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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at the global distribution of cropland contaminated by heavy metal pollution

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Science looks at global soil contamination by toxic metals. 

    Dr Lucie Buchi, Senior Lecturer in Crop Ecology at the NRI, University of Greenwich, said:

    “While the results of the study seem alarming, the 10×10 scale of the grid cells that the study was based on does not allow any practical application at a local scale. The authors make note of this in the paper: ‘The present study is based on average metal concentrations on a 10-km grid, which is more reflective of diffusive and regional pollution rather than site-specific conditions. The data may be sufficient for risk screening purposes but are inadequate to support risk mitigation. Soil remediation needs to rely upon site-specific delineation of lateral and vertical extent of soil pollution, as well as a better understanding of metal sources, fate and transport dynamics, and bioavailability’.

    “Their map also seems to show low risks in the UK, except for a hotspot in the south and Ireland, but the scale of the figure doesn’t allow to understand where it is actually. And again, with a resolution of 10 x 10 km, nothing can be concluded for any particular fields. But farmland in the hotspot would probably need to be careful, but these regions are probably already known for heavy metal presence.

    “The authors conclude ‘We hope that the global soil pollution data presented in this report will serve as a scientific alert for policy-makers and farmers to take immediate and necessary measures to better protect the world’s precious soil resources.’, and I think this is what it is, more of an alert about a global problem, but which requires further investigation at smaller spatial scales.”

     

    Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University, said:

    “I am in two minds about this paper. On the one hand, it takes a clever scholarly approach, and soil pollution is a serious issue in many parts of the world; on the other hand, I feel some of the conclusions are perhaps a little preliminary.

    “The authors have not generated new data but combined data from existing studies together and then used some very complex data processing methods to predict concentrations of selected metals across a wider area. This method has generated some interesting insights – such as the potential “metal-enriched corridor” across low-latitude Eurasia (although I think blaming this corridor on multiple ancient cultures might be overspeculative). However, there are also issues here. For example, the authors refer to “toxic metals” throughout the paper, even in the title. This is a little misleading because detection is not the same as relevance. Everything is toxic at the right dose, even water. It would be better to just say ‘metals’ and then discuss concentrations if/where appropriate rather than suggesting everything is toxic right from the title.

    “The authors also refer to metal concentrations in soil. The fact that some places on Earth have high levels of metal contamination in their soils and that this could have effects on humans is not new. However, the amount of a compound in the soil does not automatically correlate with the amount that ends up in plants grown in the soil or the amount that people or animals that might eat those plants might eventually be exposed to. According to the supplementary data of the paper, the probability of many of the metals exceeding human health thresholds is low in most cases (including the UK). Context and nuance are important in toxicology and environmental health, as are local conditions. Thus, while certainly worth discussion, the question of whether metal pollution actually threatens agriculture and human health at a global scale is, I think, far from proven”.

     

    Dr Wakene Negassa, Soil Chemist, The James Hutton Institute, said:

    Does the press release accurately reflect the science?

    “The press release accurately captured the important ideas presented in the published paper. 

    Is this good quality research? Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?

    “The authors did not present original research but reviewed previously published studies. Nevertheless, reviewing existing literature is a conventional and valuable approach for identifying research and technology gaps. What sets this review apart is the authors’ use of artificial intelligence to identify global hotspots of soil pollution, distinguishing it from traditional mapping and review papers. Such global analyses are essential for technological and policy interventions of addressing global soil pollution by heavy metals. Although soil pollution from anthropogenic activities has not been widely addressed, databases like Web of Science (WOS) and the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) have indexed over 2,000 related publications since 1960. As the authors conclude, “We hope that the global soil pollution data presented in this report will serve as a scientific alert for policy-makers and farmers to take immediate and necessary measures to better protect the world’s precious soil resources.”

    How does this work fit with the existing evidence?

    “This work aligns with existing evidence, as soil pollution has become a global concern. Although the authors did not include a detailed account of polluted areas, a recent review by Khan et al. (2021) reported over five million soil pollution sites worldwide (Khan et al., 2021; DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126039)

    Have the authors accounted for confounders? Are there important limitations to be aware of?

    “One major limitation of this review is that the authors did not present the chemical forms (speciation) of heavy metals. It is not the total concentration of heavy metals that determines their potential as pollutants, but rather their bioavailable forms—those that can be taken up by plants and transferred through the food chain to animals and humans. Additionally, the magnitude of global soil pollution may be greater than what is reported in the review, as the authors themselves acknowledge, due to a lack of comprehensive data from many countries.

    What are the implications in the real world? Is there any overspeculation?

    “As mentioned in previous responses, the actual extent of global soil pollution may far exceed what is presented by the authors, due to limited data availability and likely underestimation.

    What is the significance of heavy metal contamination in croplands – how does it affect food and/or biodiversity?

    “Soil pollution by heavy metals disrupts plant cellular functions and enzyme activities, resulting in reduced growth and yield, as well as shifts in soil microbial populations. Consuming food or feed grown on contaminated soils, or direct exposure to such soils, poses significant health risks, including kidney damage, neurotoxic effects, and increased carcinogenic potential.

    What is the relevance of this study for UK agriculture and/or public health?

    “It is also worthwhile to investigate UK agricultural soils, as over half a century of intensive farming practices, including continuous use of agrochemicals and the application of various agricultural and urban waste materials, may have led to the accumulation of heavy metals. This could pose potential risks to plant, animal, and human health and ecosystem services.”

     

    Prof Mark Tibbett, Chair of Soil Ecology, University of Reading, said:

    “After many years working post-mining landscapes and in industries that supply metals to soil in organic wastes, it has been intuitively obvious to me that our food production and natural ecosystems are commonly replete with toxic metal, often of human origin. This comprehensive analysis, which seems long overdue, provides clear and worrying empirical evidence of the extent and expanse of this global issue. It is clear that anthropogenic toxic metals are a global and growing pollution issue in our soils, with human activities at the core of the patterns seen.”  

     

    Prof Chris Collins, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, University of Reading

    “This is a very useful study and highlights the issue of global soil pollution. Congratulations to the authors for compiling such a large data set. Although as the authors state the real issues only potentially exist in Eurasia rather than worldwide. It should be noted that presence in soil does not mean the crop grown in that soil will absorb and be contaminated by an element as this depends on the chemical form. The authors do acknowledge this along with other exposure factors e.g. if crops are for human consumption. The study will be of use in identifying those areas where edible crops should be avoided and alternatives, e.g. biomass crops, should be grown. The UK is relatively unaffected (Fig 2B). There are some areas e.g. the SW but this is known and is probably arsenic which is in a form not freely transferred into crops.”

     

    Dr Liz Rylott, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biology, University of York, said:

    “Deyi Hou and colleagues used cutting edge technologies to globally map the distribution of toxic metals. Their findings reveal the deeply worrying extent these natural poisons are polluting our soils, entering our food and water, and affecting our health and our environment.

    “Of concern are cadmium, copper, nickel and lead, and the metalloid arsenic. Often collectively called heavy metals, these elements cause a range of devastating health problems, including skin lesions, reduced nerve and organ functions, and cancers. While some of the contamination is due to naturally occurring geological outcrops of these metals, much of the pollution is from mining and associated industrial activities. As our drive for technology-critical metals to build the green infrastructure required to tackle climate change (wind turbines, electric vehicle batteries and photovoltaic panels) will exacerbate this pollution.

    “Other scientists (Fuller et al The Lancet 2022) calculated that 16% (9 million) of all deaths globally each year are caused by  environmental pollution, of which, heavy metals comprise a significant proportion. This new research links the presence of these heavy metals in the agricultural soils and water, with the food that we eat.

    “To track these elements, extensive regional studies and AI technology were used to build a map detailing soil metal concentrations at a 10 km grid resolution across the world. The analysis reveals previously unrecognised hotspots of metal-enriched areas, including a zone across southern Europe.

    Much of the pollution is in low- and middle-income countries, where communities are directly affected, exacerbating poverty. The effect of these contaminated crops entering global food networks is not as clear. The authors call for soil pollution surveys in data-sparse areas such as sub-Saharan Africa to understand more about its effects on local, and global, human and environmental health.

    “There are ongoing global initiatives (the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and FAO) to remediate contaminated soils. This map will be a powerful tool to help us to identify high-risk areas, understand how natural and human activities have contributed to the pollution, and design mitigation and remediation strategies.

    “This map also illustrates how metal pollution is independent of human borders; to tackle this problem, countries will have to work together.”

    ‘Global soil pollution by toxic metals threatens agriculture and human health’ by Hou  et al. was published in Science at 19:00 UK time on Thursday 17th April.

    DOI: 10.1126/science.adq6807

    Declared interests

    Dr Lucie Buchi “I don’t have any conflict of interests to declare”

    Prof Oliver Jones “I have no conflicts of interest to declare in this case.”

    Dr Wakene Negassa “None”

    Prof Chris Collins “None”

    Dr Liz Rylott “no conflict of interest”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE removes twice deported criminal alien wanted for human trafficking in El Salvador

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    SEATTLE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Wilver Cota-Ortiz, 43, a citizen of El Salvador, to his home country where he is wanted by law enforcement authorities for human trafficking.

    Cota entered the U.S. at an unknown date and location without inspection or admission by an immigration official. The Dallas Police Department arrested him Jan. 9, 2010 for assault with a deadly weapon and an immigration detainer was placed on Cota the next day. The 195th Judicial District Court in Dallas convicted Cota on two counts of assault April 1, 2010, sentencing him to 8 years probation. Custody was transferred to ICE in accordance with the immigration detainer, and Cota was removed to El Salvador as ordered by an immigration judge Dec. 17, 2010.

    Cota reentered the U.S. at an unknown date and location, arrested by U.S. Border Patrol Aug. 6, 2013, in Otay Mesa, California where it was determined he had an active warrant for a probation violation in Dallas. The 195th Judicial District Court convicted Cota of probation violation, sentencing him to two years incarceration. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correction Facility Huntsville transferred custody to the United States Marshal Service, who then transferred custody to ICE in accordance with an immigration detainer. Cota was again removed to El Salvador Dec. 18, 2015.

    Cota reentered the U.S. at an unknown date and location, and this time he was arrested by ICE for illegal reentry Feb. 15, 2023. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware convicted Cota Oct. 31, 2023, of illegal reentry, sentencing him to nine months incarceration. While in federal prison, it was discovered that Cota was wanted by authorities in El Salvador for human trafficking, and his removal was completed April 4 without incident.

    “ICE will make every effort to arrest those that have fled to the U.S. to evade justice in their home country,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Interim Field Office Director Cammilla H. Wamsley. “The seriousness of these charges places a particular importance on that mission.”

    Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X at @EROSeattle.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bristol Virginia Man Sentenced to Over 31 Years for Carjacking and Firearm Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREENVILLE, Tenn. – On April 16, 2025, Charles Nile Mixon, 49, of Bristol, Virginia, was sentenced to 377 months imprisonment by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his imprisonment, Mixon will be on supervised release for five years. 

    On October 30, 2024, following a three-day trial, a jury convicted Mixon of carjacking in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 2119; using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18. U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(j). The jury also made a special finding that Mixon had previously been convicted of at least three, qualifying violent crimes, which established Mixon as an armed career criminal in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e).

    According to witnesses, court documents, and evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of May 24, 2023, Mixon carjacked a female victim at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Taco Bell restaurant in Bristol, Tennessee. Mixon briefly held the victim at gunpoint inside the vehicle. Following a police chase, Mixon escaped into Virginia and abandoned the carjacked vehicle. The following day, during a conversation with a relative, Mixon admitted to taking the relative’s firearm and using it to carjack the woman at the Taco Bell. The relative contacted law enforcement and Mixon was arrested after another chase from Bristol, Virginia into Bristol, Tennessee. The stolen firearm was located on Mixon after his arrest. 

    “The sentence imposed is a powerful reminder that violent offenses, such as this carjacking, will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Individuals who repeatedly commit violent offenses are a threat to public safety and our office will continue to prosecute those individuals vigorously.”

    “This case involves an individual who has continuously shown total disregard for the law by committing armed carjackings, firearm related offenses, and terrifying acts of violence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Nashville Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The ATF remains committed to working tirelessly with our local, state, and federal partners to combat violent crime, and protect the communities that we serve.”

    The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Bristol Tennessee Police Department and ATF.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys B. Todd Martin and Emily Swecker represented the United States.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Drug and Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Thomas Emmanuel Williams, 52, of Laurel, Maryland, to 17 years in federal prison.  On January 17, 2025, a federal jury convicted Williams on 12 federal charges related to drug-and-firearms trafficking.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    According to the evidence at trial, in January and February 2023, the defendant illegally sold 10 firearms, three machineguns, ammunition, and hundreds of oxycodone, codeine, and fentanyl pills to an undercover law-enforcement source. The defendant sold several privately made firearms that didn’t have serial numbers, and so-called “Glock switches,” designed to convert semi-automatic Glock-style pistols into fully automatic firearms.

    Williams arranged to sell the drugs and guns to the source on four different dates through FaceTime and phone calls. He met with the undercover source in shopping-center parking lots in Laurel and Hyattsville, Maryland, to sell guns, ammunition, and drugs in exchange for thousands of dollars in cash.

    The firearms sold included a Hi Point 45 ACP Pistol and 9mm Rifle, Taurus 85 Ultra Lite .38 Special Revolver, two AR-style 5.56mm pistols, a Glock 21 .45 Auto Pistol, and a Glock 43 9mm Pistol, along with three “Glock switches” which are classified as machineguns under federal law.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF — and its special agents Christopher Szakolczai and Katherine Rottman — for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren S. Gardner and Dawn Williams who prosecuted the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sixteen charged in East Texas federal methamphetamine conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal indictment in the Eastern District of Texas has resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals charged with various violations related to a wide-spread methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.

    The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on April 2, 2025, in the Eastern District of Texas, charges the defendants with federal drug and gun violations.  A multi-agency law enforcement action was held on April 16, 2025, resulting in those arrests.  Since the investigation began in November 2022, law enforcement has seized over 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and 14 firearms.  Those in custody began making initial appearances in federal court on April 16, 2025, in Beaumont.

    According to information provided in court, the following individuals are alleged to have been involved in the methamphetamine conspiracy in the Angelina, Nacogdoches, and Polk counties area:

    •    Albert Lopez, 39, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;

    •    Adaryl Douglas, 45, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;

    •    Hector Gomez, 40, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Oscar Padilla, 44, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Leanna Jean Busby, 45, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Amanda McBride, 43, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    John Christopher Rios, 53, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Jose Pedro Guzman Jr., 34, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Lorene Michelle Baker, 44, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    David Davis, Jr., 48, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Penny Ann King, 51, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Jodi Calvin Sparkman, 53, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Christopher Dewayne Harvey, 51, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;

    •    Gary Mills, 65, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm;

    •    Clifton Collin-Dakota Smith, 32, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and

    •    Corey Mullan, 39, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

    If convicted, defendants face from 10 years to life in federal prison.

    As part of the operation, Eduardo Barajas-Macias, 32, a close associate of the criminal conspiracy, was also arrested and charged with unlawful reentry by a removed or deported alien.

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

    The case is being investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Lufkin Police Department; Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; and U.S. Marshals Service.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.

    A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brazilian Man Charged with Possessing a Firearm While Being Unlawfully in the United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Gabriel Lopes Da Silva Santos, 27, of Brazil, has been charged by criminal complaint with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.

    On April 16, 2025, Santos appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Santos be detained during the pendency of this matter.

    According to court records, Santos illegally possessed an AR-15 style rifle on June 9, 2024, when law enforcement responded to an apartment complex in Ludlow, Vermont. A neighbor had reported that someone was shooting behind the complex. Law enforcement found Santos, who claimed ownership of the AR-15 style rifle and a shotgun that was also on scene. Law enforcement later discovered that Santos had overstayed his visa, which expired in September 2020.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Santos is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Santos faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted.  The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  

    The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Santos is represented by Federal Public Defender’s Office for the District of Vermont.

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man from Dominican Republic sentenced for transporting illegal aliens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Luis Davis German Soriano, 32, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, who was convicted of transporting illegal aliens, was sentenced to time served (approximately 15 months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Soriano was then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that on January 3, 2024, Soriano aided co-defendant Silvestre German Andujar, an alien, in transporting three other individuals, who were not citizens or nationals of the United States. Soriano drove from New Jersey to an agreed upon location in Youngstown, NY, to pick-up Andujar and the others, who had traveled on a motorized raft vessel on the Niagara River from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. Andujar piloted the vessel across the United States-Canada border. U.S. Border Patrol Agents responded to the area as Andujar and the others got off the vessel, prompting them to flee. Simultaneously, law enforcement observed Soriano’s vehicle driving in the area near the vessel’s landing spot on the shoreline. Officers conducted a traffic stop. Soriano provided conflicting information as to the purpose of his travel but was released by officers. He then drove back to the pick-up location and picked up Andujar and the others inside the van.

    Subsequently, on January 4, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol Agents parked on the Niagara Scenic Parkway in Youngstown, NY, observed Soriano driving his vehicle with Andujar and the others inside. Agents stopped the vehicle in Ransomville, NY, at which time Soriano and the others were arrested and official immigration records checks were conducted.

    Silvestre German Andujar was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs, and the Lewiston Police Department, under the direction of Chief Frank Previte.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Firearms in Connection with Plot to Conduct ISIS-Inspired Election Day Terrorist Attack

    Source: United States Attorneys General 8

    Abdullah Haji Zada, 18, a native and citizen of Afghanistan and U.S. lawful permanent resident, pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging him with knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive a firearm and ammunition to be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism.

    According to court documents, Zada and a co-conspirator received two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, knowing that the firearms and ammunition would be used in connection with a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024 on behalf the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Zada was arrested with co-conspirator Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, also a citizen of Afghanistan, in October 2024.

    Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. At sentencing, Zada faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

    As part of the plea agreement, Zada stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Zada acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status. Zada also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum.

    Tawhedi is currently awaiting trial for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and receiving, attempting to receive, or conspiring to receive a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if convicted. An indictment is merely an allegation and Tawhedi is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.

    The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mineral Springs Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Mineral Springs, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 181 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Brian Gidney, 51.

    According to information presented to the Court, from in and around July 2019 to in and around June 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Gidney conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Further, on or about June 9, 2020, Gidney possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and also possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. Gidney was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others.

    Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gidney. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Final defendant sentenced in local Indian Arts and Crafts Act case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The defendants sold over $1 million worth of fraudulent artwork throughout the conspiracy.

    JUNEAU, Alaska – A Washington man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a scheme to sell hundreds of products produced in the Philippines as authentic Alaska Native produced artwork, violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

    According to court documents, between July and August 2021, Cameron Losi, fka “Cameron Lawrence,” 39, conspired with others, including the owners of Alaska Stone Arts LLC and Rail Creek LLC, stores located in Ketchikan, to sell items falsely represented to be authentic Alaska Native art. Losi was employed as a salesperson for Alaska Stone Arts LLC, which primarily sold stone carvings. Rail Creek LLC primarily sold wood totem poles.

    Court documents explain that from April 2016 to December 2021, Cristobal Rodrigo, 59, his wife Glenda Rodrigo, 46, and their son Christian Rodrigo, 24, all from Washington, were the owners and operators of the stores and were co-conspirators in the case. The investigation revealed that the carvings and totem poles sold in both stores were sourced from Rodrigo Creative Crafts, a company owned by Glenda Rodrigo and located in the Philippines. The company used Filipino labor to produce the artwork before shipping them to the Rodrigo’s stores in Alaska, where they were sold as authentic Alaska Native art.

    According to court documents, the Rodrigos hired Alaska Natives and non-Alaska Native employees at both Ketchikan stores to help with day-to-day operations and represent and sell Philippine produced artwork as their own authentic Native artwork. Aside from Losi, who is of American Indian descent, the Rodrigos also hired Travis Lee Macasaet, 39, of Ketchikan, Simeon Cabansag, 39, of Ketchikan, and Jessie Reginio, 28, of Seattle, Washington. Macasaet and Cabansag were two of the Alaska Natives hired by the family. Reginio was one of the non-Alaska Native employees hired by the family.

    Losi conspired with the other co-defendants to sell the artwork to customers and falsely represent that the art was all produced from locally sourced materials and made by Alaska Natives or by members of an American Indian tribe. Court documents outline that Losi misrepresented to customers that he was the sole artisan of the stone carvings under the name “Cameron,” and that other employees were Alaska Native family members who carved and sold stone and wood totem poles in both businesses. 

    During the course of the conspiracy, Losi and others involved in the scheme sold hundreds of stone and wood carvings produced in the Philippines as authentic Alaska Native carvings.

    Losi was sentenced to five years’ probation and 250 hours of community service. Losi is required to pay over $12,200 in restitution to his victims in this case and is required to write an apology letter to the victims and the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes to be published publicly.

    “This sentencing marks a crucial step toward justice, finally holding accountable all defendants responsible for this betrayal of Alaska Native artisans, whose craftsmanship is not only their livelihood but their pride,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “The fraudulent actions of all seven defendants resulted in over a million dollars in illegal profits, undermining the integrity of genuine artists and exploiting the very cultural heritage that some defendants are connected to. Through our collaboration with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, we have secured justice for tribal communities and the victims who were deceived through forgery and misrepresentation.”

    “Counterfeit Alaska Native art, such as the carvings Cameron Losi sold to unwitting customers at the Alaska Stone Arts business in Ketchikan, are an affront to Alaska Native culture, tradition, and heritage,” said Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton.  “The Indian Arts and Crafts Board by statute is responsible for administering the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), an anti-counterfeiting law that protects Indian artists and consumers.  Mr. Losi’s actions undermine Alaska Native economies and the hard work of Alaska Native artists who are dedicated to celebrating their unique culture and using their artwork to pass to down their traditions and skills from one generation to the next.  His actions also erode consumers’ confidence in the Alaska Native art market, particularly with respect to the many tourists traveling through Southeast Alaska each year.  Due to the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office-District of Alaska and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IACA Investigative Unit, Mr. Losi is being held accountable and the message is clear.  For those selling counterfeit Alaska Native art it is important to know that wherever you are we will diligently work to find you and prosecute you under the IACA.”

    “Cameron Losi collaborated with the Rodrigos and others to misrepresent Philippine-made stone carvings and totem poles as Alaskan Native made,” said Doug Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Losi used his American Indian heritage to defraud customers by knowingly selling Philippine-made stone carvings and totem poles at premium prices. These deceptive business practices cheated customers and undermined the economic livelihood of Alaskan Native artists. Our special agents investigate crimes in violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Protecting Alaska Native culture and traditions is a critical part of the act. We thank the U.S. Department of Justice for their assistance with this investigation.”

    Co-conspirators in this case include:

    • Cristobal Rodrigo: Sentenced to two years in prison in August 2023 for his role in the scheme. His sentence was reduced to 18 months in June 2024 but remains the longest sentence a defendant has received for any Indian Arts and Crafts Act violation in the U.S., according to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
    • Glenda Rodrigo: Sentenced to up to six months’ home confinement and 240 hours of community service on July 8, 2024.
    • Christian Rodrigo: Sentenced to up to three months’ home confinement and 200 hours of community service on July 8, 2024.
    • Travis Macasaet: Sentenced to five years’ probation and 250 hours of community service on Nov. 12, 2024.
    • Simeon Cabansag: Sentenced to three years’ supervised release, time served and 150 hours of community service on Nov. 12, 2024.
    • Jessie Reginio: Sentenced to three years’ probation, a $5,000 fine and $10,000 in restitution on Nov. 12, 2024.

    The Department of Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Customs and Border Protections, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

    If you suspect potential Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations are being committed, a complaint may be submitted through the Indian Arts and Crafts Board’s online complaint form, www.doi.gov/iacb/should-i-report-potential-violation, by emailing iacb@ios.doi.gov, or by calling 888-278-3253.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Commodities Trader Pleads Guilty to Multi-Mullion Dollar Wire and Commodities Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Newark, N.J. – A Chicago man admitted to engaging in a wire and commodities fraud scheme that caused losses of more than $4 million, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Philip Galles, 59, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to both counts of an Indictment charging him with wire and commodities fraud.

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

    Galles, a former commodities trader, defrauded his victims by falsely claiming that he would invest their money in commodity futures through his purported investment company, Tyche Asset Management, based in Chicago, Illinois. As part of the scheme, Galles and those working for him falsely told prospective investors that Tyche had a history of success using proprietary trading strategies, with extraordinary annual rates of return exceeding 100%.

    But in reality, Galles made virtually no legitimate investments in commodity futures or otherwise. Galles instead ran Tyche like a Ponzi scheme and used investor money to pay back other investors and on to pay his own personal expenses—including high-end clothing, rent on a luxury apartment, and luxury automobiles.

    During the investigation, Galles met with an undercover agent in New Jersey purporting to be an investment manager looking to make a large investment. Galles repeatedly lied during those meetings about Tyche and his personal history. Galles falsely claimed that Tyche had annual returns of 336%, raised over $2 billion within 60 days of starting the fund, and had prominent investors, including a Kuwaiti sovereign fund and a well-known owner of a professional sports team. Galles also falsely claimed that he graduated from a prominent university in the Midwest.

    In total, through his scheme, Galles defrauded more than a dozen victims out of more than $4 million.

    The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and the commodities fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.  Both charges also carry a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the transfer, whichever is greater.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 23, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahony in Newark, and the inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, with the investigation. She also thanked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the National Futures Association for their role in the investigation.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit and Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Michael Koribanics, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: AI TRANSPORTATION ACQUISITION CORP ANNOUNCES DELISTING FROM NASDAQ AND EXPECTED SEC DEREGISTRATION

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, New York, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI Transportation Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: AITR), a publicly-listed special purpose acquisition company (“AITR”), today announced that The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) determined to suspend trading and delist AITR’s securities from Nasdaq due to AITR’s failure to pay certain fees required by Listing Rule 5250(f), unless AITR appeals this determination. AITR does not intend to request a hearing to appeal the determination, which decision was based on a careful review of numerous factors, including the potential for limiting the significant costs associated with remaining listed on Nasdaq and complying with Nasdaq listing standards.

    AITR’s securities includes its ordinary shares value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), its publicly-traded rights whereby each right provides the holder with a right to acquire 1/8th of one Ordinary Share (the “Rights”), and AITR’s publicly-traded units, consisting of one Ordinary Share and one Right.

    Nasdaq is expected to file a Form 25 (Notification of Removal from Listing) with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the delisting of AITR’s securities. Suspension of trading of AITR’s securities occurred at the opening of business on April 16, 2025. The removal of AITR’s securities from Nasdaq will be effective 10 days after the filing of the Form 25.

    Following the delisting, AITR expects that the Ordinary Shares will be traded on a market operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. (the “OTC”). No assurances can be provided, however, that trading of the Ordinary Shares on the OTC will occur.

    On April 11, 2025, AITR received a notice (the “Notice”) from Nasdaq stating that AITR’s failure to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 also serves a basis for delisting AITR’s securities from Nasdaq.

    About AITR Acquisition Corp. AI Transportation Acquisition Corp. (“AITR”) is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular business, industry or sector or geographical region. On November 8, 2023, AITR consummated an initial public offering of its units, with each unit consisting of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-eighth (1/8) of one ordinary share upon consummation of AITR’s initial business combination.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements. The words “expect,” “intend,” “continue,” “potential,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning AITR’s plans with respect to the delisting and deregistration of its securities; the perceived benefits and timing of the delisting and deregistration; and the trading of the securities. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the risk that the delisting and deregistration process will take longer than expected and that the benefits of such actions may not be realized; the impact of changing laws and regulations and those risks and uncertainties described in AITR’s filings with the SEC, including AITR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and AITR specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon this information as current or accurate after its publication date.

    Contacts

    AI Transportation Acquisition Corp
    Mr. Yongjin Chen
    Chief Executive Officer
    10 East 53rd Street, Suite 3001
    New York, NY 10022
    Email: chenyongjin@ds-cap.com

    SOURCE: AI Transportation Acquisition Corp

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How Microsoft and Cloudforce help higher education innovate with Azure AI

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How Microsoft and Cloudforce help higher education innovate with Azure AI

    Learn how deploying AI platforms in higher education with Microsoft and Cloudforce can help improve outcomes, streamline tasks, and ensure data privacy.

    Many leaders in higher education are eager to tap into the vast potential of AI. In fact, 89% of institutions are engaged in AI strategic planning in some capacity.1 They aim to improve student outcomes with personalized learning, streamline administrative tasks for faculty and staff with AI-powered agents, and take advantage of the countless other ways generative AI can help them innovate. Top institutions are already deploying AI platforms in higher education.

    Microsoft and our network of partners can support your journey forward with AI. Unlike many publicly available AI tools, a solution built by a Microsoft partner with Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service keeps your AI interactions private, allowing you to stay in control of your institution’s information. It’s also easier to maintain compliance with data privacy laws like Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

    Microsoft’s commitment to Trustworthy AI means that AI is secure, safe, and private. Students, faculty, and researchers can also select from a wide array of leading models, with popular options from creators such as OpenAI, Meta, DeepSeek, and more, to find the best fit for their use cases.

    In a datasheet on accelerating AI innovation, we highlight how our partner Cloudforce has developed the nebulaONE® solution, powered by Azure OpenAI Service, to simplify access to Microsoft’s most advanced generative AI capabilities. Let’s explore how it empowers institutions to achieve more.

    Download the AI innovation datasheet

    How nebulaONE by Cloudforce aims to bring secure AI to all

    Many students and faculty are already using generative AI. But as they adopt their own unsecured AI tools, it creates concerns with IT governance, security, privacy, and data protection, and it limits the ability to scale AI throughout the institution. Cloudforce, a Microsoft Supplier of the Year in 2024, has expertise in building AI solutions to address those concerns, as well as over a decade of experience designing and deploying complex infrastructure and cloud-native apps exclusively on Azure. Cloudforce built nebulaONE on Azure to use its built-in security and privacy features, and the company is engaged with dozens of higher education institutions to fulfill its mission of providing secure AI access for all.

    Discover Azure in education

    A conversational generative AI gateway, nebulaONE allows students, faculty, researchers, and staff to harness cutting-edge AI models to reimagine learning experiences, accelerate research, protect intellectual property, and drive institutional efficiencies in every department. It includes an intuitive, multimodal chat interface for the AI interactions that are familiar to many, and it provides the ability to develop low-code, task-specific AI agents to drive innovation and efficiency across campus. The nebulaONE platform deploys to your Azure environment, so your data remains private, and you gain the compliance and security protections built into Azure AI services.

    Click to enlarge

    “We know leaders in higher education are facing pressure to prepare the workforce of tomorrow to succeed with AI, or risk being left behind,” says Cloudforce CEO Husein Sharaf. “We created nebulaONE to address the most pressing needs of educators and students, with a rapid implementation process that securely enables generative AI use at scale. Our campus-wide management layer keeps institutions in the driver’s seat from a cost and governance perspective, while a simple, custom-branded user interface drives user adoption. Our platform provides the foundation for a flexible AI strategy that evolves as new models and capabilities emerge.”

    Cloudforce supports institutional leaders wherever you are in your journey, whether that’s exploring AI for the first time or connecting an AI platform to their full data estate. The Cloudforce team can host workshops to help identify early use cases or provide trainings and prompt-a-thons to reinforce best practices and teach you and your colleagues how to develop your own agents. They also offer assistance with change management and strategic communications to drive campus-wide adoption of nebulaONE and the uses that provide the most value for your institution.

    The real-world impact of generative AI in higher education

    One success story comes from the University of California, Los Angeles, John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management (UCLA Anderson). Leaders at UCLA Anderson had concerns with using public AI platforms, so they looked for a partner who could deliver a secure, private experience that enabled their priority use cases. They chose to adopt nebulaONE because it’s a fully managed platform that deploys in their Azure environment, and within about two months, they launched a generative AI chatbot to support MBA students with their capstone project.

    Explore AI in education

    UCLA Anderson leaders sought to develop and deploy a host of AI-powered chatbots for a variety of specific purposes, and Cloudforce validated use cases and provided hands-on training to empower UCLA staff to independently build them with nebulaONE. The school has now deployed bots to help students register for classes and provide feedback on essays, as well as a forthcoming AI-powered agent that will reduce administrative tasks for career coaches so they can spend more time with the school’s 40,000 alumni. Several months after UCLA deployed the platform, monthly active user rates continued to increase rapidly, growing by 485% from December 2024 to January 2025.

    UCLA is hardly alone. A growing number of colleges and universities are deploying nebulaONE to harness the power of AI:

    • California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) now provides secure, university-managed AI for all students through TitanGPT, as the custom-branded platform is known. They have also started exploring use cases for support solutions, like an agent to streamline HelpDesk support and their IT ticketing system.
    • London Business School sought to find a cost-effective, scalable AI solution, with access to a variety of AI foundation models. After a brief demo, they quickly began a full deployment to all 6,000 students, faculty, and researchers—the first in the United Kingdom to do so.
    • TerpAI, the chatbot built on the nebulaONE platform at the University of Maryland, acts as a digital assistant and educational resource to help faculty and students brainstorm ideas, analyze data, create study guides, develop lesson plans, and more.
    • The platform is nicknamed CWRU AI at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), where the CRWU community can select between AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4o or 3.5 Turbo, Meta’s Llama 3.2, and DeepSeek R1. CWRU AI uses AI reasoning to analyze images, PDFs, Word, and Excel files, and the community can deploy chatbots connected to specific data sources for departments or groups.

    Learn more about what’s possible with AI

    These examples highlight how leaders in higher education can quickly and securely implement generative AI to enhance student services, academic offerings, and operational efficiency. Ready to deploy AI at your school? Discover how nebulaONE can make AI accessible by downloading the datasheet from Microsoft and Cloudforce.

    Download the AI innovation datasheet

    Learn more about how to get started with these resources:

    1 Jenay Robert. 2024 EDUCAUSE AI Landscape Study​. Research report. Boulder, CO, US: EDUCAUSE, February 2024.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $4 Million Intersection Improvement Project in Oneonta

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that work is beginning on a $4 million project to enhance safety and improve traffic flow at a key gateway to the City of Oneonta. The project will transform the intersection of James F. Lettis Highway (State Route 23) and Main Street (State Route 7) by constructing a modern roundabout that will reduce vehicle congestion and make it easier for pedestrians and motorists to reach the area’s popular destinations, including SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College and the shops and businesses of downtown Oneonta.

    “The City of Oneonta is a true gem of the I-88 corridor, with a robust, walkable downtown, thriving businesses and thousands of college students making this Mohawk Valley community their home every year,” Governor Hochul said. “We want to make sure that everyone in Oneonta reaches their destinations as safely as possible, and that’s just what this new roundabout and other community enhancements will provide.”

    The project will convert the current, signalized intersection of Lettis Highway and Main Street into a single-lane roundabout that will improve vehicle mobility and reduce idling. New sidewalks, lighting and signage – including flashing beacons – will also be installed to enhance safety for pedestrians. New drainage systems and landscaping will be added to improve resiliency and sustainability.

    Roundabouts are engineered to maximize safety and minimize congestion. They are safer, more sustainable, and more efficient than traditional intersections. Crashes in roundabouts are less severe, resulting in fewer injuries and fatalities. Roundabouts also eliminate the need for electric-powered traffic signals. For tips on how to safely navigate a roundabout, check out this helpful instructional video.

    Work on the project is getting underway this month with tree removal and other site preparation activities. Major construction will start in early to mid-July and will focus initially on the northern end of the intersection and the interior of the roundabout. During this phase, only the ramps to and from the Lettis Highway will be open to traffic traveling eastbound on Main Street. All other vehicular and pedestrian access will be closed. Detours for vehicles and pedestrians will be posted.

    In early to mid-September, work will shift to the southern end of the intersection and the ramps to and from Lettis Highway. At this point, the ramp onto the Lettis Highway southbound will be closed. Traffic traveling eastbound on Main Street will also be detoured around the intersection. All detours for vehicles and pedestrians will be posted.

    Additionally, a free, 24-hour shuttle service will be provided to further aid pedestrians during periods when access to the work zone will be restricted. There will be four designated pickup and drop-off locations, including two on Main Street and two on Lettis Highway. Signs will be installed to identify the designated drop-off/pick-up locations at least a week prior to closure of the roadway. Additional signs will be posted at the roadway closure limits informing pedestrians of the transportation service availability, pick-up and drop-off locations, and the contact information to call for the service.

    New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “New York State, under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, is investing in our transportation infrastructure to create safer systems that reduce conflicts and minimize the likelihood of fatal crashes, with the goal getting to zero fatalities – because even one death on our highway system is too many. This new roundabout will benefit the entire Oneonta community, creating more efficient vehicle flow and enhancing safety for the many residents, visitors and students who travel to and from this beautiful city and its many attractions each day.”

    The project is being funded with a mix of state and federal funding, with the bulk of it provided via the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. It’s also part of NYSDOT’s Safe System Approach toward Zero Deaths that involves designing and managing road infrastructure to keep the risk of a human error low and minimizing the likelihood of fatality or serious injury during crashes. Construction is tentatively scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2025.

    This is the first of two projects that are being advanced to address congestion in the Oneonta area. The Southside Oneonta Safety and Mobility Improvements Project is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026 and will focus on improving the sidewalks and traffic flow along State Route 23 and State Route 28 near the southern end of the Lettis Highway.

    Representative Josh Riley said, “Projects like the roundabout at Lettis Highway and Main Street are exactly the kind of common-sense solutions that will make a real difference for communities like Oneonta. It’s not just about traffic; it’s about safety for our students, residents, and visitors. I’m pushing hard to bring federal dollars back home for projects across NY-19, and I’m grateful for the Governor’s leadership in helping to deliver these crucial infrastructure improvements.”

    Assemblymember Brian Miller said, “Investing in infrastructure that improves safety and mobility is critical to the growth and vitality of our communities. The intersection improvement project located at State Route 23 and State Route 7 in the City of Oneonta is a smart and forward-thinking investment that will not only reduce congestion and improve traffic flow but also enhance pedestrian and bicycle access to educational institutions and downtown businesses. Improving safety on our roadways is always a top priority, and this intersection upgrade in Oneonta is a great example of the kind of investment that makes a real difference.”

    Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek said, “On behalf of the City of Oneonta I’d like to express my deep gratitude for the continuing support of our Governor and the State of New York in making our city increasingly safe, attractive, and conveniently accessible to residents and visitors.”

    About the Department of Transportation

    It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment and supports the economic well-being of New York State. Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers!

    For more information, find them on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit their website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Increasing Bus Service on 16 Local NYC Bus Routes

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced it will increase bus service on 16 local routes across Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island beginning June 29, 2025. This is in addition to enhanced express bus service on eight lines that went into effect earlier this Spring. The service enhancement will decrease travel times, shorten commutes and reduce wait times at bus stops.

    “Every New Yorker deserves access to safe, fast and reliable public transit, and I’m investing in our buses and subways so we can deliver better service in every corner of our city,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re taking action to strengthen our transportation infrastructure, bring stations and equipment up to par and create the best experience for every rider.”

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Buses connect New Yorkers to jobs, education, entertainment and everything else the city has to offer. By increasing service on some of the busiest routes in the outer boroughs, we can deliver opportunity and quality of life upgrades to literally thousands of New Yorkers.”

    Proposed by Governor Hochul in November 2024 in connection with the launch of congestion pricing, the service enhancements are one of the many ways stakeholders are working to give commuters better alternatives to driving. The following is a list of local bus routes that will benefit from the enhanced service. These lines have high ridership and, thanks to the success of congestion relief, allow riders to have expanded access to fast, safe, reliable transit service — especially in areas underserved by the subway system.

    The Bronx:

    • Bx10 (Riverdale-Norwood)
    • Bx17 (Port Morris-Fordham Plaza)
    • Bx23 (Co-op City-Pelham Bay Park Station)
    • Bx28/Bx38 (Co-op City-Fordham Center)

    Brooklyn

    • B17 (Crown Heights-Canarsie)
    • B26 (Fulton St-Ridgewood)
    • B74 (Sea Gate-Stillwell Avenue Station)
    • B103 (Canarsie-Downtown Brooklyn)

    Queens

    • Q13 (Flushing-Ft. Totten)
    • Q28 (Bayside-Flushing)
    • Q35 (Rockaway Park-Midwood)
    • Q43 (Jamaica-Floral Park)
    • Q66 (Flushing-Long Island City
    • Q69 (Long Island City-Astoria)

    Staten Island

    • S46/S96 (Castleton Avenue)
    • S79 SBS (Staten Island Mall-Bay Ridge)

    The following is a list of the express bus routes in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island that have already implemented expanded service:

    • BM2 (Canarsie-Avenue H-Midtown/Downtown)
    • BM5 (Spring Creek-Linden Blvd-Woodhaven Blvd-Midtown)
    • X27 (Bay Ridge-Midtown/Downtown)
    • QM15 (Lindenwood-Cross Bay Blvd-Woodhaven Blvd-Midtown)
    • SIM1C (Eltingville-Hylan Blvd-Midtown/Downtown)
    • SIM4C (Huguenot-Richmond Av-Midtown/Downtown)
    • SIM23 (Annadale-Arden Av-Midtown)
    • SIM24 (Prince’s Bay-Huguenot Av-Midtown)

    NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “Frequent, reliable bus service is essential for so many New Yorkers, especially for those who don’t live near the subway. By enhancing bus service on 16 local routes starting this summer, we can improve trips along critical corridors, especially where we have seen increased ridership since the beginning of congestion relief.”

    Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, “Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus routes are of great importance for everyday New Yorkers, facilitating their commuting to and from various destinations, like work, especially in transportation deserts. Today’s announcement of service enhancements for 16 local bus routes across the city set to commence this summer, will ensure frequent and dependable services during a period when ridership tends to surge. I would like to thank the MTA for its commitment to the people of New York and its dedication to ensuring the accessibility of public transportation for all.”

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “When we invest in public transit, we break down barriers to transportation and make it easier for passengers to get from Point A to Point B, and increasing bus service helps achieve this. I want to thank Governor Hochul and MTA Chair Lieber for their commitment to an efficient bus system that meets the needs of all New Yorkers.”

    State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Increasing bus services throughout Queens is crucial for ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to reliable and efficient transportation. These enhancements will reduce commute times and make connecting with essential services easier for our communities. I support this initiative, which reflects our commitment to improving public transit and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. I will continue to advocate for equitable investments in transportation, especially with the expansion of the Q43 route to better connect residents to vital locations.”

    State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “I’m so excited for more frequent and reliable bus service in our community. Thank you to the MTA for their work in expanding bus service across NYC, and to my colleagues in the legislature who voted to fund this project.”

    State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “Brooklynites from across my district rely on buses to get to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go, and they deserve frequent, reliable service that works for them. That’s especially true for seniors, folks with disabilities and those who live far from the subway. These are some of the highest-ridership bus routes in the city, and this service increase is a boon to New Yorkers and to our economy. Thanks to the MTA for making smart investments like this in our transit system and our city.”

    State Senator Robert Jackson said, “Transit justice begins with investment—and I commend the MTA for taking this step toward a fairer, faster New York. For my constituents in District 31 and working-class New Yorkers across the city, expanded service on the Bx10 and other local routes is more than a convenience—it’s a correction. It’s a recognition that access to reliable, efficient transit is not a luxury, but a right. Every added bus, every reduced wait, brings us closer to a system that serves all of us—equitably, urgently, and with the dignity our communities deserve.”

    State Senator John Liu said, “These service enhancements are a welcome step forward for Queens riders who rely on our bus network to get to school, work, and other essential destinations every day. Increasing service on many of these routes will provide more options for riders in northeast Queens without direct subway access to connect to mass transit. This expansion is an important part of the MTA’s broader bus redesign and aligns with the goals of congestion pricing, which is to invest in faster, more reliable service and get more commuters out of their cars and into mass transit.”

    State Senator Julia Salazar said, “Hundreds if not thousands of New Yorkers in our district depend on buses to get to work, see their loved ones, grab their groceries, and more. As a strong advocate for investing in our public transit systems, I’m thrilled the MTA is enhancing services on 16 local routes, making commutes faster, more reliable, and more convenient.”

    Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “Thank you MTA for announcing increased bus service around the city, specifically in my district with the Bx10 bus line. The Bx10 runs throughout most of my district, including Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Van Cortlandt Village, and Norwood, and will now have additional buses in rotation all day, reducing wait times at bus stops and shortening travel times. Many of my constituents rely on the Bx10 for transportation and these new service enhancements will improve their daily commutes. Investing in our public transportation is one of the smartest choices we can make, and I am confident that these changes will benefit us all greatly.”

    Assemblymember Charles D. Fall said, “I’ve long called for improvements to the S46 line, and I’m glad to see this critical investment finally being delivered for the West Shore and North Shore communities of our borough. These enhancements will help reduce wait times, ease overcrowding, and make daily commutes more reliable for working families who rely on this route. I remain committed to fighting for equitable, accessible transit across Staten Island and beyond.”

    Assemblymember Larinda C. Hooks said, “We appreciate the additional service being added to key routes like the Q66 and Q69, which play an essential role in connecting neighborhoods across Queens. This is a positive step toward improving access for residents who often experience long and complex commutes. I look forward to continued efforts that build a more efficient and equitable transit system for all New Yorkers.”

    Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “The upgraded B103 bus service is a game-changer for our community. More frequent service means faster, more reliable commutes. Investing in our bus network is critical to making transit work better for everyone.”

    Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “I’m grateful for the MTA’s leadership in creating reliable, efficient, and speedy bus service for New Yorkers. Like many New Yorkers throughout the city, I have several constituents who do not live near a train station, resulting in busses to be one of their only modes of transportation. The Q66, for example, is a vital bus service that connects my constituents in Jackson Heights and Woodside to neighborhoods all the way to Flushing and Long Island City. With the enhanced bus services taking effect, I’m excited for my constituents and all New Yorkers to experience faster commutes and experience shorter wait periods.”

    Assemblymember George Alvarez said, “Investing in better bus service is investing in the everyday lives of Bronx residents. With enhanced service on key routes like the Bx10, Bx17, Bx23, and Bx28/Bx38, communities from Riverdale to Co-op City will benefit from shorter wait times, improved reliability, and greater access to opportunity. This is a meaningful step toward a more connected, equitable Bronx.”

    Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “I’m pleased to see the MTA expanding local bus service in the Bronx and across the city. Reliable and frequent public transit is essential to our communities — it connects people to jobs, school, healthcare, and opportunity. These service enhancements will help shorten commutes, reduce wait times, and make everyday travel more manageable for Bronxites who rely on our buses the most. Investments like this bring us one step closer to a more equitable and accessible transit system for all New Yorkers.”

    Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “More than 800,000 Queens residents rely on MTA bus service each day, and each one of them deserves a fast, reliable commute that gets them to work, school, home or elsewhere quickly. With these needed service enhancements — in tandem with the full Queens Bus Network Redesign coming this summer — that commute is exactly what families across the borough will finally be able to enjoy. I’m deeply grateful to our dedicated partners at the MTA for working hand-in-hand with our borough to deliver the kind of mass transit system all 2.4 million of us in Queens have long sought and advocated for.”

    The increased service is being funded with $8 million from the Outer Borough Transportation Account, which was established by the New York State Legislature in 2018 to improve transportation service in the outer boroughs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Firearms in Connection with Plot to Conduct ISIS-Inspired Election Day Terrorist Attack

    Source: US State of California

    Abdullah Haji Zada, 18, a native and citizen of Afghanistan and U.S. lawful permanent resident, pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging him with knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive a firearm and ammunition to be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism.

    According to court documents, Zada and a co-conspirator received two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, knowing that the firearms and ammunition would be used in connection with a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024 on behalf the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Zada was arrested with co-conspirator Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, also a citizen of Afghanistan, in October 2024.

    Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. At sentencing, Zada faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

    As part of the plea agreement, Zada stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Zada acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status. Zada also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum.

    Tawhedi is currently awaiting trial for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and receiving, attempting to receive, or conspiring to receive a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if convicted. An indictment is merely an allegation and Tawhedi is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.

    The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Marshals Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Edmond Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma City Community College Police Department, and the Oklahoma City University Police Department, is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry and Matt Dillon for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over 230 York pensioners £7,000 a year better off with Pension Credit

    Source: City of York

    The 231 pensioners in York who claimed Pension Credit since December 2024 are now an extra £7,000 a year better off.

    Following publicity campaigns to encourage eligible people to claim, 231 applications were made from December 2024 to February 2025 by residents over State Pension age and who are on a low income. They are now directly benefitting from a total extra £1,790,736 a year, from Pension Credit and linked benefits.  

    Of the total £1,790,736 now being paid yearly to those York residents, £338,866 was for backdated claims and £49,200 was for Winter Fuel Payments. Estimates suggest that the value of these awards over the estimated life expectancy of the claimants, could add up to over £10,638,000.

    One successful claimant from York said:

    I now have Pension Credit and Council Tax Support and couldn’t feel happier – it is so lovely. I wouldn’t have known what to do or that this would be possible without Age UK York and the Carers’ Centre helping me. Thank you so much.”  

    This is part of an ongoing campaign in partnership with organisations including Citizens’ Advice York, Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY), Age UK York and the Carers’ Centre to make sure residents claim all the support available to ease financial pressures, particularly with recent increases to energy and water bills.

    To be able to make a claim, residents must be over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit tops up:

    • weekly income to £227.10 for single people
    • joint weekly income to £346.60 for those with a partner.

    People with a higher income might still be eligible for Pension Credit if they have a disability, care for someone, have housing costs or have savings.

    Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion at City of York Council, said:

    Last autumn, Government data showed that around 1,600 York households were missing out on Pension Credit. We contacted those they had details for, advising them that they might be eligible and offering advice and support to apply for it.  

    “Of the 470 we contacted, 231 have successfully applied and together, are £1,790,736 a year better off.

    “We are continuing our campaign and will be letting more people know they could be missing out and how to apply. If you haven’t claimed yet, it’s really worth doing so. Help to make your claim is available for a share of over £1 million remaining unclaimed by York residents.”

    Simon Holmes, Chief Executive of Age UK York, said:

    We recognise the challenges faced by too many older people, both here in York and across the country, with 34% of pensioners feeling less financially secure than a year ago and over 450,000 in our region having to cut back on heating or powering their home.

    “For each of the 246 – and counting – individuals helped here in York who are now receiving Pension Credit it can make such a vital difference not only financially, but to their independence and wellbeing. We would please encourage anyone unsure if they are eligible to find out more and to get in touch here in York

    “A huge thank you to all those involved in making this happen across our partnership with their expertise and compassion in being there to help and continuing to offer such valued support each day to local people and communities across York.”

    Find out if you’re eligible, what you’re eligible for and how to apply at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or call free on 0800 99 1234. For local information and support, see www.york.gov.uk/PensionCredit

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carter puts forward bill to make permanent the National Energy Dominance Council

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Carter puts forward bill to make permanent the National Energy Dominance Council

    Carter puts forward bill to make permanent the National Energy Dominance Council

    Washington, April 16, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today introduced a bill codifying President Trump’s executive order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council, granting permanency to this body charged with positioning American energy for the next century, lowering prices, strengthening American economic security, and restoring our nation’s energy dominance.

    “Securing our nation’s energy dominance is an economic and national security priority. We must ensure that we are not reliant on hostile foreign nations to meet our needs. President Trump’s visionary leadership allowed for the creation of this council that, frankly, should have existed a while ago. By codifying the executive order into law, we will protect this critical council from future radical left administrations that want to see our nation energy dependent,” said Rep. Carter.   

    According to the White House, this council will:

    • Be established within the Executive Office of the President, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and vice-chaired by the Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and comprised of members of President Trump’s cabinet and key government agencies.
    • Advise President Trump on strategies to achieve energy dominance by improving the processes for permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation across all forms of American energy.
    • Recommend a National Energy Dominance Strategy to the President aimed at cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments, and advancing innovation.
    • Facilitate cooperation between the federal government and domestic energy partners, ensuring policy consistency.
    • Consult with various public and private sector stakeholders to expand energy production and address cost barriers.

    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST’s Curved Neutron Beams Could Deliver Benefits Straight to Industry

    Source: US Government research organizations

    When an ordinary beam of neutrons strikes the team’s silicon grating, the millions of scored lines on the grating convert the neutrons into an Airy beam, whose wavefront travels along a parabolic path. The triangular shapes on the detector match the predicted behavior of an Airy beam, offering evidence of the team’s success.

    Credit: N. Hanacek/NIST

    In a physics first, a team including scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created a way to make beams of neutrons travel in curves. These Airy beams (named for English scientist George Airy), which the team created using a custom-built device, could enhance neutrons’ ability to reveal useful information about materials ranging from pharmaceuticals to perfumes to pesticides — in part because the beams can bend around obstacles. 

    “We’ve known about these strange, self-steering wave patterns for a while, but until now, no one had ever made them with neutrons,” said NIST’s Michael Huber, one of the paper’s authors. “This opens up a whole new way to control neutron beams, which could help us see inside materials or explore some big questions in physics.” 

    A paper announcing the findings appears in today’s issue of Physical Review Letters. The team was led by the University of Buffalo’s Dusan Sarenac, and coauthors from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo in Canada built the custom device that helped create the Airy beam. The team also includes scientists from the University of Maryland, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institut, and Germany’s Jülich Center for Neutron Science at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum. 

    In addition to following parabola-shaped paths, Airy beams behave in other ways that can defy intuition. Unlike a typical flashlight beam, they do not spread out as they travel. They even have the capability of “self-healing,” meaning that if an obstacle blocks part of the beam, the rest of the beam regenerates its original shape after passing the obstacle.

    While other research teams have created Airy beams out of other particles — such as photons or electrons — wrangling neutrons into Airy beams is more difficult. Lenses are powerless to bend them, and because neutrons have no charge, electric fields do not affect them. The team needed a new approach.

    So the researchers custom-built a diffraction grating array — a square of silicon about the size of a pencil eraser’s head and scored with tiny lines. These lines, arranged into more than six million squares one micrometer across and separated at precise distances from one another, can split an ordinary beam of neutrons into an Airy beam. 

    While the idea of scratching up a piece of silicon is simple in principle, figuring out just how to arrange the scratches to produce the Airy beam was anything but. 

    “It took us years of work to figure out the correct dimensions for the array,” said coauthor Dmitry Pushin, IQC faculty and professor at the University of Waterloo. “We only needed about 48 hours to carve the grating at the University of Waterloo’s nanofabrication facility, but before that it took years of a postdoctoral fellow’s time to prepare.”

    Neutron Airy beams could help neutron imaging facilities see better, Huber said. They would help increase the resolution of a scan or create different focal spots to look more closely at particular parts of objects, improving commonly used imaging techniques such as neutron scattering and neutron diffraction. 

    One of the most tantalizing possibilities, Huber said, would be to find ways to combine a neutron Airy beam with another type of neutron beam.

    “We think combining neutron beams could expand the Airy beams’ usefulness,” said Sarenac. “If someone wants Airy beams tailored for some physics or material application, they can tweak our techniques and get them.”

    For example, scientists might combine a neutron Airy beam with a helical wave of neutrons, which the team learned to create a decade ago. Superimposing the two beams would allow scientists to explore a material’s chirality — a characteristic often described as “handedness,” where a molecule has two mirror-image forms that can have dramatically different properties.

    A better way to explore and characterize chirality could facilitate the development of chiral molecules with specific properties and functions, potentially revolutionizing industries such as pharmaceuticals, materials science and chemical manufacturing. The global market for chiral drugs, for example, exceeds $200 billion annually, and chiral catalysis techniques underpin the manufacture of many chemical products. 

    Chirality is also growing in importance for quantum computing and other cutting-edge electronic applications such as spintronics. 

    “A material’s chirality can influence how electrons spin, and we could use spin-polarized electrons for information storage and processing,” Huber said. “Controlling it could also help us manipulate the qubits that form the building blocks of quantum computers. Neutron Airy beams could help us explore materials with these capabilities far more effectively.”

    Paper: D. Sarenac, O. Lailey, M.E. Henderson, H. Ekinci, C.W. Clark, D.G. Cory, L. DeBeer-Schmitt, M.G. Huber, J.S. White, K. Zhernenkov, and D.A. Pushin. Generation of Airy Neutron Beams. Physical Review Letters. Published online April 17, 2025. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.153401.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Colorado Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera Announces Funding for Sustainability and Upcycling Project at Englewood Middle School

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Englewood Middle School to receive funding as part of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program

    ENGLEWOOD – Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera has announced that Englewood Middle School is an award recipient of the 2025 NLGA Lt. Governors STEM Scholarship Program.  NLGA will award the school $1,000 as part of a national call for applications for funding STEM programming and curriculum in schools.

    “It’s inspiring to see Colorado students engaging in hands-on STEM learning that promotes sustainability and creativity,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Projects like the one at Englewood Middle School empower students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and care for the planet. I’m proud to see our state represented in this national program, and I am excited to see the impact these young innovators will make.”

    Englewood Middle School will use the STEM Scholarship to fund the equipment and supplies for a project on Sustainability and Upcycling for students in grades 6 to 8. Using the “engineering design process” and STEM principles, students will use mini-blinds to create an upcycled piece of artwork.  By repurposing old materials, students are encouraged to develop resourcefulness, creativity, and mindful consumption to help reduce their ecological footprint and be more mindful of the environment.

    NLGA opened the application period for the STEM Scholarship Program in January 2025. The application process was competitive, with NLGA receiving more than 125 requests for STEM funding from schools in 32 states and territories. Twelve schools in 12 states and territories were awarded $500 – $1,000 for STEM-related expenses.

    “As the seconds-in-command in state and territorial government, lieutenant governors are uniquely poised to lead on STEM education,” said NLGA Executive Director Kellie Rittershausen. “By supporting STEM-related activities in schools across the country, we can encourage a long-term interest and passion in STEM education in America’s youth.”

    The Scholarship Program is administered by NLGA, the nonpartisan, nonprofit association for the nation’s seconds-in-command, and sponsored by ACT, the education and career readiness nonprofit.

    “ACT is proud to have been the sponsor of the NLGA STEM scholarship program since its inception and to see its growth and impact over the past 4 years,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said. “STEM education is crucial for our country’s future workforce, which will be increasingly reliant on the critical thinking and problem-solving skills it fosters, regardless of a student’s college or career pathway. ACT is uniquely poised to meet this moment, and working alongside NLGA, we are committed to ensuring that all students leave high school prepared to enter a world of evolving postsecondary and work opportunities, including those for which a high-quality STEM education is essential.”

    Public, private, and Tribal schools serving pre–K–12th grade students in the 50 states and five U.S. territories were invited to apply for funding to support STEM-related activities, programming, curriculum, equipment, and other expenses. Funding will be provided to all winning schools in May.  

    Additional information on the STEM Scholarship Program can be found at https://nlga.us/strategies/nlga-state-strategies-in-stem/.

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ODHS motiva a las personas en Oregon para que protejan sus beneficios de alimentos y en efectivo de EBT del robo electrónico

    Source: US State of Oregon

    l robo electrónico de beneficios está aumentando. El Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon (Oregon Department of Human Services, ODHS por sus siglas en inglés) está motivando a las personas para que tomen medidas para proteger su tarjeta de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (Electronic Benefit Transfer, EBT por sus siglas en inglés) del robo electrónico. El robo electrónico incluye el skimming de las tarjetas, la clonación de las tarjetas, finge ser una empresa o persona confiable y otros métodos similares.

    “Sabemos que muchas personas y familias en Oregon dependen de la asistencia de alimentos y en efectivo que reciben a través de sus tarjetas EBT para satisfacer sus necesidades básicas y para obtener suficientes alimentos saludables para sí mismos y sus familias,” dijo Claire Seguin, directora de los Programas de Autosuficiencia de ODHS. “Pedimos a todas las personas que tienen una tarjeta EBT que sigan estos pasos simples para proteger sus beneficios.”

    Cómo proteger su tarjeta EBT

    Siga estos tres consejos principales para proteger sus beneficios de comida y en efectivo:

    • Bloquee las compras en línea o fuera del estado de Oregon: Puede bloquear estas compras para proteger su tarjeta del uso no autorizado.

      Visite el sitio web de ebtEDGE o utilice la aplicación móvil de ebtEDGE y busque “Protect My Account” (“proteja mi cuenta”) bajo “Account Services” (“servicios de cuenta”). Puede quitar estos bloqueos en cualquier momento.

    • Monitoree la actividad de su cuenta de EBT: Acostúmbrese a revisar su cuenta regularmente para ver si hay cargos inusuales.

      Si ve un cargo que usted no hizo, repórtelo inmediatamente. Cancele su tarjeta y llame a la línea de reemplazo al 855-328-6715 o vaya a su oficina local de beneficios de ODHS.

    Recuerde, el sitio web de ebtEDGE y la aplicación móvil de ebtEDGE son los únicos lugares seguros para manejar sus beneficios. Guarde la página de inicio de sesión de ebtEDGE (cardholder.ebtedge.com) en sus favoritos en su navegador para acceder a ella rápidamente. Descargue la aplicación móvil en la Apple App Store u obténgala en Google Play. No use ningún otro sitio web o aplicación móvil para revisar sus beneficios.

    Y cuídese de las estafas. Únicamente confíe en las publicaciones en redes sociales de las cuentas oficiales de ODHS. Nunca comparta el número o el pin de su tarjeta EBT por teléfono o por texto. Nunca pediremos la información de su tarjeta de beneficios en redes sociales.

    Visite www.oregon.gov/odhs y busque “protect your EBT card and benefits” (“proteja su tarjeta EBT y sus beneficios”) para obtener más consejos.

    Si le roban sus beneficios

    Cancele su tarjeta inmediatamente y pida que le reemplacen su tarjeta.

    • De Lunes a Viernes de 8 a.m hasta las 5 p.m. Llame al 855-328-6715.
    • Durante los fines de semana: Llame al 888-997-4447 para cancelar su tarjeta. Luego, durante los días de oficina, llame al 855-328-6715 para pedir una tarjeta de reemplazo.

    Cómo solicitar beneficios de reemplazo

    Los beneficios del Programa de Asistencia para Nutrición Suplementaria (SNAP por sus siglas en inglés) que se robaron a través del robo electrónico de beneficios después del 20 de diciembre de 2024 no se pueden reemplazar.

    Los beneficios del Programa de Asistencia Temporal para Familias Necesitadas (TANF por sus siglas en inglés) que se robaron a través del robo electrónico de beneficios sí se pueden reemplazar. Puede pedir el reemplazo de los beneficios de TANF robados comunicándose con:

    Recursos para ayudarle a satisfacer sus necesidades básicas

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Secures Key Victories for Energy Infrastructure

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Unleashing American Energy was one of President Donald J. Trump’s first actions, and it includes infrastructure like pipelines and oil and gas export facilities. Recently, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) secured four wins in court that underpin the intentions of the president’s executive order.

    The Dakota Access Pipeline crosses Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement which the District Court for the District of Columbia ordered for the pipeline’s easement. Last year, the Corps was sued again to shut down the pipeline while they work on that statement, but ENRD last month was granted its motion to dismiss that lawsuit.

    In the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, a Tennessee pipeline company was essentially allowed to go ahead and build a pipeline to deliver natural gas to the Tennessee Valley Authority for a new gas power plant. The court denied a petition for review of the Corp’s permit to the company and upheld its reliance on Tennessee’s certification of the project under the Clean Water Act’s Section 401.

    The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a published decision affirming the Corps decision to issue a permit for a proposed expansion of an oil-export facility in Texas. The court held that the Corps thoroughly analyzed the effects of issuing the permit and properly assessed the project’s scope.

    The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied plaintiffs’ petition for review of a Department of Energy (DOE) action to authorize exporting liquefied natural gas from a proposed terminal on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. The gas is to come from Alaska’s north slope and would be transported to the terminal via a proposed pipeline across the state. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had previously authorized where the project’s facilities would be, and DOE authorized and reaffirmed exporting the gas. This development will help unleash Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential, in keeping with the administration’s directive.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump takes a line from ‘world’s coolest dictator’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    What a difference a dictator makes. Some world leaders get a rough ride in their Oval Office meetings with Donald Trump – most famously, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who the US president and his entourage publicly disparaged in their now-notorious meeting at the end of February. But not El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, the self-styled “world’s coolest dictator” – an autocrat whose country’s incarceration rate is the highest in the world – with whom Trump swapped a few friendly quips this week about authoritarian leadership.

    “They say that we imprisoned thousands. I say we liberated millions,” said Bukele about his record of jailing people without due process, adding that: “To liberate that many, you have to imprison some.”

    “Who gave him that line? You think I could use that?” replied Trump to general merriment.

    Bukele has obliged Trump by incarcerating hundreds of Venezuelan and Salvadoran migrants deported from the US on suspicion of being members of criminal gangs – none of whom have had their day in court. One person of particular interest to the journalists was Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man deported due to an “administrative error”. The US Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to do everything in its power to “facilitate” his return to his wife and family in the US.

    “Of course I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said, when asked if he would send Abrego Garcia back to the US, adding that it would be like “sending a terrorist back to the United States”. Smiles all round from the US officials. This apparently makes it a matter of foreign policy rather than a failure of US justice – or, just as crucially, an impending constitutional crisis over the Trump administration’s failure to obey a Supreme Court ruling.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    Bukele knows a thing or two about circumventing constitutional law, writes Amalendu Misra, a professor of international politics at Lancaster University, who has written extensively about Latin America for The Conversation. The Salvadoran president is serving a second term, despite his country’s constitution previously restricting a president from serving two consecutive terms.

    Critics say Bukele used his considerable majority to replace five members of El Salvador’s Supreme Court in order to get the decision he wanted – which may also have raised him in the US president’s estimation.

    Misra charts Bukele’s rise to power and his achievements in office, which include transforming El Salvador from the murder capital of the world to having one of the lowest homicide rates in the western hemisphere. But not without considerable infringements of human rights and civil liberties – something to which, as we’ve seen, Bukele unabashedly owns up.



    Read more:
    Nayib Bukele: El Salvador’s strongman leader doing Donald Trump’s legwork abroad

    Meanwhile, constitutional scholars are picking apart the US Supreme Court’s ruling in the matter of Abrego Garcia, who is currently sitting in El Salvador’s notorious Center for Terrorism Confinement (Cecot) mega-prison.

    What exactly did the court mean when it instructed the Trump administration to “facilitate” his return to the US? The US attorney-general, Pam Bondi, offered her interpretation on Wednesday – saying the decision was completely up to Bukele, and that if he wanted to send Abrego Garcia back, “we would give him a plane ride back”.

    Trump’s relationship with US constitutional law is already coming under a fair bit of scrutiny, as he and his senior officials have embarked on a concerted effort to push back against court rulings which seek to reverse or delay some of his policies.

    “Trump’s approach seems to be one of testing the limits of the law,” writes Stephen Clear, a constitutional law expert at Bangor University. Clear believes that Trump’s second term is going further, faster, than his first in putting pressure on the system of checks and balances on which the US constitution depends.

    Clear looks at Trump’s strategy of using executive orders to make policy – there have been 124 in his first 85 days (executive orders don’t need congressional approval). The federal courts are now examining many of these orders, which have been challenged on the grounds of unconstitutionality. The US Supreme Court is already facing an unprecedented number of emergency applications, and it remains to be seen when the justices will decide – and, crucially, how the administration responds to the Supreme Court’s decisions.



    Read more:
    Trump’s tactics for creating disruption are testing the limits of presidential power – a legal expert explains

    A federal court judge whose ruling regarding the deportation of 100 migrants to El Salvador was apparently disregarded by the Trump administration has released an opinion that this failure to comply constitutes “probable cause” to hold members of the administration in criminal contempt.

    US district court judge James Boasberg wrote that a judicial order “must
    be obeyed – no matter how erroneous it may be – until a court reverses it”. US legal scholar Cassandra Burke Robertson answers our questions about this matter.



    Read more:
    Federal judge finds ‘probable cause’ to hold Trump administration in contempt – a legal scholar explains what this means

    In the end, the most reliable test of Trump and the Republican party is still at the ballot box. The mid-term elections, the first real test of the US public’s approval of Trump 2.0, are more than 18 months away. But how is the second Trump administration going down with Americans?

    It depends who you ask, writes Paul Whiteley of the University of Essex. Whiteley, an expert scrutineer of public opinion, was interested to see whether the recent upheaval created by Trump’s tariffs plan had affected the way the US public views his performance.

    Committed Republicans still tend to give credit to Trump that he knows what he is doing, while Democrats, as you’d expect, remain fundamentally opposed to the administration. And the same goes, broadly speaking, for their respective views on his handling of trade policy. But the big shift, Whiteley observes, is among people identifying as independents, where Trump’s approval rating has fallen considerably, particularly over the tariffs.

    This is significant, Whiteley believes, because independents now make up the largest voter group in the US. He concludes: “If this shift continues, and independent voters support Democrat candidates in the 2026 mid-term elections, it means that the Democrats are likely to take control of Congress.”



    Read more:
    Have Trump’s tariffs affected his popularity? Here’s what approval data shows

    A tale of two peace talks

    Another Trump campaign promise is coming under increasing scrutiny: his pledge to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours”. The US president now insists he was “being sarcastic” when he made that claim – but, after nearly three months, Trump’s efforts to end the war are “struggling to get off the starting blocks”, writes Jennifer Mathers from Aberystwyth University.

    Despite Zelensky having unconditionally accepted the initial proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and backing US efforts to establish a limited ceasefire – applying to energy infrastructure and on the ocean – Russia has redoubled its attacks. The recent Palm Sunday strikes, which killed at least 35 civilians in the border town of Sumy, appeared particularly gratuitous given that the two sides are supposed to be talking peace.

    Mathers writes that Vladimir Putin is deliberately doing all he can to drag his feet over negotiations, while maintaining Russia’s original demands for huge swaths of Ukrainian territory, guarantees that Kyiv will drop its plan to join Nato, and for elections to be held in Ukraine. You’d have to imagine that Moscow will pull out all the stops to ensure the winner is more to its liking than Zelensky.

    One of the main problems, as Mathers sees it, is that the various American diplomats keep repeating Putin’s demands, lending them legitimacy. It goes without saying that these demands find no favour with Kyiv, as they amount to virtually complete Ukrainian capitulation.



    Read more:
    Why is Donald Trump failing to bring peace to Ukraine like he promised?

    The other big diplomatic gambit involving the Trump White House is in Oman this weekend, as representatives from the US and Iran meet to discuss the possibility of a new deal on Iran’s nuclear programme. The initial signs aren’t good. Trump has threatened dire consequences unless Iran is willing to give up its nuclear ambitions. Iran refuses to countenance this idea.

    But there are signs that behind the scenes, there may be some progress. Iran’s leaders are under heavy domestic pressure to get sanctions lifted as its economy continues to tank. And it has been reported that Trump refused to approve joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Simon Mabon from Lancaster University – a specialist in Middle East security and particularly the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran – examines what the talks mean for the broader stability of the Middle East. He believes the outcome of the talks are being watched particularly closely by China, which has its own ambitions for the region.



    Read more:
    US-Iran: future stability of Middle East hangs on success of nuclear deal – but initial signs are not good

    Indian democracy

    Last year’s election in India was the biggest democratic exercise the world has ever seen, involving upwards of 642 million people casting their votes in seven phases across this vast country. It was, in fact, the biggest election ever to be held in India, surpassing the first elections held in 1951-52 after the country achieved independence from Britain.

    Tripurdaman Singh, a fellow of the University of London’s School of Advanced Study, has traced the progress of democracy in India from what he describes as “a moment of such staggering idealism and exuberance, a leap of faith so audacious, that the famous jurist and scholar Kenneth Wheare termed it ‘the biggest liberal experiment in democratic government’ that the world had seen”.

    Singh takes a detailed look at this experiment in democracy, examining the fledgling country’s constitution and how it has been interpreted since. He finds that this “idealism” was more of an aspiration than an actuality, and that power has always been firmly held by the executive. But, he writes, the sheer diversity of the electorate has – in the main at least – successfully prevented tyrannical impulses from India’s leaders. At least, it has thus far.



    Read more:
    Birth of India: ‘biggest experiment’ with democracy was a huge gamble. Happily the people have made it work – here’s how

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Trump takes a line from ‘world’s coolest dictator’ – https://theconversation.com/trump-takes-a-line-from-worlds-coolest-dictator-254809

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magaziner Leads Roundtable on Impact of Trump Tariffs on Rhode Islanders

    Source: US Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    CRANSTON, RI — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives of the construction, hospitality, health care and manufacturing sectors in Rhode Island to address the negative impact of President Trump’s recent tariffs on workers, consumers and small businesses.

    “Presient Trump’s tariffs are the largest tax increase on the Middle Class in decades,” said Magaziner. “Tariff rates now are the highest that we have had since before the Great Depression.”

    View full video remarks from all speakers during today’s press conference here.

    View or download photos from today’s full roundtable discussion here.

    Speakers included:

    • Justin Kelley, Director of Organizing and Strategic Planning for the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council, who spoke about the risk of construction projects being cancelled or scaled back due to tariffs imposed on building materials.
    • Ryan Moot, Manager of Business Development and Government Affairs, Rhode Island Hospitality Association, who spoke on the impact tariffs would have on local restaurants due to rising food costs and decreased tourism.
    • Lauryn T. Estrella, Executive Director, Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England (HOMES), who spoke about how the tariffs will make durable medical equipment more expensive and harder for patients to access.
    • Darryl Lindie, Owner of AA Sign & Awning in Warwick, who spoke about the impact to project-based small businesses.

    BACKGROUND

    The roundtable comes less than two weeks after President Trump’s unprecedented and chaotic tariff rollout on over 90 countries. A 10 percent tariff tax remains on goods from most countries, with significantly higher tariffs on many goods from China, Mexico and Canada.. Trump’s erratic tariff policy has resulted in continued sharp changes in the stock market, fueling economic uncertainty for consumer prices and businesses. 

    The group discussed how tariffs affect the cost of construction and housing materials, increase prices on medical devices that raise healthcare costs, impact Rhode Island’s vital tourism and travel industry, and make it difficult for Rhode Island small businesses to manage the cost of their inputs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Van Orden, Landsman, Luttrell, and Deluzio Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen VA Suicide Prevention Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin 3rd)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), alongside Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen suicide prevention and mental health support for veterans. The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act will require the VA to establish and implement best practices for suicide prevention pilots and grant programs. 

     The VA Secretary would be responsible for setting clear and measurable objectives for funding and programs, and evaluating how effective those funding and programs are in achieving those objectives. This would help ensure millions of dollars in federal funding and programs are directed toward the most effective initiatives designed to prevent veteran suicide.

    “I have lost many friends and teammates to suicide, and until we are using every available resource to prevent it, we are simply not doing enough,” said Rep. Van Orden. “This bill ensures the VA is focused on proven, effective programs to combat veteran suicide. One veteran lost is one too many — we owe it to them to get this right.”

    “We are reintroducing this bill because it will save countless lives. Too many veterans are dying by suicide every day, and we have to do more to prevent it. If we focus the VA’s resources on the most effective programs, we can make a significant impact in reducing these heartbreaking and entirely unacceptable rates of veteran suicide. Our veterans deserve the best care possible,” said Rep. Landsman.

    “Veteran suicide is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore. As someone who’s worn the uniform and served alongside some of the best this country has to offer, I’m committed to driving that number down to zero. Reintroducing this bill is about accountability and results. We need to know which programs are actually saving lives so we can invest in what works and get our veterans the support they deserve,” said Rep. Luttrell.

    “We have got to use all of the tested and effective tactics available to take on the suicide crisis facing America’s veterans,” said Rep. Deluzio. “I am grateful to partner with Congressman Landsman to introduce this legislation that would create more guidelines for suicide prevention pilots and outreach through the VA. I will never stop fighting to protect and serve my fellow veterans.”

    To read the full bill text, click here.

    The What Works for Preventing Veteran Suicide Act has been endorsed by the national Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Save A Warrior.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Ramps Up Pressure to Protect Medicaid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    ‘Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security.’

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani is ramping up pressure to protect Medicaid, telling House Republican leadership in a letter signed by 12 other colleagues that they “cannot and will not” vote for legislation that reduces Medicaid coverage for those who need it. 

    “Efficiency and transparency must be prioritized for program beneficiaries, hospitals, and states,” the lawmakers wrote. “We support targeted reforms to improve program integrity, reduce improper payments, and modernize delivery systems to fix flaws in the program that divert resources away from children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women – those who the program was intended to help. However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.” 

    The April 14 letter marks an escalation of a consistent effort by Ciscomani to ensure the viability of Medicaid, a program that serves 104, 212 constituents in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. 

    In February, Congressman Ciscomani was among members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference who sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, saying that cutting Medicaid “would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities where hospitals and nursing homes are already struggling to keep their doors open.”

    Recently, Ciscomani reintroduced the the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Program Act (H.R. 1598), which would  lift the age cap for Medicaid buy-in programs for those with disabilities who choose to work. This will ensure that working adults with disabilities over the age of 65 can continue to work, if they choose, while receiving Medicaid coverage and benefits.  

    The most recent letter was written by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), and includes Ciscomani and Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Young Kim (CA-40), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), and Jeff Hurd (CO-03) as co-signers. 

    You can read the full text of the letter here or below:  

    Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Scalise, Majority Whip Emmer and Chairman Guthrie, 

    As Members of Congress who helped to deliver a Republican Majority, many of us representing districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid, we would like to reiterate our strong support for this program that ensures our constituents have reliable healthcare. Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security. 

    We acknowledge that we must reform Medicaid so that it is a strong and long-lasting program for years to come. Efficiency and transparency must be prioritized for program beneficiaries, hospitals, and states. We support targeted reforms to improve program integrity, reduce improper payments, and modernize delivery systems to fix flaws in the program that divert resources away from children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women – those who the program was intended to help. However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations. 

    Cuts to Medicaid also threaten the viability of hospitals, nursing homes, and safety-net providers nationwide. Many hospitals — particularly in rural and underserved areas — rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone. Providers in these areas are especially at risk of closure, with many unable to recover. When hospitals close, it affects all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage. 

    To strengthen Medicaid, we urge you to prioritize care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations. Our constituents are asking for changes to the healthcare system that will strengthen the healthcare workforce, offer low-income, working-class families expanded opportunities to save for medical expenses, support rural and underserved communities, and help new mothers. 

    We are committed to working with you to preserve Medicaid and identify responsible savings through deregulation, streamlining federal programs, and cutting administrative red tape. Communities like ours won us the majority, and we have a responsibility to deliver on the 

    promises we made. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Senate Democrats Warn About Republicans Raising Food Costs to Give Tax Breaks to Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    04.17.25
    Cantwell, Senate Democrats Warn About Republicans Raising Food Costs to Give Tax Breaks to Billionaires
    “Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by taking away food assistance from millions of Americans,” wrote the senators More than 1 in 10 Washingtonians use SNAP to purchase food, half of whom are in families supporting children
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, joined 45 Senate Democratic colleagues in sending an open letter to the American public warning that Congressional Republicans are trying to take food away from hungry families in order to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.
    The budget plan that Congressional Republicans are currently pushing will require deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to fund the planned tax breaks. Their plan demonstrates that, after promising to lower prices for families, Republicans in Congress are instead making it more difficult for families to put food on the table.
    “Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by taking away food assistance from millions of Americans,” wrote the senators.
    “SNAP supports 42 million Americans, including nearly 8 million seniors, 16 million children, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans, in putting food on their tables each month,” they continued. “Cuts of this magnitude—or anything close to it—would be devastating to American families in every state.”
    SNAP is used by 888,300 Washington residents, or 11% of the state’s population. More than 53% of SNAP participants in Washington are in families with children, and more than 38% are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled.
    Along with Sen. Cantwell, the letter was signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 43 other Senate Democrats.
    The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
    The GOP’s budget plan will also require significant cuts to Medicaid, a central pillar of Washington state’s health care system, and under President Trump’s direction, Elon Musk’s DOGE team has targeted Social Security for drastic reductions.
    In March, Sen. Cantwell heard from voices across Washington state about the dangers of President Trump and the GOP’s proposed cuts to Medicaid. Doctors, patients, and health care providers in Seattle, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities warned that such cuts would devastate Washington state’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care. Sen. Cantwell spoke out against President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; in his nomination hearing, she pressed him repeatedly on his willingness to stand up for Medicaid funding. She ultimately voted against his nomination, citing his refusal to stick up for Medicaid during the hearing, which is of particular concern given the Republicans’ draconian budget bill, which would require massive cuts.
    Sen. Cantwell is also fighting against President Trump’s plans to cut Social Security. As a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, she highlighted the danger that the President’s nominee to head the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, poses to the program. At his confirmation hearing, she mentioned the story of a constituent in Seattle who was incorrectly presumed dead shortly after Elon Musk sicced his DOGE team on the Social Security Administration to hunt down unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud.  Sen. Cantwell voted against his nomination in committee.  The full Senate has yet to vote on the nomination.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Secures Key Victories for Energy Infrastructure

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    Unleashing American Energy was one of President Donald J. Trump’s first actions, and it includes infrastructure like pipelines and oil and gas export facilities. Recently, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) secured four wins in court that underpin the intentions of the president’s executive order.

    The Dakota Access Pipeline crosses Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement which the District Court for the District of Columbia ordered for the pipeline’s easement. Last year, the Corps was sued again to shut down the pipeline while they work on that statement, but ENRD last month was granted its motion to dismiss that lawsuit.

    In the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, a Tennessee pipeline company was essentially allowed to go ahead and build a pipeline to deliver natural gas to the Tennessee Valley Authority for a new gas power plant. The court denied a petition for review of the Corp’s permit to the company and upheld its reliance on Tennessee’s certification of the project under the Clean Water Act’s Section 401.

    The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a published decision affirming the Corps decision to issue a permit for a proposed expansion of an oil-export facility in Texas. The court held that the Corps thoroughly analyzed the effects of issuing the permit and properly assessed the project’s scope.

    The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied plaintiffs’ petition for review of a Department of Energy (DOE) action to authorize exporting liquefied natural gas from a proposed terminal on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. The gas is to come from Alaska’s north slope and would be transported to the terminal via a proposed pipeline across the state. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had previously authorized where the project’s facilities would be, and DOE authorized and reaffirmed exporting the gas. This development will help unleash Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential, in keeping with the administration’s directive.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Budget Commitments Include Targeted Investments for Safer Communities

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 17, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan is reinforcing its commitment to delivering safer communities and neighbourhoods through new and continued investments in the 2025-26 Budget. This includes $665 million for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety; $271 million for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General; $118.9 million for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA); and $9.1 million for the Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO). 

    “Public safety continues to be a top priority for our government, which is reflected through investments in Budget 2025-26,” Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and Justice and Attorney General Tim McLeod said. “Investments in policing, border security initiatives, reintegration supports for offenders and measures to address gangs, illegal drugs and weapons will help create safer communities for everyone in Saskatchewan.” 

    In 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Government of Saskatchewan invested $2 billion in public safety. This includes an increase of $28.4 million, totaling $699.4 million over two years, to support policing and community safety in the province and over $518 million over two years to enhance access to justice services.

    Investing in the protection of people and property 

    This year, the budget includes $261 million to fund RCMP operations in the province, including $23.7 million for the First Nations Policing Program. 

    The 2025-26 Budget also includes funding to continue public safety commitments that were announced last fall. These include $6 million as part of the $11.9 million commitment to hire approximately 100 new municipal police officers; $2.7 million to hire 14 new Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods personnel to reduce crime by targeting nuisance properties; and $1.6 million for the Saskatchewan Police College, as part of the government’s three-year commitment to train more officers in the province. 

    An additional $3.6 million will be invested to hire 50 new officers under the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS), which is expected to become operational in the coming months – a full year ahead of schedule. The SMS will focus on provincial policing priorities, including gangs, illegal weapons and drugs, along with apprehending prolific, high-risk offenders and wanted individuals who pose a public safety risk.

    The 2025-26 Budget includes a targeted investment of $1.5 million to enhance roadway patrols, border security initiatives and other public safety priorities, including investments for six weigh-scale operators to conduct commercial vehicle inspections and seven prisoner transport deputy sheriffs to increase their capacity for prisoner transport, allowing more RCMP officers to focus on addressing frontline calls for service.

    This enhanced law enforcement presence extends to Saskatchewan’s border with the United States. To enhance security and safety at the border, the government introduced the Saskatchewan Border Security Plan in January 2025 to mobilize Provincial Protective Services officers to work in partnership with provincial policing services and federal agencies to boost law enforcement’s presence near the border.

    Investing in a more accessible court system

    The 2025-26 Budget provides funding to create a more accessible court system, support the enforcement of municipal bylaw offences and enhance prosecution services. This year’s budget also supports initiatives that reduce the amount of time police need to spend in court, which will allow them to spend more time delivering core policing duties in their communities. 

    Major investments in the 2025-26 Justice and Attorney General budget include $665,000 to support the expansion of traffic safety courts; a commitment of $447,000 for the development of municipal bylaw court hubs which will streamline and improve municipal bylaw enforcement; and investing $822,000 in Public Prosecutions to accommodate the introduction of body-worn cameras by the RCMP and the expansion of body-worn camera use by the Saskatoon Police Service.

    This year’s budget will continue to invest in the Court Modernization Project, providing $3.38 million for ongoing enhancements such as modernized courtroom technology and infrastructure and the continued implementation of the Judicial Scheduling, Tracking and Amalgamated Reporting system. 

    “Over the last two years we have improved police accountability, built community partnerships and invested in courtroom modernization,” McLeod said. “Our government is following through on our ongoing commitment to increase access to justice services across the province for the benefit of all Saskatchewan individuals, families and communities.” 

    Improving safety for correctional staff, offenders and the public

    To improve overall safety for correctional staff, offenders and the public, and to address capacity concerns at correctional facilities, this year’s budget provides $11.7 million to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety to support the opening of the new Saskatoon Correctional Centre expansion. 

    It includes investments to expand the capacity for women in the correctional system, as well as increasing funding to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan as it works to successfully reintegrate female offenders back into their communities. 

    This year’s budget also includes $1.1 million for the Electronic Monitoring Program to increase the real-time monitoring of offenders in the community.

    Investing in interpersonal violence programs and services 

    In 2025-26, government will invest $31.7 million for interpersonal violence programs and services through the justice system. This includes $328,000 for second-stage housing and an additional $720,000 for community-based organizations, including those that deliver supports and services to individuals and families impacted by interpersonal violence and abuse. 

    The 2025-26 Budget includes funding to allow the SPSA to continue its four-year plan to purchase four repurposed airtankers for use in fighting wildfires and other emergency services.

    The budget provides $9.1 million in funding for the SFO this year, including $569,000 to support the Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory, which is set to open this fall. The ballistics laboratory will play a vital role in supporting firearms-related criminal investigations and help reduce the impact of illegal firearms and gun violence in the province. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New England Doctor Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – A New England doctor was sentenced on April 14, 2025 to eight months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiring to illegally distribute buprenorphine, a prescription opioid. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $75,000, which reflects the proceeds Khan collected as a result of prescribing high-dose opioids over the course of the conspiracy, and a fine of $20,000. Additionally, as a result of this investigation, Khan has relinquished his medical license and DEA registrations. This was the first joint prosecution of a doctor by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont and the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force.

    According to court documents, in November 2024, Adnan S. Khan, M.D., 49, of Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to illegally distribute opioids through his business, New England Medicine and Counseling Associates (NEMCA), which operated a network of clinics in New England. Khan admitted that he and others agreed to require cash for purported office visits and falsify medical records to justify his illegal prescribing practices.

    During the conspiracy, Khan emailed a co-conspirator a press release from the United States Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), announcing the creation of the New England Strike Force. In response, the co-conspirator stated that it is “clear that ‘making profit off of patients’ is geared towards folks like us. Curious where this will lead.” Khan then emailed NEMCA staff and stated that, “I have been informed that there is a new task force . . . [for the New England states] on the lookout for medical professionals who are prescribing scheduled meds [irresponsibly], etc.” In light of this, Khan warned his staff that, “It is not a matter of if someone from such a task force will visit NEMCA but rather a matter of time.” Khan then ordered his staff “NOT to engage or discuss anything [with the USDOJ’s New England Strike Force] about NEMCA, what we do, what we offer, fees, etc.”

    Under the plea agreement, Khan admitted that he and a co-conspirator required patients—many of whom were economically disadvantaged—to pay $250 cash in exchange for opioid prescriptions.  Khan then diverted funds that he earned from these patients for his personal use and benefit, including by purchasing an airplane and multiple properties in New England. Khan would also personally deposit the cash that he received from patients, including deposits in excess of $10,000, at his bank. If a patient could not afford the full cash payment, Khan agreed to lower the dosage of that patient’s prescription.

    Khan also admitted that he and a co-conspirator discussed their concern that, because pharmacies were no longer willing to fill the prescriptions, NEMCA might lose “dishonest” patients, who were “selling their meds.” Khan said that their “honest patients” were “the smaller part of [NEMCA’s] clientele” and urged a co-conspirator, “it’s the diverters [of the drugs that] we need to try to figure out a way to retain.” A co-conspirator emailed Khan, suggesting that they give $100 “scholarships” to patients who owed them money. Khan responded, “Stuck on ‘who’ should get them. Shitbag patients owe me so much that $100 won’t even put a dent on their account and they probably won’t appreciate it. Maybe the borderline ones who are just over the $250 threshold? They would probably get on their knees in gratitude.”

    Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher for the District of Vermont made the announcement. The Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit, investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and Danielle H. Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Gilman for the District of Vermont prosecuted the case.

    The Fraud Section partners with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    Anyone needing access to opioid treatment services can contact HHS-OIG’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –