, the new law is also meant to protect consumers. Long term health effects of eating fake meat are currently unknown, as noted by NDA Dir. Vinton.
“Lab-grown meat has been marketed as an ethical and environmental alternative to the traditional beef industry, but the truth is, we do not know the true health impacts of the fake meat and the growth agents used to cultivate it, nor the long-term environmental benefits,” said Dir. Vinton. “Lab-grown meat is an experiment with the intent of replacing not only traditional meat, but traditional agriculture.”
Sen. DeKay said he was pleased to introduce LB246 on the Governor’s behalf.
“He and I were in agreement that the prospect of synthetic meat entering the marketplace is a bridge too far,” noted Sen. DeKay. Cultured meat advocates have made no secret that their ultimate goal is to socially engineer our diets and end animal husbandry. I am thankful to the Governor for not going quietly into that future.”
Question for written answer E-002787/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Niels Flemming Hansen (PPE)
1.Can the Commission share whether it has any views or recommendations on the most climate-friendly way to transport captured CO2 to underground storage or carbon capture and storage facilities?
2.According to the NZIA, EU companies subject to the storage obligation were to notify the Commission of their plans by 30 June 2025. In this context, can the Commission share the total amount of CO2 storage capacity that is expected to become operational across the EU by 31 December 2030 at the latest?
3.For how many projects is a final investment decision expected to be taken in each of the following years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030?
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)
Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against Republicans’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Defense funding bill:
“At a time when the United States should be showing strength and moral leadership on the global stage, this bill does the exact opposite. It abandons our allies, hands Putin a strategic win, and jeopardizes our military readiness with divisive policies and culture wars.
“Women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers make the same sacrifices all of our servicemembers make to defend our freedom, they all deserve our full respect. But Donald Trump has proven time and again that he does not support our troops – from calling them suckers and losers, to the devastating cuts he has made at the VA. This bill is yet another example of Trump’s horrific leadership as the Commander in Chief. This unserious funding bill is an attack on women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers, and serves as another example of Trump and his congressional leadership prioritizing culture wars instead of funding the support our troops need and deserve.
“Despite including two of my amendments that would benefit Colorado, I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that otherwise undermines our values, weakens our global standing, and fails to support the servicemembers who put their lives on the line for this country.”
Specifically, Republicans’ FY 26 Department of Defense spending bill:
Weakens Ukraine and empowers Russia by eliminating support for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Undermines democracy at home and abroad by allowing disinformation and extremist views to flourish.
Limits women’s access to abortion by preventing service personnel from traveling to seek reproductive health care.
Harms our military readiness with divisive provisions that undermine morale and fail to support our service personnel, by:
Continuing DOGE and the Administration’s cuts to vital civilian positions;
Attacking the LGBTQ+ community with hateful policies; and
Banning funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Two of Rep. Pettersen’s amendments were included in the FY 2026 Defense bill:
Pettersen’s amendment advances cutting-edge aerospace research and strengthens national security through lunar technology.
Pettersen’s other amendment supports using quantum computing to predict and prevent threats to our electrical grid, bolstering national security and grid resilience.
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Young people in the Highlands can call a dedicated helpline offering expert advice to anyone receiving their full Higher, National, and Advanced results on Tuesday, 5 August 2025.
The pupils and students- along with their parents and carers – will be able to get support with their results through Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Results Helpline, which opens from 8am on results day.
The SDS Results Helpline will once again be staffed by expert careers advisers to assist anybody that needs help with their options and next steps, providing impartial career information, advice, and guidance.
The team of qualified advisers from Scotland’s national skills agency will be at the end of the phone line to offer guidance on colleges and universities, UCAS Confirmation and Clearing, apprenticeships, jobs and other training, volunteering, or staying on at school.
The number for the 2025 SDS Results Helpline is 0808 100 8000 and will be open:
Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 August – 8am to 8pm
Thursday 7 and Friday 8 August – 9am to 5pm
Dave McCallum, Head of Career Information, Advice and Guidance Operations at SDS said: “Our message for young people and their parents and carers as their results arrive is not to panic. Everything might seem overwhelming right now but remember that this is just one step on their journey.
“Our experienced advisers are here to provide expert support and guidance, offering information on a wide range of options and opportunities. They are also trained to help young people recognise that they are more than their exam results, giving them the confidence to see their strengths and abilities beyond qualifications.”
Local SDS Careers Adviser Joan Duncan is part of the Results Helpline team who will be taking calls from young people, parents and carers from across the country. Joan said: “Whether a young person didn’t receive the results they were hoping for, or they exceeded their expectations, we are here to help them navigate the next steps and make the best decisions for their future.”
The SDS Results Helpline has been going for 33 years and has helped tens of thousands of young Scots.
There’s also an SDS careers adviser linked to every secondary school in Scotland, with almost a quarter of a million school pupils from P7 to S6 receiving careers information, advice and guidance each year*.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Young people have so many different ways to achieve their qualifications, with many eagerly anticipating their results coming through next month. It is important that no matter how they do, young people and their families have access to trusted and reliable information on potential next steps. That is what the advisers at the Skills Development Scotland helpline provide.
“I would encourage everyone looking for impartial and expert advice on the options available, whether that is in work, training or further study, to consider contacting the helpline.”
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) helps young people get ready for the world of work by connecting them with employers and supporting them to explore a wide range of career pathways. DYW Co-ordinators are based in secondary schools across Scotland, working alongside SDS careers advisers to support pupils with their next steps.
Michelle Fenwick, Director – DYW National Projects, said: “As results are released, it’s important that young people know there are many routes to success and that support is there for them. Through our #NoWrongPath campaign, and in partnership with SDS, we’re helping young people understand that the world of work is full of opportunity. Whether a young person is going into further or higher education, training, employment or still considering their options – the Results Helpline is a great way to get guidance, reassurance, and a sense of direction.”
In addition to the dedicated SDS Results Helpline, young people and their parents or carers can also speak to an SDS adviser at a SDS centre or community venue (find out what’s close to you by visiting the Contact Us page of the SDS website), visit Scotland’s career information and advice website, My World of Work, or speak to directly to an SDS school-based careers adviser for year-round support.
Press release issued by Skills Development Scotland
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Republic of Buryatia has joined the federal digital system of public administration. As a result, today 100% of the region’s federal orders are controlled using the “governor’s dashboard”. The implementation of this system was checked by Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko during a working visit to Ulan-Ude.
In online mode, the “governor’s dashboard” allows you to monitor budget execution, implementation of national projects, including the construction of new roads, schools, hospitals and other socially significant facilities. The system provides up-to-date data on all key areas of the region’s work and its interaction with the federal center. This allows you to quickly respond to emerging difficulties and, if necessary, prevent possible risks of non-implementation of state projects.
As of today, 43 regions are connected to the “governor’s dashboard”. It is planned that by the end of this year all subjects of the Russian Federation will join the system.
The dashboard is based on the state automated information system “Management”, which is used to monitor the activities of the Government, the implementation of national projects, state programs and the achievement of national development goals. At the same time, each governor can set up a system for monitoring specific projects or tasks that the region most urgently needs to implement.
“We are gradually moving towards data-based public administration. At the federal level, this approach has already proven its effectiveness – the executive discipline of government bodies in fulfilling key government tasks has increased many times over. Now, with the help of the “governor’s dashboard”, we are implementing this system in the regions. Buryatia was one of the first to join this project, and today the system is already being used here on a permanent basis,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.
“The data and reports recorded on the dashboard influence the adoption of further decisions: to adjust something somewhere, to strengthen something somewhere, and so on. Therefore, internal discipline immediately increased not only in the implementation of tasks, but also in the correct execution of decisions,” noted the head of Buryatia, Alexey Tsydenov.
During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister also assessed the digital services being implemented in Buryatia to improve the efficiency of public administration and the quality of life of citizens. Among them is the voice assistant “Ulana”. In online mode, the virtual assistant based on artificial intelligence helps residents of the region make an appointment at the MFC or, conversely, cancel an appointment, find out about the procedure for obtaining a driver’s license, SNILS, TIN and other government services. The voice assistant has doubled the speed of processing citizens’ requests.
An intelligent transport system has also been created and successfully implemented in Buryatia. It allows traffic management on the roads: it regulates traffic lights, monitors traffic jams and improves road safety. In particular, the intelligent transport system has reduced traffic jams in Ulan-Ude by 15%. To date, the city has also modernized the operation of 86 traffic lights, installed 143 video surveillance cameras that allow monitoring the traffic situation in real time. And information boards have appeared at bus stops to help passengers navigate public transport.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A meeting of the subcommittee on the implementation of tourism investment projects of federal significance of the Government Commission for the Development of Tourism in the Russian Federation was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov, representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Energy, Rosreestr, JSC Corporation Tourism.RF and others.
The meeting discussed the organization of work on the implementation of the project of federal year-round resorts “Five Seas and Lake Baikal”.
Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that thanks to the implementation of the project, by 2030 an additional 10 million tourists will be able to vacation annually.
“On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, within the framework of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”, we are working on the federal project “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” with a total funding volume for all projects until 2030 of 103 billion rubles. I would like to note that today we need to prioritize the objects, we will establish the order of the projects, especially since there are instructions from the President and a number of initiatives to create resorts in other regions. Thus, the federal project “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” was supplemented by the project “Balaklava Bay” in Sevastopol,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov added that the implementation of the project of federal year-round resorts “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” will further increase the number of tourist trips around Russia, as well as expand the number of rooms.
“Systematic work on the implementation of the federal project is carried out in strict accordance with the approved “road maps”. This indicates a high degree of involvement of the subjects and a clear understanding of the tasks. Most projects are being implemented within the planned timeframes. Work is constantly underway to balance the sources of financing the supporting infrastructure, attract and support investors. We are confident that this approach will contribute to the timely implementation of projects,” he said.
Dmitry Vakhrukov reminded that the construction of resorts should become one of the priority tasks.
Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov called the Saint Petersburg Marina project significant for the city. To implement it, a structure for financing the construction of road facilities and, to a significant extent, engineering infrastructure has been determined to date. The plans include continuing work on including measures to create road infrastructure and street and road networks in the national project Infrastructure for Life.
Deputy Governor of Zaporizhia Region Alexander Zinchenko presented a report on the Primorsk project, Governor of Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev spoke about the Gates of Baikal and Baikal Sloboda, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Buryatia Vyacheslav Sukhorukov – about Magic Baikal. Acting Minister of Resorts, Tourism and Olympic Heritage of Krasnodar Region Mikhail Zaritsky reported on the implementation of the New Anapa project, and Deputy Governor of Sevastopol Maria Litovko presented the Balaklava Bay project in Sevastopol.
Information was also presented on the projects “Golden Sands” in the Republic of Crimea, “Caspian Coastal Cluster” in the Republic of Dagestan, “Primorye” in Primorsky Krai.
In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko called on the regions to more actively interact with federal ministries and departments in order to more quickly resolve issues related to project implementation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Dr. Chris Eagle will retire as interim CEO of Acute Care Alberta on Oct. 10. His leadership has been instrumental in establishing a strong foundation for the agency and achieving key milestones that support its long-term success.
“Dr. Eagle has been a long-standing and distinguished leader in Alberta’s health care system, playing a pivotal role in the establishment of Acute Care Alberta. We extend our sincere gratitude for his dedicated service and wish him the very best in his retirement.”
Since his interim appointment in February 2025, Dr. Eagle has been instrumental in shaping Acute Care Alberta’s early direction as one of the province’s four new health agencies. He led the development of a leadership structure, implemented performance and accountability frameworks, and initiated coordination efforts aimed at improving access to surgical, emergency and hospital care across Alberta. His work also fostered essential partnerships to support more seamless care transitions between hospitals and the community, helping position the agency for long-term success.
“It has been a pleasure to lead this new agency dedicated to improving the health care system for Albertans. I am encouraged by the progress and the foundation we’ve built on in a short period of time and feel confident in Acute Care Alberta’s future.”
Alberta’s government is conducting an international search for a permanent CEO who can bring a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of international best practices in health system leadership. An interim CEO will be appointed to succeed Dr. Eagle if a permanent candidate is not identified before his departure.
Related information
Refocusing acute care leadership for the future (Jan. 8, 2025)
Ensuring a successfully refocused health system (Nov. 18, 2024)
Setting the foundation for a refocused health system (May 14, 2024)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the nomination of Jim Murphy and Scott Mayer to be Board members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Claude Cummings Jr., President of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, issued the following statement:
Trump’s anti-worker agenda and disrespect for the rule of law continue to be on full display. President Trump is seeking to replace National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne A. Wilcox, an experienced Black woman who is well steeped in labor law, with two anti-worker men, who have elevated corporate interests above workers’ rights for decades. It’s way past time to return Gwynne A. Wilcox to her rightful position at the NLRB, to implore Congress members to confirm only fully qualified individuals committed to the NLRB’s mission and to actually represent the interests of American workers and their families, to urge the Supreme Court to respect and preserve the Constitution and full separation of powers of the three branches of government, and to call out the President for his anti-worker and unlawful actions.
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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the General Assembly commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, in New York today:
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Madiba’s extraordinary life was a triumph of the human spirit. He endured the brutal weight of oppression and emerged not with a vision of vengeance and division — but of reconciliation, peace and unity.
Today, Madiba’s legacy is now our responsibility. We must carry forward his commitment to peace, justice and human dignity.
One of the central lessons of Mandela’s life was that power is not a personal possession, to be hoarded. Power is about lifting others up. It is about what we can achieve with one another, and for one another. Power is about people.
In every facet of his life, Nelson Mandela demonstrated the power of collective, grass-roots action to drive change and progress and deliver power to the powerless.
This same spirit can be found in today’s winners of the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize. Ms. Brenda Reynolds is a Saulteaux member from Fishing Lake First Nation in Canada. She is a social worker, who turned her struggle against the most hideous of crimes against children into a national force for change, supporting and developing trauma responses for survivors and families of the residential schools system.
Mr. Kennedy Odede grew up in the Kibera slum in Kenya. A long-time community activist, the organization he founded unites community groups from across the country and now reaches more than 2.4 million people each year with essential services — everything from education to water.
Both prize winners embody Nelson Mandela’s words, which are engraved on their Prizes: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
On behalf of the United Nations, I congratulate Ms. Reynolds and Mr. Odede on this well-deserved recognition.
As the United Nations celebrates its eightieth anniversary, Nelson Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation and transformation continues to inspire and drive us. Around the world, human rights and dignity are under threat — not only from conflict and instability, but from systematic inequalities, exclusion, climate disasters and the rollback of hard-won freedoms.
Now is the time to renew our global commitment to the principles that define our organization — and indeed, the extraordinary life of Nelson Mandela. Freedom. Justice. Equal rights. Solidarity. Reconciliation. Peace.
Today, and every day, let’s continue following the path and principles set by Nelson Mandela’s life of service and progress.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Representatives Lois Frankel, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Program, Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Grace Meng, Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus International Women’s Rights Task Force, issued a statement on their introduction of legislation to ensure U.S. taxpayer-purchased foreign aid commodities reach their intended beneficiaries rather than go to waste or be destroyed.
According to recent reports, the Trump administration plans to destroy more than $9 million worth of family planning supplies and incinerate 500 metric tons of emergency food assistance that expired after officials refused for months to authorize delivery. The food alone could have fed approximately 1.5 million children for a week, or 27,000 people for an entire month. The contraceptives, depending on the method mix, represent millions of doses and other essentials—enough to support the reproductive health needs of hundreds of thousands of women and families. These commodities—meant for some of the world’s most vulnerable people—were purchased with taxpayer dollars but left to rot or burn.
“The Trump administration is incinerating critical U.S.-purchased commodities—like contraceptives and emergency food—denying women health care, keeping meals from starving families, and literally sending millions of taxpayer dollars up in smoke,” said the Members. “This cruel and senseless destruction is a textbook example of the very waste, fraud, and abuse the administration claims to oppose.
Our legislation prohibits the destruction of food and medical supplies purchased with taxpayer funds unless every effort has been made to ensure those supplies can be used as intended. That’s common sense—and the humane thing to do—for American taxpayers and for vulnerable communities around the world.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Ranking Member Brian Schatz introduced the bill in the Senate last week.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues, including Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA), in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office, and the Warden of Richwood Correctional Center to conduct an immediate investigation into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s mistreatment of women in their custody. The Members raised serious concerns about ICE and CBP’s disturbing patterns of abuse, mistreatment, and medical neglect of women, including pregnant and postpartum women. Reports detail cases of women being violently detained, denied medical care, and subjected to inhumane treatment while in detention.
Specifically, the Members highlighted the troubling cases of Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus and Cary López Alvarado. Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant detainee, suffered a stillbirth after ICE repeatedly denied her requests for medical care. Doctors later concluded her baby’s death was a result of the lack of prenatal care, which she had repeatedly sought.
López Alvarado, a U.S. citizen who was nine months pregnant at the time, was violently shoved by an ICE agent after identifying herself as pregnant while trying to protect her husband. She was hospitalized with sharp pains after her release and received no documentation about the incident.
“Disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one-time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care,” the members explained in the letter.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus is demanding transparency, accountability, and immediate action from the administration. The Members are calling for a full investigation into Monterroso-Lemus’ pregnancy loss and broader patterns of mistreatment of women in ICE and CBP custody, particularly pregnant and postpartum individuals.
“Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively.”
The letter was also signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Diana DeGette, Maxine Dexter, Sarah Elfreth, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Ilhan Omar, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Delia Ramirez, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.
The full letter can be found here and below:
The Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Washington, DC 20528-0525
The Honorable Gene Dodaro U.S. Comptroller General Government Accountability Office 441 G St., NW Washington, DC 20548
The Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari Inspector General Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW Washington, DC 20528-0305
Ms. Lisa Bowen Warden Richwood Correctional Center 180 Pine Bayou Circle Monroe, LA 71202
Dear Secretary Noem, Inspector General Cuffari, Comptroller General Dodaro, and Mr. Deville:
As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we write with grave and urgent concern about the treatment of women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Too many disturbing stories have emerged from women’s interactions with ICE agents over the last few months–even elected officials have encountered aggressive, unprovoked, and unacceptable treatment. In addition to this aggression, we are deeply concerned about women’s access to health care, especially maternal health care, in ICE detention. The reported assaults, medical neglect, and overall mistreatment of women by ICE agents and contractors demands immediate and thorough oversight and accountability, and this abuse must stop immediately. We request an immediate and in-depth investigation into the violations against women while in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
These accounts of abuse are horrifying but not new. In September 2020, during Trump’s first term, a complaint was filed at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) regarding the unethical treatment of detainees at ICDC – medical neglect and a concerningly high rate of women undergoing gynecological procedures without proper informed consent. It was also reported that ICDC staff downplayed the health concerns from detainees. These reports were confirmed in an investigation in 2022. It is beyond our comprehension that women were unknowingly sterilized without their consent while in government custody. Although the facility was shut down, this was not an isolated case; rather, this is a consistent pattern perpetrated by this administration.
We also know that this is an intentional action by the administration and not an unintended consequence to mass detention. In May, CBP quietly repealed protections for pregnant and postpartum women in custody, removing requirements for appropriate medical care, lactation accommodations, and basic supplies like diapers and baby formula. Your disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care.
In May 2025, Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant woman, was arrested in Lenoir City, Tennessee and taken into ICE custody. Throughout her detainment, Monterroso-Lemus repeatedly requested medical care but was denied. Monterroso-Lemus reported experiencing pain and no fetal movement for three days, yet she was ignored. She told reporters on a phone call, “They didn’t give me medical attention — nowhere. Not in Louisiana, not in Alabama. I was in Alabama too, sleeping on the floor.” After multiple transfers and too many pleas, she was finally admitted to a hospital on April 29th, where she delivered a stillborn baby. The doctors noted that her loss was a result of not receiving prenatal care – the care she asked for repeatedly.
In the same facility that Monterroso-Lemus was overlooked and neglected during her pregnancy pains, multiple reports surfaced that highlighted Richwood’s horrific conditions. In 2020, the National Immigrant Justice Center alongside several other organizations released a report that found numerous reports of delayed care and medical neglect at the Richwood Correctional Center. For example, the medical staff interviewed admitted that treatment for a broken arm could take a week. In 2023, the Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation and found that the detention center violated and compromised the health, safety, and rights of detainees. Richwood Correctional Center was found not to have a reliable system for detainees to file grievances and denied detainees the right to file medical grievances. How can women like Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus seek justice and reconciliation if the facility refuses to permit a system of accountability?
In addition to the treatment of women in detention, we are deeply worried about the aggression ICE agents have shown when arresting people, particularly women. Earlier this month Cary López Alvarado, a nine-months pregnant U.S. citizen was detained by agents in Harthorne while trying to protect her undocumented husband and co-worker on private property. Agents accused her of obstructing an arrest, despite her repeatedly stating she was pregnant and unable to resist. During the confrontation, she was shoved by an officer, falling to the ground. Following her release from ICE detention, López Alvarado was hospitalized for sharp pains and monitored due to concerns of her and her baby’s well being, as her due date was only a week away. She was told agents would contact her regarding the obstruction allegations, but received no documentation or citation related to the incident.
Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively. We request a response to the following questions within 60 days of receipt:
What concrete and immediate steps will this administration take to protect the rights, health, and lives of women in detention?
How will you ensure transparency, accountability, and oversight across bodies responsible for their care?
How will you uphold women and their babies’ basic human dignity and ensure their health needs are met without delay or discrimination?
We demand a full, transparent investigation into the pregnancy loss of Iris Dayana MonterrosoLemus’s and the broader mistreatment of pregnant and postpartum women in ICE and CBP custody. We request a report that outlines the incident, accountability, and corrective actions.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus will not stay silent while women, many of them mothers, many of them fleeing violence and hardship, are mistreated and neglected in government custody. Again, we request a prompt and thorough investigation into the treatment of women within ICE and CBP custody.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) in announcing the introduction of the No Secret Police Act, legislation that would prohibit law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from concealing their identities during immigration enforcement operations.
The bill would require DHS agents, including those working for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to clearly display their name, agency, and official insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. It would also ban the use of homemade or non-tactical masks that obscure an officer’s face.
“Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the foundation of public safety. When federal agents conceal their identities behind masks and anonymity, it fractures that trust and calls into question the very legitimacy of their authority,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “These tactics have no place in a democracy. No one should live in fear of being taken from their home or community by individuals who refuse to identify themselves, nor should anyone ever have to question who is detaining them, or whether those individuals are acting under lawful authority. This bill is not just about transparency – it’s about making clear that no agent of the federal government operates above the law or beyond public accountability.”
“As a former federal prosecutor for ten years, I have worked alongside ICE and DHS agents to get violent criminals off our streets – and none of them ever wore masks,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “Across the country, plain-clothed federal agents in homemade face coverings are lying in wait outside immigration courts to snatch law-abiding, non-violent immigrants going through our legal system the right way. This isn’t about protecting law enforcement, it’s about terrorizing immigrant communities. The United States is not a dictatorship, and I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation ensuring that our federal government’s laws are enforced by identifiable human beings, not anonymous, secret agents of the state.”
“If you uphold the peace of a democratic society, you should not be anonymous. DHS and ICE agents wearing masks and hiding identification echoes the tactics of secret police authoritarian regimes – and deviates from the practices of local law enforcement, which contributes to confusion in communities. Many immigrants come to America seeking opportunities, hope, and freedom to escape draconian practices, and under no circumstance should they, or anyone, fear being disappeared by masked and armed individuals in unmarked vehicles. If you are upholding the law, you should not be anonymous. Our bill aims to safeguard from tyranny while upholding the values of our nation,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The No Secret Police Act would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. Specifically, the bill would:
Prohibit DHS officers from wearing face coverings or any item that conceals their face during detentions or arrests
Require officers to identify the specific component of DHS they work for (e.g., ICE, CBP)
Mandate that official insignia or uniforms be clearly visible to others
The bill also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and in coordination with relevant departmental components, to conduct research and development to enhance the visibility of law enforcement officers’ official insignia or uniforms. This includes developing technologies that ensure these identifiers remain clearly visible during detentions or arrests, particularly under varying conditions such as different locations, times of day, and weather circumstances.
Authored by Rep. Dan Goldman, the No Secret Police Act is also co-sponsored by Representatives Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), André Carson (D-IN), John Garamendi (D-CA), Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Luz M. Rivas (D-CA), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), George Latimer (D-NY), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Donald S. Beyer (D-VA), Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), John B. Larson (D-CT), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), and Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​The Department of Health (DH) is today (July 18) investigating a suspected case of an illegal possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms), and is urging the public not to use three types of pCms under the name of Eye Saver (a herbal formula eye conditioner) (see photo).
The premises concerned is Macrobiotics Enterprises Limited, located at Room 155, 1/F, Peninsula Centre, 67 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Acting upon intelligence, the DH conducted a field investigation and seized three suspected unregistered pCms. They all have the same name and packaging. However, one had Chinese words “強力” marked on it, one had Chinese words “超級” marked on it and one had Chinese words “特級” marked on it. According to the content of the package insert, the products claimed to remove ophthalmia, improve and prevent cataracts, etc.
The DH’s investigation is ongoing. So far, no related adverse reports have been received.
According to section 119 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549), no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. Upon completion of its investigations, the DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters.
Members of the public who have purchased any of the above suspected unregistered pCms should stop usage immediately. Those who have applied any of the three pCms and are feeling unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. People who have the product can submit it to the DH’s Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.
The spokesman said that the use of unregistered pCms may pose threats to public health as their safety, quality and efficacy are not proven. The public should not buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pCms should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the product label in the format of ‘HKC-XXXXX’. The list of registered pCms is published on the website of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (www.cmchk.org.hk/pcm/eng/#main_dis.htm) for public reference.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) this afternoon (July 18) to exchange views with staff representatives from various grades in the department, and to learn about the department’s latest progress in optimising operational efficiency and services through the application of technology, as well as its work in landslip prevention and mitigation and slope safety.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, Mrs Yeung first met with the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, and the directorate staff to learn about the key initiatives of the Civil Engineering Office, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) and the regional development offices. They also met with staff representatives from various grades in the department to exchange views on matters of concern to them.
Mrs Yeung said, “As the expectations of the community for the civil service are constantly rising and the challenges posed by extreme weather are becoming increasingly severe, I hope my colleagues will continue to strive for excellence, review workflows to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and respond to changes with smart innovations. This will strengthen the public’s sense of fulfilment, happiness and security.”
During the visit to the GEO Emergency Control Centre, officers in charge of the centre introduced the Common Operation Picture developed and managed by the department to Mrs Yeung. This electronic system facilitates the sharing of real-time information among different government departments to assist in monitoring emergencies such as landslides, flooding and fallen trees, as well as to enhance contingency co-ordination. The GEO maintains a 24-hour, year-round emergency service to provide geotechnical advice to rescue teams and government departments on any emergency actions to be taken to deal with danger arising from landslides for their determination of co-ordinated responses and mapping plans.
Moreover, Mrs Yeung learned that the CEDD started a trial run of its in-house developed, AI-empowered Landslip Warning System this year, with an aim to issue more accurate Landslip Warnings. Through the cloud technology and the Internet of Things, the system can use Hong Kong’s rainfall data, past landslide records and man-made slopes data to identify with higher accuracy the relevant attributes resulting in landslides through big data analysis. This strengthens the understanding of the relationship between rainfall and landslides. The new system can further enhance the accuracy of the predicted number of reported landslides during heavy rainstorms, thereby improving the capabilities of landslide risk assessment, optimising the issuance of Landslip Warnings, and enhancing early warning.
Officers responsible for planning and terrain evaluation also briefed Mrs Yeung on the Digital Aerial Photograph Interpretation System launched last year. The system digitalises historical paper aerial photographs and centralises aerial photo imageries on an instantly accessible digital platform. This not only allows government departments and related organisations to remotely search, view and analyse high-resolution 3D data, but also empowers professionals to map and visualise 3D terrains to support related research for slope safety management and land planning. The system also eliminates the process of physical photo storage and helps shorten construction time, reduce construction costs, and promote environmental efficiency.
In addition, the department’s staff introduced their approaches for enhancing the speed and efficiency to assist in promoting the development of the Northern Metropolis. The Northern Metropolis is located in a geologically complex area with very limited engineering geological data. In order to speed up development and minimise the ground investigation work required across different projects, the GEO initiated a regional ground investigation study in the Northwest New Territories, carrying out ground drilling and rock load tests in strategic areas.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
With Tropical Storm Wipha approaching Hong Kong, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired a meeting of the steering committee on inter-departmental handling of typhoons this afternoon (July 18) to ensure comprehensive and adequate preparations and response planning by relevant departments to cope with possible threats of Wipha. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; and representatives from relevant bureaux and departments attended the meeting.
At the meeting, members were briefed by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory on the latest assessment on Wipha. According to the present forecast, Wipha will enter within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong around midnight tonight. The Observatory will issue the Standby Signal No. 1 then, and consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 during the day on Saturday (July 19). Wipha will be rather close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday (July 20). There will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. The Observatory will assess, on Saturday afternoon, the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals thereafter based on the latest weather information, including Wipha’s distance to the Pearl River Estuary, its intensity and the change in local winds. The public is advised to pay close attention to the latest weather forecast and warnings from the Observatory.
In response to the possible adverse weather conditions, Mr Chan co-ordinated the preparatory work of relevant departments at the meeting, which includes:
The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) under the Security Bureau has made advance preparation and stands ready for activation. It will be fully activated upon the issuance of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8. Utilising the Common Operational Picture, the EMSC will conduct real-time citywide monitoring, and integrate updates from various departments to swiftly assess risks and formulate response plans and measures. Various emergency response teams, including the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service have completed all necessary preparatory work and are on standby, with sufficient manpower deployed to handle possible emergencies during heavy rainstorms and high wind, and to provide assistance to those in need.
The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will continue to operate round-the-clock. It will also closely monitor traffic and transport conditions with public transport agencies, and disseminate emergency traffic information and public transport service arrangements to the public in a timely manner.
The Development Bureau (DEVB) is co-ordinating preparation work to deal with flooding, landslides and fallen trees and ensure safety of building structures. Emergency control centres of various departments are fully prepared to respond. The DEVB has also pooled the resources from contractors of works departments to ensure that sufficient manpower and resources are available for handling emergency situations.
The Drainage Services Department (DSD) completed the special inspection and carried out necessary clearance at about 240 locations which are prone to flooding due to blockages today. The “just-in-time” arrangement will continue, with at most 180 emergency response teams to conduct inspection and clearance of drainage channels in different districts across the territory. For coastal low-lying or windy residential areas with high risks, the DSD and the Civil Engineering and Development Department have established management measures in advance, including early warning systems and emergency response arrangements.
The Geotechnical Engineering Office and the Observatory closely monitor weather conditions and will issue a landslip warning when appropriate. Relevant departments have completed inspections of government man-made slopes with relatively higher potential impacts.
The Buildings Department has reminded property management companies to inspect building maintenance facilities, such as bamboo scaffolding, gondolas, signboards, solar panels and the like, to ensure their stability.
Relevant departments have completed tree risk assessments and mitigation work at locations with high risks.
The Highways Department (HyD) inspected again the flood warning systems installed at Kwun Tong Road Underpass and 16 pedestrian subways along Shing Mun River in Sha Tin, Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po and Tai Po River with a higher risk of flooding from July 16 to 18 to ensure normal operation. In collaboration with the DSD, the department also carried out special inspections and clearance of public road sections which are prone to flooding due to blockages, including high speed road sections, such as San Tin Highway. The HyD also carried out special inspections and clearance of the drainage channels at roadside man-made slopes. In addition, the HyD has reminded relevant staff members and contractors to pay close attention to weather conditions and information released by the Observatory in order to make early preparations for the activation of the Emergency Control Centres.
District Offices have initiated relevant response measures, including co-ordinating with other departments and organisations to enhance preparedness, preparing sandbags and water-stop boards, etc. They will also mobilise District Council members, members of “the three committees” and Care Teams to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas, reminding them to make necessary preparations.
The Education Bureau will closely monitor the weather conditions and announce the arrangement for schools as early as necessary to facilitate parents and students in making early preparations.
The Labour Department reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees in times of typhoons and rainstorms as early as possible, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable). In drawing up and implementing the arrangements, employers should give prime consideration to employees’ safety and the feasibility of employees travelling to and from their workplaces, etc. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations and actual difficulties faced by individual employees, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach.
The Government departments will continue to serve with dedication and make preparations on all fronts to safeguard the lives and property of the public as well as public safety. The Government urges the public to stay alert and stay away from dangerous places such as rivers and slopes in adverse weather conditions, refrain from water sports, and continue to pay attention to the latest news released by the Government.
ATLANTA (July 18, 2025)—On Tuesday, July 22, Sen. Josh McLaurin (D–Sandy Springs) will host a press conference on journalist Mario Guevara’s continued United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.
Guevara, who has lawfully resided in the U.S. for over 20 years, was placed in ICE custody on June 18, where he remains, despite being in the country legally since April 2004. Guevara has developed a large following in Atlanta and national recognition for his reporting on immigration issues.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: July 22, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Where: Georgia State Capitol, South Steps, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
This event is open to the public.
Speakers include:
Giovanni Diaz, managing partner of Diaz & Gaeta and Mario Guevara’s lawyer
Katherine and Oscar Guevara, Mario Guevara’s children
Katherine Jacobsen, Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) U.S., Canada and Caribbean program coordinator
Nora Benavidez, Free Press’ senior counsel and Georgia First Amendment Foundation board member
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Zach Pishock at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
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Sen. Josh McLaurin represents the 14th Senate District, which includes a portion of Fulton County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-4228 or by email at josh.mclaurin@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out toSenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, July 18 /Xinhua/ — The average weighted annual interest rate on loans for new cars in Russia in June 2025 was less than 13.6 percent, which was the minimum since 2023, Kommersant reports.
Since the beginning of this year, car loan rates for new cars have fallen by 7%. For used cars, the average weighted rate is 28.2%, which is 0.5% lower than at the beginning of 2025.
The car loan market in Russia has grown by 46 percent in terms of the volume of funds issued since the beginning of the year. The main driver of this growth was government support and subsidies for manufacturers. Car sales under preferential programs amounted to 16 percent of the total number of car loans. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.